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.

Objective To approach a semi-quantitative diagnostic criteria of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy(HIE) by comprehensive scoring, including history, clinical manifestation and laboratory data,which can be used for early diagnosis,severity grading and the institution of therapy.Methods We analyzed history, clinical manifestation and some parameters of laboratory data,and established criteria for scoring and grading,and compared this grading with the grading determined by clinical data and follow-up,which brought forward a semi-quantitative diagnostic criteria, and applied this criteria to other 41 patients with HIE to test its reliability.Results The grading criteria were established as the following:if total score ≥20.0,the patient was graded as severe one;total score between 10.5-19.5, moderate one; between 5.5-10.0,mild one;≤5.0,non-HIE one. The scoring system was used in other 41 patients with HIE,the specificity and sensitivity were 100% and 96 .9%,97.2% and 100%,100% and 100%, respectively.Conclusions For severe HIE cases who are not permitted to receive compated tomography(CT) examination or no CT can be used, this scoring system can be used to diagnoze HIE and grade the severity. This method is simple and easy to perform.Both specificity and sensitivity are high for diagnosis and severity judgment of HIE.

ObjectiveTo investigate the application of dexmedetomidine attenuating hemodynamic fluctuation in patients with cerebral aneurysm during anesthesia induction.Methods Sixty patients undergoing elective interventional procedure with cerebral aneurysm were divided into low dose of fentanyl group (group LF),high dose of fentanyl group (group HF),and low dose of fentanyl and dexmedetomidine combination group(group FD) by random digits table method with 20 cases each.Before induction of anesthesia,the patients in group FD received dexmedetomidine 1 μ g/kg for 10 minutes,and the others received 0.9％ sodium chloride with the same volume.During anesthesia induction,fentanyl 3 μ g/kg in group LF and group FD,and fentanyl 5 μ g/kg in group HF.Other anesthetics were equalized.Systolic blood pressure (SBP),diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) were monitored and recorded at 3 min utes after lying on table (T0),before intubation (T1),immediately and 3 minutes after intubation (T2,T3).The differences between the maximum and the minimum of SBP,DBP and HR were calculated in these time points as fluctuation values,named as △SBP,△DBP and △HR.Results△SBP,△DBP and △HR in group FD [ (26.9 ± 14.8) mm Hg( 1 mm Hg =0.133 kPa),(10.7 ± 8.9) mm Hg,(12.5 ± 4.3 ) times/min ]were lower than those in group LF [ (40.4 ± 15.6) mm Hg,(20.3 ± 9.4) mm Hg,(30.1 ± 15.0) times/min ](P ＜ 0.05 ),as well as △SBP and △HR in group HF [ (29.8 ± 16.8 ) mm Hg,( 19.5 ± 7.4) times/min ]were lower than those in group LF(P ＜ 0.05).While △HR in group FD was lower than that in group HF (P ＜0.05).The usage of atropin in three group had no statistical significance during anesthesia induction (P =0.364),but more ephedrine was used in group HF than in group LF [30％(6/20) vs.5％(1/20),P=0.032 ].Conclusion Dexmedetomidine 1μ g/kg injected before anesthesia induction,which could prevent intubation reaction,blood pressure serious falling after intubation,and provide more stable hemodynamics,is particularly applicable for anesthesia induction in patients with cerebral aneurysm.

Objective To investigate the evolution of surgical treatment and it's influence on prognosis in reptured liver cystic echinococcosis.Method Clinical data of 110 surgically treated cases of reptured liver cystic echinococcosis from January 1990 to December 2008 were retrospectively analysed,and these cases were divided into three groups by different surgical approach;Group A(22 cases):removal of internal capsule,with formaldehyde or hydrogen peroxide regional anthelminthic,with residual cavity side edge of lock stitching or greater omentum filling or drainage after residual cavity closure;Group B (65 cases):Removal of intemal capsule,with hypertonic saline regional anthelminthic,with external capsule extrahepatic partial resection,with residual cavity bile leakage sutured,and with residual cavity open drainage,Group C(23 cases):the total or subtotal external capsule stripping operation,with hypertonic saline regional anthelminthic and drainage.Result The rate of overall postoperative complications of residual cavity was 40.9%、16.9%、0.0%(P<0.05)respectively and the recurrence rate was 18.2%、4.6%、0.0%(P<0.05)respectively;drainage time needed was the longest in group A,and shortest in group C,whereas the operation time was the longest in group C and it costed higher blood loss.Intraabdominal implantation of the hydatid significantly decreased with hypertonic saline treatment.Conclusion Total or near total removal of the external capsule of the hydatic cyst and hypertonic saline treatment with postoperative external drainage is the therapy of choice for reptured liver cystic echinococcosis.

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

OBJECTIVETo explore the repair of Xiangsha Liujunzi Decoction (XSLJZD) on interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) and gap junction (GJ) in the gastric muscular layer of rats of Pi-qi deficiency syn- drome (PQDS).

METHODSPQDS was established using purgative method with bitter and cold drugs in 30 healthy Wistar rats. After successful modeling they were randomly divided into the treatment group and the model group, 15 in each group. Another 15 healthy Wistar rats were recruited as the healthy control group. Rats in the treatment group were gastric administered with XSLJZD at 2 mL/100 g body weight, once daily for 14 successive days. Equal volume of normal saline was gastrically administered to those in the healthy control group and the model group. The gastric muscle tissues were taken out before modeling, before intervention, and after intervention, respectively. Ultrastructural changes of ICC and GJ were observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). The number and distribution of Connexin43 (Cx43) were detected using immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSResults of TEM indicated that compared with the healthy control group, both ICC and GJ in the model group showed obvious injury. ICC and GJ were apparently repaired after intervention in the treatment group. Compared with the same group before modeling, the integrated optical density (IOD) of the Cx43 expression significantly decreased in the model group before and after intervention (P <0.05). Compared with before intervention, the IOD of the Cx43 expression significantly increased in the treatment group (P <0.05). Compared with the healthy control group, the IOD of the Cx43 expression significantly decreased in the model group before and after intervention (P <0.05). Compared with the model group, the IOD of the Cx43 expression significantly increased in the treatment group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSUltrastructures of ICC and GJ in the gastric muscular layer of rats of PQDS were obviously damaged. XSLJZD could repair the structural damage of ICC and GJ in the gastric muscle tissues of rats of PQDS.

Animals ; Connexin 43 ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Gap Junctions ; Interstitial Cells of Cajal ; drug effects ; Leydig Cells ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth ; Qi ; Rats, Wistar ; Syndrome

Objective:To investigate the promoting effect of Ginsenoside Ro on the differentiation of THP-1-derived dendritic cells (DCs) induced by GM-CSF and IL-4.Methods: Sensitive leukemia-derived DC cell line was screened first.Then,the selected sensitive cell line THP-1 was stimulated to differentiate into DCs by cytokines (GM-CSF and IL-4) and small(5 μmol/L),middle(10 μmol/L),and large (20 μmol/L) dose of Ginsenoside Ro respectively.The expressions of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by flow cytometry.In addition,the transcription levels of CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ of leukemia-derived DCs were detected by RT-PCR.ELISA was used to measure the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the culture supernatant.Results: THP-1 was the sensitive leukemia cell line which could be induced to differentiate into DCs by cytokines.Compared with cytokine stimulation alone,the expression of CD1a,MHCⅡ and CD86 in leukemia-derived cells was significantly increased after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).The CD1a,CD86 and MHCⅡ mRNA expression was significantly increased after the treatment of Ginsenoside Ro combined with cytokine(P<0.05).Moreover,the protein levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in culture supernatant were significantly increased (P<0.05) after the stimulation of Ginsenoside Ro in combination with cytokines.Conclusion: Ginsenoside Ro can significantly promote the differentiation of leukemia-derived DCs.

Objective To establish an automatic warning program which accommodates to the test procedures in medical laboratory centerand and to put into operation.Methods Based on laboratory information management system (LIS),automatic warning program was established,which composed of maintenance of warning rules,feedback of vulnerabilities in rules,solutions of feedback targets and evaluation of ride-effectiveness.The results of performance were assessed after operation for six months in Guangzhou Kingmed Medical Laboratory Center.Results An automatic warning program containing 13 kinds of rule templates was successfully established.The multi-point warning program via asynchronous structure for six specialized testing procedures was realized.A total of 1 523 warning rules were included in the rule bank and 24 000 reports were verified on average each day.The average passing rate of reports was 70.2％ and the passing rate of single test was 83.9％.The approval time for reports was reduced by 10 to 40 minutes compared with that without using the automatic warning program.The efficiency for report approval was improved by 25 percent.Conclusion Automatic warning program may ensure the high quality of test reports,ease pressure on staff and improve work efficiency.

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

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