Prognostic value of plasma miR-1290 expression in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the prognostic value of plasma miR-1290 in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).@*METHODS@#Seventy patients with OSCC admitted to Danzhou People's Hospital from January 2014 to December 2018 were included in this study. Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the expression of miR-1290 in these patients. The optimal cut-off value of plasma miR-1290 expression was determined by the ROC curve method, and patients with OSCC were divided into the high (n=31) and low (n=39) miR-1290-expressing groups. The clinicopathological features of the two groups were compared, and survival curves were drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method. Risk factors affecting the poor prognosis of patients were analyzed using univariate and multivariate COX regression models.@*RESULTS@#The expression level of plasma miR-1290 in the OSCC group was significantly lower than that in the control group (0.65±0.14 vs. 2.06±0.90; t=13.912, P<0.001). The low expression of plasma miR-1290 appeared to be related to the clinical stage, differentiation degree, tumor diameter, and lymph node metastasis of OSCC (P<0.05). Survival analysis showed that the overall survival rate and the progression-free survival rate of the low-miR-1290 group were significantly lower than that of the high-miR-1290 group (P<0.01). Multivariate COX regression analysis showed that clinical stage, lymph node metastasis, and plasma miR-1290<1.14 were independent risk factors for the poor prognosis of patients with OSCC (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#The expression level of plasma miR-1290 in patients with OSCC significantly decreased, and the low expression of miR-1290 is related to the short survival time of OSCC patients. Thus, miR-1290 may be a potential marker predicting the poor prognosis of OSCC.

Advantages of Chinese Medicine for Patients with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Rural Central China / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To analyze the effect of Chinese medicine (CM) on mortality and quality of life (QOL) of acquired immunodefificiency syndrome (AIDS) patients treated with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART).@*METHODS@#A random sample of AIDS patients enrolled in the National Chinese Medicine Treatment Trial Program (NCMTP) that met the inclusion criteria was included in this study. NCMTP patients were included as the CM+cART group, and those not in the NCMTP were included as the cART group. Survival from September 2004 to September 2012 was analyzed by retrospective cohort study. QOL was analyzed by cross-sectional study.@*RESULTS@#The retrospective cohort study included 528 AIDS patients, 322 in the CM+cART group and 206 in the cART group. After 8 years, the mortality in the CM+cART group was 3.3/100 person-years, which was lower than the cART group of 5.3/100 person-years (P<0.05). The hazard ratio (HR) for mortality in the cART group was 1.6 times that of the CM+cART group by Cox proportional hazard model analysis. After controlling for gender, age, marital status, education, and CD4 T-cell count, the HR was 1.9 times higher in the cART group compared with the CM+cART group (P<0.05). The cross-sectional study investigated 275 AIDS patients. The mean scores of all QOL domains except spirituality/personal beliefs were higher in the CM+cART group than in the cART group (P<0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#For AIDS patients, CM could help to prolong life, decrease mortality, and improve QOL. However, there were limitations in the study, so prospective studies should be carried out to confifirm our primary results.

Governor vessel moxibustion: Ancient Chinese medical technology with new vitality / 中国结合医学杂志

Moxibustion is an ancient therapeutic technique used in Chinese medicine. Governor Vessel moxibustion (GVM) was developed from long snake moxibustion, a popular technique used in China's Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces, and is significantly more effective than general moxibustion. We aimed to review GVM, including its theoretical basis, choices of moxibustion points and materials, operation procedures, clinical applications, and contraindications. This information could increase the appropriate use of GVM and support further in-depth research.

Treatment of Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis by Huayu Tongbi Recipe Combined Methotrexate / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Huayu Tongbi Recipe (HTR) combined methotrexate (MTX) in treating refractory rheumatoid arthritis (RRA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 167 RRA patients were assigned to the treatment group (73 cases) and the control group (94 cases) according to different therapeutic methods. Patients in the treatment group were treated with HTR combined MTX, while those in the control group were treated with leflunomide (LEF) combined MTX. Clinical signs and symptoms, RF, CRP, ESR, disease activity score 28 (DAS28), and safety indicators were compared between the two groups before treatment, at week 12 and 24 after treatment. The efficacy and safety indices were also evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>At week 12 after treatment the total effective rate was 82.2% (60/73 cases) in the treatment group and 79.8% (75/94 cases) in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05). At week 24 after treatment the total effective rate was 78.1% (57/73 cases) in the treatment group and 755% (71/94 cases) in the control group, showing no statistical difference between the two groups (chi2 = 0.15, P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in the total effective rate between week 24 and week 12 in the control group (chi2 = 0.49, P < 0.05). Clinical signs and symptoms, RF, CRP, ESR, and DAS28 were significantly improved in the two groups after 12- and 24-week treatment (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the improvement at week 12 after treatment between the two groups (P > 0.05). There was statistical difference in time of morning stiffness, tender joint numbers, swollen joint numbers, patient global assessment, RF, CRP, and DAS28 at week 24 after treatment between the two groups (P < 0.05). Besides, adverse reactions occurred less in the treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The efficacy of HTR combined MTX was equivalent to that of LEF (10 mg per day) combined MTX, but with more stable therapeutic effects and less adverse reactions.</p>

Analyzing Chinese medicine syndromes of hematotoxicity reaction induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the main features of Chinese medicine (CM) syndromes and differences of hematotoxicity reaction induced by highly active antiretroviral therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The information of CM four diagnostic methods was collected by cross-sectional study. Their syndrome features were summed up and their differences were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 216 patients, the main syndromes were qi-blood deficiency syndrome (142 cases, accounting for 65.7%) and Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (74 cases, accounting for 34.3%). The score of qi-blood deficiency syndrome was obviously lower than that of Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome (P < 0.05). The count of CD4+ T cells was higher in qi-blood deficiency syndrome than in Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome. There was no statistical difference in the serum viral load between the two groups (P > 0.05). The quality of life was higher in qi-blood deficiency syndrome than in Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Qi-blood deficiency syndrome and Pi-Shen yang deficiency syndrome were main syndromes of hematotoxicity reaction induced by HAART. The pathogenic condition of qi-blood deficiency syndrome patients was milder. There was no obvious difference in the quality of life, CD4+ T cells, and the viral loads between two syndromes.</p>

Uncoupling protein 2 combats oxidative damage to human sperm / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Germ cells are much more susceptible to oxidative stress than somatic cells. Accumulating evidence indicates that uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) prevents the apoptosis of multiple types of cells induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) against oxidative damage to human sperm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Semen parameters were obtained from 97 semen samples by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), and the samples, based on the percentage of grade a + b sperm, allotted to Groups I (n = 25, grade a + b sperm > 50%), II (n = 24, grade a + b sperm 25%-50%), III (n = 24, grade a + b sperm 10-25%) and IV (n = 24, grade a + b sperm < 10%). The expressions of sperm UCP2 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR, and the malonaldehyde (MDA) content in ROS was determined in the sperm suspension.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expressions of UCP2 mRNA in sperm were 1.51 +/- 0.24, 1.28 +/- 0.15, 1.17 +/- 0.20 and 0.69 +/- 0.18, and the MDA contents were (14.66 +/- 2.55), (16.00 +/- 2.09), (17.44 +/- 1.40) and (21.20 +/- 3.50) nmol/10(8) sperm in Groups I, II, III and lV, respectively. There was a significant negative correlation between the expression of UCP2 mRNA and the content of MDA (r = -0.633, P < 0.01), the former obviously reduced while the latter remarkably increased in the groups of lower sperm motility (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>UCP2 plays an important protective role against oxidative stress damage to human sperm by diminishing ROS production.</p>

Expression of uncoupling protein 2 on macrophages and its relation to interleukin-10/interferon ratio in patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between the expression of uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) and ratio of interleukin-10/interferon-gamma (IL10/IFNgamma) in the macrophages from patients with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twelve women undergoing selective termination of normal early pregnancy (control) and 11 having URSA were included in this study. Magnetic cell sorting (MACS) was used to isolate the macrophages in the decidua, and the expression of UCP2 was detected with flow cytometry. Cytokine (IL10 and IFNgamma) secretion by the macrophages was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming (ELISPOT) cell assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to the control group, the women with URSA showed significantly decreased expression of UCP2 on decidual macrophage (136-/+25 vs 201-/+31, P<0.01), and the expression of UCP2 was positively correlated to the ratio of IL10/IFNgamma(r=0.73, P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>UCP2 may play an important role in the regulation of macrophage activity and cytokine secretion to contribute to spontaneous abortion.</p>

Uncoupling protein-2 expression in granular cells and embryo development in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer cycle / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the expression of uncoupling protein-2 (UCP2) in the granular cell of women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and explore its role in embryo development.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In this prospective study, the levels of UCP2 and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by the chemiluminescence method in the granular cell of 53 women.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Women with low UCP2 level had higher ROS level, suggesting an inverse relationship between them (r=-0.578, P<0.01), and their oocyte development was impaired. Granular cells of elder women exhibited lowered UCP2 expression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The granular cells increase UCP2 expression to suppress the elevation of intracellular ROS level through a feedback mechanism and therefore protect the oocytes against oxidative stress.</p>

Effects of catheter depth and infused semen volume on the pregnancy of intrauterine insemination / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the effects of catheter depth and infused semen volume on the pregnancy rate of intrauterine insemination(IUI) with the husband's semen.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>According to different catheterizing distances from the fundus and infused semen volumes, 330 patients undergoing intrauterine insemination were randomly divided into 6 groups: A, 1 cm/0.5 ml; B, 1 cm/0.3 ml; C, 2 cm/0.5 ml; D, 2 cm/0.3 ml; E, 3 cm/0.5 ml and F, 3 cm/0.3 ml. The pregnancy rate was investigated in each group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The pregnancy rates from group A to group E were 9.09% (5/55), 12.73% (7/55), 10.91% (6/55), 29.09% (16/55), 9.09% (5/55) and 12.73% (7/55), respectively. It was significantly higher in group D than in groups A, B, C, E and F(P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Catheterizing distance of 2 cm from the fundus with infused semen volume of 0.3 ml can significantly improve pregnancy rate in patients undergoing IUI with the husband's semen.</p>