Objective To investigate the effects of ulinastatin with parecoxib sodium on early cellular immunology function and cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing total hip replacement.Methods One hundred patients (aged 65-80 years,ASA grade Ⅱ) undergoing elective total hip replacement were randomly assigned into 4 groups: group W(n=25),group P(n=25),group WP(n=25) and group C(n=25).The patients in group W received intravenous injection of ulinastatin with a dose of 5 000 U/kg before skin incision and at the moment of the end of operation.Patients in group P accepted intravenous injection of parecoxib sodium of 40 mg before anesthesia and at a 12 h intervals for six times.Patients in group WP accepted intravenous injection of ulinastatin with a dose of 5 000 U/kg before skin incision and at the moment of the end of operation,and accepted intravenous injection of parecoxib sodium with a dose of 40 mg before anesthesia and at a 12 h interval for six times.Patients in group C were given normal saline at the same time as placebo.The operation time,the volume of bleeding and autologous blood receiving and the intraoperative fentanyl consumption were recorded in four groups.Blood samples were obtained before induction (T0),at the end of operation (T1),on 6 h (T2),24 h (T3),72 h (T4) after operation for determination of plasma concentration of S100β protein,neuron-specific enolase(NSE),IL-6,TNF-α.The percentages of T lymphocyte subsets (CD3+,CD4+,CD8+) and CD4+/CD8+ ratio were detected with flow cytometry.The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) was used to test the cognitive function of the patients at T0,T4 and 7 d after operation (T5).Results Compared with T0,the percentages of CD3+,CD4+ cells and CD4+/CD8+ in groups C,W and P were significantly decreased,the plasma concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α significantly increased at T1-T4,concentration of NSE and S100 protein were significantly increased at T2 and T3 (P<0.05).the percentages of CD3+,CD4+T lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in groups W and P at T2,T3 and group WP at T1-T4 was significantly higher than that of group C,the concentration of IL-6,TNF-α,NSE and S100β protein content was significantly lower than in group C (P<0.05);the percentages of CD3+,CD4+T lymphocyte and CD4+/CD8+ ratio in group WP was significantly higher than those of groups W and P,the concentrations of TNF-α,IL-6,NSE and S100β protein content was significantly lower than those of group W and P at T2,T3 (P<0.05).Compared with T0,MMSE score in group C was significantly lower at T4,T5 (P<0.05).MMSE score of groups W,P and WP was significantly higher than that of group C at T4 (P<0.05).MMSE score of group WP was significantly higher than those of groups W and P at T4 (P<0.05).Conclusion Ulinastatin combined with parecoxib sodium ameliorates early cellular immunology function and cognitive function in elderly patients undergoing total hip replacement,and it is more effective than using ulinastatin or parecoxib sodium alone.

OBJECTIVETo optimize the formulation of an emollient for treatment of atopic dermatitis prepared using ceramide, sodium hyaluronate, paeonol, and camellia-seed oil.

METHODSThe emollients with different ratios of the 4 components were designed according to the L9(34)orthogonal table with 4 factors and 3 levels. The efficacy of the prepared emollients was tested in 4-6 week-old BALB/c mouse models of atopic dermatitis to determine the optimal formulation of the emollient by evaluating skin water content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), pharmacodynamics and skin irritation.

RESULTSRange analysis of the orthogonal table and analysis of variance showed that ceramide and camellia seed oil contents had the greatest impact on the skin water content and TEWL, respectively, and the optimal composition of the emollient contained the 4 components at the ratios of D1E1F1G1. Pharmacodynamic experiments showed that at high, medium and low doses, the emollient with the optimal formulation significantly improved the skin water content, pH and TEWL in the mice (P<0.05) with similar effects in the positive control group (P>0.05) and a skin irritation test score of 0.

CONCLUSIONThe emollient we prepared can significantly improve skin water content, pH and TEWL in the mouse model of atopic dermatitis without skin irritations.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the anti-proliferation effect of baicalein and extracellular signal-regulated kinase and focal adhesion kinase(ERK-FAK) signal pathway in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). METHODS: The study included two parts and each part contained 4 groups, including control, 20 μmol/L BAI, 40 μmol/L BAI, 80 μmol/L BAI or control, 40 μmol/L BAI, MEK inhibitor(0.33 nmol/L),MEK inhibitor(0.33 nmol/L)+40 μmol/L BAI.Each group was treated in triplicate for 24 hours and 48 hours.Cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) was used to detect the inhibitory effect of baicalein; Polymerase chain reaction(PCR) and Western blot were used to analysis the effect of Baicalein on E-cadherin and Vimentin. The expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase(ERK), phosphorylated (p-ERK), focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase(p-FAK) were detected by Western blot. The regulatory effect of MEK inhibitor(U0126) on Baicalein was tested by Western blot assay. RESULTS: The survival rate of cells treated with BAI is much lower than that of control group(<0.01); the mRNA and protein levels of E-cadherin were obviously higher than those of control group, while the mRNA and protein levels of Vimentin were lower than those of control group(<0.01).The protein levels of p-ERK and p-FAK treated with BAI were much lower than those of control group(<0.01), but the total ERK and FAK had no obvious changes (<0.05).The protein level of E-cadherin treated with MEK inhibitor was higher than that of control group(<0.01) and the protein levels of Vimentin, p-ERK and p-FAK were lower than those of control group (<0.01), while the total protein levels of ERK and FAK were the same(<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Baicalein can inhibit the proliferation and invasiveness of OSCC, which may be mediated by ERK-FAK signal pathway.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Flavanones ; Humans ; Mouth Neoplasms ; Phosphorylation ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo evaluate and select excellent germplasm resources of Artemisia annua L., providing basic data for data base and breeding of A. annua.

METHODSeventy-two germplasms of A. annua, which were collected from main production areas, were planted in germplasm resources garden in Jingxi and Nanning under the same conditions. The samples were gathered in the squaring stage. Artemisinin was extracted by supersonic wave and determined by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.

RESULTThe leaf's yield and the content of artemisinin in the samples of different germplasms were varied significantly. Effect of environment on artemisinin content was more than that of hereditary factors. The content of artemisinin was different when the same material of A. annua grew in different place. The content of artemisinin in next year's plant was decreasing.

CONCLUSIONSSeven germplasms from south of China have been selected, their content of artemisinin was above 0.9% and calculated yield was more than 2250 kg x hm(-2). The content of artemisinin has been affected by hereditary factors and variation of the growth environment.

Artemisia annua ; growth & development ; metabolism ; Artemisinins ; metabolism ; China

OBJECTIVETo explore the prevalence of Val158Met polymorphism in Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene and its effect on genetic susceptibility for breast cancer in Shanghai population.

METHODSA total of 114 patients with BRCA1/BRCA 2 negative hereditary breast cancer from independent families and 121 age-matched healthy controls were analyzed. Genotype analysis was conducted by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then DNA direct sequencing. The odd ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression model.

RESULTSThe frequency of Val158Met polymorphism GG, GA and AA genotype in case group and control was 0.58 (65), 0.32 (36), 0.10 (11) and 0.60 (66), 0.35 (41), 0.03 (3), respectively. The frequency of allele-containing genotypes is significantly higher in early-onset breast cancer patients (0.57) than in familial ones (0.35). Compared with GG (Val/Val) genotype, AA (Met/Met) genotype confers a significantly increased risk for breast cancer (adjusted OR = 3.15; 95% CI, 0.70 - 14.19), especially among premenopausal women (adjusted OR = 9.98; 95% CI, 1.00 - 99.64). Borderline significantly association was found between AA genotype (adjusted OR = 7.57; 95% CI, 0.57 - 101.28) and susceptibility for breast cancer in BMI < or = 23 kg/m(2) group.

CONCLUSIONSVal158Met polymorphism in COMT gene could be a candidate for low penetrance breast cancer susceptibility in Shanghai population, especially among premenopausal women and early-onset breast cancer patients.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; enzymology ; genetics ; Case-Control Studies ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; China ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; Genes, BRCA1 ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia on immune function in patients with extracorporeal circulation undergoing cardiac surgery.

METHODSThirty cases undergoing cardiac surgery which included atrial septal defect neoplasty, ventricular septal defect neoplasty, mitral valve replacement and pulmonary valve coarctotomy were randomly divided into group A and group B, 15 cases in each group. Group A was given general anesthesia plus acupuncture at Neiguan (PC 6), Lieque (LU 7) and Yunmen (LU 2), and group B was given simple general anesthesia. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels before and after surgery were compared.

RESULTSThe level of TNF-alpha was increased and the levels of IL-2 and IL-10 in the serum were decreased in both groups after extracorporeal circulation for 2 h and 24 h, and the ranges of all changes were more less in group A (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCompared with simple general anesthesia, acupuncture-drug compound anesthesia can improve immune suppression partially in the perioperative periods under the same conditions of controlling anesthesia degree.

Acupuncture Analgesia ; Adult ; Anesthesia, General ; Cardiac Surgical Procedures ; Female ; Heart Diseases ; blood ; immunology ; surgery ; Humans ; Inflammation Mediators ; blood ; Interleukin-10 ; blood ; Interleukin-2 ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Perioperative Care ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of CHEK2 c.1100delC mutation among non-BRCA1/BRCA2 familial/early-onset breast cancer patients in Shanghai.

METHODSOne hundred and fourteen non-BRCA1/BRCA2 hereditary breast cancer patients were analyzed, among whom 76 cases had at least one first-degree relative affected with breast cancer and 38 cases were diagnosed as breast cancer below the age of 40 years without family history. The mutation genotyping of CHEK2 c.1100delC were carried out through long-range PCR amplifying of exons 10-14, and followed by amplification of exon 10 and then DNA direct sequencing.

RESULTSNo c.1100delC frame-shift mutation was identified in our studied population. One novel missense mutation 1111C>T (p.His371Tyr), located in kinase catalytic domain, was found in 3 familial breast cancer cases but no one in control group.

CONCLUSIONCHEK2 c.1100delC is rare variant for Chinese population and may not contribute to predisposition for hereditary breast cancer in Shanghai. Novel variant -1111C>T could be in association with genetic susceptibility to breast cancer. A further study is needed to confirm the results.

Adult ; Aged ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; BRCA1 Protein ; genetics ; BRCA2 Protein ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Breast Neoplasms ; ethnology ; genetics ; Checkpoint Kinase 2 ; China ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Frameshift Mutation ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; genetics ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mutation, Missense ; Protein-Serine-Threonine Kinases ; genetics ; Sequence Deletion ; Young Adult

AIMTo investigate the changes of the spermatozoa ultrastructures before and after renal transplantation in uremic patients.

METHODSThe sperm of five uremic patients before and after transplantation and four healthy volunteers were collected and examined by scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTSAbnormal spermatozoa were found in patients pre-transplantation; abnormalities included deletion of the acrosome, absence of the postacrosomal and postnuclear ring, dumbbell-like changes of the head, tail curling, and absence of the mitochondrial sheath in the mid-segment. After renal transplantation, most of the spermatozoa became normal.

CONCLUSIONThere are many abnormalities with regard to the appearance and structure of the head, acrosome, mitochondria and tail of the spermatozoa in uremic patients. The majority of the spermatozoa returned to normal after renal transplantation, but a few still presented some abnormalities possibly relating to the administration of immunosuppressants.

Acrosome ; pathology ; Adult ; Case-Control Studies ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; complications ; Kidney Transplantation ; Male ; Microscopy, Electron ; Renal Dialysis ; Sperm Head ; pathology ; Sperm Tail ; pathology ; Spermatozoa ; pathology ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVEAromatase, encoded by CYP19A1, play an important role in estrogens biosynthesis from androgens. The present study is to investigate effect of R264C single nucleotide polymorphism in CYP19A1 gene on genetic susceptibility for hereditary breast cancer without BRCA1/2 mutant.

METHODSOne hundred and fourteen BRCA1/2 -negative hereditary breast cancer patients from independent families and 121 age-matched healthy control subjects were analyzed. Genotype analysis was performed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then DNA direct sequencing. The odd-ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated by unconditional Logistic regression model.

RESULTSThe frequency of R264C single nucleotide polymorphism CC, CT and TT genotype in case group and controls was 84(77.8%), 22(20.4%), 2(1.8%) and 87(77.7%), 24(21.4%), 1(0.9%), respectively. CT genotype (OR=1.16, 95%CI: 0.53-2.55) and TT genotype (OR=1.44, 95%CI: 0.12-17.15) did not confer a significantly increased risk for breast cancer. No significant association was found between T allele and susceptibility for breast cancer under analysis according to menopausal status and body mass index.

CONCLUSIONR264C polymorphism in CYP19A1 gene is not a candidate locus for low penetrance breast cancer susceptibility in Shanghai group of Chinese population and not recommended in clinical genetic test. Homozygous T allele of R264C is not common in Shanghai group of Chinese population.

Adult ; Aged ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; BRCA1 Protein ; genetics ; BRCA2 Protein ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; China ; ethnology ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of BRCA1 and BRCA2 gene mutations among breast cancer patients with affected relatives in Shanghai of China.

METHODSThirty-five breast cancer patients who had at least one first-degree relative affected were analyzed, among whom 13 patients suffered from breast cancer at age of less than 40 years. A comprehensive BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation analysis was performed through denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and subsequent DNA direct sequencing.

RESULTSFour mutations in BRCA1 gene, including 2 novel splice-site mutations (IVS17-1G>T, IVS21+1G>C) and 2 frameshift mutations (1100delAT; 5640delA) were identified. One frameshift mutation (5802delAATT) was detected in exon 11 of BRCA2. Additional 12 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) were detected, including a novel unclassified variant and 7 novel intronic variants in BRCA1, and 4 novel intronic variants in BRCA2, with which all caused no alteration of amino acid coding. The mutation frequency of BRCA1 and BRCA2 in patients with family history was 11.4% and 2.9%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONTwo novel mutations in BRCA1 may be mutations characterized to familial breast cancer of Chinese Shanghai population. The BRCA2 may contribute to mutation less than BRCA1 in familial breast cancer. Our data contribute to information on mutation spectrum of BRCA gene in Chinese population and also offer a recommended screening mode for clinical genetic testing policy in China.

Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; BRCA1 Protein ; genetics ; BRCA2 Protein ; genetics ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; China ; DNA, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Family Health ; Female ; Humans ; Point Mutation ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide