Objective To explore the effect of tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α) blockade therapy on circulating Th17 cell percentage and serum interleukin (IL)-17 level in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Twenty-seven RA and 22 AS patients were recruited, of which 14 cases from both diseases received 40 weeks TNF blockade therapy. Twenty-four healthy blood donors were used as controls. The frequencies of circulating Th17 cells were determined by flowcytometry, and serum IL-17 level were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Results Significantly higher baseline circulating Th17 cells were observed in active RA and AS patients compared with the healthy controls[RA 1.03%(0.66%,1.78%) vs controls 0.50%(0.43%,0.67%), Z=-3.236, P<0.01; AS(1.16±0.09)%vs controls (0.59 ±0.061)% , t =5.226, P <0.01]. Similarly, serum IL-17 level were significantly elevated in patients with both diseases compared with controls[RA(32.3±2.5) pg/ml vs controls(14.3±2.5) pg/ml, t=5.070, P<0.01; AS 28.98(23.84,36.14) pg/ml vs controls 11.84(5.33,22.12) pg/ml, Z=-4.103, P<0.01]. After TNF-α blockade therapy, serum IL-17 was significantly decreased in both diseases groups[RA △(-13.5± 5.0) pg/ml and AS △(-16.0±1.9) pg/ml]. In contrast, no significant differences were found in the frequencies of circulating Th17 cells[RA △(0.104 5±0.212 6)% and AS △(0.002 5±0.183 8)%]. Conclusion Th17 cells and IL-17 have been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA and AS. TNF-α blockade can partially inhibit the function of Th17 cells. However, it is unable to reduce the frequencies of these cells in the circulation after 40 weeks therapy, which may explain the reasons for the relapse.

Objective:To approach the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment modalities, and prognosis of the patients with double primary carcinoma of endometrial carcinoma and colorectal carcinoma and analyze the relationship between this disease and Lynch syndrome. Methods:The clinicopathologic and follow-up data of 34 cases with double primary carcinoma of endometrial carci-noma and colorectal carcinoma treated in Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were reviewed. Results:The medi-an age of the 34 patients was 51.5 years old (ranging from 39 to 76). Twenty-two of the total cases (22/34, 64.7%) had tumor family his-tory. The pathologic results indicated that 79.4%(27/34) was endometrioid adenocarcinoma. In the 34 cases, 33 were treated by surgical procedure. Of the 33 cases undergoing surgery, 17 patients with endometrial carcinoma and 19 with colorectal carcinoma received fur-ther adjuvant treatment of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The 2-and 5-year survival rates were 84.3%and 63.1%in the 34 cases, respectively. Conclusion:The age of onset is earlier in the patients with double primary carcinoma than in those with sporadic colorec-tal carcinoma. Some cases have cancer family history, and their survival rates are similar to those of the patients with sporadic colorec-tum carcinoma. Diagnosis of some patients with double primary carcinoma may be in line with Lynch syndrome.

Objective To explore the change of serum sIL-2R and IL-6 levels in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD) and its role in the pathogenesis. Methods The serum slL-2R and IL-6 were detected by sandwich ELISA. The serum hs-CRP level was measured by DADE BEHRING BN ProSpec. Results The serum levels of sIL-2R and hs-CRP in KD before and after high-dose intravenous gama globulin(IVIg) were significantly higher than in healthy controls (P

Objective To analyze the disease-free survival (DFS) and prognostic factors for stage Ⅰ_b cervical squamous cell carcinoma treated by radical hysterectomy. Methods From January 1999 to December 2005, a total of 206 patients with uterus cervical squamous cell carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed. All the patients were treated by type 3 hysterectomy and pelvic and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy at Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. The diseases were stage Ⅰ_(B1) and Ⅰ_(B2)= in 103 patients each. Seventy-nine (76.7%) patients had preoperative radiotherapy and 111 (53. 9%) had postoperative adjuvant treatment (PosAT). Prognostic factors were analyzed using univariate model and multivariate Cox model. Results The follow-up rate was 92. 7%. 106 patients had following-up time of five years. The overall 5-year survival rate and the disease-free survival rate of stage Ⅰ_b,Ⅰ_(B1) and Ⅰ_(B2) were 96. 3% and 86. 8%, 100% and 94. 6%, 92. 2% and 77.9%, respectively. Univariate predictors of DFS included tumor size (FIGO stage, 77.9% : 94. 6% ; Χ~2 = 5. 58, P = 0. 018), lympho-vascular space involvement (LVSI, 74.6% : 89. 8% ; Χ~2 = 10. 44, P =0. 001), vaginal involvement (purely fornix involvement was not included disease, 50% : 87. 9% ; Χ~2 = 7.01,P = 0. 008), parametrial involvement (PI, Χ~2 = 17.69 ,P = 0. 000), and metastatic lymph nodes (LNM) > 2 (Χ~2 = 21.47, P = 0. 000) in stage Ⅰ_b disease, while LVSI (Χ~2 =6. 35,P =0. 012), PI (Χ~2 =90.00,P =0. 000) and LNM >2(Χ~2 =26. 27,P = 0. 000) in stage Ⅰ_(B1) disease, LVSI (Χ~2=10. 12,P =0. 001), cervical canal involvement (Χ~2 =4. 60,P = 0.032), vaginal involvement (Χ~2 =5.87,P=0.015), PI (Χ~2 =4.78,P=0.029) and LNM >2(Χ~2= 6. 72, P = 0. 010) in stage Ⅰ_(B2) disease. In multivariate analysis, FIGO stage (Χ~2 = 4. 73 ,P =0. 030), LVSI (Χ~2 = 9. 81, P = 0. 002), and LNM > 2 (Χ~2 = 6. 30, P = 0. 012) were significantly associated with DFS in stage Ⅰ_b, while LVSI (Χ~2 = 6. 38, P = O. 012) and LNM > 2 (Χ~2 = 3.92, P = 0. 048) were significantly associated with DFS in stage Ⅰ_(B2)-Conclusions LVSI is an important prognostic factor for stage Ⅰ_(B1) cervical cancer. PosAT reduces the recurrences in stage Ⅰ_(B2) desease. When PosAT is needed, preoperative radiotherapy can not improve DFS. PosAT should not be commonly used for stage Ⅰ_(B1) disease with only deep muscularis invasion.