Objective To investigate the effects of electromagnetic irradiation on the activity of protein kinase C(PKC)in the cerebellum of rabbit.Methods Thirty rabbits were randomly divided into control and electromagnetic irradi.ation group (including 0 hour,3 hours,12 hours,24 hours and 72 hours subgroups after irradiation),rabbits in the electromagnetic irradiation group were exposed to 65 mW/cm~2 S frequency range electromagnetic irradiation for 30 minutes,the rectal temperature was taken immediately after irradiation and the specific absorption rate(SAR)values were calculated,the activity of PKC the cerebellum was determined with improved TaKai method.Results The rectal temperature of rabbits increased 2.35 ℃ after irradiation,SAR value was 4.54 kcal/kg.PKC activity decreased significantly after irradiation.Conclusion After 30 min of electromagnetic irradiation at 65 mW/cm~2,obvious heating effect will be detected in the rabbit and PKC activity in the cerebellum decreased significantly.

Background With the changes of diet and living style,the diabetes has become the major diseases affecting human health.Diabetic cataract is a common complication of diabetes. Objective The present study was to investigate the difference of lens proteomics between diabetic cataract and age related cataract using two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry in order to postpone happening of diabetic cataract and offer the effective approach to the prevention and therapy of diabetic cataract. Methods The lenses were obtained from 8 diabetic patients and 12 age-related cataract patients during the surgery to extract the protein by lysis and centrifugation.The lens proteins were separated using immobilized pH gradients 2-DE.Image analysis was carried out using PDQuest Advanced-8.0.1 software package.Significant difference of the crystallines was identified by matrixassisted laser adsorption/ionization time of-flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and peptide mass fingerprint combined with protein database. Results The maps of 2-DE showed that lens proteins of diabetic cataract and age related cataract were in the section of pH 5-9 with the relative molecular weight 14000-97000;while relative molecular weight of more abundant crystalline was localized at 20000-31000.About 3 differential protein spots were detected by image analysis software.Two crystallines,αB and βB1 crystallin,were identified using MALDI-TOF-MS.Conclusions Proteomic analysis of lens can be accomplished and the proteins can be well separated,moreover,differential proteins can be analyzed using 2-DE and mass spectrometry between diabetic cataract and age related cataract.These results indicate that αB and βB1 crystallin proteins accelerate the development of diabetic cataract.This technique offers a new avenue for clarity of lens proteins of diabetic cataract other than age related cataract.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Myofascial Pain Syndromes ; therapy

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huayu Tongbi Recipe (HTR) combined methotrexate (MTX) in treating refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RRA).

METHODSTotally 167 RRA patients were assigned to the treatment group (73 cases) and the control group (94 cases) according to different therapeutic methods. Patients in the treatment group were treated with HTR combined MTX, while those in the control group were treated with leflunomide (LEF) combined MTX. Clinical signs and symptoms, RF, CRP, ESR, disease activity score 28 (DAS28), and safety indicators were compared between the two groups before treatment, at week 12 and 24 after treatment. The efficacy and safety indices were also evaluated.

RESULTSAt week 12 after treatment the total effective rate was 82.2% (60/73 cases) in the treatment group and 79.8% (75/94 cases) in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05). At week 24 after treatment the total effective rate was 78.1% (57/73 cases) in the treatment group and 755% (71/94 cases) in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the total effective rate between week 24 and week 12 in the control group (chi2 = 0.49, P < 0.05). Clinical signs and symptoms, RF, CRP, ESR, and DAS28 were significantly improved in the two groups after 12- and 24-week treatment (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the improvement at week 12 after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in time of morning stiffness, tender joint numbers, swollen joint numbers, patient global assessment, RF, CRP, and DAS28 at week 24 after treatment between the two groups (P < 0.05). Besides, adverse reactions occurred less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONThe efficacy of HTR combined MTX was equivalent to that of LEF (10 mg per day) combined MTX, but with more stable therapeutic effects and less adverse reactions.

Antirheumatic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Arthralgia ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Isoxazoles ; Methotrexate ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThe presence of autoantibodies against multiple epidermal proteins is an important feature in paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP). Circulating anti-desmoglein 3 autoantibody, the major pathogenic autoantibody in pemphigus vulgaris (PV), has been proved pathogenic in PNP. Because of many clinical differences between PNP and PV, we speculate about the involvement of other autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of PNP. Envoplakin (EPL) and periplakin (PPL) are recognized by most PNP sera. Their linker subdomains are highly homologous and necessary for the association of intermediate filaments.

