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Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare but clinically well-known, polygenic, and systemic autoinflammatory disease, which is characterized by spiking fever, evanescent skin rash, arthralgia, and sore throat. The application of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and glucocorticoids, which are first-line therapies of AOSD, is limited due to their side effects such as liver injury or disorder of blood glucose. Therefore, patients who suffer from systemic diseases in China prefer to seek help from Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), which is an important part of complementary and alternative medicine. In this case, we report a 28-year-old male badminton coach presenting with a 15-day history of fever and skin rash, accompanied by sore throat, fatigue, myalgia and chills. Additionally, hepatosplenomegaly, multiple lymphadenopathies, aminotransferase abnormality, and elevated inflammatory factor levels were observed during hospitalization. Infectious diseases, solid tumors, hematological diseases, and common autoimmune diseases were excluded. Not benefitting from antibiotic therapy, the patient was finally diagnosed with AOSD, after a careful examination, then showed rapid remission after a six-week treatment with CHM granules based on Xiaochaihu Decoction and Yinqiao Powder. After stopping the treatment, there was no relapse within a 15-month follow-up period. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first well-documented case of this successful treatment. The present case report suggests that CHM is a reliable choice for complementary and alternative therapy for AOSD, but confirming the utility of CHM for AOSD requires further support from prospective studies.
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Improvements in the imaging of neural circuits are essential for studies of network function in both invertebrates and vertebrates. Therefore, CLARITY, a new imaging enhancement technique developed for mouse brains has attracted broad interest from researchers working on other species. We studied the potential of a modified version of CLARITY to enhance the imaging of ganglia in an invertebrate Aplysia. For example, we have modified the hydrogel solution and designed a small container for the Aplysia ganglia. The ganglia were first processed for immunohistochemistry, and then for CLARITY. We examined the compatibility of these techniques and the extent to which the imaging of fluorescence improved using confocal microscopy. We found that CLARITY did indeed enhance the imaging of CP2 immunopositive neurons in Aplysia ganglia. For example, it improved visualization of small, weak immunoreactive neurons deep in the ganglia. Our modifications of CLARITY make this new method suitable for future use in Aplysia experiments. Furthermore, our techniques are likely to facilitate imaging in other invertebrate ganglia.
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Based on the basic theory of thermodynamics, the thermodynamic parameters and related equations in the process of water adsorption and desorption of Chinese herbal decoction pieces were established, and their water absorption and desorption characteristics were analyzed. The physical significance of the thermodynamic parameters, such as differential adsorption enthalpy, differential adsorption entropy, integral adsorption enthalpy, integral adsorption entropy and the free energy of adsorption, were discussed in this paper to provide theoretical basis for the research on the water adsorption and desorption mechanism, optimum drying process parameters, storage conditions and packaging methods of Chinese herbal decoction pieces.
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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) are serious disorders and usually fatal, and always accompanied with pathological changes in the kidney. Signal-induced proliferation-associated protein 1 (SIPA-1) is a Rap1GTPase activating protein (Rap1GAP) expressed in the normal distal and collecting tubules of the murine kidney. Lupus-like autoimmune disease and leukemia have been observed in SIPA-1 deficient mice, suggesting a pathological relevance of SIPA-1 to SLE and carcinoma in human being. The expression pattern of SIPA-1 is as yet undefined and the pathogenesis of these diseases in humans remains elusive. In this study, we used both immunohistochemistry and quantum dot (QD)-based immunofluorescence staining to investigate the expression of SIPA-1 in renal specimens from SLE and CC-RCC patients. MTT assay and Western blotting were employed to evaluate the effects of SIPA-1 overexpression on the proliferation and apoptosis of renal cell lines. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) was applied to examine the changes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA level. Results showed that SIPA-1 was highly expressed in the proximal and collecting tubules of nephrons in SLE patients compared to normal ones, and similar results were obtained in the specimens of CC-RCC patients. Although SIPA-1 overexpression did not affect cellular proliferation and apoptosis of both human 786-O renal cell carcinoma cells and rat NRK-52E renal epithelial cell lines, RT-PCR results showed that HIF-1α mRNA level was down-regulated by SIPA-1 overexpression in 786-O cells. These findings suggest that SIPA-1 may play critical roles in the pathological changes in kidney, and might provide a new biomarker to aid in the diagnosis of SLE and CC-RCC.
ABSTRACT
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) are serious disorders and usually fatal, and always accompanied with pathological changes in the kidney. Signal-induced proliferation-associated protein 1 (SIPA-1) is a Rap1GTPase activating protein (Rap1GAP) expressed in the normal distal and collecting tubules of the murine kidney. Lupus-like autoimmune disease and leukemia have been observed in SIPA-1 deficient mice, suggesting a pathological relevance of SIPA-1 to SLE and carcinoma in human being. The expression pattern of SIPA-1 is as yet undefined and the pathogenesis of these diseases in humans remains elusive. In this study, we used both immunohistochemistry and quantum dot (QD)-based immunofluorescence staining to investigate the expression of SIPA-1 in renal specimens from SLE and CC-RCC patients. MTT assay and Western blotting were employed to evaluate the effects of SIPA-1 overexpression on the proliferation and apoptosis of renal cell lines. Semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) was applied to examine the changes of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA level. Results showed that SIPA-1 was highly expressed in the proximal and collecting tubules of nephrons in SLE patients compared to normal ones, and similar results were obtained in the specimens of CC-RCC patients. Although SIPA-1 overexpression did not affect cellular proliferation and apoptosis of both human 786-O renal cell carcinoma cells and rat NRK-52E renal epithelial cell lines, RT-PCR results showed that HIF-1α mRNA level was down-regulated by SIPA-1 overexpression in 786-O cells. These findings suggest that SIPA-1 may play critical roles in the pathological changes in kidney, and might provide a new biomarker to aid in the diagnosis of SLE and CC-RCC.
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Base Sequence , Cell Line , Cell Proliferation , DNA Primers , GTPase-Activating Proteins , Metabolism , Kidney Tubules, Proximal , Metabolism , Pathology , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic , Metabolism , Pathology , Nuclear Proteins , Metabolism , Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain ReactionABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the level of urinary protein in type 2 diabetic patients with different glucose excursion and investigation the effect of the glucose excursion on early diabetic nephropathy.Methods Fifty-six type 2 diabetes patients were divided into two groups by the level of glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c),good glycemic.Patients in control group with HbA1c ＜ 7.0％ and patients in poor glycemic control group with HbA1c ＜ 7.0％.Microalbuminuria,urine transferring (UTRF),α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) and 32-microglobulin(32-MG) were measured.All the patients were monitored using the continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS),and mean amplitude of glucose excursions (MAGE) were analyzed.Patients were divided into two groups by MAGE,one group's MAGE was lower than 3.9 mmol/L,and another group's MAGE was higher than 3.9 mmol/L.Urinary proteins were measured and analyzed in the two groups.Results In the poor glycemic control group,the levels of microalbuminuria,UTRF and albunin/ creatinine(A/C) rate were (81.28 ±44.13) mg/L,(4.54 ± 1.54) mg/L and (22.17 ± 14.52) mg/mmol significantly higher than that in the good glycemic control group((21.63 ± 10.16) mg/L,(2.48 ±0.29) mg/L and (2.05 ± 0.76) mg/mmol; t =4.758,5.360,4.805 ; P ＜ 0.05).Fasting C peptide in the poor glycemic control group was (1.01 ± 0.13) ng/ml,significant lower than that in the good glycemic control group ((1.51 ± 0.21) μg/L;t =4.826;P ＜0.05).The levels of A/C rate,α1-MG and β2-MG in the group with MAGE above 3.9 mmol/L significantly higher than those in the group with MAGE below 3.9 mmol/L(t =4.358,8.641,12.702;P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Both persistent hyperglycemia and blood glucose variability could influent diabetic nephropathy.
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Background Excimer laser corneal refractive surgery is widely used because it reduces the dependency of refractive error eye to glasses.However,the adverse effects of anti-inflammatory drugs is a problem after operation.Lotemax eyedrops is a kind of steroidal anti-inflammatory drug,with a good effect on the operative eye.But its influence on intraocular pressure(IOP) after long-term topical administration is less studied.Objective This study was to investigate the influence of lotemax eyedrops on IOP after long-term topical administration in myopic eyes received excimer laser corneal refractive surgery.Methods An one-month retrospective case serial study was adopted.The case history data of 1552 eyes from 1552 Patients who received excimer laser corneal refractive surgery were collected in Tangshan Eye Hospital from 2011 January to 2012 January,including 321 eyes with laser in situ keratomileusis(LASIK),608 eyes with sub-Bowman keratomileusis (SBK) and 623 eyes with femtosecond laser for flap excimer laser in situ keratomileusis(FS-LASIK).Lotemax eyedrops was topically administered after operation 4 times per day initial and then decreased 1 time weekly for 1 month.IOP was measured in before,1 week,2 weeks,3 weeks,4 weeks after operation with non-contact tonometer.The increasing range of IOP was divided into ＜5 mmHg,5-15 mmHg and ＞ 15 mmHg after operation.Optical head parameters were measured by Heidelberg retina tomography when IOP increasing after operation.Results Within 1 month,elevated IOP was found in 47 of 1552 eyes after administration of lotemax eyedrops,including 3.12％ (10/321) in the LASIK group,3.29％ (20/608) in the SBK group and 2.73％ (17/623) in the FS-LASIK group,without significant difference among them(x2 =1.95,P＞0.05).The IOP elevated 1 week after operation and remained normal after that till drug withdrawal in all eyes.There were no significant differences in the disk area (1.65 ±0.44) mm2 vs.(1.66 ±0.44) mm2,disk volume (0.40 ±0.09)mm3 vs.(0.39±0.08) mm3 and mean nerve fiber layer thickness (0.28 ± 0.08) mm vs.(0.29 ± 0.07) mm in IOP elevation duration compared with 1 month after IOP recovery(t =0.34,0.81,0.48,P＞0.05).Conclusions Topical administration of 0.5％ lotemax eyedrops after excimer laser corneal refractive surgery leads to reversible high IOP.It is very important to monitor the IOP during use of the drug.
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Objective To compare the body composition of diabetic and healthy subjects and to investigate the correlation between obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods Body composition was analyzed in 80 type 2 diabetic patients (diabetes group) and 80 healthy subjects (control group) selected at random.They were measured for body fat mass,visceral fat area,sketedtal muscle mass,waist-hip ratio,the content of protein and mineral,etc.The blood glucose,blood fat,insulin resistance index (Homa-IR) and glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1c) were also measured.Results The means of body fat mass((19.68 ± 6.78)kg),percent body fat ((29.87 ± 8.04) ％),obesity degree ((115.93 ± 15.94) ％),visceral fat area ((104.48 ± 36.19) cm2),Body mass index(BMI) ((24.85 ± 3.51) kg/m2),chest circumference ((94.06 ±7.86) cm),waist circumference ((85.18 ± 9.50) cm) and waist-hip ratio (0.90 ± 0.05) were significantly higher than the means of healthy subjects'weight control ((-4.08 ± 6.79) kg),body fat mass ((17.31 ± 5.55)kg),percent body fat ((27.38 ± 6.47)％),obesity degree((108.88 ± 13.80)％),visceral fat area ((85.44 ±44.04) cm2),BMI ((23.43 ± 3.10) kg/m2),chest circumference ((91.11 ± 7.52) cm),waist circumference ((80.79±8.17) cm) and waist-hip ratio (0.86 ± 0.05) (t=2.55,2.30,3.12,2.86,2.73,2.28,3.12 and 4.76 respectively;P ＜0.05),body mass control ((-7.01 ± 7.49) kg),obesity control ((-8.53 ± 6.66)kg),muscles control((1.52 ± 1.43) kg) were lower than control group:the body mass control((-4.08 ±6.79) kg),obesity control ((-6.39 ± 5.78) kg),muscles control ((2.31 ± 2.09) kg).The uric acid was negatively related to weight control and obesity control (r =-0.43,-0.42 ; P ＜ 0.01),and were positively related to visceral fat area,percent body fat,waist-hip ratio,BMI,obesity degree,chest circumference,waist circumference and body fat mass (r =0.32,0.31,0.40,0.36,0.36,0.31,0.42,0.42 ; P ＜ 0.05).The triglyceride was negatively related to weight control and obesity control (r =-0.44,-0.41 ;P ＜ 0.01),and were positive related to percent body fat,waist-hip ratio,BMI,obesity degree,chest circumference,waist circumference and body fat mass(r =0.27,0.35,0.46,0.46,0.35,0.42,0.42 ;P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The body fat and fat distribution are significantly different between diabetic and healthy subjects.There may be some relationship between central obesity and diabetes.
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Objective To investigate the assciation between hypertriglyceridemia and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).Methods One hundred and forty-nine T2DM patients were divided into hypertriglyceridemia (n =88) and normal-triglyceridemia (n =61) groups according to triglyceridemia levels,waist circumference (WC),waist to height ratio (WHtR),fasting blood-glucose (FPG),glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1 c),uric acid (UA),total cholesterol (TC),fasting insulin (FINS) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were measured and compared between the two groups.Results Compared with the normal-triglyceridemia group,The levels of WC,WHtR,UA,TC,FINS and HOMA-IR of patients in the thypertri-glyceridemia group were significantly higher (Hypertriglyceridemia group:WC(89.51 ±10.31) cm,WHtR 0.55 ±0.06,UA(316.95 ±88.50) μmol/L,TC(5.74 ± 1.72) mmol/L,FINS (8.63 ± 4.91) μU/L,HOMA-IR 4.48 ± 3.14 ; Normal-triglyceridemia group:WC (86.31 ± 7.98) cm,WHtR 0.53 ± 0.05,Uric(275.48 ± 88.36) μmol/L,TC (5.15 ± 1.13) mmol/L,FINS (6.20 ± 3.89) μU/L,HOMA-IR 3.38 ± 2.76; t value were 2.133,2.315,2.815,2.349,2.364,2.221 ; P ＜ 0.05) ; HOMA-IR correlated positively with WC (r =0.233,P ＜ 0.01),WHtR(r =0.268,P ＜ 0.01),BMI (r =0.161,P ＜ 0.05),FPG(r=0.442,P ＜0.01),AST(r=0.169,P ＜0.0S),UA (r =0.907,P ＜0.01),TG(r =0.220,P ＜0.01)and FINS(r =0.907,P ＜0.01).Conclusion T2DM with hypertriglyceridemia increased insulin resistance.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>In order to obtain functional genes, a normalized stems cDNA library was constructed from medicinal plant Dendrobium officinale.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>SMART (switching mechanism at 5' end of RNA transcript) cDNA synthesis combined with DSN (duplex-specific nuclease) normalization was applied to construct the normalized full-length cDNA library of D. officinale.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The titer of cDNA library was about 1.3 x 10(6) cfu x mL(-1) and the average insertion size was about 1.5 kb with high recombination rate (93.9%). Random selected 163 positive clones were sequenced at single side. Bio-information analysis indicated that 147 from 150 high-quality unique sequences matched corresponding homologous proteins, and they participated in various biological processes based on GO (gene ontology). There were 8 clones with complete coding sequence, which presumed to be full-length genes.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results showed preliminarily that we successfully constructed a normalized full-length cDNA library of D. officinale which could be used to screen the functional genes related to metabolic pathways of medicinal ingredients.</p>
Subject(s)
Base Sequence , Cloning, Molecular , DNA, Complementary , Genetics , Dendrobium , Genetics , Gene Library , Molecular Sequence Data , Plants, Medicinal , Genetics , RNA, Messenger , Genetics , Metabolism , Sequence Analysis, DNA , MethodsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>to investigate the effect of RhoA on the metastasis of tongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>a group of RhoA specific small interfering RNAs (siRNA) was constructed and confined by sequencing analysis. The siRNA of RhoA gene was transfected into human tongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cells line by Lipofectamine(TM) 2000. The protein transient expression of RhoA in the transfectants was examined 48 h after transfection. The cell line with stable expression of siRNA of RhoA was obtained by blasticidin screening and colony culture. Cell growth rate was determined with a cell counting. Millicell chambermodel and wound healing assay were used to examine the abilities of migration and invasion, respectively in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RhoA was overexpressed in tongue squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cell line. Silencing of endogenous RhoA gene expression in Tca8113 cells resulted in inhibition of the proliferation, adhesion, chemotaxis and invasion of Tca8113 cells in vitro.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RhoA siRNA inhibits the proliferation, adhesion, chemotaxis and invasion of oral squamous cell carcinoma Tca8113 cell lines. siRNA of RhoA is a potential factor controlling the proliferation and metastasis of Tca8113 cells. RhoA may play an important role in metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Pathology , Cell Adhesion , Cell Cycle , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Movement , Cell Proliferation , In Vitro Techniques , RNA, Small Interfering , Tongue Neoplasms , Pathology , TransfectionABSTRACT
Objective To observe the effect of atorvastatin on mixed dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods 39 patients of type 2 diabetic with mixed dyslipidemia were taken with atorvastatin for 6 months,and the change of total cholesterel(TC),triglyceride(TG),low-debsity-lipoprotein-cholesteral(LDL-C),high-debsity-lipopro- tein-cholesteral(HDL-C)were observed.The incidence of side-effect was recorded.Results TC,TG,LDL-C were obviously reduced and their extent of reduction were 26.17 %,54.97 %,38.92 %.HDL-C was obviously increased and it's extent of increase was 14.81%(P
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression of Schwann cell marker GFAP and myoepithelial cell marker alpha-SMA in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC), and to evaluate the relationship of GFAP, alpha-SMA and perineural invasion in ACC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemical SABC method, double-label immunofluorescence and CLSM were used to detect the expression of GFAP and alpha-SMA proteins in salivary ACC tissue samples.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In salivary ACC tissue samples, both GFAP and alpha-SMA proteins were positive, which were coexpressed in cytoplasm of the same onco-myoepithelial cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There may be Schwann cell differentiation in onco-myoepithelial cell of salivary ACC, and it may be the pathological base of perineural invasion in salivary ACC.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Actins , Metabolism , Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic , Metabolism , Pathology , Epithelial Cells , Metabolism , Pathology , Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein , Metabolism , Muscle Cells , Metabolism , Pathology , Salivary Gland Neoplasms , Metabolism , Pathology , Schwann Cells , Metabolism , PathologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of fusion tumor vaccine in tongue cancer treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Human macrophages fused with human tongue carcinoma cell line Tca8113 cell. The fusion cells were selected by magnetic cell sorting (MACS) and cultured. The biological properties of fusion cells and anti-tumor immune response in vitro induced by fusions were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In contrast to Tca8113, the fused cells grew significantly slow in vitro. The expression of MHC I, II antigen of the fusion cells which was detected by flow cytometry (FCM) was higher than that of Tca8113. The fused cells significantly increased the proliferation of mixed lymphocyte and induced their cytotoxicity on parental Tca8113.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The fusion tumor vaccine of macrophages and OSCC cells increase in vitro immunogenicity significantly. This indicates that fusion tumor vaccine could be a new method of anti-tumor immunotherapy, which has important potentials for effective individualized human OSCC vaccine.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Rats , Cancer Vaccines , Allergy and Immunology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell , Allergy and Immunology , Cell Fusion , Cell Line, Tumor , Histocompatibility Antigens , Allergy and Immunology , In Vitro Techniques , Macrophages , Allergy and Immunology , Tongue Neoplasms , Allergy and ImmunologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between the structure and functional activity of hTNF alpha.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four hTNF alpha mutants were constructed, different binding structures and gene responses related with these mutants were studied by the methods of immunoprecipitation and mRNA differential display.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The specific activities and LD50 of the different hTNF alpha mutants indicated their different bioactivities. It was shown that the hTNF alpha mutants had the relative binding affinities to the wild types. The mRNA differential display assay proved that the hTNF alpha mutants stimulated different gene responses.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>These results suggest that the specific anti-tumor activities of hTNF alpha mutants are accomplished by inducing different or same gene response at different quantities after its binding to specific receptor.</p>