OBJECTIVETo explore changes of B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAOC), reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), malondialdehyde (MDA) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and the effect of Xinfeng Capsule (XFC) on them.

METHODSTotally 120 AS patients were assigned to two groups according to random digit table method, the XFC group (3 XFC pills each time, 3 times a day) and the SASP group (4 SASP tablets each time, twice a day), 60 in each group. All patients were treated for 3 months. Another 60 healthy subjects were recruited as a healthy control group. The expression frequency and activation levels of BTLA were detected using flow cytometry. Serum oxidative stress indices (such as SOD and CAT, TAOC, ROS, RNS, MDA) and contents of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IL-1β, IL-4, and IL-10] were detected using enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was detected using Westergren method. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) was detected using HITACHI 7060 type automatic biochemical analyzer. Clinical efficacies of ASAS 20 and BASDAI50 were assessed using VAS. Correlation analysis between scoring for quality of life and BTLA expression frequency was performed.

RESULTS(1) Clinical efficacies of ASAS 20 and BASDAI50 were significantly better in the XFC group than in the SASP group (P < 0.01). (2) Compared with the healthy control group, BTLA expressions in the peripheral blood of AS patients decreased significantly (P <0. 05); SOD, CAT, and TAOC values significantly decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); ROS, RNS, and MDA values significantly increased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); TNF-α, IL-1β, ESR, and Hs-CRP values significantly increased (P < 0.01); IL-4 and IL-10 values decreased significantly (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (3) Compared with pre-treatment in the same group, BTLA/CD19 + B, BTLA/CD24 + B, SOD, TAOC, IL-4, SF-36 [physical functioning (PF), social functioning (SF), role limitation due to physical problems (RP), role limitation due to emotional problems (RE), body pain (BP), mental health (MH), vitality (VT), general health (GH)] were significantly elevated; ROS, MDA, TNF-α, ESR, Hs- CRP, VAS, BASDAI and BASFI, BAS-G were significantly lower in the peripheral blood of the two groups after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Better effect was shown in the XFC group in elevating BTLA/CD19+ B, BTLA/CD24 + B, SOD, TAOC, IL-10, BP, MH, VT, and SF; and lowering ROS, IL-1β, MDA, TNF-α, ESR, Hs-CRP, VAS, BASDAI, BASFI, and BAS-G (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). (4) Pearson correlation analysis showed, BTLA/CD19 + B expression of the peripheral blood was positively correlated with SOD, CAT, TAOC, IL-4, IL-10, GH, RP, BP, and SF (r = 0.431, 0.325, 0.318, 0.316, 0.348, 0.314, 0.358, 0.318, 0.326, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while it was negative correlated with ROS, MDA, TNF-α, IL-1β, ESR, VAS, and BASDAI (r = -0.342, -0.368, -0.334, -0.354, -0.324, -0.372, -0.342, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). BTLA/CD24 B expression of the peripheral blood was positively correlated with SOD, TAOC, IL-4, IL-10, GH, RP, BP, SF, RE, MH, VT (r = 0.358, 0.352, 0.372, 0.436, 0.435, 0.326, 0.352, 0.345, 0.326, 0.343, 0.332, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01), while it was negative correlated with ROS, RNS, MDA, ESR, Hs-CRP, VAS, BASDAI, and BASFI (r = -0.447, -0.336, -0.405, -0. 395, -0. 358, -0.436, -0.338, -0.425, respectively, P < 0.05, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONXFC could improve BTLA expression in the peripheral blood of AS patients, negatively regulate activation and proliferation of B cells, and reduce abnormal immune responses and oxidative stress injury, thereby effectively alleviating joint stiffness and pain.

B-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Capsules ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cytokines ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Quality of Life ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Spondylitis, Ankylosing ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; T-Lymphocytes ; physiology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Objective To explore the epidemics of influenza viruses in Guangzhou area from 1998 to 2003. Methods The specimens for viral isolation were taken with swabs from children's throats and the material was inoculated into the MDCK cells and were incubated at 33 ℃ The supernatant of MDCK cells culture was tested with hemagglutination test. Results Influenza viruses were isolated from 264 of 3444 children; total positive rate of influenza virus isolation was 7.6%. The positive rate of influenza viruses was 16.8% in 1998; the prevailing strain of influenza viruses was H3N2. The influenza viruses isolation rate was 7.4% in 1999;the positive rate was 8.4% ; HIN1 occurred in 2000, the positive rate was 3.8%. H3N2 did not occur in 2001; the positive rate was 7.3% ; influenza B viruses was the prevailing strain in 2002; the positive rate was 1.7% in 2003. Influenza B viruses was Yamagata like strain from 1998 to 2001, Victoria like strain from 2002 to 2003. H9N2 avian influenza virus was isolated from a child. Conclusions Influenza was prevalent in Guangzhou in 1998, but not prevalent from 1999 to 2003. Most of influenza B viruses were Yamagata strain. There were cases avian influenza caused by H9N2 in 1999.

Objective To explore the secular trend of incidence for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in urban Shanghai during 1973-2005. Methods The incidence data from the population-based cancer registries in Shanghai was used in our analysis. We calculated the crude incidence rates, age-adjusted incidence rates, trucated rates and cumulative rates of NPC. The annual percentage change (APC) was used as an estimate of the secular trend. Results Over 33 years, a total of 7889 incident NPC cases in urban Shanghai were registered for 5555 males and 2334 females, respectively. The incidence of NPC had remained stable in males during the period (APC=-0.250%, P= 0.340), but a decreasing trend was observed in females with an average reduction of -1.577% (P=0.000) per year. During the period of 1973-1976 to 2001-2005, the crude incidence rates changed from 4.56 to 6.18 and from 3.96 to 2.41 per 100 000 in males and females, and the age-adjusted rates from 4.12 to 3.96 and from 2.18 to 3.42 per 100 000 in males and females, respectively. Conclusion From 1973 to 2005, the incidence of NPC was stable in males while having a decline in females, indicating that further epidemioiogical study and prevention for NPC should be addressed.

Objective To investigate the effect of glucagon-like peptide 1(GLP-1)receptor agonists exendin-4 on the secretion of cyclophilin A(CyPA)to inhibit atherosclerosis(AS)and vascular calcification in mice role of the process.Methods Twenty ApoE-/-mice were randomly divided into model group and exendin-4 group,10 mice in each group,and were fed with high-fat diet to establish AS model,another 10 wild-type C57BL/6J mice were taken as the control group,and the exendin-4 group was intraperitoneally injected with the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4,1/d,for 8 weeks.After 8 weeks,the ELISA method was used to determine the level of triglyceride(TG),total cholesterol(TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C)and CyPA,serum calcium level was detected by methylthymol blue colorimetric method,oil red O staining to detect the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the aorta,HE staining was used to observe the pathological changes of the aorta,Von Kossa staining was used to observe the calcium deposition in the aorta,immunohistochemical staining,Real-time PCR and Western blotting were used to detect the expression levels of aortic RUNX2 and bone morphogenetic protein 2(BMP-2),immunofluorescent staining was used to detect the positive expression of CyPA in aortic tissue.Results Compared with the control group,the serum levels of TG,TC,LDL-C,Ca and CyPA in the model group increased(P<0.05),the atherosclerotic plaque areas of the aorta increased(P<0.05),the aortic wall was thickened significantly and a large number of inflammatory cells were infiltrated,a large amount of calcium deposits were deposited in the aortic parietal membrane,the positive expression area ratio of RUNX2 and BMP-2,the relative mRNA expression of RUNX2 and BMP-2,the relative protein expression of RUNX2 and BMP-2 in aortic tissue all increased(P<0.05),and the red fluorescence of CyPA expression in aortic tissue was enhanced significantly.Compared with the model group,the serum levels of TG,TC,LDL-C,Ca and CyPA in the exendin-4 group decreased(P<0.05),the atherosclerotic plaque areas of the aorta decreased(P<0.05),the thickening of the aortic wall and the infiltration of inflammatory cells were alleviated significantly,the calcium deposition in the aortic wall was reduced,the positive expression area ratio of RUNX2 and BMP-2,the relative mRNA expression of RUNX2 and BMP-2,the relative protein expression of RUNX2 and BMP-2 in aortic tissue all decreased(P<0.05),and at the same time,the red fluorescence of CyPA expression in aortic tissue was weakened significantly.Conclusion GLP-1 receptor agonists exendin-4 can inhibit atherosclerosis and vascular calcification in mice,and the mechanism may be related to the reduction of CyPA secretion.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of low-dose oral tadalafil on self-esteem, confidence and sexual relationship in ED patients.

METHODSWe treated 17 ED patients with oral tadalafil at the low dose of 5 mg once daily for 12 weeks, and used the paired t test to compare their scores on The Self-Esteem and Relationship Questionnaire (SEAR) and IIEF-5 and the results of nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) obtained by nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment (NEVA) before and after the medication.

RESULTSThe scores on SEAR and IIEF-5 were significantly increased (P < 0.01) and NPT markedly improved (P < 0.05) after tadalafil treatment as compared with the baseline.

CONCLUSIONLow-dose oral tadalafil once daily can significantly improve the self-esteem, confidence, sexual relationship satisfaction and NPT of ED patients.

Adult ; Carbolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Erectile Dysfunction ; drug therapy ; psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Self Concept ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tadalafil ; Vasodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVEThe ratio of psychological to organic ED changes with aging. This study aimed to analyze the results of nocturnal electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment (NEVA) for ED patients of different age groups and their significance in the diagnosis of ED.

METHODSA total of 83 ED patients were divided into 4 age groups (< or = 29 yr, 30 -39 yr, 40 -49 yr and > or = 50 yr) and detected for nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) by NEVA.

RESULTSThirty-four of the cases were diagnosed as organic ED, and the other 49 as psychological ED. With the increase of age, the former was increased from 30.3% in the < or = 29 yr group to 60.0% in the > or = 50 yr group, while the latter decreased from 69.7% to 40.0%.

CONCLUSIONThe percentage of organic ED tends to grow with the increase of age, while that of psychological ED is just the opposite.

Adult ; Aging ; Electric Impedance ; Erectile Dysfunction ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Penile Erection

Cell Line, Tumor ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; Humans ; Microbubbles ; Oligoribonucleotides, Antisense ; genetics ; Transfection ; methods ; Ultrasonics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of transurethral catheterization on the uroflow rate in the pressure-flow study of patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

METHODSThirty-nine men with BPH underwent free uroflowmetry and pressure-flow analysis respectively. With an 8 F urethral catheter, the standard pressure-flow variables such as the maximum flow rate, detrusor pressure at the maximum flow rate and so on were recorded. The free maximum flow rate and the maximum flow rate with transurethral catheterization were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSThe maximum voided volumes of the free uroflowmetry group and the pressure-flow study group were (209.23 +/- 56. 56) ml and (210.33 +/- 62.02) ml respectively (P > 0.05). The free maximum flow rate was (8.61 +/- 2.80) ml/s, and the maximum flow rate with transurethral catheterization-was (7.39 +/- 3.01) ml/s (P < 0.05). When the patients were divided into seven grades of bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) according to the Schäfer nomogram, the free maximum flow rate and the maximum flow rate with transurethral catheterization with Grade 0-I of BOO were (12.56 +/- 1.57) ml/s and (10.95 +/- 2.51) ml/s, and those of Grade II were (9.35 +/- 0.76) ml/s and (8.41 +/- 1.23) ml/s respectively. For Grades III, IV and V-VI , the two maximum flow rates were (7.88 +/- 1.21) ml/s and (6.37 +/- 0.59) ml/s, (6.54 +/- 1.93) ml/s and (5.55 +/- 2.48) ml/s, and (6.01 +/- 2.10) ml/s and (4.84 +/- 2.89) ml/s, respectively, all with significant difference in between (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe 8 F urethral catheter has a significant effect on the maximum uroflow rate in the pressure-flow study and this effect is correlated with the grade of BOO.

Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Urinary Catheterization ; methods ; Urination ; Urodynamics

Ascites ; complications ; diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; complications ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; POEMS Syndrome ; diagnosis

OBJECTIVETo report our data of patients with clinical stage T(1-3)N(1-2)M(0) renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and explore the biological behavior of this malignancy.

METHODSA total of 531 patients with no distant metastatic RCC underwent open radical nephrectomy at our institution between 1988 and 2008, among whom 42 patients with histological nodal metastases had successful surgical tumor resection. The clinical data and outcomes of the 42 patients were analyzed.

RESULTSOf those 42 patients, 19.0% had T1, 21.4% had T2, and 59.5% had T3 stage tumors; 42.9% had N1 and 57.1% had N2 stage tumors. Tumor recurred in 30 (71.4%) patients after the surgery, and death occurred in 26 (61.9%) cases at the last follow-up; among the recurrent cases, 83.3% (25/30) had multiple metastases at the initial recurrence. The median cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) was 23 and 11 months in these cases, respectively. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that Fuhrman grade (P=0.005), N stage (P=0.014) and T stage (P=0.037) were the independent predictors of CSS; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (PS) (P=0.002), tumor size (P=0.007), Fuhrman grade (P=0.009) and N stage (P=0.019) were the independent predictors of DFS.

CONCLUSIONPatients with T(1-3)N(1-2)M(0) RCC have poor prognosis. N stage is an independent predictor of both CSS and DFS, suggesting that extended lymph node dissection should be performed when suspicious enlarged nodal disease is found during surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Young Adult