Candidiasis, Oral ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Humans

This study was aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of 66 yin-deficiency acne cases treated with body constitution adjustment using acupuncture and moxibustion. In this research, 66 acne patients with the body con-stitution of yin-deficiency were selected . These patients were randomly divided into two groups ( 33 every group ) . The acupuncture treatment group was treated by acupuncture and local treatment. And moxibustion treatment group was treated by indirect moxibustion and local treatment. The treatment was given twice a week. And the improvement condition of acne skin lesions and yin-deficiency body constitution were evaluated after 12-week treatment. The results showed that certain curative effects were received in both groups. However, the moxibustion treatment group had higher curative effect compared with the acupuncture treatment group. There were significant statistical differences between two groups ( P < 0 . 05 ) , which meant moxibustion with local treatment had a higher curative effect than acupuncture with local treatment to acne. In the aspect of skin lesion improvement, according to the statistics, the moxibustion treatment group were statistically significant compared with acupuncture group (P< 0.05), which meant more obvious improvement of skin in the moxibustion treatment group. In the aspect of body constitution, the body constitution scores in both groups were significantly declined and the moxibustion treatment group was more obvious. There was statistical significance between two groups (P < 0.05), which meant patients in the moxibustion treatment group obtained a more obvious body constitution improvement. After the treatment, follow-up was given to all patients for 4 weeks. The results showed that both the acne skin lesion con-dition and yin-deficiency body constitution score were decreased and not achieve the recurrence diagnostic stan-dard. It showed that acupuncture and moxibustion are able to activate the self-regulation and disease resistibility of the body. It was concluded that acupuncture and moxibustion not only improve skin lesion of acne patients with the body constitution of yin-deficiency with inner heat , but also regulate yin-deficiency body constitution . Moxibustion had higher efficacy in the treatment of yin-deficiency with inner heat acne than acupuncture.

The translation of gene therapy from bench to bedside depends on efficient intracellular gene delivery. The macromolecular biologics such as gene combined with vectors tend to enter into the cells by means of endocytosis, where the biologics may encounter the risk of degradation in endolysosome. Recently, photochemical internalization (PCI) has emerged as a promising technique to overcome endo-lysosomal sequestration, which utilizes photosensitizer and light resulting in reactive oxygen species at sub-lethal level to destruct biofilm and facilitate intracellular drug delivery. In this article, the mechanism of PCI technology and its development for gene delivery were reviewed, which can provide the scientific basis for the possible utilization of PCI to solve the problem of endo-lysosomal escape in gene delivery.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of Lignum Sappan (LS) containing serum on the proliferation cycle arrest of human lung cancer cell line PG and its molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe lung cancer PG cells were divided into four groups, i.e., the blank control group, the LS group, the LS plus cisplatin group, and the cisplatin group. They were cultured by RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum, RPMI-1640 with 20% LS containing serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, and RPMI-1640 with 20% blank serum plus 1 microg/mL cisplatin, respectively. The morphology of PG cells was observed using light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope in each group. The cell cycle arrest was observed using flow cytometry. The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA was tested by PCR method.

RESULTSUnder the light microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope, the apoptosis degree of PG cells in the LS group was significant, but less than that of the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the blank control group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G0/ G1 and S phases (P < 0.05) and decreased at G2/M phase (P < 0.01) in the LS group; The proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. Compared with the LS group, the proportion of PG cells increased at G2/M and S phases (P < 0.05, P < 0.01) and decreased at G0/G1 phase (P < 0.01) in the LS plus cisplatin group as well as the cisplatin group. There was no statistical difference in PG cells at each phase between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05). The expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA increased in the LS group, when compared with the blank control group. They also increased in the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group, higher than that of the LS group (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the expression of P16 and Rb1 mRNA between the cisplatin group and the LS plus cisplatin group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLS containing serum induced PG cell apoptosis by up-regulating the mRNA transcription levels of P16 and Rb1, thus resulting in PG cell arrest at G0/G1 and S phases, which was different from the manner of cisplatin (achieved by arresting PG cells at G2/M and S phases through regulating cyclinB1 mRNA transcription).

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To analyze clinical features and sum up experience for the treatment of ischemic bowel disease. Methods Clinical data of 73 patients with the diagnosis of ischemic bowel disease were retrospectively analyzed. ResultsTwenty-eight patients were male and 45 patients were female. The median of age was 65 years (range of 38 to 89 years). Forty-eight patients were associated with hypertension, 23%(17/73) patients had a history of coronary disease and 15% (11/73) had diabetes. Seventy patients presented symptom of abdominal pain and 93% (68/73) had hematochezia. Symptoms relieved by conservative treatment in 96% (63/66) patients. Nine patients underwent a surgery. One patient died of sepsis postoperatively. One suffered from colostomy necrosis and leakage of the rectum segment. Conclusion 1. Elder patients presenting symptoms of abdominal pain and hematochezia, especially with a history of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and diabetes should be considered for the possibility of ischemic bowel disease. 2. Most patients with ischemic bowel disease could be successfully treated by conservative therapy. 3. Surgery for patients with chronic relapsing and nonresponsible symptoms was difficult and patients often suffer from high postoperative complications.

Traditional Chinese Medicine(TCM) makes great contributions to the prosperous growth and people's health.But understanding deviation and imperfect evaluation system of TCM affect the healthy development of TCM.Clinic practice is the motive power of TCM,and curative effect is the key of TCM researches,and the scientific evaluation system is the safeguard for a healthy development of TCM.So we should focus on clinical researches of stubborn diseases and emergency cases to satisfy social demand and upgrade the position of TCM in the medical system.At the same time,functional disease must be explored to show the advantage of TCM.Our mission is to establish a scientific objective evaluation system to accurately understand TCM and take it as the turning point to give an impetus to theoretical breakthrough of the basic studies to promote an overall and healthy development of TCM.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of polysaccharide fraction of Cordyceps sinensis (PSCS) on triptolide (TPL)-induced apoptosis in the HL-60 cells and the involved molecular mechanism.

METHODSThe cultured leukemia HL-60 cells were divided into three groups: control group, TPL group (cells were treated with 5 ng/ml TPL only), and PSCS+TPL cells group (cells treated with 5 ng/ml TPL and 100 microg/ml or 200 microg/ml PSCS for 18 h). Cell viability was tested by MTT assay and apoptotic cells were quantitatively measured by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI double stain.The expressions of Caspase-3, 6, 7, 9 and NF-kappa B proteins were tested by Western blot.

RESULTMTT assay showed that different concentrations of PSCS inhibited the cell viability. Flow cytometry indicated that TPL markedly increased the apoptosis rate of the HL-60 cells, and PSCS enhanced the apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot showed that TPL did not inhibit the expression of the Caspase-3, 6, 7, 9 and NF-kappa B proteins, and when cells were treated with PSCS, the expression of proteins decreased with the PSCS concentration rising.

CONCLUSIONPSCS can enhance TPL-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells and inhibit the expression of NF-kappa B and Caspase 3,6,7,9,which might be the possible signaling pathway of inducing apoptosis.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Cordyceps ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Synergism ; Epoxy Compounds ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phenanthrenes ; pharmacology ; Polysaccharides ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

BACKGROUNDAllergic asthma is associated with airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness caused by dysregulated production of cytokines secreted by allergen-specific helper T-type 2 (Th2) cells. The linker for activation of T cells (LAT) is a membrane-associated adaptor protein, which has been shown to take part in regulating T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and T cell homeostasis. In this study, we established an asthmatic mouse model to examine the changes in LAT levels during allergic airway disease and the effects of LAT transgenic expression on airway inflammation.

METHODST cells from mouse lung tissues were isolated from allergen challenged (ovalbumin (OVA)) and control mice, and the purity of these isolated T cells was examined by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression of the LAT gene and LAT protein, respectively. After an intranasally administered mixture of pCMV-HA-LAT plasmid and Lipofectamine 2000, 24 hours before and 72 hours after allergen challenge, the BALF cell count and the differential cytologies were studied. In addition, IL-4 and IFN-γ levels in the BALF were determined by ELISA, and pathological changes in lung tissues were observed.