METHODSWe characterized the autoantibodies against the linker subdomains of EPL and PPL in PNP patients' sera and their associated tumors by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorence. We also applied the purified autoantibodies against EPL and PPL from PNP sera to cultured human epidermal keratinocytes (HEK), to evaluate the changes of cell-cell adhesion.

RESULTSAutoantibodies against EPL and PPL were detected in most PNP patients by ELISA, and the decrease of these autoantibodies after removal of the tumors was roughly comparable to the improvement of clinical symptoms. Cultured tumor cells from PNP patients secreted these autoantibodies. Specific immunoglobulin receptors for EPL and PPL were found on B lymphocytes in tumors from PNP. Furthermore, purified anti-EPL and anti-PPL autoantibodies from PNP sera were capable of dissociating cultured human epidermal keratinocytes.

CONCLUSIONAutoantibodies against EPL and PPL may also be pathogenic in PNP.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; pharmacology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Desmoglein 3 ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidermis ; cytology ; Female ; Humans ; Keratinocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; immunology ; Middle Aged ; Paraneoplastic Syndromes ; immunology ; metabolism ; Pemphigus ; immunology ; metabolism ; Plakins ; immunology ; Protein Precursors ; immunology ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND:In recent years,artificial cervical disc replacement surgery as a new method for the treatment of cervical disease has gradualy been accepted and understood,but relevant complications have gradualy attracted attention.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the clinical outcomes of artificial cervical disc replacement in the treatment of cervical disease and the range of motion of the replacement segment.METHODS: A total of 25 patients with artificial cervical disc replacement in the treatment of cervical spondylosis,who were treated in the Department of Orthopedics,Air Force General Hospital of Chinese PLA from August 2006 to April 2012,were enroled in this study,including 15 males and 10 females,aged 31-76 years,averagely 51.04 years.There were 6 cases of double segments and 19 cases of single segment.They were folowed up for 24 to 93 months.Clinical results were assessed using the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,cervical dysfunction index and pain visual analog scale scores.Imaging was used to observe range of motion,cervical curvature,heterotopic ossification,and degeneration of adjacent segments.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Neurological function in al patients was improved to different degrees.One case suffered from mild heterotopic ossification,but no clinical symptoms were found.No significant difference in range of motion of surgical segment,and range of motion of upper and lower adjacent segments was detected between pre-replacement and final folow-up results (P＞0.05).No significant difference in range of motion of C2-C7 was found between pre-replacement and final folow-up results (P＞0.05).Japanese Orthopaedic Association score,cervical dysfunction index and pain visual analog scale scores were significantly improved during final folow-up compared with pre-replacement (P＜0.05).These results indicated that artificial cervical disc replacement in the treatment of cervical disease can achieve better clinical efficacy,can keep the range of motion of replacement segment and avoid the accelerated degeneration of adjacent segments.

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to determine the short-term and long-term outcomes of critically ill patients with acute respiratory insufficiency who had received sedation or no sedation. METHODS: The data of 91 patients who had received mechanical ventilation in the first 24 hours between November 2008 and October 2009 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were divided into two groups: a sedation group (n=28) and a non-sedation group (n=63). The patients were also grouped in two groups: deep sedation group and daily interruption and /or light sedation group. RESULTS: Overall, the 91 patients who had received ventilation ≥48 hours were analyzed. Multivariate analysis demonstrated two independent risk factors for in-hospital death: sequential organ failure assessment score (P=0.019, RR 1.355, 95％CI 1.051–1.747, B=0.304, SE=0.130, Wald=50483) and sedation (P=0.041, RR 5.015, 95％CI 1.072–23.459, B=1.612, SE=0.787, Wald=4.195). Compared with the patients who had received no sedation, those who had received sedation had a longer duration of ventilation, a longer stay in intensive care unit and hospital, and an increased in-hospital mortality rate. The Kaplan-Meier method showed that patients who had received sedation had a lower 60-month survival rate than those who had received no sedation (76.7％ vs. 88.9％, Log-rank test=3.630, P=0.057). Compared with the patients who had received deep sedation, those who had received daily interruption or light sedation showed a decreased in-hospital mortality rate (57.1％ vs. 9.5％, P=0.008). The 60-month survival of the patients who had received deep sedation was significantly lower than that of those who had daily interruption or light sedation (38.1％vs. 90.5％, Log-rank test=6.783, P=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Sedation was associated with in-hospital death. The patients who had received sedation had a longer duration of ventilation, a longer stay in intensive care unit and in hospital, and an increased in-hospital mortality rate compared with the patients who did not receive sedation. Compared with daily interruption or light sedation, deep sedation increased the in-hospital mortality and decreased the 60-month survival for patients who had received sedation.

