OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction on Fas/FasL in salivary glands of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome and their mRNA expression.

METHODThirty-two NOD mice were randomly divided into the model group, the traditional Chinese medicine group (TCM group, orally given 0.4 mL nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction as per 100 g x kg(-1) everyday), the hydroxychloroquine group (given 0.4 mL hydroxychloroquine as per 60 mg x kg(-1) everyday), the traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine group (TCM WM group, given nourishing Yin, Strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction 50 g x kg(-1) and hydroxychloroquine 60 mg x kg(-1), 0.4 mL everyday), with eight mice in each group. Eight Balb/C mice were selected as the normal control group (normal group). All of mice were killed after eight weeks, and their submaxillary glands were dissected. The expression levels of Fas/FasL were examined by immunohistochemical method, and the FasL mRNA was detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTThe expression levels of Fas/FasL in salivary glands of the model group were higher than that of other groups (P < 0.05). The expression level of FasL of the normal group was much lower than that in the hydroxychloroquine group (P < 0.05). The relative expression level of Fas mRNA in salivary glands of the model group was higher than that in other groups, but the control group was notably lower than other groups (P < 0.05). The expression level of FasL mRNA in salivary glands of the model group was higher than that in TCM and TCM WM groups (P < 0.05). But the expression level in TCM WM group was notably lower than the hydroxychloroquine group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction could down-regulate the expression level of Fas/FasL in salivary glands of NOD mice with Sjogren's syndrome and their mRNA expression, and had a better efficacy after being combined with hydroxychloroquine. The nourishing Yin, strengthening Qi and activating blood decoction might treat the Sjogren's Syndrome by reducing apoptosis which is regulated by Fas/FasL

Animals ; Fas Ligand Protein ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Qi ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Salivary Glands ; metabolism ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; blood ; genetics ; therapy ; Yin-Yang ; fas Receptor ; genetics

Objective To study early changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover for prodicting the bone mineral density(BMD) response to alendronate therapy in Chinese men with osteoporosis. Methods Seventy-eight men aged 60 to 82 years with osteoporosis [mean age (69.8 ±11.8) years]were treated with alendronate sodium 70 mg/week for 12 months. Serum bone gla-protein (BGP) and serum pyridinoline-eross-linked earboxyterminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP) level were measured by chemiluminescence (equipment is Roche E170). Serum BGP, ICTP and BSALP levels were measured before and 3 months and 12 months after treatment. BMD in lumbar spine and femoral neck were measured with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (GE PRODIGY Inc. ) at L1-4 and at the left hip(total hip,trochanter,Ward's area and femoral neck)before and 12 months after treatment. Results After 3-months and 12-months treatment, the percent reductions of serum ICTP levels were 45.8% and 51.6%, serum BGP level 32.0% and 37.5%, serum BSALP level 35. 3% and 39.9% ,respectively. After 12-months treatment, the percent increase of lumbar BMD was 11.8%, femoral neck BMD 11.4 %. The percent reductions of serum ICTP level at months 3 and 12 after treatment were positively correlated to the percent increase of lumbar BMD (r=0.28, 0.295,P <0.05 and P<0.01)and of fermoral neck BMD at 12 months after treatment(r=0.262, 0.333, P＜0.05 and P<0.01)respectively. The percent reductions of serum BGP level at months 3 and 12 after treatment were positively correlated to the percent increase of lumbar BMD (r=0. 322, 0.401,all P<0.01) and of fermoral neck BMD at 12 months after treatment (r=0.277,0.284, all P＜0.05)respectively. The percent reductions of serum BSALP level at months 3 and 12 after treatment were positively correlated to the percent increase of lumbar BMD (r=0.133,0.231,all P＜0.05) and of fermoral neck BMD at 12 months after treatment(r=0.248, 0.317, all P＜0.01)respectively.Conclusions Early changes in biochemical markers of bone turnover rates can predict BMD response to alendronate in Chinese men with osteoporosis.

A high productive poly ?-glutamic acid(?-PGA) strain PGA-N in a culture medium containing no L-glutamine was isolated from fermentation products.With the following identifications of colony mor-phology,physiological and biochemistry experiments,and genetics,the strain PGA-N was classified as a Bacillus licheniformis.According to the product environment,the base culture medium having no L-glutamine was simulated.In order to enhance the production of the strain PGA-N,the fermentation condi-tions,such as carbon source,nitrogen source,were optimized and the ?-glutamic acid production reached 5.16 g/L after getting the optimum formulation of this culture medium.PGA-N was mutagenized with com-bination of NTG and UV.A mutant PGA-N-C10 was screened which PGA production was increased from 5.16 g/L to 8.82 g/L.The study also investigated the effects of agitation speed on the cell biomass,?-PGA production and the ?-PGA molecular weight.The ?-PGA yield of PGA-N-C10 was as high as 11.00 g/L when the agitation speed was 400 r/min.

Objective To evaluate carotid intima-media thickness(IMT) and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension(PIH) using ultrasound radio-frequency data(RF-data) technology.Methods Twenty-seven PIH women(mean brachial blood pressure:108 mm Hg,1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)were included and thirty age- and gestational week-matched normal pregnant women served as controls.Carotid IMT and stiffness were evaluated using quality IMT(QIMT) and quantitative artery stiffness(QAS)techniques with color Doppler.Results Carotid IMT and elasticity parameters,including pulse wave velocity,pressure at T1,arterial augmented pressure(AP) and arterial augmented pressure index(AIx) were significantly higher in PIH group than in the normal group[IMT:(466.84±118.50)μm vs (386.58±125.79)μm;PWV:(7.09±1.97)m/s vs (5.95±1.11) m/s;PT1:(127.50±14.29) mm Hg vs (105.89±11.02)mm Hg;AP:(5.14±3.39) mm Hg vs (1.98±2.19)mm Hg;AIx:(7.58±8.73)% vs (-4.79±7.92)%)], and there were significant differences(t=2.660,2.660,3.460,3.460,3.460,all P＜0.01).Conclusions PIH women have significantly increased carotid IMT and decreased elasticity compared with normal pregnant women.Radio-frequency technique could reliably reflect the changes of the carotid arterial structure and elasticity in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

A poly-?-glutamic acid producing strain--BLN-2, was isolated from the soybean products. According to the biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA, the strain was identified as Bacillus subtilis. Using soybeans as culture, the solid-state fermentation conditions of BLN-2 have been studied. The results showed that the optimal carbon and nitrogen sources of BLN-2 were glucose, fructose, NaNO3 and KNO3, respectively. The orthrogonal experiments showed, when the final concentration of the fructose which was added to the soybean culture was 0.5%, the glucose, NaNO3 and KNO3 final concentraion were 2.0%, the production of ?-PGA was the highest--89.05 g/kg. It is 48.42% higher than other comparable soybean medium under the same conditions.

OBJECTIVETo investigate and compare the clinical significance of (18)F-FDG single-photon emission computed tomography and computed tomography (SPECT-CT) in the diagnosis and staging of lung cancer.

METHODSFrom July 2005 to July 2007, 71 patients with suspected lung cancer received conventional CT and SPECT-CT examination. Fifty-seven of the 71 patients had definite pathological or cytological diagnosis, consisting of 52 malignant lung tumors and 5 benign pulmonary nodules. Forty-three patients underwent surgical resection with different modes. Thirty-seven of the 43 surgically treated patients had available complete data of CT, SPECT-CT and pathological results.

RESULTSTaking the pathological diagnosis as gold standard, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of diagnosing pulmonary lesions suspected as lung cancer were 84.6% (44/52), 80.0% (4/5), 84.2% (48/57) for conventional CT and 92.3% (48/52), 80.0% (4/5), 91.2% (52/57) for SPECT-CT, respectively. If taking the pathological TNM staging results as gold standard, the concordance rates of TNM staging with pathological TNM staging results was 59.5% (22/37) for CT and 67.6% (25/37) for SPECT-CT. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of staging hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were 76.9%, 79.2%, 78.4%, 66.6%, 86.4% for conventional CT versus 61.5%, 75.0%, 70.3%, 57.1%, 78.3% for SPECT-CT (P > 0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between conventional CT and SPECT-CT in the accuracy of diagnosing and staging for the suspected pulmonary lesions (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPECT-CT is likely superior to conventional CT in the diagnosing and staging for lung cancer. It can be used as a non-invasive supplementary tool for differential diagnosis between malignant and benign pulmonary lesions and in diagnosis of lymph node > 1 cm in diameter.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Radiopharmaceuticals ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon ; methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Qingfei Huatan Quyu method (QHQ, a Chinese medicinal therapy for clearing Fei-heat and dissolving phlegm-stasis) combined with hormone-antibiotic therapy (HAT) on radiation pneumonia (RP).

METHODSEighty-one patients with RP were randomized into two groups, 41 patients in the control group and 40 in the treatment group were treated with HAT alone and HAT combined with QHQ respectively for 21 days. The severity of RP was evaluated before and after treatment according to the criteria of the radiation therapy oncology group. The effect on TCM symptoms and chest roentgenogram, as well as on plasma levels of interleukin-6 ( IL-6) and transform growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) were detected.

RESULTSAfter treatment, number of patients with RP graded as 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the treatment group was 23, 10, 4, 2, and 1, respectively, while in the control group, 14, 9, 11, 4, and 3, respectively. The combined therapy showed effects in improving RP grading (P <0.01) and TCM syndromes were superior to those of HAT respectively (P < 0.05). Besides, levels of IL-6 and TGF-beta were lowered after treatment in the treatment group, showing a significant difference to those in the control group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONQHQ combined with HAT has a definite therapeutic effect on RP. It could efficiently decrease the plasma levels of IL-6 and TGF-beta in patients with RP.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; drug therapy ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Guilu Erxianjiao (GLEXJ) in suppressing chemotherapy induced cell apoptosis in mice and to discuss its possible acting mechanism.

METHODSSeventy-two tumor-bearing Kunming mice were randomly divided into 6 groups, Group A, treated with normal saline; Group B treated with cyclophosphamide (CTX), Group C treated with Chinese herbal medicine, and Group D-F, the three combined treated group received CTX plus high, moderate and low dose GLEXJ. All mice were sacrificed after 9-day medication, their splenic tissues were taken for determining T-lymphocyte apoptosis with flow cytometer, the expression of bcl-2 mRNA and Caspase-3mRNA detected by RT-PCR.

RESULTSAs compared with Group A, FITC+/PI- cell proportion of spleen T-lymphocyte cells and Caspase-3mRNA expression were higher, while bcl-2 mRNA expression was lower in Group B; as compared with Group B, the former two indexes were lower and the latter was higher in the three combined treated groups (all P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONGLEXJ could efficiently suppress the splenic T-lymphocyte apoptosis in tumor bearing mice undergoing chemotherapy, one of its mechanisms may be through up-regulating of bcl-2 mRNA expression and down-regulating of Caspase-3mRNA expression.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiopathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Spleen ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; pathology ; surgery ; China ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Neoplasm Staging ; Surgical Procedures, Operative ; methods ; trends

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Guilu Erxian Glue Cataplasm (GEGC) on carcinoma of the large intestine patients with myelosuppression after chemotherapy, and further to confirm its efficiency and safety.

METHODSTotally 60 patients with carcinoma of the large intestine were randomly assigned to two groups. Meanwhile, they all accepted FOLFIRI chemotherapy. Patients in the treatment group were additionally applied at Shenque (RN8), exchanging once per every other day, for 14 successive days. Patients in the control group took placebos with the same dose and dosage as the treatment group. The blood cell counts (WBC, NE, and PLT) were detected before chemotherapy, at day 7, 10, and 14. The TCM symptoms integrals, Karnofsky performance score (KPS), liver and kidney functions were observed before chemotherapy, at day 7 and day 14. Adverse skin reactions were observed each day. And the usage of hematopoietic growth factors was recorded.

RESULTS(1) The KPS score at day 7 was more stable in the treatment group than in the control group; the WBC and NE counts in the peripheral blood at day 14 were higher in the treatment group than in the control group; and TCM symptoms integrals at day 14 was lower in the treatment group than in the control group, all with statistical difference (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with the control group, the PLT count was higher in the treatment group than in the control group, the usage of rhG-CSF and antibiotics was less in the treatment group than in the control group, all with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). (3) No obvious adverse reactions such as liver injury, renal injury, or skin allergy were observed.

CONCLUSIONSAdjuvant treatment of GEGC could improve carcinoma of the large intestine patients with myelosuppression to some extent. No relevant adverse reactions were found.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged