Objective To analyze and discuss the expression of serum polymyositis‐scleroderma(PM‐Scl) antibody and its clinical significance in patients with systemic scleroderma(SSc) .Methods 315 hospitalized patients diagnosed with scleroderma by typical clinical manifestations or skin pathology from 2009 to 2012 were enrolled in the study .All patients were grouped into PM‐Scl antibody positive(PM‐Scl + ) group(90 cases) ,Scl‐70 antibody positive(Scl‐70+ ) group(70 cases) ,anti‐centromere antibody positive( ACA+ ) group(75 cases) and antibody negative group(80 cases) according to autoantibody spectrum .The severity of skin and visceral damage among all the groups were analyzed and compared .Results Patients in PM‐Scl+ group were characterized with different clinical manifestations .Compared with the other 3 groups ,the incidence of myositis in PM‐Scl+ group was significantly higher( all P< 0 .05) ;patients in Scl‐70+ group had higher incidence of visceral organ damage than PM‐Scl+ group(all P < 0 .05) .The incidence of skin lesions ,Raynaud′s phenomenon and capillary expansion in ACA+ group were higher than that of PM‐Scl+ ,while the incidence of interstitial lung disease ,heart disease and kidney disease were lower(all P< 0 .05) .Conclusion It is helpful for clinicists′ further understanding of common autoantibodies in Ssc patients and making correct assessment of the disease through analyzing the expression of PM‐Scl antibody .

BACKGROUND: It is always the key issue of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) to treat articular gall. A kind of medicine with favorable therapeutic effects and safety is urgently needed in the clinics. 99Tc-methylene diphosphonate 99(Tc-MDP) receives generalized attentions on its therapeutic effects and safety since its application into RA therapy.OBJECTIVE: To explore the characters of 99Tc-MDP in the amelioration of articular dysfunction in RA patients.DESIGN: A before-and-after controlled study by employing patients as subjects.SETTING: Department of rheumatism and immunology of an affiliated hospital of a university.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 67 patients with RA at active phase including 11males and 56 females aged between 29 and 71 years old with the course of disease between 9 and 78 months and admitted by the Department of Rheumatism of Huaxi Hospital Affiliated to Sichuan University were in accordance with the RA diagnostic criteria established by American Rheumatism Association(ARA) in 1987. Serious heart,liver or kidney dysfunction,active gastrointestinal pathological changes, hematology and endocrinology diseases,allergic complexion,and women during pregnancy or breast-feeding period were eliminated.METHODS: Clinical indicators including articular edema index, articular pain,grip,morning stiffness duration,rest pain,erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein(CRP) were compared before and after therapy in 67 cases received 99Tc-MDP treatment. Integrated evaluation was performed after the completion of therapy. Effective meant 30% of improvement in symptoms and physical signs,and reduction in ESR and CRP. Side effects were observed and recorded simultaneously. Data were statistically analyzed.RESULTS: After 99Tc-MDP treatment,RA condition significantly improved,as well as each clinical indicator including articular edema index,articular pain index,morning stiffness duration,rest pain,ESR and CRP(P<0.05) . The total clinical effective rate of this medicine was 81% and the incidence of side effects was small and mild.CONCLUSION: 99Tc-MDP can ameliorate the articular dysfunction of RApatients,which is a safe medicine with strong effect.

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of retinoblastoma protein-associated proteins 48 (RBBP4) in HIV-1 latency.Methods CEM-Bru cells latently infected with HIV-1 were stimulated with 25 ng/ml of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in combination with 10 ng/ml of interleukin-2 (IL-2).Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was performed to detect the changes in RBBP4 and in histone deacetylases 1 and 2 (HDAC1/2) binding to long terminal repeat (LTR).Binding activities of HDAC1/2 and RNA polymerase Ⅱ (RNA Pol Ⅱ) to LTR and acetylated histone H3 at LTR region were detected by ChIP after partially interfering the expression of RBBP4 in CEM-Bru cells with electroporation.Initiating and elongated transcripts were measured by RT-PCR.Results The binding activities of RBBP4 and HDAC1/2 to LTR in HIV-1 latently infected cells were enhanced significantly as compared with those in TNF-α and IL-2 co-stimulated cells.Fewer RBBP4 and HDAC1/2 bound to LTR following the interference of RBBP4 expression, which was accompanied with enhanced histone acetylation and strengthened binding activity of RNA Pol Ⅱ to LTR.Moreover, more initiating transcripts were detected in HIV-1 latently infected cells after the RBBP4 expression was interfered by electroporation.Conclusion RBBP4 contributes to the maintenance of HIV-1 latency, in which HDAC1 and HDAC2 might be involved.

Objective To summarize the various acute abdomen manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their diagnosis and treatment.Methods Twenty SLE patients with AA were analysed and 35 year′s literature was reviewed.Results Most AA were of active SLE (70%),others were of non SLE related disease (30%).Cause of these cases was diversified,which often lead to misdiagnosis.Making correct diagnosis as early as possible was the key point to improve the patient′s survival rate.Conclusion SLE with AA indicates a critical condition.Investigating the cause of AA and working out appropriate treatment measures are most important.

Objective To study the significance of antikeratin antibodies(AKA) in rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Method Serum samples of 98 patients with RA and 70 rheumatic disease controls were tested by indirect immunofluorescence assay.The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of AKA were compared with rheumatoid factor(RF). The features of clinical manifestation and lab findings were compared in patients with RA who were positive for AKA with ones who were negative.Results The positive rate of AKA in RA patients was significantly higher than that in rheumatic disease controls.AKA showed a diagnostic specificity of 97.1%, higher than RF.RA patients who were positive for AKA had more active disease as assessed based on clinical, laboratory tests,and radiological variables, as compared with AKA negative patients. Conclusion AKA showes high disease specificity and has prognostic significance in patients with RA.

Objective To investigate the effect of retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBP4)in Sp1 -mediated HIV long terminal repeat(LTR)transcription.Methods RBBP4 expression vector and Sp1 expression vector were respectively co-transfected into 293 T cells with HIV promoter pHIV-LTR-Luc or Sp1 site mutated pHIV-LTR-sp1 -mut by liposome transfection,and the transfected cells were examined by dual luciferase reporter assay system.The effect of RBBP4 on the binding of Sp1 to LTR was further studied by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA).Results The relative firefly luciferase activity activated by Sp1 was decreased from 62.5 to 16 at the dose of 500 ng of RBBP4 expression vector (t =14.52,P <0.01 ).When the Sp1 binding sites were mutated,the effects of 100,300 or 500 ng of RBBP4 expression vector on the firefly luciferase activity of HIV LTR were not statistically significance (t =1 .897,2.357 and 3.162,all P <0.05).ChIP results showed that when the binding of RBBP4 on HIV LTR increased,the binding of Sp1 on HIV LTR increased significantly (t =11 .93,P <0.01 ),while the reduced binding of RBBP4 on HIV LTR significantly attenuated the binding of Sp1 onto LTR(t =11 .38,P <0.01 ).The effect of RBBP4 on the binding of Sp1 to DNA in ChIP assays was further verified by EMSA assays.Conclusion RBBP4 can inhibit the Sp1 -mediated HIV LTR transcription in 293 T cells.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of gluocose-6-phosphate isomerase (G6PI) detected by an enzy-me linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The G6PI was detected by ELISA in serum samples from 106 patients with RA, 53 non-RA controls with various rheumatic diseases, and healthy individuals. The level of rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-CCP antibodies and AKA were also assessed in RA patients. The correlation analysis beween G6PI and anti-CCP, IgM-RF. G6PI, anti-CCP, IgM-RF and AKA were carried out between patients with erosion and with non-erosion diseases . Results ① G6PI serum level of patients with RA was (1.61 ±1.20) μg/ml, and was (0.11 ±0.17) in patients with other rheumatic diseases, and (0.06±0.07) μg/ml in healthy individuals. There was statistical significant difference between RA patients and patients with other rheumatic diseases (P<0.05). Receiver operator curve analysis (ROC) showed an opitium cut off level for C6PI at 0.225 μl/ml. The sensitivity of G6PI was 0.868, the specificity was 0.853 in RA. C6PI was associated with RF, but was not associated with anti -CCP. C6PI ws not associated with disease activity index by Spearman' s correlation analysis. The association between above parameters with bone erosion was not detected, however. Conclusion C6PI is abnormally increased in some RA so it may be a new diagnostic marker for RA. G6PI has a reasonable sensitivity (86.8%) and with high specificity(85.3%) to RA and it is valuable for RA diagnosis. C6PI is associated with RF, but not completely overlaps. C6PI is not associated with diseases activity. No association is found between G6PI and bone erosions.

Objective To study the role of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) in the prognosis of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in mice. Methods One hundred and twenty clean male Kunming mice were randomly ( random number) divided into normal saline control group (n =15),MODS model control group (n =15) and MODS + rhEGF treatment group (n =90).The MODS models were made by using Caballero ME method with thioacetamide (TAA) 2000 mg/kg injected intraperitoneally to establish monophasic rapid onset pattern of MODS model in mice.MODS + rhEGF treatment group was further randomly divided into two subgroups,namely intraperitoneal injection group (n =45 ) and subcutaneous injection group (n =45 ).Each subgroup was divided again into three small subgroups (n =15) as per different doses of rhEGF used,namely 10 μg/kg,30 μg/kg and 50 μg/kg.Within 24 hours after modeling,the respiration,body weight,food eaten and general physical changes were observed.Mortality was calculated 24 hours after modeling.After the animals sacrificed,the tissues of viscus including liver,kidney,heart,brain,lung,spleen,pancreas,intestine and stomach were collected immediately.The histological changes of visceral tissues were studied by using hematoxylin -eosin staining under the light microscope.All the experimental data were presented in,and body weight changes were compared using t-test,and after different routes of administration with different doses of rhEGF used in MODS,the mice body weight changes were analysed by using the Dunnett method,and the mortalities of mice were compared by using Fisher exact test,and P ＜ 0.05 was considered statistically significant difference. Results There was no significant difference in mortality betweeu mice in rhEGF subcutaneous administration group and MODS model control group (P ＞ 0.05 ),but the total mortality of hrEGF MODS intraperitoneal administration group (6.7％ in dose of 50 μg/kg and 20％ in dose of 30 μg/kg) was significantly lower than that of MODS model control group (73.3％) ( P ＜ 0.05 ) and the mortality of mice treated with intraperitoneal 50μg/kg rhEGF (6.7％ ) was lower than that treated with 10μg/kg rhEGF (P=0.014).The mortality of mice in rhEGF MODS (50 μg/kg ) intraperitoneal administration group was significantly lower than that in subcutaneous administration group (40％) (P =0.031 ), The histopathological changes in rhEGF MODS treatment group were not as remarkable as seen in mice of control group.The histopathological changes were dose - dependent.The higher doses of rhEGF,the lesser hepatic congestion,liver cell apoptosis,hepatic cell cloudy swelling and cell vacuolization.Similarly,as RhEGF dosage increased,pulmonary interstitial congestion,inflammatory cells and apoptotic bodies reduced,and bronchial ciliated columnar epithelium less shed.Conclusions RhEGF plays a positive role in repairement of tissue damage in TAA - induced MODS murine model.The rhEGF given by intraperitoneal route of administration is more effective to reduce the 24 h mortality of MODS mice than that by subcutaneous route.

Objective To investigate the expression of the genes correlated with interferon induced genes virus (MX1, OAS1, IFI44) in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to evaluate the relationships between the expression levels of these genes and diseaseactivity. Methods The clinical data of 100 SLE patients, 40 non-SLE patients with rheumatic diseases, and 40 normal controls were collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected. Total RNA was extracted and transcribed into cDNA. SYBR green dye based real-time quantitative PCR method was used to compare the expression levels (indicated as △CT value) of MX1, OAS1 and IFI44 in patients with SLE and those in the controls. Comparisons between groups were performed with ANOVA and Spearman correlations. Results ①The △CT value of MX1, OAS1 and IFI44 expression level of the SLE patients (3.4±1.8, 4.2±1.5, 8.8±2.2)was significantly higher than those of the non-SLE patients (2.4±0.4, 3.4±0.7, 5.4±2.1 ) and normal controls (2.3±1.1, 2.6±0.7, 5.2±2.0). ② The △CT value of OAS1 and IFI44 expression level of the SLE patients in severe disease was significantly higher than those of the SLE patients in mild disease and the SLE patients with stable disease. ③The ACT value of OASI and IFI44 were correlated with the SLEDAI scores (r=0.038,0.380). ④ The △CT values of MX1, OAS1 and IFI44 expression level of the SLE patients with arthritis were significantly higher than those of SLE patients without arthritis. ⑤ The △CT value of IFI44 expression level of the SLE patients with lupus nephritis (3.2±2.1,2.2±1.1) was significantly higher than that of the SLE patients without lupus nephritis. ⑥ There was correlations among these genes in SLE patients (P＜0.05). Conclusion The value of MX1, OAS1 and FFF44 expression level of SLE patients is up-regulated. The real time expression levels of OAS1, IFI44 genes are associated with SLE disease activity and there are close correlation among these genes with interferon induce virus-relationed genes (MX1, OAS1, IFI44) in SLE patients.

BACKGROUND: Degeneration and regeneration after peripheral nerve injury is a very complex pathophysiological process. It still needs to investigate the promotive effects of electric stimulation in neuranagenesis.OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect and result of percutaneous nerve-muscle electric stimulation therapy in peripheral neuranagenesis of different position.DESIGN: A case analysis based on patients.SETTING: Laboratory of neuroelectrophysiology and department of orthopedics of a medical university affiliated hospital.PARTICIPANTS: Totally 78 patients with peripheral neurologic impairment proved by clinical diagnosis and electromyogram(EMG) were selected from the patients with peripheral nerve injury visited or hospitalized by the Department of Neurology and Orthopedics, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between October 1999 and June 2003.METHODS: Cantana EMG was used. Totally 78 cases received percutaneous nerve-muscle electric stimulation (PNMES) therapy for the observation of the restoration of peripheral nerve function. Therapeutic effectiveness of different course of disease was compared and analyzed by comparing and analyzing the EMG before and after therapy.RESULTS: In 78 patients with brachiplex nerve and sci atic nerve impairment, 53 cases had completely restored motor and sensory functions, 18 cases had significantly improved motor and sensory functions with the effective rate of 91% (71/78) after 1 to 10 courses of therapy. Post-therapeutic denervated potential, motor nerve conduction velocity(MNCV) and sensory nerve conduction velocity(SNCV) were significantly improved compared with that of before therapy.CONCLUSION: PNMES therapy can promote peripheral neuranagenesis,improve the local blood circulation of the impaired nerve and elevate the excitability of nerve and muscle.