BACKGROUND:Esophagectomy is a very important method for the treatment of resectable esophageal cancer, which carries a high rate of morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to assess the predictive score proposed by Ferguson et al for pulmonary complications after esophagectomy for patients with cancer. METHODS:The data of patients who admitted to the intensive care unit after transthoracic esophagectomy at Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College between September 2008 and October 2010 were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS:Two hundred and seventeen patients were analyzed and 129 (59.4％) of them had postoperative pulmonary complications. Risk scores varied from 0 to 12 in all patients. The risk scores of patients with postoperative pulmonary complications were higher than those of patients without postoperative pulmonary complications (7.27±2.50 vs. 6.82±2.67;P=0.203). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications as well as in the increase of risk scores (χ2=5.477,P=0.242). The area under the curve of predictive score was 0.539±0.040 (95％CI 0.461 to 0.618;P=0.324) in predicting the risk of pulmonary complications in patients after esophagectomy. CONCLUSION:In this study, the predictive power of the risk score proposed by Ferguson et al was poor in discriminating whether there were postoperative pulmonary complications after esophagectomy for cancer patients.

BACKGROUND:Readmission to intensive care unit (ICU) after discharge to ward has been reported to be associated with increased hospital mortality and longer length of stay (LOS). The objective of this study was to investigate whether ICU readmission are preventable in critical y il cancer patients. METHODS:Data of patients who readmitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC) between January 2013 and November 2016 were retrospectively collected and reviewed. RESULTS:A total of 39 patients were included in the final analysis, and the overall readmission rate between 2013 and 2016 was 1.32％ (39/2,961). Of 39 patients, 32 (82.1％) patients were judged as unpreventable and 7 (17.9％) patients were preventable. There were no significant differences in duration of mechanical ventilation, ICU LOS, hospital LOS, ICU mortality and in-hospital mortality between patients who were unpreventable and preventable. For 24 early readmission patients, 7 (29.2％) patients were preventable and 17 (70.8％) patients were unpreventable. Patients who were late readmission were all unpreventable. There was a trend that patients who were preventable had longer 1-year survival compared with patients who were unpreventable (100％ vs. 66.8％, log rank=1.668, P=0.196). CONCLUSION:Most readmission patients were unpreventable, and all preventable readmissions occurred in early period after discharge to ward. There were no significant differences in short term outcomes and 1-year survival in critically ill cancer patients whose readmissions were preventable or not.

OBJECTIVETo establish a NOD/SCID mouse model with human immune reconstitution and observe its immune response to human triple-negative breast cancer xenograft.

METHODSTwenty-four NOD/SCID mice without immune leakage were subjected to cyclophosphamide (CTX) treatment 3 days prior to immune reconstitution with human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) injection and subcutaneous transplantation of human triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells, CTX treatment and PBMC injection without tumor cell transplantation, MDA-MB-231 cell transplantation only, or no treatments. The tumor growth and immune responses of the mice were observed at regular intervals.

RESULTSCompared with the tumor-bearing mice, the tumor-bearing mice with immune reconstitution showed prolonged incubation period of tumor formation, slower tumor growth rate and increased survival rate. Human IgG and CD3(+) T cells were detected in the peripheral blood of the mice 1 week after human PBMC injection. The percentage of CD3(+) T cells in the spleen cells was 55.3% at 9 weeks in tumor-bearing mice with immune reconstitution and 52.7% in tumor-bearing mice without immune reconstitution. The spleen index of the tumor-bearing mice with immune reconstitution was much higher than that in mice with only immune reconstitution and the control mice (9.64 vs 3.82∓0.31 and 1.51∓0.14 mg/g).

CONCLUSIONA stable NOD/SCID mouse model with immune reconstitution has been established successfully, which shows immune responses to triple-negative breast cancer xenografts and allows studies of immunological therapy study of triple-negative breast cancer.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Humans ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred NOD ; Mice, SCID ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Spleen ; immunology ; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms ; immunology