Objective To investigate the effect of GDNF on pancreatic cancer cell proliferation and chemotaxis.Methods The cell counting, MTT and flow cytometry were employed to investigate whether the neurotrophic factor GDNF can stimulate the proliferation of pancreatic carcinoma cells.Meanwhile, the trans-well invasion chamber was used to observe the chemotactic effect of GDNF on pancreatic cancer cells.Results The cells were exposed to incremental concentrations of human re-combinant GDNF (0-120 ng/mL).We found that the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells was stim-ulated by GDNF in a dose-dependent manner and the number of cells in "S" phenotype was increased;The count of cells was increased by GDNF in a dose-dependent manner.Conclusion GDNF can stimu-late the proliferation and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner.

Objective To estimate the efficacy of Xiaoyin decoction combined with calcipotriol ointment in patients with mild to moderate vulgaris psoriasis of blood heat type as well as their effects on the expression of interleukin (IL)-17,-22 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α.Methods Sixty patients with mild to moderate vulgaris psoriasis of blood heat type were enrolled in this study,and equally divided into 2 groups to be treated with Xiaoyin decoction and placebo respectively for 12 weeks.Calcipotriol ointment was applied in both groups of patients.Thirty healthy volunteers served as the controls.Bicolor flow cytometry was conducted to determine the proportion of peripheral blood Th17 cells,and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the serum levels of IL-17,IL-22 and TNF-α,in the controls and patients before and after treatment.Clinical efficacy was evaluated by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score.Results Increased proportion of Th17 cells and serum levels of IL-17,IL-22 and TNF-α were observed in the patients with psoriasis before treatment compared with the controls (all P ＜ 0.05).After treatment,a significant decrease was noted in the proportion of Th17 cells ((8.32 ± 1.28)％ vs.(14.24 ± 1.97)％,P ＜ 0.05) and serum levels of IL-17,IL-22 and TNF-α in the Xiaoyin decoction group (all P ＜ 0.05 ),but not in the placebo group.The PASI score was significantly different between the Xiaoyin decoction and placebo group after treatment (1.83 ± 1.28 vs.2.91 ± 1.42,P ＜ 0.05).The total response rate was 93.33％ in the Xiaoyin decoction group,significantly higher than that in the placebo group (73.33％,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions There is an abnormality in the proportion of Th17 cells and serum levels of IL-17,IL-22 and TNF-α,which may be ameliorated by the combined treatment with Xiaoyin decoction and calcipotriol ointment.

Blood Pressure ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Noise

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation III (APACHE III) and acute lung injury (ALI) scale in the severity and prognosis of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

METHODSThe clinical data of 38 SARS patients, including survivors (24 cases) and no survivors (14 cases) were collected and evaluated with APACHE III and ALI scoring systems. The correlation of scores and prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTSThe scores of APACHE III in the non survivors were higher remarkably than those in the survivor group (P < 0.001). The scores of APACHE III had positive correlation with the overall fatality rate. When the scores of APACHE III was higher than 60, the mortality increased obviously (chi(2) = 3.886, P < 0.05). Elderly patients with SARS who were over 60 years old had a high mortality (chi(2) = 8.660, P < 0.05). The scores of ALI in the non survivors had not statistical significance than those in the survivor group (P = 0.127).

CONCLUSIONSThe score of APACHE III in the SARS are correlated with the patient's condition and prognosis. Elderly patients with SARS have a high mortality.

APACHE ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; physiopathology

OBJECTIVETo detect the possible relationship between PARKIN gene and the Chinese pedigree with autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease(AREP).

METHODSClinical examination was carried out in 6 patients from 3 Chinese pedigrees with AREP and their 23 family members. PCR amplification of all exons of PARKIN gene was performed. The PCR products were analyzed by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) to screen for point mutation and polymorphism. And in the samples with abnormal DHPLC result, further sequencing was conducted to confirm the type of mutation and polymorphism.

RESULTSAll exons of PARKIN gene from the research subjects were successfully amplified. A heterozygous point mutation (Gly284Arg) in exon 7 was found in one pedigree. A polymorphism (Ser167Asn) in exon 4 was found in another pedigree. All the patients had the past history of exposure to environmental poison.

CONCLUSIONWhen acting together with risky environmental factors, the heterozygous mutation Gly284Arg in PARKIN gene may cause AREP. The polymorphism Ser167Asn in PARKIN gene increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease and may cause AREP when acting together with hydrargyrism.

Age of Onset ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Exons ; genetics ; Female ; Genes, Recessive ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Parkinson Disease ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Pedigree ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo observe the survival of hand allograft under the state of immunosuppression and the pathological changes of rejection in the recovery process.

METHODSThe biopsies of the skin, nerve, muscle, tendon and bone tissue of hand allografts during different stages from 1 day to 7 months after operation were observed using routine histological technique.

RESULTSNo significant changes due to rejection in skin, nerve, muscle and bone tissue were observed. But different degrees of weak rejective changes were found on the wall of blood vessels; in the muscle and nerve the reactions were markedly stronger than those found in skin tissues.

CONCLUSIONSThe rejection in deep tissues should be monitored in controlling the rejection of hand allograft.

Adult ; Biopsy ; Graft Rejection ; pathology ; Hand Transplantation ; Humans ; Immunosuppression ; Male ; Skin ; immunology ; pathology ; Transplantation, Homologous

Objective To understand the effect of hyaluronic acid (HA) on the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes cultured in vitro with Kashin-Beck disease(KBD) to provide the experimental evidences for treating KBD diseases with HA. Methods The articular cartilage samples collected from KBD patients were selected according to Diagnosis for Kaschin-Beck Disease(GB 16003-1995). And the normal cartilage samples were collected from victims of incidence (control). Chandrocytes were separated and cultured in vitro. Then varying dosages of HA were administered to chondrocytes and individed into 0,100,500 mg/L group, according to HA doages. The effect of HA on the proliferation and apoptosis of chondrocytes cultured/n vitro both KBD and the controls were investigated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium(MTT), Annexin V/PI staining on 2~(nd), 4~(th), 6~(th) day. Results In the control group, 500 mg/L group(0.140 ± 0.049) promoted chondrocyte proliferation significantly than 0 mg/L group (0.116 ± 0.021 ) at the 4~(th) day(P < 0.05), similar phenomenon was observed in KBD group in the 6~(th) day between 500 and 0 mg/L group(0.179 ± 0.081,0.128 ± 0.017, P< 0.05). In the KBD group, compared with 0 mg/L (12.860 ± 2.159), both 100 and 500 mg/L( 10.458 ± 1.143,7.877 ± 1.346) inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis rate (P < 0.05). In control, apoptosis rate of 500 mg/L group(4.045 ± 1.204) descreased compared with 0 mg/L group (7.128 ± 1.244, P < 0.05). Conclusion HA can promote the proliferation and inhibit the apoptosis of KBD chondrocytes cultured in vitro, and 500 mg/L HA play more effective role than that of 100 mg/L in promoting proliferation and inhibiting poptosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relation between p16 gene expression and the carcinogenesis and progress of hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSIn 35 specimens of HCC tissue and the adjacent liver tissue, the integration of HBV X gene was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern blot. The point mutation of exon-1alpha, 2 and 3 of p16 gene were detected by PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). The expression of p16 mRNA and p16 protein was detected by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe integration of X gene correlated with the expression loss of p16 mRNA and p16 protein in HCC (P < 0.05). The expression loss rates of p16 protein in HCC and adjacent tissues were 62.9% (22/35) and 40.0% (14/35) with significant difference (P < 0.05). The expression loss of p16 protein in HCC correlated with the differentiation degrees of HCC and the infiltration of tumor cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe integration of X gene correlates with the expression loss of p16 protein. The alteration of p16 gene, playing an important role in all stages of hepatocarcinogenesis, correlates with the progress and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Exons ; Female ; Genes, p16 ; Hepatitis B Antigens ; metabolism ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Trans-Activators ; genetics ; Virus Integration

Anesthesia, General ; Animals ; Central Venous Pressure ; physiology ; Heart Function Tests ; Hemodynamics ; physiology ; Respiration, Artificial ; Shock, Septic ; pathology ; Swine ; physiology ; Venae Cavae ; physiology

Authors raised that staging based strategies and practice of integrative medicine (IM) by combining syndrome typing and disease identification, and choosing suitable measures in accordance with different persons and seasonal conditions after more than ten years' clinical practice and researches. Radical operation as prior (as evil eliminating) and strengthening vital qi in perioerative period are best strategy for promoting rapid rehabilitation of early stage prostate cancer patients. Strengthening body resistance to eliminate evil was used in treating advanced prostate cancer patients. For example, a comprehensive treatment program for hormone-dependent patients was combined with endocrinotherapy and Chinese herbs for synergisic efficacy-enhancing actions. In this way, these patients' quality of life (QOL) were improved and time to castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) was delayed, even some patients were clinically cured. There are lack of effective medicines and methods for CRPC patients. Greatly tonifying original qi is mainly used for improving their clinical symptoms and prolonging survivals. Practice has proved staging based strategies and practice of IM has favorable advantages in treating prostate cancer, especially showing prospect in prolonging survival and postponing progression of advanced prostate cancer patients. Besides, it also could provide beneficial considerations and inspiration for combination of syndrome typing and disease identification.
Disease Progression ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; diagnosis ; Quality of Life