objective:To evaluate the sensitivity and predictive value of grey scale and power Doppler ultrasound assessment of bone erosionin disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (Ra).
Methods:Fifty-six patients with early Ra underwent blinded sequential clinical, laboratory and ultrasound assessments, and at the same time 20 of these patients underwent X-ray and enhanced MRi. For each patient, 28-joint disease activity score (DaS28), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (eSR), C reactive protein (CRP) and health assessment questionnaire (haQ) were recorded. The presence of bone erosion and synovitis was investigated in 28 joints by gray-scale and power Doppler ultrasonography. The ultrasound joint count and index for active synovitis with power Doppler signal were calculated.
Results:The number of bone erosions detected by ultrasonography was 5.7 times that of X-ray, while both MRi and ultrasonography were consistent (91.5%). The number of synovitis detected by ultrasonography was 1.6 times as much as by physical examination, and consistent MRi (95.7%). PDUS parameters demonstrated a highly significant correlation with DaS28, eSR and CRP, while a negative correlation with haQ.
Conclusion:Grey scale and power Doppler ultrasonography is a sensitive and reliable method to assess bone erosion and inflammatory activity in early Ra. PDUS findings may have a predictive value in disease activity.

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine (Hey) level and ankylosing spondylitis (AS).To analyze the association between the NS,N10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTFHR) gene polymorphism and AS.Methods One hundred patients with AS and 60 healthy controls were included in the study.The plasma Hey level was examined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay and MTHFR gene polymorphism was analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP).Results Compared with heahhy controls,the plasma Hey level in AS patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in the frequen-cies of MTHFR genotype and alleles between AS and the controls (P＞0.05),But the ratio of T/T genotype mutation was different between AS and the controls (P＜0.05).The plasma Hey level of T/T genotype was significantly higher than that of C/T or C/C genotype in AS and the controls (P＜0.01).Logisticalregression analysis indicated that Hey was an independent risk factor for AS (P＜0.01,0R=4.582,95%CI=1.984～10.585).Conclusion The plasma homocysteine level is significantly increased in AS patients.Hyperhomo-cysteinemia is an independent risk factor for AS.MTHFR T/T genotype mutation is an important mechanism of hyperhomocysteinemia and may be related with AS.

Objective:To discuss the diagnostic approaches and treatment choices of low-flow priapism.Methods:35 cases of patients suffered from the low-flow priapism in our hospital from September 2010 to October 2016 were selected and diagnosed with the low-flow (ischemic) priapism by combining cavernous blood gas analysisand and color duplex ultrasonography.The priapism lasted 12 to 240 h with a mean of 72 h.31 patients of them had ever been induced by Polysaccharide Sulfate.One appeared priapism after sexual life.One appeared priapism after micturition.2 of them were not known what drug they had taken.Results:The symptoms disappeared in 5 cases as a result of using cold compress,sedation method and intracavemous lavage in hospital.But 30 cases were still priapism.Their penis were in a flaccid state after they were performed with the operation of glandular cavemosum shunting.During the 6-24 months of follow-up,31 patients developed erectile dysfunction.Among them,13 cases were light to mid erectile dysfunction,10 cases were mildly and 8 cases were the worst.Conclusion:(1) Using cavernous blood gas analysis and color duplex ultrasonography is important way to diagnose priapism.(2) Cold compress,sedation method and intracavemous lavage are the first treatments for the the low-flow priapism.If they are not the effectual cure,the operation of glandular cavemosum shunting should be performed in time.

Objective To observe the effect of resveratrol on the apoptosis and expressions of bal-2 and bax protein in articular chondrecytes of rabbits experimental osteoarthritis (OA) model,and further explore the mechanisms of resveratrol in the treatment of OA.Methods Thirty Newzealand rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups：group A (normal control group),group B (model control group),group C (resveratrol intervention high dosage group),group D(resveratrol intervention middle dosage group),group E (resveratrel intervention low dosage group).The model of OA was established with Hulth's modeling method in group B,C,D,E.Four weeks later,groups A and B received intragastric administration of distilled water containing 0.1% DMSO daily and group C,D,E received intragastric administration of resveratrol solution daily (concentration was 60 mg/ml) in different dosages for 6 weeks.Daily dosages of group C,D,E were 120,60,30 mg·kg-1·d-1,respectively.Then the rabbits were sacrificed and the cartilage sections of right femoral medial condyle were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for bcl-2 and bax,TUNEL for apoptosis.Results ① The apoptosis rates of chondrocytes in group B,C,D,E were significantly higher than those in group A (P＜0.01).The apoptosis rates of chandrocytes in group C,D,E were decreased compared with those in group B (P＜0.05).②The positive rates of bcl-2 and bax expression in chondrocytes in group B were significantly higher than those in group A (P＜0.01),but the ratio of the positive rate of bcl-2 expression to that of bax in group B was lower than that in group A (P＜0.01).The positive rates of bcl-2 expression in chondrocytes in group C,D,E were much higher compared with those in group B (P＜0.01).The positive rotes of bax expression in chondrocytes in group C,D,E were lower compared with those in group B (P＜0.01).The ratio of the positive rate of bcl-2 expression to that of bax was increased in group C,D,E compared with group B (P＜0.01).Conclusion Resveratrol can suppress the excessive apoptosis of chondrocytes in experimental OA by up-regulating the expression of bcl-2 while down-regulating the expression of bax and improving the ratio of bcl-2 to bax .Suppressing the excessive apoptosis of chondrocytes in experimental OA may be one of the mechanisms for resveratroi's effect in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

