Objective To investigate the clinical effect of IFNα combined with mannan peptide in treatment of patients with HBeAg-positive chronic hepatitis B ( CHB ). Methods Eighty HBeAg-positive CHB patients with HBV DNA quantity ranging from 10 to 10 eopies/mL were enrolled and randomized into the treatment group and the control group ( n = 40 for each ). Patients in treatment group were given daily subcutaneous injection of IFNα-2b 5,000,000 U for 52 weeks, and received mannan peptide 10 mg per intravenous injection or 2. 5 mg per intramuscular injection for a total of 2 to 3 treatment courses (12 weeks for each). The control group received only IFNα-2b treatment. Liver function, serum markers of hepatitis B, HBV DNA quantity and blood tests were performed before the treatment and at 2, 4, 8, 16, 26 and 52-week during the treatment; and the adverse effects were recorded. Results The rates for ALT normalization, negative HBsAg, negative HBeAg, HBeAg seroconversion and negative HBV DNA were 91. 8% , 17. 5% , 52. 5% , 27. 5 % and 47. 5% at 52nd week in the treatment group, while those in the control group were 80. 0% , 12. 5% , 30. 0% , 10. 0 % and 25. 0% , respectively. There were significant differences in HBeAg-negative, HBeAg-seroeonversion and HBV DNA-negative rates between two groups (χ2 = 4. 178, 4.021 and 4.381, P < 0. 05 ) , and these indexes in the treatment group were increased to 57. 5% , 30. 0% and 50. 0 respectively at 52nd week after drug withdraw. White blood cells began to be elevated at 4th week and were restored to the normal levels at 8th week in the treatment group, while the count in the control was lower than the normal value even at 52nd week of the treatment with the average of (3.45±1. 18)×109/L. Conclusion Alpha-interferon combined with mannan peptide therapy is effective for patients with HBeAg-positive CHB, which may restore the declined peripheral WBC counts induced by interferon and improve the compliance.

Study the serum level of HGF, Cys C and TGF-beta1 in type 2 diabetic nephropathy (DN), the infect of Pingshen decoction on those index. Selected 69 cases of 2 type DN and randomly divided into therapy group (36 cases) and control group (33 cases). The therapy group were treated with Pingshen decoction 1 dose/d, bid po. The control group were treated with NephritisShu tablet, 6 tablet, tid po. 8 weeks was a course. Before and after treatment, we examine the serum level of HGF, Cys C and TGF-beta1 by ELISA and immunonephelometry, and compare with 30 cases of healthy control group. The study demonstrates that before treatment, the serum level of HGF in both groups were significantly lower than healthy control group (P < 0.01), but Cys C, TGF-beta1 were significantly higher (P < 0.01). After treatment, the serum level of HGF of both groups were increased. The serum level of HGF of therapy group were significantly higher than of control group (P < 0.01), but the serum level of Cys C and TGF-beta1 were significantly lower than control group (P < 0.01). The serum level of HGF was correlated negatively with Cys C,TGF-beta1. In control group, the UAER, urine beta2-MG and quantity of 24-hour urine protein were significantly decreased after treatment (P < 0.01). The index of urine of therapy group were significantly lower than control group (P < 0.01). Results indicate that test of serum level of HGF and Cys C,TGF-beta1 of diabetic nephropathy have important clinical significance. Pingshen decoction can effectively intervene in the serum level of HGF and Cys C, TGF-beta1 and index of urine.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Cystatin C ; blood ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of reinforcing Shen method (RSM) and activating blood method (ABM) in treating osteoarthritis (OA) at the molecular level.

METHODSThe physical and chemical characteristics of components from respective recipes of RSM and ABM, and network features of component-target interaction network were analyzed by computer simulation methods including chemical space, molecular docking, and biological network, etc.

RESULTSThe chemical components of RSM and ABM were scarcely scattered with larger overlapping. Among established networks, the distribution of network features was partially similar in RSM and ABM. The average target number correlated with each component was 1.86 in RSM and 2.11 in ABM respectively. Each average target number was respectively correlated with 4.46 compounds and 3.93 compounds, reflecting multi-component and multi-target actions.

