Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome: a case report and literature review.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome (BRBNS) is a rare disease characterized by multiple venous malformations and hemangiomas in the skin and visceral organs. The lesions often involve the cutaneous and gastrointestinal systems. Other organs can also be involved, such as the central nervous system, liver, and muscles. The most common symptoms are gastrointestinal bleeding and secondary iron deficiency anemia. The syndrome may also present with severe complications such as rupture, intestinal torsion, and intussusception, and can even cause death. Cutaneous malformations are usually asymptomatic and do not require treatment. The treatment of gastrointestinal lesions is determined by the extent of intestinal involvement and severity of the disease. Most patients respond to supportive therapy, such as iron supplementation and blood transfusion. For more significant hemorrhages or severe complications, surgical resection, endoscopic sclerosis, and laser photocoagulation have been proposed. Here we present a case of BRBNS in a 45-year-old woman involving 16 sites including the scalp, eyelid, orbit, lip, tongue, face, back, upper and lower limbs, buttocks, root of neck, clavicle area, superior mediastinum, glottis, esophagus, colon, and anus, with secondary severe anemia. In addition, we summarize the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapies of this disease by analyzing all previously reported cases to enhance the awareness of this syndrome.

[Different treatment modes for cerebral microlesions: a comparison of clinical efficacy].

OBJECTIVE: To tentatively establish a diagnosis and treatment mode for effectively controlling the progress of cerebral microlesions (CM) and preventing the incidence of cerebral infarction (CI) by comparing different intervention modes for treating CM. METHODS: Using a prospective, nonrandomized, controlled trial, 408 subjects with multiple CM were assigned to the Chinese medical pharmacy intervention group (Group A, 100 case), the aspirin intervention group (Group B, 104 cases), the negative control group (Group C, 100 cases), and the non-intervention group (Group D, 104 cases). No intervention was given to those in Group D. Patients in the other 3 groups were intervened by life style and routine therapies of vasculogenic risk factors. Those in Group A took Guizhi Fuling Pill (GFP) and earthworm powder additionally. Those in Group B took aspirin additionally. They were routinely followed-up. The CM, the changes of vasculogenic risk factors, and the incidence rate of CI were compared among the 4 groups. RESULTS: The total effective rate of CM was 66.67% in Group A, obviously higher than that of Group B (52.32%), Group C (42.86%), and Group D (37.04%), respectively. It was obviously higher in Group B than in Group D, showing statistical difference (P <0.01, P <0.05). After treatment, the serum levels of LDL-C, TC, and TG were obviously lower in Group A than in Group B (P <0.05); the serum levels of LDL-C and TC were obviously lower in Group A than in Group C (P <0.01); the systolic pressure was obviously lower in Group A than in Group D (P <0.05). The systolic pressure and the serum TC level were obviously lower in Group C than in Group D (P <0.05). The incidence rate of CI was 2.17% (2/92 cases) in Group A, obviously lower than that of Group C (11.36% ,10/88 cases) and Group D (14.44%, 13/90 cases), showing statistical difference (P <0.05). But there was no statistical difference between Group A and Group B (6.74% ,6/89 cases) (P >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: GFP combined earthworm powder could treat CM, control vasculogenic risk factors, and finally prevent the incidence of CI. Standard Chinese medical intervention mode showed the optimal effects in treating CM and preventing the incidence of CI, and perhaps it could be spread clinically.

The antiproliferation effect of berbamine on k562 resistant cells by inhibiting NF-kappaB pathway.

Imatinib mesylate is effective against Ph chromosome-positive leukemia; however, resistance has been reported. High expression of bcr-abl in mRNA and protein levels, and other alterations were found in patients who experienced imatinib treatment failures and thus it is important to design alternative treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of berbamine, on imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) K562 (K562-r) cells, and explore the mechanisms. The growth of K562-r cells was examined using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Morphological analysis and DNA agarose electrophoresis were used to detect apoptosis in K562-r cells, and the extent of the cells in the sub-G1 cell cycle phase was measured using flow cytometry. The expression levels of BCR-ABL, phospho-BCR-ABL, and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), IkappaBalpha, phospho-IkappaBalpha, IkappaB kinases alpha(IKKalpha), and Survivin were determined by Western blot. bcr-abl mRNA expression was determined by RT-PCR. MTT assays indicated that berbamine significantly inhibited the proliferation of K562-r cells. Cells with characteristics of apoptosis were confirmed by morphology examination and DNA agarose electrophoresis and percentage of apoptosis were increased after treatment with berbamine. The results also showed that berbamine was able to down-regulate BCR-ABL and phospho-BCR-ABL proteins by affecting bcr-abl mRNA expression and decrease expression of nuclear NF-kappaB, phospho-IkappaBalpha, IKKalpha, and Survivin. Collectively, berbamine could inhibit the proliferation of K562-r cells and induce apoptosis. The mechanisms may be related at least in part, to inhibit BCR-ABL and its downstream NF-kappaB signaling. Berbamine may provide an alternative candidate for the treatment of patients with CML resistant to imatinib therapy.

[A case-control study on green tea consumption and the risk of adult leukemia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether green tea consumption can reduce the risk of adult leukemia. METHODS: A hospital-based matched case-control study was conducted in 2005 - 2006. We recruited 107 confirmed leukemia cases and 110 inpatient controls with orthopedic disease without leukemia or other malignancy matched on gender, age and hospitals that patients stayed. Related information were gathered on quantity, duration and frequency of tea consumption, demographic characteristics, exposure to radiation and occupational hazards, medications, using a validated questionnaire by face-to-face interview. Univariate and multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) with SPSS 11.5 software. RESULTS: Compared with non-tea-drinkers, the OR of those who consumed green tea was 0.58 (95% CI:0.34-1.00, P< 0.05) under univariate statistical analysis. The OR was 0.52 ( 95% CI: 0.28- 0.98, P = 0.04), using logistic regression to count for age, gender, residential area, smoking, level of education, exposure to radiation, benzene and organo-phosphorus. Compared with non-drinkers, the risk of adult leukemia declined with increasing quantity, duration, and frequency of green tea consumption. Tests for trend on dose-response was statistically significant (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: A higher consumption of green tea seemed to be associated with a declined risk of adult leukemia. Tea consumption might be of help to human health planning projects.

Expression of S100B protein levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid with different forms of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

The aim of this study is to determine S100B protein levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in patients with different forms of neruopsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). There were 157 SLE patients (65 with and 92 without NPSLE, and 20 patients without rheumatic diseases served as controls) recruited in the present study. Serum and CSF S100B protein levels were measured by ELISA assay. Serum S100B protein levels in patients with NPSLE (0.179 +/- 0.095 microg/l) were significantly higher than the levels in patients without NPSLE (0.110 +/- 0.091 microg/l; p < 0.001) and in controls (0.103 +/- 0.065 microg/l; p = 0.005). Thus, the differences in serum levels between non-NPSLE patients and controls had no statistical significance. The serum and CSF S100B protein contents in patients with organic brain syndrome, seizures, cerebral vascular accident, and psychosis were significantly higher than those in controls (all p < 0.001). However, there was no significant difference in serum and CSF S100B protein levels among patients with headache, patients with neuropathy, and controls. In conclusion, serum and CSF S100B levels were raised in NPSLE, especially concerning patients with organic brain syndrome, seizures, cerebral vascular accident, and psychosis. The results obtained imply that S100B protein is possibly an available and complementary biochemical marker within evaluation of NPSLE and deserves further study.

Effect of different LLLT on pituitrin-induced bradycardia in the rabbit.

The objective of this paper was to observe the effect of low-level combined- or single-laser irradiation on bradycardia produced by pituitrin in rabbits. A combined-laser apparatus was made. A 10.6-microm CO2 laser and a 650-nm semiconductor laser, transmitted by different optical fibers, converged to output and irradiate on the Neiguan (PC6) acupuncture point in rabbits with bradycardia produced by pituitrin. Thirty minutes after the model was set, the heart rates of the combined-laser Neiguan group made quicker recoveries than those of the model control group, the laser-control group, or the single-laser Neiguan group (P<0.05), and the heart rates of the single-CO2-laser Neiguan group were similar to those of the normal group (P>0.05). However, there were significant differences between the 650-nm-laser Neiguan group and the normal control group (P<0.05). The combined-laser irradiation certainly has a curative effect on bradycardia produced by pituitrin. A single CO2 laser could accelerate the recovery from bradycardia, while single 650-nm-laser irradiation on the Neiguan acupoint does not produce such an effect.