Integrative Medicine ; education ; Internal Medicine ; education

To evaluate the expression of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor P27(Kip1) in leukemia and to investigate its clinical significance, the P27(Kip1) protein in bone marrow or peripheral blood samples from 82 cases of leukemia was measured by Western blot and enhanced chemoluminescence (ECL). The results showed that the expression of P27(Kip1) protein in ALL was higher than that in ANLL (P = 0.033) and also that in CML (P = 0.008). P27(Kip1) expression in CLL was higher than that in CML too (P = 0.017). In acute leukemia, the effective rate (CR and PR) of initial chemical therapy in the group of P27(Kip1) > 0.655 was higher than that in the group of P27(Kip1) < or = 0.655, P = 0.041. For ANLL and ALL patients, the survival time in the group of P27(Kip1) > 0.655 was longer than that in the group of P27(Kip1) < or = 0.655, P = 0.0065. There were similar statistical significance for ANLL and ALL patients, P = 0.0271 and P = 0.0266 respectively. There was a negative correlation between chromosomal abnormalities and P27(Kip1) expression in ALL patients (r = -0.775, P = 0.04). The expression of P27(Kip1) protein appeared nothing to do with sex, age, white blood cell number, blast cell number in peripheral blood, serum LDH or uric acid. In conclusion, the expression level of P27(Kip1) protein is in relation to the effect of initial chemical therapy and survival time, so that the lower P27(Kip1) expression may associated with poor prognosis in acute leukemia.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Cycle Proteins ; analysis ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; Survival Rate ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; analysis

In order to establish a new more rapid, safe and sensitive colorimetric assay for the proliferation of leukemic cells, MTS/pms has been developed. This automated colorimetric assay is based on the characteristic of viable and metabolically active leukemic cells to cleave MTS/pms into a water-soluble product whose optical density is determined at 492 nm by an automated microtiter-plate reader photometer. The results indicated that only active leukemic cells cleaved MTS/pms into product measured, and dead cells did not reduce MTS/pms. A linear relations hip were found between the viable cell number and optical density of MTS/pms cleaved by HL-60 and K562 cell (r = 0.963). Compared with MTT and INT assays, the reduced product of MTS/pms is water-soluble. It is concluded that MTS/pms colorimetric assay is more rapid, accurate and sensitive for the bioassay of proliferation of leukemic cells.
Cell Division ; Colorimetry ; methods ; Formazans ; metabolism ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; pathology ; Methylphenazonium Methosulfate ; metabolism ; Tetrazolium Salts ; metabolism ; Thiazoles ; metabolism

In order to study the relationship between the expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST) in leukemic cells and the chemoresistance in patients with acute leukemia, the expressions of GST activity and GST mRNA were measured according to spectrophotometric assay based on the use of 1-choloro-2, 4-dinitro benzene and in situ hybridization. The results were studied in correlation with some clinical and pathological data. Results showed that: 1. There is no significant differences between activities of the enzyme with the different leukemia types according to the FAB classification. 2. GST activity and GST mRNA expression in the patients, both untreated and relapse, were (4.5 +/- 1.0) U, 33.3% and (7.9 +/- 15) U, 66.3% respectively. 3. In 56 patients, GST activity was 1.7 +/- 0.7, 5.9 +/- 2.0 and 9.3 +/- 1.7 U and GST mRNA expression was 13.3%, 29.7% and 76.6%, respectively, in CR, PR and NR groups. The lowest values of GST activity and GST mRNA expression were observed in those patients who achieved complete remission. The highest values of GST activity and GST mRNA expression were observed in those patients with no response to treatment. It was concluded that the expression of GST in patients with acute leukemia is closely related to the chemosensitivities clinically. Determinations of GST activity and GST mRNA are useful for predicting the chemosensitivities and the prognosis of the disease.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; genetics ; metabolism ; K562 Cells ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Leukemia, Lymphoid ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism

To evaluate the expressions of proliferative antigen Ki-67 and apoptosis-antagonizing protein Bcl-2 as well as their clinical significance, immunohistochemistry staining with SAP was used to detect Ki-67 antigen and Bcl-2 protein in 18 cases of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 43 cases of adults with ALL. The results showed that the levels of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 expression in children with ALL were lower than that in adults, but only Bcl-2 expression had significant difference. Both in children and in adults, the levels of Ki-67 expression in T-ALL and My(+) ALL were higher than that in B-ALL and null-ALL. The highest complete remission rate (CR) was seen in the group with lower expression of both indexes (Ki-67 and Bcl-2). The lowest CR rate was seen in the group with higher expression of both indexes. It is concluded that the levels of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 expression in children and adults with ALL were closely related with the subtype of ALL and chemotherapeutic effects.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; biosynthesis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of salvianolic acid B (SAB), an extract from Radix Salviae miltiorrhizae, on expression of leucocyte differentiation antigen 14 (CD14) in the liver tissue of experimental rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis.

METHODSThirty SD rats were randomly divided into three groups, the model group, the treated group, and the control group. The pathological fibrosis changes in liver of rats were observed. Meantime, their liver function was detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. Serum content of endotoxin was assayed by matrix staining, and plasma content of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by radioimmunoassay. mRNA and protein expressions of CD14 in the liver tissue were measured using reverse transcriptional-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry respectively.

RESULTSAll the laboratory parameters, including liver function, degree of liver fibrosis, serum endotoxin levels, plasma TNF-alpha contents, and CD14 mRNA and protein expressions in the model group were higher than those in the control group (all P<0.01). All the aforesaid indices were lowered more in the treated group than in the model group (all P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSSAB could antagonize the CCl4, induced liver fibrosis in rats. Its mechanism of action was possibly correlated with its effects on down-regulating hepatic CD14 expression and blocking the endotoxin signal transduction pathway.

Animals ; Benzofurans ; pharmacology ; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To observe the therapeutic effect and safety of rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) in the treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). One AIHA patient refractory to corticosteroid and splenectomy was treated with rituximab, 375 mg/m(2) weekly for four times. Her hemolytic symptoms, adverse effects, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and other laboratory data were monitored. The results showed that concentration of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH), total bilirubin (TBIL) and indirect bilirubin (IBIL) began to decrease at 11 days after the first dose of rituximab, and decreased to normal range after 45 days. Concentration of hemoglobin increased up to 95 - 100 g/L. The patient remained disease-free 4 months after treatment. No adverse effect was found during the process of treatment. It is concluded that anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) is both effective and safe for the treatment of refractory autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune ; drug therapy ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived ; Antigens, CD20 ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Rituximab

Adult ; Graft vs Host Disease ; etiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; methods ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; therapy ; Humans ; Male

To investigate the expressions of proliferative antigen Ki-67 and apoptosis-antagonizing protein Bcl-2 in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and their clinical significance, immunohistochemistry method was used for detection of Ki-67 and Bcl-2 in bone marrow or peripheral blood of 29 patients with CLL. The results showed that the level of Ki-67 expression in advanced stage of CLL was higher than that in early stage of CLL and there was significant difference between these stages of CLL, but there was no significant difference between expression levels of Bcl-2 in two stages. The survival time in the group with Ki-67 expression < or = 8% was longer than that in the group of Ki-67 > 8%, and there was no significant difference of survival time between high and low groups in terms of Bcl-2 expression. It is concluded that detection of Ki-67 antigen and Bcl-2 protein for CLL patients can reflect the status of proliferation activity and apoptosis suppression of leukemia cells in patients; the level of Ki-67 expression closely correlate with the Binet stage and prognosis of CLL.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Bone Marrow Cells ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ki-67 Antigen ; analysis ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo explore the acting mechanism of viscera purging method (VP) in purging Fu-organs and benefiting Fei from integral, cellular and molecular levels.

METHODSForty SD rats were equally divided into four groups randomly: the normal group, the model group, the unhitch group and the VP group. Except those in the normal group were untreated, rats were established to intestinal obstruction model by incomplete ligation of the rectum in vitro. The ligation was relieved 48 h after operation in the unhitch group and the VP group, and the animals were fed continuously on routine. Meanwhile, Dachengqi Decoction (DD) 2 ml was given twice a day to the VP group for 2 days. Finally, the serum interleukin 8 (IL-8) and mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the lung tissue were detected by radioimmunoassay and RT-PCR respectively. Besides, the number of pulmonary alveolar macrophages (PAM) in the bronchial alveolus lavage fluid (BALF) was counted and their death rate calculated.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control, the serum IL-8 content in lung tissue in the model rats were remarkably higher (P < 0.01); however, the VP group showed the lowest level of IL-8 content and the highest was shown in the model group. Number of PAM in BALF was higher and its death rate was lower in the VP group than that in the unhitch groups (both P< 0.05). The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA was sinificantly higher as compared with that in the normal group, and lowered after administration of DD.

CONCLUSIONViscera purging method could protect the injured lung tissue to some extent.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Intestinal Obstruction ; complications ; drug therapy ; Lung ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics