Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of various immune-mediated diseases,including psoriasis,rheumatoid arthritis,multiple sclerosis,inflammatory bowel disease,asthma,and so on.The discovery of Th17 cells has offered scientists a new insight into the etiology and treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases.This article presents an overview of the differentiation,cytokine expression and trafficking of Th17 cells.

With the in-depth research of blood circulation and blood stasis, many scholars gradually carried out research and exploration the pathophysiological basis of blood stasis of the ankylosing spondylitis (AS), from the blood rheology, microcirculation, platelet activation, vascular endothelial function and so on. Some progress that been made were summarized below.

Objective To evaluate tumor angiogenesis and clinical significance by contrast-enhanced CT in case of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods 30 patients with NSCLC underwent dynamic thoracic CT, and histopathological slides were carefully prepared for VEGF immunohistochemical staining. Maxium attenuations of dynamic CT were compared with VEGF expression levels and lymph-node metastases. Results The mean peak attentation was (36.28?6.41)HU, VEGF positive expressions were in 21 patients, and negative expressions were in 9 patients. VEGF expression levels in patients with NSCLC stage II and III were higher than those in stage I , and in lymph node metastases group, the expression levels of VEGF were also higher than those in non-metastatic nodes. CT enhancement of NSCLC was positively related to VEGF expression,neoplasm stage and lymph-node metastases. Conclusion CT enhancement of NSCLC can reflect tumor angiogenesis and correlate to lymph-node metastases closely, help lung cancer diagnoses,neoplasm stage, and serve as a supplement to the present staging system for lung cancer in biological behavior.

Objective To study the diagnostic significance and clinical value of genetic analysis in children with neonatal diabetes. Methods Gene mutation analysis was performed in four patients from Zhengzhou children ' s hospital with diagnosis of with neonatal diabetes. Therapeutic effect of glibenclamide in patients with or without gene mutation was compared. Results KCNJ11 gene mutation was found in two patients with neonatal diabetes. Glibenclamide was found only effective for blood glucose control in patients with KCNJ11 mutation. Therefore, Insulin remains the best therapeutic choice in patients without the genetic mutation. Conclusions Genetic mutation status may be useful in choosing treatment options of neonatal diabetic patients, therefore, should be performed in all children with neonatal diabetes.

Objective To modify the techniques for establishment of an abdominal working heart transplantation model in rats and to sum up the key factors to success.Methods A total of 180 12-week old Brown Norway rats ( donor) and Lewis rats ( recipient) were used in this study:50 BN rats and 50 Lewis rats for pilot experiment, and 40 BN rats and 50 Lewis rats for the formal experiment.The rat model of working heart heterotopic transplantation was adopted and estab-lished by Wiedemann’ s mode.We transplanted the heart from BN rats to Lewis rats and analyzed the survival rate, causes of death and histological changes of the heart ( HE staining) in this experiment.Results After exercise and modification, the survival rate was increased to 77.5%, and the mean total duration of operation was 71 ±11 min, and the mean ische-mic time of the donor hearts was 34 ±5 min.Histological examination ( HE staining) of the cardiac allograft showed a mild inflammatory cell infiltration in the graft at 24 h after transplantation, indicating that the model was reliable.Conclusions A variety of factors may affect the final operation success rate in the establishment of this heart transplantation model.A-mong them, the major affecting factors include: healthy animals, donor heart protection, rapid and effective vascular su-ture, and postoperative animal management.

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the curative effect and safety of dexamethasone for severe asthma and severe sepsis systematically. METHODS:Randomized controlled trials about dexamethasone for severe asthma and severe sepsis were retrieved from database,such as Cochrane library(1996～2007),PubMed(1966～2007),EMCC(1995～2007),CHKD(1994～2007)and pertinent literatures. The qualities of included studies were evaluated and extracted data were analyzed by Meta-analysis respectively. RESULTS:11 trials containing 1 435 cases were up to included standard. Therapy results of severe asthma:(1)in remission rate of the total symptom,difference between dexamethasone and prednisone was not statistically significant [OR 1.44,95%CI(0.75, 2.75);P=0.27];(2)In the incidence rate of ADR,dexamethasone was lower than prednisone [OR 0.13,95%CI(0.04,0.44);P= 0.001];(3)In the recurrence rate,no statistical significance was noted in difference between dexamethasone and prednisone [OR 0.58,95%CI(0.25,1.31);P=0.19]. Therapy results of severe sepsis:(1)In the mortality,difference between dexamethasone and placebo was not statistically significant [OR 0.85,95%CI(0.41,1.78);P=0.67];(2)In the incidence rate of ADR,no statistical significance was noted in difference between hydrocortisone and placebo [OR 1.05,95%CI(0.51,2.19);P=0.89]. CONCLUSION: Dexamethasone is similar to prednisone in the treatment of severe asthma but better than prednisone in drug safety. The safety of dexamethasone is similar to placebo in the treatment of severe sepsis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of combination therapy on ankylosing spondylitis. Methods: 160 Cases were divided into treatment group and control group randomly. The patients of treatment group were given Bushenqingdu Decoction and Hanbiwaiyongfang by external use. The patients of control group were given Wangbi Granule. The symptoms and signs were observed before and after treatment in both groups. Results: There was significant difference between treatment group and control group in total effective rate as well as morning stiffness and signs (P

