OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Qiling Decoction (QD) combined highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) on expression levels of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells in HIV/AIDS patients.

METHODSTotally 55 HIV/AIDS patients were randomly assigned to the treatment group (28 cases) and the combination group (27 cases). Besides, 21 HIV negative patients were recruited as the healthy control group. Those in the treatment group received HARRT alone, while those in the combination group received HAART combined QD. The observation lasted for 24 weeks. Meanwhile, according to peripheral blood CD4+ T cell counts before treatment, HIV/AIDS patients were assigned to three subgroups. For patients in subgroup 1, 1 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 100 cells/microL; For patients in subgroup 2, 101 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 200 cells/lL; For patients in subgroup 3, 201 cells/microL < CD4+ T cell counts < or = 350 cells/microL. Expression of peripheral blood Th17 and Treg cells, and number of CD4+ T cell counts were detected using flow cytometry (FCM)in HIV/AIDS patients at the pre-treatment baseline, week 4, 12, and 24, as well as those in the healthy control group.

RESULTSCompared with the healthy control group, CD4+ T cell counts and the baseline expression level of Th17 cells in the peripheral blood of HIV/AIDS patients significantly decreased, the expression level of Treg cells significantly increased P < 0.01). Compared with before treatment in the same group, CD4+ T cell counts all increased at week 4, 12, and 24 in the two treatment groups, showing statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the effective rate at various CD4+ T cell levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was no statistical difference in expression levels of Th17 and Treg cells between the combination group and the treatment group at any time point (all P >0.05). The Th17/Treg ration significantly increased in the combination group after 24 weeks of treatment, showing statistical difference when compared with the treatment group (U = 2.135, P = 0.038).

CONCLUSIONQD could improve the immune balance of Th17/Treg cells, which might be one of its mechanisms for improving HIV/AIDS patients' immunity.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Adult ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

AlM: To observe retinal hemodynamic influence of compound xueshuantong capsule on nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy ( NPDR) after laser photocoagulation.METHODS:A total of 41 patients (72 eyes) with NPDR after laser photocoagulation were enrolled in this study. They were all given compound xueshuantong capsule, and used color Doppler flow imaging for detection of retinal hemodynamics.
RESULTS: After treatment, patients with retinal blood perfusion significantly improved; central retinal arterial peak systolic velocity ( PSV ) , end - diastolic velocity (EDV) and medial velocity (Vm) were increased, while the resistance index ( Rl) decreased. The difference have statistical significance (P<0. 05). The visual acuity of 61 eyes improved, efficiency was 85%. Visual acuity was related with PSV, Vm and Rl.
CONCLUSlON: Compound xueshuantong capsule can improve retinal blood perfusion for nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy after laser photocoagulation, which is related to improvement of visual prognosis.

Objective To investigate the standardized treatment of 33 children with thalassemia and their family financial burden registered in Bao'an district, Shenzhen city, and to provide basic information for formulating health policy for the government. Methods In 2009, preliminary investigations on 39 registered families with thalassemia children were conducted by telephone, and a household survey was made to collect treatment and economic status by questionnaire on 33 children. Results Among 33 cases of thalassemia children, 21 cases(63.7%) were severe anemia, 5 cases( 15.1%) in need of care or special care, and 25 cases(75.8%) were difficult or unable to maintain standardized treatment. The average family monthly income and expenditure was (4060 ± 2002) and (4926 ± 2991) yuan, respectively. The average monthly treatment costs were (2665 ± 1872) yuan, and the average debt amounted to (64 600 ± 53 940) yuan. Fifteen families[60.0%(15/25)] would reduce the times of blood transfusions or iron transpirations when they encountered revenue deficiency. Conclusions The heavy economic burdens on families with children thalassemia result in inadequate or interrupted treatment on sick children and affect their survival and quality of life, which should be taken more attention and social care.

Background Some drugs with inhibitory effect on the proliferation of lens epithelial cells have a limiting application in clinic because of their adverse response.To screen the effective and less side-effect drug for supressing LECs growth is very inportant for the prevention and treatment of after cataract.Objective This study was to explore the effects of docetaxel on LECs growth and compare its role with epirubicin hydrochloride,pirarubicin hydrochloTide and rahitrexed.Methotis Immortalized human LECs line (SRA01/04) were cultured and passaged.Different concentrations of docetaxel,epirubicin hydrochloride,pirarubicin hydrochloride and rahitrexed were added into the medium respectively for 24.48 and 72 hours.The proliferation of LECs was detect by M1Yr.Flow cytometry analysis Was used to analyze the influence of different concentrations of docetaxel on cellular cycle at 48 hours after addition of docetaxel,and Annexin V-FITC/PI marking method was used to assesse the apoptosis of LECs under the action of docetaxel.Expression of bcl-2 protein in LECs Was evaluated by Westeru blot. Result The growth rate of LECs Wag 100%in 8-519 pmol/L doeetaxel groups with the normal cell shape.Majority of abnormal cells and low growth rate were found in 66 nmoVL docetaxel group at 48 and 72 hours.The IC50 of docetaxel was lowest in 48 and 72 hours in docetaxel group in comparison to epirubicin hydrochloride and pirarubicin hydrochloride. However,no evident inhibition on LECs growth in 23.22-523.56 μmol/L of raltitrexed.At 48 hours,the percentage of LECs in G2/M phase increased as the asccnte of concentration of docetaxel,showing a significant difference among 4 groups(F=2633.05,P＜0.01).The percentage of early apoptotic cells increased to 22.4%(χ2=20.00,P＜0.01) and 27.9%(χ2=42.68,P＜0.01)from normal control 3.1% at 48 hours after LECs exposed to 8.3 nmol/L and 266 nmol/L docetaxe.The expression of bcl-2 protein in LECs was obviously weakened after addition of docetaxel,especially 8.3 nmol/L docetaxel group. Conclusion Docetaxel,epirubicin hydrochloride and pirarubicin hydrochloride can inhibit the proliferation of human LECs in vitro.But there is no supression on LECs growth inraltitrexed.Docetaxel is proved to have a strongly arrested effect on the proliferation of LECs in comparison with epirubicin hydrochloride and pirarubicin hydrochloride and play its role at concentration-and time-dependent manner.

Background Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(G-CSF)has been reported to have beneficial effect on cardiac dysfunction in post infarction and doxorubicin-induced cardiomyopathy.Objective To investigate the effects of G-CSF on cardiac remodeling in cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin Ⅱ(Ang Ⅱ).Methods Thirty-six male wild type mice(WT)were allocated randomly to receive subcutaneously G-CSF(10 ?g/kg per day, n=9),or Ang Ⅱ(2.88 mg/kg per day,n=9),or Ang Ⅱ plus G-CSF(Ang Ⅱ 2.88 mg/kg+G-CSF 10 ?g/kg,n =9)for 4 weeks with untreated WT(n=9)as controls.Blood pressure and cardiac function were measured. Heart weight/body weight ratio,myocyte cross-sectional area and fibrosis area were determined.The mRNA ex- pression of osteopontin(OPN)in myocardium was detected by RT-PCR.The expressions of angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE),ACE2 and phosph-p70S6 kinase protein in myocardium were assessed by Western-Blot.Results Ang Ⅱ significantly elevated blood pressure(SBP,Ang Ⅱ:139.7?1.6 vs WT:108.7?2.3 mmHg,P0.05),but significantly attenuated the myocyte cross-sectional area(Ang Ⅱ+G-CSF:181.06?0.11 vs Ang Ⅱ:202.02?0.16 ?m~2,P

Objective To prepare controlled release microspheres of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)& calcium alginate and observe their effect on proliferation of human umbilical vein endo- thelial cells(HUVEC)in order to provide theoretical basis for controlled release of VEGF facilitating an- giogenesis of tissue engineering bone.Methods VEGF-calcium alginate microspheres were prepared by using the needle extrusion/external gelation method to investigate physicochemical character and in vitro release of VEGF.According to the different ingredients added into the culture medium,the seconda- ry cultured HUVEC were divided into four groups,ie,control group,microsphere group,VEGF group and VEGF-calcium alginate microsphere group,in which the proliferation of the cultured HUVEC was ob- served with cell counting method,MTT method and flow cytometry.Results The calcium alginate mi- crospheres were revealed as spherical shape and evenly distributed,with mean grain diameter of(560?50)?m,carrying capacity of 0.72 ng/mg and the encapsulation efficiency of 54%.Smooth controlled re- lease in VEGF-alginate microspheres lasted for more than 10 days.Proliferation of the cultured HUVEC was accelerated the most in VEGF group at the beginning but in EGF-calcium alginate microsphere group at midanaphase compared with other groups,with statistical difference(P＜0.05).There was no statis- tical difference upon cell counting,cell activity and time point of cell cycle between control group and mi- crosphere group.Conclusion VEGF-sodium alginate microapheres can continue activity of VEGF,re- lease VEGF for over 10 days and promote proliferation cultured HUVEC for a long time.

Humans ; Tuberculosis ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; surgery ; Vocal Cords

To study the chemical constituents of the 95% ethanol extract of Psidium guajava. Compounds were separated by using a combination of various chromatographic methods including silica gel, D101 macroporous resin, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 and preparative HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by physicochemical properties and spectral data Eighteen compounds were isolated and identified as (+) -globulol (1), clovane-2beta, 9alpha-diol (2), 2beta-acetoxyclovan-9alpha-ol (3), (+) -caryolane-1 ,9beta-diol (4), ent-T-muurolol (5), clov-2-ene-9alpha-ol (6), isophytol (7), tamarixetin (8), gossypetin (9), quercetin (10), kaempferol (11), guajaverin (12), avicularin (13), chrysin 6-C-glucoside (14), 3'-O-methyl-3, 4-methylenedioxyellagic acid 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (15), p-hydroxy-benzoic acid (16), guavinoside A (17) and guavinoside B (18). Compounds 2-9 and 14-16 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The ethanol extract showed 61.3% inhibition against the proliferation of colon cancer cell line SW480.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Organic Chemicals ; analysis ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Psidium ; chemistry

Objective To investigate whether the left ventricular delayed contraction site determined by tissue Doppler imaging might be an optimal left ventricular lead position for improved outcomes of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. Methods Thirty-three patients subjected to CRT were selected, and all were performed conventional ultrasound cardiography and tissue Doppler examinations before operation. The left ventricular delayed contraction site was determined according to the interval between the onset of QRS and the peak systolic velocity. Retrograde coronary venography was performed during operation, and the left ventricular lead site was selected according to the left ventricular delayed contraction site determined by tissue Doppler examination before operation. The coronary sinus lead site was determined under the guidance of X ray of dorsaventral, lateral, right anterior oblique and left anterior oblique positions. Patients were divided into group A(n=20, the left ventricular lead site was in line with the delayed contraction site) and group B (n=13, the left ventricular lead site was not in line with the delayed contraction site). Results There was no significant difference in age, NYHA grading, left ventricular end-systolic volume(LVESV), left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF), pulmonary arterial systolic pressure, QRS width and Ts-SD between the two groups before operation(P> 0.05). Six months after CRT, there was no significant difference in NYHA grading, LVESV and mitral regurgitation(MR) grading between the two groups(P>0.05), while the increase in LVEF and decrease in LVESV of group A were more significant than those of group B (P<0.01). Conclusion In patients with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, CRT significantly improves left ventricular performance, and the more favourable outcomes are achieved in those pace at the delayed contraction site. Tissue Doppler imaging may help to guide the implant of left ventricular lead.

?AlM: To investigate the outcome and safety of Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation treatment in uncontrolled primary congenital glaucoma ( PCG) .
? METHODS: Twenty - two eyes in 22 children with uncontrolled PCG were reviewed retrospectively and underwent Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation treatment from January 2011 to December 2014. Main checking index included intraocular pressure ( lOP ) before and after operation, corneal diameter and complications.
?RESULTS: Preoperative mean age was 3. 74±2. 24y, and 2. 59 ± 1. 78y apart from the last operation. Postoperative average lOP was 35. 22 ± 6. 36mmHg. Average corneal diameter was 12. 79 ± 0. 75mm. Mitomycin C ( 0. 3 - 0. 5mg/mL ) was used in all operations for 3-5min. Glaucoma valves were implanted in the temporal or nose above the equator sclera. Postoperative lOP was 11. 4±4. 45mmHg at 1wk, and 16. 73± 7. 23mmHg after 12mo. As lOP< 21mmHg for success criteria, lOP of 16 eyes ( 73%) were controlled after 12mo. Preoperative 6 cases had shallow anterior chamber, recovered spontaneously. No serious complication was recorded, such as rejection of glaucoma valve, endoophthalmitis and corneal decompensation.
?CONCLUSlON:Ahmed glaucoma valve implantation in uncontrolled PCG is a safe and viable treatment.