Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) , an autoimmune disease, become much popular in recent years. In this article, apoptosis of RA fibroblast like synovial cells and influence factors in this process were discussed, and the relating signal transduction pathway of RA fibroblast apoptosis was described.

The results showed that the survival rate increased by 40. 0%-80. 0% ,the level of 6-keto PGP1? increased by 38. 3%-79. 2%,and the product of TXB2 decreased by 24. 5%-58. 8% by the purified oil of Anguilla japonica (POAJ) 139. 6,279. 2,558. 4 and 1116. 8?g ? g-1 in mice. The ratio of 6-keto-PGF1? to TXB2 were enhanced markedly,in which the ratioes were 1.12 (control group) ,2. 05,2. 65,3. 57 and 4. 89 (drug group).

Objective To study the relationship between E2F2 and the pathological features of RA and the mechanism of E2F2 expression.Methods The interference efficiency was detected by RT-PCR after RA FLs transfected with E2F2 siRNA.The cell proliferation was analyzed by MTS and the expression of numerous genes was tested by ELISA.To analyze the influence of E2F2 in the immune response by RT-PCR,RA FLs were separately treated with TNF-t and PDTC.The way of regulating E2F2 experssion was tested by Chip.Results Compared with negative control groups,the level of E2F2 mRNA were decreased in the cells transfected with E2F2 siRNA (P ＜ 0.01).Silencing E2F2 suppresses the proliferation of RA FLs (P ＜ 0.05).TNF-α regulates the expression of E2F2 in RA FLs via the NF-κB pathway.Conclusion Up-regulation of E2F2 is associated with the process of RA and TNF-α regulates the expression of E2F2 in RA FLs via the NF-κB pathway.Thus E2F2 might be a potential target for use in the development of new therapeutic approches of RA.

Objective To determine whether the use of 18F-FDG PET/CT alters staging and management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) when compared with MRI staging practice;and to explore the relation of standard uptake value (SUV) of 18F-FDG PET/CT and the pathological classification and T staging of NPC. Methods The study was performed retrospectively on a group of 41 patients with a new diagnosis of NPC. All the patients underwent whole body PET/CT scanning and head & neck MRI scanning within 3 weeks of each other. The AJCC protocol was introduced to stage NPC and the results of the PET/CT were compared with MRI based on pathologic diagnosis. Results ①Primary tumor:the accuracy of T staging of PET/CT was significantly higher than MRI (85.37% vs 60.98%,U=2.49,P

Paired basic amino acid cleaving enzyme 4 (PACE4),a subtilisin-like endoprotease,which is thought to play a significant role in tumor occurrence and development.Its over or low expression may lead to enhanced proliferation and invasion of tumor cells,and even increase the malignant degree.The specific regulation according to the roles of PACF4 expression in different tumors may be helpful for tumor treatment and prognosis improvement.

Objective To observe the expression of thioredoxin (Trx) and thioredoxin-interacting protein (Txnip) in the kidney of type 2 diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin and the effect of probucol treatment on thioredoxin system. Methods Thirty male SD rats were divided into control group( C, n = 10), diabetes group ( D, n =10), and probucol treated diabetic group ( P, n = 10). After eight weeks of probucol treatment, the expressions of Trx and Txnip in the kidney of three groups were measured by RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Body weight,24 h microalbuminuria( ALB), fasting plasma glucose( FPG), fasting insulin( HNS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), malondialdehyde ( MDA ), superoxide dismutase ( SOD ), and catalase (CAT) were determined. Results Compared with group C, Trx was markedly decreased in group P (0. 162 ±0. 008 vs 0. 239 ±0. 006, P＜0.05 ), while Txnip was significantly increased (0. 159±0.003 vs 0. 091 ±0.016, P＜0.05 ). Trx in group P was increased as compared with group D (0. 162 ±0. 008 vs 0. 108 ± 0. 013, P ＜ 0. 05 ), while Txnip was lowered (0. 159±0.003 vs 0. 236±0.009 ,P＜0.05 ). FPG, 24 h ALB, BUN, Cr,and MDA levels in group D were markedly increased as compared with group C (P＜0. 05), while the activity of SOD, CAT, and FINS levels were decreased apparently (P＜0.05). The above markers except for FPG in group P were ameliorated (P＜0. 05 ).Conclusions Probucol attenuated oxidative stress by means of partially restoring Trx function and reducing Txnip expression, and thus played a major role in renoprotection of type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

Objective To analyze the virologic responses of peginterferonα‐2a plus ribavirin (Peg IFNα‐2a/RBV) for patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection by a paired study . Methods Sixteen patients with HBV/HCV coinfection and 32 patients with HCV monoinfection were allocated . The virological response and biochemical response were compared between the two groups after Peg IFNα‐2a/RBV regimen treatment .Chi‐square analysis or Fisher exact analysis was used to compare the responses .Logistic analysis was conducted to evaluate factors associated with sustained virological response (SVR) .Results The median levels of HCV RNA were 6 .54 lg IU/mL in 16 patients with HBV/HCV co‐infection and 6 .98 lg IU/mL in 32 patients of HCV monoinfection ,which was statistically different (Z= 4 .124 , P< 0 .01) .Rapid virological response (RVR) was achieved in 14 cases ,early virologic response (EVR) in 12 cases ,end‐of‐treatment virological response (ETR) in 14 cases and SVR in 9 cases among patients with HBV/HCV co‐infections ,which were comparable to those of patients with HCV monoinfection (RVR:24 ,χ2 =1 .011;EVR:24 ,χ2 =0 ;ETR:23 ,χ2 =1 .474 ;SVR:21 ,χ2 =0 .400 ,all P>0 .05) .The relapse rate in HBV/HCV‐coinfected patients was significantly higher than that in HCV‐monoinfected patients (35 .7% [5/16] vs 8 .7% [2/32];χ2=4 .142 , P= 0 .042) .In HBV/HCV coinfection group ,7 cases were HBV DNA detectable ,7 cases were hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg ) positive , 13 cases were abnormal alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and 12 cases were abnormal aspartate aminotransferase (AST ) levels . After treatment ,only 4 patients were HBV DNA detectable ,5 cases were HBeAg positive ,4 cases were abnormal ALT levels and 5 cases were abnormal AST levels (P= 0 .458 ,0 .716 ,0 .004 and 0 .032 , respectively) .The median level of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was 780 IU/mL and decreased to 250 IU/mL after treatment ,while the difference did not reach statistical significance (Z= 1 .826 ,P=0 .068) .A total of 4 patients achieved complete virologic response for HBV ,3 achieved partial virologic response;2 achieved HBeAg seroconversion .Logistic regression analysis showed that EVR was a positive factor for achieving SVR (OR=35 .2 ,95% CI=3 .55-349 .15 , P=0 .002) .Conclusions HCV remains at low replication level in patients with HBV/HCV coinfection .Virological responses can be achieved by Peg IFNα‐2a/RBV treatment .EVR might be a positive factor associated with SVR .

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of ?3 Adrenoceptor (?3-AR) antagonist SR59230A(SR) on cardiac function and expression of ?3-AR in rats with heart failure. METHODS: A total of 85 male Wistar rats were enrolled: 8 were as-signed to control group, and 77 were established into heart failure model and then 20 rats that modelled successly assigned ran-domly to placebo group or SR group, with placebo group intraperitoneally injected with normal saline and SR group with SR. The echocardiogram, hemodynamics, and expression of ?3-AR in rats after 7-week treatment were followed. RESULTS: In SR group compared with placebo group, shortening fraction, ejection fraction, left ventricular end systolic pressure, dp/dtmax and dp/dtmin were significantly higher (P

ObjectiveTo evaluate the role of galactomannan (GM) detection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) in elderly patients with lung diseases.MethodsThe elderly patients with lung diseases and suspected of having IPA were enrolled. BALF for culture and GM detection, and serum samples for GM detection were obtained from all participants.According to European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) with host factors, clinical criteria, mycological evidence and histological or cytopathological evidence, all patients were categorized into the proven, probable,possible and no IPA patients. The IPA patients were considered as IPA group while no IPA was considered as control group. ResultsAmong 76 enrolled elderly patients, 18 cases were diagnosed with IPA (1 proven, 11 probable and 6 possible), the remained 58 patients were as control group.Based on a GM index cutoff value of ≥0. 5, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for BALF were 83.3％, 82. 8％, 60.0％ and 94.1％, respectively; these variables in serum were 55.60％ , 91.4 ％, 66.7 ％ and 86.9％ , respectively. Using a GM index cutoff value of ≥1.0, the specificity and positive predictive value of both BALF GM and serum GM reached 100％, but the sensitivity and negative predictive value of BALF GM were higher than serum GM (66.7％ vs. 22.2％, 90.60％ vs. 80.60％, respectively). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis yielded a sensitivity of 83.4％ and a specificity of 96.6％ at a BALF GM index cutoff value of ≥0.725. ConclusionsGM detection in BALF seems to be a useful tool in the diagnosis of IPA in elderly patients with lung diseases,and could be widely used in future.

Objective To investigate the effects of ginkgo flavone on the expression of NF-κB and TLR4 in the liver of mice with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Methods 120 KM mice were randomly divided into the control group, model group, as well as high, medium and low dosage of ginkgo flavone groups. The animal model of NAFLD in mice was constructed with high fat diet. The pathological changes of liver, liver index , the serum TNF-α, IL-6 , TG , NF-κB and TLR4 in hepatic tissue was observed after 8 weeks of administration. Results Compared with the model group, the level of liver index, serum TG, TNF-α, IL-6 and the expression of NF-κBp65 in the ginkgo flavone groups dramatically decreased 8 weeks after the administration. And the hepatic steatosis was milder. There was no statistical differences in the expression of TLR4 between the ginkgo flavone groups and the control group (P > 0.05). Conclusions These results suggested the closely relationship between TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway and NAFLD. Ginkgo flavone had the therapeutical effects on NAFLD by anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering action, but no effect was observed on the expression of TLR4 in hepatic tissue.