20% improvement in 4/7 primary indices.Sharp declines in several parameters were noticed during 3 to 6 months.Pain in 9 patients disappeared.There was also a statistically significant decrease in TNF ? transcripts in the PBMC.Conclusion Thalidomide is a reasonably promising drug for treating resistant ankylosing spondylitis and its biological mechanism is related to the gene expression suppression of proinflammatory cytokine TNF ?.

AIMTo investigate the expressions of main subtypes of heat shock protein (HSP) in cervical cancer and precancerosis tissues.

METHODSAccording to the pathological diagnosis, 478 cases of cervical biopsy specimen were divided into invasive carcinoma of cervix group (63 cases), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia group (CIN, 106 cases), chronic cervicitis group (293 cases) and normal uterine cervix (16 cases).The expression levels of HSP70, HSP90a and HSP90beta3 mRNA were detected by quantitative RT-PCR with specific complex cRNA as internal control.

RESULTS(1) The expressions of HSP70, HSP90a and HSP90beta mRNA were significantly down-trended stepwise in invasive carcinoma of cervix, CIN, chronic cervicitis and normal cervix tissue (P < 0.01, respectively). (2) In the invasive carcinoma of cervix group, the expression level of HSP90beta mRNA was higher in advanced stage (FIGO II b) compared with incipient(FIGO-II a) carcinoma of the cervix (P < 0.05). (3) The expressions of HSP70 and HSP90 mRNA were each higher in poorly differentiated tumor than in well-differentiated tumor (P < 0.05, respectively). (4) The expression levels of all three HSP mRNA had no significant differences, it was observed with different histological types of cervical cancer (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONHeat shock protein may play some important roles in malignant transformation of cervix cell and aggravation of cervix cancer. HSP70 and HSP90alpha may promote cancer cell transition and proliferation, and HSP90beta may participate in cell differentiation.

Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Precancerous Conditions ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Uterine Cervicitis ; metabolism ; pathology

Objective　To study the mechanisms of Pericarpium Arecae. Methods　A total of Wistar rats were randomly divided into Pericarpium Arecae group and control group, Pericarpium Arecae decoction or distilled water were given respectively. Changes of gastrointestinal motility rats were assayed by Dextran blue-2000 after 1 and 6 hours. The distributions of SP and VIP in antrum and jejunum were investigated by immunohistochemistry assay. Results　The gastrointestinal motility of rats was markedly enhanced (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The expressions of SP increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) and the expressions of VIP decreased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05) in antrum and jejunum of rats at 1 and 6 h after Pericarpium Arecae decoction was given. The changes were more obvious at 1 h than at 6 h. Conclusion　The kinetogenic effect of Pericarpium Arecae is closely correlated to the increase of SP expression and the decrease of VIP expression in gastrointestinal tract.

Objective To evaluate the changes in the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer over the past 50 years, and explore appropriate treatment corresponding to these changes. Methods The clinical and pathological data of 1557 patients with invasive cervical cancer treated between January, 1955 and December, 2004 were retrospectively analyzed.Results and Conclusions The average age of cervical cancer onset gradually decreased over the past 50 years, from 56.27±8.45 in 1955-1964 to 43.81±8.9 years in 1995-2004, whereas the ratio of young (≤35 years old) patients rose from 3.42% to 24.91%. The ratio of early clinical stage (stages Ⅰ - Ⅱ ) and non-squamous cancer also steadily increased (P＜0.05,respectively). The tumor stage, pathological type and rate of lymph node metastasis were all significantly different among different age groups (P＜0.05). In particular, the young (≤ 35 years old) group had evidently higher ratios ofnon-squamous and advanced stage (Ⅲ- Ⅳ) cancers with a higher rate of lymphatic metastasis in comparison with other age groups (P＜0.01,respectively). Because of the changes in epidemiology and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer, it is necessary to modify the conventional treatment regimens and explore reasonable therapy corresponding to these changes. Preservation of reproductive endocrine function ought to be fully considered in cervical cancer treatment in women at childbearing age.Neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy is an useful method for cervical cancer treatment at present.

Objective To evaluate the changes in the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer over the past 50 years, and explore appropriate treatment corresponding to these changes. Methods The clinical and pathological data of 1557 patients with invasive cervical cancer treated between January, 1955 and December, 2004 were retrospectively analyzed.Results and Conclusions The average age of cervical cancer onset gradually decreased over the past 50 years, from 56.27±8.45 in 1955-1964 to 43.81±8.9 years in 1995-2004, whereas the ratio of young (≤35 years old) patients rose from 3.42% to 24.91%. The ratio of early clinical stage (stages Ⅰ - Ⅱ ) and non-squamous cancer also steadily increased (P＜0.05,respectively). The tumor stage, pathological type and rate of lymph node metastasis were all significantly different among different age groups (P＜0.05). In particular, the young (≤ 35 years old) group had evidently higher ratios ofnon-squamous and advanced stage (Ⅲ- Ⅳ) cancers with a higher rate of lymphatic metastasis in comparison with other age groups (P＜0.01,respectively). Because of the changes in epidemiology and clinical characteristics of cervical cancer, it is necessary to modify the conventional treatment regimens and explore reasonable therapy corresponding to these changes. Preservation of reproductive endocrine function ought to be fully considered in cervical cancer treatment in women at childbearing age.Neoadjuvant intraarterial chemotherapy is an useful method for cervical cancer treatment at present.

OBJECTIVETo establish a novel method for the multiplex analysis of the methylation and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP).

METHODSThe imprinted SNP rs220028 was chosen as a model. Genomic DNA, after being digested with methylation sensitive restriction enzyme, were typed by mutagenically separated PCR (MS-PCR). The polymorphism of restriction site was excluded by PCR-RFLP.

RESULTSBy post-digestion MS-PCR, the methylated allele was detected selectively, the maternal origin of which was confirmed by pedigree analysis; A=0.5085, G=0.4915,PIC=0.3749.

CONCLUSIONThe multiplex analysis of methylation markers and SNP can be achieved by post-digestion MS-PCR. The imprinted SNP locus rs220028 is a potentially useful marker in screening Prader-Willi/Angelman syndrome.

DNA Methylation ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; metabolism ; Genetic Markers ; genetics ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation between pathological characteristics of target organs and excess evil syndrome in IgA nephropathy.

METHODSData were collected in multicenter cooperation. Totally 266 IgA nephropathy patients were typed into exogenous wind-heat affection syndrome (49 cases), lower energizer damp-heat syndrome (100 cases), damp-phlegm syndrome (43 cases), and blood stasis syndrome (74 cases). Meanwhile, percutaneous renal biopsy was performed in all patients for Hass classification, Oxford classification, Katafuchi integral, and Jiang's classification methods. The correlation between excess evil syndrome and pathological index was analyzed.

RESULTSFour syndrome types were correlated with their Hass levels (r = 0. 341, P <0. 01). Affection of exogenous wind-heat syndrome was correlated with segmental proliferation of endothelial cells and damaged active lesions of segmental capillary loops. Lower-energizer damp-heat syndrome was associated with Hass III level, destroying active lesions of capillary loops, segmental proliferation of endothelial cells, glomerular segmental lesions, focal interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells, focal interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Blood stasis syndrome was associated with Hass IV level, glomerular sclerosis, segmental glomerulosclerosis (S)/adhesion, mesangial hypercellularity (M), angiohyalinosis, multi-foci interstitial infiltration of inflammatory cells, multi-foci interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy. Phlegm-damp syndrome had higher proportions of Hass I and III levels, but with no association with other pathological parameters.

CONCLUSIONSExcess evil syndrome was associated with partial pathological characteristics of IgA nephropathy. It could reflect pathological damage degree of target organs, activities, chronic lesions, and prognosis of IgA nephropathy to certain extent. Correlated pathological characteristics and its evolution could indicate excess evil syndrome types and their evolution rules.

Capillaries ; Fibrosis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; pathology ; Glomerulosclerosis, Focal Segmental ; Humans ; Kidney Glomerulus ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Prognosis ; Syndrome

Objective To establish information management systems of drinking water defluoridation project in water-related endemic fluorosis areas and investigate the status of drinking water defluoridation project in Liaoning, provide the basis for the development of control measures. Methods Global positioning systems (GPS)and geographic information systems(GIS) were used in the study in August 2006 - July 2008. Water defluoridation projects of 1234 in 48 counties(cities, districts) in drinking water type of fluorosis areas were positioned. Latitude and longitude, water samples, water fluoride content were collected or tested. GIS was used to establish information management system of water defluoridation projects. Results We have established information management system for the facilities of decreasing water fluorine in drinking water type of endemic fluorosis regions in Liaoning. One thousand two hundred and thirty four defluoridation facilities distributed in east longitude between 39.39° - 43.37°,north latitude between 119.25° - 125.50°, and altitude between - 6.60 and 801.14 meter in 48 endemic fluorosis counties in 13 cities. Nine hundred and twenty seven facilities for decreasing fluorine were able to supply water regularly, accounting for 75.1% of investigated projects;29 facilities was .not yet completely rebuilt, accounting for 2.4%;278 facilities(supply water for 344 villages) were out of order or discarded for 22.5% of investigated projects.Water fluorine contents of 63 facilities were greater than 1.2 mg/L, accounting for 6.8% of investigation project.Facilities working regularly and water fluorine was in accord with hygienic standard for drinking water facilities were 70.0%. Conclusions The establishment of Liaoning province defluoridation project information management system in the whole province of drinking water type of fluorosis areas provides scientific basis for accurate decision-making on prevention and control of the disease.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of suicidal ideation with family environment and psychological resilience in adolescents. METHODS: Cluster sampling was used to perform an investigation among 3 230 junior and senior high school students in Xinxiang of Henan Province, China December 2014. A general social information questionnaire, 11-Item Kutcher Adolescent Depression Scale(KADS-11), Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) and Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC; Chinese version ) were used for evaluation. A multivariate logistic regression analysis and a case-control study were used to investigate the association of suicidal ideation with family environment and psychological resilience in adolescents. RESULTS: A total of 2 960 usable questionnaires were received. Among the 2 960 adolescents, 247 (8.50%) had suicidal ideation (98 boys and 149 girls). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjustment for age and sex, single-parent/remarried family was associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation (OR=2.655). Suicidal ideation in boys was negatively correlated with family cohesion (OR=0.750, P<0.001) and organization (OR=0.855, P=0.036) and was positively correlated with family conflict (OR=1.159, P=0.017). Suicidal ideation in girls were negatively correlated with family cohesion (OR=0.771, P<0.001), emotional expression (OR=0.815, P=0.001) and intellectual-cultural orientation (OR=0.915, P=0.037). The adolescents with suicidal ideation had a significantly lower total score of psychological resilience than those without suicidal ideation (P<0.05). Compared with those without suicidal ideation, the adolescents with suicidal ideation had significantly lower scores on 4 factors of the CD-RISC (ability, tolerance of negative emotions, acceptance of changes and control) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Family cohesion is a protective factor against suicidal ideation in adolescents. Family organization in boys and family emotional expression in girls are associated with a decreased risk of suicidal ideation. Enhanced psychological resilience may help to reduce the incidence of suicide ideation in adolescents.
Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Resilience, Psychological ; Risk Factors ; Students ; Suicidal Ideation

BACKGROUNDChemotherapy is the most frequently adopted adjuvant therapy of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), but the development of drug resistance reduces its effectiveness. Clarification of the mechanism of multidrug resistance (MDR) development in PDAC is needed to improve the therapeutic effect of chemotherapy. This study was aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of MDR of PDAC and to identify genes associated with MDR development.

METHODSThe gene expression profiles of cell line SW1990 and three drug-selected pancreatic chemoresistant sub-lines, SW1990/5-Fu, SW1990/ADM and SW1990/GEM, were obtained using an oligonucleotide microarray (Affymetrix HG U133 2.0 plus) that contained approximately 38,000 human genes. The microarray results were validated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis.

RESULTSThere were 165 genes and expressed sequence tags, some of which have never been linked to drug resistance, that were up- or down-regulated at least 2-fold in all resistant sub-lines when compared with SW1990. According to Gene Ontology annotation, differentially expressed genes related to MDR in pancreatic cancer belong to many functional families and with diverse biological processes. Genes related to antioxidant activity, apoptosis, the cell cycle, signal transduction and intracellular adhesion may undergo epigenetic changes preceding MDR development. A hierarchical clustering was conducted and several interesting clusters were discovered that may be primarily related to cell cycle and developmental regulation. A prediction rule was built from the expression profiles of 117 genes after support vector machine (SVM) analysis, and the prediction result was examined by cytotoxic testing. As a result, a differential gene expression pattern was constructed in multidrug resistant pancreatic cancer cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe findings of this study prove that construction of a chemoresistance prediction rule, based on gene expression patterns, is practical. These data provide new insights into the molecular mechanism of pancreatic cancer MDR development and may be useful for the detection and treatment of MDR in pancreatic cancer patients.

Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Computational Biology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; genetics ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; genetics ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Tankyrases ; genetics