Objective To compare the mRNA expressions of interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 in peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis vulgaris versus healthy individuals,assess the relationship of these parameters with psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score,and to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms of total glucosides of peony (TGP) for psoriasis vulgaris.Methods Fifty patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 40 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study.Of these patients,42 were treated with TGP of 600-900 mg twice a day for 8 weeks.Blood samples were obtained from all the healthy individuals,50 patients before treatment,42 patients after 4-week treatment,and 23 patients after 8-week treatment.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) was used to determine the mRNA expression levels of IL-17 and IL-23 in the blood samples.The severity of psoriasis was evaluated using PASI score before and after the treatment.Statistical analysis was done by t test,rank sum test,and Pearson correlation analysis using the SPSS16.0 software.Results The IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA expression levels (given in △Ct value) in the patients before treatment were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls (IL-17,-5.32 ± 0.80 vs.2.79 ± 0.76,t =47.71,P ＜ 0.05; IL-23,-5.43 ± 0.68 vs.-3.77 ± 0.86,t =10.38,P ＜ 0.05),and positively correlated with the PASI score (r =0.61,0.52 respectively,both P ＜ 0.05).A significant decrease was observed in the mRNA expression levels of IL-17 and IL-23 as well as PASI score in the 42 patients after 4-week treatment with TGP compared with those before treatment(IL-17,-2.24 ± 0.61 vs.-5.30 ± 0.78,t =20.40,P ＜ 0.05; IL-23,-1.97 ± 0.74 vs.-5.44 ± 0.68,t =21.69,P ＜ 0.05; PASI,5.8 ± 2.7 vs.9.4 ± 4.2,t =4.68,P ＜ 0.05),and in the 23 patients after 8-week treatment compared with those after 4-wek treatment(IL-17,-1.51 ± 0.78 vs.-2.21 ± 0.59,t =3.50,P ＜ 0.05; IL-23,-1.27 ± 0.81 vs.-1.89 ± 0.72,t =2.70,P＜ 0.05; PASI,3.8 ± 1.8 vs.7.3 ± 2.5,t =5.47,P＜ 0.05).Conclusions It seems that both IL-17 and IL-23 are involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris,and TGP treatment can reduce the mRNA expression levels of IL-17 and IL-23 as well as PASI score in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

10.3969/j.issn.1007-3969.2013.05.003

Anterolateral thigh flap is perfect for reconstructing maxillofacial soft tissue defects. This tissue has been widely used by clinicians, but often causes operation difficulties because of vascular variation. In this paper, we report a case where anteromedial thigh was used as new donor site when the vascular anatomic variation of anterolateral thigh perforator flap induced a failure in the flap harvest. Moreover, this paper discusses the anatomy and application of anteromedial thigh flap.
Humans ; Maxillofacial Abnormalities ; surgery ; Perforator Flap ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Thigh ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the CVB3 RNA concentration in myocardial tissues and inhibitory effect of Chinese herbal medicine Xin-Kang oral liquid on viral RNA replication in Coxsackievirus B3 infected myocardium.

METHODSThe total RNA was extracted from the infected murine myocardium, the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to detect enterovirus RNA concentration in infected mice with Coxsackievirus B3 gene band. We used "Gel works system" to scan the electrophoresis image to detect CVB3 gene band.

RESULTSThe mean concentration of myocardial CVB3 RNA of Xin-Kang oral liquid treated groups was markedly lower than that of virus control group (P>0.01), but the CVB3 RNA in myocardial tissues has not been destroyed by Xin-Kang oral liquid feed in different phase.

CONCLUSIONChinese herbal medicine Xin-Kang oral liquid could inhibit CVB3 RNA replication in myocardial tissue, but it did not destruct the virus.

Animals ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Enterovirus B, Human ; drug effects ; genetics ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Phytotherapy ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Treatment Outcome ; Virus Replication ; drug effects ; genetics

Objective To investigate the value of shear wave elastography(SWE)to early predict clinical efficacy of breast cancer neoadjuvant chemotherapy(NAC).Methods Fifty-three patients(55 lesions)with breast cancer who underwent NAC were enrolled in this study.SWE was performed at baseline and after the end of 2,4,6 cycles of NAC.According to the postoperative pathological results,the lesions were divided into major pathologic response group and minor pathologic response group.The maximum diameter of the lesions between the baseline and the end of the last cycle of the two groups were measured and the maximum diameter changes(ΔDmax)of the two groups were compared.The maximum elastic modulus(Emax)and the maximum elastic modulus changes(ΔEmax)of the two groups were measured and compared at baseline and after the end of 2,4,6 cycles of NAC.The ROC curves of ΔEmax at the end of 2 and 4 cycles were used to evaluate the predictive value of NAC response.Results The ΔDmax of the major pathologic response group[(64.82±21.06)%]was higher than that of the minor pathologic response group[(26.49±26.1 1)%,P <0.001].With the prolongation of NAC,the values of Emax were significantly decreased in the two groups,but the decreasing degrees were different.The Emax was significantly decreased at the end of 2 cycles in the major pathologic response group(P <0.05),however, at the end of 4 cycles in minor pathologic response group(P <0.05).The value of ΔEmax in the major pathologic response group was higher than that in the minor pathologic response group in every cycle significantly(all P <0.05).The ΔEmax threshold of the 2 cycles for predicting the NAC response was 26.1%(81.8% of sensitivity,75% of specificity),while the threshold of the 4 cycles was 35.5%(87.9%of sensitivity,83.3% of specificity),there was no significant difference between the areas under the two curves(P =0.264).Conclusions The value of ΔEmax in breast cancer lesions can predict the efficacy of NAC early.SWE can provide a valuable complement for two-dimensional ultrasound in the evaluation of NAC efficacy in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVETo study the efficacy of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) combining hepatitis B vaccine in high risk infants born to HBsAg positive mothers through a follow-up study program.

METHODS184 infants (4 twin pairs) born to HBsAg carrier mothers who were consecutively recruited from December 2002 to August 2004 were followed. Major HBV serologic markers in all infants were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) when they were at birth, at 7th, at 24th and at 36th months.

RESULTS7 of the 184 infants were HBsAg positive at birth, making the transplacental intrauterine infection rate of HBV as 3.80% (7/184). 125 infants were followed up at 7th months and 108 infants were followed up at 24th and 36th months. Only 2 of the 7 infants born to HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-positive mothers were persistently sera positive for HBsAg, making the chronic infection rate of HBV as 28.57%. The other 140 infants were HBsAg negative during t he follow-up period. The rate o f detectable anti-HBs i ninfants was 7.02% at birth. After infants were immunized by HBIG combining hepatitis B vaccine, the anti-HBs-positive rate reached 92% at 7th months, and gradually descended thereafter. 72.04% of the infants at 24th and 60% at 36th months showed detectable levels of anti-HBs. There was significant correlation between the produce of anti-HBs in infants and HBsAg-positive at birth while HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-positive in mothers did not relate to the produce of anti-HBs in their infants. Of 39 infants born to HBsAg-positive and HBeAg-positive mothers, 25 showed detectable levels of HBeAg. During the follow-up peirod, HBeAg was still detectable in 2 infants who were also HBsAg positive and the others all became HBeAg-negative but no infant became HBeAg-positive.

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of HBIG combining hepatitis B vaccine in high risk infants was fine.

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; immunology ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Infant, Newborn ; Pregnancy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Chinese herbal medicine Xin-kang oral liquid on interferon (IFN)-induction and its antiviral activity in Coxsackievirus B3 virus strain (CVB3) infected mice.

METHODSThe Xin-kang oral liquid was given orally to mice two days prior to the challenge of CVB3 virus to induce myocarditis. Two dosages of Xin-kang oral liquid crude herbal medicine 30 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) and 12 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) were given to the mice of different treatment groups respectively, sterilized water was given to the mice of virus control group. IFN-alpha 10(6) U x kg(-1) x d(-1) S.C was given to the infected mice as positive drug control group. The mice were sacrificed on 5th, 10th and 20th day of infection for evaluation, the levels of serum interferon (IFN) were titrated with vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and cardiac tissue was fixed and sectioned. The quantitative histological changes at various stages of myocarditis were observed.

RESULTSIn the infected mice fed with 30 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) or 12 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) of Xin-kang oral liquid orally for 5, 10 and 20 days, the mean titer of serum IFN of Xin-Kang oral liquid treated group was markedly higher (29.3 U/0.1 ml) than that of virus control group (12.6 U/0.1 ml). The level of serum IFN in IFN treated positive control mice was lower than that of Xin-kang treatment groups. The histological examination showed extensive myocardial necrosis and cellular infiltration in virus control group, but necrosis and cellular infiltration were less severe in Xin-kang treatment goups of mice. It is demonstrated that there were close correlation between the degree of myocardial lesions and the level of IFN-induction in treated mice.

CONCLUSIONXin-kang oral liquid could facilitate the induction of endogenous interferon that exerted its antiviral activity in CVB3 infected mice. This can help us to understand better the mechanism of anti-CVB3 effect of Xin-Kang oral liquid.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Line ; Coxsackievirus Infections ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Enterovirus B, Human ; drug effects ; Interferons ; blood ; Mice ; Myocarditis ; blood ; drug therapy ; virology ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Phytotherapy

To probe the effects of Trichinella spiralis muscle larval somatic proteins on small cell lung cancer H446 cells and the possible mechanism of anti-tumor,H446 cells were culture with 0.2 mg/mL,0.4 mg/mL,0.6 mg/mL,0.8 mg/mL,1.0 mg/mL,and 1.2 mg/mL somatic proteins respectively.The experimental group was set and no dosing as control group.MTT colorimetric assay was used to test the effects of T.spiralis muscle larval somatic proteins on the proliferative activity of H446 cells.We used flow cytometry (FCM) to test the influence of T.spiralis muscle larval somatic proteins induced H446 cells apoptosis.The real-time PCR and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression of Cyt-C and apoptotic protease activating factor 1(Apaf-1) mRNA and protein.The MTT colorimetric assay showed that T.spiralis muscle larval somatic proteins could inhibit the proliferation of H446 cells;the flow cytometry showed that polypide proteins acted on H446 cells after 24 h appeared an obvious effect on promoting apoptosis.Results of real-time PCR and Western blot analysis indicated that compared with the control group,Cyt-C and Apaf-1 showed up-regulated expression.T.spiralis muscle larval somatic proteins could inhibit proliferation activity and induce the apoptosis of H446 cells,and its effects may be related to up-regulated expression of Cyt-C and Apaf-1.

Objective To find out the different features of deep gray matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM),multiple sclerosis (MS),and neuromyelitis optica (NMO) in adults.Methods After searching the database,353 adult patients,admitted to our hospital from August 2004 to October 2012 and diagnosed as ADEM,MS,and NMO,were identified.Among them,95 adult patients with ADEM (n=12),MS (n=60) and NMO (n=23) had deep gray matter lesions on MRI were included in our study.Morphological features of deep gray matter lesions,including diameter,quantity and distribution among these patients,were compared.Results The percentage of lesions involved in the thalamus,caudate nucleus and globus pallidus was not significantly different among the three groups (P＞0.05).Putamen was more frequently involved in patients with ADEM than that in patients with MS and NMO (P=0.002 and 0.013,respectively).Hypothalamus was more frequently involved in patients with NMO than that in patients with ADEM and MS (P=0.033 and 0.001,respectively).The diameter of the thalamus lesion in patients with ADEM was significantly larger than that in patients with NMO (P=0.027),but was not significantly different from that in patients with MS (P=0.116); no significant difference between the lesion diameters of patients with MS and NMO was observed (P=0.209).The diameters of the lesions located in the caudate nucleus,globuspallidus,putmen,and hypothalamus were not significantly different among the three groups (P＞0.05).Furthermore,no significant difference was found among the three groups in respect of the symmetry of lesion distribution (P=0.335).Conclusions Thalamus involvement might not be helpful in differentiating ADEM from MS in adults.Putamen involvement might be helpful in differentiating ADEM from MS and NMO.Hypothalamus involvement is specific for NMO.Lesion size is not useful in the differential diagnosis of ADEM,MS,and NMO.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of tri-mebutine combined with Shugan granule in the treatment of functional dyspepsia.Methods A total of 84 patients with functional dyspepsia were randomly divided into control group ( n=42 ) and treatment group ( n=42 ).Control group was treated with trimebutine 0.2 g, tid for 4 weeks.Treatment group was treated with trimebutine 0.2 g, tid and Shu-gan granule 3 g, bid for 4 weeks.The clinical symptom scores, self -rating anxiety scale ( SAS ) and self -rating depression scale ( SDS ) scores, and incidence of adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results After treatment, the clinical symptom scores, SAS and SDS scores in treatment group were significantly lower than those in control group( all P<0.05).The incidence of adverse drug reactions in two groups has no significant difference( P>0.05).Conclusion The combined therapy of trimebutine and Shugan granule can significantly improve the clinical symptoms and the states of anxiety and depression without increasing of the incidence of adverse drug reactions.