BACKGROUND: Pathological change of synovium in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has the characteristic of tumor-like growth, it appears thickening of the synovium tissue and the formatiom of pannus, which generate periarticular erosion and destruction. Multiplicate cell factors and growth factors participate in the development course of tumor-like lesion of synovium, and the tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)play important roles in the development of RA and the formation of pannus.OBJECTIVE: To observe the contents of plasma TNF-α of collagen-induced arthritis and the expression change of VEGF of synovium at different time point, and investigate the effect and correlation of TNF-α and VEGF in the pathogenesis of RA.DESIGN: Randomized grouping experiment taking animals as subjects.SETTING: Institute integrated traditional and western medicine of Xiangya Hospital of Central South University.MATERIALS: The experiment was finished from July to November 2003 in the laboratory of institute integrated traditional and western medicine.Forty SD rats aged 45-50 days were selected, the rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (n=10) and collagen-induced arthritis model group(n=30).METHODS: 10 mg Cattle collagen type Ⅱ and 5 ml full Freund adjuvant were grinded together, 100 μL of which were intradermally injected at the root of tails of rats, collagen-induced arthritis model of rats were re-immunized with the above-mentioned methòd and dosage after 21 days. The accumulated points of arthritis index was evaluated based on degree and extent of flare and the condition of tumefaction and deformation, the higher the accumulated points of arthritis index were, the more serious the arthritis symptom was. The blood was obtained by decapitation after 25 days in normal control group, and in the collagen-induced arthritis model group the blood was obtained by decapitation 25,30,35,40,45 days after immunization (model establishing), the contents of plasma TNF-α of collagen-induced arthritis rats at different time point was detected by radio-immune assay, the level of expression of VEGF in synovium tissue were detected with immunohistochemical method simultaneously, the correlation of invasion time and the neovascularization of synovium. The accumulated points of arthritis index . TNF-α and VEGF was observed. The correlation of TNF-α and VEGF was analyzed with the linear correlation analysis, the correlation of the accumulated points of arthritis index and TNF-α. VEGF was analyzed with the rank correlation analysis.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation of invasion time of collagen-induced arthritis with the accumulated points of arthritis index, with the plasma content of TNF-α and the expression of VEGF, the correlation analysis of the plasma content of TNF-α of collagen- induced arthritis rats with the expression of VEGF in synovium.RESULTS: Forty rats attended the experiment, all of them entered the final analysis. the neovascularization of synovium was increased, synovium was thickening, the accumulated points of arthritis index was gradually increased, and the contents of TNF-α and level of VEGF were increased accordingly with the process of the invasion time of the collagen-induced arthritis rats; Its accumulated points of arthritis index had the positive correlation with the level of expression of VEGF (r=0.535 ,P ＜ 0.05)and had the correlated increasing tendency with the contents of TNF-α, but there was no significant difference(r=0.371 ,P ＞ 0.05 ). the plasma contents of TNF-α had the positive correlation with the level of expressions of VEGF (r=0.893,P ＜ 0.01 ).CONCLUSION: The TNF-α and VEGF have an important effect on the inflammatory reaction of RA and Cytokine network of neovascularization of synovium, they are possibly mutually influenced and promoted and have the effect of mediating the malignant network circulation; They are the key factors among multiplicate ones which mediate the generation and development of RA, bone erosion and Mutilation.

Objective:To explore the regional brain activities in healthy adolescent subjects after sleep deprivation (SD) using amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method.Methods:Total of 16 healthy adolescent subjects (8 males,8 females;aged 13-20 years) were recruited in the community and the campus through the internet and posters.Each of the 16 healthy adolescent subject underwent the attention network test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) session twice:once was after rested wakefulness (RW condition),and the other was after SD condition.Amplitude of low frequency fluctuation (ALFF) method was used to assess the local brain features.The mean ALFF signal values of the different brain areas were performed to investigate their relationships with the accuracy rate,reaction time and lapse rate in the attention network test,and were analyzed with a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to investigate their sensitivities and specificities to distinguish the SD condition from the RW condition.Results:Subjects showed a lower response accuracy rate [(83 ± 12) ％ vs.(97 ± 4) ％,P ＜ 0.05],a longer response time [(832 ± 134) ms vs.(715 ± 97) ms,P ＜ 0.05] and a higher lapse rate [(15 ± 11)％ vs.(2.4 ±7.3)％,P ＜0.05] under SD condition than under RW condition.They showed higher ALFF area in the right cuneus (BA 17,BA 18),and lower ALFF areas in the right lentiform nucleus,right claustrum,left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (BA 46) and left inferior parietal cortex (BA 39) under SD condition than under RW condition.Under SD condition,the mean ALFF signal value of the right claustrum showed a significant positive correlation with the accuracy rate (r =0.69,P ＜0.05),and a negative correlation with the lapse rate (r =-0.71,P ＜0.05).The mean ALFF signal value of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex showed a significant positive correlation with the reaction time (r =0.68,P ＜ 0.05).The values of area under the curve of the right cuneus,right lentiform nucleus,right claustrum,left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left inferior parietal cortice were 0.9,0.8,0.9,0.8 and 0.9,respectively.These different ALFF areas also showed high degree of sensitivities and specificities.Conclusion:Sleep deprivation leads to the dysfunction in the default mode network,anticorrelatedtask-positive network,and advanced cognitive function brain areas,and the functional compensation in the visual network.

  Objective  To analyze the clinical characteristics of thyroid LCH to enhance understanding of the disease.  Methods  We retrospectively studied the clinical data from six thyroid LCH patients who hospitalized in Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University from January 2015 to January 2022.We analyzed the ultrasound and ¹⁸F FDG-PET/CT imaging characteristics of thyroid LCH.  Results  The six patients diagnosed (2 males and 4 females) were between 18 and 58 years old.All patients had diabetes insipidus.MRI revealed thickened pituitary stalk.Two cases had central hypothyroidism, while four cases euthyroidism.Three cases tested positive for thyroid antibodies.Ultrasound showed thyroid nodules of TI-RADS 3 in three cases, TI-RADS 4 in two cases, and 1 with nodular goiter.Ultrasound showed that all sic cases indicated low echogenicity, 5 of which clear boundaries, 4 of which uneven echo distribution, 5 of which irregular shape, and noen has calcification.¹⁸F FDG-PET/CT indicated high uptake nodules with SUVmax values all above 10.4 cases were diagnosed by surgical excision and the other 2 by coarse-needle aspiration biopsy.When diagnosed, two cases had liver and thymus involvement respectively.One case had lung and bone involvement respectively.After treatment, 4 cases showed that nodular goiter shrank, while the other two with liver involvement progressed fast and no assessment made.  Conclusions  Thyroid LCH presented low echogenicity, clear boundaries, irregular shape, without calcification, and high uptake in ¹⁸F FDG-PET/CT.A definite diagnosis of pituitary stalk thicking accompanied by thyroid nodules, especially those with hypoechoic and irregular nodules, can be achieved by coarse-needle aspiration biopsy and langerin-specific pathological staining.

To investigate the current status of the postpartum weight retention (PPWR) in Kaifu District of Changsha, and explore the influential factors with PPWR based on the generalized estimating equation model.
 Methods: A cluster sampling method was applied to select women who gave birth at the health service centers of 3 street communities in Kaifu District of Changsha during 2015. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 783 cases were finally included in the study. Data on PPWR were collected prospectively by using the self-made questionnaire at 1, 3, 6 and 8 months after childbirth. Analysis were performed to investigate the associations between PPWR and its potential factors with generalized estimation equation model.
 Results: The mean PPWR of women was gradually decreased with the increase of postpartum time, and 34.6% of them have returned to the pre-pregnancy weight in the 8 months postpartum. Our findings revealed that gestation weight gain (GWG), pre-pregnancy body mass index, feeding patterns, and delivery mode were significantly associated with maternal PPWR (P<0.05). In contrast, maternal age, educational level, per capita income of family, parity and postpartum depression were not contributed to PPWR (P>0.05).
 Conclusion: GWG is one of the most important predictors for PPWR. The key to reducing PPWR is to control GWG systematically. Early targeted interventions and health education should be taken to prevent women from excessive PPWR at the first-year postpartum, in particular to the women who underwent cesarean deliveries and breastfed their infants. It is conducive to reduce the risks of overweight or obesity caused by PPWR.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Gestational Weight Gain ; Humans ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy