OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of immune-related response criteria (irRC) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 97 stage III a-IV NSCLC patients were predominantly treated with comprehensive CM. Curative effects were evaluated by three methods such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Oncologic Curative Effect Evaluation Criteria of Chinese Medicine in Solid Tumor (draft, abbreviated as CM criteria), and irRC. The correspondency and consistency between irRC, RECIST and CM criteria were analyzed and compared. The objectivity of irRC in evaluating curative effect of Chinese medical treatment for NSCLC was assessed.

RESULTSThe correspondency rate of irRC to RECIST was 59. 79% with Kappa value of 0. 379 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had certain correspondence, but with an unsatisfactory consistency. The correspondency rate of irRC to CM criteria rate was 83. 51% with Kappa value of 0.751 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had good correspondence and consistency.

CONCLUSIONSCM criteria had good consistency with CM criteria in evaluating curative effect for Chinese medical treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its results could objectively reflect features and advantages of CM for treating advanced NSCLC.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride.Method Ninety-three patients with early Parkinson's disease were randomized into group A of 32 cases, group B of 30 cases, and group C of 31 cases. Group A was intervened by needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride, group B by rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride, while group C by taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride. UPDRSⅢ scores and Berg balance scale (BBS) scores were observed.Result After intervention, UPDRSⅢ scores and BBS scores were significantly changed in all groups (P<0.05). UPDRSⅢ scores of group A were markedly different form that of group B and C (P<0.05). BBS scores of group A and B were markedly different form that of group C (P<0.05).Conclusion Needling the three trembling points plus rehabilitation and taking levodopaand benserazide hydrochlo-ride can improve motor function and equilibrium function in the early Parkinson's disease patients.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect and mechanism of hirudin on atherosclerotic plaques in apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE(-/-)) mice.

METHODSTotally 24 ApoE(-/-) mice, 7-8 weeks old were fed with high fat diets. They were randomly divided into the recombinant hirudin treatment group (drug group) and the model group according to body weight and different dens, 12 in each group. Twelve C57BL/6J mice, 7-8 weeks old fed with high fat diet were recruited as the normal control group. Recombinant hirudin (0.25 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to mice in the drug group from the 10th week old once every other day for five successive weeks. Equal volume of normal saline was injected to mice in the model group. Mice in the normal control group received no treatment. All mice were sacrificed after fed with high fat diet until they were 20 weeks old. Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), E-selectin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and stromal metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were detected. The plaque/lumen area and extracellular lipid composition/ plaque area were analyzed by HE staining and morphometry. Changes of signaling molecules in store-operated calcium channels, including stromal interacting molecule 1 (STIM1), Orail protein, and transient receptor potential channel 1 (TRPC1) were determined by Western blot. Results Lipid plaque formed in the aorta vessel wall of 20-week old mice in the model group. Compared with the normal control group, serum levels of TC, TG and LDL increased (P<0.01), hs-CRP, E-selction, IL-6, and MMP-2 obviously increased (P<0.01, P<0.05) in the model group; expression levels of STIM1, TRPC1, and Orail significantly increased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the plaque/lumen area and the extracellular lipid composition/plaque area significantly decreased in the drug group (P<0.05, P<0.01); serum levels of TC and LDL, hs-CRP, E-selction, IL-6, and MMP-2 obviously decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01); expression levels of STIM1, TRPC1, and Orail were significantly down-regulated (P<0.05, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONHirudin could significantly improve lipids and endothelial functions of ApoE(-/-) mice, down-regulate expression levels of STIM1, Orai1, and TRPC1, and thus delaying the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis.

Animals ; Aorta ; Apolipoproteins E ; metabolism ; Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cholesterol ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; E-Selectin ; Hirudins ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; Lipids ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Knockout ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; metabolism ; Recombinant Proteins ; metabolism ; Triglycerides

