BACKGROUNDAs a traditional Chinese medicine, Cordyceps sinensis (CS) possesses a variety of immunoregulatory properties. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic potential of CS in a mice model of multiple sclerosis (MS)-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).

METHODSFemale C57BL/6 mice were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein35-55to induce EAE, followed by an instant intragastric feeding with a low dosage of CS (low-CS group, n = 5), high dosage of CS (high-CS group, n = 5), or the same volume of normal saline (control group, n = 5). All the mice were observed for clinical assessment. Over the 30 days of CS treatment, flow cytometry was used to detect the frequency of helper T-cell (Th) subsets, Th1 and Th17, and CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells in the spleen and lymph nodes. Meanwhile, pathological changes in brain were determined using both hematoxylin-eosin and luxol fast blue staining. Data were analyzed using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

RESULTSOver the 15 and 30 days of CS treatment, the clinical assessment for EAE demonstrated that both high-CS group (2.51 ± 0.31 and 2.26 ± 0.39 scores, respectively) and low-CS group (2.99 ± 0.40 and 2.69 ± 0.46, respectively) had lower disease severity scores than those of control group (3.57 ± 0.53 and 3.29 ± 0.53, all P < 0.01, respectively). Meanwhile, after 15 and 30 days, the high-CS group (19.18 ± 1.34 g and 20.41 ± 1.56 g, respectively) and low-CS group (18.07 ± 1.18 g and 19.48 ± 1.69 g, respectively) had a lower body weight, as compared with control group (16.85 ± 1.15 g and 18.22 ± 1.63 g, all P < 0.01, respectively). At 30 days post-CS treatment, there was a lower Th1 frequency in the lymph nodes (2.85 ± 1.54% and 2.77 ± 1.07% vs. 5.35 ± 1.34%, respectively; P < 0.05) and spleens (3.96 ± 1.09% and 3.09 ± 0.84% vs. 5.07 ± 1.50%, respectively; P < 0.05) and less inflammatory infiltration and demyelination in the brain of CS-treated mice than that of control group.

CONCLUSIONSOur preliminary study demonstrated that CS efficiently alleviated EAE severity and EAE-related pathology damage and decreased the number of Th1s in the periphery, indicating its effectiveness in the treatment of murine EAE. Thus, our findings strongly support the therapeutic potential of this agent as a new traditional Chinese medicine approach in MS treatment.

Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule was a classical compound prescription with the efficacy of heat-clearing, detoxification, sedation and anti-inflammation, with cinnabaris as one of its active ingredients. The study focuses on the pharmacokinetics of mercury in rats after oral administration of cinnabaris and Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule, in order to explore the effect of combined traditional Chinese medicines on mercury metabolism. In this study, the method of nitric-perchloric acid digestion system coupled with cold atomic-atomic fluorescence spectroscopy (CV-AFS) was adopted to accurately determine mercury in whole blood of rats. Fufang Niuhueng Xiaoyan capsule had three dose schemes of oral administration, namely equivalent clinical dose, 3 times of equivalent clinical dose and 10 times of equivalent clinical dose; And the doses of oral administration of cinnabaris was calculated according to that of Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule. SPF grade healthy SD rats were fasted overnight before the oral administration with cinnabaris suspension (or Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule suspension). After oral administration of different doses of cinnabaris, no obvious changes in tmax and MRT were observed, while Cmax/dose, AUC0-48 h/dose and AUC0-∞/dose decreased with the increase in dose, indicating that total mercury absorption in body was declining. As the dose increased, Ke, CL/F decreased, and t1/2 increased, indicating that the elimination slowed down, and mercury metabolism showed non-linear dynamic characteristics within a certain range of dose (22-220 mg•kg⁻¹). The total mercury metabolism in the whole blood of rats after oral administration with different doses of Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule also showed non-linear dynamic characteristics. The results were correlated with the low solubility of cinnabaris in the body. Compared with cinnabaris, Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule showed no obvious changes in V/F and MRT, while Ke, CL/F, tmax decreased, and t1/2, Cmax/dose, AUC0-48 h/dose, AUC0-∞/dose increased significantly. The results showed that Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule accelerated absorption, slowed down elimination and improved the total absorption of mercury in the whole blood, indicating that Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule may contain components for promoting absorption and alleviating elimination of mercury. Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule had an impact on the pharmacokinetics of cinnabaris, and long-term administration of cinnabaris (Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule) was possible to cause accumulation of mercury in the body. This study could explain changes in efficacy of Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule, evaluate the rationality of compound medicines containing toxic elements and provide scientific basis for the rational and safe use of Fufang Niuhuang Xiaoyan capsule.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes in the range of motion (ROM) and stress of the intervertebral disc and facet joint of the adjacent segments following anterior cervical corpectomy and fusion (ACCF) and anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) using finite element analysis.

METHODSA three-dimensional finite element model of the lower cervical vertebrae was constructed and validated by comparing the ROM of the finite element model against the published data. After the validation of successful modeling, finite element models of ACDF and ACCF were constructed. The ROM and the stress of the intervertebral disc and facet joint of the adjacent segments were compared between the intact lower cervical vertebrae and the cervical vertebrae after ACDF and ACCF.

RESULTSThe ROM of the finite element model was consistent with the published data. The total ROM and the ROM of the fusion segments with ACDF and ACCF were significantly decreased compared with the intact cervical vertebrae. In the adjacent segments following ACDF and ACCF, the ROM the adjacent segments and the stress peak of the intervertebral disc and facet joint all increased obviously compared with those of intact cervical vertebrae.

CONCLUSIONAfter fusion surgeries, the total ROM of the cervical vertebrae decreases and the ROM of the adjacent segment increases. The stress peak of the intervertebral disc and facet joint of the adjacent segments also increases to significantly alter the physiological characteristics of the intact cervical vertebrae.

To study the effects of AÇaí(Euterpe oleracea) on lipid metabolism, immune substances and endocrine hormone level in rats with deficiency-heat and deficiency-cold syndrome. SD rats were divided into blank control group, deficiency-heat model group, deficiency-heat & Phellodendri Cortex group, deficiency-heat & AÇaí high dose and low dose groups, deficiency-cold model group, deficiency-cold & Cinnamomi Cortex group, deficiency-cold & AÇaí high dose and low dose groups. The rats received intramuscular injection of dexamethasone sodium phosphate (0.35 mg) or hydrocortisone sodium succinate (20 mg) for 21 days to set up deficiency-heat models and deficiency-cold models. Then the changes in fatmetabolism levels (FFA, LPL, HL) and immune indexes (IgG, IgM, C3 and C4) were detected by colorimeter; and the levels of endocrine hormone indexes (CORT, E2 and T) were detected by radioimmunoassay. The levels of FFA, LPL and HL in serum were reduced (P<0.01 or P<0.001); levels of IgG, IgM and C3 in serum were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.001); level of CORT in serum was increased (P<0.05) and the level of E2, E2/T in serum were reduced in the AÇaí high dose group (P<0.05). The effect of high dose AÇaí on fat metabolism was not obvious in deficiency-cold models, but the levels of IgG, IgM, C3 and CORT in serum were increased (P<0.05 or P<0.001). AÇaí was showed the same effect trend with Phellodendri Cortex in adjusting the levels of deficiency-heat rats; but unlike Cinnamomi Cortex, AÇaí was showed no obvious effect in adjusting the levels of deficiency-cold rats. In this experiment, homogeneous comparison and heterogeneous disproof were used to verify the cold nature of Çaí.

BACKGROUNDThe established clinical staging systems (Rai/Binet) of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cannot accurately predict the appropriate treatment of patients in the earlier stages. In the past two decades, several prognostic factors have been identified to predict the outcome of patients with CLL, but only a few studies investigated more markers together. To predict the time to first treatment (TTFT) in patients of early stages, we evaluated the prognostic role of conventional markers as well as cytogenetic abnormalities and combined them together in a new prognostic scoring system, the CLL prognostic index (CLL-PI).

METHODSTaking advantage of a population of 406 untreated Chinese patients with CLL at early and advanced stage of disease, we identified the strongest prognostic markers of TTFT and, subsequently, in a cohort of 173 patients who had complete data for all 3 variables, we integrated the data of traditional staging system, cytogenetic aberrations, and mutational status of immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) in CLL-PI. The median follow-up time was 45 months and the end point was TTFT.

RESULTSThe median TTFT was 38 months and the 5-year overall survival was 80%. According to univariate analysis, patients of advanced Rai stages (P < 0.001) or with 11q- (P = 0.002), 17p- (P < 0.001), unmutated IGHV (P < 0.001), negative 13q- (P = 0.007) and elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels (P = 0.001) tended to have a significantly shorter TTFT. And subsequently, based on multivariate Cox regression analysis, three independent factors for TTFT were identified: advanced clinical stage (P = 0.002), 17p- (P = 0.050) and unmutated IGHV (P = 0.049). Applying weighted grading of these independent factors, a CLL-PI was constructed based on regression parameters, which could categorize four different risk groups (low risk [score 0], intermediate low [score 1], intermediate high [score 2] and high risk [score 3-6]) with significantly different TTFT (median TTFT of not reached (NR), 65.0 months, 36.0 months and 19.0 months, respectively, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONSThis study developed a weighted, integrated CLL-PI prognostic system of CLL patients which combines the critical genetic prognostic markers with traditional clinical stage. This novel modified PI system could be used to discriminate among groups and may help predict the TTFT and prognosis of patients with CLL.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; genetics ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains ; genetics ; metabolism ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; diagnosis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis

The present study was conducted to clarify the psychophysiological relaxation effects of viewing bamboo on university students. Forty healthy Chinese participants enrolled in this study to clarify the psychophysiological relaxation effects of viewing bamboo. The effects of visual stimulation using a pot both with and without a bamboo were recorded by measuring the student's blood pressure, EEG and STAI. We observed that viewing bamboo plants resulted in significantly lower systolic (female, P < 0.001; male, P < 0.001; P < 0.05) and diastolic (female, P < 0.001; male, P < 0.001; P < 0.05) blood pressures, but no changes in the pulse rate (female, P = 0.09; male, P = 0.07; P > 0.05) were observed. The results of the EEG analysis indicated brainwave variation (all P < 0.05) and lower anxiety scores (P < 0.01) after 3 min of viewing bamboo compared with the control. These findings indicate that visual stimulation with bamboo plants induced psychophysiological relaxation effects on adults.
Adult ; Bambusa ; Blood Pressure ; physiology ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Male ; Relaxation

OBJECTIVEMany metals, some of which have been classified as environmental endocrine disruptors, are used extensively in everyday consumer products and are ubiquitous in our living environment. In the present study, we aimed to explore the associations between the prevalence risk of type 2 diabetes and plasma levels of 20 trace elements as well as those of heavy metals in a Han Chinese population.

METHODSWe conducted a case-control study to investigate the associations between plasma concentrations of 20 metals and diabetes in Jiangsu province. A total of 122 newly diagnosed cases of type 2 diabetes and 429 matched controls were recruited from community physical examinations in Suzhou City of Jiangsu Province. Plasma metal levels were measured by inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

RESULTSAfter adjusting for confounders, plasma vanadium, chromium, manganese, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, strontium, palladium, cadmium, cesium, and barium were associated with diabetes risk (P < 0.05). The adjusted OR increased with increasing concentration of vanadium, manganese, copper, zinc, and cesium.

CONCLUSIONMany metals, including manganese, copper, zinc, arsenic, selenium, and cadmium in plasma, are associated with the morbidity of diabetes. Monitoring of environmental metal levels and further studies are urgently needed.

Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; etiology ; Environmental Pollutants ; blood ; toxicity ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metals ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors

China has a double burden of diabetes mellitus and tuberculosis, and many studies have been carried out on the mutual impact of these two diseases. This paper systematically reviewed studies conducted in China covering the mutual impact of epidemics of diabetes and tuberculosis, the impact of diabetes on multi-drug resistant tuberculosis and on the tuberculosis clinical manifestation and treatment outcome, the yields of bi-directional screening, and economic evaluation for tuberculosis screening among diabetes patients.
China ; epidemiology ; Coinfection ; epidemiology ; etiology ; microbiology ; Diabetes Mellitus ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Epidemics ; Mass Screening ; economics ; Prevalence ; Tuberculosis ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; epidemiology ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo explore the prognostic value of interimF-FDG PET/CT (i-PET/CT) scan for the patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODSA total of 70 cases of initially diagnosed of DLBCL by 158F-FDG PET/CT scans in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed. The 5-point scale, the Lugano classification and maximum standardized uptake value induction (ΔSUVmax) criteria were used respectively to assess i-PET/CT scans. Receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was used to determine an optimal cutoff for ΔSUVmax. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) times were estimated as prognostic indicators using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression.

RESULTSOptimal cutoff to predict progression or death was 62% for ΔSUVmax. The positive predictive value (PPV) for 2-year PFS and OS of i-PET/CT diagnosed by 5-point scale was low, and could be improved by using the Lugano classification with decreased sensitivity or ΔSUVmax criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that the Lugano classification and ΔSUVmax were good predictors for PFS and OS, respectively, while the 5-point scale could only predict OS. Cox regression univariate analysis showed that the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score was better to predict PFS than 5-point scale, but worse than the three assessments in predicting OS. COX regression multivariate analysis showed that ΔSUVmax<62% was an independent risk factor of prognosis, while the Lugano classification was only the OS independent prognostic predictor.

CONCLUSIONAssessing i-PET/CT by 5-point scale is a limited value for predicting PFS and OS in DLBCL patients. The Lugano classification is recommended to discriminate the patients with poorer outcomes. The ΔSUVmax criteria for i-PET/CT of DLBCL patients is an independent prognostic predictor for PFS and OS, better than the IPI score.