ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of astragalus injection on the immune function in patients with senile sepsis.Methods Sixty patients with old age sepsis in Critical Care Medicine Department of Guangdong Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital were enrolled and randomly assigned into control and treatment groups according to the table of random numbers, 30 cases in each group. According to 2012 sepsis guidelines for treatment, including antibacterial drug, mechanical ventilation, visceral function support, etc., the therapy was given to the control group; besides the treatment in the control group, intravenous drip of 60 mL astragalus injection(10 mL per ampoule) in 250 mL 0.9% normal saline was additionally given in the treatment group, once a day for 7 days. Before and after treatment, the immunological indexes, acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ(APACHEⅡ) score, sequential organ failure assessment(SOFA) score, duration of mechanical ventilation and time of stay in intensive care unit(ICU), 28-day mortality and adverse drug reactions were compared between the two groups.Results Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in CD3+, CD3+CD4+, CD3+CD8+ and T helper cells /T suppressor cells(Th/Ts)levels between the two groups(allP>0.05), while CD3-NK+ of the control group was significantly higher than that in the treatment group〔(10.47±6.22)% vs. (6.26±4.13)%,P<0.05〕. After treatment in treatment group, CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3-NK+ were increased, CD3+CD8+,Th/Ts were decreased compared with those before treatment; in the control group after treatment, CD3+,CD3+CD8+ and CD3-NK+ were decreased and CD3+CD4+ and Th/Ts increased compared with those before treatment. In the comparisons between the treatment group and control group after treatment, the differences in CD3+, CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ had statistical significance〔CD3+:(30.30±17.17)% vs.(41.91±22.29)%, CD3+CD4+:(31.54±13.24)% vs.(40.08±15.28)%, CD3+CD8+:(14.25±8.10)% vs.(9.52±9.33)%,allP<0.05〕; while the differences in Th/Ts and CD3-NK+ had no statistical significance(bothP>0.05). After treatment in the treatment group, IgG was increased compared with that in the control group〔IgG(g/L): 13.07±5.43 vs. 10.10±3.96,P<
0.05〕. The differences in IgA, IgM, complement(C3,C4) and total serum complement activity(CH50) in the comparisons between the two groups had no statistical significance after treatment(allP>0.05). The differences in APACHEⅡ score(13.83±6.18 vs. 15.90±7.48), SOFA score(7.38±4.66 vs. 6.89±4.19), time of stay in ICU(day: 11.63±5.13 vs. 13.62±8.08), invasive ventilation time(hour: 155.44±119.68 vs. 224.08±174.15) and noninvasive ventilation time(hour: 55.55±42.24 vs. 98.57±43.17) had no statistical significance in comparisons between the treatment group and control group after treatment(allP>0.05). The difference in 28-day mortality had no statistical significance in comparison between the treatment group and control group〔16.7%(5/30) vs. 20.0%(6/30),P>0.05〕. In 60 cases, there were 2 patients with adverse drug reaction, one diarrhea and another little rashes, the rest of the patients did not appear any drug side effect.ConclusionAstragalus injection combined with conventional western medicine therapy possibly has certain effect on adjustment of disturbance of immunologic functions in old patients with sepsis, and its therapeutic safety is well.

To express feruloyl esterase A from Aspergillus oryzae in Pichia pastoris expression system and study its hydrolysis function, explore the conditions and effects of purification for ferulic acid extracts by macroporos resin. Using the total RNA from A. oryzae CICC 40186 as the template, we amplified coding sequence AorfaeA encoding a mature feruloyl esterase A (AorFaeA) by RT-PCR technique. Then, the coding sequence AorfaeA was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115 mediated by an expression plasmid pPIC9K. The purified recombinant AorFaeA (reAorFaeA) showed one single band on SDS-PAGE with an apparent molecular weight of 39.0 kDa. The maximum activity of reAorFaeA to methyl ferulate, measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), was 58.35 U/mg. Then, reAorFaeA was used to release ferulic acid from de-starched wheat bran in the presence of xylanase. The purification tests for ferulic acid from the enzymatic hydrolysate were carried out with preselected macroporous resins. The results showed that macroporous resin HPD-300 had much higher adsorption and desorption capacities. Ferulic acid could be quantitatively recovered by 50% of the eluent concentration at a flow speed of 1 mL/min. Under the purification condition, the recovery ratio of ferulic acid was 92%, and the content of ferulic acid was increased from 0.13% in the raw material to 10.55%. This work exploits the breakdown of ferulic acid by recombinant enzymeand provids a good strategy to its "green production".
Aspergillus oryzae ; enzymology ; Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Cloning, Molecular ; Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Hydrolysis ; Molecular Weight ; Pichia ; genetics ; metabolism

15mm~2)of dural sac cross-sectional area to values smaller than 75 mm~2 was found during examination in axial loading,or if a suspected disc herniation,narrow lateral recess,narrow intervertebral foramen,or intraspinal synovial cyst changed to being obvious at the axial loading examination,they were regarded as additional information.Results After axial loading CT examination,AVI was found in 16 of 40 patients.A significant decrease of dural sac area was found in 13 patients.Intervertebral disc herniation was more severe in 7 patients,lateral recess or interverbral foramen narrowed in 4 patients,no intraspinal synovial cyst was found.After axial loading MRI examination,AVI was found in 19 of 60 patients.A significant decrease of dural sac area was found in 13 patients.Intervertebral disc herniation became severe in 10 patients,lateral recess or interverbral foramen narrowed in 8 patients,no intraspinal synovial cyst was found.AVI was found in 32 of 79(40.5%)patients with sciatica and 2 of 20(10.0%)patients with low back pain(?~2=7.45 P

Objective To investigate the surgical treatment strategies and prognostic factors of cT4bM0 primary rectal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 53 patients with cT4bM0 primary rectal cancer who were admitted to the First Hospital of Peking University from January 2000 to December 2010 were retrospectively analyzed.All the patients received en-bloc multivisceral resection and postoperative chemotherapy.The survival and prognostic factors were analyzed.The patients were followed up via out-patient examination,phone call or mail,and the follow-up was ended till December 2012.The survival curve was drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival was analyzed using the Log-rank test.Uni-and multivariate analysis were done using chisquare test and COX's proportional hazard model.Results Of all the 53 patients,20 received posterior pelvic exenteration (PPE),20 received total pelvic exenteration (TPE),3 received low anterior resection (LAR) +local resection of ballder,2 received LAR + ovariectomy,2 received LAR + local resection of ureter,1 received LAR + local resection of posterior vaginal wall,1 received LAR + vesiculectomy and vesectomy,3 received abdominoperineal resection (APR) + local resection of posterior vaginal wall,1 received APR + sacrectomy.R0 resection was achieved in all the patients.No intraoperative death was observed,and the incidence of postoperative complication was 9.4％ (5/53).The results of postoperative pathological examination showed that 2 patients were with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma,41 with moderate-differentiated adenocarcinoma,and 10 with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma.Twenty-four patients were with lymph node metastasis.Four patients were in TNM stage Ⅰ,25 in TNM stage Ⅱ and 24 in TNM stage Ⅲ.Fifty-three patients were followed up postoperatively,and the median time for follow-up was 33 months (range,4-116 months).The overall 5-year survival rates was 57.3％.The 5-year survival rate for patients with or without lymph node metastasis were 77.1％ and 30.4％,respectively,with significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =7.374,P ＜ 0.05).The 5-year survival rates of patients with malignant infiltration and inflammatory adhesion mere 51.0％ and 68.5％,with no significant difference (x2=1.148,P ＞0.05).The 5-year survival rates of patients with malignant infiltration and inflammatory adhesion in stage Ⅱ were 74.6％ and 85.7％,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2=0.118,P ＞ 0.05).The 5-year survival rates of patients with malignant infiltration and inflammatory adhesion in stage Ⅲ were 28.8％ and 37.5％,with no significant difference between the 2 groups (x2 =0.959,P ＞ 0.05).The results of univariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis and TNM stage were the risk factors influencing the prognosis of patients with cT4bM0 primary rectal cancer (x2=6.468,6.596,P ＜ 0.05).The results of multivariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis was the independent risk factor (RR =3.797,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions En-bloc multivisceral resection should be the first surgical treatment choice for patients with cT4bM0 primary rectal cancer,and lymph node metastasis is the independent risk factor.Under the same N stage,the prognosis of patients with malignant infiltration or inflammatory adhesion is similar if R0 resection is achieved.

The aim of this paper is to compare the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake efficiency of three kinds of poly(b-benzyl-L-amino) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PXA-PEG-NPs) using Calu-3 cells, and select one as a nasal drug delivery vector for curcumin (Cur). Poly(gamma-benzyl-L-glutamate) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PBLG-PEG-NPs), poly(gamma-benzyl-L-lysine) block-poly(ethyleneglycol) nanoparticles (PZLL-PEG-NPs) and poly(gamma-benzyl-L-aspartate) block-poly(ethylene glycol) nanoparticles (PBLA-PEG-NPs) were prepared by emulsion-solvent evaporation method. MTT assays were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of PXA-PEG-NPs against Calu-3 cells. The cellular uptake of nanoparticles was visualized by an inverted fluorescence microscope and quantified by a flow cytometer. The results indicated that even at high concentration of 2 mg x mL(-1) the three nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity on Calu-3 cells. Compared to the curcumin solution, the three curcumin-loaded PXA-PEG-NPs showed significantly higher cellular uptake efficiency on Calu-3 cells (at equal concentration of curcumin with 5 microg x mL(-1) Cur solution), PBLG-PEG-NPs group was the highest. The cellular uptake increased with incubation time, and has positive correlation with nanoparticle concentration. In brief, PXA-PEG-NPs are conducive to delivery Cur into cells, and PBLG-PEG-NPs might be provided as a good nasal drug delivery carrier.

Objective To prepare the immunoconjugate composed of Adriamycin nanoparticles and VEGFR 2 monoclonal antibody(conjugate of ADM-NP and VEGFR 2-MAb) and study its pharmacokinetics property. Methods Adriamycin nanoparticles were prepared by using double emulsion method, with PLA and O-CMC as materials. Conjugate of ADM-NP and VEGFR 2-MAb was prepared by using molecule conjugate technology. Immunoreactivity of the conjugate with type IV collagenase and H 22 cell were analyzed by using ELISA. Pharmacokinetics parameters of the immunoconjugate were obtained by using SD rats as study objects. Results The prepared ADM-NP was sphere particles under SEM, which diameters were (160±34) nm. The drug loading rate and entrapment rate were (30.15±3.5)% and (80.56±4.24)% respectively. Conjugate of ADM-NP and VEGFR 2-MAb was successfully prepared, which had immunoreactivity with type IV collagenase and H 22 cell. The immunoconjugate showed good ADM control-release ability and could prolong the retention time of ADM in vivo. Conclusion Conjugate of ADM-NP and VEGFR 2-MAb keeps the immunoreactivity of VEGFR 2-MAb and shows good ADM control-release ability.

Objective To study the clinical application of the peak expiratory flow rate( PEFR) in children with asthma.Methods The PEFRs of 43 cases of asthma at the acute stage were measured to guide the clinical grading and therapy by the optimum individual PEFR of the patients at the remission stage, and the descending rate and warning value of individual PEFR were determined to investigate the relationship between the individual PEFR descending rate and the asthma attack conditions in the standard and nonstandard monitoring groups.Results At the asthma attack stage, the clinical symptoms became severe with PEFR declining; at the remission stage, the preventive application of drugs was based on the changes of the individual PEEF descending rate . The case number and frequency of asthma attack and the cases subjected to moderate or severe attacks in the standard group were 15 %,23.5 % and 25 % respectively; while those in the nonstandard group were 43.5 %, 75.5 % and 76.9 % respectively, which showed a significant difference( P

OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of Skp2 in different prostate cancer (PCa) cell lines and tissues, and explore its influence on the androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway and development of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC).

METHODSThe expression levels of Skp2 and AR in different PCa cell lines were detected by Western blot. After knockdown of Skp2 in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells transfected with shRNA, the expressions of AR and P27 were determined and the activity of ARR3-Luc measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene assay following treatment with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The expressions of AR and Skp2 in human naïve PCa or CRPC specimens were detected by immunohistochemical staining followed by analysis of their differences and correlation.

RESULTSThe Skp2 protein expression level was significantly higher in the C4-2 or 22RV1 cells than in the LNCaP cells. DHT treatment increased the expression of Skp2 in the C4-2 cells, but knock-down of Skp2 significantly up-regulated the expression of the well-known downstream protein P27 and down-regulated that of AR. Consistently, DHT treatment increased the activity of ARR3-Luc, while knockdown of Skp2 remarkably decreased it in the C4-2 and 22RV1 cells (P < 0.05). In addition, significantly higher expressions of Skp2 and AR were observed in the CRPC than in the naïve specimens (P < 0.05), with a positive correlation between the two proteins (r = 0.658 1, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSkp2 can enhance the expression and transcription activity of the AR protein in CRPC cells or tissues and is promising to be a critical molecular therapeutic target.

Androgens ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Dihydrotestosterone ; pharmacology ; Disease Progression ; Gene Knockdown Techniques ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms, Castration-Resistant ; metabolism ; Receptors, Androgen ; genetics ; metabolism ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; physiology ; Transcriptional Activation ; Up-Regulation

Regarding the needling manipulation, Chifeng Yingyuan, there are different descriptions in ancient medical literature and the current teaching materials or clinical reports, especially for the understanding recorded in Jinzhenfu Poem of Golden Needle). In the current teaching materials and clinical reports, it is described that the needle is inserted deeply at first, and then shallowly; afterward, the needle tip is pushed to the middle layer and manipulated with lifting, thrusting and rotating technique, combined with twisting and flying method. After analyzing the original description in the book and the feasibility of function and operation, the authors introduced their recognition on its manipulation and techniques in this article. This manipulation should be: the needle is inserted to the middle layer, afterward, the needle body is pulled and tilted toward each of the four directions, on this basis, then twisting and flying method is applied.
Acupuncture ; education ; history ; Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; history ; instrumentation ; methods ; China ; History, 20th Century ; History, 21st Century ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine in Literature ; Needles ; history

The important progress of the relationship between genomics and cardiovascular diseases has elucidated several abnormalities of genes leading to familial cardiomyopathy and ion channel diseases.Investigations of genomics show that the difference including resistance and susceptivity to diseases among human is determined by over 3 million base pairs of all 3,000 million.Single nucleotide polymorphism plays an essential role in elucidating hereditary cardiovascular diseases.