OBJECTIVETo investigate the toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect of liquorice on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with Tripterygium wilfordii (TW).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty RA patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the treated group treated with compound decoctum of TW and liquorice and the control group with TW ployglycosidium tablets both based on routine treatment. The therapeutic effect and adverse reaction were observed after 2 months of treatment.

RESULTSThe total efficacy rate was 89.8% in the treated group and 79.6% in the control group with insignificant difference between the two groups; the effect was better in the treated group than that of the control group in decreasing the swollen joint index and increasing the average grip strength of both hands (P < 0.05); the total incidence of adverse reaction was obviously lower in the treated group than that of the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiquorice has toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect on treatment of RA with TW.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Synergism ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

Primary health care institutions and physicians play a fundamental role and are the first line in the prevention and control of pandemics.Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19) in 2019, nearly 4 million primary healthcare professionals across the country have been actively participated in pandemic screening, routine diagnosis and treatment, observation (or monitoring) isolated subjects, and crossing management.Facing outbreaks of pandemics, the key issue for primary health care institutions is how to improve the prevention and control capabilities, and how to take effective and comprehensive response measures.Based on the practical experiences of primary health care institutions in prevention and control for COVID-19 in China together with domestic and international experience and lessons in history, this paper discussed the following issues:internal and external structure of primary health care institutions, medical material storage and reservation, technical support, capability of medical personnel, and continuous health management in residents.This study aims to provide suggestions to improve the capability of primary health care institutions in pandemics prevention and control.

Objective To evaluate values of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)in eyes filled with silicone oil.Design Prospective cases series.Participants 40 eyes of 40 patients were filled with silicone oil after ocular injury.Methods MRI was performed in the 40 patients,including axial FSE T_1WI,T_2WI,coronal T_2WI with fat saturation,oblique sagittal T_1WI and axial T_2FLAIR.MRI findings,in- cluding morpbous,signal and complications were analyzed.Oculi axes were measured.Main Outcome Measures Morphous,signal, complications and oculi axes of the eyes filled with silicone oil.Results Affected oculi axis was 2.18cm?0.21cm,normal oculi axis was 2.48cm?0.16cm.The silicone oil in eyes demonstrated isointense signal or slightly hyperintense signal on T_1WI and T_2WI,hypointense signal after fat saturation.Hydrops was found in vitreous cavity in 33 patients,including simple hydrops in 17 patients and complicated other abnormality in 16 patients.Choroidal detachment was found in 11 patients,complicating vitreous hydrops in 5 patients and lo- calized bulge of eyeball wall.Retinal detachments were found in 4 patients,of whom 3 patients complicated with vitreous hydrops.Per- fluorocarbon liquid residual in vitreous cavity,foreign body in anterior chamber,localized thickness of the wall of the globe and meagre- mean of silicone oil in vitreous cavity were found respectively in one patient complicating vitreous hydrops.Except for eye changes, fracture of orbital wall and foreign body in orbit were found in one patient.Conclusions MRI can display the changes of eyes filled with silicone oil,and measure oculi axes biologically and accurately offering important clinical application value.(Ophthalmol CHN,2007,16: 312-315)

OBJECTIVETo investigate the preventive effect of genistein on the malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia in hamster cheek pouch.

METHODSSixty male Syrian golden hamsters were randomly divided into 4 groups, with two of 20 and two of 10. DMBA solution (0.5% in acetone) was applied topically to the left cheek pouch of male Syrian golden hamsters in group A and B, while animals in group C were painted with acetone, 3 times a week for 6 weeks. For the next 12 weeks, animals in group B received genistein (10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) daily by gavage; animals in group A and C received same volume of saline; animals in group D serving as blank control. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and tissue samples were collected for histopathological examination.

RESULTSNo significant differences in the tumor latency and tumor incidence were observed between the control and genistein treated group.

CONCLUSIONSNo inhibitory effect of genistein on the transformation of oral leukoplakia was observed in hamster.

Animals ; Cricetinae ; Genistein ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Leukoplakia, Oral ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mesocricetus ; Mouth Mucosa ; drug effects ; pathology ; Precancerous Conditions ; pathology ; prevention & control

PURPOSE: To describe the therapeutic effect and possibility of the ultra-early surgery for poor-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (Hunt-Hess grades IV - V). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nine cases with intracranial aneurysms, demonstrated by computed tomographic angiography (CTA), were treated by ultra-early surgery under general anesthesia within 24 hours from subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 5 cases were treated within 6 hours and 4 cases in 6 - 24 hours. Preoperative Hunt-Hess grade: 6 cases were IV and 3 cases were V. The clinical outcome was evaluated by Glasgow Outcome Scores (GOS). RESULTS: In operation, difficult dissection occurred in 5 cases (55.6%), and rupture of aneurysm occurred and temporary obstructions were performed in 4 cases (44.4%). After clipping of aneurysm, 2 cases underwent V-P shunt because of hydrocephalus, pulmonary infection occurred in 3 cases, hypothalamus reaction accompanied with upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage in 2 cases. The clinical outcome were favorable (GOS 4 - 5) in 4 cases (44.4%), dissatisfied (GOS 2 - 3) in 3 cases (33.3%), and dead (GOS 1) in 2 cases (22.2%) when patients departed from our hospital. CONCLUSION: The ultra-early surgery can avoid early rebleeding of intracranial aneurysm, therefore, should be considered in the treatment of Hunt-Hess grade IV-V intracranial aneurysms. The appliance of CTA can make it possible to use of ultra-early surgery and improve the therapeutic effect.
Adult ; Aged ; Cerebral Angiography ; Female ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm/pathology/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage/pathology/*surgery

OBJECTIVETo study the methylation of O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) and p16 gene in the sputum cells of radon-exposed population. To provide the experimental base for finding the molecular biomarker of the high risk population of the radon-induced lung cancer.

METHODS91 radon-exposed workers were divided into 4 groups, high dosage group (> 120 WLM), middle dosage group (between 60 and 120 WLM), low dosage group (between 30 and 60 WLB) and lower dosage group (between 2 and 30 WLM) according to the accumulated exposure dosage of the radon daughters. The abnormal methylation of p16 and MGMT gene in the sputum cells of the population in the four groups was detected with the methylation specific PCR (MSP).

RESULTSThere was significantly upward trend for the p16 gene methylation rate (0.00%-20.00%), the MGMT gene methylation rate (0.00%-28.00%) and the total methylation rate (0.00%-40.00%) with the increase of the accumulated exposure dosage of the radon daughters (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe methylation of p16 and MGMT gene is related to the accumulate exposure dosage of the radon daughters.

Carcinogens, Environmental ; adverse effects ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA Methylation ; Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation ; Humans ; Male ; O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Occupational Exposure ; Radon ; adverse effects ; Radon Daughters ; adverse effects ; Sputum ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between the expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and angiogenesis in primary astrocytoma.

METHODSThirty-seven primary astrocytomas and 4 astrocytic hyperplasia samples were collected and divided into three groups according to histological grade. The expression of eNOS, VEGF and factor VIII related antigen (FVIIIRAg) were assayed by immunohistochemistry. Microvascular density was assessed by FVIIIRAg immunoreactivity. The intensity of immunoreactivity was graded according to the percentage of positive tumor cells.

RESULTSNo eNOS and VEGF were expressed in the astrocytes and vascular endothelium in astrocytic hyperplasia. The expression of eNOS or VEGF was light in low-grade astrocytoma and strong in glioblastoma. eNOS expression in astrocytoma was very positively correlated with VEGF. eNOS and VEGF expression in anaplastic astrocytoma was median in contrast to the low grade astrocytoma and glioblastoma. Lower microvascular density was found in low grade astrocytoma than that in higher grade malignant ones. The expressions of eNOS and VEGF were correlated with microvascular density and tumor malignancy.

CONCLUSIONThis finding suggests that eNOS and VEGF may have cooperative effect in tumor angiogenesis and play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary astrocytoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Astrocytoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related pulmonary infection on endogenous metabolites in large intestinal mucosa in BALB/c mice using metabolomics technology based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

METHODSMice were randomly divided into a control group and a RSV pneumonia model group (n=16 each). The mouse model of RSV pneumonia was established using intranasal RSV infection (100×TCID, 50 μL/mouse, once a day). After 7 days of intranasal RSV infection, the mice were sacrificed and GC-MS was used to identify endogenous metabolites and measure the changes in their relative content in colon tissue. SMCA-P12.0 software was used to perform principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) for endogenous metabolites in colon tissue. The differentially expressed metabolites in colon tissue were imported into the metabolic pathway platform Metaboanalyst to analyze related metabolic pathways.

RESULTSPCA and OPLS-DA showed significant differences between the control and RSV pneumonia model groups. A total of 32 metabolites were identified in the colon tissue of the mice with RSV pneumonia. The RSV pneumonia model group had significant increases in the content of leucine, isoleucine, glycine, alanine, arachidonic acid, and lactic acid, which were related to the valine, leucine, isoleucine, arachidonic acid, and pyruvic acid metabolic pathways.

CONCLUSIONSRSV pneumonia might cause metabolic disorders in the large intestinal tissue in mice.

Amino Acids, Branched-Chain ; metabolism ; Animals ; Female ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Intestine, Large ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Pneumonia, Viral ; metabolism ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the protein expression of Calpain I, mRNA and protein expressions and activity of calcineurin, and the alternative splicing of Ca/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) δ in the hypertrophic heart, and to investigate the effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker valsartan (Val) on cardiac hypertrophy and the level of Calpain I, calcineurin and CaMKIIδ in renovascular hypertensive rats model.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into sham-operated control (n=8), hypertension (n=8) and hypertension plus Val (n=8, 30 mg×kg(-1)×(-1)). The renovascular hypertension was induced by two kidney-one clip methods in rats. The ratio of left ventricular weight to body weight was measured, the mRNA expression of calcineurin and alternative splicing of CaMKIIδ were determined by RT-PCR, the protein expression of Calpain I and calcineurin were measured by Western blot and the activity of calcineurin activity was assayed by a specialized kit.

RESULTSEight weeks after procedure, hypertension rats developed significantly cardiac hypertrophy, and the protein expression of Calpain I, mRNA and protein expression and the activity of calcineurin were significantly increased compared sham-operated control rats (all P<0.01), the mRNA expression of CaMKIIδA and B increased, CaMKIIδC mRNA decreased (P<0.01). Treatment with valsartan effectively attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and reversed hypertension induced changes on myocardial Calpain I, calcineurin and CaMKIIδ.

CONCLUSIONValsartan attenuates cardiac hypertrophy in renovascular hypertensive rats, possibly through inhibiting Calpain I, calcineurin and CaMKIIδ signaling pathways.

Animals ; Calcineurin ; metabolism ; Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase Type 2 ; metabolism ; Calpain ; metabolism ; Hypertension, Renovascular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; Tetrazoles ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Valsartan

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the potential usefulness of a multivariable model in predicting the response to immunosuppressive therapy (IST) in patients with aplastic anemia (AA), and its application to the clinical practice.

METHODSPB T cells subpopulation and BM T cells intracellular IFN-gamma and IL-4 were serially analyzed by flow cytometry (FCM) before and during treatment. HLA-DRB1 * 1501 phenotype was analyzed by PCR-SSP. The predictive potentials of different parameter combinations for clinical responsiveness were statistically assessed.

RESULTSIn all evaluated parameters, CD8+ cell intracellular IFN-gamma had the relatively best diagnostic value with sensitivity and specificity of 94.3% and 62.5%, and positive and negative predictive value of 84.6% and 83.3% respectively. Positive CD8+ cell intracellular IFN-gamma plus Tc1/Tc2 < 50 could increase the positive predictive value to 92.3%. A multivariable model consisting of absolute neutrophil count (ANC), BM T cell intracellular IFN-gamma, Tc1/Tc2 ratio and HLA-DRB * 1501 phenotype of the patients was finally established.

CONCLUSIONThe multivariable model is superior to each of the single parameters in terms of predictive power of IST therapeutic outcome, and its higher accuracy and the clinical application make it potentially useful in practice.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Child ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; HLA-DR Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Models, Statistical ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome