AIM: To investigate the efficacy and safety of low-dose leflunomide (Lef) combined with methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Sixty-four RA patients were randomly divided into two groups, with 32 patients in each group. All the patients were required to stop the treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 1 wk before entering the trial. Patients in the Lef+MTX group received Lef 20 mg, po, qd in the first 4 wk, followed by 10 mg,po, qd for next 20 wk. Patients also received MTX 7.5 mg,po, qw during the trial. Patients in the MTX group received MTX 15 mg,po, qw for 24 wk. Physical and laboratory examinations were performed at the beginning of the trial, after 12 wk treatment and 24 wk treatment. Entopic X-ray examination of both hands was performed before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The rate of remarkable improvement was 88% (28/32) in Lef+MTX group and 38% in MTX group (12/32). Adverse reactions were reported in 12% (4/32) patients in Lef+MTX group and 43% (14/32) patients in MTX group. The reported adverse reactions were rash and nausea in Lef+MTX group and nausea, vomiting, oral ulcer, alopecia, ALT elevation, palpitation and menoxenia in MTX group. CONCLUSION: Combination of Lef with MTX is safe and effective in treatment of RA with less adverse reactions.

AIM: To study the chemical components and contents of the volatile oil from the Rubia tinctorum L.. METHODS: The volatile oil was extracted by steam distillation-extract method,the chemical constituents of the volatile oil from the herb were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(GC-MS). RESULTS: Thirty compounds were identified,which accounted for over 86.32% of the volatile oil. CONCLUSION: The major components were theaspirane(17.37%),2-furaldehyde(11.10%),benzeneacetaldehyde(6.01%),eugenol(5.47%),ionone(3.87%),and so on.

Objective To investigate clinical therapeutic effect of zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy to senile lung cancer with bone metastases.Methods Totally 80 cases of senile lung cancer patients with bone metastasis were randomly divided into control group and combined group,40 cases in each group.Limitation of activity to the situation,release of bone pain,adverse e-vents and side effects were observed.Serum Ca2+ concentration,alkaline phosphatase (AKP)levels and the levels of serum inflam-matory cytokines TNF-α,IL-1βwere detected.Results Limitation of activities and pain of patients with combined treatment was significantly ameliorated compared to control group (P <0.05).Serum Ca2+ ,AKP and TNF-α,IL-1β levels were significantly de-creased in patients with combined group in time-dependent manner,and which were significantly lower than control group.Bone ad-verse events and side effects in patients with combined treatment were significantly lower than in patients with control group.Con-clusion Zoledronic acid combined with chemotherapy can enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy,effectively relieve the limitation of activities and pain symptoms and reduce the incidence of bone adverse events and adverse reactions.The effect may be related to the decrease of serum calcium and the inflammatory cytokines.

Objective To observe the effect of Dahuangzhechongwan on protein excretion, serum cholesterol, TXB_2 and 6-keto-PGF_(1?) in rats with adriamycin-induced nephrosclerosis. Methods The rats received twice-intravenous injections of adriamycin after one kidney was removed, and were fed with hyperlipide food to establish an animal model for diffusion mesangioproliferation following with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. The rats were randomly divided into shame-operated group, adriamycin nephrosclerosis group, Dahuangzhechongwan group, benazepril group. Urinary protein excretion, blood fat, TXB_2 and 6-keto-PGF_(1?) were observed. Result Proteinuria extract was decreased, the plasma cholesterol was significantly lower, the level of TXB_2 was cut down and 6-Ket-PGF_(1?) was increased by Dahuangzhechongwan. Conclusion Dahuangzhechongwan has the role of simutianeous application of elimination and tonification, promoting the circulation of Qi and blood, eliminating blood stasis, improving the hemodynamics. Dahuangzhechongwan has the renal protection on rat with adriamycin-induced nephrosclerosis, the mechanism may be relate with adjusting the balance of TXB_2 and 6-keto-PGF_(1?).

Objective To investigate the effects of casticin on proliferation and invasion on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells.Methods MTT assay and invasion assay were performed in MCF-7 cells treated with casticin,respectively.The expression of Bax,Caspase-3,MMP-2 and MMP-9 was analyzed by RT-PCR and Western blot.Results Casticin inhibited MCF-7 cells proliferation and invasion in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.05).Additionally,Bax and Caspase-3 expression was increased in MCF-7 cells treated with casticin,whereas MMP-2 and MMP-9 were down-regulated.Conclusion Casticin may play a critical role in inhibiting breast tumor cell proliferation and invasion,reinforcing its potential in clinical application.

BACKGROUND:Circulating fibrocytes originated from the peripheral blood are a fibroblast-like cel subpopulation of leukocytes. Circulating fibrocytes play an essential role in wound repair by secreting extracel ular matrix proteins and cytokines, initiating antigen-specific immunity, accelerating wound contraction as wel as promoting angiogenesis. However, the potential role for improving chronic wound healing and its mechanism is stil unclear. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the biological features of circulating fibrocytes and its potential role and mechanism in accelerating chronic wound healing. METHODS:A computer-based search of CNKI database from 2000 to 2014, PubMed database from 1994 to 2014 and Foreign Medical Journal Ful-Text Service database from 2000 to 2014 was performed using“circulating fibrocytes, non-healing wounds, diabetic foot ulcer, wound healing, cel therapy”in Chinese and English as the keywords to retrieve articles related to circulating fibrocytes, refractory mechanism of chronic wound healing and cel therapy for chronic wounds. Total y 54 articles meeting the inclusive criteria were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Cel therapy with circulating fibrocytes is a safe and effective treatment for improving wound healing and has been used to repair various chronic wounds in the recent decades. Circulating fibrocytes are a distinct subpopulation of fibroblast-like leukocytes in the peripheral blood. It is able to migrate into wound sites at the early stage of wound repair and plays an active role in the wound healing process by secreting extracel ular matrix proteins, cytokines, presenting antigens, contracting wound and promoting neovascularization. Recently, it has been proved in animal experiments that circulating fibrocytes can accelerate chronic wound healing, especial y diabetic chronic wound.

Objective To investigate the signal regulatory mechanism of expression of corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) stimulated neurons of hypothalamic slices in rats in vitro . Methods Model of hypothalamic slices of rats was established. After CRH stimulatation of corticotropin releasing hormone type 1 receptor (CRH1R) of hypothalamic slices in rats in vitro , the changes of activity of protein kinase A (PKA) signal passway were observed by immunocytochemical method and Western blotting. The relationship between the changes and CRH mRNA expression was also observed. Results CRH could cause the remarkable increase in phosphorylated PKA, phosphorylated CREB, and CRH content in hypothalamic slices in rats. However, CPl54526 or H89 could have significant inhibitory effect on the synthesis of P PKA, P CREB, and CRH. Conclusion PKA signal passway can regulate the ultrashort positive feedback of CRH secretion in the rat hypothalamus in stress due to severe trauma.

Objective To study and evaluate the inhibitory role of ?-carboxyglutamic acid(Gla)in the Gla domain of prothrombin in the formation of calcium oxalate crystals. Methods The addition of morpholine and formaldehyde to the solution of prothrombin caused the conversion of 8 Gla to ?-methyleneglutamic acid (8?-MGlu)or 2 Gla to ?-methyleneglutamic acid(2?-MGlu) ,the inhibitory activity of which to calcium oxalate crystallization was detected with seeded crystallization technique. Results The conversion of Gla to ?-MGlu leads to the decreased inhibitory activity of prothrombin to calcium oxalate crystallization,the inhibitory index being decreased from normal 14.2 to 12.8 of 2?-MGlu or 5.0 of 8 ?-MGlu prothrombin respectively. Conclusions Gla in prothrombin may play an important role to inhibit the formation of calcium oxalate calculi.

By using the whole-cell clamp-patch technique, the effects of dexamethasone on calcium channel current (Ica) and nicotine receptor channel current (I_(NIC)) were examined. The acute action of glucocorticoid on adrenal medullary chromaffin cell (AMCC) of rats was a significant inhibition of I_(NIC), while no apparent effect was observed on Ica induced by electricity. The results suggest that the acute action of glucocorticoid on catecholamine release in rat AMCC may be directly related to nicotine receptor.

BACKGROUND:Potential mechanisms of scar formation and scar prevention strategies have become more important in current medical research. Scar assessment scales have the potential to contribute to better evaluation of scar properties in both research and clinical diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the literatures addressing scar prevention and clinical assessment. METHODS: A computer search of CNKI database from 2000 to 2014, PubMed database from 1975 to 2014 and Foreign Medical Journal Ful-Text Service Database from 2000 to 2014 was performed using the keywords of scar, prevention, treat, cicatrix, assessment, measure in Chinese and English to retrieve articles related to scar prevention strategies and scar assessment scales. Totaly 39 articles meeting the inclusive criteria were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: During wound healing, the unbalance between colagen anabolism and katabolism can lead to the formation of pathological scar. Prevention and treatment of pathological scars should be combined, and early intervention was used in wound healing. General scar assessment scales include Vancouver Scar Scale, Visual Analog Scale, Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale, Manchester Scar Assessment Scale, Stony Brook Scar Assessment Scale, al of which have the potential to contribute to better evaluation of scar properties in both research and clinical diagnosis.