CONCLUSIONComputer simulation could intuitively trace out similarities and differences of two different methods and their interaction with targets, which revealed that the compatibility of RSM and ABM could have broader protein targets and potential synergism at the molecular level.

Computer Simulation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Osteoarthritis ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; methods

This study was performed to investigate the chemical constituents in the twigs and leaves of Harrisonia perforate. Six compounds were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the twigs and leaves of Harrisonia perforate by silica gel, ODS, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies and preparative HPLC. On the basis of chemical properties and spectra data, these compounds were identified as harriperfin E (1), kihadanin A (2), kihadanin B (3), 6α-acetoxyobacunol acetate (4), gardaubryone C (5), and β-sitosterol methyl ether (6), respectively. Compound 1 is a new chromone, and compounds 2-6 are isolated from this plant for the first time.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Phytochemicals ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Simaroubaceae ; chemistry

Objective To study the mechanism of marcosomia by investigating insulin-like growth factor 2(IGF_2)imprinting status,expression level and the promoter usage in the placenta of macrosomia. Methods We selected heterozygous cases for Apa Ⅰ polymorphism in exon 9 of IGF_2 gene and then analyzed its imprinting status in 168 placentas of macrosomia and normal pregnancies.IGF_2 transcription levels and promoter usages in macrosomic and normal placenta were evaluated by using semi-quantitative RT- PCR assay.Results Thirty specimens of macrosomic placenta and 30 of normal placenta were identified as heterozygous for IGF_2.All of the heterozygous specimens showed maintenance of imprinting.The expression of placental IGF_2 mRNA(2.2?1.2)was significantly higher in macrosomia than that of normal weight group (1.6?0.6,P 0.05).Conclusion It is possible that over expression of IGF_2 in placenta contributes to macrosomia while the promoter usage and imprinting status are not associated with macrosomia.

This study was purposed to investigate the correlation of absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in peripheral blood of de novo multiple myeloma (MM) patients with clinical characteristics, therapeutic efficacy and prognosis. The clinical data of 34 de novo patients with MM in our hospital from January 2002 to August 2011 were analysed retrospectively. According to ALC, patients were divided into ALC < 1.3×10(9)/L (n = 15) group and ALC ≥ 1.3×10(9)/L (n = 19) group. The correlation of incipient ALC levels of de novo MM patients with clinical data such as sex, age, type of MM, bone destruction, clinical staging and grouping, levels of LDH, β(2)-MG, creatinine and albumin, as well as therapeutic efficacy was analysed. The results showed that ALC was (0.4 - 2.9)×10(9)/L (median ALC was 1.3×10(9)/L) in untreated patients. The effective rate of therapy was 20% in ALC < 1.3×10(9)/L group while it was 57.9% in ALC ≥ 1.3×10(9)/L group. There was statistical difference in effective rate between two groups (χ(2) = 4.9696, P < 0.05). Compared with the ALC ≥ 1.3×10(9)/L group, the percentage of the CD4 and CD4/CD8 ratio were reduced and the percentage of the CD8 increased (P < 0.05). But no significant differences were found in sex, age, type of MM, bone destruction, clinical staging and grouping, levels of LDH, β(2)-MG, creatinine and albumin in those patients (P > 0.05). It is concluded that ALC in de novo patients with MM may be used as the important indication for analysing therapy effect and prognosis.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; blood ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

OBJECTIVETo investigate and evaluate the clinical therapeutic effect of low-dose interleukin-11 treatment of thrombocytopenia in patients with malignant hematologic diseases after chemotherapy.

METHODS70 patients with hematologic malignancies including acute leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma were randomly divided into treatment group (35 cases) and control group (35 cases) and were treated with chemotherapy. Cases in the treatment group received subcutaneous injection of interleukin-11 (50 µg × kg(-1) × d(-1)) until platelet counting recovered ≥ 50 × 10(9)/L, while cases in the control group were not administrated with interleukin-11.

RESULTSThe mean time of platelet recovery in the treatment group was 9.6 days, significantly shorter than that (14.0 days) in the control group (P < 0.05). The minimum platelet counting in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (16.2 × 10(9)/L vs. 11.6 × 10(9)/L, P < 0.05). The mean times of platelet infusion after chemotherapy in the treatment group and control group were 2.88 and 2.98, respectively (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of interleukin-11 in thrombocytopenic patients with hematologic malignancies after chemotherapy may not only remarkably enhance platelet counts and shorten the recovery time of thrombocytopenia, but also has only mild side effects.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-11 ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; Lymphoma ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Platelet Count ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate whether S. aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts.

METHODSImmunoblot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to detect the degradation of I-κBα and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts following infection with S.aureus, respectively, and there were investigated the activated state of NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts. In addition, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the secretion of IL-6 in culture supernatants, which was represented as one of important cytokines in osteomyelitis, and an inhibitor of NF-κB, SN50, which was added to human osteoblasts culture prior to 1 hour at 50 µmol/L before the infection of S.aureus, was used to determine whether S.aureus-activated NF-κB signaling pathway regulates IL-6 secretion of human osteoblasts.

RESULTSS.aureus could induce the degradation of I-κBα (I-κBα(15 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.409 ± 0.245 and I-κBα(30 min)/I-κBα(0 min) = 0.061 ± 0.010) and activation of NF-κB in human osteoblasts in a time and dose-dependent manner following infection. In addition, the secretion of IL-6 in the supernatants of human osteoblasts ((2.17 ± 0.11) µg/L) was suppressed by 50 µmol/L SN50 compared to without the addition of SN50 ((3.58 ± 0.31) µg/L) (F = 174.25, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSS.aureus could activate NF-κB signaling pathway in human osteoblasts, which could regulate cytokines secretions of human osteoblasts.

Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; secretion ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Osteoblasts ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Staphylococcal Infections ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the pharmacological properties of Tougu Xiaotong Granule (TGXTG) in preventing and treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA) at the molecular level.

METHODSThe computational methods, including principal component analysis, molecular docking, target-ligand space distribution, and the predictions of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity (ADMET), were introduced to characterize the molecules in TGXTG.

RESULTSThe structural properties of molecules in TGXTG were more: diverse than those of the drug/drug-like molecules, and TGXTG could interact with significant target enzymes related to KOA. In addition, the cluster of effective components was preliminarily identified by the target-ligand space distributions. As to the results of ADMET properties, some of them were unsatisfactory, and were merely regarded as references here.

CONCLUSIONBased on this computational pharmacology study, TGXTG is a broad-spectrum recipe inhibiting many important target enzymes, which could effectively postpone the degeneration of spectrum cartilage by coordinately inhibiting the biological effects of cytokines, matrix metallopeptidase 3, and oxygen free radicals. radicals.

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; drug therapy ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo establish a simple, rapid and economical method in detecting mutations of oncogene K-ras and to investigate its mutations in colorectal cancer tissues and its relationship with clinicopathologic characteristics of colorectal carcinoma.

METHODSForty colorectal cancer tissues were tested for K-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) followed by sequence analysis. The other 113 colorectal cancer tissues were tested for K-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 using PCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis only. The mutation results were analyzed with the corresponding clinical pathological data.

RESULTSAmong 40 colorectal cancer cases, none of K-ras mutations at codon 12 and codon 13 was detected by PCR followed by direct sequencing. However, K-ras mutations were found in 11 cases (11/40, 27.5%) by PCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis, including 8 cases at codon 12 and 3 cases at codon 13 respectively. Among 153 colorectal cancer cases, point mutations were detected by PCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis in 58 cases (37.9%). Point mutations at codon 12 were found in 46 cases and 12 cases at codon 13. Mutations with the highest frequency were G→A transitions (25/58, 43.1%) at codon 12. No significant correlation was observed between mutations of K-ras and gender, invasive depth, tumor differentiation, number of invaded lymph nodes, distant metastasis and clinical stage (P > 0.05). Mutation of oncogene K-ras at codon 12 and codon 13 was closely related with age and tumor location (P < 0.05). The incidence of K-ras mutation was significantly higher in younger patients and in patients with ascending colon cancer.

CONCLUSIONSPCR-RFLP followed by sequence analysis is a rapid, simple, sensitive and low-cost method. It is a suitable technology for detecting hot-spot mutations in the K-ras oncogene. Mutation of oncogene K-ras at codon 12 and codon 13 is a common molecular event in colorectal carcinogenesis, which might be related with age and tumor location.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genes, ras ; genetics ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length