This paper first reports on systemic lupus erythematosus with galactorrhea.From May 1994 to April 1995,we checked 48 female in-patients,in whom we found 9 cases,aged from 20 to 45 years,with various degrees of galactorrhea.The serum prolactin levels of 9 cases with galactorrhea were 45.86?28.84ng/ml and those of the rest 39 cases without galactorrhea were 21.43?14.92ng/ml,P

Objective To investigate the relationship between serum vitamin B12 level and arsenic methylation and the risk of arsenic poisoning in the arsenic exposed population.Methods Three villages in Midu County,Dali City,Yunnan Province were investigated.Cross-sectional study was used to select 103 subjects.The population was divided into three groups according to drinking water arsenic exposure situation and whether arsenic poisoning patients:28 cases of control group (not exposed to high arsenic),30 cases of arsenic patient group and 45 cases of non patient group.Instant peripheral blood samples and urine samples were collected.The content of arsenic in urine was determined by hydride generation cold trap and atomic absorption spectrophotometry.The levels of vitamin B12 in serum were determined by chemiluminescence immunoassay.The urine arsenic and serum vitamin B12 contents in different groups were compared,the arsenic poisoning prevalence rate in people with different levels of serum vitamin B12 was investigated,and the correlation between serum vitamin B12 level and the metabolism of arsenic methylation was analyzed.Results The level of urinary inorganic arsenic (iAs),monomethylated arsenic (MMA) and dimethylated arsenic (DMA),total arsenic (tAs) were significantly different between groups (F =13.032,20.778,21.978,22.155,all P ＜ 0.05).The levels of urine arsenic in patients with arsenic exposure [(94.56 ± 107.62),(75.76 ± 54.31),(270.19 ± 185.10),(444.02 ± 323.28) μg/g Cr] and non patient with arsenic exposure [(40.05 ± 47.47),(45.11 ± 46.06),(183.91± 151.45),(270.84 ± 231.45) μg/g Cr] were significantly higher than those in control group [(7.58 ± 4.82),(4.27 ± 2.01),(26.89 ± 11.45),(38.91 ± 13.34) μg/g Cr,all P ＜ 0.05].The serum levels of vitamin B12 were significantly different between groups (F =6.650,P ＜ 0.05),patients exposed to arsenic [(366.05 ± 120.03) ng/L] was significantly lower than the control group [(533.70 ± 180.12) ng/L,P ＜ 0.05].There were significant differences in the detection rate of arsenic poisoning among different levels of serum vitamin B12 (x2=8.13,P ＜ 0.05),the lower dose of vitamin B12,the more serious the incidence of arsenic poisoning.The content of vitamin B12 was negatively correlated with MMA％ (r =-0.21,P ＜ 0.05),and positively correlated with SMR (r =0.21,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Low levels of vitamin B12 in serum may increase the risk of arsenic poisoning.

AIM: To determine the expression of membrane-bound B lymphocyte stimulator((BLyS)) and its mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) from individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and to investigate the effect of dexamethasone on(BLyS) expression.METHODS: PBMCs were obtained from 25 individuals with SLE(mean age of 31.40?14.23) and 20 female healthy volunteers(mean age of 28.20?10.36).They were randomized into dexamethasone((1 ?mol/L)) group and media group.PBMCs were gathered at 0,6,12 and 24 h for(BLyS) mRNA assessment using reverse transcription-PCR(RT-PCR).PBMCs were also collected at 72 h for membrane-bound(BLyS) protein detection using flow cytometry(FACS) and direct immunofluorescence.RESULTS:(1) The expression of(BLyS) mRNA and membrane-bound protein were significantly higher in PBMCs from individuals with SLE than that in PBMCs from healthy controls(0.40?0.18 vs 0.27?0.20,P

[ ABSTRACT ] AIM: To observe the effect of rapamycin on the apoptosis of mouse astrocytes in vitro.ME-THODS:The astrocytes from C57BL/6J newborn mouse pups were isolated and primarily cultured.The effect of rapamycin on the viability of astrocytes was assessed by MTT assay.The mean fluorescence intensity of SYTOX?Green stain in the astrocytes was detected by fluorescence microplate reader in order to analyze the effects of rapamycin on the cell death in-duced by H2 O2 , ionomycin and/or deferorxamin.DiOC6 (3) staining was used to analyze the mitochondrial membrane po-tential of the astrocytes induced by H2 O2 .Flow cytometry analysis was used to determine the production of ROS in the as-trocytes and mitochondria by staining with H2 DCFDA and MitoSOXTM Red reagent, respectively.RESULTS: Rapamycin at concentration of 0.5 μmol/L protected the astrocytes against cell death induced by H2 O2 or deferoxamine plus ionomy-cin.Rapamycin protected the mitochondrial membrane potential of astrocytes from the injury of H2 O2 .It also reduced the production of ROS in the astrocytes and decreased the level of ROS in the mitochondria.CONCLUSION:Rapamycin re-duces the ROS overload in the mitochondria, keeps mitochondrial membrane potential safety and protects the astrocytes a-gainst apoptosis in vitro.

Objective To investigate the effect of indoor coal PM2.5 on the airway inflammation and the pathological morphology alterations of lung tissue in asthmatic rats induced by ovalbumin(OVA). Methods Forty six?week?old male SD rats were randomly divided into four groups(Control,OVA,PM2.5,PM2.5+OVA). Normal saline,OVA(15μg/mL)and(or)PM2.5(2.5 mg/mL)were given to rats in the four groups through intratracheal instillation for four times (two weeks one time),respectively. Twenty?four hours after the last intratracheal instillation ,bronchoalveolar irrigation lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for determinations of serum interleukin 4(IL?4),interferon gamma (IFN?γ). The lung tissue was collected for HE staining and electron microscopy detection. Results HE staining showed less inflammatory cell infiltration was observed in the control group;In PM2.5 group and OVA group,there was medium quantity of inflammatory cell infiltration,In PM2.5+OVA group, severe inflammatory cell infiltration was observed. Electron microscopy showed no abnormal lung tissue in the control group,but organelles were gradually destroyed,endothelial cell edama,alveolar interval with a large number of fibersin were observed in PM2.5 group. The exfoliated cells,local typeⅡ cells with visible damage were found in OVA group. A large number of fibers were existed among the lung tissues and organelles were destroyed,thickness of basement membrane was non?uniform,and blood air barrier structure was not clear in PM2.5 + OVA group. Compared with PM2.5+OVA group,concentration of IL?4 in PM2.5,OVA and the control group was siganificantly different(P < 0.05). A negative correlation between IL?4 and IFN?γ was observed (r =-0.358,P < 0.05). Conclusion Indoor coal PM2.5 exacerbates the airway inflammatory cell infiltration and airway remodeling in OVA?induced asthmatic rats.

Objective To investigate the influence of low-dose,long-term arsenite exposure on keratinocyte (HaCat) cell apoptosis and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins.Methods HaCat cells were exposed to different concentrations of NaAsO2[0(control group),0.05,0.10 μmol/L] for 15 weeks.A total of 10 000 cells in each group were measured to detect the level of apoptosis by flow cytometry.The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were determined by Western blotting method.Results The cell apoptosis rate was significantly different between groups (F =17.19,P ＜ 0.05).Compared with that of the control [(1.42 ± 0.13)％],the apoptosis rates of the 0.05 and 0.10 μmol/L groups [(1.23 ± 0.08)％ and (1.04 ± 0.06)％] decreased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05); the 0.10 μmol/L group was significantly lower than that of the 0.05 μmol/L group(P ＜ 0.05).The protein expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax were significantly different between groups (F=107.38,346.45,all P＜ 0.05).The protein expression of Bcl-2 of the 0.05 and 0.10 μmol/L groups were (143.89 ± 7.74)％ and (199.96 ± 12.18)％,respectively,which were significantly higher than that of the control group[(100.00 ± 1.45)％,all P ＜ 0.05] ; the 0.10 μmol/L group was significantly higher than that of the 0.05 μmol/L group (P ＜ 0.05).The protein expression of Bax of the 0.05 and 0.10 μmol/L groups were (70.78 ± 1.53)％ and (54.80 ± 1.34)％,respectively,which were markedly lower than that of the control group[(100.00 ± 3.09)％,all P ＜ 0.05]; the 0.10 μmoL/L group was significantly lower than that of the 0.05 μmol/L group(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Decreased level of apoptosis induced by low level and long-term arsenic exposure may be associated with increased expression of Bcl-2 protein and decreased expression of Bax protein.

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate of hyperlipidemia in the middle-aged and elderly in Guangxi Hei Yi Zhuang population. Methods A total of 657 people of Hei Yi Zhuang nationality aged 40 years and over were surveyed. Blood pressure, body height, body weight, serum lipid and apolipoprotein levels were measured, and both body surface areas and body mass index were calculated. The results were compared with those in 520 people of Han nationality who also live in that district. Results The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperlipidemia in Hei Yi Zhuang vs. Han population were 28.9% vs. 35.8%(P0.05), and 36.2% vs. 42.3%(P0.05) respectively. Conclusions Prevalence of hyperlipidemia of Hei Yi Zhuang is lower than that of Han ethnic group, which might results from different dietary habit, life style, physical activity, and even genetic background.

Objective To describe the distribution of medication costs of rheumatoid arthritis patients, and to analyze the factors that may affect the costs. Methods Data were obtained from a 12-month retrospective investigation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) across China. Department of Rheuma-tology of 18 hospitals were randomly selected. The data about their social conditions, clinical conditions, medications associated with RA such as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non -steroidal anti -inflammtory drugs (NSAIDs), steroids, biologic agents were collected, and the costs of drugs were calculated. A non-parameter test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. Results Six hundred and forty six patients were enrolled into the study, 435 completed data were chosen for analysis. The results demonstrated that the average costs per patient for medications in the past year was 8018 . The total medication costs were further subdivided into the following parts: DMARDs, (represented 20% of the total costs), biologic drugs (49%), NSAIDs (4%), herbal drugs (22%), steroids (1%). Data analysis showed that patients with higher education and higher incomes, with medical insurance,better health function status and outpatients paid more on DMARDs. Extra-articular manifestations increased the odds of the high-cost group (OR: 2.180, 95%CI: 1.335～3.558, P=0.002), while poor health function status increased the probability of paying high costs (OR: 1.373, 95%CI: 1.012～1.863, P=0.041). Conclusion High medication costs in RA do exist in RA patients. The costs of medication is associated with health function status and the presence of extra-articular manifestations.

ObjectiveTo examine the clinical features of fractures and related risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in China.MethodsSix hundred and eighty-one RA patients were randomly selected from department of rheumatology of 18 hospitals of China.Data were obtained from the questionnaire,including age,sex,disease duration,the involvement of joints,treatment regimen,features of fractures etc.The possible risk factors of fracture in patients with RA were analyzed with a multi-variate Logistic regression analysis.Results① In 681 RA patients of the survey,48 patients had 54 fractures,and the incidence of fractures was about 8％.② Fractures occurred at various sites.Foot/ankle,femur,spine and wrist were the mostfrequent sites.③ The Logistic regression analysis showed that several factors increased the risk of fracture in RA patients,including long disease duration (OR:1.245,95％CI:0.987-1.570,P=0.065),male gender(OR:0.433,95％CI:0.199-0.942,P=0.035),more deformed joints(OR:1.042,95％CI:1.006-1.079,P=0.023),family history of RA (OR:2.201,95％CI:0.984-4.923,P=0.055),and high scores of SF-36(OR:1.017,95％CI:1.002-1.033,P=0.028).④ According to the degree of correlation from strong to weak,the risk factors of fracture were disease duration,SF-36,sex,number of deformed joints and family history of rheumatoid arthritis.ConclusionThe incidence of fracture is high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Several factors could increase the risk of fractures in RA patients,including long disease duration,male gender,more deformed joints,and family history of RA.In order to prevent the occurrence of fractures,cautions should be taken to prevent the development of fractures and treat the disease aggressively to suppress the disease activity of RA.