Objective To observe the histopathologic and ultrastructural characteristics of cornea and adjacent conjunctiva in Mooren’s ulcer. Methods The samples of limbal and central cornea and adjacent bulbar conjunctiva taken from active Mooren’s ulcer after lamellar keratoplasty were cut into paraffin sections and ultrathin sections and observed by light and transmission electron microscopy. The samples taken from patients of a Terrien’s marginal degeneration and a bacterial corneal ulcer were used as controls. Results Chronic inflammation including lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltrating existed in bulbar conjunctiva and sclera of Mooren’s ulcer. Limbal corneal epithelium, Bowman’s membrane, anterior stroma and adjacent superficial sclera melted and the inferior stromal collagen disorganized. The epithelial basement membrane of ulcer progressive edge had been destroyed while the epithelium and stroma kept quiescent. Lymphocytes infiltrated in conjunctiva and corneal epithelium of Terrien’s marginal degeneration with normal epithelial basement membrane, while Bowman’s membrane was destroyed. The epithelial basement membrane of bacterial corneal ulcer was intact. Conclusion Bulbar conjunctiva may act as a local lymph node of Mooren’s ulcer. Epithelial basement membrane of Mooren’s ulcer may have some abnormality as it was invaded first during ulcer progressing and it’s valuable to have a further study.

OBJECTIVETo observe the auxiliary efficacy and safety of Hebi Recipe (HR)in treating early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSTotally 63 early RA patients with Gan-Pi disharmony were randomly assigned to the treatment group [32 cases, treated by HR (one dose per day, taken in two portions for 24 successive weeks) plus Methotrexate (MTX)] and the control group (31 cases, treated by MTX alone). The dosage of MTX was increased from 7.5 mg to 12.5 mg, once per week, 24 weeks as one course of treatment. Efficacy for Chinese medical syndromes, American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) improvement rate, disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), laboratory related indices [ESR, rheumatoid factor (RF), C-reactive protein (CRP), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP)], and related ultrasonic inspection items (synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint), and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate (83.9%, 26/31 cases) and ACR20 improvement rate (74.2%, 23/31 cases) were higher in the treatment group than in the control group [60.7% (17/28 cases), 46.4% (13/28 cases); P < 0.05]. Compared with before treatment in the same group, DAS28 score, ESR, RF, CRP, CCP, synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint all decreased in the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Compared with the control group after treatment, ACR20 improvement rate, DAS28 score, ESR, RF, CRP, CCP, synovium thickness, synovium blood flow classification, effusion of joint all decreased in the treatment group (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Liver dysfunction occurred in 1 case of the treatment group. One leucopenia and 2 liver dysfunction occurred in the control group.

CONCLUSIONHR could effectively improve joints and systemic symptoms of early RA patients with Gan-Pi disharmony.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Methotrexate ; Phytotherapy ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore cardioprotective effect of matrine on myocardial ischemia in hypercholesterolemia rats. Methods Myocardial infarction was induced by subcutaneous injection of isopreterenol (ISO, 85 mg/kg) once daily for two consecutive days in rats feeding cholesterol-rich diet for 4 weeks. Content of serum lipid, myocardial injury marker enzymes, lipid peroxidatase and activities of antioxidative enzymes in serum and/or heart tissues were measured, and cardiac function was evaluated. Results Administration of matrine (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively) decreased serum level of TC and TG, improved left ventricle (LV) contractile function (increased LVSP and +dp/dtmax) and LV diastolic function (decreased LVEDP and increased -dp/dtmax), depressed the levels of myocardial injury marker enzymes of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK), promoted the activities of antioxidative enzymes of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalyst (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GHS-PX), as well as decreased the content of lipid peroxidation product of malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma and/or myocardial tissues in hypercholesterolemia rats with myocardial infarction. Histopathology examination demonstrated that matrine could attenuate ISO-induced myocardial infarction morphologically in hypercholesterolemia rats. Conclusion Our results suggest that cardioprotective effect of matrine on myocardial infarction in hypercholesterolemia rats is attributed to its ability to decrease the TC and TG content of serum, enhance the activities of antioxidative enzymes, and maintain the stability of myocardial cellular membranes.

BACKGROUND:The preliminary findings confirm that bone marrow mesenchymal stem celltransplantation is safe and effective in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction, but its exact mechanism is unclear. There are few studies addressing the survival status of transplanted stem cells and its acting timing.
OBJECTIVE:To study the survival of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells transplanted into the infracted myocardium. METHODS:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured using density gradient centrifugation. Eighty rat models of myocardial infarction were prepared. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were injected via a microsyringe at four sites around the infarcted region at 14 days after modeling. Then, 70 rats with living cells were selected for detecting the survival of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells at days 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, 28 after transplantation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under ×400 visual field, the number of Brdu-positive bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was (36±12) at 3 days posttranplantation, (33±13) at 5 days, (28±9) at 7 days, (15±5) at 10 days, (5±3) at 14 days, 0 at 20 days, and 0 at 28 days, showing a overal downward trend after transplantation. The number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was negatively correlated with transplant days (P<0.01, r=-0.47). The number of cells decreased most significantly within 1 week after transplantation, and then decreased to 0 at 20 days. These findings indicate that transplanted bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the myocardium cannot survive for a long term and also cannot be transformed into myocardial tissue.