RESULTSLAT protein and mRNA expression were decreased in lung T cells in a mouse model of allergen-induced airway disease. After intranasal administration of pCMV-HA-LAT, histopathological examination of the lungs showed that intervention with LAT overexpression prevented mice from developing airway inflammation, and the number of total cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes in the BALF was reduced significantly compared with the OVA sensitized and challenged group. In addition, the Th2 cytokine IL-4 decreased, while the Th1 cytokine IFN-γ increased compared to the OVA sensitized and challenged group or the OVA sensitized group plus pCMV-HA treatment.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrates that LAT might effectively diminish Th2 cytokine responses, lung histopathological changes and lung inflammation to allergen challenge in a model of experimentally induced asthma.

Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Inflammation ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; metabolism

BACKGROUNDCervical cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer among women worldwide. Human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a central role in the etiology of cervical cancer. It is important to describe the prevalence of HPV infection in different types of cervical lesions and to explore the relation between HPV viral load and the severity of cervical lesions.

METHODSTo describe the HPV infection prevalence and viral load in different age groups, we retrospectively investigated 6405 cases of women who were organized by their units to take health-examination. They were given Hybrid Capture II tests between January 2005 and December 2006. The correlation between HPV viral load and pathology was assessed.

RESULTSOverall HPV infection prevalence was 29.1% (1864/6405), while in women 18-20 years old it was 54.4% (31/57), the highest among all age groups. After declining rapidly, HPV prevalence stabilized at about 30.0% in women aged 30 and older. Of the 6405 women, 1483 women had a colposcopic biopsy and 33.2% (492/1483) were positive for HPV DNA. Twenty-one percent of women with a normal diagnosis (238/1095) had HPV infection, a statistically significantly lower prevalence than in women with cervical lesions, including those with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (68.8% in CIN1, 66.7% in CIN2, and 76.5% in CIN3) or with cervical cancer (94.1%). The correlation coefficient between viral load and cervical lesion severity was 0.134, which was not statistically significant (P = 0.075). Viral load values in women with CINs and cervical cancer were calculated, and no significant differences were identified.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of high-risk HPV infection among women attending hospitals for health-examination in Shanghai is similar to the worldwide rate. HPV viral load can distinguish cervical lesions from normal individuals but cannot adequately predict the severity of cervical lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Papillomavirus Infections ; epidemiology ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; virology ; Viral Load

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ST1571 on the development of dendritic cells (DC) derived from bone marrow mononuclear cells of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).

METHODSBone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMNC) from CML patients and healthy volunteers were cultured initially using multiple cytokine combinations as follows: recombinant human granulocyte/ macrophage colony-stimulating-factor (rhGM-CSF) plus recombinant human interleukin-4 (rhIL-4) as CML and normal control groups, rhGM-CSF plus rhIL-4 and ST1571 as CML experimental groups, and from day 8 recombinant human tumor necrosis factor-alpha ( rhTNF-alpha) was added to stimulate DC maturation. The morphologic features of cells were observed by Wright's staining and phenotypes were assessed by flow cytometry. Cytogenetic analysis was performed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH), and the antigen-presenting function was assayed by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR). The concentration of VEGF was detected by ELISA.

RESULTSCML experimental groups treated with STI571 displayed morphological features similar to those of control groups with delicate membrane projections. However, in comparison with the CML control groups, the CML experimental groups showed an increased expression of CD80, CD86, CD83 and HLA-DR and showed more intense abilities of allogeneic antigen presentation, which were similar to those of normal control groups. FISH confirmed that DCs of both CML, groups were of leukemic origin. The concentration of VEGF was dramatically reduced in CML experimental groups.

CONCLUSIONIn vitro, STI571 promotes the activation/maturation of DCs derived from BMMNCs of patients with CMI, and decreases VEGF production by the leukemic cells. The promotion of DC maturation may be partially due to decreased inhibitory effect of VEGF.

Adult ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Benzamides ; Bone Marrow Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Dendritic Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl ; genetics ; metabolism ; HLA-DR Antigens ; metabolism ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive ; blood ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; pharmacology ; T-Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism