Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods

Integrative Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the therapeutic effects metabolic mechanism of Schisandra chinensis polysaccharide (SCP) on chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). METHODS: CFS rat model was established in a variety of ways such as the bondage, excessive exercise, crowded and noise environment. The Morris water maze test, the open-field test and the tail-suspension test were performed to evaluate the CFS model. The gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was conducted to screen the different metabolites in rat urine and analyze the metabolic pathway. RESULTS: The body weight of rats were increased and their space exploration and memory ability were strengthened after SCP supplement. The eleven diversity urine metabolites were detected and the involved metabolic pathways were the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the alanine, aspartic and glutamic acid metabolic pathways. CONCLUSION: SCP could relieve the chronic fatigue syndrome. The metabolic mechanism is relative to the improvement of SCP on the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the alanine, aspartic and glutamic acid metabolic pathways.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Electromyography ; Gait ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Walking

AIMTo investigate the effects of hypoxia on the proliferation and apoptosis of PASMC, to evaluate the role of iNOS protein expression and ADM on the hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) pathogenesis.

METHODSTo culture rat pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (PASMC), cultured PASMC cells were grouped into: normoxic group; hypoxic group; hypoxia + L-NAME group; hypoxia+ ADM group. Proliferation of PASMC were investigated by MTT and PCNA. Apoptosis of PASMC were examined by flow-cytometry. Westen blot was used to measure protein expression of iNOS induced by hypoxia.

RESULTS(By MTT, the value of 24 h hypoxia was significantly higher than that in the normoxic group (P < 0.01), the value of the hypoxia + ADM was significantly lower than that in hypoxia group, the value of the hypoxia + L-NAME was significantly higher than those of hypoxic group and normoxic group (P < 0.01). (2) By immunohistochemistry, PCNA was poorly positive in PASMC, whereas positive after 24 h hypoxia (P < 0.01), ADM inhibited the expression of PCNA significantly (P < 0.01), whereas L-NAME increased the expression of PCNA significantly (P < 0.01). (3) By FCM, apoptosis index was not significantly different between the normoxic group, hypoxic group, hypoxia + L-NAME and hypoxia + ADM (P > 0.05). (4) By Western blot, iNOS expression was poorly positive in control group, positive after 4 h hypoxia (P < 0.01), increasing as the hypoxia environment continued (P < 0.01). L-NAME had no effect on iNOS protein, ADM promoted iNOS expression (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION(1) Hypoxia stimulates the proliferation of PASMC, and has no obvious effects on the apoptosis of PASMC. (2) Hypoxia induces the expression of iNOS, ADM can increase expression of iNOS, ADM and INOS plays a role of protection in HPH pathogenesis.

Adrenomedullin ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Artery ; cytology ; pathology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Controlled clinical trials of integrative therapies available to patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improved dramatically in the past 20 years, largely because of the growing need and the methodologies improvement. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F., a typical example of popular use herb, has been extensively studied in trials. However, clear and convincing evidence of integrative therapy, effectiveness and safety, remains insufficient to make decision. Many research efforts are hampered by standing problems with 'syndrome' recruitment failure. In addition, the outcome multiplicity induces the findings inefficiency to generalize to RA patients at large. Development of validated syndrome outcomes and methodologies has also been critical. Current efforts to enhance the understanding of integrative treatment options for patients with RA include the development of drug-specific rather than disease-specific strategies, studies in predictive biomarkers, and development of peer-review trial protocol for regular clinical trials.
Antirheumatic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Clinical Trials as Topic ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo develop the first grade standard analytical reference material of bovine blood lead.

METHODSAccording to standards and technology specification of primary standard reference material (JJG1006-1994), ISO 17511, and volume-effect relationship, a bovine blood lead model was developed by adding acetate lead in the feed in dose of 2-5 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1). Cow blood was collected when blood lead concentration went up to low, medium and high concentration range (90-100, 190-200, 280-300 microg/L). Blood sample was kept in tube and frozen after irradiation. The samples were tested for homogeneity and stability. ID-MS method was used to measure the lead concentration through comparison with two standard lead samples from the USA NIST SRM 955b.

RESULTSSamples of the three lead concentrations showed uniformity by single factor analysis of variance (F = 0.61, 1.64, 0.28, respectively, P > 0.05) . After 14 months monitoring, the RSD was 0.85%, 1.05% and 0.49% (t = 0.787, 1.132, 0.854, respectively, P > 0.05). The characteristic and indefinite values were 102.4 +/- 5.5; 181.2 +/- 4.0; 304.5 +/- 3.9, respectively (unit: microg/L). The reproduction of the two USA NIST SRM 955b samples further showed our methods and procedures were correct. Our sample was stabile for four days at room temperature.

CONCLUSIONThe standard reference material of bovine in our research had reached the national standard material requirements.

Animal Feed ; Animals ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; standards ; Cattle ; Lead ; blood ; Male ; Models, Animal ; Reference Standards

OBJECTIVETo investigate the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment status of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) in our hospital.

METHODSMedical records of 252 patients with neuroendocrine tumors diagnosed and treated in our hospital from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2009 were collected and retrospectively reviewed in this study. The clinicopathological data including age of onset, initial symptoms, primary site, pathological conditions (Sny, CgA, Ki-67), disease stage at diagnosis, treatment, and follow up were analyzed.

RESULTSThe gender ratio M/F of the 252 cases was 1.9:1, with mean age of 55.2 years, and the high incidence was in age of 60-69 years. The tumors were located in the gastrointestinal tract (117 cases, 46.4%), broncho-pulmonary system (74 cases, 29.4%), other sites (61 cases, 24.2%) and unknown primary site (2 cases, 0.8%). Their first clinical symptoms vary, depending on the primary site. The common symptoms of primary rectal NETs were changes in bowel habits (29.3%) and diarrhea or constipation (17.5%), and most gastric NETs presented epigastric discomfort (86.4%). Most patients (71.4%) were diagnosed with stage I, II, III disease. Among the 252 cases, there were 110 carcinoids (43.7%), 108 neuroendocrine carcinomas (42.9%), 23 atypical carcinoids (9.1%), five neuroendocrine tumors (2.0%), four Merkel cell tumors (1.6%), and two composite carcinoids (0.8%). 206 patients (81.7%) received surgery, 39 (15.5%) received chemotherapy, and 31 cases (12.3%) were treated by palliative radiotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSThis single-center retrospective analysis of data demonstrated that males have a higher incidence rate than females. The most common primary sites of NETs are the digestive tract and lungs. The initial symptoms of NETs are different depending on their primary sites. Good prognosis can be achieved in the majority of patients after surgery, chemotherapy and palliative radiotherapy.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoid Tumor ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Digestive System Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; administration & dosage ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Palliative Care ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate ; Young Adult

This study was aimed to develop a sandwich ELISA kit for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.And it was applied and evaluated in the quarantine of bovine tuberculosis.We established a bovine IFN-γ release method in vitro and developing three batches of kits.The sensitivity,repeatability and retention period of the kit were all evaluated.Totally 961 serum samples were tested using the developed sandwich ELISA kit tuberculin skin test and a commercial ELISA kit.Our results showed that the detection limit of this ELISA was 8.21 mg/mL.The repeatability tests showed good reproducibility in the intraassay and inter-assay.At the same time,the retention period of the kit was more than 12 months.Compared with the tuberculin skin test,the positive coincidence rate was 70.59％ and the negative coincidence rate was 99.20％,while the total coincidence rate was 98.44％.And compared with the BOVIGAMTM kit,the positive coincidence rate was 91.30％ and the negative coincidence rate was 99.78％,while the total coincidence rate reached 99.58％.At the same time,the sensitivity and specificity of the sandwich kit were 85.00％ and 100％,respectively.We established a bovine IFN-γ release method in vitro and developing corresponding kits successfully have a good application prospect.

BACKGROUNDPalliative chemotherapy has been shown to have a survival benefit for patients with recurrent or metastatic gastric cancer. We conducted a Phase II trial to determine the efficacy and safety of S-1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX regimen) as first-line chemotherapy for patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic gastric cancer.

METHODSEligible patients had measurable lesions and no previous history of chemotherapy (except adjuvant chemotherapy). Oxaliplatin was administered intravenously at a dose of 130 mg/m(2) on day 1. S-1 was administered orally in doses of 80, 100, or 120 mg/d according to body surface areas of <1.25 m(2), 1.25-1.5 m(2), or >1.5 m(2) respectively; the total dose was divided into two daily doses on days 1-14. Treatments were repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or intolerable toxicity occurred.

RESULTSForty-three patients were enrolled in the study. All were assessable for efficacy and adverse events. The objective response and disease control rates were 55.8% and 76.7% respectively. The median follow-up time was 16.5 months. The median progression-free survival time was 7 months (95% CI, 5.8-8.2 months) and the median overall survival time was 16.5 months (95% CI, 9.7-23.3 months). The one-year survival rate was 54.2%. Major adverse reactions were grade 3/4 neutropenia (9.3%) and thrombocytopenia (20.9%).

CONCLUSIONThe SOX regimen with oxaliplatin at a dose of 130 mg/m(2) was found to be effective and safe as a first-line chemotherapy in Chinese patients with advanced gastric cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome