Objective To investigate the significance of measuring carotid arterial intima-media thickness(IMT) and diabetic retinopathy(DR).Methods 76 diabetic patients were divided into three groups:no diabetic retinopathy(NDR),nonpmliferative diabetic retinopathy(NPDR),and proliferative diabetic retinopathy(PDR).20 helath people were chosen as control All subjects were examined by ColorDoppler imaging on the carotid arterial intima-media thickness.Results The mean IMT was significantly higher in T_2DM patients than in normal control group(P

Wogonin is a kind of natural flavonoid compound. According to findings in the latest studies, wogonin shows a wide range of antitumor effects, with the characteristics of multi-pathway, multi-link and multi-target, such as promoting tumor cell apoptosis through ROS or Ca(2+)-mediated signal paths, enhancing tumor cytotoxicity by TNF-α and TRAIL, blocking tumor cell cycle, inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and resisting cancer synergistically with chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, Wogonin could enhance body immune function by enhancing immune cell infiltration, regulating the immune cell phenotype and promoting relevant cytokine secretion. In this paper, the authors summarized the advance in studies on wogonin's antitumor and immunomodulatory effects.
Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Flavanones ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; therapeutic use ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; immunology

Objective To investigate the mechanism of pulmonary fibrosis induced by paraquat (PQ),and the effect of Xuebijing injection in treatment of PQ poisoning.Methods Seventy-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group,PQ poisoning group,and Xuebijing intervention group,with 24 rats in each group.Pulmonary fibrosis was induced by single garage at the dosage of 50 mg/kg of PQ,while 1 mL of distilled water was given by gavage in control group.Xuebijing injection at the dosage of 4 mL/kg were given intraperitoneally at 30 minutes after exposure to PQ in Xuebijing group,and it was repeated every 12 hours; same amount of physiological saline was given intraperitoneally in PQ group and control group.The experiment lasted for 14 days.Six rats in each group were sacrificed on 1,3,7,14 days,respectively,after insult,and 30 minutes after the last intervention.The lung tissues were harvested,the changes in pathology in lung tissue and the degree of pulmonary fibrosis were observed with optical microscope with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and Masson stain.The ultrastructure changes in lung tissues were observed with transmission electron microscopic,and the content of hydroxyproline (HYP) in the lung tissue was determined by alkaline hydrolysis.The expression of mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (Mfn2) was determined by Western Blot.Results ① HE staining:in PQ group,inflammation was most marked on the 3rd day.On the 7th day,exudates in the alveoli started to be organized,and hypertrophic fibroblasts were seen to secrete slim collagen fibers,and fibrosis could be seen in alveoli.On the 14th day,intensive hyperplasia of fibroblasts could be observed,and the alveolar structure was destroyed and collapsed,with deposition of collagen deposited with formation of pulmonary fibrosis.At the same time,pathologic changes were milder in Xuebijing group than those in PQ group.② Masson staining:the degree of inflammation in alveoli and pulmonary fibrosis were less marked in Xuebijing group than those of PQ group on the 14th day.③ Under the transmission electron microscopy,it was found that the mitochondria of lung tissue cells was relatively less in number on the 14th day in PQ group,and the majority of them underwent degeneration,swelling and damage.Basement membrane became folded,alvcoli were collapsed,and fibrosis was obvious.These changes were less serious in Xuebijing group.④ Content of HYP (μg/g):contents of HYP in lung tissues on the 3rd day in PQ group and Xuebijing group were significantly higher than those in control group (743.3 ± 50.2,718.1 ± 34.0 vs.665.8± 6.6,both P＜0.05),it then increased gradually,but the contents of HYP in Xuebijing group were significantly lower on the 7th day and 14th day than those in PQ group (790.5 ± 23.8 vs.876.7 ± 42.0,812.9 ± 72.3 vs.931.3 ± 33.0,both P＜0.05).⑤ Expression of Mfn2:the expression of Mfn2 in control group was relatively lower.The expression of Mfn2 in PQ group was increased gradually under stress,but its rate was low.The expression of Mfn2 (A value) in Xuebijing group was significantly higher than that in PQ group on the 1st day (0.731 ±0.035 vs.0.618 ±0.029,P＜0.05),and it was elevated steadily,reaching the peak on the 7th day (0.732 ± 0.037 vs.0.669 ± 0.034,P＜0.05),but it was lower than that of PQ group on the 14th day (0.708 ± 0.034 vs.0.765 ± 0.041,P＜0.05).Conclusions Xuebijing reduces lung inflammatory reaction and pulmonary fibrosis as a result of PQ poisoning.The mechanism is that Xnebijing regulates and increases expression of Mfn2 in lung tissue.

