OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Lugua polypeptide on active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSFifty patients with active RA were selected for the study and were randomly divided into study group and control group. Patients in study group were treated with Lugua polypeptide intravenously at a dose of 16 mg per day and those in control group were given Celecoxib 200 mg twice a day for successive 2 weeks. Two groups were given the same basic treatment. Tenderness and swelling of joints, morning stiffness, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein,rheumatoid factor and so on were recorded before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe above index on joints in study group was significantly improved compared with that in control group and the level before treament. No apparent side effects were observed.

CONCLUSIONLugua polypeptide is effective and safe on active RA. It is a promising agent in the treatment of RA.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of dexmedetomidine on inflammatory reaction, oxidative stress, and renal pathologies in a rat model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis.

METHODSThirty-two SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups, including a sham-operated group, LPS group with LPS (5 mg/kg) injection via the caudal vein 30 min before the operation, dexmedetomidine (Dex) +LPS group with additional Dex (10 µg/kg) injection via the caudal vein 10 min before LPS injection, and yohimbine+DEX+LPS group with intraperitoneal yohimbine (1 mg/kg) injection 40 min before and Dex injection 10 min before LPS injection. The levels of IL-1β, SOD and MDA in the plasma and renal tissues were determined, and the renal pathologies were examined.

RESULTSCompared with the sham-operated rats, the rats in LPS group showed significantly increased IL-1β and MDA levels and lowered SOD activity in the plasma and renal tissues (P<0.05) with obvious renal pathologies. Dex pretreatment obviously lowered IL-1β and MDA levels and enhanced SOD activity in the plasma and renal tissues in LPS-challenged rats (P<0.05), and significantly lessened LPS-induced renal pathologies.

CONCLUSIONDex can protect the rats against LPS-induced renal injury by alleviating the inflammatory reactions and cytokine oxidative stress, and this effect is mediated possibly by α2 receptors.

Acute Kidney Injury ; drug therapy ; Animals ; Dexmedetomidine ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sepsis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism