OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of Liangxue Huayu therapy (LXHYT), a traditional Chinese herbal therapy for cooling blood and dissipating blood stasis, on rat model of experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) and its impact on tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-10 mRNA expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. METHODS: Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group, untreated EAT group, cyclosporine A (CyA)-treated group, Tripterygium glycosides-treated group and Liangxue Huayu Recipe (LXHYR)-treated group. The interventions were given by gavage to the rats in different groups once a day. All rats were sacrificed after 4-week treatment, and the level of serum thyroglobulin antibodies (TgAb) and the changes of histological grade of thyroid specimen were assessed by blind evaluation. Expressions of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) mRNAs in peripheral blood mononuclear cells were assessed by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the serum TgAb level and severe inflammatory infiltration in the untreated group. Expression of TNF-alpha mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was increased, while the expression of IL-10 mRNA was decreased in the untreated group (P<0.01). Compared with the untreated group, CyA, Tripterygium glycosides and LXHYF could decrease the serum TgAb level (P<0.05), but the three interventions showed no significant improvement in thyroid inflammation (P>0.05). TNF-alpha mRNA expression was decreased, while IL-10 mRNA expression was increased as compared with the untreated group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: LXHYT can decrease the serum TgAb level and recover the balance of Th1/Th2. This may provide an experimental basis for further research of assessing the antipsoriatic effect of Chinese herbal drugs with a rat model of EAT as an alternative model of psoriasis in vivo.

Objective To analyze the impact of tripterygium glycosides (TG) on the expression of CXCR3 and CCR4 gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from experimental autoimmune thyroiditis (EAT) rats, and to explore the possible mechanism for regulation of Th1/Th2 balance by TG. Methods EAT was induced in 20 rats, which were randomly divided into two groups, i.e., control group and TG group, to receive intragastric physiological saline and TG suspension (5.5 mg/kg) daily, respectively. The rats were killed 4weeks later, and total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rats and used for cRNA synthesis. The gene expressions of CXCR3 and CCR4 were detected with a Th1-Th2-Th3 microarray gene chip and realtime RT-PCR. Results Compared with the control group, there was a significant decrease in the mRNA expression of CXCR3 (0.52 ± 0.10 vs. 1.05 ± 0.17, P < 0.01 ) and CXCR3/CCR4 ratio (0.39 ± 0.22 vs. 1.04 ± 0.12, P< 0.01) in the TG group, together with an increase in the mRNA expression of CCR4 (1.56 ±0.13 vs. 1.02 ± 0.09, P < 0.01 ). Conclusions TG could regulate the number of Th1 and Th2 cells as well as their cytokine expression ratio likely by reducing CXCR3 and enhancing CCR4 expression, so as to modulate the Th1/Th2 balance in EAT rats.

This article was aimed to study the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis by β-el-emene extract from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rhizoma Zedoariae on human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, as well as the effect on expression of apoptosis-related proteins in liver cancer-burdened H22 mice. Human HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro. MTT method was used in the determination of β-elemene on cell prolif-eration. Apoptosis of cells were detected by the Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method. Through the establish-ment of liver cancer-burdened H22 mice model, the inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis-related protein expression by β-elemene on tumor-burdened mice were observed. The results showed that β-elemene inhib-ited HepG2 cell proliferation, which was dose- and time-dependent. Annexin V-FITC/PI method detected early apoptotic cells. Inhibitions of tumor growth on tumor-burdened mice from different groups were different. Inhibition of tumor growth in the high-dose β-elemene group was relatively low, and that of the middle-dose was more obvi-ous. It was concluded that β-elemene can effectively inhibit human HepG2 cells proliferation. The inhibition on pro-liferation of cancer cells was through the inducing of cell apoptosis. It was also related to the upregulation of apopto-sis-related protein Caspase-3 and downregulation of NF-κB P65.

Objective To analyze blood lipid components in simple obesity children and to explore the effects of obesity in the lipid metabolism and its clinical significance.Methods A total of 90 children,including 50 simple obesity children(obesity group)and 40 normal children(control group),were enrolled in this study.The age ranged from 2.5 to 16.0 years.Their blood lipid profiles of all the children were analyzed.The blood lipid profiles were examined by biochemical analysis,including triglyeride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein(LDL) and high density lipoprotein(HDL),and the livers of all the children were analyzed.The blood lipid profiles were examined by ultrasonograph.Results 1.There were no significant differences in age and height in obesity group and control group,but there were significant differences in body mass index(BMI) and blood pressure(P0.05),which had no statistical meaning.3.Liver ultra sonogram showed that 18 cases had fatty liver(36%) in simple obesity children.Conclusions Metabolic disorder of blood lipid is present in simple obesity children,who have a tendency to get fatty liver.LDL is markedly elevated in obesity group.Arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease should be prevented at earlier period of childhood.

Objective To analyze the changes and characteristics of cancer incidence and mortality among Jiaxing residents in the past 6 years,and to provide evidence for the prevention and control of cancer incidence and mortality.Methods Registered malignant tumor data from the Zhejiang Chronic Disease Information Monitoring and Management System were collected and analyzed based on the International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-10).The statistical indexes used for analyses included crude incidence,standardized incidence,crude ortality,standardized mortality,potential years of life lost (PYLL),average years of life lost (AYLL),rate of potential years of life (PYLL‰) and so on.Results From 2010 to 2015,the crude incidence,the standardized incidence,the crude mortality,and the standardized mortality were 342.52/105,240.89/105,194.71/105 and 126.27/105,respectively.The crude incidence and mortality for males were both higher than those for females(378.44/105 vs.307.49/105,x2=763.06,P＜0.01;255.31/105vs.135.62/105,x2-3 814.11,P＜0.01).The PYLL,AYLL and PYLL‰ of residents in Jiaxing were 248,307 years,6.16 years and 12.00‰,respectively.The PYLL‰for males was significantly higher than that for females(x2=37073.85,P＜0.01).The AYLL for females was 6.50 years,higher than that for males(5.98 years)(t =125.15,P＜0.01).The incidence of malignant tumors increased with age,especially in the older than 40 age group,with the older than 80 age group showing the highest rate at 1 779.01/105 (x2 =38 840 907,P ＜ 0.01).Rates for Lung cancer (70.59/105),colorectal cancer (39.86/105),liver cancer (29.14/105),breast cancer(26.73/105) and stomach cancer (26.00/105) were the most common malignant tumors in Jiaxing.Conclusions The morbidity and mortality of malignant tumors are showing signs of rising and the incidences of lung cancer and gastrointestinal cancer are particularly pronounced in Jiaxing.In consequence,measures for the prevention and control of malignant tumors should be developed with clearly defined objectives and research on the pathogenesis of malignant tumors should be stepped upto reduce the incidence and mortality of malignant tumors.

Objective To discuss the relationship between GULP1 gene polymorphism of Chinese Han population and schizophrenia,cognitive function.Methods Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) method was used to detect 86 patients with schizophrenia and 72 normal controls GULP1 gene SNPrs2004888 polymorphism;Wechsler Memory Scale(WMS) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test(WCST) assessment of two groups of memory and executive function,and assessed with the PANSS scale clinical symptoms.Results The differences of GULP1 gene SNP(rs2004888) polymorphism genotype and allele frequency was statistically significant (χ2 = 35.71、32.21,all P＜0.05).Genotypes in patients with group comparison of cognitive function between groups showed the genotype groups Wechsler Memory Scale Logical Memory scores were significant(P＜0.05),G/G and T/T genotype compared with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in the number of errors,error numbers and classification numbers significant(P＜0.05).Conclusion GULP1 gene SNPrs2004888 polymorphism was associated with schizophrenia,and also related to cognitive function in schizophrenia.

Objective To investigate the effect of calcium antagonist verapamil on the function of rat?- cells and tolbutamide (D860)-induced insulin release.Methods Insulin released from isolated islets were measured in control,verapamil,D860,and verapamil+D860 groups.Furthermore,intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was conducted in acute experiments treated with verapamil and D860 respectively to assess?-cell function in rats with the same allocation as in vitro.Another IVGTT was performed in the end of 4 weeks' treatment.The insulin contents in pancreas were assayed and pancreas islets morphology were observed with immunohistochemistry.Results Verapamil could inhibit insulin release from isolated islets.Verapamil group was [(1.244?0.082)ng?ml~(-1)?islet~(-1)]and control group (2.623?0.226) ng?ml~(-1)?islet~(-1)(P0.05).Also,similar results were obtained in normal rats during acute experiments and verapamil reduce the hypoglycemic effect promoted by D860. However,above results were not observed in the end of 4 weeks experiments,and no difference for insulin content and morphological change in islets was found among four groups.Conclusion Treatment of verapamil chronically does not impair islet function and interfere with the hypoglycemic effect of D860 in rats .

AIM: To prepare the efficient tumor-DC vaccines, dendritic cells(DC) derived from 6-8 weeks Balb/c mice bone marrow progenitor cells were pulsed by apoptotic SP2/0 tumor cells and induced maturation by SP2/0 tumor lysates supernatants. Then SP2/0 tumor burdening Balb/c mice were immunized by the tumor-DC vaccines to observe the therapeutic effects in vivo .METHODS: Immature DC were derived by recombinant murine GM-CSF and IL-4, then were pulsed by SP2/0 apoptotic cells. Tumor-DC vaccines were stimulated by LPS and SP2/0 tumor lysates supernatants prepared by four cycles repetitive freezing and thawing, respectively. -thymidine incorporation test and standard 4h [ 51 Cr] release assay were used to detect the proliferation and activation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) stimulated by DC in vitro . (4-5)?10 5 DC were immunized in the right inguen of SP2/0 tumor burdening Balb/c mice and most mice received three cycles immunization every two weeks. Changes of the tumor and mice life-spans were recorded. RESULTS: In vitro proliferation and activation of CTL induced by the tumor-DC vaccines of tumor lysates supernatants or LPS stimulation group were more powerful than other groups ( P

Objective To evaluate the effect of spleno-left adrenal vein shunt for the treatment of portal hypertensive upper GI bleeding caused by portal vein cavernous transformation in children.Methods Spleno-left adrenal vein shunt was performed in 8 children with portal hypertension due to cavernous transformation.The clinical data was reviewed.Results Portal vein pressure decreased significantly from (30±11)mm Hg to(22±7) mm Hg after shunt.There was no mortality perioperatively and during the follow-up.There were no recurrent hemorrhage nor hepatic encephalopathy occurring in the follow-up and all the children have normal intelligence and normal liver function though blood ammonia level increased significantly from(18±7)μmol/L to (60±17)μmol/L in 4 cases.In 7 cases in which preoperative whole blood cell count significantly decreased,the postoperative WBC,RBC,Hb and PLT was (7.64 ±4.46)×10~9/L,(4.54±0.97)×10~(12)/L,(133±5) g/L and (355.40±107.36)×10~9/L respectively (all P ＜0.05).In one case suffering from preoperative low PLT count the postop PLT reached 333×10~9/L,which was significantly higher than that preoperatively.Esophageal varices ameliorated in 6 cases.No stenosis of anastomotic stoma and thrombosis developed.Conclusion Spleno-left adrenal vein shunt is an effective procedure to treat portal vein cavernous transformation induced portal hypertension in children.

AIM:ToinvestigatetheeffectofP21-activatedkinase1(PAK1)andlymphoidenhancer-binding factor 1(LEF1) on the proliferation of esophagus cancer cells .METHODS:Real-time PCR was applied to detect the mR-NA expression of PAK1 and LEF1 in the esophagus cancer tissues .MTT assay were used to measure the proliferation of hu-man esophagus cancer cell line KYSE transfected with PAK 1 and LEF1.RESULTS: The mRNA expression of PAK1 in the esophagus cancer tissues was lower than that in control group (P<0.05).The mRNA expression of LEF1 and tran-scription factor 4 (TCF4) in the esophagus cancer tissues was higher than that in control group (P<0.05).The prolifera-tion of KYSE cells with over-expression of PAK1 and LEF1 was higher than that in control group .No significant change of apoptosis between the KYSE cells with over-expression of PAK1 and LEF1 and control group was observed .CONCLU-SION:The expression of PAK1 decreases and the expression of LEF 1 increases in esophagus cancer tissues .LEF1 domi-nantly regulates the proliferation of esophagus cancer cells .