The pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis ( MS) involves alterations to multiple pathways and processes, which represent a significant challenge for developing more-effective therapies.In MS, abnormalities have been identified in several cytokine-signaling pathways, as well as those of other immune receptors.Among the downstream molecules implicated are Jak/Stat, NF-κb, ERK1/2, p38 or Jun/Fos, current MS drugs target some of these pathways.This article will with the aid of the latest research results of systems biology approaches that study pathway dysregulation in the process of MS development, targeting these relevant MS-signaling pathways, offers the opportunity to accelerate the development of novel individual or combination therapies for the future of new drug research.

Hepatic fibrosis is the most important pathologic course for chronic hepatic injury developing into hepatic cirrhosis. It is meaningful for treating liver disease by inhibiting the development of hepatic fibrosis. Recently, herbs of promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis has their unique characteristics and exhibits great therapeutic effect on hepatic fibrosis. The review explains the function and mechanism of the promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis herbs in treating hepatic fibrosis from the aspects of the monomer, effective constituent and compound recipe. It provides basis for application of promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis herbs in study and treating hepatic fibrosis.

In the present paper, adhesive test, morphology observation, classified counting and deformation index calculation of the platelets on seven DLC samples made by different processes were carried out after XPS analysis, respectively. Then the effects of carbon phase components on amounts and deformation index of the platelets adhered to the samples were investigated by using the analysis of T-type correlation degree in the grey system theory. It has been shown from results that the amounts and the deformation index of the platelets adhered to the DLC samples made by plasma source ion implantation-ion beam enhanced deposition (PSII-IBED) are obviously less than those of DLC samples made by plasma CVD. The correlation degrees (negative) between the DLC carbon phase and the amounts as well as the deformation index of platelets are much more than those of the other four carbon phase components; besides, larger correlation degrees (positive) only appear between the deformation index of platelets and the C-H carbon phase or C-O carbon phase. It has been indicated that: (1) the effect of DLC carbon phase on platelets adhesion is much greater than that of the other four carbon phase components, the key to improvement in the hemocompatibility of DLC is to increase the DLC carbon phase content; (2) it is necessary to restrain the form or decrease the C-H carbon phase content and C-O carbon phase content so as to control their promotive action on deformation of the platelets adhered to the surface of DLC; (3) using PSII-IBED process to prepare DLC is helpful to improving the hemocompatibility of DLC. These conclusions are essential for designing and improving the deposition process of DLC.
Biocompatible Materials ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Diamond ; chemistry ; Humans ; Male ; Materials Testing ; Models, Biological ; Platelet Adhesiveness

In this study, the diamond like carbon (DLC) samples made from different processes and processing conditions, were subjected to the test of platelet adhesion. The surface energy parameters such as surface tension, critical surface tension, interface tension, adhesive power, and polar branch and chromatic dispersion branch of surface tension based on determining balanced contact angle of ethanol, water and different ratios of ethanol/water solution on surfaces of the samples were calculated, respectively. Then the effects of these parameters on the amounts and deformation index of the platelets adhering to the samples were assessed by analyzing the T-type correlation degree in the Grey system. The results showed: (1) all degrees of correlation between surface energy parameters and adhesion amounts of platelet are positive, but for deformation index, the correlation degrees are negative except for critical surface tension; (2) the adhesion amounts of platelet increase with the rising polar branch of surface tension, while the deformation index increases with rising chromatic dispersion branch of surface tension; (3) Both adhesion amounts and deformation index of platelet are positively correlated with critical surface tension to a higher degrees; (4) the effects of polar branch of surface tension on adhesion amounts and deformation index of platelet keep pace with the surface tension, interface tension and adhesive power. Thus two important conclusions have been obtained: (1) the adhesive characteristic of platelets to the surface of DLC is closely related with the surface energy of DLC; the hemocompatibility of DLC is decided by the balance between the polarity of DLC surface and the limited humidifying water on the surface; there is a blood compatible range delimited by critical surface tension; (2) adhesion and deformation of platelets on surface of DLC have different energy mechanism: polar surface is advantageous to the adhesion, while the deformation is achieved with the aid of chromatic dispersion action stem from the surface.
Biocompatible Materials ; chemistry ; Carbon ; chemistry ; Diamond ; chemistry ; Humans ; Materials Testing ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Surface Properties

In order to clarify the mechanism of blood coagulation for carbonaceous biomaterials, the plasma rich in platelet was obtaining through the centrifugation of fresh human blood containing anticoagulant. Adhesive tests of platelets to surfaces of DLC, diamond film(DF) and graphite was carried out at 37 degrees C. Then, morphology observation, counting and deformation index calculation of the platelets adhering to surfaces of the three kinds of materials were analyzed by SEM. It has been shown that there is no any platelet on the surface of DLC, but on DF and graphite, a lot of platelets are observed with serious deformation of type III-V. The adhesive amounts of platelet on the surface of graphite are more than those on DF, but deformation index of platelets on the surface of DF is more than that on graphite. Three major conclusions have been obtained through comparative analyses with our previous researches and related literatures: (1) Adhesion, deformation and collection of platelets occurred in succession on material surfaces resulting from protein adsorption are the major mechanism of blood coagulation of carbonaceous materials; (2) Deformation degree of platelets is more important hemocompatibility index than consumption ratio of platelets for carbonaceous materials; (3) The purer the DLC, the better is the hemocompatibility. These conclusions possess important directive function for improving and designing carbonaceous materials used in artificial mechanical heart valves.
Biocompatible Materials ; Blood Platelets ; pathology ; Carbon ; Diamond ; Graphite ; Humans ; In Vitro Techniques ; Materials Testing ; Platelet Adhesiveness ; Surface Properties

OBJECTIVETo analyze the frequency of thyroid dysfunction and determine its influencing factors in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with pegylated-interferon alpha (peg-IFNa)-2a and ribavirin (RBV) combination therapy.

METHODSA total of 194 CHC patients were treated with peg-IFNa-2a and RBV for 48 weeks. Development of thyroid dysfunction was recorded. Clinical and biological factors from pre-treatment (baseline) to post-treatment were statistically analyzed to determine correlation with thyroid dysfunction in this patient population.

RESULTSFifty-two (26.80%) of 194 peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-treated patients developed thyroid dysfunction. Dysfunction severity ranged from hyperthyroidism (n = 1, 0.52%) and hypothyroidism (n = 10, 5.15%) to subclinical hyperthyroidism (n = 4, 2.06%) and subclinical hypothyroidism (n = 37, 19.07%). The dysfunction rate was significantly higher after peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment (26.80% vs. 12.37% at baseline, x2 = 12.829, P less than 0.05, odds ratio (OR) = 0.386, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.226-0.657), in females (33.00% vs. 20.21% in males, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.016-3.040), and in thyroid auto-antibody positive patients (64.29% vs. 23.89% in negative patients, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 1.681-36.183). Early virological response did not have any significant effect on dysfunction rate (23.00% vs. 30.85% no early virological response, x2 = 1.522, P more than 0.05) nor did end of treatment response (27.19% vs. 26.25% no response at end of treatment, x2 = 0.021, P more than 0.05). Patients who developed thyroid dysfunction had higher interleukin (IL)-6 at baseline (i.e. before peg-IFNa-2a/RBV treatment) (27.08+/-14.90 vs. 11.65+/-5.46 in patients who maintained normal thyroid function, t = 3.127, P less than 0.05, 95% CI: 5.28-25.58). IL-6 levels were not significantly different between the two groups at 24 weeks (6.30+/-2.47 vs. 6.81+/-2.80, t = 0.352, P more than 0.05). IL-6 levels before and after 48 weeks of treatment in normal thyroid function patients were 27.08+/-14.90 and 6.30+/-2.47, t = 3.632, P less than 0.05, and in thyroid dysfunction patients were 11.65+/-5.46 and 6.81+/-2.80, t = 1.997, P more than 0.05.

CONCLUSIONPeg-IFNa-2a/RBV combination therapy may cause thyroid dysfunction, especially hypothyroidism, in CHC patients. Female sex and thyroid auto-antibody positivity may put CHC patients at higher risk of developing thyroid dysfunction during peg-IFNa-2a/RBV therapy. Elevated IL-6 may be a predictive marker of peg-IFNa-2a/RBV-induced thyroid dysfunction.

Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Ribavirin ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Thyroid Diseases ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Thyroid Gland ; drug effects ; physiopathology ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo analyze CD21 expression in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and to explore its relationship with the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis.

METHODSThe clinical data from 80 DLBCL patients who were treated in First Hospital of Jilin University from June 2005 to September 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. The cases were subjected to immunohistochemical staining (SP method) for Ki-67, CD20, CD79a, CD3, CD43, CD5, cyclin D1, bcl-2, CD10, bcl-6, GCET-1, FOXP-1 and MUM-1 protein expression in the tumor tissue. Immunohistochemistry was also used to detect CD21 expression in the tumor tissue. SPSS 18.0 was used to analyze the relationship between CD21 expression and various clinical factors, and the relationship between various clinical factors including CD21 and overall survival.

RESULTSIn the patients aged under 60 years, the incidence of CD21(+) lymphoma (64.0%, 16/25) was significantly higher than that of CD21(-) lymphoma (38.2%, 21/55). There were more CD21(+) lymphoma patients who were at clinical stages I-II (52.0%, 13/25) than patients with CD21(-)lymphomas (23.6%, 13/55). There were also more CD21(+) lymphoma patients (68.0%, 17/25) having less than two extranodal sites involvement than CD21(-)lymphoma patients (41.8%, 23/55). In addition, there were more CD21(+) lymphoma patients with IPI 0-2 (68.0%, 17/25) than CD21(-)lymphoma patients (41.8%, 23/55). There were more CD21(+) lymphoma patients with GCB subtype (60.0%, 15/25) than CD21(-)lymphoma patients (23.6%, 13/55). Death related to DLBCL was less in CD21(+) lymphoma patients (32.0%, 8/25) than CD21(-) lymphoma patients (56.4%, 31/55). Univariate analysis showed that these clinical pathological characteristics affected the overall survival of DLBCL patients, including age, ECOG score, LDH, extranodal involvement, IPI index, CD21 expression, treatment option and efficacy (P < 0.05) . Cox multivariate analysis showed that ECOG score, LDH, extranodal involvement, CD21 expression were closely related to prognosis, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Among the 80 patients, the overall survival (OS) of CD21(+) lymphoma patients was significantly higher than that of CD21(-) lymphoma patients.

CONCLUSIONSThe expression of CD21 is associated with young age at onset, early clinical stage, small number of involvement and low IPI index. The OS and median overall survival of CD21(+) lymphoma patients are significantly higher than those of CD21(-) patients. CD21 expression, ECOG score, LDH, extranodal involvement are independent prognostic factors in DLBCL, and in particular, the expression of CD21 is more significant in the prognosis of DLBCL patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Child ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Doxorubicin ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Germinal Center ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prednisone ; therapeutic use ; Prognosis ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Vincristine ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

This paper describes, in detail, the basic principles, composition and specifications of JH-2000 heamodialyzer.
Equipment Design ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; therapy ; Renal Dialysis ; instrumentation ; Therapy, Computer-Assisted

Objective To observe the clinical effect of platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) on prevention of postoperative hemorrhage and facial traumatic swelling in patients with mandibular angle osteotomy.Methods Twenty-five patients with mandibular angle hypertrophy were included in this study from January 2014 to November 2015.Split face comparative study was carried out to use the left and right sides as the experimental side and the control side,respectively.The PRF in the experimental side was placed in the mandibular osteotomy,while the control side was placed in platelet-poor plasma (PPP).After operation,the drainage volume and facial swelling degree were measured.Results The drainage volume of the experimental group (PRF group) was (20.35 ±7.40) ml,the control group (PPP group) was (43.23±11.96) ml,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.05).There was no such case without swelling in postoperative third day.The facial swelling score on the experimental side was (1.19±0.40),the control side was (2.62±0.64),and two groups of postoperative facial swelling scores were significantly different (P＜0.05).Conclusions The PRF can reduce postoperative bleeding and facial swelling after mandibular angle osteotomy.

Objective In order to investigate the Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) infection and drug resistance in children in Fuyang, Hangzhou, and to provide a rational basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MP in children. Methods A total of 1104 respiratory tract samples were collected from children patients with pneumonia. MP and its mutations in 23S rRNA gene locus were detected by real-time PCR. Then analyze pertinence between the clinical data and experimental results were conducted. Results Among 1104 respiratory tract samples, 175 cases (15.85％) were MP positive. Moreover, the mutation of 23S rRNA gene locus existed in 115 MP positive samples with the positive infection rate of 65.71％ . The infection rate (25.74％) and mutation rate (82.69％) in summer (Jul.-Sep.) was higher than other seasons, and the infection rate (11.72％) and mutation rate (40.63％) was the lowest in winter (Jan.-Mar.) . The infection rates of male and female children were 66.67％ and 64.56％, and the mutation rates of male and female children were 66.67％ and 64.56％. Conclusion MP infection may be related with climate and age. 23S rRNA gene locus mutation has a higher detection rate, prompting that MP shows high resistant rate to macrolides.