Objective To explore the significance of the suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 (SOCS-1)gene methylation in the genesis, development and prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Methods The methylation state of CpG island in SOCS-1 gene were detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the level of SOCS-1 gene was measured by the real-time PCR. The clinical data of 30 patients with DLBCL were collected, and according to the international prognosis index (IPI), they were divided into low risk group and high risk group. Results Aberrant methylation of SOCS-1 in 17 DLBCL patients (56.7 %) were positive, however, in control group aberrant methylation was negative(P ＜0.01).The methylation level of DLBCL patients with positive SOCS-1 methylation was higher than that of patients with negative (P ＜0.05). Combined with the clinical data, the positive rate of methylation in patients with high level of serum LDH or the numbers of extra-nodal lesions＞l were significantly higher than that in patients with normal LDH level or the numbers of extra-nodal lesions ≤ 1, respectively. Hence, the positive rate of methylation in the high risk group of DLBCL was higher than that in the low risk group (P ＜0.05). Conclusion There were aberrant methylations of the SOCS-1 gene in the patients with DLBCL. The methylations of SOCS-1 can silence the gene expression, which indicates that SOCS-1 and its methylations play some role on genesis and development of DLBCL and can evaluate the prognosis of the patients with DLBCL.

OBJECTIVETo observe the pathological changes and the expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in lung tissue of rats with radiation injury for exploring the mechanism of blood-activating and stasis-dissipating drugs in radiation injury prevention and treatment.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty SD female rats were randomly allocated into the simple irradiation group (n=60), the TCM herbs treatment group (n=60) and the blank control group (n=10). The right lung of all rats except those in the blank control group were irradiated by linear accelerator, 3 Gy each time, twice weekly, the maximum accumulated dose being 30 Gy. Ten rats in the two groups were randomly sacrificed at each of the 6 time points (1, 3, 5, 8, 12 and 26 weeks after repeated irradiation), their lung was harvested out, sliced and dyed with HE stain. The histological changes, levels of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta expression in the lung tissue were then observed by immunohistochemical technique.

RESULTSThe most serious acute radiation pneumonia was seen in the 5th week and pulmonary fibrosis was remarkable in the 26th week in the simple irradiation group, with the expressions of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta at different time phases enhanced significantly (P < 0.01). While in the TCM herbs treatment group, the pneumonia was milder, pulmonary fibrosis in late stage was not so obvious, and the expressions of TNF-alpha and TGF-beta significantly lower than those in the simple irradiation group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBlood-activating and stasis-dissipating drugs can inhibit expression of inflammation-inducing factors and fibrosis-inducing factors to lessen the inflammatory reaction of early radiation pneumonia, prolong the progression of radiation lung fibrosis, showing preventive and treating action on radiation lung injury.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Particle Accelerators ; Phytotherapy ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; drug therapy ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Objective To detect the significance of the SHP-1,p15 and SOCS-1 genes methylation status in the genesis and development of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).Methods The methylation state of SHP-1,p15 and SOCS-1 genes CpG islands were measured by methylation-specific polymerase chain (MSP) reaction.Results The positive rates of aberrant methylation for SHP-1,p15 and SOCS-1 genes in 50 specimens of DLBCL were 96 ％ (48/50),52 ％ (26/50) and 56 ％ (28/50) respectively.In control group,however,15 specimens of benign lymph node proliferation showed no methylation in CpG island of SHP-1,p15 and SOCS-1 genes promoter.Conclusion Aberrant methylations of the SHP-1,p15 and SOCS-1 genes exist in the patients with DLBCL.The methylations of SHP-1,p15 and SOCS-1 genes may be associated with the occurrence and development of DLBCL.This study provides a theoretical basis of treatment methylation for DLBCL.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of 6-gingerol, the main active component of ginger, on hair shaft elongation in vitro and hair growth in vivo.

METHODSFirstly, Hair follicles were co-cultured with 3 different concentration of 6-gingerol for 5 days and hair elongation in three groups was measured. Secondly, The proliferative effect of 6-gingerol on DPCs was measured using MTT assay. Thirdly, the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in DPCs were measured using Western blotting. In vivo study, the influence of 6-gingerol on hair growth in C57BL/6 rats was measured through topical application of 6-gingerol on the dorsal skin of each animal.

RESULTSThe length of hair shaft in 20 microg/ml 6-Gingerol group (0.50 +/- 0.08 mm) is less than 0 microg/ml (0.66 +/- 0.19) mm and 10 microg/ml (0.64 +/- 0.03) mm 6-Gingerol group (P < 0.05). In cell culture, compared to 0 microg/ml and 5 microg/ml 6-Gingerol, 10 microg/ml 6-Gingerol can significantly inhibited the proliferation of DPCs (P < 0.05). Along with the growth inhibition of DPCs by 6-gingerol, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio increased obviously. In vivo study, the hair length and density decreased a lot after using 1 mg/ml 6-gingerol.

CONCLUSIONS6-Gingerol can suppress human hair shaft elongation because it has pro-apoptotic effects on DPCs via increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. It might inhibit hair growth by prolonging the telogen stage in vivo.

Animals ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Fatty Alcohols ; pharmacology ; Hair ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Hair Follicle ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Humans ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of blood-cooling and promoting drugs (BCPD) on the dy-namic changes of collagens and the expressions of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in lung tissue of rats with radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) to explore the effects and action mech-anism of BCPD in preventing and treating RILI.

METHODSOne hundred and sixty Wistar female rats were ran-domly divided into the radiation group, the treatment group, the blank control group and the drug control group. The rats in the first two groups received right hemithoracic fractionated radiation, and those in the treatment group were given BCPD. Rats in the other two groups were not irradiated and BCPD was given to rats in the drug control group. The rats were sacrificed in batches (8 of each group in every batch) at the 3rd, 5th, 8th, 12th and 26th week of the experimental period, and their lung was taken for observing the dynamic changes and distribution of collagen and the expressions of IL-6 and TGF-beta with HE staining, picrosirius red staining and immunohistochemical staining respectively.

RESULTSThe fibroblast proliferated obviously from the 3rd week after the first radiation in the radiation group, and the type I collagen and the proportion of type I and III collagen were significantly elevated along the time going and the radiation dose increasing, became significantly higher than those in the treatment group at all the time points (P <0.01). In the radiation group the expression of IL-6 and TGF-beta reached their peaks at the 8th and 12th week, respectively, and the levels was significantly lower in the treatment than that in the radiation group at any detecting time points (P <0.01).

CONCLUSIONBCPD applied in the early stage of radiation can suppress the inflammatory and fibrogenic cytokine expressions, inhibit the synthesis of collagens and adjust the proportion of type I and III collagen, so as to re-lieve the early-stage inflammatory reaction and the anaphase lung fibrosis in RILI rats.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Interleukin-6 ; biosynthesis ; Lung Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; Radiation Injuries, Experimental ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effect of traditional Chinese medicine preparations on bronchial hyperesponsiness (BHR)-induced cough.

METHODSixty patients with cough due to BHR (shown by positive bronchial provocation test) were randomly divided into Chinese medicine group (n = 30) and control group (n = 30) to receive Bufeishenqingre decoction twice a day and 100 mg theophylline sustained-release capsules twice a day for one month, respectively. The changes of the clinical symptoms were observed during the treatment and bronchial infrared imaging was performed before and after the treatment.

RESULTSThe symptoms of patients in the Chinese medicine group were more effectively alleviated than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The difference in the temperature between the bronchial lesions and the surrounding normal mucosa changed more obviously in the Chinese medicine group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBufeishenqingre decoction can relieve the symptoms and improve the abnormalities in infrared imaging of patients with BHR-induced cough.

Adult ; Bronchial Hyperreactivity ; complications ; drug therapy ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; Cough ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Theophylline ; administration & dosage ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of compound Dixiong Decoction (地芎汤, a Chinese herbal decoction) on early prevention of radiation pneumonitis.

METHODSForty-six patients with non-small cell lung cancer who were planning to receive radiotherapy were randomly assigned to the treatment group treated with the compound Dixiong Decoction and the control group treated with a commonly used herbal decoction which has the effects of supplementing qi and nourishing yin, clearing heat and detoxifying at the time of radiotherapy. Primary measure was the incidence of radiation pneumonitis after radiotherapy. Secondary outcomes included Watters clinical radiographic physiologic (CRP) dyspnea score, the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) grading score, Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) score, and the application of corticosteroids.

RESULTSThe incidence of radiation pneumonitis in the treatment group was 10.0%, while that in the control group was 26.3% (P=0.0032). The Watters CRP dyspnea score and RTOG grading score in the treatment group were significantly =lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The KPS score in the treatment group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.01). The dosage of corticosteroids was smaller with a shorter duration of therapy in the treatment group than that in the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe early application of the Chinese herbal decoction compound Dixiong Decoction can decrease the incidence of radiation pneumonitis, reduce the injury of the lung, and improve the life quality of the patients.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; therapy ; Pneumonia ; etiology ; therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Radiotherapy ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Liangxuehuoxue Recipe (LXHXF), a compound traditional Chinese medicinal preparation, on the expressions of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in the lung tissue of rats exposed to X-ray radiation.

METHODSSeventy-two Wistar rats were randomized into exposure group (group A, without treatment) and small-, middle- and high-dose LXHXF groups (groups B, C, and D treated with LXHXF at the daily doses of 9, 18, and 36 g/kg, respectively). After X-ray exposure of the right lung at 3 Gy twice a week for 5 consecutive weeks, the rats were sacrificed at the end of the 5th, 12th and 26th weeks, and the lung tissues were taken for immunohistochemistry of the expressions of TNF-α and TGF-β.

RESULTSIn group A, the expression of TNF-α reached the peak level at 5 weeks and TGF-β expression was the highest at 12 and 26 weeks. LXHXF, especially at the middle and high doses, obviously inhibited the expression of TNF-α at 5 weeks; the treatments also resulted in significantly lowered expressions of TGF-β at all the time points of observation as compared with those in group A (P<0.01). The high- and middle-dose groups exhibited no significant difference in the expression levels of TNF-α and TGF-β in the experiment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONTreatment with LXHXF can effectively inhibit TNF-α expression in the lung tissue in the early stage following radiation exposure, causing even more obvious inhibitory effect on TGF-β in the later stages. A higher dose of LXHXF produces more significant inhibitory effects on TNF-α and TGF-β expressions.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Lung ; metabolism ; radiation effects ; Male ; Radiation Injuries ; metabolism ; prevention & control ; Radiation-Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; genetics ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the efficacy of anterior percutaneous screw fixation in the treatment of odontoid process fractures in aged people.

METHODSFrom February 2001 to April 2009, 15 elderly patients with odontoid fracture were treated with anterior percutaneous screw fixation,including 13 males and 2 females; the average age was 69.3 years (ranged, 60 to 86 years). According to Anderson classification, there were 10 patients with type II fractures (type II A in 7 cases, type II B in 3 cases, based on Eysel and Roosen classification), 4 patients with shallow type III fractures, 1 patient with deep type III fractures. Thirteen patients were fresh fractures, 2 patients were obsolete fractures. All patients had varying degrees of neck or shoulder pain, and limit activity of neck. There were 4 patients with neural symptoms including 2 grade D and 2 grade C according to Frankel classification. All the patients were followed up and were assessed by radiology. Clinical examination included neck activity, neurological function and the degree of neck pain. Radiology examinations including anteroposterior, lateral, open mouth position and flexion-extension radiographs of cervical vertebra were performed.

RESULTSAfter surgery, all patients were followed up,and the duration ranged from 6 to 60 months (averaged 31.3 months). Two patients died of other diseases during the follow-up period (18 and 22 months after surgery respectively). All patients got satisfactory results, and all screws were in good position. As the screw was too long, esophagus was compressed by screw tail in one case. One case showed fibrous union, 12 cases had achieved solid bony union, 2 cases showed nonunion without clinical symptoms. The rotation of neck in 3 cases was mildly limited,the neck function of the remaining patients were normal. Four patients with symptoms nerve injuries improved after operation (Frankel E in 3 cases, Frankel D in 1 case). The symptom of neck pain had a significant improvement after surgery (P < 0.001). The VAS score decreased from preoperative (6.07 +/- 1.44) (4 to 8 scores),to postoperative (1.13 +/- 0.92) (0 to 3 scores). And there were no severe postoperative complications.

CONCLUSIONThe anterior percutaneous screw fixation is less traumatic than conventional approaches for aged people in dealing with odontoid process fractures. Most patients will achieve satisfactory clinical results, as long as the general conditions of them are comprehensively assess. However, this procedure should not be used in patients with comminuted odontoid fractures or severe osteoporosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Screws ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; instrumentation ; Fractures, Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odontoid Process ; diagnostic imaging ; injuries ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Skin ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To explore integrated teaching based on small private online course (SPOC) in lymphoma clinical courses for medical undergraduates.Methods A total of 60 medical undergraduates in the department of hematology were randomly allocated to SPOC teaching group (n=30) and problem-based learning (PBL) teaching group (n=30) according to scores of the basic medical theoretical examination for lymphoma clinical courses education.After teaching activities,personal experiences were evaluated by anonymous questionnaires from medical undergraduates and instructors.Besides teaching efficacies assessed by objectively measurable score system including academic examination scores,clinical skill and capabilities in analyzing clinical problems of students,were systematically analyzed and compared between two groups by SPSS 19.0.Results The survey results showed that compared with PBL teaching group,SPOC teaching group had higher teaching feedback evaluation and better teaching experience,and SPOC were widely recognized by teachers and students.The SPOC teaching group's scores of the three items in the exam were better than those of the PBL teaching group,with the academic achievement [(84.03 ± 7.66) vs.(77.60 ± 8.22),P=0.005],the performance of practical skills [(87.83 ± 8.17) vs.(81.97 ± 6.13),P=0.001],and case analysis results [(88.17 ± 6.53) vs.(80.10 ± 6.91),P=0.000],and the difference was statistically significant.Conclusion Integrated teaching based on SPOC is feasible for lymphoma clinical courses,which can trigger interest of students,enhance learning abilities and their clinical capabilities.Moreover,this novel medical education approach may provide new ideas and theoretical basis in training qualified and talent doctors.