ObjectiveTo observe the intervention effect of Huaiqihuang granules （HQH） on immunoglobulin A vasculitis nephritis （IgAVN） mice and explore the underlying therapeutic mechanism. MethodFifty SPF-grade male Kunming mice were randomly divided into a normal group， an IgAVN model group， a dexamethasone group （2.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）， a low-dose HQH group （4 g·kg^-1·d^-1）， and a high-dose HQH group （8 g·kg^-1·d^-1）. The mouse model was established using oral administration of gliadin combined with intravenous injection of India ink. After successful modeling， the mice were euthanized after 4 weeks of gastric gavage according to groups. The 24 h urinary total protein （24 h UTP）， urine β₂-microglobulin （β₂-MG）， serum total protein， albumin， IgA， etc. were detected in each group. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of T helper 17 （Th17） cells in spleen cell suspension. Western blot was employed to detect the expression of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase α （AMPKα）， phosphorylated AMPKα （p-AMPKα）， acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 （ACC1）， and phosphorylated ACC1 （p-ACC1） in Th17 cells. Pathological changes in the spleen and kidneys were observed. ResultCompared with the normal group， the IgAVN model group showed significant increases in 24 h UTP， urine β₂-MG， total cholesterol （P<0.05）， serum interleukin-17 （IL-17）， IgA， Th17 proportion in the spleen cell suspension， and IL-17 expression in the spleen tissue （P<0.01）， and significantly decreased serum total protein， albumin， p-AMPKα/AMPKα， and p-ACC1/ACC1 expression of Th17 cells （P<0.01）. Compared with the IgAVN model group， in the 4th week， the 24 h UTP， urine β₂-MG， serum IL-17， IgA levels， and renal IgA deposition were significantly reduced in each treatment group （P<0.01）， and the Th17 proportion and IL-17 expression in spleen tissue were significantly decreased （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Serum albumin levels significantly increased （P<0.05）. Compared with the IgAVN model group， the dexamethasone group and the high-dose HQH group showed increases in serum total protein （P<0.01）， p-AMPKα/AMPKα， and p-ACC1/ACC1 expression of Th17 cells （P<0.05， P<0.01）. The high-dose HQH group showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol level （P<0.05）. Various treatment groups showed different degrees of improvement in spleen and kidney pathological changes. ConclusionHQH may affect Th17 cell differentiation by regulating the AMPK/ACC pathway， correcting immune inflammatory disorders， and exerting therapeutic effects on IgAVN.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths， and standard treatments for lung cancer， including surgery， radiotherapy， chemotherapy， targeted therapy， and immunotherapy， have shown significant clinical effects. However， current available treatment strategies are still unable to cure the disease. Since the majority of lung cancer patients are diagnosed at an advanced stage， surgical options are often lost， and the primary approach is typically a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However， the adverse reactions associated with these treatments limit their effectiveness and application， and the damage caused to normal tissues is often more severe than that inflicted on the tumor. Currently， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） has been used as part of combination therapy for cancer treatment due to its unique system of syndrome differentiation， flexible compatibility， and safety and efficacy. TCM prescriptions and single drugs with multiple components and targets can simultaneously regulate multiple pathways. As reported， among numerous pathways involved in the regulation of lung cancer， the nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB） signaling pathway plays a key role in inducing cell transcription and is one of the main pathways involved in the occurrence and development of lung cancer. It can specifically regulate inflammatory responses， cell proliferation， apoptosis， invasion and metastasis， angiogenesis， and multidrug resistance in lung cancer. TCM prescriptions and single drugs can inhibit lung cancer cell proliferation， invasion， and metastasis， induce apoptosis and autophagy in lung cancer cells， suppress angiogenesis， regulate immune function， and treat multidrug resistance by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore， they play a role in intervening in lung cancer. However， there is currently a lack of systematic literature research that comprehensively summarizes and elucidates these aspects in China and abroad. Therefore， it is important to provide a systematic elucidation of the mechanism underlying the regulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in lung cancer and review TCM interventions in lung cancer based on the NF-κB signaling pathway. This study is expected to provide references for the clinical application of lung cancer therapeutic drugs and the development of new drugs.

This study aims to review the biomarkers of depression discovered by proteomic techniques to guide the identification of specific biomarkers for depression. Depression is a common psychological disease， and its diagnosis and efficacy evaluation rely on subjective clinical evaluation， lacking objective diagnostic tools. Proteomics is the primary method to discover and verify biomarkers. This study reviews proteomic biomarkers in brain tissue， cerebrospinal fluid and blood of patients with depression， as well as the latest strategies for screening biomarkers of depression.

Objective To analyze the clinical value of postoperative radiotherapy for node-positive middle thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( TESCC ) and to modify the target volume .Methods A total of 286 patients with node-positive middle TESCC underwent radical surgery in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 2004 to 2009.In addition, 90 of these patients received postoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy.The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate survival rates, and the log-rank test was used for survival difference analysis.The Cox model was used for multivariate prognostic analysis.The chi-square test was used for comparing the recurrence between patients receiving different treatment modalities.Results The 5-year overall survival ( OS) rates of the surgery alone ( S) group and surgery plus postoperative radiotherapy ( S+R) group were 22.9%and 37.8%, respectively, and the median OS times were 23.2 and 34.7 months, respectively ( P=0.003) .For patients with 1 or 2 lymph
node metastases (LNMs), the 5-year OS rates of the S group and S+R group were 27.3%and 44.8%, respectively ( P=0.017);for patients with more than 2 LNMs, the 5-year OS rates of the S group and S+R group were 16.7%and 25.0%, respectively (P=0.043).The peritoneal lymph node metastasis rates of N1 , N2 , and N3 patients in the S group were 2.9%, 10.9%, and 20.0%, respectively ( P=0.024) .The S+R group had a significantly lower mediastinal lymph node metastasis rate than the S group ( for patients with 1 or 2 LMNs:8.0%vs.35.3%, P=0.003;for patients with more than 2 LNMs, 10.0%vs.42.3%, P=0.001) , and had a prolonged recurrence time compared with the S group ( 25.1 vs.10.7 months, P=0.000) .However, for patients with more than 2 LNMs, the S+R group had a significantly higher hematogenous metastasis rate than the S group (46.7%vs.26.1%, P=0.039).Conclusions Patients with node-positive middle TESCC could benefit from postoperative radiotherapy.The target volume can be reduced for patients with 1 or 2 LNMs.Prospective studies are needed to examine whether it is more appropriate to reduce the radiotherapy dose than to reduce the target volume for patients with more than 2 LNMs.A high hematogenous metastasis rate warrants chemotherapy as an additional regimen.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effects of radical three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DRT) alone or combined with chemotherapy in elderly patients (≥70 years) with esophageal cancer.Methods The clinical data of 116 esophageal cancer patients who were aged 70 years or older and received radical 3DRT ± chemotherapy from 2008 to 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.Of the 116 patients,32 received concurrent chemoradiotherapy,24 received sequential chemoradiotherapy,and 60 received radiotherapy alone.Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method,and survival difference analysis and univariate prognostic analysis was performed using the log-rank test.Multivariate prognostic analyses were performed using the Cox proportional hazard model.Results The follow-up rate was 100％.The 2-and 3-year sample sizes were 102 and 77,respectively.The 1-,2-,and 3-year OS rates were 59.1％,38.4％,and 23.2％,respectively,and the PFS rates were 61.9％,37.9％,and 0％,respectively.The median OS for the patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy,sequential chemoradiotherapy,and radiotherapy alone were 22.3,18.0,and 12.4 months,respectively (P =0.044).The median OS was significantly different between patients treated with 60 Gy and ＜60 Gy in radiotherapy (24.7 vs.10.9 months,P =0.036),but not significantly different between those treated with 60 Gy and ＞ 60 Gy (24.7 vs.18.7 months,P =0.938).Multivariate analysis indicated that sex,presence or absence of combined chemotherapy,and radiotherapy dose were independent influencing factors for OS (P=0.003,0.042,and 0.037,respectively).Conclusions Radical 3DRT ± chemotherapy are well tolerated in elderly patients with esophageal cancer and equally effective as in those younger than 70 years.Patients treated with radical concurrent chemoradiotherapy have a better prognosis than those treated with sequential chemoradiotherapy and radiotherapy alone.Radiotherapy with a dose of 60 Gy effectively improves the survival compared with doses less than 60 Gy,which suggests that 60 Gy is the optimal dose in radiotherapy.

The aim of this study is to develop a rapid and accurately species typing method for Brucella isolates by using High Resolution Melting (HRM ) analysis .Six pairs of primers were used according to the reference for the sequence of pur‐pose gene .Nineteen biotypes of six species Brucella standard strains were identified by PCR‐HRM analysis and this analysis was used to detect the 35 clinical isolates .Results showed Brucella amplified specific melting curves were different from con‐trasted strains with primer Bspp .The six species Brucella standard strains have own characteristic curve shape from each oth‐ers by PCR‐HRM analysis with five pairs of primers .Thirty‐five clinical isolates of Brucella have entirely consistent with PCR‐HRM curve shape with Brucella melitensis standard strains .So ,PCR‐HRM analysis methods can accurately identify Brucella strains ,especially clinical isolated Brucella melitensis ,and may be used in clinical microbiology laboratories .

Objective To establish a rapid genotyping method of for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) based on polymerase chain reaction(PCR)-high resolution melting (HRM ) curve analysis and staphylococcal protein A (SPA ) classifica-tion .Methods 71 strains of MRSA clinically isolated were collected as test strains .Gene sequencing and HRM curve analysis were employed to conduct SPA gene typing .Results According to gene sequencing method ,SPA gene of 71 strains of MRSA was divided into four types ,namely t570 ,t030 ,t002 and t588 .The most predominant type was t570 (74 .65% ) ,followed by t030 and t002(both 7 cases) .The result of SPA gene typing by HRM analysis were basically consistent with that by gene sequencing .Con-clusion PCR-HRM analysis is expected to become a fast ,efficient genotyping for MRSA SPA gene ,providing the basis for hospital infection control .

Objective To evaluated the application value of two kinds of mass spectrometer(MS)and Vitek MS system in the i-dentification of routinely isolated bacteria in clinic.Methods 149 strains of common bacteria(including 14 genera and 30 species)i-solated from blood,urine,cerebral spinal fluid,secretion and sputum samples in our hospital from March 2012 to January 2013 were collected and simultaneously identified by 2 kinds of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometer (MALD-TOF-MS).The identification results were compared with those identified by the conventional biochemical identification (Vitek2 compact).The strains with the inconsistent results identified by 3 kinds of method were confirmed by 16S rDNA gene se-quencing.Results Among 149 common bacteria,the correct identification rates of genus and species by the Bruker Biotyper MS were 98% and 96% respectively and which by the Vitek MS system were 97% and 95% respectively.There were no misidentified bacterial strains by these two kinds of MS.Conclusion No statistical difference in the identification results was observed between these two kinds of MS system(P >0.05).Both exhibit excellent identification level and are suitable for the routine laboratory iden-tification of clinical microorganism.

Objective To clarify the mechanism of lipoprotein (a) ［Lp (a)］ metabolic disorder in patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), and to offer theoretical basis for seeking for modus operandi of disorder control.Methods The apolipoprotein (a)［apo(a)］ isoforms were identified by high-resolution SDS-agarose gel electrophoretic method followed by immunobloting in 61 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD group), 51 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD group) and 62 healthy controls (healthy control group). The influential factors for elevated serum level of lipoprotein (a) in MHD group were analyzed by applying statistical method.Results No statistical difference of Lp (a) median level was found between MHD group and ESRD group in LWM isoforms, but their level was significantly higher than that of healthy control group. In MHD group, the concentrations of serum creatine(Crea),cystatin C(CysC) and C-reactive protein(CRP) were significantly higher (P<0.05), while the concentrations of albumin(Alb) and Hb were lower than those of healthy control group (P<0.05). The concentration of LDL-C had no significant difference between MHD group and healthy control group. Compared with those of ESRD group, the levels of Crea, CRP and CysC were not significantly increased (P<0.05) in MHD group. There was no difference in the level of Lp (a) between the MHD and the ESRD patients with LMW-apo (a) isoforms (P>0.05), but compared with healthy control group, the serum levels of Lp (a) in the two groups were remarkably increased (P<0.05). The level of Lp (a) with LMW-apo (a) were significantly correlated with Alb and CysC respectively (P<0.05). The level of Lp (a) with HMW-apo (a) of MHD patients were higher than that of ESRD patients (P<0.05). The patients in the two groups had higher levels of Lp (a) as compared with those of healthy control group. The positive correlation of Lp (a) level with CRP and CysC was observed in patients with HMW-apo (a) (P<0.01). As MHD group as concerned, Lp (a) level was associated with Alb and CysC (P<0.01); regression analysis showed that apo (a) isoforms, Alb and CysC were listed in the regression equation, and the determinate coefficient (r2) was 0.348, in which the respective r2 of apo (a) isoforms, Alb and CysC was 0.121, 0.178 and 0.049.Conclusion Multiple factors may contribute to the high level of Lp (a) in MHD patients. Moreover, Lp (a) with different isoforms of apo (a) had different influencing factors. The corresponding therapeutic measure should be taken according to apo (a) isoforms in order to acquire better therapeutic efficacy for MHD patients.

Objective To investigate the mechanisms of ureaplasma urealyticum(Uu)resistance to macrolide antibiotics.Methods Twenty strains of clinical isolates of Uu with variable resistance to macrolides and reference strain ATCC 27618 were examined for mutations in 23SrRNA.Results As compared with the sequence of reference strain ATCC 27618 and GenBank,three mutations were found in 23SrRNA of Uu clinical isolates.C2243N(TorC)was found in the 23SrRNA in 5 strains with the phenotype resistance to roxithromvcin and azithromycin.A2149C and A2181T were found in the 23SrRNA in 9 strains with the phenotype resistance to roxithromycin and midrange resistance to azithromycin,and 6 strains with the phenotype of sensitivity to roxithromyein and azithromycin.Conclusions The mechanisms of Uu resistance to roxithromycin and azithromycin may be related with the mutations in 23SrRNA.It may warrant further investigation.