Objective To study the relationship between lung ventilation function of workers exposed to rare earth dust and their IL-2,IL-6 and TNF-α gene polymorphism.Methods TNF-α gene polymorphism were identified by RFLP-PCR,IL-2 and IL-6 gene polymorphisms were identified by PCR-CTPP analysis.Lung ventilation function was deteced by instrument of ventilation function.Results Compared with controls,there was no statistic significance in frequencies distribution of TNF-α gene polymorphism(X2=4.03,P＞0.05),IL-2 gene polymorphism(X2=2.21,P＞0.05)and IL-6 gene polymorphism(X2=1.05,P＞0.05).Compared with IL-2 gene wild type,IL-2 homozygote type increased the risk of lung ventilation dysfunction by 4.29 folds(95% CI 1.09～16.9).Conclusions Compared with controls,incidence of ventilation function of workers exposed to rare earth dust is in ascending trend.IL-2(G/G)gene type induces more serious inflammation reaction than the others.

Objective To investigate the relationship between type-2 diabetes mellitus and artery atherosclerosis(AS) in the elderly. MethodsThe clinical data of 277 elders,who were admitted in hospital between April 2005 and September 2007, were retrospectively analyzed. These elders were divided into four groups: type 2 diabetes with carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) group (group A, n=119), type 2 diabetes without CAS group (group B, n= 30), non-diabetic with CAS group (group C, n=32), non-diabetic without CAS group (group D, n=96). The correlation between carotid artery plaque and related factors were studied. Results① Compared with group C,fasting blood glucose[(7.14±2.49) mmol/L vs. (5.21±0.87) mmol/L], triglycefide [(1.41±0.78) mmol/L vs. (0.95±0.39) mmol/L],left and right common carotid artery IMT [(0.85±0.11) nun vs. (0.79±0.08) mm, (0.85±0.11)mm vs. (0.78±0.09)mm] and PI [(1.37±1.16) vs. (0.50±0.80)] of group A were significantly increased, while high density lipoprotein [(1.29±0.32) mmol/L vs. (1.58±0.45) mmol/L] is significantly decreased(P=0.01). ②Compared with group B, left and right common carotid artery IMT [(0.85±0.11) mm vs. (0.80±0.11)mm,(0.85±0.11)mm vs. (0.80±0.12)mm,PI[(1.37±1.16) vs. (0.00±0.00)]and incidence of stroke 34.5% (41/119) vs. 13.3% (4/30) of group A are significantly increased (P<0.05 or P<0.01). ③Carotid artery plaque was positively correlated with history of diabetes(r=0.051, P<0.01),hypertension(r= 0.169,P<0.01),coronary heart disease (r=0.109,P<0.05),stroke(r=0.136,P<0.05),fatty liver(r= 0.340,P<0.01),FBG(r=0.339,P<0.01),TG(r=0.195,P<0.01),APOB (r=0.152,P<0.05),but negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=-0.143, P<0.05). Conclusion The risk of AS is higher in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes than that of non-diabetes. The incidence of stroke is higher in type 2 diabetes with AS than those of type 2 diabetes without AS. Carotid artery plaque is positively correlated with diabetes, hypertension, history of coronary heart disease, history of stroke, fatty liver, FBG, TG, ApoB, but negatively correlated with HDL-C.

Objective To study biologic effect of high radon exposure in non-uranium miners by measurements of serum levels of 1L-2, IL-6 and TNF-u and study on their gene polymorphism. Methods Serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-αin the miners selected from a Yunnan-based copper mine were measured by ABC-ELISA. TNF-α (-308,G→A) genotypes were identified by RFLP-PCR, IL-2 (-330, T→G) genotypes by sequence analysis. Results Compared the miners with its control group, there were no statistical significance of the concentrations of serum IL-2 (F=0.71, P>0.05), IL-6 (F=1.09, P>0.05) and TNF-α(F=0.95,P>0.05). Frequencies of IL-2 (-330, T→G) genotypes (X2=0.02, P>0.05) and TNF-α(-308, G→A) genotype (x2= 2.21, P>0.05) were shown no statistical significance too. Conclusions Compared with the control group, concentrations of serum IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-n in miners working in the copper mine was lower, frequencies of genotypes of TNF-o (-308,A/A) was higher in the miners. But all the differences were not statistical significant.