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 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.

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 The objective of digitalized patient records control is to meet some new demands set on patient records control under the new circumstances. Methods A computer system for digitalized patient records control and supporting processing, management and applications setups were established. Results The system put the contents of the patient records into various categories with difierent standards and designed relatively strict means of authorization. It rendered patient records easier to use and their control more strict, making it possible to make general use of the records without access to the original documents. As a result, data loss was avoided, authority over the data was put under control, data sharing was provided, and full and convenient use of data was realized. Conclusion Digitalized patient records control, a form of shaping computer-based patient records before the latter fully comes into being, enhances the efficiency of patient records application and reduces the pressure of paper records storage. It is a practical and effective way of controlling patient records.

To study the etiology and treatment of relapsing polychondritis, especially tracheostenosis, 3 patients with severe relapsing polychondritis complicated with severe tracheostenosis were presented. The clinical features, criteria of diagnosis, etiology, therapy and prognosis were discussed. All the 3 cases were female. They were misdiagnosed as laryngopharyngeal inflammation with severe tracheostenosis, so that their correct diagnosis and treatment were delayed. The report and discussion of such cases are helpful to its early diagnosis and improve ment of their prognosis.

Objective:To investigate the metabolic response of different load of nutrition and recombinant human growth hormone(rhGH)after major abdominal surgery. Methods:32 patients were randomly divided into three groups as fellows:Group A : low calorie load,83.68 kJ/(kg?d);Group B: low calorie load combined with rhGH,83.68 kJ/(kg?d) and rhGH 4 U/d from d1-7 after operation;Group C :high calorie load combined with rhGH,125.52 kJ/(kg?d) and rhGH 4 U/d from d1-7 after operation.The levels of serum albumin and prealbumin and the excretion of urea nitrogen in urine were measured.after operation. Results:On day 8 after operation,the level of prealbumin in group B and C were higher than in group A(P

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 injury characteristics and prognostic risk factors of patients with craniocerebral injury so as to provide some suggestions for the improvement of medical prevention,intervention and treatment measures.Methods Trauma database system was applied to collect the medical records of 661 patients with traumatic brain injury admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery of 105th Hospital of Hefei in 2009.Their general conditions,injury characteristics and outcomes were analyzed and the risk factors affecting their outcomes were investigated by Logistic regression analysis.Results Of the patients with craniocerebral injury,the males accounted for 70％ (463/661).The patients at 45 years old or so had the highest incidence of craniocerebral injury.Patient number in the second half of one year was 1.65 times more than that in the first half of one year (412/249 ).Most patients were injured from traffic accidents (87.7％,580/661 ) and 512 patients (77.5％) suffered from multiple injuries.ISS,injury causes,age and injury incidence quarters showed close correlation with the final outcome.Conclusions The patients with craniocerebral injury demonstrates distinctive characteristics in aspects of gender,age,incidence time,injury causes,and multiple injuries,but the ultimate outcomes are related to the injury severity,injury causes,age and other factors.