OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Chinese medicine and pharmacy (CMP) on the mortality of senile HIV/AIDS patients as adjunctive therapy.

METHODSHIV/AIDS patients of a certain rural area of Hanna Province, who were recruited in national CMP HIV treatment trial program (NTCMTP) in 2004, were enrolled as the CMP treatment group. HIV/AIDS patients in the same village without recruiting in NTCMTP were enrolled as the non-CMP treatment group. Data related to subjects were collected from the database of NTCMTP and National HAART Reporting System. Multiple regression analysis under Cox proportional hazard model was applied to examine the risk factors for death of senile HIV/AIDS patients.

RESULTSA total of 436 HIV/AIDS were enrolled in this study, 204 in the CMP treatment group and 232 in the non-CMP treatment group. There were 70 AIDS-relative deaths in the CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 37.74%. There were 111 AIDS-relative deaths in the non-CMP treatment group, with 8-year mortality rate of 48.34%. The 8-year mortality rate was higher in the non-CMP treatment group than in the CMP treatment group (chi2 = 5.136, P < 0.05). Results of univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.41 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Result of multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis showed the hazard ratio in the non-CMP treatment group was 1.44 times that of the CMP treatment group (P < 0.05). Besides, gender and marital conditions were significantly associated with death of HIV/AIDS patients.

CONCLUSIONCMP treatment was favorable to lower the mortality rate of senile HIV/AIDS patients, and its objective evaluation awaits for further prospective study.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Alzheimer Disease ; therapy ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; Communicable Diseases ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; HIV Infections ; drug therapy ; mortality ; Humans ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prospective Studies ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the characteristics of the normal subjects with postural sway test and discuss the value of postural sway test in the diagnosis of dizzy patients.

METHODSTotally 112 normal subjects, 72 patients with peripheral vertigo, and 30 patients with central vertigo were examined using a stabilometer (EAB-100, Anima Co., Japan). Items include patterns, length of locus, envelope area, deflection average center displacement, and romberg rate were recorded and compared.

RESULTSThe postural sway was classified into the following five patterns: centripetal, forward and backward, right and left, diffuse, and multicentric. Centripetal pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the normal subjects, while diffuse pattern was the most prominent figure pattern in the patients with central vertigo. When the normal subjects closed their eyes, age was linearly correlated with the length of locus, envelope area, rectangel area, and unit area path length (P < 0.05). Sex was not correlated to all of these parameters. The length of locus and envelope area in the patient groups were significantly increased when compared with the normal subjects (P < 0.0167). Romberg rate was not significantly different between the patients and the normal subjects.

CONCLUSIONSThe pattern of postural sway is useful for the diagnosis of vertigo. Age is an important factor that affects the balance function. Sex seems has no influence. Visual input plays an important role in maintaining postural balance. Stabilometer is a useful tool for evaluating balance function, and postural sway test may be a valuable assistant examination.

Adult ; Age Factors ; Case-Control Studies ; Dizziness ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postural Balance

OBJECTIVETo study the changes in serum cortisol levels in adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and elevated depressive symptoms.

METHODSTwenty-eight adolescents with T1DM and 31 healthy peers were assessed for depressive symptoms using a depression self-rating scale developed by the Epidemiological Survey Center. Selected subjects were classified into four groups: T1DM with elevated depressive symptoms group (n=15), T1DM without elevated depressive symptoms group (n=13), elevated depressive symptoms without T1DM group (n=15), and normal control group (n=16). Fasting blood samples were collected in the morning, and the levels of serum cortisol were compared among the four groups. The correlations of serum levels of cortisol and glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with the score of depression self-rating scale were evaluated by Pearson correlation analysis.

RESULTSThe fasting serum cortisol levels in the 28 T1DM patients were significantly higher than in the 31 healthy peers (P<0.01). The fasting cortisol levels in the T1DM with elevated depressive symptoms group were significantly higher compared with those in the elevated depressive symptoms without T1DM group and normal control group (P<0.01). In adolescents with T1DM, serum HbA1c level was positively correlated with the score of depression self-rating scale (r=0.481, P=0.010).

