Electroacupuncture Alleviates Functional Constipation in Mice by Activating Enteric Glial Cell Autophagy via PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate autophagy-related mechanisms of electroacupuncture (EA) action in improving gastrointestinal motility in mice with functional constipation (FC).@*METHODS@#According to a random number table, the Kunming mice were divided into the normal control, FC and EA groups in Experiment I. The autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) was used to observe whether it antagonized the effects of EA in Experiment II. An FC model was established by diphenoxylate gavage. Then the mice were treated with EA stimulation at Tianshu (ST 25) and Shangjuxu (ST 37) acupoints. The first black stool defecation time, the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and intestinal transit rate were used to assess intestinal transit. Colonic tissues underwent histopathological assessment, and the expressions of autophagy markers microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1 were detected by immunohistochemical staining. The expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT)-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway members were investigated by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. The relationship between enteric glial cells (EGCs) and autophagy was observed by confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, localization analysis, and electron microscopy.@*RESULTS@#EA treatment shortened the first black stool defecation time, increased the number, weight, and water content of 8-h feces, and improved the intestinal transit rate in FC mice (P<0.01). In terms of a putative autophagy mechanism, EA treatment promoted the expressions of LC3 and Beclin-1 proteins in the colonic tissue of FC mice (P<0.05), with glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and LC3 significantly colocalized. Furthermore, EA promoted colonic autophagy in FC mice by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The positive effect of EA on intestinal motility in FC mice was blocked by 3-MA.@*CONCLUSION@#EA treatment can inhibit PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in the colonic tissues of FC mice, thereby promoting EGCs autophagy to improve intestinal motility.

Promoting the exploration and research of hospital patent transformation through multiple channels / 中华医学科研管理杂志

Objective:The medical-related patent transformation level is relatively low in China for a long time. However, with the support and advancement of a series of national policies, domestic patents and other medical intellectual property projects are increasing year by year, and medical transformation is also receiving more and more attention. Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University actively promotes the transformation of hospital patents through various channels, and actively explores how to carry out patent transformation and how to improve the success rate of transformation. This article aims to analyze and explore the feasibility of multi-channel promotion of patents, and to open up a new path for the use of new media to promote patent conversion.Methods:Through Excel analysis of " Zhongshan Patent Hero Post" WeChat public account and official Weibo platform weekly page views data and patent salon project data, as well as the patent application and transformation of Zhongshan Hospital in the past 6 years, and analyze the effect of patent promotion.Results:Through multiple channels and various links of effective promotion methods, the patent application and conversion situation of Zhongshan Hospital has doubled in the past 6 years.Conclusions:The hospital will further actively explore the patent application and transformation process, the full-cycle promotion method of each link, and provide a transfer and transformation consulting docking and promotion platform for the scientific research results or patent technologies related to hospitals and enterprises, and help the transformation of medical patents.

Cupping therapy for patients with chronic urticaria: A systematic review and meta-analysis / 中西医结合学报

BACKGROUND@#Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common skin disease, which has a negative effect on quality of life. Current treatments do not fully control the symptoms of urticaria for many CU patients, thus effective and safe treatments for CU are still needed.@*OBJECTIVE@#This review aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of cupping therapy in patients with CU.@*SEARCH STRATEGY@#The search strategy looked for the presence of related keywords, such as "chronic urticaria" and "cupping therapy," in the title and abstract of research articles indexed in major databases. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected after querying nine electronic databases from their inception to May 2019 with the above search terms.@*INCLUSION CRITERIA@#RCTs were included if they recruited patients with CU who were intervened with dry or wet cupping. Publications could be written in Chinese or English.@*DATA EXTRACTION AND ANALYSIS@#Data were extracted, and the studies were assessed for the quality of their methodological design and risk of bias. Meta-analyses of the RCT data were conducted to assess the total effective rate of the treatment as the primary outcome. Skin disease quality of life index score, recurrence rate, and adverse events were assessed as secondary outcomes. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on different interventions.@*RESULTS@#Thirteen comparisons from 12 RCTs involving 842 participants were included. There were no significant differences between wet cupping and medications in total effective rate (n = 372; risk ratio [RR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.97 to 1.25; P = 0.14) or recurrence rate (n = 240; RR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.23 to 1.36; P = 0.20). Cupping therapy, in combination with antihistamine treatment was more efficacious than antihistamines alone, with a greater total effective rate (n = 342; RR = 1.18, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.39; P = 0.03) and lower recurrence rate (n = 342; RR = 0.52, 95% CI 0.32 to 0.84; P = 0.007). Cupping therapy combined with acupuncture was more effective than acupuncture alone (n = 156; RR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.46; P = 0.006). No serious adverse events were reported.@*CONCLUSION@#Wet cupping may be as effective as treatment with antihistamines. When cupping therapy is used as an adjuvant therapy to antihistamines or acupuncture, it may enhance the efficacy. Results drawn from these studies should be interpreted with caution and applied with care to clinical practice, because of the poor quality among the studies that were reviewed.@*SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION@#PROSPERO, CRD42019137451.

Construction and preliminary study of multifunctional drug delivery system based on hollow mesoporous copper sulfide nanoparticles / 药学学报

This study aims to develop multifunctional drug delivery system based on hollow mesoporous copper sulfide (HMCuS) nanoparticles. This type of nanoparticles is expected to achieve the synergistic treatment of tumor by targeted phototherapy and chemotherapy. The carrier was synthesized by a substitution method, and the anti-cancer drug doxorubicin (DOX) was loaded and then modified by hyaluronic acid (HA) to prepare the anti-cancer drug system DOX/HMCuS-HA. The results suggested that DOX/HMCuS-HA presented uniform spherical structure, with the drug loading efficiency of 33.6%, the particle size and zeta potential being 113.8 ± 6.9 nm and 18.4 ± 2.8 mV, respectively. When 100 μg·mL-1 HMCuS was irradiated under 808 nm laser (2 W·cm-2) for 8 min, the temperature can heat up 51 ℃, demonstrating high photothermal conversion efficacy. Electron spin resonance (ESR) tests and methylene blue degradation experiments showed that HMCuS nanoparticles could simultaneously produce hydroxyl radical (•OH) mediated photodynamic therapy. In addition, HA was responsible for minimizing premature drug release and increasing tumor targeting efficiency by acting as a smart gatekeeper with tumor specific targeting moiety. In vitro drug release experiments showed that the coated HA could be degraded by intracellular lysosomal enzyme hyaluronidase, which facilitated DOX release. The acidic micro-environment of tumor cell and external near infrared (NIR) stimulus could trigger further release of DOX from the nanoparticles. These results point to a new strategy for timely and effective anti-tumor treatment.

The prognostic impact of traditional Chinese medicine monomers on tumor-associated macrophages in non-small cell lung cancer / 中国天然药物

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80%-85% of all lung malignancies and good diagnosis and prognosis of NSCLC are critical to the increase of its survival rate. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) abundantly present in numerous cancer types, and the role of TAMs in tumor biology and their prognostic value in cancer become major topics of interest. After various stimulations in the tumor microenvironment, TAMs develop into a M1 (tumor-inhibitory) phenotype or M2 (tumor-promoting) phenotype. Recent studies show that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) monomers have markedly inhibitory actions for NSCLC through M1/M2 modulation. Due to the TCM monomers mainly covered five categories, i.e. terpenoids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, natural polyphenols, and alkaloids. Thus, we will discuss the regulation of TCM monomers on TAM involve in these five parts in this review. In addition, the potential role of TAMs as therapeutic targets will be discussed.

Recent advance in the theoretical research and clinical application of 18F-FDG PET in assessment of epithelial-mesenchymal transition / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is recognized as a central driver for many malignant tumor behaviors.Detection of EMT plays the pivotal role in early prediction of tumor metastasis and therapy resistance,as well as in evaluation of targeting EMT to reverse chemoresistance.Nowadays,the major way to distinguish EMT mainly depends on examination of molecular biomarkers of acquired tumor tissues or cells.18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging,which reflects the glucose metabolism,has emerged as a potential method to diagnose and govern EMT.This review summarizes the recent advances in theoretical research and clinical application of 18F-FDG PET in assessment of EMT.

Characteristics of Uric Acid Excretion in Gout Patients with Obesity / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To explore clinical manifestations and features of renal uric acid excretion in gout patients with obesity.【Methods】Totally 228 primary gout patients were enrolled and divided into three groups according to body mass index（BMI）. Clinical and fasting blood biochemical analysis data were collected. Indices of renal uric acid excretion were calculated according to 24 h urinary uric acid and urinary creatinine.【Results】The obese group（n = 44）was younger than overweight group（n = 88）and non-overweight group（n = 96）［43（32，57）years vs 55（45，65）years，58（45，67）years］，with earlier onset age［37（26，48）years vs 48（38，59）years］，higher serum uric acid［594（522，697）μmol/L vs 511（372，653）μmol/L］and had more hypercholesterolemia（56.8% vs 31.3%）and low density lipoproteinemia（59.1% vs 47.9%）compared with non-overweight group. The ratio of hypertriglyceridemia（43.5% and 37.5% vs 17.7%）and metabolic syndrome（50.0% and 36.4% vs 12.5%）in the overweight and obese group were both higher than non- overweight group. Fraction excretion of uric acid（FEUA）in obese group［5.5（3.6，7.4）% vs 7.0（5.2，9.8）%］was lower than non-overweight group，and the glomerular filtration load of uric acid［5.3（4.2，7.5）mg·min- 1 ·1.73 m- 2 vs 3.5（2.2，5.2）mg·min-1·1.73 m-2］in obese group was higher than that in non-overweight group（All P < 0.0167）. Multivariate regression analysis showed that overweight or obesity were negatively correlated with FEUA（All P < 0.05）.【Conclusion】High uric acid load of serum and glomerular filtration in gout patients with obesity may be due to the relative insufficiency of renal uric acid excretion.

Effect of dietary intervention on newly-enrolled preschoolers / 预防医学

Objective To evaluate the intervention effect of dietary interventions in newly-admitted children in kindergartens and nurseries. Methods Newly-admitted children from 6 kindergartens and nurseries were randomly divided into intervention group and control group, and prospective controlled trials were conducted. The intervention group took a one-year comprehensive intervention measures, and the control group took conventional interventions, evaluation of the intervention effect. Results Before intervention, the parents of children had the highest content of protein in plant foods, which are the main nutrients in cereals, and the awareness rate was 62.08％ and 63.34％ respectively. About 74.05％ of the children need help when eating and 67.54％ of the children always skip breakfast. Generalized estimation equation analysis showed that after intervention, the awareness rate of various parents 'nutritional knowledge increased (P<0.05), and the increase rate of parents' awareness in the intervention group was greater than that of the control group (P<0.05) . After the intervention, the positive rate of various unhealthy eating habits among children decreased (P<0.05), and the positive rate of multiple unhealthy eating habits in the intervention group was greater than that of the control group (P<0.05) . Conclusion The family-school-children comprehensive intervention can effectively improve patient's awareness of nutritional knowledge and reduce the occurrence of unhealthy dietary behaviors of children in private nurseries.

Optimization of SPECT/CT scan schemes in localizing preoperative parathyroid lesions / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To compare the diagnostic efficiencies of different scanning schemes of dualphase 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) planar imaging with or without SPECT/CT in the preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions.Methods Forty-two patients (20 males,22 females;average age (53.1 ± 14.8) years) with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism who underwent parathyroidectomy from June 2011 to June 2016 were analyzed retrospectively.All patients underwent dual-phase 99Tcm-MIBI planar scan and dual-phase SPECT/CT scan.The images were collected according to the following 4 procedures:dualphase planar imaging (S1),dual-phase planar imaging+early-phase SPECT/CT (S2),dual-phase planar imaging+delayed-phase SPECT/CT (S3),dual-phase planar imaging+dual-phase SPECT/CT (S4).Pathological results were considered as the gold standard.A total of 168 parathyroid glands in 42 patients were evaluated by the 4 imaging procedures respectively.The diagnostic efficiencies were calculated and compared by x2 test.Results Seventy-eight abnormal parathyroid lesions were found.The diagnostic sensitivities of S1,S2,S3,S4 were 66.7％ (52/78),89.7％(70/78),69.2％(54/78),89.7％(70/78),and the accuracies were 78.6％ (132/168),94.0％ (158/168),85.1％ (143/168),94.0％ (158/168),respectively.The diagnostic accuracies of S2 and S4 were significantly higher than those of S1 and S3 (x2 values:17.027 and 7.176,both P＜0.01).Condusions The dual-phase planar imaging together with early-phase and dualphase SPECT/CT imaging have high diagnostic efficiencies in the preoperative localization of parathyroid lesions.Considering reducing radiation dose and examine time,the dual-phase planar imaging together with early-phase SPECT/CT is a better choice.

SPECT/CT-guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy of thoracic masses / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To investigate a real-time imaging guided percutaneous transthoracic needle biopsy (PTNB) for thoracic masses with SPECT/CT.Methods From March to June 2016,a total of 12 patients (7 males,5 females;average age:(59.2± 13.2) years) with thoracic lesions suspicious for malignancy underwent 99Tcm-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) SPECT/CT-guided PTNB.The hot spot areas were chosen from the thorax 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT images as the sampling targets.Subsequent guiding CT scans were repeatedly fused with the prior SPECT images to realize the real-time guiding of the biopsy needle puncture step by step,until reaching to the target margin.Masses were sampled after confirming that the needle tips reached planned areas.Pathological results,total time of examination,time of PTNB procedure,complication,CT radiation dosage were recorded.Results Based on 99Tcm-MIBI SPECT/CT results,biopsies targeted the most suspicious areas within lesions.All biopsy procedures yielded diagnostic results.Eleven patients had positive results of malignancy,and 1 patient with inflammation.There were no severe complications.Total time of examination was (74.3±10.4) min,and (33.5±9.1) min for PTNB.Radiation dosage of CT was (6.1±1.7) mSv,36％ of which was caused by CT-guiding ((2.2±1.0) mSv).Conclusion Multimodal of SPECT/CT fusion imaging is useful for thorax biopsy planning and guiding,and can increase overall performance of safety and feasibility.

Extracardiac findings by low dose CT attenuation correction during SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To investigate the value of CT in detecting incidental extracardiac findings (IEFs) when used for attenuation correction during SPECT/CT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI).Methods A total of 520 patients (288 males,232 females,average age 65.8 years) who underwent SPECT/CT MPI between July 2014 and February 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.Low dose CT attenuation correction was used during MPI.IEFs of lung,mediastinum and chest wall,large blood vessels,spine,and part of upper abdomen were recorded independently.All findings were divided into three categories:IEFs requiting further examination and treatment measures taken immediately (group A),IEFs requiring follow-up or further examination (group B),IEFs need no further treatment (group C).Results IEFs (n =356) were observed in 52.31％ (272/520) of the patients,with 24 cases in group A (4.62％,24/520),105 cases in group B (20.19％,105/520) and 143 cases in group C (27.50％,143/520).There were 158 clinically significant IEFs in 129 patients (24.81％,129/520),including 5(0.96％,5/520) with newly diagnosed malignancy.Conclusion IEFs detected by CT used for attenuation correction during SPECT/CT MPI are not uncommon,including a few cases with clinically significant findings.

Chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of Cyclocarya paliurus(Batal.)Iljinskaja:research advances / 国际药学研究杂志

Cyclocarya paliurus(Batal.)Iljinskaja,a Chinese native plant,contains various components of bioactive constitu-ents in leaves. The main chemical constituents are triterpenes,flavonoids,organic acids,polysaccharides,steroids,etc. and among them,the dammarane-type triterpenoids are the main sweet components. Modern pharmacological research has demonstrated that these compounds or plant extracts show hypoglycemic,lipid-lowering,blood pressure lowering,antioxidation,and antibacterial activi-ties,and so on. The research advances in chemical constituents and pharmacological effect of C. paliurus are reviewed for a prospect reference of its further development and utilization.

Shielding of the geomagnetic field reduces hydrogen peroxide production in human neuroblastoma cell and inhibits the activity of CuZn superoxide dismutase

Accumulative evidence has shown the adverse effects of a geomagnetic field shielded condition, so called a hypomagnetic field (HMF), on the metabolic processes and oxidative stress in animals and cells. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we evaluate the role of HMF on the regulation of cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. We found that HMF exposure led to ROS decrease, and that restoring the decrease by additional HO rescued the HMF-enhanced cell proliferation. The measurements on ROS related indexes, including total anti-oxidant capacity, HO and superoxide anion levels, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and expression, indicated that the HMF reduced HO production and inhibited the activity of CuZn-SOD. Moreover, the HMF accelerated the denaturation of CuZn-SOD as well as enhanced aggregation of CuZn-SOD protein, in vitro. Our findings indicate that CuZn-SOD is able to response to the HMF stress and suggest it a mediator of the HMF effect.

Effects of Cangfu Congxian Decoction on Oxidative Stress in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Cangfu Congxian Decoction (CCD) on oxidative stress in granulosa cells of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty PCOS patients underwent in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) were assigned to the treatment group and the control group 1 according to random digit table, 20 in each group. Patients in the treatment group took CCD (200 mL, once in the morning and once in the afternoon) 2 months before IVF-ET, while those in the control group 1 took no Chinese medical decoction. Recruited were another 20 patients undergoing IVF-ET for tubal factors (as the control group 2). The clinical effect of IVF-ET were observed, including oocyte retrieval number, 2 pronuclear (2PN) fertilization rate, good quality embryo rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) induced transplantation cancel rate. The expression of relative oxygen species (ROS) in granulosa cells was detected using cell immunofluorescence combined with confocal microscopy and FCM.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group 1, occyte retrieval number, 2PN fertilization rate, and good quality embryo rate increased in the control group 2 and the treatment group (P <0. 05). OHSS induced transplantation cancel rate decreased in the control group 2 (P < 0.05). Fluorescence intensity of ROS decreased in the treatment group and the control group 2, as compared with the control group 1 (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CCD increased good quality embryo rate by down-regulating the expression of ROS protein in ovarian granulosa cells, and correcting in vivo oxidative stress.</p>

Diagnostic value of SPECT/CT for lumbar spondylolysis / 中华核医学与分子影像杂志

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of 99Tcm-MDP SPECT/CT in the diagnosis of lumbar spondylolysis.Methods A total of 58 patients (28 males,30 females,average age 61.3 years) who underwent bone scan and SPECT/CT because of low back pain from January 2012 to May 2014 were retrospectively evaluated.The final diagnosis was based on comprehensive results of SPECT/CT and followup.The diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy of SPECT,CT and SPECT/CT images were calculated and x2 test was performed to analyze the data.Results Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed as lumbar spondylolysis.The diagnostic sensitivities of SPECT,CT and SPECT/CT were 53.6％ (15/28),78.6％ (22/28) and 100％(28/28).The diagnostic accuracies of SPECT,CT and SPECT/CT were 48.3％ (28/58),89.7％ (52/58) and 93.1％(54/58).SPECT/CT was proved to be more accurate than SPECT(x2=28.13,P＜ 0.05).Conclusion SPECT/CT bone scan may detect lumbar spondylolysis in early stage.

Effects of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe on Expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL in Endometriosis Rats with Shen Yang Deficiency Blood Stasis Syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the effect of Bushen Wenyang Huayu Recipe (BWHR) on hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), proline hydroxylase2 (PHD2), von Hippel Lindau disease (VHL) suppressor gene expressions in endometriosis (EM) rats with Shen yang deficiency blood stasis syndrome (SYDBSS), and to explore the pathogenesis of EM and the mechanism of BWHR for treating EM.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 50 SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, i.e., the blank control group, the sham-operation group, the model group, the Chinese medicine (CM) group, and the Western medicine (WM) group, 10 in each group. Rats in the blank control group and the sham-operation group were fed routinely. Rats in the rest 3 groups received 30-day "extended refrigerator freezing and ice water immersion" and combined with " autotransplantation" to establish EM rat model with SYDBSS. One Milliliter BWHR at 3.33 g/mL was administered to rats in the CM group by gastrogavage. Gestrinone at the daily dose of 0. 5 mg/kg was administered to rats in the WM group by gastrogavage. Equal volume of normal saline was administered to rats in the model group, the blank control group, and the sham-operation group. The size and morphology of ectopic foci in rats were observed after 4 weeks of medication. Expressions of serum CA125, plasma cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and plasma cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were detected by radioimmunoassay. Morphological changes of eutopic endometrium and ectopic tissue were observed under the optical microscope by HE staining. Protein expressions and contents of HIF-lα, PHD2, and VHL were detected by immunohistochemical SABC method and Western blot. mRNA expressions of HIF-1α, PHD2, and VHL were detected by RT-PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The ectopic foci grew significantly in the model group. Their volumes were obviously contracted after treated by CM and WM. Compared with the blank control group and the sham-operation group, serum CA125 and plasma cGMP obviously increased, cAMP obviously decreased (P < 0.05); expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all decreased (P < 0.05); mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all decreased in the model group (P < 0.05). Compared with model group, levels of CA125 and cGMP obviously decreased; cAMP levels obviously increased, expressions and contents of HIF-1α mRNA and protein all increased, mRNA and protein expressions and contents of PHD2 and VHL all increased in the WM group and the CM group (P < 0.05). Compared with the CM group, PHD2 protein contents were higher in the WM group (P < 0.05). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with PHD2 (r = -0.799, P = 0.00). HIF-1α was negatively correlated with VHL (r = -0. 625, P = 0.003).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BWHR could effectively treat EM. Its mechanism might be associated with reducing contents of HIF-1α, serum CA125, and plasma cGMP, and up-regulating expressions of PHD2, VHL, and cAMP.</p>

Correlation research on the expression of FcgammaR II b on B cells and rheumatoid arthritis patients of Shen deficiency syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation between the expression of Fcgamma receptor II b (FcgammaRII b) on B cells and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of Shen deficiency syndrome (SDS).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>There were 43 RA patients, including 26 of SDS and 17 of non-SDS. The expression levels of FcgammaRII b on naive B cells, memory B cells, and plasma blasts in the peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry. The numbers of tender joints, numbers of swollen joints, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), and disease activity score (DAS28), the correlation between the distribution of B cells and the expression level of FcgammaRII b in RA patients were analyzed. Besides, another 21 healthy volunteers were recruited as the control group.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression level of FcgammaRII b was 49.65% +/- 15.86% on memory B cells and 43.69% +/- 22.57% on plasma blasts in RA patients of SDS, significantly down-regulated when compared with those of the control group (64.03% +/- 6.01%, 66.59% +/- 10.18%, P < 0.01). The expression level of FcgammaRII b on memory B cells of RA patients of non-SDS was down-regulated more obviously when compared with that of the control group (52.70% +/- 9.52% versus 64.03% +/- 6.01%, P < 0.01). The expression level of FcgammaRII b on plasma blasts was obviously lower in RA patients of SDS than in RA patients of non-SDS (56.10% +/- 17.05%, P < 0.05). The expression level of FcgammaRII b on memory B cells was not correlated with numbers of tender joints, numbers of swollen joints, ESR, RF, or DAS28.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The defective immunological tolerance of B cells in RA patients of SDS might be closely correlated with down-regulation of FcgammaRII b on memory B cells and plasma blasts. There might exist genetic abnormality of FcgammaRII b gene in RA patients of SDS, thus inducing loss of autoimmunity tolerance.</p>

Correlation study of auto-immune antibodies and rheumatoid arthritis patients of Shen deficiency syndrome / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the correlation between auto-immune antibodies and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients of Shen deficiency syndrome (SDS), thus providing clinical evidence for further researches on molecular biological mechanisms of RA patients of SDS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Totally 451 RA patients were assigned to the SDS group and the non-SDS group. Their general conditions (including gender, age, duration, and age of onset), C reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), platelet (PLT), disease activities (DAS28), auto-antibodies [rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies, anti-nuclear antibody (ANA)] were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The scores for EST, PLT, and DAS28 were obviously higher in the SDS group than in the non-SDS group (P < 0.05, P <0. 01). (2) The level of average RF was (697.32 +/-1 061.38 IU/mL) in the SDS group, higher than that in the non-SDS group (439.91 +/- 672.24 IU/mL, P <0.01). There was no statistical difference in anti-CCP antibody between the two groups (P >0.05).(3) The ANA positive rate of RA patients was 29. 63% (120/405). It was 37.19% (74/199) in RA patients of SDS and 22. 33% (46/206) in RA patients of non-SDS, showing statistical difference between the two groups (P <0.01). (4) The odds ratio for high level RF positive and ANA positive was 1. 574 and 2. 059 folds in RA patients of SDS as high as that in RA patients of non-SDS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>RA patients of SDS would have higher risk of having auto-immune antibodies, fastened development, more worsen joint damage, and more poor prognosis. Its mechanisms might be closely associated with autoimmune tolerance.</p>

Increased levels of prostaglandin high mobility group box-1 and high-sensitive C-reactive protein in peritoneal fluid and serum of patients with endometriosis / 中华全科医师杂志

The concentrations of prostaglandin in high mobility group box-1 ( HMGB1 ) and highsensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) in serum and peritoneal fluid were detected in 76 patients with endometriosis (study group) and 30 patients without endometriosis (ovary cysts or uterine myoma, as control group). The peritoneal fluids were collected during laparoscopic operation, and the serum samples were collected before surgery. The HMGB1 and Hs-CRP concentrations in serum and peritoneal fluid of study group were significantly higher than those of control group, ( 8. 2 ± 0. 8) mg/L vs. (2. 1 ±. 0. 2) mg/L、 ( 14. 4 ±3.0) mg/L vs. (4.5 ±2.3) mg/L (both P＜0. 01);HMGB1 and Hs-CRP levels in serum and peritoneal fluid of stage Ⅲ-Ⅳ endometriosis were significantly higher than those of stage Ⅰ-Ⅱ, ( 9. 2 ± 0. 8) mg/L vs.(6.7 ±0.7) mg/L,(18.7 ±2.9) mg/L vs. (11.2 ±2. 8) mg/L,(6.5 ±0.6) mg/L vs. (3.4 ±0.5) mg/L,(8.4 ±2.7) mg/L vs. (5.4 ±2.4) mg/L (all P ＜0.05). The concentrations of HMGB1 were positively correlated with Hs-CRP in endometriosis group (r =0. 72, P ＜0. 01 ). The results indicate that concentrations of HMGB1 and Hs-CRP may be of value in assessing the severity of endometrosis.