Objective: To observe the effects of high-dose aprotinin and low-dose aprotinin on the inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Methods: Thirty-two patients who underwent heart valve replacement were randomized in double-blind fashion into three groups: control group (n=6), low-dose group (n=13) and high-dose group (n=13). Blood samples were taken from radial artery at three times intervals: before CPB, at the end of CPB and 2 hours after termination of CPB. Neutrophil CD11b integrin expression, plasma level of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Results: The high-dose group demonstrated no significant change in neutrophil CD11b expression and in plasma level of TNF-α, but a significant decrease in plasma level of IL-6. However, the low-dose group only demonstrated a lower CD11b expression and a lower TNF-α level at 2 h after CPB termination. Conclusion: Aprotinin has a dose-reponse effect. High-dose aprotinin is more effective in the reduction of inflammatory response induced by cardiopulmonary bypass.

Objective:To explore CCR7 expression in splenic dendritic cells and its role in migration and activity of splenic dendritic cells in multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in mice.Methods:The MODS model of mice was reproduced by Zymosan injection into peritoneal cavity.The mice were randomly divided into groups of normal,3-6 hours,24-48 hours and 10-12 days post zymosan injection.CD11c and CD205 were analysed by immunohistochemistry;The expression of CD86 and CCR7 of DCs were studied by the flow cytometry analysis.Results:In normal mice,many DC were found at the margin between the red and white pulp.In the 3-6 h and 24-48 h groups,CD86 and CCR7 were strongly up-regulated in the DC,and they distributed in T cells areas.In the 10-12 d group,DC distributed at the margin by the immature form.Conclusion:The CCR7 expression level of DC has close correlations with the migration of DC,CCR7 can be used to evaluate the migration and functional activity of DC in MODS.

Objective To explore the correlation between Th1,Th2,Th17,and Treg cells differentiation and related cytokines in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Seventy-one patients with active RA were enrolled in this study.They were divided into low,moderate and high disease activity groups according to disease activity score (DAS28).The frequencies of Th1,Th2,Th17,and Treg cells in the peripheral blood of RA patients group (n=71) and healthy conlrol group (n=18) were determined by flow cytometry.T test was used for statistical analysis.Results Significant difference could be detected between the proportions of Th1 [ (6.2±4.5)％],Th17 [ (1.1±0.9)％] and Treg [(1.8±1.2)％] cells in the peripheral blood of RA patients and the control group (P＜0.05),and there was correlation between proportions of these three kinds of cell and the DAS28.Conclusion Th1 and Th 17 cells may promote the development of RA disease,but Th2 and Treg cells could prevent further development of RA disease.

Objective To study the changes of Th17 cell, regulatory T cell (Treg) and interleukin (IL)-6 in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their relationship with disease activity. Methods Percentage of Th17 and Treg in the peripheral blood of 103 patients with SLE and 28 healthy volunteers were detected by flow cytometry. The concentration of IL-6 in SLE patients and healthy volunteers was detected by cytometric bead array (CBA). The disease activity of SLE was measured by SLEDAI. SLE patients were divided into two groups: stable SLE (SLEDAI≤ 9, n=37) and active SLE (SLEDAI＞9, n= 66). The change of Th17, Treg, IL -6 and their relationship with disease activity were analyzed. Nonparamentric tests, t -test and spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results The percentage of Th17 cells and the concentration of IL-6 in the peripheral blood in patients with SLE was higher than that in normal controls [respectively for (1.2±1.1)%, (35±92) pg/ml and (0.6±0.4)%, (6±3) pg/ml, P＜0.05]. However, the percentage of Treg in patients with SLE was lower than that in normal controls [respectively for (1.6±1.2)%,(2.6±1.8)%, P＜0.05]. The percentage of Th17, Th17/Treg IL-6 level in active SLE patients was higher than those in inactive SLE and those in normal controls (P＜0.05). However, the percentage of Treg in active SLE was lower than that in stable SLE patients and that in normal controls (P＜ 0.05). The percentage of Th17, Th17/Treg and concentration of IL-6 was positively correlated to disease activity(P＜0.05). But the percentage of Treg had negative correlation with the percentage of Th17 and disease activity (P＜0.05). Conclusion Th17, Treg and serum IL-6 in SLE patients are abnormal and they maybe contribute to the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To access the expression and clinical significance of CD19+CD5+B cells and interleukin (IL)-10 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Forty-six SLE patients and ten healthy controls were recruited in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. CD19+CD5+B cells subsets were detected with flow cytometry. IL-10 level in serum were detected with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The correlation between the expression of CD19+CD5+B cells and serum level of IL-10 with ESR, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score and complement was analyzed. Pair-wise comparison of means of groups was conducted with one-way ANOVA. Comparison between the two groups was conducted by LSD-t test. Correlations between variables were carried out using Spearman's rank correlation test. Results The percentage of CD19+CD5+B cells in peripheral blood of SLE patients [(5.7±2.1)%] was significantly lower than those in healthy control group [(19.1±2.9)%](t=2.431, P=0.005), and it had a negative correlation with SLEDAI score (r=-0.292, P=0.049). The IL-10 serum level of SLE patients [(18.8±13.5) pg/ml] was significantly higher than the healthy control group [(8.3±2.9) pg/ml] (t=3.021, P=0.003), and it had a positive correlation with SLEDAI score (r=0.322, P=0.029). Conclusion CD19+CD5+B cells and IL-10 may participate in the occurrence and development of SLE. The changes of CD19+CD5+B cells and IL-10 in the peripheral blood might contribute to the pathogenesis and correlate with the disease activity of SLE.

Objective To improve the rheumatologists' understanding of noncirrhotic portal hypertension.MethodsA case of systemic sclerosis complicated by noncirrhotic portal hypertension was reported and the related literatures were reviewed.Results A 51-year-old female who had been diagnosed as systemic sclerosis presented clinically with an chronic onset of portal hypertension.She also had pancytopenia,splenomegaly,and significant esophageal varices.Liver function tests were normal.Hepatitis viral serology was negative.Ultrasound scan of liver revealed no focal lesion.ACT scan confirmed the absence of portal vein thrombosis.Taking into account the above evaluation we concluded that the patient had systemic sclerosis and noncirrhotic portal hypertension.The patient was on prednisolone and immunosuppressant and the condition was well.Conclusion Noncirrhotic portal hypertension complicated by autoimmune disease,especially SSC,is very poor,characteriged by significant portal hypertension as well as histological evidence that cirrhosis is absent.Rheumatilogist should pay attention to it.