Objective To observe the recent clinical efficacy of the sequential therapy hormone in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis.Methods In accordance with the principle of digital sheet,160 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis were randomly divided into the observation group and the control group,80 cases in each group.On the basis of methotrexate and leflunomide in both groups,the hormone sequential therapy was given in the observation group,but prednisone was given in the control group.The clinical efficacy of treatment after 1 week and 3 months were compared in two groups.Results In the observation group,the indicators in 7 d after treatment were significantly reduced,compared with untreated(t =19.90,7.63,14.73,7.58,6.84,14.09,all P ＜0.01),In the control group,three indicators of the duration of morning stiffness,joint tenderness index and joint swelling index in 7d after treatment were significantly reduced,compared with untreated (t =13.42,3.34,7.24,all P ＜ 0.01),Compared the indicators in the two groups in 7 d after treatment,there were statistically significant differences (t =13.07,4.92,10.51,5.23,5.74,15.03,all P ＜ 0.01).The indicators in the 3 months after treatment in both groups were signifi cantly decreased,buttherewasnosignificantdifferencebetweenthetwogroups (t =1.80,1.73,1.59,1.22,1.21,1.35,all P ＞ 0.05).The total effective rate was 80% in the observation group; but the rate was 75 % in the control group;there was no statistically significant difference in the two groups(x2 =0.57,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The sequential hormone therapy is an effective means for the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis,by controlled the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis effectively and alleviated the patient's condition.

BACKGROUND: Studies are very few regarding the specific reaction of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) to activated microglia. Moreover, it remains unclear how MSCs maintain dopaminergic neuronal survival under specific microenvironment.OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of BMSCs stimulated by activated microglia on dopaminergic neuron survival.METHODS: BMSCs were isolated from Wistar rats by attachment method, and in vitro cultured; microglia was activated, and dopaminergic neurons were cultured by enzyme digestion method. The experiment included 5 groups: BMSCs, microglia, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+microglia; BMSCs+LPS+microglia groups, in which the dopaminergic neurons were cultured with corresponding culture medium; the dopaminergic neurons alone group was cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum+ DMEM/F12. The effect of different microenvironment on dopaminergic neuron survival and gliocyte-derived neurotrophic factor released from BMSCs were detected by immunofluorescence technique.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The release of gliocyte-derived neurotrophic factor in groups involving BMSCs was greater than corresponding control group. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunofluorescence showed that neuronal survival of dopaminergic neurons alone group was 15%, microglia group was 10%, LPS+microglia was 5%, but BMSCs+LPS+microglia group was 28%, significantly greater than the other groups (P < 0.05). In addition, survival of in vitro cultured dopaminergic neurons was decreased with increasing culture duration, but the survival of dopaminergic neurons in group involving BMSCs was significantly greater than corresponding control group. This indicates that microglia activation stimulated BMSCs to upregulate gliocyte-derived neurotrophic factor to prevent dopaminergic neurons from toxic injury, and inhibit delayed death of dopaminergic neurons.

To screen antitumor active compounds, drug-like or leading compounds from Chinese traditional and herbal drugs.

OBJECTIVETo construct and characterize the TGF-β1, induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) model of keloid epithelial cells in vitro, and to investigate the expression of epithelial stem cells related surface markers in keloid epithelial cells during EMT induction.

METHODSThe epithelial cells from 3 keloid samples of ears were cultured in vitro and induced by transforming growth factor betal (TGF-β1, 1 ng/ml) for 5 days, which was the experimental group, the same cells untreated were considered as the negative control group. The expressions of EMT-associated markers and regulative genes were detected using immunofluorescence staining, real-time PCR and western blot analysis. Then the surface markers of epithelial stem cells were detected using real-time PCR. Statistical significance was determined using Independent-Samples t Test, a p value less than 0. 05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression of transcription factor snail2 and mesenchymal-specific marker vimentin increased significantly in TGF-β1, induced keloid epithelial cells (P < 0. 05), in which snail2 increasing from 0. 91 ± 0. 23 to 1. 69 ± 0. 10, and vimentin from 5. 86 ± 2. 07 to 24. 29 ± 5. 39. Whereas the mRNA expression of epithelial-specific marker E-cadherin decreased from 1. 06 ± 0. 19 to 0. 65 ± 0. 09. The mRNA expression of CD29 and Lgr6, two surface markers of epithelial stem cells, significantly increased after induction of the TGF-β1, (P < 0. 05), from 0. 55 ± 0. 14 and 1. 61 ± 0. 31 to 1. 19 ± 0. 12 and 3. 84 t 0. 62 respectively. In induced cells, the immunofluorescence results showed staining of E- cadherin became faint, but the number of positive staining cells of vimentin increased. Western blot confirmed the protein expression of E-cadherin weakened, and the vimentin and p-Smad3 enhanced (P < 0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSTGF-β1, initiated EMT in keloid epithelial cells by inducing the up-regulation of snail2, and TGF-β1,/Smad3 signaling pathway was involved in EMT. EMT could change the phenotype of epithelial stem cells in keloid.

