Objective To investigate the percentage of Th17 cells and regulatory T cells in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and observe the effects of methylprednisolone infusion on these cells.Methods The circulating Th17 cells and CD4+ CD25highT cells of 66 MG patients and 35 healthy controls were detected using four colour cytometry. The relationship between these cells and MGFA score in 18 MG patients and in 8 MG patients after methylprednisolone was infusion were also analyzed in this study. Results There was significant difference in the percentage of circulating Th17 cells between MG patients (2. 61% ±0. 28% ) and the healthy controls (0. 94% ± 0. 12%, Z = 4. 059, P = 0. 0001 ). Methylprednisolone therapy significantly reduced the percentage of circulating Th17 cells from 4. 72% ± 1.21% to 1.81% ± 0. 69%(Z = 1. 995,P = 0. 0460). In addition, the percentage of Th17 cells showed a positive correlation with MGFA score(r =0. 5359, P =0. 0219). Conclusions Circulating Th17 cells are elevated in MG patients.Methylprednisolone therapy can reduce such elevation, and this may be important in mediating symptomatic improvement in MG patients.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; physiology ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2 ; genetics ; Mutation ; Rett Syndrome ; drug therapy ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of ethyl acetate fraction of Blumea balsamifera (BBE) residue on treating rats of adjuvant arthritis (AA) and its mechanism.

METHODThe rats were immunized with the Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). After modeling, 28 days' treatment with BBE was performed. During the experimental process, rat mass, toe girth, arthritic index (AI), proliferation of immune organs and pathological section were measured. After treatment, blood samples were collected through fossa orbitalis vein for detection of serum SOD, MDA, GSH, NO, OH*, ALP, AST, ALT, NAG and SA content using colorimetric method and IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α content using ELISA method.

RESULTAdministration with BBE (high dose) could significantly ameliorate joint swelling and arthritis index, effectively inhibit synovial hyperplasia, down-regulate the levels of MDA, NO, OH*, ALP, AST, ALT, NAG, SA, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α and up-regulate the SOD and GSH levels in serum.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggested BBE possesses substantial anti-arthritis and antioxidant activities.

Acetates ; Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Arthritis, Experimental ; blood ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Asteraceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography ; methods ; Four-Dimensional Computed Tomography ; methods ; Humans ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Multimodal Imaging ; methods ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Salsola collina is widely distributed in droughty and semi-droughty area, which is used as a kind of folk remedy in traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of hypertension. The study is on the chemical constituents of this herb from its aerial parts to obtain its active constituents. Dried and crushed aerial parts of this herb were extracted three times with 95% EtOH at reflux. The ethanol extracts were combined and concentrated under reduced pressure at 70 ℃ to yield residue, which was suspended in water and successively partitioned with light petroleum, chloroform and n-butanol. The chloroform and n-butanol fractions were treated by various chromatographic techniques, such as silica gel, C18 reversed-phase silica gel and macroporous resin column chromatography. Compounds were elucidated by their physicochemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. In the course of our study on searching biological active components from this herb, a new alkaloid together with three known alkaloids were isolated and identified as N-transferuloyl-3-methyldopamine (1), 3-[4-(β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-3- methoxyphenyl]-N-[2-(4-hydroxyl-3-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-2-propenamide (2), salsoline A (3), salsoline B (4). Compound 4 is a new compound and named as salsoline B, while compound 2 was obtained in Salsola collina for the first time.

0.05). The 5-year survival rates were 77.4% in LS group and 75.7% in OS group for stage Ⅰ/Ⅱ (P=0.626), and 71.8% in LS group and 65.6% in OS group for stage Ⅲ(P=0.517), respectively. Conclusion: Long-term effect of laparoscopic resection is similar to that of open resection for colon cancer, but laparoscopic surgery has less long-term complications.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of stent implantation for treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome. Methods:A total of 16 patients with pasthepatic inferior vena cave (IVC) obstruction syndrome were treated by balloon catheters ( Polythene and Inoue ) in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) , then stent were inserted into the obstruction. Results: The residual pressure gradient after PTA and stent implantation was decreased from (4.6?0. 3 ) kPa to (2. 1?0. 1) kPa. The diameter of IVC after PTA and stent implantation was increased from (3.8?1. 7)mm to (14. 9?2. 0)mm. Conclusion : PTA and stent implantation are effective treatment for pasthepatic inferior vena cave obstruction.

Objective To observe the Pin1 expression pattern in skin and to establish an inducible skin specific Pin1 overexpression mouse model. Methods The mouse Pin1 gene was cloned into modified vector pTRE2 with C?terminal Myc tag. The linearized pTRE2?Pin1 DNA was micro?injected into one?cell embryos followed by implantation into foster mice to produce TRE?Pin1 transgenic mice. Results TRE?Pin1 transgenic founder mice were successfully created. These mice were crossed with transgenic tool mice K14?rtTA to create epithelial specific double transgenic progenies. Pin1 gene was induced by incorporating doxycycline into drinking water of the mice. Pin1 protein overexpression in the skin was con?firmed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry. The endogenous Pin1 protein was predominantly expressed in epidermal cells in the skin. Conclusions The inducible skin specific Pin1 overexpression mouse model is successfully established which may serve as a useful model for further study of Pin1 functions in the skin.

0.05).Conclusions RFA treatment of PHC patients does not lead to hematogenous tumor dissemination.

BackgroundLimbal stem cell deficiency usually leads to blindness, and traditional therapy is limited. Recent research demonstrated that bone mesenchymal stem cells ( BMSCs ) and human amniotic epithelial cells(AECs) could differentiate into many kinds of cells including corneal epithelial cells, but the outcome and effect of these cells on corneal stem cell deficiency are still unclear. ObjectiveThis study aimed to observe and compare the effects of rabbit BMSCs and human AECs transplantation for rabbit limbal stem cell deficiency. Methods Eighteen clean New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into the amniotic stroma(AS) group, rabbit BMSCs group and human AECs group with 6 rabbits for each group. Limbal stem cell deficiency models were established by putting a piece of filter paper that had been soaked in a NaOH solution at the corneal center. Rabbit BMSCs were isolated and purified by density gradient centrifugation combined with the attachment culture method, and human AECs were collected by a sequential trypsin digestion technique,and the third generation rabbit BMSCs and the first generation human AECs were identified with RT-PCR. After that,cells were inoculated onto the denuded AS and grafted to the corneal surface of the experimental animals. Twenty-eight days after cell transplantation, the therapeutic effects were evaluated based on the corneal neovascularization and opacity scores. Corneal histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry were performed to evaluate and compare the effectiveness among AS,rabbit BMSCs and human AECs on corneal stem cell deficiency. The procedure complied with the Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission. ResultsThe third generation of rabbit BMSCs grew well after 12 hours, and the first generation of human AECs formed a membrane-like monolayer after 48 hours of incubation on AS. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that, 28 days after transplantation, the surface cells of the cornea were positive for cytokeratin 3 in both the rabbit BMSCs group and human AECs group.Compared with the AS group,the corneal neovascularization and opacity grades were significantly decreased in the rabbit BMSCs group( Z=-2. 983, P =0. 003 ; Z =-2. 844, P =0. 004 ) and human AECs group ( Z =-2. 817, P =0. 005 ; Z =-2.041, P =0. 041 ). Histopathological analysis exhibited that stratified corneal epithelial-like cells formed on the corneal stroms 28 days after grafting and no signs of goblet cells and neovascularization were found. Less inflammatory cells and regular collagen fiber could be seen in the rabbit BMSCs group and human AECs group. In addition,clinical observation also revealed that the corneas were much clearer in the rabbit BMSCs group than the human A ECs group( Z =-2. 091 , P=0. 037 ), but the corneal neovascularization score was similar between them (Z = -0. 267,P=-0. 789). ConclusionsRabbit BMSCs and human AECs can differentiate into corneal epithelial-like cells onthedamagedcornealsurfaceandfurtherdemonstrateremarkableinhibitoryeffectsoncornealneovascularization and inflammatory cells. The more dominant and prominent effect is the role played by rabbit BMSCsin the improvement of corneal transparency.