Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Psoriasis ; diagnosis ; therapy

The plasma levels of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the patients with unstable angina or stable angina were determined and compared. In 30 patients with unstable angina and 22 patients with stable angina, plasma levels of IL-10 and IL-6 were detected by ELISA and plasma lipid parameters by lipid research clinical methods respectively. The results showed plasma levels of IL-10 were significantly lower in unstable angina group than in stable angina group (P = 0.005), while those of IL-6 were significantly increased in unstable angina group as compared with those in stable angina group (P = 0.039). There was a significantly negative correlation between IL-10 and IL-6 in patients with unstable angina (r = -0.41, P = 0.003). In the unstable angina group, IL-6 levels were obviously positively correlated with TC (r = 0.314, P = 0.023), but not with TG and HDL. There were no significant correlations between IL-10 and plasma lipid parameters. It was suggested that the decreased IL-10 and increased IL-6 might be associated with the atheromatous plaque stability and progression of coronary heart diseases. IL-10 may play an important role in preventing coronary vascular lesions.
Angina, Unstable/*blood ; Interleukin-10/*blood ; Interleukin-6/*blood

BACKGROUND: The elevation of plasma fibrinogen(Fbg) is a key risk factor of cerebrovascular diseases. The evaluation of the monomer polymerization function of fibrin has even more important clinical merit than the detection of Fbg level.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of the monomer polymerization function of fibrin in patients with isehemie cerebrovascular diseases and its impacts on rehabilitative intervention.DESIGN: A case control study employing patients and healthy individual as subjects.SETTING: An Institute of Hematology and Department of Neurology of one university.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 110 patients with different ischemic cerebrovascular disease selected from the Department of Neurology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong Science and Technology University from September 2001 to March 2002, and 50 healthy individuals were included in the study.METHODS: Rehabilitative intervention was performed in 31 randomly selected cerebral infarct patients, and the parameters indicating the monomer polymerization functions of fibrin in the plasma were detected by the measurement system for the monomer polymerization function of fibrin.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Abnormal condition of monomer polymerization function of fibrin in each parameter.RESULTS: Each parameter indicating the monomer polymerization functions of fibrin in plasma was significantly increased in ischemic cerebrovascular diseases patients than healthy individuals( P ＜ 0.01 ) . The abnormal rate of Fbg leveland fibrin monomer polymerization velocity (FMPV) was significantly elevated in ischemic cerebrovascular disease patients than healthy individuals ( P ＜ 0. 01 ) . The relative risk(RR) of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases in patients with abnormal FMP functions was 4 to 31 times more than healthy control group. In cerebral infarct group, FMPV of anterior circulation infarct subgroup was significantly elevated than that of posterior circulation infarct and lacunar cerebral infarct subgroups( P ＜ 0.05). The FMP function of anterior cerebral infarct patients was significantly higher than that of healthy group before rehabilitative intervention. Although each FMP parameter reduced after rehabilitative intervention, the difference between was not significant compared with that of before therapy.CONCLUSION: FMP function analysis can completely and objectively reflect the coagulation status of the patients with ischemic cerebrovascular diseases, and it can also reflect the range and severity of infarct to some extent. Although common rehabilitative intervention cannot effectively improve the high-coagulation of the blood, the impacts of specific rehabilitative intervention on the coagulation mechanism deserve further investigation.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether aristolochic acid can be transported into human kidney proximal tubular cell (HKC) and its potential mechanism.

METHODSIntracellular aristolochic acid was measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) induced by aristolochic acid in the presence of organic anion transporter inhibitor (probenecid) or organic cation transporter inhibitor (tetraethylammonium) was evaluated. The effects of probenecid on aristolochic acid induced connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA and protein expression were also examined by real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively.

RESULTSAristolochic acid was detected in the suspension of the denatured HKC after incubation with aristolochic acid sodium salt. The release of LDH from HKC, which was induced by 60 mg/L aristolochic acid sodium salt, was significantly inhibited by 1 mmol/L probenecid (P < 0.01), but not by 1 mmol/L tetraethylammonium. The increased CTGF mRNA and protein expression in HKC stimulated by 40 mg/L aristolochic acid sodium salt was significantly down-regulated by 1 mmol/L probenecid (P < 0.05), with an inhibition rate of 16% and 21%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONAristolochic acid can be transported into HKC by organic anion transport system, and then exerts its biological effects.

Aristolochic Acids ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Epithelial Cells ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kidney ; physiology ; Organic Anion Transporters ; metabolism

Objective To provide scientific evidence for the effectiveness of upper limb training after stroke.Methods Surface electromyograms (sEMGs) of the triceps braehii and biceps brachii were recorded in stroke patients during maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MIVC).A total of 18 patients with hemiparesis were studied.During the elbow's MIVC,flexor and extensor peak torque were measured,and sEMGs of the biceps and tri- ceps brachii were recorded.Results During MIVC,the biceps braehius of the intact side registered a stronger EMG than that of the affected side when the elbow flexed,but the differenees in the triceps braehii readings were not significant.The triceps bracbius of the intact side gave a stronger iEMG than the affected side when the elbow extend- ed,but the iEMG form the biceps brachius of the affeeted side was higher than that of the intact side.The co-contrac- tion ratio (CCR) of the triceps brachius on the affected side was higher than that of the intact side.Though there was a tendency for the CCR of the biceps brachius on the affected side to be higher than the intact side,any difference was not statistically significant.For both flexor and extensor MIVC,the peak torque on the affected side was lower than that of the intact side.Conclusions Elbow spastieity in hemiplegic patients is mainly attributable to the flexor muscles.In the rehabilitation of the upper limb after stroke,it is important when training extensor strength to inhibit co-contraction of the antagonistic muscle.

Objective To assess the diagnostic value of various preoperative imaging examinations for the point of the lateral femoral circumflex artery perforators through the deep fascia,in order to provide reasonable evidence for the design of location and protocol of anterolateral thigh perforator flap.Mehtods From September,2013 to December,2013,23 patients (including 1 patient with bilateral anterolateral thigh perforator flap) preparing anterolateral flap surgery were randomly divided into 4 groups(every group was 6 side).The patients in different groups were using different imaging techniques respectively,such as handheld doppler (HHD),Color doppler sonography (CDS),MDCT angiography (MDCTA),CDS and MDCTA united image location technology.The flap sizes varied from 8 cm × 5 cm to 28 cm × 12 cm.Moreover the coincidence rate between preoperative and intraoperative location of the perforator vessel was evaluated.Results Ali flaps were survived after the operation.The donor site were primarily closed while partial skin grafting was performed in 8 cases.The appearance and functional resuhs were satisfactory with following up for 3 to 9 months.The rates of coincidence between the preoperative and intraoperative location of perforating branches were HHD 61.53％,CDS 87.50％,MDCTA 85.71％,CDS and MDCTA united image location technology 93.33％ respectively.The HHD group showed significant decrease compared with the other groups (x2 =7.92,P ＜ 0.01; x2 =6.15,P ＜ 0.05; x2 =12.54,P ＜ 0.01,respectively).The CDS group had no statistically difference with the MDCTA group (P ＞ 0.05).The united CDS and MDCTA group showed significant increase compared with the other groups (x2 =4.22,P ＜ 0.05; x2 =3.94,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion CDS and MDCTA united image location technology are more accurate for perforator preoperative location in auterolateral thigh flap,and should be widely used.

Objective To assess the safety and feasibility of CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation in the treatment of adrenal tumors.Methods 1 7 patients with adrenal tumors were treated with CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation. Three of these patients were retreated second cryoablation three months later due to the lager tumor diameters.Percutaneous tran-scatheter arterial embolization was performed in four patients because of rich blood supply before cryoablation.Continuous arterial blood pressure monitoring was performed in eight pheochromocytoma patients.Results Technical success was achieved in all pa-tients.There were no serious complications.Eight pheochromocytoma patients experienced a significant increase in systolic blood pressure and diastolic pressure when compared with the basic values (P <0.05).There were no enhancement on enhanced CT and/or up-take on FDG PET-CT in the ablated zones during the follow-up period (3-24months).Conclusion It is safety and efficacy of CT-guided percutaneous argon-helium cryoablation for adrenal tumor.It might be initial treatment of choice for the patients who were not suitable for resection.

