Objective To investigate the incidence of candidal colonization and to analyze its risk factors in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Methods Throat swabs, midstream urine and anal swabs from 153 patients with CTDs and 63 healthy volunteers were collected for fungus culture. The logistic regression was completed via the software package SPSS 11.0. Results The incidence rate of candidal colonization was higher in the patients than that in the healthy controls (35.29% vs 7.59%). Of all the isolated fungus strains, the proportion of Candida albicans was the highest. The logistic regression analysis revealed that decrease of blood erythrocytes, increase of urine protein, decrease of complements such as CH50, C3 and C4 in serum, high daily dosage of corticosteroids and broad-spectrum antibiotic administration all significantly increased the risk of candidal colonization (all P 0.05). Conclusions The incidence rate of candidal colonization in patients with CTDs is higher than that in healthy controls. Avoiding the risk factors will help to decrease the incidence of candidal colonization in CTDs.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Health ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Pneumoconiosis ; diagnosis

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is a very practical subject, which has its unique theoretical system and clinical characteristics. In the course of clinical practice, the exact clinical efficacy is the key of existence and development. But the existing evaluation system is difficult to objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy of TCM. Therefore, how to objectively evaluate the clinical efficacy and get definitive evidence is the focus of the evaluation of clinical efficacy of TCM. Relative to modern medicine, TCM is more concerned about the changes of feelings and clinical symptoms of the patient in the course of the evolution of the disease. Soft targets mainly used for the evaluation of the clinical efficacy of symptoms and functional activity of the disease. The level in soft targets of processing technology is often used methods in clinical evaluation. But it has often produced the phenomenon which the results of the evaluation is mutual contradiction, which will ultimately affect the effect of evaluation of clinical efficacy of TCM. In order to better evaluate the clinical efficacy of TCM, in the process of adoption of soft targets, it clearly identify it's role, highlighting the characteristics of interventions on disease, and as much as possibly avoid the level in soft targets of processing technology to real assess clinical efficacy of TCM.
Drug Therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Research Design ; Treatment Outcome

Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate ; metabolism ; Fucosyltransferases ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lewis X Antigen ; metabolism ; Neoplasms ; immunology ; pathology ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; immunology ; Stage-Specific Embryonic Antigens ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the damage to the brochial plexus produced by pulsed radiofrequency (PRF)and radiofrequency thermocoagulation(RFTC).Methods Fifty-five male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 g were randomly divided into 3 groups:groupⅠPRF(n=25):groupⅡRFTC(n=25)and groupⅢnormal control(n=5).The animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal chloral hydrate.The left brochial plexus was exposed and PRF or RFTC was applied to the left brochial plexus.The voltage and current of the minimal stimulation which elecited muscle twitching and the impedance before and after operation were recorded in group PRF and RFTC.The nerve function was scored according to Tarloo(0=flaccid paresis,5=normal gait)before and at 3d after operation.The animals were killed and the left brachial plexus was removed immediately and at 1, 7,14,30 d after operation(n=5 at each time point)for determination of histopathological changes using microscope.Results The impedance and Tarlov score were significantly decreased after operation as compared to the baseline values before operation in group RFTC and were also significantly lower than in group PRF. Microscopic examination showed that the myelinated nerve fibers exhibited Wallerian degeneration and axon regeneration and the cytochondria in cylindraxile were severely injured or disappeared in group RFTC.The myelinated nerve fibers and the cytochondria in cylindraxile were significantly less injured after operation in group PRF than in group RFTC and returned to normal at 7 d and 30 d respectively.Conclusion The injury to brachial plexus produced by PRF is slighter than that produced by RFTC.

The effects of astragalus polysaccharide (APS) on type 1 diabetes mellitus were investigated. The mRNA expressions of Th1/Th2 cytokines of pancrease and ultrastructure of islet were studied.Ultrastructure of islets was well protected in APS group;the mRNA expressions of Th1 cytokines were downregulated and those of Th2 cytokines were upregulated in APS group.APS may correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines.

Objective To observe the curative effect and recurrence rate of desmopressin acetate(DDAVP) combined with bladder training therapy on primary nocturnal enuresis(PNE) in chlidren.Methods One hundred children with PNE were randomly divided into control group and observation group(50 cases in each group).Children in control group were treated with simple DDAVP,and patients in observation group were treated with bladder training while DDAVP was using.The course of treatment were 3 months.The therapeutic effect between the 2 groups when the treatment was finished was compared and then followed up all the cases for 3 months to compare the near-term and long-term recurrence rate between the 2 groups.SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data.Results The total effective rate in control group was 72.9%,and the near-term recurrence rate and the long-term recurrence rate were 22.9% and 54.3%,respectively.The total effective rate in observation group was 91.3%,and the near-term recurrence rate and the long-term recurrence rate were 11.9% and 28.6%,respectively.The total effective rate was significantly higher in observation group than that in control group(Z=-1.972,P=0.049).The near-term recurrence rate in 2 groups had no significant difference(?2=1.632,P=0.201).The long-term recurrence rate was extremely lower in observation group than that in control group(?2=5.249,P=0.022).Conclusions There is significant curative effect that DDAVP combined with bladder training therapy on PNE in children,and it can lower the long-term recurrence rate.