CONCLUSIONSThe fasting serum cortisol levels in adolescents with T1DM and elevated depressive symptoms are significantly increased, suggesting that the patients with comorbidity of T1DM and depression develop dysfunction of the corticotropin-releasing hormone-adrenocorticotropic hormone-cortisol axis. The elevated depressive symptoms may be associated with a poor control of glucose metabolism.

Adolescent ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; physiology ; Child ; Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone ; physiology ; Depression ; blood ; etiology ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 ; blood ; Female ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; blood ; Male

Laggera pterodonta is commonly used for treating influenza in Southwest China, especially in Yunnnan province. The main clinical effects of L. pterodonta include anti-influenza, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory. To investigate the anti-influenza A (H1N1) virus effect of L. pterodonta, neutralization inhibition and proliferation inhibition tests were performed. MDCK culture method was used to observe the cytopathic effect (CPE) of extracts from L. pterodonta in inhibiting influenza A (H1N1) virus and haemagglutination titre of H1N1 virus in vitro. The culture medium were collected at 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, 96 h, and detected by Real time RT-PCR, in order to compare the effect of different extracts from L. pterodonta on in vitro proliferation of H1N1, virus. The result of neutralization inhibition test showed that hemagglutination titer of ethyl acetate extract were 8 times lower at 72 h; in proliferation inhibition test, hemagglutination titer of ethyl acetate extracts reduced by 2 and 4 times. According to the results of Real time RT-PCR test, the H1N1 inhibition ratio of ethyl acetate extract was 72.5%, while the proliferation inhibition ratio of ethyl acetate extract was 25.3%; as for petroleum ether extracts, the H1N1 inhibition ratio was 60.2%, while the proliferation inhibition ratio was 81.4%. In conclusion, both ethyl acetate extract and petroleum ether extract of L. pterodonta have significant neutralization and direct proliferation inhibition effects on influenza A virus.
Asteraceae ; chemistry ; China ; ethnology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; drug effects ; physiology ; Influenza, Human ; drug therapy ; virology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional

OBJECTIVETo prospectively investigate the effectiveness of suction drainage for correction of maxillofacial deformities caused by cystic lesions of the mandible.

METHODSSuction drainage was performed in 21 cases with large cystic lesions of the mandible which had expanded facial contour. Clinical and radiological examinations of these patients were carried out regularly. The volume of the cavity was measured during treatment. The expansion indexes on axial CT image and area of the cyst on a panoramic radiograph were measured preoperatively and postoperatively. The curettage via intraoral incision was completed until the extent of disease significantly shrunk.

RESULTSAfter a mean duration of suction drainage of 5.1 months, the volume and the size on the panoramic radiographic of the cystic lesions were reduced by an average of 84% and 63% respectively. The expansion indexes were reduced notably during treatment. Computerized tomography of the mandible showed that the contour of expanded mandible was restored greatly and notable new bone was formed in the area of cortex perforation.

CONCLUSIONSSuction drainage is a useful treatment modality for the primary management of giant cystic lesion of the mandible, and can fast correct maxillofacial deformities caused by bony expansion and perforation in the area of cystic lesions.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandibular Diseases ; complications ; therapy ; Maxillofacial Abnormalities ; etiology ; therapy ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Suction ; Young Adult

The changes of microRNA expression in rat hippocampus after traumatic brain injury (TBI) were explored. Adult SD rats received a single controlled cortical impact injury, and the ipsilateral hippocampus was harvested for the subsequent microarray assay at three time points after TBI: 1st day, 3rd day and 5th day, respectively. We characterized the microRNA expression profile in rat hippocampus using the microRNA microarray analysis, and further verified microarray results of miR-142-3p and miR-221 using quantitative real-time PCR. Totally 205 microRNAs were identified and up-/down-regulated more than 1.5 times. There were significant changes in 17 microRNAs at all three time points post-TBI. The quantitative real-time PCR results of miR-142-3p and miR-221 indicated good consistency with the results of the microarray method. MicroRNAs altered at different time points post-TBI. MiR-142-3p and miR-221 may be used as potentially biological markers for TBI assessment in forensic practice.

OBJECTIVETo assess the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels at birth and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants.

METHODSThis study recruited preterm infants with gestational age of below 34 weeks who were born between January 2014 and December 2016. These preterm infants were classified into two groups: BPD and control. The association between serum 25(OH)D levels at birth and BPD was analyzed.

RESULTSSerum 25(OH)D levels in the BPD group was significantly lower than those in the control group [(37±17 nmol/L vs 47±20 nmol/L; P<0.05), and the rate of vitamin D deficiency was significantly higher than those in the control group (90.2% vs 74.0%; P<0.05). The level of serum 25(OH)D was negatively correlated with the incidence of BPD (r=-0.201, P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONSVitamin D deficiency at birth may be associated with BPD in preterm infants, but need to be further studied by multivariate analysis.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; blood ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; blood ; Male ; Vitamin D ; analogs & derivatives ; blood ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications

Chinese medicine (CM) has been used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) for 30 years and the demonstrated therapeutic effects of CM, such as reducing plasma HIV viral load, increasing CD4(+)T cell counts, promoting immunity reconstitution, ameliorating symptoms and signs, improving the health related quality of life (HRQOL) and counteracting against the effects of anti-retroviral drugs, were summarized and reviewed in this article. The authors point out that it had been a good opportunity to use CM for the treatment of HIV infection and AIDS in the past and also there are huge challenges ahead for CM research and clinicians to discover more effective CM and its underlying mechanisms for treatment of AIDS.
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; complications ; therapy ; Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active ; adverse effects ; utilization ; China ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends ; Palliative Care ; methods ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome

To investigate the effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitor simvastatin (SV) on proliferation, apoptosis and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in human acute monocytic leukemia cell line SHI-1. SHI-1 cells were incubated with different concentrations of SV (5, 10, 15 µmol/L). Otherwise, SHI-1 cells without any treatment were used as control. Cells in different groups were collected at 24, 48 and 72 h after incubation for further detection. MTT method was used to assay the growth inhibition rate and flow cytometry was used to detect the early stage apoptosis ratio. The human PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway RT(2) Profiler(TM) PCR Array was used to detect the expression of 84 genes involved in PI3K-AKT signaling. The results indicated that the SV inhibited the proliferation and inducted the apoptosis of SHI-1 cells in time- and dose-dependent manners significantly. The growth inhibition rates of SHI-1 cells treated with 15 µmol/L SV for 24, 48 and 72 h were 26.82, 47.09 and 63.92, respectively; and their early stage apoptosis ratios were 5.75, 13.25 and 15.59, respectively. Compared with the control group, expression levels of 39 genes were changed in the group of 15 µmol/L SV at 48 h, among them 26 genes were down-regulated and 13 genes were up-regulated. It is concluded that the SV can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of SHI-1 cells, and the mechanism may be associated with the changes of gene expression level in PI3K-AKT signaling pathway regulated by SV.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Leukemic ; Humans ; Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute ; metabolism ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Simvastatin ; pharmacology

This study was aimed to further investigate the function of platelet collagen receptor-glycoprotein VI and to screen its specific inhibitor. The extracellular domain of platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) in E. coli was expressed by recombinant technology, the extracellular domain cDNA of GPVI was amplified from pBluescript KS(-)-GPVI plasmid by PCR. Proved by sequencing, the expression vector pET-20b(+)-GPVI was constructed, which was then transformed into E. coli (BL21(DE3)pLysS) and induced by IPTG. The recombinant GPVI was purified on Ni-NTA resin column and renatured in PBS containing GSH and GSSG. The anti-penta His McAb and anti-GPVI polyclonal antibody were used to identify the recombinant GPVI in Western blotting. Collagen binding test was conducted to investigate the biological activity of recombinant GPVI. The results showed that the recombinant GPVI was expressed in E. coli and successfully purified, which was confirmed to be similar to the native GPVI in Western blotting. The recombinant GPVI can bind the type I collagen in dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, the recombinant GPVI can be achieved in E. coli and restore its native characteristics after renaturation.
Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Blotting, Western ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; Humans ; Integrin alpha2beta1 ; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Protein Binding ; Receptors, Collagen ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Recombinant Proteins ; biosynthesis ; isolation & purification