Objective To evaluate the value of clinical findings and different diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis of adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). Methods The AOSD patients admitted to Zhongshan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University from 2003 to 2009 were enrolled. Non-AOSD patients with fever were selected. Different diagnostic criteria of AOSD were applied to all patients. Two indenpendent samples t test and wilco-xon test were used for statistical analysis. Results The clinical features such as rash, arthralgia, arthroncus, sore throat, myalgia, lymph node enlargement, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, leuko-cytosis, neutrophil ≥80% and serum level of ferrin≥ 2000 ng/ml hadhigher specificity (65.87%~98.41%) with 2.00～5.00 of the positive likelihood ratio.High fever ( ≥39.0℃), negative of ANA and RF had higher sensi-tivity (85.25%~93.65%). Combinations of three parameters such as high fever, rash, sore throat, leukocy-tosis, arthralgia had higher positive likelihood ratio. The specificity of ARA criteria was the highest. The sensitivity and accuracy of Yamaguchi criteria were the highest. Conclusion There is no single parameter that could be specific to the identification of AOSD. Combing with several parameters can improve the diagnostic efficiency. The results of this study have shown that the commonly used diagnostic criteria has high specificity.

A dietary survey was conducted with the 3-day dietary intake record in 167 type 2 diabetic patients in Nandan Community of Xujiahui Subdistric of Shanghai, the results were transferred to healthy eating index (HEI). The average score of HEI was 74. 0. According to the criteria of HEI, diet quality of 7. 8% patients was "bad", that of 10. 8% patients was "good" and that of 81.4% patients was "need improvement". In all components, the fruits consumption was the worst, especially for male patients.Patients with higher educational levels had better dietary quality and patients who were on working had better HEI score than who retired. The obese and overweight patients consume more grains, meat and total fat than those with normal body weight.

objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods The major international databases was searched by computer and Other methods to collect control studies about MRI for the diagnosis of RA,the searching deadline was December 2009.Data were screened and extracted by inclusion criteria.Meta-disc software Was used for statistics,including sensitivity,specificity,positive likelihood ratio,negative likelihood ratio,diagnostic odds ratio(OR)and heterogeneity analysis.Results Twelve random control tests were included.Meta-analysis indicated that sensitivities of vities of synovitis,bone-erosion and tendenosynovitis were 81%~100%,48%～100%and 67%～96%while specificities of them were 64%～89%,16%~100%and 21%-74%respectively for RA patients(≤2vears).Sensitivities of synovitis and bone-erosion were 91%and 84%while specificities of them were 70%and 81%for RA Datients (>2 years).Conclusion Synovitis shown by MRI is helpful for the diagnosis of earlv and med-to-late RA.Diagnostic values of bone-erosion and tendonosynovitis demonstrated by MRI for earlv RA were not clear.The sample size of the included studies is small and some studies lack of control groupsput the conclusion of this meta-analysis liable for bias.We suggest that better designed and larger sample clinical studies are necessary.

Objective To investigate the effect of different concentrations of methotrexate (MTX) on IL-17 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and To clarify the active mechanisms of MTX on RA. Methods PBMCs were isolated from heparinized blood of healthy donors or patients with RA using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation. The cells were pretreated with various concentrations of MTX and then stimulated by anti-human CD3/anti-human CD28 at 37℃5%CO2. The IL-17 mRAN level was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The supernatants were harvested and the protein level of IL-17 was tested by ELISA kit. The percentage of CD4+IL-17+cells in PBMCs was detected by flow cytometry. Results For the four different concentrations of MTX groups (0.1,1.0, 5, 25μg/ml), the IL-17 mRNA/GAPDH ratio(0.58±0.09,0.48±0.11, 0.50±0.09, 0.51±0.14) were lower than those of the non-drug group(0.76±0.08). Paired-t test or independent-samplet test showed significant difference between the MTX treatment group and the non-drug group(P＜0.01). The level of IL-17 of the four MTX groups was(121±54)pg/ml and(104±45)pg/ml and(90±36)pg/ml and(115±41)pg/ml, which was lower than the non-drug group(370±187)pg/ml(P＜0.01). The average C D4+IL-17+cell ratio was reduced, but had no statistically signficant differences(P＞0.05). Conclusion MTX can decrease Th17 cells differentiation and suppress IL-17 production of PBMCs, but no association can be found between its effect on the expression of IL-17 and the concentration of MTX.

Objective To observe the muscles and skeleton involvement surrounding sacroiliac joint (SIJ) of axial seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SPA) patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),and to analyze the relationship between them.Methods A prospective study of 38 patients who meet the 2009 axial SpA diagnostic criteria was conducted.We carried out MRI of the SIJ for these patients to evaluate the muscles and skeleton involvement.Those cases were divided into muscles differences between the two groups of image scores,including Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) scores and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI Sacroiliac Joint Structural Score (SPARCC SSS).The extent of muscles edema in patients with sacroiliac joints was ranked into twelve grades from 0-12,and we did Spearman rank correlation test of muscles edema scope and two indexes.Results We found that 28 cases (73.68％) of the 38 patients had significant muscle involvement by analyzing the STIR sequence,and found erector spinae in 22 cases (57.89 ％)gluteal muscles in 13 cases (34.21 ％),iliacus muscle in 11 cases (28.95 ％),obturator muscle in 5 cases (13.16％),piriform muscle in 5 cases (13.16％) and other 4 cases (10.53％).SPARCC (t =2.28,P =0.03) and SPARCC SSS (t =3.37,P =0.00) were statistically different between the two groups.SPARCC (P =0.00,r =0.67) and SPARCC SSS (P-0.01,r =0.47) were positively correlated with the extent of muscles edema.Conclusions The muscles edema around sacroiliac joint is an important sign of axial SpA magnetic resonance imaging.Patients who had muscles edema tended to have more serious skeleton changes.

Objective:To perform a prospective cohort study to identify individual susceptibility of glucocorticoid (GC) -associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GA-ONFH) and their clinical and genetic risk factors. Methods:The present prospective cohort study enrolled patients who received their first GC therapy between July 2015 and January 2018 at Zhongshan Hospital. All patients did not receive any GC treatment before enrollment. Further, they planned to start GC treatment with the dose (equivalent prednisone) of ≥30 mg/d, lasted ≥3 weeks, or pulse dose ≥200 mg/d, lasted ≥3 d. Blood samples were collected before GC treatment to evaluate bone metabolism and its released factors. Hip MRI was performed at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th month to diagnose GA-ONFH. All patients were followed-up for ≥2 years. The endpoint was regarded as diagnosis of GA-ONFH or completion of 2 years follow-up. Lasso regression was performed to determine which clinical features were associated with GA-ONFH. A nested case-control sub-cohort (A, n=12) was established prospectively based on the main cohort by 1∶1 matching. Whole exome sequencing was performed to screen differential and functional candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion-deletions (SNP/InDels). Another sub-cohort (B, n=50) was constructed retrospectively in patients with GA-ONFH and non-ONFH patients received standard high dose GC treatment for more than two years. The candidate SNP/InDels were verified by Sanger sequencing based on the patients from sub-cohort B. Results:A total of 96 patients were enrolled of which 88 of them (32 males and 56 females, mean age 42.30 years) completed follow-up. Eight cases (9.1%) were diagnosed with GA-ONFH. The median time from the start of GC therapy to the diagnosis of ONFH was 53.00(34.00,13.50) days. The baseline characteristics, such as age, sex and body mass index, indicated no significant difference between the ONFH group and the non-ONFH group. The cumulative GC dose of the ONFH patients in the first month was higher than that of non-ONFH [32.74(29.55, 47.05) mg/kg vs. 24.00(21.10, 29.45) mg/kg, Z=-2.410, P=0.016]. However, there was no significant difference of patients who underwent pulse therapy (37.5% vs. 10.0%, adjusted χ 2=2.829, P=0.093). The ratio of serum apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1) in patients with ONFH was higher than that in non-ONFH group before GC use [0.95(0.80, 1.50) vs. 0.70(0.60, 0.80), Z=-2.875, P=0.000]. Due to the multicollinearity, Lasso regression model was performed to reduce overfitting. All variables were included in the model. The results suggested that higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, lower serum β-c-terminal telopeptide (β-CTX) and higher cumulative GC dose in the first month were the top three risk factors of GA-ONFH. This model had an accuracy of 0.982 in internal validation. Seven differential candidate SNP/InDels were found by whole exome sequencing of sub-cohort A. We further verified these SNP/InDels in sub-cohort B. The patients with COLEC12 mutation (rs2305027, G1816A) were at risk of GA-ONFH ( OR=6.00, 95% CI: 1.17, 30.73). Conclusion:Higher first-month GC dose, lower serum β-CTX level before treatment, higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and COLEC12 mutation (rs2305027, G1816A) could increase the risk of GA-ONFH.

Objective To investigate the current situation in Chinese rheumatologic physicians' clinical diagnosis and evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis (TA).Methods Nineteen rheumatology experts and three vascular surgery specialists in China were invited to make the nationwide investigation for the first time about the diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of TA in China,through the questionnaire survey on the internet.Weighted average was used to calculate the average scores of corresponding problems.Results Chinese experts mainly adopted 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for clinical diagnosis of TA.In details,symptoms of age,limb claudication and amaurosis,signs including pulselessness or pulse weakening,vascular bruits,increasing bilateral pulse pressure and hypertension and acute phase reactants (APR) were critical to the clinical diagnosis of TA.Besides,noninvasive imaging examinations,such as computed tomography angiography (CTA),magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),vascular ultrasonography,and positron emission tomography (PET) were also of great importance.In the aspect of disease activity assessment,Chinese experts mainly used Kerr scoring tool.APR and noninvasive radiological examinations were considered with vital value.Some TA patients with carotid artery involvement were recommended using vascular ultrasonography,while others with pulmonary artery and thoracic/abdominal aorta trunk involvement were preferred CTA other than MRA.Conclusions APR and noninvasive imaging examinations were thought with great help to make clinical diagnosis and evaluation of TA for Chinese physicians.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect and mechanism of high dose Vitamin B3 on granulopoiesis in normal rat.

METHODSTwenty one healthy SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: the Vitamin B3 group (Vit B3 500 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹, × 7 d), the rhG-CSF group (rhG-CSF 25 μg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹, × 7 d) and the normal saline group (2 ml/d, × 7 d). The peripheral blood cell counts were analyzed by automatic blood cell counter before (day 0) treatment, the third day (day 3) and the seventh day (day 7) after administration of drugs, respectively. The concentration of serum nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) level was measured by enzymatic cycling assay before and after drugs treatment. The expressions of G-CSF, G-CSFR, SIRT1, C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, C/EBPε and NAMPT mRNA were detected by reverse transcription real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR.

RESULTSThe neutrophil counts increased significantly after 7 days of Vitamin B3 and rhG-CSF treatment compared with that of control group [(1.64 ± 0.19) × 10⁹/L, (1.88 ± 0.37)× 10⁹/L vs (0.86 ± 0.18) × 10⁹/L, P<0.01]; the level of serum NAD⁺ increased significantly [(0.96 ± 0.08) nmol/L, (0.65 ± 0.12) nmol/L vs (0.36 ± 0.15) nmol/L, P<0.01]; the expression of G-CSF, G-CSFR, SIRT1, C/EBPα, C/EBPε and NAMPT mRNA in bone marrow mononuclear cells were increased significantly compared with that of control group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONHigh dose of Vitamin B3 may play an important role in increasing absolute neutrophil count in healthy rat under steady state, and the mechanism may be dependent on NAMPT-NAD⁺-SIRT1 signaling pathways.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Leukocyte Count ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; Niacinamide ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Recombinant Proteins

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, is characterized by synovitis and progressive damage to the bone and cartilage of the joints, leading to disability and reduced quality of life. This study was a randomized clinical trial comparing the outcomes between withdrawal and dose reduction of tofacitinib in patients with RA who achieved sustained disease control. METHODS: The study was designed as a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients who were taking tofacitinib (5 mg twice daily) and had achieved sustained RA remission or low disease activity (disease activity score in 28 joints [DAS28] ≤3.2) for at least 3 months were enrolled at six centers in Shanghai, China. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to one of three treatment groups: continuation of tofacitinib (5 mg twice daily); reduction in tofacitinib dose (5 mg daily); and withdrawal of tofacitinib. Efficacy and safety were assessed up to 6 months. RESULTS: Overall, 122 eligible patients were enrolled, with 41 in the continuation group, 42 in the dose-reduction group, and 39 in the withdrawal group. After 6 months, the percentage of patients with a DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of <3.2 was significantly lower in the withdrawal group than that in the reduction and continuation groups (20.5%, 64.3%, and 95.1%, respectively; P  < 0.0001 for both comparisons). The average flare-free time was 5.8 months for the continuation group, 4.7 months for the dose reduction group, and 2.4 months for the withdrawal group. CONCLUSION: Withdrawal of tofacitinib in patients with RA with stable disease control resulted in a rapid and significant loss of efficacy, while standard or reduced doses of tofacitinib maintained a favorable state. TRIAL REGISTRATION Chictr.org, ChiCTR2000039799.
Humans ; Quality of Life ; China ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Piperidines/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome ; Antirheumatic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Pyrroles/therapeutic use*