Objective To study the gene expression profile of peripheral blood and synovial fluid mononuclear cells (PBMC and SFMC) of patients with spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and try to identify genes which might be related to the pathogenesis of SpA.Methods Microarrays were carried out with 1 176 target gene filters using PBMC and SFMC of 5 patients with SpA,5 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 6 healthy volunteers.More precise measurement was performed with semi quantitative PT PCR on 9 microarray positive genes.Results There was no significant difference in positive gene numbers between SpA and RA patients although the positive gene numbers were much higher in PBMC than in SFMC in both groups.It is noteworthy that in RA group there were 53 genes which expression in PBMC was much higher than in SFMC,while in SpA patients there were only 5 genes which expression in PBMC was much higher than in SFMC ( P

AIM:To screen the effective chemicals,which can suppress the promoter activity of the HLA-B2705 gene as potential therapeutic agents.METHODS:The HeLa-HLA-B27,293T-HLA-B27 stable transfectants were used to monitor the effect of 12 264 chemicals through high throughput screening(HTS).Chemicals which regulates HLA-B*2705 promoter activity more than 150% or less than 60% were picked out for the further IC50/EC50 and cell viability detection.RESULTS:(1)The primary screening used by 293T-HLA-B27 stable transfectant yielded about 5.1% hits which either suppressed(556 chemicals)or enhanced(68 chemicals)the HLA-B*2705 promoter activity.(2)A reconfirmation screening was carried out with these 624 of the candidates using transfected HeLa-HLA-B27 cells.Seventy hits were confirmed.(3)Based on the bioinformatics of those positive hits,40 chemicals were selected for in-depth analysis by dose-response experiment and IC50/EC50 detection.Six suppressors showed potential pharmacological activities.Interestingly,two suppressors(celastrol and pristimerin)are derived from Leigongteng,a herbal medicine already used for several decades for treatment of immune regulatory and inflammatory diseases.Four active chemicals were computer designed with no relevance to the above structures.CONCLUSION:Chinese traditional herb Nansheteng and Leigongteng might be the potential drugs for HLA-B27 positive patients.These results provide new direction for research in both the therapeutics and the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis.

Objective To study the relationship between DNA methylation inhibitor and histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) with HLA-B27 gene expression. Methods Hela-HLA-B27 promoter stable cell line was developed as the first step and followed by detecting the effect of DNA methylation inhibitor(5-Aza-CdR) and HDACI. The synergetic effect of HDACI and cytokines as well as the effect of anti-TNF-α antibody, anti-IFN-β antibody, anti-IFN-γ antibody and Infiximab on HLA-B27 promoter activity were tested by measuring luciferase value. Then HLA-B27 mRNA expression level in CCL6-B27 genomic DNA stable cell line was measured by real-time PCR. Results Sodium butyrate(NaB) and valproic acid(VPA)could significantly up-regulate HLA-B27 promoter activity at 24 h (24.0±1.7) times, ( 17.4±2.2 ) times respectively,(P＜0.05). The synergetic effect between VPA with TNF-α, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ and PMA on HLA-B27 promoter activity was found. None of the antibody could inhibit the effect of HDACI. It also showed that NaB,TSA, VPA and 5-Aza-CdR could significantly increase HLA-B27 mRNA expression in CCL6-B27 stable cell line. Conclusion DNA methylation and HDACI can up-regulate HLA-B27 gene expression level.

