Objective To observe HA14-1 sensitizes Lewis lung carcinoma in mice to cyclophosphamide (CTX) and to explore its possible mechanism. Methods Forty Lewis lung carcinoma model mice were randomly divided into 4 groups:normal saline group,CTX group, HA14-1 group,CTX+HA14-1 group. After the treatment of 7 days,all of the mice were killed on the 22nd day of tumor inoculation. The tumor volume growth curve of each group was described;tumor inhibition rate was caculatued;Bcl-2,Bax,Caspase-9 protein expression levels before and after the treatment were determined by immunohistnehemistry. Results Compared to the normal saline group,HA14-1 group had no significant effect on inhibiting tumor volume,and the tumor volume in HA14-1 group increased less slowly than that of CTX group, HA14-1 group and CTX+HA14-1 group. Compared to the normal saline group, the tumor inhibition rate of HA14-1 group had no significant increase (P> 0.05),while that of CTX group and CTX + HA14-1 group increased significantly (P< 0.05);compared to the CTX group,the tumor inhibition rate of CTX + HA14-1 group increased significantly (P < 0.05). Bcl-2 protein expression levels in CTX group,HA14-1 group and CTX+HA14-1 group were lower than that in the normal saline groups compared to CTX group,Bcl-2 protein expression of CTX + HA14-1 group reduced significantly. Compared to the normal saline group,the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-9 protein in CTX group, HA14-1 group and CTX+HA14-1 group increased significantly (P< 0.05);compared to CTX group,CTX + HA14-1 group increased more significantly (P < 0.05). Conclusion HA14-1 might enhance the efficiency of CTX chemotherapy via inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2, increasing the expression of Bax and caspase-9 and promoting tumor cell apoptosis.

AIM: To detect the effect of Sini decoction on glutathione S-transferase (GST) mRNA expression in the ischemic myocardium. METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, ischemic group and Sini decoction group. Total RNA was extracted from the myocardium of mice in each group. The effect of Sini decoction on the expression of GST gene was detected by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The expression of GST mRNA in Sini decoction group was significantly up-regulated compared with the ischemic group and control group. CONCLUSION: Sini decoction can promote the expression of GST gene, which may be related to its protective effect on ischemic myocardium.

AIM: To screen the differentially expressed genes among normal, ischemic and Sini decoction-treated myocardium using DNA microarray.METHODS: Kunming mice were randomly divided into control group, ischemic group and Sini decoction group. Total RNA was extracted from myocardium of each group. cDNA microarray chips containing 2 304 cDNAs were used to investigate the gene expression pattern of each group. RESULTS: Up-and down-regulated genes were 33 and 70 in ischemic group vs control group, respectively. Up-and down-regulated genes were 23 and 52 respectively in Sini decoction group vs ischemic group. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis of gene expression pattern of ischemic myocardium based on cDNA microarray can realize high-throughput screening of the genes. Further analysis of those obtained genes information will be helpful to understand the molecular mechanism of myocardial ischemia and the therapeutic mechanism of Sini decoction.

It is very common that the number of neurons in the brain is progressively decreasing in the neurodegen-erative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and Huntington’s disease, etc.Moreover, it is much more important that there is a decline in the neurogenesis of adult brain in such neurodegenerative diseases. In treating neurodegenerative diseases, it is a potential therapeutic modality to promote endogenous neurogenesis in the brain.

Objective To explore the clinical efficacy of interventional therapy for transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS) after allograft renal transplantation.Methods Twenty-two patients with TRAS were treated with interventional therapy,including 10 patients (balloon group) underwent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and 12 patients (stent group) underwent stent implantation.The blood pressure,renal function and quality of life were recorded before and after interventional therapy within two years.Besides,two groups were compared with another group of 6 patients (medicine group) receiving medical treatment only.Results The technical success rate was 90.00% for PTA and 100%for stent implantation.The interventional treatment of TRAS with PTA or stent implantation was associated with significant improvement in blood pressure and renal function,while the conservatively medical treatment of TRAS was inefficient.There was no statistical difference in the short-term improvement of blood pressure or renal function between balloon group and stent group.Six to twenty-four-month follow-up indicated that there were 2 patients with restenosis (2/12,1 6.67%) in stent group.The total restenosis rate for PTA was 40.00%.Eleven patients in stent group achieved normal daily activities and works,except one was treated ineffectively with an uncertain cause.Conclusion Stent implantation for TRAS,especially for TRAS of type Ⅰ and Ⅱ,can be used as the primary therapy.

Objective: To explore the clinical value of cystatin C in predicting the severity of community-acquired pneumonia(CAP). Methods: From January 2016 to August 2016, the clinical data of 122 patients with CAP in Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into low-risk group(74 cases) and middle-high risk group(48 cases) according to pneumonia severity index (PSI). The cystatin C, procalcitonin, C-reactive protein(CRP), white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil percentage(NE%), D-dimer and fibrinogen(FIB) levels in hospitalized patients were detected.The relationship between cystatin C and the above related indicators and the PSI was evaluated.Draw ROC curve with cystatin C and above indicators to predict severity of CAP. Results: In the low-risk group, the levels of procalcitonin, CRP, WBC count, NE%, D-dimer, FIB were[0.08(0.04, 0.23)]ng/L, [42.35(12.52, 93.70)]mg/L, [7.85(6.23, 10.38)]×10⁹/L, (66.87±13.49)%, [215.00(134.25, 410.25)]μg/L, [4.52(3.71, 5.14)]g/L, respectively, which in the middle and high risk group were [0.25(0.07, 0.54)]ng/L, [74.30(40.45, 122.75)]mg/L, [7.90(5.78, 10.63)]×10⁹/L, (73.97±10.77)%, [417.50(239.75, 730.00)]μg/L, [4.57(3.87, 5.08)]g/L, respectively, the differences of NE%, procalcitonin, CRP, D-dimer between the two groups were statistically significant(t=3.064, U=3.024, 2.800, 3.771, all P<0.05), the WBC count, FIB had no statistically significant differences between the two groups (all P>0.05). In the low-risk group, the level of cystatin C was[0.82(0.68, 0.91)]mmol/L, which in the middle-high risk group was[1.32(1.12, 1.54)]mmol/L, the difference between the two groups was statistically significant(U=7.978, P<0.001). When the level of cystatin C was 0.975 mmol/L, the sensitivity for the diagnosis of pneumonia severity was 95.8%, with a specificity of 85.1%. Conclusion Monitoring cystatin C levels can be used as an indicator of inflammatory response and can predict the severity of pneumonia.

Objective:To investigate the birth weight (BW) of infants born to pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and its associated factors, and to provide more evidence for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in China.Methods:This study was a retrospective cohort study. Between January 2004 and December 2021, pregnant women living with HIV and their infants in Hubei Province were recruited and followed up, and clinical data were collected through hospital medical records and HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome comprehensive response information management system. The multivariable linear regression was performed on the collected data to investigate associated influencing factors of BW.Results:In total, 531 pregnant women living with HIV (581 pregnancies) and 581 infants were enrolled. Of the 581 infants, 36 were HIV-positive, with a PMTCT rate of 6.2%. The mean BW of the infants was (3 075.0±470.2) gram. Protease inhibitor (PI) based-anti-retroviral therapy (ART) ( β=-0.1, 95% confidence interval ( CI)-188.2 to -37.1, P=0.004), ART in the first trimester( β=-0.1, 95% CI -201.9 to -65.5, P<0.001), infant HIV infection ( β=-0.1, 95% CI -310.4 to -68.2, P=0.002), hepatitis C virus infection ( β=0.1, 95% CI 71.2 to 410.4, P=0.005) and gestational age ( β=0.6, 95% CI 155.9 to 191.5, P<0.001) were associated with decreased BW. Conclusions:While improving the effectiveness of PMTCT for HIV, more attention should be paid to pregnant women who received ART in the first trimester and PI-based ART for preventing lower BW and improving maternal and infantile health.