Accidents, Occupational ; Acute Disease ; Adult ; Furaldehyde ; poisoning ; Humans ; Male

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab plus methotrexate combination therpy in Chinese with rheumatoid arthritis patients.Methods This was a double-blind placebo-controlled phaseⅢclinical trial,173 patients who had active rheumatoid arthritis were randomised to placebo(n=86)or infliximab(n=87)group on a background of a stable dosage of methotrexate.Patients were assessed at weeks 0,2,6,14 and 18.Results At week 2,the American College of Rheumatology(20)response criteria,which represent a 20% improvement from baseline,the same results with swollen joint count,tender joint count,du- ration of morning stiffness,VAS score,CRP,ESR were achieved in 52.9% of patients,compared with 14.0% of patients receiving placebo plus methotrexate.A 20% improvement was achieved in 75.9% of infliximab plus methotrexate at week 18,compared with 48.8% of patients on placebo plus methotrexate(P=0.0003).A 50% improvement was achieved in 43.7% of infliximab plus methotrexate at week 18,compared with 25.6% of pa- tients on placebo plus methotrexate(P=0.011).Infliximab was well-tolerated;withdrawals for adverse events as well as the occurrence of serious adverse events or serious infections were similar to those in the placebo group.There was only one case of tuberculosis in the treatment group.Conclusion Treatment with infliximab plus methotrexate is more effective than methotrexate alone in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.It has rapid onset of effect and the efficacy is persistent.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect and mechanism of Shenqi Compound on diabetic angiopathy modeled rats.

METHODSTotally 18 SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, i.e., the normal control group, the diabetic mellitus (DM) group, and Shenqi Compound group, 6 in each group. The DM rat model was established by feeding high-fat diet (to induce hyperlipidemia) +intraperitoneal injection of small dose streptozotocin (STZ). Shenqi Compound was given to rats in the Shenqi Compound group at the daily dose of 2 g/kg. Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the model group and the normal control group by gastrogavage. All treatment was lasted for 12 weeks. Then 2-D and ultrasonic integrated backscatter technique were used to evaluate structural and functional changes of abdominal aorta in the progression of diabetic macroangiopathy. The fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries were observed by using HE and Masson trichrome staining. The tension of the aortic vascular ring was determined. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) mRNA expression was detected by real time PCR (RT-PCR). The protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, collagen III, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), and phosphorylation P38 MAPK were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, abdominal aortic systolic inner diameter, diastolic inner diameter, Peterson elastic modulus, stiffness index, and backscatter integral significantly increased; the rangeability of integral backscatter and the extension coefficient of cross section significantly decreased in the DM group (all P < 0.05). After 12 weeks aforesaid indices were obviously improved in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of HE and Masson staining showed that the fibrosis degree of the aorta vessel and myocardium capillaries was obviously alleviated in rats of the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Results of the aortic vascular ring tension showed that acetylcholine induced vasodilatation and maximum diastolic percent were obviously elevated in the Shenqi Compound group (P < 0.05). Compared with the normal control group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all significantly increased in the DM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the DM group, the mRNA expression of TGF-beta, and the protein expression of TGF-beta, collagen I, and collagen III, and phosphorylation of P38 MAPK all decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSShenqi Compound could effectively improve the arterial function in diabetic marcoangiopathy and microvascular dysfunction. The mechanism might be due to the down-regulating the expression of TGF-beta, and further suppressing the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK, reducing the synthesis of collagen I and collagen III, therefore, ameliorating arterial and myocardial interstitial fibrosis.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Collagen Type III ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biomechanical changes in skin after employing the skin stretch.

METHODSSkin samples were took from the test group which was stretched for 7 days and control group without stretch respectively in the end of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8 week. The biomechanical index were measured by tensiometer.

RESULTSThe mean destroy stress, breaking load, stretch rate of the test group decreased obviously in the first week (the breaking load was increasing at the beginning) and the three index increased subsequently, they reached the climax during the fourth week and turned to normal subsequently to the level of some higher than control group and normal value in the sixth week. The stiffness of the test group reached the climax at the first week and than decreased gradually to the level of some higher than normal value and control group. The biomechanical changes of te control group was not evident by comparing with the test gropu.

