OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XC) on lipoprotein metabolism of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

METHODSTotally 180 RA patients were assigned to the experimental group and the control group by random digit table, 90 in each group. Patients in the experimental group took XC (three pills each time, three times daily), while those in the control group took Methotrexate Tablet (four tablets each time, once per week). One month consisted of one therapeutic course and all patients were treated for two therapeutic courses. A healthy control group consisting of 60 patients was also set up. Changes of lipoprotein indices, clinical efficacy, lipid metabolism, joint symptoms and signs, activity indicators were observed, and correlation analyses were performed.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, expression levels of prealbumin (PA), globulin (GLO), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), apolipoprotein Al (Apo-A1) were lowered in RA patients (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Correlation analyses showed that PA was negatively correlated with joint tenderness, morning stiffness time, disease activity score (DAS-28), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, respectively. Total protein (TP) was negatively correlated with joint tenderness. GLO was negatively correlated with joint tenderness and DAS-28. HDL was negatively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and endothelin (ET)-1. Apo-Al was negatively correlated with joint pain; Apo-B was negatively correlated with CRP; LDL was negatively correlated with morning stiffness time (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with before treatment, expression levels of PA, HDL, Apo-A1 , Apo-B, and serum IL-10 contents increased, and expression levels of ESR, CRP, IL-6, ET-1 , joint pain, joint swelling, morning stiffness time, and DAS-28 decreased in the experimental group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). PA increased more after treatment than before treatment in the control group (P <0. 01). There was statistical difference in joint symptoms (except joint tenderness) and activity indices (except ET-1) in the control group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). Compared with the control group after treatment, PA and HDL increased, ET-1 and duration of morning stiffness decreased in the experimental group (all P <0. 05).

CONCLUSIONSLipoprotein metabolic disorder exists in RA patients, and it is associated with disease activity. XC could obviously improve lipoprotein metabolism and joint symptoms.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-6 ; Lipoproteins ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; metabolism ; Methotrexate

Adolescent ; Child ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dystonic Disorders ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male

Objective: To investigate influence of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiology in rats complicated with depression after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: A total of 50 SD rats were randomly and equally divided into normal group, MI group, depression group, MI complicated with depression group (model group) and Wenxin particle group (Wenxin particle were given to model rats by gavage, 2 g/d, 28d). Model（MI complicated with depression）rats were made by acute ligation of left coronary artery and supply chronic unpredictable mild stress in order. The influences of Wenxin particle on cardiac electrophysiological indexes, such as monophasic action potential (MAP90), left ventricular effective refractory period (ERP) and ventricular fibrillation threshold (VFT) were evaluated in Wenxin particle group. Results: (1) Compared with normal group, there were significant decrease in behavior scores (P<0.05) in model group, after four-week treatment with Wenxin particle, their behavior scores significantly increased (P<0.01); (2) Compared with normal group, there were significant increase in MAPD90 and ERP, and significant decrease in VFT in model group (P<0.05); compared with model group, there were significant decrease in MAPD90 [(89.33±7.12) ms vs. (72.29±8.37) ms] and ERP [(84.00±6.57) ms vs. (68.00±7.43) ms], and significant increase in VFT [(7±3.11)V vs. (29±5.60)V] in Wenxin particle group, P<0.05. Conclusion: Wenxin particle can improve cardiac electrical remodeling in rats complicated with depression after myocardial infarction, including decrease monophasic action potential duration and effective refractory period, and raise ventricular fibrillation threshold.

OBJECTIVETo explore the mechanism of miR-124 inhibiting the proliferative activity of prostate cancer PC3 cells.

METHODSLuciferase reporter gene assay was used to examine the specific binding ability of miR-124 to PKM2 mRNA 3'-UTR. After miR-124 was transfected mimic to PC3 cells, the expression levels of PKM2 mRNA and protein were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. The effects of miR-124 mimic and PKM2 siRNA on the proliferative activity of the PC3 cells were determined by MTT assay.

RESULTSThe expressions of PKM2 mRNA and protein were upregulated (5.12 +/- 0.35) times and (4.05 +/- 0.20) times respectively in the PC3 cells as compared with those in the RWPE-1 cells (P < 0.05). Luciferase reporter gene assay demonstrated that miR-124 targeted PKM2 3'-UTR. At 24 hours after transfection with miR-124 mimic, the PKM2 protein expression in the PC3 cells was downregulated (0.16 +/- 0.04) times (P < 0.05), while the PKM2 mRNA level was not changed significantly (P > 0.05), as compared with the control group. MTT assay showed that both miRNA-124 mimic and PKM2 siRNA could inhibit the proliferation of the PC3 cells, but the former exhibited a greater inhibitory effect than the latter. After transfection with miR-124 mimic and PKM2 siRNA, the cell growth rates were (66.20 +/- 5.10)% vs (82.10 +/- 6.35)% at 24 hours (P < 0.05) and (49.34 +/- 2.37)% vs (70.10 +/- 5.80)% at 48 hours (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONmiR-124 can suppress the proliferation of PC3 cells by regulating the PKM2 gene.

Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Thyroid Hormones ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection

Background: Therapeutic interventions for diabetes are most effective when administered in the newly onset phase, yet determining the exact onset moment can be elusive in practice. Spontaneous autoimmune diabetes among NOD mice appears randomly between 12 and 32 weeks of age with an incidence range from 60 to 90%. Furthermore, the disease often progresses rapidly to severe diabetes within days, resulting in a very short window of newly onset phase, that poses significant challenge in early diagnosis. Conventionally, extensive blood glucose (BG) testing is typically required on large cohorts throughout several months to conduct prospective survey. We incorporated ultrasensitive urine glucose (UG) testing into an ordinary BG survey process, initially aiming to elucidate the lag period required for excessive glucose leaking from blood to urine during diabetes progression in the mouse model. Results: The observations unexpectedly revealed that small amounts of glucose detected in the urine often coincide with, sometimes even a couple days prior than elevated BG is diagnosed. Accordingly, we conducted the UG-based survey protocol in another cohort that was validated to accurately identified every individual near onset, who could then be confirmed by following few BG tests to fulfill the consecutive BG + criteria. This approach required fewer than 95 BG tests, compared to over 700 tests with traditional BG survey, to diagnose all the 37–38 diabetic mice out of total 60. The average BG level at diagnosis was slightly below 350 mg/dl, lower than the approximately 400 mg/dl observed with conventional BG monitoring. Conclusions We demonstrated a near perfect correlation between BG + and ultrasensitive UG + results in prospective survey with no lag period detected under twice weekly of testing frequency. This led to the refined protocol based on surveying with noninvasive UG testing, allowing for the early identification of newly onset diabetic mice with only a few BG tests required per mouse. This protocol significantly reduces the need for extensive blood sampling, lancet usage, labor, and animal distress, aligning with the 3Rs principle. It presents a convenient, accurate, and animal-friendly alternative for early diabetes diagnosis, facilitating research on diagnosis, pathogenesis, prevention, and treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the value of detecting thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and Noval aspartic proteinase of pepsin family A (napsin A) in pleural fluid cell blocks in cytopathologic diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

METHODSConventional cell smears of pleural effusions were obtained from 48 patients with a history of lung adenocarcinoma for cytological analysis. The cell blocks were prepared using the cytological specimens and examined with immunohistochemistry for TTF-1 and napsin A. The rates of a positive diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma were compared between the two methods, and the diagnositic value of TTF-1 and napsin A in pleural fluid cell blocks was evaluated.

RESULTSImmuno- histochemistry of the cell block sections yielded a significantly higher positive rate of diagnosis than cytological analysis of conventional cell smear (84.44% vs 55.56%, P<0.05). Most of the pleural fluid cell blocks showed positive expressions of TTF-1 (36/38, 94.74%) and napsin A (30/38, 78.95%), and none of samples showed TTF-1 or napsin A expression in the mesothelial cells (P<0.05). The combination detection of TTF-1 and napsin A in pleural fluid cell blocks had a high diagnosis value with a diagnostic sensitivity of 97.37% and a specificity of 100% for pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSThe combined detection of TTF-1 and napsin A in pleural fluid cell blocks facilitates cytopathologic diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases ; metabolism ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism ; Pleural Effusion ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1 ; Transcription Factors ; metabolism

In this paper, a new, fully-automatic method for the quantification of brain atrophy based on CT volume data is put forward by taking advantage of the characteristics of cerebral CT images in combination with the prior medical knowledge. This algorithm has been verified through the calculation of 2388 cases of normal and brain atrophy subjects.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Autoanalysis ; methods ; Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Middle Aged ; Pick Disease of the Brain ; diagnostic imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the histological and ultrastructural changes of the skin and hair follicles following hair removal by alexandrite laser in Tibet mini-pigs.

METHODSTwelve healthy Tibet mini-pigs with dark hair were treated with alexandrite laser for hair removal. The skin specimens were taken immediately and at 1 h and 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 30, 60 days after the laser treatment for observation under optical and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSLaser hair removal resulted in extensive coagulation necrosis, carbonization and falling of the subcutaneous hair shafts, and some of the cells in the outer root sheath and hair bulb underwent degenerative and necrotic changes. One hour after laser treatment, the cells in the outer root sheath and bulb exhibited nuclear condensation, fragmentation and or karyolysis characteristic of cell apoptosis. The cell apoptosis reached the peak level on day 3 after the laser exposure, accompanied by endothelial degeneration in the hair papilla vessels, edema and lymphocyte infiltration in the dermal tissues. Tissue reaction and inflammation were relieved on day 5, and the dermal tissue and follicles recovered their normal structures on day 10. At 60 days after the treatment, the hair follicles decreased markedly but the structure of the residue follicles remained normal.

CONCLUSIONAlexandrite laser exposure results in selective destruction of the follicles by inducing direct coagulation and cell apoptosis to achieve permanent hair removal. Tibet mini-pigs with black hair can be used as the animal model of clinical laser hair removal.

Animals ; Hair Follicle ; radiation effects ; ultrastructure ; Hair Removal ; methods ; Lasers, Solid-State ; therapeutic use ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Swine ; Tibet

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of intravesical instillation of sodium hya- luronate in relieving the symptoms of refractory non-bacterial cystitis.Methods Totally,20 patients(1 man and 19 women;mean age,47 years;age range,22-68 years)with refractory non-bacterial cystitis were included.Their disease course ranged from 1 month to 30 years.Of them,16 patients had the disease for more than 1 year.Instillation of sodium hyaluronate(50 ml solution of 40 mg HA)was performed intravesically in them for a total of 12 weeks(once a week for the first 4 weeks and once every 4 weeks for the succeeding 8 weeks).Follow-up visit ended at 16 weeks,when the patients filled in the symptom assessment scores(VAS on pain,frequency and urgency)according to the subjective evaluation.Therapeutic results were classified as(1)total response:symptom disappearance or relief by at least 90% of the symptom scores;(2)partial response:symptom relief by 50%-89%;(3)mild response:symptom relief by 49% or less;(4)no re- sponse:no improvement in symptom scores.Results Nineteen patients completed the 16-week follow-up with only 1 withdrawing.The average general symptom score decreased from 22.32?5.53 to 9.47?5.88 (P＜0.001);frequency score from 8.21?1.75 to 3.89v2.31(P＜0.001);urgency score from 7.47?2.14 to 3.37?2.14(P＜0.001);pain score from 6.63?3.47 to 2.21?2.74(P＜0.001).After 16 weeks,overall positive response rate(total+partial response)was 53%(10/19).No serious adverse effect occurred except for urethral irritation(25%,5/20),worsening of distending pain of the bladder(5%,1/20) and vertigo(15%,3/20)caused by the procedure itself.Conclusions For patients suffering from refrac- tory non-bacterial cystitis,intravesical instillations of sodium hyaluronate can significantly relieve the symp- toms and is safe and of good patient compliance.

Objective　To study the effect of acute serious smoke inhalation injury to unilateral lung on contralateral lung and the therapeutic efficacy of massive bronchoscopic lavage with saline to the primary injured bronchoalveolus at early stage after smoke inhalation on mitigating the secondary damage of the other lung and so as to confirm the therapeutic validity of lung lavage to smoke inhalation injury. Methods　Fifteen mongrel dogs were insufflated with sawdust smoke into left lung and then randomized into 2 groups. The dogs in group A were maintained intravenous glucose saline transfusion and breathed air freely for 24 h after injury. Those in group B received a massive bronchoscopic lavage with 250 ml of saline to injured lung at 1 hour after injury and then were administrated similarly to those in group A. Gas exchange function of bilateral lungs in the process were observed and pathologic and phyiopathologic changes of the lung specimen were examined after the process. Results　While the total lavaging volume was kept to 250 ml, the liquid volume remained in left lung after each operating was from 90 ml to 140 ml. All animals had a significant decline in pulmonary function after smoke inhalation injury. PaO2 in group B decreased significantly soon after the lavage and then increased gradually to exceeding that in group A. The left lung showed serious edema similarly in two groups but in right lung the water content was less, dynamic and static compliance was more in group B than in group A. Conclusion　Bronchoalveolar massive lavage at early post-injury stage to injured lung after unilateral lung smoke inhalation injury can mitigate secondary damage of the non-injured lung. Lung lavage can decrease the intensity of secondary systemic inflammatory reaction and show a therapeutic validity to smoke inhalation injury.