Objective　To further investigate the balance (relative presence) of Th1 and Th2 subsets at the sites of rheumatoid inflammation,and to understand how about the expression of IL-18 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA),and what the relationship exists between expression of IL-18 and rate of Th1/Th2 in RA,and between IL-18 level and activity of the disease.Method　Expression of IFN-γ,IL-4,and IL-18 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 16 patients with RA and 15 healthy subjects was detected by semi-quantitative RT-PCR.Results　① PBMC from patients with RA was found to contain greater levels of IL-18 mRNA than that from healthy subjects (P＜0.01).② IL-18 mRNA levels were correlated with IFN-γ mRNA (relative coefficients:r＝0.836,P＜0.05).③ IL-18 mRNA levels were associated with the disease activity as assessed by levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r＝0.753,P＜0.05).Conclusion　IL-18 is among a matrix of inflammatory cytokines produced abundantly in patients with RA and is associated with induction of IFN-γ and activity of the disease.

Objective To estimate the relationship between T helper 17 (Th17) cell-mediated inflammatory damage and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Serum interleukin (IL)-17A levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 102 patients with SLE and 68 normal human controls.Real time-quantitative PCR was used to quantify the expression levels of RORγt mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 27 patients with SLE and 13 normal human controls.Linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation analysis were conducted to assess the relationship of serum IL-17A levels with RORγt mRNA expression,SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI),and the concurrence of renal damage.Results There was a significant increase in serum IL-17A levels and RORγt mRNA expression in patients with SLE compared with the normal controls [ 14.75 (5.12 - 69.76) vs.5.77 (2.22 - 9.60) ng/L,P ＜ 0.01; 1 (0.40 - 2.62)vs.0.19 (0.15 - 0.75 ),P ＜ 0.01 ].The serum levels of IL-17A in patients with SLE were positively correlated with the levels of serum C-reactive protein,plasma creatinine and prevalence of urinary cast (r =0.33,P ＜ 0.01; r =0.26,P ＜ 0.05; r =0.27,P ＜ 0.05),but unrelated to SLEDAI (P ＞ 0.05).The mRNA expression level of RORγt was positively correlated with serum IL-17A levels (r =0.47,P ＜ 0.01),but negatively correlated with serum C3 levels in patients with SLE(r =-0.46,P ＜ 0.05).There was no significant difference in the levels of serum IL-17A or RORγt mRNA expression between patients with highly and lowly active SLE or between patients with and without renal damage (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions Th17 cell-mediated inflammatory damage may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE,and associated with renal damage,but is unlikely the only factor affecting the activity of SLE or predominant factor in the pathogenesis of SLE and concurrent renal damage.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of Thl7 cells in the pathogenesis of SLE patients with cardiac involvement,and to understand the value of cardiac markers in SLE patients with cardiac involvement.MethodsSerum IL-17A levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 47 SLE patients with cardiac involvement (group Ⅰ ),55 SLE patients without cardiac involvement (group Ⅱ ) and 38 healthy controls(group Ⅲ ).The ADVIA Centaur(R)-XP immunoassay analysis system and Olympus AU2700 automatic biochemical system were used to measure cardiac markers.Then real time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measureRORγt mRNA in 13 SLE patients with cardiac involvement,14 SLE patients without cardiac involvement and 13 healthy controls.Kruskal-Wallis test,Mann-Whitney U test,F test and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis.Results① Serum levels of IL-17A were markedly increased in group Ⅰ than group Ⅱ and Ⅲ [27.98 (8.44-138.81) vs 11.12 (3.64-22.30) vs 5.77 (2.22-9.60) pg/ml,both P＜0.05].② Serum levels of BNP were significantly higher in group Ⅰ than group Ⅱ and Ⅲ [49(13.50-107.50) vs 17(9-26) vs 7.50(4.75-13) pg/ml,both P＜0.01 ].③ Age,course,SLEDAI were significantly higher in group Ⅰ SLE patients than group Ⅱ (P＜0.01 or P＜0.05).④ The level of RORγt mRNA were significantly elevated in group Ⅰ compared to group Ⅱ and Ⅲ [2.2(0.79-2.83) vs 0.72(0.39-1.14) vs 0.19(0.15-0.75),P＜0.05].Conclusion① Th17 cells may contribute to the inflammation of heart in SLE.② The older age,longer course and higher disease activity of SLE patients are risk factors for cardiac involvement in SLE.③ Serum BNP may be a useful indicator in SLE patients with heart involvement.

Objective To evaluate relationship and singnificance between metabolic syndrome (MS) and carotid atherosclerosis. Methods One hundred subjects were investigated,including 54 MS patients and 46 normal subjects.Body mass index,waist circumference,plasma lipid and fast glucose of all subjects were examined.Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) was detected and plaque was scored with color Doppler ultrasound. Results The MS patients had significant higher carotid IMT,diameter,plaque index and plaque occurrence rate than those in normal ones. Conclusions The degree of carotid atherosclerosis in MS is much more severe than that in normal patients.The metabolic syndrome may promote the occurrence and the progress of atherosclerosis.Carotid ultrasonograohy may help diagnose coronary artery disease much earlier.

Objective To observe the ultrastructure location of Huntingtin-associated protein 1(HAP1) in rat adrenal medulla and the effect of cold stress on the expression of HAP1 in rat adrenal medulla. Methods Fourteen healthy male Wistar rats were used in the present study and among them two rats were used for immune electron microscopy and twelve rats for cold stress experiment. In the cold stress experiment, animals were divided into control and cold groups randomly with six rats in each group. During the experiment, rats were housed in a room at the temperature of 4℃ for 12 hours and then immunohistochemistry and Western blotting were used to measure the expression of HAP1 in adrenal medulla. Results By using the immune electron microscopy, the results showed HAP1 was located on the external membrane of secretory vesicles of adrenal medulla and their membranous organelles. The expression of HAP1 in adrenal medulla of cold group significantly decreased as compared with that of control group ( P <0.01). Conclusion HAP1 might be related with the adrenal medulla cells endocrine granula and involved in the transmission and release of adrenaline or noradrenaline in secretory granule.

Objective To evaluate the curative effects of the modified fixed reverse Twin-block ap-pliance (TBA)combined Edgewise in the treatment of adult Angle Ⅲ anterior crossbite. Methods The appliance was used in 18 subjects with adult Angle Ⅲ skeletal malocclusion and clinical characters and X-ray cephalometry were then compared before and after treatment. Results The mandibular soft tissue changes could be achieved fast and the profile had changed effectively. Moderate labioclination of maxil-lary anterior teeth played a role in the improvement of axillary soft tissue protrusion. The cases were fol-lowed up as long as 3 years. No relapse occurred in all the patients. Anterior occlusion was normal. Con-clusion All findings indicate that adult Angle Ⅲ anterior crossbite can be quickly corrected with the mod-ified fixed reverse TBA combined Edgewise. The effect on mandibular soft tissue is significant.

The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) in erythrocyte of 17 patients with NIDDM and 14 healthy controls were evaluated, and the relationship between SOD and G-6-PD activities and renal functions and urinary protein excretion was studied. The results showed: (1) the activities of SOD and G-6-PD were obviously lower in NIDDM group than in control (P

Objective To investigate the effects of methylprednisolone on neurocyte apoptosis in rats with severe acute pancreatitis(SAP).Methods Thirty-six SD rats were divided into sham operation group,SAP group and methylprednisolone group(12 rats in each group).SAP model was constructed by injecting 5%sodium taurodeoxycholate into biliary-pancreatic duct.Serum amylase,interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α),volume of aseites and histopathological changes of pancreas were determined.The mRNA expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax in brain tissue were analyzed by RT-PCR.and neuroeyte apoptosis was detected by TUNEL method.Results The levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly increased:the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA in brain tissue was down-regulated;the expression of Bax mRNA was up-regulated;the Bcl-2/Bax ratio Was decreased:the apoptosis of the neurocytes was increased in SAP group.Compared with SAP group,the levels of serum IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased;the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA was unchanged but the expression of Bax mRNA was down-regulated in brain tissue,so the Bcl-2/Bax ratio was elevated significantly;the rate of the ueurocyte apoptosis in brain tissue were reduced in methylprednisolone group.Conclusions The apoptosis of neurocytes in brain tissue may be one of the factors causing pancreatic encephalopathy.Methylprednisoione can inhibit the release of IL-6 and TNF-α.improve the balance of Bcl-2 and Bax expression and decrease the apoptosis of neurocytes in brain tissue.

Objective To explore the association between SLC2A9,SLC17A3,ABCG2 single nucleotide polymorphisms and gout susceptibility in Quanzhou.Methods One hundred and fifty-four cases of gout patients and 160 healthy controls were selected,single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of SLC2A9 SLC17A3,ABCG2 with tri-primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were tested and the relation between different genotypes and primary gout prevalence were analyzed.Results High risk genotype frequency of rs16890979 was 93.5％ and 70.0％ in patients and healthy people,respectively (the difference of genotype frequency between the two groups was statistically significant (x2=55.377,P＜0.01).High risk allele frequency was 79.9％ and 48.4％ in patients and healthy people,respectively (allele frequency in different population was statistically significant,x2=67.128,P＜0.01).High risk genotype frequency of rs2231142 was 68.8％ and 38.7％ in patients and healthy people,respectively (the difference of the genotype frequency was statistically significant,x2=29.129,P＜0.01);High risk allele frequency was 43.5％ and 23.4％ in patients and healthy people,respectively (the difference of allele frequency was statistically significant,x2=28.468,P＜0.01) ; rs1165205was a protective SNP,low risk genotype frequency was 42.2％ and 45.6％ in patients and healthy people,respectively (the difference of genotype frequency was statistically significant,x2=0.373,P=0.571); High risk allele frequency was 26.0％ and 28.1％ in patients and healthy people,respectively (the difference of allele frequency was not statistically significant,x2=0.270,P=0.364).Conclusion SNP loci rs16890979 of SLC2A9 gene and rs2231142 of ABCG2 gene can be used as genetic markers for primary gout susceptibility in the Quanzhou area,but SNP loci rs1165205 of SLC17A3 gene has little correlation with the prevalence of primary gout in Quanzhou residents.

The effects of repaglinide combined with glargine (n=31)on glucose metabolism and β-cell function were observed in the patients with type 2 diabetes after secondary sulfonylureas failure and the results were compared with glimepiride combined with glargine (n=32). The preprandial capillary blood glucose, postprandial capillary blood glucose and HbA1C in both groups after 6-month treatment were significantly reduced as compared with those at baseline (all P＜0.01). The treatment with repaglinide(2 mg tid) plus glargine was more efficient than glimepiride(4 mg qd) plus glargine in improving β-cell function, ameliorating HbA1C and postprandial blood glucose excursions in patients with type 2 diabetes.