ObjectiveTo estimate the effect of azithromycin on lung function and transforming growth factor β1(TGF- β1) in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). MethodsOne hundred and ten patients with IPF were divided into two groups by random digits table. Patients in azithromycin group(60cases) were treated by azithromycin tablets and thoee in placebo group ( 50 cases) were treated by placebo tablets, and they were observed for 12 weeks. Lung function was detected at beginning and after 6,12 weeks' treatment. TGF- β1 was tested by ELISA, meanwhile patient's condition was observed. ResultsAfter 6 and 12 weeks' treatment, the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), carbonmonoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) in the two groups had no significant differences compared with those at beginning of treatment (P ＞ 0.05). After 12 weeks' treatment, the level of TGF- β1 in azithromycin group was significantly decreased compared with that at beginning and after 6 weeks' treatment (P ＜ 0.05) ,but there was no significant difference in placebo group (P ＞ 0.05). The ratio of acute exacerbation admission and infection was 8.3％(5/60) and 60.0％(3/5) in azithromycin group, 22.0％( 11/50) and 81.8％(9/11 ) in placebo group,and there were significant differences between the two groups(P ＜0.05 or ＜0.01). Conclusion Azithromycin may reduce the ratio of acute exacerbation admission and infection, decrease TGF- β 1 expression in patients with IPF by taking orally for a long time, but it may have no obvious effect on lung function.

Objective To establish GC and GC/MS qualitative and quantitative analysis methods for identification of cocaine cases. MethodsChoosed and optimized the best analysis parameters of cocaine by GC/MS and GC. We prepared 0.10, 0.20, 0.40, 0.60, 0.80, 1.00, 1.20mg/ml ethanol solution of cocaine standard which all contained 0.6mg/ml diazepam (internal standard) to study the analyse standard curve and the detection limit of cocaine drugs. ResultsThe linear equation of cocaine by GC/FID was Y=1.055X-0.0021, R2=0.9999; That of GC/NPD was Y=0.556X-0.0016, R2=0.9996; The detection limits of cocaine were 10ng by GC/FID method and 2ng by GC/NPD method. On the other hand, we used GC/FID and GC/NPD methods and internal standard to quantitate the cocaine drugs sized by police respectively, the result of concentration was 72%?2.3%. The quantitative data of both methods had good repeatability. ConclusionThe methods established are useful to examine and identify cases of cocaine.

Objective To investigate the expression of p21ras and microvascular density (MVD) in pancreatic carcinoma and to identify their clinico-pathological significance. Methods Expressions of p21ras and MVD were immunohistochemically assessed in 48 cases of pancreatic carcinomas. Results The expression rate of p21ras in pancreatic carcinomas was 60.40%, the MVD was (22.207?5.815) and (18.053?5.502) respectively in the p21ras-positive group and p21ras-negative group (P

Objective To investigate the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) on fetal gastric epithelial cells (GECs) in vitro damaged by N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Methods The fetal gastric epithelial cells were isolated, cultured and identified. Then the cells of the second generation were cocultured with 10 -5 mol/L, 10 -6 mol/L, 10 -7 mol/L SB for 4 h, then added with 10 -5 mol/L MNNG culturing for another 24 h. After the treated cells were finally cultured in normal culture medium for 40 d, the unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS), lipid peroxidation (LPO) and ras p21 were detected. The cells were only cultured with 10 -5 mol/L MNNG served as negative control and without MNNG or SB as normal control. Results The level of UDS, the contents of lipid peroxidation products and the concentrations of ras p21 in GECs treated with 10 -5 mol/L and 10 -6 mol/L SB decreased obviously, and had significant differences with that of GECs treated without SB. Conclusion SB can effectively prevent the damage of GECs induced from MNNG.

Blindness ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Vision, Low ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control

