Objective To investigate the possible association of serum leptin(Lp)and soluble leptin receptor(sLR)levels in patients with different clinical types of lupus erythematosus(LE)and the disease activity of system lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods 39 patients with LE were randomly enrolled from Department of dermatology of Sheng Jing Hospital of China Medical University and No.1 Hospital of China Medical University from 2004 to 2005,and 31 normal controls(age-,sex-and body mass index(BMI)-matched)were enrolled in this study.Fasting blood samples were obtained,and serum Lp levels were measured by using radioimmunoassay,and sLR levels were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Results(1)The patients had significantly higher serum Lp levels,but lower sLR levels than that of the control group(P0.05).(2)Lp was in positive relation with BMI,but in negative relation with sLR.The disease activity of SLE showed positive correlation with the serum Lp levels,but negative correlation with sLR levels by Kendall's correlation analysis(P

Objective To investigate the effect of different puncture methods on dialysis adequacy in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Methods One hundred and twenty patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis were divided into the observation group and the control group according to the sequence of receiving the hemodialysis with 60 cases in each group. Patients in the observation group were treated with increasing distance arteriovenous fistula of more than 10 cm , while patients in the control group received normal dialysis care without changing the way of puncture. The difference of dialysis adequacy before and after intervention were compared between the two groups. Result The dialysis adequacy after intervention in the observation group was improved significantly compared with the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion The dialysis adequacy in patients with maintenance dialysis can be improved by increasing the puncture distance of internal arteriovenous fistula.

AIM: To investigate the functional role of TGF-?_1 signal protein Smad2/3 in tubulointerstitial fibrosis associated with unilateral ureteral obstruction in rats. METHODS: The unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model was induced by the ligation of left ureter. Rats were sacrificed at 1, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days after UUO was initiated. TGF?_1 protein, phosphorylated Smad2/3 and interstitial ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) expression were assayed by immunohistochemical staining. TGF-?_1 mRNA in the obstructed kidney was analyzed with in situ hybridration. HE and Masson staining were used for histological and morphometric studies of the pathological change in obstructed kidney. RESULTS: The results showed that upregulation of TGF-?_1 in tubulointerstitium of both cortex and medulla at day 3 (a 3.1 fold increase vs control, P

AIM:To investigate the expression and probable role of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase(ERK1/2)in renal fibrosis associated with diabetic in mice.METHODS:Male homozygous C57BL/6 mice were divided at random into control group(intraperitoneally injected with citrate buffer)and diabetes group(received 5 consecutive daily intraperitoneal injections of streptozotocin at dose of 50 mg?kg-1?d-1).All mice were followed up for 16 weeks.Diabetes was confirmed by serum glucose levels exceeding 16.7 mmol/L.Mice were killed at 0,4,8,12 and 16 weeks respectively after streptozotocin injection.The kidney tissues were obtained from diabetic and control mice.Serum glucose,kidney weight/body weight(KW/BW),24 h albumin excretion rate(UAE)and the serum creatinine(Scr)were measured.The kidney tissue was used for histological and morphometric studies of glomerular size,glomerular matrix expansion(PAS),and the expression of TGF-?1,phosphorylated ERK1/2 and collagen Ⅲ by immunohistochemical staining.RESULTS:The serum level of glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice increased significantly.The kidney weight/body weight ratio,glomerular volume and glomerular matrix expansion in diabetic mice were obviously higher than those in control mice.Serum creatinine and 24 h albumin excretion rate in diabetic mice increased significantly compared with control mice.TGF-?1,phosphorylated ERK1/2 and collagen Ⅲ levels were obviously increased in the kidney of diabetic mice compared with those in control mice(P

Objective To study the role of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)?receptor75000(p75)in psoriasis vulgaris.Methods Expression of p75was detected by immunohistochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)in skin and sera of patients with psoriasis vulgaris.Results Expression of p75was not found in skin of normal controls.p75expression was noted in epidermis of lesional and non-le-sional psoriatic skin,and in dermal infiltrating mononuclear cells(MNCs)of psoriatic skin.The staining in-tensity of p75on epidermal keratinocytes(EKCs)was significantly correlated(r' s =0.732,P

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR),proliferating cell nuclear antigen(PCNA),laminin(LN)and type IV collagen expression in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma(SACC).Methods:EGFR gene in 78 cases of SACC with complete clinical data was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH)technique,the expression of EGFR,PCNA,LN and type IV collagen protein was detected by immunohistochemistry technique(IHC),their correlation with the clin-icopathological parameters was analysed by SPSS 13.00 software.Results:EGFR gene amplification levels(69.2%)was positively related to the ratio of EGFR protein positive expression(7 1 .8%),the expression of EGFR,PCNA,LN and type IV collagen was posi-tively related to the clinical pathological parameters(P<0.05).There was a positive correlation between EGFR and PCNA expression (P<0.05),a negative correlation between LN protein and type IV collagen protein expression(P<0.05).Conclusion:EGFR gene is amplified in SACC.EGFR,PCNA,LN and type IV collagen take part in the occurrence and development of SACC.

