0.05 ). The adverse reaction rate was 4.4 % (2 case) in the ACT group and 10% (7cases) in MTX group. The adverse reactions were more tolerable in ATC group than that in MTX group (P

AIM: To examine expression of macrophage migration inhibitroy factor (MIF) gene and protein in macrophages induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). METHODS: Macrophages were incubated with ox-LDL at the concentration of 150 mg/L for time course (0-36 h) and with ox-LDL at the different concentrations (0-300 mg/L) for 24 h, expression of MIF mRNA and protein were detected by RT-PCR and ELISA. RESULTS: The results showed that ox-LDL increased MIF gene and protein expression in macrophages in a dose and time-dependent manner. After the exposure of macrophage to ox-LDL, the expression of MIF mRNA level increased consistently with protein. CONCLUSION: MIF may play an important role in atherosclerosis. [

0.05).The adverse reaction rate was 14.0% (7 case) in the treated group and 15.6%(7 cases) in the controlled group. There was no significance difference between the two groups (P=0.83). But the adverse reactions were more tolerable in LEF group than in MTX group. Conclusion This study suggests that LEF is an effective and more safe drug for active rheumatoid arthritis in our country.

Objective To investigate the correlation between interleukin 10(IL‐10) ,tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) and serum CD4+ T‐lymphocytes cell in people who infected HIV .Methods The HIV antibody screening test ,IL‐10 and TNF‐αmeasurement adopted enzyme‐linked immune‐sorbent assay(ELISA) .The HIV antibody confirm test adopted western blot(WB) and CD4+ cell count determination used flow cytometry .Results Compared with the normal control group(NC group) ,the concentration of TNF‐αand IL‐10 in patients group have statistically significant difference(P<0 .05) .Moreover ,the extent of the increase in group A(pa‐tients with the CD4+ T cell count less than 3 .5 × 105 cells/mL) was higher than that in group B(patients with the CD4+ T cell count no less than 3 .5 × 105 cells/mL) .Conclusion Due to the defect of the immune system ,the serum concentration of TNF‐αand IL‐10 in people infected with HIV would increased ,and the increase of the concentration could be more significant in patients whose CD4+cell count obviously decrease .This study have shown that dynamic measurement of TNF‐α and IL‐10 concentration would provide data to konw the patients′immune status and illness development .

Objective To enhance the understanding of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) associated with intestinal pseudo-obstruction (IPO) and ureterohydronephrosis. Methods Ten cases of SLE with IPO and ureterohydronephrosis were analyzed retrospectively. Results IPO was the initial manifestation of SLE in three patients. Seven cases (7/9) had concurrent bilateral ureterohydronephrosis, 5 (5/9) had thickened bladder wall, and 6 cases (6/8) were associated with thickened gallbladder wall simultaneously. All cases were ANA positive and hypocomplementemia, 6 had positive anti-dsDNA, 5 had positive anti-SSA, 6 had positive anti-RNP, and 4 were ACA-IgG positive (4/7). IPO responded readily to high dose steroid therapy within one week in all patients. Conclusions The pathogenic mechanism of IPO is not fully understood. The coexistence of IPO, ureterohydronephrosis and thickened gallbladder wall probably suggests a visceral smooth muscle dysmotility. Early recognition of the syndrome is necessary for the initiation of the appropriate medical treatment and prevention of inappropriate surgical intervention.

Objective To discuss the diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE)patients associated with pancreatic pleural effusion and pancreatic:panniculitis.Methods Retrospectively analyzed the clinical data,therapy and experiences.Results A 40-year-old female SLE patient associated with pancreatitis,huge pancreatic pseudocysts,pancreatic pleural effusion,pancreatic panniculitis.Abdominal computed tomography(CT)showed an edematous swelling of the pancreas and several pseudocysts,the biggest one measuring 230 mm×95 am.Markedly elevated amylase (11 327 U/L)was contained in the massive pleural effusion.Erythema nodosum tissue pathology revealed the pancreatic panniculitis.The pscudocyst did not completely resolve with high-dose steroid.Growth hormone release inhibiting hormone (GIH),ulinastatin,nasojejunal feeding,and it was later complicated by infection and rupture.After a surgical percutaneous drainage for the complicated pseudocyst,the clinical symptoms and signs were markedly improved.Conclusion This case shows the importance of performing eady drainage rather than conservative treatment for pancreatic pseudocyst in patients with lupus-associated pancreatitis.

Objective To explore the significance of antinucleosome and anti-dsDNA antibodies on the disease flare and organ damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods Sixty-nine SLE patients were divided into disease flare group,stable group,lupus nephritis group and non-lupus nephritis group.Serum levels of anti-nucleosome antibody and anti-dsDNA antibody were measured with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and indirect immunofluorescence(IIF),respectively.Results The positive rates of serum anti-nucleosome and anti-dsDNA antibodies were 55.10% and 47.82% respectively and the rates were significantly higher in disease flare group than those in disease stable group(P

OBJECTIVETo explore the intervention effect of Qushi Huayu Decoction (QHD) on high-fat diet induced hepatic lipid deposition and its dose-effect relationship in rats.

METHODSFatty liver model of rats were established simply by 10 weeks of high-fat diet feeding, and starting from the 7th week of modeling, they were gastric perfused respectively with saline (model group), high-dose QHD (QHDh group), low-dose QHD (QHDI group) and polyene phosphatidylcholine (PP group) for successive 4 weeks. Liver pathology by electron microscope observation with HE staining and oil red staining; contents of triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) in liver tissue; and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total cholesterol (TC), and TG in rats were determined.

RESULTSIn the model group, the significant hepatic steatosis and vesicle changes as well as severe accumulation of middle- and micro-sized fatty drops in the hepatocyte plasma were found under electron microscope; with TG and FFA contents in liver tissue elevated to 3.2 and 3.5 multiples of those in normal group respectively, but, the difference between them in serum levels of ALT, AST, TG and TC were not significant. Above-mentioned pathological changes in the QHDh, QHDI and PP groups were all ameliorated significantly with the hepatic TG decreased to 57.55%, 72.32% and 71.07%, and FFA decreased to 48.95%, 65.67%, 55.57% of those in model group respectively, especially the effect of QHDh in reducing TG was superior to that of QHDI and PP (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQHD shows an evident fatty liver antagonizing effect in rats induced by high-fat diet in a dose-dependent manner.

Animals ; Diet, High-Fat ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; blood ; Fatty Liver ; blood ; drug therapy ; Lipids ; blood ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Triglycerides ; blood

Objective To investigate the significance of ultrasonography in the examination of rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods The wrist joints of activated RA and wrist, metacarpophalangeal, proximal interphalangeal joints of remission of RA were determined, and the imaging features were analyzed. Results Patients with activated RA were divided into two groups. The bone erosion and sheath lesions were lower in the group of duration less than 1 year than those in the group of duration over 1 year (P < 0.01). The positive rate of ultrasound was higher than that of X-ray in bone erosion (P < 0.05). To patients with the remission of RA, the positive rate of ultrasound was higher than that of the physical examination in synovitis ( P < 0 . 05 ) . Conclusions For bone erosion, ultrasound is better than X-ray for patients with early RA. For synovitis, the sensitivity of ultrasonography is higher than the physical examination in remission for RA patients.

Objective To explore the correlation between myeloperoxidase (MPO) genetic variation and coal-burning endemic fluorosis, and to understand the influence of integrated intervention including stove changes and health education on people’s health in the area. Methods In 2007, coal-burning endemic fluorosis disease areas were selected in Bijie City, Guizhou Province. No stove changes in Yachi Town, 150 patients with dental fluorosis were selected as fluorosis non-intervention group, and the intervention group was 150 patients in Changchun Town where the stoves were changed 2 years ago. The population in control group was selected in an area with non-endemic fluorosis in Changshun County. The mRNA expressions of MPO in leukoxytes were detected by real-time PCR. HepG2 cells were cultured in vitro and divided into four groups: pGL3-A group, pGL3-G group, pGL3-Control group and pGL3-Basic group. pGL3-A and pGL3-G were recombinant plasmid, while pGL3-Basic as a blank control and pGL3-Control as a positive one. The internal reference plasmid pRL-TK co-transfected the HepG2 cells with pGL3-G, pGL3-A, pGL3-Basic and pGL3-Control, respectively. The influence of sudden change of MPO gene promoter on the gene transfection activity was evaluated by a dual luciferasereporter gene system. Results The expression level of MPO mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes in non-intervention group(0.054 ± 0 . 003 ) were higher than control and intervention groups (0.019 ± 0.004,0.019 ± 0.003, all P<0.05), and no significant change was found between intervention group and control group(P>0.05). After the MPO-463G/A locus genetic variation occured, the luciferase reporter gene expression level of the recombinant plasmid pGL3-G(0.753 4 ± 0.086 6) was higher than that of the pGL3-A(0.490 0 ± 0.022 3, P < 0.05). Conclusions The study on MPO gene promoter-463G/A locus has prompted that MPO gene allele may be a protective factor to coal-burning fluorosis. The integrated interventions have a role in the prevention and treatment of endemic fluorosis.