OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and Fuzheng Huayu Capsule (FHC) in the treatment of primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC).

METHODSEighty PBC patients were randomly assigned to two groups, the treatment group and the control group, 40 in each group. Patients in the treatment group took UDCA and FHC, while those in the control group were treated with UDCA alone. The treatment course was 48 weeks for both groups. The clinical symptoms and signs, liver function indices (ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, ALB, TBIL, and TBA), hepatic fibrosis indices (HA, LN, IV-CL, and PIIIP), immunologic indices (IgG, IgM, and autoimmune antibodies), changes of portal hemodynamics, and adverse reactions were observed before treatment, as well as at week 4, 12, 24, and 48 after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment the skin itching and fatigue were significantly improved in the treatment group, showing statistical difference when compared with the control group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After treatment the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, TBIL, and TBA obviously decreased in the two groups. They were lower in the treatment group than in the control group at the same time point (P < 0.05). The decrement was the largest at week 4. Besides, at week 48 after treatment the ALB level was improved in the treatment group (P < 0.05). The levels of HA and PIIIP obviously decreased at week 4, 12, and 24, the levels of LN and IV-C obviously decreased at week 4 and 12, the decrement of the hepatic fibrosis indices at week 4 were more obvious in the treatment group. But the levels of HA and PIIIP were lower than the pre-treatment levels at week 12 in the control group. The immunologic indices such as IgM and IgG were improved in the two groups, with better results obtained in the treatment group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). In the treatment group ANA turned negative in 1 patient and AMA turned negative in 2 patients. After 48 weeks of treatment, the spleen was retracted, the inner diameters of the portal vein (PV) and the splenic vein (SV) were significantly reduced, and the blood flow velocity in the PV and SV increased in the treatment group (P < 0.01). At week 24 and 48, 33 patients (82.5%) and 26 patients (90.0%) in the treatment group had complete relief, better than those of the control group [22 cases (55.0%) and 28 cases (70.0%)]. No obvious adverse reaction was found in the two groups during the treatment course.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination therapy of UDCA and FHC was effective and safe in anti fibrosis and improving the liver functions of PBC patients. It was safe and better than the application of UDCA alone. It was advocated to be combined use for a long term. It might improve the long-term efficacy.

Adult ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Ursodeoxycholic Acid ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Transplantation ; Recurrence

BACKGROUND: In lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with severe osteoporosis, screw is easily loose and pul s out during reposition, or loss of reduction and internal fixation failure easily occur after repair. Therefore, it is very important to elevate the intensity of pedicle screw fixation during repair. At present, few studies concern application of bone cement screw enhancement technology in lumbar spondylolisthesis patients with osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical value of augmented pedicle screw with polymethylmethacrylate for lumbar spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis. METHODS: From June 2009 to June 2011, 27 patients suffering from lumbar spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis were included in this retrospective study. These patients received augmented pedicle screw with polymethylmethacrylate. The levels of disability and pain were evaluated by Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale. The internal fixation and fusion were evaluated by radiological findings. Al complications were recorded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Al cases were fol owed up for 15-37 months. Oswestry Disability Index and visual analog scale scores were significantly better in final fol ow-up than that pre-treatment (P < 0.05). Imaging results revealed that bone cement tightly connected to bone interface. The position of screw and bone cement was good. Symptomatic bone cement leakage was not found. No fixation failure was detected during final fol ow-up. Al patients achieved interbody fusion. These results suggested that polymethylmethacrylate bone cement could increase the gripping force of the pedicle screw in osteoporotic vertebral body. It is safe and effective to treat spondylolisthesis accompanied with osteoporosis with augmented pedicle screws. Satisfactory fixation stability and interbody fusion can be obtained.

Objective To detect anti-M_2 autoantibody using recombinant BCOADC-E_2.Methods We purified recombinant BCOADC-E_2 by Ni~(2+)affinity chromatography column and then detect anti-M_2 autoan- tibody in the sera of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis(PBC)by Western blot test(WBT)and enzyme linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA).Results Among 60 sera from PBC patients,33 were positive,all of controls were negative.Conclusion The recombinant BCOADC-E_2 can be used to detect anti-M_2 autoanti- body specifically and sensitively.It is helpful for the diagnosis of PBC.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of electromagnetic pulse (EMP) on bone metabolism of mice in vivo.

METHODSTwenty-four male BALB/c mice were divided into a control group and 2 experimental groups (n=8). The whole-body of mice in experimental groups were exposed to 50 kV/m and 400kV/m EMP, 400 pulses daily for 7 consecutive days at 2 seconds intervals. Alkaline phosphotase (ALP) activity, serum calcium concentration and osteocalcin level and trabecular bone volume (BV/TV, %) were measured immediately after EMP exposure by biochemical, ELISA and morphological methods.

RESULTSThe ALP activity, serum calcium concentration and osteocalcin level and BV/TV in experimental groups remained unchanged after EMP exposure. Conclusion Under our experimental conditions, EMP exposure cannot affect bone metabolism of mice in vivo.

Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; metabolism ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Osteocalcin ; blood

Comminuted fracture of distal femur is a common lower limb injury from traffic accidents, especially from motor accidents. Routine dynamic condylar screw (DCS) or 95-degree condylar plate (CP) sometimes cannot solve the bone defect in the center of alignment and contralateral diaphysis for the reason of absent screw anchor point, especially for AO C2.2-2.3 types. Many authors recommended open reduction and fixation with less invasive stabilization system (LISS) as the treatment of choice, but there are still problems in fusion and alignment. In this study, we reported our experiences with the use of bone splint technique in the high-energy commimuted fracture of distal femur with central and medial bone defect in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Plates ; Female ; Femoral Fractures ; surgery ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Fractures, Comminuted ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Splints

Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the frequencies of human leuckocyte antigens (HLA) -A, B and DRB1 alleles in Chinese patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) using polymerase chain reaction-based techniques, and to assess the correlation of HLA molecules with other clinical and laboratory profiles.

METHODSGenotyping of HLA-A, B, and DRB1 were performed in 65 well-characterized patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 431 healthy controls with PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP).

RESULTSThe frequency of DRB1*0701 was increased to 29.2% compared with 13.9% in the controls (PC < 0.05, OR = 2.55, 95% CI: 1.4 approximately 4.6). No association was found with HLA-DRB1*08 which had been constantly reported. The A*2 allele (53.8%) was more frequent in the PBC patient group but without a significant statistical difference. The frequencies for the other A, B and DRB1 alleles were similar between patients and healthy controls. There was no difference between patients with or without DRB1*0701 in some clinical and laboratory profiles.

CONCLUSIONSusceptibility to primary biliary cirrhosis in Chinese is associated with DRB1*0701 allele and differs from people in North America, South America, North Europe and even in Japan, but the association is not restricted to any particular subgroup of patients. Valine at position 78 of HLA DRbeta1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of primary biliary cirrhosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alleles ; Female ; HLA Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-A Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-B Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DR Antigens ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

BACKGROUNDAntibodies against type 3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R) are involved in the pathogenesis of Sjögren's syndrome (SS), but the clinical value of them in SS patients has been controversial. The aims of this study were to: (1) establish an improved enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect IgA antibodies against M3R; (2) evaluate the value of IgA antibodies against the second extracellular loop of M3R205-220 (c2M3RP) in diagnosis of SS.

METHODSTo increase the ELISA sensitivity, c2M3RP was coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) by the glutaraldehyde method and a 96-well microplate was treated by ultraviolet rays before coated. Concentrations of anti-c2M3RP, anti-SSA, and anti-SSB were measured in the sera of 240 individuals: 91 patients with primary SS and 149 controls (16 secondary SS, 27 systemic lupus erythematosus, 40 rheumatoid arthritis and 66 healthy controls). Diagnostic properties of anti-c2M3RP were determined by receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis.

RESULTSThe prevalence of serum IgA anti-c2M3RP antibodies in patients with pSS (46%, 42/91) was significantly higher than that in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (19%, 5/27), in rheumatoid arthritis (15%, 6/40) and in healthy controls (5%, 3/66). However, there was no significant difference between the two SS groups (P = 0.727). The diagnostic performance of IgA anti-M3RP antibodies was similar to anti-SSA assay, but had 22% higher sensitivity than anti-SSB. By analyzing of IgA anti-c2M3RP antibodies, combination of anti-SSA and anti-SSB resulted in increased sensitivity, whereas their specificity was not significantly changed.

CONCLUSIONSThe improved anti-c2M3RP ELISA is a novel, sensitive, and specific serological test for the diagnosis of SS. The combined application of anti-c2M3RP, anti-SSA and anti-SSB tests can improve the laboratory diagnosis of SS. The IgA anti-c2M3RP antibodies may serve as a novel diagnostic marker for SS.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Cattle ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Muscarinic ; immunology ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo identify autoepitopes of E2 subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC-E2) specific CD8+ CTL in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) patients.

METHODSAn online database SYFPEITHI was applied to predict HLA-A*0201 restricted epitopes which located in PDC-E2 30-50 aa and 150-190 aa where B-cell epitopes clustered with CD4+ T-cell epitopes. T2 cell line reconstitution and stabilization assay, induction of specific CTL lines from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with PBC and cytotoxicity of peptides-induced CTL were performed to screen the epitopes from those candidates.

RESULTSFive potential epitopes were predicted by database. Of the 5 candidates, two peptides 159-167 aa and 165-174 aa, with highly binding activity to HLA-A*0201 molecules, could stimulate PBMCs from most HLA-A*0201 positive PBC patients to proliferate and peptide-induced CTL lines showed specific cytotoxicity.

CONCLUSIONPeptides of KLSEGDLLA (159-167 aa) and LLAEIETDKA (165-174 aa) in the inner lipoyl domain of PDC-E2 are HLA-A*0201 restricted CD8+ CTL immunodominant epitopes in PBC.

Antibody-Producing Cells ; cytology ; Autoantigens ; immunology ; Autoimmunity ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Line ; Dihydrolipoyllysine-Residue Acetyltransferase ; Epitope Mapping ; Epitopes, T-Lymphocyte ; immunology ; HLA-A Antigens ; immunology ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary ; enzymology ; genetics ; immunology ; Phenotype ; Protein Binding ; Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology