Objective To study the role of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)and vasoactive intestinal peptide(VIP)in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata(AA).Methods Radioimmunoassay(RIA)was used to measure the levels of CGRP and VIP in plasma from30patients with AA and20normal controls.Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect the expression of CGRP and VIP in lesions of21patients with AA and16normal scalps.Results①The plasma levels of CGRP in progressing stage of AA(142.63?67.95pg/mL)were significantly lower than those in stable stage of AA(197.33?67.15pg/mL)and in normal controls(188.40?72.95pg/mL).②The plasma levels of VIP in progressing stage of AA(105.94?55.42pg/mL)were significantly lower than those in stable stage of AA(156.86?47.37pg/mL)and in normal controls(176.44?84.70pg/mL).③The expression of CGRP and VIP was significanly decreased in lesions of AA than that in normal scalps.Conclusion These findings indicate that CGRP and VIP may play a role in the pathogenesis of alopecia areata.

BACKGROUND: Prognosis is determined by degrees of outside force and time of spinal cord compression after spinal cord injury. The former factor cannot be changed, but the latter one can be changed through relieving spinal cord compression as early as possible to promote nervous function recovery.OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of surgical intervention time on nervous function recovery within 72 hours and 10 to 14 days after cervical spinal cord injury.DESIGN: Randomized controlled and before-after controlled study.SETTING: Department of Spine Surgery of the Second Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University.PARTICIPANTS: A total of 32 patients with cervical spinal cord injury were selected from the Department of Spine Surgery of the Second Hospital affiliated to Harbin Medical University from April 1998 to August 2001.All patients were divided into two groups according to randomly alternative criteria. There were 16 cases including 10 males and 6 females in early surgical group (within 72 hours) and there were also 16 cases including 12males and 4 females in delayed surgical group (within 10-14 days).METHODS: Patients in early surgical group were undertaken operation at 72 hours after hospitalization, and patients in delayed surgical group were at 10-14 days after hospitalization. Frankel grade, sensory and motor scores were recorded according to criteria set by American Spinal Injury Association before operation and within 24 months after operation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① Sensory and motor scores before and after operation; ② Frankel grade before and after operation.RESULTS: ① Improved level of sensory score (difference before and after operation) was higher in early surgical group than that in delayed surgical group (42.6±20.2, 19.2±19.1, P ＜ 0.01). ② Improved level of motor score (difference before and after operation) was higher in early surgical group than that in delayed surgical group (39.7±17.8, 17.3±18.6, P ＜ 0.01). ③Improved level of Frankel grade in early surgical group was superior to that in delayed surgical group (P ＜ 0.01).CONCLUSION: Nervous function recovery of patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury who were suffered from operation within 72 hours is superior to that of those within 10 to 14 days. Therefore, surgical intervention should be undertaken as early as possible in order to promote nervous function recovery after cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective To evaluate septin-9 and clusterin protein levels in the peripheral blood samples from epithelial ovarian cancer patients, and explore its clinical significance. Methods Clinical data of 200 patients in Cancer Hospital,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from Jan. 29, 2008 to Feb. 1,2010 were collected. The peripheral blood samples were obtained from 137 epithelial ovarian cancer patients, 12 borderline ovarian tumor patients, 10 benign ovarian tumor patients, 41 benign pelvic lesion patients and 58 healthy women. The septin-9 and clusterin protein levels in the plasma were measured by double antibody sandwich ELISA or ELISA. The clinical significance of clusterin and septin-9 in plasma was analyzed. The diagnostic efficacy of septin-9 and clusterin protein in the detection of ovarian cancer was evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results Double antibody sandwich ELISA showed: the mean levels of plasma septin-9 in epithelial ovarian cancer patients or benign pelvic lesion patients were significantly higher than that in healthy women detedted by double antibody sandwich ELISA (P<0.01). The mean levels of plasma septin-9 in epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients with tumor family history or distance metastasis were significantly higher than those patients without (P<0.05). While the expression level of septin-9 protein in peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients was not related to the patient age, pathologic stage, pathologic differentiation, smoking history, treatment history (including surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy) and lymph node metastasis (all P>0.05). ELISA showed: the mean level of plasma clusterin in epithelial ovarian cancer patients was significantly higher than that in healthy women deteded by ELISA (P=0.021). The expression level of clusterin protein in peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients was not related to the above clinical pathological parameters (all P>0.05). To distinguish between ovarian cancer patients and healthy women by septin-9 protein expression level in plasma, when AUC was 0.712 and cut off was 0.28, the sensitivity of detection ovarian cancer by septin-9 protein expression was 82.5%, and the specificity was 50.0%. To distinguish between ovarian cancer patients and healthy women by clusterin protein expression level in plasma, when AUC was 0.636 and cut off was 87.96 pg/L, the sensitivity of detection ovarian cancer by clusterin protein expression was 71.5%, and the specificity was 41.4%. Conclusions The expression of septin-9 and clusterin protein in peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients is increased, especially the expression level of septin-9 protein with related to the distant metastasis. The study results shown that the detection of septin-9 and clusterin in plasma has a certain diagnosis value in ovarian cancer, which may be a potential markers for ovarian cancer.

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) identified as an effective treatment for ultimate knee joint disease can effectively relieve pain, correct deformity, improve knee function and enhance the quality of life of patients. Patient satisfaction has been increasingly considered as an important factor in evaluating the success of primary TKA. Anterior knee pain that usually appears in the region of the anterior knee is a recognized complaint for primary TKA and has a strong impact on the improvement of knee function and patient satisfaction of primary TKA. Accordingly, the relief of anterior knee pain has become one of the primary goals of primary TKA. At present, soft tissue lesions around the patellar caused by patellar maltracking and the elevation of internal pressure in subchondral bone because of the high contact stress of patellofemoral joint are both considered as the mechanism of anterior knee pain. For the past few years,on increasing number of studies have focused on the prevention of anterior knee pain following primary TKA. However, none of the past treatment such as patellar resurfacing, patellar denervation without patellar resurfacing or a mobile-bearing prosthesis has a good and affirmative effect on it. The prevention and treatment of anterior knee pain following primary TKA still is a difficult solved problem. To address this problem, we need further researches about the cause of anterior knee pain, knee joint prosthesis and biomechanics of patellofemoral joint, as well as lots of randomized controlled trials.
Arthralgia ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Knee Joint ; surgery ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

The present study aims to predict the action targets of antidepressant active ingredients of Xiaoyaosan to understand the "multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways" mechanism. Using network pharmacology, the reported antidepressant active ingredients in Xiaoyaosan (saikosaponin A, saikosaponin C, saikosaponin D, ferulic acid, Z-ligustilide, atractylenolide I, atractylenolide II, atractylenolide III, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid and pachymic acid), were used to predict the targets of main active ingredients of Xiaoyaosan according to reversed pharmacophore matching method. The prediction was made via screening of the antidepressive drug targets approved by FDA in the DrugBank database and annotating the information of targets with the aid of MAS 3.0 biological molecular function software. The Cytoscape software was used to construct the Xiaoyaosan ingredients-targets-pathways network. The network analysis indicates that the active ingredients in Xiaoyaosan involve 25 targets in the energy metabolism-immune-signal transmutation relevant biological processes. The antidepressant effect of Xiaoyaosan reflects the features of traditional Chinese medicine in multi-components, multi-targets and multi-pathways. This research provides a scientific basis for elucidation of the antidepressant pharmacological mechanism of Xiaoyaosan.
Antidepressive Agents ; pharmacology ; Benzoates ; Bridged-Ring Compounds ; Coumaric Acids ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Flavanones ; Glucosides ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; Lactones ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Monoterpenes ; Sesquiterpenes ; Software

Child ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell

ObjectiveTo compare the efficacy of step-up and top-down infliximab therapy on patients with Crohn's disease (CD).MethodsA prospective and open-label study was performed by the First Affiliated Hospital of SUN Yat-sen University during September 2007 to December 2010.Active CD patients who were refractory to steroid/immunomodulator or who were steroid-dependent were enrolled into step-up group.Active CD patients who had no steroid or immunomodulator therapy before were enrolled into top-down group. All patients were intravenously infused with infliximab of 5 mg/kg body weight in an induction regimen of 3 doses at week 0,2 and 6,followed by maintenance dosing every 8 weeks beginning at week 14.The clinical and endoscopic follow up lasted 30 weeks.Clinical symptoms and mucosal healing status under endoscopy were evaluated by follow-up at week 10 and 30.Results Forty-one CD patients were enrolled,with 24 in step-up group and 17 in top-down group. There were significant differences in disease duration (P =0.006),combination therapy (P ＜ 0.001 ) and severity of disease ( P =0.011 ) in baseline between step-up and top-down groups.At week 10 and 30 during treatment,the clinical remission rates in step-up group were 45.8％ (11/24) and 58.3％ (14/24) respectively; the mucosal healing rates in step-up group were 33.3％ (8/24) and 54.2％ (13/24) respectively; the clinical remission rates in topdown group were 70.6％ ( 12/17)and 82.4％ (14/17) respectively; and the mucosal healing rates in topdown group were 35.3％ (6/17) and 52.9％ (9/17) respectively.No significant differences in clinical remission and mucosal healing rates at both week 10 and 30 were observed between the two groups.The prevalences of adverse events in step-up and top-down group were 41.7％ (10/24) and 29.4％ (5/17)respectively ( P =0.422).ConclusionBoth step-up and top-down infliximab therapy can induce remission in more than half of CD patients,while top-down therapy might be more benefitiary to symptom and endoscopic remission.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of thalidomide in refractory Crohn's disease (CD).Methods A total of 21 moderate or severe active CD patients were enrolled,who had no response to glucocorticoid and azathioprine treatment or steroid-dependent.The patients were administrated with thalidomide 100 mg/d before sleep and followed up for one year.The clinical efficacy,endoscopic findings and safety were evaluated.Results Among 21 refractory CD patients,six patients stopped medication due to adverse effect and two because of ineffectiveness,three patients continued medication not completed one year follow-up,10 patients completed one year follow-up.The clinical remission,effective and ineffective rates were 23.8％(5/21),19.0％(4/21) and 57.1％(12/21) respectively.Under endoscope,the mucosal healing,improvement and no improvement rates were 9.5％(2/21),14.3％(3/21) and 76.2％ (16/21) respectively.The adverse effect rate was 71.4％ (15/21) including rash,conspitation,sommolence,numbness of hands and feet,leucopenia and muscular soreness.The mean time of the adverse effects onset was 3.4 weeks.Conclusions Thalidomide is effective in refractory CD treatment and could be used in patients unwilling to use biological medication or receive surgery.But the adverse effects should be noted.

Objective To inspect the efficacy and mucosa healing condition of infliximab with azathioprine combination therapy in Crohn's disease (CD) and its correlation with prognosis.Methods A total of 20 active CD patients who received infliximab and azathioprine combination therapy at The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were objects of this study.The clinical efficacy was evaluated at 10 weeks,30 weeks,54 weeks and 2 years respectively according to CD activity index.The efficacy was evaluated under endoscopy at 10 weeks,30 weeks,54 weeks and 2 years respectively according to mucosal response situation under endoscopy.The data were analyzed by analysis of variance or Fisher's exact test between two groups.The factor affecred mucosal healing was analyzed by Logistic regression analysis.Results The clinical remission rate of patients without steroid at week 10,30,54 and 2 year were 12/20,16/20,15/20 and 15/20 respectively.Mucosal healing rate at week 10,30 and 54 weeks were 8/20,12/20 and 10/20 respectively.Logistic regression analysis indicated that age was the only factor affected mucosal healing at 30 weeks (OR =0.774,95％ CI:0.630 to 0.950).There was significant differences in clinical remission between mucosa response patients and invalid under endoscopy at 30 weeks and 2 years without steroid (at 30 weeks:14/14 vs 2/6; at 2 years:14/14 vs 1/6; all P＜0.01).Infliximab were withdrawn in 4 of 16 patients who was in non-steroid clinical remission at 30 weeks,and the other 12 patients were continued with infliximab therapy.There was no significant difference in non-steroid clinical remission rate (4/4 vs 11/12) and mucosa healing rate (2/4 vs 7/12) between withdrawal and continue of infliximab therapy (all P＞0.05).Conclusions Infliximab with azathioprine combination therapy can effectively promote and maintain mucosa healing in CD.The mucosa response patients can maintain long time non-steroid clinical remission.

Objective To investigate the evaluation standard and proper time point of anti-tuberculosis trial for differential diagnosis between intestinal tuberculosis (ITB) and Crohn's disease (CD). Methods Clinical data and endoscopic changes of 28 patients with confirmed ITB and 11 with confirmed CD,who underwent anti-tuberculosis trail, were retrospectively analyzed. Results No significant difference could be found in clinical characteristics of ITB and CD patients on baseline, such as active pulmonary tuberculosis, strong positive skin test and anal fistula/perianal abscess. Clinical symptoms were relieved in both groups right after anti-tuberculosis treatment. After 3 months of treatment, the no-improvement rate in ITB group was 0, whereas that of CD group was 27.3% (P =0. 004). The disappearance rate plus improvement rate of ulcer in ITB group was 90. 9% (20/22) plus 9. 1% (2/22) and 100% ( 28/28 ) plus 0 at 3 and 6 months of treatment, respectively. The disappearance rate plus improvement rate of nodular lesion was 58. 8% (10/17) plus 41.2% (7/17) and 76. 5% (13/17) plus 23.5% (4/17), respectively. There was no obvious improvement of active ulcer or nodular transformation in CD group at any time point ( P ＜ 0. 01 ).Conclusion With deficiency of special index for differential diagnosis of ITB and CD, some cases hard to differentiate still have to accept anti-tuberculosis treatment. Three months of anti-tuberculosis treatment is a proper time point to evaluate the efficacy. Disappearance of active ulcer and nodular transformation, together with cure or obvious improvement in clinic are taken as effective for treatment trail.