Objective To investigate the effect of thalidomide on the proliferation of as well as the expression and secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT.Methods Cultured HaCaT cells were divided into several groups to be treated with dimethyl sulfoxide (negative control group) and various concentrations (0.01nmol/L-100 μmol/L) of thalidomide (experimental groups) respectively for 20 to 24 hours.Subsequently,water soluble tetrazolium-1(WST-1) assay was performed to estimate cellular proliferation,real time quantitative PCR to detect the mRNA expression of VEGF and TNF-α in HaCaT cells,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to quantify the protein expressions of VEGF and TNF-α in the culture supernatants of HaCaT cells.Statistical analysis was done by one-way analysis of variance with least significant difference post hoc test.Results The survival rate of HaCaT cells was 74.3％,82.9％ and 90.8％ after 24-hour treatment with thalidomide of 100,10 and 1 μmol/L respectively,significantly lower than that in the negative control group (100％,all P ＜0.01).A significant decrease was induced in the mRNA expression (0.439-to 0.634-fold change,all P ＜0.01) and supematant level ((0.587-to 0.923-fold change,P ＜0.05) of VEGF in HaCaT cells by thalidomide of 0.01-100 nmol/L,as well as in the mRNA expression (0.493-to 0.587-fold change,P ＜0.05) and supernatant level (0.408-to 0.617-fold change,P ＜0.01) of TNF-α by thalidomide of 0.1-100 nmol/L.Conclusion Within a certain range of concentration,thalidomide could suppress the proliferation of,as well as the expression and secretion of VEGF and TNF-α by,HaCaT cells.

Objective To evaluate the relationship of serum levels of interleukin (IL)-36α,IL-36β and IL-36γas well as their receptor antagonist IL-36Ra with disease severity in patients with psoriasis.Methods Venous blood samples were collected from 45 patients with generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP),34 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV),and 37 healthy human controls.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the serum levels of IL-36α,IL-36β,IL-36γ and IL-36Ra.Nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was conducted to compare the levels of IL-36 and IL-36Ra among these groups,and Spearman's rank correlation analysis to assess the relationship between the serum levels of IL-36 and IL-36Ra and disease severity.Results No statistical difference was observed in the serum levels of IL-36 or IL-36Ra among the patients with GPP,patients with PV,and healthy human controls.The serum levels of IL-36β and IL-36γ (given as the median ± interquartile range) were significantly higher in 27 patients with GPP during episodes of pustules ((12.101 ± 11.315) ng/L and (34.541 ± 15.580) ng/L respectively) and in 7 patients with severe GPP ((11.218 ± 9.318) ng/L and (38.536 ± 17.332) ng/L respectively) than in the healthy human controls ((5.355 ± 9.020) ng/L and (23.052 ± 22.410) ng/L respectively,P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).The serum level of IL-36γwas positively correlated with that of IL-36β in patients with GPP,patients with PV,and the healthy human controls (r =0.85,0.86,0.91,respectively,all P ＜ 0.01),and both IL-36β and IL-36γserum levels were lowly and positively correlated with the severity of GPP (r =0.33,0.41,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).A positive correlation was also observed between the serum level of IL-36β and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores in patients with PV (r =0.54,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions The serum levels of IL-363 and IL-36γ are lowly and positively correlated with disease severity in patients with GPP,suggesting that IL-36β and IL-36γplay an important role in the pathogenesis of GPP.

Female ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; therapy

The effect of nateglinide or sequential treatment with metformin on glycemic stability in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes was investigated. Thirty-four cases of newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes received nateglinide therapy, or sequential treatment with metformin according to fasting and postprandial blood glucose, and were classified into isolated nateglinide therapy group(n=14) and sequentially treated with metformin group(n=20). Glycemic stability, reflected by mean amplitude of glycemic excursions(MAGE) and HbA1C, was determined in all patients before and after therapy for three months. HbA1C and MAGE in two groups were all improved after treatment(P＜0.05). The therapy of nateglinide alone or combined with metformin can significantly improve glycemic stability in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVETo observe the primary prevention role of Wuling Capsule (WC) on poststroke depression (PSD) patients.

METHODSAcute stroke patients were recruited and randomized into 2 groups by stratification, 55 in each group. All patients received same routine treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Patients in the experimental group additionally took WC (0.33 g each pill), 3 pills per day, three times per day; while those in the control group additionally took placebos, 3 pills per day, three times per day. Two weeks consisted of one therapeutic course. The diagnosis of PSD was performed once every other week. Those in accordance with PSD diagnosis discontinued any drug therapy. Those not in accordance with PSD diagnosis continued the drug therapy for 1-12 therapeutic course(s) (in total of 6 months). If they were still not in accordance with PSD diagnosis, then they discontinued the drug therapy. The morbidity of PSD, the average time of depression occurrence, Hamilton depression rating scale (HAMD) score, and adverse reactions were observed.

RESULTSThe 1-, 3-, and 6-month morbidity of PSD was 8%, 16%, and 34% in the experimental group, while they were 19.6%, 29.4%, and 54.9% in the control group. The occurrence rate was lower in the experimental group than in the control group. Besides, there was statistical difference in the 6-month occurrence rate between the two groups (chi2 = 4.465, P < 0.05). The average time of PSD occurrence was longer in the experimental group than in the control group (14.96 +/- 8.31 weeks vs. 9.36 +/- 6.06 weeks; t=6.762, P < 0.05). The HAMD score at the PSD occurrence was 11.96 +/- 2.14 in the experimental group, lower than that of the control group (14.57 +/- 4.24), showing statistical difference (t=5.641, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONWC was superior to the placebos in lowering the incidence of PSD, delaying the occurrence time of PSD, attenuating the depression degree of PSD, and had certain preventive effect on the incidence of PSD.

Aged ; Capsules ; Depression ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Primary Prevention ; Stroke ; complications

Objective To determine the risk factors for emergence agitation (EA) during the recovery period after general anesthesia.Methods One thousand and thirty-four patients of both sexes aged 18-89 yr undergoing general anesthesia were divided into EA group and non-EA group.EA occurring during recovery from general anesthesia was assessed by using Riker sedation-agitation scale.Age,sex,complication,education,medical history,ASA physical status,type and duration of anesthesia and operation,volume of blood loss,fluid replacement,urine volume,duration of stay in PACU,number of drainage tubes and so forth were recorded.Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors for the occurrence of EA.Results Thirty-six patients developed EA during recovery from anesthesia.The incidence of EA was 3.5 ％.Logistic regression indicated that high risk operation,premedication with diazepam,induction of anesthesia without midazolom and fluid replacement during operation were the risk factors for EA (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion High-risk operation,premedication with diazepam,induction of anesthesia without midazolom and fluid replacement during operation are the risk factors for EA during recovery from general anesthesia.

In this study, plate transparent circle by Davis method was introduce firstly screening ?-Rhamnosidase high-yield strain. The spore-sprouted Aspergillus niger 8-hour were mutagenized by ethyl methane sulphonate and pre-screened via transparent circle. 11% mutants yield 40% higher of ?-rhamnosidase than the original strain. A high-yield strain, T-226 with the highest ?-rhamnosidase activity of 373.4 U/mL was finally selected from these potential high-yield mutants after rescreened by shake flask fermentation twice. When the T-226 strain was fermented in 5 L bioreactor, the enzyme activity could reach to 631.9 U/mL after 84 h. Thus, the established screening method is highly efficient to isolate ?-rhamnosidase high-yield mutant of A. niger.

Objective To evaluate whether the size,number or location of fibroids affect therapeutic efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE).Methods 84 patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids who had received uterine fibroid embolization with the use of polyvinyl alcohol(PVA)or gelfoam sponge particles(GSP).According to the lesion's size,number or location,all patients were divided into different groups and following -up as outpatients. Patient's symptomatic improvement and imaging following -up was assessed after UAE.Results A technically suc-cessful embolization was done in all patients.Postoperative 12 -month following -up was performed in 77 cases.No major life -threatening complications were found and the clinical symptoms were improved after UAE.In the different groups,the uterine size and the leiomyoma size after UAE were markedly decreased(t =5.842,P <0.05).Further comparison showed that the mean reduction in fibroids volume after UAE was not significant between the two groups, so was the mean reduction in uterine volume.Solitary leiomyoma group showed no significant difference in volume reduction rate of fibroids and uterine after UAE as compared with multiple leiomyoma group.Changes were not signifi-cantly in Submucosal uterine fibroids,Subserosal uterine fibroids,Intramural uterine fibroids.Conclusion UAE is an effective treatment for uterine fibroids.In this study,the size,number,and location of fibroids did not affect therapeutic efficacy or the complication rate of UAE.

Objective To investigate clinical characteristics of relapsing polychondritis(RP)and to improve early recognition for it.Methods Clinical and laboratory data of 56 patients with RP were analyzed retrospectively.Results Ratio of number of male patients to female ones was 1.2.Age at onset was(46?11)years(ranging from 27 to 71)and average interval between onset and diagnosis was(21? 35)months,(8?6),(16?31)and(29?37)months for patients initial onset with auricle,respiratory tract and joints involved,respectively.Site involved included airway in 40 patients(71.4%),auricle in 32 (57.1%),joints in 32(57.1%),eyes in 27(48.2%),nasal chondritis in 25(44.6%)and inner ear in 13(23.2%).At initial stage of the course,17 patients were misdiagnosed as respiratory infection (30.4%),nine as perichondritis(16.1%),six as pulmonary tuberculosis(10.7%),five as rheumatoid arthritis(8.9%).Seven of 40 patients with airway involvement received metallic stents for their tracheobronchial stenosis.Four patients whose condition never improved after regular therapy all had respiratory involvement.Conclusions Patients of RP with initial onset at non-auricle,non-nasal sites tended to be misdiagnosed.Prevalence of airway involvement was not so low with a poor prognosis in patients of RP.

This paper reports the hematology screening and parasite morphological features of one case of imported falci?parum malaria and reviews the relevant literature.