OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical application value of Provider-Initiated HIV Testing and Counseling (PITC) by analyzing the positive rate of HIV tests for people in need of PITC and that of routine HIV tests.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the demographic and epidemiologic data about the patients seeking PITC services or undergoing routine HIV tests in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital between January and December 2013.

RESULTSThe positive rate of initial HIV screening was 1.98% in the PITC group and 0.24% in the routine test group, while that of confirmed HIV was 0. 40% in the former and 0.07% in the latter, both with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.01). The positive rate of HIV was markedly higher in males than in females, particularly in the PITC group.

CONCLUSIONPITC has a high clinical value in HIV detection for targeted subjects and therefore deserves general application in dermatology.

Counseling ; Dermatology ; Female ; HIV Seropositivity ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors

Objective To study the effect of paeonol on the proliferation and apoptosis of A375 human melanoma cells and its mechanism.Methods Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) was used to evaluate the proliferative activity of A375 cells treated with paeonol of 0.5,1,2,4,8 mmol/L for 24,48 and 72 hours respectively.Subsequently,A375 cells were treated with paeonol of 1.25,2.5 and 5 mmol/L for 24 hours followed by double staining with annexin V and propidium iodide for the detection of cell apoptosis,fluorometric assay for the estimation of caspase 3,caspase 8 and caspase 9 activity,and Western blot for the determination of the levels of p53,nuclear factor-κB proteins and some of their target proteins.The A375 cells receiving no treatment served as the blank control group.Statistical analysis was carried out by t test.Results Within the investigated concentration and time ranges,paeonol significantly inhibited the proliferative activity of A375 cells in a concentration-and timedependent manner.Compared with the blank control group,a significant increase was observed in the early apoptosis rate in A375 cells treated with paeonol of 1.25,2.5 and 5 mmol/L for 24 hours (13.74％-± 1.73％,25.95％ ± 0.57％ and 46.44％ ± 0.81％ vs.3.11％ ± 0.53％,P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01),as well as in the activity of caspase 3,8 and 9 in A375 cells treated with paeonol of 2.5 and 5 mmol/L for 24 hours (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01).After 24-hour treatment,the protein levels of p53 and Bax were elevated,but those of nuclear factor-κB,Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL were decreased in A375 cells with the increase of paeonol concentration.Conclusions Paeonol can inhibit the proliferation but induce the apoptosis of A375 cells,and the apoptosis-inducing effect may be realized through intrinsic and extrinsic pathways by modulating nuclear factor-κB and p53 genes.

Objective To assess the efficacy of intedeukin (IL)-1Ra,a recombinant human IL-1receptor antagonist,plus methotrexate ( MTX ) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) refractory to MTX therapy.Methods A total of 54 patients with active RA,who had been taking MTX at a stable dosage,were randomized to receive daily subcutaneous injections of IL-1Ra (80 mg) or placebo.The proportion of patients who had a response as assessed by ACR20,ACR50 and ACR70 was analyzed using Chi-square test measures.Baseline variables and DAS28 were analyzed using Student's t-test (parametric) or Wilcoxon's rank sum test (nonparametric) as appropriate.Results After 24 weeks,more patients achieved clinical benefits treated with IL-1Ra plus MTX compared with MTX alone (64％ vs 17％,P=-0.004) as determined by the ACR20 improvement.In the IL-1Ra group,an ACR50 response was observed in 38％ and an ACR70 response in 17％.None of the patients treated with MTX alone achieved ACR50 or ACR 70 improvement.However,9 of 42 (21％) patients in the IL-1Ra group,who showed therapeutic response initially,had secondary drug failure to IL-1Ra therapy thereafter.A significant increase in mean DAS28 from baseline was found in the nonresponders to IL-1Ra,compared with placebo.Conclusion IL-IRa is effective for the treatment of patients with active RA by blocking IL-1.However,the efficacy of IL-1Ra is lost soon in about one-fifth of patients in soite of initial good resoonse.

Objective To discuss influence factors on prognosis of the patients with capillary leak syndrome (CLS) in ICU.Methods The clinical data of 191 patients with CLS in ICU were reviewed,and the patients were divided into three groups according to prognosis:death group ( n =37),cured group ( n =132) and non-healed group (n =22).The clinical data of death group were compared with those of cured group at admission,during the course of CLS and before discharging from hospital.Results Compared with the cured group,the central venous pressure and serum albumin decreased ( P ＜ 0.01 ) ; anion gap,triglycerides,pressure adjusted heart rate (PAHR) and oxygenation index were lower ( P ＜ 0.01 or P ＜ 0.05) ; serum glucose and SIRS score increased ( P ＜ 0.01 ) in death group.There was higher rate of poor renal function at admission in death group than that in other groups ( P ＜ 0.01 ).There were more many patients treated with intravenous administration of hydroxyethyl starch,ulinastatin and continuous blood filtration therapy in cured group than those in other groups ( P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions The factors influencing the outcomes of the patients with CLS were hypovolemia,severe hypoproteinemia,interior milieu disorder,malnutrition,hypoxemia,renal injury and severe systemic inflammatory response.The outcomes of patients with CLS in ICU could be improved by using hydroxyethyl starch,ulinastatin and continuous blood filtration therapy.

Animals ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Embryo, Mammalian ; metabolism ; Female ; Mice ; Pregnancy ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

This study investigated the protective effect of ATP on skeletal muscle satellite cells damaged by H2O2 in neonatal rats and the possible mechanism. The skeletal muscle satellite cells were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group (cells treated with 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 for 50 s), protection group (cells treated with 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mmol/L ATP for 24 h, and then with 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 for 50 s), proliferation group (cells treated with 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mmol/L ATP for 24 h). MTT assay, FITC+PI+DAPI fluorescent staining, Giemsa staining and immunofluorescence were performed to examine cell viability and apoptosis, and apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that the survival rate of skeletal muscle satellite cells was decreased and the apoptosis rate was increased after H2O2 treatment (P<0.01). Different doses of ATP had different effects on skeletal muscle satellite cells damaged by H2O2: the survival rate of muscle satellite cells treated with ATP at 4, 2, or 1 mmol/L was increased. The protective effect was most profound on cells treated with 2 mmol/L ATP. Immunofluorescence showed that ATP could increase the number of Bcl-2-positive cells (P<0.01) and decrease the number of the Bax-positive cells (P<0.01). It was concluded that ATP could protect skeletal muscle satellite cells against H2O2 damage in neonatal rats, which may be attributed to the up-regulation of the expression of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax, resulting in the suppression of apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of total flavonoids of astragalus on the expression of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone, calumenin and connecxin 43 (CX43) in suckling mouse myocardium with myocarditis caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3).

METHODSThe primary culture of suckling mouse myocardium cells were randomly divided into control group, CVB3 infected group and total flavonoids of astragalus group. Firstly, to confirm the identity of the suckling mouse myocardium, α-SMA was monitored by immunohistochemistry method. Then the protein expression changes of endoplasmic reticulum chaperone-glucose regulatory protein 78 ( GRP78), calumenin and CX43 were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with that of the control group, the GRP78 expression level in CVB3 infected group was improved, the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were all reduced. (2) Compared with that of CVB3 infected group, GRP78 expression level was decreased, and the expression levels of calumenin and CX43 were increased in total flavonoids of astragalus group.

CONCLUSIONCVB3 infection may cause endoplasmic reticulum stress of rat myocardium cells by increasing the expression of GRP78 and decreasing the expression of calumenin and CX43. On the other hand, total flavonoids of astragalus can reduce the expression of GRP78 and increase the expression of calumenin and CX43.The results of this experiment may be closely related to the effects of anti-arrhythmia with viral myocarditis caused by CVB3.

Animals ; Astragalus Plant ; chemistry ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Connexin 43 ; metabolism ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; metabolism ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress ; drug effects ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; metabolism ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Myocardium ; cytology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; virology ; Rats

To simplify the macrocyclic fragment and to modify the zinc binding group of the natural product apicidin, two series of S-hexyl (heptyl) ethanethioate derivatives were designed and synthesized. Twenty-six compounds were synthesized and confirmed with 1H NMR, IR, MS and HR-MS spectrum, which were not reported. Take vorinostat as control, their antiporliferative activities against cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and HL-60, were tested with MTT assay or trypan blue staining method. Generally in both series it was found that, the chiral carbon atom at 7 position is not necessary, compounds II-1, II-3, II-6 and II-13 showed good activity on HL-60 cells in vitro, with the IC50 values less than 10 micromol x L(-1). II-7 and II-8 showed stronger activity against MCF-7 than Vorinostat, with the IC50 of 3.19 and 6.29 micromol x L(-1), respectively.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; HL-60 Cells ; Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; MCF-7 Cells ; Peptides, Cyclic ; chemical synthesis ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Structure-Activity Relationship

The mediastinal lymph node tuberculous abscesses (MLNTAs) are secondary to mediastinal tuberculous lymphadenitis.Surgical excision is often required when cold abscesses form.This study was aimed to examine video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for the treatment of MLNTA.Clinical data of 16 MLNTA patients who were treated in our hospital between December 1,2013 and December 1,2015 were retrospectively analyzed.All of the patients underwent the radical debridement and drainage of abscesses,and intrathoracic lesions were removed by VATS.They were also administered the intensified anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT),and engaged in normal physical activity and follow-up for 3 to 6 months.The results showed that VATS was successfully attempted in all of the 16 MLNTA patients and they all had good recovery.Two patients developed complications after surgery,with one patient developing recurrent laryngeal nerve injury,and the other reporting poor wound healing.It was concluded that VATS is easy to perform,and safe,and has high rates of success and relatively few side-effects when used to treat MLNTA.

Objective To study the effect of bromocriptine(BRC) on the activation of T lymphocyte stimulated by phytohemagglutinin(PHA).Methods After CD4+ T cell line Jurkat E6-1 cells were stimulated by PHA,prolactin(PRL) and BRC,respectively,the expression of linker for activation of T cells(LAT) and zeta-chain T cell receptor associated protein kinase 70 000(ZAP-70) mRNA of T lymphocytes were checked by RT-PCR.The expression of PRL mRNA of T lymphocytes was detected by Real time PCR.The expression of CD25(cluster of differentiation) as a marker of early activation on the surface of T lymphocytes was detected by flow cytometry,and the activation of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) was detected by luciferase reporter system.Results 1.BRC inhibited the expression of ZAP-70 as the common signal molecules both in the T lymphocyte activation pathway and PRL-prolactin-prolactin receptor(PRLR) signal transduction pathway,and decreased the expression of PRL mRNA produced by activation T lymphocytes.2.BRC enhanced the expression of LAT mRNA as another important signal molecular on the T lymphocytes and CD25 on the surface of the T lymphocytes.3.The activation of NF-?B of T lymphocytes was decreased.Conclusions BRC might inhibit the activation of T lymphocytes by inhibiting the expression of ZAP-70,the common signal molecules between T lymphocytes activation and PRL-PRL pathway,and PRL mRNA,the like-T lymphocyte growth factor.