Objective To investigate the expressions and significance of interleukin 8 (IL 8) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Using microarray and RT PCR to detect the expressions of IL 8 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC) and synovial cells in patients with active AS. Comparing the results with those in PBMC of both healthy volunteers and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and also with those in synovial cells obtained from patients undergoing knee operations for trauma. Results The expressions of IL 8 in PBMC and SFMC of patients with active AS were significantly higher than those in PBMC of the healthy controls. The expression of IL 8 in PBMC of RA patients was also higher than that of healthy volunteers. Higher expression of IL 8 in the synovial cells were detected in AS than that of patients with knee joint trauma. Conclusions The expression of IL 8 is high in patients with AS. The result may indicate that IL 8 is possibly one of the important mediators of inflammation in AS, and it may mediate the induction and development of inflammation in synovium or other tissues involved in AS

[Objective] To assess the quality of Citrus grandis Osbeck. Var. tomentosa Hort. (CGO Var. TH) and Citrus grandis (L. ) Osbeck (CGO). [Methods] The macroscopic feature and microscopic structure of CGO Var. TH and CGO were compared. Their content of total flavones (TF) was determined by spectrometry, naringin content and fingerprint by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the content of rhoifolin by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Their expectorart, anti-inflammatory and antitussive effects were observed by phenol red test, auricular swelling test and ammonia-water-induced cough method. [Results] Obvious differences such as villi in the exocarp and non-grandular hair in the stem existed in the macroscopic feature and microscopic structure of CGO Var. TH and CGO. The contents o{ total flavones and naringin in CGO Var. TH were markedly higher than that in CGO and the rhoifolin content in CGO Var. TH was ten times as much as that in CGO. Markedly difference was also found in their fingerprint. The expectorant, anti-inflammatory and antitussive effects in CGO Var. TH were better than those in CGO. [Conclusion] The quality of CGO Var. TH is much better than that of CGO.

BACKGROUNDToll like receptor (TLR) 9 has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in animal models. Its pathogenic role in human SLE, however, was poorly elucidated. This study was performed to investigate the role of TLR9 involved in the aberrant signaling pathway and its correlation with disease activity in SLE.

METHODSmRNA level of TLR9 and interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IFN-a expression was measured in the serum of the SLE patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSTLR9 expression was significantly higher in SLE patients than that in health controls (P = 0.011). SLE patients with positive anti-dsDNA antibody had significantly higher expression of TLR9 than that with negative anti-dsDNA antibody (P = 0.001). TLR9 expression was positively correlated with fever (P = 0.017), alopecia (P = 0.046), safety of estrogens in lupus erythematosus national assessment SLE disease activity index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score (r(s) = 0.385, P = 0.003), and the level of IRF5 (r(s) = 0.35, P = 0.027) and IFN-a (r(s) = 0.627, P = 0.001) in SLE patients.

CONCLUSIONTLR9 is associated with SLE disease activity and might be involved in the IFN-a pathway of SLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult

We report the case of a 70-year-old man with an asymptomatic large patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) incidentally detected on triple-rule-out computed tomography (CT). CT clearly demonstrated a vascular structure connecting the descending thoracic aorta to the roof of the proximal left pulmonary artery, consistent with a PDA. Secondary pulmonary arterial hypertension was also evident on CT. The patient was eventually diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome and was successfully treated with coronary artery bypass graft surgery and concomitant patch closure of the PDA. This article aims to outline the imaging features of PDA and highlight the information provided by CT, which is crucial to treatment planning. The pathophysiology, clinical manifestations and closure options of PDA are also briefly discussed.
Aged ; Aorta, Thoracic ; diagnostic imaging ; Ductus Arteriosus, Patent ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Echocardiography ; Heart Diseases ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; complications ; diagnostic imaging ; Infant ; Male ; Obesity ; complications ; Pulmonary Artery ; pathology ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult