Objective To investigate the survival rate and the influencing factors in lupus nephritis (LN) patients with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). Methods Clinical characteristics and biochemical markers of 78 patients including 59 variances were analyzed. Patients were followed up from the onset of NPSLE to death. Patient survival rate was estimated by Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression model was used to analyze influencing factors. Results Sixteen (20.5%) of 78 patients died of SLE or its complications. Infection was the main cause of death (31.3%). One-, 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates were 83.2%, 81.7%, 76.7% and 76.7%, respectively. Hypertension (RR =6.965,95% CI:1.578-30.746, P= 0.010), pulmonary infection (RR=8.171,95% CI:1.954-34.177, P=0.004)and acute renal failure (RR=6.978,95%CI:2.063-23.609, P=0.002) were risk factors of mortality, while cyclophosphamide (CTX) impulse therapy (RR =0.130,95 % CI:0.031-0.541, P=0.005) and resolution of NPSLE (RR= 0.169, 95%CI:0.042-0.679,P=O.012)were protective factors. Conclusions Infection is the main cause of death in patients of LN complicated with NPSLE. Survival rate of LN patients with NPSLE in this study is lower than those of LN and NPSLE alone reported by other authors. Hypertension, pulmonary infection and acute renal failure are risk factors of mortality, while CTX impulse therapy and resolution of NPSLE reduce the mortality and improve the prognosis.

BACKGROUND:Lycium barbarum polysaccharide, the main active component of leaves of lycium barbarum, has a remarkable therapeutic effect on osteoporosis in adult ovariectomized female rats.
OBJECTIVE:To explore effects of leaves ofLycium barbarum on serum estradiol and bone estrogen receptor expressions in adult oxariectomized female rats.
METHODS: Thirty-two 6-month-od female rats were randomized into sham-surgery, model, and treatment groups, respectively. Rat models of postmenopausal osteoporosis were induced by ovariotomy folowed by oraly administration of water solution of leaves ofLycium barbarum (500 or 1 000 mg/kg) or distiled water once daily for consecutive 12 weeks in treatment and model groups, respectively. Serum estradiol level was detected by radiation immunoassaymethod. Estrogen receptor α, β immunoreactivities in bone tissue were determined by immunohistochemical staining.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Serum estradiol level in the model group was significantly decreased compared with the sham-surgery group (P < 0.01), but that was significantly increased in the treatment groups, particularly at high dose, compared with the model group (P< 0.01). Estrogen receptor α, βimmunoreactivities were weaker in the model group than the sham-surgery group (P < 0.01), and those were stronger in the treatment groups than the model group (P < 0.01). Our results suggest that leaves of Lycium barbarum treat osteoporosis through enhancing serum estradiol and estrogen receptor expressions in adult ovariectomized rats.

Objective To investigate the role of autophagy and synaptophysin (SYP) in cognitive impairment in de?pressed rats receiving electroconvulsive shock (ECS). Methods Clean and healthy adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were acclimatized to a standard laboratory environment for 7 days. The chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) was used to establish the rat model of depression. Behavior tests were conducted before and after CUMS to evaluate the depression and cognition level of rats. After establishment of the model, 24 rats were randomly divided into ESC group (group E) and depression group (group D) with 12 rats in each group. The rats in group E were administered 80 mg/kg of propofol (10 mg/mL) by intraperitoneal injection, followed by ECS treatment. The rats in group D were administered propofol by intra?peritoneal injection, followed by sham-ECS treatments. The above interventions were conducted daily for 7 consecutive days. After the interventions, rats underwent behavior tests as before. Subsequently, rats were killed and specimens were collected for measurements. Immunohistochemistry was performed to examine autophagy markers such as Beclin 1 and LC3Ⅱand ELISA was used to detect SYP in the hippocampus. Results Group E after ECS significantly increased the percentage of sucrose preference (68.2%±8.7%), rearing times (7.0±1.9), total horizontal distance [(569.5±70.0) cm], es? cape latency [(21.9±5.3)s] and space exploration time [(20.5±3.9)s] compared with group D or group E before ECS. There was no significant difference in these index between groups before ECS or in group E between before and after ECS(P>0.05). Compared with group D, group E had upregulated protein expression levels of Beclin 1 and LC3Ⅱin CA1, CA3, DG as well as the area near the hippocampus and increased SYP contents (P<0.05). Conclusions Cognitive impairment in depression rats following ECS correlates with activated autophagy and increased SYP by ECS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) modified bovine serum albumin (AGE-BSA) on the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in human renal mesangial cells (HRMCs).

METHODSHRMCs were cultured in vitro with medium containing different doses of AGE-BSA or BSA (50,100, 200, 400 mg/L) for 48 hours, or with AGE-BSA (200 mg/L) for different times (12, 24, 48, 72 h). Immunocytochemistry assay was used to estimate the protein level of RAGE. The ROS in cells were measured by flow cytometry and the mRNA expression of MCP-1 were analyzed by semi-quantiative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after treatment with AGE-BSA or BSA.

RESULTSThe protein level of RAGE was upregulated in the HRMCs with AGE-BSA. The expression of ROS and MCP-1 significantly enhanced by incubation of AGE-BSA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The effects of AGE-BSA-induced up-regulation of ROS and MCP-1 level was significantly blocked by neutralizing antibodies to RAGE, while the expression of ROS and MCP-1 stood nearly unchanged after cultured with huamn IgG.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of ROS and MCP-1 in HRMCs is induced by AGE-BSA through RAGE, which may have potential effects in the pathgenic mechanism of diabetic nephropathy.

Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Glycation End Products, Advanced ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Mesangial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism ; Serum Albumin, Bovine ; pharmacology

Objective To analyze the differential expression of proteins among patients with pancreatic cancer,chronic pancreatitis and choledocholithiasis in order to find potential biomarkers for diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and to differentiate pancreatic cancer from chronic pancreatitis. Methods The pancreatic juice were connected from 5 pancreatic cancer patients,6 chronic pancreatitis patients and 3 choledocholi-thiasis patients by naso-pancreatic drainage using endoscopic retrograde cholanglopancreatography(ERCP).The proteins in pooled pancreatic juice were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE).The differential expression of proteins were analyzed by image analysis software and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS).Results ①There were 35-200 ml of pancreatic juice collected,and protein concentration were ranged from 0.8 to 4.6 μg/μl.The 2-DE showed that the protein spots in pancreatic cancer,chronic pancreatitis and choledocholithiasis juice were 196±12,209±15 and 199±10,respectively.The matched proteins among three groups all exceeded 75%.②MALDI-TOF-MS revealed that the expression of chain A of a covalent dimer of transthyretin in pancreatic cancer was up-regulated(＞2-fold)while the expressions of chain A of crystal structure of lipid-free human apolipoproteinA-1,chain of human lithostathin and regenerating islet-derived 1 beta precursor were down-regulated. Conclusions Protein spectra are different in patients with pancreatic cancer,chronic pancreatitis and choledocholithiasis.Transthyretin,apolipoproteinA-1,human lithostathin and regenerating islet-derived 1 beta might be the biomarkers of human pancreatic cancer and may be useful in distinguishing pancreatic cancer from chronic panceatitis.

Objective To evaluate mortality associated with simultaneous bilateral or staged bilateral TKA, and better understand the risks involved in the simultaneous versus staged bilateral procedures.Methods A systematic review was conducted, following an a priori protocol, according to the methods recommended by the Cochrane Musculoskeletal Group in the Cochrane Collaboration. Eligible studies were identified in PubMed (1990-2010), OVID MEDLINE (1990-2010), and the Cochrane library, concerning postoperative complications of bilateral or staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty. All of the English-language abstracts were obtained, and retrieval words including bilateral total knee arthroplasty, staged total knee arthroplasty, and total knee arthroplasty, etc. An extensive analysis was then performed to identify articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria for the study. The details of the reported data were extracted and evaluated by two reviewers independently. Data analyses were conducted with Stata 10.0. Results Six studies met our inclusion criteria for review. The combined results showed that the prevalence of mortality[OR=2.925, 95% CI (2.352, 3.638)], mortality 30 days postoperatively[OR=5.078, 95% CI (2.192, 1 1.763)]and mortality in 70 years or older patients[OR=4.087, 95% CI (1.947, 8.582)]were statistically higher in the population that had undergone simultaneous TKA compared with staged TKA. Conclusion Compared with staged bilateral TKA, simultaneous bilateral TKA might carries a higher potential risk of postoperative mortality. Patients should be aware of this information when deciding whether to proceed with simultaneous bilateral TKA. Further well-designed and large-scale randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings.

To study the effect of sodium aescinate in inducing human breast cancer MCF-7 cells apoptosis and its possible mechanism. MTT assay was used to detect the inhibitory effect of sodium aescinate on the proliferation of MCF-7 cells. The morphological changes were observed under inverted microscope. DAPI nuclear staining was used to detect the changes in cell nucleus. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was adopted to test the apoptosis rate. Changes in apoptosis-related proteins (PARP, cleaved caspase-8 and pro-caspase-3), cell survival-associated signal molecules (AKT and ERK) and their common upstream kinase SRC was detected by Western blotting. The result showed that after different concentrations of sodium aescinate were used to treat breast cancer MCF-7 cells, they inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner, induced cell apoptosis (typical morphological changes in nucleus, significant increase in cell apoptosis rate). The expressions of cleaved PARP and caspase-8 increased, while the expression of pro-caspase-3 decreased, which further verified sodium aescinate's effect in inducing cell apoptosis. Sodium aescinate significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of cell survival-related signal molecules (AKT, ERK) and down-regulate the activation of their common up-stream kinase SRC. The findings indicated that sodium aescinate can block signals transiting to downstream molecules AKT, ERK, inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cell MCF-7 cell apoptosis and induced cell apoptosis by suppressing the activation of SRC.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Down-Regulation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; MCF-7 Cells ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; genetics ; metabolism ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Triterpenes ; pharmacology ; src-Family Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective:To investigate the effects of sensitized sera on bone marrow transplantation and clarify the role of antibody in the process of rejection.Methods:Two hundred microlitres sensitized sera or non-sensitized sera were injected into normal BALB/c one day before transplantation.Ten millions (1?107) bone marrow cells from C57BL/6 were transfused to the recipients after lethal irradiation.The donor-reactive antibodies in recipients before transplantation were measured by complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) method.Moreover,the survival analysis and engraftment evaluation of the recipients were carried post transplantation.Results:The CDC results showed that donor-reactive antibodies existed in the recipients which had received sensitized sera transfusion.Eighty percent (80%) of the recipients received sensitized sera transfusion died of bone marrow failure about 10 days post transplantation,while the recipients received non-sensitized sera transfusion were long-term alive.Furthermore,the hematopoietic recovery and percentage of donor chimera analysis declined along with time in the sensitized sera transfusion recipients,and there were significant differences compared with those in the non-sensitized sera transfusion recipients (P

The kinetics of nicotine degradation by O.intermedium DN2 and its application in tobacco waste were investigated. The results showed that the optimum temperature of nicotine degradation by O.intermedium was 30 ℃, the pH value was 6.5 and a mount of inoculum was 5 %. Under above conditions, the kinetics of nicotine degradation of initial concentration 500 mg/L was studied. The results indicated that the degradation process of nicotine with no-induced strain DN2 followed inverse S-shaped curve, and degradation process of nicotine with induced cells of DN2 followed Eckenfelder mode. The half life of nicotine degradation was 17.43 h and 4.10 h, respectively. And the results also showed that tolerance of O.intermedium DN2 to nicotine was up to 5000 mg/L when 0.1 % of glucose was added. Nicotine (2 220 mg/L) in extract of tobacco wastes degraded about 95.22 % by strain DN2 in 60 h incubation, indicating that strain DN2 was of application value in treatment nicotine pollution.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the HIV infections states in tumor patients for clinical diagnosis,treatment and to prevent HIV infection in the tumor hospital.METHODS The result of HIV detection in tumor patients from Dec 2000 to Aug 2006 was analyzed by the review statistics analysis.RESULTS Totally 48 101 tumor paients were detected,and the number of tumor patients with positive HIV antibody result was 51(0.106%).Among the positive patients there were 21 cases with blood transfusion history,14 cases with blood donating experience,2 cases with both these two kinds of experiences and 14 cases without the two kinds of experiences.Their rate was separately 41.0%,27.5%,4.0% and 27.5%.Most of the HIV positive patients had no clinical synptoms.CONCLUSIONS The HIV positive rate of patients with blood transfusion or blood donating is significantly higher than the patients without these experiences.The routine detection for the HIV before the operation,blood transfusion or other traumatic detection is very necessary.