Objective:To observe the effect of warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray on the pulmonary ventilation, level of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and sleep quality in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). Methods: A total of 112 AR patients were enrolled between January 2013 and August 2018 and were divided into an observation group and a control group by the random number table method, with 56 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group received warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray, and patients in the control group only received fluticasone propionate nasal spray. The nasal symptom score, pulmonary function indexes, the levels of IFN-γ and interleukin (IL)-4 in serum, and sleep quality in the two groups were compared. Results: After treatment, the total effective rate in the observation group was higher than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The nasal symptom score dropped in both groups after treatment (both P＜0.05), and the score in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (P＜0.05). The pulmonary ventilation indexes all increased significantly after treatment in the observation group (all P＜0.05); the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (FEV1/FVC) and the forced expiratory flow at 50%, 75% and 25%-75% of the vital capacity (FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25%-75%) increased after treatment in the control group (all P＜0.05); the pulmonary ventilation indexes were higher in the observation group than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). The level of IFN-γ increased significantly after treatment in the two groups (both P＜0.05) and the level of IL-4 dropped significantly (both P＜0.05); the observation group had a higher IFN-γ level (P＜0.05) and a lower IL-4 level (P＜0.05) compared with the control group. Regarding the Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI), the scores of subjective sleep quality, habitual sleep efficiency and sleep disturbances and the general PSQI score decreased significantly after treatment in both groups (all P＜0.05), and the scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (all P＜0.05). Conclusion: Warm-unblocking acupuncture plus fluticasone propionate nasal spray can effectively control the clinical symptoms and improve pulmonary function in the treatment of AR; this approach can regulate the levels of IFN-γ and IL-4 towards the normal range in AR patients; it can also improve patient’s sleep quality. This method can produce more significant efficacy than fluticasone propionate nasal spray used alone.

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents from Cibotium batometz.

METHODColumn chromatograph and HPLC were used to isolate and purify the compound, and the structure was elucidated on the basis of MS and NMR spectroscopic methods.

RESULTA new phenolic compound, 4-O-caffeoyl-D-glucopyranose, has been isolated from the rhizome of C. barometz. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic methods, including intensive 1D, 2D NMR and ESI-MS data analysis.

CONCLUSION4-O-caffeoyl-D-glucopyranose was a new phenolic compound.

Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Ferns ; chemistry ; Hydrolysis ; Osteoporosis ; drug therapy ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Tannins ; analysis ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of peptide mass fingerprinting for non-invasive differential diagnosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) from the non-IgA nephropathy (IgAN).?

METHODSAccording to the results of renal biopsy, 56 patients were divided into IgAN group (n=28) and non-IgAN group (n=28), and peptide mass fingerprints were acquired from these patients using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).

RESULTSNine different peptides were identified between IgAN and non-IgAN. The two most distinctive differentially expressed peptides, with peptide peak values of 4476.46 and 1968.10, showed area under curve values of 86.18% and 79.77%. Principal component analysis demonstrated that the accumulated explained variance of the first 8 differential peptides reached 95%, suggesting the feasibility of differential diagnosis of IgAN from non-IgAN. Comparison with the Matrix protein database identified the peptide with a relative molecular mass of 5338.08 as a fragment of mucin 4 inform and the 2082.77 peptide as fragment of α1-II type collagen inform.

CONCLUSIONMALDI-TOF MS is feasible for differential diagnosis of IgAN and non-IgAN and also has great potentials in the classification of the subtypes of other systemic diseases.

Adult ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases ; diagnosis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Peptide Mapping ; methods ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDWe investigated possible biomarkers for endometriosis (EM) using the ClinProt technique and proteomics methods.

METHODSWe enrolled 50 patients with EM, 34 with benign ovarian neoplasms and 40 healthy volunteers in this study. Serum proteomic spectra were generated by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MS) combined with weak cationic exchange (WCX) magnetic beads. Possible biomarkers were analyzed by a random and repeat pattern model-validation method that we designed, and ClinProtools software, results were refined using online liquid chromatography-tandem MS.

RESULTSWe found a cluster of 5 peptides (4210, 5264, 2660, 5635, and 5904 Da), using 3 peptides (4210, 5904, 2660 Da) to discriminate EM patients from healthy volunteers, with 96.67% sensitivity and 100% specificity. We selected 4210 and 5904 m/z, which differed most between patients with EM and controls, and identified them as fragments of ATP1B4, and the fibrinogen alpha (FGA) isoform 1/2 of the FGA chain precursor, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSClinProt can identify EM biomarkers, which - most notably - distinguish even early-stage or minimal disease. We found 5 stable peaks at 4210, 5264, 2660, 5635, and 5904 Da as potential EM biomarkers, the strongest of which were associated with ATP1B4 (4210 Da) and FGA (5904 Da); this indicates that ATP1B4 and FGA are associated with EM pathogenesis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Endometriosis ; blood ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Peptides ; blood ; Proteomics ; methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the inhibitory effect of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) gene silencing in vitro and in vivo on the invasion and growth of laryngeal cancer cells.

METHODSsiRNA recombinant lentivirus targeting MMP-2 gene was transfected into Hep-2 cells, and MMP-2 protein expression was analyzed consequently by using western-blot. Invasive properties of transfectants were evaluated by Boyden assay. In addition, the lentivirus was intratumorally injected in a model of the grafted nude mouse and the morphological changes of transfectants were examined by transmission electron microscope. Finally, cell proliferation in xenografts was measured by immunolabeling of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

RESULTSOver 90% of target cancer cells were found to be transfected by MMP-2-RNAi-Lentivirus. Western-blot analysis revealed that none of transfectants expressed MMP-2 protein whereas most untreated cancer cells exhibited positive protein expression. Significant differences were found between the treated and untreated groups regarding the number of transfectants penetrating through an artificial basement in a Boyden chamber (12 +/- 4 vs 35 +/- 6, x +/- s, t = 14.492, P < 0.01), and the average value of weight [(1.186 +/- 0.225) g vs [(2.127 +/- 0.344) g] and volume [(0.974 +/- 0.216) cm3 vs (1.618 +/- 0.272) cm3] of the grafted tumors (t was 7.094 and 5.684, P < 0.01). The overall tumor inhibitive rate was about 44.2%. Transmission electron microscope showed an obviously decreased invasive feature of transfectants. Finally, the percentages of transfectants immunolabeled for PCNA were significantly lower in the treated group (49.588 +/- 6.995) than those (71.434 +/- 7. 043) in control one (t = 9. 573, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe invasion, growth and proliferation of laryngeal cancer can be inhibited by siRNA mediated MMP-2 gene silencing. These data strongly suggest that MMP-2 gene silencing by siRNA technology could be a promising approach to cancer therapy.

Animals ; Carcinoma, Basosquamous ; genetics ; pathology ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; genetics ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; RNA Interference ; Transfection

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of tyrosine kinase inhibitor PTK787 on cell proliferation, cell cycle and the expression of fak mRNA of human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cell line K562, and to explore the mechanism of PTK787 against acute myeloid leukemia. The MTT method was used to detect the effects of PTK787 in various concentrations and at different time points on proliferation of K562 cells; the flow cytometry was used to determine the effects of PTK787 in different concentrations on cell cycle of K562 cells; the RT-PCR was used to assay the expression of fak mRNA in K562 cells treated with PTK787 for 48 hours. The results showed that along with increasing of the concentration and prolonging of time, the inhibitory rate of PTK787 on K562 proliferation was gradually enhanced. The comparison between various concentration groups at same time or comparison between various time groups in same concentration showed significant differences (p < 0.05), in which the effect of 320 micromol/L PTK787 on cells was strongest, while the continuous increase of PTK787 concentration or prolong of action time did not enhance the inhibitory rate on K562 proliferation. With increasing of drug concentration, the cell proportion in G(1) phase gradually increased, the cell proportion in S phase gradually decreased, the comparison between various groups revealed significant differences (p < 0.05), however the continuous increase of drug concentration from 160 micromol/L did not obviously change the cell proportion in phases of cell cycle. With increasing of drug concentration, the expression of fak mRNA in K562 cells gradually reduced with significant differences between various groups (p < 0.05), but with continuous increase of drug concentration from 160 micromol/L, the effect of PTK787 on the expression of fak mRNA in K562 cells also did not obviously change. It is concluded that the PTK787 shows effect of anti-leukemia cells through inhibiting transformation of the K562 cells from G(1) phase into S phase and decreasing the expression of fak mRNA in cells.
Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Focal Adhesion Kinase 1 ; genetics ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Phthalazines ; pharmacology ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate bi-directional modulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine on immunol cells.

METHODTwo different active portions were isolated from Kudzuvine Root(Radix puerariae), one being the ethanol extraction and another the water extraction. Different concentration of these two different portions was studied by using PMA stimulated lymphocyte or eosinophil initiated chemiluminescence system.

RESULTWater extraction of Kudzuvine Root could enhance chemiluminescence concentration dependently whereas enthanol extraction of Kudzuvine Root inhibited the chemiluminescence significantly.

CONCLUSIONThe bi-directional regulation effect of Chinese herbal medicine can be found in the same herb, because of its efficacy of different active compounds.

Cell Separation ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Eosinophils ; drug effects ; Ethanol ; Humans ; Luminescent Measurements ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Pueraria ; chemistry ; Water

This study was aimed to explore the correlation between IL-6 gene promoter polymorphisms and coronary heart disease (CHD) by investigating the polymorphisms (-572G/C, -597G/A) in IL-6 gene promoter area, body mass index (BMI), inflammatory factors and other biochemical parameters in Han nationality of North China. The genotypes of IL-6 gene promoter-572G/C, -597G/A were detected by fluorescent probe hybridization with fluorescent resonance energy transfer and melting curve techniques in 194 CHD patients and 123 healthy people as control. The effects of genotype on plasma lipids, apoproteins, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and BMI were also studied. Logistic regression was performed to observe the risk factors of CHD. The results indicated that genotype of IL-6 gene promoter -597G/A polymorphism in 7 cases were GA and were GG in others, whereas no AA genotype had been found and no associations between polymorphism of IL-6 gene -597G/A, BMI and inflammatory factors were found. No differences had been found between the frequencies of IL-6 gene -572G/C genotypes and alleles in CHD and control group. However, significant difference was found between the G allele carrier (GG+GC) and non-G allele carrier (CC) of CHD and control group (p=0.0425). In the control group, median levels of systolic blood pressure of G allele carrier were significant higher than non-G allele carrier (p=0.02). Among all the subjects, median levels of BMI, hsCRP and systolic blood pressure in the group of G allele carrier were significantly higher than that in the group of non-G allele carrier, p values were 0.026, 0.022, 0.005 respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age, triglyceride, sex, high blood pressure, apoprotein C2, cholesterol and lipoprotein-a) were the risk factors for CHD, and apoprotein A1 was a protective factor. The G allele of IL-6 gene -572G/C has been not found to be a risk factor for CHD. It is concluded IL-6 gene -597G/A polymorphism is not correlated with the susceptibility to CHD; IL-6 gene -572G/C polymorphism may be correlated with the susceptibility to CHD in Han nationality of North China, the mechanisms may be related with the changes of BMI, hsCRP and blood pressure levels resulted from the polymorphism of IL-6 -572G/C.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Coronary Disease ; etiology ; genetics ; Disease Susceptibility ; Female ; Genotype ; Humans ; Interleukin-6 ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Risk Factors

BACKGROUNDSerum tumor markers have always been of clinical importance in the diagnosis, monitoring disease progression and therapy efficacy for patients with malignant diseases. However, elevated serum tumor markers are found in some benign conditions, especially in chronic kidney disease (CKD). The elevation of them in CKD might cause confusion and misuse of these tumor markers. We conducted this retrospective study to investigate which of the five widely used tumor markers including carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), cytokeratin 19 fragment antigen 21-1 (Cyfra21-1), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) are affected markedly by CKD, in order to use them more effectively.

METHODSSerum tumor marker concentrations, biochemical, hematological parameters, and urinalysis were measured in CKD patients and healthy controls. The positive rate and median tumor markers' level in CKD patients and controls, and those in CKD patients stratified by CKD grade were compared using nonparametric rank tests. Correlation analysis of serum tumor markers and other parameters in CKD patients were performed using the Spearman correlation coefficient. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the important variables that caused elevated serum concentrations of these markers in CKD patients.

RESULTSThe overall positive rates and serum concentrations of Cyfra21-1, SCC, CEA in CKD group were significantly higher than those in control group. Positive rate and serum concentrations of those tumor markers increased as kidney function decreased. Both univariate analysis and multivariate regression analysis showed that the elevations of those tumor markers were not only associated with kidney function, but also with nutritional status.

CONCLUSIONSSerum concentrations of Cyfra21-1, SCC, CEA are significantly influenced by kidney function, as well as nutritional status. Therefore, in clinical work, the indices of kidney function and nutritional status could be simultaneously measured to improve interpretation of the results of those tumor marker concentrations.

Adult ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; blood ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Carcinoembryonic Antigen ; blood ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Keratin-19 ; blood ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutritional Status ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; blood ; Retrospective Studies ; Serpins ; blood ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo study the metabolic difference of body influenced by active stress and passive stress under special events.

METHODSTo detect serum multiple biochemistry index of 57 earthquake rescue medical team and 13 victims of a natural calamity in Wenchuan earthquake by using Hitachi 7600 automatic analyzer.

RESULTSStress affected biochemistry index deeply. To compared with rescue medical team, the serum ADA, ALP and TG of victims increased obviously and TP, ALB, MAO, Cr, UA, K, Na, Cl, Ca, ApoA1 and HDL decreased obviously.

CONCLUSIONMany biochemistry index have been changed under stress and it relate with stress extent. The human body function status was better in active stress than in passive stress.

Blood Chemical Analysis ; China ; Disasters ; Earthquakes ; Humans ; Metabolism ; physiology ; Rescue Work ; Stress, Physiological ; physiology