Objective To investigate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-?(TNF-?) gene polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Genomic DNA from 34 RA patients and 35 ethnically matched controls were typed for TNF-?(308) gene polymorphism by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction(AS-PCR). The concentration of their serum TNF-? was measured by ELISA. Results The TNF genotypes in RA patients were respectively TNF 1 homozygote 14 7%, TNF 2 homozygote 52 9%, and TNF 1 and TNF 2 heterozygote 32 4%. TNF genotypes in controls were respectively TNF 1 homozygote 68 6%, TNF 2 homozygote 2 8%, and TNF 1 and TNF 2 heterozygote 28 6%. The significant difference was found in the distribution of TNF-?(308) genotype between the two groups (? 2=27 71,P

Objective To detect the expression level of Ang-1, Ang -2 and Tie-2 receptor mRNAs in the hemangioma tissuses and to explore the effects of Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 receptor on the angio-genesis in the hemangioma. Methods By use of semiquantinative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, we detected the expression level of Ang-1 mRNA, Ang-2 mRNA and Tie-2 mRNA in 30 cases of hemangioma (17 specimens of proliferating hemangioma, and 13 involuting hemangioma )together with 10 cases of normal skin as control, and the expression level of Ki-67 protein was also detected by an im-munohistochemica method. Results The expression of Ang-2 mRNA and Tie-2 mRNA in the prolifera-ting hemangiomas was higher than that in involuting hemangiomas (P<0.01) . The expression of Ang-1 mRNA in hemangiomas was negative. Conclusion The unbalance of Ang-Tie-2 system is probably impor-tant for the pathogenesis and development in hemangiomas.

Objective To investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor ? (TNF ?) gene polymorphism and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods Genomic DNA from 98 Chinese AS patients and 70 ethnically matched controls were typed for TNF(308) polymorphism by allele specific polymerase chain reaction (AS PCR).Results The TNF genotypes in AS patients were respectively TNF1 homozygote 37%,TNF2 homozygote 10% and TNF1 and TNF2 heterozygote 53%.While TNF genotypes in controls group were respectively TNF1 homozygote 67%,TNF2 homozygote 3% and TNF1 and TNF2 heterozygote 30%.Significant difference was found in the distribution of TNF 308 genotype between both groups ( ? 2=15 73, P

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli（ETEC）infection can induce watery diarrhea，leading to dehydration，electrolyte disturbance，and even death in severe cases. Recombinant B subunit/inactivated whole-cell cholera（rBS/WC）vaccine is effective in preventing ETEC infectious diarrhea. On the basis of the latest evidence on etiology and epidemiology of ETEC，as well as the effectiveness，safety，and health economics of rBS/WC vaccine，National Clinical Research Center for Child Health（The Children’s Hospital，Zhejiang University School of Medicine）and Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention invited experts to develop expert consensus on rBS/WC vaccine in prevention of ETEC infectious diarrhea. It aims to provide the clinicians and vaccination professionals with guidelines on using rBS/WC vaccine to reduce the incidence of ETEC infectious diarrhea.

BackgroundRisperidone and paliperidone have been the mainstay treatment for schizophrenia and their potential role in neuroprotection could be associated with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and N400 (an event-related brain potential component). So far, different effects on both BDNF and N400 were reported in relation to various antipsychotic treatments. However, few studies have been conducted on the mechanism of risperidone and paliperidone on BDNF and N400. This study aimed to compare the effects of risperidone and paliperidone on BDNF and the N400 component of the event-related brain potential in patients with first-episode schizophrenia.

MethodsNinety-eight patients with first-episode schizophrenia were randomly divided into the risperidone and paliperidone groups and treated with risperidone and paliperidone, respectively, for 12 weeks. Serum BDNF level, the latency, and amplitude of the N400 event-related potential before and after the treatment and Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores were compared between the two groups.

ResultsA total of 94 patients were included in the final analysis (47 patients in each group). After the treatment, the serum BDNF levels in both groups increased (all P < 0.01), while no significant difference in serum BDNF level was found between the groups before and after the treatment (all P > 0.05). After the treatment, N400 amplitudes were increased (from 4.73 ± 2.86 μv and 4.51 ± 4.63 μv to 5.35 ± 4.18 μv and 5.52 ± 3.08 μv, respectively) under congruent condition in both risperidone and paliperidone groups (all P < 0.01). Under incongruent conditions, the N400 latencies were shortened in the paliperidone group (from 424.13 ± 110.42 ms to 4.7.41 ± 154.59 ms, P < 0.05), and the N400 amplitudes were increased in the risperidone group (from 5.80 ± 3.50 μv to 7.17 ± 5.51 μv, P < 0.01). After treatment, the total PANSS score in both groups decreased significantly (all P < 0.01), but the difference between the groups was not significant (P > 0.05). A negative correlation between the reduction rate of the PANSS score and the increase in serum BDNF level after the treatment was found in the paliperidone group but not in the risperidone group.

ConclusionsBoth risperidone and paliperidone could increase the serum BDNF levels in patients with first-episode schizophrenia and improve their cognitive function (N400 latency and amplitude), but their antipsychotic mechanisms might differ.

Antipsychotic Agents ; pharmacology ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; drug effects ; China ; Electroencephalography ; Evoked Potentials ; drug effects ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paliperidone Palmitate ; pharmacology ; Risperidone ; pharmacology ; Schizophrenia ; drug therapy