Objective To establish a nested-real-time-PCR for the detection of IL-21R mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMC)of patients with rheumatoid arthritis,and explore its clinical significance.Methods The outer primers of span intron and inner primers were designed for nested-real-time-PCR.To increase specific template,the concentration of primers and enzyme,cycle times were decreased in the first amplification,and the real-time fluorescent quantity assay was performed in the second amplification.The ?-actin gene was used as internal reference,and the results were presented as the ratios of IL-21R mRNA to ?-actin mRNA.Results IL-21R mRNA was detected in 60 patients with RA and 30 healthy controls.The expression of IL-21R mRNA gene in the patients with RA was increased,and the statistical analysis has significant differences(P0.05),but a significant difference was found in the patients of grade III compared with those of grade I and II(P

SOX17,a member of the SOX family of transcription factors,is conserved in many species and plays an important role in the formation of embryo endoderm.A number of studies have found that SOX17 gene expression is silenced or decreased might be due to promoter bypermethylation,which plays a vital role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression,and may contribute to aberrant activation of canonical Wnt signaling pathway in several human malignant tumors.

Lots of studies have identified the relationship between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular diseases. Many factors affect the metabolism of uric acid, such as diet, drug, internal environment of organism, etc. However, the relationship between hyperuricemia and cardiovascular diseases is not quite clear. In this review, we present recently published data about the association between hyperuricemia and selected cardiovascular diseases.

Objective We reported previously that single nucleotide polymorphisms SNP) + 11G ＞ A in intron 3 of the human urate transporter 1 (hURAT1) gene are associated with hyperuncaemia in Han Chinese.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of the variants on hURAT1 function.Methods The wild-type,mutant-type hURAT1 and exon 5-null hURAT1 were constructed,and respectively microinjected into the zebrafish embryo yolks.The subcellular localization of different genotypes of hURAT1 was detected by confocal laser scanning microscope.Results Compared with wild type,the mutant recombinant plasmid transcribed two types of mRNA spliceosome,the wild type and the exon 5-null type.The hURAT1 wild type protein was prominent localized on cell membrane,while the mutant type and exon 5-null hURAT1 proteins were distributed uniform in the cytoplasm but not on the cell membrane.Conclusion The hURAT1 variant + 11 G ＞ A resulted in an alternative splicing of hURAT1 mRNA-exon 5-null type.Its protein product exhibited a different subcellular localization compared with that of wild type.

Objective To compare the X-ray radiation dose from atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation guided by magnetic navigation system (MNS) and manual procedure (CON).Methods 94 AF patients were randomly divided into MNS group (34 cases) and CON group(60 cases).The dose area product (DAP),cumulative radiation dose (CD),fluoroscopy time of patients,the X-ray exposure time and dose of operators were recorded and analyzed.Results The results from the patients in MNS group and CON group were CD values (0.54 ±0.45) and (1.61 ±0.89) Gy (t =2.44,P ＜0.05),DAP values (46.86 ±27.09) and (139.71 ±76.69) Gy·cm2(t =3.89,P ＜0.05) and fluoroscopy time (15.60 ±7.52) and (39.50 ± 8.82) min (t =1.96,P ＜ 0.05),respectively.The X-ray exposure dose in both groups were (22.68 ± 6.87) and (62.74 ± 20.92) μSv (t =2.02,P ＜ 0.05) for operation doctor (19.38 ± 5.64) and (49.42 ± 10.67) μ Sv (t =3.58,P ＜ 0.05) for operation assistant and (18.98 ± 4.99) and (47.77 ± 13.65) μ Sv (t =3.17,P ＜ 0.05) for nurse,respectively.The X-ray exposure time experienced in both groups were (11.48 ±7.59) and (30.50 ±14.82) min (t =2.75,P ＜0.05) for operation doctor,(8.96 ±5.88) and (24.49 ±9.09) min (t =4.20,P ＜0.05) for operation assistant and (8.33 ±6.35) and (22.99 ± 13.36) min(t =2.76,P ＜ 0.05) for nurse,respectively.Conclusions Compared with manual procedure,the MNS applied in AF ablation has the potential to decrease X-ray exposure dose.

Objective To explore gene polymorphism of G/A genotype of Fok Ⅰ rs2228570 (G/A) of vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene in Han male population of Chinese coastal area,and thus to investigate the relationship between the gene polymorphism of VDR and gout.Methods Altogether 504 gout patients and 523 healthy controls were enrolled.The possible association between the polymorphism of VDR rs2228570 and gout in Chinese coastal area was investigated and genotype frequencies and allelic frequencies were calculated by realtime PCR with Taqman(R)probe method.Hardy-Weinberg was used to verify the representativeness of the sample.Comparison between the groups were performed withx2 test and t-test.Results The frequencies of GG,AG,and AA genotypes were 32.1％,50.0％,and 17.9％,respectively among gout patients,while they were 27.9％,50.5％,and 21.6％ respectively among the controls.There was no statistically significant difference in VDR rs2228570 genotype frequencies between gout patients and controls(x2 =3.366,P＞0.05).The allele frequencies of G and A in gout cases were different from those in the controls(57.1％,42.9％;53.2％,46.8％;x2 =3.300,P＞0.05).Conclusions Results of the present study suggest that the G/A genotype of VDR Fok Ⅰ rs2228570 of the VDR gene is not associated with gout in male population of Chinese coastal area.

The study was designed to measure the effect of S.baicalensiswater extract (SBWE) on 3T3-L1 cells and its adiponectin (ADP) mRNA (Adipoq) and promoter luciferase activity.Cell survival rate was determined by MTT assay.The expression of Adipoq was measured by real-time PCR,while the luciferase report systems of Adipoq were used to transfer 3T3-L1 cells.The luciferase activities of the transferred cells were compared by luciferase assay.It was found that the mRNA expression of Adipoq was decreased in comparison with the control group.The luciferase activity showed a stronger ADP promoter activity in 3T3-L1 cells in SBWE treated group than that of control one.In conclusion,SBWE treatment improves the cykomine expression and luciferase reporter gene activity which will be an essential method for further studies of obesity therapy in traditional Chinese medicine.

High mobility group box 1 (HMGB 1 ) is a family member of the high mobility group. HMGB1 binds to cell surface specific receptor-receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and thus it exhibits extensive biological activities. HMGB1 participates in pathophysiological processes including inflammatory response and regulation of blood-brain barrier permeability in central nervous system, arid it is closely correlated with the diseases such as ischemia stroke, Alzheimer's disease and gliocytoma.

Objective To compare and analyze different factors that influence hypertension between subjects with and without gout, and to recognize and understand them further. Methods A total of 7395 patients ( 6935 males and 460 females) from the gout clinic of Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University between May 2009 and January 2016 were chosen as gout group, while 8379 people without gout (7858 males and 521 females) were served as control group. The height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose ( FPG) , triglyceride(TG), cholesterol(TC), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine(Cr), and uric acid (UA) of both groups were monitored. Clinical and biochemical differences of the two groups were analyzed. The morbidity rate of hypertension in the two groups was also compared. According to different criteria, the subjects were divided into several subgroups. The data were analyzed mainly by Empower statistical software. Results The risk ratio of hypertension in gout group was 63. 25%, and it was higher than that in control group(49. 19%,x2=316. 25,P<0. 01). The risk ratio of hypertension in gout group was 1. 173 times higher than that in control group. After adjusting UA, it would drop to 1. 065 times, but the difference still remained significant. In groups with diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, obesity, the risk ratio of hypertension increased by 13. 7%, 15. 3%, 21. 8%, and 23. 6% respectively, in gout group. FPG, TG, TC, BMI, and WHR were all associated with HP in both gout and normal groups, but Cr was associated with HP in gout group only(OR=1. 396, 95%CI 1. 197-1. 629). Age had different saturation effects in two groups. Conclusion The factors influence hypertension differently in patients with and without gout, especially those of gout itself and creatinine. The precision medicine should be applied.

Objective To investigate the effects of ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) on acute lung injury (ALI) in a rat model of traumatic shock. Methods Thirty-six male Wistar rats aged 3 months were randomly assigned into 3 groups ( n = 12 each): control group (group C) ; traumatic shock group (group TS) and ω-3 PUFA + TS group (group to-3 PUFA) . Traumatic shock was induced by fracture of femur and hemorrhage according to the method described by Feeney in groups TS and ω-3 PUFA. In group ω-3 PUFA, ω-3 PUFA 2 ml/kg was injected via the caudal vein at 12 and 2 h before induction of traumatic shock. Arterial blood samples were taken at 120 min after traumatic shock was successfully induced for determination of serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 and 8-iso-PGF2α by ELISA. The animals were then sacrificed and lungs were removed for-determination of W/D lung weight ratio and microscopic examination. Results Traumatic shock significantly increased serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 and 8-iso-PGF2α, W/D ratio and pathologic scores of lung tissues in groups TS and ω-3 PUFA as compared with group C.ω-3 PUFA significantly attenuated traumatic shuck-induced increase in serum concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β and 8-iso-PGF2α , W/D ratio and pathologic scores of lung tissues but further increased the serum IL-10 concentration in group ω-3 PUFA as compared with group TS. Conclusion ω-3 PUFA can significantly inhibit the svstemic inflammatory response and ameliorate traumatic shock-induced ALI.