OBJECTIVETo explore the therapeutic effect and safety of fire needling on rat with rheumatoid arthritis.

METHODSForty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal group, a model group, a methotrexate (MTX) group and a fire needling group, 10 rats in each group. The 0.1 mL of normal saline was subcutaneously injected in rat's right back paw in the normal group, while the other groups received subcutaneous injection of 0.1 mL of complete Freund's adjuvant to establish the model. The pricking method was applied in the fire needling group at "Jiaji" (EX-B 2), "Zusanli" (ST 36) and Ashi points with a depth of 5 mm, once every three days, and totally eight times were required. In the MTX group, with intragastric administration of 2.0 mg/kg per rat, the treatment was given once every seven days, and totally four times were required. The weight, swelling rate of foot, joint pain score and polyarthritis index of rats in each group as well as the pathological change of liver tissue under light microscope were observed.

RESULTSThe weight, swelling rate of foot, joint pain score and polyarthritis index in the model group were significantly higher than those in the normal group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), after the treatment, the above-mentioned indexes in the two treatment groups were obviouly dereased as componed with those in the model group (all P < 0.01), and there were statistical differences between the fire needling group and MTX group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Compared with the normal group, inflammatory cells were appeared with a cluster distribution in the liver cells of rats in the model group. The inflammatory cells were reduced in the MTX group and fire needling group, and liver cells had degenerative edema and cell nucleus were largen and deformed in the MTX group.

CONCLUSIONThe fire needling has significant efficacy for rats with adjuvant arthritis (AA) without any damage to the liver, which coud have a better control of disease progression of rheumatoid arthritis .

Acupuncture Therapy ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of the fludarabine combination with high-dose cytarabine (Ara C), idarubicin and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (IDA-FLAG regimen) in treatment of refractory/relapsed acute leukemia (AL) patients. 4 patients were male aged from 32 to 44 years, consisted of 3 cases of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and 1 cases of acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL). All the patients were treated with idarubicin (10 - 12 mg/m(2)/d, days 1 to 3), fludarabine (50 mg/d, days 1 to 5), cytarabine (2 g/m(2)/d, days 1 to 5) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF, 300 microg/d, days 0 to 5). The results showed that after one course of induction therapy, 4 patients all achieved complete remission (CR), in which 2 patients were in continuous CR after a follow-up of 3 and 4 months; 1 patient relapsed after 10 months and another one patient died of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura at 4 months after allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation. Myelosuppression and infections due to neutropenia were the most frequent adverse effects, severe nonhematologic toxicity and the early death were not observed in these patients. In conclusion, the IDA-FLAG regimen is effective in treatment of patients with refractory and relapsed AL, the adverse effects from this regimen were well tolerated by patients, which gains time for further treatment.
Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; therapeutic use ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Idarubicin ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Vidarabine ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use

Objective To observe the changes of serum S100B and MBP in rats with liquid petroleum gas poisoning. Methods Fifty-four healthy adult male SD rats were randomized into normal control group (n=6), 20% LPG poisoning group (n=24) and 50% LPG poisoning group (n=24). Rat models of liquid petroleum gas poisoning were established in the later 2 groups, and controls were given the same volume of air. The rats of each group(n=6) were scored with neurological severity scale (NSS) and the blood serum was collected on the 1st, 2nd, 3nd and 7th d of poisoning, respectively. The levels of S100B and MBP were detected by euzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results As compared with the scores of NSS in the normal control group, those on the 1st d of poisoning in the 20% LPG poisoning group and those on the 1st and 2nd d of poisoning in the 50% LPG poisoning group were significantly higher (P＜0.05). The levels of Sl00B and MBP in 20% and 50% LPG poisoning groups were higher than those in the control group on the 1st and 2nd d of poisoning (P＜0.05); the levels of S100B and MBP in 50% LPG poisoning group were higher than those in 20% LPG poisoning group on the 1st and 2nd d of poisoning (P＜0.05). The levels of S 100B and MBP in 50% LPG poisoning group were higher than those in 20% LPG poisoning group and normal control group on the 3rd of poisoning (P＜0.05). The NSS scores and the levels of S100B and MBP in rats with LPG poisoning enjoyed the highest scores or levels on the 1st d of poisoning and those decreased after that. Conclusion The levels of S100B and MBP of rats with LPG poisoning increase, indicating that gliocytes participate in the mechanism of nervous system injury in rats with liquid petroleum gas poisoning.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of FLAG consolidatory therapy on peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization in patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) for autologous PBSC transplantation. A total of 15 AML patients were enrolled in this study. 10 patients were male, and 5 were female, with ages ranging from 14 to 51 (median 36) years. Out of 15 patients 13 were newly diagnosed, and 2 were refractory/relapsed AML. All patients were consolidated with FLAG regimen which including fludarabine 50 mg/d, days 1-5; Ara-C 2 g/(m2.d), days 1-5; G-CSF 300 microg/d, injection subcutaneously starting 24 hours before Ara-C and continuing until neutrophil count exceeding 1.0x10(9)/L. The harvest of the stem cells was performed after hematologic recovery from the second or third course of FLAG consolidation, or mobilized by high dose etoposide (1.6 g/m2). The results showed that among 15 patients scheduled for PBSC harvest, 11 (73.3%) harvested a median of 3.52x10(6)/kg CD34+ cells (range 2.2-4.6) and underwent autologous transplantation, while the minimal number of CD34+ cells could not be reached in the remaining 4 patients. It is concluded that the FLAG regimen is effective and well-tolerated treatment as consolidation regimen in AML, which does not influence PBSC mobilization and autologous transplantation after 2 courses of FLAG.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Cytarabine ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; methods ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Vidarabine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDThe gender difference on long-term outcome in unselected patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not yet been fully investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the gender difference on five-year outcomes following EXCEL biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stenting in patients with coronary disease.

METHODSA total of 2077 "all comers", consisting of 1528 (73.6%) men and 549 (26.4%) women, who were exclusively treated with EXCEL coronary stents were enrolled in the prospective CREATE study at 59 centers from four countries. After propensity score matching, the baseline characteristics of the two groups were well matched. Recommended antiplatelet regimen was clopidogrel and aspirin for six months followed by chronic aspirin therapy. The primary outcome that was the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as a composite of cardiac mortality, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and target lesion revascularization (TLR), and stent thrombosis (ST) at five years were compared between the two gender groups.

RESULTSIn the two groups, women had higher proportions of clinical risk factors, such as being elderly, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidemia, compared to men. Besides, the mean target vessel number per patient was higher and the mean reference vessel diameter smaller for women. Men had higher risks of cardiac death (3.7% vs. 1.6%, P = 0.021) and MACE (8.4% vs. 4.7%, P = 0.004) at five years compared with women. However, the cumulative hazards of non-fatal MI and TLR were similar between men and women. The incidence of Academic Research Consortium (ARC) definite or probable stent thrombosis was similar between the two groups (1.3% vs. 1.0%, P = 0.639). Prolonged clopidogrel therapy (>6 months) did not reduce the cumulative hazards of ST from six months to five years in both men (χ(2) = 0.098, log rank P = 0.754) and women (χ(2) = 2.043, log rank P = 0.153) patients.

CONCLUSIONSWomen had a lower MACE and cardiac death rate than men after biodegradable polymer-coated sirolimus-eluting stenting in long term follow-up. Effects of prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) in preventing stent thrombosis was similar with six-month DAPT after EXCEL stent implantation in both men and women groups.

Aged ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; methods ; Coronary Angiography ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymers ; chemistry ; Prospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Sirolimus ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo explore the effectivity and safety of single high-dose (HD) etoposide (Vp16) with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for mobilization of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) in patients with hematologic malignancies.

METHODS80 patients of hematologic malignancies including 20 patients with acute leukemia (AL), 23 with multiple myeloma (MM), 35 with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 2 with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) received Vp16 (1.6 g/m(2)) continuous intravenous infusion for 10 hrs on day 1. G-CSF at 10 µg/kg once daily subcutaneous injection began to use on day of ANC lower than 1×10(9)/L and continued until PBSC collection was completed. Autologous PBSC (APBSC) was collected on day of WBC greater than 5×10(9)/L and continuing until the collection goal was met (target value: MNC ≥ 6.0×10(8)/kg and CD34(+) ≥ 2.0×10(6)/kg). The patients received APBSC after conditioning regimen. The number of the cells collection, time of hematopoietic reconstruction, adverse effect and so on were observed during the course of stem cell mobilization and collection.

RESULTSPBSC was collected on day 11 (range: 7 - 25 days) of after Vp16 administration with a median collection time of 2 (range 1 - 5). 3/80 patients with AML got stem cell mobilization failure. 5 of 6 patients who failed to mobilize before got successful stem cell mobilization, 1/6 patient with AML-M(5) got a second failure after the mobilization of VP16 whose first time's mobilization using Ara-C did not succeed. The median number of CD34(+) cells collected in 77 patients who got successful mobilization was 4×10(6)/kg \[range (1.59 - 24.68)×10(6)/kg\]. The collection of 20 patients with AL and 23 with MM were got detection for minimal residual disease, no pollution of tumor cells were happened. All patients could tolerate the whole course of stem cell mobilization. 29/80 (36.25%) patients got a 4 grade leucopenia, 19/80 (23.75%) patients got infection.

CONCLUSIONSingle high-dose etoposide with G-CSF for mobilization of APBSC has a higher achievement ratio, a controllable adverse effect, a promising hematopoiesis recovery, which is an effective and safe mobilizing regimen for patients with hematologic malignancies.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Etoposide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; therapeutic use ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Young Adult

AIM:To investigate the effects of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 9, X-linked (USP9X) down-regula-tion on apoptosis and invasion ability in gastric carcinoma cells, and to explore its possible molecular mechanisms. METH-ODS:USP9X small interfering RNA (siRNA) and control siRNA were used to be transfected into gastric carcinoma AGS cells. The cells were divided into 3 groups, including untreated AGS group, control siRNA group and USP9X siRNA group. The expression of USP9X at mRNA and protein levels in the AGS cells with different treatments was determined by real-time PCR and Western blot. The cell viability was analyzed by CCK-8 assay. Flow cytometry and Boyden chamber were employed to examine the apoptosis and invasion ability of the AGS cells. RESULTS:USP9X siRNA significantly down-regulated the expression of USP9X at mRNA and protein levels in the AGS cells. Down-regulation of USP9X markedly induced apoptosis and reduced invasion ability of the gastric carcinoma AGS cells. Notably, down-regulation of USP9X sig-nificantly reduced the protein expression of Mcl-1 and MMP-2, but markedly increased the protein level of Bax. CON-CLUSION:USP9X may be a key regulator for apoptosis and invasion in gastric carcinoma.

Objective To observe the influence of spinal cord injury on lower limbs weight support capacity,and the changes with time. Methods Six adult female rhesus monkeys with thoracic(T7-9)right spinal cord hemi-section were measured the plantar pressure ratio of both lower limbs with Foot-Scan system before,and six and twelve weeks after operation. Results There was no statistical difference between both sides of limbs before operation(Z=-1.330,P>0.05),while the plantar pressure ratio was more on the left limbs six and twelve weeks after operation(Z>4.783,P<0.001).The plantar pressure ratio of right lower limb became less and less during observation(Z=3.191,P<0.001). Conclusion The weight support capacity of affected limbs is injured after spinal cord hemi-section in monkeys, and would become worse without intervention.

To establish a new Western blotting assay for PrP(Sc) detection, we optimized the Western blotting assay with a precipitation procedure of streptomycin sulfate. After digestion with PK, 10% scrapie infected hamster brain homogenates were incubated with 60 mmol/L streptomycin and the precipitated PrP(Sc) was recovered by centrifugation. The enrichment of PrP(Sc) by streptomycin sulfate precipitation was evaluated using Western blotting assay. The results showed streptomycin could bind to PK-treated PrP(Sc), forming high molecular masses, but not influence the glycosylated patterns on SDS-PAGE. Western blot assay revealed that the detective sensitivity of the streptomycin-precipitation PrP(Sc) was remarkably improved. As a sensitive, specific, rapid and flexible protocol for PrP(Sc), the protocol in this study has the potential utility, alone or combined with other techniques, for the detection of low level PrP(Sc) in the specimens from central nerve system, or from peripheral organs or body fluids.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; methods ; Brain ; metabolism ; pathology ; Brain Chemistry ; Chemical Precipitation ; Cricetinae ; PrPSc Proteins ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Prion Diseases ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Reproducibility of Results ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Streptomycin ; chemistry