Objective To compare and analyze the different clinical features between male and female patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), by detecting the gender difference to make clinical decisions. Method The clinical features of 95 male RA patients(MRA) were analyzed and compared with those of 248 female RA patients (FRA) by retrospective analysis method. Results The mean onset age of MRA [18-79 (51.40±15.55) years old] was older than that of FRA[18-75(43.54 ±15.46) years old](P=0.0002). The morning stiffness time of MRA [(1.58 ±1.34) h] was shorter than that of FRA [(2.10 ±1.51) h](P = 0.0357). There was statistical difference in the first involved joint between MRA and FRA (P=0.0170), the prevalence of knee,metatarsonphalangeal joint,shoulder and ankle of MRA was higher than those of FRA, ' but conversely the wrist prevalence of FRA was higher than that of MRA.The prevalence of secondary Sj(o)gren syndrome of MRA(13.68%, 13/95) was rather lower than that of FRA(35.08%, 87/248)(P = 0.0007). MRA had lower positive rate of ANA (2.11% ,2/95) and lower value of IgM [(1.42 ±0.75) g/L] than FRA [(10.48% ,26/248), (1.69 ±0.86) g/L] (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between MRA and FRA in articular radiographic changes, most extraarticular manifestations and lab results (P >0.05). Conclusions MRA patients have older onset age and milder articular symptom than FRA patients. The disease severity of MRA is similar to that of FRA. Weighted joints are more involved in MRA. FRA is more inclined to have secondary Sj(o)gren syndrome.

Objective To detect the positivity of circulating autoantibodies against cardiac troponin Ⅰ (cTnI) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and myocarditis patients and investigate the interference of the antibodies with the detection of cTnI. Methods cTnI ELISA was established for assessment of sera obtained from 121 patients with AMI, 24 with myocarditis and 210 healthy subjects. Binding specificity of cTnI antibody from positive sera by ELISA was confirmed with Western Blot. The recovery of cTnl studies was employed to evaluating the effects of cTnl autoantibodies on cTnI immunoassays. Results Thirteen of the 121 AMI patients (10.74%) and 2 of the 24 myocarditis patients (8.3%) had positive anti-cTnI antibodyas compared with none in the healthy subjects. The recovery of cTnI by adding cTnI-C fusion proteincorresponding to final cTnI concentration of 0.625-100 ug/L to sample with anti-cTnI antibody wasinhibited significantly (Spearman correlation coefficient r=0.943, P=0.005 ). There was no significantchange of recovery of cTnl when adding it to a normal sera(Spearman correlation coefficient r=0.377,P=0.461). When cTnI-C complex corresponding to 20 ug/L cTnI was added, 5 of the 15 sera with anti-cTnIantibody were found with the inhibition of recovery (<80%). Conclusions Autoantibodies against cTnIwere increasing in patients with AMI and myocarditis, yet it appears that these autoantibodies could interferenegatively with the cTnI immunoassay. Thus, it should be paid more attention to cTnI immunoassays.

85%) in 18 patients (21.4%) and a partial resection (

Objective To explore the clinical significance of cytokeratin(AE1/AE3) immunohistochemical staining in detecting the lymph node micrometastasis of gastric cancer.Methods Immunohistochemical S-P method was used to examine AE1/AE3 in 118 lymph nodes in 64 cases of primary gastric cancer.Results Among 118 lymph nodes,micrometastasis was found in 13 lymph nodes of 8 patients with primary gastric cancer by AE1/AE3 staining.The positive rate of micrometastasis was 12.5% and the positive rate of lymph nodes was 11.02%.The incidence of micrometastasis was related with the depth of invasion,and in the cancer with deep invasion,the positive rate of micrometastasis was higher than that in the cancer with superficial invasion(P

Objective Endoscopic ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (EUS-FNA) was performed for diagnosis and treatment of the pelvic Lesions and safety of this method were evaluated.Methods EUS-FNA was performed in 52 patients with pelvic Lesions selected by EUS,CT or MRI between March 2009 and June 2012.Both 19 and 22 gauge needles were used for EUS-FNA.The tissue specimens were analyzed by cytologic or histologic examination.The pelvic cystic lesions were drained and in which purulent lesions were lavaged with Metronidazole repeatedly.Results All patients recieved fine needle biopsy of the pelvic lesions.Among the 52 lesions,there were 42 solid lesions,10 cystic lesions.In solid lesions,cytology and pathology demonstrated malignant tumors in 28 patients,3 cases of malignant stromal tumors,3 cases of Inflammatory mass cases,2 cases of lymphoma,1 case of dermoid cyst,5 cases of other.In cystic lesions,2 cases of serous cystadenoma,perirectal abscess in 8 cases.6 purulent lesions were lavaged with Metronidazole repeatedly.Diagnosis rates of samples for immunohistology remained similar between 22 gauge and 19 gauge needles (P ＞0.05).During the operation,8 cases of perirectal abscess patients have different degree of pain.There were no other complications after the procedures except one patient suffering from fever.Conclusion EUS-guided FNA is minimaly invasive,a safe and accurate method for diagnosis of pelvic lesions.

