OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Qiangji Recipe (QR) in ad- junctive treatment of axial undifferentiated spondyloarthritis (axuSpA) through a four-week open study.

METHODSFifty-four axuSpA patients of Shen-deficiency Du-channel cold syndrome (SDDCS) in line with inclusive criteria were recruited and assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to random digit table, 27 in each group. Patients in the control group took Celecoxib Capsule (0.2 g each time, twice per day). Patients in the treatment group additionally took QR (consisting of Herba Epimedii 15 g, antler glue 15 g, Cibotium Barometz 15 g, eucommia bark 20 g, dipsacus asper 10 g, two toothed achyranthes root 15 g, drynaria 15 g, Taxillus Chinensis 20 g, ground beetle 10 g, scorpion 5 g, wild celery 10 g, notopterygium incisium 10 g, cow-fat seed 10 g, white mustard seed 6 g, and licorice root 6 g, one dose per day, twice daily). The therapeutic course for all was 4 weeks. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath AS Metrology Index (BASMI), total body pain and spinal pain, patient and physician global assessment on a four-point scale, the Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (ASQoL), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured before and after 4 weeks of treatment. The primary end point in this study was the proportion of patients with a 20%improvement response accord- ing to the ASAS International Working Group Criteria (ASAS 20 responders) at week 4.

RESULTSTotally 50 patients completed this trial, 26 in the treatment group and 24 in the control group. Improvement of BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, ASQoL, ESR, and CRP was shown in both groups after treatment. Better effect was shown in the treatment group in all indices except ESR and BASMI after treatment (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Twenty cases (accounting for 76.92%) in the treatment group achieved ASAS 20 response at week 4, while 12 cases (accounting for 50.00%) in the control group achieved ASAS 20 response at week 4 (P < 0.05). No obvious adverse reaction occurred in the two groups.

CONCLUSIONQR combined Celecoxib Capsule showed better effect in treating axuSpA patients than using Celecoxib Capsule alone.

Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pain ; Quality of Life ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy

Continuous medical imaging education is important for radiologists to improve their image diagnosis ability.In order to adapt to the development of medical education,the department of radiology in Tangdu hospital had built a set of teaching-picture archiving and communication system (TPACS) with its own intellectual property rights based on its own advantages.This system was actively put into use for scholar radiologists and the efficiency and quality of education as well as the development of continuous education for scholar radiologists were improved and promoted conspicuously.

Objective To explore the ultrasound performance and related factors on the role of normal living rabbit's liver by laser ablation. Methods The rabbit's liver tissue were ablated by Echolaser integrated laser interventional ultrasound system, and the necrosis of the lesion and performance of pathology and anatomy were observed. Results The outline of the lesion was ellipse like. The two-dimensional US showed regular hyperecho area in the center, mild strong echo in the peripheral and mild attenuation backward. Contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) showed a filling defect of contrast media in the ablated area. After dissection, the center of the lesion was slag-like carbon, the peripheral was necrosis area; HE staining showed: the center of the lesion was cavity like and dye-free,peripheral area was irregular red staining, the surrounding area was infiltrative inflammatory cells. Different power and time leaded to differences of the ablative effect and lesion size:the more power and time,the bigger of the ablative size. The ablative effect and lesion size was stable in 3 W 10 min and 5 W 6 min groups and caused the complete necrosis of the zone, there existed statistical differences among the two groups. Conclusions Laser ablation can cause fast, precise, effective and safe necrosis of the liver tissue, and the more power and time, the bigger of the ablative size.

Objective: To explore clinical characteristics and severity of coronary lesions in young and aged patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI).Methods: A total of 60 young AMI patients and 60 aged AMI patients hospitalized in our hospital from Oct 2014 to Apr 2016 were randomly selected as youth group and aged group respectively.General data, clinical characteristics, coronary lesion severity and incidence of adverse events during hospitalization were analyzed and compared between two groups.Results: Compared with aged group, there were significant rise in percentages of male (75.0% vs.100.0%), smoking (43.33% vs.76.67%), family history of CHD (18.33% vs.46.67%) and obesity (30.00% vs.53.33%);and significant reductions in percentages of hypertension (63.33% vs.33.33%) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (50.00% vs.13.33%), P<0.05 or <0.01;significant rise in percentages of clear causes (30.0% vs.60.0%), typical chest pain (58.33% vs.86.67%) and STEMI (43.33% vs.76.67%), significant reductions in percentages of old myocardial infarction history (13.33% vs.0), atypical chest pain and NSTEMI, P<0.01 all;significant rise in percentages of single-vessel disease (18.33% vs.63.33%),medium stenosis (16.67% vs.40.00%), and significant reductions in percentages of multi-vessel disease (61.67% vs.20.00%) and severe stenosis (45.00% vs.20.00%) in youth group, P<0.01 all.Compared with aged group, there was significant reduction in incidence rate of major adverse cardiovascular events (88.33% vs.13.33%) in youth group during hospitalization, P=0.001.Conclusion: Compared with aged patients,the symptoms and ECG manifestations are more typical, vascular lesion range is limited, and complications are few in young AMI patients.

AIM and METHODS: To elucidate the mechanism of anti-endotoxic shock of cholecystokinin octapeptide(CCK-8), the effects of CCK-8 on changes in rabbit thoracic aortic reactivities induced by lipopolysaccharides(LPS) in vitro were studied, and the ultrastructure of the endothelial cells was observed under scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: Incubation of thoracic aortic rings(TARs) with LPS(100 mg/L) resulted in an time-dependent impairment of the endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine(incubation for 3, 7, 14 h), a reduction of contractive response to phenylphrine(incubation for 14 h) and ultrastructural injury in endothelial cells(incubation for 7 h), all of which were alleviated by concomitant incubation with CCK-8(1 mg/L). In contrast, neither the vascular contractions nor the relaxations were affected by CCK-8 (1 mg/L) alone. CONCLUSION: CCK-8 improved the vascular reactivities in the presence of LPS, which may be one of the anti-endotoxic shock mechanisms of CCK.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Wuhu Decoction (WHD) on the expression of co-stimulation molecule of peripheral dendritic cells (DC), CD80, CD83 and CD86, in infants with asthma, in order to provide practical basis for further elucidate the action mechanism of WHD in preventing and treating infantile asthma.

METHODSSixty infants with asthma of Fei phlegm-heat accumulation syndrome type were randomized into the treatment group treated with WHD and the control group treated with Western medicine (fluticasone propionate oral taking or inhalation). And 10 healthy infants were set as normal control. With Thomas method adopted, the DC were isolated from peripheral blood of all infants subjected. The expressions of surface co-stimulation molecules of DC, CD80, CD83 and CD86, were detected by flow cytometry. Their changes before and after treatment in different groups were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSExpressions of CD80 and CD86 of peripheral blood DC in asthmatic infants were remarkably higher than those in the normal control (P<0.01). In the treated group, CD80 expression lowered from 18.06 +/- 4.53 before treatment to 13.18 +/- 3.02 after treatment and CD86 expression lowered from 38.61 +/- 10.54 to 29.65 +/- 8.55; while in the control group, the two expressions were lowered from 18.40 +/- 3.86 to 15.34 +/- 3.90, and from 38.29 +/- 11.67 to 35.88 +/- 13.85 respectively, the lowering in both groups were statistically significant (P<0.01 and P<0.05), but it was more significant in the treated group (P<0.05). As for CD83, no significant difference existed between groups and no change was found in either group after treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONWHD can regulate the co-stimulation molecules of dendritic cells in asthma infants to reduce the expressions of CD80 and CD86.

Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Asthma ; blood ; drug therapy ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; B7-2 Antigen ; metabolism ; Child, Preschool ; Dendritic Cells ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; metabolism ; Infant ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy

Guanylate binding protein-1(GBP-1) is an interferon-induced protein. To observe its antiviral effect against Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3), we constructed an eukaryotic expression vector of human GBP-1(hGBP-1). Full-length encoding sequence of hGBP-1 was amplified by long chain RT-PCR and inserted into a pCR2.1 vector, then subcloned into a pCDNA3.1(-) vector. Recombinant hGBP-1 plasmids and pHBV1.3 carrying 1.3-fold genome of HBV were contransfected into HepG2 cells, and inhibition effect of hGBP-1 against HBV replication was observed. Hela cells transfected with recombinant hGBP-1 plasmids were challenged with CVB3, and viral yield in cultures were detected. The results indicated that recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid of hGBP-1 was constructed successfully and the hGBP-1 gene carried in this plasmid could be efficiently expressed in HepG2 cells and Hela cells. hGBP-1 inhibit CVB3 but not HBV replication in vitro. These results demonstrate that hGBP-1 mediates an antiviral effect against CVB3 but not HBV and perhaps plays an important role in the interferon-mediated antiviral response against CVB3.

To establish a replication cellular model of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and determine its application in antiviral drug evaluation,we constructed an expression plasmid which contained 1.3 copies of the HBV genome,and measured the level of viral replication after transient transfection in Huh7 cells.We then observed the effect of antiviral drug administration.1.3 fold of the HBV(ayw) gene fragment was cloned into pCR2.1 by PCR and restriction endonuclease digestion.The recombinant plasmid was trans ient transfected into Huh7 cells,HBsAg,HBeAg and HBV DNA in supernatant of Huh7 cells were measured by ELISA and real-time PCR respectively; intracellular HBV replicative intermediates and intracellular HBV transcripts were detected by Southern blot and Northern blot respectively.The antiviral effect of adefovir,a novel anti-HBV nucleotide analogue,was evaluated in this cellular model system.The results indicated that a recombinant plasmid of HBV replicon was constructed successfully; the HBV genome carried in plasmid pHBV1.3 could efficiently replicate and be expressed in Huh 7 cells,adefovir could inhibit HBV replication in this cellular model,and the inhibition was dosage-dependent.The conclusion is HBV replicon,which can initiate viral replication efficiently in hepatoma cells,may be a useful tool in the study of HBV replication and antiviral drug.

Objective To evaluate the effect of hepatic vein occlusion and stent replacement in treatment for Budd-Chiari syndrome(BCS).Methods Forty three patients with BCS were underwent percutanous puncture,radiography,transjugular angioplasty,balloon dilation and stent placement for hepatic vein under Doppller ultrasounographic guidance from July 2001 to September 2006. Results Technical success was 100%with no complications.The medium vein pressure was reduced from 32.5 tO 20 cm H2O(1 cm H2O-0.098 kPa)after stents replacement(P＜0.01).The hepatic vein angioplasty revealed that all stents were patent and branches were disappeared.The symptoms in 38 patients were disappeared immediately,and improved in 5 patients.All patients were followed up of 32 months(ranged 1-62).Except one patient died of severe gastric bleeding,the 42 patients were survived with symptoms free.Conclusion Hepatic vein occlusion and stent replacement are safe and effective in treatment of BCS.

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of astaxanthin on renal fibrosis and apoptosis induced by partial unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats.

METHODSNinety-six male adult SD rats were randomized into 6 equal groups, namely the blank control group, sham-operated group, UUO group, and astaxanthin group at high, medium, and low doses. Left ureteral ligation was performed in UUO and astaxanthin groups, and two days before the operation, the rats in astaxanthin groups were lavaged with 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg astaxanthin daily for 14 days, while the same volume of saline was given to rats in UUO group and sham-operated group. Renal pathological in the rats was observed with HE staining, and the expression levels of TGF-β1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney were detected immunohistochemically; the expression level of Bcl-2 and Bax were detected using Bcl-2 and Bax detection kits.

RESULTSCompared to UUO group, high- and medium-dose astaxanthin groups showed obviously ameliorated renal pathologies and reduced expressions of TGF-β1, SGK1, and CTGF in the left kidney with lessened renal cell apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONAstaxanthin can reduce UUO-induced renal fibrosis and renal cell apoptosis, demonstrating the renoprotective effect of astaxanthin against renal fibrosis.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Fibrosis ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; metabolism ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Kidney Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; metabolism ; Ureteral Obstruction ; metabolism ; pathology ; Xanthophylls ; pharmacology ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism