Huaier (Trametes robiniophila) has been widely used as an adjuvant drug for cancer treatment in China. The anti-cancer effect of Huaier extract has been confirmed in liver cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, and so on. The main mechanisms by which Huaier exerts an anti-neoplastic effect include inhibition of the growth and proliferation of cancer cells, induction of apoptosis of cancer cells, suppression of angiogenesis, inhibition of the invasion and migration of cancer cells, regulation of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes expression, improving immunity, and reversal of drug resistance in cancer cells. In order to provide references for further study and clinical application on anti-tumor effect of Huaier, the latest research progress on anti-tumor effect of Huaier in recent years is summarized in this paper.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Trametes

Objective To analyze the platelet activating factor acetylhydrolase ( PAF-AH) activity of a gene product encoded by LA2144 gene of Leptospira interrogans ( L. interrogans) , to investigate the ex-pression and secretion of LA2144 protein in various cell cultures and to further understand its function in in-ducing internal hemorrhage in an animal model. Methods The DNA sample containing LA2144 gene was extracted from L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Lai strain Lai and used as the template for gene cloning by PCR. The LA2144 gene without the signal sequence coding region was amplified by PCR and inserted into a prokaryotic expression construct for the protein expression. The expressed recombinant protein, rLep-PAF-AH, was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. Spectrophotometry was used to measure the hydrolytic activity, hydrolytic efficiency, Km and Kcat values of the rLep-PAF-AH protein in hydrolyzing PAF substrate. Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR ( qRT-PCR) and Western blot assay were performed to measure the expression of LA2144 gene at mRNA and protein levels in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), human monocytes (THP-1) and murine macrophages (J774A. 1) with L. interrogans strain Lai infection, respectively. Each syrian hamster was intravenously injected with 100 μg of LPS-free rLep-PAF-AH for two times. Hemorrhage in the lungs, livers and kidneys were observed in three days after the injection. Results The constructed prokaryotic expression system for LA2144 gene of L. inter-rogans strain Lai could highly express the rLep-PAF-AH upon the induction of IPTG. The purified rLep-PAF-AH showed high purity with a single protein band in gel as indicated by SDS-PAGE. The efficiency of 5 μg of rLep-PAF-AH in hydrolyzing PAF substrate was 26. 6 U/L with a Km value of 82. 79 μmol/L and a Kcat value of 0. 24 S-1 . The expression of Lep-PAF-AH at mRNA level in HUVEC, THP-1 and J774A. 1 cells were significantly elevated after co-culture with L. interrogans strain Lai for 1 or 2 hours (P<0. 05). A large amount of Lep-PAF-AH were detected in the supernatants from co-cultures of L. interrogans strain Lai with the three cell lines, but not from the culture of the spirochete in EMJH medium. The signs of hemor-rhage were observed in the lung of hamsters injected with rLep-PAF-AH, but not in tissue samples from liver and kidney. Conclusion The LA2144 gene product was characterized by a stronger PAF-AH activity. The expression of LA2144 gene at mRNA and protein levels in various cell lines were enhanced during L. interro-gans infection. Moreover, the rLep-PAF-AH could induce the pulmonary hemorrhage in hamsters. This stud-y indicated that the protein encoded by LA2144 gene was an important virulence factor causing hemorrhage in hosts during L. interrogans infection.

OBJECTIVETo explore the situation of equity in health service delivery in the experimental region of new rural cooperative medical scheme (NRCMS).

METHODSA household questionnaire survey was conducted to 2112 residents in the experimental county of NRCMS in Yuexi county with a stratified-cluster sampling on the situation of health service delivery, from July 1-15,2005. Data was analyzed with Epi Info 6.04 and SPSS 11.0 software and indices as rate, ratio, Gini coefficient, concentration index (CI) and chi-square test etc.

RESULTSThere was no significante difference of the treatment-seeking rate during two weeks among five groups economic condition residents (chi2 = 5.52, P > 0.05) and the rates were 48.14 per thousand, 82.90 per thousand, 65.88 per thousand, 48.72 per thousand and 50.66 per thousand respectively with CI = -0.026. Similarly, the hospitalization rates were 59.08 per thousand, 67.36 per thousand, 51.76 per thousand, 58.97 per thousand and 52.86 per thousand respectively in the last year and the CI = - 0.017. But there was a significante difference of rates on chronic disease among the five groups of residents with different economic conditions in the last six months (chi2 = 18.42, P < 0.01) and the rates were 295.40 per thousand, 243.52 per thousand, 230.59 per thousand, 225.64 per thousand and 176.21 per thousand and the CI = -0.055. When income reduced, the prevalence had been increasing among residents. Meanwhile, the collection funds showed unfair in residents with various income and the compensating fund of new rural cooperative medical scheme had not reduced the gap between rich and poor.

CONCLUSIONThere was an unequity of medicine expenditure and compensating fund in residents with various income in the experimental region. The low income residents had a high health service need and the government should improve NRCMS greatly to change the situation.

China ; Data Collection ; Delivery of Health Care ; Health Expenditures ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Income ; Rural Health Services ; economics ; utilization

The growing status of Anoectochilus roxburghii seedling was observed and the survival rate of seedlings, height, stem diameter and plant fresh weight under the conditions of different transplanting substrate compositions, planting density, shading rate were measured. The results showed that the effects of different transplanting substrates, planting densities, shading rates and nutrient solutions on the growing status of A. roxburghii plantlets varied greatly. A. roxburghii plantlets demonstrated a high survival rate and better growing status under the Following conditions: the ratio of peat and river sand as 2: 1, the planting density as 3 cm x 3 cm, the shading rate as 70%, and the nutrient solution as 1/4MS. The findings of the study provide a solid technical solution for the artificial cultivation of A. roxburghii plantlets.
Breeding ; methods ; Culture Media ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Orchidaceae ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Seedlings ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of life and related social support among people living with HIV/AIDS with related factors.

METHODS331 people living with HIV/AIDS and 148 of their family members were selected using a typical sampling method. Questionnaires on general conditions, tables on history of infection, generic quality of life inventory-74 (GQOLI-74) and social support scale (SSS) were used.

RESULTSData from one-way analysis suggested that people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members with the different sexs, different villages and different cultural backgrounds had differences in GQOLI-74 scores (P < 0.05) while people living with HIV/AIDS with the different villages had differences in SSS scores (P < 0.05). Results from Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that being elderly and negative life events were negatively associated with social support (P < 0.05), while factors as more advanced educational background, harmonious neighborhood relationship and having bother pouring nature were the predictive factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMany factors might affect dimensions of quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS and their family members in rural areas of northern Anhui. Community care and social support of HIV/AIDS should still be greatly enhanced in the countryside of China. A community care mode based on family and neighborhood was expected to be developed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; ethnology ; psychology ; China ; Cultural Characteristics ; Family Relations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Quality of Life ; Social Support

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and major complications of haploidentical nonmyeloablative allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (NST) for refractory or relapsed leukemia.

METHODSThe results of 30 patients, including 14 cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 11 cases of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), 5 case of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) (accelerated and blastic phase) with refractory or relapsed leukemia (RF/RL) who underwent haploidentical NST from August 2000 to April 2009 were analyzed. The conditioning regimen consisted of fludarabine (flu), antithymocyte globulin (ATG), cyclophosphamide (CTX), total body irradiation (TBI) and cytarabine (Ara-C) or myleran (Bu). Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prevention programmes consisted of Cyclosporine (CsA), mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), CD25 monoclonal antibody combined with mesenchymal stem cells (MSC).

RESULTSTwenty six cases of patients were full donor engraftment and 4 cases mixed chimerism into full donor chimerism. The average duration of neutrophil >0.5×10⁸/L after NST was 11 (9-16) days, and platelet >20×10⁸/L 17 (12-60) days. Upon follow-up of 16 to 120 months, 12-month transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 46.7%, acute Ⅱ-Ⅳgraft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) incidence was 40.0%. The probability of 3-year disease relapse, EFS and overall survival (OS) rates were 16.7%, 46.2% and 50.0% respectively.

CONCLUSIONHaploidentical NST could improve OS and EFS of refractory or relapsed leukemia and reducce TRM to some extent.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Leukemia ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish the HPLC fingerprint of Xuelian injection.

METHODHPLC with Diamonsil C18 (4.6 mm x 250 mm, 5 microm) column was used, the methanol-1% acetic acid as a mobile phase and detection wavelength at 270 nm.

RESULTIndicating 11 peaks on HPLC fingerprint.

CONCLUSIONThis method is simple and acurate with a good reproducibility and can be used as a quality control method for Xuelian injection.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Injections ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Saussurea ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo report a novel mutation in RPGR gene in a Chinese family with X-linked dominant retinitis pigmentosa(XLRP).

METHODSGenetic linkage analysis was performed on the known genetic loci for XLRP with a panel of polymorphic markers, then the mutations were identified by single-strand conformation polymorphism(SSCP) and direct sequencing.

RESULTSSignificant two-point Lod score was generated using marker DXS8025 (Zmax=2.4, theta =0). The disease gene locus was confined to Xp21.1 with further analysis of genetic linkage and haplotype. Mutations screening of RPGR gene in this family revealed a GA deletion at ORF15+483-484 which caused the open reading frameshift. This novel mutation co-segregated with the affected members of the pedigree, but it was not present in the unaffected relatives.

CONCLUSIONThe above finding expands the spectrum of RPGR mutations causing XLRP in Chinese family and is useful for further genetic consultation and genetic diagnosis.

China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Eye Proteins ; genetics ; Family Health ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, X-Linked ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Mutation ; Pedigree ; Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational ; Retinitis Pigmentosa ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of acupuncture in treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI).

METHODSAdult Wistar rats were used to make SCI model by Allen's method. The SCI rats were treated with electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoints of the Governor Vessel for 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks or 4 weeks. Normal group and spinal cord injury group were used as controls. The number and morphology of astrocytes in each group were investigated by electron microscope, immunohistochemistry and in situs hybridization methods. The expression of glial fibroblast acid protein (GFAP) mRNA in the injured spinal cord was detected by reverse transcription polymerase (RP-PCR).

RESULTSThe mitochondria and ribosomes of astrocytes in the EA group increased. The number of astrocytes increased after SCI, in gray matter being more than that in the white matter, in the caudal being more than that in the rostral. The expression of GFAP mRNA in the EA group was significantly lower than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can inhibit the reactive proliferation of the astrocytes after spinal cord injury and prevent formation of the glial scar.

Animals ; Astrocytes ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Rats, Wistar ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; therapy

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF) on murine thymocyte emigration and cell cycle alteration after a sublethal dose of gamma-irradiation. Female BALB/c mice were given 6.0 Gy γ-ray total body irradiation and then randomly divided into G-CSF and control groups. Mice in the G-CSF group were injected recombinant human G-CSF 100 µg/(kg·d) subcutaneously once daily for 14 consecutive days and mice in the control group were given the same volume of phosphate buffered solution. Thymocyte cycle alteration and the proportion of apoptosis cells were detected by flow cytometry within 72 hours after irradiation. Real-time PCR was used for detection and quantitation of murine T cell receptor rearrangement excision circles (sjTREC) of the thymic cells at 30 and 60 day after the irradiation. The results showed that at 6 hour after irradiation G-CSF could significantly increase the thymic cells in G(0)/G(1) phase, G-CSF vs control: (82.0 ± 5.0)% vs (75.9 ± 2.8)% (p < 0.05), and decrease the thymic cells in S phase, G-CSF vs control: (10.2 ± 4.8)% vs (15.7 ± 2.3)% (p < 0.05), but G-CSF seemed have no evident effects on the percentage of thymic cells in G(2)/M phase. G-CSF could also protect thymocytes from apoptosis at 6 hour and 12 hour after irradiation the percentages of apoptosis cells in G-CSF group were (11.5 ± 2.4)% and (15.5 ± 3.3)%, respectively, which were significantly lower than that of the control group (16.5 ± 2.2)% and (22.6 ± 0.7)%, respectively (p < 0.05). The sjTREC copy amount was conspicuously higher in G-CSF group than that in the control at 30 day after irradiation (p < 0.01), but the preponderance disappeared 60 days later. It is concluded that G-CSF has a positive effect on the thymic cell cycle alteration to protect thymocytes from apoptosis and enhance the recent thymocyte emigration, which may contribute to the central immune reconstitution after irradiation.
Animals ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; radiation effects ; Female ; Gamma Rays ; adverse effects ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Recombinant Proteins ; pharmacology ; Thymocytes ; drug effects ; radiation effects