Objective To explore the correlation between P300 and Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA) results, and to analyze its clinical significance. Also to explore whether P300 might represent specific cognitive functions. Methods Sixty stroke patients were matched with 30 healthy persons serving as a control group. All were examined with auditory evoked potential P300 and the LOTCA, and the correlation between the results was analyzed.Results The stroke patients had significantly longer P200,N200 and P300 latencies and significantly lower P300 amplitude compared with the controls. The LOTCA total scores and each sub-item score in the patient group were all significantly lower than those in the control group. In the patient group, there was strong negative correlation between P300 latency and the total LOTCA score, weak positive correlation between P300 amplitude and the total LOTCA score, and medium to high negative correlation between P300 latency and LOTCA sub-item scores. Stepwise regression and multivariate analysis revealed that sub-items of LOTCA, followed by thinking operations, motor praxis and spatial perception, were strongly correlated with P300 latencies.Conclusions Significant correlation were found between P300 and LOTCA. The combination of P300 and LOTCA can enable earlier, more objective and more comprehensive assessment of vascular cognitive impairment. The latency of P300 has no obvious specificity in reflecting cognitive function, and it is affected by thinking operations most.

Objective To evaluate the damage to the brochial plexus produced by pulsed radiofrequency (PRF)and radiofrequency thermocoagulation(RFTC).Methods Fifty-five male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 3 groups:groupⅠPRF(n=25):groupⅡRFTC(n=25)and groupⅢnormal control(n=5).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal chloral hydrate.The left brochial plexus was exposed and PRF or RFTC was applied to the left brochial plexus.The voltage and current of the minimal stimulation which elecited muscle twitching and the impedance before and after operation were recorded in group PRF and RFTC.The nerve function was scored according to Tarloo(0=flaccid paresis,5=normal gait)before and at 3d after operation.The animals were killed and the left brachial plexus was removed immediately and at 1, 7,14,30 d after operation(n=5 at each time point)for determination of histopathological changes using microscope.Results The impedance and Tarlov score were significantly decreased after operation as compared to the baseline values before operation in group RFTC and were also significantly lower than in group PRF. Microscopic examination showed that the myelinated nerve fibers exhibited Wallerian degeneration and axon regeneration and the cytochondria in cylindraxile were severely injured or disappeared in group RFTC.The myelinated nerve fibers and the cytochondria in cylindraxile were significantly less injured after operation in group PRF than in group RFTC and returned to normal at 7 d and 30 d respectively.Conclusion The injury to brachial plexus produced by PRF is slighter than that produced by RFTC.

Objective To compare the assessment results of Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment (LOTCA) and mini-mental state examination(MMSE) in stroke patients,and to analyze the correlation between the two assessments and to explore the applicable values of LOTCA in assessing vascular cognitive function impairment (VCI).Methods According to the diagnostic standard of cognitive impairment with MMSE,thirty stroke patients with cognitive impairment were selected as cognitive impairment group,thirty stroke patients without markedly cognitive impairment as stroke control group,and thirty normal subjects served as normal control group.All the subjects' age,gender and level of education were matched in the three groups. All the subjects were assessed with LOTCA and MMSE.ResultsThe total scores of LOTCA had high positive correlation with the total scores of MMSE in cognitive impairment group ( r =0.934,P ＜ 0.01 ),the correlations were also found between every sub-items of LOTCA and those of MMSE (P ＜ 0.01 ).The total scores and the scores of sub-items of LOTCA in cognitive impairment group were significantly lower than those in stroke control group and were those in normal control group(P ＜ 0.01 ),particularly lower scores in LOTCA sub-items of thinking operations,orientation,visuomotor organization.The scores of sub-items of LOTCA,including thinking operations,visuo-motor organization,attention,orientation,spatial perception were all significantly lower in stroke control group than those in normal control group(P ＜0.01 ),especially in thinking operations and visuo-motor organization sub-items.Conclusions Correlations were found between LOTCA and MMSE.Compared to MMSE,LOTCA could detect vascular cognitive function impairment earlier and is much more comprehensive,so it is suitable to assess vascular cognitive impairment patients with no dementia.

Objective To investigate the risk of permanent hair dye use for connective tissue disease ( CTD ) with positive antinuclear antibodies ( ANA ).Methods We conducted a population-based case-control study to analyze 440 CTD patients from the department of our hospital.Four hundreds and forty patients' relatives or friends who were free from any CTD were selected as controls.Patients and controls were matched in sex and age.A face-to-face interview was adopted to finish questionnaires about subjects' demographic data and the use of permanent hair dye.Data about the duration,frequency,times of usage and allergy related to hair dye were collected.Medical history was also reviewed,such as the diagnosis,disease course,primary symptoms,serum tests and organ involvements.Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS 17.0 software using x2 test and Logistic regression.Results The association between the use of permanent hair dye and CTD did not reach statistical significance (OR=1.282,95％CI 0.966-1.700,P=0.085 ),when the relationship of hair dye use with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was tested,the same result (OR=1.092,95％CI 0.795-1.500,P=0.587 ) could be revealed.Conclusion This preliminary study has shown that the use of permanent hair dye couldn't induce the occurrence of CTD.

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A gene (MICA) polymorphism and serum soluble MICA level were associated with the occurrence and development of colorectal cancer.

METHODSDNA samples from 117 colorectal cancer patients and 113 healthy individuals from Yangzhou in Jiangsu province were genotyped by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence-specific primer (SSP) method and PCR based sequencing. In addition, polymorphism at position 129 was also analyzed by PCR-SSP. Serum levels of soluble MICA were measured by a sandwich ELISA method.

RESULTSNeither the extracellular nor the transmembrane region polymorphisms of MICA gene were associated with the occurrence and the different stages of colorectal cancer. In contrast, the frequency of the methionine residue at position 129 was significantly decreased in the patient group. Soluble MICA levels in sera were increased in the late stages of colorectal cancer.

CONCLUSIONAlthough there was no genetic susceptibility attributed to MICA gene polymorphism with regard to development of colorectal cancer, serum levels of soluble MICA may be a diagnostic marker of advanced stages.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; genetics ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Genotype ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; blood ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; genetics

DNA damage response (DDR) in different cell cycle status of human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and the role of H2AX in DDR were investigated. The PBLs were stimulated into cell cycle with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The apoptotic ratio and the phosphorylation H2AX (S139) were flow cytometrically measured in resting and proliferating PBLs after treatment with camptothecin (CPT) or X-ray. The expressions of γH2AX, Bcl-2, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were detected by Western blotting. DDR in 293T cells was detected after H2AX was silenced by RNAi method. Our results showed that DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) were both induced in quiescent and proliferating PBLs after CPT or X-ray treatment. The phosphorylation of H2AX and apoptosis were more sensitive in proliferating PBLs compared with quiescent lymphocytes (P<0.05). The expression levels of anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 were reduced and cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased. No significant changes were observed in CPT-induced apoptosis in 293T cells between H2AX knocking down group and controls. It was concluded that proliferating PBLs were more vulnerable to DNA damage compared to non-stimulated lymphocytes and had higher apoptosis rates. γH2AX may only serve as a marker of DNA damage but exert no effect on apoptosis regulation.

Objective To estimate the activity of the phosphatidylinositol3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathway in peripheral blood T cells from patients with atopic dermatitis (AD),and to investigate its clinical significance.Methods T cells were isolated by using the Rosettsep T cell purification kit from the peripheral blood of 38 patients with AD and 38 healthy human controls,and classified into several groups to be treated with anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody,anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody,and LY294002 (an inhibitor of PI3K) respectively.The activity of PI3K signaling pathway in T cells was estimated by immunoprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Western blot was performed to measure the expressions of total Akt and phosphorylated Akt in T cells,methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay to examine the proliferation of T cells,and ELISA to determine the levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6) and IL-10.Results The activity of PI3K and Akt was significantly higher in freshly isolated patient-derived T cells than in control-derived T cells (both P ＜ 0.05).However,the difference in the activity of PI3K and Akt between patient-derived and control-derived T cells disappeared (both P ＞ 0.05) after 24-hour in vitro culture.The activity of PI3K and Akt in control-derived T cells was significantly increased after 24-hour incubation with sera from the patients with AD (both P ＜ 0.05).In addition,compared with patient-derived T cells treated with patients' sera or anti-CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody alone,those treated with the combination of LY294002 and patients' sera or anti-CD3/CD28 monoclonal antibody showed a significant decrease in the proliferative activity (63％ ± 11％ vs.123％ ± 25％,125％ ± 22％ vs.195％ ± 28％,both P＜ 0.05),supematant levels of IL-6 ((168 ± 33) vs.(265 ± 46) ng/L,(431 ± 64) vs.(823 ± 128) ng/L,both P＜ 0.05) and IL-10 ((56 ± 14) vs.(98 ± 25) ng/L,(120 ± 21) vs.(213 ± 35) ng/L,both P＜ 0.05).Eczema area and severity index (EASI) was unassociated with the activity of PI3K or Akt in fresh T cells from patients with AD (both P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The PI3K signaling pathway is abnormally activated in peripheral blood T cells from patients with AD,which is associated with the proliferation of,as well as secretion of cytokines by,T cells,suggesting that there exist serum factors activating this pathway in peripheral blood of patients with AD.