Anemia, Hemolytic ; etiology ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; complications ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical effect and mechanism of electroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) on drug craving of heroin addicts.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty cases of heroin addicts were randomly divided into 4 groups, 30 cases in each. In acupuncture group 1, the Jiaji (EX-B 2) points of T5-T7 and Shenshu (BL 23) were selected with electroacupuncture; in acupuncture group 2, Neiguan (PC 6), Shenmen (HT 7) and Zusanli (ST 36) etc. were selected with electroacupuncture; in simulation group, Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were selected with analog electrical stimulation, and in blank group no any therapy was applied. The changes of drug craving were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and the changes of beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma before and after treatment were tested by radioimmunoassay.

RESULTSThe relapse rate of 77.3% (17/22) in acupuncture group 1 was lower than those of 88.5% (23/26) in acupuncture group 2, 90.5% (19/21) in simulation group and 95.7% (22/23) in blank group (all P < 0.05). At the 8th and 10th week of treatment, the VAS scores in acupuncture group 1 and 2 were much lower than those in blank group and simulation group (all P < 0.01); in which, it was lower in acupuncture group 1 than that in acupuncture group 2 (P < 0.05), and lower in simulation group than that in blank group. After 10 weeks of treatment, compared with the status before treatment, beta-EP and Dyn-A in plasma were increased in acupuncture group 1 and 2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), Dyn-A was decreased in both simulation and blank groups (both P < 0. 01) which was less obvious than those in both acupuncture groups (both P < 0.01) and superior in acupuncture group 1 than that in group 2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture at Jiaji (EX-B 2) can suppress the drug craving and reduce the relapse rate, and the mechanism may be related with the content of beta-EP, especially the increase of Dyn-A in plasma.

Acupuncture Points ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Dynorphins ; blood ; Electroacupuncture ; Female ; Heroin Dependence ; blood ; psychology ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult ; beta-Endorphin ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate a method for quantitative differential diagnosis of damp-heat and cold-damp impeding syndrome of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese medicine (CM).

METHODSLaboratory parameters were collected from 306 patients with RA. The clinical symptoms and laboratory parameters were compared between patients with these two syndromes (158 with RA of damp-heat impeding syndrome, and 148 with RA of cold-damp impeding syndrome), and a regression equation was established to facilitate discrimination of the two RA syndromes.

RESULTSThere were significant differences in disease activity score in 28 joints [DAS28 (4)], erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), platelet count (PLT), albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) between the two syndrome of RA (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that the parameters ESR, WBC, CRP, joint pyrexia, joint cold, thirst, sweating, aversion to wind and cold, and cold extremities were statistically useful to discriminate damp-heat from cold-damp impeding syndrome. The regression equation was as follows: P=1/{1+exp[-(3.0-0.021X (1)-0.196X (2)-0.163X (3)-1.559X (4)+1.504X (5)-0.927X (6)-1.039X (7)+1.070X (8)+1.330X (9))]}. The independent variables X (1)-X (9) were ESR, WBC, CRP, hot joint, cold joint, thirst, sweating, aversion to wind and cold, and cold limbs. A P value > 0.5 signified cold-damp impeding syndrome, and a P value < 0.5 signified damp-heat impeding syndrome. The accuracy was 90.2%.

CONCLUSIONThe regression equation may be useful for discriminating damp-heat from cold-damp impeding syndrome of RA.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; pathology ; therapy ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Demography ; Female ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Syndrome

BACKGROUNDEstrogen might play an important role in type 2 diabetes mellitus pathogenesis. A number of polymorphisms have been reported in the estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) gene (also named ESR1), including the XbaI and PvuII restriction enzyme polymorphisms of ESR1, which may be involved in disease pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether ERX gene polymorphisms are associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus and serum lipid level.

METHODSTwo hundred and ninety-nine patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were compared with three hundred and forty-one health controls of Guangzhou in China, both were male and postmenopausal female residents at 51 - 70 years. ESR1 genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PvuII and XbaI restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.

RESULTSESR1 allelic frequencies of P, p and X, x alleles were 0.408, 0.592; 0.360, 0.640 in the type 2 diabetes mellitus group and 0.318, 0.682; 0.328, 0.672 in the control group, respectively. In case-control study, there was significant difference in PvuII, but not XbaI, allele frequency between the type 2 diabetes mellitus and control groups (P = 0.001 and P = 0.122). When the group was separated into men and women, the difference was significant in women (P < 0.001) but not in men (P = 0.854) with the PvuII genotype, and the effect of PvuII variant on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus was improved with aging. In addition, PvuII genotype was associated with blood glucose [fasting blood glucose (FBG), postprandial blood glucose (PBG)] and serum lipid [total cholesterol (TC) and low density lipoprotein (LDL)-c] concentration in healthy women.

CONCLUSIONSPvuII polymorphism of ESR1 increases susceptibility to type 2 diabetes mellitus in Chinese Guangzhou women. ESR1 variants may also impact serum lipid metabolism, which might provide a mechanism connecting ESR1 to type 2 diabetes.

Aged ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Cholesterol, LDL ; blood ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; genetics ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; genetics ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic

This study was purposed to investigate the clinical features and related factors influencing prognosis of patients with severe intestinal graft-versus-host disease (siGVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). 710 patients received allo-HSCT in Beijing Dao-Pei hospital from Jan 2007 to Jan 2011 were enrolled in this study. A total of 34 patients with siGVHD out of 710 patients were analyzed retrospectively, and the univariate analysis for related factors influencing prognosis were carried out by using SPSS 19.0 software. The results showed that the incidence of siGVHD was 4.79%, its medium occurrence time was 29 (18 - 210) days after allo-HSCT. 18 out of 34 patients with siGVHD received colonoscopy, among them 6 patients were complicated with viral enteritis. The deep ulcers could be found under colonoscope. Histopathologic examination revealed the viral inclusion bodies or positive viral antigen. Methylprednisolone (MP), cyclosporine A (CsA) or tacrolimus combined CD25 monoclonal antibody and oral budesonide were used for treatment of siGVHD. 29 out of 34 cases achieved complete response (CR) with CR rate of 85.29%, overall survival rate was 58.82% (20/34). 9 out of 29 cases achieving CR died of other complications. The univariate analysis of the related factor indicated the hyperacute GVHD is the adverse factor influencing overall survival of patients with siGVHD. It is concluded that early colonoscopy is an effective way for definitive diagnosis of siGVHD. The combined treatment including MP, CsA or tacrolimus, CD25 monoclonal antibody and oral budesonide shows a significant curative effects. Intensive treatment of complications in late period of GVHD can enhance the overall survival rate.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Graft vs Host Disease ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDHypertension often persists after adrenalectomy for primary aldosteronism (PA). Many studies have analyzed the outcomes of adrenalectomy for aldosterone-producing adenomas (APA) to identify predictive factors for persistent hypertension. However, differentially expressed genes in persistent postoperative hypertension remain unknown. Our aim was to describe gene expression profile of persistent postoperative hypertension patients with APA.

METHODSIn this study, we described and compared gene expression profiles in persistent postoperative hypertension and postoperative normotension in Chinese patients with APA using microarray analysis. Confirmation was performed with quantitative real time-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Bioinformatic analysis (gene ontology analysis, pathway analysis and network analysis) was used for further research.

RESULTSMicroarray analysis identified a total of 99 differentially expressed genes, including 18 up-regulated and 81 down-regulated genes. Among the dysregulated genes were fat atypical cadherin 1 as well as fatty acid binding protein 4 and other genes that have not been previously studied in persistent postoperative hypertension with APA. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that differentially expressed genes were associated with lipid metabolic process, metal ion binding, and cell differentiation. Pathway analysis determined that five pathways corresponded to the dysregulated transcripts. The mRNAs-ncRNAs co-expression network was composed of 49 network nodes and 72 connections between 18 coding genes and 31 noncoding genes.

CONCLUSIONSThis study revealed differentially expressed genes in persistent postoperative hypertension with APA and provided a resource of candidate genes for exploration of possible drug targets and prognostic markers.

Adenoma ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Aldosterone ; metabolism ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; methods ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term efficacy of microwave ablation in the treatment of small renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed 140 cases of small cell renal carcinoma (151 lesions with a mean diameter of 2.8±0.8 cm) treated between April, 2006 and October, 2015 with ultrasound-guided microwave ablation with cooled-shaft needle antenna. One microwave ablation antenna was used for tumors less than 2 cm in diameter and 2 antennas were used for larger tumors. The patients received enhanced ultrasound and CT/MRI examinations at 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation and every 6 months thereafter. The overall survival, disease-free survival, and local tumor progression rate of the patients were evaluated.

RESULTSThe response rate of treatment (complete ablation at one month on enhanced images) was 100% in these patients. The local tumor progression rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 0.9%, 2.0%, and 7.1%, respectively, and the 1-, 3-, and 5-year distant metastasis rates were 1.6%, 2.5%, and 7.9%, respectively. The overall survival rates of the patients at 1, 3, and 5 years were 98.4%, 94.8%, 89.5%, respectively, with disease-free survival rates of 98.4%, 93.0%, and 83.1%, respectively. No major complications occurred in these cases, and multivariate analysis showed that the tumor number (P=0.015) and tumor growth patterns (P=0.049) were independent risk factors that adversely affected the long-term outcome after surgery.

CONCLUSIONOur data show that microwave ablation is a safe and effective modality for treatment of renal cell carcinoma.

Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; surgery ; Catheter Ablation ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; surgery ; Microwaves ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of polyamine biosynthesis inhibition on growth characteristics of human lung carcinoma cells and its correlation with the expression of human lung carcinoma associated antigen ALT-04ag gene.

METHODSThe gene expression was detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemical tests. The cell growth characteristics were studied by cell growth curves, morphological observation, FCM analysis and DNA electrophoresis.

RESULTSHuman lung squamous carcinoma cells L78 treated with 5 mmol/L alpha-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) for 5 days showed significant growth inhibition and apoptosis induction. The mRNA and protein expressions of ALT-04ag gene in the cells were downregulated, while these changes resulted from DFMO treatment were prevented by provision of DFMO along with exogenous putrescine.

CONCLUSIONThe effect of polyamine biosynthesis inhibition induced by DFMO restrains the growth characteristics and promotes apoptosis of human lung carcinoma L78 cells, which is associated with down regulation of ALT-04ag gene expression.

Antigens, Neoplasm ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; pathology ; Cell Division ; Down-Regulation ; Eflornithine ; pharmacology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured