Objeetive:To observe the effect of acupuncture-moxibustion on TNF-a,sTNFR-Ⅰand sTNFR-Ⅱ in rats with Crohn's disease(CD).Method:The models of CD rats induced by TNBS were randomized into model group.herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion group and electroacupuncture group as well as a normal control group.The histopathological changes of colon mucus membrane were observed with HE staining and the contents Of TNF-a.sTNFR-Ⅰand sTNFR-Ⅱ were detected with ELISA method.Results:When compared with the normal group,the TNF-a level in CD rats was substantially elevated and the sTNFR-Ⅰ and sTNFR-Ⅱ showed no marked changes.After herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and electroacupuncture treatment,the TNF-a level in CD rats was substantially reduced and sTNFRL-Ⅰ and sTNFR-Ⅱ showed no marked changes.The inflammatory lesions and abnormal structures of CD rats were significantly improved after herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and electric stimulation.Conclusion:Herbal cake-partitioned moxibustion and electroacupuncture Can both remarkably reduce the TNF-a level in blood serum.and this might be one ofthe action mechanisms in the treatment of CD.

Extensive intracranial calcification is rare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. This article reported a patient with antiphospholipid antibody syndrome secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus, complicated with bilateral symmetrical extensive intracranial calcification. By reviewing literature, the results suggested that the flare of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus and the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies may be risk factors for intracranial calcification. Therefore, in order to prevent the formation of intracranial calcification, it is necessary to maintain continuous disease remission and anticoagulant therapy.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics of dermatomyositis (DM) patients with positive anti-melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5) antibody-complicated with pneumomediastinum.Methods:Clinical data of patients with anti-MDA5 antibody-positive DM with or without pneumomediastinum from March 2017 to December 2019 in Ningbo First Hospital were collected and analyzed. The international literature were reviewed and compared. T-test or Mann-Whitney U test was used for measurement data, chi-square test or Fisher exact probability was used for count data. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for anti-MDA5 antibody-positive DM with pneumomediastinum. Results:Twelve DM patients with -positive anti-MDA5 antibody without pneumomediastinum, and 1 DM patient with positive anti-MDA5 antibody-complicated with pneumomediastinum. Pooling with literature review, 16 DM patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibody-complicated with pneumomediastinum were compared. It was found that the serum ferritin (SF) level [991.6(548.5, 2875.1) ng/ml vs 355 (143.5, 395) ng/ml, Z=-2.506, P=0.012] and the rate of rapid progressive pulmonary interstitial disease (RPILD) in the pneumo-mediastinum group [76.5% vs 16.7%, χ2=10.076, P=0.002] were significantly higher than those in the non-pneumome-diastinum group. Further Logi-stic regression analysis did not show male gender [ OR=0.192, 95% CI(0.009, 4.125), P=0.291]; SF [ OR=1.002, 95% CI(0.998, 1.006), P=0.279]; RPILD[ OR=0.084, 95% CI(0.003, 2.178), P=0.136]; CADM[ OR=0.258, 95% CI(0.009, 7.419), P=0.429] was risk factor for pneumomediastinum. Conclusion:DM patients with positive anti-MDA5 antibody and high seral SF level and rapid progression of pulmonary interstitial disease are more likely to complicate with pneumomediastinum.

BACKGROUND:Numerous basic and clinical trials have confirmed that the low survival rate after bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell transplantation is a serious constraint on its long-term therapeutic effect.Previous studies have shown that apoptosis-related factors play an important role in the apoptosis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,of which apoptosis-inducing factor may be a key factor. OBJECTIVE:Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,of which apoptosis-inducing factor was knocked down,were transplanted into infarcted myocardium of mice,aiming to certify the importance of apoptosis-inducing factor in the survival of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to further recover cardiac function after infarction. METHODS:Firstly,bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were infected with LV-AIF-shRNA lentivirus to down-regulate the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor protein.Flow cytometry,western blot assay,and RT-qPCR were used to detect the infection efficiency of lentivirus.CCK-8 assay was used to detect the cell viability of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with apoptosis-inducing factor knockdown under hypoxic and ischemic conditions.Then,with the mouse model of acute myocardial infarction constructed,the normal bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with apoptosis-inducing factor gene knockdown were transplanted into the model,respectively.The expression of apoptosis-inducing factor was examined by fluorescence immunoassay.Serum brain natriuretic peptide levels were detected by ELISA.Cardiac ultrasound was used to detect cardiac function.Myocardial fibrosis was observed by Masson staining.The expression of SRY gene was detected by RT-qPCR in apoptosis-inducing factor-knocked bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after transplantation,reflecting cell survival. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:(1)Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with apoptosis-inducing factor gene knockdown were successfully established by LV-AIF-shRNA lentivirus infection,following 97.7%of infection efficiency,and notably decline of the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor(P<0.001).(2)Under ischemia and hypoxia,the cell viability of apoptosis-inducing factor knockdown bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was significantly increased compared with normal bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.(3)Compared with normal bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells after transplantation,the survival number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in the infarcted myocardium after apoptosis-inducing factor gene knockdown was significantly increased to 3.71 times(P<0.001),and the apoptosis-inducing factor protein expression and myocardial fibrosis degree in the infarcted area were significantly reduced.(4)Compared with normal bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells,the serum brain natriuretic peptide level of bone marrow stem cells with apoptosis-inducing factor gene knockdown after transplantation was significantly decreased(P<0.05),and left ventricular ejection fraction and left ventricular shortening fraction were significantly improved(P<0.05).(5)These findings confirm that apoptosis-inducing factor gene knockdown can reduce myocardial fibrosis and improve cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction via enhancing the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell viability and increasing the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell survival after transplantation in the donor.