BACKGROUNDActivation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) plays a critical role in the late phase of Th2-dependent allergy induction. STAT6 is essential to Th2 cell differentiation, recruitment, and effector function. Our previous study confirmed that DNA vaccination inhibited STAT6 expression of spleen cells induced by allergen. In the present study, we determined whether DNA vaccine encoding Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus group 2 (Der p2) could down-regulate the expression and activation of STAT6 in lung tissue from asthmatic mice.

METHODSAfter DNA vaccine immunization, BALB/c mice were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection and challenged by intranasal instillation of rDer p2. The levels of the cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 in BAL fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The lung tissue was assessed by immunohistochemical staining with anti-STAT6. The protein expression of STAT6 was determined by Western blot. The activation of STAT6 binding ability was analyzed with electrophoretic mobility shift assay.

RESULTSDNA vaccine encoding Der p2 allergen effectively decreased the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 in the asthmatic mice. Histological evidence and Western blot showed that the expression of STAT6 in the DNA treated mice was markedly attenuated. STAT6 binding to specific DNA motif in lung tissue from the gene vaccinated mice was inhibited.

CONCLUSIONDNA vaccine encoding Der p2 prevents allergic pulmonary inflammation probably by inhibiting the STAT6 signaling pathway in mice with Der p2 allergen-induced allergic airway inflammation.

Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; genetics ; immunology ; Arthropod Proteins ; Asthma ; prevention & control ; Down-Regulation ; Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay ; Interleukin-13 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Interleukin-4 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Lung ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; STAT6 Transcription Factor ; analysis ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Vaccination ; Vaccines, DNA ; therapeutic use

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with a worse outcome. However, the risk factors and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients after intracoronary stent implantation are still unknown. METHODS: A retrospective case control study was done in 325 patients who underwent intracoronary stent implantation from January 2010 to March 2011 at the Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University School of Medicine. Those were excluded from the study if they had incomplete clinical data. The patients were divided into a normal group and a AKI group according to the standard of post-operation day 7 to identify AKI. The parameters of the patients included: 1) pre-operative ones: age, gender, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, left ventricular insufficiency, peripheral angiopathy, creatinine, urea nitrogen, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hyperuricemia, proteinuria, emergency operation, hydration, medications (ACEI/ARBs, statins); 2) intraoperative ones: dose of contrast media, operative time, hypotension; and 3) postoperative one: hypotension. The parameters were analyzed with univariate analysis and multivariate logistical regression analysis. RESULTS: Of the 325 patients, 51(15.7％) developed AKI. Hospital day and in-hospital mortality were increased significantly in the AKI-group. Univariate analysis showed that age, pre-operative parameters (left ventricular insufficiency, peripheral angiopathy, creatinine, urea nitrogen, estimated glomerular filtration rate, hyperuricemia, proteinuria, hydration), emergency operation, intraoperative parameters (operative time, hypotension) and postoperative hypotension were significantly different. However, multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that increased age (OR=0.253, 95％CI=0.088–0.727), pre-operative proteinuria (OR=5.351, 95％CI=2.128–13.459), pre-operative left ventricular insufficiency (OR=8.704, 95％CI=3.170–23.898), eGFR≤60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (OR=6.677, 95％CI=1.167–38.193), prolonged operative time, intraoperative hypotension (OR=25.245, 95％CI=1.001–1.034) were independent risk factors of AKI. CONCLUSIONS: AKI is a common complication and associated with ominous outcome following intracoronary stent implantation. Increased age, pre-operative proteinuria, pre-operative left ventricular insufficiency, pre-operative low estimated glomerular filtration rate, prolonged operative time, intraoperative hypotension were the significant risk factors of AKI.

Objective To learn the population and infestation rates of cockroaches from 2017 to 2019 in Jiading District of Shanghai, to evaluate the effect of cockroach termination in household, and to provide information for cockroach control. Methods Cockroaches were controlled by dinotefuran baits and clean-up in households.Sticky trap and visual method were employed for density monitoring in farmers markets, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and residential areas.Visual method was used in households before and after using the insecticide. Results Sticky trap result showed the room infestation rate was 3.24%, mean adhesion rate was 3.29%, the density was 0.06 per board, and the density peak appeared in May.Rate of invasion and density decreased year by year.Blattella germanica was the dominant species, counting for 71.88%.The density, and rate of infestation, as determined by sticky trap method, were the highest in the farmers markets, followed by hospitals and residential areas.Determined by visual method, room infestation rate was 1.16%, and the infestation rate was 4.44%.The peak appeared in January.Infestation rate of the farmers markets was the highest, followed by hospitals and residential areas.By visual method, the room infestation rate was 59.01%, and 48.45% for nymphs.The room infestation and ootheca rates were 54.04% and 17.39%.The rate decreased more than 80% in 30 days after use of the insecticide. Conclusion Infestation rate of cockroach remains at low level in Jiading District.The effect of bait combined with environmental cleaning is remarkable.Future work should strengthen monitoring and control in farmers markets, hospitals and residential areas.

OBJECTIVETo explore the epidemic distribution of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from Beijing, Guangdong and Ningxia, and to determine M. tuberculosis strains of the "Beijing Family".

METHODSTwo hundred and six IS6110 DNA fingerprinting patterns of M. tuberculosis strains from three provinces (city) were transferred to digital data, compared with the world M. tuberculosis DNA fingerprinting database, and then clustered by Gel compare 4.1 software. The clustering values in different patients with tuberculosis were compared by chi(2) test. Risk factors for recent transmission were calculated using odd ratios.

RESULTSNo M. tuberculosis strains were found the same as those of DNA fingerprint database. 56.8% (117/206) fingerprinting patterns of M. tuberculosis shared by least two-thirds of the IS6110 fragments and their Spoligotyping fingerprinting patterns were consistent with those of M.tuberculosis strains of the "Beijing Family". There were significant differences between female and male, different age groups (< 42 years old) and older (>or= 42 years old) (P < 0.05). Odd ratio was 5.06 in the group younger than 42 years old (95% CI: 1.00 - 34.34) and was 4.43 (95% CI: 0.94 - 28.76) in males.

CONCLUSIONM. tuberculosis strains of "Beijing Family" were popular in Beijing, Guangdong and Ningxia. Men and younger age group (< 42) were shown to be infected by identical strains more often than women and older aged which might play an important role in the recent transmission of tuberculosis in these areas. IS6110 DNA fingerprinting of M. tuberculosis could be used to trace the source of tuberculosis infection.

Adult ; Age Factors ; China ; epidemiology ; Cluster Analysis ; DNA Fingerprinting ; methods ; DNA, Bacterial ; genetics ; Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Odds Ratio ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Sex Factors ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; transmission

OBJECTIVETo compare the clinical efficacy of the infiltration anesthesia with primacaine and the nerve blocking anesthesia with lidocaine for microport extraction of impacted lower third molar. METHODS; 104 chosen patients had both sides of impacted lower third molars extracted in this study. Patients were given local anesthesia with either primacaine or lidocaine randomly at each side, and then underwent microport extraction. Clinical factors including effective proportion (EP), effecting time point (ETP), visual analogue scale of pain (VASp), alteration of systolic pressures (ASP) and analgesia duration (AD) were evaluated statistically by means of paired t-test.

RESULTSThe EP of experimental group was higher than the control group (P = 0.024). The ETP of soft tissue and alveoli-dental pulp was (1.04 +/- 0.21), (2.44 +/- 2.60) min in the experimental group, and much earlier than that of the control group (P = 0.002, P = 0.032). The VASp and ASP of experimental group were lower than the control group (P = 0.041, P = 0.018). AD was (103.6 +/- 35.5) min, and higher than the control group (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONThe infiltration anesthesia with primacaine has been proven to be a easier, reliable and quick-acting method. We suggest it an alternative method replacing the 2% lidocaine blocking during microport extraction of impacted lower third molar.

Adult ; Aged ; Anesthesia, Dental ; Anesthesia, Local ; Anesthetics ; Anesthetics, Local ; Carticaine ; Dental Pulp ; Dental Pulp Test ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Male ; Mandible ; Mandibular Nerve ; Molar ; Molar, Third ; Pain Measurement ; Prospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo recognize changes in the contents of ingredients of Andrographis Tablet in the process of production.

METHODAdopting TLCS, TLC, HPLC to detect effective contents of ingredients which are produced in every stage of process of Andrographis Table's production.

RESULTHandling with the fresh Herba Andrographis according to current pharmacopeoia's technology, it showed that only dehyandrographolide can be detected. It indicated that the main factor that leads to chemical change is the heating process in the process of production.

CONCLUSIONAvoiding heating treatment or reducing heating treatment time is the main factor to protect the effective ingredients.

Andrographis ; chemistry ; Diterpenes ; analysis ; Drug Stability ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Hot Temperature ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tablets ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

OBJECTIVETo analyse the efficacy and safety of thalidomide (Thal) for patients with multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODSEffectiveness and adverse events of 102 MM patients treated with thalidomide at a median dosage of 200 mg/d. Thirteen cases were treated with Thal alone (group A), and 105 case with Thal in combination with other therapeutic agents (group B) were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULT1) The response rate (RR) (CR + PR) was 65.4% for induction therapy in 52 cases and 45.5% for salvage therapy in 66 cases. RR in group B was higher than that in group A (58.1% versus 23.1/%, P= 0.017), and the non-response/progress (NR) rate was lower (15.2% versus 46.2%, P= 0.015). In group B, the NR rate was lower in 50 cases of newly diagnosed MM than in 55 cases of refractory or relapsed MM (6.0% versus 23.6%, P=0.012). In group B, RR between Thal+VAD or M, regimen (72 cases) and Thal + MP regimen (33 cases) was not statistically significant (62.5% versus 48.5%, P >0.05). 2) The median duration of response maintenance was 15.5 (1.0-58.0) months in 21 cases. 3) Among 97 patients with follow-up data, the estimated median duration of OS was 44 months in a median follow-up duration of 20 months and the accumulative time for use of Thal was 8 months. In univariate analysis,the accumulative duration for use of Thal 6 months, hemoglobin > or = 100 g/L and bone marrow megakaryocytes > 20 per smear were associated with longer OS (P = 0.0014, 0.0101, 0.019, respectively). 4) Multivariate analysis suggested that the accumulative time for use of Thal and bone marrow megakaryocytes > 20 were independent good prognostic factors for OS (P = 0.006, 0.036, respectively). 5) The adverse events of Thal were mostly endurable, the rate of thrombus events was lower than that reported in literature.

CONCLUSIONThalidomide alone or combined with chemotherapy is an useful therapy for MM. The accumulative time for use longer than 6 months may improve survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; drug therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thalidomide ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo assess the prognostic value of biological features and therapy-related factors in multiple myeloma (MM).

METHODS123 patients with newly diagnosed MM between January 1998 and May 2005 were enrolled in this retrospective study. Biological features at presentation and therapy-related factors were analysed. The overall survival (OS) and time to progression (TTP) were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis and the distribution of OS and TTP were compared using log-rank test. Cox regression was used to identify the independent prognostic factors.

RESULTS(1) The univariate analysis indicated that more immature plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy, C-reactive protein >8. Omg/L, CD117 expression, serum beta2-microglobulin (beta2-MG) (3.5 approximately 5.5 mg/L), abnormal cytogenetics aberration of chromosome 13 (Delta13), hypodiploid, poor response to chemotherapy, interferon(IFN) therapy less than 6 months were associated with shorter OS(P <0.05). Lytic bone lesions at presentation, more immature plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy, serum beta2-MG (3.5 approximately 5.5 mg/L), poor response to chemotherapy, and IFN therapy less than 6 months as well as abnormal cytogenetics, hypodiploid and Delta13 were associated with shorter TTP (P <0.05). (2) Multivariable COX analysis indicated IFN therapy more than 6 months was a protective factor for OS and TTP, and more immature plasma cells in bone marrow biopsy was an independent poor prognostic factor for TTP.

CONCLUSIONThe morphology of myeloma cells is useful for assessing the prognosis. And IFN therapy more than 6 months could lengthen OS and TTP.

Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Survival Analysis

BACKGROUNDAt present, China has listed the compound tablet containing a fixed dose of rosiglitazone and metformin, Avandamet, which may improve patient compliance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Avandamet or uptitrated metformin treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin alone.

METHODSThis study was a 48-week, multicenter, randomized, open-labeled, active-controlled trial. Patients with inadequate glycaemic control (glycated hemoglobin [HbA1c] 7.5-9.5%) receiving a stable dose of metformin (≥1500 mg) were recruited from 21 centers in China (from 19 November, 2009 to 15 March, 2011). The primary objective was to compare the proportion of patients who reached the target of HbA1c ≤7% between Avandamet and metformin treatment.

RESULTSAt week 48, 83.33% of patients reached the target of HbA1c ≤7% in Avandamet treatment and 70.00% in uptitrated metformin treatment, with significantly difference between groups. The target of HbA1c ≤6.5% was reached in 66.03% of patients in Avandamet treatment and 46.88% in uptitrated metformin treatment. The target of fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≤6.1 mmol/L was reached in 26.97% of patients in Avandamet treatment and 19.33% in uptitrated metformin treatment. The target of FPG ≤7.0 mmol/L was reached in 63.16% of patients in Avandamet treatment and 43.33% in uptitrated metformin treatment. Fasting insulin decreased 3.24 ± 0.98 μU/ml from baseline in Avandamet treatment and 0.72 ± 1.10 μU/ml in uptitrated metformin treatment. Overall adverse event (AE) rates and serious AE rates were similar between groups. Hypoglycaemia occurred rarely in both groups.

CONCLUSIONSCompared with uptitrated metformin, Avandamet treatment provided significant improvements in key parameters of glycemic control and was generally well tolerated.

REGISTRATION NUMBERChiCTR-TRC-13003776.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; drug effects ; C-Reactive Protein ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; blood ; drug therapy ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Metformin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Thiazoles ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Bone Marrow Examination ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; complications ; diagnosis ; mortality ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies