Objective To investigate the changes of thyroid hormone in peritoneal dialysis patients and analyse its impact factors, as well as the therapeutic effects of small dose of thyroxine.Methods 150 uremic patients in Hunan Provincial People’s Hospital from December 2013 to December 2014 were selected, 70 cases of uremia non-dialysis patients were divided into group A, while 80 uremia peritoneal dialysis for more than half a year were divided into group B.70 cases healthy examinees during the same period in our hospital were selected as control group ( group C ) . The total triiodothyronine (T3), total thyroxine (T4), free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine (FT4), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), hemoglobin (Hb), serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), serum creatinine (SCr), C reactive protein (CRP) and left ventricular ejection fraction ( LVEF) , subjective global assessment of nutritional act ( SGA) and other indicators were detected in three groups.Patients in group B were divided into two sub-groups according to thyroid hormone levels: B1 group had normal thyroid level while B2 abnormal.And the administration of small dose of thyroid hormone was given to patients in group B2, and the effect of the administration was evaluated by the above indexes.Results The FT3 in group A and B were significantly lower than that in group C (P<0.01).There were significant differences of levels of ALB, CRP, SGA between group B1 and group B2, and the FT3 level in group B was significant correlated with SGA, ALB, LVEF(r=0.815,P<0.001;r=0.780,P<0.001;r=0.953,P<0.001).After treated with small dose of thyroid hormone, FT3 and LVEF were improved while FT4, TSH, ALB, SGA, CRP were not improved in group B2.Conclusion The thyroid hormone level in patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis decreases which is dominated with FT3.The decreased thyroid level is significantly correlated with nutrition ( ALB, SGA) and left ventricular function.The administration of small dose of thyroid hormone can improve the left ventricular systolic function.

OBJECTIVETo detect the distribution of fimA genotype of P. gingivalis in periodontally healthy adults and chronic periodontitis patients, and to investigate the relationship between the prevalence of fimA genotype of P. gingivalis and periodontal health status.

METHODSSubgingival plaque samples were collected from 136 periodontally healthy adults and 115 chronic periodontitis patients. The occurrence of P. gingivalis was determined by P. gingivalis 16S rRNA PCR. Distribution of fimA genotype was assessed in P. gingivalis positive samples by PCR using primers pairs homologous to the different fimA genes.

RESULTSP. gingivalis was detected in 22.1% of the healthy subjects and 81.7% of chronic periodontitis patients. A single fimA genotype was detected in most subgingival plaque samples. In P. gingivalis-positive healthy adults, the most prevalent fimA genotype of P. gingivalis was type I fimA. In contrast, a majority of chronic periodontitis patients carried type II fimA, followed by IV fimA and I b fimA. The univariate analysis illustrated that chronic periodontitis was associated with occurrences of type I fimA (OR = 0.97), I b (OR =13.26), II (OR = 36.62), III (OR = 4.57), IV (OR = 22.86), and V (OR = 1.19).

CONCLUSIONII fimA genotype of P. gingivalis followed by IV and I b were an important virulence factor that may account for the pathogenesis of chronic periodontitis, suggesting an increased pathogenic potential of these types.

Adult ; Chronic Periodontitis ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Fimbriae Proteins ; Genotype ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevalence ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence of H. actinomycetemcomitans in Chinese chronic periodontitis (CP) patients and periodontally healthy adults.

METHODS116 chronic periodontitis patients and 111 periodontally healthy adults were included. In each CP patient, subgingival plaque samples were collected from two sites of different molars with the greatest probing depth (PD) and one periodontally healthy site (PD < or =3 mm). The samples of periodontally healthy adults were obtained from the mesio-buccal site of one first upper molar. Bacteria DNA were extracted for detection of H. actinomycetemcomitans by 16S rRNA PCR.

RESULTSThe prevalence for H. actinomycetemcomitans of diseased sites (33.62%) was significantly higher than that of healthy sites from CP patients (0.86%) and the periodontally sites (0.90%) (P < 0.01). No significant difference was observed between male and female CP patients (P > 0.05). A decreasing trend of H. actinomycetemcomitans was observed as the age increased. And the pocket depth and clinical attachment losswas associated with the occurrence of H. actinomycetemcomitans in a positive mode. And H. actinomycetemcomitans was more often detected in the bleeding sites on probing.

CONCLUSIONH. actinomycetemcomitans was more frequently detected in periodontitis sites than periodontally healthy sites. For CP patients, a higher prevalence was associated with the seriously involved sites than those moderate and mild implicated sites. H. actinomycetemcomitans is considered to be the one of the periopathogens involved in the etiology of chronic periodontitis.

Adult ; Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Chronic Periodontitis ; DNA, Bacterial ; Dental Plaque ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Periodontitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S

Adult ; Aged ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo compare antiproliferation effects of vinblastine nanopraticles and vinblastine water solution in human glioma cell lines BT325.

METHODVinblastine nanoparticles were prepared by emulsion polymerization process and using dextran as a stabilizing agent. It was characterized by means of morphology, size, drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency. Human glioma cell lines BT325 were treated with different concentrations of vinblastine nanoparticles and vinblastine water solution for 48 h, Antiproliferation effect was measured by MTT method. Morphological changes were observed by inverted microscope, transmission electron microscope and scanning electron microscope.

RESULTMean diameter of VLB-PBCA-NP was about 74.4 nm, and drug entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency was 78.47% and 39.24%, respectively. Cell growth inhibition rate of vinblastine nanoparticles group and vinblastine water solution group in a concentration range (5-5 000 g x L(-1)) for 48 h was 41%, 49%, 73%, 83% and 28%, 33%, 54%, 60% respectively. Entrapment of VLB in NPS may distinctly degrade absorbency as compared to free drugs. Glioma cell BT325 which treated with VLB water solution were initial stage of apoptosis, and apoptosis body were forming. But VLB NPS-treated BT325 cells were intermediate or end stage, and missed structure integrality.

CONCLUSIONVLB-PBCA-NP and VLB water solution could inhibit the growth of human glioma cell lines BT325, and VLB nanoparticles have stronger inhibition effect compared with VLB water solution in the same dose. PBCA may be effective as promising carrier for the transport of vinblastine into the glioma cells.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission ; Nanoparticles ; Vinblastine ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) regulations of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) by challenge of Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) with different fimA genotypes.

METHODSPg ATCC 33277 (type I), WCSP115 (type II), WCSP1.5 (type III), W83 (type IV) were assessed for their inductions of MMP-1 and MMP-2 expression in HGF. MMP mRNA levels of HGF were determined by real-time RT-PCR and MMP protein levels in culture supernatant were determined by ELISA at different time intervals (1, 3, 6 and 12 h) following continuous co-culture of bacteria with HGF.

RESULTSWhen co-cultured with Pg, the MMP-1 and MMP-2 mRNA and protein expression of HGF significantly increased compared with the negative control group (P < 0.01). The group of type II showed greater up-regulated than other fimA genotypes in the mRNA and protein expressions of MMP-1 and MMP-2, MMP-1 mRNA [(28.88 +/- 3.12) - (231.01 +/- 24.99)] and protein [(1.35 +/- 0.17) - (3.08 +/- 1.20)] microg/L; MMP-2 mRNA [(20.42 +/- 2.21) - (188.34 +/- 37.37)] and protein [(2.57 +/- 0.76) - (18.08 +/- 1.15)] microg/L for different time periods; While the group of type III was weaker than other fimA genotypes, the level of MMP-1 mRNA was [(5.11 +/- 0.55) - (72.84 +/- 8.84)] and protein [(0.68 +/- 0.13) - (1.46 +/- 0.94)] microg/L, MMP-2 mRNA [(4.55 +/- 0.55) - (25.75 +/- 3.12)] and protein [(2.28 +/- 0.93) - (11.22 +/- 2.46)] microg/L (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSPg could induce HGF to over-express MMP, and fimA genotypes of Pg may be related to this pathogenicity, which might indicate fimA genotype is associated with pathogenesis of Pg.

Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Fibroblasts ; metabolism ; Fimbriae Proteins ; genetics ; Genotype ; Gingiva ; cytology ; Humans ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo explore the distribution of Chinese medicine (CM) syndrome types in primary liver cancer (PLC) and their differences of the survival time.

METHODSFrom May 2007 to March 2009, recruited were 151 PLC inpatients at Department of Tumor, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Their survival time were statistically calculated. Patients' average survival time and median survival time were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method. The Log-rank test was used to analyze their differences of survival time among different CM syndrome types.

RESULTSThe proportion of CM syndrome types in PLC patients were ranked from high to low as follows: mutual accumulation of dampness and blood stasis syndrome [MADBSS, 43.0% (65/151)], Gan-stagnation Pi-deficiency syndrome [GSPDS, 34.4% (52/151)], qi stagnation blood stasis syndrome [QSBSS, 9.3% (14/151)], retention of damp-heat syndrome [RDHS, 8.6%(13/151)], and Gan-Shen yin deficiency syndrome [GSYDS, 4.6% (7/ 151)]. The median survival time of different CM syndrome types were ranked from longer to shorter as follows: GSPDS (14.77 months), QSBSS (6.13 months), RDHS (5.27 months), MADBSS (4.78 months), and GSYDS (0.80 months). The mean survival times were ranked from longer to shorter as follows: GSPDS (12.40 months), QSBSS (8.84 months), MADBSS (6.99 months), RDHS (7.08 months), and GSYDS (0.72 months). There was statistical difference in the difference of the survival time among different CM syndrome types (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSGSPDS and MADBSS were the most common CM syndrome types in PLC patients. There was difference in the survival time between GSPDS and MADBSS/between RDHS and GSYDS. There was difference in the survival time between MADBSS and GSYDS. Patients of GSPDS might get the best prognosis, while patients of GSYDS might get the poorest prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Yang Deficiency ; Yin Deficiency

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical efficacy of Jianpi Liqi Yiliu Formula (JLYF) combined with cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells for treating patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSBetween January 2011 and January 2014, 60 advanced HCC patients were enrolled in this study, who were assigned to the treatment group and the control group according to their willingness for taking JLYF, 30 cases in each group. All patients received CIK cell treatment: 1 x 10⁹-3 x 10⁹ each time, by intravenous dripping from the 1st day to the 3rd day, once per day. Besides, patients in the treatment group took JLYF decoction, while those in the control group took Chinese medical decoction by syndrome typing. All patients received treatment of at least two cycles. The time to progression (TTP) , overall survival (OS), disease control rate (DCR), performance status scale (PS), Child-Pugh scale, and adverse reactions were observed, and subgroup analyzed.

RESULTSTo May 31, 2014, all patients reached the clinical endpoint. TTP was 3.5 months (95% Cl: 3.30-4.10) in the treatment group, better than that (2.5 months, 95% CI: 2.32-2.68) of the control group (P < 0.05). DCR was 36.7% in the treatment group and 30.0% in the control group (P > 0.05). OS was 5.2 months (95% CI: 4.53-5.87) in the treatment group and 4.6 months (95% CI: 4.06-5.14) in the control group (P > 0.05). The PS scale was 1.60 ± 0.10 after treatment, lower than that (1.80 ± 0.09) before treatment in the treatment group (P < 0.05). When the PS scale was 0-2 or Child-Pugh scale was class A, TTP was longer in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05). No adverse reaction occurred in the two groups during the treatment course.

CONCLUSIONSThe combination of JLYF with ClK cell treatment could prolong advanced HCC patients' TTP, improve PS scale, as compared with syndrome typed Chinese medical decoction treatment group. Besides, when the PS scale was 0-2 or Child-Pugh scale was class A, it was a better treatment program for advanced HCC patients.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; therapy ; Cell- and Tissue-Based Therapy ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; cytology ; Disease Progression ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; therapy

BACKGROUNDEndogenous hydrogen sulfide is a new neuromodulator which takes part in the regulation of central nervous system physiology and diseases. Whether endogenous hydrogen sulfide in the central nervous system regulates cardiovascular activity is not known. In the present study, we observed the hemodynamic changes of hydrogen sulfide or its precursor by intracerebroventricular injection, and investigate the possible roles of endogenous digitalis like factors and sympathetic activity in the regulation.

METHODSNinety-four Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a right cerebroventricular puncture, then the hydrogen sulfide saturation buffer or its precursor injected by intrcerebroventricular catheter. A heperin-filled catheter was inserted into the right femoral artery or into the left ventricle, and changes of blood pressure or cardiac function recorded by a Powerlab/4S instrument. Phentolamine or metoprolol were pre-injected to observe the possible role in autonomic nerve activity. After rats were sacrificed, plasma was collected and endogenous digitalis-like factors were measured with a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. The aortic, cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles were isolated and the activity of Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase was measured as ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis under maximal velocity conditions by measuring the release of inorganic phosphate from ATP. Unpaired Student's t test for two groups or analysis of variances (ANOVA) for multiple groups were used to compare the differences of the changes.

RESULTSIntracerebroventricular injection of hydrogen sulfide induced a transient hypotension, then dramatic hypertenive effects in a dose-dependent manner. Bolus injection of L-cysteine or beta- mercaptopyruvate also increased mean arterial pressure (P < 0.01), whereas hydroxylamine-a cystathionine beta synthase inhibitor decreased the arterial pressure (P < 0.01). Hydrogen sulfide and L-cysteine increased mean arterial pressure, left ventricular develop pressure and left-ventricle maximal rate of systolic and diastolic pressure; these functions were decreased by hydroxylamine (P < 0.01). Glibenclamide (a K(ATP) channel blocker) blocked the transient hypotensive effect, phentolamine (an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker) blocked the hypertensive effect, and metoprolol (a selective beta 1 receptor blocker) blocked the positive inoptropic effect of central nervous system hydrogen sulfide. The endogenous digitalis-like factors in plasma were elevated (P < 0.01) after treatment with L-cysteine, association with decreasing Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in cardiac or aortic sarcolemmal vesicles (P < 0.01). Hydroxylamine injection reduced the endogenous digitalis-like factors level in plasma association with increasing Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase activity in cardiac and aortic sarcolemmal vesicles.

CONCLUSIONCentral nervous system endogenous hydrogen sulfide upregulated mean arterial pressure and cardiac systolic function by activation of sympathetic nerves or release of endogenous digitalis-like factors.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cardenolides ; metabolism ; Central Nervous System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cystathionine beta-Synthase ; metabolism ; Cysteine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Hydrogen Sulfide ; metabolism ; pharmacology ; Male ; Radioimmunoassay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Saponins ; metabolism ; Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase ; metabolism ; Sulfurtransferases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the cellular phenotype conversion of human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) cocultured with human sweat gland cells (SGCs) and the contribution of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in the process.

METHODSMSC and SGC were isolated, amplified , and identified with two-step immunohistochemistry method. The primary SGCs were heat-shocked at 47 degrees C. Then the supernatants were collected immediately and 24hr later. The 3rd passage of MSCs were divided into control, SGC supernatant (cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing 30% SGC supernatant), SGC supernatant + EGF (cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing 30% SGC supernatant and 50 microg/L EGF), and SGC supernatant + PD98059 (cells were cultured in DMEM/F12 medium containing 30% SGC supernatant and 10 micromol/L PD98059) groups. The positive expression of CK7and CEA in MSCs were detected on the 7th post-stimulation day (PSD) by flow cytometry. The expression of ERK and phosphorylated ERK were determined with Western blotting.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of CK7 and CEA was (5.76 +/-0.10)%, (2.01 +/- 0.09)% in SGC supernatant group; (7.31 +/- 0.21)% and (7.27 +/- 0.12)% in SGC supernatant + EGF group; and (1.63 +/- 0.11)%, (1.54 +/- 0.07)% in SGC supernatant + PD98059 group; they were all obviously higher than that in control group (P < 0.01). Moreover, ERK expression was observed in all groups. The expression of pERK in SGC supernatant + EGF group was higher than that in SGC supernatant group, but almost no expression of pERK was found in the SGC supernatant + PD98059 and control groups.

CONCLUSIONIndirect coculture of MSCs with SGCs can induce the phenotype conversion of MSCs through ERK pathway.

Adolescent ; Bone Marrow Cells ; cytology ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ; metabolism ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; cytology ; metabolism ; Sweat Glands ; cytology ; metabolism