OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects and safety of Sophoraflavescens preparation combined with Fuzheng huayu capsule on hepatic hemodynamics and fibrosis indexes in patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis.METHODS:One hundred and two patients diagnosed as hepatitis B liver cirrhosis in our hospital during Feb.2013-Jun.2014 were divided into combination group and control group according to random number table,with 51 cases in each group.Control group was treated with Adefovir dipivoxil capsules 10 mg,po,qd;combination group was additionally given Fuzheng huayu capsules 1.5 g,po,tid+Sophora flavescens preparation (Matrine glucose injection 250 mL,ivgtt,qd,in the first 3 months,oxymatrine capsules 200 mg,po,tid,after 3 months) on the basis of control group.Both groups were treated for 12 months.The levels of HBV-DNA,liver function indexes (AST,ALT,TBIL),portal hemodynamic indexes [main portal vein inner diameter (D),mean blood flow velocity (Ⅴ)] and liver fibrosis indexes [laminin protein (LN),hyaluronic acid (HA),type Ⅳ collagen (Ⅳ-C)] were observed in 2 groups before and after treatment.The negative conversion rate of HBV-DNA and incidence of ADR were recorded.RESULTS:Three cases lost to follow up,and a total of 48 effective cases were included in control group;5 cases lost to follow up,and a total of 46 effective cases were included in combination group.Before treatment,there was no statistical significance in HBV-DNA levels,liver function indexes (AST,ALT,TBIL),liver fibrosis indexes (LN,HA,Ⅳ-C) and portal vein hemodynamic indexes (D,V) between 2 groups (P＞0.05).After treatment,above indexes of 2 groups were decreased significantly,and the combination group was significantly lower than the control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).The negative conversion rate of HBV-DNA in combination group was 93.5％,which was significantly higher than 79.2％ of control group,with statistical significance (P＜0.05).There was no statistical significance in the incidence of ADR between 2 groups (P＞0.05).CONCLUSIONS:Sophora flavescens preparation combined with Fuzheng huayu capsules can promote the recovery of liver function,regulate liver hemodynamics and alleviate hepatic fibrosis in patients with hepatitis B liver cirrhosis with good safety.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the applicability of immune-related response criteria (irRC) in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSTotally 97 stage III a-IV NSCLC patients were predominantly treated with comprehensive CM. Curative effects were evaluated by three methods such as Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST), Oncologic Curative Effect Evaluation Criteria of Chinese Medicine in Solid Tumor (draft, abbreviated as CM criteria), and irRC. The correspondency and consistency between irRC, RECIST and CM criteria were analyzed and compared. The objectivity of irRC in evaluating curative effect of Chinese medical treatment for NSCLC was assessed.

RESULTSThe correspondency rate of irRC to RECIST was 59. 79% with Kappa value of 0. 379 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had certain correspondence, but with an unsatisfactory consistency. The correspondency rate of irRC to CM criteria rate was 83. 51% with Kappa value of 0.751 (U test, P <0. 01). The two criteria had good correspondence and consistency.

CONCLUSIONSCM criteria had good consistency with CM criteria in evaluating curative effect for Chinese medical treatment of advanced NSCLC. Its results could objectively reflect features and advantages of CM for treating advanced NSCLC.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; standards ; Treatment Outcome

This study was aimed to explore the effect of homoharringtonine in combination with AG490 on JAK2-STAT5 associated signal pathway in HEL cells, and analyze its mechanism so as to provide theoretical basis for therapy of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasma by new program. The cell survival rates were tested by MTT, apoptosis was tested by flow cytometry after HEL cells were treated by 20 ng/ml HHT, 100 µmol/L AG490 and 20 ng/ml HHT in combination with 100 µmol/L AG490, while the signal proteins such as P-JAK2, P-STAT5 and BCL-xL activated by abnormal activated JAK2 were tested by Western blot. The results showed that both HHT and AG490 could inhabit the HEL cell proliferation after being treated for 24 hours, and Annexin V-PI double staining confirmed early apoptosis while HHT effect was more obvious, Western blot showed that the expressions of P-JAK2 and P-STAT5 were down-regulated, while the total protein levels of JAK2 and STAT5 were stable. It is concluded that HHT combined with AG490 can obviously inhibit the proliferation and induce early apoptosis of HEL cells, and there is synergistic effect between the two drugs. HHT possibly acts as a broad-spectrum PTK inhibitor and synergistically with AG490 inhibits the phosphorylation of signal proteins caused by JAK2V617F, thus down-regulating the transcription of STAT5.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Harringtonines ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Janus Kinase 2 ; metabolism ; STAT5 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Tyrphostins ; pharmacology

Using the superabsorbent of starch graft sodium acrylate copolymer as the only carbon source, 4 excellent strains which can utilize the synthesized superabsorbent were obtained from soil after one month's screening and purification, then the taxa of the strain were identified, i.e., two kind of actinomycetes, yeast and mould.The result shows that the superabsorbent can be degraded successfully.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a degenerative disease of the central nervous system due to the loss or death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Clinically, levodopa is the most effective and commonly used drug for PD treatment. However, long-term levodopa therapy is prone to motor complications and other side effects caused by excessive peripheral dopamine production, which has become an urgent problem to be solved in PD treatment. Dopamine receptor (DR) agonists are similar to dopamine. They can directly stimulate postsynaptic dopamine receptors, produce the same effect as dopamine, delay the application of levodopa as much as possible, and reduce complications caused by long-term use of levodopa. Therefore, screening effective dopamine receptor agonists has become a key issue in the study and treatment of PD. In order to establish a rapid, stable and reliable method for dopamine receptor agonist screening, this study used the human dopamine receptor 2 (DRD2) gene fused with a circular permuted EGFP (cpEGFP) to construct a recombinant gene, packaged with lentiviral vector, and the vector replaced the parted inner transmembrane domain of the third intracellular loop (ICL3) of genetically-encoded GPCR-activation based (GRAB) sensors. The fluorescence of GPCR-fused cpEGFP is regulated by conformational changes mediated by the interaction of dopamine receptor agonists with GPCRs without altering GPCR activity. The HEK293T cells were infected with viral vector, screened by puromycin to select highly expressed cells. Dopamine receptor agonists (including dopamine, bromocriptine mesylate, cabergoline, pramipexole) were used as positive drugs to explore the best screening and detection conditions, establishing a stable model to evaluate the dopamine receptor agonist. The results showed that the optimal filter for the dopamine receptor agonist in this study was the cell seeding count of 7×10⁴, and the effective concentration of the positive drug was 1-100 µmol·L^-1. In addition, pretreated with 10 µmol·L^-1 dopamine receptor antagonists (including chlorprothixol hydrochloride, domperidone, and sulpiride), the positive fluorescence signal of overexpressed DRD2-cpEGFP HEK293T cells could not be detected when exposed to 10 µmol·L^-1 dopamine receptor agonists, which proved that dopamine receptor antagonists could block the activity of dopamine receptor agonists, so they cannot activate dopamine receptor allosteric, indicating that the model has good specificity and can also be used for the screening and detection of new dopamine receptor antagonists. In summary, the study constructs a stable dopamine sensor detection system, which can effectively screen potential dopamine receptor agonists. The operation procedures are simple and rapid. And it can be used for a large-scale screening providing a fundamental methodology for drug development and PD treatment targeted on DRD2.

This study was aimed to investigate various factors influencing long-term survival in adult AML patients with fusion gene aml1/eto positive. A single institutional retrospective study with long-term follow-up was performed to better define the prognostic factors for AML patients with aml1/eto positive. Newly diagnosed 89 adult AML patients with aml1/eto positive were followed up for 1 to 42 months (median 24 months) from January 2004 to July 2008. Univariate and multivariate analysis of potential factors influencing survival and prognosis were carried out by using Log-Rank and Cox regression method, including sex, age, initial WBC counts, extramedullary leukemic disease, central nervous system leukemia (CNSL), chromosome aberrations, immunophenotype, first induction regimen, chemotherapy course to complete remission (CR), time from induction therapy to CR, negative or positive rate of aml1/eto and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and so on. The results showed that the estimated 5-year overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) were (50.0 +/- 2.3)% and (47.0 +/- 1.9)% respectively in follow-up of 89 patients for 1 - 42 months (mean 24 months). Univariate analysis revealed that initial WBC counts, CNSL, chemotherapy course to CR, time from induction therapy to CR, persistent negative in remission and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were important prognostic factors for long-term surviva1. Multivariate study demonstrated that initial WBC counts, CNSL, CD56 positive, negative or positive rate of aml1/eto, time from induction therapy to CR, persistent negative result of RT-PCR assay in remission and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation were all critical factors in relation to OS and RFS. It is concluded that Chinese adult AML patients with fusion gene aml1/eto positive have some different characteristics as compared with patients from other countries, a relatively poor outcome is observed in patients, HSCT should be recommended to adult AML patients.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; mortality ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Prognosis ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis ; Young Adult

A new caffeate compound, (E)-erythro-syringylglyceryl caffeate (1), was isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis Batal., together with nine known phenolic compounds, including (+)-licarin A (2), naringenin 4', 7-dimethyl ether (3), pinoresinol-4-O-β-D-glucoside (4), caraphenol A (5), Z-miyabenol C (6), protocatechuic acid (7), caffeic acid (8), gallic acid (9) and vanillic acid (10). Their chemical structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, this is the first report of compounds 2, 5 and 6 from Nardostachys genus.
Caffeic Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Flavanones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Furans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hydroxybenzoates ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Lignans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Nardostachys ; chemistry ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Vanillic Acid ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVEThere is little knowledge on whether there is clustering of inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intracellular adhesion molecule1-1 (sICAM-1), and angiotensin II (Ang II), in individuals with hypertension in the Mongolian population. In the present study, we investigated this relationship in a Mongolian population in China.

METHODSA total of 2589 adult Mongolians, aged 20 years and older, were recruited as study participants. Data on demographics, lifestyle, family history of hypertension, blood pressure, and blood chemistry were collected, and inflammatory biomarkers were measured in all participants.

RESULTSThe proportion of subjects with increased levels of two or three biomarkers was significantly higher in those with hypertension (21.0% and 6.0%, respectively) than in those with prehypertension (12.7% and 0.5%, respectively) or normotension (8.1% and 0.2%, respectively). The multivariate adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of hypertension associated with increased levels of one, two or three biomarkers were 0.94 (0.72-1.22), 1.42 (0.93-2.16), and 11.08 (1.45-84.80), respectively, compared with subjects with no increase in any biomarker.

CONCLUSIONHypertension was associated with a cluster of inflammatory biomarkers in the Mongolian population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; C-Reactive Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; Female ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Inflammation ; genetics ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo establish the steriod-induced osteoporosis model with the type of Kidney-Yin deficiency.

METHODSTotally 45 female Kunming mice were randomly divided into normal group,model group and Liuwei Dihuang pills(Chinese character: see text)group. The model was established by intramuscular injecting of Dexamethasone. Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group was administered orally with Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text). The signs and symptoms of mice were observed dynamically. All the animals were sacrificed at the end of the 6th weeks. The level of ACTH, cAMP, cGMP, TSH and E2 in serum were detected to evaluate deficiency of Kidney-Yin. Morphological changes and bone density were observed to evaluate osteoporosis.

RESULTS(1) Compared with control group, mice in model group appeared obvious Kidney-Yin deficiency symptoms, including hair dry, restlessness, excitability, hard stool, and yellow. (2) Compared with control group,the weight of mice in model group gained slower (P<0.01); the index of adrenal gland,liver and spleen decreased (P<0.01, P<0.01 ,P<0.01); the level of ACTH and TSH increased (P<0.01 ,P<0.01), the level of E2 decreased (P<0.01) and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP increased (P< 0.05). (3)Compared with control group,the bone density of lumbar vertebra and femur in model group were significantly decreased (P<0.01, P<0.05); HE staining revealed osteoporosis in model group mice. (4)However, the Liuwei Dihuang pills (Chinese character: see text) group can partly antagonize the inhibition of the HPA axis, alter the disordered sex hormone and the ratio of cAMP/cGMP, and reverse the osteoporosis partly.

CONCLUSIONthe model of osteoporosis with type of Kidney-Yin deficiency could be established by Dexamethasone intramuscular injection. With less interference, it wight be a stable and reliable modeling method for integration of disease and syndrome in TCM.

Animals ; Bone Density ; Dexamethasone ; toxicity ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney Diseases ; etiology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Osteoporosis ; chemically induced ; Yin Deficiency ; complications

Objective To study the effect of intedeukin 6 (IL-6) on the expression of androgen receptor (AR) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells(GC) and to explore its role of in the polycystic ovary syndrome(PCOS) pathogenesis.Methods Different concentrations of IL-6 (10,100 and 1 000 ng/L) were treated with GC.Expression of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA and protein in GC were detected by real-time quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot.Results The mRNA and protein expressions of AR in GC were upregulated in groups with 100 and 1 000 ng/L IL-6 at 72 h.Conclusion IL-6 can improve androgen activity.This process may explain the function of chronic subclinical inflammation in PCOS pathogenesis.