Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; B7-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; CD28 Antigens ; metabolism ; CTLA-4 Antigen ; Child ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; immunology ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, Immunologic ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo compare the difference in clinical efficacy on lumber disc herniation (LDH) treated with Yaoyangguan (GV 3) between mild moxibustion under thermosensitive condition and that under non-thermo-sensitive condition.

METHODSFifty-seven LDH patients were selected as the study objects. Mild moxibustion at Yaoyangguan (GV 3) was applied for 45 min each time. Additionally, the conventional acupuncture was given, once a day, for 20 days. At the end of treatment, two groups were classified. A thermosensitive acupoint group (thermosensitive group) was composed of the cases with thermo-sensitization at Yaoyangguan (GV 3) and presenting for > or =4 times in the entire treatment. A non-thermosensitive acupoint group (tranquilization group) was composed of the cases without thermo-sensitization or the frequency of thermo-sensitization <4 times in the entire treatment. The modified Japanese orthopedics association scoring system (M-JOA) was adopted to observe the cases before and after treatment and 6 months after treatment in the two groups. The efficacy was compared between the two groups.

RESULTSAfter treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the score of M-JOA was apparently reduced as compared with that before treatment in the two groups (all P<0.05). The score reducing in the thermosensitization group was more obvious than that in the tranquilization group (both P<0.01). After treatment and in 6 months after treatment, the curative rate and remarkably effective rate were 89.7% (26/29) and 79.3% (23/29), which was better than 71.4% (20/28) and 60.7% (17/28, both P<0.05) in the tranquilization group separately.

CONCLUSIONMild moxibustion at acupoint under thermosensitive condition achieves the better short-term and long-term effects as compared with that under non-thermosensitive condition.

Acupuncture Points ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Moxibustion ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVEThere is little knowledge on whether there is clustering of inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), soluble intracellular adhesion molecule1-1 (sICAM-1), and angiotensin II (Ang II), in individuals with hypertension in the Mongolian population. In the present study, we investigated this relationship in a Mongolian population in China.

METHODSA total of 2589 adult Mongolians, aged 20 years and older, were recruited as study participants. Data on demographics, lifestyle, family history of hypertension, blood pressure, and blood chemistry were collected, and inflammatory biomarkers were measured in all participants.

RESULTSThe proportion of subjects with increased levels of two or three biomarkers was significantly higher in those with hypertension (21.0% and 6.0%, respectively) than in those with prehypertension (12.7% and 0.5%, respectively) or normotension (8.1% and 0.2%, respectively). The multivariate adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of hypertension associated with increased levels of one, two or three biomarkers were 0.94 (0.72-1.22), 1.42 (0.93-2.16), and 11.08 (1.45-84.80), respectively, compared with subjects with no increase in any biomarker.

CONCLUSIONHypertension was associated with a cluster of inflammatory biomarkers in the Mongolian population.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Angiotensin II ; genetics ; metabolism ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; C-Reactive Protein ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; Female ; Genetic Markers ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Hypertension ; genetics ; Inflammation ; genetics ; metabolism ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

In adipose tissues from sreater omentum of patients with type 2 diabetes,the mRNA and protein expressions of human rearranged immunoglobulin?light chain (HSIGVL) 022 were measured by the fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively.The results showed that mRNA and protein levels of HSIGVL022 were up-regulated in patients with type 2 diabetes.The mRNA level of HSIGVL022 was linearly correlated with insulin resistance index,suggesting that this gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

This study was purposed to investigate the ratio of Th17 cells and CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells in peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and to explore their roles in the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis. Based on the number of peripheral lymphocytes and treatment condition, the CLL patients were divided into 2 groups: untreated group (n = 30) and remission group (n = 15), the healthy control group (n = 20) was set up as well. The frequencies of Th17 and Treg cells of all cases were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The results showed that frequencies of CD3(+)CD4(+)T cells and Th17 cells were significantly higher in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the frequencies of CD3(+)CD8(+)T cells and Treg cells were significantly lower in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in untreated group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05). The frequencies of Th17 were not statistically different between remission and healthy control groups, the frequencies of Treg cells were significantly lower in remission group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), the ratio of Th17/Treg was significantly higher in remission group than that in healthy control group (P < 0.05), frequencies of Th17 cells were markedly lower in remission group than that in untreated group (P < 0.05). It is concluded that Th17/Treg imbalance exists in patients with CLL, which may play a key role in pathogenesis and development of CLL.
Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; pathology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; cytology ; Th17 Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVEThis study examined the effect of high concentration of phenylalanine (Phe) on Nogo-66 receptor (NgR) expression in the cortical neurons of rats in vitro in order to investigate whether NgR is involved in the etiology of Phe-induced brain damage.

METHODSNeurons from the cerebral cortex of embryonic rats were cultured for 3 days and then were treated with 0.9 mM Phe. After 12, 24 and 48 hrs of Phe treatment, mRNA and protein expression of NgR was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot respectively. Growth cones and growth axons of neurons were detected by immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry respectively after 12 and 24 hrs of Phe treatment.

RESULTSThe length of growth axons of neurons was significantly shorter after 12 and 24 hrs of Phe treatment compared with the control group without Phe treatment (P<0.05). Growth cones collapse occurred in 12.5+/-9.7% and 24.1+/-4.5% of neurons respectively after 12 and 24 hrs of Phe treatment but only in 3.5+/-1.5% in the control group (P<0.01). The protein level of NgR after 12, 24 and 48 hrs of Phe treatment was up-regulated, with 9.0, 9.4 and 12.6 times as the control. mRNA level of NgR in the Phe treatment group did not differ from control.

CONCLUSIONSHigh concentration of Phe can induce an increased NgR protein expression in cortical neurons, and the increased NgR expression may contribute to the growth cones collapse and the inhibitory activities of axon regeneration after injury.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cerebral Cortex ; chemistry ; drug effects ; GPI-Linked Proteins ; Immunohistochemistry ; Myelin Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; Nogo Receptor 1 ; Phenylalanine ; pharmacology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, Cell Surface ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo probe the function of interleukin-17 (IL-17) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat obstruction in joints syndrome (ADOJS) by detecting levels of IL-17 in serum and the synovial fluid and analyzing its correlation with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP).

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2013, recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADOJS at Department of Integrative Medical Rheumatism, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region, of which 28 patients had knee joint effusion. Besides, 30 healthy volunteers who received physical examination at our hospital were recruited as the normal control group, and 30 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) who had knee joint effusion were recruited as the synovial fluid control group. The expression levels of IL-17 in serum and the synovial fluid were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and contents of ESR and CRP were detected in RA patients. Then correlation analyses were performed between levels of IL-17 and contents of ESR and CRP.

RESULTSCompared with the normal serum control group, the expression levels of IL-17 in serum of RA patients significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with the serum of RA patients and the synovial fluid of OA patients, the expression levels of IL-17 in the synovial fluid of RA patients significantly increased (P < 0.05). The expression levels of IL-17 in serum of RA patients were not correlated with ESR or CRP (r = 0.092, -0.082; P > 0.05), and the expressional levels of IL-17 in the synovial fluid of RA patients were not correlated with ESR or CRP (r = 0.113, -0.034; P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIL-17 was the main effector cytokine of Th17 cells. The expressional levels of IL-17 significantly increased in serum and the synovial fluid of RA patients of ADOJS, but with no correlation to ESR or CRP. It indicated that IL-17 participated in the occurrence and development of RA. Concrete mechanisms needed to be further proved in larger samples.

Aged ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; metabolism ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Synovial Fluid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of bitter-cold herbs easing dampness method (BCHEDM) plus Sanhuang Yilong Decoction (SYD) combined with methotrexate (MTX) on expression levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, and IL-17 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of accumulated dampness-heat syndrome (ADHS).

METHODSFrom January 2011 to January 2013 recruited were 90 RA inpatients of ADHS at Department of Integrative Medicine on Rheumatoid Disease, General Hospital of Chengdu Military Region. They were assigned to the treatment group (45 cases) and the control group (45 cases) according to the random digit table produced by SPSS 11.5 Software. Patients in the treatment group were treated by heavy bitter-cold herbs plus SYD combined with MTX, while those in the control group were treated by MTX alone. Expressional levels of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 in serum were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) before treatment, at week 2 and 4 after treatment. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28) were detected as well.

RESULTSAfter two or four weeks of treatment, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 decreased more in the treatment group than in the control group with statistical difference (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). After four weeks of treatment, IL-1, IL-6, IL-17, ESR, CRP, and DAS28 in the treatment group were all lower than before treatment and those of the control group at corresponding time points with statistical difference (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSYD combined MTX could play roles of improving inflammatory indices within 2 weeks, and inhibiting the expression of IL-1, IL-6, and IL-17 within 4 weeks.

Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; blood ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the feasibility, maneuver and efficacy of plasma prostate electrovaporization system in the treatment of rectal cicatricial stenosis.

METHODSAccording to similar procedure of transurethral resection prostate(TURP), intrarectal cicatriclectomy was performed with plasma prostate electrovaporization system in 7 patients with rectal low cicatricial stenosis after rectal cancer treatment (5 patients with transabdominal low anterior resection,2 patients with 3-dimension precise radiotherapy) to remove obstruction and dilate enteric cavity.

RESULTSSeven patients underwent 12 operations, including one operation in 3 patients, two operations in 3 patients, 3 operations in one patient. Resected rectal cicatricial tissue ranged from 5 to 15 g. Mean operation time was 41 min (25 to 40). Operation successful rate was 100% without complications such as perforation, bleeding and infection. All the patients had smooth defecation.

CONCLUSIONPlasma prostate electrovaporization system is an effective treatment for rectal cicatricial stenosis with tiny trauma.

Aged ; Cicatrix ; complications ; Constriction, Pathologic ; etiology ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rectal Diseases ; etiology ; pathology ; surgery ; Rectal Neoplasms ; surgery

This article reviews the advance in the research of both the mechanism of photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) based on the principle of photodynamic therapy and the application of PACT in the treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. Nowadays an inexorable prevalence of resistant bacteria observed worldwide, among which MRSA strains typically have a high potential of provoking outbreaks with intractability, makes it a pressing issue to develop new germicidal strategies. PACT is an emerging photochemistry-based technology. In the presence of oxygen, PACT, with the aid of the activation of photosensitizers to generate reactive oxygen species by the wavelength-specific light, destroys the structure of bacteria selectively and efficiently, with much lower bacterial resistance level than that of antibiotics. We expect that further research would elucidate the mechanism and develop clinical applications of PACT, and it may become a novel approach to solve the problem of MRSA infection in the future.
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Photochemotherapy ; Staphylococcal Infections ; microbiology ; therapy