This study examined the changes of activities of vitamin K-dependent clotting factors (VKDCF) under various pathological conditions and explored the relationship between acquired deficiency of VKDCFs and hemorrhage. Clinical data of 35 patients who were diagnosed as having acquired deficiency of VKDCF were retrospectively analyzed. Coagulation factors involved in the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways were detected in these patients and 41 control subjects. The results showed that the average activities of VKDCFs were decreased in the patients in comparison to the control subjects and significantly increased after treatment of these patients with vitamin K and blood products. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that decreased activity of VKDCF was not an independent risk factor for bleeding disorders owing to deficiency or metabolic disturbance of vitamin K. It was concluded that acquired deficiency of VKDCF occurs under a variety of pathologic conditions and is closely associated with hemorrhagic events. Administration of vitamin K and transfusion of blood products containing high concentrations of VKDCFs helps alleviate the hemorrhagic diseases.

Objective To construct the lncRNA-1700020I14Rik plasmid and detect its effect on the fibrosis of mice mesangial cell (MMC) cultured with high glucose medium.Methods RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of 1700020I14Rik in MMC cultured with low glucose medium or high glucose.Total RNA was extracted from MMC and cDNA was got by RT-PCR.The whole fragment of lncRNA-1700020I14Rik amplified by PCR was constructed into plasmid pcDNA3.1(+) through PCR.Lipidosome 3000 was used to transfect the plasmid into the MMC cultured with high glucose medium and RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression level of 1700020I14Rik.Western blot was used to analyze the expression of fibronectin, collagen Ⅳ and TGF-β1.Results 1700020I14Rik was significantly down-regulated in MMC cultured with high glucose and it was significantly up-expressed in the MMC after transfecting with pcDNA3.1(+)-1700020I14Rik.The expressions of fibronectin, collagen Ⅳ and TGF-β1 were down-regulated by 1700020I14Rik.Conclusions The plasmidpcDNA3.1(+)-1700020I14Rik is able to effectively express the lncRNA-1700020I14Rik.Over-expression of 1700020I14Rik may protect mesangial cells from fibrosis conduced in high glucose medium.

Objective To analyze the differential expression of microRNA-146a (miR-146a) in monocyte-macrophage cell line (THP-1 cells) after induction by Cryptococcus neoformans (C.neoformans,reference strain WM148) or Cryptococcus gattii (C.gattii,reference strain R265),and investigate the mechanism of miR-146a in regulating the inflammatory response of cryptococcal meningitis.Methods The cultured THP-1 cells were divided into two groups to be induced by C.neoformans or C.gattii,respectively.THP-1 cells were induced with inactivated WN148 (or R265) strains at multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 5 in all experiments.The supematant and the cell pellet were collected separately after incubation.The expression of miR-146a was measured by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) technique.The levels of TNF-u and IL-6 release were assayed by ELISA.Results The expression of miR-146a increased significantly in the C.neoformans induction group compared to 0 h.It reached peak at 3 h (P＜0.01),and then declined gradually.The level of TNF-α increased in supematant and reached peak at 12 h.The expression of IL-6 did not change significantly at each time point.The expression of miR-146a and TNF-α increased gradually and reached peak at 12 h in the C.gattii induction group (P ＜0.01),but the change did not reach statistical significance at 3 h,6 h time points.The expression of IL-6 gradually increased,and reached peak at 12 h time point.Conclusions Following stimulation with C.neoformans or C.gattii,the expression ofmiR-146a in THP-1 cells showed different patterns over time.The expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 showed different patterns.These findings suggest that there may be different regulatory mechanisms in the THP-1 cells-associated inflammatory response after stimulation by inactivated C.neoformans and C.gattii strains.