Objective To explore the therapeutic effect and medication safety of low-dose erythromycin treatment on intractable allergic rhinitis(AR) associated with bronchus asthma.Methods Totally 173 cases of children received outpatient treatment because of AR associated with asthma,their ages ranging from 3 to 14 years.Among them,78 cases developed intractable AR with symptoms of asthma having been controlled or satisfactorily controlled after 2 courses of conventional treatment.Seventy-six children with intractable AR received full follow-up and were randomly divided into observation group and control group.The control group was given different second-generation antihistamines,when necessary,supplemented by nasal glucocorticoids.In the observation group,the same treatment as it was done in control group was continued,plus oral treatment with erythromycin enteric-coated capsules(10 mg?kg-1?d-1,which were taken 3 times a day for 1 month) to the observation group.Both observation group and control group were in accordance with the norms of the treatment of asthma.Results The improvement rate,inefficiency and the total efficiency were different between observation group and control group,and the diffe-rence was statistically significant(?2=12.629,8.412,8.412,Pa0.05).Their liver function was also monitored and was found normal before treatment and after the replacement of drugs for 1 month,including alanine ami-notransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,albumin,globulin,and were found normal.Conclusions On the basis of conventional treatment,low-dose erythromycin treatment of intractable AR is effective and safe.However,the treatment must be limited to the refractory cases,and the appropriate indications must be strictly observed.

A study on the microbial transformation of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) was conducted by a fungus, Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 systematically. After incubation with the cell cultures of C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 at 25 degrees C for 7 days on a rotary shaker operating at 135 r x min(-1), GA was converted into one major product and five minor products. The products were extracted and purified by solvent extraction, macroporous adsorbent resin, silica gel column chromatography, and semi-preparative RP-HPLC chromatography. Their structures were identified as 3-oxo-15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(1), 3-oxo-15β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (2), 7β,15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3), 3-oxo-7β, 15α-dihydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (4), 7β-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(5) and 15α-hydroxy-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid(6) by the analyses of MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic data respectively. Among them, 2 was a new compound. These results suggest that C. blakesleeana CGMCC 3.970 has the capability of selective ketonization and hydroxylation for GA. [Key words] glycyrrhetinic acid; Cunninghamella blakesleeana CGMCC 3. 970; microbial transformation
Biotransformation ; Cunninghamella ; metabolism ; Glycyrrhetinic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

Objective To evaluate the blood supply features and effectiveness of arterial chemoembolization for pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods Angiography and chemoembolization via supplying blood arteries of tumor were performed in five patients with pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma.Interventional procedure was carried out with tumor vascular infusion of 350 mg hot elemene emulsion and tumor embolization by cisplantin-lipidol emulsion(cisplantin 60-80 mg+lipidol 8-15 ml)and glutin.Results Ten interventional procedures(TACE)were undertaken in 5 patients.Angiography showed that tumor blood supply mainly coming from collateral circulation adjacent to the tumors,but partially from hepatic artery.Tumor sizes decreased from 30% to 50% in 5 cases,and AFP declined in 4 cases after the treatment. Conclusion Pedunculated hepatocellular carcinoma possessing different blood supply features from intrahepatocellular carcinomas.But transarterial ehemoembolization is still an effective method of choice for this treatment.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of tranilast on myocardial fibrosis in mice with viral myocarditis (VMC).

METHODSMale balb/c mice (n=72) were randomly divided into control, VMC and tranilast groups (n=24 each). In the VMC and tranilast groups, the mice were infected with Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3) to prepare VMC model, while the control group was treated with Eagle's medium. After modeling, the tranilast group was administrated with tranilast [200 mg/(kg.d)] until the day before sampling. On days 7, 14 and 28 after CVB3 or Eagle's medium infection, heart specimens (n=8) were taken and examined after Toluidine blue staining and Nissl staining for counts of mast cells (MC), hematoxylin-eosin staining for myocardial pathological changes, and Masson staining for myocardial fibrosis. The expression of CTGF and type I collagen (Col I) in the myocardial tissue was measured by RT-PCR and Western blot. The correlations of CTGF mRNA expression with MC counts and Col I expression were analyzed.

RESULTSThe myocardial pathological changes and collagen volume fraction in the VMC group were significantly higher than in the control group at all three time points (P<0.05). Tranilast treatment significantly decreased the myocardial pathological changes and collagen volume fraction compared with the VMC group (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein expression of CTGF and Col I increased in the VMC group compared with the control group, and the increases were reduced with tranilast treatment (P<0.05). The number of MC was positively correlated to CTGF mRNA expression on the 7th day and 14th day (r=0.439, P=0.049) in the VMC group. There were positive correlations between the mRNA expression of Col I and CTGF on the 7th day and 14th day (r=0.646, P=0.007) and the 28th day (r=0.326, P=0.031).

CONCLUSIONSTranilast may inhibit the aggregation of MC and down-regulate the expression of CTGF, relieving myocardial fibrosis of mice with VMC.

Animals ; Collagen Type I ; genetics ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; Myocardium ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; ortho-Aminobenzoates ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the role of tranilast in the pathogenesis of myocardiac fibrosis in viral myocarditis.

METHODSSeventy-two BALB/C mice were randomly divided into control, model and intervention groups (n=24 each). Mice in the model and intervention groups were infected with Coxsackievirus B3 to induce viral myocarditis. The intervention group was given with tranilast (200 mg/kg) by gavage until sacrifice for sampling, while the other two groups were administered with the same volume of normal saline. Cardiac tissues were obtained from 8 mice on 7, 14 and 28 days after modeling. The mast cell number was observed by toluidine blue staining and thionine staining. The cardiac tissues were stained with hematoxylin and eosin as well as masson trichrome to observe the pathological changes in cardiac tissues. The mRNA and protein expression of osteopontin and transforming growth factor-β1 was measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.

RESULTSIn the model group, the mRNA and protein expression of osteopontin reached the highest level on the 7th day, decreasing from the 14th day, and became to the least on the 28th day; while the expression of TGF-β1 increased from the 7th day, reaching a peak on the 14th day, and decreased slightly on the 28th day. The mRNA and protein expression of TGF-β1 and OPN was lower in the intervention group than the model group (P<0.05), but higher than the control group (P<0.05). The expression of OPN mRNA was positively correlated to the number of mast cells.

CONCLUSIONSTranilast can reduce myocardial fibrosis by decreasing the number of mast cells, inhibiting the expression of TGF-β1 and OPN.

Animals ; Fibrosis ; Male ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Myocarditis ; complications ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Osteopontin ; analysis ; genetics ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis ; genetics ; ortho-Aminobenzoates ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThis study was to clarify E-cadherin expressions in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its correlation with patients' prognosis.

METHODSTissue microarrays (TMAs) containing specimens from 365 different NSCLC were constructed, covering all stages and almost all histological types of this disease. Slides were immunohistochemically stained with antibodies against E-cadherin. Expression pattern of the protein was analyzed with relation to the clinicopathological. Correlations of the results with patients' overall survival were also examined.

RESULTSImmunohistochemical staining revealed that E-cadherin protein was localized mainly on membranes and the cytoplasm of NSCLC tumors cells. Reduced E-cadherin expression was evident in 32.1%. Reduced E-cadherin expression significantly correlated with lymph nodes metastasis (chi(2) = 16.430, P = 0.001), histological dedifferentiation (chi(2) = 9.243, P = 0.010) and advanced clinical stage (chi(2) = 9.421, P = 0.024). There was no significant difference in E-cadherin expression between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. E-cadherin reduced expression correlated with a poor prognosis (P < 0.0001) in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed a significantly lower survival probability for patients with reduced E-cadherin (P < 0.001), and E-cadherin was an independent prognostic factor for survival of NSCLC patients.

CONCLUSIONSIt suggests that dysfunction of E-cadherin has an important impact in the progression of lung cancer. As an independent prognostic factor, expression of E-cadherin can predict outcome of different group, together with conventional prognostic factors, and subsequently make appropriate management.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; biosynthesis ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; mortality ; secondary ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: To determine the short-term efficacy and security of whole body hyperthermia (WBH) combined with chemotherapy for advanced cancer. METHODS: Different chemotherapy regimens were applied in 138 patients with advanced cancer. Among them, 68 patients (Group A) didn't receive any other therapies. The other 70 patients (Group B) received WBH together with chemotherapy. WBH was maintained at 40 degrees C approximately 42 degrees C for 50 approximately 60 min (once or twice every week and 4 times a cycle). RESULTS: In Group A, the rate of complete remission (CR) was 2.9%, partial remission (PR) was 36.8%, stable disease was 35.3%, progressive disease was 25.0%, the overall response rate (CR + PR) was 39.7%; while in Group B, the corresponding figures were 5.7%, 52.9%, 25.7%, 25.0%, and 58.6%, respectively. There was significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). The rates of III + IV gastrointestinal tract andmyelosuppression toxicities were 26.5% and 16.2% in Group A, while 27.1% and 18.6% in Group B. No significant difference was found. CONCLUSION WBH combined with chemotherapy is efficient and safe for advanced cancer, and is worth generalizing extensively.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperthermia, Induced ; Lung Neoplasms ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; therapy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To observe the expression profile of heat shock proteins (HSPs) including HSP70, inducible HSP90 (HSP86) and aB-crystallin in cells and tissues of lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Western blotting and reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were performed to detect the expression of HSP70, HSP86 and aB-crystallin both in the protein and mRNA level respectively. RESULTS: Compared with normal lung tissue and human bronchial epithelium (HBE) cells, RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that the expression of HSP70, HSP86 and alphaB crystallin increased significantly in both the mRNA and protein level in the cancer tissue and A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Among the 3 sub-families of HSPs, the expression of HSP70 mRNA and protein increased most in both the lung tissue of cancer and A549 human adenocarcinoma cell lines. CONCLUSION The expression of HSPs is higher in the lung adenocarcinoma and A549 cells than that in the normal lung tissues and HBE cells. Among the HSP family, HSP70 is the most up-regulated member in the tissue and cells of lung adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma of Lung ; Cells, Cultured ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Liver ; metabolism ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the biological characteristics of dermal fibroblasts of the diabetic rats with deep partial thickness scald, and to explore its relationship with delayed wound healing due to diabetes.

METHODSSprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 g were randomly divided into control (NM, n=40) and STZ-induced diabetic (DM, n=50) groups, and then deep partial thickness scald involving 10% TBSA were reproduced in the two groups. Skin samples were harvested from the wounds on 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post scald day (PSD) for the determination of certain histological characteristics.

RESULTSThe thickness of dermis layer in DM group before injury was obviously thinner than that in NM group (P < 0.01). There was an infiltration of a large amount of chronic inflammatory cells and increased content of cutaneous glucose in the dermal tissue in DM group (2.77 mg/g) compared with 0.85 mg/g in NM group, (P < 0.01). An accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) was found in the dermal tissue in DM group. After the scalding, the percentage of fibroblasts in S phase and hydroxyproline synthesis in DM group was evidently lower than those in NM group. But the apoptosis rate of fibroblasts was much higher in DM group than that in NM group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIt is found that the high contents of glucose and AGEs in diabetic skin exert untoward effects on biological characteristics of dermal fibroblast, probably constituting one of the underlying mechanisms of delay wound healing of scald in diabetic rats.

Animals ; Burns ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; metabolism ; pathology ; Wound Healing