Objective To study the components of Forsythia suspensa in stalks and leaves, and compare the content between the crude-sun-cured and the steam-sun-cured. Methods The components and content in stalks and leaves to fruits of Forsythia suspensa were compared by RP-HPLC. Results There were some same active components in stalks, leaves and fruits, and the steam-sun-cured had higher content. Conclusion The steam-sun-cured stalks and leaves of Forsythia suspensa could be used to extract components and develop the tea.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for refractory autoimmune 1iver disease:Methods Six patients with autoimmune liver disease who had failed MMF treatment and variation of biochemical indexes.adverse effects of the MMF treatment were recorded.Results After MMF treatment.the serum 1evels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were decreased to nOrmal level in three of four patients with higher ALT.The serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were decreased to more than fifty percent of normal level in four of five patients with higher ALP.The serum levels of γ-glutamyhransferase (GGT) were decreased to more than fifty percent of normal level in all five patients with higher GGT.The serum levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and γ-globulin were decreased to normal level in all two patients who had elevated IgG and r-globulin levels.The serum levels of total bilirublin and total bile acid.the count of white blood cell and platelet had no change.There were no adverse effects in a11 six patients.Conclusion MMF treatment for early refactory autoimmune liver disease is effective with few sideeffects.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of methotrexate (MTX), leflunomide (LEF) and low-dose MTX and LEF (MTX + LEF) combined treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Methods This was a 24 weeks, two-center, open-labeled, controlled trial All subjects fulfilled the moll and wright criteria for definite PsA. Subjects were given one of the 3 regimens, MTX, or LEF, or MTX + LEF. The primary end point was proportion of psoriatic arthritis response criteria(PsARC)response. The secondary end point was proportion of modified 20% improvement of American College of Rheumatolngy (ACR20) response. Results At week 24, the percent of patients achieving PsARC in MTX, LEF and MTX + LEF group were 75.0% ,68. 8% ,83.3% respectively, and the percent of patients achieving ACR20 were 66. 7% ,50. 0% ,83. 3% respectively. At week 24, tender joint counts, swollen joint counts, patient's assessment of pain, patient's global assessment (PGA), physician' s global assessment, health assessment questionnaire(HAQ)were significantly improved compared with base-line values(P <0. 05). At week 24, the improvement of patient's assessment of pain, HAQ, ESR were better in the MTX + LEF group compared with LEF group while the improvement of patient's assessment of pain, PGA, HAQ, ESR were better in the MTX group compared with LEF group (P < 0. 05). The incidence of treatment related adverse events was 38.5%, 38. 9% and 35% in MTX, LEF and MTX + LEF group respectively. There was no serious adverse reactions. Conclusion Low dose MTX + LEF regimen showed similar good efficacy and safety profde for PsA patients.

ObjectiveTo explore the efficacy and safety of infliximab combined withdiseasemodifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.MethodsThis was an openlabeled trial.All subjects fulfilled the Moll and Wright criteria for definite PsA and-had poor response to DMARDs.The patients received combined infliximab and DMARDs.Infliximab 3 mg/kg was infused at weeks 0,2,6,14.After week 14,patients received infliximab 3 mg/kg every 8 weeks.The primary end point was the improvement of psoriatic arthritis response criteria(PsARC) response.The secondary end point was the percentage of patients who had 20％ improvement of modified American College of Rheumatology (ACR20)response.Parameters for efficacy for psoriatic rash was defined as the proportion of modified 50％ and 75％improvement of psoriasis area and severity index scores (PASI).All adverse reactions in the whole observation period were recorded.Chi-square test and repeated measurement data analysis of variance were used for the statistical analysis.ResultsTwenty-one patients completed the 14 weeks treatment.Five patients completed 26-104 weeks treatment,including 2 cases for 104 weeks.At week 14,the percentage of patients achieving PsARC was 84％,the percentage of patients achieving ACR20 was 77％,and the percentage of patients achieving PASI 50 was 76％.At week 14,tender joint counts,swollen joint counts,patient's assessment of pain,patient's global assessment(PGA),physician's global assessment,dermatology life quality index (DLQI),health assessment questionnaire(HAQ) were significantly improved compared with base-line(P＜0.05).Five patients received 26-104 weeks follow-up,including 2 cases for 104 weeks,four patients was stable,the rash and joint symptoms of 1 patient recurred at 104 weeks.The most frequently occurred adverse reactions were upper respiratory tract infection and skin as well as appendage damages.The second most common adverse effect was elevation of liver enzymes.ConclusionThe infliximab combined with DMARDs is effective and safe for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

Objective To compare the changes of 11 cytokines in ankylosing spondylitis(AS)before and after treatment with a loading regimen of infliximab and to evaluate the potential AS related discriminating cytokines and explore their value in diseases activity evaluation and possible association with therapeutic response.Methods This was an open-labeled,phase Ⅱ clinical trial conducted in 2 medical centers.All AS patients were infused with infliximab at week 0,2,6.The dosage was 5 mg/kg.Disease activity parameters were assessed at week 0,2,6 and 10.Eleven serum cytokines were detected using protein chip technique,then,serum IL-6 level wag measured by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results IL-6 was detected by EHSA.Compared with healthy controls.IL-6 level incregsed markediy in AS(P<0.01).After treated with infliximab,IL-6 level decreased at week 2(P<0.01)and maintained at low level until week 10.Baseline serum IL-6 level was positively associated with AS disease activity index(night pain scores、ESRand CRP)(P<0.01).Conclusion Serum IL-6 level is associated with AS disease activity and may become a useful parameter for monitoring the clinical response of infliximab in AS patients.IL-6 is an important cytokine involved in the pathogenesis of AS.

Objective To observe the expression of AdipoQ in Sj?gren's syndrome (SS) mice and its role in inflammation was investigated by recombinant gene transfection study in vivo. Methods As spon-taneous SS mice model, a total of 30 NOD mice were divided into 3 groups randomly: recombinant adenovirus (rADV-AdipoQ) group, normal saline control and simple adenoviruses (control group). The submandibular gland morphology, histopathological grading and the level of serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), AdipoQ was compared between the three groups. The expression of AdipoQ on mice submandibular gland was assessed by means of semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Results The submandibular glands of the mice of the control group were destructed, with focal lymphocytic infiltration and acinus atrophy. Compared with control model groups, the serum TNF-α and salivary gland AdipoQ expression was significantly down-regulated in the rADV-AdipoQ group [(248 ±30) vs (162 ±73) ng/ml] (P<0.05). Conclusion AdipoQ gene transfected SS mice can significantly improve the morphological features of tissues and decrease the concentration of TNF-αin serum, in addition, it can effectively inhibit inflammation, decrease the degree of protein and AdipoQgene expression. So the AdipoQ may be the protective gene in SS mice.

Objective To observe the effects of intra-articular ozone injection on the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,Interleukin (IL)-6,IL-17A,and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the serum of rats with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and explore the therapeutic mechanism of ozone in RA treatment.Methods Thrity-two Wistar rats were randomized into 4 groups,including the ozone groups that receivedintra-articularinjection of 40 μg/ml ozone (O3 group),a blank control group (normal group),a methotrexate (MTX) group (MTX group) anda collagen-induced arthritismodel (CIA group).All the rats,except for those in the blank control group,were subjected to hypodermic injection of bovine collagen Ⅱ and complete Freund's adjuvant to induce CIA.Ozone treatment was administered once weekly for 3 weeks starting at 14 days after the model were established.MTX group were treated with methotrexate 0.9 mg/kg,once a week,a total of three weeks.The swelling degree of the foot were observed,and the serum contents of TNF-oα,IL-6,IL-17A and VEGF were detected.One-way analysis of variance or Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate the experimental data.Results At the end of treatment,the degree of foot swelling was reduced significantly in rats with O3 group compared with that in the CIA group [(4.21±0.14) ml vs (9.12±0.17) ml,t=8.43,P=0.023].The serum concentration of TNF-α,IL-6 and VEGF showed significant difference between the CIA group and the O3 group[91.55(86.55,98.53) pg/ml vs 14.45 (12.55,16.15) pg/ml,x2=6.216,P=0.002;145.08(37.44± 362.82) pg/ml vs 5.84(5.47,15.93) pg/ml,x2=13.136,P=0.004;51.56(46.09,74.10) pg/ml vs.36.22(32.18,41.69) pg/ml,x2=3.732,P=0.002].There was no statistically significant difference between the O3 group and MTX group [14.45(12.55,16.15) pg/ml vs [12.45(11.80,15.60) pg/ml,x2=0.243,P＞0.05;5.84(5.47,15.93) pg/ml vs 7.86(5.25,15.23) pg/ml,x2=0.058,P＞0.05;36.22(32.18±41.69) pg/ml vs 40.17(35.47,50.73) pg/ml,x2=0.516,P＞0.05].The serum concentration of IL-17A showed no significant difference between the normal group,the CIAgroup,the MTX group and the O3 group (F=1.827,P=0.165).Conclusion Intra-articular injecfion of 40 μg/ml ozone can attenuate synovitis in rats with CIA,the mechanism may relate to the inhibition of TNF-oα,IL-6 and VEGF in the serum.

Objective To evaluate the safety and tolerance of tumor necrosis factor-or (TNF-α)antagonists in the treatment of rheumatic diseases. Methods The incidence of adverse events and their ultimate outcomes based on the clinical symptoms, signs and laboratory parameters of patients treated with etanereept or infliximab during January 2007 to October 2008 were analyzed. Results Severty eight patients were included. Most were rheumatoid arthritis (35%) and ankylosing spondylitis (41%) patients. Few of them were psoriasis arthritis (17%) patients and undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (6%) patients. Among those patients, 59 patients were treated with etanercept, 7 patients (12%) had adverse events in which the majority were injection reactions, upper respiratory tract infection and tuberculosis. Nineteen patients were treated with infliximab, in which 3 patients (16%) had adverse events. One patient (AS) had upper respiratory tract infection. One case (AS) had red papules all over the body and palpitations in the first 24 hours after two infusions. One patient (RA) had fever without identifiable causes after the 4th infusion. Some of the adverse reactions might subside without intervention, while others were controlled after proper treatment. Conclusion Both etanercept and infliximab have good safety and tolerance in treating rheumatic diseases, the adverse reactions are generally mild and can be controlled by appropriate treatment.

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of intra-articular injection of ozone in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) rats and to assess its effects on serum receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels. Methods Forty weight age malched Wistar rats were randomly divided into normal control group (normal group), the CIA model group (CIA group), ozone (O 3 group), and methotrexate (MTX group). In addition to the normal control group, Freund's complete adjuvant and bovine type Ⅱ collagen were injected to establish the rat model of CIA. After the model was sucessfully developed, double ankle injection concentration ozone group of 40 μg/ml of O3 each 1 ml, 1 times a week, a total of injection for 3 weeks for the experimenal group. MTX group of 0.9 mg/kg was injected 1 times a week for 3 weeks for the MTX group. Degree of foot swelling was measured, and radiographic assessment of arthritis index (AI) score was performed. One week after treatment, angular vein blood was collected for the rats after the intervention, flow multi-factor detection technology was used to test each rat. T test or Wilcoxon rank test was used to compare the difference between groups. Results ① After 3 week administration with O3, dcgree of foot swelling, and AI of the O3 group was reduced significanly than the CIA group during the same period (foot swelling degree: O3 group: (4.21±0.14) ml, CIA group (9.12±0.17) ml, T=64.08, P=0.00; AI O3 group: [(2.97± 0.18) ml, CIA group: 5.76 ±0.13, T=37.24, P=0.00], and X-ray showed joint damage was alleviated. ② The serum level of RANKL in the CIA group was significantly higher than of the normal group [CIA model group 1890.70(797.03, 10571.94)], normal group [74.46(29.21, 95.37), T=43, P=0.005] during the same period; The serum level of RANKL in the O3 group was significantly lower than the CIA group [O3 group 28.09 (14.11, 207.30), CIA group 1890.70 (797.03, 10571.94), T=39, P<0.05]; RANKL level of the Ozone group when compared with MTX group, was not statistically significantly difference (T=52, P>0.05).③Serum RANKL/OPG of the CIA group was significantly higher than that of the normal group during this period, the difference was statistically significant [CIA group 250.68(42.33, 2959.78), normal group 4.32(3.16,5.30), T=36, P<0.01);The serum level of RANKL/OPG in the O3 group was significantly lower than the CIA group [O3 treatment group 5.10 (3.38, 6.64), CIA group 250.68 (42,33, 2959.78), T=36, P<0.01]; There was no statistically significant difference of the serum RANKL/OPG between the O3 group and the MTX group (T=62.5, P>0.05). Conclusion Intra-articular injection of concentration of 40 μg/ml of O3 can reduce RA rat joint swelling degree, which may relate to the mechanism that O3 can lower levels of serum RANKL and RANKL/OPG ratio, reduce osteoclast formation and activation.

Objective To assess the improvement of articular symptoms on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats after injecting arsenic trioxide (ATO) intraperitoneal and observe its effects on serum RANKL, OPG on CIA rats and discuss the possible mechanism on RANK/RANKL/OPG system.Methods Numberd twentyeight Wistar rats with correspond weight and age consecutively, then using random number table select 8 rats as blank control group A.Another other 20 as model group (16 wistar rats are established as CIA models by immunized twice with bovine type Ⅱ collagen and Freund's complete adjuvant emulsion).Using ranllm numbor table divided CIA rast into the CIA model control group B (n=8) and ATO treatment group C (n=8) randomly.After grouping for 3 days, ATO treatment group were injected with ATO liquid intraperitoneally for 1 week (dose of 4 mg· g-1·d-1, last 1 day raise to 8 mg/kg).Serum were collected after 3 days , while rates in the control group were given same quantity of saline solution with the same method.Arthritis index (AI) and X-ray radiography were assessed for limb joint damage.Flow cytometry (FMC) was used to detect chemokines quantitatively of each rats serum, including Nuclear factor kappa B ligand receptor activation factor/bone protection predominate (RANKL/OPG).According to the data distribution, t test or Wilcoxon test were used to compare the difference between groups.Results ① After administration with ATO for 1 week arthritis index of group C reduced significantly than the CIA model group (2.63±0.92, 6.62±0.91, t=8.73, P＜0.01), and X-ray showed joint damage alleviated.② The serum level of RANKL in the CIA model group was significantly higher than the blank control group [(1 890.70(797.03, 10 571.94) pg/ml, 74.46(29.21, 95.37) pg/ml, T=43, P=0.005];③ The serum level of RANKL in the ATO treatment group was significantly lower than the CIA model group [44.78 (21.41, 79.83), 1 890.70 (797.03, 10 571.94), T=47, P=0.01].④ There was no statistically significant difference of the Serum OPG level between the three groups [16.87(6.91, 17.64), 5.32(3.42, 33.14),14.24(6.96, 21.86) pg/ml, x2=5.078, P=0.166].Conclusion The inflammatory mediators in the process of bone metabolism of CIA rats is disordered , the most significant presentation is the rise of serum RANKL level.Intraperitoneal injection of ATO could improve the arthritis index of CIA rats and its mechanism may be reducing the concentration of serum RANKL/OPG ratio.