Objective To investigate the role of IP-10 in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods The peripheral blood monocytic cells (PBMC) were collected from 39 AS patients, and the mRNA expression of IP-10, IFN-? and IL-4 were measured by semi-quantitive RT-PCR with G3PDH as the internal control. Results The mRNA expression levels of IP-10, IFN-? and IL-4 as well as the rate of IFN-?/IL-4 were elevated in the PBMC of AS patients compared with the healthy controls (P

Objective To investigate the long term efficacy and safety of thalidomide in the treatment of refractory ankylosing spondylitis.Methods A total of 232 patients with refractory ankylosing spondylitis were recruited into open study using thaiidomide at a dose of 150 mg/d, bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index ( BASDAI) , spinal pain score and thaiidomide related side effects were observed regularly.Results From the third month, BASDAI and spine pain score decreased significantly when compared with those of the base line ( P < 0.05).Such improvement became more obvious as time went on.A total of 148 patients (63.8% ) got >50% improvement in BASDAI and spine pain score, and 76 cases (32.8% ) reported absence of spine pain.The major side effects were drowsiness, constipation, dry mouth, dizziness and dandruff.Thirty two patients (13.8% ) withdrew from the study because of adverse events.Most of the adverse effects disappeared as thaiidomide was stopped.Conclusion Long term thaiidomide is effective and safe for treating resistant ankylosing spondylitis and it has cumulative effect as duration prolongs.

Objective To investigate whether unfolded protein response (UPR) plays a role in the pathogenesis of spondyloarthritis (SpA),and to assess UPR-related gene expression in SpA and other arthritis patients.Methods Eighteen patients with SpA,12 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 6 with osteoarthritis (OA) were recruited.Macrophages were isolated from synovial fluid samples by immunomagnetic separation.The expression of UPR-regulated genes,including binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP),glucose-regulated protein 94 (GRP94),C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP),growth arrested and DNA damage-inducible 34 (GADD34),X-box binding protein 1 (XBP-1) and endoplasmic reticulum DnaJ homolog 4 (ERdj4),was tested by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Results Compared with macrophages in OA patients,the expression of BiP and GRP94 mRNA [(6.06 ± 2.08) × 10-2 vs (1.11 ±0.72) × 10-2 for BiP mRNA,11.80(7.30-38.40) × 10-3 vs 1.27(1.02-4.18) × 10-3 for GRP94 mRNA,both P values ＜0.01] was significantly increased in macrophages in SpA patients.XBP1 mRNA was up-regulated [(12.70 ± 5.20) × 10-3 vs (4.14 ± 2.56) × 10-3,p ＜ 0.01] in SpA group as well.UPR-regulated gene expression in SpA patients with HLA-B27 positive or HLA-B27 negative was similar.However,none of UPR-regulated genes showed different expression between the SpA group and RA group except for GADD34 mRNA [7.30 (5.56-15.40) × 10-3 vs 21.30 (12.20-27.60) × 10-3,P =0.009].Conclusions Our data suggest that UPR possibly participates in the pathogenesis of SpA,although the relationship between HLA-B27 and UPR still needs further investigation.

Objective To set up rodent ankylosing spondylitis model. Methods Recombinant natively folded versican G1 domain(VG1) and FCA were injected into BALB/c mice to induce spondylitis and sacroiliitis. Spondylitis and sacroiliitis were determined by pathological examination. Results It was shown that immunity to recombinant VG1 resulted in spondylitis in the lumbar spine and sacroiliitis in 35 0% and 12 5% mice respectively. Accumulation of mononuclear cells was observed in spinal ligaments adjacent to the intervertebral disc, the intervertebral disc and the sacroiliac joints. No clinical peripheral arthritis was observed. Conclusion These observations suggest that immunity to human VG1 is involved in the induction of experimental spondylitis and sacroiliitis in BALB/c mice, which will do some help to probe the pathogenesis of human ankylosing spondylitis

Objective To investigate the role of proteoglycan autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Human Aggrecan G1 domain cDNA was cloned from human cartilage, and recombinant aggrecan G1 domain (rAG1) protein was synthesized in a Baculovirus expression system. Synovial fluid monocytes from RA patients were stimulated with rAG1. Harvested cells' radioactivity was quantified in a ?-scentillation counter and the stimulation index (SI) was calculated. Cells with SI over 3 were taken as rAG1 specific T cells. Three well-characterized AG1-specific T cell lines were injected intraperitoneally into 8 SCID Beige mice. At the same time, rAG1 was injected intraarticularly into left knees of these mice. On day 8, mice were sacrificed and histological examination of the knee joints was performed. Results Human rAG1 specific T cell lines were generated from synovial fluid of RA patients. Most of these cells were CD4~+CD8~- T cells secreting Th1 cytokine (interferon-?). A pronounced capsular and synovial infiltration of mononuclear cells with early synovitis and cartilage erosion was observed in some left knees of the mice treated with rAG1-specific T cells. Conclusion Human rG1-autoreactive T cells injected intraperitoneally have homed to left knee where its epitope rAG1 was injected, and they participated in the development of inflammatory arthropathy.

Aclarubicin ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; Child ; Cytarabine ; Female ; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; therapy ; Young Adult

Acetates ; Chemical Industry ; statistics & numerical data ; China ; Occupational Exposure ; prevention & control

Objective To observe the characteristic features of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) in gouty arthritis (GA) and to assess its value in GA diagnosis.Methods Patients with GA and non-GA who underwent MSUS examination in Chinese PLA General Hospital were enrolled in this study. The synovitis,tenosynovitis,soft tissue swelling,bone erosion,bursitis and ossification were measured by greyscale ultrasound,and the synovial vascularity was measured by power Doppler ultrasound to evaluate the degree of inflammation.Results The ultrasound images of GA were intended to have specific features like tophus,hyperechoic deposition on the surface of the articular hyaline cartilage ( double contour sign ),hyperechoic deposition in the synovium appearing as bright stippled foci,and bright strap in tendons with a significant difference when compared with non-GA group (P ＜ 0.05).The percentage of tenosynovitis and bone erosion in non-GA group was higher than that in the GA group with a significant difference (P ＜0.05 ). Tophus,double contour sign,bright stippled foci or bright stippled foci in tendons together suggested gout with a specificity of 92.4％ and a sensitivity of 60.3％,the AUC of ROC was 0.764 ( P ＜0.05).Conclusion Tophus,double contour sign,bright foci and bright strap detected by MSUS are of diagnostic value on GA and MSUS may be a promising tool in diagnosing GA.

Objective To investigate the value of ankylosing spondylitis(AS)disease activity score (ASDAS)and the Bath AS disease activity index(BASDAI)in evaluating disease activity in AS.Methods ASDAS and BASDAI were used to evaluate disease activity in patients with AS,taking the patients' global scores,physician global scores and treatment decision as the “gold standard” for disease activity.According to the “gold standard”,the patients were divided into low and high disease activity groups.Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics,linear correlation and regression and ROC curve.Results A total of 227 patients with AS were included.ASDAS and BASDAI showed good correlation with disease activity as reflected by the patients' global score[r for BASDAI,ASDAS based on ESR(ASDAS-ESR)and ASDAS based on C-reactive protein(ASDAS-CRP)were 0.713,0.698 and 0.725,respectively,P =0.000]and the physician global score(r for BASDAI,ASDAS-ESR and ASDAS-CRP were 0.771,0.782,0.847,respectively,P =0.000).Both scores showed good discriminative ability for high and low disease activity states.ASDAS-CRP had the highest sensitivity.Conclusion ASDAS is a promising tool for evaluating disease activity in AS patients.

Objective To analyze antimalarial assosiated retinopathy detected by different methods with of modern ocular fundus examination, and explore screening strategy and the diagnosis of hydroxych-loroquine assosiatedretinopathy according to clinical experience and international guidelines. Methods Full fundus examination was performed in two patients with antimalarial retinopathy. The related literature were reviewed. Results Two patients had bull's eyes maculopathy and abnormal visual fields. Conclusion Clin-icians' alertness to hydroxychloroquine related retinopathy may improve early diagnosis of hydroxychloroquine toxicity. New objective tests are more sensitive than visual fields examination. Visible bull's-eye maculopathy is a late change, and the goal of screening is to recognize toxicity at early stage.