To explore the expression and clinical significance of molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), HSP90 was detected in PBMC by Western blot assay and the plasma level of IL-6 was measured by ELISA in 38 SLE patients and 20 normal controls. The correlation analysis was performed between the SLE disease activity index (SLE-DAI) and the expression of HSP90 and IL-6. The results showed that there was increased expression of HSP90 in the SLE patients. The active SLE group exhibited higher HSP90 levels (0.82+/-0.10) than the inactive SLE group (0.54+/-0.09) (P<0.01). The expression of HSP90 in normal control group (0.37+/-0.11) showed significant statistical difference as compared to both the inactive and active SLE groups (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). The plasma level of IL-6 exhibited a significant increase in both the inactive and active SLE groups (28.99+/-1.74 pg/mL, 44.58+/-9.15 pg/mL, respectively) compared with normal control group (P<0.01, P<0.01, respectively). The expression of HSP90 and IL-6 in SLE patients showed significant positive correlation with SLEDAI scoring (r=0.80, P<0.01: r= 0.74, P<0.01, respectively). In addition, there was a positive correlation between the level of IL-6 and HSP90 in SLE patients (r=0.86, P<0.01). The increased expression of molecular chaperone HSP90 and IL-6 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE by regulating autoimmunity.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of induction chemotherapy (IC) plus intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with that of concurrent chemo-radiotherapy (CCRT) plus adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) for patients with loco-regionally advanced naso-pharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods:Data of 240 patients with loco-regionally advanced NPC were reviewed. These patients were admitted to the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center between January 2004 and December 2008. Among the 240 patients, 117 under-went the IC+IMRT and 123 were treated with the CCRT+AC. The IC+IMRT group received a regimen including cisplatin and 5-fluoro-uracil (5-FU). The CCRT+AC group received cisplatin concurrently with radiotherapy and subsequently received adjuvant cisplatin and 5-FU. The survival rates of the patients were assessed by Kaplan-Meier analysis, and the survival curves were compared by Log-rank test. Multivariate analysis was conducted using Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results:The 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, distant metastasis-free survival, local relapse-free survival, and the nodal relapse-free survival were 78.0%versus 78.7%, 68.9%versus 67.5%, 79.0%versus 77.0%, 91.6%versus 91.0%, and 95.3%versus 93.7%in the IC+IMRT and CCRT+AC groups, respectively. The survival between the two groups exhibited no significant differences. Higher rates of Grades 3 to 4 nau-sea-vomiting (8.1%vs. 1.7%, P=0.023) and leukopenia (9.7%vs. 0.9%, P=0.006) were observed in the CCRT+AC group. Multivariate analysis revealed that N stage and age were significant prognostic factors for the OS of the patients with loco-regionally advanced NPC. Conclusion:The treatment outcomes of IC+IMRT and CCRT+AC were similar. Distant metastasis remained as the predominant mode of treatment failure.

To explore the expression and clinical significance of molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and plasma level of interleukin-6ells (PBMC) and plasma level of interleukin-6(IL-6) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), HSP90 was detected in PBMC by West and the plasma level of IL-6 was measured by ELISA in 38 SLE patients and 20 normal controls. The correlation analysis was performed between the SLE disease activity index (SLEe results showed that there was increased expression of HSP90 in the SLE patients. The active SLE group exhibited higher HSP90 levels (0.82±0.10) than group (0.54±0.09) (P＜0.01). The expression of HSP90 in normal control group (0.37±0. 11) showed significant statistical difference as compared to both the inactive and active SLE The plasma level of IL-6 exhibited a significant increase in both the inactive and active SLE groups (28.99±1.74 pg/mL, 44.58±9.15 pg/mL, respectively) com0.01, P＜0.01, respectively). The expression of HSP90 and IL-6in SLE patients showed significant positive correlation with SLEDAI scoring (r=0.80, P＜0.01: r=. In addition, there was a positive correlation between the level of IL-6 and HSP90 in SLE patients (r= 0.86, P＜0.01). The increased expression of molecular chaperone HSP90thogenesis of SLE by regulating autoimmunity.

OBJECTIVE： To investigate the effects of Kangfuxin liquid on repairing cartilage defect model of knee osteoarthritis （KOA） in rabbits and its mechanism. METHODS： Totally 72 male New Zealand rabbits were selected and randomly divided into model control group and Kangfuxin low-dose， medium-dose， high-dose groups， with 18 rabbits in each group. A cartilage defect model of the medial femoral condyle of the right knee joint in rabbits was established by drilling after anesthesia surgery. Then the rabbits in each group were given medicine via articular cavity immediately. Kangfuxin low-dose， middle-dose and high-dose groups were given 20％， 40％， 80％ Kangfuxin liquid； model control group was given constant volume of normal saline consecutively， 0.2 mL/kg， once every 3 days. At 4th， 8th， 12th week after medication， the wound repair of cartilage defect in rabbits was observed. Immediately after medication and at 4th， 8th， 12th week after medication， repaired tissue of cartilage defect in rabbits was scored histologically with Wakitani scoring standard under light microscope. At 12th week after medication， pathological changes of repaired tissue of cartilage defect in rabbits were observed by Masson staining. The levels of NO， SOD and LPO in joint fluid and PYD in urine of rabbits were detected by ELISA. RESULTS： At 4th， 8th， 12th week after medication， compared with model control group， cartilage defects in rabbits were repaired well in Kangfuxin low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups. At 4th， 8th， 12th week after medication， compared with immediately after medication and model control group at same time point， histomorphological score of repairing cartilage defect of knee joint in rabbits decreased significantly in Kangfuxin low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups （P＜0.05）. At 12th week after medication， compared with model control group， the histopathology degree of cartilage defect of knee joint in rabbits was significantly alleviated in Kangfuxin low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups. At 4th， 8th， 12th week after medication， compared with model control group， the levels of NO and LPO in joint fluid and PYD level in urine were decreased to different extent in Kangfuxin low-dose， medium-dose and high-dose groups， while SOD level was increased to different extent； at 12th week after medication， the difference of each index has statistical significance （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： Kangangxin liquid can significantly repair cartilage defect of KOA cartilage defect model rabbits， the mechanism of which may be associated with increasing the expression of SOD and mediating NO-inhibited chondrocyte apoptosis.