Objective To investigate the tumor necrosis factor alpha gene single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in Chinese Han polymyositis/dennatomyositis (PM/DM) patients. Methods A casecontrol study of three TNF-α SNPs were undertaken and comparison between cases of PM/DM (n=69) and DM patients ( n=52 ) with normal subjects ( n=57 ) was performed. The genotype of every subject was determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results There was no significant difference in the genotypes and alleles frequencies of the three TNF-α SNPs(-238,-308, and -1031)between PM/DM or DM and normal subjects. The haplotype AGT (-238, -308, -1031 ) significantly increased in controls vs PM/DM and DM (PM/DM, P=0.01; DM, P=0.02) subjects. The haplotype AGC was a significant risk factor for DM (P=0.04, 0R=9.84, 95%CI 1.39～69.57 ). The haplotype AGC increased in PM/DM (4.3%)vs controls(0.6% ), but the difference was not significant (P=0.09, OR 7.22, 95%CI 1.02～50.90). The haplotype GGC was significantly decreased in the DM subgroup vs healthy control subjects (P=0.04, OR=0.47,95%CI 0.23～0.99). Conclusion The TNF gene (-238,-308,-1031) haplotype AGC is a risk factor for DM.

CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) refers to a set of multiple gene promoter CpG island methylation phenotype which exists in tumor at the same time.Many studies show that CIMP is ubiquitous in gastric cancer,which is related to the pathogenesis,diagnosis,patient's condition,prognosis and curative effect of gastric cancer.

Objective: To optimize the formula and the preparation technique of orally disintegrating tablets of scopolamine hydrobromide(SH). Methods: The wet granule compressing method and the direct compressing method were compared to choose the suitable preparation method. The orthogonal design was used to optimize the formula of SH tablets while taking the hardness, disintegrating time and dissolution rate of the tablets as indices, and the optimization was verified. Results: The wet granule compressing method was chosen for preparation. The optimized formula was composed of mannitol 40%, MCC 35%, lactose 0, and CMS-Na 10%. And the hardness, disintegrating time and T50 of the optimized tablets were 3.8 kg, 54 s, and 2.47 min, respectively. Conclusion: The obtained formula and preparation technique for orally disintegrating tablets of SH is satisfactory; the quality of the prepared tablets can be well controlled.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of cyclopamine on the proliferation and apoptosis of LNCaP cells and the expression of the PCA3 gene in human prostate cancer in vitro.

METHODSLNCaP cells were treated with cyclopamine at the concentrations of 1, 5, 10 and 15 micromol/L for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The inhibitory effects of cyclopamine on the proliferation and apoptosis of the LNCaP cells were detected by MTT and flow cytometry respectively, the morphological changes of the cells observed by Hoechst 33258 staining, and the expression of the PCA3 gene determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (FQ-RT-PCR).

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, cyclopamine significantly inhibited the proliferation of the LNCaP cells at 5, 10 and 15 micromol/L (P <0.01), reaching IC50 at 10 micro mol/L at 48 hours. The apoptosis rates of the LNCaP cells at 24, 48 and 72 hours were 37.21%, 57.38% and 57.98% in the 10 micromol/L group and 21. 16% , 71.31% and 72.90% in the 15 micro.mol/L group, significantly different from those in the control (P <0. 01). The cell apoptosis showed a rising trend with the increase of cyclopamine concentration and acting-time, while the expression of the PCA3 gene was decreasing with the increased concentration of cyclopamine, significantly lower than that of the blank control group (P <0.01) , and extremely low in the 10 micromo/L group

CONCLUSIONCyclopamine intervention at 10 and 15 micromol/L for 48 and 72 hours could significantly inhibit the at all time points. Proliferation and induce the apoptosis of LNCaP cells and reduce the expression level of PCA3.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Veratrum Alkaloids ; pharmacology

Antigens ; immunology ; Child ; Female ; Food Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Maternal Exposure ; Milk Hypersensitivity ; etiology ; Milk, Human ; immunology ; Pregnancy

One hundred and thirty-six adult patients with type 2 diabetes ( ≥40 years, body mass index > 24) were assigned to the low-dose Mefformin, high-dose Mefformin, and control groups. Plasma lactic acid level was detected with ultraviolet enzyme kinetics assay. Our data showed that plasma lactic acid of the low-dose or high-dose mefformin group was significantly higher than the control group (2.314 vs. 2.511, P<0.05 ), although there was no significant difference between the low-dose and the high-dose Mefformin group. In all the 3 groups, increased lactic acid ( > 2. 2 mmol/L) was found in some patients ( Mefformin group vs. Control group: X2 = 7.43, P < 0.05 ), and no lactic acid > 5.0 mmol/L was found. Insulin resistance index and hemoglobin Alc were similar between the 3 groups. Thus, mefformin may not increase the risk of lactic acidosis in diabetic patients with normal cardiorespiratory and renal function.

Maternal-fetal ABO blood type incompatibility is an autoimmune disease.This disease can lead to miscarriage,stillbirth,children edema,early-onset neonatal jaundice,hemolytic anemia,kemicterus and neonatal death,etc.The author overviewed the etiology and pathogenesis of Matemal-fetal ABO blood type incompatibility,as well as the TCM therapeutic methods and effects in treating this disease at pre-pregnancy period and pregnancy.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of combining real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography with three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound for the patients with small ovarian masses.Methods One hundred and seven patients with small ovarian masses were examined with real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography and three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound.The images and the relationship between benign and malignant small ovarian masses were analyzed.Results Benign and malignant small ovarian tumors had statistical differences in these three parameters:the envelope,inner wall and whether there being central vessels.The sensitivity and specificity of combining real-time threedimensional ultrasonography with three-dimensional power Doppler ultrasound to diagnose malignant small ovarian tumors were 92.9% and 97.3% respectively.Conclusions Combining real-time three-dimensional ultrasonography with three-dimensional color Doppler energy can be used to diagnose the small ovarian masses and provide valuable information to identify malignant ovarian tumors.A small ovarian tumor with incomplete envelope,irregular inner wall and there being central vessels indicated the possibility of being malignant.

Objectives This study was designed to explore the function of ATP binding cassette transporter 1 ( ABCA1) and ApolipoproteinA-I (ApoA-I) in cholesterol reverse transportation ( RCT) , the influence of lovastatin and rosiglitazone on the concentration of cholesterol ( CHO) in THP-1 ( human monocytic leukemia cell line) derived foam cells.Methods LDL from healthy volunteers was obtained by density-gradient ultracentrifugation and was oxidized by incubation with Cu2+ and ox-LDL was identified.Macrophages were induced from THP-1 cell by phorbol ester (PMA).Models of foam cells were built by incubating macrophages with oxLDL.The effect of lovastatin and rosiglitazone on ABCA1 protein expression in THP-1 cell line derived macrophage were detected by western blot Foam cells were divided into 9 groups: control, ApoA-I, lovastatin, rosiglitazone lovastatin + ApoA-I, rosiglitazone + ApoA-I, ABCA1 monoclonal antibody pretreatment + ApoA-I, ABCA1 monoclonal antibody pretreatment + lovastatin + ApoA-I, ABCA1 monoclonal antibody pretreatment + rosiglitazone + ApoA-I.The concentration of intracellular CHO in each group was detected by using cholesterol kit Results As compared with control group, there are no big differences of CHO concentration within the cell of group lovastatin, rosiglitazone, and each ABCA1 monoclonal antibody pretreatment group (P >0.05), but the CHO concentration within the cells of group ApoA-I, lovastatin + ApoA-I, rosiglitazone + ApoA-I decreased obviously as compared with the control (P <0.05), and CHO concentration in group rosiglitazone + ApoA-I have a further decrease than the former two groups ( P < 0.05 ).Conclusions CHO concentration can be descreased in foam cells by cooperation of ABCA1 and ApoA-I mediate cholesterol efflux.Rosiglitazone can enhance this procedure in THP-1 macrophages derived foam cells which means that they can promote ABCA1 mediated cholesterol reverse transportation through improve ABCA1 protein expression.

Objective To investigate the effects of dexamethasone(DEX)on the secretion of interleukin (IL)-17 and interferon(IFN)-γ and the proportion of Th17,Tc17,Th1 ,Tc1 cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs)of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE). Methods Thirty hospitalized SLE patients were recruited and twenty-two healthy volunteers were recruited as healthy controls. PBMCs were separated from SLE patients and healthy controls and then was cultured in vitro by medium or PMA/Ionomycin or PMA/Ionomycin +dexamethasone for six hours. Four- color immunofluorescent staining and flow cytometric assay were used to analyze the percentage of Th17,Tc17,Th1,Tc1 cells in PBMCs. Concentrations of IL-17 and IFN-γ in plasma and the supernatants of PBMCs which were cultured for 24 hours were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results The plasma concentrations of IL-17 and IFN-γwere elevated in SLE patients as compared to the controls(P ＜ 0.05). No significant differences were observed between patients and controls for the spontaneous production of IL-17 and IFN-γ or percentage of T subsets expressed by PBMCs. After the stimulation of PMA,compared with the controls,the level of IL-17 was significantly elevated in the supematants of PBMCs and the percentages of Th17 and Tc1 in SLE patients increased significantly(P ＜ 0. 05). However,there showed no significant differences between SLE patients and the controls for the percentages of Th1 and Tc17 cells. DEX could significantly decrease the production of IL-17(P ＜ 0. 01)and the percentages of Th17,Tc1 cells by the active PBMCs(P ＜ 0. 05). Conclusions There is abnormal expression of T subset cells and their cytokines in vivo of SLE patients. DEX can interfere with immunological pathological process in the cytokine network imbalance of SLE patients and shows powerful inhibition of IL - 17. Our results may provide some laboratory evidence for the clinical application of corticosteroids.