CONCLUSIONSSkin stretch may injured the biomechanical property during the early time and turned to normal soon afterwards. The stiffness of the skin was increased and its elasticity was decreased after performing skin stretch.

Biomechanical Phenomena ; Elasticity ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; methods ; Rupture ; Skin ; Skin Physiological Phenomena

BACKGROUNDIn recent years, transfer of the spinal accessory nerve to suprascapular nerve has become a routine procedure for restoration of shoulder abduction. However, the operation via the traditional supraclavicular anterior approach often leads to partial denervation of the trapezius muscle. The purpose of the study was to introduce transfer of the spinal accessory nerve through dorsal approach, using distal branch of the spinal accessory nerve, to repair the suprascapular nerve for restoration of shoulder abduction, and to observe its therapeutic effect.

METHODSFrom January to October 2003, a total of 11 patients with a brachial plexus injury and an intact or nearly intact spinal accessory nerve were treated by transferring the spinal accessory nerve to the suprascapular nerve through dorsal approach. The patients were followed up for 18 to 26 months [mean (23.5 +/- 5.2) months] to evaluate their shoulder abduction and function of the trapezius muscle. The outcomes were compared with those of 26 patients treated with traditional anterior approach. And the data were analyzed by Student's t test using SPSS 10.5.

RESULTSIn the 11 patients, the spinal accessory nerves were transferred to the suprascapular nerve through the dorsal approach successfully. Intact function of the upper trapezius was achieved in all of them. In the patients, the location of the two nerves was relatively stable at the level of superior margin of the scapula, the mean distance between them was (4.2 +/- 1.4) cm, both the nerves could be easily dissected and end-to-end anastomosed without any tension. During the follow-up, the first electrophysiological sign of recovery of the infraspinatus appeared at (6.8 +/- 2.7) months and the first sign of restoration of the shoulder abduction at (7.6 +/- 2.9) months after the operation, which were earlier than that after the traditional operation [(8.7 +/- 2.4) months and (9.9 +/- 2.8) months, respectively; P < 0.05]. The postoperative shoulder abduction was 62.8 degrees +/- 12.6 degrees after transfer of the spinal accessory nerve, better than that after the traditional (51.6 degrees +/- 15.7 degrees). All the 11 patients could extend and externally rotate the shoulder almost normally.

CONCLUSIONSThe accessory nerve transfer through dorsal approach is a safe and reliable procedure for the treatment of brachial plexus injury. Its postoperative effect is confirmed, which is better than that of the traditional operation.

Accessory Nerve ; surgery ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Brachial Plexus ; injuries ; Humans ; Male ; Nerve Transfer ; methods ; Shoulder Joint ; innervation ; physiology

OBJECTIVEObserve the effects of Goutengsan on SOD, MAO-B, GSH-PX, NO, LDH, index of brain, rate of death and so on in rats to study therapeutic effects and mechanism of Goutengsan on Alzheimer dementia (AD) model.

METHODOne hundred and twenty rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 3 experimental groups of which were daily administrated with Goutengsan extract whereas the model and control groups were given NS (0.01 mL x g(-1)). Aniracetam at 0.1 g x kg(-1) served as a positive control. At the 5th day after administration, all groups except the control were administrated (ip) with AlCl3 (100 mg x kg(-1) ) for successive 50 days at 1 day interval. After administration, the death rate, body weight, training scores, brain index, MAO-B, SOD, GSH-Px in brain and NO, LDH in serum were determined.

RESULTThe brain index, SOD, GSH-Px activities as well as NO content of drug-treated groups were strikingly higher that of model group, and had not obvious difference from that of normal group except content of LDH was higher.

CONCLUSIONGoutengsan could increase the brain index, cut down the rate of death, stable increase of body weight, promote the endogenous antioxidant activity, enhance the clearance of lipid peroxide and other metabolic waste, inhibit the MAO-B activity, reduced the leakage of LDH and maintain the content of NO at a normal level. Therefore Goutengsan could protect cells, delay senile, improve symptoms of AD.

