ObjectiveTo estimate the clinical efficacy and immunomodulatory effect of polysaccharidenucleic acid fraction of bacillus calmette guerin(BCG-PSN) combined with a traditional Chinese medicine in patients with vitiligo.MethodsThis study recruited 99 patients with vitiligo aged from 13 to 65(35,6 ± 5.8) years.The patients were classified into 3 groups to be treated with BCG-PSN and a traditional Chinese medicine (Baidianfeng granules) alone or in combination.BCG-PSN was intramuscularly injected at a dose of 2 ml every other day and baidianfeng granules were given orally thrice a day,for 3 months.Peripheral blood samples were obtained from the patients at the baseline and after the end of treatment and from 30 healthy controls.Flow cytometry and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) were performed to detect T cell subsets and expression level of Fas and Fas ligand(FasL),respectively.Data were analyzed by t test and chi-square test.Results The response rate was significantly higher in patients treated with BCG-PSN combined with Baidianfeng granules than in those with BCG-PSN alone(82.86％ vs.40.63％,P ＜ 0.01 ).Before the treatment,patients showed a lower percentage of CD3+ cells,CD3+CD4+ cells and CD3+CD8+ cells in peripheral blood(all P ＜0.01 ),weaker expression of Fas (P ＜ 0.01 ),but a higher CD4/CD8 ratio (P ＜ 0.01 ) compared with the controls.The treatment with BCG-PSN and Baidianfeng granules alone or in combinatiou all induced an increase in the percentage of CD3+ cells,CD3+CD4+ cells and CD3+CD8+ cells in peripheral blood(P ＜ 0.05) and in the expression of Fas(P ＜ 0.01),but a decrease in CD4/CD8 ratio(P ＜ 0.05).ConclusionsBCG-PSN may induce the normal apoptosis in lymphocytes via reversing the abnormality in the expression of Fas/FasL by peripheral blood lymphocytes,and the effect of BCG-PSN may be enhanced by a traditional Chinese medicine,Baidianfeng granules.

BACKGROUNDTo investigate the relationship between cytokine level and cancer cachexia on murine model, and to observe the effects of regular dose of indomethacin on cancer cachexia and survival of mice.

METHODSC57 mice bearing Lewis lung carcinoma were used to establish murine cancer cachexia model. The serum cytokine levels (IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ) and body weight of the mice were measured at different time points before and after treatment with daily intraperioneal injection of either indomethacin (1 mg/kg) or saline.

RESULTSThe mice in cancer cachexia group had significantly higher serum levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α ( P < 0.05) and lower body weight ( P < 0.05) than those in healthy control group. Compared to saline treatment, indomethacin intervention apparently down regulated the levels of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α ( P < 0.05 ), and remarkably prolonged the survival of mice ( P < 0.05). No significant difference in IFN-γ level was observed between cancer cachexia and healthy control groups ( P > 0.05), as well as between indomethacin and saline groups ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that serum IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α are possibly associated with cancer cachexia, however, IFN-γ seems to be irrelevant. Indomethacin may potentially ameliorate cancer cachexia through down-regulating levels of cytokines.