To investigate the role of signaling pathway in the effect of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) in endothelial cells stimulated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE).Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured and divided into 3 groups:CSE-stimulated group,CSE-stimulated with 4-PBA group,and negative control group.HUVECs were cultured and stimulated with CSE at concentrations of 5％,10％ and 20％,respectively,mRNA of CXCL-8 and GRP78 was detected by real-time PCR.ELISA was performed to test the expression of CXCL-8 protein,and neutrophils migration was detected by Transwell board test.The NF-κB,ERK,p38MAPK and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) were detected by flow cytometry.The mRNA of CXCL-8 and GRP78 increased in CSE-stimulated HUVECs (P＜0.05).Furthermore,it was concentration-dependent.4-PBA significantly reduced the expression of CXCL-8 protein (P＜0.05) and neutrophil migration (P＜0.05).The TGF-β,rather than the NF-κB,ERK and P38MAPK pathway might be involved in ER stress stimulated by CSE.CSE induced neutrophils migration by increasing the expression of CXCL-8 in endothelial cells.ER stress might play a role in the effect of neutrophils migration stimulated with CSE,and TGF-β pathway may contribute to the ER stress in HUVECs.

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Pifubing Xuedu Pill (PXDP) combined with Diyin Tablet (DYT) in treating patients with psoriasis.

METHODSSixty patients were divided into 2 groups by randomized controlled method. DYT was orally taken by all patients, while XDP was given additionally to patients in the treated group, the medication was continued for 1 month. The therapeutic effect, toxic and adverse reaction were observed.

RESULTSIn the treated group, 7 patients were cured, 11 basically cured, 4 markedly effective, 7 improved, and 1 ineffective, with the clinical cured rate of 60.0% and the total effective rate 73.3%. In the control group, 3 were cured, 4 basically cured, 9 markedly effective, 10 improved, and 4 ineffective, with the clinical cured rate of 23.3% and the total effective rate 53.3%. No significant difference was shown in comparison of the total effective rate between the two groups (chi2 = 0.27, P > 0.05), however, significant difference was shown in comparison of the clinical cured rate (chi2 = 6.48, P < 0.05) between them. The toxic and adverse reaction in the treated group was obviously lower than those in the control group (t = 5.27, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONDYT combined with PXDP in treating psoriasis shows better therapeutic effect, with quicker initiation, lesser toxic and adverse reaction, and higher efficacy than using DYT alone.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Psoriasis ; drug therapy ; Tablets

OBJECTIVETo identify the epidemical characteristics of suicidal tendency among middle-school students in cities of China and to explore the main factors leading to suicidal tendency in adolescents.

METHODSMulti-stage cluster sampling method was used to select 9015 students in grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively from 25 general middle schools in Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan and Urumqi of China in June 2006 and field investigation was carried out through "China Global School-based Student Health Survey (GSHS) Questionnaire".

RESULTSAmong the students in the four cities, the incidence rates of suicidal ideation were from 14.4% to 20.8% with an average of 17.4%. The incidence rates of suicidal plan were from 6.8% to 9.7% with an average of 8.2% and were different among cities. 15.0% of the boys had suicidal ideation and 6.7% of them made a suicidal plan comparing to 19.7% of girls having had suicidal ideation and 9.5% of them made a suicidal plan. The two kinds of suicidal tendency in girls were all higher than those in boys. City, age, gender, grade, days and type of being bullied, depression, close friends and having received health education on coping with stresses were factors influencing suicidal tendency of students. Days of being bullied and suicidal tendency showed a dose-response relation.

CONCLUSIONSuicidal tendency seemed common in middle-school students. Training on 'coping the issue' should be strengthened and harmonious environment should be improved in middle-schools.

Adolescent ; China ; epidemiology ; Data Collection ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Students ; psychology ; Suicide ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Urban Population

The aim of study was to investigate the importance of chromosome aberration in differential diagnosis of eosinophilia and the chromosomal aberrations involved in patients with clonal eosinophilia. 65 cases of eosinophilia were collected and chromosome specimens of bone marrow cells were prepared by 24-hour culture, and G-banding technique was used for karyotyping. The results showed that out of 65 cases, chromosome 16 inversion was detected in 9 patients suspected as M(4Eo), and among the other 56 cases, 5 were detected with chromosomal aberrations (8.9%). Combining clinical, hematological and cytogenetical data, the 5 patients were diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia with eosinophilia, chronic eosinophilic leukemia, 8p11 myeloproliferative syndrome, chronic myeloid leukemia in acute phase and acute myeloid leukemia-M(4Eo) respectively. The detected chromosomal aberrations were +14, t (5; 12) (q31; p13), t (8; 9) (p11; q32), t (9; 22) (q34; q11) and inv (16) (p13 q22). In conclusion, cytogenetical detection is very important in differential diagnosis of clonal eosinophilic disorders and chronic eosinophilic leukemia, which is suggested to be done routinely in clinic.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Eosinophilia ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome ; diagnosis ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mercury ; urine ; Middle Aged ; Reference Values ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic

OBJECTIVEThe study was designed to investigate the clinical characteristics and the effects of therapeutic proposal on Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODSClinical features, diagnosis and treatment for totally 942 patients with KD hospitalized during Jan, 2000 to Dec, 2004 were reviewed. Clinical features of typical and incomplete KD were compared. Also, influential factors for KD resistant to intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) therapy were analyzed. Five hundred and ten cases were followed up for analyzing the prognosis of coronary artery lesion (CAL).

RESULTS(1) 774 cases were diagnosed as typical KD, and 168 cases as incomplete KD. The incidence of infants with incomplete KD was higher than that of infants with typical KD (18.5% vs. 10.1%, P < 0.01). As compared with typical KD, the cases of incomplete KD had a long duration of fever before final diagnosis [(7.7 +/- 2.9) d vs. (7.0 +/- 2.4) d, P < 0.01], high hemoglobin level [Hb, (106.6 +/- 13.4) g/L vs. (103.5 +/- 12.3) g/L, P < 0.01], high hematocrit [Hct, (32.0 +/- 4.3)% vs. (31.0 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.01], and high prevalence of CAL (23.8% vs. 16.8%, P < 0.05), respectively. The occurrence rate and emerging time of clinical manifestations in incomplete KD and in typical KD were presented, respectively: non-exudative conjunctivitis [occurrence rate, 64.9% vs. 93.5%; emerging time, (4.4 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.0 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and cracking of lips [occurrence rate, 50.6% vs. 94.8%; emerging time, (4.9 +/- 1.4) d vs. (4.5 +/- 1.6) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], rash [occurrence rate, 35.1% vs. 87.7%; emerging time, (3.9 +/- 1.9) d vs. (3.4 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], erythema and edema of extremity [occurrence rate, 26.8% vs. 71.4%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 1.5) d vs. (5.3 +/- 1.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], cervical lymphadenopathy [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 68.0%; emerging time, (4.3 +/- 2.5) d vs. (3.6 +/- 2.2) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], strawberry tongue [occurrence rate, 31.0% vs. 59.8%; emerging time, (5.6 +/- 2.2) d vs. (4.9 +/- 1.8) d, respectively (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01)], membranous desquamation of fingertips [occurrence rate, 34.5% vs. 56.3%; emerging time, (11.7 +/- 3.3) d vs. (10.3 +/- 2.7) d, respectively (P < 0.01)], and desquamation peri-anus [occurrence rate, 42.9% vs. 50.0%; emerging time, (6.7 +/- 2.7) d vs. (6.9 +/- 2.5) d, respectively (P > 0.05)]. Except for peri-anus desquamation, other clinical manifestations in incomplete KD were sporadical as compared to typical KD. (2) Six per cent (51/857) of cases were resistant to the IVIG therapy. As compared to the group responding to IVIG therapy, high prevalence of CAL (31.4% vs. 17.1%, P < 0.05), long fever duration [(10.6 +/- 3.9) d vs. (7.5 +/- 2.3) d, P < 0.01], low Hb level [(99.9 +/- 14.1) g/L vs. (104.3 +/- 12.4) g/L, P < 0.01], low Hct [(30.1 +/- 4.5)% vs. (31.2 +/- 4.0)%, P < 0.05], low platelet [PLT, (256.9 +/- 142.4) x 10(9)/L vs. (309.7 +/- 131.5) x 10(9)/L, P < 0.05], and low albumin level [ALB, (27.8 +/- 8.4) g/L vs. (33.5 +/- 6.7) g/L, P < 0.01] were found in the group resistant to IVIG therapy, respectively. (3) In patients who received IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg, the recovery rates from CAL were 83.1% and 89.7% (P > 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of CAL in those without CAL in acute and subacute stages was 0.9% and 3.5% (P > 0.05), respectively, during 2 year-follow-up period.

CONCLUSION(1) Infants appeared to have more chances to suffer from incomplete KD. Incomplete KD had high prevalence of CAL. The peri-anus desquamation might be an important clue for early diagnosis of incomplete KD. (2) In acute stage, the influential factors for KD resistance to IVIG therapy included prolonged fever, non-elevated PLT, and persistent decrease in Hb, Hct and ALB levels. (3) Children receiving IVIG 1 g/kg and 2 g/kg had the similar effects on recovery and prevention from CAL within the first two years after KD onset.

Adolescent ; Blood Platelets ; drug effects ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Coronary Aneurysm ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Fever ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Immunologic Factors ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

AIMTo study the effect of prothymosin alpha (Pro T alpha) as a fusion protein on secretion of IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha in vitro.

METHODSThe in vitro study was carried out on the culture of splenocytes, splenic and peritoneal macrophages isolated from Balb/c mice. Splenocytes were incubated with various concentrations of Pro T alpha (1 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-10) mol.L-1) with or without Con A (5 micrograms.mL-1) for 72 h. Splenic and peritoneal macrophages were respectively treated with Pro T alpha (1 x 10(-7)-1 x 10(-10) mol.L-1) in the presence of LPS (10 micrograms.mL-1) for 24 h. Then IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha levels in the supernatant were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSPro T alpha (1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1) was found to obviously increase IFN-gamma level (P < 0.05) in the supernatant of splenocytes compared with the control group. Moreover, Pro T alpha (1 x 10(-7) mol.L-1) significantly induced the secretion of IFN-alpha (P < 0.01) and TNF-alpha (P < 0.01) in splenic and peritoneal macrophages.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro, Pro T alpha could increase the secretion of IFN-gamma, IFN-alpha and TNF-alpha.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Cell Separation ; Female ; Glutathione Transferase ; pharmacology ; Interferon-alpha ; secretion ; Interferon-gamma ; secretion ; Lymphocytes ; secretion ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; secretion ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; secretion ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Protein Precursors ; pharmacology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; pharmacology ; Spleen ; cytology ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; secretion

Objective To explore the retreatment of CHC patients with initial treatment failure and how to achieve SVR.Methods 54 patients who had experienced treatment failure were enrolled and retreated with standard treatment of pegylated interferon and ribavirin or intensive treatment,respectively.Their SVR rates were statistically compared,to decide two therapies' application.Results 54 patients had been retreated,and total SVR rate was up to 75.92％,with 88.46％ in relapsed patients and 64.29％ in non-responders.After retreatment with pegylated interferon and ribavirin,SVR rate was 95.45％ in patients with prior interferon monotherapy,and 64.71％ in patients with prior interferon and ribavirin,and 60％ in patients with prior pegylated interferonα-2a monotherapy.SVR rate of relapsed patients was significantly higher than that of non-responders.Conclusions In CHC patients with treatment failure,SVR rate of retreatment with standard treatment or intensive treatment still can be up to 60％-90％.Retreatment with standard therapy can be applied to patients who had received interferon monotherapy or interferon plus ribavirin.Three types of patients who need intensive retreatment were as following:patients nonresponsive to interferon plus ribavirin or pegylated interferon α-2a monotherapy,and patients with treatment failure who had received prior standard treatment.

Objective This study aimed to detect serum autoantibodies of patients with chronic hepatitis C, and to explore the significance of autoimmunity in HCV infection. Methods We detected the autoantibodies, including ANA, anti-AMA, anti-Ro-52, of chronic hepatitis C patients ( n = 226) and chronic hepatitis B patients (n = 137 )retrospectively, and explored the relationship between the variation of autoantibodies and the HCV-RNA levels, biochemistry markers, age, gender, responses after interferon treatment. Results 34. 5% ( 78/226 ) and 7.3% ( 10/137 ) were respectively autoantibodies positive in patients with chronic hepatitis C and in patients with chronic hepatitis B (χ2 = 34. 396, P ＜ 0.05 ), and 30. 5% (69/226) of cases were ANA positive, otherwise,anti-ANA and anti-Ro-52 also weie detected. The isolating rate of autoantibodies was 40.7% in 150 patients with positive HCV-RNA ,comparatively, that rate was only 22. 4% in 76 negative HCV-RNA cases. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant(χ2 = 7.473, P＜0.05); The levels of ALT, AST, TBIL of negative autoantibodies cases and positive cases were (65.1±24.4 ) U/L, (47.4 ± 22.7 ) U/L, ( 17. 2 ± 8. 2 ) μ mol/L and ( 132.2 ± 49.3 )U/L, ( 100.7 ± 35.2 ) U/L, ( 35.5 ± 14.7 ) μ mol/L, respectively. The difference between the two groups is statistically significant ( t value was 16.012,14. 843 and 9. 000 respectively, overall P ＜ 0. 05 ); The isolating rate of autoantibodies in patients with hepatitis C was related with age, and not related with gender; the response rate of interferon treatment was 73.9% in patients with positive autoantibodies, and was higher than 54. 2% in patients without autoantibodies,but the difference was not statistically significant(χ2 = 0. 975, P ＞0.05). Conclusions HCV infection can induce autoimmune reaction to produce sevaral autoantibodies,especially in cases with positive HCV-RNA. The isolating rate of autoantibodies is highly related with age, it can be used for the diagnosis and treatment of hepatitis C to detect autoantibodies.

Objective To investigate the relation of serum HBsAg, HBeAg contents and HBV-DNA load changes in HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B during IFN-α treatment. Methods After enrolled, the patients were treated with 3MU-5MU IFN subcutaneous injection every two days, and their serum was collected before treatment and every 3 months during the treatment course. The serum HBV-DNA load was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR method kit ( lower detection limit 500 copies/ml, Piji company, Shenzhen city, China,) according to production instruction, and HBeAg and HBsAg contents were detected by ARCHITECH I 2000.chemiluminescent kit. The relation of serum HBV-DNA, HBeAg and HBsAg content was analyzed by SPSS statistic software. Results There were 228 patients enrolled into this group, male 162 cases, female 66 cases, aged 14-60 years, average 30. 94 years old. After 1FN treatment the HBV-DNA, HBeAg and HBsAg levels were all gradually decreased. But there was no relation of HBsAg content to HBV DNA and HBeAg content before and during treatment course( P ＞0.05 ). However the serum HBeAg content was related to HBV-DNA content significantly (P ＜ 0.05 ) and their changes was correspondence. Conclusion Before and during treatment of interferon, HBeAg and HBV-DNA content changes are closely related, while there is no significant correlation between HBsAg and HBeAg and HBV-DNA content. During interferon therapy, HBsAg, HBeAg, HBV-DNA contents should be detected together.