Objective To investigate the expression of T cell immunoreceptor with Ig and immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory domains (TIGIT) on peripheral CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its significance in order to clarify its role in the development of RA.Methods Peripheral blood samples were collected from 81 patients with RA and 33 healthy controls (HC).Expression of TIGIT on the surface of peripheral blood leukocytes was detected by flow cytometry.Differences in TIGIT expression between RA and HC groups were comparatively analyzed.Correlations of TIGIT expression on CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells with several laboratory indexes were analyzed.All data were statistically analyzed.Results (1) The percentage of TIGIT-expressing CD3+ T cells in patients with RA was significantly higher than that in HC (P<0.01).Moreover, the median fluorescence intensity (MFI) of TIGIT on CD3+ T cells was significantly elevated in patients with RA as compared with that in HC (P<0.01).No significant difference in the expression of TIGIT on B cells, monocytes or neutrophils was observed between RA and HC groups.(2) The percentages of TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were significantly elevated in patients with RA as compared with those in HC (P<0.01).Moreover, the MFI of TIGIT on CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells were significantly elevated in patients with RA as compared with those in HC (P<0.01).(3) The percentages of both TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells and TIGIT-expressing CD8+ T cells in patients with RA were positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (rs=0.355, P<0.01;rs=0.277, P=0.013).(4) The percentages of both TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells and TIGIT-expressing CD8+ T cells in patients with RA were positively correlated with rheumatoid factor (RF) (rs=0.265, P=0.017;rs=0.366, P<0.01).The MFI of TIGIT on CD4+ T cells was positively correlated with RF in RA group (rs=0.226, P=0.043).The percentage of TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells was positively correlated with anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody in patients with RA who were positive for anti-CCP antibody (rs=0.324, P=0.012).(5) The percentage of TIGIT-expressing CD4+ T cells as well as the MFI of TIGIT on CD4+ T cells in patients with RA was positively correlated with Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28) (r=0.232, P=0.038;r=0.343, P<0.010).Conclusion The expression of TIGIT on T cells is elevated in patients with RA and correlated with inflammatory markers, antibody production and disease activity.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the diagnosis, surgical procedure and clinical outcome of cervical intraspinal benign neoplasm.

METHODSTwenty-two cases confirmed pathologically were reviewed included 16 males and 6 females with an average age of 43.8 years old ranging from 18 to 56 years. Symptoms mainly included neck pain, numbness and weakness of the extremities, urinary and fecal incontinence, pyramid signs, etc. All underwent X-ray, CT and MRI, 11 cases were diagnosed as neurilemomas, 4 neurofibromas, 3 spinal meningiomas, 2 intraspinal cysts and 2 lipomas. The tumors were removed completely in 18 cases, above 60% in 3 cases and 25% with biopsy in 1 case. Cervical stability in 11 cases was restored after removal of tumors.

RESULTSAll were followed-up for from 6 to 84 months(means 12.5 months). Symptoms improved in 20 cases and stable in 1 case and worsened in 1 case postoperatively according to JOA scoring system. Two patients recurred and were treated with second surgery. JOA scoring was (6.52 +/- 1.10) before operation, (11.42 +/- 0.79) after operation, there was statically significance (t = 21.38, P < 0.001). The average recover ratio of total was (46.7 +/- 2.46)%, cervical stability was (62.37 +/- 3.58)%, the other methods was (41.21 +/- 4.63)%. The results of JOA were excellent in 18 cases, good in 2, fair in 1 and poor in 1.

CONCLUSIONThe surgical exairesis for cervical intraspinal benign neoplasm has low post-operative recurrence. The main reason of recurrence is not removed the tumor completely. MRI is regarded the effective method which is helpful in differential diagnosis and surgery guidance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Cervical Vertebrae ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Neoplasms ; pathology ; physiopathology ; surgery ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Extraction is the critical link during pharmaceutical process of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), which is directly related to the quality of drugs. So the key to technology upgrading of pharmaceutical equipment in Chinese materia medica enterprise is the development of new extraction techniques, which concerns the modernization of TCM. In this paper, fundamentals, traits, and development status of new extraction technologies were firstly introduced, including ultrasound extraction, microwave extraction, super fluid extraction, semi-bionic extraction method, enzymatic treatment extraction, continuous countercurrent extraction, vacuum extraction. Then information of projects supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China was analyzed in order to recognize the assistance and research results of new extraction techniques. The patents authorized by the State Intellectual Property Office were also summarized for the purpose of understanding the achievement transformation. The information about extraction equipments was collected and screened to acquire the characteristics and market situation. The results showed that there are still problems about new extraction technologies, such as weak basic study, hard transformation of achievements, and the disconnection between research study and practical application. It is necessary to discuss the approaches and methods for accelerating the transformation of fundamental research, which will provide references for the long-term development of new extraction techniques of TCM.
Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; economics ; methods ; trends ; China ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; economics ; isolation & purification ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; trends ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Translational Medical Research ; trends

BACKGROUND: The association of genetic variation in the IRAK-1 gene with sepsis outcome has been proved. However, few studies have addressed the impact of the IRAK-4 gene variants on sepsis risk. This study aimed to determine whether the polymorphisms in the IRAK-4 gene are associated with susceptibility to and prognosis of severe sepsis in the Chinese Han ethnic population.METHODS: In this case-control study, 192 patients with severe sepsis hospitalized in the emergency department of Zhongshan Hospital from February 2006 to December 2009 and 192 healthy volunteers were enrolled. Exclusion criteria included metastatic tumors, autoimmune diseases, AIDS or treatment with immunosuppressive drugs. This study was approved by the ethical committee of Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University. Sepsis patients were divided into a survival group (n=124) and a non-survival group (n=68) according to the 30-day mortality. Primer 3 software was used to design PCR and sequencing primers. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Seven tagSNPs in IRAK-4 were selected according to the data of the Chinese Han population in Beijing from the Hapmap project and genotyped by direct sequencing. The chi-square test was used to evaluate the differences in genotype and allele frequencies between the two groups.RESULTS: The distributions of all tagSNPs were consistent with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The allele and genotype frequencies of rs4251545 (G/A) were significantly different between the severe sepsis and healthy control groups (P=0.015, P=0.035, respectively). Carriers of the rs4251545A had a higher risk for severe sepsis compared with carriers of the rs4251545G (OR=1.69, 95％ CI: 1.10-2.58). The allele and genotype frequencies of all SNPs were not significantly different between the survival group and non-survival group.CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the variants in IRAK-4 are significantly associated with susceptibility to severe sepsis in the Chinese Han ethnic population.

The aim was to study the roles of extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) and telomerase activity in drug resistance of human leukemia and ovarian carcinoma cells. Flow cytometry was used to analyze apoptosis rate. Telomere repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) and bioluminescence analysis method were used for detection of telomerase activity. The phosphorylated ERK(1/2) protein expression was observed by Western blot method. The results showed that the specific inhibitor PD98059 of ERK kinase 1 (MEK(1)) enhanced the sensitivity of HL-60/E6 leukemia cell lines to harringtonine (HRT) or COC1/DDP ovarian carcinoma cell lines to cis-dichlorodiamine platinum (DDP). Both PD98059 and chemotherapy drugs HRT and DDP reduced the phosphorylated ERK(1) and ERK(2) protein expression level, and down-regulated the telomerase activity. The sole action of each was inferior to the combination action of PD98059 and HRT or DDP. In conclusion, ERK and telomerase serve a function to some extent in drug resistance of leukemia and ovarian carcinoma cells. The inhibition of ERK signal transduction pathways led to reduction of phosphorylated ERK(1) and ERK(2) protein expression level, and successionally down-regulated the telomerase activity. The final result was to enhance the sensitivity of HL-60/E6 to HRT or COC1/DDP to DDP.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Female ; Flavonoids ; pharmacology ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Telomerase ; metabolism

AIM: Accommodation is one of the most important functions of human eye, while its mechanism is still under discussion. This paper aimed to study accommodation mechanism with numerical simulation.METHODS: A simulation model was constructed to study the mechanism of accommodation based on the experimental data derived from published resources. The displacement and pressure are applied on the model to study the deformation of lens during accommodating.RESULTS: The simulation showed that, as the eye was accommodating, the thickness of the lens increased linearly,and the lens diameter decreased linearly. The optical power of the lens increased as the accommodation increased. This result was accord with the public facts in accommodation.Furthermore, the pressure was found to have a great influence on the shape of the lens and the optical power. The lens became thinner and flatter as the pressure increased and the pressure caused a remarkable increase of lens' optical power.CONCLUSION: The outcome of this paper is consistent with the Helmholtz's hypothesis on accommodation to some extent. The analytical model presented in this paper can be used in the theoretical study of the accommodation mechanism of the human lens.

OBJECTIVETo introduce and evaluate the clinical effects of percutaneous reduction and Kirschner pin fixation for the treatment of intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus in children.

METHODSFrom March 2001 to February 2009,12 patients with intraarticular calcaneal fractures were treated by percutaneous reduction and Kirschner pin fixation (13 feet). There were 8 males and 4 females,ranging in age from 3 to 14,with an average of 8.7 years. According to Essex-Lopresti classification, among 5 feet were tongue fractures and 8 feet were compressed fractures. According to Sanders classification, 9 feet were type II and 4 feet were type III. The Biihler angle and Gissane angle of the calcaneus were obtained before and after operation. All patients were evaluated according to Maryland Foot Score.

RESULTSAll the patients were followed up for 16-71 months (means 35.9 months),and all the incisions were healed without complications and infection. The preoperative X-ray film showed that Böhler angle was (19.7+/-5.3) degrees, Gissane angle was (137.3+/-7.5) degrees. The postoperative X-ray film demonstrated that Böhler angle was (32.6+/-3.7) degrees, Gissane angle was (125.4+/-2.9) degrees. There was a significant difference between preoperative and postoperative (P<0.01). The average Maryland score was 96.3+/-2.4 (range, 92 to 100 points).

CONCLUSIONPercutaneous reduction and Kirschner pin fixation is an effective minimally invasive way to treat intraarticular fractures of the calcaneus in children, it has many advantages such as minimal invasion, reliable fixation and satisfactory effects.

Adolescent ; Bone Nails ; Calcaneus ; injuries ; surgery ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fracture Fixation, Internal ; methods ; Humans ; Intra-Articular Fractures ; surgery ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antitumor effect of total saponins of R. parvifolius on malignant melanoma.

METHODThe human malignant melanoma A375 cells were regularlly subcultured in vitro, and were divided into five groups contained positive control group (CTX), high concentration (0.01 mg x mL(-1)) and middle concentration (0.001 mg x mL(-1)) and low concentration (0.000 1 mg x mL(-1)) total saponins of R. parvifolius groups and negative control group. By using MTT colorimetric method, the cell viability was measured. B16 melanoma cells were transplanted to mice, which were divided into positive control group, high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)) and middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)) and low dose (25 mg x kg(-1)) total saponins of R. parvifolius groups and negative control group. The inhibition effect of the tumor in vivo, mean survival time and rate of life-elongation of the mice were observed. TUNEL method was used to detect the apoptosis of B16 malignant melanoma.

RESULTAntitumor assay in vitro showed that the absorbency increased in the concentration of 0.01, 0.001 mg x mL(-1) with statistical significance (P < 0.05 vs negative control). Antitumor assay in vivo showed that the tumor inhibitory rate of high dose (100 mg x kg(-1)) and middle dose (50 mg x kg(-1)) of total saponins of R. parvifolius were 37.02% and 30.61%, respectively. Loaded tumor mouse survival duration could be prolonged. The apoptosis indexes of B16 tumor cells in three treatment groups were 32.5%, 20.5% and 5.5%, respective and there was statistical significance (P < 0.05 vs negative control).

CONCLUSIONThe total saponins of R. parvifolius has remarkable inhibition of proliferation of malignant melanoma cells in vivo and in vitro and exerts antitumor activities through promoting tumor cell apoptosis.

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Male ; Melanoma ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Melanoma, Experimental ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rosaceae ; chemistry ; Saponins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and curative effects of CO2 laser in treatment of supraglottic carcinoma. Methods The retrospective analysis included 32 case of supraglottic carcinoma from February 1995 to June 2005, TNM classified as follows: T1N0M0:20 cases, T1N1M0:2 cases, T2N0M0:8 cases and T2N1M0:2 cases. The patients were treated with endoscopic laser surgery and selective neck dissection( 12 cases) or functional neck dissection(4 cases). The follow-up period was more than 3 years. Results Kaplan-Meier survival analysis shows the overall 5-year survival rate was 90. 6%, and the 5-year survival rate of T1 lesions and T2 lesions was 95.6% and 78. 2% , respectively. The overall 5-year local control rate was 96. 8%. The 5-year local-regional control rate was 90. 3%. With T1 90. 9% and T2 89. 0% respectively. Two patients had local recurrences, one underwent salvage supraglottic horizontal laryngectomy, another one underwent total laryngectomy. Two cases with regional recurrences underwent radical neck dissection. One of them with concurrent local recurrence was survival after salvage operation. Another one with only regional lesion died of recurrence and pulmonary metastasis after treatment. Four patients experienced minor complications without sequelae. All survival patients had laryngeal preservation except the one who received total laryngectomy. Conclusions The results of this study show that endoscopic CO2 laser surgery is highly effective in the treatment of selected supraglottic carcinoma. It shows reliable curative effects and a high larynx preservation rate.

ngeal carcinoma, associated with satisfying curative effects and a high larynx preservation rate.