0.05). The screening tests for LA is simple and reproducible and it may be useful in clinical study of SLE.

Objective To study serum levels of interleukin-4,10,interferon-g amma,tumor necrosis factor alpha and soluble interleukin-2 receptor in patients with pemphigus, and their correlation with disease severity. Methods Serum leve ls of different cytokines were determined by double antibody sandwich enzyme-li nked immunosorbent assay in 31 patients with pemphigus in acute and remission st ages, and in 15 normal controls. Serum autoantibody titer was determined by indi rect immunofluorescent assay (IIF). The severity of disease was recorded by the Rule of Nine for the calculation of burn surface area. Results IL-10 level was lower in the sera of patients in their acute stage than that of controls(P0.05). Conclusion There are abnormalities of serum levels of cytokine s in patients with pemphigus. Serum levels of IL-10, sIL-2R and IFN-?are cor related with the severity of the disease.

Objective To understand the species,species distribution,the dominant species and their interspecies interaction of chigger mites on Eothenomys miletus(a dominant species of rats)in Yunnan.Method The rats were captured with mouse traps in 16 counties(or cities)during 2000-2004.All mites on the surface of two auricles of the hosts were collected and identified.The patch index(m*/m)and the coefficient of association(V)were adopted to judge the spatial distribution patterns and interspecies interaction of the dominant chigger mite species among different individuals of the rats(E.miletus).Results 1157 individuals of E.miletus were captured from 16 counties(citys).37613 chigger mites(belonging to 3 subfamily,9 genus and 80 species)were collected from the auricles(body surface)of 1157 rat hosts with a high “overall mite infestation rate”(68.2%)and “overall mite index”(32.5).Six species of mites were found dominant on E.miletus:Leptotrombidium scutellare,Leptotrombidium sinicum,Helenicula simena,Leptotrombidium eothenomydis,Herpetacarus hastoclavus and Leptotrombidium hiemalis.The distribution of the chigger mites among different individuals of E.miletus showed an aggregation pattern.Both positive and negative association existed between each two dominant species of chigger mites.Conclusion The species composition of chigger mites on Eothenomys miletus is complex with abundant individuals,which reflects a high species diversity of the mites.The main species of chigger mites tend to an aggregation on the body surface of E.miletus.