Objective To study the association of serum cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP)with disease activity and early joint destruction of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The serum levels of COMP were measured with ELISA in 94 patients with RA and 40 controls. The serum level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (ACCP) and hand X-ray were examined at the same time. Results Significantly increased serum level of COMP was found in RA patients (11.3±5.2) U/L as compared to that in healthy controls (9.2±1.7) U/L (P=0.017).Serum level of COMP was higher in 64 active patients (14±6) U/L than that in 30 inactive disease (9±4) U/L(P=0.005). COMP level was positively correlated with the number of the affected joints, X-ray stage, CRP and ESR level (P<0.05); but had no correlation with age, disease course, grade of joint function, RF and ACCP levels. Thirty patients were followed for two years and their radiographic changes were evaluated at the baseline and the end of this study. Sixteen of 18 patients with high concentration serum COMP level had radi-ologic progression, but only 5 of 12 patients with no increase of serum COMP had radiologic progression. A significant difference (P=0.013) was founded in the two groups. Conclusion The present data suggests that the level of COMP is high in patients with RA. High serum levels of COMP indicate high disease activity and early progressive of bone destruction in RA patients. We can us COMP as a laboratory marker of RA.

Objective To detect the reactive samples of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA1) by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA),and to analyze the application value of CMIA in HCV infection validation of blood donors.Methods Nucleic acid 3-item combined testing (NAT),another ELISA2,HCV antibody supplementary test(Western Blot test,WB) and CMIA test supplemented in blood samples of 102 ELISA1 anti-HCV reactive blood donors were retrospectively analysed.Results Among 102 blood donors of anti-HCV positive,32 cases (31.37%,32/102) were HCV RNA reactive samples,50 cases (49.02%,50/102) were ELISA2/WB reactive simultaneously.With CMIA NAT results as the reference standard,CMIA was poorly correlated with HCV RNA (Spearman correlation coefficient rs=0.395,P<0.01),and the consistency between them was weak by Kappa test (Kappa=0.270,P<0.01).With ELISA2/WB detection results as the reference standard,CMIA was highly correlated with the results(Spearman correlation coefficient rs=0.713,P<0.01),and which showed high consistency by Kappa test (Kappa=0.674,P<0.01).Conclusion CMIA as a detection method of protein label after HCV infection has great value in the HCV infection confirmation in low-risk population.

Objective:To determine the diagnostic value of multislice CT urography (MSCTU) in patients with transitional cell carcinoma ( TCG) of upper urinary tract by comparing other imageology methods used. Methods: Two hundred and thirty four cases of transitional cell carcinoma of upper urinary tract, in which 82 cases were diagnosed pathologically with pelvic carcinoma and 152 cases with ureteral carcinoma, between June 2004 and September 2006 in our institute were enrolled in a retrospective study. Most of them underwent urological ultrasound, intravenous urogram (IVU) , retrograde pyelography and MSCTU. We compared the positive rate (PR) and diagnostic rate (DR) of these methods used by chi-square test. Results: Among the 234 cases, 215 patients underwent urologic ultrasound, in which 152 cases were detected to be abnormal, with the PR of 70.1% ;Meanwhile, 58 cased were diagnosed by this examination, with the DR of 27. 0%. IVU was performed in 193 patients and 132 cases were found to be abnormal, and the PR was 68. 4% , 65 cases were diagnosed by IVU and the DR was 33.7%. And 132 patients underwent retrograde pyelography, by which 115 cases of lesion were detected, with the PR of 87. 1% ; In the meantime, 93 cases were diagnosed, with the DR of 70. 5%.MSCTU was performed in 226 cases and 220 cases were found to be abnormal, and the PR was 97.3% ;214 cases were diagnosed by MSCTU, with the DR of 94. 7%. The DR of detecting TCC of retrograde pyelography had statistically significant difference with that of ultrasound and IVU(P＜0.001). As compared with retrograde pyelography, MSCTU had statistically significant superiority (P＜0.001). Conclusion: To shorten the diagnosis time and mitigate the sufferings, patients with hematuria supposed to be TCC of upper urinary tract should be recommended to undergo MSCTU first.

Objective To evaluated the HCV genotyping results which obtained by genotype diagnostic kit in Shenzhen area. Methods 158 samples which ELISA test of anti-HCV were positive were collected from voluntary blood donors from 2014 to 2015,and were tested by PCR fluorescence probe method for viral load.The samples which viral load were greater than 1.0 ×103 IU/mL were then tested by HCV RNA genotype diagnostic kit.To analysis the proportion of different genotypes and the correla-tion between genotypes with vrial load.Results 54 HCV RNA reactive sample were quantity by PCR fluorescence probe method from 158 anti-HCV positive samples.The genotyping data for 45 cases which vrial load greater than 1.0×103 IU/mL were obtained by HCV RNA genotype diagnostic kit.The frequencies HCV genotype 1b,2,3 and 6 were 57.78%(26/45),6.67%(3/45),8.89%(4/45)and 26.67%(12/45),respectively.One-way ANOVA analysis showed that significant difference in viral loads was found be-tween different HCV genotype 1b and 2(F =2.861,P <0.05),and there was a significant difference in viral loads and anti-HCV S/CO by sex(P <0.05).Fisher′s exact test showed the significance difference between age and genotypes(P <0.05 ).Conclusion HCV 1b and 6 were the most predominant genotypes due to the higher viral load than the other subtypes among volunteer blood do-nors in Shenzhen,while the proportion of HCV 2,3 declined.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the serum testosterone (T) level with metabolic syndrome (MS).

METHODSWe enrolled in this investigation 1,006 men aged 30-60 years in Beijing and obtained the data on their blood pressure (BP), waist circumference (WC), fasting blood glucose (FBG), serum triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and serum testosterone (T). The men were divided into an MS group and a non-MS (NMS) group based on The Chinese Adult Dyslipidemia Prevention Guide 2007. The results were compared and analyzed.

RESULTSThere was no statistically significant difference between the ages of the two groups (P >0.05). Systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP), WC, FBG and TG were significantly higher, while serum T and HDL-C remarkably lower in the MS than in the NMS group (P <0.001). The serum T level was markedly decreased with the increase of MS components (P <0.01). Both Pearson's correlation coefficients and multiple linear regression analyses showed that the serum T level was negatively correlated with age, WC, SBP and TG (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONLow serum T level may predict the development of MS in men.

Adult ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Case-Control Studies ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; blood ; physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Testosterone ; blood ; Triglycerides ; blood ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVETo determine the influence of maximal androgen blockade (MAB) on bone mineral density (BMD) in men with prostate cancer.

METHODSWe enrolled 40 men with prostate cancer treated by MAB for 7 to 12 months. We obtained the laboratory results of PSA, testosterone, serum calcium and phosphorus, 24-h urine calcium and phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone, measured the BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, recorded pain scores, and compared the results before and after the treatment.

RESULTSBefore MAB treatment, 5 (12.5%) of the patients met the BMD criteria of lumbar spine (L2-4) osteopenia, 8 (20%) lumbar spine (L2-4) osteoporosis, 13 (32.5%) left femoral neck osteopenia, and 15 (37.5%) left femoral neck osteoporosis. The PSA and testosterone levels were decreased from (52.9 +/- 69.9) microg/L and (18.9 +/- 6.5) nmol/L before MAB to (1.5 +/- 1.6) microg/L and (1.9 +/- 1.3) nmol/L after it (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences before and after MAB in the levels of serum calcium and phosphorus, 24-h urine calcium and phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and parathyroid hormone (P>0.05), nor in the BMD levels of the lumbar spine ([1.1 +/- 0.1] vs [1.1 +/- 0.2] g/cm2) and femoral neck ([0.8 +/- 0.2] vs [0.8 +/- 0.1] g/cm2), nor in the pain score ([0.6 +/- 0.2] vs [0.7 +/- 0.1], P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONMAB treatment (range from 7 to 12 months) has no significant influence on BMD in men with prostate cancer, but BMD should be measured before MAB.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; analysis ; Androgen Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Bone Density ; drug effects ; Bone Diseases, Metabolic ; etiology ; Calcium ; blood ; urine ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; etiology ; Parathyroid Hormone ; analysis ; Phosphorus ; urine ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; blood

OBJECTIVETo establish a rapid determination method of pinoresinol diglucoside in Eucommiae unloads by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS).

METHODForty-one samples of E. unloads were collected from three different producing areas and their main component, namely pinoresinol diglucoside, was determined by HPLC. Corresponding data of samples were collected from 12 000 to 4 000 cm(-1) by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. The spectral pretreatment was optimized by OPUS software and the calibration equations between the content of pinoresinol diglucoside and spectrum data were constructed by partial least squares regression.

RESULTAvailable information could be extracted from spectra in the range from 7 502 to 4 597.6 cm(-1) after corrected by applying second derivative transformation and subtract a linear correction. Cross validation was used to prevent over-fitting. Good correlation existed between pinoresinol diglucoside content and NIR spectra ( R2 = 0.926 4, SEC = 0.029 and SEP = 0.066 2).

CONCLUSIONNIRS calibration equations developed in this study could be applied to the rapid analysis of the pinoresinol diglucoside content.

Eucommiaceae ; chemistry ; Lignans ; analysis ; Spectrophotometry, Infrared ; methods ; Time Factors

Objective To establish an HPLC quantitative method for the content determination of baicalin in Kangdeling capsule .Methods The chromatography column was Agilent Tc-C18-WR (4 .6 mm × 250 mm ,5μm) ,and the column temper-ature was 30 ℃ .The mobile phase consisted of acetonitrile and 0 .5‰ phosphoric acid (26 ∶ 74 ) .The flow rate was 1 .0 ml/min ,and the detection wavelength was 265 nm .Results The retention time of baicalin was about 16 min .The calibra-tion equation was Y=22 114 .67 X -112 836 .7(r=0998 8)with good linearity in the range of 5 .410-108 .2 μg/ml for baicalin . The average recovery was 98 .78% while RSD were 0 .74% .Conclusion This method is simple ,time-saving and accurate which could be used to routine analysis of baicalin in Kangdeling capsule .

Tumor has become the major reasons cause of death,and its vaccine has become the effective tracts of treatment and prevention by enhancing the immune response of patients.However,most vaccines which are recombination subunit protein antigens are poorly immunogenic and difficult to induce a robust immune response in patients with compromised immune systems,resulting in poor marketing approval.The core component of the vaccine adjuvant can greatly enhance the strength,speed and duration of the immune response,thus becoming the key to the development of an ideal tumor vaccine.Most tumor vaccines are combined with tradition adjuvant such as aluminum,MF59 and AS adjuvant,but their products and patents are monopolized by large foreign companies.We found that natural adjuvants have many unique advantages,such as good biocompatibility and biodegradability,promoting the maturation of dendritic cell and the secretion of immune cytokines,significantly enhancing the tumor vaccine immune response,etc.In this paper,the application and future development of natural polysaccharides,saponins,flavonoid and plant virus-like particles in cancer vaccines were reviewed,which may lay a solid foundation for the development of the original and innovative adjuvants with domestic independent intellectual property rights.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association of complement C3 with clinical and serological features of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.MethodsData was collected by the same methods in the past ten years in fifteen hospitals in Jiangsu Province and then data weres summarized for retrospective analysis.Clinical and laboratory data were selected and then analyzed by Chi-square test,Wilcoxon rank sum test and Logistic regression.ResultsOne thousand four hundred and five patients were investigated.One thousand and forty two had low serum complement C3 level.In this case control study,hospitalization age,disease course,admission times,pleurisy,gastrointestinal involvement,general lymphadenopathy/hepatosplenomegaly,white blood cell count, haemoglobin level,platelet count, serum C-reactive protein level,serum albumin level,serum creatinine level,Urine protein quantification,anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA),anti-dsDNAantibodies, anti-SmantibodiesandSLEDAIscore were possible factors associatedwith complement C3 reduction(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that CRP (OR=0.396,0.254-0.617,P=0.000),ANA (OR=2.907,1.267-6.670,P=0.012),urine protein level(OR=1.702,1.043-2.779,P=0.033) and SLEDAI score (OR-0.930, 0.886-0.975,P-0.003) were correlated with complement C3 reduction.Conclusion Complement C3 level is valuable for lupus flare assessment.The complement C3 reduction is a risk factor for renal impairment.