Objective To investigate the role of Ro52 antigen fragment from amino acid (AA) 119 to 264 that contains leucine zipper motif in forming the epitopes of Ro52 autoantigen. Methods cDNA encoding Ro52 antigen fragment from aa 119 to 264 was amplified by PCR from human heart cDNA first strand. The obtained cDNA fragment was inserted into vector pMTY4 and transformed into E. coli pop2136 for fusion protein expression. The recombinant fusion protein was then purified, and the antigenicity was determined by immunoblotting. Results A 28 000 Dalton fusion protein was obtained. It was highly expressed in host E. coli pop2136. 61.90% of the anti-full-length Ro52 positive sera reacted with the fusion protein in immunoblotting. Conclusion The results suggest that the antigen fragment from the 119 AA to 264 AA that contains the leucine zipper motif represents an important epitope region in Ro52 autoantigen.

Objective To investigate the prognosis of two subtypes of subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE). Methods Forty patients with subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus were followed-up for 3 to 14 years. The clinical and laboratory findings, the response to treatment and the prognosis in these cases were comparatively analyzed. Results During the follow-up period, the patients with annular erythema subtype of SCLE showed recurrent annular skin lesions and mild systemic manifestations. Some patients gradually developed sicca symptoms. On the other hand, most patients with papulosquamous subtype of SCLE developed systemic LE manifestions. 21.7％ of the patients in the annular erythema group had mild nephritis which could be controlled by lower dose of corticosteroids and no patients died. However, 64.7％ of the patients in the papulosquamous group had moderate to severe lupus nephritis, which required higher dose of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive agents to control. Among them, One patient died and 3 patients developed uremia. Conclusion Annular erythema subtype of SCLE is milder and has a better prognosis than that of papulosquamous subtype.

Objective To detect the possible epitopes of 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA autoantigen and selectively clone the antigen fragment containing the leucine zipper motif. Methods The structure of 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA autoantigen was analyzed by protein structure analysis system. The cDNA encoding the antigen fragments from amino acid (aa) 119 to 264 was amplified from cDNA first strands of human heart by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR product was inserted into the vector pMTY4, and transfected E. coli pop 2136 for fusion protein production. Results Computer analysis showed that the 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA antigen had alpha helixes in its structure, and had good antigenicity, moderate flexibility and poor surface probability. The PCR product was 440bp in length. The recombinant fusion protein was 28 000 dalton. DNA sequencing proved the accuracy of the research. Conclusion The 52 000 dalton Ro/SSA autoantigen has good antigenicity. The cloning of the antigen fragment will help to elucidate the possible role of leucine zipper motif in forming the epitope of the antigen.

Objective To identify the factors related to the influence of medical research papers. Methods The influence of 1146 research papers by the hospital in the period 1996-2003 and its relationship with such factors as the backgrounds of the authors and the quality of the papers were studied u-sing regression analysis. Results Nine factors, including the impact factor, the status of the paper (being or not being one based on fund-supported research or representing research achievements), and the status of the author (being or not being chosen for talent cultivation and undertaking or not undertaking research projects), were significantly correlated with the influence of the papers. Conclusion In order to enhance the influence of medical research papers, it is necessary for research' management departments not only to encourage research personnel to publish papers in journals with high impact factors but also to step up efforts to better personnel cultivation, degree education, and project and achievement management so as to set up a quality and distinguished research contingent.

Objective To probe the mechanism of metronidazole resistance to Helicobacter pylori (Hp). Methods (1) The selective pressure test of metronidazole. (2) SDSPAGE electrophoresis. (3) Nitrate reduction test. (4) Test for detecting the enzyme activities associated with 95 substrates of gram negative. Results After the mutation of Hp from sensitive to resistant strains, the activities of enzymes associated with monomethyl succinate, succinic acid and Dalanine is decreased, and those associated with Lfucose 6phosphate glucose is increased. Conclusions The metronidazole resistance of Hp is associated with the metabolism and the change of enzyme activities.

