OBJECTIVE:To summerize the characteristics and variability of chest X-ray manifestations in SARS patients treated with compound glycyrrhizin.METHODS:60cases of SARS were equally divided into2groups:groupⅠreceiving compound glycyrrhizin,groupⅡ(as control)receiving conventional treatment.The appearing time,site,scope and dynamic changes of the pulmonary lesions on chest radiograms were compared between2groups.RESULTS:The average period from peak to50%improvement of lesion in X-ray manifestations was shorter in groupⅠthan that in groupⅡ.In restoration stage,more patients had their X-ray findings absorbed in groupⅠcompared with the patients in groupⅡ.Compound glycyrrhizin had little influence on WBC,blood sugar and electrolytes.CONCLUSION:Glycyrrhizin may be a promising drug against SARS with less side effects.

OBJECTIVETo study the mechanism underlying the effect of the SOCS3 rs4969170 A/G alleles on the occurrence of insulin resistance (IR) in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

METHODSThe promoter region of the SOCS3 gene was amplified by PCR,and luciferase expression vectors were constructed and transfected into HepG2,Huh7 cell lines.The relative luciferase activity of each expression vector was assessed by the dual luciferase reporter gene assay system.Western blotting was used to detect SOCS3 protein expression in PBMCs from groups of patients with the rs4969170 AA and AG genotypes.The state of IR in eight patients was evaluated by determining their HOMA-IR.

RESULTSThe pGL3-A, PGL3-G and pGL3-control vectors showed significantly different luciferase expression in the HepG2 cells (0.121 00 ± 0.022 07,0.027 00+/-0.012 49 and 0.043 33 ± 0.005 51; F =48.068, P=0.001) and in the Huh7 cell lines (0.164 70 ± 0.007 10,0.027 33 ± 0.017 04 and 0.033 67 ± 0.014 98; F =115.137, P=0.001). The expression of SOCS3 protein was significantly higher in the rs4969170 AA genotype group than in the AG genotype group (1.22 ± 0.40 vs. 0.30 ± 0.19; t =4.149, P=0.006).The IR index of patients with the rs4969170 AA genotype and the AG genotype was 4.11 ± 2.62 and 1.47 ± 1.01 respectively.There were three patients with IR in the rs4969170 AA genotype group and one in the rs4969170 AG group. There was no statistically significant difference between the two genotype groups (t=1.881, P=0.109).

CONCLUSIONSThe SOCS3 rs4969170 A haplotype may enhance transcriptional activity of the gene promoter to regulate gene expression, thereby increasing intracellular SOCS3 protein level and ultimately interfering with insulin signaling and causing IR in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Genes, Reporter ; Genotype ; Haplotypes ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Luciferases ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins