BACKGROUND: MRI is generally considered as an important means to diagnose cervical disc herniation.OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation between clinical manifestations of traumatic cervical disc herniation and MRI changes.DESIGN: A retrospective study.SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA.PARTICIPANTS: We selected 123 patients with traumatic cervical disc herniation who came to the Department of Orthopedics, Xinqiao Hospital of Third Military Medical University of Chinese PLA, for treatment between June 1982 and June 2002. Their clinical manifestations fell into four types:of grade Ⅰ or Ⅱ, 14 of which lost motility with normal or slightly impaired icantly decreased or lost motility of the bilateral upper limbs with myotility of nificantly decreased motility and thignesthesia of the unilateral upper and impaired motility, decreased pain sensation of the lower limb on the opposite side, but with good myotility.METHODS: MRI examination was carried out in 123 cases of traumatic cervical disc herniation.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The correlation between the clinical manifestations of 123 cases and MRI results.RESULTS: The clinical manifestations and MRI information of 123 cases verse-type herniation, clinically manifested as symmetric incomplete as central canal syndrome and significantly decreased or lost motility of the ripheral-type herniation, manifested as nerve root pain of unilateral side as well as pain sensation and thermesthesia on the opposite side.CONCLUSION: MRI typing suggests the segment, position and shape of disc herniation specified, and the 4 types of clinical manifestations indicate the consistency of anatomic location with the corresponding neural disorder.

Objective The influence of myasthenia gravias(MG) upon the long term survival of thoma patients varied in the retrospective studies as reported,including the positive,negative impact and irrelevant influence.The recent study from the Chinese Alliance for Research on Thynic Diseses(ChART) indicated that in different stages of thymoma,MG influenced the prognosis in different ways.It's the author's conclusion that the complicated influences of MG on the prognosis of thymoma include a direct one which is negative resulting from MG related complications and an indirect positive one due to its beneficial pathologic and staging patterns.Inprovement of the prognosis for patients with thymoma complicating MG will be expected with advancement in MG therapeutics.

Objective Portal hypertension and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) have been implicated in small-for-size liver graft dysfunction. Matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 are critically involved in hepatic I/R injury. The goal of this study was to investigate the role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in acute small-for-size graft injury. Methods 108 rats were divided into three groups:100 % (full-size), 50 % (half-size) and 25 % (quarter-size) liver transplantation groups. Blood and liver samples were collected to assess liver function, hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content, tissue myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histological changes. ELISA, real-time PCR, gelatin zymography, and immunohistochemistry were used to determine the expression pattern of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in liver grafts. Results The expression levels of MMP-9 were significantly higher in quarter-size and half-size grafts than those in full-size liver grafts 6, 12, and 24 h after reperfusioa And theelevated levels of MMP-9 were related to graft size inversely. However, MMP-2 was expressed and remained in all groups invariably. MMP-9 overexpression was accompanied by extensive liver I/R injury, as evidenced by significant increases in hepatic microscopic damage scores, MDA content,MPO activity and liver function levels. Furthermore, MMP-9 was found mainly to locate around periportal area. The presence of the active form of MMP-9 was significantly higher in small-for-size grafts, which was correlated with sinusoidal dilatation, congestion and hemorrhage. Conclusion These results support critical function of MMP-9 in acute small-for-size liver graft injury. Moreover,portal hypertension may be a crucial trigger for expression and activation of MMP-9.

Objective: Combined detection of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin ( anti-MCV ) antibodies, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide ( anti-CCP) antibodies and rheumatoid factor ( RF-IgM) levels to investigate the diagnostic value of anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin (anti-MCV) antibodies for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods: A total of 359 patients with RA,128 patients with other rheumatic diseases and 90 healthy controls were involved.Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) was used to detect anti-MCV and anti-CCP, and dynamic immune nephelometry was applied to detect RF-IgM .The sensitivity and specificity were obtained from the experimental data.Results:The sensitivities of anti-MCV,anti-CCP and RF-IgM were 85.1%,76.7% and 82.7%in RA respectively.The specificities were 93.2%,95.1%and 80.1%respectively.Combined detection of anti-MCV and anti-CCP,the sensitivity decreased to 70.2%; but the specificity increased to 98.7%.The sensitivity reached to 89.5% with specificity 97.6%when the union of anti-MCV and anti-CCP positivity was used as criterion.Conclusion:Anti-MCV and anti-CCP are novel makers for RA diagnosis with high sensitivity and high specificity.Combination of anti-MCV and anti-CCP is more helpful for RA diagnosis.

Objective:To observe the effect of CD40 siRNA on the changes in kidney,urinary protein and complement C3 of MRL/Lpr mice and explore its therapy on lupus nephritis.Methods: 16 female MRL/Lpr mice were randomly divided into control group,empty vector group,CD40-siRNA1 group and CD40-siRNA2 group.The vectors expressing siRNA against CD40 were injected by tail veil into MRL/Lpr mice,while MRL/Lpr mice in control group and empty vector group were injected with the same dose of PBS and pGFP-V-RS vector respectively.There were six times injection and every one day.The 24 hours urine output was gathered 24 hours before mice were killed.Fourteen days following administration,these mice were killed,tissue sections of kidney were observed if the signal of siRNA were expressed in kidney.The expression levels of CD40 mRNA and protein in kidney tissue of MRL/Lpr mice were detected by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry methods respectively.At the same time,the pathological changes of the kidney were observed by haematoxylin-eosin ( HE) staining method.The 24 h urinary protein content was detected using the method of coomassie brilliant blue and the expression levels of complement C3 in serum were detected by Immunoturbidimetric assays.Results:The vector of CD40-siRNA was expressed in kidney of MRL/Lpr.The expression levels of CD40 mRNA and protein in kidney were lower in CD40-siRNA1 group and CD40-siRNA2 group than control group and empty vector group on the 14th day after last injection ( P<0.05).The inflammatory cells infiltration of kidney and some glomerular volume were significantly reduced in CD40-siRNA1 group and CD40-siRNA2 group than control group and empty vector group.The renal tubular swelling was alleviated in CD40-siRNA1 group and CD40-siRNA2 group than control group and empty vector group.The levels of 24 hours urinary protein were lower and the levels of complement C3 were higher in CD40-siRNA1 group and CD40-siRNA2 group than control group and empty vector group ( P<0.05). Conclusion:CD-40 siRNA can suppress the expression levels of CD40 mRNA and protein and decrease inflammatory cells infiltration in kidney of MRL/Lpr.Meanwhile after suppressing expression of CD40 mRNA and protein, it can reduce the content of 24 hours urinary protein and elevate the level of complement C3 in serum,which CD-40 siRNA can delay progress of the disease and protect kidney,so that it has therapy effect on lupus nephritis.

Objective:To investigate the diagnostic values of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides antibody ( anti-CCP ) and rheumatoid factor( RF) in rheumatoid arthritis( RA) ,and analyse the clinical relevance of prognosis,drug reaction and bone destruction between anti-CCP and RA.Methods: Serum anti-CCP was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA ) , and RF was detected by immune rate nephelometry.Results:The sensitivity and specificity of anti-CCP in RA were 83.0%and 96.7%,while the sensitivity and specificity of RF in RA were 76.0%and 70.0%.When joint detect anti-CCP and RF,with anti-CCP or RF positive as a positive determination,with anti-CCP and RF negative as a negative judgment,the combined sensitivity was 87.0%,higher than that of detection alone.The combined specificity was 98.3%, higher than that of single detection.There were big different concentrations of anti-CCP among RA patients before treatment, three months after treatment and six months after treatment.There were significant differences between bone erosion and non-bone erosion in RA patients.And the more serious joint damage,the higher the concentrations of anti-CCP.As for treatment,anti-CCP concentrations declined.Conclusion:Combined detection of anti-CCP and RF can significantly improve the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of RA.The concentration of anti-CCP can change with effective treatment,then dynamic monitoring can be used as study drug efficacy.At the same time,the level of anti-CCP in patients with RA can reflect the degree of bone erosion,and serious bone destruction who was poor treatment effect.

Objective:To investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics of lupus nephritis(LN) patients by detecting the anti-nucleosome antibodies, anti-C1q antibodies and anti-double stranded antibodies(anti-ds DNA), and to clarify the risk factors of LN in the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE),and the significance of three kinds of antibodies in diagnosis of LN.Methods:A total of 120 SLE patients were selected and divided into LN group(n=60) and non-LN group(n=60).The ANAS data of 120 patients were retrospectively analyzed,the levels of anti-C1q antibodies were measured.The clinical symptoms and laboratory data of the patients with positive anti-dsDNA,-nucleosome and-C1q antibodies (3-pos group)and negative three kinds of antibodies(non 3-pos group) were analyzed in LN group.Results:The positive rate of anti-C1q antibody of the patients in LN group (40.00%) was higher than that in non-LN group (21.67%) (χ2=4.728, P=0.03).The positive rate of anti-dsDNA antibody in LN group was 66.67%, and it was 46.67% in non-LN group;the positive rates of the patients had significant difference between two groups (χ2=4.887, P=0.027).The positive rate of anti-nucleosome antibody in LN group was 58.33%, and it was 40.00% in non-LN group;the positive rates of the patients had significant difference between two groups (χ2=4.034, P=0.045).The positive rates of U1-snRNP, SmD1 and other antibodies Jo-1, SSA/Ro60kD, SSA/Ro52kD, SSB, ScL-70, CENP-B,and P0 had no significant differences between two groups(P>0.05).The levels of C3 and C4 and hemoglobinin of the patients in 3-pos group were higher than those innon 3-pos group (P<0.05);the age,the levels of immunoglobulin protein and C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), white blood cell (WBC) and platelet had no statistically significant differences between 3-pos and non 3-pos groups(P>0.05).The clinical symptoms were not statistically significant in 3-pos and non 3-pos groups (P>0.05).Conclusion:The anti-nucleosome, anti-C1q and anti-dsDNA antibodies are the risk factors of SLE complicated with LN;the positive antibodies can improve the diagnostic rate of LN.The 3-pos patients have more severe damage in complements and blood system with higher renal disease activities.

Objective To evaluate the effect and mechanism of rivaroxaban, an inhibitor of coagulation factor Ⅹa (FⅩa), on endotoxin-induced injury to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Methods When cultured HUVEC grow to 80% fusion, they were divided into four groups according to the random number method: blank control group (DMEM medium), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (cells were challenged by 100 μg/L LPS for 16 hours), FⅩa+LPS group (cells were challenged by LPS for 16 hours after they were cultured with 100 nmol/L FⅩa for 24 hours), and FⅩa+RIV+LPS group (cells were challenged by LPS for 16 hours after they were cultured with 100 nmol/L FXa and 1 μmol/L rivaroxaban for 24 hours). After each group of cells were challenged with LPS, the cell activity was detected by the cell proliferation and toxicity kit (CCK-8); the cell migration ability was detected by cell scratch experiments;the abilities of cells migration were measured by scratch-wound-healing assay; the apoptosis of cells were evaluated using flow cytometry; the endothelial barrier of cells was assessed by Transwell and Evans blue; the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin (IL-1β, IL-6) were detected by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); the expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were detected by Western Blot. Results Compared with blank control group, the cell viability in LPS group was significantly decreased, and the migration ability, number of apoptotic cells, and barrier permeability of endothelial cells was significantly increased, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly increased, and the expressions of phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), phosphorylation of p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK), phosphorylation of transforming growth factor kinase 1 (p-TAK1) and phosphorylation of NF-κBp65 (p-NF-κBp65) were significantly increased. It indicated that LPS could stimulate the inflammatory response of vascular endothelial cells, and had a significant impact on cell activity, apoptosis and function. There was no significant difference in above indexes between FⅩa+LPS group and LPS group, except for the level of IL-6 being higher in FⅩa+LPS group. Compared with FⅩa+LPS group, in FⅩa+RIV+LPS group, the cell activity was significantly increased (A value: 0.42±0.02 vs. 0.33±0.02), and migration ability was significantly decreased (folds: 1.78±0.17 vs. 2.24±0.20), the number of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased [(11.30±0.70)% vs. (21.03±0.19)%], and permeability of monolayers endothelial cells was significantly decreased [(149±12)% vs. (253±15)%], the levels of inflammatory cytokines were significantly decreased [IL-1β(ng/L): 163.2±20.7 vs. 477.8±20.2, IL-6 (ng/L): 69.3±0.5 vs. 238.0±24.1, TNF-α(ng/L): 117.0±13.1 vs. 196.2±4.5], the expressions of p-TAK1 and p-NF-κBp65 were significantly decreased (p-TAK1/TAK1: 0.74±0.09 vs. 1.85±0.15, p-NF-κBp65/NF-κBp65: 1.15±0.17 vs. 2.36±0.20), with statistically significant differences (all P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the p-JNK, p-p38MAPK expressions between FⅩa+RIV+LPS group and FⅩa+LPS group (p-JNK/JNK: 1.64±0.12 vs. 1.65±0.15, p-p38MAPK/p38MAPK: 2.31±0.32 vs. 2.35±0.20, both P > 0.05). Conclusion Rivaroxaban can effectively relieve the inflammatory response of HUVEC stimulated by LPS, which may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway activation rather than MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective:To investigate the effects of a eukaryotic expression plasmid for IL-6 and B-cell activating factor (BAFF) fusion protein on the histopathological changes in salivary and lacrimal glands of non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice with Sj?gren′s syndrome and to elucidate the possible therapeutic mechanism of IL-6/BAFF fusion protein eukaryotic expression plasmid in NOD mice.Methods:The eukaryotic expression plasmid for IL-6/BAFF fusion protein was constructed. After transfecting CHO cells with the plasmid, the expression of IL-6/BAFF fusion protein was detected by Western blot. BALB/c mice were injected with the plasmid every two weeks for three times and the titers of anti-IL-6 and anti-BAFF antibodies were measured by ELISA. Twenty-one NOD mice were randomly divided into three groups (control group, empty vector group and therapy group) by numerical table method. The mice in the therapy group were injected with the IL-6/BAFF fusion protein eukaryotic expression plasmid once a week for six times and the mice in the empty vector group were injected with empty plasmid. The levels of anti-IL-6 and anti-BAFF antibodies as well as cytokines (IL-6, BAFF, INF-γ, IL-10 and IL-17A) in mouse serum samples were detected by ELISA. The proportions of Th17, Treg, Th1 and Th2 cells in mouse splenocytes were measured by flow cytometry. Focal lymphocyte infiltration and pathological changes in the lacrimal and salivary glands of mice were observed under light microscopy after HE staining.Results:The eukaryotic expression plasmid for IL-6/BAFF fusion protein increased the levels of anti-IL-6 and anti-BAFF antibodies in the serum of BALB/c mice ( P<0.05). The levels of anti-IL-6 and anti-BAFF antibodies in the serum of NOD mice in the therapy group increased ( P<0.01), while the expression of IL-6, BAFF, INF-γ, IL-10 and IL-17A in NOD mice in the therapy group was lower than that in the control group and the empty vector group ( P<0.05). The percentages of Treg and Th2 cells in the splenocytes of NOD mice increased after treatment ( P<0.05). Moreover, the eukaryotic expression plasmid for IL-6/BAFF fusion protein significantly improved the irregular size and morphology of glandular vesicles in the lacrimal and salivary glands, reduced the ductal dilatation and decreased the focal lymphocyte infiltration in NOD mice. Conclusions:The eukaryotic expression plasmid for IL-6/BAFF fusion protein induced the production of anti-IL-6 and anti-BAFF antibodies, decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines, regulated the balance of Th17/Treg and Th1/Th2 cells, improved the irregular alveolar structure and ductal dilation in the lacrimal and salivary glands and reduced the focal lymphocyte infiltration in NOD mice. This study showed that eukaryotic expression plasmid for IL-6/BAFF fusion protein might serve as a potential target for therapeutic targeting of T and B cells.