Objective To investigate the relationship among interstitial infiltrating inflammatory cells (including CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, MAC387+ and 27E10+), renal function and pathological changes in IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Methods This study included 36 IgAN patients. PAS and immunohistochemistry method were applied to stain paraffin sections. The surface of interstitial tubules, the amount of CD4+, CD8+, CD25+, MAC387+, 27E10 + cells per unit were counted(cells/mm2), together with pathological changes (including glomerulosclerosis, tubular atrophy and interstitial sclerosis) and renal function during and after biopsy were determined by using image analysis system and SPSS software pack. Results In the renal tubulointerstitium, the number of CD4+ cells correlated with interstitial fibrosis (r=0.38 ,P

AIM: To determine the role of chemokine and its receptors in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: Gene expression profiles of peripheral blood mononuclea r cells (PBMC) in 13 AS patients and 7 healthy volunteers were determined by cDN A microarray with 588 targeting gene filter. Differentiated expressed CXCR4 and its only ligand SDF-1 were confirmed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA, immunoh istochemistry and FACS analysis using PBMC, synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SF MC) and synoviocytes. RESULTS: The gene expression profile of AS patients was signific antly different from those of healthy volunteers. Higher expression of CXCR4 in monocytes and CD8+ T lymphocytes from PBMC in AS patients were found with st atis tical significance (P

Objective:To identify the healing effect of electrospun silk fibroin-BMP-2 as a biologic pulp capping agent to inflammatory pulp in rat caused by lipopolysaccharide ( LPS) .Methods:A total of 30 healthy adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups:(1) normal control group without operation;(2) blank control group without capping agents;(3) calcium hydroxide capping group;(4) electrospun silk fibroin capping group;(5) electrospun silk fibroin-BMP-2 capping group .Bilateral up-per first molars of each rat in group 2-5 were drilled to expose the pulp to LPS which was used to estab-lish a model of inflammatory pulp .The exposed pulp was capped with different capping agents or without capping agents.Then the hole was sealed.The animals were sacrificed on days 3, 7, and 14 post-opera-tion and histological analysis was carried out , including HE stain and CD 14 immunohistochemical stain . Results:On day 7 and 14 , the lowest inflammatory reaction score in HE stain among pulp capping groups was that of silk fibroin-BMP-2 group .The next were calcium hydroxide group and silk fibroin group .That of blank control group was the highest .The ranking of reparative dentine scores of those groups was just reversed.The D values of immunohistochemical stain of CD 14 were not significantly different in groups applied pulp capping agents but significantly lower than blank control group on days 3 and 7.However, the D value of silk fibroin-BMP-2 group ( 0 .145 ±0 .011 ) was significantly lower than blank control group (0.287 ±0.019), calcium hydroxide group (0.170 ±0.017) and silk fibroin group (0.175 ± 0 .018 ) on day 14 .Conclusion:Electrospun silk fibroin compounded with BMP-2 promoted wound hea-ling of exposed pulp and had better potential to stimulate formation of reparative dentine to establish a suitable environment for pulp recovery .

Objective To assess the change of left ventricular wall motion at ventricular pacing(VP)by using global circumferential strain (GCS) and segmental circumferential strain of speckle tracking imaging(STI). Methods Seven adult pigs were sedated,followed by median sternotomy and opening of the pericardium. Temporary pacing leads were placed on the right ventricular (RV) epicardium and LV epicardium for RV or LV pacing. A LV short axis view at the mid-level LV was acquired at sinus and VP rhythm. Analysis of circumferential strain by STI was performed offline. The onset of QRS wave was used to characterize the beginning of the cardiac cycle, and the ratio of beginning systolic time, end systolic time and total systolic time to cardiac cycle dyssynchrony was analyzed at sinus and VP rhythm. Results Compared with sinus rhythm,in VP rhythm all of the ratio of the beginning systolic time,end systolic time and total systolic time to cardiac cycle were increased (all P ＜0.05), and the construction of six segments were dyssynchrony,even segmental paradoxical movement. At VP ≥130 beats/min,both LV global and LV segments sometimes showed irregular motion while the EKG remained normal, which included: ( 1 ) multiple construction and diastole in one heart cycle; (2) A large variability of construction amplitude in several consecutive cardiac cycles. Conclusions VP can lead to several kinds of disturbance of left ventricular wall motion, including delay and lengthening of LV systole, dyssynchrony, and irregularity of systole and diastole.

The Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a leading cause of encephalitis, exists as quasispecies in clinical isolates. Using a limiting dilution method combined with immunohistochemistry to detect viral antigens, 10 biological clones were isolated and purified from a clinical JEV isolate (CNS138/9) derived from an autopsy brain. These biological clones were tested for neurovirulence in SK-N-MC and NIE-115 neuronal cells, and a 2-week-old, footpad-infected, JE mouse model. Nine clones were found to be neurovirulent; one clone neuroattenuated. Although further studies are needed to determine genotypic differences, if any, in these clones, the limiting dilution purification and neurovirulence testing methods described herein should be useful for phenotypic studies of quasispecies of neurotropic viruses in general, and JEV and other flaviviruses in particular.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of incidental findings (IFs) on digital dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) of asymptomatic patients attending a general dental practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 6,252 consecutive digital (photostimulatable phosphor) DPRs of patients who visited a Canadian general dental practice for a complete new patient examination. The IFs were grouped into dental-related anomalies, radiopacities and radiopacities in the jaws, changes in the shape of the condyles, and other findings in the jaws, such as tonsilloliths and mucosal antral pseudocysts. Their prevalence was determined. RESULTS: Thirty-two percent of the DPRs showed at least 1 IF. The highest prevalence was found for dental-related anomalies (29% of all DPRs), of which impacted teeth were the most prevalent finding (24% of all DPRs), followed by idiopathic osteosclerosis (6% of all DPRs). A lower prevalence was noted for tonsilloliths (3%), and the prevalence of root tips, mucosal antral pseudocysts, and anomalies in condylar shape was approximately 1% each. CONCLUSION The observed prevalence of 32.1% for IFs of any type underscores the need for a dental practitioner to review the entire DPR when a patient presents for an initial dental examination (or check-up) or for dental hygiene. Only a single IF (a central giant cell granuloma) provoked alarm, as it was initially considered malignant. Similarly, impacted teeth and suspected cysts need careful evaluation upon discovery to determine how they may be optimally managed.

OBJECTIVE: We wanted to review the usefulness of ultrasonography (US) for the diagnosis of appendicitis and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of US according to patients' and researchers' characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The relevant Korean articles published between 1985 and 2003 were included in this study if the patients had clinical symptoms of acute appendicitis. The histopathologic findings were the reference standard and the data were presented for 2x2 tables. Articles were excluded if patients had no sonographic signs of appendicitis according to graded-compression US. Two reviewers independently extracted the data on study characteristics. The Hasselblad method was used to obtain the combined estimates of sensitivity and specificity for the performance of US. RESULTS: Twenty-two articles (2, 643 patients) fulfilled all inclusion criteria. The estimate of d calculated by combining the sensitivity and specificity was 2.0054 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8553, 2.1554) by a random effects model. The overall sensitivity and specificity (95% CI) were 86.7% (85.4 to 88.0), and 90.0% (88.9 to 91.2), respectively. According to the subgroup meta-analysis by patients' characteristics, the d estimate (95% CI) of dominantly younger age, male, and highly clinical suggestive group for US was 2.2388 (1.8758 to 2.6019), 2.7131 (2.2493 to 3.1770), and 2.4582 (1.7387 to 3.1777), respectively. Also, according to subgroup meta-analysis by researchers' characteristics, the d value (95% CI) for US done by diagnostic radiologists and gray-scale was 2.0195 (1.7942 to 2.2447) and 2.2630 (1.8444 to 2.6815). CONCLUSION: This evidence suggests that US may be useful for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, especially when patients are younger age, male, and highly clinical suggestive.
Sex Factors ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Infant ; Humans ; Female ; Child, Preschool ; Child ; Appendicitis/*ultrasonography ; Aged, 80 and over ; Aged ; Age Factors ; Adult ; Adolescent ; Acute Disease