Lipoprotein (a) [Lp (a)] is an LDL-like molecule consisting of an apolipoprotein (B) [Apo (B)] particle attached by a disulphide bridge to apolipoprotein (a) [Apo (a)].Because of the LPA gene polymorphisms,there exists Lp (a) molecular heterogeneity in the human population.Recently,several observations have pointed out that elevated serum Lp (a) levels may be an independent risk factor of cardiovascular disease and an predictive indicator of cardiovascular disease.Recent findings suggest that Lp (a)-lowering therapy might be beneficial in patients with high Lp(a) levels.Currently,there are some problems in Lp(a) assay,including clinically diverse methods,the Lp (a) molecular heterogeneity between reference materials and test samples.Standardization of the Lp (a) reference reagents and measurement methods may be helpful for the wide application of Lp(a) in clinical medicine and be helpful for assuring the role of Lp(a) as an independent risk factor and predictive indicator of cardiovascular diseases.

While several lines of evidence prove that elevated concentrations of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) usually contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical consequences, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are widely believed to exert atheroprotective effects. Hence, HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) is in general still considered as good cholesterol. Recent researches, however, suggest that this might not always be the case and that a fundamental reassessment of the clinical significance of HDL-C is warranted. The main function of HDL is to transfer the cholesterol outside the liver into the liver for catabolism.The liver′s cholesterol metabolism and other biological effects are dependent on the number of HDL particles and its proteins and lipid contents. These functions are difficult to be described simply with the HDL-C concentration. If the components of HDL particles change, they may have adverse effects on the blood vessels. Thus, high concentrations of HDL-C in plasma are not always protective factors, and some clinical trials improving HDL-C concentrations have failed to confirm a protective effect. To explore the complex relationship and pathological mechanism between HDL and atherosclerotic diseases, it is instructive for clinical application of the HDL measurement.

Objective To investigate the clinical application value of serum lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2(Lp‐PLA2) in coronary atherosclerotic heart diseases(CAD) .Methods Using the case‐control study ,790 patients with coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) in our hospital from October 2013 to June 2015 were selected and divided into the CAD group (352 cases) and control group (438 cases) according to the results of coronary artery CTA .According to the number of coronary artery lesion vessels the CAD group was re‐divided into three subgroups :single branch coronary artery lesion (118 cases) ,double branch coronary arterial lesions(n=107) and multiple branch coronary arterial lesions(132 cases) .The levels of Lp‐PLA2 ,hs‐CRP , TG ,TC ,HDL‐C ,LDL‐C ,glucose ,HbA1c and other indexes were measured and comprehensively analyzed .The t test or variance a‐nalysis was used to compare the means between or among groups .The correlation of different indicators was analyzed with the Pearson linear correlation analysis .Results Compared with the control group ,the CAD group was significantly higher than the con‐trols in the levels of Lp‐PLA2 ,hs‐CRP ,age ,GLU ,HbA1c and ApoB ,the differences were statistically significant(P<0 .05) .The Lp‐PLA2 level had statistical difference among different branch coronary artery lesions in the CAD group(F=4 .941 ,P<0 .05) ,the level of Lp‐PLA2 in the CAD group with multiple branch coronary artery disease was higher than that in single branch coronary ar‐tery disease(P<0 .05) .No statistically significant difference between multiple branch coronary artery disease and double branch coronary arteries disease was observed .No statistically significant difference between double branch coronary arteries disease and single branch coronary artery disease was observed .The Pearson linear correlation analysis showed that Lp‐PLA2 and hs‐CRP had no correlation (r=0 .042 ,P>0 .05) .Conclusion Serum Lp‐PLA2 level increase is a risk factor of CAD and could be used to assess coronary arterial atherosclerosis and number of coronary arterial lesions .

Objective To study the effects of citrullinated vimentin (cVim) on the maturation and immunologic function of dendritic cells (DCs) from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) peripheral blood.Methods In the present study,mononuclear cells were isolated from the peripheral blood of patients with RA and cultivated in media containing GM-CSF and IL-4 to generate immature DCs (imDCs).The imDCs generated were stimulated with citrullinated vimentin and vimentin.LPS was used as the positive control and PBS was used as the negative control.The expression of surface molecules on the DCs,such as CD14,CD80,CD83,CD86,MHC Ⅰ and MHC Ⅱ were analyzed with FACS.The capability of the stimulatory activity of the DCs on allogeneic T cells in mixed reaction was tested by MTS.t-test was used for statistical analysis.Results Compared to untreated DCs,DCs treated with LPS increased the expression levels of MHC Ⅱ,CD80,CD83 and CD86 (1.07±0.14,1.25±0.13,1.90±1.08,2.44±0.65,P＜0.05),while cVim increased the expression levels of MHC Ⅱ ( 1.18±0.09,P＜0.05) and CD83 ( 1.97±0.99,P＜0.01 ),and Vim decreased the expression levels of CD80 (0.82±0.18,P＜0.01 ).It was demonstrated that the expression levels of MHC Ⅱ on DCs pulsed with cVim were significantly higher than that of the DCs with LPS,but the expression levels of CD80 and CD86 were not significantly different.The expression levels of MHC Ⅱ and CD83 on DCs pulsed with cVim were significantly higher than that of the DCs with Vim.The mixed lymphocyte reaction showed that the DCs induced by LPS and cVim trigerred the proli-feration of allogenic T cells obviously.Conclusion This result suggests that cVim could promote the phenotypic maturation of DCs and increase the expression of costimulatory molecules.

Objective To establish a candidate reference method for the determination of serum lithium based on ion chromatog-raphy and evaluate its analytical performance.Methods A simple sample treatment procedure,which can be remove the proteins and/or organics in human serum,has been developed for the determination of serum lithium.Method precision was evaluated with different concentration of fresh human serum and EQA sample RELA-A/B.Method accuracy was investigated with the recovery ex-periments in fresh human serum and RELA-A/B sample.Results The linear equation was Y =0.817 1X -0.001 3 with a correla-tion coefficient of 0.999 95 under the optimum experimental conditions,the detection limit (3S/N)for lithium was 6 μg/L and the imprecision was less than 1.0%.The results of the recovery experiments indicated that the recoveries were reasonable for the deter-mination of serum lithium,in a range of 99%-101%.Conclusion The candidate reference method of lithium was successfully es-tablished and which can be used for traceability and standardization.It may provide an effective way for routine testing of lithium traceable to the reference method/reference material.

Objective:To investigate the principle and measures of prevention and treatment on pancreatic fistula due to pancreatic injury.Method:The clinical data of 131 pancreatic injury patients were analyzed retrospectively.Operation and combined therapy during perioperative were performed.Results:Among 35 cases(26.7%,35/131) with pancreatic fistula,3 cases shaped internal fistula showed by visualization and cured spontaneously after operations,9 cases with pancreatic pseudocyst after operations were treated by Roux-en-Y pancreatic cystojejunostomy,2 cases(5.7%,2/35) died of MODS and abdominal infections.The rest were recovered.The follow-up from 3 months to 5 years showed that there were no cases died of complications related to pancreatic fistula.Conclusions:Operation combined with multiple therapies was effective in the prevention and treatment of pancreatic fistula.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).Methods The study subjects comprised of 249 patients with ACS [ 50 patients with ST elevation acute myocardial infarction( STEMI),43 patients with non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), 156 patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP) ] from July 2008 to December 2009 at Shanghai East Hospital affiliated to Tongji University.The patients were divided into single-vessel lesions group,double-vcssel lesions group and three-vessel lesions group according to the coronary artery stenosis.A group of 205 healthy subjects admitted for health physical examination were used as conuols.Blood samples were collected from ACS patients and control subjects.Serum PAPP-A,creatine kinaseisoenzyme MB (CK-MB),high-sensitivity troponin-T (hs-TnT) were measured by clectrochemiluminesence and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was measured by immune scatter turbidity method.Analysis of variance ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for statistical analysis.Results Serum PAPP-A in the STEMI,NSTEMI,UAP and normal control group were 10.45(5.54 - 16.08),6.56(4.68 - 9.55),5.70(4.12 - 8.50),5.23 (4.00 - 5.88) mIU/L,respectively,and the difference was statistically significant (H =43.94,P ＜ 0.01 ).Pairwise comparison showed that PAPP-A in STEMI,NSTEMI,UAP were significantly higher than the healthy control group and differences were statistically significant ( t =6.80,2.46,1.72,P ＜ 0.05 ).The PAPP-A had a sensitivity of 52.2％ and specificity of 80％ in diagnosis of ACS.The positive rate of PAPP-A was 44.5％ (69/155) in patients with negative hs-TnT.The serum levels of PAPP-A in the three-vessel lesions group [7.72(5.03 -12.46) mIU/L] was higher than that in the single,double groups [ 5.35 ( 4.14 - 8.59 ),6.05 (4.42 -9.58 ) mIU/L ],and the difference had statistical significance( t =2.00,1.57,P ＜ 0.05 ).There was obvious correlation between the level of serum PAPP-A and the level of hs-CRP ( r =0.524,P ＜ 0.05 ),and there was weak correlation between the PAPPA and CK-MB or hs-TnT (r=0.326,0.343,P＜0.05).Conclusions The results shows that PAPP-A is elevated in patients with ACS.It may be used as a serum biomarker for vulnerable plaques in patients with ACS and has a clinical value for ACS diagnosis especially in patients with negative hs-TnT.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and adverse effect of valproic acid (VPA) in combination with low dose chemotherapy on intermediate and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Methods A total of 41 patients with intermediate (34) and high-risk (7) myelodysplastic syndrome were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 19 patients received low dose chemotherapy regimen and 22 received low dose chemotherapy plus VPA.Low dose chemotherapy regimen included: homoharringtonine,1-2 mg·m-2·d-1 intravenously,14-28 d; clarubicin,5-7 mg·m-2·-1 intravenously,1-8 d,15-23 d;cytarabine 15 mg/m2 subcutaneously once every 12 h, 14-21 d; and subcutaneously use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor 200 μg·m-2·d -1 when neutrophil deficiency.The outcome and adverse effect were recorded after the treatment. Results The overall response rate in the low dose chemotherapy regimen group was 47.4% (9/19), 6 patients (31.6%) achieved complete response (CR). The overall response rate in the VPA group was 77.2% (17/22), 9 patients (40.9%) achieved CR. The overall response rate of the low dose chemotherapy in combination with VPA group was significantly higher than that in the low dose chemotherapy group (P＜0.05) while no difference was found in CR rate. The adverse effect of the low dose chemotherapy in combination with VPA regimen was tolerated. Conclusion With acceptable adverse effect, the low dose chemotherapy in combination with VPA regimen is effective for the treatment of intermediate and high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome. Long-term outcome needs further investigation.

r study.

Objective To explore the serum level of Glucagon like peptide-1 in late-onset Alzheimer′s patients and its clinical significance.Methods Case control study.Collecting cerebral vascular disease fifty-five cases, diagnosed with late-onset Alzheimer′s disease sixty-one cases, type 2 diabetes mellitus fifty-one cases , type 2 diabetic patients combined with late-onset Alzheimer′s disease thirty-seven patients from the Shanghai East Hospital and partly Pudong area elderdly hospital during October 2013 to March 2014, and forty healthy persons as normal control from physical examination center of Shanghai East Hospital during September 2013 to February 2014.Measuring the concentrations of GLP-1,β-amyloid, Tau protein and other routinely used clinical tests in the serum of patients from the normal controls , cerebrovascular disease , late-onset Alzheimer′s disease, type 2 diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus combined with late-onset Alzheimer′s disease by ELISA method developed in our laboratory.The blood samples were also collected at three fixed time including fasting time ,1 hour after taking glucose , 2 hour after taking glucose, the concentrations of GLP-1 were determined in the LOAD group , T2DM group and the T2DM combined with LOAD group and normal control group.The concentrations of serum GLP-1 among groups were compared with single factor analysis of variance , and the concentrations of serum GLP-1 between the two groups were compared using LSD-t test.Analysing the correlation between GLP-1 and other indicators with Pearson analysis.Results The fasting GLP-1 levels of LOAD group were ( 123.4 ±20.8 ) nmol/L, and they were highest between the normal control group (78.6 ±6.0) nmol/L and the cerebral blood vessel disease group(89.0 ±8.7)nmol/L (F values were 3.46 and 1.98, P<0.05).The fasting GLP-1 levels of T2DM combined with LOAD group (157.9 ±28.6) nmol/L were higher than the LOAD group (123.4 ± 20.8) nmol/L (t =1.63,P <0.05), but there were no difference of the fasting GLP-1 levels between T2DM combined with LOAD group (157.9 ±28.6) nmol/L and T2DM group(153.8 ±18.0)nmol/L(t=0.96,P>0.05).Deficient secretion of GLP-1 after taking glucose 1 hour in most of the patients of T2DM combined with LOAD group (99.1 ±14.2) nmol/L, LOAD group(73.9 ±6.6 ) nmol/L and T2DM group (96.3 ±7.0 ) nmol/L could be concluded .The GLP-1 levels of T2DM combined with LOAD group after taking sugar 2 hour were (115.4 ±18.6)nmol/L ,and were higher than that of normal levels (63.3 ±6.2) nmol/L after taking sugar 2 hour(t=4.49,P<0.05).There were no difference between the GLP-1 levels of the LOAD group (73.6 ±5.8 )nmol/L and the GLP-1 levels of the normal group(63.3 ±6.2)nmol/L after taking sugar 2 hour (t=0.94,P>0.05).Pearson correlation analysis showed that the relationship of the levels of GLP-1 with Aβ( 1-42 ) and the levels of GLP-1 after taking glucose 1 h and 2 h were positively relative, and its coefficients of correlation were 0.401,0.436,0.722.Conclusions LOAD and T2MD are similar, and they have GLP-1 secretion shortage phenomenon after taking glucose , so monitoring dynamic change of GLP-1 after taking glucose may contribute to the auxiliary diagnosis of LOAD.