Objective To investigate the roles of serum visfatin and VE-cadherin in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris and their clinical significance. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the serum levels of visfatin and VE-cadherin in 78 patients with psoriasis vulgaris before and after treatment and in 30 normal human controls. The relationship between the two parameters and disease activity was evaluated. Results The serum levels of visfatin and VE-cadherin were significantly higher in untreated patients with psoriasis than in the normal controls (I = 10.53, 10.16, both P< 0.01), and in patients with active psoriasis than in those with stable psoriasis (t = 12.47, 13.11, both P< 0.01). The treatment caused a marked decrease in the serum levels of visfatin and VE-cadherin in patients. The serum level of visfatin was positively associated with the level of VE-cadherin and PASI scores (r = 0.58, 0.64, P < 0.01) in patients with psoriasis. Conclusion Visfatin and VE-cadherin may be used as parameters for evaluating disease activity of psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective Inflammatory response is an important part in pathological change of traumatic arthritis(TA).Studies show that hydrogen has antioxidate and anti-inflammatory properties, however, there are few reports on treating TA with it.So this research aimed to investigate curative effects of curing traumatic arthritis in rabbits with intraperitoneal injection of saturated hydrogen saline solution . Methods A total of 26 New Zealand white rabbits were divided into three groups:normal control group (n=6), model experimental group (n=10), and model control group (n=10).Rabbits in model experimental group were intraperitoneally injected with 8 ml /kg saturated hy-drogen saline, once every three day;equivalent saline was injected in rabbits of model control group;while no treatment was done on normal control group.The treatment lasted for 6 weeks.Before and after the treatment, the serum and joint fluid of the rabbits in the three groups were respectively taken to determine the content of nitric oxide (NO) and hyaluronic acid (HA), which was used to evaluate therapeutic effect in combination with the behavioral performance of the rabbits . Results Significant improvement in behavior was found in model ex-perimental group after the treatment (P<0.05).No statistical differences were found in knee swelling scores of the three groupsbefore the treatment(P>0.05), but model experimental group was superior to model control group in knee swelling scores after the treatment (P<0.05).The contents of NO both in serum ([79.58 ±13.46] vs [76.23 ±12.15]) and joint fluid ([89.45 ±14.98] vs [80.36 ±12.78]) in two model groups increased before the treatment, which was of statistical difference (P<0.05), but the NO content decreased dramatically in model experimental group after the treatment ([436.82 ±60.91] vs [340.21 ±40.57],P<0.05), and no obvious changes were observed in model control group (P>0.05).The content of serum HA in model experimental group declined dramatically (P<0.05) and the joint fluid increased after the treatment ([1.72 ±0.37] vs [2.47 ±0.62],P<0.05), while no significant changes were found in model control group before and after the treatment. Conclusion The intraperitoneal injec-tion of saturated hydrogen saline may be effective in the treatment of trau-matic arthritis.

To investigate the effect of treasure pill pretreatment on hypoxic brain injury Fas and Fas L protein expression.Methods:Newborn 7d Wistar rats 200,male or female,were randomly divided into 5 groups(n=40):normal control group, model group 1h hypoxia(Ⅰm-12h,Ⅰm-24h,Ⅰm-48h,Ⅰm-72h),model group 4h hypoxia(Ⅳm-12h,Ⅳm-24h,Ⅳm-48h,Ⅳm-72h), hypoxic 1h treasure pill treatment group(ⅠT-14h,ⅠT-24h,ⅠT-48h,ⅠT-72h),hypoxic 4h treasure pill treatment group(ⅣT-14h,ⅣT-24 h ,ⅣT-48 h ,ⅣT-72 h ).The newborn Wistar rats were placed in hypoxia chamber of 8%O2+92%N2 ( V/V) for establishment the model of neonatal rats with hypoxia.Before modeling continuous 7 d once-daily oral administration of saline and treasure pill , during hypoxia also dose ,after hypoxia 12 h,24 h,48 h,72 h animals were sacrificed blood and brain tissues tested.By ELISA to detect the protein levels of Fas and Fas L in serum and brain tissue;by immunohistochemistry method to detect the expression of Fas and Fas L in rat brain tissue.Results:Compared with normal control group ,other four groups the protein content and protein expression of Fas and Fas L are in the 12h time points after hypoxic significantly increased ,and 24 h time point that pealed at statistically significant ( P<0.01 ) ,model group was significantly higher than the treatment group at each time point ;model groups in 48 h,72 h time point the protein expression and protein content of Fas and Fas L was less than 12 h time point but still significantly higher than the control group ( P<0.01 );treasure pill groups in 48 h,72 h time point the protein expression and protein content of Fas and Fas L was less than 12 h time point ,and slightly higher than the normal control group ( P<0.05 ).Conclusion: Treasures pill can cut hypoxic brain damage in rats,the positive expression of Fas and Fas L protein content and protein ,and thus the hypoxic brain injury has a protective effect.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sorafenib in combination with interferon-alpha(IFN-α)as the first-line treatment in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.Methods Since Dec 2007 to Jun 2008,137 legal patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC)were enrolled in the trail from 22 hospitals in China.All the patients continuously received the treatment of sorafenib plus IFN-α untill disease progressed or patients were unable to tolerate.The primary end points were objective response,disease control rate and adverse effects rate.Results This interim analysis was based on the data collected from the study initiation date to 2009/3/20.The overall response rate(ORR),including complete response (CR) and partial response(PR),was 32.8%(45/137).The median follow-up time was 11.9 months,only 25 patients progressed at the cut off time.The most common adverse events were hand-foot skin reaction(48.2%),alopecia(23.4%),rash (20.4%),diarrhea(19.7 0A),fever(16.8%),lassitude(10.2%),etc.The incidence of 3 or 4 grade hand-foot skin reaction was 8.8%.Conclusions Sorafenib in combination with IFN-α as the firstline treatment in patient with advanced RCC could be effective and safe.

0.05).After treatment,in neuromus- cular electric stimulation therapy group and ice-massage therapy group,SSA scores and degrade of SaO_2 were improved. There was significant difference between before and after treatment(P

BACKGROUND: Precise clinical treatment of talar ischemic necrosis remains controversial at present.OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes in the stress and its distribution on talar trochlear articular surface in case of talar necrosis at different levels.METHODS: The present study adopted eight ankle specimens to establish the three-dimensional finite element model of ankle. Through changes in the talar necrosis volume of these models, this study analyzed the change law of talar trochlear articular surface stress and its distribution and calculated the critical necrosis volume of traumatic foot and ankle arthritis or talar collapse that may be induced by talar ischemic necrosis.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The experiment successfully established the three-dimensional finite element model of ankle. This study found that talar trochlear articular surface stress distribution showed little change in case of talar medial and lateral necrosis at a lower level; when medial talar necrosis volume reached (26.6±1.5)%, and lateral talar necrosis volume reached (35.0±2.5)%. Stress concentration phenomenon occurred in the boundary area between talar necrosis tissue and normal osseous tissue, and the stress area took the shape of irregular pattern. It is suggested that surgical treatment should be considered due to the high-risk induction of ankle-foot traumatic arthritis or talar collapse.

Objective To study the role of OIf-1/EBF associated zinc finger protein (OAZ),a transcription factor encoded by a positional systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) candidate gene,in the function of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) of SLE patients by silencing this gene.Methods OAZ mRNA levels of bone marrow MSC obtained from 5 SLE patients and 5 healthy controls were detected by real-time PCR.Bone marrow MSC obtained from 6 SLE patients were incubated with specific siRNAs for 3 days,then cells were harvested for OAZ measurement,Idl-3 and CCL2 mRNA levels were tested by real-time PCR,and levels of CCL2 were detected in culture supernatants using ELISA.Differences between groups were analyzed using t-test or MannWhitney test.Results ① OAZ mRNA levels of bone marrow MSC were significantly elevated in SLE patients (0.013±0.016) compared to healthy controls (0.001±0.000,P=0.009).② After OAZ silencing,the expression levels of OAZ,Id1,Id2 and ld3 mRNA were significantly decreased (△Ct 10.3±0.7,15.2±1.6,8.1±1.4,10.5±0.6 vs 8.7±0.7,14.1±1.2,7.1±1.5,9.8±0.6) (P all ＜0.05).③ Both the expression levels of CCL2 mRNA (△Ct 2.2±1.1 vs 3.0±1.1 ) and the levels of CCL2 protein in culture supernatants [(341±29) pg/ml vs (304±19) pg/ml] were significantly increased in OAZ silencing group comparing to those in the control group (P all ＜0.05).Conclusion OAZ gene expression is significantly elevated in bone marrow MSC of SLE patients.OAZ may affect autoantibody production in SLE patients by regulating CCL2 expression.

Objective To study the gait footprint parameters of the normal children and the cerebral palsy (CP) children, and to explore its clinical value. Methods A total of 2 800 normal children aged 3 to 10 years and 139 spastic CP children aged 3 to 5 years were recruited in this study. The normal children were divided into seven groups with one year interval, and were measured with regard to the length of foot and step, step width and foot angle of footprint of every age group with self made oil printed carpet. The footprint of the CP children were measured and compared with that of the normal children at the same age. Results It was revealed that there was significant difference between the normal and the CP children ( P

Objective To study the reliability, validity, sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the Standardized Swallowing Assessment (SSA) in assessing swallowing function. Methods Sixty-seven stroke patients with dysphagia participated in the study. They were assessed twice with the SSA within 3 days. In addition, the patients' swallowing was also assessed using videofluoroscopy. Results There was high correlation in all items of the SSA between the two separate assessment sessions. The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.85 for intrarater re- liability and 0.82 for interrater reliability. The SSA and videoflouroscopy results were highly correlated in terms of their total scores (r = -0.86,P≤0.01). Using the videoflouroscopy result as the standard, the sensitivity and spe- cificity of the SSA were 77.8% and 68.1% , respectively. At the same time, the positive and negative predictive val- ues were 48.3% and 88.9% , respectively. Conclusions The SSA has satisfactory reliability and validity, and higher sensitivity and specificity than videoflouroscopy. It is recommended for assessing swallowing with stroke pa- tients.

AIM:To detect the changes of cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) expression in the brain following ischemia-reperfusion of hind limbs in the rats and to elucidate their significance .METHODS:Hind limb ischemia was in-duced by clamping infrarenal aorta with a microvascular clip and brain injury was made by following reperfusion .The brain tissue was obtained from the animals subjected to sham operation , 4 h of ischemia without reperfusion and 3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h of reperfusion following 4 h of ischemia .The expression of CBS at mRNA and protein levels was measured at different time points by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction ( RT-PCR) and Western blotting .The CBS activity and hy-drogen sulfide ( H2 S) concentration in the brain were determined by a universal microplate reader .The observation of path-ologic changes of the brain was made following the inhibition of CBS by hydroxylamine .RESULTS:The relative expression of CBS at mRNA and protein levels in IR group significantly increased compared with sham group .It reached a peak at 12 h (P<0.01), and returned to baseline at 24 h (P>0.05).This time course correlated with increased CBS activity and H2 S concentration .No statistically significant difference in the above indexes between sham operation group and ischemia group was observed (P>0.05).Inhibition of CBS activity induced more severe brain injury in IR group .CONCLUSION:Up-regulation of CBS/H2 S pathway is involved in the protection for neurons during the ischemia-reperfusion of hind limbs .