To scientifically evaluate the intervention effect of Chinese medicine preventive administration(combined use of Huo-xiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) on community population in the case of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19), a large cohort, prospective, randomized, and parallel-controlled clinical study was conducted. Total 22 065 subjects were included and randomly divided into 2 groups. The non-intervention group was given health guidance only, while the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) intervention group was given two coordinated TCM in addition to health guidance. The medical instructions were as follows. Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid: oral before meals, 10 mL/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days. Jinhao Jiere Granules: dissolve in boiling water and take after meals, 8 g/time, 2 times/day, a course of 5 days, followed up for 14 days, respectively. The study found that with the intake of medication, the incidence rate of TCM intervention group was basically maintained at a low and continuous stable level(0.01%-0.02%), while the non-intervention group showed an overall trend of continuous growth(0.02%-0.18%) from 3 to 14 days. No suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case occurred in either group. There were 2 cases of colds in the TCM intervention group and 26 cases in the non-intervention group. The incidence of colds in the TCM intervention group was significantly lower(P<0.05) than that in the non-intervention group. In the population of 16-60 years old, the incidence rate of non-intervention and intervention groups were 0.01% and 0.25%, respectively. The difference of colds incidence between the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). In the population older than 60 years old, they were 0.04% and 0.21%, respectively. The incidence of colds in the non-intervention group was higher than that in the intervention group, but not reaching statistical difference. The protection rate of TCM for the whole population was 91.8%, especially for the population of age 16-60(95.0%). It was suggested that TCM intervention(combined use of Huoxiang Zhengqi Oral Liquid and Jinhao Jiere Granules) could effectively protect community residents against respiratory diseases, such as colds, which was worthy of promotion in the community. In addition, in terms of safety, the incidence of adverse events and adverse reactions in the TCM intervention group was relatively low, which was basically consistent with the drug instructions.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Betacoronavirus ; Coronavirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Pandemics ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; Prospective Studies ; Young Adult

Catechins are the key components of tea and have a great impact on its quality. Catechins can be oxidized to form a new black tea polyphenols, some of which have better pharmacological effect. However, the formation mechanism of these new polyphenols is still unclear. In this paper, oxidation products coming from catechins and the formation mechanism of the new compounds are reviewed.It is the base of further study on theaflavins, thearubigins and theabrownines.

A 20-year-old male patient was admitted in our department 14 h after paraquat poisoning at the dose of about 50 mL. The patient underwent intensive hemoperfusion for 2 h (3 times a day) for 9 consecutive days and received continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) in the mode of continuous veno-venous hemofiltration (CVVH) for 10 consecutive days in addition to routine medications. The biochemical indexes were monitored during the therapy. After the treatment, paraquat concentrations in the blood and urine were decreased, and the patient's urine volume (UV) increased, serum creatinine (Cr) level decreased, and the oxygenation index became normal. Dynamic CT scan showed no obvious pulmonary fibrosis. The patient was followed up for 6 months after discharge and no complaint of discomforts was reported. This case suggests that early intensive hemoperfusion and long-term CVVH may help improve the prognosis after paraquat poisoning.
Blood Gas Analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Fluids ; Hemofiltration ; Hemoperfusion ; Humans ; Male ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; Poisoning ; therapy ; Prognosis ; Renal Dialysis ; Young Adult

A patient with skin rash, skin denudation, anuria, general dropsy and dyspnea for unknown etiology underwent continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) for 3 consecutive days. The biochemical indexes were monitored during the therapy and biopsy was performed on the right thigh. Pathological examination of the biopsy sample established the diagnosis of polymyositis(PM) and dermatomyositis(DM). After the start of CRRT, the patient's heart, liver, kidney and lung injuries showed obvious improvement, and the urine volume (UV) increased and serum creatinine (Cr), urea, total bilirubin (TBIL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme (CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels all decreased promptly. The patient showed progressive improvement of the physiological condition even after CRRT, and was discharged 10 days later. This case suggests the efficacy of CRRT in the management of severe PM/DM and its value as a good option for treatment of severe autoimmune disease, especially systemic inflammatory response syndrome.
Adult ; Dermatomyositis ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Polymyositis ; therapy ; Renal Replacement Therapy ; Treatment Outcome

It is hard to discriminate myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) from many benign hematological diseases. To identify the methylation status of zo-1 gene in MDS, the methylation specific PCR (MS-PCR) and reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) were applied to detect the MDS cell line MUTZ-1, bone marrow of a healthy donor and an aplastic anemia patient. MS-PCR was also employed to detect the bone marrow of 72 patients with benign hematological diseases, 35 MDS-RA patients, and 20 MDS-like patients. The results showed that MDS cell line MUTZ-1 displayed complete methylation of zo-1 promoter without mRNA expression. Inversely, a patient with benign hematological disease and a donor with normal bone marrow showed complete unmethylation of this gene with unaffected mRNA expression. No zo-1 promoter methylation was detected in patients with benign hematological diseases, while aberrant hypermethylation of zo-1 gene promoter were found in 48.6% (18/37) of MDS-RA patients. The positive rate of zo-1 methylation in MDS-RA patients was higher than that in patients with benign hematological diseases (p < 0.05). Seven suspected MDS patients manifested hypermethylation status of zo-1 gene (7/20), 2 were followed up for 1 year and transformed into MDS. It is concluded that relatively high hypermethylation rate of zo-1 promoter is observed in MDS-RA, and no methylation in patients with benign hematological diseases. Therefore, zo-1 gene hypermethylation may be served as a useful epigenetic marker in the differential diagnosis for MDS.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; DNA Methylation ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Young Adult ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of annexin II (AnnII) and the fibrinolytic activity in NB4 cells and their alterations in the presence of arsenic trioxide (ATO) and daunorubicin (DNR).

METHODSLeukemia cell line NB4 was treated with ATO or DNR for 24 ∼ 72 h. Cell surface expression of AnnII and its mRNA were analysed by flow cytometry and real time PCR, respectively, the fibrinolytic activity by chromogenic assay.

RESULTSCompared with other acute leukemia cell lines, the expression of AnnII on untreated NB4 cells was relatively higher. The AnnII positive cell rates on NB4, HL-60, K562, and A3 cells were (94.5 ± 1.6)%, (40.1 ± 2.1)%, (36.3 ± 1.5)% and (11.8 ± 2.5)%, respectively. The fibrinolytic activity of NB4 cells was the greatest with a A value of 0.68 ± 0.02. The fibrinolytic activity of NB4 cells was obviously decreased by ATO, DNR or monoclonal antibody against AnnII, being decreased by 60.4%, 35.8% and 26.0% of the pretreatment level, respectively. The expressions of AnnII and its mRNA in NB4 cells were decreased dramatically after ATO and DNR treated for 48 h. Annexin II positive cells rate were (55.46 ± 4.72)% and (27.00 ± 6.18)%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONNB4 cells have strong ability to enhance the catalytic efficiency of the t-PA-dependent plasminogen activation and AnnII on the cell membrane contributes to this activity. Its high fibrinolytic activity can be corrected by ATO and DNR through down-regulating AnnII.

Annexin A2 ; Apoptosis ; Daunorubicin ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Leukemia ; metabolism

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable heterogeneous disease derived from malignant clonal expansion of plasma cells. The evaluation of prognosis, detection of minimal residual disease (MRD) and treatment of MM are unclear for decades. Recently, Velcade and autotransplantation have been broadly applied to MM patients and achieved better outcomes, but there is yet no effective and universal marker for MRD detection in MM. Both genetic and epigene-tic aberrations play important roles in the pathogenesis and development of cancer. Our preliminary data showed that aberrant promoter methylation of zo-1 and id4 genes was correlated with their gene silencing in several types of hematological malignancies. Therefore, this study was aimed to identify the promoter methylation status of zo-1 and id4 genes in MM and their relationship with the prognosis, MRD and treatment of MM. The methylation status of zo-1 and id4 genes of MM cell lines U266, H929 and IM9 was tested by using MS-PCR; the methylation status of zo-1, id4 gene promoters in bone marrow samples of 20 MM patients and 6 healthy persons was detected by MS-PCR. The results showed that the zo-1, id4 gene in MM cell lines all were methylation positive (complete or partial methylation), the zo-1, id4 gene in samples of 5 healthy persons all were completely unmethylated. The methylation positive rate of zo-1 and id4 genes were 50% and 85% respectively, which were significantly higher than that in normal bone marrow (0%). The coverage rate of zo-1 and id4 gene methylation was 95%. There were no significant differences in the methylation status of both genes among the patients with different heavy chains, different light chains and symptoms. It is concluded that the change of zo-1, id4 genes methylation status occurs in MM patients and has specificity, which may be a new gene marker of MM, methylation analysis of zo-1 and id4 genes may be important for MRD monitoring in patients with MM.
Adult ; Aged ; Bone Marrow ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Inhibitor of Differentiation Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Neoplasm, Residual ; genetics ; Phosphoproteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein

OBJECTIVETo analyze the relationship between BK viruria and the late onset hemorrhagic cystitis (LOHC) after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and investigate the role of BK virus load in the development of LOHC.

METHODSFrom August 2006 to April 2008, urine samples were collected weekly from 113 patients undergoing HSCT. Virus DNA were extracted from the urine samples and amplified by qualitative PCR. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to quantify BKV DNA in the urine samples of all BK viruria patients.

RESULTSLOHC occurred in 22 patients (19.5%), including grade 1 in 7, grade 2 in 11, grade 3 in 3, and grade 4 in one. The median onset time was 44 (13 - 114) days after transplantation. Twenty-one of which (95.5%) were BK virus positive, being significantly higher than that in non-LOHC patients (31.9%) (P = 0.000). No BK virus was detected in the healthy control group at the same time. Quantitative PCR detection showed that the mean BK virus DNA copies in LOHC patients at a week before occurring HC was higher than that at the first positive samples (10(5) copies/microl versus 10(4) copies/microl, P = 0.025), and it was no significant change at the onset and a week after HC. Meanwhile, there was no statistical difference in the mean level of BK virus DNA copies among the LOHC patients with different grades. The mean level of BK virus DNA copies in non-HC patients was 10(3) to 10(4) copies/microl, being lower than that in LOHC patients.

CONCLUSIONSBK viruria is an important pathogenic cause of the LOHC after HSCT. The occurrence of BKV viruria in HSCT patients, together with the increasing of BK virus DNA copies in urine, over the level of 10(5) copies/microl may indicate a possible development of LOHC.

Adolescent ; Adult ; BK Virus ; isolation & purification ; Child ; Cystitis ; etiology ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; urine ; Female ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; virology ; Transplantation, Homologous ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThis study was designed to clarify the significance of DNA methylation in the expression of runt-related transcription factor 3 (Runx3) gene.

METHODSReverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) was used to measure the expression level of Runx3 mRNA in paired samples of primary gastric cancer and corresponding non-cancerous gastric mucosa, taken from surgical specimens of 70 gastric cancer patients. Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of Runx3 gene. The promoter methylation status of Runx3 gene was detected by methylation specific PCR (MSP). Furthermore, RT-PCR was used to mesure the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmtl) mRNA . The correlation of Runx3 expression and methylation with Dnmt1 mRNA expression was analyzed.

RESULTSThe mRNA expression level of Runx3 gene was significantly lower in gastric cancer than that in the matched normal gastric mucosa (0.5740 +/- 0.3580 vs. 1.7250 +/- 0.4080, P < 0.05), and the Runx3 protein expression level in gastric cancer was also significantly lower than that in the matched normal gastric mucosa (P < 0.05). Promoter hypermethylation of Runx3 gene was detected in 50.0% (28/56) of the gastric cancer samples, which resulted in a reduced expression of Runx3 mRNA. It was found that the mRNA expression level of Dnmt1 gene was significantly higher in the gastric cancer tissues with methylated Runx3 gene than that in the ones without. There was a significant correlation of Runx3 gene methylation with increased expression of Dnmtl mRNA (r = 0.64, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe promoter hypermethylation may be one of the predominant inactivation mechanisms of the runt-related transcription factor 3 gene, and may be associated with carcinogenesis of human gastric cancer. Reduced Runx3 expression in gastric cancer may be partially correlated with a high level of DNA methyltransferase 1.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; Adult ; Aged ; Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit ; genetics ; metabolism ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferase 1 ; DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; DNA Methylation ; Down-Regulation ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the prevalence of Fms-Like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutations including internal tandem duplication (ITD) of juxtamembrane region and point mutation in the second tyrosine kinase domain (TKD) in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) and its clinical significance.

METHODSBone marrow mononuclear cells from 160 newly diagnosed APL patients were analyzed. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect FLT3-ITD mutations, FLT3-ITD positive samples were further analyzed for the ITD allelic ratio (ITD-AR, mutant-wild type ratio). The FLT3-TKD mutation was analyzed by PCR amplification of exon 20 followed by EcoR V digestion and sequencing.

RESULTSOut of 160 patients, 30 (18.75%) patients were FLT3-ITD positive, 17 (10.62%) were FLT3-TKD positive, 2 had both of mutations. The initial WBC count and the ratio of short type PML-RAR alpha isoforms in FLT3-ITD positive and FLT3-TKD positive patients were all higher than that in patients with wild-type FLT3 (FLT3-wt) (P < 0.05). For FLT3-ITD positive patients, the incidences of retinoic acid syndrome (RAS) and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) were 41.7% and 65.4%, respectively, being higher than that of FLT3-wt patients, while their complete remission (CR) rate was lower (69.2% vs 90.3%, P < 0.05). For FLT3-TKD positive patients, the incidence of RAS, DIC and CR rate were not significantly different from that of FLT3-wt patients (P > 0.05). FLT3-ITD positive patients had a shorter overall survival (OS) (P < 0.05), but not disease-free survival (DFS) (P > 0.05) as compared with FLT3-wt patients. There was no significant difference in either OS or DFS between FLT3-TKD positive and FLT3-wt patients. The ITD-AR of 30 FLT3-ITD positive patients varied from 0.11 to 6.55 with a median of 1.0. The initial WBC count, incidence of RAS and DIC, CR rate were not significantly different between the patients with ITD-AR greater than 1.0 and lower than 1.0 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFLT3 mutations (FLT3-ITD or FLT3-TKD) are frequently identified in patients with newly diagnosed APL, both mutations are associated with higher initial WBC and short type PML-RAR alpha isoforms. FLT3-ITD mutation is more frequent than FLT3-TKD mutation, and predicts a poorer prognosis, whereas FLT3-TKD mutation does not show the same unfavorable prognostic effect on APL patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Point Mutation ; Prognosis ; Tandem Repeat Sequences ; Young Adult ; fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 ; genetics