Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tenosynovitis ; therapy

Abdominal Neoplasms ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Adult ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Ki-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Leukocytosis ; complications ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of potassium and calcium supplementation in table salt on reduction of arterial blood pressure and sodium metabolism in adolescents with higher blood pressure.

METHODSA single blind placebo-controlled trial was carried out for two years in 220 adolescents with higher blood pressure, aged 18 - 22 years, who were randomly divided into supplementary group (n = 110) and control group (n = 110). Each of the subjects in the supplementary group and their family members was given 10 mmol of potassium and 10 mmol of calcium mixed in their table salt daily for 24 months.

RESULTSNight urinary sodium and potassium excretion increased (urinary Na(+), P < 0.05; urinary K(+), P < 0.01) and blood pressure lowered by 5.3 mm Hg/1.8 mm Hg in average from the baseline in the supplementary group two years after potassium and calcium supplementation, as compared with that in the control group increased by (1.3/1.7) mm Hg.

CONCLUSIONSAdequate supplement of potassium and calcium in daily table salt intake was an effective way to prevent form hypertension and could promote their urinary sodium excretion and reduction of arterial blood pressure in adolescents with higher blood pressure.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Calcium, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diet therapy ; prevention & control ; Male ; Natriuresis ; Potassium, Dietary ; administration & dosage ; Single-Blind Method ; Sodium ; metabolism ; Sodium, Dietary ; administration & dosage

OBJECTIVENimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeted against epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Recent clinical studies show that patients with malignant gliomas could benefit from nimotuzumab treatment. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and side effects of nimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy for patients with malignant gliomas.

METHODSThe patients received 200 mg of nimotuzumab infusion intravenously over 60 minutes once weekly for the first eight weeks and then once every two weeks until unacceptable toxicity or tumor progression occurred. Individualized chemotherapy was administered based on O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression and previous chemotherapy responses in combined with nimotuzumab.

RESULTSFourteen patients received a total of 122 times of nimotuzumab ranging from 2 to 20 (median 7.5 times). Combined chemotherapy regimens included: continuous 21-day temozolomide (10 cases), standard 5-day temozolomide (2 cases), teniposide plus cisplatin (1 case), and teniposide plus nimustine (1 case). Partial response (PR) and stable disease (SD) were found in 3 patients (21.4%)and 6 patients (42.9%), respectively. Disease control rate (PR + SD) was 64.3%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4 months (95%CI: 0.7 - 7.3) and PFS at 6 months was 30.6%. The most common toxicities include grade I-II neutropenia (2 cases), thrombocytopenia (2 cases), lymphopenia (1 case), nausea and vomitting (3 case) and asymptomatic transaminase increase (1 case). One patient developed grade IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia. One patient developed nimotuzumab-related acneiform rash.

CONCLUSIONSNimotuzumab in combination with chemotherapy has moderate activity in patients with malignant gliomas and the toxicities are well tolerable, therefore, worth further investigation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Astrocytoma ; drug therapy ; Child ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Dacarbazine ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Glioblastoma ; drug therapy ; Glioma ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Male ; Nausea ; chemically induced ; Neutropenia ; chemically induced ; Nimustine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Teniposide ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Thrombocytopenia ; chemically induced ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of L.F04, the active fraction of Lycopus lucidus, on erythrocytes rheological property so as to investigate its mechanism in promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis.

METHODThe effects of L.F04 (used for treatment for 10 days in different dosages) on deformability, aggregation and membrane liquidity of erythrocytes (MLE) as well as whole blood apparent viscosity (eta(b)) were examined on the basis of rat model of blood-stasis syndrome induced by venous injection of high molecular weight dextran.

RESULTAs compared with the normal control group, the model group's RBC deformability and MLE were lower, and the aggregation of erythrocytes and eta(b) were higher. Compared with the model group, both L.F04 0.612 g/kg and 0.306 g/kg showed significant effect in improving deformability and inhibiting aggregation of red blood cells (RBC) and reducing blood viscosity. The trend of improving MLE was also shown.

CONCLUSIONL.F04 could significantly improve the abnormal rheological property of erythrocytes.

Animals ; Blood Viscosity ; drug effects ; Dextrans ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Erythrocyte Aggregation ; drug effects ; Erythrocyte Deformability ; drug effects ; Hemorheology ; Hemostasis ; drug effects ; Lycopus ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Space Flight

OBJECTIVETo compare the effects of intracoronary infusion of mononuclear stem cells (MNCs) or mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

METHODSDCM patients with left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) < 40% were randomized to intracoronary infusion of MNCs [(5.1 ± 2.0) × 10(8), n = 16] or MSCs [(4.9 ± 1.7) × 10(8), n = 17] or equal volume normal saline (n = 20) through the guiding catheter. Changes of left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDd), LVEF and myocardium perfusion defects were assessed before and at (30 ± 3) days and (90 ± 7) days after the procedure. Malignant cardiovascular events were also recorded.

RESULTS(1) One month after the procedure, LVEF in transplantation groups significantly increased compared to before procedure (all P < 0.05), and significant increase of LVEF was observed only in MSCs transplantation group compared to control group (P < 0.05). However, absolute changes of LVEDd and perfusion defects of myocardium were similar among and within groups (P > 0.05). (2) Comparing with before procedure and control group, LVEF in transplantation groups increased significantly in three months after the procedure (P < 0.05), but there were no significant differences between transplantation groups (P > 0.05). LVEDd and myocardium perfusion defects in transplantation groups improved significantly compared with that of before procedure (P < 0.05), while significant decrease of myocardium perfusion defects was only observed in patients treated with MSCs compared with control group at three months after procedure (P < 0.05). (3) There were no significant differences in major cardiovascular events between transplantation group and control during follow-up (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIntracoronary bone marrow stem cells transplantation is safe and effective for DCM patients while the efficacy of MSCs and MNCs transplantation is comparable.

Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow Transplantation ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

To construct the secretive prokaryotic shuttle expression plasmid pBCG-SP-HSP65, the signal peptide sequence of antigen 85B amplified from Bacillus Calmette-guérin (BCG) genome by PCR and the whole HSP65 DNA sequence of human M. tuberculosis obtained from the plasmid pCMV-MTHSP65 by PCR were cloned into the plasmid pBCG-2100 under the control of the promoter of Heat Shock Protein 70 (HSP70) from human M. tuberculosis. Recombinants were electroporated into Mycobacterial smegmatis and induced by heating. Results of the induced expression were detected by SDS-PAGE and the biological activity of the expressed protein was tested by Western-blot analysis. Results showed pBCG-SP-MTHSP65 was constructed successfully and confirmed by restriction endonuclease analysis, PCR detection and DNA sequencing analysis. After it was electroporated into Mycobacterial smegmatis and induced by heating, the percentage of expressed 65kD protein in Mycobacterial smegmatis detected by SDS-PAGE was 20% in total bacterial protein. But the percentage of expressed 65kD protein in recombibinant Mycobacterial smegmatis was up to 34.46% in total bacterial protein and 68.56% in the total protein of cell lysate supernants, Which demonstrated the recombinant HSP65 gene could express in recombinant with high efficiency and the expressed proteins were mainly soluble. Western-blot showed that the secretive proteins could specially combine with antibody against human M. tuberculosis HSP65. Orally, pBCG-SP-HSP65 was successfully constructed; HSP65 gene could express in Mycobacterial smegmatis with high efficiency via it. And the expressed proteins possess the biological activity. So it provids experimental evidence for the application of the recombinant Mycobacterial smegmatis and the development of the vaccine against tuberculosis.
Bacterial Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Chaperonin 60 ; Chaperonins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Mycobacterium smegmatis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the prevention and treatment of postoperative diabetes insipidus after removal of pituitary tumor through transsphenoidal operation, to decrease the incidence of postoperative complications and improve the treatment of pituitary tumor.

METHODSThe clinical data of 86 cases of transsphenoidal resection of pituitary tumor in recent 8 years were retrospectively reviewed, including 35 endoscopic operation and 51 microscopic operation. The incidence, prevention and treatment of diabetes insipidus were statistically analysed.

RESULTSThere were 18 cases of postoperative diabetes insipidus in total of 86 operations, including 15 acute cases, 3 delayed cases. Twelve were temporary , which recovered within 1 week. After prompt treatment, 14 recovered within 1 week, 4 recovered within 2 weeks. No persistent diabetes insipidus was found.

CONCLUSIONSThe key points to prevent postoperative diabetes insipidus lay in the improvement of operative skills, careful protection during operation and avoidance of unnecessary injury. In case of diabetes insipidus occurred, rational use of antidiuretics and correction of electrolyte balance were effective in the treatment of postoperative diabetes insipidus.

Adult ; Diabetes Insipidus ; etiology ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary Neoplasms ; surgery ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Sinus ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo explore clinical outcomes of patients undergoing emergent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) following failed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in the stent era.

METHODSEleven patients who underwent emergent CABG following failed PCI from January, 2002 to December 2010 were enrolled. The in-hospital follow-up included cardiac deaths, Q-wave myocardial infarction, kidney failure, and cerebrovascular events. The clinical end-point of out-hospital follow-up was the major adverse cardiac events including death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization.

RESULTSThe patients were (61 ± 5) years old. Coronary angiography showed 5 patients had triple vessel lesions. There were 9 target lesions on left anterior descending artery. There were 3 (27.3%) severe calcified, 4 (36.4%) chronic total occlusion, and 4 (36.4%) diffused long lesions. Reasons for emergent CABG were dissection (n = 5, 45.5%), perforation (n = 3, 27.3%), failure to sufficient predilation (n = 1, 9.1%), acute closure (n = 1, 9.1%) and stent loss (n = 1, 9.1%). The average duration of follow-up was (47 ± 33) months. During in-hospital follow-up, there were 1 (9.1%) cardiac death and 2 (18.2%) Q wave myocardial infarction. During follow-up after hospital discharge, 1 patient (9.1%) died of kidney failure, and there was no rehospitalization due to cardiac events.

CONCLUSIONSEmergent CABG after failed PCI often happened in patients with complex coronary lesions. The long term outcome of patients requiring emergent CABG after failed PCI was favorable in this cohort.

Aged ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Emergency Treatment ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ancient Chinese medical formula Xiayuxue Decoction ([symbols; see text], XYXD) on activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and defenestration of sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs) in CCl4-induced fibrotic liver of mice.

METHODSHigh performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the main components of XYXD and control the quality of extraction. C57BL/6 mice were induced liver fibrosis by CCl4 exposure and administered with XYXD for 6 weeks simultaneously. Liver tissue was investigated by hematoxylin-eosin and Sirius-red staining. Sinusoidal fenestrations were observed by scanning electronic microscopy and fluorescent immunohistochemistry of PECAM-1 (CD31). Whole liver lysates were detected of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and type-I collagen by Western blot. Primary rat HSCs-T6 cells were analyzed by detecting α-SMA, F-actin, DNA fragmentation through confocal microscopy, Western blot, terminal-deoxynucleoitidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and cellomics arrayscan, respectively.

RESULTSAmygdalin and emodin in XYXD were identified. XYXD (993 mg/kg) inhibited Sirius red positive area up to 70.1% (P<0.01), as well as protein levels of α-SMA and type-I collagen by 42.0% and 18.5% (P<0.05) respectively. In vitro, XYXD (12.5 &mu;g/mL, 50 &mu;g/mL) suppressed the activation of HSCs and reversed the myofibroblastic HSCs into quiescent, demonstrated as inhibition of fluorescent F-actin by 32.3% and 46.6% (P<0.05). Besides, XYXD induced the apoptosis of HSC-T6 cells by 20.0% (P<0.05) and 49.5% (P<0.01), evidenced by enhanced TUNEL positivity. Moreover, ultrastructural observation suggested XYXD inhibited defenestration of SECs, which was confirmed by 31.1% reduction of protein level of CD31 (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSXYXD inhibited both HSCs activation and SECs defenestration which accompany chronic liver injuries. These data may help to understand the underlying mechanisms of XYXD for prevetion of chronic liver diseases.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning ; drug therapy ; Collagen Type I ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Endothelium ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hepatic Stellate Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Liver Cirrhosis ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Male ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Myofibroblasts ; drug effects ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Primary Cell Culture ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley