Diagnostic utility of automated indirect immunofluorescence compared to manual indirect immunofluorescence for anti-nuclear antibodies in patients with systemic rheumatic diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

This study aimed to review and compare the analytical and clinical performance of automated indirect immunofluorescence (AIIF) and manual indirect immunofluorescence (MIIF) as anti-nuclear antibody screening assays for patients with systemic rheumatic diseases (SRDs), such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc).

三氧化二砷对肺腺癌化学治疗敏感性的影响及其机制

目的　研究三氧化二砷 (As2 O3)对肺腺癌细胞生长过程及化学治疗 (简称化疗 )敏感性的影响。方法　应用四甲基偶氮唑蓝 (MTT)比色、免疫组织化学、流式细胞仪、逆转录 聚合酶链反应(RT PCR)等方法 ,观察不同浓度As2 O3 对人肺腺癌A549细胞株生长、化疗敏感性、细胞周期 ,及凋亡基因Fas/FasL、抗凋亡基因B淋巴细胞白血病 2 (bcl 2 )和多药耐药相关蛋白 (MRP)、肺耐药蛋白 (LRP)表达水平的影响。结果　 1、2 μmol/L的As2 O3 对人肺腺癌A549细胞株的生长抑制作用较弱 ,但能显著提高A549细胞对顺铂的敏感性 (P <0 .0 5)、提高A549在G1期细胞的比率 ,上调Fas、下调bcl 2及MRP、LRP的表达水平。 5μmol/L的As2 O3 对人肺腺癌A549细胞有一定的抑制作用 ,并可上调bcl 2、MRP、LRP的表达水平 ,但不能提高A549细胞对顺铂的敏感性。结论　低浓度的As2 O3 可能通过提高A549细胞在G1期的比率 ,上调Fas基因和下调bcl 2、MRP、LRP基因的表达水平 ,提高肺腺瘤细胞对化疗的敏感性     

Liver iron stores in patients with secondary haemosiderosis under iron chelation therapy with deferoxamine or deferiprone

Summary. Total body iron stores including liver and spleen iron were assessed by non-invasive SQUID biomagnetometry. The liver iron concentration was measured in groups of patients with β-thalassaemia major or other post-transfusional siderosis under treatment with the oral iron chelator deferiprone (n = 19) and/or with parenteral deferoxamine (n = 33). An interquartile range for liver iron concentrations of 1680-4470μg/g liver was found in these patients. In both groups a poor correlation between liver iron and serum ferritin values was observed.
Repeated measurements of liver and spleen iron concentrations as well as determination of liver and spleen volume by sonography were performed in six patients under continuous deferiprone treatment for 3-15 months. In this group detailed information was obtained on the whole body iron store (5-36 g) and the iron excretion rates (14-34mg/d) for each patient. As indicated by decreasing liver iron concentrations, five out of six subjects showed a negative iron balance (2-13 mg/d). Conventional measurements of both serum ferritin and urine iron excretion gave fluctuating results, thus being only of limited use in the control of iron depletion therapy.
The non-invasive biomagnetic liver iron quantification is a precise and clinically verified technique which offers more direct information on the long-term efficacy of an iron depletion therapy than the hitherto used methods. This technique may be of use in the clinical evaluation of new oral iron chelators.     

Local cutaneous nerve terminal and mast cell responses to manual acupuncture in acupoint LI4 area of the rats

Previous studies have shown that the effects of manual acupuncture (MA) are contributed by collagen fibers and mast cells in local acupoints, at which acupuncture stimulation causes various afferent fiber groups to be excited. However what happens in local nerve fibers and mast cells after MA remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the response of cutaneous nerve fibers and mast cells to MA stimulation in acupoint Hegu (LI4). The contralateral LI4 of the same rat was used as a non-stimulated control. Immnohistochemistry analysis were carried out to observe the expression of histamine (HA), serotonin (5-HT) and nociceptive neuropeptides, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P (SP), in the LI4 area. Mast cells were labeled with anti-mast cell tryptase antibody and simultaneously with HA or 5-HT primary antibodies to observe their co-expression. Our results showed that SP and CGRP were expressed more highly on the cutaneous nerve fibers of LI4 after MA stimulation than that of the control. Mast cells aggregated in close proximity to the blood vessels in intra-epidermis and dermis and some of them with degranulation in the lower dermis and subcutaneous tissue of LI4. Both mast cells and their granules appeared with HA (+) and 5-HT (+) expression at stimulated L14 sites, while a few intact mast cells with a little expression of 5-HT and HA were distributed in areas of non-stimulated L14. The results indicated that local cutaneous nerve terminals and mast cells responded to MA with higher expression of SP and CGRP in nerve fibers, as well as with aggregation and degranulation of mast cells with HA and 5-HT granules at acupoint LI4. These neuroactive substances may convey signals to certain pathways that contribute to the effects of acupuncture.     

A novel herbal composition containing extracts of Boswellia serrata gum resin and Aegle marmelos fruit alleviates symptoms of asthma in a placebo controlled double‐blind clinical study

LI13109F is a novel herbal composition containing the extracts of Boswellia serrata gum resin and Aegle marmelos fruit. This composition dampens leukotriene dependent inflammatory reactions via inhibiting 5‐lipoxygenase pathway. In a Sephadex LH‐20 induced airway inflammation model of Sprague Dawley rats, LI13109F significantly reduced infiltrated granulocyte population in the bronco‐alveolar lavage fluid and normalized Th1/Th2 cytokine balance. Further, a 56‐day placebo‐controlled and randomized double blind study (Clinical Trial Registration No. CTRI/2016/10/007393) on subjects with mild to moderate asthma has evaluated the clinical efficacy of LI13109F. The study subjects received either 200 mg/day of LI13109F (n = 18) or a similar dosage of placebo (n = 18). At the end of the trial period, LI13109F conferred significant improvements in the clinical parameters; the emotional function (p = .0305) and asthma symptoms scores (p = .0002) were improved even at 14 days, compared with the placebo. Further, 56 days supplementation of LI13109F resulted in significant increase in serum IFN‐γ (p = .0014) and reduction in IL‐4 (p = .0497), compared with placebo. LI13109F supplementation did not yield any serious adverse events or any abnormal observations in routine laboratory examinations during the study. Together, these observations suggest that LI13109F (AlvioLife®) is tolerable and an effective intervention for management of mild to moderate asthma such as airway inflammation.     

Acupuncture at heterotopic acupoints enhances jejunal motility in constipated and diarrheic rats

AIM: To investigate the effect and mechanism of acupuncture at heterotopic acupoints on jejunal motility, particularly in pathological conditions. METHODS: Jejunal motility was assessed using a manometric balloon placed in the jejunum approximately 18-20 cm downstream from the pylorus and filled with approximately 0.1 mL warm water in anesthetized normal rats or rats with diarrhea or constipation. The heterotopic acupoints including LI11 (Quchi), ST37 (Shangjuxu), BL25 (Dachangshu), and the homotopic acupoint ST25 (Tianshu), were stimulated for 60 s by rotating acupuncture needles right and left at a frequency of 2 Hz. To determine the type of afferent fibers mediating the regulation of jejunal motility by manual acupuncture, the ipsilateral sciatic A or C fibers of ST37 were inactivated by local application of the A-fiber selective demyelination agent cobra venom or the C fiber blocker capsaicin. Methoctramine, a selective M₂ receptor antagonist, was injected intravenously to identify a specific role of M₂ receptors in mediating the effect of acupuncture on jejunal motility. RESULTS: Acupuncture at heterotopic acupoints, such as LI11 and ST37, increased jejunal motility not only in normal rats, but also in rats with constipation or diarrhea. In normal rats, manual acupuncture at LI11 or ST37 enhanced jejunal pressure from 7.34 ± 0.19 cmH₂O to 7.93 ± 0.20 cmH₂O, an increase of 9.05% ± 0.82% (P < 0.05), and from 6.95 ± 0.14 cmH₂O to 8.97 ± 0.22 cmH₂O, a significant increase of 27.44% ± 1.96% (P < 0.01), respectively. In constipated rats, manual acupuncture at LI11 or ST37 increased intrajejunal pressure from 8.17 ± 0.31 cmH₂O to 9.86 ± 0.36 cmH₂O, an increase of 20.69% ± 2.10% (P < 0.05), and from 8.82 ± 0.28 cmH₂O to 10.83 ± 0.28 cmH₂O, an increase of 22.81% ± 1.46% (P < 0.05), respectively. In rats with diarrhea, MA at LI11 or ST37 increased intrajejunal pressure from 11.95 ± 0.35 cmH₂O to 13.96 ± 0.39 cmH₂O, an increase of 16.82% ± 2.35% (P < 0.05), and tended to increase intrajejunal pressure (from 12.42 ± 0.38 cmH₂O to 13.05 ± 0.38 cmH₂O, an increase of 5.07% ± 1.08%, P > 0.05), respectively. In contrast, acupuncture ST25, a homotopic acupoint, not only decreased intrajejunal pressure, but also significantly decreased frequency in normal rats and rats with constipation or diarrhea. Following demyelination of Aδ fibers, acupuncture at ST37 again augmented intrajejunal pressure to 121.48% ± 3.06% of baseline. Following capsaicin application for 24 h, acupuncture at ipsilateral ST37 increased intrajejunal pressure to 106.63% ± 1.26% of basal levels when compared to measurements prior to capsaicin treatment (P < 0.05). Acupuncture at LI11, ST37, or BL25 significantly rescued methoctramine-mediated inhibition of jejunal motility amplitude from 42.83% ± 1.65% to 53.43% ± 1.95% of baseline (P < 0.05), from 45.15% ± 2.22% to 70.51% ± 2.34% of baseline (P < 0.01), and from 38.03% ± 2.34% to 70.12% ± 2.22% of baseline (P < 0.01), respectively. CONCLUSION: Acupuncture at heterotopic acupoints increases the amplitude of jejunal motility in rats. C fibers and M₂ receptors predominantly and (or) partially mediate the regulation of jejunal motility by acupuncture, respectively.     

神经上皮组织起源的脑肿瘤中连接蛋白的表达

目的　探讨连接蛋白 (Cx) 43、3 2在神经上皮组织起源的脑肿瘤中表达及其与肿瘤的病理类型、恶性程度的关系。方法　利用Cx43、Cx3 2和Ki 67单抗或多抗对 8例正常脑组织、5 0例神经上皮组织起源的脑肿瘤和 4个恶性脑瘤体外细胞系进行免疫组化检测。结果　神经上皮组织起源的脑肿瘤中Cx表达阳性率为 5 4% ,Cx3 2仅在低恶度少枝胶质细胞瘤中表达 ,Cx43表达随WHO分级升高而下降 ;与Ki 67标记指数 (LI)呈负相关。表达缺失多见于高Ki 67LI者。结论　神经上皮组织起源的脑肿瘤中CX 表达可下降或缺失 ,Cx43表达与肿瘤的病理类型及恶性程度密切相关     

李杲《脾胃论》热中证探析

金元四大家之一李杲创立脾胃学说，认为“百病皆由脾胃衰而生”，脾胃不足则内生火热之邪，即阴火，是由饮食不节，形体劳役，七情内伤所致，这种阴火内盛的病证称为“热中”。后世医家对于热中证及阴火的实质有诸多争议，影响对脾胃学说的进一步理解和运用。根据李杲医著及其他医家论述分析，热中证的实质是由于脾胃内伤，化生风、湿、热、燥邪气，致使经络营卫运行不利而产生；阴火的治疗侧重于培补中气，除热祛邪。     

A study of proliferative markers and tumor suppressor gene proteins in different grades of ependymomas

Ependymomas are CNS tumors that originate from the spinal canal and walls of the ventricular system. Considerable controversy continues to exist with regard to their prognostic factors; age and extent of resection are the only statistically significant prognostic factors yet identified. The authors report a retrospective study of a homogenous population of 119 patients harbouring ependymomas between 1991 and 2002. All clinico‐radiological and follow‐up data were analyzed and a pathologic review was performed by two pathologists. Immunohistochemical staining for MIB‐1, Topo IIα, p53 and MDM2 was performed. Histopathologic grades show relationship with MIB1 and Topo IIα labelling indices and cut‐off values of 5% can differentiate between anaplastic and lower grades. p53 and MDM2 proteins expression are not common in ependymomas; however, they are seen in higher grades only and may be involved in the tumor progression.     

传统针刺助产处方（合谷-三阴交穴）优化研究的回顾与展望

目的：回顾本课题组于1996～2008年完成的传统针灸助产处方（合谷-三阴交）优化研究，展望今后的研究方向。方法：收集本课题组发表的相关论文21篇，从文献、临床、基础3个方面的研究进行全面总结与分析。结果：文献研究：在临床使用的下胎穴中，从古至今合谷、三阴交穴均位列第一；临床研究：电针合谷．三阴交穴可促进子宫协调收缩、缩短产程、增强药流；基础研究：上述作用的发挥可能与有效地抑制子宫无序收缩、增强子宫有效收缩、影响机体内前列腺素E2、雌二醇等激素水平有关；总结出不同针刺顺序、下针先后的间隔时间、不同留针时间、不同电针连线方式、不同电针刺激参数均对疗效产生影响；经过临床．基础-临床的反复研究、探讨和验证，获得该处方的初步优化方案：先合谷穴20min，后加三阴交穴5min，电针采用非同侧连线。结论：传统针灸助产处方（合谷-三阴交）在促进分娩，增强药物流产方面具有积极作用；其电针参数可进一步筛选；作用机理可从促进子宫收缩，促进宫颈成熟的分子生物学角度深入探讨。