Objective To explore the clinical significance of changes of serum.interleukin 17(IL -17), interleukin 18(IL -18)and interleukin 18 binding protein(IL -18BP)in patients with AA.Methods Serum IL -17,IL -18 and IL -18BP levels were measured by ELISA in 50 patients with AA and 52 health control.Results The levels of serum IL -17,IL -18 and IL -18BP in the AA group were (216.41 ±22.24)μg/L,(402.37 ± 59.76)ng/L and (8.79 ±2.61 )μg/L respectively,which were higher than those in the healthy control group of (90.36 ±9.78)μg/L,(136.48 ±20.25)ng/L and (2.01 ±0.68)μg/L(t =37.41,30.46,18.13,all P <0.01). And the levels of serum IL -17,IL -18 and IL -18BP in AAA group were (267.76 ±30.17)μg/L,(479.41 ± 68.76)ng/Land (11.72 ±3.29)μg/L,which were higher than those in the CAA group of (156.48 ±18.36)μg/L, (312.47 ±40.61)ng/L and (5.36 ±1.45)μg/L (t =15.73,10.43,8.92,all P <0.01).The serum level of IL -17 was positive correlation with the levels of IL -18 and IL -18BP in patients with AA (r =0.527,r =0.489,all P <0.05),the serum level of IL -18 was also positive correlation with the level of IL -18BP(r =0.731,P <0.01). Conclusion IL -17,IL -18 and IL -18BP may participate in the pathogenesis of AA,and there is a certain correla-tion,which may influence the process of AA.

Objective To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis in renal transplantation recipients.Method The clinical data of 8 renal transplantation recipients suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis infection were retrospectively analyzed.Result Fever,cough and expectoration were the most common symptoms,however,lacking typicality.Images of chest Xray and CT scan were various and couldn't verify TB infection from pneumonia.Seven of 8 cases were diagnosed through invasive methods,either bronchofibroscope or fiberthoracoscopy.Immunosuppressants were decreased in all cases.Three-drug regimens,including isoniazide,rifampicin and ethambutol or pyrazinarnide,were administrated as anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy.All the cases were cured,without episodes like acute rejection and liver function impairment.Conclusion Routine examinations are not sufficient to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis in kidney transplantation recipients.While,invasive methods like bronchofibroscope and fiberthoracoscope are helpful.When diagnosed,patients should receive normative anti-tuberculosis treatment and immunosuppressive agents adjustment,which can benefit the prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in renal transplantation recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effecacy of cochlear implantation (CI) improving hearing of Lermoyez's syndrome, we retrospectively analyzed a case of Lermoyez's syndrome whose left ear was extremely severe sensorineural deafness and right ear was severe sensorineural deafness. METHOD: The patient had completed preoperative audiological examination , vestibular function and imaging examination, then was carried out bilateral endolymphatic sac decompression and left side CI. Follow up after the surgery. RESULT: The vertigo could be controlled very well after the bilateral endolymphatic sac decompression surgery, but the hearing loss couldn't be control, so CI was carried out to improve hearing and speech recognition rate. The contralateral hearing also improved significantly after the operation. CONCLUSION Endolymphatic sac decompression can effectively control. Ménière's disease in patients with vertigo attacks. CI can improve patients' hearing, and speech recognition rate and, also could improve the quality of life. CI was the first choice for the patient of 4 stage Ménière's disease.
Cochlear Implantation ; Deafness ; Decompression, Surgical ; Ear, Inner ; Endolymphatic Sac ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertigo

OBJECTIVE: To compare the vertigo controlling situation between the endolymphatic sac decompression(ELSD) and semicircular canal occlusion (SCO) in stage 4 Ménière disease. METHOD: Fourteen patients who underwent endolymphatic sac decompression and 9 patients who underwent semicircular canal occlusion from 2009 to 2013 were followed. All patients has complete preoperative examination and postoperative follow-up. RESULT: The vetigo control of the patients underwent endolymphatic sac decompression: completely control 35.7%; basic control 28.6%; partly control 14.3%; the vetigo control of the patients underwent semicircular canal occlusion: completely control 88.9%; basic control 11.1%. CONCLUSION ELSD and SCO are alternative methods for the patients of stage 4. SCO has a much highter complete vertigo control rate. For the patients without practical listening, SCO is a better choice.
Endolymphatic Sac ; surgery ; Humans ; Meniere Disease ; surgery ; Otologic Surgical Procedures ; methods ; Semicircular Canals ; surgery ; Vertigo ; surgery

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Dinggui Oil Capsule in treating irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) with stagnation of qi and cold. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical study was undertaken. One hundred and ninety-eight patients with IBS and syndrome of stagnation of qi and cold were randomly divided into high-dose Dinggui Oil group (DGO-H, 1.2 g, 3 times daily; n=66), low-dose Dinggui Oil group (DGO-L, 0.8 g, 3 times daily, n=66), and placebo group (placebo, 5.0 g, 3 times daily, n=66). Patients in the three groups were all treated for 2 weeks. RESULTS: The total significant effective rates for IBS were 54.1%, 28.8% and 21.9% in the DGO-H, DGO-L, and placebo groups, and the total effective rates for the syndrome of stagnation of qi and cold were 54.1%, 25.8% and 23.4% in the three groups, respectively. Dinggui Oil Capsule showed a higher efficacy than the placebo in relieving the abdominal pain (P<0.01). No adverse effects were found in this trial. CONCLUSION: Dinggui Oil Capsule is effective and safe in relieving abdominal pain due to IBS with stagnation of qi and cold.

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) and the compound of both on the proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun mRNA and their protein expression in the cultured rat hippocampus neurons.

METHODSUsing the technique of serum free hippocampus neuron culture, different doses of Se and I and Se + I compound were added into the medium. The expression of the mRNA of c-fos, c-jun in hippocampus neurons cultured for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 d were studied using both in situ hybridization and SABC immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSBoth Se and I could enhance the expression of c-fos, c-jun mRNA and their proteins, especially the combination of I and Se able to give a remarkable effect on c-jun mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSSe and I may effect the expression of both c-fos and c-jun mRNA, especially the c-jun mRNA and its protein of hippocampus neurons, and thus may effect the differentiation and development of neurons.

Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Hippocampus ; metabolism ; Iodine ; Neurons ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Rats ; Selenium

OBJECTIVEStudy on the promoter effects of sodium butyrate in high or low dosages on carcinogenesis process, based on the immortalization of human fetal esophageal epithelium induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) 18E(6)E(7) genes.

METHODSThe immortalized esophageal epithelium SHEE was treated with high concentration of the sodium butyrate (80 mmol/L) and then with low concentration (5 mmol/L) for 8 weeks respectively. The cells were cultured continuously without sodium butyrate for 14 weeks. The morphology, proliferation and apoptosis of the cells were studied by phase contrast microscopy, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry. The dead and the viable cells were assayed by fluorescent microscopy with Hoechst 33342 and Propidium iodide staining. Tumorigenesis of the cells was assessed by soft agar colony formation and by transplantation of cells into nude mice and SCID mice.

RESULTSWhen cells were exposed to high concentration of sodium butyrate, cell death was increased leaving few live cells. When cells were cultured in the medium with low concentration of sodium butyrate, the first proliferative stage appeared. Removal of the butyrate caused the cell to enter a crisis stage with a long doubling time resembling senescent cells. After the crisis stage, the cells progressed to the second proliferation stage with continuous replication and atypical hyperplasia. At the end of the second proliferative stage, carcinogenesis of the cells appeared with large colonies in soft-agar and tumor formation in transplanted SCID mice and nude mice.

CONCLUSIONSThe malignant change of the immortalized epithelium by the effects of sodium butyrate is the consequence of a two-stage mortality mechanism: cells death by butyrate cytotoxicity and cell crisis by abrogation of sodium butyrate. These data reveal that in high dosage, sodium butyrate induces cell death and in low dosage, it induces cell proliferation, which emphasizes the importance of butyrate as a promotor of carcinogenesis.

