Shenqi Fuzheng Injection () Combined with Chemotherapy for Acute Leukemia: A Meta-Analysis / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate to the efficacy and safety of Shenqi Fuzheng Injection (, SFI) combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of acute leukemia (AL) by meta-analysis.@*METHODS@#PubMed, Cochrane library, Embase, SinoMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), VIP Journal Integration Platform, Wanfang Database were searched from establishment to November 1, 2018. The randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of SFI combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of AL were included. The Cochrane risk assessment form (RevMan 5.1) was used to evaluate the quality of included studies.@*RESULTS@#A total of 14 RCTs and 1,088 patients was included. The quality evaluation were mostly low risk or unclear. Meta-analysis showed that compared with chemotherapy alone, SFI combined with chemotherapy can improve the total clinical effective rate in patients with AL (RR=1.15, 95% CI: 1.056-1.177; P=0.0001), and relieve adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy drugs, including infection (RR=0.561, 95% CI: 0.397-0.792; P=0.001), nausea and vomiting (RR=0.662, 95% CI: 0.524-0.835; P=0.001), bleeding (RR=0.548, 95% CI: 0.39-0.768; P=0.0001), cardiotoxicity (RR=0.230, 95% CI: 0.080-0.660; P=0.006) and hyperhidrosis (RR=0.348, 95% CI: 0.208-0.581; P=0.0001). The incidence rates of adverse reactions in SFI combined with chemotherapy group were significantly lower than that of the chemotherapy alone group (P<0.01).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Shenqi Fuzheng Injection combined with chemotherapy has good efficacy and safety for AL, and it can alleviate the adverse reactions caused by chemotherapy. However, subject to the limitations of the methodological quality of the literature, the conclusions of this study need to be further verified by large-scale and multi-center RCTs.

Time-integrated Cumulative Parameters Predictive of Radiographic Progression of Rheumatoid Arthritis: Real-world Data From a Prospective Single-center Cohort

Objective@#With many chronic inflammatory diseases, outcomes are determined by assessing both disease activity at presentation and cumulative activity over time. Here, we investigated whether cumulative activity better reflects the radiographic progression (RP) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) than measurement of activity at a single time point. @*Methods@#From a prospective cohort of RA patients, most of whom were treated with anti-rheumatic drugs, we selected 117 subjects for whom laboratory, clinical, and radiographic parameters potentially influencing RP were monitored serially for more than 1 year. X-ray images of both hands and both feet were scored using the van der Heijde modified total Sharp score (mTSS). In addition to cross-sectional values at baseline, longitudinal and cumulative values for each parameter were calculated in a timeintegrated and averaged manner. @*Results@#Among the values measured at baseline, mTSS, but not the baseline erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein level, was associated with RP. By contrast, multivariate analyses identified cumulative values such as the cumulative ESR, cumulative tender joint count, cumulative swollen joint count (SJC), and cumulative Disease Activity Score 28-ESR as major determinants of RP. In particular, the cumulative SJC showed the best predictive performance for RP. @*Conclusion@#This study highlights the importance of cumulative indices for predicting progression of RA. Specifically, dynamic and cumulative values of RA activity-related factors, particularly the cumulative SJC, may be the major determinants of RP in the current practice.

Effects of sperm DNA fragmentation index on semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes in intrauterine insemination / 中华男科学杂志

Objective@#To analyze the correlation of the sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) level with semen parameters and pregnancy outcomes of artificial insemination of the husband (AIH) in the cycle of intrauterine insemination (IUI).@*METHODS@#We collected the clinical data on 777 cases of IUI, including female clinical indicators, male semen parameters, sperm DFI and pregnancy outcomes. According to the DFI level, we divided the patients into three groups: DFI < 15%, 15% ≤ DFI < 30% and DFI ≥ 30%.@*RESULTS@#The sperm DFI level was significantly elevated with the increased age of the males (P = 0.002) and closely related to the total number of motile sperm (P = 0.002) and total sperm motility (P = 0.000) before treatment, as well as to sperm concentration (P = 0.000), total sperm motility (P = 0.001) and total number of progressively motile sperm (P = 0.000) after density gradient centrifugation. The rate of clinical pregnancy was decreased in the DFI ≥ 30% group. There were no statistically significant differences between sperm DFI and the rates of clinical pregnancy and abortion.@*CONCLUSIONS@#Male age significantly affects the sperm DFI level. Sperm DFI is closely related to sperm motility and total number of progressively motile sperm, but not to the rates of clinical pregnancy and abortion in patients undergoing IUI. IUI can be used as an effective method of assisted reproduction for male infertility./.

The application of frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer in patients with diminished ovarian reserve / 医学研究生学报

Objective The embryonic development is usually observed for 5-6 days during the process of embryo culture in most embryonic laboratories.The article aimed to explore the application of D 6+D7 frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer in patients with di -minished ovarian reserve(DOR). Methods Retrospective analysis was conducted on 285 patients with DOR who were treated with in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) in our center from 2015 to 2017.Frozen embryos were harvested from the natural cycle , mini-stimulation protocol, ovulation induction during the luteal phase , followed by frozen-thawed embryo transfer with a total of 442 cycles. The frozen embryos were divided into cleavage embryo group and blas -tocyst group according to different life stages , and comparison was made in general data and pregnancy outcome between the two groups .The blastocyst transfer group was subdivided into Day 5 group and Day6+Day7 group followed by the comparison of different pregnancy outcome between the two groups . Results Patients with DOR were treated with frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer with 291 cycles in cleavage embryo group and 151 cycles in blastocyst group.The implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and ongoing pregnancy rate of blastocyst group were significantly higher than those of cleavage embryo group ( 44.62％ vs 22.46％, 50.33％ vs 33.33％, 37.75％ vs 21.65％, P<0.05) and the abortion rate of blastocyst group was significantly lower than that of cleavage embryo group (35.05％ vs 25％, P<0.05).As to the frozen blastocyst transplantation cycle , the number of D5 blastocysts was 69, and D6+D7 blastocyst was 76. The embryo planting rate, clinical pregnancy rate, continued pregnancy rate and abortion rate of D 6+D7 group were higher than those of D5 group(39.74％ vs 50％, 44.93％ vs 55.26％, 34.78％ vs 39.47％, 22.58％ vs 28.57％), but the difference was of no statistical significance(P>0.05). Conclusion In patients with DOR, the transplanted blastocyst can significantly improve the pregnancy out -come, increase the clinical pregnancy rate and reduce the abortion rate .The embryo planting rate and clinical pregnancy rate of the transplanted D6+D7 blastocyst were higher than those of D 5 blastocyst, but the difference was not statistically significant .The abortion rate was also increased.Therefore, when the number of embryos is limited, patients with DOR may consider transplanting D 6+D7 high-quality blastocysts in order to get a certain clinical pregnancy rate .

Notch1 Gene Silenced by RNAi Inhibits Oncogenicity of Myeloma Cell Line / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of Notch1 gene silencing by RNA interference on oncogenicity of multiple myeloma cells in NOD/SCID mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Targeting-silenced Notch1 gene was target-sotenced by transfection of Notch1-shRNA in multiple myeloma RPMI8226 cells of NOD/SCID mouse myeloma models, and the change of the volume and speed of oncogenicity in myeloma mouse models were evaluated after Notch1 gene silencing, and ELISA was used to detect the serum expression level of IL-6 and VEGF in the tumor-bearing mice.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After Notch1 gene was silenced by Notch1-shRNA, the speed of tumor formation was significantly inhibited and the tumor volume was reduced in the tumor-bearing mice, as compared with the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The serum level of IL-6 and VEGF in the tumor-bearing mice significantly decreased in comparison with the control group (P<0.05 ).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The oncogenicity of myeloma cells in the models NOD/SCID mouse myeloma is significantly inhibited by Notch1 gene-silencing, and its mechanism may relate with the decreased secretory level of IL-6 and VEGF after Notch1 gene silencing. Notch1 gene silencing can be used as a new strategy to treat multiple myeloma.</p>

Targeting Notch1 Gene Inhibits the Proliferation of Multiple Myeloma Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Notch1 gene silencing on the proliferation and apoptosis of multiple myeloma cells, and to find the new targets for the treatment of multiple myeloma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Notch1-shRNA targeted silencing Notch1 gene was transfected into multiple myeloma RPMI8226 cells, the CCK-8 and flow cytometry were used to detect the proliferation and apoptosis of myeloma cells after Notch1-shRNA transfection, the real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to analyze expression level of Notch1 mRNA, and the Western blot were used to detect the expression level of Notch1 signaling pathway-related protein, such as Hes-1, Jagged-1, Jagged-2, BCL-2, PTEN, AKT and P-AKT.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mRNA and protein expression levels of Notch1-shRNA transfected cells were significantly inhibited in the experimental group assayed by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blot, the mRNA and protein expression level were down-regulated to 66% + 0.1%, 88% + 3.4% respectively, as compared with the control group(P<0.05). CCK-8 results confirmed that the cell proliferation rate was significantly decreased in the experimental group 48 hours after transfection. Flow cytometry results showed that the cell apoptosis rate was significantly higher in the experimental group than that in the control group. The expression levels of downstream protein Hes1, p-AKT and BCL-2 were decreased, the level of PTEN increased significantly after Notch1 gene silencing.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Notch1 gene silencing by transfection of Notch1-shRNA can inhibit the proliferation of myeloma cells and induce their apoptosis, and its mechanism is related to the activation of PTEN gene and p-AKT signaling. Notch1 signal can be used as a potential target for multiple myeloma therapy.</p>

Expression of miR-181a and CA125 and their correlation in human type I and II endometrial carcinoma / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To investigate the expression and correlation of microRNA-181a (miR-181a) and CA12S in human types I and II endometrial carcinomas. Methods A total of 78 formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded endometrium tissue specimens were used in the present study, and they were supplied by Xiaolan People's Hospital affiliated to Southern Medical University, Southern Hospital and Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Zhongshan University during Jan. 2011 to Dec. 2013. Among them, 13 were determined as normal endothelium by pathological and examination with immunohistochemical staining, 18 were endometrial hyperplasia, and 47 of them diagnosed were as endometrial carcinoma (type I 37 and type E 10). Total RNA was extracted from each of the specimens, and then the expression of miR-181a was determined by real-time PCR, and the expression of CA125 was detected by immunohistochemical staining. Results The expression levels of both miR-181a and CA125 were obviously higher in type I and II endometrial carcinoma tissues than in normal tissue (P<0.05). In addition, the expression of miR-181a was significantly higher in type II endometrial carcinoma than in type I endometrial carcinoma and endometrial hyperplasia tissues (P<0.05). Moreover, it was found that the expression of miR-181a increased gradually from that of normal endometrium to endometrial hyperplasia and then endometrial carcinoma, with statistically significant difference among them (P<0.05). In addition, there was also a significant difference in the expression of CA12S in different types of endometrial carcinoma (P<0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the expressions of miR-181a and CA12S were negatively correlated with each other in the process of carcinogenesis of endometrium (P<0.05). Conclusion There is a difference in expression of miR-181a between type I and type II endometrial carcinoma, and it may be related to the development and progression of endometrial carcinoma. The mechanism may be related to the expression of CA12S as regulated by miR-181a in the process of endometrial carcinogenesis, but the specific mechanism still needs further validation with experiments on the cellular level.

Pharmacokinetics and MR imaging of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe in vivo / 药学学报

In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics parameters of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe and observed the main organ distribution by MRI in vivo. Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups and injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe, respectively. The blood samples were collected to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters by measuring the iron content at 30 minutes before and after the injection. Twenty-four Kun Ming (KM) mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group was injected intravenously with physiological saline 200 µL per mouse via the tail vein, the other 3 groups were injected intravenously with different doses of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe. MRI observation was performed in 24 hours, and the liver, spleen, kidney, brain and muscle were collected for iron quantification with Prussian blue staining to determine distribution of the SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in the main organ in vivo. Our results suggest that the molecular probe blood half-life is more than 3 hours. The data of MRI suggest the probe was distributed in liver and spleen, and the MRI signal was reduced with the increase in probe's doses (P < 0.05). The results of Prussian blue staining confirmed the results of MRI. Most of the probe could escape the phagocytosis of mononuclear phagocyte system. Our data provide the pharmacokinetic and distribution of SPIO-shRNA molecular probe in organs. Meanwhile, it suggests the choice of the time and dose of probe for MR imaging of tumor in vivo.

Effects of external magnetic field on the transfection rate of SPIO-shRNADual functional molecular probe into ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells in vitro / 中国医学科学院学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the transfection rate of SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe into ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells in external magnetic field.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Dual functional molecular probe at an iron concentration of 45 mg/L was transfected into SKOV3 cells. The cells with coexisting probe and magnetic fields were set as the intervention group,the probe-transfected cells as negative control group, and normally cultured SKOV3 without any transfection as blank control group. The transfection rate was detected by flow cytometry. Cell viability was observed by CCK-8 assay. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression level in SKOV3 cells was determined by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analysis. The signal intensity was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The transfection rate of the intervention group was (79.20 ± 3.31)%, which was significantly higher than that of negative control group (P=0.001). Compared with the negative control group,the cell viability of the intervention group significantly decreased (P=0.011), protein and mRNA expression levels of EGFR in the intervention group were significantly decreased (both P<0.05). The signal intensity on T2(*)WI in the intervention group also significantly decreased (P=0.0004).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The external magnetic field can improve the transfection efficiency SPIO-shRNA dual functional molecular probe into ovarian carcinoma SKOV3 cells.</p>

Environmental and psycho-social factors related to prostate cancer risk in the Chinese population: a case-control study / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the risk environmental and psycho-social factors associated to prostate cancer (PCa) in Chinese population.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>250 PCa patients and 500 controls were enrolled in this case-control study. Information was collected and logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for relationship between lifestyle, eating habits and psycho-social factors with PCa risk.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Green vegetables and green tea were associated with a decreased risk of PCa (OR=0.39, 95% CI: 0.28-0.53; OR=0.59, 95% CI: 0.40-0.87, respectively). Family history of PCa (OR=7.16, 95% CI: 2.01-25.49), history of prostate diseases (OR=2.28, 95% CI: 1.53-3.41), alcohol consumption (OR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.33-2.90), red meat consumption (OR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.20-2.52), barbecued (OR=2.29, 95% CI: 1.11-4.73) or fried (OR=2.35, 95% CI: 1.24-4.43) foods were related with increased PCa risk. Negative psycho-social factors including occupational setbacks (OR=1.61, 95% CI: 1.00-2.59), marital separation (OR=1.94, 95% CI: 1.29-2.91), self-contained suffering (OR=2.37, 95% CI: 1.58-3.55), and high sensitivity to the personal comments (OR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.18-2.54) were related to PCa.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Regular consumption of green vegetables and green tea may suggest protective effects on PCa. Alcohol consumption, red meat consumption and barbecued or fried foods were associated with PCa. Negative psycho-social factors may also play a role in the incidence of PCa in Chinese population.</p>

Effects of recombinant adenovirus Ad-PERK siRNA on the proliferation and apoptosis of human chondrosarcoma SW1353 cells in endoplasmic reticulum stress / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the effects of small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) gene recombinant adenovirus on the proliferation and apoptosis of human chondrosarcoma SW1353 cells in endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). Methods: Recombinant adenovirus Ad-PERK siRNA targeting PERK gene was constructed, and then it was infected into SW1353 cells. The expression levels of PERK mRNA and protein in SW1353 cells after infection with Ad-PERK siRNA were detected by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. ERS model was induced by tunicamycin (TM). Under the ERS condition, the proliferation of SW1353 cells after infection with Ad-PERK siRNA was determined by MTT assay, the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry (FCM), the change of the microscopic structure was observed under a transmission electron microscope, and the expression levels of cleaved caspase 3, caspase 12, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and phospho-c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (p-JNK) proteins were detected by Western blotting. Results: The recombinant adenovirus Ad-PERK siRNA was successfully constructed. The expression levels of PERK mRNA and protein in SW1353 cells after infection with Ad-PERK siRNA were decreased (P < 0.05). Under the ERS condition, the proliferation of SW1353 cells after infection with Ad-PERK siRNA was promoted (P < 0.05). The ratio of S phase in Ad-PERK siRNA infection group was higher than those in negative control adenovirus Ad-RFP infection group (as a negative control) and non-infection group (as a blank control) (both P < 0.05). The apoptotic rate of SW1353 cells after infection with Ad-PERK siRNA was lower than those of the negative control and the blank control groups (P < 0.05). The apoptosis structures of SW1353 cells in the negative control and the blank control groups were clearly observed under a transmission electron microscope. The expression levels of cleaved caspase 3, caspase 12, CHOP and p-JNK proteins in SW1353 cells of Ad-PERK siRNA infection group were lower than those of the negative control and the blank control groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The recombinant adenovirus Ad-PERK siRNA can promote the proliferation of SW1353 cells and inhibit the apoptosis under the ERS condition.