500 pmol/L were greater than those in any group.Conclusion Serum MMP-2 can be involved in left ventricular remodeling of HF,and measuring its concentration is helpful to judge the severity and prognosis of HF.

To identify Salvia shandongensis and its relatives at molecular level, the psbA-trnH intergenic region of three species including Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were amplified and sequenced. Sequences were assembled with CodonCode Aligner. The K2P genetic distances between Salvia shandongensis and its relatives were calculated and UPGMA tree was performed by MEGA5.0. The results indicated that the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia shandongensis were about 391 bp, while the lengths of psbA-trnH regions of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were about 386 bp. The psbA-trnH sequences showed considerable variations between species and thus were revealed as a promising candidate for barcoding of Salvia shandongensis and its relatives. The intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were 0, while the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba were 0.002 and 0.001 respectively. Additionally, the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and Salvia miltiorrhiza ranged from 0.034 to 0.04, and the genetic distance of Salvia shandongensis and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba ranged from 0.005 to 0.008, the intra-specific genetic distances of Salvia shandongensis were much smaller than that of Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; clustering results showed that there were obvious differences between Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba, which was consistent with morphological characteristics. This study not only firstly provides the scientific basis for establishing the taxonomy position in molecular level and revealing their genetic relationships of S. shandongensis, S. miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba; but also provides DNA molecular identification scientific basis for the development of new medicinal plant resources of Salvia shandongensis. Our results suggest that the psbA-trnH intergenic spacer region can be used as a barcoding to identify Salvia shandongensis, Salvia miltiorrhiza and S. miltiorrhiza f. alba.
Base Sequence ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Genetic Variation ; Phylogeny ; Plants, Medicinal ; classification ; genetics ; Plastids ; genetics ; Salvia ; classification ; genetics ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Species Specificity

OBJECTIVETo investigate the early effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on cerebral free radical reactions after acute brain injury in rabbits.

METHODS30 healthy white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group A (n=10), Group B (n=12) and Group C (n=8). The rabbits in Group A and Group B were injured by direct hit. At 0.5-4 hours after injury, the rabbits in Group A were injected with TRH (8 mg/kg body weight) through a vein and the rabbits in Group B were injected with normal saline of equal volume. The rabbits in Group C served as the normal control. Then all the rabbits were killed and brain tissues were obtained. The content of lipoperoxide (LPO), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the water content of the brain tissues were measured.

RESULTSThe contents of LPO and water in brain tissues in Group A were lower and the activity of SOD was higher than those of Group B (P<0.05). After injury, intracranial pressure (ICP) rose rapidly and continuously with time passing by. When TRH was given to the animals in Group A, the rising speed of ICP slowed down significantly.

CONCLUSIONSTRH can decrease the cerebral free radical reactions and cerebral edema after acute brain injury in rats.

Animals ; Brain Edema ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Brain Injuries ; complications ; metabolism ; Female ; Free Radicals ; metabolism ; Intracranial Pressure ; Lipid Peroxidation ; Male ; Rabbits ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo identify independent risk factors for myocardial infarction (MI) in Chinese men and to develop a model to predict risk profile of an individual suffering MI.

METHODSStudy sample included 5 137 men aged 45.2 +/- 7.8 years who came from a cohort in Beijing Capital Steel and Iron Company, based on the three surveys on coronary heart disease conducted in 1974, 1979 and 1980, respectively. Demographic data and other risk factors, such as life style, medical history, blood pressure, total serum cholesterol level (TC), etc. were collected according to the same protocol in 1980. All the participants were followed up for MI in an average period of 20.84 years until 2001.

RESULTS(1) There were 122 cases with MI identified during the period of follow-up, with an incidence of MI 117.4 per 100 000 person-years. Age of more than 50, smoking, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) levels, higher TC all were identified as important risk factors of MI. (2) Incidence of MI increased with TC. An increment of 0.52 mmol/L of TC significantly increased relative risk of MI by approximately 40% after adjusted for age, blood pressure and smoking. (3) An increment of 20 mm Hg in SBP or 10 mm Hg in DBP associated with a 40% increase in incidence of MI, adjusting for age, TC and smoking. (4) Smoking was the most risky factors for MI. Smokers had 2.3 times risk of MI, after as compared to non-smokers (or its incidence increased by 137%), after adjusting for blood pressure, TC and age, etc. (5) Incidence of MI increased by 20% with increment of five-year of age in those aged over 50 (P < 0.05), after adjusting for blood pressure, TC and smoking. And, (6) finally, based on multivariate logistic and Cox regression analyses, a model containing several risk factors, such as age, blood pressure, TC and smoking, was developed to predict individual's risk for afflicting MI.

CONCLUSIONSResults of this prospective study showed several established risk factors for MI, including age, blood pressure, TC and smoking all as independent predictors of MI in Chinese men. It is clear and rational that intervention and modification of those traditional risk factors can lead to a decrease in coronary events in Chinese population.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cohort Studies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Iron ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myocardial Infarction ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Steel ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective: To study the efficacy, safety and long-term outcomes of integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell (ASCT) and maintenance therapy in Chinese multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Methods: 200 MM patients receiving integrated strategy of bortezomib--based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy were retrospectively and prospectively analyzed from December 1. 2006 to April 30. 2018. Results: The complete remission rates (CR) and better than very good partial remission rates (VGPR) after induction therapy, transplantation and maintenance therapy were respectively 31% and 75.5%, 51.8% and 87.7%,73.6% and 93.4%. There was no difference between 4 cycles and more than 5 cycles induction chemotherapy. The negative rate of MRD detection by flow cytometry was 17.6% and 38.2% respectively after induction and 3 months after transplantation. The negative rate of MRD gradually increased during the maintenance therapy. The success rate of high dose CTX combined with G-CSF mobilization was 95.5% and transplantation related mortality (TRM) was zero. The median time to progress (TTP) was 75.3 months and the median overall survival (OS) was 99.5 months. TTP of patients obtaining CR and negative MRD after induction were longer that those of no CR and positive MRD. TTP and OS of patients receiving triple-drug induction and ASCT in early stage were longer than those of double-drug induction and ASCT in late stage. LDH≥240 U/L, high risk cytogenetics, ISS II+III stage and HBsAg positive were prognostic factors at diagnosis. However, only MRD and high risk cytogenetics were independent prognostic factors after transplantation and maintenance therapy. The clinical characteristics of patients of TTP ≥6 years were listed below: light-chain type M protein, ISS I stage, normal level of hemoglobin and platelet, normal LDH, HBsAg negative, chromosome 17p-negative, good response and sustained good response. Conclusions: Integrated strategy of bortezomib-based induction regimens followed by ASCT and maintenance therapy can significantly improve the short-term and long-term efficacy. The prognostic factors of TTP in different disease stages were different. Response to treatment, especially MRD, played a more important role in prognostic factors.
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Bortezomib/therapeutic use* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Induction Chemotherapy ; Multiple Myeloma/therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDHydrothorax, as one of the common complications of malignant tumors, still cannot be sensitively detected in clinical practice, thus requiring a sensitive, specific method for diagnosis. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in patients with benign and malignant hydrothorax.

METHODSThe contents of VEGF in the pleural effusion and serum of the patients with malignant pleural effusion (n = 35) and benign pleural effusion (n = 30) were detected by double antibody sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The gene copy number level of EGFR in pleural effusion was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The points with the highest sensitivity and specificity were selected as the critical values to calculate the diagnostic value of the VEGF in pleural effusion and serum, and EGFR gene copy number in pleural effusion.

RESULTSThe contents of VEGF in pleural effusion and serum of patients with malignant hydrothorax were (384.91 ± 120.18), and (129.62 ± 46.35) ng/L, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the patients with benign hydrothorax (207.97 ± 64.04), (63.49 ± 24.58) ng/L (P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of detecting VEGF in pleural effusion were 80.0% and 96.7% (the boundary value was 297.06 ng/L), respectively for diagnosing benign and malignant hydrothorax. The sensitivity and specificity of serum were 74.3% and 96.7%, respectively (the boundary value was 99.21 ng/L) for diagnosing benign and malignant hydrothorax. The diagnostic efficiencies of EGFR and VEGF in hydrothorax were similar. There was a significant correlation between EGFR and VEGF in hydrothorax (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSVEGF and EGFR play important roles in the formation of pleural effusion. VEGF differed significantly in benign and malignant pleural effusions, which contributed to differential diagnosis results of benign and malignant pleural effusions. It is feasible to detect the gene copy number of the pleural effusion cell mass EGFR by FISH technique. Joint detection can improve the diagnostic sensitivity.

Adult ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; genetics ; Humans ; Hydrothorax ; blood ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pleural Effusion ; blood ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; blood ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

PABCREATIC neuroendocrine tumours are uncommon neoplasms of the pancreas. They may cause a clinical syndrome due to hormone overproduction. Glucagonoma is a rare kind of pancreatic tumors. Here we report a case of glucagonoma. Hypercalcemia occurred when the patient underwent octreotide acetate long-acting release.
Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal ; adverse effects ; Female ; Glucagonoma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Hypercalcemia ; chemically induced ; Middle Aged ; Octreotide ; adverse effects ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy

Aged ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Octreotide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Radiography

Objective:To investigate the effect of Huoxue Jiedu Runzao prescription on the morphology， apoptosis， and function of submandibular gland in the mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome （SS） and its functioning mechanism， we analyzed the expression of the apoptosis inhibitor Survivin in the submandibular gland cells of SS mice. Method:Female BALB/c57 mice were selected as the normal group. The naive non-obese diabetic （NOD/Ltj） female mice were selected as the SS model， which were randomly assigned into the model group， Paeoniae Radix Alba total glucosides capsule （0.234 g·kg^-1） group， and low-， medium-， and high-dose （15.6， 31.2， 62.4 g·kg^-1， respectively） Huoxue Jiedu Runzao prescription groups. Each group had 15 mice. The morphological and functional changes of submandibular gland and the Survivin expression were observed and measured after 8 weeks of drug intervention. Survivin expression was determined by immunohistochemistry （IHC）， Western blot， and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction （RT-PCR）. Result:Compared with normal group， salivary flow and submandibular gland index in model group were significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and histopathological score of submandibular gland was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Western blot showed that Survivin protein expression was significantly decreased （P<0.05）. IHC showed that， Survivin mRNA expression was significantly decreased （P<0.01）， and RT-PCR results showed that Survivin mRNA expression was significantly decreased （P<0.01）. Compared with model group， salivary flow and submandibular gland index of mice in Huoxue Jiudu Runzao prescription groups and Paeoniae Radix Alba total glucosides capsules groups were significantly increased （P<0.05）， histopathological score of submandibular gland was significantly decreased （P<0.05）， IHC results showed that Survivin expression was significantly increased （P<0.01）. Western blot and RT-PCR results showed that Survivin protein and mRNA expression of Huoxue Jiudu Runzao prescription high-dose group and Paeoniae Radix Alba total glucosides capsule group were significantly increased （P<0.05）. Conclusion:Huoxue Jiedu Runzao prescription can improve the secretion function of submandibular acinus， increase the submandibular gland index， and saliva secretion of SS mice by up-regulating survivin in submandibular gland cells of SS mice.

OBJECTIVETraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is regarded as an important treatment for gastric cancer patients, especially for those in advanced stage. To evaluate the effects of TCM treatment on gastric cancer patients, the authors performed a retrospective study to report the result of the integrated treatment of TCM with chemotherapy for stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.

METHODSIn this study, 182 patients with stage IV and non-surgical gastric cancer were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate the effects of TCM integrated with chemotherapy. Among the 182 cases, 88 cases received integrated therapy consisting of TCM and chemotherapy, while 94 cases received chemotherapy alone. The overall survival and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) score were measured as the main outcome.

RESULTSThe median overall survival of the integrated therapy group and chemotherapy group were 16.9 and 10.5 months, respectively. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rates of integrated therapy group vs. chemotherapy group were 70% vs. 32%, 18% vs. 4%, and 11% vs. 0%, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (χ= 42.244, P > 0.001). After six-month treatment, KPS scores of the integrated therapy group and the chemotherapy group were 75.00 ± 14.78 and 60.64 ± 21.39, respectively (P > 0.001). The Cox regression analysis showed that TCM treatment is a protective factor for patients' overall survival.

CONCLUSIONThis study demonstrated that TCM integrated with chemotherapy may prolong overall survival and improve survival rate and life quality of patients with stage IV non-surgical gastric cancer.