Relationships of Inflammatory Factors and Risk Factors with Different Target Organ Damage in Essential Hypertension Patients / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Atherosclerosis (AS) is an inflammatory disease. Inflammation was considered to play a role in the whole process of AS. This study aimed to analyze the relationships of inflammatory factors and risk factors with different target organ damages (TOD) in essential hypertension (EH) patients and to explore its clinical significance.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 294 EH patients were selected and divided into four groups according to their conditions of TOD. Forty-eight healthy subjects were selected as control. The clinical biochemical parameters, serum amyloid A, serum tryptase, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) in each group were detected, and the related risk factors were also statistically analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Fibrinogen (Fbg) was the most significant independent risk factor in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) group (odds ratio [OR]: 22.242, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.458-76.609, P< 0.001) with the largest absolute value of the standardized partial regression coefficient B' (b': 1.079). Lp-PLA2 was the most significant independent risk factor in stroke group (OR: 13.699, 95% CI: 5.236-35.837, P< 0.001) with b' = 0.708. Uric acid (UA) was the most significant independent risk factor in renal damage group (OR: 15.307, 95% CI: 4.022-58.250, P< 0.001) with b' = 1.026.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Fbg, Lp-PLA2, and UA are the strongest independent risk factors toward the occurrence of ACS, ischemic stroke, and renal damage in EH patients, thus exhibiting the greatest impacts on the occurrence of ACS, ischemic stroke, and renal damage in EH patients, respectively.</p>

The association between plasma TGF-α levels and EGFR-TKI treatment sensitivity and prognosis in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutation / 中国癌症杂志

Background and purpose: Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is of advantage in treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with EGFR mutations. However, their clinical effects vary individually. This study aimed to evaluate whether the EGFR ligand, plasma transforming growth factor α (TGF-α), could act as a predictor for the EGFR-TKI treatment e?ciency in NSCLC patients with EGFR mutations and the association between TGF-α and prognosis in these patients. Methods: Seventy-five NSCLC patients with EGFR gene positive mutation were included in the current study from May 2012 to Jul. 2014 in Ruikang Hospital A?liated to Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine. Plasma TGF-α was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in all of the patients before EGFR-TKI treatment. The radiographic evaluation was performed 2 months after the therapy. The association between TGF-α and clinical outcome and its prediction e?ciency were determined, followed by the further analysis of the association between TGF-α and overall survival (OS) as well as progression-free survival (PFS). Results: After EGFR-TKI treatment, there were 20 patients with partial response (PR), 25 with stable disease (SD) and 30 with progression disease (PD) in all 75 NSCLC patients harboring EGFR positive mutation. The disease control (DC) rate reached 60%. Patients in PD group presented statistically significant higher plasma TGF-αthan patients in the DC group (P<0.01). Multivariate COX model indicated that smoking status, lymph node metastasis and plasma TGF-α levels were independent risk factors for prognosis in these patients. The ROC analysis revealed that baseline plasma TGF-α showed good prediction e?ciency [area under the curve (AUC)=0.926] and the cut-off point of TGF-α was 16.75 pg/mL. Higher level of TGF-α (≥16.75 pg/mL) was associated with smoking history, clinical stage, lymph node metastasis and clinical outcome of the patients (P<0.05). In comparison to patients with low TGF-α, the patients with high TGF-α concentration presented significantly reduced median OS and PFS (log-rank P<0.05). Conclusion: Higher plasma TGF-α (≥16.75 pg/mL) had a predictive role in EGFR-TKI resistance and poor prognosis.

Traditional Chinese medicine Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae from Guangdong and Xinhui textual criticism / 中国中药杂志

Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae is the traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and has been used for a long history. The authentic drug name Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae was rare in the Song Dynasty literature, but from the textual research of the authors, it was otherwise nicknamed as "real orange peel" or "real tangerine peel". These two names were ahead of the origin of Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae. Some scholars believe that the name Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae was from the Ming Dynasty Dr. Lishizhen's Compendium of Materia Medica. Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae has always had the bulk sales of Guangdong medicines and has been sold at home and abroad, with popularity among the doctors and the masses. In 2016, it was selected as one of 8 Lingnan herbal medicines in the first legislative protection medicines in Guangdong province. Xinhui Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae is the top grade of Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, and these two can often refer to each other. Especially in Qing Dynasty, Guangdong Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae often referred to Xinhui Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae. Therefore, they have a common development grain, but Xinhui Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae has a unique history of genuine regional drug. In October 2006, the National Quality Inspection Administration formally approved and announced that Xinhui Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae as one of national geographical indication products.

Variations of peripheral blood autoantibody, immunoglobuliln, and complement levels in patients with non-lactational mastitis and their clinical significances / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the variations in peripheral blood levels of autoantibodies, immunoglobulilns and complements in patients with non-lactational mastitis and investigate whether non-lactational mastitis is an autoimmune disease with immune dysfunction.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Seven-eight patients with non-lactational mastitis treated in our hospital between September 2013 and May 2015 and 88 healthy women (control) were examined for peripheral blood levels of antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-histone antibody (AHA), immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM, and IgG) and complements (C3, C4, and total complements).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>s Of the 78 patients with non-lactational mastitis, 50 (64.10%) were positive of ANA showing mainly the granular and cytoplasmic granular fluorescence patterns, and the positivity rate was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.000). Twenty-eight (36.00%) of the patients were positive of AHA, a rate significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.000). The levels of IgA, IgM, C4, and total complements levels were all significantly elevated in the patients compared with those in the control group (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Patients with non-lactational mastitis have abnormal changes in peripheral blood levels of immunoglobulins and complements with high positivity rates for ANA and AHA, indicating that non-lactational mastitis is an autoimmune disease with immune dysfunction.</p>

Clinical observation on oxaliplatin reintroduction combined with raltitrexed as second-line chemotherapy after the first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer patients / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and toxicity of oxaliplatin reintroduction combined with raltitrexed as second-line che-motherapy after the first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer patients. Methods:The 48 evaluable pa-tients with advanced colorectal cancer following disease progression prior to the first-line chemotherapy were treated with oxaliplatin and raltitrexed (raltitrexed 3 mg/m2 ivgtt d1, oxaliplatin 100-130 mg/m2 ivgtt d1, q21d). All 48 patients were divided into two groups:Group A, non-oxaliplatin-based regimens as the first-line chemotherapy, 20 cases;Group B, oxaliplatin-based regimens as the first-line chemotherapy, 28 cases. Each group was evaluated every two cycles. Results:The response rates (RR) of Groups A and B were 30.0%(6/20) and 32.1%(9/28), the disease control rates (DCR) were 80.0%(16/20) and 75.0%(21/28), the median progression free survival time (mPFS) was 6.5 and 7.0 months, and the median overall survival time (mOS) was 10 and 13 months, respectively. No statistical sig-nificance was observed between the two groups in their RR, CR, mPFS, and mOS (P=0.264, 0.514, 0.713, 0.788), respectively. The most common adverse effects observed wereⅠ-Ⅱgrades of bone marrow suppression, aminotransferase abnormality, and digestive toxici-ties. The incidence of neurotoxicity (Ⅰ-Ⅱgrades) between the two groups was similar. Conclusion:Instead of irinotecan combined with raltitrexed, oxaliplatin reintroduction combined with raltitrexed for second-line chemotherapy after the first-line oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced colorectal cancer patients is feasible.

Weight Gain in Pregnancy, Maternal Age and Gestational Age in Relation to Fetal Macrosomia

To investigate the possible risk factors related to macrosomia. Pregnant women and their newborns (n = 1041) were recruited from a cohort study in Maternal and Child Care Center of Hefei from January 2011 to July 2012. Questionnaires were applied to collect the demographic data besides the medical records. Detailed health records of the entire pregnancy were obtained using retrospective study. Meanwhile the data of neonatal outcomes was prospectively tracked. Associations between exposure risk factors and macrosomia were analyzed using Pearson's chi squared test. Logistic regression models were used to assess the independent association between these potential predictors and macrosomia. The incidence of macrosomia of this cohort was 11.24% of which male: female = 2.55:1. Male incidence (8.07%)of macrosomia was higher than female (3.17%), p < 0.001. Body mass index (BMI) before pregnancy (pre-BMI), maternal height, parity were not independently associated with macrosomia; Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that macrosomia was mainly independently associated with weight gain in pregnancy (OR=1.14, 95% CI [1.10-1.19]), maternal age (OR = 1.09, 95% CI [1.03-1.15]) and gestational age (OR = 1.62, 95% CI [1.31-1.99]), respectively. Our findings indicate that weight gain in pregnancy, maternal age and gestational age should be considered as independent risk factors for macrosomia.

Invasion and metastasis inhibition of Foxp3 on ovarian cancer cells Skov3 and its mechanism / 中国免疫学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of Foxp3 on the invasion and metastasis of the ovarian cancer cells Skov 3 and the related mechanism.Methods: Plasmid overexpressing Foxp 3 gene was constructed and transfected into Skov 3 cells using liposome.Proliferation,invasion,RT-PCR and Western blot analysis were done to observe the expression of Foxp 3 gene in Skov3 cells and the invasion and metastasis ability.Also,MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression was detected.Results:Overexpression of Foxp3 was confirmed in Skov3 cells after Foxp3 plasmid transfection.Compared with the empty vector group , overexpression of Foxp3 gene significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of Skov 3 cells.Meanwhile , the expression level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 genes were decreased.Conclusion:Upregulation of FoxP3 gene expression can inhibit cell proliferation ,invasion and migration in ovarian cancer Skov3 cells through downregulating MMP-2 and MMP-9 gene expression.This study provided experimental basis for further research on Foxp3 gene and gene therapy for ovarian cancer.

Anti-atherosclerosis role of N-oleoylethanolamine in CB2 / 药学学报

To observe a PPAR-alpha agonist effect of N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA) on CB2 (cannabinoid receptor 2), an anti-inflammatory receptor in vascular endothelial cell, healthy HUVECs and TNF-alpha induced HUVECs were used to establish a human vascular endothelial cell inflammatory model. Different doses of OEA (10, 50 and 100 micromol x L(-1)) had been given to HUVECs, cultured at 37 degrees C for 7 h and then collected the total protein and total mRNA. CB2 protein expression was detected by Western blotting and CB2 mRNA expression was assayed by real-time PCR. As the results shown, OEA (10 and 50 micromol x L(-1)) could induce the CB2 protein and mRNA expression, but not 100 micromol x L(-1). To detect if anti-inflammation effect of OEA is partly through CB2, CB2 inhibitor AM630 was used to inhibit HUVEC CB2 expression, then the VCAM-1 expression induced by TNF-alpha was detected, or THP-1 adhere to TNF-alpha induced HUVECs was examined. OEA (50 micromol x L(-1)) could inhibit TNF-alpha induced VCAM-1 expression and THP-1 adhere to HUVECs, these effects could be partly inhibited by a CB2 inhibitor AM630. The anti-inflammation effect of OEA is induced by PPAR-alpha and CB2, suggesting that CB2 signaling could be a target for anti-atherosclerosis, OEA have wide effect in anti-inflammation, it may have better therapeutic potential in anti-inflammation in HUVECs, thus achieving anti-atherosclerosis effect.

Relationship between coronary atherosclerosis plaque characteristics and high sensitivity C-reactive proteins, interleukin-6 / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>The relationship between inflammatory markers and the characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis plaques is uncertain. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between the characteristics of coronary atherosclerosis plaques and inflammatory markers such as high sensitivity C-reactive proteins (Hs-CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>All patients suspected of having coronary heart disease (CHD) underwent Siemens 64-slice CT angiography (64-SCTA) to distinguish the quality of plaque of coronary artery lesions. Blood samples were taken to measure levels of serum Hs-CRP and IL-6 in different plaque groups and the control group and compared with the value of 64-SCTA for detection of coronary artery plaque.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The sensitivity of detecting coronary artery plaque by 64-SCTA was 87.4%, the specificity was 87.1%, the positive predictive value was 82.2%, and the negative predictive value was 91.0%. Comparing the levels of serum Hs-CRP and IL-6 among plaque groups, the mean levels of serum Hs-CRP and IL-6 in three plaque groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.01). The mean levels of serum Hs-CRP and IL-6 in the soft plaque group and mixed plaque group were significantly higher than those in hard plaque group (P < 0.01). Plaque burden in the soft plaque group and mixed plaque group was significantly higher than in the hard plaque group (P < 0.01), but there was no statistical difference between the soft plaque group and mixed plaque group (P = 0.246). There was a negative correlation between the CT scale and Hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in the soft plaque group (r = -0.621, P < 0.01, and r = -0.593, P < 0.01 respectively). There was a positive correlation between the plaque burden and Hs-CRP and IL-6 levels in the soft plaque group (r = 0.579, P < 0.05 and r = 0.429, P < 0.05 respectively).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>64-SCTA is an effective way to distinguish the different quality of coronary atherosclerosis plaque. Serum Hs-CRP and IL-6 levels can be considered as the indexes to judge the degree of CHD and may reflect the activity of plaque in CHD patients. Thus it is important for clinical diagnosis and risk evaluation of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients.</p>

The nutrition status of children aged 6-23 months after three months of Wenchuan Earthquake in Beichuan and Lixian, Sichuan Province / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This project aims to investigate the nutrition status of children aged from 6 to 23 months living in Beichuan and Lixian where were seriously affected by the earthquake in 2008.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The height, body weight and hemoglobin concentration were measured for 478 children from Leigu township, Qushan township in Beichuan county and Zagunao township, Xuecheng township and Putou township in Lixian county; the number of group 6 - 11, 12 - 17, 18 - 23 months were 190, 144, 144 respectively. The height for age (HAZ), the body weight for age (WAZ) and the weight for height (WHZ) were calculated respectively. The low weight, stunting, wasting prevalence, anemic rate were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The WAZ scores of 6 - 23 months males and females in Beichuan county and Lixian county ranged from -0.97 to -0.13 and from -0.67 to -0.23, HAZ scores ranged from -1.23 to -0.31 and from -1.25 to -0.38, respectively. The WAZ (-0.89 ± 1.16) and HAZ (-1.20 ± 1.60) of 18 - 23 months infants in Beichuan county were significantly different from the WAZ and HAZ of 6 - 11 months (WAZ: -0.32 ± 0.92; HAZ: -0.58 ± 0.98) and 12 - 17 months (WAZ: -0.47 ± 1.00; HAZ: -0.68 ± 1.34) infants (F values were 7.161 and 4.584, respectively; all P values < 0.05). The WAZ (-0.63 ± 1.03) and HAZ (-1.11 ± 1.15) of 18 - 23 months in Lixian county infants were significantly different from the WAZ and HAZ of 6 - 11 months (WAZ: -0.23 ± 0.93; HAZ: -0.51 ± 1.55) infants and 12 - 17 months (WAZ: -0.58 ± 0.52; HAZ: -0.80 ± 1.19) (F values were 3.156, 4.345, all P values < 0.05). The prevalence of low weight infants (18 - 23 months) these two counties were 15.6% (12/77) and 9.1% (6/66), respectively. The prevalence of stunting in Beichuan and Lixian have reached 26% (20/77) and 24.2% (16/66), respectively. The wasting rate of 18 - 23 months infants had reached 9.1% (7/77) in Beichuan. The total anemia prevalence among infants reached 49.6% (123/248) and 78.8% (178/226) in Beichuan and Lixian, respectively. The prevalence of moderate anemia have reached 7.7% (19/248) and 19.9% (45/226), respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After the earthquake in Beichuan, Lixian, the growth of infants aged 6 to 23 months old was below average. The prevalence of anemia was high. The malnutrition status of infant and young children aged from 18 to 23 months in Beichuan and Lixian was more serious, should be targeted of nutrition interventions.</p>

Plasma endothelin level in hypertensive patients receiving standard anti-hypertensive therapy with or without statins / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the association between plasma endothelin (ET) concentration and blood pressure level in essential hypertensive (EH) patients with or without complications and possible impact of statins on ET concentration.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From Sep 2007 to Mar 2009, 149 patients with EH were analyzed [44 EH, 40 EH complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy (EH-LVH), 36 EH complicated by atrial fibrillation (EH-AF), and 29 EH complicated by lacunar infarction (EH-LI)], 30 healthy persons were selected as controls. EH patients were randomly divided into routine treatment group (calcium antagonists, ACEI, diuretics, beta-receptor blocker for 8 weeks) and simvastatin intervention group (routine treatment + simvastatin 40 mg/d for 8 weeks), plasma ET concentrations before and after drug intervention were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) ET concentration was higher in EH group than that in control group [(71.42 +/- 6.62) pg/ml vs. (45.52 +/- 8.28) pg/ml, P < 0.01]. ET concentration was higher in EH-LVH group, EH-AF group and EH-LI group than that in EH group [(97.67 +/- 10.53) pg/ml, (102.15 +/- 12.96) pg/ml, (103.49 +/- 9.91) pg/ml vs. (71.42 +/- 6.62) pg/ml, P <0.01]. The degrees of elevated blood pressure was positively correlated with ET concentrations(all P < 0.001). (2) The left atrial diameters of EH-AF group were positively correlated with ET concentration (r = 0.684, P < 0.001). The left ventricular mass index of EH-LVH group were positively correlated with ET concentration (r = 0.545, P < 0.001). (3) The percentages of class 3 hypertension in EH-LVH group, EH-AF group and EH-LI group were higher than that in EH group (57.5%, 50.0%, 62.1% vs. 25.0%, all P < 0.05). (4) Blood pressure in class 3 hypertension patient treated with simvastatin decreased more significantly than that in routine treatment group (P < 0.05). (5) ET concentration of class 2 hypertension patient treated with simvastatin decreased significantly than that in routine treatment group (P < 0.05). ET concentrations of class 3 hypertension patient treated with simvastatin and routine treatment patient decreased significantly after treatment (P < 0.05), and the former was lower (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The level of ET were positively correlated with the severity of EH. Simvastatin could decrease the ET levels of patients with EH and blood pressure levels of patients with class 3 hypertension. It suggested that therapeutic alliance of antihypertensive drugs and statins could be benefit to patients with EH.</p>

Analysis of 5 patients with myelodysplastic syndromes complicated with autoimmune disorders / 中国实用内科杂志

Objective To explore the character of the myelodysplastic syndrome(MDS) with autoimmune disorders (AID).Methods The clinical data of 60 MDS patients were reviewed.Results 5 of 60 MDS patients had AID ,of which 3 had Graves' disease.The commonest MDS was refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts (RAS).Conclusion MDS might occur with Graves' disease.Humoral immunological abnormality might play an important role in MDS patients with autoimmune disorders and FAB types might not be associated with this.