Objective:To study the inhibition of collagen-induced arthritis by an altered CⅡ263-272 peptide(sub268-270) with three consecutive substitutions of TCR-contacting residues.Methods:Arthritis was induced by bovine collagen type Ⅱ. The altered peptide sub268-270 was given intravenously with a dose of 90 ?g once a week. Peptide control and blank control were treated with similar approaches. The therapeutic effect of the altered peptide was evaluated by arthritis score index, radiological score and pathological score.Results:The arthritis score of rats treated with altered peptide, control peptide and blank control were 5.60?1.24, 11.20?1.21 and 11.80?1.22 respectively(P

Cardiovascular Diseases ; etiology ; Diet ; Glycemic Index ; Humans

Asphyxia Neonatorum ; blood ; drug therapy ; Creatine Kinase, MB Form ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Naltrexone ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood

Objective To investigate the mRNA expression of UPA and MMP-9 in gastric carcinoma and their correlation with histological type, growth-type, differentiation, vessel invasion, metastasis and prognosis. MethodsIn situ hybridization was used to detect the mRNA expression of UPA and MMP-9. ResultsIn situ hybridization revealed that among 105 cases, the positive rates of UPA mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA were both 58.1%. There was no significant relationship between UPA mRNA and histological type( r _ s = 0.123, P =0.210)and differentiation ( r _ s =0.102, P =0.298)of the tumor. However, there was a significant difference between growth-type( r _ s =0.344, P =0.001),tumor invasion depth( r _ s =0.296, P =0.002),vessel invasion( r _ s =0.198, P =0.042),lymph node( r _ s =0.332, P =0.001)and distant metastasis( r _ s =0.530, P =0.001);there was no significant relationship between MMP-9 mRNA staining and histological type( r _ s =0.143, P =0.145)and differentiation( r _ s =0.102, P =0.298)of the tumor. However, there was a statistically significant difference between growth-type( r _ s =0.267, P =0.006),tumor invasion depth ( r _ s =0.335, P =0.001)、vessel invasion( r _ s =0.209, P =0.032),lymph node( r _ s =0.343, P =0.001)and distant metastasis( r _ s =0.468, P =0.001);There was a positive relationship between UPA mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA expression( r _ s =0.237, P =0.015). The mean survival time in cases with positive UPA mRNA and MMP-9 mRNA expression were significantly shorter than that of cases with negative expression. ConclusionThe mRNA expression of UPA and MMP-9 can predict the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma, They can be used as markers of prognosis of gastric carcinoma in clinical practice.

Many species of genus Bupleurum L. have been pharmaceutically used mainly in Asia and Europe for thousand years. Their roots are the most popular ingredients in Chinese materia medica prescriptions for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and auto-immune diseases. A plenty of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from the species in Bupleurum L., such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, volatile oils, flavonoids, polyacetylenes, lignins, and coumarins, most of which possess a variety of biological activities, especially for the hepatoprotective effect, antitumor activity, immunoregulation, and febrifuge efficacy. Therefore, the species in genus Bupleurum L. could be potential herbs of immunomodulator, antineoplastic, anti-oxidant, etc. Meanwhile, as potential toxicities have been discovered in some constituents, it is urgent to establish a comprehensive quality evaluation system to ensure the safety and efficiency of herbs. This paper reviews on the phytochemical and pharmacological studies, especially for the toxicology and quality control of the species in Bupleurum L., which is a reference for the species in this genus for safe usage and further development. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Objective:To develop a catalytic system for the asymmetric Morita-Baylis-Hillman ( MBH) reaction of conjugated ni-troalkene with activated aldehyde, and screen out the chiral catalysts with high activity and enantioselectivity. Methods: Totally 21 chiral organocatalysts were applied in the asymmetric MBH reaction ofβ-nitrostyrene with ethyl glyoxylate, and the ee value was deter-mined by chiral HPLC. The effects of temperature, solvent and substrate ratio on the catalytic reaction were investigated. Results: In the presence of cinchona alkaloid catalyst (DHQ)2AQN, β-nitrostyrene reacted with ethyl glyoxylate in toluene at 0℃ affording the MBH adduct in 60% yield with good enantioselectivity (up to 56.9% ee). Conclusion: The bis-cinchona alkaloids with aromatic bridging group are the efficient catalysts for the asymmetric MBH reaction ofβ-nitrostyrene with ethyl glyoxylate, and moderate isolated yield and enantioselectivity are obtained.

