Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Elliptocytosis, Hereditary ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male

AIMTo evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of chitosan-coated and sodium alginate-coated insulin liposomes after oral administration in mice.

METHODSInsulin-liposomes were prepared by reverse-phase evaporation. Chitosan and alginate coating was carried out by mixing liposomal suspension with chitosan and sodium alginate solutions, followed by incubation. The particle size and morphology of insulin-liposomes were determined using laser light scattering instrument and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The entrapment efficiency was analyzed using HPLC and ultracentrifuge. The protection of insulin from peptic and tryptic digestion was studied with HPLC. The hypoglycemic effects of polysaccharide-coated insulin liposomes were investigated using the glucose oxidase method after oral administration in mice.

RESULTSThe particle size of uncoated, chitosan-coated and alginate-coated insulin-liposomes was (138 +/- 31) nm, (230 +/- 20) nm and (266 +/- 19) nm, respectively. All insulin-liposomes were of spherical or ellipsoidal shape. The entrapment efficiencies were 81.6%, 73.5% and 68.7%, respectively. Insulin was protected from tryptic digestion by chitosan-coated liposomes and protected from peptic digestion by alginate-coated liposomes. The hypoglycemic effects of insulin-liposomes, coated with 0.1% chitosan and 0.1% sodium alginate, were observed.

CONCLUSIONChitosan-coated and sodium alginate-coated liposomes were shown to reduce peptic or tryptic digestion on insulin, and enhance enteral absorption of insulin.

Administration, Oral ; Alginates ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Chitin ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Chitosan ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; Drug Carriers ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Glucuronic Acid ; Hexuronic Acids ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Insulin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Liposomes ; Male ; Mice ; Particle Size ; Random Allocation ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

BACKGROUNDThe role of epigenetics in gene expression regulation and development significantly enhances our understanding of carcinogenesis. All the tumor related genes may be the target of epigenetical or genetic regulation. We selected some epigenetically regulated genes for cDNA array analysis and observed variability in the expression of the DICER1 gene in distinct stages of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the correlation between the expression of DICER1, an epigenetically regulated gene, and gastric cancer.

METHODSTo detect the expression of 506 tumor-associated genes, including DICER1, in the matched cancerous mucosa, pre-malignant lesion (adjacent mucosa), non-cancerous gastric mucosa and distant lymphocyte metastatic lesion in 3 cases of gastric cancers using cDNA array. DICER1 mRNA expression and DICER1 protein expression were further analyzed by Real-time PCR and Western blot in 32 cases of progressive gastric cancer. DICER1 protein expression was also detected in 33 early and 30 progressive gastric cancers by the immunohistochemistry (IHC) method.

RESULTSIn 3 cases of gastric cancer cDNA array showed dramatically decreased expression of DICER1 in pre-malignant lesion, cancerous mucosa and distant lymphocyte metastatic lesions compared with matched noncancerous gastric mucosa, pre-malignant lesion and cancerous mucosa. Real-time PCR results showed that the expression level of DICER1 mRNA in gastric cancer was significantly down-regulated compared to normal gastric tissue (P < 0.05). The IHC assay also showed that the expression of DICER1 was significantly decreased in progressive gastric cancer. Among the 63 cases of gastric cancers, 13/33 early (39.4%) and 19/30 (63.3%) progressive cancers showed negative expression of DICER1 (50.8%). The difference in expression of DICER1 between early and progressive gastric cancers was significant (P < 0.01). The result of Western blotting showed that DICER1 protein was down-regulated significantly in advanced gastric cancer (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSDICER1 expression is decreased during the progression of gastric cancer, especially in progressive gastric cancers, which indicating DICER1 may play an important role in the development of cancer and the epigenetical regulation involved.

Blotting, Western ; DEAD-box RNA Helicases ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Endoribonucleases ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Ribonuclease III ; Stomach Neoplasms ; chemistry ; etiology ; genetics

AIMTo explore the expression of ER and PR mRNAs in endometrium with endometriosis.

METHODSThe rat model of endometriosis was established, and the expression of ER, PR mRNAs in the endometrium was examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSThe expression of ER and PR mRNAs in ectopic endometrium was significantly lower than that in eutopic and normal endometrium (P < 0.01). But no difference was observed between eutopic and normal endometrium (P > 0.05). Ratio of ER/PR mRNA in ectopic endometrium was larger than that in eutopic and in normal endometrium (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe result illuminates that the increased ER plays a vital role in the onset of endometriosis.

Animals ; Endometriosis ; metabolism ; Endometrium ; metabolism ; Female ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Estrogen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the abnormalities of iron metabolism, the prevalence and risk factors of iron overload and clinical characteristics of patients with aplastic anemia (AA).

METHODSA cross-sectional study was conducted on 520 newly diagnosed AA patients.

RESULTSIron overload was observed in 66(13%) of 520 AA patients,in which a higher prevalence of iron overload was seen not only in patients with infections(19/86, 22%)than those without infections (47/434, 11%, P<0.01), but also in patients with hepatitis associated AA(HAAA) (6/22, 19%) than the idiopathic cases (60/488, 12%, P>0.05). Excluded the patients with infections and/or HAAA, 43 of 405(11%)cases had iron overload, including 14 of 248(6%) cases without history of blood transfusion and 29 of 157 patients (18%, P<0.01) with transfusion. In univariate analysis, higher levels of serum ferritin (SF), serum iron (SI) and transferrin saturation (TS) were mainly observed in adult male patients with severe AA (SAA) and significantly upward with increasing blood transfusion (P<0.01). No differences of soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) were observed between adults and children, males and females, hepatitis and idiopathic AA. However, patients with infections had significantly lower level of sTfR (0.50 mg/L) than cases without infections (0.79 mg/L, P<0.01). The level of sTfR in SAA patients (0.70 mg/L) was only half of that in non-SAA (NSAA) (1.36 mg/L, P<0.01). Patients with increasing blood transfusion had significantly downward levels of sTfR (P<0.01). In multivariate analysis, more than 8 U blood transfusion (OR=10.52, P<0.01), adults (OR=3.48, P<0.01), males (OR=3.32, P<0.01) and infections (OR=2.09, P<0.01) were independent risk factors.

CONCLUSIONAA patients had higher iron burden and were high-risk populations occurring iron overload. The iron overload occurred in 18% of patients with blood transfusion and in 6% of patients without transfusion.

Anemia, Aplastic ; complications ; physiopathology ; Blood Transfusion ; Ferritins ; blood ; Hepatitis ; complications ; Humans ; Iron ; blood ; metabolism ; Iron Overload ; physiopathology ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics and risk factors on responses and survival of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) clones.

METHODSThe clinical data of 31 MDS cases with PNH clones from October 2004 to June 2012 were retrospectively analyzed to reveal the influence of PNH clone size on responses and survival.

RESULTS①The chromosome karyotypes were analyzed in all patients, 23 patients with normal karyotype, 7 patients with abnormal karyotype [including 3 patients with +8, 2 -Y, 1 del(7q) and 1 Xp+] and 1 patient with no mitosis. 1 patient belonged to low-risk, 27 intermediate-1 risk, 2 intermediate-2 risk and 1 high-risk groups, respectively, according to IPSS. There were significantly statistical differences between responders and nonresponders in terms of infection, ANC, Reticulocyte count and IPSS (P values were 0.049, 0.006, 0.031 and 0.043, respectively). ②The overall responsive rate was 67.7%, no patients progressed to acute leukemia (AL) during median follow-up of 19 months after immunosuppressive therapy (IST). The 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 82.7% and 55.1%,respectively. ③According to univariate analysis,age, infection and ANC had significant influence on survival (P values were 0.050, 0.031 and 0.026, respectively). ④The PNH clone size had no significant influence on survival through univariate and COX analyses (P=0.393).

CONCLUSIONMDS patients with PNH clone had less cytogenetic abnormalities, higher probability of response to IST and lower probability of progression to AL; Furthermore, the PNH clone size had no significant influence on response and survival.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Clone Cells ; Female ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo assess the short term curative efficacy and long-term survival outcomes of severe aplastic anemia patients following antithymocyte globulin/lymphoglobulin (ATG/ALG) with or without cyclosporine (CsA).

METHODSA total of 345 cases hospitalized in our hospital between December 1982 and June 2011 were enrolled into this study. We assessed the response rates 3 and 6 months after ATG/ALG, and estimated the overall survival (OS) by Kaplan-Meier method for this cohort of patients.

RESULTSThe cohort of 345 patients was routinely followed-up with a median follow-up of 44.0 (range, 0.5 - 244.0) months. The response rates at 3 and 6 months were 29.9% and 45.4%, respectively. The differences in response rates at both 3 (39.2% vs 19.6%, P < 0.01) and 6 months (55.6% vs 34.0%, P < 0.01) between 184 non-severe aplastic anemia (mSAA) and 161 very severe aplastic anemia (VSAA) were statistically significant. The response rates among the different ATG preparations were comparative; but 3-(10.6%) and 6-month (25.5%) responses produced by rATG-Fresenius were significantly inferior to those by rATG-Sangstat (36.6% and 56.6%, respectively) (all P < 0.01). The 5-year OS was 61.7% (95%CI 55.4% - 68.0%) for the entire cohort of patients, and 5-year OS for mSAA patients \[71.0% (95%CI 62.9% - 79.1%)\] was superior to that of VSAA patients \[50.4% (95%CI 40.1% - 60.7%), P < 0.01\]; but for the patients treated from 2007, the difference of OS in the last 5 years between VSAA and mSAA was not significant \[ 73.7% (95%CI 52.2% - 95.2%) vs 89.7% (95%CI 79.5% - 99.9%); P = 0.24\]. Our study also confirmed the superiority of ATG/ALG + CsA regimen \[64.8% (95%CI 57.9% - 71.7%)\] over ATG/ALG alone \[32.6% (95%CI 15.7% - 49.5%)\] with regard to 5-year OS (P < 0.01); but the addition of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) to ATG/ALG had no benefit in terms of OS. rATG-S produced significantly better 5-year OS \[66.1% (95%CI 55.8% - 76.4%)\] than rATG-F \[46.6% (95%CI 35.9% - 57.3%); P < 0.01\].

CONCLUSIONS(1) The outcome of mSAA was superior to that of VSAA, but the latter was markedly improved in the last 5 years; (2) rATG-F was inferior to rATG-S with regard to 5-year OS; (3) Immunosuppressive treatment with ATG/ALG plus CsA was more effective than ATG/ALG alone; (4) The addition of rhG-CSF to ATG/ALG had no benefit in terms of OS.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anemia, Aplastic ; therapy ; Antilymphocyte Serum ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical significance of genetic detection and changes of red cell enzyme activities of pyrimidine 5' nucleotidase (P5'N), pyruvate kinase (PK) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in patients with α-thalassaemia (α-thal).

METHODSThree α-thal patients were further processed to gene detection by PCR-trans-dot blot and gap-PCR, and red cell enzymes activities by absorbance at 260 and 280 nm (A) for P5'N and fluorescence spot test for PK and G-6-PD.

RESULTSRed cells in 3 α-thal cases were microcytic hypochromic with obvious augmented target cells and basophilic stippling erythrocytes. Two patients had anemia, splenomegaly, hyperbilirubinemia and augmented LDH. HbH was positively identified by hemoglobin electrophoresis and hemoglobin cellulose acetate membrane electrophoresis; the other patient had no such abnormalities. Genotypes of 3 patients were of (-α(3.7)/--(SEA)), (αα(QS)/--(SEA))and (--(SEA)), respectively. The activity of P5'N (but not for PK and G-6-PD) in red cell reduced.

CONCLUSIONSThis is the first documented α-thal with P5'N deficiency. Genetic detection might be clinical significant for the diagnosis and pedigree screening of α-thal.

5'-Nucleotidase ; deficiency ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Erythrocytes ; enzymology ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; alpha-Thalassemia ; enzymology ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo discuss the efficacy of Qingkailing soft capsules in treating acute fever, and the relationship between symptoms-effect and time effect.

METHODQingkailing soft capsules was taken orally, 4 times a day, 1.6 g each time. Shuanghuanglian kou fu liquid was taken as control. 129 patients with acute upper respiratory tract infection were recruited.

RESULTThere were 73.34% of patients cured by Qingkailing soft capsules and 43.59% cured by Shuanghuanglian kou fu liquid. The efficacy of the former was better than that of the latter (P < 0.05). The efficacy of Qingkailing soft capsules in treating Fengrexing was better than that in Fenghanxing (P < 0.05). The efficacy of Qingkailing soft capsules in reducing rapid pulse and adding moderate pulse was more remarkable than Shuanghuanglian kou fu liquid (P < 0.05). Taking Qingkailing soft capsules seldom induced mild gastrointestinal disturbance.

CONCLUSIONQingkailing soft capsules showed good result in the treatment of acute upper respiratory tract infection with less adverse effect.

Adult ; Capsules ; Drug Combinations ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Count ; Male ; Materia Medica ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; drug therapy