Objective To investigate the expression of serum soluble cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (sCTLA4), the association of sCTLA4 level with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP), as well as its role in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The relationship-1661A/G and -1722T/C polymorphisms of CTLA4 gene and between disease susceptibility and phenotype of CD was analyzed. Methods A total of 126 CD patients and 300 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. Serum sCTLA4 level was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The concentrations of ESR and CRP were analyzed by automatic ESR Analyzer SRS 100/Ⅱ and rate nephelometry, respectively. The polymorphisms of CTLA4-1661A/G and -1722 T/C were genotyped by DNA sequencing. Results Serum sCTLA4 level was higher in CD patients than in healthy controls [(18. 70±3. 72) ng/ml vs (1.72±0. 32) ng/ml, P＜0. 01)]. Among CD patients, sCTLA4 level was higher in patients with active disease when compared to those with inactive disease [(19.83±4.35) ng/ml vs (18. 02±3.14) ng/ml, P=0. 015)]. sCTLA4 level was positively correlated with ESR and CRP levels (r=0. 267, P=0. 003; r=0. 524 P ＜0.01, respectively). In CD patients, serum sCTLA4 level was significantly higher in those with stricturing disease behavior than that in those without stricturing and penetrating or with penetrating disease behavior (P= 0.021; P=0. 015, respectively). Detection of CTLA4 -1661A/G and -1722T/C polymorphisms showed no significant difference between CD patients and healthy controls. Conclusions The high level of serum sCTLA4 in CD patients is correlated with disease activity, CRP levels and disease behavior. It suggests that sCTLA4 may play an important role in pathogenesis of CD.

Objective To analyze the changes of proportion of Th1/Th2/Th17 cells in colonic mucosa and peripheral blood in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) and its significance. Methods Twenty patients with UC were enrolled according to the criterion established in Jinan in 2007 and 16 patients were served as controls. The phenotypes of the colonic mucosa and peripheral blood were analysis by using flow cytometry. The variation of proportion of Th1/Th2/Th17 in colonic lamina propria mononuclear cells (cLPMCs) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were compared between two groups. Results The proportion of Th17 cell in cLPMCs was increased in UC group compared with controls [3.75% (6.93%)vs. 1.25 (3.70%), P<0.05], whereas it was 1.40%(2.15%) in UC group and 0.70%(0.33%) in controls in PBMCs with significant difference (P<0.05). The proportion of Th17 cell in cLPMCs was positively correlated with clinical parameters of the disease (r=0.34, P<0.05). No difference was found in proportion of Th1 or Th2 cells in cLPMCs or PBMCs between UC group and controls. Conclusions Among three helper T cells, Th17 cell in UC patients is predominant both in colonic mucosa and peripheral blood, which can be used as an effective target for treatment.

Objective To investigate the association of the major histocompatibility complex class Ⅰ chain-related antigens A (MICA)-129 gene polymorphism and soluble MICA (sMICA) levels with ulcerative colitis (UC) in Hubei Han nationality. Methods The genetic polymorphism of MICA-129 was examined using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence based test (PCR-SBT) in 256 UC patients and 460 healthy controls. From the above subjects, 80 patients and 90 healthy individuals were randomly selected for determining serum sMICA concentrations by ELISA. Results The frequencies of variant allele (G) and genotype (GG) in MICA-129 gene were significantly higher in the UC patients than in the controls(76. 8%vs 72. 2%, P =0. 060; 55.9% vs 46. 3% ,P =0. 016). Serum sMICA levels were significantly elevated in the patients compared to the controls[(576. 47 ±279. 02) ng/L vs( 182. 17 ±73. 11 ) ng/L,P ＜0. 001]. In addition, the sMICA levels were higher in the patients carrying MICA-129 GG genotypes than in those carrying ( GA + AA) genotypes [( 638. 87 ± 347. 15 ) ng/L vs ( 507. 51 ± 152. 87 ) ng/L, P = 0. 035].Conclusions The genetic polymorphism of MICA-129 and sMICA levels are correlated with the UC patients in Hubei Han nationality. Our findings demonstrate that MICA-129 gene may contribute to the pathogenesis of UC.

Summary: In order to investigate the protective effects of intestinal trefoil factor (ITF) on colonic mucosa in experimental colitis of rats, ITF was detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry at different time points. Three days after colitis induction, rats were treated with either 0.9 % saline solution or rhITF. Pathological changes and the expression of iNOS mRNA, NO, MDA and SOD were measured respectively. It was found that ITF was mainly located in goblet cells, significantly higher in model group than in normal group (P<0.05). rhITF could increase the iNOS mRNA expression and NO contents, and there was statistically significant difference between rhITF group and model group (P<0.05). rhITF also caused an increase of MDA and a decrease of SOD, but there was no significant difference between two groups. These results indicated that ITF has apparent therapeutic effects in ulcerative colitis, which may be associated with iNOS and NO.

Objective To investigate the efficacy ,safety and compliance of mesalazine sustained‐release (SR) granules taking once daily or multi‐times daily in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis .Methods Sixty patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis were divided into group A ,B and C with 20 patients in each group .Group A received mesalazine SR granules 4 g once daily ,Group B with 2 g each time and twice daily ,Group C with 1 g each time and four times daily . The total course was eight weeks . The vital signs ,Mayo score ,compliance and adverse effects of patients were monitored at 0 ,4th ,8th weeks .At 0 and 8th weeks ,colonoscopy were performed . The parameters of efficacy assessment were clinical complete remission rate , clinical remission rate , efficacy rate ,mucosal healing rate ,remission time and safety .The F test ,t test or Chi‐square test was performed for comparison among groups .Results The clinical complete remission rate of group A ,B and C was 20% (4/20) ,10% (2/20) and 10% (2/20) ,respectively .The clinical complete remission rate was 70% (14/20) ,65% (13/20) and 70% (14/20) ,respectively .The efficacy rate was 95% (19/20) ,85%(17/20) and 90% (18/20) ,respectively .The mucosal healing rate was 70% (14/20) ,60% (12/20) and 50% (10/20) ,respectively .The side effects rate was 20% (4/20) ,15% (3/20) and 20% (4/20) .There was no significant difference between groups (all P > 0 .05) .The remission time of group A and B was (15 .4 ± 3 .7) days and (15 .6 ± 2 .9) days ,which were both shorter than that of group C (18 .4 ± 3 .6) days ,and the differences were statistically significant (t= 2 .661 and 2 .710 ,both P< 0 .05) .There was no significant difference among three groups in gender ,disease course , severity , location and clinical remission rate of sub‐groups .Conclusions The efficacy and safety of mesalazine SR granules taking once daily or multi‐times daily are similar in the treatment of patients with mild to moderate active ulcerative colitis .Once daily have better compliance than other regimens .

Gastric emptying time of liquid meal was detected by using ultrasonography in 28 gas tric ulcer patients with continual or recurrent dyspepsia symptoms after the ulcer healing. Sixteen out of 28 patients (57.1%) with a delay of gastric emptying time (T1/2) were randomly divided into two groups: 8 cases were treated with cisapride 5 mg three times a day and 8 cases with cis apride 10 mg three times a day respectively. The results showed that cisapride could relieve the symptoms with the effective rate being 68.8% in the two groups. T1/2 in the patients after treat ment with cisapride was significantly shorter than before treatment (P＜0.001). It was concluded that there is a delay of T1/2 in some patients with gastric ulcer healing. Cisapride could promote gastric empty of liquid meal and relieve the symptoms efficiently. The effect of lower dose of cis apride is similar to that of higher dose.

Gastric emptying time of liquid meal was detected by using ultrasonography in 28 gas tric ulcer patients with continual or recurrent dyspepsia symptoms after the ulcer healing. Sixteen out of 28 patients (57.1%) with a delay of gastric emptying time (T1/2) were randomly divided into two groups: 8 cases were treated with cisapride 5 mg three times a day and 8 cases with cis apride 10 mg three times a day respectively. The results showed that cisapride could relieve the symptoms with the effective rate being 68.8% in the two groups. T1/2 in the patients after treat ment with cisapride was significantly shorter than before treatment (P＜0.001). It was concluded that there is a delay of T1/2 in some patients with gastric ulcer healing. Cisapride could promote gastric empty of liquid meal and relieve the symptoms efficiently. The effect of lower dose of cis apride is similar to that of higher dose.