Objective To explore the effect of caspase-9 inhibitor on low fetal bovine serum ( FBS)-induced apop-tosis in cartilage endplate chondrocytes in SD rat vertebrae.Methods Disc cartilage endplates were obtained from 3-month old SD rats and subjected to sequential digestion to harvest chondrocytes for primary culture, and apoptosis was in-duced by 1%FBS for 48 hours.Three groups of chondrocytes were treated by 1% FBS, caspase-9 inhibitor ( Z-LEHD-FMK) and DMSO, respectively.After 48 hours, apoptosis was detected by DAPI staining and flow cytometry.The expres-sion of procaspase-9, active caspase-9 and active caspase-3 was monitored by Western blot.Results Compared with the 1%FBS group (40.8 ±0.84)%and DMSO group (40.2 ±1.56)%, the apoptosis rate of the caspase-9 inhibitor group (26.3 ±2.56)% was significantly lower (P<0.05).The expressions of active caspase-9 and active caspase-3 in the caspase-9 inhibitor group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups (P<0.05).Conclusions Caspase-9 inhibitor can inhibit low FBS-induced apoptosis in cartilage endplate chondrocytes of rat vertebrae, and might become a new drug for the treatment of disc degeneration.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effects of bone marrow stem cells for the treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis. Methods The clinical data of 28 patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis who were admitted to the No. 105 Hospital of PLA from July 2009 to March 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were separated and purified from the bone marrow cells of the patients in vitro,and then they were transplanted into the liver of the patients through proper hepatic artery. The clinical symptoms and physical signs of the patients were monitored, and the biochemical indexes of the liver were measured at the 2nd, 4th, 8th and 12th weeks after operation. All data were analyzed using the analysis of variance, LSD test or Dunnett's test. Results The appetite and physical strength of 26 patients were apparently improved one week after operation. The ascites of 23 patients were reduced at the end of the 4th week. At the end of the 12th week,the level of alanine aminotransferase was decreased from (99 ± 36)U/L to (48 ± 26 )U/L, aspartate aminotransferase was decreased from (86 ±36)U/L to (46 ±22)U/L, total bilirubin was decreased from (38 ± 16)μmol/L to (18 ± 13)μmol/L, albumin was increased from (29 ± 4)g/L to (35 ± 5 )g/L, and the prothrombin time was decreased from ( 19 ±4)s to ( 13±4) s. There were significant differences in the biochemical indexes of the liver after operation when compared to those before operation ( F =267. 35, 143. 52, 218. 74, 125. 57, 331.25, P <0.05). No fever, rash or allergic reaction was detected. Hematoma was detected in the incision site of the posterior superior iliac spine in one patient, and it disappeared one week later; one patient had discomfort in the liver area during the process of the BMSCs transplantation, and the discomfort disappeared at the end of the process; one patient died of hemorrhage of the upper gastrointestinal tract at the end of the 3rd month after operation. Conclusion The short term outcome of the autologous BMSCs transplantation for the treatment of decompensated liver cirrhosis is satisfactory, while its long term effect needs to be further investigated.

Abnormalities, Multiple ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Aorta, Thoracic ; abnormalities ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic ; congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Aortic Diseases ; congenital ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Male ; Radiography ; Rare Diseases ; X-Rays

Objective To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen to reduce stress-induced gastric mucosal injury in rabbits with blast-related brain injury.Methods Posttraumatic stress ulcer in a rabbit model of blast-related brain injury was created using paper detonators.Ninety New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into normal control group (n =10),blast-related injury group (n =40) and hyperbaric oxygen treatment group (hyperbaric oxygen group,n =40) according to the random number table.Rabbits in blast-related injury group and hyperbaric oxygen group were subgrouped at 6 hours,24 hours,72 hours and 7 days postinjury,with 10 rabbits at each time point.Gastric mucosal injury was detected in aspects of ulcer index,TUNEL method for apoptotic index,and alcian blue-periodic acid-schiff (AB/PAS) staining and semi-quantitative analysis of pathological histology using.Results Neither stress ulcer nor apoptosis occurred in normal control group.At 6 hours,24 hours,72 hours and 7 days postinjury,index of gastric ulcer in blast-related injury group was 12.08 ± 1.02,25.56 ± 0.88,20.36 ±0.96 and 17.56 ± 1.12 respectively,far higher than 8.02 ±0.58,15.22 ± 1.05,12.39 ±0.65 and 9.22 ± 0.79 in hyperbaric oxygen group (P ＜ 0.05) ; apoptotic index in blast-related injury group was 20.22 ± 1.56,27.56 ± 0.96,24.36 ± 1.23 and 16.38 ± 1.24,far higher than 10.78 ± 0.93,13.89 ±0.84,10.55 ± 1.58 and 8.56 ± 1.47 in hyperbaric oxygen group (P ＜ 0.05).Thickness of AB/PAS-positive mucin layers showed marked attenuation even loss in blast-related injury group,but the loss was minor in hyperbaric oxygen group (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen is effective to decrease the stress ulcer index and apoptosis index of gastric mucosa,increase the thickness of AB/PAS positive layer and lighten the gastric mucosal injury of rabbits with blast-related brain injury.

Objective To primarily explore the efficacy and adverse effects of the combination of fiudarabine,cytarabine and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)(FLAG regime)therapy for relapsed and refractory acute leukemia in children.Methods Ten children were treated with the FLAG regime for relapsed and refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML)and acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL)from Feb.2007 to Mar.2010.There were 8 male and 2 female,with mean age 8 years(ranging from 4 to 12 years).AML was diagnosed in 8 children,AML-M2 in 5 cases,AML-M4 in 3 cases.ALL was diagnosed in 2 children,both were B-ALL.Six children had refractory disease,and 4 cases were in relapse.FLAG regime included:fludarabine 25 mg?m-2?d-1,days 1-5;cytarabine 2 g?m-2?d-1,days 1-5;G-CSF 150-300 ?g?d-1,from day 0 to neutrophils ≥0.5?109 L-1.Results Complete remission was obtained in 6 children(60%),partial remission was obtained in 1 child(10%),and 3 children were considered non-response(30%).The total effective rate was 70%.For 8 children with AML,6 children had achieved complete remission(75%),2 children had non-response(25%).While in children with ALL,1 child got partial remission,and the other one had non-response.Myelosuppression and infections due to neutropenia were the most frequent adverse effects,severe nonhematologic toxicity were not observed in these children.And there were no chemotherapy-related death.Conclusions The FLAG regime is effective in treatment of children with relapsed and refractory acute leukemia,especially for the children with the relapsed and refractory AML.The adverse effects from this regime were well tolerated.FLAG regime can give children with relapsed and refractory acute leukemia another chance.