Objective To investigate the influence of transforming growth factor-?2(TGF-?2) on production of tumor necrosis factor -? (TNF-?) and interferon-? (IFN-?) from placenta of patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods Villous explants from 10 ICP patients(ICP group) and 10 normal gravidae (control group) were cultured in vitro. The concentrations of TNF-? and IFN-? in the culture medium were determined by enzyme linked immunoadsorbent assay ( ELISA) after incubation with different concentrations of TGF-?2 for 1,24 and 48 hours. Results (1) After cultured for 1,24 and 48 hours, TNF-? level in ICP group was (771 ? 187)pg/g, (2 490 ?575)pg/g,and (3339 ? 1106)pg/g, respectively, while IFN-? level was (931 ? 148) pg/g, (1888 ? 545) pg/g, and (3027 ? 667) pg/g, respectively. All were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in clinical efficacy on focal vitiligo treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion in comparison with medication, and discuss its effect mechanism.

METHODSSixty-eight cases were randomized into a moxibustion group (38 cases) and a medication group (30 cases). Additionally, 20 healthy persons were selected randomly as a normal group. In the moxibustion group, the heat-sensitive moxibustion was applied to Hegu(LI 4), Quchi(LI 11), Yanglingquan(GB 34), Zusanli(ST 36), Xuehai(SP 10) and the others, once a day. In the medication group, triamcinolone acetonide cream was used externally and locally, twice a day. In the two groups, the treatment of 15 days made one session. The efficacy was observed after continuous treatment for 3 sessions. The hemorheology test was done in all of the subjects. The radioimmunoassay was adopted to determine the levels of Interleukin 2 (IL-2), Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha in vitiligo patients were higher significantly than those in the normal group (P<0. 01, P<0. 05), the level of IL-2 was lower significantly than that in the normal group (P<0. 01) before treatment. After 3 sessions treatment, IL-2 level was increased significantly in the moxibustion group and the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha were reduced, without significant differences as compared with the normal group (all P>0. 05). But the differences were significant as compared with those in the medication group (all P<0. 05). The curative and remarkably effective rate was 76. 3% (29/38) after treatment in the moxibustion group, which was higher significantly than 13. 3% (4/30, P<0. 05) in the medication group.

CONCLUSIONHeat-sensitive moxibustion achieves very good clinical efficacy on focal vitiligo, which is probably via promoting blood circulation and regulating the levels of IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-alpha.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Triamcinolone Acetonide ; administration & dosage ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Vitiligo ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Young Adult

Benzene ; poisoning ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases

Child ; Female ; Hematemesis ; complications ; Humans ; Tracheoesophageal Fistula ; complications ; congenital

Animals ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukotrienes ; immunology ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Respiratory Sounds ; drug effects ; immunology ; physiopathology

Child, Preschool ; Coronary Aneurysm ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; complications ; therapy ; Thrombosis ; complications ; therapy ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVE: To explain that receptor-ligand binding assay is an important drug screening method, which can quickly and inexpensively study the interactions between the targeted receptor and the potential ligands in vitro and provide information about the relative binding affinity of ligand-receptor. METHODS: The correlative literature and abroad were collected and analyzed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The concept of MS binding assay based on mass spectrometric quantification of nonlabeled markers represents a promising alternative to conventional radioligands binding without inherent drawbacks. The technique will play an important role in the design and screening of receptor-targeting pharmaceuticals.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP) Methods Totally 1241 cases of ICP during the 10 years from Jan 1991 to Dec 2000 in our hospital were retrospectively reviewed Results Forty four (3 5%) patients were multiple gestation One hundred and one (8 1%) patients had pregnancy induced hypertension ICP recurred in 30 2% multipara (38/126) On average, it occurred at gestational week of 32 6 Pruritus was the first symptom in 1201(96 8%)patients while 8 (0 6%) patients had jaundice and 28 (2 3%) patients had abnormal liver function at the onset Serum total bile acid (TBA), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were usually mild or moderately elevated, while some patients had normal TBA(17 7%), ALT(15 6%), or AST(17 1%) level The albumin/globulin ratio was reversed in 35 (3 2%) patients Conclusion ICP tends to recur in subsequent pregnancy It is more likely to develop in multiple gestation Pruritus is the most common and prominent manifestation Elevated TBA and ALT or AST level is helpful for diagnosis It should be noted that the above manifestations might not be typical in some patients

Adolescent ; Adult ; Athletic Injuries ; Clinical Clerkship ; Female ; Humans ; Nurses ; Occupational Injuries ; Young Adult

Cestode Infections ; parasitology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male