OBJECTIVETo investigate the toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect of liquorice on treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with Tripterygium wilfordii (TW).

METHODSOne hundred and twenty RA patients were randomly assigned to two groups: the treated group treated with compound decoctum of TW and liquorice and the control group with TW ployglycosidium tablets both based on routine treatment. The therapeutic effect and adverse reaction were observed after 2 months of treatment.

RESULTSThe total efficacy rate was 89.8% in the treated group and 79.6% in the control group with insignificant difference between the two groups; the effect was better in the treated group than that of the control group in decreasing the swollen joint index and increasing the average grip strength of both hands (P < 0.05); the total incidence of adverse reaction was obviously lower in the treated group than that of the control (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLiquorice has toxicity attenuation and efficacy potentiation effect on treatment of RA with TW.

Adult ; Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Synergism ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; chemically induced ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Glycyrrhiza ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome ; Tripterygium ; chemistry

BACKGROUND: The association of genetic variation in the IRAK-1 gene with sepsis outcome has been proved. However, few studies have addressed the impact of the IRAK-4 gene variants on sepsis risk. This study aimed to determine whether the polymorphisms in the IRAK-4 gene are associated with susceptibility to and prognosis of severe sepsis in the Chinese Han ethnic population.METHODS: In this case-control study, 192 patients with severe sepsis hospitalized in the emergency department of Zhongshan Hospital from February 2006 to December 2009 and 192 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included metastatic tumors, autoimmune diseases, AIDS or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. This study was approved by the ethical committee of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Sepsis patients were divided into a survival group (n=124) and a non-survival group (n=68) according to the 30-day mortality. Primer 3 software was used to design PCR and sequencing primers. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Seven tagSNPs in IRAK-4 were selected according to the data of the Chinese Han population in Beijing from the Hapmap project and genotyped by direct sequencing. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the two groups.RESULTS: The distributions of all tagSNPs were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The allele and genotype frequencies of rs4251545 (G/A) were significantly different between the severe sepsis and healthy control groups (P=0.015, P=0.035, respectively). Carriers of the rs4251545A had a higher risk for severe sepsis compared with carriers of the rs4251545G (OR=1.69, 95％ CI: 1.10-2.58). The allele and genotype frequencies of all SNPs were not significantly different between the survival group and non-survival group.CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the variants in IRAK-4 are significantly associated with susceptibility to severe sepsis in the Chinese Han ethnic population.

OBJECTIVETo explore the molecular mechanism of APL cell resistance to ATRA.

METHODSThe ATRA sensitive and resistant APL cell lines, NB4 and NB4-R1, were used as in vitro models. The effects of specific inhibitors and activators of adenylate cyclase (AC) and phosphodiesterase (PDE) on ATRA-induced differentiation was evaluated by cell morphology, cell surface antigen expression and nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) reduction assays.

RESULTSSQ22536, a specific antagonist of AC, could dramatically block ATRA-induced NB4 cell differentiation. When ATRA + SQ22536 group compared with ATRA group, the positivity of CD11b decreased from (95.9 +/- 2.5)% to (60.3 +/- 7.1)%, while the A(540) in NBT reduction assay decreased from 0.585 +/- 0.092 to 0.170 +/- 0.028 (P < 0.05). Forskolin, an agonist of AC, could overcome the resistance of NB4-R1 cells to ATRA. When ATRA + forskolin group compared with ATRA group, the positivity of CD11b increased from (34.3 +/- 5.3)% to (94.6 +/- 2.4)%, while the A(540) in NBT reduction assay increased from 0.110 +/- 0.028 to 0.395 +/- 0.049 (P < 0.05). In contrast, the specific antagonist and agonist of PDE, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and calmodulin, exerted little impact on ATRA treatment.

CONCLUSIONSThe defaults in the initiation of AC activation may contribute to the resistance to ATRA in some APL cells.

Adenine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Adenylyl Cyclase Inhibitors ; Adenylyl Cyclases ; metabolism ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; CD11b Antigen ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; drug effects ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of auricular acupoint pressing (AAP) for analgesia during perioperative period of total knee joint replacement.

METHODSSixty patients with osteoarthritis of ASA grade I - III scheduled to receive unilateral total knee joint replacement were equally randomized into the AAP group and the control group, 30 in each group. The general anesthesia on all patients was implemented by physicians of an identical group through endotracheal intubation. To the patients in the AAP group, AAP with Vaccaria seed was applied before operation, and the local analgesia on affected limb with acupoint pasting was used after operation. Besides, administering of celecoxib 400 mg on the day before operation, and celecoxib 200 mg twice daily post-operation was given to all patients. When the visual analogue scales (VAS) reached more than 7 points, 0.1 g of bucinnazine hydrochloride was given for supplement. Meantime, same post-operative training methods were adopted in both groups. The resting VAS pain scores, contentment of sedation, incidence of adverse event, postoperative range of motion (ROM) of knee joint and Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) score were recorded.

RESULTSThe resting VAS pain scores at 6 h and 24 h after operation was 5.99 +/- 0.67 scores and 4.26 +/- 0.59 scores in the AAP group respectively, which was significantly lower than that in the control group at the corresponding time (7.02 +/- 0.85 scores and 4.92 +/- 0.43 scores, P < 0.01); but it showed insignificant difference between the two groups at 1 h and 48 h after operation (P > 0.05); sedation contentment in the two groups was similar; incidence of adverse event in the AAP groups seemed lower (4 cases vs. 11 cases), but the intergroup difference was statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). ROM before surgery were 75.63 degrees +/- 5.74 degrees and 75.43 degrees +/- 5.63 degrees in the two groups respectively, showing no significant difference (P > 0.05), two weeks after operation, the initiative ROM raised to 96.50 degrees +/- 3.79 degrees and 93.50 degrees +/- 3.50 degrees, and the passive ROM reached 107.8 degrees +/- 3.37 degrees and 105.27 degrees +/- 3.25 degrees in the two groups respectively, with statistical significance between them (P < 0.05). HSS score was similar between groups before operation (60.23 +/- 3.44 scores vs. 61.70 +/- 2.83 scores, P > 0.05); while it became 86.97 +/- 2.33 scores and 85.37 +/- 2.30 scores after operation, showing significant difference between groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONApplying auricular acupoint pressing in perioperative period of knee joint replacement is favorable for alleviating postoperative pain, decreasing narcotic consumption, and promoting early rehabilitation, and it has the advantages of low cost, less complication, simple manipulation and high safety.

Acupressure ; methods ; Acupuncture Points ; Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Ear Auricle ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pain, Postoperative ; therapy ; Perioperative Period

OBJECTIVETo explore the feasibility and efficiency of extracting protein from bone tissue using trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-acetone precipitation method.

METHODSHydrochloric acid (HCL) decalcification method and TCA-acetone precipitation method were separately used for bone protein extraction. The efficiencies of these two methods were compared.

RESULTSTCA-acetone precipitation method had significantly higher extraction efficiency. Compared with HCL decalcification method, it had less pollution from bone marrow hematopoietic tissue. Protein band distribution was similar between these two methods.

CONCLUSIONTCA-acetone precipitation method is useful for bone proteomics research.

Acetone ; Animals ; Bone and Bones ; chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Male ; Proteins ; isolation & purification ; Proteomics ; methods ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Trichloroacetic Acid

BACKGROUND: Microwave treatment is a common physical therapy method that can increase the temperature and blood circulation of deep tissues, and is used for improving fracture repair. However, microwave treatment cannot be used if there is surgically implanted metal plate or screw. OBJECTIVE: To observe the dame of microwave treatment to the tissues surrounding the titanium alloy implants. METHODS: Forty-four New Zealand white rabbits were randomized into experimental and control groups. The model of the fracture at the middle of the femur was established in all rabbits, and the rabbits in the experimental group were implanted with titanium alloy internal fixation systems. A 30-day microwave treatment (2 450 MHz, 20 W or 40 W, 20 minutes daily) was applied to the fracture site in all rabbits at 3 days after operation. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: After 20 W of wave microwave treatment, the temperature of tissues around the implants showed no significant increase or severe heat injury. While, 40 W of wave microwave treatment significantly increased the temperature of tissues around the implants and the tissue was damaged severely. Our results indicate that, the low-dosage microwave treatment may be a promising method in the rehabilitation therapy of fractures with titanium alloy internal fixation.

OBJECTIVETo study the correlation between polyoma virus load and hemorrhagic cystitis after allogeneic stem cells transplantation for prevention of hemorrhagic cystitis.

METHODSBlood and urine specimens were collected from 40 healthy persons, 40 patient with stem cells transplantation and 20 cases complicated with hemorrhagic cystitis for determination of VP1 gene of polyomaviruses BK virus (BKV)/Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) and simian virus 40 (SV40) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and EvaGreen stain fluorescence quantitative assay.

RESULTSIn the peripheral blood, all genes of BKV/JCV and SV40 were negative, while BKV gene in urine and blood from healthy persons and patient with stem cells transplantation was 15% (6/40) and 100% (40/40), respectively. The gene of JCV was positive in 10% (4/40) and 12% (5/40), the gene of SV40 was negative.

CONCLUSIONGenes of BKV and JCV was detectable in urine specimens of healthy persons and there was a correlation between the load of polyomavirus and incidence of hemorrhagic cystitis.

Capsid Proteins ; genetics ; Cystitis ; diagnosis ; etiology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; urine ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Hemorrhage ; diagnosis ; etiology ; virology ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polyomavirus ; genetics ; growth & development ; Polyomavirus Infections ; complications ; virology ; Viral Load

This study was aimed to investigate the possible effects of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogue 8-(4-chlorophenylthio) adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-CPT-cAMP) on the M(2b) subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M(2b)) cells. AML-M(2b) is characterized by the non-random chromosome translocation t (8; 21) (q22; q22), through which AML1 (acute myeloid leukemia 1) gene on chromosome 21 is fused with ETO (eight twenty-one) gene on chromosome 8, coding correspondent AML1-ETO fusion protein, which plays a crucial role in the leukemogenesis of AML-M(2b). The AML-M(2b) cell line Kasumi-1 cells were used as an in vitro model. The influences of 8-CPT-cAMP on the proliferation and differentiation of Kasumi-1 cells were evaluated according to cellular morphology, changes in cell surface antigen and cell cycle, as well as nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) assay. Meanwhile, semi-quantity RT-PCR and Western blot assay were used to detect the degradation of AML1-ETO fusion protein in Kasumi-1 cells before and after the treatment. The results showed that 8-CPT-cAMP (200 micromol/L) could significantly inhibit cell growth and induce differentiation of Kasumi-1 cells. However, it must be pointed out that 8-CPT-cAMP-induced differentiation in Kasumi-1 is not a typical terminal differentiation. Furthermore, 8-CPT-cAMP exerted little influence on the expression of AML1-ETO fusion gene and its product in Kasumi-1 cells. In conclusion, the 8-CPT-cAMP induced differentiation in Kasumi-1 cells. This results may provide experimental and theoretical basis for the breakthrough of differentiation-induced therapy extended to another leukemia.
Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 2 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclic AMP ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; metabolism ; RUNX1 Translocation Partner 1 Protein ; Thionucleotides ; pharmacology ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression level of inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin gene in human brain glioma and its role in malignant proliferation and antiapoptosis of brain glioma.

METHODSEighty-three cases of brain glioma specimen was chosen, protein expression of survivin and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was investigated by immunohistochemistry streptavidin-biotin complex (SABC) method, the immunoreactivity score (IRS) of survivin and the proliferative index (PI) were counted. Apoptotic cells were screened by TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method, and the apoptotic index (AI) of brain glioma was calculated.

RESULTSThe survivin IRS, PI and AI of brain glioma were 3.8 +/- 3.9, (28.4 +/- 19.5)% and (1.0 +/- 0.8)% respectively, and all of them were elevated with the increase of pathological grade of brain glioma (P < 0.01 for all). PI in survivin positive group was significantly higher than that in survivin negative group (P < 0.01), and PI was positively correlated with survivin IRS (r = 0.740, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between AI in survivin positive group and that in survivin negative group (P > 0.05), however, AI was negatively correlated with survivin IRS (r = -0.307, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSurvivin is overexpressed in brain glioma, and which may play important roles in malignant proliferation and antiapoptosis of brain glioma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis ; Brain Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Glioma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Inhibitor of Apoptosis Proteins ; Male ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of CDA-II alone or combined with cAMP on the retinoic acid (RA)-resistant acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells.

METHODSThe RA-resistant cell line NB4-R2 was used as an in vitro model and treated with CDA-II alone or in combination with cAMP. Cell apoptosis was assessed by morphology observation, distribution of cellular DNA contents and sub-G1 cell population. The level of Bcl-2 was detected by flow cytometry, DNA "ladder" was detected by agarose-electrophoresis.

RESULTSCDA-II could induce NB4-R2 cell apoptosis through decreasing the level of cellular anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. cAMP could significantly enhance the role of CDA-II. Bcl-2 positive cell rates decreased to (15.1 +/- 4.8)% and (7.3 +/- 2.9)% in NB4-R2 cells treated with 1 mg/ml CDA-II plus 100 micromol/L cAMP for 48 h and 72 h, respectively. While 100 micromol/L of cAMP could decrease Bcl-2 positive NB4-R2 cells from (92.0 +/- 0.6)% to (75.3 +/- 2.0)%.

CONCLUSIONSCDA-II combined with cAMP could exert potent apoptotic effect on RA-resistant APL cells.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; CD11c Antigen ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclic AMP ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Peptides ; pharmacology ; Phenylacetates ; pharmacology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology