Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of vinorelbine combined with cisplatin (NP regimen) in the treatment of advanced non-small-cell lung cancer ( NSCLC). Methods: ninety-one patients with advanced NSCLC were confirmed by pathology or cytology. There were 56 patients with lung adenocarcinoma, 27 with squamous carcinoma and 4 with alveoli cell cancer, 3 with large-cell lung cancer, one case diagnosed by cytological smear section. The eighty patients had no prior chemotherapy and 11 were those without received previously chemotherapy. Thirty-two patients had stage Ⅲ disease and 59 had stage Ⅳ. Results: Partial response was observed in 37 patients with an overall response rate of 40. 7% (95%CI:30. 5%-50. 7%). Median time to progression (TTP) were 5 months(95% CI: 4-6 months). Median survival duration was 13 months (95% CI: 11-15months), one-year survival rate was 52. 7% ( CI: 42. 4%-62. 9%). The dose limiting toxicity was neutropenia that was observed in 87. 9% of the patients (40.7% in grades Ⅲ and Ⅳ). The remission response rate is 40. 6% , TTP is 5 months, MS is 13 months and 1-year survival rate was 52.7% . Conclusions: The results indicate NP regimen for advanced NSCLC is promise, and the toxicities are tolerable.

Objective To evaluate the effect of short-wave ultraviolet combined with millimeter-wave irradiation on pressure ulcers.Methods Fifty-three patients with 87 pressure ulcer wounds were randomly divided into 3 groups.Group A consisted of 17 patients with 28 pressure ulcers,group B had 18 patients with 29 ulcers and group C had 18 patients with 29 pressure ulcers.All the patients in the 3 groups accepted routine care.Group B was treated with short-wave ultraviolet radiation in addition,and group C received millimeter-wave combined with short-wave ultraviolet radiation.Braden's scale was used to evaluate the integrity of the patients' skin before treatment,and the pressure sore status tool (PSST) was used to evaluate exudation and skin recovery before and after treatment.Results Before treatment the patients demographics and pressure sores of the three groups had no significant differences.In group A there was no significant difference in the average PSST-5 score between before and after treatment.Compared with the scores before therapy,the average scores of groups B and C decreased significantly.They were also significantly lower than in group A after treatment.The effect in group C was better than in group B.With regard to improvement rate,the improvement percentages of groups B and C were significantly higher than that of group A,while there was no statistically significant difference between groups B and C.The rate of excellent recovery of group C was better than that of group A or B,but there was no significant difference between groups A and B.Conclusions Combining short-wave ultraviolet irradiation with millimeter-wave irradiation has remarkable effects on exudation from and the recovery of pressure ulcers.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Forkhead Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immune System Diseases ; immunology ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; genetics ; immunology ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

AIM:To establish a rat hyperlipidemia model for studying the aortic expression of heat shock protein 22 (HSP22), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and the effect of atorvasta-tin intervention.METHODS:Hyperlipidemia model was established in SD rats.Afterwards, the rats were divided into nor-mal control group, high fat group and high fat+atorvastatin intervention group.The expression of HSP22 and TNF-αin the rat aortas was detected by immunohistochemical assay and the expression of eNOS was assessed by Western blotting.RE-SULTS:No detectable expression of HSP22 and TNF-αin the normal control group was observed.However, the expression of HSP22 and TNF-αwas positive in the high fat group and the atorvastatin intervention group.The mean densities of HSP22 and TNF-αpositive particles were significant lower in the atorvastatin intervention group as compared with high fat group ( both P<0.05) .The expression of eNOS protein in the high fat group and atorvastatin intervention group was significantly lower than that in normal control group (P<0.01).However, no marked difference of eNOS protein expression between high fat group and atorvastatins intervention group was observed.CONCLUSION:The expression of HSP22 and TNF-αin the rat aortas is increased in the hyperlipidemia rat model.This effect can be restored by atorvastatin treatment.The expression of eNOS in the rat aortas is decreased in the hyperlipidemia rat model, but this tendency could not be attenuated by atorvastatin.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

Objective To construct an expression system to produce the virus-like particles containing a part of the sequence of PSA mRNA, which are ribonuclease-resistant due to the encapsulation of the mRNA by bacteriophage MS2 coat proteins. Methods The PCR products of PSA cDNA fragments were cloned to TA vector pBS-T, then the targeted segments could be obtained when the pBS-T-PSA were digested by restriction endonuclease Hind Ⅲ and cloned to prokaryocytic expression vector pNCCL1. The recombinant plasmids named PNCCL1-PSA were transfected into E. Coli BL21-DE3 and induced to express with IPTG. Results The recombinant plasmids were successfully constructed. The bacteriophage MS2 coat protein which expressed in BL21 can self- assemble to form ribonuclease resistant virus-like particles and the PSA mRNA was encapsulated into virus-like particles. Conclusions The virus-like particle containing PSA mRNA can be expressed in prokaryocyte and it can be used as standard and control in detecting PSA mRNA. It provides a new, stable and ribonuclease-resistant RNA standard in RNA detection.

Multi-target drugs attract increasing attentions for the therapy of complicated neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, a computer-assisted strategy was applied to search for multi-target compounds by the pharmacophore matching. This strategy has been successfully used to design dual-target inhibitor models against both the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). Based on two pharmacophore models matching and physicochemical properties filtering, one hit was identified which could inhibit AChE with IC50 value of (0.337 +/- 0.052) micromol x L(-1) and PARP-1 by 24.6% at 1 micromol x L(-1).
Acetylcholinesterase ; metabolism ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Computer-Aided Design ; Drug Discovery ; methods ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To explore the effects of hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) on the myocardial fibrosis in a rat model of diabetes and its mechanism.METHODS:Single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin ( STZ) was utilized to establish a rat model of diabetes.Sodium hydrosulfide was used as an exogenous donor of hydrogen sulfide.Male SD rats were ran-domly divided into control group, STZ group, STZ+H2 S group and H2 S group.Eight weeks later, HE and VG staining methods were used to observe the collagen distribution and collagen volume fraction was measured by image analysis.The expression levels of type I collagen, PPARγand NF-κB in the cardiac tissues were determined by Western blotting.RE-SULTS:Compared with control group, collagen distribution and the expression levels of type I collagen and NF-κB in the cardiac tissues were markedly increased (P<0.05), while PPARγwas significantly decreased in STZ group (P<0.05), but these indexes were reversed significantly in STZ+H2S group (P<0.05).The expression levels of type I collagen, PPARγand NF-κB had no significant difference between H2 S group and control group.CONCLUSION:Hydrogen sulfide attenuates cardiac fibrosis in diabetic rats, and its mechanism may be related to PPARγ-NF-κB signaling pathway.

AIM:To investigate the feasibility of using human amniotic epithelial cells(HAECs) sheets,which are cultured by using a biodegradable fibrin sealant to re-establish corneal surface layer.METHODS:Human amniotic membrane(AM) harvested at the time of elective caesarean section was digested by collagenase and trypsin respectively to obtain HAECs.The HAECs were planted on Millicell culture dishes coated with biodegradable fibrin glue,and cultured by using the air-lifting cultivation.The HAECs sheets were investigated morphologically by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining,scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and were identified by cytokeratin immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:HAECs sheets were transparent and successfully cultured by using a biodegradable fibrin sealant.Most of the cultured cells were round or polygon and typical slabstone-like appearance.Many microvilli were observed on cell surfaces by SEM.Cytokeratin staining was positive.HAECs had stratificated growth tendency and became corneal-like stratificating epithelial cells.CONCLUSION:A commercially available fibrin sealant was an effective means of tissue engineering to create a carrier-free,transplantable HAECs sheets.The sheets were potential graft to re-establish corneal surface layer.

Objective: To investigate the impact and its possible mechanism of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) on myocardial collagen remodeling in experimental rats with diabetic mellitus (DM).
Methods: Rat’s DM model was established by intraperitoneal injection of STZ at 40 mg/kg. A total of 40 SD rats were randomly divided into 4 groups:Control group, DM group, DM+NaHS group, in which NaHS worked as exogenous donor of H2S and NaHS control group. n=10 in each group, all animals were treated for 8 weeks. The cardiac collagen deposition was observed by Masson staining, protein expressions of cardiac collagen types I, III, IV and transforming growth factorβ1 (TGF-β1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) were examined by Western blot analysis.
Results: Compared with Control group, DM group showed increased protein expressions of cardiac collagen types I and III, up-regulated expressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF, P<0.05;while the expressions of collagen type IV were similar between 2 groups. Compared with DM group, DM+NaHS group presented reduced cardiac collagen expression, decreased expression of collagen types I and III, down-regulated expressions of TGF-β1 and CTGF, P<0.05;while the expressions of collagen type IV were similar between 2 groups.
Conclusion: H2S may improve the myocardial collagen remodeling in experimental DM rats, the mechanism might be related to the down-regulation of TGF-β1 and CTGF expression.