OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect of Kangyi Zhongyu Decoction (KZD) combined with gonadotropin releasing hormone-a (GnRH-a) on infertile patients with severe endometriosis.

METHODSSeventy-five infertile patients with the diagnosis of endometriosis confirmed by laparoscope who were scheduled to receive in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were randomly assigned to three groups, they were treated respectively with KZD (A), GnRH-a (B) alone and combined of both (C), and IVF-ET were applied in the patients after 3 months of treatment. The clinical efficacy and adverse reactions in the three groups were observed and the changes of serum cancer antigen 125 (CA125) and endometrial antibody (EMAb) levels before and after treatment were tested.

RESULTSScore of dyspareunia in Group A and C was obvioushy lower than that in Group B after treatment (P <0.01). Pregnancy rate in Group C was higher than that in Group A and B (P <0.05), with the adverse reactions less than in Group B (P <0.01). The positive rate of plasma EMAb was reduced obviously after treatment in Group C with the level lower than that in the other two groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe combined use of KZD and GnRH-a is a new method in treating infertile patients with severe endometriosis with ideal effectiveness and fewer adverse reactions, and it could advance the successful rate of reproductive assistant technique.

Adult ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Embryo Transfer ; Endometriosis ; complications ; drug therapy ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Infertility, Female ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Integrative Medicine ; methods ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

To observe BAG-1, EGFR, and PARP-1 expressions in invasive breast cancer and its correlation with clini-cal pathological indicators, as well as to evaluate their clinical significance. Methods:The BAG-l, EGFR, and PARP-1 expressions in a tissue microarray of invasive breast cancer and peritumoral tissues were detected through immunohistochemical staining. The clinical and pathological significance of BAG-1, EGFR, and PARP-1 were evaluated. Results:The BAG-1, EGFR, and PARP-1 expression lev-els are higher in invasive breast cancer tissues than in peritumoral tissues (P<0.05). BAG-1 expression in invasive cancer tissues is not related to age, tumor site, lymph node metastases, and clinical TNM staging of patients, but is related to size, grade, ER, PR, and HER-2 expressions and molecular subtype (P<0.05). EGFR expression is related to size, clinical TNM staging, and molecular subtype (P<0.05). PARP-1 expression is related to grade, lymph node metastases, ER, and molecular subtype (P<0.05). BAG-1 expression is not significantly correlated with EGFR and PARP-1 in all cases, but BAG-1 and PARP-1 expressions are positively correlated in tri-ple-negative breast cancer tissues (P<0.05). Results of the univariate analysis revealed that the BAG-1 and PARP-1 expressions and the molecular subtypes are associated with the prognoses of breast cancer patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that BAG-1 and PARP-1 expressions are factors that are independent of the prognosis. Conclusion: BAG-1, EGFR, and PARP-1 overexpressions in human breast tissues suggest that BAG-1, EGFR, and PARP-1 are related to breast cancer development. BAG-1, EGFR, and PARP-1 are poten-tial biomarkers of breast cancer diagnosis and prognosis.

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Yigu capsule (YGC, a Chinese herbal compound preparation) in treating postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) and to explore its possible mechanism.

METHODSThe clinical study was conducted adopting prospective, randomized, double blinded method for 6 months with placebo and positive controls. Two hundred and ten PMO patients with confirmed diagnosis were divided into the YGC group, the osteocalcin group and the placebo group, they were treated with YGC, osteocalcin capsule and placebo capsule, respectively. The symptoms, as new fracture and ostealgia, bone mineral density (BMD) of the 2nd to the 4th lumbar vertebrae (L24) and upper segment of femur, blood and urinary indexes for bone metabolism, sex hormone level and adverse reaction were observed.

RESULTSIn the YGC group, the total effective rate was 95.50%, no new fracture occurred, which was significantly better than that in the other two groups (P < 0.05). The increase of BMD was 9.83% in L2-4, 4.09% in femoral neck, 4.60% in Wards triangle, 3.00% in greater trochanter, which were better than those in the placebo group (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). As compared with the placebo group, in the YGC group, levels of urinary oxyproline hydroxyproline/creatinine, urinary calcium/creatinine were lower, serum and bone alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, estradiol, and estradiol/testosterone were higher, but with no difference in level of testosterone. In the observation period, no abnormal findings in blood and urine routine examination as well as in liver and renal function were found. Mild, transient gastro-intestinal response occurred in individual patients but it didn't affect the treatment.

CONCLUSIONYGC could treat PMO effectively, it could obviously increase the BMD of lumbar vertebrae and hip, elevate the alleviating rate of ostealgia and incessant motion time, without new compressive fracture of vertebrae, and without any related adverse reaction. YGC could not only promote the formation, but also inhibit the absorption of bone, and increase the sex hormone level, therefore, it is a pure Chinese herbal compound preparation that worths further deep research and development.

Absorptiometry, Photon ; Bone Density ; Capsules ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Phytotherapy ; Prospective Studies ; Testosterone ; blood

Adult ; Cloning, Molecular ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogenes

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic effect and immune regulatory mechanism of Bushen Er'xian Decoction (BED) on patients with premature ovarian failure (POF).

METHODSSixty patients with POF were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio of 2:1, the 40 in the treatment group were treated with BED and the 20 in the control group were treated with artificial menstrual cycle therapy. The clinical efficacy was observed and the changes of serum reproductive hormone and T lymphocytes before and after treatment were observed.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treatment group was 72.5% (29/40 cases), which was higher than that in the control group, 45.0% (9/20 cases, P < 0.05). Serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) decreased and estradiol (E2) increased in both groups after treatment (P <0.05), but the level of FSH was lower in the treatment group than in the control group (22.57 +/- 12.49 IU/L vs 31.10 +/- 14.50 IU/L, P <0.05). CD4 and CD4/CD8 increased, CD8 decreased in the treatment group after treatment, showing significant difference as compared with those before treatment and with those in the control group after treatment (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONBED is favourable for improving POF, being a good remedy with better clinical efficacy.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Humans ; Luteinizing Hormone ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To compare the differences of metabolic syndrome (MS) prevalence by using four working definitions and their relationship with obesity-related indicators in first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetes mellitus pedigrees. Methods Totally, 2 372 first-degree relatives from 715 type 2 diabetic pedigrees were selected in this study. Complete laboratory data, including blood pressure, lipid profile and plasma glucose, were collected. The prevalence rates of MS and obesity of four definitions, as defined by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel Ⅲ (ATPⅢ) in 2005, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005,Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) in 2004 aml Joint Committee for Developing Chinese Guidelines on Prevention and Treatment of Dyslipidemia in Adults (JCDCG) in 2007,were analyzed. Results (1)The prevalence rates of MS were 45.40% ,38.74% ,25.08% and 39.29% aecording to four definitions respectively. The prevalence rates of MS were higher in females than in males by using ATPⅢ and IDF definitions (both P<0. 01). (2)The common comhinations of metabolic abnormality was dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity and hyperglycemia by using four definitions,except in females by using CDS definition. (3)The prevalence rates of obesity were 58.18% ,58.18% ,33.90% and 42.96% acconling to the four definitions respectively. The prevalence rates of MS in obese subjects were 66.59% ,66.59% ,54.85% and 68.99% according to four definitions respectively. (4) Applying the cutoff point for abdominal obesity according to ATPⅢ, IDF and JCDCG definitions, the prevalence rates of abdominal obesity in subjects with body mass index (BMI) <25 kg/m2 were respectively 28.58% and 16.78%, being higher in females than in males(38.90% vs 15.02% ,21.01% vs 11.22% ,both P<0. 01). Conclusion (1)There is significant familial aggregation of MS and obesity,and the first-degree relatives of type 2 diabetic patients are high risk populations. (2) Waist circumference rather than BMI taken as a discriminating component of obesity in MS seems to be clinically more helpful to the early identification and prevention of MS.

Objective To establish an isolated rat pancreas perfusion technique,a method for the precise measurement of insulin secretion in vitro.Methods An isolated rat pancreas perfusion technique was applied in the study of insulin secretion from?-cells in 10 high-fat diet-induced obese Wistar rats.Results For the assessment of the functional integrity of the perfused pancreas,the isolated pancreas of 6 rats met all the criteria: (1)The constancy of perfusion pressure was kept over the whole experiment time[(70?5)mm Hg,1 mm Hg= 0.133 kPa].(2)The duodenal peristaltic activity of isolated pancreas and duodenum block was present after perfusion experiment.(3)Total insulin response to arginine stimulation was significantly increased as compared with glucose stimulation[maximum insulin secretion rate:(987?100)?U/min vs(545?50)?U/min,P

OBJECTIVETo detect the expression profile of NK ligands in acute leukemia cell lines and investigate the differential expression pattern between acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

METHODSUsing quantitative real-time PCR, 23 NK ligands (MICA, MICB, ULBP-1, ULBP-2, ULBP-3, ULBP-4, HLA-E, HLA-G, CD48, NBTA, HLA-F, LLT-1, PVR, Nectin2, CD72, CD80, ICAM-1, LFA-3, CRACC, Fas, DR4, DR5, TNFR1) were detected in 6 acute leukemia cell lines, including 3 ALL cell lines (CEM, Jurkat T, Reh) and 3 AML cell lines (HL-60, KG-1a, NB4), respectively. Independent-samples t test analysis was performed to determine statistical significance.

RESULTSUsing β-actin as reference gene, the relative expression results showed that the expression of 4 NK ligands between ALL and AML is significantly different. Specifically, the level of ULBP-2 is higher in ALL (CEM: 1, Jurkat T: 0.617, Reh: 0.246) than that in AML (HL-60: 0.000, KG-1a: 0.003, NB4: 0.000)(P = 0.047). However, the expressions of CD48, PVR(PVR-1, PVR-2) and DR4 is higher in AML (HL-60: 13.987, 4.403, 10.334, 8.711; KG-1a: 5.387, 2.900, 7.315, 4.512; NB4: 7.763, 3.248, 7.049, 6.127) than that in ALL (CEM: 1, 1, 1, 1; Jurkat T: 2.035, 1.553, 3.888, 0.449; Reh: 1.559, 0.000, 0.000, 1.304) (P = 0.044, 0.014, 0.014, 0.011). And there're no significant differences between the rest 19 NK ligands.

CONCLUSIONSULBP-2, CD48, PVR and DR4 might play an important role in the distinct mechanisms in leukemogenesis between ALL and AML and could be potential targets for diagnosis and treatment.

Acute Disease ; Antigens, CD ; genetics ; metabolism ; CD48 Antigen ; Cell Line, Tumor ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; genetics ; metabolism ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; genetics ; metabolism ; Ligands ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Virus ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective To observe apelin and its receptor (APJ) expressions in human osteoblasts and evaluate the effect of apelin on osteoblasts.Methods The expressions of apelin and APJ in human osteoblasts were tested by RT-PCR and Western blot.After human osteoblasts were treated with apelin,cell proliferation was measured by [~3H] thymidine incorporation and cell counting.Cell function was measured by alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity,the secreted osteocalcin level and typeⅠcollagen production .The activation of signaling cascades was tested by Western blot.Small-interfering RNA (siRNA) to blockade APJ was applied to observe effects of apelin on cell proliferation and the activation of signaling cascades.Results Both apelin and APJ were expressed in human osteoblasts.Apelin increased the proliferation and did not show the influences on ALP activity, osteocalcin secretion and type I collagen production in human osteoblasts.Apelin induced activation of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) downstream effector (Akt),but not mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) such as c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK),p38 and ERK1/2 in human osteoblasts.Suppression of APJ with siRNA or LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) abolished the apelin-induced cell proliferation and the activation of Akt.Conclusion Human osteoblasts express apelin and APJ.Apelin stimulates the proliferation of human osteoblast via APJ/PI3K/Akt pathway,but has no effect on osteoblast differentiation.