Adult ; Aged ; Cause of Death ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

AIM: To further investigate the immunologic mechanism of myasthenia gravis(MG). METHODS: Acetylcholine receptor antibodies(AchRab) and presynaptic membrane antibodies (PsMab) was determined by ELISA in 285 cases of MG patients. Tumor necrosis factor- alpha(TNF-?) and RBC-C3b receptor rosette rate(RBC-C3bRR)and RBC-IC rosette rate (RBC-ICR)was determined in 202 patients with MG. Furthermore, the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets was examined in 104 cases MG patients. RESULTS: The positive rates of the AchRab and PsMab in MG were very significantly higher than that of control.The positive rate of PsMab in patients with negative AchRab was very significantly higher than that of patients with the positive AchRab.In 202 MG patients, the TNF-? was significantly higher, but the RBC-C3bRR was significantly lower than those of control, while the RBC-ICR has no significant change. CONCLUSION: MG is an autoimmune disease with damaged postsynaptic membrane by the AchRab, and some patients with both the AchRab and PsMab could manifest disfunction in the postsynaptic and presynaptic membrane. While the patients who just has the PsMab maybe damaged only in the presynaptic membrane. Other body fluid immune or/and cell immune mechanism may be involved in MG patients without AchRab and PsMab. [

Arterio-Arterial Fistula ; complications ; Coronary Artery Disease ; complications ; Coronary Stenosis ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged

Objective To observe the influence of several kinase pathways such as extracellular signal-regulated kinase ( ERK) , and mitogen-activated protein kinase p38 ( p38MAPK) on nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway activated by Fructus Schisandrae extracts (FSE) . Methods HepG2 cells were treated by FSE for 24 hours after pretreatment with protein kinase inhibitors for 2 hours. The mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 and downstream target genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD (P) H quinine oxidoreductase 1(NQO1), P-glycoprotein ( P-gp) and multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 ( MRP2) were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) , and their protein expression levels and Nrf2 nuclear translocation were measured by Western blotting method. Results RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of HO-1, NQO1, P-gp and MRP2 activated by FSE in HepG2 cells were inhibited by PD98059, SB203580 and Rottlerin, and the mRNA expression of Nrf2 was suppressed only by SB203580 and Rottlerin. Western blotting results showed that the mRNA expression levels of HO-1 and P-gp activated by SCE in HepG2 cells were inhibited by PD98059, SB203580 and Rottlerin. In addition, the protein expression of Nrf2 in HepG2 cytoplasm was increased by the above three inhibitors, and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 was inhibited by PD98059 and SB203580. Conclusion The mechanism of FSE activating Nrf2 pathway may be associated with the increase of Nrf2 nuclear translocation through the direct phosphorylation of Nrf2 induced by ERK and p38MAPK.

AIM: To investigate the downstream genes of the transcriptional factor Pax-8 related to cardiopathy. METHODS: The total RNA derived from the heart of Pax-8 KO~(-/-) and Pax-8 KO~(+/-) mice was extracted. Mouse genome DNA microarray containing 31 802 mouse oligonucleotides probes was used to investigate the differential expression between the Pax-8 KO~(-/-) and the Pax-8 KO~(+/-) mice hearts. The candidate genes were confirmed by RT-PCR and real time RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: Microarray results showed that, compared to the Pax-8 KO~(+/-) mice, 25 genes were down-regulated and 17 were up-regulated in the Pax-8 KO~(-/-) mice, concerning metabolize enzymes, cell signal conducting and nuclear transcript factors and so on. Bcl2-like 14 (Bcl2l14) was proved to be up-regulated by RT-PCR. Real time RT-PCR results revealed that Bcl2l14 in the Pax-8 KO~(-/-) mice was 2.07 and 2.23 fold as much as that in the Pax-8 KO~(+/-) and the Pax-8KO~(+/+) mice (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The Bcl2l14 gene is one of the downstream genes of Pax-8 and probably plays an important role in the mechanism of ventricular septum defect.

Objective To observe the immediate hemodynamic effects of the intercoronary ischemic preconditioning on the coronary perfusion pressure.Methods The observational study recruited 17 patients who were hospitalized for stable coronary disease and had severe stenosis lesions (70％ ～ 85％ ) in one or two vessels per coronary angiography.They were randomized into ICPC ( n =8 ) group ( receiving two cycles of 1-min balloon inflation and 5-min reperfusion) and control group (n =9).Before interventional treatment,the ICPC group was given 2 cycles of intercomary ischemic preconditioning.The occlusive and non-occlusive pressures proximal and distal to the stenosis were collected before and after ICPC.Fractional flow reserve (FFR) was calculated upon the following equation:FFR =Pd/Pa ( Pa:hyperemic mean aortic pressure,Pd:hyperemic coronary pressure distal to the stenosis).Results Before and after ischemic preconditioning,coronary wedge pressure and FFR of ICPC group were significantly increased ( coronary wedge pressure was from [ 22.08 ± 19.14 ]mm Hg to [25.46 ±19.04]mm Hg,P=0.011;FFR.was from [70.30±16.05]％ to [77.53 ±13.42]％,P=0.001).The collateral flow was increased significantly.Coronary wedge pressure and FFR of control group did not improved obviously.There were significant differences in FFRs and coronary wedge pressures between ICPC and control groups.Conclusion Coronary ischemic preconditioning can improve coronary perfusion pressure,and rapidly increase the coronary pressure distal to the severe stenosis lesions.

Objective To observe the effects of serum with drug Penthorum chinense Pursh extractum on transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and collagen I secretions of activated hepatic stellate cells. Methods Twenty male SD rats were divided into 2 groups, and were administered with 0.9% sodium chloride solution and Penthorum chinense Pursh extraetum via gastrogavage for 3 days respectively and then sacrificed. Serum samples of these rats were collected. HSC-T6 cells were divided into the normal group and the treatment group. The cells of the normal group were incubated in Dulbecco's modified eagle medium (DMEM)with sera of normal rats, while those of the treatment group were incubated in DMEM with sera from Penthorum chinense Pursh extractum treated rats. The HSC-T6 viability was observed by AlamarBlue assay, while the toxicity of Penthorum ehinense Pursh extractum was measured by 3-(4, 5-Dimethyhhiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of collagen I and TGF-β1 mRNA were determined by real timepolymerase chain reaction (real time PCR). The protein expressions of collagen I and TGF-β1 were analyzed by Western blotting. The data were analyzed by single factor analysis of variance and pairwise comparison was done by q test. Results Different concentrations of sera from Penthorum chinense Pursh extractum treated rats could all inhibit HSC-T6 proliferation, especially when the sera concentration were 10% and the HSC-T6 cells were incubated for 24 h (P＜0.01 ). MTT assay indicated that sera from Penthorum chinense Pursh extractum treated rats showed no obvious toxicity to HSC-T6 compared with those from normal rats (P ＞0.05). After 24 h incubation, 10% sera from Penthorum chinense Pursh extractum treated rats could significantly down-regulate mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and collagen I compared with normal group (TGF-β1 2.790±0.174 vs 9. 827 ± 1.429, P＜0.01 ; collagen I 1.213 ± 0.099 vs 4.053 ± 1.005, P＜0.01 ). Mcanwhile, the protein expressions of TGF-β1 and collagen I were also obviously inhibited in drug treated group compared with normal group (P＜0.01). Conclusions Serum from Penthorum chinense Pursh extractum treated rats can significantly decrease TGF-β1 and collagen I secretions of activated hepatic stellate cells, which provides the experimental evidence for liver fibrosis treatment.

OBJECTIVETo explore a better therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

METHODSOne hundred cases were randomly divided into a comprehensive group and an acupuncture group, 50 cases in each one. The comprehensive treatment of fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina on local area of affected knee was applied in the comprehensive group. The Ashi points were mainly selected in the fire needles at bones therapy, once every other day. The cupping and Tuina therapy was adopted once a day. The conventional acupuncture was applied in the acupuncture group, in which Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34) and so on were selected, once a day. Ten days of treatment were taken as a treatment course in both two groups, and totally 1 to 2 courses was required. The pain score of joint before and after the treatment was observed and efficacy was assessed in two groups.

RESULTSCompared before the treatment, the pain score of joint after the treatment was obviously improved in two groups (both P<0.05), and the score in the comprehensive group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The clinical cured rate was 38.0% (19/50), which was superior to 20.0% (10/50) in the acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive treatment of fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina, considered as a better therapy for knee osteoarthritis, could improve joint pain, swelling and action function, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture.

Acupuncture Therapy ; instrumentation ; Aged ; Amobarbital ; therapeutic use ; Arthralgia ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Osteoarthritis, Knee ; therapy ; Secobarbital ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

The distribution of shear stress on the bottom of the parallel plate flow chamber under different inlet velocities was analyzed by numerical simulation. In the present experimental study, the projection planes of the relative errors at 0.7% level were obtained, and then the efficient region and the actual entrance length were further corrected by introducing the concept of relative error. The results showed that the efficient region of the chamber increased with the direction of length while the inlet velocity was increased, and the actual entrance length was much greater than that of the theoretical entrance length. Therefore, in accordance to the needed range of shear stress in experiment and to the needed efficient region area, the optimum design of the flow chamber is necessary.
Algorithms ; Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Models, Cardiovascular ; Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted ; Pulsatile Flow ; Rheology ; Shear Strength ; Stress, Mechanical

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of pegylated interferon ( PegIFN ) α-2a plus ribavirin ( RBV) therapy for chronic hepatitis C ( CHC) in non-responders, and to investigate the related influencing factors.Methods A prospective, open, multicenter and randomized study was conducted.A total of 81 CHC non-responders were recruited from 10 clinical centers during February 2009 to November 2011.Patients were randomly assigned into two groups:group A (n=37) was given PegIFNα-2a plus RBV treatment for 72 weeks and group B (n=44) was given PegIFNα-2a plus RBV treatment for 96 weeks.Both groups were followed up for 24 weeks after treatment.Virological responses in two groups were observed, and treatment efficacies among patients with different genotypes, and among those with different previous treatment were compared.SAS software was used for statistical analysis.Results Fifty-two patients ( 28 from group A and 24 from group B) completed the study in total.The rates of rapid virological response ( RVR) , complete early virological response ( cEVR ) , end of treatment viral response ( ETVR ) and sustained virological response (SVR) in group A were 25.0% (7/28), 60.7% (17/28), 67.9%(19/28) and 60.7%(17/28), respectively; while those in the group B were 41.7% (10/24), 70.8%(17/24), 70.8%(17/24) and 70.8% (17/24), respectively; and there were no significant differences between two groups (P>0.05).SVR was observed in 82.9%(29/35) of patients with CC genotype of IL-28B, which was higher than that in patients with other genotypes ( 3/13 ) , and the difference was of statistical significance (P<0.01).There was no significant difference in viral responses between patients previously treated with IFN plus RBV and those treated by IFN only (P>0.05).The rates of RVR, cEVR, ETVR and SVR in patients who were previously treated with IFN were 36.4%(12/33), 81.8%(27/33), 81.8%(27/33) and 75.8%(25/33), and the rates of cEVR, ETVR and SVR were higher than those in patients who were previously treated with PegIFN (P<0.05), but no significant difference was observed in RVR (P>0.05).Adverse events occurred in 38 patients (46.9%), but no severe ones were observed. Conclusion The efficacy of PegIFNα-2a plus RBV therapy for CHC in non-responders is satisfactory, which may influenced by IL-28B genotypes and previous treatment.