Objective To investigate the correlation of the serum prolactin level and the secret mode of Th1/Th2 eytokines with clinical activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Methods The serum level of The levels of PRL[ (21.58 ± 4.29 ) ng/ml vs ( 11.87 ± 2.57 ) ng/ml, P < 0.01 ), IL-4 [ ( 26.79 ± 5.08 ) ng/L vs (10.71 ± 1.35)ng/L,P <0.01 ] in SLE patients were significantly higher than the healthy controls,but IFN-γ [ (11.47±3.36)ng/L vs (18.36 ±2.61)ng/L,P <0.01 ], IFN-γ/IL-4(0.76γ±0.29 vs 2.30±0. 15,P <0.01) [ (38.52 ± 8.44) ng/L vs ( 14.15 ± 1.63 ) ng/L, P < 0.01 ] in the active SLE patients were significantly higher than that in the nonactive patients, whereas, the levels of IFN-γ [ (6.98 ± 2.72) ng/L vs ( 16.24 ± 2.57 ) ng/L, P < 0.01 ] and IFN-γ/IL-4 (0.35 ± 0.14 vs 1.24 ± 0.29, P < 0.01 ) were lower in the active group compared with the nonac-[ (45.12±10.44) ng/L vs ( 17.53 ± 5.42) ng/L, P < 0.01 ] declined while IFN-γ [ (6.31 ± 2.59) ng/L vs (16.89 ±4.43)ng/L,P<0.01 ] and IFN-γ/IL-4 (0.16 ±0. 11 vs 1.16 ±0. 27,P<0.01) increased when SLE patients in remission. Conclusions Hyperprolactinemia and imbalance of Th cytokines production which exhibited Th2 dominant are found in SLE patients. Prolactin and the degree of imbalance of Th cytokines production varies with the remission or exacerbation of the disease.

Objective To investigate whether unfolded protein response (UPR) plays a role in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA),and to assess UPR-related gene expression in SpA and other arthritis patients.Methods Eighteen patients with SpA,12 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 6 with osteoarthritis (OA) were recruited.Macrophages were isolated from synovial fluid samples by immunomagnetic separation.The expression of UPR-regulated genes,including binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP),glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94),C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP),growth arrested and DNA damage-inducible 34 (GADD34),X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) and endoplasmic reticulum DnaJ homolog 4 (ERdj4),was tested by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results Compared with macrophages in OA patients,the expression of BiP and GRP94 mRNA [(6.06 ± 2.08) × 10-2 vs (1.11 ±0.72) × 10-2 for BiP mRNA,11.80(7.30-38.40) × 10-3 vs 1.27(1.02-4.18) × 10-3 for GRP94 mRNA,both P values ＜0.01] was significantly increased in macrophages in SpA patients.XBP1 mRNA was up-regulated [(12.70 ± 5.20) × 10-3 vs (4.14 ± 2.56) × 10-3,p ＜ 0.01] in SpA group as well.UPR-regulated gene expression in SpA patients with HLA-B27 positive or HLA-B27 negative was similar.However,none of UPR-regulated genes showed different expression between the SpA group and RA group except for GADD34 mRNA [7.30 (5.56-15.40) × 10-3 vs 21.30 (12.20-27.60) × 10-3,P =0.009].Conclusions Our data suggest that UPR possibly participates in the pathogenesis of SpA,although the relationship between HLA-B27 and UPR still needs further investigation.

italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis, responsible for tuberculosis (TB), remains a major health problem worldwide and is one of the infectious diseases causing increased morbidity and mortality worldwide. Biotin, namely vitamin H, is an important cofactor necessary for fatty acid biosynthesis, gluconeogenesis and amino acid metabolism in organisms including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Due to its inability to ingestion biotin from outside, Mycobacterium tuberculosis can only obtain biotin through biotin biosynthesis. Different from the classical BioC-BioH, BioI-BioW and non-classical BioZ pathways, Mycobacterium tuberculosis synthesized biotin by "BioC-BioH(2)" pathway in the early stage. This review focuses on the unique biotin synthesis pathway of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its key genes, especially the response of this pathway and biotin-dependent carboxylase to tuberculosis first-and second-line drugs, as well as inhibitors and natural products targeting biotin synthesis.

Benzene ; poisoning ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases

Adult ; Congresses as Topic ; Hearing ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Mass Screening

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Toluene ; poisoning ; Xylenes ; poisoning ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Shenxiong Huayu Capsule (SHC) on the cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury and the expression of growth associated protein 43 (GAP43) after total cerebral IR in the hippocampal CA1 region of rats.

METHODSTotally 100 male adult SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the control group, the model group, the group A (by taking SHC once daily), the group B (by taking SHC twice daily), and the group C (by taking SHC thrice daily), 20 in each group. The total IR model was prepared by improved Pulsinelli's 4-vessel occlusion method. Morphological changes of the hippocampal CA1 region were observed by HE staining at day 1, 3, 7, and 14. The expression of GAP43 in the hippocampal CA1 region was detected using immunohistochemical assay at day 1, 3, 7, and 14. Meanwhile, the behavioral score was determined. The expression of GAP43 in the hippocampal CA1 region was detected using Western blot at day 14.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the expression of GAP43 increased in the model group, the behavioral score was elevated, degenerated neurons increased, and survival neurons decreased in the model group (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the expression of GAP-43 increased (with the most significant difference seen in the group C, P < 0.01), the behavioral score significantly decreased, degenerated neurons decreased, and survival neurons increased in each HSC group (all P < 0.05). Survival neurons obviously increased at day 14, of which, most number of survival neurons and highest contents of GAP43 protein could be seen in the group C, showing statistical difference when compared with those of the group A and the group B (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSHC had protective effect on total cerebral IR in the hippocampal CA1, which might be associated with increased expression of GAP43.

Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; metabolism ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; GAP-43 Protein ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the effects of baicalin on the apoptosis and cell migration of intestinal epithelial cells 6 (IEC-6) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) . Methods LPS was adopted to establish LPS-induced cells injury model. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium ( MTT) assay and Elisa kits were used to evaluate the effect of LPS on the tumor necrosis factor alpha ( TNF-α) and interleukin 6 ( IL-6) concentrations of IEC-6. Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry were used to evaluate the effect of baicalin ( in the dosage of 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 μg/mL ) on the cell apoptosis. Cell migration was observed and calculated on a wounding model of IEC-6 cells induced by a pipette tip. Results Compared with the control group, the survival rate of IEC-6 in 1.0 μg·mL-1 LPS group was much lowered, TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations were significantly increased, the apoptotic rate of IEC-6 was increased and the cell migration activity was significantly decreased ( P<0.05) . Compared with the model group, IEC-6 apoptosis was relieved to various degrees in baicalin groups, the apoptotic rate of IEC-6 was obviously decreased (P<0.05) and cell migration activity was increased significantly (P<0.01) in 10.0 μg·mL-1 baicalin group. Conclusion Baicalin has the capacity of protecting IEC-6 from LPS-induced injury and increasing cell migration activity.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of bone scintigraphy for the diagnosis of synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome. Methods The characteristics of SAPHO syndrome on 99Tcm-MDP imaging of 8 cases were retrospectively analyzed. Results The 99TcmMDP bone scan was positive for all patients. Seven cases were found lesions in the costoclavicular region, 3cases involved with unilateral sacroiliac joint, 2 cases involved with spine and 1 patient with extremity. Four lesions were found without relevant clinical symptoms. Conclusion Bone scintigraphy is useful for the diagnosis of SAPHO syndrome, especially for those lesions with no clinical symptoms.

Herpesviruses is one of the most common human infectious diseases, which can be divided into different types based on clinical infection degree.Herpes simplex virus usually results in buccal and genital mucocutaneous infections, while cytomegalovirus is the most common opportunistic pathogen associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised hosts, especially in transplant and cancer patients.Although nucleoside analogues are effective antiviral drugs, the emergence of drug-resistant viruses has created a barrier for the treatment of herpesviruses infections, especially in immunocompromised patients.Therefore, novel therapeutic agents are needed to avoid the limitations of drug resistance.In this article, research progress in the therapeutic agents for drug-resistant herpesviruses was reviewed from the aspects of non-nucleoside analogues, novel antiviral targets and newly antiviral mechanisms.