Based on the prognosis model of immunogenes, the prognosis model was constructed to predict the invasion of immune genes and immune cells related to primary liver cancer and its experimental validation.

Background: Primary liver cancer (PLC) is a prevalent malignancy of the digestive system characterized by insidious symptom onset and a generally poor prognosis. Recent studies have highlighted a significant correlation between the initiation and prognosis of liver cancer and the immune function of PLC patients. Purpose: Revealing the expression of PLC-related immune genes and the characteristics of immune cell infiltration provides assistance for the analysis of clinical pathological parameters and prognosis of PLC patients. Methods: PLC-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with a median absolute deviation (MAD > 0.5) were identified from TCGA and GEO databases. These DEGs were intersected with immune-related genes (IRGs) from the ImmPort database to obtain PLC-related IRGs. The method of constructing a prognostic model through immune-related gene pairs (IRGPs) is used to obtain IRGPs and conduct the selection of central immune genes. The central immune genes obtained from the selection of IRGPs are validated in PLC. Subsequently, the relative proportions of 22 types of immune cells in different immune risk groups are evaluated, and the differential characteristics of PLC-related immune cells are verified through animal experiments. Results: Through database screening and the construction of an IRGP prognosis model, 84 pairs of IRGPs (P < 0.001) were ultimately obtained. Analysis of these 84 IRGPs revealed 11 central immune genes related to PLC, showing differential expression in liver cancer tissues compared to normal liver tissues. Results from the CiberSort platform indicate differential expression of immune cells such as naive B cells, macrophages, and neutrophils in different immune risk groups. Animal experiments demonstrated altered immune cell proportions in H22 tumor-bearing mice, validating findings from peripheral blood and spleen homogenate analyses. Conclusion: Our study successfully predicted and validated PLC-related IRGs and immune cells, suggesting their potential as prognostic indicators and therapeutic targets for PLC.

Baicalein exerts neuroprotective effects in 6-hydroxydopamine-induced experimental parkinsonism in vivo and in vitro.

Baicalein, a flavonoid obtained from the root of Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria baicalensis, has been shown to exert a protective effect on neurons against several neuronal insults. The aim of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effect of baicalein in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced experimental parkinsonism in vitro and in vivo. In in vitro experiments, we found that baicalein (0.5, 5 microg/mL) could significantly ameliorate the 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cell apoptosis from 31.56% in the 6-OHDA group to 18.90%, 21.61% respectively, and also promote neurite outgrowth of PC12 cell. In in vivo experiments, baicalein had no effect on apomorphine (APO)-induced rotations, but it could significantly attenuate muscle tremor of 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. The burst frequency and amplitude are 13.43%, 35.18% compared to 6-OHDA group. Moreover, baicalein treatment could also increase tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive neurons to 265.52% of the 6-OHDA group. The neuroprotective action of baicalein was coincident with an attenuated astroglial response within the substantia nigra. Neuroprotective effect of baicalein as demonstrated by the increasing the number of dopaminergic neurons may have been, in part, caused by anti-apoptotic, pro-differentiation and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of baicalein. Therefore, baicalein can be a promising candidate for prevention or treatment of Parkinson's disease, owing to its anti-apoptotic, pro-differentiation and anti-inflammatory action.

Neuroprotective effect of baicalein against MPTP neurotoxicity: behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical profile.

1-Methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) causes the damage of dopaminergic neurons as seen in Parkinson's disease (PD). Oxidative stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of PD. Baicalein, isolated from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Huangqin (Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi), has been shown to have antioxidant effects. Here we investigated the effect of baicalein on MPTP-induced neurotoxicity in mice. Pretreatment with baicalein for a week was followed by challenge with MPTP for 4 consecutive days; the subsequent behavioral, biochemical and immunohistochemical manifestations in mice were determined and compared to those in untreated mice and mice challenged only with MPTP. The present study showed that baicalein could improve the abnormal behavior in MPTP-treated mice. The protective effect may be caused by increasing the levels of DA and 5-HT in the striatum, increasing the counts of dopaminergic neurons, inhibiting oxidative stress and the astroglia response. These results suggest that baicalein possesses potent neuroprotective activity and may be a potential anti-Parkinson's disease drug that is worthy of further study.

Successful treatment of primary refractory anemia with a combination regimen of all-trans retinoic acid, calcitriol, and androgen.

We investigated the efficacy and safety of a combination regimen in 63 patients with primary refractory anemia (RA). The daily treatment protocol comprised all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) (30 mg/m(2)), calcitriol (0.1 microg/m(2)), and androgen (stanozolol 3mg/m(2), or danazol 300 mg/m(2)) in three separate doses for eight consecutive weeks. Hematologic improvement was observed in 43 (68.3%) patients. The treatment administered was generally well tolerated, with no severe regimen-related toxicity. The overall survival rates at 3 and 5 years were 68.72% and 53.18%, respectively. These results indicate that this combination regimen is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for patients with RA.

A phase-I clinical trial of active immunotherapy for acute leukemia using inactivated autologous leukemia cells mixed with IL-2, GM-CSF, and IL-6.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of vaccination in 29 patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia using inactivated autologous leukemia cells combined with interleukin-2 (IL-2), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and IL-6. MHC-I, MHC-II, and B7-1 expression status on the surface of leukemia cells and the cytokine profile of IFN-gamma and IL-10 in serum before and after vaccination was detected. RESULTS: Five achieved a complete remission (CR) and six a partial remission (PR) in this vaccination procedure. Adverse effects were erythema, swelling erosion, and even ulcers at vaccination sites and low grade fever during the first three days of vaccination. No other significant side effects were observed. The expression of MHC-I and MHC-II on leukemia cells was 100% and 90% positive, respectively. B7-1 was exclusively expressed on some cases of M4 and M5. The efficacy of the vaccine was statistically associated with the expression status of B7-1 on leukemia cells (P < 0.01). The serum level of IL-10 reduced significantly in the five patients who achieved complete remission (CR) after vaccination as compared with when they were originally diagnosed (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: We presented here a promising immunotherapy in the treatment of acute leukemia, especially for F.A.B. M5.