Objective To analyze the relationship between CT characteristics of chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) and its recurrence, as well as relevant pathological mechanism. Methods The study involved 178 patients with CSDH who underwent surgery, of whom 38 patients (40 lesions) experienced recurrence of CSDH. Univariate and multivariate logistic analyses were performed to assess the correlation among CT characteristics ( including side, density, width, subtype and midline shift of the hematoma) and CSDH recurrence. Results ( 1 ) The width of hematoma, midline shift, type of hematoma were found to be correlated with the recurrence of CSDH in the univariate analysis. The odds ratio (OR)and 95% confidence interval (CI) value of patients with hematoma width ＞30 mm, midline shift ＞10 mm and the separated type were 18. 400 (2.024-167. 301 ), 4. 643 ( 1. 815-11. 877 ) and 14. 385 (3. 601-57.467 ), respectively. (2) The midline shift and type of hematoma were found to be correlated with the recurrence of CSDH in the multivariate analysis, when the OR and 95% CI value of patients with hematoma midline shift ＞ 10 mm and separated type were 5. 280 ( 1. 339-20. 823) and 19. 125 (4. 175-87.619), the OR and 95% CI value of patients with hematoma width ＞30 mm was 14. 838 ( 1. 353-162.698). Conclusions Type of hematoma and midline shift are found to be independently correlated with the recurrence of CSDH, and the width of hematoma is also related with its recurrence.

Objective To investigate the preventive effect of Indomethacin for post-ERCP pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia.Methods A total of 600 patients,who were undergoing ERCP,were randomly divided into 3 groups to receive anal Indomethacin (n=200),intravenous octreotide (n=200) or no special medication (n=200) before ERCP.The level of serum amylase before and 24h after ERCP were measured,and the rate of acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after ERCP were assessed.Results Serum amylase levels before ERCP of all groups were normal.The mean serum amylase level of Indomethacin group (101.3±77.7 U/L) after ERCP was significantly lower than those of octreotide group ( 176.6±138.3 U/L,P =0.040 ]and control group (227.2±264.9 U/L,P=0.048),while there was no difference between octreotide group and control group ( P＞0.05 ).The incidence of post-ERCP pancreatitis in Indomethacin group (2.5％) was significantly lower than that of control group (9.5％,P=0.003),while there was no difference between octreotide group (4.5％) and control group ( P=0.05 ).The incidence of hyperamylasemia after ERCP in Indomethacin group (5.5％) was significantly lower than that of control group ( 13.5％,P=0.006 ),while there was no difference between octreotide group (10.0％) and control group ( P＞0.05 ).Conctusion Anal administration of Indomethacin before ERCP can effectively reduce the incidence of acute pancreatitis and hyperamylasemia after ERCP.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of malignancy-related mortality in women worldwide. The more accurate prediction of lymph node metastasis and evaluation of personalized prognosis of breast cancer patients could provide evidence and reference for individualized comprehensive treatment and clinical decision-making. Nomogram is statistical calculation model developed to generate individualized prediction of a certain clinical event through the factors associated with it. Currently breast cancer related nomogram models is most commonly used in the prediction of non-sentinel lymph node status in patients with sentinel lymph node-positive breast cancer, sentinel lymph node metastasis in clinical node-negative breast cancer and prognosis evaluation of breast cancer. This article reviewed the recent advances in breast cancer related nomograms according to the above mentioned three aspects, and evaluated respectively the predictive factors, accuracy, characteristics and clinical application potential.

Objective To elucidate the influence of fetal genotype in both non-diabetic gravidas and pregnant women on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) through analysis of the genotype discrepancy between maternal and fetal Pro12A1a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2 (PPARG2) genes.Methods Pregnant women,who delivered in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University from October 2005 to February 2007,and their newborn babies were selected,and were divided into GDM and control group.The GDM group consisted of 55 gravidas with GDM and 40 newborns born to the GDM mothers,and the control group consisted of 173 healthy gravidas and their 50 neonates.Polymerase chain reaction-denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography was applied to detect the distribution of PPARG2 Pro12Ala alleles in all subjects.The concentrations of plasma fasting blood sugar (FBS) and several bio-markers of lipids,including total cholesterol,triglyceride,apoprotein A,high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein,were also tested for the mothers.Results (1) No significant difference was found in the frequencies of Pro/Pro genotype between the GDM mothers and control mothers (94.6% vs 90.8%,P > 0.05),nor between the GDM offspring and control offspring (95.0% vs 94.0%,P >0.05) or between the GDM mothers and GDM offspring (P > 0.05).The same was shown in the frequencies of Pro/Ala genotype both between the GDM mothers and control mothers (5.5% vs 9.2%,P >0.05) and between the GDM offspring and control offspring (2.5% vs 3.0%,P > 0.05).(2) Within both GDM and control group,the maternal FBS and various lipids concentrations of Pro/ Pro genotype gravidas showed no significant difference compared to those of Pro/Ala genotype mothers (P > 0.05).(3) Based on the four possible PPARG2 genotype pairs between the mothers and fetuses,Pro/Pro mother and her Pro/Pro fetus,Pro/Ala mother and her Pro/Ala fetus,Pro/Ala mother and her Pro/Pro fetus,and Pro/Pro mother and her Pro/Ala fetus,less Pro/Pro pairs and more Pro/Ala pairs were found in the GDM group than in the control (72.5% vs 92.0%,P=0.014; 27.5% vs 6.0%,P< 0.05).Conclusions Neither the maternal nor the offspring's Pro/Ala genotypes is associated with the genesis of GDM.However,the discrepancy of PPARG2 Prol2Ala polymorphism between mother and her fetus implies a possible cause of GDM.