Objective To investigate the clinical features of Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis(HSPN) and the clinical significance of plasma endothelin-1(ET-1) in HSPN.Methods The epidemiology and clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed in 84 patients admitted to our hospital from January 2000 to March 2005.The changes of ET-1 were measured in 84 patients and 16 controls by using radioimmunologic assay.Results The age of onset in HSPN was 5-10 years and the corresponding patients occupied 90.6%.The majority of HSPN cases(80.32%) occurred from September to March of the second year.Infection was still the main occasion factor(40.57%),and the mistaken diagnosis at rate of 33.33% as acute gastricism and appendicitis when gastrointestinal sign appeared earlier than the typical purpura.The nephritic syndrome was the most constant clinical manifestation(47.63%).The pathological type of grade Ⅱ was 37.84%,grade Ⅲ 56.40%.The level of plasma ET-1 in patients was more higher than that of normal controls.The level of plasma ET-1 had a positive correlation with plasma urea nitrogen and creatinine(r=0.584,0.523,P

Twenty five serotypes of Bluetongue virus (BTV) have been identified worldwide. Rapid and reliable methods of virus universal detection are essential for fighting against bluetongue (BT). We have therefore developed and evaluated a pair of primers which can detect various serotypes of BTV by RT-PCR. Analysis of the viral protein 7 (VP7) and the non-structural protein (NS1) gene from different serotypes of BTV by DNAstar showed that the 5' end of the NS1 gene is the most conserved region. The primer pairs (P1 and P2) were designed based on the highly conserved region of NS1. The novel primers were evaluated by detecting BTV serotypes 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 21 and 22. The specificity of the primers was estimated by comparing to gene sequences of viruses published in GenBank, and further assessed by detecting BTV serotype 1-12 and Epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus (EHDV) serotype 1-4. The sensitivity and repeatability of PCR with the novel primers were evaluated by successfully detecting the recombinant plasmid pGEM-T121 containing the diagnosed nucleotide sequence. Our results suggest that these unique primers can be used in high throughout and universal detection of the NS1 gene from various BTV serotypes.

Objective To discuss the correlation between the level of serum cystatin C and lipids in patients with system lupus erythematosus.Methods Used automatic biochemical analyzer to detect serum cystatin C (CysC),triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol (TC),high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C),low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)and hsCRP levels in 136 cases of SLE patients and 113 cases of healthy people.Data obtained using SPSS13.0 software to carry on sta-tistical analysis.Results Outcome of SLE patients group compared with healthy controls,hsCRP (13.5 ± 4.85 mg/L vs 2.03±0.88 mg/L),CysC (2.63±1.95 mg/L vs 0.85±0.37 mg/L),LDL-C (3.06±1.21 mmol/L vs 2.33±0.41 mmol/L),TC (5.32±2.63 mmol/L vs 4.02±1.67 mmol/L)and TG (1.92±0.83 mmol/L vs 1.44±0.8 mmol/L)were signifi-cantly higher the difference between groups was statistically significant(t=2.45~12.4,P <0.05).Compared with healthy controls,HDL-C (1.12±0.31 mmol/L vs 1.52±0.85 mmol/L)was decreased (P <0.01).In SLE patients group,the ser-um CysC level and hsCRP,TC,TG and LDL-C were positively correlated,and the level of HDL-C was negative to the level of CysC.The health control group was no significant correlation.Conclusion Serum lipid levels of SLE patients were posi-tive to the level of CysC.Suggest that joint detection of SLE patients serum CysC and blood lipids index is helpful to the di-agnosis of SLE treatment and condition monitoring.

Objective To detect the activity of α1 antitrypsin(AAT) with initial velocity of enzymatic reaction in order to detect the activity of samples in the process of separating and purifying plasma protein ,chromogenic substrate assay was optimized.Methods The effect of trypsin concentration and reaction time on enzymatic reaction was acquired by the kinetic monitoring mode of the microplate reader .Initial velocity was calculated to confirm the largest concentration of trypsin which was saturated by substrate .AAT was incubated with trypsin and absorbance produced by enzymatic reaction of remaining trypsin and substrate could reflect the activity of AAT .A standard curve was established with △D fitting with the activity of AAT standard.The activity of related samples was detected and the precision and accuracy of the method were evaluated . Results Trypsin concentration was 0.0625 mg/ml.Within 20 minutes, enzymatic reaction was with initial velocity .The range of the standard curve was 200-1200 IU/ml.Correlation coefficient was more than 0.99.The activity of Cohn Ⅳ, samples of pre-processing and elution were (720.59 ±18.63), (601.84 ±19.18),and (568.09 ±24.83)IU/ml, respec-tively.The relative standard deviation was less than 10%. Sample recovery rate was 90%-110%.Conclusion The optimized chromogenic substrate assay greatly improves accuracy and precision .The method can be used for the detec-tion of AAT activity of samples in laboratories and workshops .

Plasma products are considered to be special medicinesderived from healthy human plasma .During 1980′s, events of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus through plasma products were frequently reported .Since then, ensuring the viral safety of plasma products has raised great concerns all over the world .So far, with decades of effort , most countries in the world have established rigorous systems with preventive measures to ensure the viral safety of plasma prod -ucts.These measures include control of source plasma , validated inactivation/removal of infectious agents , the adherence to current good manufacturing practices .Nevertheless , new infectious agents which may be threats to viral safety require continuous studies on appropriate countermeasures .

Objective To predict the B cell line epitopes of human cytomegalovirus glycoprotein (gB)by analyzing its structure and physicochemical properties using bioinformatics approaches .Methods Based on the sequence of the HCMV gB,the probable B cell epitopes are predicted using two online prediction programs and DNAstar software .Meanwhile,the tertiary structure of gB was constructed by homologous modeling with the assistance of SWISS -MODEL server to rule out im-possible B cell epitopes .Results and Conclusion The B cell line epitopes of gB are predicted , which provides a theoreti-cal basis for further verification of gB immunodominant epitopes and screening the source plasma with high HCMV IgG titer .

Objective To establish viral inactivation/removal techniques for blood products , and apply them to inacti-vation/removal process validation of blood products .Methods Enveloped and non-enveloped model viruses were propaga-ted.Viral inactivation/removal techniques for blood products ,including solvent/detergent (S/D) treatment, low pH incuba-tion, dry heat method, pasteurization,and nanofiltration, were established.The virus titer was evaluated using cytopathic effects ( CPE) and Spearman and Karber method .The viral inactivation/removal techniques were believed to be effective when LRV≥4.These techniques were used in viral inactivation /removal validation of blood products .Results Enveloped model viruses were inactivated through S/D treatment and the low pH incubation method .Enveloped and non-enveloped model viruses were inactivated through dry heat and pasteurization .Within a certain range of filtration capacity , PPV was removed through nanofiltration .Conclusion The established viral inactivation/removal techniques can be used in viral inactivation/removal process validation of blood products , which can improve viral safety of blood products .

Objective To compare X-ray,CT,and MRI in detection of abnormal sacroiliac joint changes in patients with early stage of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods Fifty-three patients with clinical suspected early stage of AS underwent X-ray and MRI scan.MR scan sequences for the sacroiliac joints consisted of T1-weighted,T2-weighted,short time inversion recovery (STIR) and three dimensional balance turbo field echo with water selective excitation (3D-BTFE-WATS) in all patients.In 24 of the patients,fat-saturated contrast-enhanced T1-weighted was used.Twenty-five of 53 patients underwent CT scan.The Chi-square test was used to analyse the uniformity of bone erosions detected by X-ray,CT,and MRI.Results Of the 106 sacroiliac joints in 53 patients,16 sacroiliac joints with bone erosions were detected by X-ray and 63 sacroiliac joints by MRI.Of the 50 sacroiliac joints in 25 patients,26 sacroiliac joints with bone erosions were found by CT.With regard to the detection of bone erosions,there was no difference between CT and MRI (x2 =0.16,P ＞0.05 ) and there was significant difference between CT and X-ray or MRI and X-ray ( x2 =14.44 and 17.36,P ＜ 0.05 ).3D-BTFE-WATS was better than other sequences in detection of bone erosions.Acute inflammatory changes were determined by MRI,which included subchondral bone marrow edema in 32 patients,synovitis in 35 patients,fat depositions in 16 patients,enthesitis in 15 patients,capsulitis in 9 patients,and cartilaginous disruption in 31 patients.Conclusions MRI can detect acute inflammatory changes that can not display by X-ray and CT.Compared with radiography and CT,MRI is more useful in detection of abnormal sacroiliac joint changes in patients with early stage of AS.

Objective To investigate the availability of N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT proBNP) in the detection of early ventricular diastolic dysfunction by polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM).Methods A total of 46 PM/DM patients without symptoms of heart involvement were prospectively studied by standard echocardiography and the longitudinal mitral annular velocities was measured by tissue Doppler echocardiography (TDI).Plasma NT-proBNP was measured in all patients.Multivariate Logistics regression analysis was applied to investigate the risk factors for early cardiac complications.The availability of NTproBNP was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.Results There were 22 patients complicated with early diastolic dysfunction (E/Em ≥ 8) by TDI.The multi-factors Logistic regression analysis showed that the age of onset (OR=1.117,95％CI 1.005-1.243,P=0.040) and plasma NT-proBNP (OR=1.022,95％CI 1.001-1.042,P=0.036) were risk factors for early left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.The level of NT-proBNP was positively correlated with E/Em value(r=0.687,P=0.000).ROC showed NT-proBNP could reliably detectearly ventricular diastolic dysfunction [area under the curve 0.858 (95％ CI 0.735-0.981,P＜0.01)].If PM/DM patients with normal TDI(E/Em＜8) were used as controls,and 120 pg/ml was used as the cut-off concentration,the sensitivity and specificity of NT-proBNP for the early ventricular diastolic dysfunction was 81.8％ and 91.7％ respectively.Conclusion Age at onset and plasma NT-proBNP are risk factors for early left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.The level of NT-proBNP is positively correlated with E/Em value.The plasma NT-proBNP concentration higher than 120 pg/ml maybe a marker for early left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.

Objective To study the imaging findings of hip involvement and to compare the sensitivity of radiography,CT,and MRI in the identification of hip involvement in patients with ankylosing spondylitis(AS).MethodsAnteroposterior radiography of the pelvis and MRI of hip were performed in 55 patients with AS.CT scan of hip was performed in 29 of 55 patients.T1-weighted,T2-weighted,short tau inversion recovery (STIR) and three dimensional balanced turbo field echo with water selective excitation (3D-BTFE-WATS) coronal sequences of hips were obtained in all patients,of which fat-saturated contrastenhanced T1-weighted sequence was performed in 24 patients.The imaging data of 55 patients were analyzed.The chi-square test was used to analyze the sensitivity in the identification of hip involvement among radiography,CT,and MRI.ResultsAmong 110 hips in all 55 patients,abnormal changes were detected in 13 hips by radiography,85 hips by MRI.The findings of radiography included bone erosions in 13 hips,joint space narrowing in 4 hips,syndesmophytes in 5 hips.MRI revealed bone erosive destruction in 31 hips,joint space narrowing in 4 hips,joint effusion in 80 hips,subchondral bone marrow edema in 32 hips,fat accumulation of bone marrow in 28 hips,enthesitis in 21 hips.Bilateral synovial enhancement was showed in 19 of 24 patients who underwent fat-saturated contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequence.Of the 58 hip joints in 29 patients who underwent CT examination,not only did CT show all bone erosions detected by radiography and MRI,but CT revealed bone erosive destruction that were not identified by radiography in 10 hips and by MRI in 1 hip as well.Abnormal changes were detected in 10.3％ (6/58)by radiography,27.6％ (16/58) by CT,and 77.6％ (45/58) by MRI.The sensitivity of MRI in the identification of hip involvement is higher than that of radiography and CT ( x2 =53.22 and 29.08,P ＜ 0.05 ).In addition to chronic bone structural changes,MRI depicted acute inflammatory changes which could not be detected by radiography and CT.ConclusionsMRI can detect early acute inflammatory changes of hip joint that can not be showed by radiography and CT.Effusion of joint and synovial enhancement caused by synovitis are the most common MRI findings of the hip in patients with AS.