Objective To observe the morphologic changes of peripheral blood lupus cell in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and investigate its relationship with disease activity in systemic lupus ery- thematosus.Methods Modified classical blood clotting method to observe the morphological changes of pe- ripheral blood lupus cells in 80 cases with systemic lupus erythematosus.Fifty cases were in active stage,and 30 cases were in stable stage.Comparison of serum autoantibody,complement and SLEDAI were also carried out.Results There was significant association between lupus cells in special morphous and autoantibody, such as anti-double-stranded DNA antibody,anti-nucleosome antibodies,complement C3、C4 and SLEDAI(r= 0.588,P=0.056:r=0.759,P=0.135;r=-0.648,P=0.058;r=-0.589,P=0.057,r=0.686,P

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between sexual hormones in semen and germ cell apoptosis in male population.

METHODSSixty-six infertile patients and thirty fertile males were selected randomly. The levels of folicle stimulating hormone ( FSH), prolactin (PRL), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone (T) in semen were measured by ELISA. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) was used for the detection of germ cell apoptosis.

RESULTSThe levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T in thirty fertile men were (1.63 +/- 0.15) U/L, (2.18 +/- 0.21) U/L, (6.34 +/- 0.30) nmol/L, (1.85 +/- 0.11) nmol/L, respectively, and germ cell apoptosis rate was (4.61 +/- 1.23)%. FSH, LH, PRL, T levels in infertile group were (1.25 +/- 0.18) U/L, (1.76 +/- 0.32) U/L, (5.86 +/- 0.13) nmol/l, (1.45 +/- 0.13) nmol/, respectively, and germ cell apoptosis rate was (18.36 +/- 2.04)%. There were significant differences in all parameters between infertile group and fertile group. The levels of FSH, LH, PRL, T were negatively correlated with germ cell apoptosis rates( r = -0.88, -0.93, -0.90, -0.98). The volume of apoptotic germ cell decreased, and chromatin was compacted to form cell-membrane blebs and apoptotic bodies.

CONCLUSIONLow concentration of sexual hormones may increase the apoptosis of germ cells, which can induce male infertility.

Adult ; Apoptosis ; Case-Control Studies ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; metabolism ; Germ Cells ; pathology ; Gonadal Steroid Hormones ; metabolism ; Humans ; Infertility, Male ; metabolism ; pathology ; Luteinizing Hormone ; metabolism ; Male ; Prolactin ; metabolism ; Semen ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on human sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR).

METHODSDifferent concentrations of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were added to the sperm suspension from 48 healthy fertile men, and the suspension was incubated in 1 x Earle at 37 degrees C for 1 hour. Progesterone was used to induce AR for 15, 30, 45 and 60 min, and then acid phosphatase (ACP) activity in the suspension before and after capacitation and at different time of AR was measured by p-nitrophenyl sodium phosphate assay. In the meantime, sperm motile parameters were assayed by CASA to observe sperm capacitation and AR.

RESULTSACP activity and sperm motile parameters increased in the 50 approximately 100 nmol/L NO concentration group, showed no significant variation in the 150 approximately 200 nmol/L group, and decreased in the 250 approximately 300 nmol/L group.

CONCLUSIONNO can facilitate sperm capacitation, AR and sperm motile parameters in low concentration and suppress them in high concentration. ACP activity assay of sperm is an objective and reliable method to evaluate sperm capacitation and AR in whole sperm population.

Acid Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Acrosome Reaction ; drug effects ; physiology ; Adult ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Male ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Nitric Oxide Donors ; pharmacology ; Nitroprusside ; pharmacology ; Sperm Capacitation ; drug effects ; physiology ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; physiology ; Spermatozoa ; enzymology

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; complications ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo analyse the outcome of different regimens for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSResponse rate, median survival time and overall survival rate of 206 MM patients treated with different protocols were retrospectively analysed.

RESULTThe median survival time, 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS) of 200 MM patients treated with conventional therapy were 30.5 months, 32.0% and 15.8%, respectively. The total response rate and complete response (CR) rate of 195 patients treated with MP regimen and combination chemotherapy (CCT) were 45.6% and 14.9%, respectively. The response rates were higher for the patients treated with CCT than for those treated with MP (50.3% versus 30.4%, P < 0.05). The median survival time, 3- and 5- year OS in MP versus CCT group were 30.0 versus 30.5 months, 22.0% versus 35.0%, 13.2% versus 16.7%, respectively, but all of them have no statistical difference. Compared with those without IFN alpha maintenance therapy, patients received IFN alpha therapy showed a higher response rate (34.4% versus 53.6%, P < 0.05) and a longer median survival time (27 versus 52 months, P < 0.01). The total response in patients received thalidomide was 65.5%. Of the 6 patients received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), 5 remained alive in CR or PR with a mean survival time of (73.0 +/- 12.5) months.

CONCLUSIONSCCT yields higher response rates, but not longer survival time than MP does for the treatment of MM. The response rate as well as the overall survival rate increased when IFN alpha was used as maintenance therapy. Thalidomide can improve response rate as well. HSCT could prolong survival time in patients aged < 60 years with good status.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; administration & dosage ; Interferon-alpha ; administration & dosage ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDAttention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental disorders during childhood, characterized by the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention and puts great burden on children themselves, their families and the society. Osmotic release oral system methylphenidate (OROS-MPH) is a once-daily controlled-release formulation developed to overcome some of the limitations associated with immediate-release methylphenidate (IR-MPH). It has been marketed in China since 2005 but still lacks data from large-sample clinical trials on efficacy and safety profiles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of OROS-MPH in children aged 6 to 16 years with ADHD under naturalistic clinical setting.

METHODSThis 6-week, multi-center, prospective, open-label study enrolled 1447 ADHD children to once-daily OROS-MPH (18 mg, 36 mg or 54 mg) treatment. The effectiveness measures were parent-rated Inattention and Overactivity With Aggression (IOWA) Conners I/O and O/D subscales, physician-rated CGI-I and parent-rated global efficacy assessment scale. Blood pressure, pulse rate measurement, adverse events (AEs) and concomitant medications and treatment review were conducted by the investigator and were served as safety measures.

RESULTSA total of 1447 children with ADHD (mean age (9.52 ± 2.36) years) were enrolled in this trial. Totally 96.8% children received an OROS-MPH modal dose of 18 mg, 3.1% with 36 mg and 0.1% with 54 mg at the endpoint of study. The parent IOWA Conners I/O score at the end of week 2 showed statistically significant (P < 0.001) improvement with OROS-MPH (mean: 6.95 ± 2.71) versus the score at baseline (10.45 ± 2.72). The change in the parent IOWA Conners O/D subscale, CGI-I and parent-rated global efficacy assessment scale also supported the superior efficacy for OROS-MPH treatment. Fewer than half of 1447 patients (511(35.3%)) reported AEs, and the majority of the events reported were mild (68.2%). No serious adverse events were reported during the study.

CONCLUSIONThis open-label, naturalistic study provides further evidence of effectiveness and safety of OROS-MPH in school-aged children under routine practice.

Adolescent ; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity ; drug therapy ; Child ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methylphenidate ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome