Objective To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of standard-dose of dexamethasone and low-dose dexamethasone combined with thalidomide in treatment of multiple myeloma. Methods Thirtynine patients with multiple myeloma were randomly divided into 2 groups, who were treated with chemotherapy of thalidomide (200 mg/d) plus dexamethasone (40 mg d1-46728 days in standard-dose group and 20 mg dl-4d/28 days in low-dose group), for a total of 4 courses. The efficacy, survival time and adverse events were compared between the two groups. Results Complete remission rate, partial remission rate and overall response rate of the standard-dose group were 26.3 %, 35 % and 75 %, respectively; and those of the low-dose group were 15.8% , 36.8 % and 68.4 %, respectively. No statistical difference between the two groups (P >0.05 ) was observed. Lung infections, blood pressure elevation, blood glucose elevation, shingles and other adverse reactions in the standard-dose group were statistically higher than those in the low-dose group (P <0.05). Conclusion Efficacy on multiple myeloma of standard-dose and low-dose dexamethasone are similar, but adverse reactions are significantly increased.

Objective To assess the efficacy and tolerability of continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide and prednisone regimen(CP)as salvage therapy for multiple myeloma patients with severe complications.Methods The CP regimen consisted of oral cyclophosphamide at 50 mg and oral prednisone at 15 mg daily.The patients were withdrawn if the response was invalid or not improved after 6 months,and follow-up was carried on if CR maintained for 6 weeks.A total of 23 consecutive patients received the CP regimen,with 18 patients having severe complications,and 5 patients unwilling to accept conventional chemotherapy because of severe infection.All patients had received one to four regimens before.Results Among 23 patients with CP regimen,the overall response rate(CR+VGPR+PR)was 61%,with 1 CR,4 VGPR,9 PR,3 MR and 6 PD.The quality of life and physical conditions were improved significandy.Conclusion Our data showed that CP was an effective,well-tolerated,and convenient regimen as salvage therapy for MM with severe complications.

Objective To study the effect of thalidomide and arsenic trioxide on the proliferation and apoptosis effect in human myelodysplastic syndrome cell line MUTZ-1 and explore its possible mechanism.Methods MUTZ-1 cells were cultured with different concentration of thalidomide alone, arsenic trioxide alone, and thalidomide plus arsenic trioxide for 48 h. The cell proliferation was analyzed by CCK-8 test, and cell apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry. The expression of Bmi-1 was analyzed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Results Thalidomide alone had no significant inhibition on growth of MUTZ-1 cells (P >0.05).Arsenic trioxide alone had obviously inhibited the cell proliferation (P <0.05). While thalidomide plus arsenic trioxide group had the great inhibition effect(CDI <0.7), and reveal was that two drugs had synergism effect on inhibiting the MUTZ-1 cells. Arsenic trioxide group of apoptosis rate was increased with higher concentrations of drug, a dose-dependent (r = 0.627, P <0.05), thalidomide in the rate of apoptosis with no increase in drug concentration significantly (r= 0.313, P> 0.05), and the combined group with the drug also increased the concentration of expression (P <0.05). In arsenic trioxide group the expression of Bmi-1 / β-actin declined with the increased concentration, a dose-dependent (r =-0.912, P<0.05), thalidomide group Bmi-1 / β-actin with the increased concentration of no significant decline (r =-0.594, P >0.05), the combined group Bmi-1 inhibition was significantly higher than arsenic trioxide, thalidomide in a separate drug group (CDI <0.7).Conclusion Thalidomide group had no significant growth inhibition. Arsenic trioxide on MUTZ-1 cells significantly inhibited the growth and increased in the combined group significantly.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy andtolerability of continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide and prednisone treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma. Methods84 relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma patients were enrolled, including 46 males and 38 females, the assess patients of 81 cases with average age of 69.7 (45-91)years. They were treated continuous with oral cyclophosphamide (50 mg/d) and prednisone (15 mg/d) and monthly follow-up.ResultsAverage follow-up time were 23.5(1-71)months.The assessed patients were 81 cases,with 52 cases (64.2 ％) responded.There were 2 cases(2.5 ％)CR,21 cases(25.9 ％) of PR,29 cases(35.8 ％)MR,19 cases(23.5 ％)NC and 10 cases (12.3 ％)PD.The median time to response was 2 months.In the patients who responded to the treatment,the median progression-free survival(PFS)and overall survival (OS) were 18(95 ％CI 12.8-23.2),29(95 ％CI 24.1-33.9)months.In the non-responding patients,the PFS and OS were 4(95 ％ CI 2.2-5.8) and 6(95 ％ CI 4.9-7.1)months.Two groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05).The most common toxicities included fatigue,nausea, neutropenia, hyperglycemia and lung infection. No patient withdrew from the study because of toxicity. Conclusions Continuous low-dose cyclophosphamide combined prednisone is a treatment options for relapsed and refractory MM patients.

Purpose: Seroma formation is a common complication in breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy, and it negatively affects patient recovery after surgery. The present study aimed to evaluate a simple method using fascia suture technique to fix the flap and reduce the incidence of seroma. Methods: A single-center, prospective, randomized controlled trial was carried out among 160 patients who had undergone mastectomy from May 2018 to September 2019. All patients were randomly divided into the fascia suture group (n = 80) or control group (n = 80) and were followed up for at least 3 months for the assessment of immediate and late complications after surgery. Results: No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups with regard to the basic characteristics. Duration of surgery in the fascia suture group was longer by about 6 minutes compared with that in the control group (114.93 ± 13.67 minutes vs. 108.81 ± 15.20 minutes, p = 0.008). The fascia suture group had a shorter duration of drain placement (10.99 ± 3.26 days vs. 13.85 ± 5.37 days, p < 0.001), a smaller volume of the total drainage (460.95 ± 242.92 mL vs. 574.83 ± 285.23 mL, p = 0.007), and the first 3-day drainage (224.96 ± 101.01 mL vs. 272.3 ± 115.47 mL, p = 0.006), compared with the control group. The incidence of seroma formation (G2 or G3) was significantly lower in the fascia suture group compared with the control group (28.8% vs. 12.5%, p = 0.033). Besides, there was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in the assessment of other complications, including postoperative pain, hematoma, surgical site infections, flap necrosis, and skin dimpling (all p > 0.050). Conclusion The fascia suture technique is a simple and effective method for reducing seroma formation and should be used to prevent seroma formation after mastectomy.

Objective:To study the gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and interleukin-1 β (IL-1β) in A549 cells exposed to hyperoxia and cell apoptosis after siRNA interference with Nrf2.Method:Normal A549 cell lines were assigned into normoxia+siRNA group, normoxia+control group, hyperoxia+siRNA group and hyperoxia+control group according to whether siRNA interference was used and the exposure environment (normoxia/hyperoxia). The hyperoxia environment contained 95%O 2 and 5%CO 2. The levels of mRNA expression of Nrf2, GST and IL-1β were detected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Flow cytometry was used to examine cell apoptosis of the hyperoxia+control group and hyperoxia+siRNA group at different time points. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the relative gene expression and apoptosis of A549 cells. Result:(1) Compared with the normoxia+control group, the expression of Nrf2 and GST in the hyperoxia+control group was significantly increased ( P<0.05), and the expression of IL-1β was significantly decreased ( P<0.05); the expression of Nrf2 and GST in the normoxia+siRNA group decreased significantly ( P<0.05), while the expression of IL-1β increased significantly ( P<0.05). (2) Compared with the normoxia+siRNA group, Nrf2 expression in the hyperoxia+siRNA group showed no significant changes ( P=0.230), GST expression increased slightly ( P=0.057), and IL-1β expression decreased slightly ( P=0.112). (3) Compared with the hyperoxia+control group, the expression of Nrf2 and GST in the hyperoxia+siRNA group decreased significantly ( P<0.05), and the expression of IL-1β increased significantly ( P=0.042). (4) Compared with the hyperoxia+control group, the apoptosis of A549 cells in the hyperoxia+siRNA group increased significantly at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h ( P<0.05). Conclusion:After interfering with Nrf2, siRNA may regulate the expression of GST and IL-1β, preventing oxidative stress, reducing inflammatory response and inhibiting apoptosis.

OBJECTIVE： To explore potential mechanism of “Astragalus membranaceus-Draba nemorosa” couplet medicine for heart failure. METHODS： By network pharmacology， based on drug-like and oral bioavailability， the active components of “A. membranaceus-D. nemorosa” for chronic heart failure were screened and the targets of treating chronic heart failure were predicted by using TCMSP，GeneCards database， OMIM database and DRAR-CPI. The active component-chronic heart failure target network was established by Cytoscape 3.6.0 software. The protein-protein interaction network was constructed by utilizing STRING database. Then top 5 targets in the list of connectivity were screened and performed a molecular docking in molecular docking server. Finally， GO bioprocess analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed in DAVID database. RESULTS： The study predicted 28 active components in total， including 20 A. membranaceus and 12 D. nemorosa， such as kaempferol and quercetin， there were four components in common. Totally 92 target gene of active components were obtained， including heat shock protein 90α （HSP90AA1）， tyrosine protein kinase SRC gene， etc. Results of GO bioprocess analysis showed an association with mitochondrial electron transport， mitochondrial intima， cytoplasmic sol， extracellular body， mitochondrial matrix and drug response. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed a link with MAPK signal pathway， TGF signal pathway， PI3K signal pathway， cAMP signal pathway， protein kinase B signal pathway， EPK1 signal pathway and NF-κB signal pathway. CONCLUSIONS： “A. membranaceus-D. nemorosa” couplet medicine exerts therapeutic effects on heart failure from multiple targets as HSP90AA1， SRC and mitochondrial electron transport and MAPK signaling pathway. The study can provide reference for further researches on its material basis and mechanism.