Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Ankle Injuries ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Sprains and Strains ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Fengshi No. 1 (FS1) in treating patients with active stage of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSPatients with RA were randomly divided into two groups, the 40 patients in the treated group were treated with combined therapy of methotrexate (MTX), sulfasalazine (SSZ) and FS1, and the 20 in the control groups were treated with MTX and SSZ alone.

RESULTSIn the treated group, the total effective rate was 97.5%, the clinical controlled and markedly effective rate 95.0% and the occurrence rate of side-toxic reaction 10.0%, as compared with those in the control group, 60.0%, 20.0% and 45.0% respectively, the difference was significant (chi 2 = 11.91, 32.23 and 7.67 respectively, all P < 0.01). The effect in the treated group was superior to that in the control group in abating joint swelling and pain, improving function of joint, reducing immune indices and ameliorating iconographic features (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFS1 not only has the effects of anti-inflammation, analgesis, regulating immune reaction, but also could retard the occurring of bone destruction, reduce the toxic-side effects of MTX and SSZ.

Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Sulfasalazine ; therapeutic use

Adult ; Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Military Medicine ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical significance of nitric oxide (NO) and 8-isoprostane (8-isoPG) changes in exhaled breath condensate ( EBC) of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients after treated by Qingfei Decoction (QD).

METHODSTotally 48 ARDS patients receiving mechanical ventilation were equally assigned to the QD treatment group and the control group by random digit table. EBC specimens were collected by modified Ecoscreen breath condensate collector (German JAEGER Company) on the first day and the fifth day after confirmed diagnosis of ARDS. Concentrations of NO and 8-isoPG in EBC were measured by ELISA. The oxygenation index and APACHE II scores were recorded at the same time.

RESULTS(1) The fatality rate in the QD treatment group was lower than that in the control group (8.3% vs 37.5%, P < 0.05). (2) After treatment NO and 8-isoPG concentrations in EBC were lower in the QD treatment group (34.49 ± 5.67 µmol/L, 30.09 ± 7.89 ng/L) than in the control group (39.78 ± 9.27 µmol/L, 35.65 ± 8.90 ng/L; P < 0.05). (3) After treatment improved oxygenation index value was higher in the QD treatment group than in the control group (120.88 ± 35.16 vs 101.50 ± 37.70, P < 0.05). After treatment APACHEII scores was lower in the QD treatment group than in the control group (6.21 ± 3.51 vs 10. 26 ± 4.33, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment of ARDS patients by QD was favorable in controlling inflammation, alleviating lung injury, and improving clinical efficacy.

Breath Tests ; Dinoprost ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Nitric Oxide ; analysis ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; drug therapy

Objective To explore the effect of galangin on the inhibition of proliferation and invasion in human lung cancer A549 cell lines and its mechanism thereof. Methods MTS assay was employed to detect the ability of cell proliferation with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 100μmol/L) of galangin after A549 cells were cultured in 96 well-plate. Transwell assay was employed to detect the ability of cell invasion. Western blot assay was employed to detect the protein expression levels of Survivin, p27, CD44, ICAM, MMP-2/9 and the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT. Results The cell proliferation rate of A549 cell line was suppressed with increased concentration of galangin treatment, and IC50 was 44.7μmol/L. The concentrations of 10μmol/L and 20μmol/L were used for the following study. The ability of cell invasion was decreased with 0, 10 and 20μmol/L concentrations of galangin treatment (P<0.05). The protein expression of p27 was increased and the expressions of other proteins were decreased with 0, 10 and 20μmol/L galangin treatmenmt (P<0.05). Conclusion Galangin can significantly inhibit the cell proliferation and invasion of human lung cancer A549 cell line, and which is a potential anti-lung cancer drug. The mechanisms may be related with the regulated related gene expression and the inhibited phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT.

BackgroundHuman retinal gliocytes play an important role in proliferative diseases,which are the basis of in vitro studies.Researchers have cultured human retinal gliocytes in the past.In our study,we found that the cells we cultured presented a unique shape different from those by other researchers.ObjectiveThis study was to design to produce a new culture and purification method for retinal gliocyte in vitro.Methods Retinal tissue was isolated from human eyeballs and digested using the two-step digestion method (2％ pancreatin and 0.133％collagenase Ⅵ) to harvest the retinal glio cytes.The cells were collected and cultured in endothelial cell-targeted nutrient culture containing 10％ fetal calf serum and supplemented with β-endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) and sodium heparin,and the culture dishes were coated with fibronectin(FN) to promote the attachment of retinal gliocyte.During the culturing process,the gliocytes were identified by the observation of morphological characteristic and regular histological examination.The identification of the cells also was performed by immunochemistry targeting glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP),Vimentin,neuron specific enolase ( NSE ),S-100,CD34,and Ⅷ factor.Results Retinal gliocytes were isolated successfully from the human retina by the two-step digestion method.Primary cultured cells attached after 72 hours and achieved confluency between day 9 and 10 that were aligned petaliform in shape.Regular histological examination after H&E staining showed blue cell nuclei and light red cytoplasm.The target cells presented with strong responses for GFAP and Vimentin and no response for NSE,S-100,CD34 and Ⅷ factor.ConclusionsLarge amount of purified human retinal gliocytes can be obtained by two-step digestion and cultured in endothelial cells-targeted culture medium supplemented with β-ECGF and sodium heparin in plates coated with FN.The cultured cells expressed markers for retinal gliocytes.However,specific features of these cells remain to be further elucidated.

OBJECTIVE: To construct a bi-cistronic co-expression plasmid for mouse interleukin-12 and to observe its expression in vitro or in vivo.METHODS: The full-length cDNA encoding p35 and p40 was cloned into eukaryotic cells expression vector pcDNA 3.1 respectively. Subsequently,the p35 expression unit was inserted into pcDNA 3.1/p40 to produce the bi-cistronic co-expression plasmid in which the p35 and p40 genes were controlled by their own CMV.The plasmid was expressed in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: The mIL-12 in the supernatant was detected by ELISA after the pCmIL-12 was transfected into COS-7 cells. The activity of NK cells could be augmented by the supernatant in vitro and also by by intradermal delivery of pCmIL-12 in vivo. CONCLUSION: The plasmid constructed by us can express biologically active mIL-12 in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic and adverse effects of topotecan combined with cisplatin in the treatment of advanced squamous cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer.

METHODSTotally 126 patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer, which were confirmed by tissue pathology or cytopathology, were treated with intravenous infusion of topotecan at the dose of 0.75-1.2 mg/m2 (for 5 consecutive days) combined with intravenous infusion of cisplantin at 25-30 mg/m2 for 3 consecutive days. Each treatment course consisted of two 21-day cycles of the treatment.

RESULTSNo complete remission was achieved in these patients, and 61 patients had partial remission, 53 had clinically stabilized disease and 12 had progressive disease. The total response rate was 48.4% among the patients, with the median survival time of 10.1 months and one-year survival rate of 36.7%. The major adverse effects were bone marrow suppression and alopecia.

CONCLUSIONTopotecan combined with cisplatin may achieve a favorable response in patients with advanced squamous cell lung cancer and head and neck cancer, and causes tolerable adverse effect without accumulative toxicity.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Topotecan ; administration & dosage ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of circulating type II pre-dendritic cells (pDC2) and evaluate its role in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

METHODSThe quantitative alterations of pDC2 in 27 chronic HBV-infected patients as treated group and 15 healthy individuals as a control group were analyzed by using flow cytometry based on the comparison of CD4+/CD8+ ratios of T lymphocyte subsets between the two groups. The IFN-alpha-producing ability of pDC2 after incubation was determined by ELISA.

RESULTSThe percentage of pDC2 (0.096 +/- 0.086) from the peripheral blood in chronic HBV-infected patients were significantly lower than that (0.304 +/- 0.093) from the normal controls (P less than 0.001) while the CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher than those in normal controls (P less than 0.01). The values of IFN-alpha-producing function and IL-12 of circulating pDC2 in chronic HBV-infected patients group were significantly lower than those in healthy subjects (P < 0.001). The percentage of pDC2 and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were higher in the patients positive for HBV DNA in sera than those in patients negative for HBV DNA in sera (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe decreased number of circulating pDC2 and IFN-alpha-producing function from peripheral blood in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection may result in the decline of host immune response, which may partially contribute to the disease progress of HBV infection and existence of viral genomic DNA in patient's sera.

Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Cell Count ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-12 ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; cytology ; immunology ; Young Adult

The behavioral responses of a tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) school to low (0.13 mg/L), moderate (0.79 mg/L) and high (2.65 mg/L) levels of unionized ammonia (UIA) concentration were monitored using a computer vision system. The swimming activity and geometrical parameters such as location of the gravity center and distribution of the fish school were calculated continuously. These behavioral parameters of tilapia school responded sensitively to moderate and high UIA concentration. Under high UIA concentration the fish activity showed a significant increase (P<0.05), exhibiting an avoidance reaction to high ammonia condition, and then decreased gradually. Under moderate and high UIA concentration the school's vertical location had significantly large fluctuation (P<0.05) with the school moving up to the water surface then down to the bottom of the aquarium alternately and tending to crowd together. After several hours' exposure to high UIA level, the school finally stayed at the aquarium bottom. These observations indicate that alterations in fish behavior under acute stress can provide important information useful in predicting the stress.
Ammonia ; administration & dosage ; Animals ; Artificial Intelligence ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; physiology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Exercise Test ; methods ; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; Social Behavior ; Swimming ; physiology ; Tilapia ; physiology