Objective: To observe the clinical effect of moxibustion combined with Duhuo Jisheng decoction for middle-aged and elderly patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and its impact on serum high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Methods: A total of 90 eligible KOA patients were randomized into an observation group (n=45) and a control group (n=45). Cases in the observation group received moxibustion plus oral administration Duhuo Jisheng decoction, while cases in the control group received Duhuo Jisheng decoction. Then the hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels were examined and the clinical effect was evaluated. Results: Before treatment, the hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels showed no between-group statistical differences (all P>0.05). After 8 weeks of treatment, the hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels all dropped significantly in both groups (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the treatment group showed more substantial changes than the control group (all P<0.05). The total effective rate was 97.8% in the treatment group, versus 86.7% in the control group, showing a statistical difference (P<0.05). Conclusion: Moxibustion plus Duhuo Jisheng decoction has a good clinical effect for middle-aged and elderly KOA patients, and the effect may relate to the decreased hs-CRP, IL-1β and TNF-α levels.

OBJECTIVETo investigate gene expression profile in nasopharyngeaL carcinoma (NPC) cell lines with different metastatic potentialities, in order to identify new candidate genes related to the development, progress and metastasis of NPC.

METHODSThe mRNA expressions of high metastatic NPC cell line 5-8F, tumorigenic but nonmetastatic NPC cell line 6-10B and non-tumorigenic NPC cell line 13-9B (3 sublines of SUNE-1) were investigated by cDNA microarray containing 14 000 cDNA clones. The alterations in gene expression levels were confirmed by reverse-transcription PCR.

RESULTSThere were 82 differentially expressed genes comparing 5-8F and 13-9B; 38 differentially expressed genes comparing 6-10B and 13-9B; 54 comparing 5-8F and 6-10B. There were 12 common differentially expressed genes comparing 6-10B, 5-8F and 13-9B; 14 common differentially expressed genes comparing 5-8F and 13-9B, 6-10B. The expressions of the above genes were involved in metabolism, transcription, differentiation, apoptosis and signal transduction.

CONCLUSIONThe gene expression profile in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell lines is an important index in the search of new candidate genes related to NPC.

Cell Line ; DNA, Complementary ; analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo effectively screen p16 protein expression of different clinical stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by constructing and applying high-throughput tissue microarray/tissue chip.

METHODSA series of tissue chips were prepared by using tissue arrayer with samples from different clinical stage NPC tumors and noncancerous nasopharynx tissue. Specimens from 259 cases of nasopharyngeal lesions were detected immunohistochemically on a tissue chip for p16 protein expression and the correlation of p16 protein expression to clinical stage of NPC was analyzed statistically.

RESULTSp16 protein expression was detected in all 18 histologically normal nasopharyngeal epithelia. No p16 protein was detected in 3 of 3 (100%) stage I NPC, 38 of 44 (86.3%) stage II NPC, 59 of 68 (86.8%) stage III NPC, 23 of 28 (82.1%) stage IV NPC, 87 of 98 (88.8%) unclear stage NPC. The efficiency of p16 protein expression in NPC tissues was significantly lower than that in normal nasopharyngeal epithelia (chi(2) = 82.58, P < 0.001), and there was no apparent relationship between p16 protein expression and clinical stages (chi(2) = 0.09, P = 0.769).

CONCLUSIONSThe frequent deletion of p16 protein in NPC suggests that p16 gene has an important role in the development and progression of NPC. The consistency of p16 protein deletion in different stages of NPC suggests that the deletion of p16 protein is an early event in the development of NPC, and it is feasible to utilize tissue microarray for a rapid, economic and accurate screening of clinical tissue specimens on a large scale.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging

Objective:To further improve the understanding of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), we retrospectively analyzed and summarized the clinical characteristics, treatment status, and survival status of patients with PNH in Zhejiang Province.Methods:This study included 289 patients with PNH who visited 20 hospitals in Zhejiang Province. Their clinical characteristics, comorbidity, laboratory test results, and medications were analyzed and summarized.Results:Among the 289 patients with PNH, 148 males and 141 females, with a median onset age of 45 (16-87) years and a peak onset age of 20-49 years (57.8% ). The median lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) level was 1 142 (604-1 925) U/L. Classified by type, 70.9% (166/234) were classical, 24.4% (57/234) were PNH/bone marrow failure (BMF), and 4.7% (11/234) were subclinical. The main clinical manifestations included fatigue or weakness (80.8%, 235/289), dizziness (73.4%, 212/289), darkened urine color (66.2%, 179/272), and jaundice (46.2%, 126/270). Common comorbidities were hemoglobinuria (58.7% ), renal dysfunction (17.6% ), and thrombosis (15.0% ). Moreover, 82.3% of the patients received glucocorticoid therapy, 70.9% required blood transfusion, 30.7% used immunosuppressive agents, 13.8% received anticoagulant therapy, and 6.3% received allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The 10-year overall survival (OS) rate was 84.4% (95% CI 78.0% -91.3% ) . Conclusion:Patients with PNH are more common in young and middle-aged people, with a similar incidence rate between men and women. Common clinical manifestations include fatigue, hemoglobinuria, jaundice, renal dysfunction, and recurrent thrombosis. The 10-year OS of this group is similar to reports from other centers in China.