Objective To screen the antibacterial activity of Chinese traditional medicines against Yersinia pestis.Methods Six Chinese traditional medicines(Coptis Chinesis etc)were selected and extracted with pure water to make a concentration of 1 mg/L.Yersinia pestis strain 201 and EV 76 were used to determine the minimal inhibitory concentrations(MIC)of these selected medicines in vitro with liquid dilution method.Results Three herbs had inhibition effects on the strain 201 and EV76 in different extents,among which Rheum palmatum had the strongest effect and MIC was 0.025 00 mg/L.Furthermore,the Chinese traditional medicine had the same MIC on both strain 201 and EV76.Conclusions Chinese traditional medicines commonly used have inhibiting effect on Yersinia pesti.

AIM To investigate the clinical effects of Qingrun Yangmu Oral Liquid combined with artificial tears on dry eye visual fatigue patients due to Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency Syndrome.METHODS Ninety patients (180 eyes) randomly and equally were divided into artificial tears group (0.1％ Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops),oral liquid group (Qingrun Yangmu Oral Liquid) and combination group (0.1％ Sodium Hyaluronate Eye Drops and Qingrun Yangmu Oral Liquid) underwent a ten-day course of treatment,and they had their subjective symptom score,tear secretory volume (Schirmer Ⅰ test,SIT),tear film break-up time (BUT),corneal fluorescein staining (CFS) score and visuognosis persistence observed prior to the treatment,and on the 1 lth,21st,30th days after the treatment.RESULTS All the aforementioned indices in the three groups were improved after the treatment,especially of the 11th day (P ＜0.01).Obvious changes of BUT,CFS score and visuognosis persistence at different time points,in the three groups were found as compared with those data prior to the treatment (P ＜0.05),so were the subjective symptom score and SIT in the oral liquid group and combination group (P ＜ 0.05).The combination group displayed significantly better results than the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05),which exhibited no obvious differences between the interventions of artificial tears and oral liquid (P ＞ 0.05).A markedly higher total efficacy rate of combination group than the other two groups was achieved as well (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION For patients of dry eye visual fatigue due to Liver-Kidney Yin Deficiency Syndrome,Qingrun Yangmu Oral Liquid combined with artificial tears can relieve their symptoms in terms of tear secretory promotion and prolonged BUT.

Objective To investigate the clinical therapeutic methods and their curative effects in recurrent ischemic angina for internal mammary artery resterosis after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).Methods We enrolled the patients who had recurrence of ischemic angina for restenosis of internal mammary artery graft after CABG as research subjects in the Affiliated Hospital of Yan'an University from January 2014 to January 2016.The 42 patients were divided into three groups according to the different treatment approaches for recurrence of ischemic angina:Group A (n=22)who received internal mammary artery interventional therapy;Group B (n=12)who received coronary artery bypass grafting treatment;and Group C (n=8)who received left subclavian artery proximal stent treatment.Then we compared the clinical therapeutic effects in the three groups.Results The success rate in Group C was 100%,which was the highest in the three groups,and the post-operative restenosis rate was 0.The hospitalization time was significantly shorter in Group A than in Group B (P＜0.05).However,the two groups did not significantly differ in mortality,success rate or restenosis rate (P＞0.05).Conclusion We should select the appropriate treatment according to the patient's specific situation for recurrent ischemic angina. Endovascular treatment has evident therapeutic effects,rapid postoperative recovery,and lower treatment risk, making it the preferred treatment when possible.

This study was purposed to evaluate the safety and curative effect of autologous cytokine induced killer cells (CIK) combined with low-dose IL-2 regimen containing immune enhancement of thymic peptide on elderly patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Thymic peptide α1 was subcutaneously given as the immunoenhancement agent at a dose of 1.6 mg/d, 14 days as one cycle. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNC) from 5 patients with B-CLL were isolated once a week to induce ex vivo CIK cells through culture in the context of interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2 and anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. The PBMNC were separated from patients before and after 14 days as one cycle of thymic peptide α1 administration. Parameters of amplification ability, effector cells quantity, lymphocyte subgroups percentage and antitumor cytotoxicity were compared before and after thymic peptide administration. The 5 patients were treated with CIK cells combined with low-dose IL-2 regimen immediately after injection of thymic peptide α1. The CIK cells plus low-dose IL-2 regimen containing thymic peptide enhancement was defined as: thymic peptide α1 1.6 mg/d was subcutaneously administered once every other day; (4 - 6) ×10(9) of CIK cells were transfused followed by IL-2 subcutaneous administration of 1 mU/d on days 1-10, 28 days as one cycle. Clinical evaluation parameters including cellular immunity function, CLL related biomarkers, disease state and infectious frequency and degree were investigated before and after CIK cells infusion puls IL-2. The results showed that the amount of amplified CIK cells, the percentage and amplification times of effector cells and antitumor cytotoxicity more significantly increased after thymic peptide α1 treatment than before its use (P < 0.05). The total 46 cycles of CIK cells infusion plus IL-2 were completed in the 5 CLL patients. No adverse reaction was observed. After treatment of CIK cells plus IL-2, the general conditions of 5 CLL patients were to different extent improved. Simultaneously, percentages of CD3(+), CD3(+)CD8(+), and CD3(+)CD56(+) cells in peripheral blood remarked by raised (P < 0.05), the serum level of β2 microglobulin was significantly declined (P < 0.05), and the frequency and degree of infection was also decreased (P < 0.05). Following CIK cells plus IL-2 therapy, the transformation of disease state from partial remission (PR) to complete remission was seen in 3 patients, from stable disease (SD) to PR in 1 patient, and from progress of disease to SD in 1 patient. It is concluded that the regimen of autologous CIK cells combined with low-dose IL-2 containing immune enhancement of thymic peptide is safety and effective for the treatment of elderly patients with B-CLL.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; immunology ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; therapy ; Male ; Thymosin ; immunology

Objective To investigate the relationship between ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) and coronary artery stenosis in patients without myocardial infarction.Methods For this study we consecutively enrolled 345 patients who received coronary angiography (CAG).According to the results,the subjects were divided into coronary stenosis group (232 cases)and control group (113 cases)to investigate the the relationship of IMA and IMA/albumin (IMAr)with coronary stenosis.Results ① The levels of IMA and IMAr in coronary stenosis group were higher than those in control group (P＜0.001).② The IMA and IMAr were higher in single-branch and multi-branch lesion groups than in control group (P＜0.05),whereas there was no significant difference between single-branch lesion group and multi-branch lesion group (P＞0.05).③ In receiver operating characteristics curve analysis,the sensitivity of IMA and IMAr was 64.4% and 78.0%,respectively (AUC:0.653,0.705,P＜0.001)in predicting coronary stenosis.④ Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IMAr was an independent risk factor for coronary stenosis in patients without myocardial infarction (OR=73.05,P＜0.001).Conclusion IMA and IMAr are closely correlated with coronary stenosis and have a value in predicting coronary artery stenosis in patients without myocardial infarction.

Objective To study the correlation between coronary artery stenosis and endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease and subclinical hypothyroidism.Methods According to the results of coronary angiography and thyroid function,the patients were divided into coronary heart disease with subclinical hypothyroidism (group A,n=71),coronary heart disease without subclinical hypothyroidism (group B,n=73), and normal coronary angiography (control group,n=59).The degree of coronary artery stenosis was evaluated by Gensini integral method.Fasting blood was taken to measure nitric oxide (NO),high sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP),and endothelin (ET)to evaluate endothelial dysfunction.Results TC,TG,LDL-c,FT3,TSH,hs-CRP,ET and Gensini score were higher in Group A than in Group B and control group (P＜0.05).The level of NO in Group A and Group B were lower than that in control group (P＜0 .0 5).Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age,TSH,ET and NO were independent risk factors for coronary heart disease.ET and NO levels in patients with coronary heart disease combined with subclinical hypothyroidism were correlated with Gensini scores (r=0.431,r=-0.383,P＜0.001).Conclusion Subclinical hypothyroidism may cause endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary heart disease,which may increase cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Objective To investigate the association of low level of free thyroxin (FT4)within normal range with the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD)and carotid atherosclerosis.Methods We enrolled 312 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography (CAG)and divided them into CAD group (196 cases)and non-CAD group (116 cases)according to CAG results.We calculated Gensini score and divided CAD group into≤10 Gensini score group (n=65),10-30 Gensini score group (n=67)and ＞30 Gensini score group (n=64).Thyroid hormone level,carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT)and other clinical data were measured and compared between the groups,and the correlation analysis was used to find the relationship of FT4 level with Gensini score.By taking CIMT reference value of 0.9 mm as the standard,we divided the patients into thickened IMT group (IMT≥0.9 mm)and normal IMT group (IMT＜0.9 mm).Results The level of FT4 was significantly lower in CAD group and subgroups than in non-CAD group (P＜0.05).The level of FT4 was negatively correlated with Gensini score (P＜0.05).The levels of FT4 and TT4 were significantly lower in thickened CIMT group than in normal CIMT group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Low level of FT4 within normal range is significantly related to the severity of CAD,and low level of FT4 can be used as an independent risk factor for the severity of CAD.Low levels of FT4 and TT4 are significantly related to carotid atherosclerosis.

Objective: To discuss the abnormal expression of Wnt inhibitory factor (WIF1) in hepatocellular carcinoma cells and its regulating effect on the hepatocellular carcinoma invasion and metastasis factors of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) and caveolin-1. Methods: RT-PCR and Western blot were employed to detect the expression of WIF1 in six hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines of HepG2, Hep3B, Huh7, PLC/PRF/5, SMMC-7721 and MHCC97 and the immortalized human liver cell line THLE-3. Besides, Lipofectamine 2000 was employed to transfect the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-WIF1 and blank plasmid pcDNA3.1 into hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Transwell assay was used to detect the effect of WIF1 on the invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma cells; Western blot was used to detect the effect of WIF1 on the expression of TIMP-3 and caveolin-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cells, it also discussed the effect on the expression of β-catenin. Results: The expression of WIF1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines was lower than that in the normal liver cell lines (P < 0.01); while there was basically no expression of WIF1 in the human highly metastatic cell line MHCC-97 and moderate expression in HepG2 and SMMC-7721. Therefore, HepG2 and SMMC-7721 were chosen as the further experimental cell lines. After transfecting the eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1-WIF1 and blank plasmid pcDNA3.1 into hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, compared with the blank plasmid group, the cell viability and invasion ability in the WIF1 group were all reduced (P < 0.01), the expression of TIMP-3, caveolin-1 and mRNA were all down-regulated (P < 0.01), and the expression of β-catenin was decreased (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Because of down-regulation or missing of expression of WIF1 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, the up-regulation of WIF1 expression can significantly inhibit the invasion and metastasis of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines, which are related to the up-regulated expression of TIMP-3 and down-regulated expression of caveolin-1 and may be realized through the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.

Objective: To study the correlation between miR-21 and Treg/Th17 ratio in the microenvironment of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: Diethylnitrosamine was used to build the hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats; the content of Treg cells and Th17 cells and the expression of miR-21 in the peripheral blood of rats with hepatocellular carcinoma were detected. The statistical analysis was performed on the correlation between miR-21 expression and Treg/Th17 ratio. Results: Hepatocellular carcinoma model of rats was successfully constructed. The proportion of Th17 cells among all CD4