0.05),the mean FA on the left was higher than the right(t=1.912,P

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnostic accuracy and clinical value of electron-beam CT (EBCT) single flow mode study (EBCTSF) in combination with EBCT coronary angiography (EBCTCA) and three dimensional reconstruction using medial axis reformation (MAR) for diagnosis of coronary in-stent stenosis.

METHODSElectrocardiogram-gated EBCT single coronary scanning (without and with contrast medium) was performed in 25 consecutive coronary heart disease (CHD) patients during a short breathhold. EBCTSF was then performed at the level nearly distal to stent. Three-dimensional coronary images were reformed using MAR. EBCT findings were compared with that of conventional coronary angiography (CAG).

RESULTSThirty-five intracoronary stents were implanted in thirty-one diseased vessel segments. EBCTSF procedure was unsuccessful in 2 patients (successful rate was 92.0%, 23/25). There was a significant decrease in flow peak value (Dp), increased value (Deltad) and area under curve (A), and a significant increase in prolonged peak time (Td) in stenosed stents compared to normal stents (P < 0.05). EBCTCA was successful for all patients. Seven stenosed stents (5 in left anterior descending branch and 2 in right coronary) were correctly evaluated with EBCT. Compared with CAG, EBCTSF in combination with EBCTCA images and MAR reconstruction images had a diagnostic sensitivity of 85.0% (6/7) and a specificity of 92.9% (26/28) for detecting significant in-stent stenosis (> 50% lumen diameter). Positive and negative predictive value were 75.0% (6/8) and 96.5% (26/27) respectively. Compared with EBCT cross-section images alone, or cross-section images and three-dimensional images, the diagnostic accuracy increased from 80.0% and 88.6% to 91.4% (32/35).

CONCLUSIONSNoninvasive EBCTSF can be used to quantitatively analyze coronary flow characteristics. This technique, used in combination with EBCTCA and three dimensional reconstruction using MAR, seems to be an effective imaging modality in identifying coronary in-stent stenosis. For stent-implanted patients with atypical and nonischemic chest pain after coronary intervention, the above-mentioned technique is of important value for evaluating therapeutic effect and follow-up results.

Coronary Angiography ; methods ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnostic imaging ; Coronary Restenosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

OBJECTIVESTo investigate the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1(AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the polymorphism of detoxication gene GSTM1.

METHODSThe peripheral white blood cell DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from an AFB1 high risk area in Guangxi province. The GSTM1 polymorphism was detected using PCR technique.

RESULTS(1) The GSTM1-present was associated with a decreased HCC risk. The GSTM1-null was associated with an increased HCC risk [adjusted OR (95% CI)= 2.07 (1.20-3.57)]. (2) In the cohorts of both low/median and high exposure levels of AFB1, GSTM1-null genotype was associated with a conspicuous significantly increased risk for HCC [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 1.92 (0.92-4.00) and 1.80 (0.77-4.17)].

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 was susceptible to HCC and individuals who are GSTM1-null have an increased risk of developing HCC. There is evidence of interaction between GSTM1 polymorphism and AFB1 exposure, especially with low/median degrees of AFB1 exposure.

Aflatoxin B1 ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Genetic

HuaFu Shengji is the primary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) therapy for treating chronic skin ulcer. The high activities of the protein enzyme in the wound fluids is one of the main cause of healing delay. In order to investigate the effect of TCM Zhuhong ointment for promoting wound healing. This research focused on its influence on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activities in wound fluids with TCM Yang syndromes, directly on the activated MMP-1,2 activities in vitro and on MMP-1,-2,-9 production by HSF. 8 wound fluid samples were collected, which were diagnosed Yang Syndromes in TCM. Wound fluid activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by gelatin zymogram assay. MMP-1 and MMP-2 activities in vitro were measured by substrate cleavage. CCK-8 was used to observe the toxicity of Zhuhong ointment on HSF. MMP-1,-2,-9 production by HSF were detected by confocal microscope. Zhuhong ointment from 1 to 25 g x L(-1) obviously inhibited MMP-2 activity in wound fluid. When Zhuhong ointment was over 5 g x L(-1), it showed significantly inhibitory effect on wound fluid MMP-9 activity. In vitro study, when the mercury concentration was 320 mg x L(-1), Zhuhong ointment solution directly inhibited both MMP-1 activity and MMP-2. But mercury concentration from 0.51-2.56 mg x L(-1), it could activate MMP-1 activity, and from 0.51-64 mg x L(-1), activate MMP-2 activity instead. The mercury concentration when Zhuhong ointment saturated in DMEM was 39.6 mg x L(-1). When the mercury concentration was over 1.23 mg x L(-1), Zhuhong ointment showed toxicity to HSF. At 1.23, 0.62, 0.31 mg x L(-1) of mercury concentration, it increased MMP-1 expression by HSF, and at 1.23, 0.62 mg x L(-1), decreased MMP-2 expression. However, at 1.23, 0.62, 0.31 mg x L(-1), it decreased MMP-9 expression. At higher concentration, Zhuhong ointment can inhibit MMP-2, MMP-9 activities in wound fluid with dose-dependent way and show a direct inhibitory effect on activated MMP-1 and MMP-2 in vitro. But at a lower concentration, it showed two-way adjustment, with increased MMP-1, MMP-2 activities and its expression by HSF and decreased MMP-9 activity.
Body Fluids ; enzymology ; Cells, Cultured ; Dermatitis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; enzymology ; physiology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the association between susceptibility to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-related hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) and the null genotypes of detoxication gene gstM1 and gstT1.

METHODSPeripheral blood white blood cells DNA samples were obtained from all the subjects including 140 HCC cases and 536 controls from AFB1 high risk area Guangxi. gstM1 and gstT1 polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction technique.

RESULTS(1) gstM1- and gstT1-present were associated with decreasing risk of HCC. gstM1- and gstT1-null were associated with the increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR (95 % CI) = 2.07 (1.20-3.57) and 1.44 (0.85-2.45), respectively]; (2) The appearance of both gstM1- and gstT1-null genotypes were more susceptible to HCC than either one of them(adjusted OR and 95% CI are 2.43 and (1.19-4.97); (3) From low/median to high level of AFB1 exposure, both gstM1- and gstTl-null genotypes were associated with significantly conspicuous increasing risk of HCC [adjusted OR(95% CI) = 12.76(5.38-30.24) and 7.82(3.61-16.90) respectively].

CONCLUSIONIt was suggested that: genetic polymorphisms of gstM1 and gstT1 were susceptible to HCC; individuals who were gstM1- or gstT1-null would have an increasing risk of developing HCC while individuals with both nulls were more susceptible. There was evidence of interaction between gstM1- and gstT1-null and the level of AFB1 exposure which was associated with the increasing risk of HCC.

Adult ; Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Aged ; Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Hepatitis B ; complications ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; complications ; etiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

Objective To investigate the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance status of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) in senior population in Putuo District ,Shanghai .Methods A total of 72 UPEC strains were isolated from elderly inpatients with urinary tract infections in Putuo Hospital ,Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine from January 2013 to March 2015 .The strains were characterized by multi‐locus sequence typing (MLST ) .The β‐lactamase gene and the plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) gene were detected ,and the mutations of quinolone resistance‐determining regions (QRDR) in gyrA and parC genes were demonstrated .In vitro drug susceptibility test was performed .Continuous variables were compared using t test and categorical variables were compared using chi‐squared test or Fisher exact test .Results The UPEC strains showed different resistance rates to ciprofloxacin ,cefotaxime and trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole ,which were 76 .4% ,73 .6% and 65 .3% , respectively .UPEC still remained highly sensitive to imipenem ,meropenem ,amikacin and piperacillin‐tazobactam .Among 72 isolates ,55 (76 .4% ) of 49 (68 .1% ) extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase (ESBL )‐positive strains harbored blaCTX‐M genes .Among the 55 ciprofloxacin resistant strains ,51 (92 .7% ) had three or four mutations in QRDR of gyrA and parC genes .The “hot‐spot” mutations of QRDR were located at amino acid position 83 and 87 in gyrA gene and at positions 80 and 84 in parC gene .Forward analysis by MLST showed that the most frequent sequence types (ST ) were ST131 (18/72 ,25 .0% ) , ST1193(7/72 ,9 .7% ) ,ST405 (7/72 ,9 .7% ) ,ST38 (5/72 ,6 .9% ) and ST648 (3/72 ,4 .2% ) .ST131 isolates were predominant in ST which caused community‐onset urinary tract infections .Multiple drug‐resistance were detected in ST 131 ,ST405 ,ST38 and ST648 which were mainly producing blaCTX‐M ESBL .Conclusions Community‐acquired multiple drug‐resistant UPEC strains such as ST131 clone are prevalent in elderly patients .Thus ,monitoring of molecular epidemiology would be beneficial to prevent the prevalence of multiple drug‐resistant UPEC .