Objective To investigate the clinical significance of IgG subclasses in patients with primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome (pSS) patients.Methods The serum was collected from 101 pSS patients and 40 healthy subjects.The content of IgG subclasses was determined by immuno-scatter turbidmetry.The difference of IgG subclasses distribution between pSS patients and healthy subjects was analyzed.Com-bined with the clinical information of the SS patients,the difference of IgG subclasses distribution in SS patients with different characteristics was analyzed.For group comparisons,measurement data were compared using unpaired Student's t test.Results The average levels of serum IgG1-4 in 40 healthy controls were (8085±1566) mg/L,(5406±2151) mg/L,(395±233) mg/L and (566±420) mg/L.The percentage of IgG1-4 were (56.8±8.2)％,(36.6±7.8)％,(2.7±1.5)％ and (3.9±2.8)％.The average levels of serum IgG1-4 in 101 pSS patients were (14 094±5534) mg/L,(3912±1750) mg/L,(565±565) mg/L and (404±504) mg/L,The percentage of IgG1-4 were(73.0±10.9)％,(21.7±9.8)％,(3.1±2.0)％ and (2.2±2.4)％.In pSS patients,the levels of IgG1,IgG3 and IgG1/IgG were significantly higher,while the IgG2,IgG2/IgG and IgG4/IgG levels were significantly lower,compared with those of the healthy subjects (P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the IgG subclasses distribution between the pSS patients whose had systemic involvement and the pSS patients who did not have systemic involvement(P＞0.05).The IgG subclasses distribution was abnormal in SS patients who IgG was normal,compared with the healthy subjects.Conclusion A characteristic IgG subclasses distribution abnormality exists in pSS patients,and the production of anti-SSA (Sj(o)gren's syndrome A) antibody is associated with the increase of IgG1.However,no relationship has been found between the systemic involvement of pSS patients and the abnormal distribution of IgG subclasses.

Objective To investigate the changes of monoamine neurotransmitters of the brain in two tat models of morphine dependence,and to explore the effects of sinomenine on morphine dependence.Methods A physical dependent rat model was established with morphine at a gradually increasing dosage and the withdrawal syndrome was scored after naloxone precipitation.The conditioned place preference(CPP)in rats induced by morphine was used to investigate psychic dependence in rots.Contents of norepinephrine(NE),dopamine(DA)and serotonin(5-HT)in hypothalamus of rats were assayed with a fluorescent method.Results 1.In naloxone precipitated withdrawal test of in morphine-dependent rats,after morphine withdrawal,the rats presented marked with drawal symptoms and signs,their withdrawal scores were significantly increased,and the levels of NE and 5-HT in hypothalamus of the rats were significantly increased than the control group Ⅰ(7.07±1.406μg/g wet tissue and 1.15±0.346 μg/g wet tissue,respectively,P<0.01),but the content of DA was markedly reduced than the control group Ⅰ(0.28±0.121 μg/g wet tissue,P<0.05).2.In CPP model,morphine caused a marked place preference in rats and the levels of DA and 5-HT in hypothalamus were significantly increased than the control group Ⅱ(1.13±0.359 μg/g wet tissue and 1.23±0.343μg wet tissue,respectively,P<0.01),but the content of NE was not significantly changed(3.28±1.098 μg/g wet tissue,P>0.05).Sinomenine could significantly inhibit the withdrawal syndrome and development of CPP induced by morphine in rats,and could suppress the rising of monoamine neurotransmitters of the brain in two morphine dependent models in rats.Conclusion In the physical dependent model induced by morphine in rats,the rising of NE and 5-HT in the rat brain were significant,but in CPP model induced by morphine in rats,the levels of DA in the rat brain were enhanced predominately.Sinomenine could inhibit the withdrawal syndrome and development of CPP in rats,and regulate and improve the function of monoamine nerve system.

Objective To determine the causes and risk factors of antimicrobial treatment failure in patients with community-acquired pneumonia(CAP). Methods Hospitalized adults with CAP from January 2006 to December 2006 were analyzed retrospectively. Treatment failure was defined as appearance of nonresponding pneumonia and progressive pneumonia. Patient's clinical features were analyzed. Results All of 378 patients were involved in this study. Total antimicrobial treatment failure was happened in 50 patients(32 patients with non-responding pneumonia and 18 patients with progressive pneumonia). The causes were infectious (35 patients,70% ), non-infectious (11 patients,22% ) and undetermined (4 patients,8% ).Mortality of antimicrobial treatment failure was 18%(9/50, 8 patients died of infectious cause, 1 patient had no clear cause of death). Stepwise Logistic regression analysis showed that C-reactive protein, multilobar pneumonia,albumin < 30 g/L,renal function lesion,liver function lesion were related with antimicrobial treatment failure. Independent factors of treatment failure were multilobar pneumonia (P= 0.002) ,albumin <30 g/L(P = 0.001 ) and renal function lesion (P = 0.000). Conclusion The major challenge associated with antimicrobial treatment failure in hospitalized patients with CAP is infection, most of which is infection of drug resistant strain.

Objective To evaluate the clinical significance and cardiac function of fetuses with intracardiac hyperechogenic focus(ICEF) by fetal echocardiography. Methods Fetal echocardiograms were performed on 1291 fetuses for evaluation of fetal heart structures and rhythms. Echocardiographic characteristics of ICEF were investigated. Fetal systolic and diastolic functions of 399 fetuses with an isolated ICEF were compared with 128 normal fetuses using conventional two-dimensional, M-mode, pulsed Doppler echocardiography and myocardial Doppler tissue imaging(DTI). Results The prevalence of ICEF was 34. 7% (448/1291). Twenty-four(5.4%) cases were found with cardiovascular malformations. There was 1 (0.22%) case of ICEF fetus associated with chromosomal abnormality (trisomy 21 ). Comprehensive fetal echocardiographic data analysis showed no significant differences in heart dimensions, global cardiac functions,and myocardial performances in the two groups( P ＞0.05). Conclusions An isolated ICEF in the fetal heart is not associated with increased risk for chromosome abnormalities. Fetuses with ICEF do not indicate impaired left ventricular systolic or diastolic function, therefore having no hemodynamic significance.

Objective To construct multiple myeloma mucin MUC1-2VNTR gene eukaryotic expressing vector,which provided the basic material for further study of multiple myeloma DNA vaccine.Methods MUC1-2VNTR coding gene as target gene,and a KOZAK sequence was inserted before it.Hind Ⅲ and Xba Ⅰ restriction enzyme site were inserted on both ends.Then the whole sequence was synthesized and cloned into pcDNA3.1/myc-his B vector,and the recombinant vector was identified by restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing.Results Synthesized MUC1-2VNTR gene was 140 bp.Restriction enzyme digestion and DNA sequencing confirmed pcDNA3.1/MUC1-2VNTR/myc-his B including the whole exact translation frame region and MUC1-2VNTR gene.Condnsion The pcDNA3.1/MUC1-2VNTR/myc-his B has been successfully constructed,which provides the basic material for further studies of MUC1 mucin function and multiple myloma DNA vaccine.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of spatiotemporal image correlation(STIC)to assess left ventricular volume in normal fetuses.Methods The volume data acquisition of 162 normal fetuses ranging between 22 and 38 weeks of gestation was achieved by automatic sweep scan.The virtual organ computer-aided analysis(VOCAL Ⅱ)was then used to evaluate end-systolic and end-diastolic volumes of left ventricle and compared with that obtained by M-mode Teichholz formula and 2D biplane Simpson's method.Results Twenty-six fetuses with poor STIC image and 2 twin pregnancies were excluded,the study subjects consisted of 134 singleton fetuses.The highest concordance correlation(r =0.968,for EDV,r =0.956 for ESV;P =0.000)was noted between 2D biplane Simpson' s and STIC VOCAL Ⅱ values with a small bias(0.282 ml for EDV,0.117 ml for ESV).The Bland-Altman analysis showed that STIC VOCAL Ⅱ had the best agreement than M-mode Teichholz formula and 2D biplane Simpson's method.The result showed that there were significant difference between Mmode Teichholz formula and Simpson's method in EDV and ESV(P＜0.05).There were significant differences between M-mode Teichholz formula and STIC VOCAL Ⅱ(P＜0.05).There were no significant differences between STIC VOCAL Ⅱ and Simpson' s method in EDV and ESV.Conclusions There is a good agreement between left ventricular volumes measured either by STIC VOCAL Ⅱ or by 2D biplane Simpson's method.STIC is a novel technique that can be more accurate than conventional Methods in quantification of fetal left ventricular volumes.All the volume data acquisition is achieved by postprocessing facilities.STIC promises to become a new method for left ventricular volume quantification.

Objective To study the clinical profile of patients with multicentric reticulohistiocytosis (MRH).Methods The clinical manifestations,image and histologic characteristics of ten patients with MRH were collected,and the relevant literatures were reviewed.Results Seven cases were women.The median (quartile) age was 46.5 (44.5-55.3) years.Clinical symptoms included papulonodular lesions on the skin (ten cases),erosive polyarthritis (ten cases),myositis (four cases),lung nodules (three cases),larynx nodules (one case) and serositis (one case).Biopsy demonstrated infiltration of multinucleated giant cells with CD68 positive and glassy cytoplasm.All of the ten patients were treated with corticosteroids and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs,skin lesions of seven patients were ameliorated and arthritis was improved in three patients.Conclusion MRH is a systemic disease that has characteristic clinical manifestations and unique histological findings.Deep understanding of this disease can avcid.isdiagnose.Further studies are needed to explore effective treatment.

This study aimed at exploring a fast method to accurately identify the medicinal insect Vespa mandarinia Smith from its adulterants using DNA barcode and COI sequences.The extracted DNAs from V.mandarinia and its adulterants V.soror were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced bilaterally based on COI barcode sequence investigation.The information of the COI sequences of V.mandarinia and V.soror were gathered from GenBank.All the sequences were compared and analyzed,and their intraspecific and interspecific genetic distances were calculated using MEGA 6.06.In addition,the phylogenetic tree was established with neighbor-joining (NJ) method.As a result,the COI sequences of V.mandarinia and V.soror were successfully amplified.The minimum interspecific distance between V.mandarinia and its adulterants was 0.152 ± 0.017,being considerably larger than the maximal intraspecific distance between V.mandarinia,0.009±0.004.The constructed phylogenetic tree showed an independent branch for each species.It was concluded that the DNA barcode based on COI sequence can efficiently identify V.mandarinia and its adulterants.This study provided an innovative tool for the quality control and market regulation of Chinese materia medica,securing the safe medication of V.mandarinia.

Objective To explore the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus among Chinese Takayasu arteritis (TAK) patients. Methods This was a single center, prospective study of active TAK patients treated with tacrolimus. Clinical manifestations, white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), hypersensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP), alanine and aspartate aminotransferase and serum creatinine were recorded before and during tacrolimus treatment. Vascular changes were repeated every 6 months during tacrolimus treatment. All data were analyzed by statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) 20.0 statistical software, unpaired t test and Fisher exact probability and Kruskal-Wallis H test were used for statistical analysis. Results A total of 19 consecutive patients with an average age of (26 ±6) years were analyzed in this study. Sixteen of them were women. Pulselessness, fatigue, asymmetric blood pressure and fever were the most common clinical findings. Cervical and subclavian artery were more vulnerable. The most common artery involvement pattern was Numano type Ⅰ, followed by type Ⅱa and type Ⅴ. The median tacrolimus dosage was 2(2, 3) mg. Tacrolimus was effective in 9 out of the 19 patients. Patients who responded to tacrolimus tended to have lower mean ESR [(33±29) mm/1 h vs (42±20) mm/1 h, t=-0.776, P=0.448] and hsCRP [(20 ±31) mg/L vs (54 ±45) mg/L, t=-1.758, P=0.099] levels. However, no statistical significance was observed. During tacrolimus treatment, no drug related side effect was observed. Conclusion Tacrolimus is an alternative and effective therapy for some of the TAK patients.

One 51 years old man was admitted to the rheumatology department with a history of prominent eyes, headache and blurred vision for half year. The main manifestations included retrobulbar inflammatory pseudotumor and retroperitoneal fibrosis. He was initially diagnosed as granulomatosis with polyangiitis. Prednisone and cyclophosphamide were administrated and effective. New mass of dura mater and osteosclerosis presented during follow up. Finally Erdheim Chester disease(ECD) was diagnosed by biopsy and pathological examination. Vemurafenib, a v-raf murine sarcoma viral oncogenes homolog B1 (BRAF) inhibitor, 480 mg was given twice a day. The patient′s condition is stable and still in follow-up. Although ECD is a rare histiocytosis, clinicians should pay attention to its manifestations and differential diagnoses.