Objective To develop the human colon carcinoma(HT-29) liver metastasis model in nude mice,and to detect the expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptases(hTERT) mRNA in liver of nude mice. Methods Liver metastases were established in 30 Balb/c nude mice by intrasplenic injection of colonic cancer cells(HT-29),and the spleens were resected.After being sacrificed,the tumor growth was observed,and the pathological examinations were performed.The expression of hTERT mRNA in the livers of nude mice was detected by RT-PCR technique. ResultsHuman colon carcinoma(HT-29) liver metastasis model was developed in all the 30 nude mice,with the liver metastasis rate of 100%.The pathological results revealed the occurrence of liver metastases,and the expression of hTERT mRNA was positive in the liver tissues. Conclusion Intrasplenic injection of HT-29 cell is a reliable way for producing colonic cancer liver metastasis model,and the positive expression of hTERT mRNA in liver tissues indicates the significance of hTERT in the early diagnosis and treatment of colon carcinoma liver metastasis.

Objective To investigate the depressing effect of antigene peptide nucleic acid (AGPNA)on the k-ras gene expression of human pancreatic cancer Patu8988 cells, the inducing apoptosis effect on Patu8988 cells, and the biodistribution characteristics in nude mice bearing xenografts using 188Re-k-ras-AGPNA.Methods The expression level of k-ras mRNA and the expression ratio of k-ras protein in Patu8988 cells transfected with AGPNA was measured by RT-PCR and flow cytometry ,respectively. The degree of cellular apoptosis 3 to 5 d after treating Patu8988 cells with 188Re-k-ras-AGPNA or 188ReO4- was determined by flow cytometry. For biodistribution study, 58 nude mice bearing Patu8988 cell xenografts were divided into two groups: intratumoral injection of 188Re-k-ras-AGPNA (Group A) and 188ReO4- (Group B). At different time points, the mice were sacrificed and organs of interest were excised, weighted and counted by a gamma counter. The organ uptake was calculated as a % ID/g and the absorbed doses of organs were calculated. One-way analysis of variance was used. Results After transfected with 1 nmol/ml AGPNA, the k-ras mRNA gray scale ratio and the expression ratio of k-ras protein were 1.00 ± 0.39 and (15.05 ± 5.07)%, respectively. They were significantly lower than those of the control group with 1.86 ± 0.07 and (24. 38 ± 5.40) % (F = 2. 545, 5. 327, P<0. 05). At 4 and 5 d after treatment in Group A, float cells' apoptosis ratios were (26.30 ± 7.45) % and (27.90 ± 10. 38) %, respectively. Tumors were the major distribution site in Group A with uptake of (37.47 ±21.31), (35.96 ±7.80) and (15.46 ±4.93) %lD/g at 1 h, 1 d and 7 d after intra-tumor injection, respectively. The absorbed dose of tumor was 15 569 mGy/MBq. Condusions Transfection with k-ras-AGPNA on Patu8988 cells may inhibit k-ras expression at mRNA and protein expression level, and 188Re-k-ras-AGPNA can induce apoptosis of Patu8988 cells.Tumor is the major distribution site in nude mice bearing human pancreatic cancer xenografts after intratumoral injection of 188Re-k-ras-AGPNA.

Objective To explore the effects of hyperglycemia and oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) on the differentiation of macrophage derived THP-1 monocytes. Methods THP-1 human monocytic leukemia cell line was cultured in vitro, and the differentiation of THP-1 cells into macrophages was induced by phorbol esters. The macrophages were then incubated with the absence of D-glucose and ox-LDL (control group), 30 mmol/L D-glucose (hyperglycemia group), 100 μg/mL ox-LDL (ox-LDL group) or 30 mmol/L D-glucose and 100 μg/mL ox-LDL(G-ox-LDL group) for 24 h. High performance liquid chromatography was used for qualitative and quantitative analysis of intracellular cholesterol and cholesteryl esters. Both light microscope with red oil O staining technique and transmission electron microscope were employed to observe the morphology of treated and control THP-1 cells. Results A large number of intracellular red oil O stained granules and lipid vacuoles were observed in ox-LDL group and G-ox-LDL group, the contents of total cholesterol and cholesteryl esters were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05), and the contents of cholesteryl esters were higher than 50% of total cholesterol in both groups. However, only a few intracellular red oil O stained granules and lipid vacuoles were observed in control group and hyperglycemia group, there was no significant difference in the contents of total cholesterol and choleateryl esters between control group and hyperglycemia group (P>0.05), and the contents of cholesteryl esters were less than 50% of total cholesterol in both groups. Conclusion Foam cells form when THP-1 cells are incubated with ox-LDL, while hyperglycemia alone can not convert THP-1 cells to foam cells, indicating that ox-LDL is necessary for the macrophages derived THP-1 monocytes to turn into foam cells.