The authors described two cases with primitive trigeminal artery. Case 1 was a 32-year-old woman who suffered dizziness and a serious pulsatile intracranial bruit on the left ear, and sometimes associated with pulsatile intracranial bearing-pain on the left temporal side six months before she was admitted to the hospital. She also suffered from obvious diplopia on left lateral gaze for the last 5 months. She had suffered no recent trauma. Magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) demonstrated a suspected intracranial aneurysm located in left cavernous sinus. Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed and a primitive trigeminal artery-cavernous sinus fistula in left side was found. Intraluminal occlusion of the fistula was successfully performed immediately after angiography using 6 Guglielmi detachable coils (GDC), and the patient was cured finally. Case 2 was a 28-year-old woman who suffered a serious intermittent cephalodynia associated with soreness on the left body two years before she was admitted to the hospital. She had suffered no recent trauma. Magnetic resonance angiography(MRA) demonstrated a suspected intracavernous aneurysm of the right internal carotid artery, Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) was performed. Right internal carotid angiography showed a primitive trigeminal artery (PTA) run between the cavernous segment of the internal carotid artery and the distal portion of the basilar artery. On initiation of PTA of R-ICA a small wide-necked saccular aneurysm was incidentally visualized. The aneurysm was successfully embolized after angiography using 2 Stent (Neuroform, 4.5mmm × 20mmm)-assisted detachable coils (Matrix), the ICA and PTA were preserved, and the patient was cured finally.

Objective To study the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IL-23R gene in Chinese Han population with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods SNPs rs11209026, rs1343151, rs11209032 and another three SNPs near them based on their physical distances were genotyped by PCR-directed sequencing. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, genotypes and allele frequency analysis were analyzed by SPSS 13.0. Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis were carried out by SHEsis software. Results The difference of genotypes of rs11209032 and the difference of genotypes and allele frequencies of rs6677188 between patients and controls were statistically significant (P＜O.01) ; The two SNPs rs11209032 and rs6677188 had strong linkage disequlibfium (D'=0.925, r2=0.561 ). Haplotype analysis had shown a higher proportion of GAC haplotype in patients and a higher proportion of GTC haplotype in controls. Conclusion These results suggest that IL-23R polymorphisms is associated with susceptibility to AS in Chinese Han population and IL-23R gene may be a susceptible gene of AS.

Objective To further investigate the effect of sinomenine (SIN) on TNF-α-induced VCAM-1 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods HUVECs were isolated from freshly collected umbilical cords. Positive control samples were stimulated with TNF-α, but free of SIN. Negative control samples were treated in the same way, but without TNF-α and SIN. Experimental samples were co-cultured with TNF-α and SIN at various concentrations (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mol/L), or TNF-α and dexamethasone (Dex) at concentration of 1.0×10-6 mol/L, or TNF-α with Dex (at concentration of 1.0×10-6mol/L) and SIN at different concentrations (0,25, 0.5, and 1.0 mmol/L) (co-treated groups). VCAM-1 expression was detected by flow cytometry (FCM). Results SIN inhibited expression of VCAM-1 in TNF-α-induced HUVECs, the best effect was shown in the 1.0 mmol/L SIN treated group. VCAM-1 decreased more markedly in the co-treated groups. Conclusion SIN inhibits TNF-α-induced VCAM-1 expression on HUVECs in vitro, and SIN maybe synergistic with Dex in inhibiting TNF-α-induced VCAM-1 expression on HUVECs in vitro.

Objective To investigate the distribution of HLA-B27 subtypes in ankylosing spondylitis(AS) patients of Chinese Han population by using the updated HLA-B27 typing data. Methods One hundred AS subjects were randomly selected from spondyloarthritis patients data bank of the third affiliated hospital of Sun Yat-sen university. All subjects were independent individuals, and the duplicated samples in the same family were excluded. Salt fraction method was used to prepare genome DNA. Luminex liquid array combining PCR-SSOP was used to perform the low resolution HLA-B genotyping. PCR-SSP was applied to perform the high resolution HLA-B27 typing for HLA-B27 positive subjects. Results Ninety-eight independent AS patients were recruited randomily, of which, 93 were HLA-B27 positive, with positive rate 94.9%, and covered 96% patients with family history of AS. Three subtypes were detected in this population including B * 2704 (n=76, 81.7%), B * 2705 (n=12, 12.9%) and B * 2715 (n=5, 5.4%). Compared with the two reports about HLA-B27 subtype distribution in healthy HLA-B27 positive Han population there was no significant difference between AS patients and healthy controls. But no B * 2715 case was found in those two reports of healthy population. Three reports (including 1 report in Chinese) could found about B * 2715 subtype, but all positive cases were oriental people. Furthermore, all B * 2715 positive patients were AS patients. Conclusion B * 2704 is the predominant subtype ,in AS patients of Chinese Han population, and followed by B * 2705. We found five cases with positive B * 2715, a considerable rare allele. This may suggest association between B * 2715 and AS.

