Objective To observe the changes of serum soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and fibrinogen in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and to investigate the clinical predictive value of increased serum sCD40L and fibrinogen. Methods Serum sCD40L level of 60 AMI patients was determined by enzyme-linked im-munosorbent assay (ELISA). Plasma level of fibrinogen was measured. The patients were followed up for 2 years af-ter discharge from the hospital and were observed for cardiovascular event. Results AMI patients had higher sCD40L and fibrinogen levels than those of controls [(15.36±7.32) μg/L vs. (5.79±2.78) μg/L, (4.60±1.37)g/L vs. (3.03±0.82) g/L,P<0.001] ,which were significantly higher in the patients experiencing cardio-vascular event than those without cardiovascular event [(18.14±6.34) μg/L vs. (14.38±6.67) μg/L and (4.97±1.33)g/L vs. (4.20±1.24} g/L] (P<0.05). The patients with sCD40L≥14.5 μg/L or fibrinogen≥ 4.4 g/L experienced increased risk of adverse cardiovascular events (P<0.05). In AMI patients, sCD40L level was significantly higher in patients with diabetes than in nondiabetics [(18.38±6.71) μg/L vs. (14.46±6.48) μg/L, P<0.05)]. Fibrinogen level was related to sCD40L (r=0.27, P<0.05) and LVEF(r=-0.319, P<0.05). Conclusion Increased sCD40L and fibrinogen levels,which maybe related to the pathogenesis of AMI,can be found in AMI patients and can indicate an independent increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events. Diabetes is independently associated with elevated sCD40L level in AMI patients.

Objective To prepare natural anti-keratin IgM monoclonal antibody. Methods Spleen cells of BALB/c mice raised in specific pathogen free conditions were directly fused with Sp2/0 myeloma cells. The hybridoma supernatants were tested by ELISA using pre-extracted keratin. The natural IgM obtained was further identified by immunochemistry and immunoblot methods. Results The cell fusion rate was about 60% without pre-immunization. About 14% supernatants reacted with the keratin antigen. Three hybridoma strains secreting natural IgM monoclonal antibody against keratin were obtained. The immunochemistry results showed that the natural anti-keratin IgM was able to bind to epidermis, sebaceous gland, hair follicule, and muscle tissues. Conclusion B lymphocytes in normal BALB/c mice spleen can produce natural antibody against kerain.

Objective To study the effects of anti-keratin autoantibody (AK auto Ab) on apoptosis of human keratinocytes. Methods Light and electron microscopy were used to observe morphological changes, flow cytometry (FCM) to analyze cell cycle, and electrophoresis to analyze DNA profiles of cultured keratinocytes. Results Typical morphological changes with apoptotic characteristics such as karyopyknosis, chromatin agglutination and apoptosis bodies were found. The subdiploid peaks due to apoptosis were also found in cell cycle analyses. DNA electrophoresis of keratinocytes showed characteristic ladder. Conclusions AK auto Ab could induce apoptosis in cultured human keratinocytes.

Objective:To observe the effects of warming needle therapy combined with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang(decoction for dissipating phlegm and unblocking collaterals)on post-stroke cognitive impairment due to obstruction of wind-phlegm. Methods:A total of 78 patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to an observation group and a control group,with 39 patients in each group.Both groups received conventional treatment.The control group was additionally treated with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang,while the observation group received warming needle therapy in addition to the treatment given to the control group.Scores on the mini-mental state examination(MMSE),Montreal cognitive assessment(MoCA),and activities of daily living(ADL)were assessed before and after treatment.Adverse reactions and clinical efficacy were analyzed and compared between the two groups after treatment. Results:The total effective rate was 82.1%in the observation group and 61.5%in the control group,showing statistical significance between the two groups(P<0.05).After treatment,the MMSE,MoCA,and ADL scores of both groups were significantly higher than those before treatment within each group(P<0.05).Notably,the scores in the observation group were higher than those in the control group(P<0.05).No adverse reactions occurred in either group during the treatment period. Conclusion:Based on the conventional treatment,compared to modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang alone,warming needle therapy combined with the modified Hua Tan Tong Luo Tang showed superior clinical efficacy in treating post-stroke cognitive impairment due to obstruction of wind-phlegm,and this combined therapy also showed high safety.

BACKGROUNDTo detect dendritic cells (DC)in the peripheral blood and plasma concentration of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and to evaluate their relationship.

METHODSThe quantitation of DC in the blood was performed in 55 patients with NSCLC, 13 patients with pulmonary benign diseases, and 12 healthy volunteers by a novel flow cytometric assay. The concentration of VEGF in the plasma was measured by ELISA kit.

RESULTSNo significant difference was found in the levels of DC and VEGF between the patients with pulmonary benign diseases and healthy volunteers (P>0.05). In comparison with subjects of healthy volunteers and pulmonary benign diseases, the level of DC was significantly decreased, while that of VEGF was significantly increased in the patients with NSCLC(P < 0.05 to 0.01). The levels of DC and VEGF in the peripheral blood of NSCLC were closely associated with TNM stages and lymph node metastasis. However, no correlation was found among the levels of DC and VEGF and age, gender, cell differentiation and histologic classification. There was a negative correlation between the VEGF concentration and the DC counts.

CONCLUSIONSThe decline of DC count in peripheral blood and the enhancement of plasma VEGF are remarkably related to the malignancy of NSCLC. And VEGF overexpression may be one of mechanisms of DC maturation and differentiation inhibition in patients with NSCLC.

ObjectiveTo study the medication rules of Professor. WANG Xingkuan and inherit his academic experience in the treatment of chest stuffiness and pain with the aid of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Inheritance Computing Platform V3.0 （TCMICS V3.0）. MethodThe original medical records of patients with angina pectoris in coronary heart disease （CHD） diagnosed and treated by Prof. WANG in the outpatient department of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from 2017 to 2020 were collected and entered into the TCMICS V3.0. The rules of prescriptions and drugs were analyzed by the software. ResultA total of 1 044 prescriptions of Prof. WANG for the treatment of chest stuffiness and pain were collected. Most of the drugs were sweet and bitter in flavor and mainly acted on the lung meridian， followed by heart， spleen， liver， stomach， and kidney meridians. Among the prescriptions， Shengmaisan was the most commonly used classic prescription， and Xintongling No. Ⅲ was the top experienced prescription. High-frequency drugs mainly included Ophiopogonis Radix， Pinelliae Rhizoma， Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma， Trichosanthis Pericarpium， Coptidis Rhizoma， Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus， and Bupleuri Radix. The common doses of drugs were 3， 5， 10， and 15 g. The analysis of formulation rules revealed 129 combinations of common drugs， 58 combinations with confidence > 0.99， and the core drugs of common syndromes. Six core drug combinations were obtained by drug clustering. ConclusionProfessor WANG treats chest stuffiness and pain based on syndrome differentiation following the principles of benefiting Qi， nourishing Yin， eliminating phlegm， resolving stasis， soothing liver， and promoting bile secretion， reflecting his academic idea of "regulation of multiple organs and comprehensive treatment". The core prescriptions can be used for reference by clinical practitioners， but further clinical and experimental studies are still needed to verify their efficacy.