Aluminum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Alzheimer Disease ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Chlorides ; pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Memory ; drug effects ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pyrrolidinones ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo determine the effect of butylphthalide on the expressions of protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and P53 in the brain tissue of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

METHODSSixty male adult rats were randomly divided into AD model group, butylphthalide group and control group (n = 20). AD models were established by injecting beta-amyloid protein 1-42 into the hippocampus of rats. Sixty days later, the learning and memory abilities of the rats were evaluated using Y-maze test, and the expressions of PDI and P53 in the brain tissue of the rats were measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the rats in AD model group exhibited significantly reduced learning and memory abilities, lowered expressions of PDI in the hippocampus and increased expression of P53 in the cortex (P > 0.01). In comparison with the model group, the rats in the butylphthalide group showed significantly increased PDI-positive cells in the hippocampus and decreased expression of P53 in the cortex (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONButylphthalide improves the learning and memory abilities of rats with experimental AD, the mechanism of which may involve inhibition of P53 expression and enhancement of PDI expression in the brain tissues.

Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Brain ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Learning ; drug effects ; Male ; Memory ; drug effects ; Protein Disulfide-Isomerases ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

A simple and sensitive Reverse Transcription Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (RT-LAMP) method was established to provide a new alternative for clinical diagnosis of Avian influenza A H5N1 virus. The method employed a set of six specially designed primers that recognized eight distinct sequences of the target for amplification of nucleic acid under isothermal conditions. In current study, fifty-one experimentally infected animal specimens and viral cultures that had been tested were analyzed by RT-LAMP for NA gene and HA gene, respectively. The amplification process of LAMP was monitored in real-time by the addition of SYBR Green dye. Meanwhile, the result showed high correlation between nested PCR and RT-LAMP. The specificity of the RT-LAMP assay was confirmed by restriction enzyme digestion analysis and sequencing of the amplified product. When the sensitivity of this assay was tested by serial 10-fold dilutions of RNA molecules from specimens, it was found that the RT-LAMP method achieved theoretically a sensitivity of 10 RNA molecules. Thus, we concluded that the RT-LAMP assay has potential usefulness for rapid detection of the Avian influenza A H5N1 virus.
Animals ; Birds ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Influenza in Birds ; diagnosis ; virology ; Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques ; methods ; Reproducibility of Results ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We propose a new method for tumor classification from gene expression data, which mainly contains three steps. Firstly, the original DNA microarray gene expression data are modeled by independent component analysis (ICA). Secondly, the most discriminant eigenassays extracted by ICA are selected by the sequential floating forward selection technique. Finally, support vector machine is used to classify the modeling data. To show the validity of the proposed method, we applied it to classify three DNA microarray datasets involving various human normal and tumor tissue samples. The experimental results show that the method is efficient and feasible.
Artificial Intelligence ; Colonic Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; Computational Biology ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Databases, Genetic ; Discriminant Analysis ; Gene Expression Profiling ; statistics & numerical data ; Glioma ; classification ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; classification ; genetics ; Models, Statistical ; Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; statistics & numerical data ; Principal Component Analysis

Objective The main objective of this study was to explore the prevalence and clinical characteristics of human coronavirus NL63 infection in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in Changsha.Methods Nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPA) samples were collected from 1185 hospitalized children with ALRTI at the People's Hospital of Hunan province,between September 2008 and October 2010.Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was employed to screen for coronavirus NL63,which is a 255 bp fragment of a part of N gene.All positive amplification products were confirmed by sequencing and compared with those in GenBank.Results The overall frequency of coronavirus NL63 infection was 0.8％,6 (60％) out of the coronavirus NL63 positive patients were detected in summer,2 in autumn,1 in spring and winter,respectively.The patients were from 2 months to two and a half years old.The clinical diagnosis was bronchopneumonia ( 60％ ),bronchiolitis ( 30％ ),and acute laryngotracheal bronchitis( 10％ ).Four of the 10 cases had critical illness,4 cases had underlying diseases,and 7 cases had mixed infection with other viruses. The homogeneity of coronavirus NL63 with those published in the GenBank at nucleotide levels was 97％-100％.Conclusion Coronavirus NL63 infection exists in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infection in Changsha.Coronavirus NL63 infections are common in children under 3 years of age.There is significant difference in the infection rate between the boys and the girls:the boys had higher rate than the girls.The peak of prevalence of the coronavirus NL63 was in summer.A single genetic lineage of coronavirus NL63 was revealed in human subjects in Changsha.Coronavirus NL63 may also be one of the lower respiratory pathogen in China.