Biomarkers ; metabolism ; Cadherins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; drug effects ; physiology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Keloid ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Smad3 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; Snail Family Transcription Factors ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Up-Regulation ; Vimentin ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To explore the effects of one time loading of different doses of simvastatin before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)on post-PCI inflammation,oxidation stress and the endothelium function in (ACS) patients. Methods Totally 124 cases with ACS were randomly divided into two groups:high dose simvastatin group(40 mg,62 cases),low dose simvastatin group (20 mg,62 cases). Each group was given the same basic treatment. Blood samples were obtained from all the patients before and 12 h after PCI,and endothelin-1 (ET-1),nitric oxide (NO),interleukin-10(IL-10),high sensitive - C reactive protein(hs-CRP),superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde(MDA) were detected. Results The baseline information,distribution of sex,age,and implanted frames had no significant differences between the two groups (P＞0.05).Before PCI,the levels of ET-1,NO,IL-10,hs-CRP,SOD and MDA had no significant differences (P＞0.05) between the two groups.After PCI,ET-1,IL-10 and hs-CRP levels in simvastatin 40 mg group were significant lower while NO level was higher than in simvastatin 20 mg group[(4.4 ± 1.1)ng/L vs.(4.8±1.2)ng/L,t=2.03,P=0.044; (15.0±6.3) ng/L vs.(18.7±9.0)ng/L,t=2.68,P=0.008;(26.9±10.0)ng/L vs.(31.5± 11.7)ng/L,t=2.52,P =0.022;(51.9± 10.9)μmol/L vs.(47.1±11.8)μmol/L,t=2.37,P=0.020].There were no significant differences in MDA and SOD levels between the two groups.For safety,all the patients had no abnormality in liver and kidney function after treatment. Conclusions Compared with 20 mg simvastatin loading before PCI,the 40mg simvastatin loading may decrease the inflammatory cytokines and improve the endothelium function more effectively.

AIM:To observed the protective effect of diminazene aceturate(DIZE),an angiotensin-converting enzyme 2(ACE2)activator,on rats with diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM).METHODS:Male Wistar rats(n=30)were randomly divided into normal control group ,DCM group and DIZE treatment group(DIZE group).The rats in DCM group and DIZE group were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin(65 mg/kg )to establish diabetic model.After 12 weeks,the diabetic rats were infused with DIZE at 15 mg· kg-1 · d-1 or the same volume of saline for 4 weeks using os-motic minipump.The cardiac function was measured at the end of the 16th week.The methods of Mason staining and HE staining were used to observe the morphological changes of the myocardial tissue.Western blot ,ELISA and immunohisto-chemistry were used to observe the changes of ACE2,angiotensin(Ang)Ⅱ,Ang-(1-7),interleukin(IL)-1,IL-6 and connective tissue growth factor(CTGF).RESULTS:DIZE significantly improved the expression of ACE 2 in diabetic rats(P<0.05).Compared with DCM group,the levels of IL-1 and IL-6 in DIZE group were significantly decreased ,and the cardiac function in DIZE group was significantly improved(P<0.05).CONCLUSION:ACE2 endogenous agonist DIZE significantly increases the ACE 2 level and reduces the level of inflammation ,thus protecting the heart function of DCM rats.

Objective To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)in synovium of rats with adjuvant arthritis and the relationship between the histopathologic score and the expression of VEGF.Methods Adjuvant arthritis was established in Wistar rats by inoculating complete Freund's adjuvant(CFA). We calculated the arthropathologic score and the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein at different stages after CFA inoculation.Results In model group the arthropathologic score and expression of VEGF protein in synovium increased significantly all the time (P

To illustrate the solubility involved in biopharmaceutics classification system of Chinese materia medica (CMMBCS) , the influences of artificial multicomponent environment on solubility were investigated in this study. Mathematical model was built to describe the variation trend of their influence on the solubility of puerarin. Carried out with progressive levels, single component environment: baicalin, berberine and glycyrrhizic acid; double-component environment: baicalin and glycyrrhizic acid, baicalin and berberine and glycyrrhizic acid and berberine; and treble-component environment: baicalin, berberin, glycyrrhizic acid were used to describe the variation tendency of their influences on the solubility of puerarin, respectively. And then, the mathematical regression equation model was established to characterize the solubility of puerarin under multicomponent environment.
Berberine ; chemistry ; Biopharmaceutics ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; chemistry ; Isoflavones ; chemistry ; Materia Medica ; chemistry ; Solubility

AIMTo study the interaction mechanism of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with luteolin and apigenin.

METHODSFluorescence quenching method and non-radioactive energy transfer theory were used.

RESULTSThe binding constants at different temperature were determined and the quenching mechanism of them were suggested as static quenching. The transfer efficiency of energy and distance between BSA and luteolin or apigenin were investigated according to the mechanism of the Förster energy transference.

CONCLUSIONThe interaction between them seems to be strong and the binding force were mainly hydrophobic force. B(3')-OH,B(4')-OH strengthened the interaction of flavonoids and BSA.

Apigenin ; chemistry ; Energy Transfer ; Luteolin ; chemistry ; Protein Binding ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet ; Thermodynamics

Objective To investigate the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) on apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes in mice with viral myocarditis.Methods Three hundreds and twenty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 8 groups.Different courses of IVIG were given in varying time after virus inoculation,Chinese medicine Huangqi given in control group.The virus titer in myocardium、percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes were detected, myocardial histopathologic scores were counted.Results In every IVIG treatment group,the above 3 items were all significantly lower than that in virus control group and Huangqi group,as IVIG early long course group had the best effect.Conclusion IVIG may reduce the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes and virus titer in myocardium in mice with viral myocarditis,the effects are better than that of Huangqi.