Objective To study T lymphocyte subsets and expression of costimulatory molecule CD154 on T-cells in peripheral blood from patients with ankylosing spondylitis and their changes after treated with Enbrel. Methods Sixty-six patients with AS(39 active and 27 inactive, 35 axial and peripheral joint involvement and 31 axial involvement only), 30 patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA), 30 healthy volunteers were analyzed. The expression of CD154 on CD3+ T cell as well as T-cells subsets were evaluated using flow cytometry respectively. The changes of the expression of costimulatory molecule CD154 in 39 active AS patients(Enbrel treatment or placebo treatment) were observed in a randomized, double-blind, placebothan that of healthy volunteers, and CD154 expression on CD3+ T cells in peripheral blood in AS patients was on CD3+ T cells in the peripheral blood of active AS or AS patients with peripheral joint involvement were significantly higher than those in inactive or axial involvement only AS patients(P＜0.05), and CD154 on CD3+ placebo, in AS patients group, there was significant reduction in CD154 expression on CD3+ T cells in Enbrel group at week 6(P＜0.05), there was no significant difference between Enbrel group and healthy volunteers at week 6(P＞0.05). Conclusion T lymphocyte subsets are significantly abnormal and CD154 is overexpressed on T-cells in peripheral blood of patients with AS. A six-week course of treatment with Enbrel in active AS can induce a down-regulation of the expression of CD154 on T cells.

Objective To observe the effect of infliximab combination therapy on the expression of CD147 on the peripheral CD14+ monocytes of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. Methods Thirty active RA patients who were refractory to MTX treatment were randomized into three groups (group A, B, C) with the proportion of 3:1:1. Group A and B received four or three infusions of infliximab (3 mg/kg), group C received four infusions of placebo. All three groups were added to a stable background of MTX. The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD147 expression on the peripheral CD14+ monocytes of RA patients and normal healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry analysis. Clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed before each infusion. One-way ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis the MFI of CD147 expression at week 18 (P<0.05). Marked differences were observed between the infliximab + MTX group and the placebo + MTX group on the change of the MFI of CD147 expression from baseline to week 18 (P<0.05).Conclusion CD147 expression on the peripheral CD14+ monocytes of active RA patients is increased, and combination therapy of infliximab and MTX can inhibit the expression.

Objective To observe the application value and therapeutic efficacy of wide-field digital pediatric retinal imaging system (Retcam Ⅲ) fundus fluorescein angiograms (FFA) assisted photocoagulation on familial exudative vitreoretinopathy (FEVR).Methods The study included 46 eyes of 34 patients with staging 2 FEVR.All patients received color fundus photography and FFA under general anesthesia.The blood vessel reliability of color fundus photography and FFA was comparatively determined.Binocular indirect ophthalmoscope laser photocoagulation was applied to peripheral retina with abnormal leakage as indicated by FFA,the wavelength was 532nm,the duration was 0.25 s and the energy was 200-280 mW.After laser photocoagulation,fundus imaging and FFA was repeated.Further laser photocoagulation was immediately added to areas with vessel leakage but missing the photocoagulation.After treatment,the mean follow-up duration was 14.4 months.The follow up focused on neovascularization,exudative lesions,vitreous traction and merging of photocoagulation spots within 3 months,and on fibrosis membrane resulting in macular traction,tractional retinal detachment,vitreous hemorrhage or Coats disease-like retinal exudates after 3 months.Results It was hard to identify the blood vessels based on the color fundus images and some avascular zone maybe missed.Neovascularization can't be determined by shape of the blood vessels.On the other hand,those new blood vessels can be easily recognized by FFA as leakage sites at the boundary of avascular zone.The surgeon could quickly and accurately locate the FEVR area guided by the color fundus images and FFA from same angle under binocular indirect ophthalmoscope.During the treatment,there was no retinal FEVR area missed laser photocoagulation for all patients.There was no neovascularization,exudative lesions,vitreous traction within 3 months,and no fibrosis membrane,tractional retinal detachment,vitreous hemorrhage or Coats disease-like retinal exudates after 3 months.There were no ocular and systemic complications during and after the FFA and laser photocoagulation.Conclusion Wide-field Retcam Ⅲ FFA can help retinal specialists to identify abnormal neovascularization,locate the lesion area,and thus increase the success rate of laser photocoagulation,reduce the ocular and systemic complications for FEVR.

OBJECTIVE:To study the effects of spirulina kinase(SPK)on the vascular endothelial function of model rats with atherosclerosis. METHODS:60 rats were randomly divided into normal control group(distilled water),model group(distilled wa-ter),positive control group(simvastatin,0.005 g/kg)and SPK low-dose,medium-dose,high-dose groups(80,160,320 U/kg). Except for normal control group,rats in other groups were induced for model of atherosclerosis. All groups were intragastrically ad-ministrated relevant medicines at the same time,once a day for consecutive 12 weeks. Total cholesterol(TC),triglyceride(TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C),high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) contents in serum of rats were measured. And the changes of thoracic aortic endothelium morphology were ob-served by HE staining. RESULTS:Compared with normal control group,TC,TG,LDL-C,IL-6,TNF-α contents in serum of rats in model group were increased(P<0.01),HDL-C content in serum was decreased(P<0.01);vascular endothelial cells fell off, intimal proliferation projected into the lumen,smooth muscle cell proliferated and disordered,medium film elastic fiber disintegrat-ed and fractured. Compared with model group,TC,TG,LDL-C,IL-6,TNF-α contents in serum of rats in administration groups were decreased(P<0.05 or P<0.01),HDL-C content in positive control group and SPK medium-dose,high-dose groups was in-creased (P<0.05). Vascular endothelial cell morphology was improved significantly in administration groups,in which,vascular endothelial cells were structurally intact in SPK medium-dose,high-dose groups,inner membrane was basically smooth;medium smooth muscle cells arranged slightly disordered in SPK medium-dose group. Compared with normal control group,there were no obvious changes. CONCLUSIONS:SPK shows obvious lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects,it can protect vascular endo-thelial function. The mechanism may be related to reducing TC,TG,LDL-C,HDL-C,IL-6,TNF-αcontents and increasing HDL-C content in serum.

Objective To validate the discriminatory capacity of the new ankylosing spondylitis disease activity scores (ASDAS) in Chinese ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, and assess its clinical value. Method One hundred and twenty-nine patients with AS was included in the study, in which 87 were par-ticipat clinical trials with Etanercept (n=87) and 42 were participants of clinical trails with. The disease activity and treatment effecticacy were assessed by ASDAS, BASDAI and patient global assessment. Discriminatory ability of all the measures was analyzed as standardized mean difference (SMD) and (-score. Pearson's correlation, two indepen -dent samples t test and simple linear regression model were used for statistical analysis. Result The four ASDAS scores correlated well with patient global assessment (r=0.56～0.74), ESR (r=0.50～0.80) and CRP (r=0.50～0.69) both at baseline and the changes form baseline to 6 weeks after treatment. The four ASDAS outperformed BASDAI, patient global assessment, ESR and CRP in differentiating patients with different levels of disease activity and patients with different levels of change. There was little difference in performance between the four ASDAS versions. Conclusion The four ASDAS are highly discriminatory in evaluating the disease activity and the efficacy of drugs in Chinese AS patients, showing a significant value in clinical practice.

OBJECTIVESTo analyse the characteristics of interventional treatment for anterior communicating artery aneurysm (AcoAA) and improve curative effects.

METHODSIn 126 patients, detachable microcoils were used to embolize the AcoAA via endovascular approach. Those patients failed to be embolized were treated by surgical clipping.

RESULTSOf the 109 patients who were embolized successfully, 97 were achieved 100% occlusion, 12 95% - 98% occlusion. In the other 17 patients who failed to interventional treatment 15 were treated surgically and 2 no treatment because of cerebral vascular spasm. 123 patients were cured, one died, and 2 had aneurysms disappeared without any operations, as proved by follow-up for 5 months to 1 years. Of 32 patients checked by cerebral angiography 3 weeks to 30 months after operation, 30 showed disappeared of aneurysms and 2 had recurrence. The recurred aneurysms were successfully reembolized.

CONCLUSIONSMost of AcoAAs can be cured by endovascular interventional treatment. Those who failed to be treated by embolization can be cured surgically. Few patients may be healed spontaneously. The long term effects of treatment should be followed-up for a long time.

Adult ; Cerebrovascular Circulation ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome