The present study sought to investigate the anti-inflammation and immunoloregulation effect of 17 Guizhi Fuling capsule ingredients. The anti-inflammatory ingredients on LPS-induced RAW264. 7 cell injury were assessed with ELISA and immunofluorescence. The release of IL-1β, TNF-α, PGE2 were detected with ELISA and the expression of COX-2 was detected with immunofluorescence. The effects of them on promoting splenic lymphocyte proliferation were assessed with MTT and Hoechst 33342 staining method. The results showed that 15 ingredients had obviously anti-inflammatory activity on LPS- induced injury and play the immunoloregulation roles. This study suggested that the 15 ingredients may be the active ingredients on pelvic infection.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; Capsules ; pharmacology ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; immunology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Immunologic Factors ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; drug therapy ; Interleukin-1beta ; immunology ; Macrophages ; drug effects ; enzymology ; immunology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Spleen ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Objective:By applying moxibustion to the eight confluent points in different periods of time,to observe the changes in thermal pain threshold latency of acupoints based on Fei Teng Ba Fa.Methods:A total of 468 healthy college student volunteers received moxibustion at the eight confluent points in three different periods of time,i.e.Chen (7:00-9:00),Wu (11:00-13:00) and Xu (19:00-21:00).The thermal pain threshold latency was adopted to measure the changes in pain threshold of the eight confluent points under different conditions (different periods of time,different genders,different acupoints and different states of the acupoints) based on Fei Teng Ba Fa.Results:Finally,thirty subjects dropped out and 438 subjects were included.The comparison of thermal pain threshold latencies of the eight confluent points in the same opening or closing state based on Fei Teng Ba Fa:latencies of the closing points and adjunct points were significantly different in different periods of time (P＜0.05);the latencies of the males were significantly longer than those of the females (P＜0.05);there was no significant difference in the latency between the left and right sides (P＞0.05);in the female group,there was a significant difference in the latency between the lower-limb points and the upper-limb points (P＜0.05).The comparison of thermal point threshold latencies of the eight confluent points in different opening or closing state:in the period of Wu (11:00-13:00),the latencies of the opening points were significantly longer than those of the closing points and adjunct points (P＜0.05);for men,their opening and closing points had significantly longer thermal pain threshold latencies than their adjunct points (P＜0.05);despite the gender,the latencies of the upper limb opening and closing points were significantly longer than the latency of the adjunct points (P＜0.05);in the female group,the latencies of the lower-limb opening points were significantly shorter than those of the lower-limb closing and adjunct points (P＜0.05).Conclusion:Based on Fei Teng Ba Fa,the pain thresholds of the eight confluent points vary in different periods of time,gender,acupoint location and opening/closing state,which can be taken as the evidence of making time-based acupuncture-moxibustion prescriptions.

OBJECTIVETo study the progression of myopia in school-age children over the past 12 years and factors influencing myopia progression.

METHODSA total of 4569 cases of 5 to 12-year-old children who had refractive examinations in the Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 2000 and December 2011 were enrolled in this study. The children had no family history of congenital high myopia or other eye diseases. Myopia progression was evaluated when the children were re-examined. The refractive state of each child was measured with cyclopiegic retinoscopy.

RESULTSThe mean spherical equivalent (SE) myopia was-2.0±1.7 D between January 2000 and December 2011. There was no statistical difference in yearly myopia progression between different years. The average age of the myopic children decreased from 10.1 in 2000 to 8.9 years old in 2011 (P<0.05). Mean myopia progression was -0.6±0.7 D per year from 2000 to 2011. Myopia progression reduced gradually in 5 to 8-year-olds (P<0.05), however, it accelerated between ages 9 and 11 years. Myopia progression in 10- and 11-year-olds was significantly greater than in 7- and 8-year-olds (P<0.01). The multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that age and baseline myopic refraction were positively related to myopia progression.

CONCLUSIONSThere was no obvious change in the yearly myopia progression of the children over the past 12 years. The mean age of myopia occurrence became younger with time. More preventive measures are needed to ward off high myopia in children with moderate myopia, especially those aged over 10 years.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Myopia ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an immune complex-mediated disease predominantly characterized by the deposition of circulating immune complexes containing immunoglobulin A (IgA) on the walls of small vessels. Although the pathogenesis of HSP is not yet fully understood, some researchers proposed that B-cell activation might play a critical role in the development of this disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the serum levels of visfatin (pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor), B-cell-activating factor (BAFF), and CXCL13, and to analyze their association with disease severity. METHODS: The serum levels of visfatin, BAFF, and CXCL13 were measured by using a double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 patients with HSP and 45 controls. The serum levels of IgA anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA) were detected by using a double-antigen sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: Levels of visfatin but not BAFF and CXCL13 were significantly elevated in the sera of patients with HSP in the acute stage, and restored to normal levels in the convalescent stage. Furthermore, serum levels of visfatin were significantly higher in patients with HSP having renal involvement than in those without renal involvement. Serum levels of visfatin were correlated with the severity of HSP and serum concentration of ACA-IgA. CONCLUSION: We show for the first time that the serum levels of visfatin are abnormally elevated in patients with HSP. Visfatin may be associated with the pathogenesis of HSP.
Antibodies, Anticardiolipin ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; B-Cell Activating Factor ; B-Lymphocytes ; Chemokine CXCL13 ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase* ; Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prognostic factors and fertility outcomes of borderline ovarian tumors (BOT) after conservative surgery.

METHODSThe clinical data of 109 patients with BOT who were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 1990 to December 2007 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the FIGO staging system,there were 34(31.2%) patients at Stage Ia and Ib, 66 (60.6%) at Stage Ic, 2 (1.8%) at Stage II and 7(6.4%) at stage III. No patient was at Stage 4.

RESULTSSurgical treatment included comprehensive staging surgery (n=40, 36.7%), ovarian cystectomy (n=27,24.8%), and unilateral salpingo-ovariectomy (n=42, 38.5%). The average follow-up period was (60.3±42.5) months. Relapse occurred in 25 patients (22.9%), and the mean duration from therapy to recurrence was (36.1±31.9) months. Only one patient died of BOT. Multivariate analysis showed that surgery procedure and tumor stage were the independent prognostic factors affecting recurrence. Of 66 patients with the desire of fertility, 24 (36.4%) finally got pregnant.

CONCLUSIONSConservative surgery has comparatively good prognosis and should be the first choice for younger patients with the desire of fertility. The high-risk factors should be evaluated before the initiation of treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Fertility ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial ; surgery ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

This article was aimed to study effects of aqueous extracts and all chemical split fractions ofMori Cortex on hypoglycemic effect of diabetic mice model. Intra-peritoneal injection of 170 mg·kg-1 streptozocin (STZ) was given to male Kunming mice to establish type I diabetes mode. Continuous administration of medication was given for 4 weeks. And then, indicators such as body weight, water intake, food intake, fasting plasma glucose (FBG), insulin, C-peptide, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) were detected. Pathological morphology of the liver and pancreas were observed by light microscopy. The results showed that high-dose group ofM. Cortex aqueous extracts can improve weight loss of type I diabetic mice, significantly reduce water intake and food intake, reduce FBG, TC, TG and LDL-c levels in different degrees (P<0.05 orP<0.01), and increase C-peptide and HDL-c levels (P<0.05 orP<0.01). When dosages of 30% ethanol fraction and fatty oil fraction were only about 1/2 and 1/4 ofM.Cortex aqueous extracts, we found that it can improve lipid disorder status,repair liver cells, and improve liver tissue damage. Its effect was superior to M. Cortex aqueous extracts. It was concluded thatM. Cortexaqueous extracts showed a better hypoglycemic effect. The effective component parts were 30% ethanol fraction and fatty oil fraction. Its hypoglycemic mechanism may be related to the promotion of insulin secretion, regulation of blood lipid disorders, as well as the protection of liver structure and function.

Objective: Accumulating evidence has shown that aberrant alternative splicing events are closely associated with the onset and development of cancer. However, whether genetic variants-associated alternative splicing is linked to risk of endometrial cancer remains largely uncertain. Methods: We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) locates in the splicing number trait locus (sQTL) of endometrial cancer using the CancerSplicing QTL database. In parallel with bioinformatics analysis, we conducted a case-control study comprising 2,000 cases and 2,013 controls to assess the association between identified SNP which possesses mRNA splicing function and endometrial cancer susceptibility. Furthermore, we used the Kaplan-Meier Plotter, The Human Protein Atlas, SPNR, and Spliceman2 databases for sQTL and differential gene expression analyses to identify the genetic variant which most potentially influence the risk of endometrial cancer through alternative splicing to reveal the potential mechanism by which candidate SNPs regulate the risk of endometrial cancer. Results: The results indicated that SNP rs7128029 AConclusion These findings suggest that SNP rs7128029-mediated alternative splicing events in PSMD13 are associated with endometrial cancer risk and may be a potential early screening biomarker for endometrial cancer-susceptible populations.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the spatial distribution of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) and to explore environmental factors associated with HPAI using geographic information system (GIS) techniques in Mainland China.

METHODSDatabases were set up using the information of HPAI during epidemics in 2004, and linked to digital maps at provincial and county administrative layers in the country through the ArcGIS 8.3 software. Spatial cluster analyses, spatial statistics analyses and tracking analyses on epidemic situation of HPAI were implemented. Environmental factors associated with HPAI were also analyzed on data related to weather, vegetation and migratory birds etc.

RESULTSFindings from spatial cluster analyses showed that high incidence area was centralized in 113.261 degrees ordm; east longitude and 23. 119 degrees ordm; north latitude with a radius of 1090.52 kilometers (relative risk= 2.646, P value= 0.001). Spatial statistical analyses showed that HPAI took place mainly in capital cities of provinces and surrounding areas as well as in the circumference areas of arterial rivers, lakes and seacoasts. Results also showed that HPAI occurrences were associated with low air temperature, high relative humidity and high air pressure as well as with east & central migration routes of migratory birds. The average normalized difference vegetation index was 0.36 +/- 0.11 in epidemic areas of HPAI.

CONCLUSIONHPAI was unrandomly distributed and geographically clustered in China.

Animal Migration ; Animals ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Birds ; virology ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; Environment ; Geographic Information Systems ; Humidity ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; pathogenicity ; Influenza in Birds ; epidemiology ; Temperature

BACKGROUNDSmall cell lung cancer (SCLC) is the most aggressive form of lung cancer. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of human small cell lung cancer cell line resistance to etoposide (VP-16), H446/VP.

METHODSThe cell viability was measured by MTT assay. Immunocytochemistry, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting methods were used to detect the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1), bcl-2, bax and the topoisomerase II (Topo II) expressions in H446 and H446/VP cells after treated with or without VP-16.

RESULTSThe 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of VP-16 on H446 cells was 49 mg/L, and 836 mg/L was for H446/VP cells. The expressions of MDR1 and bcl-2 were up-regulated, while the amounts of bax and Topo II were reduced in H446/VP cells. After treated with 49 mg/L of VP-16, it showed that the drug could significantly inhibit bcl-2 and Topo II expressions, and increase bax expression in H446 cells compared with that of H446/VP cells.

CONCLUSIONSThe H446/VP cell was stably resistant to VP-16. The decreased expression of Topo II was correlated with the H446/VP multidrug resistance. The elevated expressions of MDR1, and the altered apoptotic pathways also played an important role in VP-16 induced multidrug resistance of SCLC.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Sub-Family B ; ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; genetics ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Topoisomerases, Type II ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; genetics ; physiology ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Small Cell Lung Carcinoma ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the alpha2-Heremans-Schmid glycoprotein (AHSG) gene and assess their association with the AHSG serum level.

METHODSThe SNPs of the AHSG gene were identified from 30 unrelated Han individuals from Guangzhou area by resequencing. Linkage disequilibrium(LD) was performed to observe the linkage disequilibrium pattern. Then tagSNPs were genotyped in 192 Han individuals from Beijing and 424 Han individuals from Guangzhou area. Finally, luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to determine whether the SNPs affected the promoter activity. Serum AHSG concentrations were measured in the 192 subjects from Beijing using ELISA.

RESULTSEight SNPs were detected in total. The linkage disequilibrium profile in the Guangzhou Han population was different from that in the Beijing Han population. However, the allele and genotype frequencies of tagSNPs between the two Han populations were not significantly different. The reporter gene assay showed that the -799A allele had significantly higher promoter activity than the -799T allele. Multiple regression analysis revealed that only the rs2248690 SNP was an independent contributor to serum AHAG concentration.

CONCLUSIONThe rs2248690 SNP in the promoter region of the AHSG gene might affect the AHSG gene transcription.

Blood Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genotype ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Serum ; chemistry ; alpha-2-HS-Glycoprotein