Objective Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon" passive autoimmune disease, which is associated with transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. It is often misdiagnosed as intrauterine infection or sepsis. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to summarize its clinical manifestations related with pathogenesis.Methods Data of all the NLE neonates, including clinical manifestations, immunochemical evidence of serum antinuclear antibodies (ANA), antibody to Ro/Sjogren's syndrome A ( anti-Ro/SSA), antibody to La/Sjogren' s syndrome B (anti-La/SSB) and anti-dsDNA antibodies in both infants and mothers, and images from head ultrasound and CT scans were analyzed. Follow-up was performed until one and half years of age or when all the clinical abnormalities had been resolved.Results Totally 8 cases (3 males and 5 females ) seen between September 2003 and February 2006 met the diagnostic criteria of NLE, in whom 4 were small for gestational age and one was born prematurely. Mean gestational age was (38.1 ± 1.9 ) weeks, mean birth weight (2605 ± 420) g, mean admission age (22.4 ± 27.7 ) days (2 hours-72 days) and mean age of onset (9.4 ± 12. 1)days (0-28 days). The common clinical manifestations included cutaneous lupus lesions (8 infants ), neural system abnormalities (2 infants ) and congenital heart block (2 infants). Annular, erythematous or desquamative lesions were seen in skin and all disappeared before 6 months of age. One patient presented with third degree atrio-ventricular block and was delivered by cesarean section because of " fetal distress" He did not recover by the end of one and half years follow-up. One infant was hypotonic with delayed neuro-motor development initially and during follow-up with both abnormal neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) and imaging findings. Brain CT scan showed generalized low density involving periventricular and deep white matter at one week of age. At the age of one and a half years, he presented with normal mental development index determined by Child Development Center of China (CDCC) infant intelligence mensuration. Other abnormal clinical findings such as hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, cholestasis and elevated liver enzyme activities were all resolved before 6 months of age. Only 3 mothers of the NLE infants were diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) before parturition and only one received partial therapy. At least anti-Ro/SSA antibody or anti-La/SSB antibody or ANA was found in the affected patients. Seven cases had circulating anti-Ro and/or anti-La antibodies in the mothers and in the newborns, while ANA was positive in seven newborns and in all mothers. All the clinical symptoms disappeared before 18 months ot age except for congenital heart block. No special intervention was applied.Conclusions Serum auto-antibodies should be investigated to rule out NLE when a newborn infant has congenital heart block or rashes or thrombocytopenia, although there is no maternal history of SLE. Central nervous system abnormalities in NLE are likely to be a transient phenomenon and whether it will cause long-term sequelae is uncertain.

OBJECTIVENeonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is an uncommon autoimmune disease passively transmitted from the mother in which there is transplacental passage of maternal antibodies. It is often misdiagnosed as intrauterine infection or sepsis. The main purpose of this retrospective study was to improve the understanding of pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of NLE.

METHODSClinical manifestations, results of the tests for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-Ro/SSA, anti-La/SSB and anti-dsDNA antibodies in both infants with NLE (8 cases) and their mothers and head ultrasound and CT scans of the infants were analyzed. Follow-up was performed until one and ahalf years of age or all the abnormalities had been resolved.

RESULTSTotally 8 cases (3 males and 5 females) matched the criteria for diagnosis of NLE from September 2003 to February 2006, among whom 4 were small for gestational age and one was born prematurely. Mean gestational age was 38.1 +/- 1.9 weeks, mean birth weight 2 605 +/- 420 grams, mean admission age 22.4 +/- 27.7 days (2 hours-72 days) and mean age of onset 9.4 +/- 12.1 days (0 - 28 days). The common clinical manifestations included cutaneous lupus lesions (8 infants), neural system abnormalities (2 infants) and congenital heart block (2 infants). The skin of the infants exhibited annular, erythematous or desquamative lesions. They all disappeared before 6 months of age. One patient presented with grade III atrioventricular block and was delivered by cesarean section because of "fetal distress". He did not recover at one and a half years follow-up. One infant was hypotonic with delayed neuro-motor development initially and during follow-up with both abnormal neonatal behavioral neurological assessment (NBNA) and image findings. CT showed generalized low density involving periventricular area and deep white matter at one week of age. At the age of one and a half years, he presented with normal mental development index determined by CDCC infant intelligence mensuration. Other abnormal clinical findings included hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, thrombocytopenia, cholestasis and elevated liver enzymes, which were all resolved before 6 months of age. Only 3 mothers of the NLE infants were diagnosed as lupus erythematosus before parturition and only one received partial therapy. At least anti-Ro/SSA antibody or anti-La/SSB antibody or ANA was found in the affected patients. Seven cases had circulating anti-Ro and/or anti-La antibodies in the mothers and in the newborns, while ANA was positive in 7 newborns and in all mothers. All the clinical symptoms except congenital heart block disappeared before 18 months of age. No special intervention was applied.

CONCLUSIONSerum auto-antibodies should be investigated to rule out NLE when there is congenital heart block or rashes or thrombocytopenia presented in a neonate, despite there is no maternal history. Central nervous system abnormalities in NLE are likely to be transient and whether it will cause long term sequelae is uncertain.

Autoimmune Diseases ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Newborn, Diseases ; diagnosis ; Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous ; diagnosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo screen microRNAs with specific expression of in hippocampus of rats with chronic stress induced depression model, and observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine Chaihu Shugan San on the expression of microRNA in hippocampus.

METHODSD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: the normal control group, the model control group and the Chaihu Shugan San group. The depression model was replicated by unpredictable chronic mild stress combined with separation. Behavioral changes of the rats were observed by Open-field test and sucrose solution consumption test, and the expression of microRNAs in hippocampus was assayed by microRNA micro-array.

RESULTCompared with the normal control group, there were 13 specific miRNAs in hippocampus in the model control group with the expression difference of more than 2 times. Among them, down-regulating miRNAs included miR298, miR-130b, miR-135a, miR-323, miR-503, miR-15b, miR-532, and miR-125a, and the up-regulation miRNAs included miR7a, miR-212, miR-124, miR-139, and miR-182. Among the 13 specific miRNAs, miR-125a and miR-182 recovered to normal after intervention with Chaihu Shugan San in the Chaihu Shugan San group.

CONCLUSIONThis study preliminarily found that 13 specific miRNAs in hippocampus are related to depression. Among them, miR-125a and miR-182 recover to normal after intervention with Chaihu Shugan San, which may be the target points of the antidepressant effect of Chaihu Shugan San. We shall further analyze the target genes and their mechanisms.

Animals ; Antidepressive Agents ; administration & dosage ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Depression ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; psychology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of Baisong tablet on the behaviors and CRHmRNA expression in the chronic stress rats.

METHODRats were exposed to different ways of chronic stress. Body weight and behaviors were investigated during the whole procedure, the CRHmRNA expressions in the hypothalamus and prefrontal cortex were semiquantified by the RT-PCR method.

RESULTIn comparision with the normal group, rats exposed to chronic stress showed decreased body weight and a significant reduction of consumption of sucrose solution, and the duration of immobility during the forced swimming test was increased significantly. The chronic stress rats was in depression of behavior. CRHmRNA expression in the brain of the chronic stress rats was upregulated significantly, while it was downregulated in the groups of Baisong tablet and the group of fluoxetin.

CONCLUSIONBaisong tablet has the effect of antidepressant, and it may be related to the effect of the downregulated CRHmRNA expression in brain.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; drug effects ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Depression ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Male ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Rats ; Stress, Psychological ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Tablets ; Tribulus ; chemistry

Objective To observe and explore the effect and clinical value of percutaneous electrical stimulation on nerve regeneration after end-to-side neurorrhaphy in rats. Methods Thirty-two SPF male S-D rats were randomly divided into four groups ( n = 8 ): group A, the normal control group; group B, with end to end neurorrhaphy of musculocutaneous nerve injury matched to the ulnar nerve; group C, with end to side neurorrhaphy of musculocutaneous nerve injury matched to the ulnar group; and group D, with end to side neurorrhaphy of musculocutaneous nerve injury matched to the ulnar nerve plus postoperative transcutaneous electrical stimulation ( 30 min per day for 6 weeks ) . Electromyography, postoperational nerve conduction velocity, the histological and ultrastructural changes of the nerve fibers were examined, and NF-200 expression in frozen sections was observed using imunohistological staining, to assess the recovery of muscle strength of the diseased side limb and the neuroregeneration in the rats after treatment. Results The amplitude and conduction velocity of the groups C and D were lower than that of the group A, the latency was higher than that of the group A, while the amplitude and conduction velocity of the group D were lower than that of the group C,and the latency was higher than that of the group C. The wet weight ratio of the biceps brachii muscle and the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers in the groups B, C and D were lower than those in the group A, and the recovery of muscle in the group C was the worst. The expression of NF-200 in the rats of groups B, C and D was significantly lower than that in the group A, and the expression of NF-200 in the group D was significantly higher than that in the group C, but still significantly less than that in the group B ( P < 0. 05 ) . Electron microscopy showed mature myelinated fibers in the group B, whereas unmyelinated fibers were the main component and the myelin sheath was poorly developed in the group C. The myelin regeneration in the group D was better than that in the group C, but still some unmyelinated nerve fibers were seen. Conclusions The percutaneous electrical stimulation can effectively promote nerve axonal regeneration and can delay the atrophy of the target muscle after end-to-side neurorrhaphy. Though there is difference compared with the end-to-end neurorrhaphy, the end-to-side neurorrhaphy is still an effective method in clinical repair of peripheral nerve injury.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the chemical constituents in leaves of Ilex centrochinensis and their antitumor bioactivity.

METHODVarious chromatography techniques such as column chromatography on silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC were used to isolate and purify the compounds and their structures were identified by spectral data and physicochemical properties. Their antitumor effect was tested by MTT method.

RESULTTen compounds were isolated and identified as 1,4-benzenediol (1), (2S)-5,4'-dihydroxy-7,3'-dimethoxyflavan(2), (2S)-5,4'-dihydroxy-7-methoxyflavan (3), kaempferol (4), quercetin (5), naringenin (6), ursolic acid (7), uvaol (8), oleanolic acid (9) and beta-sitosterols (10).

CONCLUSIONCompounds 1-5, 7, 8 were isolated from the species for the first time, among which compounds 1-3 were isolated from the Ilex genus for the first time. Compounds 2 and 3 showed strong cytotoxic activity against Huh7 cell lines with IC50 values of 8.98, 13.04 mg x L(-1), respectively. Compounds 7-9 exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against Caco-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 28.52, 38.28, 33.04 mg x L(-1), respectively.

Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Caco-2 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Ilex ; chemistry ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry

Objective: To investigate the relationship between P27，P53 and PCNA expression in human gastric carcinoma tissues and clinicopathological parameters. Methods: The expression of P27，P53 and PCNA in 62 human gastric carcinoma tissues was examined with immunohistochemistry SP method. Results: Positive rates of P27，P53 and PCNA expression were 37.1％, 40.4%，83.9％. P27 expression was related with Bormann type, infiltrative depth, lymph node and distant metastasis and clinical stage. P53 expression was related with sex of patients, distant metastasis and clinical stage. PCNA expression was related with age of patients and infiltrative depth of tumor. P27 positive expression group was higher than negative group as to 5-year survival. P27 expression was in reverse relation with PCNA expression. Conclusion: The expression of P27, P53 and PCNA may be regarded as an important marker in judging malignant degree of gastric carcinoma,distant metastasis and prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-tumor effect of Paeonol (Pae) on the hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 and its molecular mechanisms. METHODS: Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404 was treated by Pae in various concentrations and different time points respectively; and then the cell proliferation was assayed by light microscope, MTT method. DNA agarose gel electrophoresis and TUNEL were used to detect the apoptosis. The expression of PTEN and Akt were examined by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical ABC method. RESULTS: Compared with the control groups Pae obviously increased the inhibitory and apoptosis rate of hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Bel-7404. It also showed a typical apoptotic morphology and DNA depicted a ladder pattern characteristic of the apoptosis, indicating the presence of DNA fragmentation. RT-PCR and immunocytochemical ABC assay showed that Pae could increase the expression of PTEN and decrease the expression of Akt. CONCLUSION Pae can increase the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma effect, and its mechanism may be the increase of apoptosis-inducing effect which is regulated by phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase.
Acetophenones ; pharmacology ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

Objective To explore the protective effect of Anchanling serum on PCI2 cell injury induced by lactacystin and the possible mechanism.Methods The sem were obmined from rats with intragastric administration of Anchanling at small,medium and high doses.Lactacystin was used to induce proteasomal dysfunction in PCI2 cells,and the cell viability was evaluated with MTT assay.The PC 12 cells in exponential growth were divided into normal control,lactacystin injury and Anchanling-treated groups with corresponding treatments,and theexpressions of alpha-synuclein and tyrosine hydroxylase(TH)were assayed using immunohistochemical staining.Results The serum of rats with medium-dose Anchanling treatment group resulted in the highest viability of the PC 12 cells among the 3 dose groups(P＜0.05).Compared with the normal control group,lactacystin exposure significantly increased the number of alpha-synuclein-positive cells but decreased the TH-positive cells (P＜0.05);treatments with the drug-containing sera significantly lowered alpha-synuclein-positive cells and increased TH-positive cells in the PC 12 cells with lactacystin exposure(P＜0.05).Conclusion Anchanling can improve the function of the ubiquitin-proteasome system,reduce the intracellular aggregation of alpha-synuclein,and upregulate TH expression in the PC 12 cells to promote the cell survival and offer neuronal protection effects.

Background: Previous studies showed that combining apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value with the Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) index value might provide a reliable evaluation of the activity of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and that contrast?enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is unnecessary. However, the results were based on confirming only a small random sample.This study aimed to assess the role of CE?MRI in differentiating the disease activity ofAS by comparingADC value with a large sample. Methods: A total of 115 patients with AS were enrolled in accordance with Bath AS Disease Activity Index and laboratory indices, and 115 patients were divided into two groups, including active group (n = 69) and inactive group (n = 46). SPARCC, ΔSI, and ADC values were obtained from the short tau inversion recovery (STIR), diffusion?weighted imaging (DWI), and CE?MRI, respectively. One?way analysis of variance and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed for all parameters. Results: The optimal cutoff values (with sensitivity, specificity, respective area under the curve, positive likelihood ratio, and negative likelihood ratio) for the differentiation between active and inactive groups are as follows: SPARCC = 6 (72.06%, 82.61%, 0.836, 4.14, 0.34); ΔSI (%) = 153 (80.6%, 84.78%, 0.819, 5.3, 0.23); ADC value = 1.15 × 10?3 mm2/s (72.73%, 81.82%, 0.786, 4, 0.33). No statistical differences were found among the predictive values of SPARCC, ΔSI, and ADC. Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference between the combination of SPARCC and ADC values with and without ΔSI. Conclusions: Using large sample, we concluded that the combination of STIR and DWI would play significant roles in assessing the disease activity, and CE?MRI sequence is not routinely used in imaging of AS to avoid renal fibrosis and aggravation of kidney disease.