Development and validation of a Systemic Sclerosis Health Literacy Scale.

Background And Aim: Health literacy levels are strongly associated with clinical outcomes and quality of life in patients with chronic diseases, and patients with limited health literacy often require more medical care and achieve poorer clinical outcomes. Among the large number of studies on health literacy, few studies have focused on the health literacy of people with systemic sclerosis (SSc), and there is no specific tool to measure health literacy in this group. Therefore, this study plans to develop a health literacy scale for patients with SSc.

Role of L-Arginine on the Expression of Coagulation Factor VIII Gene.

Objective: To explore the key sites in which L-arginine affects the expression of human coagulation factor VIII gene, and to create new drug targets for the treatment of hemophilia.

Methods: A total of 5 human FVIII genes (A1, A2, A3, C1 and C2) with B domain deletion were transfected into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as promoters. Run-on assay and ELISA analysis were performed to observe the driving effect of each domain gene on chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene transcription and expression, and the effect of L-arginine on each promoter.

Role of Ca, Calnexin and Calreticulin in Platelet from Adult Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Background: Adult chronic immune thrombocytopenia (chronic ITP) is a common autoimmune hemorrhagic disease characterized by decreased platelet production and increased platelet destruction, leading to thrombocytopenia. In this study, Ca, calnexin (CNX) and calreticulin (CRT) within platelets from adult patients with chronic ITP were investigated.

Methods: Platelets were isolated from blood specimen collected from 20 adult patients with chronic ITP and 20 healthy volunteers.

The diagnostic profile of rare acute myelomegakaryoblastic leukemia.

Acute myelomagakaryocytic leukemia is a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge owing to its heterogeneity and overlapping features with other types of acute leukemia. In order to build a diagnostic profile, we analyzed the biological, clinical and hematologic characteristics of acute myelomagakaryocytic leukemia. We found that, in three patients diagnosed with acute myelomagakaryocytic leukemia, there were two types of leukemia cells.

Preliminary Study on Apoptotic Proteins in Platelet from Adult Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Background: Adult chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a chronic and usually lifelong hemorrhagic disorder in which enhanced platelet destruction and -weakened platelet production lead to thrombocytopenia. In this study, the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK), early growth response 1 (EGR-1), p53, Bcl-xL, Bak, Bax, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in platelets from adult patients with chronic ITP were investigated.

Methods: Platelets were isolated from blood samples collected from 20 adult patients with chronic ITP and 20 healthy volunteers.

Apoptosis in platelets from adult patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Adult chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (cITP) is a chronic and usually life-long haemorrhagic disorder in which enhanced platelet destruction and weakened platelet production lead to thrombocytopenia. Platelets were isolated from blood samples collected from 40 adult patients with cITP and 40 healthy volunteers. Mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and plasma membrane phosphatidylserine externalization were determined by flow cytometry, and activation of caspase-3 and expressions of Bax, Bak and Bcl-xL were analysed by western blotting.

Investigation on glucocorticoid receptors within platelets from adult patients with immune thrombocytopenia.

The expression of glucocorticoid receptors within platelets from newly diagnosed Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) patients in the adult was investigated. GR expression in platelets from newly diagnosed ITP patients and healthy controls was measured using flow cytometry. Subsequently, platelets RNA and proteins were isolated and used for confirming the flow cytometry results by using RT-qPCR and ELISA.

Study on the Role of Calreticulin Within Platelet from Adult Patients with Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

To observe the differences in proteins between adult patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and healthy adults. 30 patients with chronic ITP and 30 healthy controls were enrolled into the study. The platelet total protein was extracted from peripheral venous blood of 10 chronic ITP patients and 10 healthy controls respectively, and subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) to find the differential protein spot between chronic ITP patients and healthy controls, then the differential protein spots were identified by mass spectrometry.

Preliminary investigation about the expression of tubulin in platelets from patients with iron deficiency anemia and thrombocytosis.

Objective: In order to inquire into the pathogenesis of increased platelet counts in peripheral blood of patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA), the phenomenon of thrombocytosis was confirmed, and then the expression of tubulin within platelets from IDA patients was investigated.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 79 patients with IDA and were divided into 2 groups, group of IDA with normal platelet counts (34 cases), and group of IDA with increased platelet counts (thrombocytosis) (45 cases). Additionally, 45 peripheral blood samples from healthy volunteers were enrolled as a group of healthy controls.

CHIP enhances angiogenesis and restores cardiac function after infarction in transgenic mice.

Background: Carboxyl terminus of Hsp70-interacting protein (CHIP) is a chaperone/ubiquitin ligase that plays an important role in stress-induced apoptosis. However, the effect of CHIP on angiogenesis, cardiac function and survival 4 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI) remain to be explored.

Methods: Wild-type (WT) and transgenic mice (TG) with cardiac-specific overexpression of CHIP were used for coronary artery ligation.

Effect of aqueous extract of Arctium lappa L. (burdock) roots on the sexual behavior of male rats.

Background: Arctium lappa L. root has traditionally been recommended as an aphrodisiac agent. It is used to treat impotence and sterility in China, and Native Americans included the root in herbal preparations for women in labor.

[Study on the association of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and the Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala polymorphisms of its encoding gene CPB2 in patients with coronary heart disease].

Objective: To investigate the association of thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) and its encoding gene CPB2 polymorphism in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods: The CPB2 gene polymorphisms of Thr325Ile and Thr147Ala were analyzed with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in patients of acute myocardial infarction (n=100), acute angina pectoris (n=110) and a control group (n=190). The antigen (Ag) and activity (Act) of the TAFI were determined by sandwich enzyme link immunosorbent assay specific for human TAFI and chromogenic assay for activated human TAFI in plasma, respectively.