Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects and side effects of MMF on severe SLE patients compared with CTX.Method All 106 severe SLE patients were randomly allocated to 2 groups:MMF treatment group (53 patients):1 5 g/d for 3 months,1 0 g/d for following 3 months,and then 0 5～0 75 g/d;IVCTX treatment group:0 75 g/m 2 per month for 6～12 months.Prednisone was used in all patients.Clinical and laboratory parameters including SLE DAI,Hb,platelet,urine protein,albumin,SCr,aCL,ANA and anti dsDNA were observed.Results After 3 month treatment,all clinical and laboratory parameters were significantly improved in MMF group,while only partial parameters were improved in CTX group.Hb and platelet increased and urine protein and anti dsDNA decreased faster in MMF group than in CTX group.At month 6 the clinical and laboratory parameters improved significantly in both groups ( P

BACKGROUND: The data of epidemiological survey on rheumatic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are very rare in China, especially in Shenzhen. The comprehensive understanding of epidemiological situation of AS in Shenzhen can be used to draw up treatment plans by Shenzhen Health Bureau and some other health organizations.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological features of AS.DESIGN: Randomized complete collection and cross-sectional investigation.SETTING: Shenzhen Rheumatism Institute of Guangdong Medical College. PARTICIPANTS: From December 2001 to April 2004, totally 6 684 adults aged over 16 years were selected from three regions (one region of river and lakes, one local mountain region and one inhabitant region) of Shenzhen. Among them, 5 922 adults (2 659 males and 3 263 female) were actually investigated and the investigative rate was 88.6%. Males were accounted for 44.9% and females were 55.1%, and the ratio was 1:1.23.METHODS: Step 1 and 2, the investigated individuals were questioned and their answers were recorded by the investigators. The questionnaire proceeded one by one for every individual and proceeded at homes. Step 3,the individuals with positive findings at steps 1 and 2 were examined by rheumatologic doctors. Step 4, individuals with suspected AS were subjected to human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) assays, radiographies including plain pelvic films, plain lumbar-vertebral films and if necessary, radiographies at other areas of spinal column as well as peripheral joints.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Frequencies of rheumatic complaints,prevalence rate of AS, positive frequencies of hum an HLA-B27, and comparisons with relevant data abroad.RESULTS: ① General frequency of rheumatism was 21.6%, and the highest complaint was at knee joint, then at waist, shoulder, neck and hand. In female, the frequencies of complaints at every joint mentioned above were higher than those in male (P ＜ 0.05). A total of 13 patients (4.7%) had to discontinue their work because of rheumatic diseases. ②Prevalence rate of AS was accounted for 0.37%, and the ratio between male and female was 4.5: 1. The onset of AS began at middle age in majority patients. ③ Positive frequency of HLA-B27 was 5.0%. ④ Rate of misdiagnosis, the rate of early diagnosis and the rate of long-term irrational drug-usage were 64%, 27% and 73%, respectively.CONCLUSION: In Shenzhen, the prevalence rate of AS (0.37%) is ranked higher than that in Beijing (0.26%), Shantou (0.26%), America(0.20%) and the whites of Greece (0.24%). The differences among them may be connected with the fact that in Shenzhen the young people occupy a large proportion of population.

BACKGROUND:Previous studies have documented that,the increase of anti-cardiolipin(aCL) antibody titer has an obvious positive relaltionship with the vascular thrombosis,thrombocytopenia and repeated abortion in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and antiphospholipid syndrome,but there is little information on the aCL antibodies in lupus nephritis(LN).OBJECTIVE:To ascertain the preyalence and significance of aCL antibodies in Chinese patients with LN.DESIGN:Prospective follow-up study of one sample.SETTING:Department of Rheumatology in Xiangmihu Branch of Shenzhen Fourth People's Hospital,Shenzhen Institute of Rheumatology in Guangdong Medical College.PARTlCIPANTS:The study was performed in 97 LN Patients consecutively recruited in the Department of Rheumatology in Xiangmihu Branch of Shenzhen Fourth People's Hospital between March 2001 and October 2003.All the included patients met the revised criteria of American College of Rheumatology for the diagnosis and classification of LN.And they all knew the fact saying yes.METHODS:The clinical data and auxiliary examination result were recorded when hospitalizalion.The aCL antibodies were measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and Were considered as positive if over 100 U/mL.High-dose oral administration of prednisonc combined with cyclophosphamide intravenous pulse therapy were applied for inducing release.The curative effect was remained by using azathioprine and prednisone at a decreasing dose.Meanwhile the complications such as hypertension,hyperlipemia and arthralgia were prevented by drugs.All the patients had routine visits at six-month intervals for a total of 3 years,Clinical and seroIogic manifestations of Patients with LN were tested and recorded regularly.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Gender,age,systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index,clinical manifestations,vascular thrombosis,pregnancy outcome and renal function.RESULTS:All the 97 LN Patients were included in the study.and 83 of them entered the result analysis while the other 14 cases were lost.The overall prevalence of aCL antibodies in 97 subjects was 39%(38 cases).Hypertension,thrombocytopenia and Raynaud's phenomenon were more frequent in LN Patients with aCL antibodies.The aCL IgG antibody-positive Patients showed a greater risk for the occurrence of vascular thrombosis;Pregnancy morbidity of miscarriages,premature birth,fetal death and the probabmty of developing irreversible renal function deterioration occurred at a greater frequency in aCL antibody-positive patients.CoNCLUSIoN:The prevalence of aCL antibodies in LN Patients is 39%.A higher incidence of hypertension.thrombocytopenia and Raynaud's phenomenon is found in patients with aCL antibodies.Detection of aCL antibodies in Patients with LN may be usefol to predict the development of vascular thrombosis,pregnancy morbidity and irreversible chronic renal function deterioration.

AIM:To explore the mechanism by which over-expression of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) in a panel of gastric cancer cell lines is involved in tumorigenesis of gastric cancer .METHODS: Real-time PCR and Western blot were employed to examine the mRNA and protein levels of EZH 2, respectively.MTS assay, cell migration and soft agar assay were performed to investigate the role of EZH 2 in the regulation of stomach cancer behaviors .The effect of EZH2 on NF-κB target gene expression was determined by Luciferase reporter and real-time PCR.Co-immunoprecipitati-on was used to analyze the interaction of EZH 2 and p65 in HEK293T cells.RESULTS: The expression levels of EZH2 were significantly increased in the gastric cancer cells compared with normal gastric epithelial cells .Pharmacological inhibi-tion by DZNep or knockdown of EZH2 significantly compromised AGS and SNU-16 cell activity , cell migration and anchor-age-independent cell growth.Moreover, siRNA knockdown of EZH2 impaired NF-κB downstream targets, such as IL-8, CXCL5 and CCL20.In addition, the interaction of EZH2 and p65 was detected.CONCLUSION: EZH2 mediates the growth of gastric cancer cells through the regulation of NF-κB downstream gene expression .

OBJECTIVETo investigate the hematological and molecular characteristics of hemoglobin Q-Thailand in Guangxi, so as to provide reference data for hemoglobinopathy screening.

METHODSA total of 51088 samples were screened by capillary electrophoresis. Samples suspected with Hb Q-Thailand were processed with blood cell count and DNA sequencing. Gap-PCR and PCR-reverse dot blotting were used for the detection of common mutations of alpha and beta thalassemia.

RESULTSThe carrier rate of Hb Q-Thailand in Guangxi was 0.06%. The hematological phenotype index(HGB, MCV, MCH, Hb Q-Thailand, Hb A2, Hb QA2) of 28 Hb Q-Thailand heterozygous samples were (125.60±22.30) g/L, (78.22±4.81) fl, (25.79±2.14) pg, (27.37±2.72)%, (1.89±0.22)%, (0.69±0.16)%, respectively, and of 2 Hb Q-Thailand heterozygous combined with beta-thalassemia samples were (125.00±18.39) g/L, (69.65±5.02) fl, (22.00±0.0) pg, (14.80±0.71)%, (4.45±0.07)%, (0.95±0.71)%, respectively. A statistical difference was found in hematological phenotype index between the two groups except HGB (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn Guangxi, the detected Hb Q-Thailands were mainly heterozygous. Part of Hb Q-Thailand heterozygotes had normal red blood cell parameters, but can still be detected by hemoglobin electrophoresis. When combined with other types of thalassemia, these heterozygotes may still exhibit reduced MCV and MCH or various degrees of anemia.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Base Sequence ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Female ; Genotype ; Hemoglobins, Abnormal ; analysis ; genetics ; metabolism ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation ; Phenotype ; Thalassemia ; blood ; genetics ; Young Adult

T cell immunoglobulin mucin (TIM) family playsa key role in regulating immune responses.In this study,the interactions of human TIM family with apoptotic cells were evaluated in order to provide a foundation for further study on the roles of human TIM genes in apoptosis.Nine kinds of pEGFP-N1 eukaryotic expression vectors containing different lengths of the three members of human TIM genes for the expression of TIM-EGFP and the vectors for the expression of TIM-Fc fusion proteins were constructed.It was found that human TIM proteins could recognize and bind to apoptotic cells directly,but not to viable cells.The interactions of sTIM-1-EGFP,sTIM-3-EGFP and sTIM-4-EGFP with apoptotic cells were blocked by TIM-1-Ig,TIM-3-Ig and TIM-4-Ig fusion proteins respectively.In addition,human TIM proteins mediated the recognition of apoptotic cells and bound to apoptotic cells directly via the IgV domains.In conclusion,the TIM family may play a key role in the regulation of apoptosis.Our data also suggest that human TIM proteins probably serve as novel proteins for the detection of the early cellular apoptosis.

OBJECTIVETo raise awareness of the pathogenesis and diagnosis of thalassemia by reporting one case of α thalassemia patient with a large deletion fragment and analyzing the pedigree.

METHODSFirstly, blood cells and hemoglobin electrophoresis analysis were used for screening of thalassemia, and then three common kinds of deletional α thalassemia in Chinese was detected by Gap-PCR, three common kinds of non- deletional α thalassemia and seventeen common mutations of β thalassemia in Chinese were analyzed by using PCR- RDB. The unknown mutation of samples was identified with Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) and DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe proband female presented with microcytic hypochromic anemia(hemoglobin 71 g/L, mean corpuscular volume 52.4 fl, mean corpuscular hemoglobin 16.1 pg), and hemoglobin A2 1.4%. The identified large deletion fragment length was 21 925 bp, so far which had not been reported in the world and was named -α²¹·⁹. It was registered in USA DNA database and GenBank accession number as KF360979. The genotype of her mother and father and brother were αα/-α²¹·⁹, --(SEA)/-α³·⁷, αα/-α³·⁷ respectively, and the genotype of her and her sister were the same of --(SEA)/-α²¹·⁹. Her husband gene of thalassemia had no mutation, so prenatal diagnosis of thalassemia was not carried out in the pregnant woman.

CONCLUSIONThe discovery of -α(21.9) deletion mutation was enriched the DNA mutation gene database of thalassemia, and had important significance for genetic counseling and thalassemia prenatal diagnosis.

Female ; Humans ; Male ; Pedigree ; Sequence Deletion ; Young Adult ; alpha-Thalassemia ; genetics

Hemoglobin A2 ; genetics ; Humans ; Thalassemia ; genetics ; Transcriptome