Objective To compare the changes in serum levels of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)and uric acid(UA)before and after atorvastatin treatment for the patients with both essential hypertension and hypercholesterolemia,and to evaluate its effects on blood pressure and left ventricular remodeling.Methods One hundred and twenty-six hypertensive patients complicated with hypercholesterolemia were randomized into group A with amlodipine 10 mg/d(n = 65)and group B with amlodipine 10 mg/d plus atorvastatin 20 mg/d(n = 61),for three months continuously.Serum levels of total cholesterol(TC),low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-C),high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C),triglyeerides(TG),hs-CRP and UA,as well as blood pressure,were determined for both groups before and after treatment.Left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LPWT)and interventricular septum thickness(IVST)were measured by echocardiography and left ventricle mass index(LVMI)was calculated.Results Serum levels of TC,LDL-C,HDL-C,TG,hs-CRP and UA decreased significantly in gr6up B after three-month treatment with atorvastatin,while serum level of HDL-C increased significantly. And,systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduced in both groups,but significantly lower in group B than those in group A,after treatment(P

Objective To evaluate the safety of coronary intervention using iodixanol in patients with diabetic renal insufficiency.Methods Clinical data of 97 patients with diabetic renal insufficiency undergoing coronary intervention during June 2004 to June 2006 were retrospectively analyzed,50 of them with iodixanol,an iso-osmolar contrast medium (iodixanol group),and 47 with iopromide,a hypotanic contrast medium (iopromide group).Judkin's coronary angiography showed 167 diseased vessels in the patients,65 in anterior descending branches,44 in circumflex branches,and 58 in right coronary arteries. Levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen were determined before percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI),on the day of the procedure,the 3rd and 7th days after PCI,respectively,as well as radiocontrast media-induced nephropathy (CIN) was observed.Results Totally,192 drug-eluting stents were successfully implanted in 167 diseased vessels,and all patients' angina pectoris symptom disappeared soon after the procedure,with a full success.No acute or subacute stent thrombosis and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurred.Two patients (4%) in iodixanol group and 10 (21%) in iopromide group got CIN,with a statistical significance (P

Objective:To study the relationship between CYP4F2 gene polymorphism and coronary heart disease (CHD) in Mongolia patients ,and investigate clinical characteristics of these patients . Methods:All subjects received questionnaire . Gene amplification and genotyping were performed in 234 Mongolian CHD patients (CHD group) and 221 non-CHD pa‐tients (normal control group) using high temperature ligase detection reaction technique .The relationship between Mongo‐lian CHD and CYP4F2 gene polymorphisms of two single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites (rs1558139 ,rs2108622) was analyzed .Results:Compared with normal control group ,there were significant rise in percentages of male (41.18% vs . 67.95% ) ,smoking history (32.13% vs .41.88% ) ,body mass index [BMI ,(21.66 ± 4.53 ) kg/m2 vs .(25.34 ± 5.37 ) kg/m2 ] and triglyceride level [ (1.66 ± 0.90) mmol/L vs .(1.92 ± 1.38) mmol/L] ,and significant reduction in level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol [ (1.18 ± 0.28) mmol/L vs .(1.07 ± 0.29) mmol/L] in CHD group , P<0.05 or <0.01.There were no significant difference in genotype and allele frequencies of rs 1558139 and rs2108622 between two groups . Conclusion:Clinical characteristics of Mongolian CHD patients include high male percentage ,smoking history ,high body mass index and high triglyceride level .CYP4F2 gene polymorphisms of rs1558139 and rs2108622 are not related to coronary heart disease in Mongolian patients .

OBJECTIVETo explore effects and possible mechanisms of curcumin on hypoxia induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2.

METHODSHepG2 cells were divided to 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the CoCl2 group, and the CoCl2 plus 10 micromol/L curcumin group. The proliferation of HepG2 was determined using MTT assay. The migration of HepG2 was detected by wound healing assay.The mRNA expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1alpha) was evaluated with real-time RT-PCR. The protein expressions of HIF-1alpha, epithelial-cadherin (E-cadherin), and vimentin were determined using Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells under CoCl2-induced hypoxia significantly increased, the expression of HIF-1alpha was up-regulated, and the expression of E-cadherin protein was obviously down-regulated, and the expression of vimentin significantly increased (all P < 0.05). Intervention by curcumin significantly inhibited the proliferation and migration of hypoxic HepG2 cells, and expressions of HIF-1alpha and vimentin decreased, and the expression of E-cadherin was up-regulated, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the CoCl2 group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in HIF-1alpha mRNA expression among the 3 groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCurcumin could reverse the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells under CoCl2-induced hypoxia condition, which might be associated with inhibiting up-regulated expressions of HIF-1alpha protein and EMT.

Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Hypoxia ; Curcumin ; pharmacology ; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation rate, and evaluate the effects of Maixuekang Capsule (MC) on the platelet aggregation rate, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the long-term prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome under percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODSTotally 236 inpatients with acute coronary syndrome under PCI, who successively received PCI from July 2008 to June 2010, were randomly assigned to the routine treatment group (RTT, 120 cases) and the MC treatment group (MKT, 116 cases). Besides routine medication, patients in the MKT group additionally took MC, 12 capsules daily for 12 successive months. The ADP-induced platelet aggregation rate and hs-CRP concentration were determined before PCI, 12 h and 30 days after PCI. In the meantime, the incidence of adverse cardio-/cerebrovascular events was recorded during the twelve-month clinical follow-up. Results Compared with before PCI, ADP-induced platelet aggregation rate and the serum hs-CRP concentration were significantly higher 12 h after PCI (P < 0.05). They were significantly reduced after 30-day treatment of MC, showing statistical difference when compared with those in the RTT group (P < 0.05). In the 12-month follow-up, the incidence of adverse cardio-/cerebrovascular events was significantly lower in the MKT group than in the RTT group (6.9% vs 12.5%, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSADP-induced platelet aggregation function was significantly elevated after PCI, which was a predictive factor of poor coronary events. MC improved the long-term prognosis of patients with acute coronary syndrome possibly through inhibiting the platelet aggregation rate and the hs-CRP concentration.

Acute Coronary Syndrome ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Aged ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Phytotherapy ; Platelet Aggregation ; Prognosis

Objective In order to study the epidemiology of Borna disease virus (BDV) in Zunyi region and its surrounding regions in Guizhou province. Methods p24 fragment of BDV fragments in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 43 patients with viral encephalitis (VE), 9 cases with multiple sclerosis (MS), 7 cases with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), 5 cases with Parkinson disease (PD), 98 healthy donors and 300 goats were examined by quantitative fluorescence nested reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Gene sequence and amino acid sequence were analyzed for positive products. Results The positive rate of BDV p24 fragment in PBMC from VE (13.95 %) and MS (22.22 %) were significantly higher than in healthy donors (0 %, P<0.05). The positive rate of BDV p24 fragment in PBMC from goats was 0.67 %, without statistical difference when compared with healthy donors (P>0.05). Guillain-Barre syndrome and Parkinson disease( PD)were tested negative. The sequence of the BDV p24 fragment from the patients with VE was in conformity with that of the MS. Results presented that 3 situs consistency silent mutation when compared with strain V and its homogeneity was 96.51%. 2 situs consistency silent mutation compared with BDV/MDCK and its homogeneity was 97.67%. 2 situs consistency silent mutation when compared with C6BV and its homogeneity was 97.67 %. Sequences of the BDV p24 fragment from the goats presented 3 situs consistency silent mutation when compared with strain V and its homogeneity was 96.51%. 3 situs consistency silent mutation when compared with BDV/MDCK and its homogeneity was 96.51%. 3 situs consistency silent mutation when compared with C6BV and its homogeneity was 96.51%. However, there were no changes of encoding amino acids in all BDV p24 fragments from neuropsychiatric disorders. Conclusion Our data indicated that the BDV infection was presented in patients with VE, MS and goats from Zunyi region and its surrounding regions of Guizhou province. BDV might play a potential role in the development of VE, MS as well as having correlations with animals.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between serum levels of soluble Fas(sFas), soluble Fas li gand(sFasL), soluble IL-2 receptor(sIL-2R) and coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: With enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests, sFas, sFasL and sIL-2R were measured in the sera from 30 patients with CHD and 26 subjects without CHD as controls. RESTULTS: Mean level of sFas was significantly higher in patients with CHD than in controls [(1 583.41+/-174.46)ng/L compared with (1 374.55+/-142.42)ng/L, P<0.01]. Compared with the controls, the mean level of sIL-2R was significantly higher in patients with CHD [(944.50+/-395.59)ng/L compared with (652.45+/-163.36)ng/L P<0.01]. Moreover, in patients with CHD sFas and sIL-2R were positively correlated (r=0.418 P<0.05). Whereas no such difference was found between both groups in sFasL (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: High levels of serum sFas and sIL-2R were associated with CHD, and elevation of sFas may inhibit apoptosis in activated T cells, leading to coronary events.