Adult ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; Electrophoresis, Agar Gel ; Electrophoresis, Paper ; Female ; Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo explore the rhythm regulatory mechanism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the process of moxibustion for rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODSA total of 144 Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into a blank group, a model group, a moxibustion group, a sham operation group, an operation group, an operation+moxibustion group, 24 rats in each one. Each group was divided into 4 time points (0:00 am, 6:00' am, 12:00 am, 6:00 pm), 6 rats in each time point. The Light-Dark 12 : 12 was given in all rats for light-dark cycle. Except the blank group, rats in the remaining groups were treated with intracutaneous injection of freund's complete adjuvant at right-side foot to establish the model of RA. After the model establishment, bilateral adrenal, glands were removed in the operation group and operation + moxibustion group, while those in the sham operation group were not removed with identical operation procedure. Rats in the moxibustion group and operation + moxibustion group were treated with grain-sized moxibustion from 7:00 am to 9:00 am at "Shenshu" (BL 23) and "Zusanli" (ST 36) once everyday, 6 times were taken as one session and 3 sessions were required tatclly, while rats in the remaining groups received identical fixation without moxibustion. The general health state and foot volume of rats were measured before model establishment, after establishment and after treatment. After treatment, rats were sacrificed at each time point to collect the blood sample and measure the content of IL-6 by using enzymne-immunoassay method.

RESULTSCompared with the blank group, the foot swelling in the model group was obviously increased (P<0. 05); the IL-6 maintained circadian rhythm (P<0. 05), but the peak phase had a backward trend, famplitude had an increased trend and the median was significantly lifted (P<0. 05). Compared with model group, !the foot swelling in the moxibustion group was obviously decreased (P<0. 05); the IL-6 maintained circadian. rhythm (P<0. 05), and the peak phase had a forward trend, amplitude had a decreased trend and the median was significantly reduced (P<0. 05). Compared with the moxibustion group, the foot swelling in the operation--moxibustion group was obviously increased (P < 0.05); the IL-6 maintained circadian rhythm (P < 0.5), but the peak phase moved forwrd, and the median was significantly elevated (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe IL-6 in plasma maintains significant pathological circadian rhythm in RA rats; with the complete hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, moxibustion is likely to regulate the circadian rhythm of IL-6 to play an important role of anti-inflammatory effect in RA rats.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Circadian Rhythm ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Male ; Moxibustion ; Pituitary-Adrenal System ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of azathioprine (AZA) in the treatment of refractory ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods Retrospective analysis of the clinical improvement,endoscopic improvement and mucosal healing rate,inflammation marker improvement after AZA administration and its safety in 24 refractory UC patients were performed,who were recruited between January 2007 and December 2011 in West China Hospital,Sichuan University,China.Results Twenty-four patients were enrolled,with a median age of 36 years old and a median course of 4 years.Among them,14 cases were moderate UC and 10 cases were severe UC.The patients were treated with AZA in a dose of (1.23 ±0.34) mg· kg-1 · d-1 from 7 weeks to 42 months.Efficacy was judged by Mayo disease activity index.At 3 months,6 months and 1 year after treatment,the effective rates were 73.9％ ( 17/23),81.8％(18/22) and 14/16 respectively,and the remission rates were 17.4％ (4/23),54.5％ (12/22) and 12/16respectively.Both ESR and C reactive protein level after treatment for 6 months and 1 year were significantly lower than those before treatment [ (9.3 ±8.9) mrn/1h,(10.9 ±7.3) mm/1h vs (22.3 ± 10.7) mm/1h;2.5(1.0-22.3) mg/L,2.3(1.0-28.0) mg/L vs 18.4(3.6-137.0) mg/L; all P ＜0.05].Corticosteroid withdrawal rates at 3 months and 1 year after AZA treatment were 16/18 and 15/16,respectively.At 6 months and 1 year after AZA treatment,the endoscopic improvement rates were 85.7％ ( 18/21 ) and 13/15 respectively; the cndoscopic remission rates were 61.9％ ( 13/21 ) and 11/15 respectively; and the mucosal healing rates were 61.9％ ( 13/21 ) and 11/15 respectively.Adverse effects were occurred in 8 patients.Leukopenia was the most common adverse effect,followed by liver function injury,alopecia and epigastric discomfort.Conclusions AZA is effective in the treatment of refractory UC patients with a low dose of ( 1.23 ± 0.34) mg· kg - 1 · d - 1,especially in the steroid withdrawing,maintaining remission and mucosal healing without severe adverse effects.

Objective To investigate the correlation between the baseline serum caveolin-1 (Cav-1) levels and the clinical outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke at day 90 after onset. Methods Consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated in hospital were enrolled. The Cav-1 levels were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Functional outcomes were assessed at day 90 after onset using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and mRS 0-2 was defined as good outcome. The demographic and clinical characteristics of the good outcome group and the poor outcome group were compared. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the correlation between the low serum Cav-1 levels and the poor outcome at day 90 after onset. Results A total of 169 patients with acute ischemic stroke were included in the analysis, including 116 males (68. 5% ). Their age ranged from 50 to 83 years (mean, 63. 4 ± 9. 1). The mean serum Cav-1 level was 5. 483 ± 2. 617 ng/ml. Eighty-three-patients (49. 1% ) were in the good outcome group and 86 (50. 9% ) were in the poor outcome group. Univariate analysis showed that the proportions of patients in subcortical infarct (60. 5% vs. 43. 4% ; χ2 = 4. 944, P = 0. 026) and diffusion-weighted imaging-Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score, (DWI-ASPECT) ≤7 (58. 1% vs. 40. 9% ; χ2 = 4. 984, P = 0. 026), as well as age (65. 5 ± 8. 9 years vs. 61. 2 ± 10. 7 years; t = 2. 793, P =0. 006), baseline systolic blood pressure level (140. 6 ± 17. 2 mmHg vs. 134. 9 ± 13. 4 mmHg; t = 2. 368, P = 0. 019; 1 mmHg = 0. 133 kPa), and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (4. 8 ± 3. 4 vs. 3. 9 ± 2. 2; t = 2. 211, P = 0. 036) were significantly higher than those of the good outcome group, and the serum Cav-1 level was significantly lower than that of the good outcome group (4. 9 ± 2. 3 ng/ml vs. 6. 1 ± 2. 1 ng/ml; t = 2. 977, P = 0. 003). After adjusting for the related confounding factors, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the low Cav-1 level was an independent predictor of poor outcome at day 90 in patients with acute ischemic stroke (odd ratio, 1. 157, 95% confidence interval 1. 016-1. 319;P = 0. 028). Conclusion The low serum Cav-1 level is an independent predictor of poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Objective In order to investigate the therapeutic effects of portal arterialization for portal hypertension,portal arterialization and complete shunt(PACS) was applied in canine model of portal hypertension,which was made by thread embolization within the portal vein.Methods A splenectomy,splenic artery and upper portal vein anastomosis,and a complete portal-caval shunt were performed on portal hypertension dogs.The blood pressure and flow of the portal vein including that towards the liver and towards the vena cava were observed.Results The postoperative hepatic inflow,PVF,increased to 180% of the former while PVP increased to 196%;the caval-inflow PVF increased to 130% of the former while PVP decreased to 45.5%.Significant difference existed(P

Objective To study the effect on liver hemodynamics of portal arterialization and complete shunt(PACS),splenorenal shut(SRS) and peripheral cardia divided vessel(PCDV).Methods The preparation of canine model was made.Group PCDV accepted a splenectomy and peripheral cardia divided vessel,while the group SRS accepted a spleen-renal vein shunt.Group PACS accepted a splenectomy,splenic artery and upper portal vein anastomosis,and complete portal-caval shunt.The blood pressure and flow of the portal system were observed.The hepatic function was also measured before and 2 weeks after the three kinds of operation.Results In the PCDV group,the postoperative PVF decreased in 17% while PVP decreased in 5%.In the SRS group,the postoperative PVF decreased in 51% while PVP decreased in 51%.In the PACS group,the postoperative hepatic inflow PVF increased to 180% of the former while PVP increased to 196%;the caval-inflow PVF increased to 130% of the former while PVP decreased to 46%.The results of PACS group had a magnificent statistic difference comparing with those two traditional operations(P

Objective To study the relationship of tumor necrosis factor beta (TNF-?) polymorphism with human IgA nephropathy of Chinese Han nationality in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods The A→G single base mutation polymorphism in TNF-?1096 locus were analyzed among 80 normal controls and 79 IgA nephropathy patients by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Results The genotype frequencies of TNF?* 1/1 and TNF?* 2/2 in IgA nephropathy patients were significantly higher than that in normal controls (x1/12=5.58,P

To enforce the application of medical techniques in the primary hospital so as to improve clinical quality and ensure clinical safety, we established the evaluation criteria for admittance of medical techniques class Ⅰ and the incentive system for new technique application. When both systems were applied, favorable results were obtained.

Objective To explore the effects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the hyperoxia-induced lung injury in premature rats. Methods Forty-eight premature Wistar rats were randomized into two groups 12 hours after birth:hyperoxia group (n=24) inhaled 95%oxygen and control group (n=24) inhaled air. Eight rats were sacriifced in each group on day 1, 3, 7 after the treatment and the left lungs were embedded. The pathological changes in the HE stained sections of lung tissues were observed. The expressions of ER related protein ERp57 and c/EBP homologous protein CHOP were detected by immuno histo-chemistry and the apoptosis of lung cells was detected by TUNEL analysis. Results The typical pathological characteristics of acute lung injury were observed in hyperoxia group. The expressions of ERp57 and CHOP were increased with the exposure time in hyperoxia group, and were signiifcantly higher than in control group (P<0.05). The apoptosis rate of lung cells in hyperoxia group was signiifcantly higher than in control group (P<0.01). There was signiifcant positive correlation between cell apoptosis index and expressions of Erp57 and c/EBP homogeneous protein. Conclusions ER stress initiated apoptosis participates and plays an important role in the process of hyperoxia-induced lung injury in premature rats.

Objective To study the correlation between individual gene polymorphisms of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 + 869 T/C,tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) + 1525 G/A genes and nodular thyroid disease.Methods From September 2007 to December 2009,a total of 544 patients with nodular thyroid disease diagnosed in the Department of Endocrinology,The First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College,Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology were selected,including 136 cases of nodular goiter patients (node group),132 cases of thyroid tumor (adenoma group),146 cases of Graves patients (GD group),and 130 cases of Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT group).One hundred and thirty-five healthy subjects were enrolled as control group.Two milliliters of fasting venous blood of all subjects were collected.Polymorphisms of the TGF-β1 + 869 T/C and the TRAIL 1525 A/G genes were identified by the polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and the restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods.Results TGF-β1 + 869 T/C:The CC genotypes and C allele frequencies of nodular goiter group [47.0％(64/136),63.2％(172/ 272)] were significantly higher than those of normal control group [18.0％(22/135),45.2％ (122/270); x2 =30.76,17.79,all P ＜ 0.05].The genotypes and allele frequencies of adenoma group[42.4％ (56/132),59.1％ (156/264)] were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (x2 =24.40,10.34,all P ＜ 0.05).The risk of population carrying the C allele suffering from nodular goiter was 2.086 times of those carrying the T allele (OR =2.086; 95％ CI:1.480-2.943).The risk of population carrying the C allele suffering from adenoma was 1.752 times of those carrying the T allele (OR =1.752,95％ CI:1.244-2.469).TRAIL + 1525 G/A:the genotypes and allele frequencies of nodular goiter group [40.4％ (55/136),62.9％ (171/272)] were significantly higher than those of normal control group [12.0％ (16/135),48.5％ (131/270); x2 =9.176,11.307,all P ＜ 0.05].The genotypes and allele frequencies of adenoma group[53.3％ (70/132),73.1％ (193/264)] were significantly higher than those of the normal control group (x2 =9.806,33.82,all P ＜ 0.05).The risk of population carrying the G allele suffering from nodular goiter was 1.796 times of those carrying the A allele (OR =1.796,95％ CI:1.275-2.531).The risk of population carrying the G allele suffering from adenoma was 2.884 times of those carrying the A allele (OR =2.884,95％ CI:2.009-4.142).Conclusions TGF-β1 + 869 T/C and TRAIL + 1525 G/A gene polymorphisms may be related to the incidence of nodular thyroid diseases; G allele of TRAIL and C allele of TGF-β1 may be predisposing genes of patients with nodular goiter.