Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) plus long-snake moxibustion for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation. Methods: A total of 60 patients in active stage of RA were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, with 30 cases in each group. Patients in the control group took methotrexate tablets and nimesulide dispersible tablets orally for treatment, while those in the observation group received additional treatment of EA plus long-snake moxibustion. Both groups were treated for 12 weeks. The post-treatment changes in symptomatic grading and quantifying score, disease activity score with 28 joint counts (DAS28), and inflammatory indicators erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were observed, and the efficacy was evaluated. Results: The total effective rate in the observation group was 89.9％, versus 76.6％ in the control group, and there was a significant difference in the total effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the symptomatic grading and quantifying score and DAS28 in both groups were significantly improved (all P<0.05), and the improvements in the observation group were more significant than those in the control group (both P<0.05). Besides, there were 11 cases with low disease activity index (DAI) and in remission in the observation group versus 5 cases in the control group, showing a statistically significant between-group difference (P<0.05). The ESR and CRP scores in both groups were significantly reduced after treatment (all P<0.05), also showing statistically significant between-group differences (both P<0.05). Conclusion: The efficacy of additional EA plus long-snake moxibustion based on oral medications for RA due to kidney deficiency and cold coagulation is better than that of the oral medications alone.

Objective To investigate the effective predictors of response in HBeAg-positive patients treated with adefovir dipivoxil(ADV)and to provide evidence for individualized treatment.Methods Patients administered with ADV for 48 weeks in a randomized,placebo-controlled,multicenter trial were studied.Statistical analyses,such as Backward stepwise logistic regression and 2?2 method were used for predictors analysis at week 48.Results The baseline serum ALT levels,HBV DNA levels,and undetectable serum HBV DNA by PCR at week 24 were predictors for HBV DNA negativity at week 48.The median of serum ALT levels and HBV DNA levels prior to treatment were 134.5 U/L and 6.57 lg copies/mL,respectively.Patients with baseline ALT levels higher than the median,HBV DNA levels lower than the median,and serum HBV DNA undectectable by PCR at week 24 had greater rate of HBV DNA negativity(93.3%),HBeAg loss(60%)and HBeAg seroconversion(40%)at week 48 than the others.47.8% of patients whose HBV DNA levels were positive at week 24 also achieved HBV DNA negativity at week 48,and 8.6% achieved HBeAg seroconversion.Conclusion Better response at week 48 has significantly higher serum ALT levels and lower HBV DNA levels prior to treatment and HBV DNA negativity at week 24 compared with non-response.Patients whose HBV DNA levels ware still positive at week 24 should continue therapy.

Objective To explore the levels of neuron-specific enolase(NSE)in serum and cerebrospinal fluid(CSF) of children with convulsion,and its significance to the diagnosis of neuronal damage was evaluated.Methods Sixty patients were enrolled,and they were divided into 4 groups:non-nervous system disease group,peripheral nervous system disease group,brief convulsion group,and prolonged/status convulsion group.The levels of NSE in serum and CSF were detected in 4 groups,and the electroencephalography(EEG) and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging(CT/MRI) examinations were taken to observe the changes in patients with convulsion.Results The levels of NSE in serum and CSF of children with convulsion increased significant,especially in the prolonged/status convulsion group.Changes of NSE levels in serum and CSF were similar.Meanwhile,significant changes were found in EEG between the brief convulsion group and prolonged/status convulsion group;but no significantly changes were found in CT/MRI between the 2 groups.Conclusions NSE detection might be valuable to the diagnosis for neuronal damage in early time.The changes of NSE levels are similar to those in EEG,which are more sensitive than the changes in CT/MRI.It is very important to combine the NSE detection in serum or CSF and EEG examination in early time after convulsion for judgement to the neuronal damage and prognosis.

Adult ; Heavy Metal Poisoning ; Humans ; Male ; Poisoning ; Thallium ; poisoning

Fourteen compounds were isolated from 95% ethanol extract by silica gel, MCI, and ODS column chromatography. These compounds were respectively identified as quercetin (1), kaempferol (2), (+)-catechin (3), fraxin (4), protocatechuic acid (5), gallic acid (6), methyl gallate (7), ethyl gallate (8), apocynol A (9), baccatin (10), cerevisterol (11), ellagic acid (12), 3, 3',4'-tri-0-methylellagic acid(13) and N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninyl-N-benzoyl-L-phenylalaninate(14) by analyzing their spectral data and comparing with the previously reported literatures. Except for gallic acid (6), all other compounds were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compounds 1, 2 and 6 showed moderate anti-proliferation activities on tumor cells.
Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Euphorbiaceae ; chemistry ; Humans ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

The most effective sequence of small interfering RNA (siRNA) silencing STAT3 of psoriatic keratinocytes (KCs) was screened out,and the effects of the most effective siRNA combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles on the expression of STAT3 of KCs and the dose-and time-response were investigated.Three chemically-synthetic siRNAs targeting STAT3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 were transfected into KCs,and the effects on STAT3 expression were detected,then the most effective siRNA was selected for the subsequent experiments.The negative controls of siRNA (siRNA-NC) labeled with Cy3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles were transfected into KCs,then the optimal parameters of ultrasonic irradiation were determined.The most effective siRNA carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation at the optimal parameters and SonoVue microbubbles was transfected into KCs,and the dose-and time-response of RNA interference was determined.The effect of RNA interference by the most effective siRNA at the optimal time and dose carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles (LUS group) was compared with that only carried by Lipofectamine 3000 (L group).The results showed that siRNA-3 achieved the highest silencing efficacy.0.5 W/cm2 and 30 s were selected as the parameters of ultrasonic irradiation.The siRNA-3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue mierobubbles could effectively knock down the STAT3 expression at mRNA and protein levels in dose-and time-dependent manners determined at 100 nmol/L with maximum downregulation on mRNA at 48 h,and on protein at 72 h after transfection.The LUS group achieved the highest silencing efficacy.It was concluded that siRNA-3 carried by Lipofectamine 3000 combined with ultrasonic irradiation and SonoVue microbubbles could effectively knock down the STAT3 expression in psoriatic KCs,and the optimized transfection condition and the sequence of siRNA-3 could serve for further research on gene therapy of psoriasis.

Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Cell Proliferation ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Early Diagnosis ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; MicroRNAs ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mouth Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVE: To establish an HPLC method for the content determination of prostaglandin A1 and prostaglandin B1 in Alprostadil for injection.METHODS: The determination was performed on Alltech Alltima C18 column with mobile phase consisted of phosphate puffer(pH=6.3)-acetonitrile-methanol(70 ∶ 25 ∶ 5) at a flow rate of 1.5 mL? min-1.The detection wavelength was set at 196 nm.The column temperature was set at room temperature and the injection volume was 20 ?L.RESULTS: The prostaglandin A1 and prostaglandin B1 were well separated from main component and other impurities.The linear range of prostaglandin A1 and prostaglandin B1 were 0.175～19.00 ?g?mL-1(r=0.999 7) and 0.23～19.90 ?g?mL-1(r=0.999 2).The contents of prostaglandin A1 in 3 batches of samples were 4.7%,4.9% and 4.3%,and the contents of prostaglandin B1 in 3 batches of samples were 0.6%,0.8% and 0.5% respectively.CONCLUSIONS: This method is proved to be simple,specific and suitable for the content determination of related substances in Alprostadil for injection.

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum cholinesterase(CHE) level with the severity and prognosis in patients with acute cerebral infarction. Methods A total of 325 patients with acute cerebral infarction were recruited as patients group,and another 101 healthy sub?jects were selected as control group. Velocity method was employed to detect the level of serum CHE. Patients with acute cerebral infarction were then divided into different groups according to the infarcts diameter and the modified Rankin scale(mRS)at 1 year post stroke. The collected data were analyzed statistically. Results The level of serum CHE in small and medium area infarction group was higher than control group(P<0.01);the level of serum CHE in large area infarction group was lower than control group(P<0.01);the level of serum CHE was negatively correlated with infarct size,NIHSS and the mRS score(r=-0.302,-0.232,-0.455,P<0.001). The level of CHE,age,NIHSS and infarcts diameter was identified as independent influence factors for prognosis of acute cerebral infarction. Conclusion Early phase of serum CHE level is closely related with the infarct size and illness severity index in patients with acute cerebral infarction,which could be an independent factor affecting the prognosis of cere?bral infarction.

Objective To investigate characteristic skin lesions and typical histopathological changes of adult-onset Still's disease(AOSD) for its early diagnosis and treatment.Methods Clinical data were collected from 8 patients with AOSD,and analyzed retrospectively.Results All the patients had transient rashes and persistent papules/plaques during the course of disease.Of the 8 patients,1 had urticaria-like rashes,3 had dermatomyositis-like rashes,and 1 had prurigo pigmentosa-like rashes.Biopsies were carried out at the sites where transient rashes or persistent papules/plaques occurred.Histopathological findings showed necrotic keratinocytes in the upper prickle cell layer,and perivascular infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the upper dermis.Conclusion The skin lesions and histopathological changes of AOSD are characteristic,which can provide clues to the early diagnosis of AOSD.