This study investigated the effect of arctigenin (Arc) on the cell activation, cytokines expression, proliferation, and cell-cycle distribution of mouse T lymphocytes. Mouse lymphocytes were prepared from lymph node and treated with Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)/Ionimycin (Ion) and/or Arc. CD69, CD25, cytokines, proliferation and cell cycle were assayed by flow cytometry. The results showed that, at concentrations of less than 1.00 micromol x L(-1), Arc expressed non-obvious cell damage to cultured lymphocytes, however, it could significantly down-regulate the expression of CD69 and CD25, as well as TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 on PMA/Ion stimulated lymphocytes. At the same time, Arc could also inhibit the proliferation of PMA/Ion-activated lymphocytes and exhibited lymphocyte G 0/G1 phase cycle arrest. These results suggest that Arc possesses significant anti-inflammatory effects that may be mediated through the regulation of cell activation, cytokines expression and cell proliferation.
Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte ; metabolism ; Arctium ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Female ; Furans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Interleukin-4 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Ionomycin ; pharmacology ; Lectins, C-Type ; metabolism ; Lignans ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Lymphocyte Activation ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; T-Lymphocytes ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Manipulation, Orthopedic ; Middle Aged ; Temporomandibular Joint Disorders ; therapy

BACKGROUNDAutoimmune encephalitis associated with antibodies against γ-aminobutyric acid B receptor (GABA B R) in patients with limbic encephalitis (LE) was first described in 2010. We present a series of Han Chinese patients for further clinical refinement.

METHODSSerum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients referred to the program of encephalitis and paraneoplastic syndrome of Peking Union Medical College Hospital were tested with indirect immunofluorescence. Clinical information of patients with anti-GABA B R antibody positivity was retrospectively reviewed, and descriptive statistical analysis was performed.

RESULTSAll eighteen anti-GABA B R antibody-positive cases had limbic syndromes, and electroencephalogram (EEG) or neuroimaging evidence fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of LE. Four patients had additional antibodies against Hu in serum and one had anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antibody in both sera and CSF. Seventeen (17/18) patients presented with new-onset refractory seizure or status epileptics. Twelve (12/18) patients had memory deficits, 11 (11/18) patients had personality change, 7 (7/18) patients had disturbance of consciousness, and 3 (3/18) patients showed cerebellar dysfunction. One patient with LE had progressive motor and sensory polyneuropathy. Lung cancer was detected in 6 (6/18) patients. Ten (10/18) patients showed abnormality in bilateral or unilateral mediotemporal region on magnetic resonance imaging. Ten (10/18) patients had temporal lobe epileptic activity with or without general slowing on EEG. Seventeen patients received immunotherapy and 15 of them showed neurological improvement. Four patients with lung cancer died within 1-12 months due to neoplastic complications.

CONCLUSIONSOur study demonstrates that most Han Chinese patients with anti-GABA B R antibody-associated LE have prominent refractory epilepsy and show neurological improvement on immunotherapy. Patients with underlying lung tumor have a relatively poor prognosis. Testing for anti-GABA B R antibodies is necessary for patients with possible LE or new-onset epilepsy with unknown etiology.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; immunology ; China ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsy ; immunology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Limbic Encephalitis ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; immunology ; Retrospective Studies ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo assess recent trends and prognostic features in the treatment of pure mucinous carcinoma (PMC) of the breast.

METHODSFifty-six patients diagnosed with PMC of the breast in our hospital from December 1982 to June 2008 were included. We evaluated the general information and tumor characteristics of the patients, examined the relationship between these factors and prognosis. Fisher's exact test was applied to analyze tumor characteristics.

RESULTSThe mean age of the patients was 53.7 years. The majority of the patients presented with early stage disease. Tumor size was found not a significant prognostic factor in this study. Mean follow-up period was 39 months and no breast cancer-related deaths were identified in the patient cohort.

CONCLUSIONSPMC of the breast has a favorable prognosis. Tumor size does not appear to significantly impact survival.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; pathology ; Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis

OBJECTIVETo assess the therapeutic effect of acupoint stimulating therapy on deglutition disorders after apoplexy, so as to provide basis for clinical treatment and further study.

METHODSAccording to Cochrane systematic assessment method of evidence-based medicine, Meta analysis on randomized controlled trials or half randomized controlled trials of acupoint stimulating therapy for deglutition disorders after apoplexy were made.

RESULTSIn 37 Chinese literatures, 3 697 patients in total were enrolled, and the results indicated that the effective rate of acupoint stimulating therapy on deglutition disorders after apoplexy was better than that in the control group [RR was 1.38, 95% CI (1.28, 1.49), Z = 8.38, P < 0.01]; and the cured rate also was better than that of the control group [RR was 2.56, 95% CI (2.15, 3.04), Z = 10.70, P < 0.01].

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effect of acupoint stimulating therapy on deglutition disorders after apoplexy is better than that of the control group, but more randomized, double blind, controlled trials with good designs are needed to confirm this result.

Acupuncture Points ; Deglutition Disorders ; therapy ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Meta-Analysis as Topic ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic ; Stroke ; complications ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical value of HER2 overexpression in breast cancer and its prognostic implication in patients with lymph node negative breast carcinoma.

METHODSThe following electronic database were extracted using appropriate inclusive and exclusive standards: Cochrane library, PUBMED, Embase (1984 - 2003), OVID, CMCC and CNKI. Excel and RevMan 4.2 were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSFifty-six articles were extracted to calculate the positive rate of HER2 overexpression. The pooled positive rate was 23.14% [19.54%, 26.73%], with positive immunohistochemistry (IHC) rate of 23.13% [19.49%, 26.77%] and positive FISH rate of 20.90% [15.54%, 26.25%]. Seven articles were used to evaluate prognostic predication of HER2 expression. It was concluded that in patients with lymph node negative breast carcinoma, HER2 overexpression (both IHC and FISH) independently predicted a poor prognosis based on disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) with a P < 0.05. For DFS, the pooled RR was 1.38 [1.07, 1.80] with 1.16 [1.02, 1.31] for IHC and 1.98 [1.56, 2.52] for FISH. For OS, the pooled RR was 1.58 [1.16, 2.14] with 1.37 [1.14 to 1.64] for IHC and 2.33 [1.45 to 3.75] for FISH. HER2 overexpression effectively predicted DFS/OS of patients without adjuvant therapy and OS of patients with the therapy, but not for DFS, with the pooled RR of 1.46 [1.02, 2.09] and 1.11 [0.95, 1.31] for DFS, respectively and the pooled RR of 1.93 [1.44 to 2.58] and 1.25 [1.01, 1.56] for OS, respectively.

CONCLUSIONSIn patients with lymph node negative breast carcinoma, the positive rate of HER2 overexpression is 23.14%. HER2 overexpression indicates a poor prognosis and adjuvant therapy after surgery should be recommended.

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; Disease-Free Survival ; Female ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Mastectomy ; Prognosis ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of the interventional techniques for treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistulas (AVF).

METHODSTen patients with acquired AVFs, including 4 with renal AVF, 3 with iliac AVF, and 3 with subclavian AVF, were treated with interventional procedures. The etiological factors of the AVFs were penetrating trauma in 5 cases, iatrogenic injury in 3, malignancy in 1, and intestine Crohn's disease in 1. The patients presented with peripheral venous hypertension (n = 6), local bruit (n = 10), cardiac overload (n = 10), the right cardiac failure (n = 2), and hematuria (n = 4). Three patients underwent transcatheter super-selective coils embolization and 7 underwent stent-graft placement in the involved arteries.

RESULTSThe technical success was achieved in all cases. Completion angiography documented complete exclusion of the fistulas. Minor complications occurred in 3 patients, but without significant consequences. The patients experienced immediate relief of the limb swelling, peripheral venous hyperemia, and tachycardia. The local bruit was disappeared. The cardiac overload conditions were improved significantly, which was confirmed by ultrasound scan. Renal function tests in patients with renal AVF were stable. Radioactive isotopic scan revealed that the function was preserved in the treated kidney in two patients using stent-graft placement in the renal arteries. Follow-up time ranged from 6 months to 6 years. Three patients respectively died of unrelated AVF diseases in 6, 9, and 14 months after the treatment. Re-intervention with an another stent-graft placement was performed on 2 patients with recurrence of the AVF respectively at 3 weeks and two months after the procedures. The minor stenosis was found in stent-graft 2 of patients on the follow-up angiography respectively at 6 and 8 months after the treatment. Seven patients are still alive and in good condition without further intervention.

CONCLUSIONSMinimally invasive interventional procedures, including super-selective embolization and stent-graft exclusion, are safe and effective in the treatment of acquired arteriovenous fistulas.

Adult ; Arteriovenous Fistula ; etiology ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Iliac Artery ; Iliac Vein ; Kidney ; blood supply ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stents ; Subclavian Artery ; Subclavian Vein ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of puerarin on pulmonary Vascular remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension induced by chronic hypoxia and hypercapnia.

METHODForty male rats (180-220) g of grade two were randomly divided into five groups: normal control group (NC), hypoxia-hypercapnia 1, 2, 3 week groups (LH1, LH2, LH3) and hypoxia-hypercapnia 3-week + puerarin group (LHP3 group, puerarin intraperitoneal injection, 20 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)). Collagen I, III and their mRNA were observed in pulmonary arterioles by the technique of immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization.

RESULTLight microscopy showed media thickness of pulmonary arterioles was much higher in LH3 group than that of NC group, and, vessel cavity turned more straiter in LH3 group than that of NC group. Howerer, the damage of pulmonary arterioles in LHP3 group was much slighter than that of LH3 group. The levels of plasma ET-1 and lung homogenates Hyr and MDA were much higher in rats of LH3 group than those of NC group (P < 0.01), and lower in LHP3 group than LH3 groups (P < 0.01). The activities of SOD in lung homogenates were significantly lowered in hypoxic and hypercapnic groups compared with control group (P < 0.01), but higher in LHP3 group than that of LH3 group. Plasma NO content of group LH was lower than that of group NC (P < 0.01), it was highter in group LHP3 than that of group LH3 (P < 0.01). Expression of collagen I and collagen I mRNA in pulmonary arterioles were significantly higher in rats of LH groups than those of NC group (P < 0.01), and they were lower in rats of LHP3 group than those of LH3 group (P < 0. 01). Expression of collagen III and collagen III mRNA were not significant difference among three groups.

CONCLUSIONPuerarin could improve pulmonary vascular remodeling in rats with pulmonary hypertension by inhibiting the deposition of collagen.

Animals ; Hypercapnia ; complications ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Hypoxia ; complications ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Pulmonary Artery ; drug effects ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the antitumor effects of Chansu injection on transplanting- tumor of S(180 ) in mice and human colon cancer HT-29 in nude mice.

METHODSUsing transplanting- tumor models of S(180 ) in mice and human colon cancer HT-29 in nude mice,the tumor inhibitive ratio(IR) of Chansu injection was determined and apoptosis was microscopically observed.

RESULTSCompared with tumor-negative control groups, IR at different dosage of Chansu in models of S(180) and HT-29 was 19.1% - 38.2% and 9.5% - 15.8% respectively,there was a dose-dependent relationship in models of S ( 180) (P< 0.05) and HT- 29 (P> 0.05). The tumor growth was markedly inhibited by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in model of S( 180) with IR of 70.7% and in model of HT-29 with IR of 67.1%, compared with control groups, both P< 0.01; apoptosis induced by CTX was markedly observed by in microscope examination. No significant side effects were shown in the study group.

CONCLUSIONSChansu injection can significantly inhibit tumor growth in model of S(180), but not in model of HT- 29. Different type of tumor has different drug-sensitivity.

Animals ; Bufanolides ; pharmacology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Mice, Nude ; Sarcoma 180 ; drug therapy ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Objective To explore the composition and drug resistance characteristics of pathogenic isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cultures to facilitate empirical therapy of pediatric patients with meningitis in Guangzhou district.Methods During 2011 Jan 1st to 2015 Dec 31st,cerebrospinal fluids were collected from pediatric patients with suspected meningitis for regular culture,identification and drug susceptibility test of pathogenic isolates according to the national clinical laborato ry standard operation procedure,followed by analysis of their composition and drug resistance characteristics.Results There were 132 pathogenic isolates from CSF cultures,including Gram-positive strains (39.40％,52/132),Gram-negative strains (757.58％,6/132),fungi (3.03 ％,4/132),respectively.The main isolates were Escherichia coli (E.coli) (23.48％,31/132),Streptococcus pneumonia (S.pneumonia) (22.73％,30/132),Staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) (12.12％,16/132)and Streptococcus agalactiae (S.agalactiae) (9.85％,13/132),respectively.E.coli had no resistance to piperacillin/tazobactam,furantoin,cefepime,amikacin,tobramycin,imipenem,ertapenem and meropenem.3.22 ％ resistance rate to cefotetan,9.38％ to ceftazidime,12.90 ％ to aztreonam,approximately 30 ％ to ampicillin/sulbactam,ofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,ceftriaxone,gentamycin,cefazolin,over 60 ％ to both sulfamethoxazole and ampicillin,31.25 ％ strains were ESBL positive.S.pneumonia had no re sis tance to ertapenem,5.88 ％ resistance rate to telithromycin,14.71％ to chloromycetin,17.76 ％ to ceftriaxone,23.53 ％ to amoxicillin,32.30 ％ to meropenem,35.29 ％ to cefotaxime,over 70 ％ to tetracycline,erythromycin,penicillin,and sulfamethoxazole.S.a ureus had no resistance to rifampicin,tigecycline,quinuprin/dupletin,linezolid and vancomycin,6.25％ resistance to ciprofloxacin,6.25％ to gentamicin,12.50％ to sulfamethoxazole,18.75％ resistance to clindamycin,31.25 ％ to tetracycline,62.50 ％ to erythromycin,over 90 ％ to cephalosporins and nearly 100 ％ to penicillin,the rate of MRSA strain was 56.25 ％.S.agalactiae had no resistance to penicillin,23.08 ％ resistance rate to ofloxacin,7.69 ％ to ciprofloxacin,over 60％ to tetracycline,erythromycin and clindamycin.Conclusion The main pathogenic isolates from CSF cultures were E.coli,S.pneumonia,S.aureus,S.agalactiae,different species of isolates have different drug resistance characteristics.This will provide instructions for the prevention,pathogenic diagnosis and treatment of meningitis in pediatric patients.