Animals ; Butyrates ; toxicity ; Carcinogens ; toxicity ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Transformed ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; chemically induced ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; etiology ; Esophagus ; pathology ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Papillomaviridae ; pathogenicity

Objective To compare the clinical effect of ifosfamide in combination with liposomal doxorubicin and dexamethasone (CDD) in the treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM) with or without extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP). Methods The clinical data of 71 relapsed/refractory MM patients treated with CDD regimen from January 2011 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed, including 48 patients with EMP(group A)and 23 patients without EMP (group B).One cycle of the CDD treatment was 21 d or 28 d and efficacy analysis was performed after every two cycles.Results The overall response rate in group A was 43.8%(21/48)and the complete remission and near complete remission rate was 8.3%(4/48);the overall response rate in group B was 65.2%(15/23)and the complete remission and near complete remission rate was 13.0% (3/23). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups(χ2=1.203,0.659,P>0.05).The progression-free survival (PFS)time in group A was(8.6 ± 3.3)months, while the PFS time in group B was(7.9 ± 2.5)months and there was no significant difference between the two groups(t=1.009,P>0.05).There was no significant difference about incidence rate of adverse effects between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusions CDD regimen can be used for the treatment of relapsed/refractory MM with or without EMP, the PFS and drug related adverse effects are similar, especially in patients with EMP.

Objective:To explore the protective effect of thioether-cyclized helix B peptide (CHBP)on renal tubular epithelial cells and its mechanism by experiment in vitro.Methods:Human renal proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 cells were cul-tured in vitro and divided into control group,H2 O2 group and CHBP group.Oxidative stress damage models were established by stimulation with 500 μmol/L H2 O2 for 4 h.In CHBP group,20 nmol/L CHBP was added to the culture medium 1 h prior to the establishment of oxidative stress model.After 4 h stimulation with 500 μmol/L H2 O2 ,cell viability,situation of apopto-sis,and severity of oxidative stress damage were measured.The expressions of Binding immunoglobulin protein(BiP),C/EBP homologous protein(CHOP),and the molecular in downstream NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)signaling pathway were detected by Western blotting and real-time PCR analysis,so as to evaluate the level of endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress.Results:Oxi-dative stress induced cytotoxic injury could be alleviated by CHBP pretreatment.Kit-8 (CCK-8 )assay and TUNEL showed that,after CHBP pretreatment,cell viability increased,while cell apoptosis,oxidative stress and ER stress decreased.The levels of Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1(HO-1)were significantly higher in CHBP group than those in H2 O2 group.Conclusions:CHBP pretreatment could alleviate oxidative stress damage of HK-2 cells,and the protective effect may be achieved by inhibi-ting ER stress and activating downstream Nrf2 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND:The small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis faces the problem of lumen stenosis or even occlusion due to thrombogenesis and intimal hyperplasia after transplantation.The application of stem cells as seed cells to achieve endothelialization of blood vessel prosthesis helps to improve the long-term patency rate after vascular graft transplantation. OBJECTIVE:To summarize the research progress of the application of stem cells in the endothelialization of small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis. METHODS:The relevant articles published on PubMed and WanFang databases from 2013 to 2023 were retrieved by the first author.Chinese and English search terms included"vascular graft,tissue-engineered blood vessel/vascular tissue engineering,endothelialization,stem cells,endothelial progenitor cells,mesenchymal stem cells,induced pluripotent stem cells,embryonic stem cells."The relative articles in the domestic and overseas about the application of stem cells in the endothelialization of small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis in the past 10 years were retrieved.A total of 552 articles were initially found and we finally selected 81 articles to review according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)The low long-term patency rate restricts the application of small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis in clinic.The main causes of low long-term patency rate are thrombogenesis and intimal hyperplasia.The endothelium of native vessels has the function of anti-thrombogenesis and intimal hyperplasia.Endothelialization can simulate the function of native vessels,which is an effective way to improve long-term patency rate.(2)The small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis will undergo in vivo endothelialization after being implanted,but it is difficult to form complete endothelium.Stem cells have the potential to differentiate into endothelial cells.Recruiting stem cells in vivo or seeding them on the inner surface of blood vessel prosthesis in vitro is research strategy to achieve endothelialization.(3)The long-term patency rate of small-diameter blood vessel prosthesis has been improved to a certain extent through seeding endothelial progenitor cells,mesenchymal stem cells,induced pluripotent stem cells,and embryonic stem cells.Each has its own advantages.Endothelial progenitor cells are easy to obtain and can be directly used for seeding.Mesenchymal stem cells come from a wide range of sources and have the function of paracrine and immunological regulation.Induced pluripotent stem cells are rich in sources and the immunogenicity can be eliminated.Embryonic stem cells have a strong proliferative ability and can differentiate into many cells.(4)The application of stem cells in blood vessel prosthesis has not yet been transformed into clinic.Further researches are needed to promote clinical translation.