Objective To evaluate the flexible spectral imaging color enhancement (FICE) system for determine the margin of early gastric cancer and precancerous lesions.Methods From February 2008 to October 2011,a total of 51 patients with early gastric cancer or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasm who received ESD were enrolled and randomly divided into experimental group to determine lesion margin by FICE (n =26) and control group to identify lesion margin by indigo carmine (n =25).Histological complete resection rate (the lateral and vertical margins were free of cancer),operation time,complications,post-ESD ulcer-healing rates and local recurrence were assessed.Results The histological complete resection rate,acute minor bleeding rate and post-ESD abdominal pain rate in experimental group were 2.3％ (24/26),88.5％ (23/26),15.4％ (4/26) and 73.1％ (19/26),which were not significantly different from those of control group,i.e.,92.0％ (23/25),84.0％ (21/25),12.0％ (3/25)and 72.0％ (18/25) (P＞0.05).The mean operation time of in experimental group was shorter than that of control group (P ＜ 0.05).No massive bleeding,delayed bleeding or perforation occurred in either group.Follow-up showed no local residue or recurrence.Conclusion FICE is safe and effective to determine the tumor demarcation of early gastric cancer and high-grade intraepithelial neoplasm,and needs less operation time.

Objective To investigate the relationship between interleukin (IL)-34 and bone erosions in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients.Methods Forty PsA patients,20 psoriasis (Ps) patients and 20 healthy volunteers were recruited into this study.The levels of IL-34 and osteoclast related cytokines [including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α,receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL),osteoclast precursors (OPG)] were detected in the serum samples of all subjects.The correlations among IL-34,the number of osteoclast precursors (OCP),disease activity and imaging scores were analyzed.All data were analyzed by graphpad prism 6.Differences between groups was analyzed with One-way analysis of variance,q tests,and Spearman's correlation was used to explore the relation between disease activity/radiographic scores and laboratory results and followed by linear regressions.Results The serum level of IL-34 in patients with PsA [(328±476) pg/ml] was higher than that in Ps [(33±52) pg/ml,q =3.92,P＜0.01] and healthy controls [(32±32) pg/ml,q =3.93,P＜0.01],the erosive PsA group were higher than the non-erosive PsA group [(449±527) pg/ml and (47±24) pg/ml,q=4.04,P＜0.01].The levels of TNF-α,RANKL and OCP in patients with PsA [(125±79) pg/ml,(488± 475) pg/ml and (17.7±4.8) 5 sigh views] were higher than those in PS [(40±22) pg/ml,(26±3) pg/ml and (5.2± 0.8),q=7.32,6.14 and 2.94,P＜0.01] and healthy controls [(41±19) pg/ml,(65±8) pg/ml and (6.2±1.8),q=6.67,5.62 and 2.71,P＜0.01],whereas the OPG/RANKL ratio in PsA patients (0.5±0.4) was significantly lower than Ps patients (4.3±2.7,q=-3.30,P＜0.01) and healthy controls (1.8±0.6,q=-1.72,P＜0.01).IL-34,TNF-α and RANKL levels were all positively correlated with OCP (r=0.10,P＜0.05;r=0.12,P＜0.05;r=0.13,P＜0.(5,respectively).Conclusion The level of IL-34 is not only high in patients with PsA but also positively correlates with the number of OCP.In PsA,IL-34 is probably related to the OCP and osteoclast differentiation,and further participates in the process of bone destruction.Therefore,IL-34 is promising to become a new target or alternative choice for the treatment of PsA.

Objective To investigate the effects of inhibiting ubiquitin proteasome pathway(UPP) on proliferation of gastric carcinoma cells and the possible mechanism was discussed. Methods The gastric carcinoma cell strain SGC 7901 was treated with MG 132 to inhibit its UPP specially. The effect of growth suppression on cells was evaluated with MTT assay. Cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry(FCM). DNA fragment analysis was used for confirming the presence of apoptosis. The activity of telomerase was examined by TRAP PCR ELISA. Expression of p27kip1 was detected by immunocytochemical technique. Results MG 132 had great inhibitory effect on the growth of SGC 7901 cells. The FCM analysis showed that the ratio of G0/G1 phase of control group was (46.3?4.1)%, the ratio of G0/G1 phase of SGC 7901 cells treated with MG 132 increased to (72.1?5.0)% ( P

AIM To study the effects of progesterone on contractile activity of smooth muscle stripes and the large conduction Ca 2+ activated K + currents (BK Ca ) of single colonic myocytes in female guinea pig proximal colons METHODS Stripes and single cells were separated acutely from guinea pig proximal colon Contractions of stripes were measured by isonic transducer, and Ca 2+ activated K + currents were recorded with an Axopatch 1D amplifier under conventional whole cell patterns RESULTS 64 8 ?mol?L -1 progesterone produced longitudinal stripes significantly re laxation(0 1792 g?0 0873 g, n =6, P

Objective To investigate the expression of Dickkopf-3 (Dkk-3) in esophageal cancer and normal esophageal tissue and the relationship between Dkk-3 expression and the biological behaveior of esophageal cancer. Methods Immunohistochemical method of S-P was used to examine Dkk-3 expression in 69 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 5 cases of normal esophageal tissue with non-tumor tissue microarray and the results were analyzed and correlated with their clinical and pathological features. Results Positive Dkk-3 expression was observed in 65.7% (44/67) of the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cases, but only one of the five cases with normal esophageal tissue showed positive microvascular expression of Dkk-3. In cases with positive expression of Dkk-3 significant differences were found in fiber membrane infiltration, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P < 0. 05), while no significant differences were found in the age, gender and pathological grading (P > 0. 05). Conclusions The upregnlation of Dkk-3 expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma may contribute to tumor invasion and metastasis.