OBJECTIVETo detect the expression levels of telomere binding factor 2 (TRF2) mRNA in tumor tissue of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients using quantitative real-time RT-PCR.

METHODSThe target gene mRNA was amplified with RT-PCR, then was sequentially electrophoresed and purified as standards, and the standard curves of gene expression were established. The expression levels of TRF2 mRNA of lymphoid tissue from NHL and reactive lymphoadenopathy were detected with real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe correlation coefficient was 0.996 between the amount of template cDNA and the intensity of fluorescence signal when gene expression standard curves were established. The correlation coefficient of template cDNA amount and grey density of bands derived from gel electrophoresis of real-time RT-PCR final products was 0.779 (P<0.05). Of all NHL patients, expression levels of TRF2 mRNA of follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma were(22.943 +/-9.424) amol, (23.181 +/-5.983) amol and (18.339 +/-7.910) amol, respectively, which had no significant difference compared with reactive lymphoadenopathy [(21.796 +/-4.800) amol, P>0.05]. The expression level of TRF2 mRNA of Burkitt lymphoma was (33.170 +/-12.841) amol, which was significantly higher than that of reactive lymphoadenopathy and other types of NHL (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAlcohol drinking isn't one of the risk factors of colorectal cancer among Jiashan County population.

Adult ; Aged ; Burkitt Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Neoplasm ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 2 ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and feasibility of simultaneous bilateral carotid stenting for treating patients with bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis.

METHODSThe clinical data of 39 consecutive patients with bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis undergoing simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting in Fuwai hospital from January 2005 to December 2009 were collected and analyzed retrospectively. The reduction of the angiographic diameter stenosis after stenting and clinical outcomes of 30 days after stenting including hyperperfusion syndrome, hemodynamic depression, stroke, myocardial infarction and death were assessed.

RESULTSThe patients were 43 - 78 (65.9 ± 8.5) years old, and there were 25 (64.1%) male. Carotid stenting procedure success rate was 100%. Distal embolic protection devices were used in all patients, and 20 (51.3%) out of 39 patients underwent coronary artery bypass surgery after carotid stenting. The angiographic diameter stenosis reduced from (87.0 ± 5.8)% to (10.2 ± 5.6)% after stenting (P < 0.01). Up to 30 days after carotid artery stenting, the incidence of hyperperfusion syndrome, hemodynamic depression, minor stroke, major stroke, myocardial infarction and death was 2.6% (1/39), 28.2% (11/39), 5.1% (2/29), 0, 2.6% (1/39), 2.6% (1/39), respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe data show that simultaneous bilateral carotid stenting is a technically feasible and safe alternative for patients with severe bilateral atherosclerotic carotid stenosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Stenosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate bcl-6 protein expression and gene rearrangement patterns in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and their clinicopathologic significance.

METHODSImmunohistochemical studies for bcl-6 and CD10 proteins were performed on 51 cases of DLBCL paraffin-embedded tissues (including 22 nodal samples and 29 extranodal samples) and 10 cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) paraffin-embedded tissues. Interphase fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) with dual color breakapart probe was also used to identify rearrangement of bcl-6 gene in 32 cases of nodal DLBCL tissues (including 22 paraffin-embedded samples and 10 fresh samples) and 5 cases of RLH paraffin-embedded tissues.

RESULTS(1) The rates of bcl-6 protein expression in nodal DLBCL, extranodal DLBCL and RLH were 72.7% (16/22), 75.9% (22/29) and 100.0% (10/10) respectively. The rates of CD10 expression were 40.9% (9/22), 41.4% (12/29) and 100.0% (10/10) respectively. All lymphoma samples which expressed CD10 also showed co-expression of bcl-6 protein. (2) The co-expression of bcl-6 and CD10 was observed in 40.9% (9/22) nodal DLBCL and 41.4% (12/29) extranodal DLBCL. Low clinical stage (stage I and II) was more frequently observed in cases with co-expression of bcl-6 and CD10 (P < 0.05). (3) The rates of bcl-6 gene rearrangement in nodal DLBCL was 28.1% (9/32), with 27.3% (6/22) in paraffin-embedded tissues and 30.0% (3/10) in fresh tissues. There was no statistically significant difference found between the two groups (P > 0.05). Bcl-6 gene rearrangement was not found in all the 5 cases of RLH, and there was a significant difference between RLH and DLBCL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe rate of bcl-6 protein expression is high in DLBCL cases, and the detection of bcl-6 and CD10 protein co-expression may help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of DLBCL. Those DLBCL cases with co-expression of bcl-6 and CD10 may also have a better prognostic implication. On the other hand, bcl-6 gene rearrangement can be identified by interphase FISH with dual color breakapart probe in both paraffin-embedded and fresh lymphoma tissues.

Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neprilysin ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-6 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Pseudolymphoma ; genetics

BACKGROUNDSevere bilateral carotid stenosis caused by atherosclerosis has not been unusual in the elderly. Such patients have high stroke risk. Many studies show that carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an alternative to treat unilateral carotid stenosis. However, the optimal procedural strategy of bilateral carotid stenosis remains unclear. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the safety of simultaneous bilateral carotid artery stenting (SBCAS) compared with unilateral carotid artery stenting (UCAS).

METHODSIn this single-center retrospective study, we analyzed 234 consecutive patients who underwent carotid stenting from January 2005 to December 2009. Thirty-nine patients (16.7%) of them underwent SBCAS, and the others (n = 195) underwent UCAS. Indication for CAS was defined as carotid artery diameter reduction > 60% (symptomatic) or > 80% (asymptomatic). Six-month and 30-day hemodynamic depression (HD), hyperperfusion syndrome (HPS), stroke, death and myocardial infarction (MI) after carotid stenting were assessed.

RESULTSSBCAS group had no more HD and HPS compared with UCAS group at 30 days (HD: 28.2% vs. 20.0%, P = 0.396; HPS: 2.6% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.262). Moreover, there was no statistically significant difference between SBCAS group and UCAS group in major stroke, death, MI and their combinations within 30 days (major stroke: 0 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.604; death: 2.6% vs. 1.5%, P = 0.520; MI: 2.6% vs. 0.5%, P = 0.306; and their combinations: 5.1% vs. 4.6%, P = 1.000) and 6 months (major stroke: 0 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.604; death: 5.1% vs. 2.1%, P = 0.262; MI: 5.1% vs.1.0%, P = 0.130 and their combinations: 7.7% vs. 5.1%, P = 0.459).

CONCLUSIONSThe patients undergoing SBCAS had no more events than those undergoing UCAS in 30-day and 6-month follow-up. Our finding suggests that SBCAS appears to be as safe as UCAS.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon ; adverse effects ; Carotid Stenosis ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Hemodynamics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents ; adverse effects ; Time Factors

Thin layer chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography and multivariate statistical analysis were integrated in current study to provide a basis for the quality evaluation and the standard improvement of Paridis Rhizoma(Chinese name: Chong-lou). The results demonstrated that the primary saponins in the two authorized sources of Paridis Rhizoma were polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ and Ⅶ, while the rhizome of Trillium tschonoskii an adulterant of Paridis Rhizoma was rich of polyphyllin Ⅵ. Therefore, the apparent content of polyphyllin Ⅵ plays a determinant role towards the source authentication of raw materials and decoction slices of Paridis Rhizoma, whose adulterants frequently occur in the market. Moreover, the contents of polyphyllin Ⅵ in the two authorized sources could meet the requirements of Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Therefore, we suggested that polyphyllin Ⅵ should not be omitted from the quality standard of Paridis Rhizoma in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, and on the other side, polyphyllinsⅠ, Ⅱ and Ⅶ should be the eligible quality indicators. The study aims to sound information and evidences for the quality evaluation of Paridis Rhizoma, and also to provide a theoretical basis for the standard revision of Paridis Rhizoma in the future Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Rhizome ; Saponins ; Trillium

Compound houttuynia mixture belongs to OTC class A medicine, which is made from Houttuynia cordata, Scutellaria baicalensis, Radix Isatidis, Forsythia, and Lonicera. As a kind of compound preparation of traditional Chinese medicine, houttuynia cordata mixture has extensive pharmacological effects, for example, clearing away heat and detoxifying, thus it is used for the sore throat, acute pharyngitis, and tonsillitis with wind-heat syndrome. In this study, the antiviral activity against influenza viruses and the primary mechanism of compound houttuynia mixture was evaluated. The antiviral effect of compound houttuynia mixture was determined by cytopathic effects (CPE), Western blot, quantitive reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and virus titer assays. The effect of houttuynia mixture on the replication cycle of influenza virus was evaluated by time-of-addition assay. In conclusion, the results showed that the compound houttuynia mixture had a broad-spectrum effect against influenza virus, including the international common influenza virus strains, the drug-resistant strains and the highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses H5N1 and H7N9. It mainly impairs the early stage of the viral replication.

We studied the protective effect and mechanism of isorhamnetin (ISO) on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridiniumion (MPP⁺)-induced SH-SY5Y cells injury. MPP⁺-induced SH-SY5Y cell injury model was established, and cell viability was measured by MTT and LDH methods. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in cells were determined to investigate the level of oxidative stress. DCFH-DA and MitoSOX fluorescence probes were used to detect the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondria superoxide, respectively. JC-1 fluorescence probe was used to detect the changes of mitochondrial membrane potential. Western blot and immunofluorescence methods were used to determine the expressions of Sirt1 and PGC-1 proteins, as well as the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins Bax and Bcl-2. MPP⁺ at the dose of 500 μmol·L^-1 significantly reduced SH-SY5Y cells viability to 52.46% and increased LDH release to 417.63%. ISO at 5 and 15 μmol·L^-1 significantly increased the expression of Sirt1 and PGC-1α, inhibited LDH release, reduced intracellular ROS and mitochondria superoxide, inhibited the decline of mitochondrial membrane potential and increased cell viability to 61.61% and 67.55%. In addition, ISO could downregulate the expression of Bax and upregulate the expression of Bcl-2 to reduce cell apoptosis. ISO-mediated inhibition of apoptosis could be reversed by Sirt1 specific inhibitor Sirtinol. Through activating Sirt1/PGC-1α signaling pathway, ISO could reduce oxidative stress injury and inhibit cell apoptosis to protect cells from MPP⁺ injury.

Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use* ; China ; Consensus ; HIV ; HIV Infections/prevention & control* ; Humans ; Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis

Humans ; Consensus ; Hypersensitivity ; Desensitization, Immunologic/adverse effects* ; Immunotherapy/adverse effects* ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Allergens

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.
Female ; Humans ; Adolescent ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Smell ; COVID-19/complications* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; COVID-19 Vaccines ; Incidence ; Olfaction Disorders/etiology* ; Taste Disorders/etiology* ; Prognosis