PURPOSE: Behcet's disease (BD) is a chronic, relapsing, multi-system vasculitis of unknown aetiology with complicated and diversified clinical features predominantly involving oral and genital ulcers, and ocular and cutaneous lesions. The clinical features of this disease have been described to be different according to geographical areas and gender. We investigated the specific clinical features of BD patients in Northeastern China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 116 patients involved in this study fulfilled the classification criteria of the International Study Group for BD. The clinical manifestations and results of laboratory tests of BD were recorded in each patient. RESULTS: The onset was typically between 20-39 years with a slight female predominance. Oral ulcers were the most common manifestation, followed by skin lesions, positive pathergy reaction/genital ulcers, and ocular lesions. Vascular lesion and epididymitis were rare in patients with BD. The frequency of erythema nodosum-like lesion and articular involvement were significantly higher in females, while gastrointestinal involvement was significantly higher in males. The results of laboratory tests showed that the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B*51 alleles were positive in 30.9% of patients and the immunological abnormities were present in some patients. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of BD showed geographical and gender difference. Genetic and immune factors might participate in aetiopathogenesis of BD.
Behcet Syndrome/*diagnosis/epidemiology/pathology ; China ; Female ; Geography ; Humans ; Male

OBJECTIVETo evaluate further the nature of HLA-DQB1 alleles association with dermatomyositis/polymyositis (DM/PM).

METHODSHLA-DQB1 typing of 52 patients with DM/PM were investigated by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer method, and the frequencies of HLA-DQB1 alleles were compared.

RESULTSIt was found that the patients with DM/PM had significantly increased frequency of HLA-DQB1*0401(RR=3.56, P=1.79 10(-3), Pc<0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that HLA-DQB1*0401 gene contribute to genetic susceptibility to DM/PM.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Child ; Dermatomyositis ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Frequency ; HLA-DQ Antigens ; genetics ; HLA-DQ beta-Chains ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged

To understand and master the distribution of risk factors of stroke in community residents aged 40 and above in Xiaogan city, to provide reference basis for the targeted development of stroke prevention and control. Methods Adopting the method of cluster sampling, 1780 community residents aged 40 or higher, using the unified " stroke risk groups and intervention project risk assessment chart" issued by the national health commission, a questionnaire survey was conducted to meet eligibility criteria, physical testing and laboratory examination. Results Of the 1 274 people who were assessed as high risk of stroke, 595 men, 679 women and 8 risk factors were among the top three of the patients with high blood pressure, obesity and blood lipids, 81. 5 percent, 61. 1 percent and 50. 2 percent respectively. The risk factors for ages 50～59 and 60～69 were more significant than those of other age groups. Conclusion The risk factors of high-risk groups were at a high level, and the distribution of risk factors was statistically significant (P＜0. 05). We should aim to make healthy education for high-risk groups in the community, actively control risk factors and reduce the incidence of stroke.

Objective:To improve the quality standard for compound Huanghuai tablets. Methods: The main components of the preparation including Flos Sophorae Immaturus, Radix Scutellariae Baicalensis, Radix Paeoniae Rubra, Radix et Rhizoma Rhei Palma-ti, Rhizoma Imperatae, Caulis Spatholobi, Semen Coicis and Spica Prunellae Vulgaris were identified by TLC qualitatively. The content of rutin in Flos Sophorae Immaturus was determined by HPLC. A DIKMA? Spursil C18 (250 mm × 4. 6 mm, 5 μm) column was used with methanol-0. 2% phosphoric acid solution (45:55) as the mobile phase. The flow rate was 1. 0 ml·min-1 , the detection wave-length was set at 350 nm, the column temperature was maintained at 25℃, and the injection volume was 20μl. Results:The spots in TLC were clear without any interference. The calibration curve was linear within the range of 0. 0116-0. 1859 mg · ml-1 ( r =0. 9999) for rutin. The average recovery was 98. 93% (RSD=1. 14%,n=6). Conclusion: The improved quality standard is sim-ple, specific and reproducible, which can be used for the quality control of compound Huanghuai tablets.