Objective To explore the extent and severity of cognitive dysfunction in patients with schizophrenia and in order to offer more credible evidence to the treatment of schizophrenia. Methods Eighty-eight patients with schizophrenia and Fifty healthy controls in Shaoxing city were measured with Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-RC), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-RC), Cancellation Test (CT) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Results There was statistically significant difference between the two groups in visual recognition, visual reproduction, 1→100, 100→1, accumulation, picture remember, associative learning, touch test, logical memory, reciting figure and memory quotient of WMS-RC (t=2.40, 4.66, 2.90, 3.48, 4.03, 4.40, 2.13, 3.01, 3.97, 2.29, 4.87, respectively; P

Objective To analyse the relationship between hyperglycemia and severity/prognosis after brain injury, and to provide evidences for clinical treatment and prognosis.Methods86 cases were divided into light (16 cases), moderate (24 cases) and severe (46 cases) injury groups based on Glasgow Coma Scale scores (GCS). The blood glucose was examined 48 hours, 1 week, 1 month and 2 months after injury. The results were analyzed according to the location/position of injury and the disability rating scale (DRS).ResultsThe blood glucose level in light injury group was normal. The blood glucose levels in moderate and severe injury groups rised more significantly than those did in light injury group. The hyperglycemia in severe injury group persisted over 2 months. There was positive linear relativity relationship between the DRS and the blood glucose levels 48 hours and 2 months after injury. The higher the blood glucose level was, the more the severity of the disability was and the worse the prognosis was. The blood glucose level was higher in the patients with abroad injury following brainstem dysfunction and/or blood breaking into ventricle, even persisting over a few months. ConclusionEarly hyperglycemia is a frequent phenomenon of the stress response to head injury, a significant indicator of its severity, and a reliable predictor of outcome.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of nicergoline on the severe traumatic brain injury. Methods:52 TBI patients were divided into the routine treatment group and nicergoline treatment group. Before and after rehabilitation treatment the SPECT and cognitive function were assessed. Results:The lesions were both decreased in nicergoline group and routine group in SPECT scanning, but there was no difference in statistics. The value of cognitive function of the nicergoline treatment group, especially function-oriented and memory, was higher than that of the routine treatment group(P<0.05).Conclusions:The nicergoline can improve cognitive function of the severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective To investigate the resistance-related genes of Shigella sonnei with decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones.MethodsA total of 131 strains of Shigella sonnei were analyzed for their antimicrobial susceptibility.Mutations within the quinolone resistance determining regions (QRDR) of gyrA and parC were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR products were then sequenced. Meanwhile, the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes,qnr and aac(6')-Ib-cr were screened by PCR.ResultsResistance rates of 131 Shigella sonnei isolates to nalidixic acid,tetracycline,ampicillin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 100.0％,93.9％,93.2％ and 92.8％,respectively.All strains were susceptible to norfloxacin,ciprofloxacin,levofloxacin,while 94％ nalidixic acid-resistant Shigella sonnei strains showed reduced susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones.All of nalidixic acid-resistant Shigella sonnei strains presented a single mutation at codon 83 (Ser→Leu) of gyrA genes,but no mutations were detected in parC gene.And PMQR genes qnr and aac (6’)-Ib-cr were not detected.Conclusions The nalidixic acid-resistant Shigella sonnei strains with reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones are common in the clinical practice,which may mainly due to a single mutation at codon 83 (Ser→Leu) of gyrA genes.

Objective To investigate the effects of comprehensive pain management on pains and recovery of knee function of patients who hadundergone total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Methods A total of 50 patients who had undergone single-knee TKA surgery were selected and divided into 2 groups of 25 patients each:the study group and the control group.The control group was given patient-controlled epidural analgesia while the study group was given comprehensive pain management.The two groups were compared in terms of score on pain within 7 days after operation,knee joint activity and the incidence of adverse reaction within 10 days after operation(the 1st,3rd,7th,10th day).Results Within 7 days,the scores on pain in the study were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).The scores on the knee joint activity in the study group on the 1st,3rd,7th,10th day were significantly higher than those in the control group(P<0.05)and the incidences of adverse reaction were significantly lower as well (P<0.05).Conclusion Comprehensive pain management is effective for post-surgery pain control and the hastened TKA patients, and the improved quality of life.