Objective To study the clinical significance and diagnostic value of anti-proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibodies.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted for the diagnoses and clinical features of 102 patients with anti-PCNA antibodies.Line immunoassay was used to detect anti-PCNA antibody of 536 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.Possible relationship between anti-PCNA anti-body and clinical features and other antibodies in SLE were analyzed.Comparisons between groups were performed by t-test or x2 test.Results In the 102 patients with anti-PCNA antibodies,49 had SLE (48.0％).Other disorders associated with anti-PCNA antibodies included primary Sj(o)gren's syndrome(24.5％),systemic sclerosis (12.7％),primary biliary cirrhosis (3.9％),auto-immune thyroiditis (6.9％),polymyositis/dermatomyositis (2.0％) and hepatitis C virus infection (1.0％).9.1％ of SLE patients showed positive anti-PCNA antibody.Compared with those SLE patients with negative anti-PCNA antibody,the occurrences of rash,neuropsychiatric SLE,renal involvement was significantly higher in the anti-PCNA positive patients.In addition,the SLEDAI score was significantly higher in the latter.The positive rates of anti-Rib-P,anti-dsDNA,anti-Ro52,anti-RNP/Sm were higher in patients of SLE with positive anti-PCNA antibody.Conclusion Sera anti-PCNA antibody is not specific for SLE and it is associated with the occurrences of rash,Raynaud's phenomenon,neuropsychiatric SLE,renal involvement and positive rates of anti-Rib-P,anti-dsDNA,antiRo52,anti-RNP/Sm.In addition,anti-PCNA antibody is associa-ted with the disease activity of SLE.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the risks of anti-TNF-αtreatment-associated infection, severe infection and tuberculosis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, and to reduce the infection incidences associated with anti-TNF-αtherapy. Methods:We used Meta analysis to systematically review randomized controlled trials on anti-TNF-αtreatment associated risks of infecion, severe infection and tuberculosis in AR patients.Results:Although no statistically significant differences were detected in TB risk between anit-TNF-αtreatment and the control group (0.5%vs 0.07%;P=0.27, OR=1.85, 95%CI:0.62-5.52), there still existed a clinically obvious elevation of TB risk in monoclonal anti-TNF-αtreatment, which was illustrated by the results that no TB case was reported in the etanercept group, but 11 TBs in 2050 infliximab-treated cases, and 3 TBs in 722 adalimumab-treated cases. The total infection and severe infection risks were also signiifcantly higher in patients receiving anti-TNF-αtreatment (P<0.05). Subanalysis revealed that etanercept showed no signiifcantly higher infection or severe infection risk than control group (P>0.05), while both kinds of monoclonal antibodies of TNF-αblockers showed a signiifcantly elevated infection or severe infection risks (P<0.05). High doses of anti-TNF-αtreatment were associated with statistically increased risks of severe infection (6.0%vs 2.8%, P=0.04, OR=1.68, 95%CI:1.02-2.78). Conclusion:The TB risk of anti-TNF-αtreatment deserves close attention, especially in places with high rate of BCG vaccination and MTb infection. Monoclonal anti-TNF-αtreatment brings higher risks of infection and severe infection than soluble TNF-αreceptor.

The maintenance of the balance between oxygen supply and oxygen consumption is a key measure in preventing acute kidney hypoxic/reoxygenation injury. Morphine can inhibit metabolism and reduce the oxygen consumption. We tried to investigate the protective effects of morphine hypoxic preconditioning on acute kidney hypoxic/reoxygenation injury in rabbit and its influence on expression of caspase-3 protein. Kidney hypoxic and reoxygenation were induced by making the tested rabbits inhale 8% oxygen for three hours firstly, and then putting them in the air to breathe in normal oxygen for another three hours. Morphine hypoxic preconditioning was induced by administering morphine 3 mg/kg, and then hypoxic of 8% oxygen was induced. Caspase-3 protein expression in renal tissue was assessed by immunohistochemical method. In the present study, the expressions of caspase-3 protein were significantly higher in saline-control hypoxic group than in morphine hypoxic preconditioning group ((29.3+/-5.7)% vs. (12.16+1.23)%, P<0.05). These observations suggested that morphine hypoxic preconditioning can protect rabbit against acute kidney hypoxic/reoxygenation injury by decreasing expression of caspase-3 protein.
Animals ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; methods ; Kidney ; blood supply ; metabolism ; Male ; Morphine ; pharmacology ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of resveratrol (Res) on in vitro proliferation and apoptosis of TNF-alpha induced rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA FLS), and further to investigate the PI3 K/Akt/BAD signal mechanism.

METHODThe inhibition rate of RA FLS was examined by MTT assay. Cell cycle and the amount of apoptotic cells was measured by flow cytometry. PI3K/Akt/BAD signal transduction proteins expression was measured by western blot.

RESULTThe living cells measured by MTT dose and time-dependently reduced in Res groups. In Res groups, the fraction of living cells in the S-phase and G2/M-phase decreased respectively, while that in G1-phase increased, the difference was statistically significant compared with the TNF-alpha group (P < 0.05). Flow cytometry demonstrated that the apoptosis rate increased with increased Res concentration. Res inhibited TNF-alpha induced phosphorylation of Akt and BAD in RA FLS.

CONCLUSIONRes can inhibit RA FLS proliferation and induce apoptosis through inhibition of PI3K/Akt/BAD signalling pathway. Res may provide a new therapeutic approach in treatment of RA.

Aged ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; immunology ; physiopathology ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stilbenes ; pharmacology ; Synovial Membrane ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; immunology

Objective:To evaluate therapeutic effects and adverse reactions of tocilizumab on patients with severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods:Twelve patients with severe refractory RA were treated with tocilizumab.The clinical and laboratory indices and the side effects were recorded after treatment.Results:The clinical and laboratory indices and the disease activity score 28 (DAS28) were observed in all patients,which were significantly improved after TCZ therapy (P＜0.05),and no obvious adverse reactions were found.Conclusion:Tocilizumab can effectively relieve the symptoms and improve the conditions of severe active RA.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between serum thyroglobulin antibody (TG-Ab) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO-Ab) cconcentrations and arteriosclerosis development in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression.Methods:A total of 200 middle-aged and older adult patients with depression who received treatment in the Third People's Hospital of Huzhou from January 2018 to October 2019 were included in this study. They were divided into four groups ( n = 50/group) according to TG-Ab and TPO-Ab test results: TG-Ab-positive (group 1), TPO-Ab-positive (group 2), TG-Ab-positive and TPO-Ab-positive (group 3), TG-Ab-negative and TPO-Ab-negative (control group). Serum thyroid hormone level, ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity, and the incidences of intima-media thickening and plaque formation in the lower extremity arteries were compared between groups. Results:Total thyroxine concentration in the control group, groups 1, 2 and 3 was (89.96 ± 2.45) nmol/L, (101.29 ± 3.35) nmol/L, (90.09 ± 2.70) nmol/L, (97.55 ± 2.57) nmol/L, respectively. There was a significant difference in total thyroxine concentration between groups ( F = 3.85, P < 0.05). Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in the control group, groups 1, 2, and 3 was (1 327.55 ± 67.78) cm/s, (1 510.36 ± 83.05) cm/s, (1 422.71 ± 71.40) cm/s, (1 533.95 ± 87.01) cm/s, respectively. There was a significant difference in brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity between groups ( F = 65.12, P < 0.05). The incidence of intima-media thickening in the control group, groups 1, 2, and 3 was 18% (9/50), 50% (25/50), 32% (16/50), 60% (30/50), respectively. The incidence of plaque formation in the control group, groups 1, 2, and 3 was 22% (11/50), 56% (28/50), 40% (20/50), 70% (35/50), respectively. There were significant differences in intima-media thickening and plaque formation between groups ( χ2 = 21.83, 25.77, all P < 0.001). Logistic multivariate regression analysis showed that age ( OR = 0.953) and TG-Ab ( OR = 1.116) were independent risk factors for developing arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:TG-Ab-positive results are an independent risk factor for developing arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression. TPO-Ab-positive results have a synergistic effect on the occurrence and development of arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression. Monitoring serum TG-Ab and TPO-Ab concentrations is of great clinical significance for the prevention and treatment of arteriosclerosis in middle-aged and older adult patients with depression.