OBJECTIVETo observe the change of peripheral blood Th17 cells in patients with different kinds of CRSwNPs and the relationship between the frequency of Th17 cells and inflammatory cell density in nasal polyps tissue, and to explore the correlation between levels of peripheral blood Th17 cells and prognosis of patients with CRSwNPs.METHODSEighty one patients with CRSwNPs and 20 controls were recruited in this research. Flow cytometer was used to detect the expression of peripheral blood Th17 cells. The number per 10000μm2 of infiltrated inflammatory cells in nasal polyp tissue (including eosinophils, neutrophils, lymphocytes and plasma cells) was counted at a high-power field. The CT scores were evaluated by Lund-Mackay system and the nasal endoscopy scores were graded according to Lund-Mackay methods. RESULTSThe percentages of Th17 cells in patients with E-CRSwNPs and NE-CRSwNPs were 2.10% (3.75%, 1.40%)和1.10% (1.70%, 0.73%). There was significant difference between the two groups (Mann-WhitneyU=358.0,Z=-2.965, P=0.001). Furthermore, a positive association between the percentage of Th17 cells in peripheral blood and the eosinophil density of nasal polyp (r=0.408,P<0.001) was demonstrated. The percentage of Th17 cell in peripheral blood was significantly correlated with the endoscopic score of CRSwNPs at third month after the operation (r=0.458, P<0.001).CONCLUSIONThl7 might be involved in the pathogenesis and prognosisof eosinophilic CRSwNPs.

OBJECTIVETo observe the transdifferentiation of renal tubular epithelial cells in tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

METHODSThe renal tubulointerstitial fibrosis model in Wistar rats was established by unilateral renal vein ligature. The rats were kept 25 days after renal vein ligature. The kidneys were dissected every 5 days by killing 5 rats. The morphological changes of the kidney were observed by light microscopy, electron microscopy, polarizing microscopy and immunohistochemistry method.

RESULTSThe histological changes showed tubular atrophy and disappearance, widening of intertubular spaces with increased lymphocytes and mononuclear cells infiltration and fibrosis. The CK marker in injured and atrophic epithelial cells gradually weakened, but the alpha-SMA, vimentin, TGF-beta(1), collagen I and III showed gradually stronger positivity for immunohistochemistry. Some interstitial cells became positive for CK. Electron microscopy revealed decreased mitochondria, increased endoplasmic reticulum and microfilament of the tubular epithelial cells which merged into the interstitium. During the early stage of tubulointerstitial fibrosis, there was proliferation of type III collagen and then followed by type I collagen at later stage when observing the Sirius Red stained sections under the polarizing microscope.

CONCLUSIONTubular epithelial cells can transdifferentiate to fibroblasts during the process of tubulointerstitial fibrosis.

Actins ; analysis ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Collagen ; analysis ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fibrosis ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Kidney Tubules ; chemistry ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the recurrence rate of nasal inverted papilloma treating by endoscopic and non-endoscopic approach. METHOD: A search on Pubmed, Medline, Springer and Elsevier databases was done to collect the reports (2001-2013) concerning different surgery treating nasal inverted papillomas, and meta-analysis was performed with RevMan 5.0 software. RESULT: Twelve papers (2001-2013) concerning the different surgery approach treating nasal inverted papillomas were retrieved. The heterogeneity test indicated that the 12 studies were consistent statistically (Q = 14.64, df = 11, P = 0.20), the data from these 12 studies could be analyzed by fixed effect model. After combination of these data, those of 1012 subjects accepted endoscopic surgical intervention and 359 subjects treating by non-endoscopic surgical intervention were collected. Test of overall effect by fixed effect model showed that the recurrence rate of inverted papilloma was significantly lower in endoscopic group than in non-endoscopic group (OR = 0.49, 95% CI was 0.35-0.69, P < 0.01). Funnel plot implied that publication bias was not obvious. CONCLUSION The recurrence rate of inverted papilloma was significantly lower in endoscopic group than in non-endoscopic group.
Endoscopy ; Humans ; Nasal Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Nose ; Nose Neoplasms ; surgery ; Papilloma, Inverted ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficiency, safety, and possible mechanisms of Qingre Buyi Decoction (QBD) in the treatment of acute radiation proctitis (ARP).

METHODSThis study was a single center, prospective, single blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. A total of 60 patients with ARP was equally and randomly distributed into the control group (conventional treatment) and the combination group (conventional treatment plus QBD). The changes of main Chinese medicine clinical symptoms and signs, including stomachache, diarrhea, mucous or bloody stool before and after treatment, and their adverse reactions were observed after the two-week treatment. Also, D-lactate and diamine oxidase (DAO) levels, hepatic and renal function were measured. Cure rates, effective rates, and recurrence rates were compared between the two groups.

RESULTSThe blood levels of both DAO and D-lactate were significantly decreased in the combination group as compared with those in the control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). All main clinical symptoms and signs were alleviated more significantly in the combination group (P<0.01). The main symptom scores also were significantly decreased after treatment in the control group (P<0.01), except those for mucous or bloody stool (P>0.05). Compared to the control group, the improvements of stomachache, diarrhea, defecation dysfunction, and stool blood in the combination group were significantly better (P<0.05 or P<0.01). For the combination group, the curative rate, effective rate, and recurrence rate was 76.67%, 16.67%, and 6.67%, respectively. On the other hand, for the control group, the rate was 53.33%, 16.67%, and 30.00%, respectively. The total curative effect was significantly better in the combination group than in the control group (P<0.05). However, the recurrence rate was similar between the two groups (P>0.05). The hepatic and renal function remained normal in both groups (P>0.05). In addition, no severe adverse event was found in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSAddition of QBD to the conventional treatment can effectively alleviate the damage of intestinal mucosal barrier function and improve all main clinical symptoms and signs of the ARP. The combination of conventional treatment with Chinese herbal medicine QBD is effective and safe for ARP.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; administration & dosage ; Azulenes ; administration & dosage ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Agents ; administration & dosage ; Glutamine ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Norfloxacin ; administration & dosage ; Pain ; complications ; Proctitis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Sesquiterpenes ; administration & dosage ; Silicates ; administration & dosage ; Single-Blind Method ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate a method for quantitative differential diagnosis of damp-heat and cold-damp impeding syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSLaboratory parameters were collected from 306 patients with RA. The clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters were compared between patients with these two syndromes (158 with RA of damp-heat impeding syndrome, and 148 with RA of cold-damp impeding syndrome), and a regression equation was established to facilitate discrimination of the two RA syndromes.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in disease activity score in 28 joints [DAS28 (4)], erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count (PLT), albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) between the two syndrome of RA (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the parameters ESR, WBC, CRP, joint pyrexia, joint cold, thirst, sweating, aversion to wind and cold, and cold extremities were statistically useful to discriminate damp-heat from cold-damp impeding syndrome. The regression equation was as follows: P=1/{1+exp[-(3.0-0.021X (1)-0.196X (2)-0.163X (3)-1.559X (4)+1.504X (5)-0.927X (6)-1.039X (7)+1.070X (8)+1.330X (9))]}. The independent variables X (1)-X (9) were ESR, WBC, CRP, hot joint, cold joint, thirst, sweating, aversion to wind and cold, and cold limbs. A P value > 0.5 signified cold-damp impeding syndrome, and a P value < 0.5 signified damp-heat impeding syndrome. The accuracy was 90.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe regression equation may be useful for discriminating damp-heat from cold-damp impeding syndrome of RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; therapy ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Demography ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome

AIMTo investigate the effects of tamoxifen on proliferation of human breast cancer Bcap-37 cells and cervical carcinoma HeLa cells and to explore it's possible mechanism.

METHODSThe techniques of cell culture, growth curves, flow cytometry and laser scanning confocal microscope were used.

RESULTSTamoxifen (10(-6) mol/L) shifted the growth curve of Bcap-37 cells downward, and shifted the growth curve of HeLa cells upward. Tamoxifen (10(-8) - 10(-6) mol/L) inhibited the proliferation of Bcap-37 cells in a dose-dependent manner, but stimulated the proliferation of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. Bcap-37 cells appeared apoptosis when treated with tamoxifen (10(-6) mol/L), and the same dose stimulated the proliferation of HeLa cells at GI/S phases. The apoptotic rate of Bcap-37 cells was 97.5%. It blocked G1 phase of HeLa cells from 55.5% to 32.8%, and increased the S phase from 29.0% to 49.4%. Tamoxifen (10(-6) mol/L) also increased the releasing of calcium in Bcap-37 and HeLa cells.

CONCLUSIONTamoxifen can significantly influence the proliferation of breast cancer and cervical carcinoma cells possibly by affecting cell cycle and stimulating the releasing of Ca2+ in the cells.

Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Female ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Tamoxifen ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo Investigate the differences of sorbitol fermentation related genes and optimize molecular analysis method for distinguishing an epidemic with nonepidemic strains of Vibrio cholerae.

METHODSSequence analysis on four genes of sugar fermentation stimulation protein, periplasmic maltose-binding protein, periplasmic phosphate-binding protein and periplasmic amino acid-binding protein.

RESULTSIn this study, the following data was noticed: for O1 serogroup El Tor biotype V. cholerae, twenty-four epidemic and eight nonepidemic strains were chosen; For O139 serogroup V. cholerae, five epidemic and four nonepidemic strains were chosen. With those genes of sugar fermentation stimulation protein, there were three point mutations. The 106th, 150th, 378th oligonucleotide in epidemic strains were A, A and T, comparing to the nonepidemic strains which were G, G and C. When comparing the protein sequences, epidemic strains had a Threonine at 36th amino acid, whereas nonepidemic strains had an Alanine. The results in O139 serogroup were consistent with those in O1 serogroup El Tor biotype strains. Another two point mutations were found in the genes of periplasmic maltose-binding protein. The 999th, 1003rd oligonucleotides in epidemic strains were A and C, while in nonepidemic which were G and T. For the gene of periplasmic amino acid-binding protein, two point mutations were noticed. The 504th and 690th oligonucleotides in epidemic strains were T and C, but were C and T in nonepidemic. However, no amino acid differences were found in periplasmic maltose-binding protein and periplasmic amino acid-binding protein. For periplasmic amino acid-binding protein gene, there was no difference on oligonucleotide between epidemic and nonepidemic strains.

CONCLUSIONResults suggested that SNPs in these genes might serve as a useful tool to distinguish the epidemic strains from nonepidemic strains. The 36th amino acid mutation of sugar fermentation stimulation protein in epidemic and nonepidemic strains might change the activity of the protein which might be associated with sorbitol fermentation.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Base Sequence ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fermentation ; Maltose-Binding Proteins ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Periplasmic Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Phosphate-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Point Mutation ; Sequence Analysis, Protein ; Sorbitol ; Vibrio cholerae ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the toxicity of chicken calamus keratin (CCK) conduit as a tissue-engineered scaffold material.

METHODSThe chemical composition of the leaching solution of CCK was determined by means of ultraviolet spectrometry, and the toxic effects of the solution was evaluated by skin sensitization test in rats, intracutaneous stimulation test in rabbits, acute systemic toxicity test in mice, and cytotoxicity test in L929 cells.

RESULTSThe leaching solution of CCK consisted mainly of middle-molecular-weight peptides with a small quantity of macromolecular proteins. Skin sensitization test in rats showed that application of the CCK leaching solution caused no obvious skin reddening, regional edema, or skin necrosis. Intracutaneous injection of the leaching solution in rabbits did not induce obvious skin stimulation manifested by intradermal erythema or edema. In acute systemic toxic test, administration of the leaching solution in mice caused no death, organ dysfunction, cyanosis, tremor, severe peritoneal irritation, ptosis, or dyspnoea. In vitro cytotoxicity test indicated that the cell toxicity of the CCK leaching solution was approximately at 0 level.

CONCLUSIONCCK contained in the treated chicken calamus easily undergoes hydrolysis to release mainly some peptides which do not induce obvious toxic effects, suggesting the safe potential applications of CCK conduit as a tissue-engineering biomaterial.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Chickens ; Feathers ; chemistry ; Female ; Keratins ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Male ; Mice ; Rabbits ; Rats ; Skin Irritancy Tests ; Solutions ; Tissue Engineering ; Tissue Scaffolds ; chemistry ; Toxicity Tests ; methods

The triterpenoids of Dichrocephala benthamii were investigated by means of silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC. Nine triterpenoids were isolated from D. benthamii. By analysis of the EI-MS, NMR spectra and comparison to the data reported in literatures, the structures of these compounds were determined as β-amyrin formiate (1), β-amyrin acetate (2), β-amyrenol (3), β-amyrone (4), 3β-hydroxy-olean-11, 13 (18)-diene (5) , Δ12-oleanene (6) , friedelin (7), dammaradienyl acetate (8), epi-friedeband (9), respectively. Compounds 1-8 were isolated for the first time form this genus, compound 9 was isolated for the first time from this plant, whereas β-amyrin formiate (1) was a new natural product.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

AIMTo study the chemical constituents of Cypripedium tibeticum.

METHODSCompounds were isolated by repeated silica gel chromatography and purified on Sephadex LH-20 and structures were determined by spectral analysis.

RESULTSCypritibetquinones A and B were isolated from the ethyl acetate residue and their structures were determined as 7-hydroxy-2-methoxy-1 4-phenanthraquinone (1) and 7-hydroxy-2, 10-dimethoxy-l1 4-phenanthraquinone (2), respectively, by extensive spectral analyses.

CONCLUSIONCypritibetquinones A and B are two new phenanthraquinones.

Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Molecular Conformation ; Molecular Structure ; Orchidaceae ; chemistry ; Phenanthrenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rhizome ; chemistry