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.

The TSR1(thermosensitive rescued)gene associated with the secretion of proteins of the yeast Yarrowia lipolytica was site-directed mutagenesis,restricted and spliced to obtain a series of deletion mutants.These mutants would be useful for studing the function of different domains of TSR1 gene in yeast Yarrowia lipolytica

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.

Adult ; Antigens, CD20 ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; pathology ; Pseudolymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology

Arthropathy, Neurogenic ; Child ; Coxa Vara ; Hand Deformities, Congenital ; Humans ; Male ; Synovitis

A novel nucleic acid amplification method,termed loop-mediated isothermal amplification(LAMP),which amplifies DNA with high specificity,efficiency,and rapidity under isothermal conditions,may be a valuable tool for the rapid detection of infectious diseases.This method employs a DNA polymerase that have activity of strand displacement DNA synthesis and a set of four specially designed primers that recognize a total of six distinct sequences on the target DNA.LAMP can amplify a few copies of DNA to 109 in less than an hour.The final products are stem-loop DNA with several inverted repeats of the target and cauliflower-like structures with multiple loops.A positive reaction would be shown as a ladder-like pattern in a gel electrophoresis analysis.Because of the advantage,the LAMP method will be widely applied to research of nucleic acid,clinical diagnosis of infectious diseases and detection of genetically modified organisms etc.

Antimicrobial peptides are a class of small peptides with anti-extrogenous pathogen activities.They are derived from organism and possess antibacterial,antifungus,antiviruses and anticancer cell actions.In recent years,it’s found that some microbial pathogens are able to resist antimicrobial peptides.The constitutive and inducible mechanism of a pathogen resists a given peptide were reviewed in this paper.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of consensus interferon in previous nonresponders or relapsers of chronic hepatitis C as well as to compare the correlation between viral kinetics and the efficacy. Methods 32 patients who are previous nonresponders or relapsers to IFN received CIFN 15?g three times a week for 24 weeks. Efficacy was assessed by ALT and HCV RNA (viral kinetics) during the 24 weeks of treatment period and 6 month follow up post treatment. Results After 24 weeks treatment, HCV RNA negative rate in the previous nonresponders and the previous relapsers were 90% versus 45.5% ( P 0.05 ). The major adverse events were fever and leukopenia. Conclusions CIFN 15?g as a monotherapy significantly improved end of treatment response rate in chronic hepatitis C patients. Baseline serum HCV RNA load and early virus kinetics are predictive parameters of SR.

Objective To observe the dynamic changes of leptin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 in formation of liver fibrosis in rats,and the role of leptin in liver fibrosis.Methods Six rats were served as normal control(0 week)and killed at the beginning of the study.Thirty-two rats were subcutaneously injected with 60%CCl4 to establish fibrotie models.The rats were than sacrificed at 3,6,9 and 12 weeks with eight each.Expressions of leptin mRNA,Ob-Rb mRNA,TGF-β1 mRNA and TGF-βRⅡmRNA in liver were detected by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).Expression of Smad3 and Smad7 proteins were determined by Western blot.The expression and loealization of leptin,Ob-Rb and TGF-β1 in liver tissue were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results The expression of leptin mRNA,Ob-Rb mRNA,TGF-β1 mRNA and TGF-βR Ⅱ mRNA in 0 week were 0.43±0.45,0.57±0.21,0.19±0.12 and 0.30±0.22,respectively,and increased to 1.27±0.19,1.70±0.29,1.70±1.00 and 2.14±1.02 at 12 weeks(P＜0.05).At the same times the level of Smad3 increased from 0.44±0.24 at 0 week to 1.75±1.05 at 12 weeks.While the expression of Smad7 was decreased from 1.35±0.12 at 0 week to 0.74±1.21 at 12 weeks(P＜0.05).The expressions of leptin,Ob-Rb and TGF-β1 were increased with the formation of the fibrosis(P＜0.01).Conclusions With the development of liver fibrosis,the expressions of leptin,Ob-Rb mRNA and protein are increased and improved the formation of the fibrosis.Its mechanisms may be correlated with up-regulation of TGF-β1,TGF-βR Ⅱ and Smda3 expressions and down-regulaton of Smad7 expression by leptin.

Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Methionine ; blood ; Tyrosine ; blood ; Tyrosine Transaminase ; deficiency ; Tyrosinemias ; blood ; diagnosis ; enzymology ; pathology ; therapy