Objective To investigate the correlation between serum amyloid A (SAA) and disease activity (DAS28) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods Forty-four patients with RA, 35 patients with systemic lupus erythe-matosus (SLE), 18 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) and 30 healthy controls (HC) were enrolled in this study. The levels of SAA were measured by ELISA. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was measured by the Westergren method. The value of serum C reactive protein (CRP) was examined by immunonephelometry assay. The correlation between SAA and DAS 28, ESR and CRP was assessed, respectively. Results The SAA levels were significantly higher in RA group than those of SLE, OA, and HC groups (P<0.05). The serum ESR and CRP levels were both higher in RA group than those of OA and HC groups (P>0.05), but there was no significant difference between RA group and SLE group. There was positive correlation between SAA and DAS28, ESR, and CRP levels (rs=0.790, P<0.001;rs=0.674, P<0.001;rs=0.679, P=0.004), respective-ly. Conclusion SAA may be a new serological marker to assess disease activity in RA.

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of SAA in rheumatoid arthritis(RA) pathogenesis by analyzing the expression of serum amyloid protein A(SAA) in serum,synovial fluid and synovial membrane in patients with RA.MethodsSAA levels in the serum and synovial fluid in each group were detected.Sera SAA was tested by Western blotting,while the expression of SAA in RA and osteoarthritis(OA) synovium was detected by immunohistochemistry.Comparisons between groups were performed by t-tests or KruskaWallis test.ResultsThe serum levels of SAA were significantly higher in RA [(318±132) μg/L] than those in OA [(127±47) μg/L] and healey controls [(127±41) μg/L,P＜0.01].In RA,the SAA levels in the synovial fluid [ (571±473) μg/L ] were significantly higher when compared to those in O A [ (129±33) μg/L](t=2.46,P=0.04).Western blotting results showed that SAA bands were found in the serum samples of each group,and higher expression of SAA were seen in RA.Pathology study had showed that SAA was observed mainly in endothelial cells,synovial fibroblasts,macrophages and perivascular areas in RA synovium.In OA,SAA was observed in perivascular areas and synovial fibroblasts.ConclusionIn RA,SAA levels in both serum and synovial fluid are significantly higher than those in the controls.High expression of SAA in RA synovium can be observed.Our results suggest that SAA may play a role in inflammation reaction and joint destruction of RA.

Objective We aim to evaluate the value of the current serum creatinine reference interval ( RI ) provided by Industry Standard WS /T 404.5 in clinical practice.Methods The first time serum creatinine levels and urinary albumin /creatinine ratio were obtained from 67 605 adult patients ( <60 years old) who were treated in the First Hospital of China Medical University between October 1, 2014 and September 30, 2015 in this cross-sectional study.Estimated glomerular filtration rate ( eGFR ) calculated by chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and urinary albumin /creatinine ratio (ACR) were used to evaluate the clinical practical significance of current and old serum creatinine RIs as the criteria.Results 4.3% of normal subjects based on current RI were showed decreased eGFR, 98% of abnormal subjects based on the current RI were founded to have decreased eGFR . 1378 subjects were evaluated as increased based on current RI but as normal based on old RI , and 93.5% of these subjects were showed decreased eGFR .In addition, ACR was measured in 26 cases, and 18 out of 26 cases (69.2%) were confirmed to have elevated ACR (≥30 mg/g) and proteinuria.On the other hand of analysis, screening positive rates of declined eGFR were 43.6% by old RI and 61.9% by current RI in the subjects with eGFR under 90 ml(min ×1.73 m 2 ), and the performance of the current RI was obviously improved(χ2 =212.648,P <0.001).Conclusions The current reference interval of serum creatinine is favorable for the detection of renal dysfunction in patients .It is recommended that the current reference interval can be applied in the clinical laboratories as early as possible .

Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; economics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; economics ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a contagious and fatal disease of sheep and goats. PPR virus (PPRV) infection induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-mediated unfolded protein response (UPR). The activation of UPR signaling pathways and their impact on apoptosis and virus replication remains controversial. Objectives: To investigate the role of PPRV-induced ER stress and the IRE1-XBP1 and IRE1-JNK pathways and their impact on apoptosis and virus replication. Methods: The cell viability and virus replication were assessed by 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay, immunofluorescence assay, and Western blot. The expression of ER stress biomarker GRP78, IRE1, and its downstream molecules, PPRV-N protein, and apoptosis-related proteins was detected by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. 4-Phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) and STF-083010 were respectively used to inhibit ER stress and IRE1 signaling pathway. Results: The expression of GRP78, IRE1α, p-IRE1α, XBP1s, JNK, p-JNK, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax and PPRV-N were significantly up-regulated in PPRV-infected cells, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated. Due to 4-PBA treatment, the expression of GRP78, p-IRE1α, XBP1s, p-JNK, caspase-3, caspase-9, Bax, and PPRV-N were significantly downregulated, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly up-regulated. Moreover, in PPRV-infected cells, the expression of p-IRE1α, p-JNK, Bax, and PPRV-N was significantly decreased, and the expression of Bcl-2 was increased in the presence of STF-083010. Conclusions PPRV infection induces ER stress and IRE1 activation, resulting in apoptosis and enhancement of virus replication through IRE1-XBP1s and IRE1-JNK pathways.

The present study investigated the relationship between DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) and radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell lines. The dose-survival relationship for NPC cell lines, CNE1 and CNE2, was analyzed using clonogenic formation assay, the activity of DNA-PK of the two cell lines was measured using the Signa TECT DNA-PK assay kit, and the localization and expression of Kus (a heterodimer) and DNA-PKcs protein in CNE1 and CNE2 before irradiation and 15 min, 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h after 4 Gy irradiation were analyzed by immunofluorescence, laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM) and Western blot. The results showed that the surviving fraction of CNE1 was higher than that of CNE2 at each dose. The DNA-PK activity of CNE1 was also significantly higher than that of CNE2 before and after irradiation (P<0.05), while the expression of total Ku70/Ku80 in CNE1 and CNE2 had no significant difference. Increasing translocation of Ku70 and Ku80 from the cytoplasm to the nuclei in the two cell lines was observed with increase of irradiation time as detected by Western blot, and the immunofluorescence of the DNA-PK complex subunits showed greater nuclear translocation in CNE1 than CNE2 after irradiation. The results suggest that the relatively higher radio-resistance of CNE1 correlates with the higher activity of DNA-PK as compared to that of more radiosensitive CNE2 (or lower radio-resistance) before and after irradiation. Thus, DNA-PK activity may be a useful predictor of radiosensitivity of NPC.
Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; enzymology ; radiation effects ; DNA-Activated Protein Kinase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; enzymology ; Radiation Tolerance

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of Danlong Oral Liquid (DOL) combined Western medicine (WM) in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

METHODSTotally 480 mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset were randomly assigned to two groups in the ratio 3:1, the treatment group (360 cases) and the control group (120 cases). All patients received basic WM treatment. Patients in the treatment group took DOL, 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total, while those in the control group took Kechuanning Oral Liquid (KOL) , 10 mL each time, 3 times per day for 7 days in total. Efficacy for asthma symptoms, lung functions and scores of TCM syndrome and/or main symptoms were evaluated.

RESULTSThe percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of asthma symptoms in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (77.36% vs 56.07%, P < 0.01). The percentage of clinical control and significant effectiveness of lung functions in the treatment group was significantly higher than that of the control group (74.28% vs 50.00%, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of TCM syndrome was significantly superior in the treatment group than in the control group (-11.26 ± 4.70 vs -9.21 ± 5.09, P < 0.01). The anterior-posterior difference in scores of main symptoms was significantly better in the treatment group than in the control group (-6.58 ± 3.08 vs -5.16 ± 3.45, P < 0.01). The incidence of adverse reactions was significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group [1.73% (6/346 cases) vs 10.17% (12/118 cases) , P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONDOL combined WM was superior to KOL in treating mild-to-moderate bronchial asthma patients (heat wheezing syndrome) at acute onset.

Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Biomedical Research ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; methods ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Lung ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Phytotherapy ; Respiratory Sounds ; Syndrome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the probability of repairing the severe cleft lip and nose in one time.

METHODS35 patients were included. A revised method was presented based on the popular methods used.

RESULTSAmong 35 patients, the length of lip in two sides was equal in 33 patients, and the appearance of the nose shape was satisfactory in 31 patients evaluated by third expert group.

CONCLUSIONThe method presented in this paper could repair the abnormalities of the lip and nose effectively in severe cleft lip patients in one time and was adapted in the patients who could not be treated with serial methods because of a bad economic state.

Cleft Lip ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nose

Forecasting ; History, Ancient ; Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; trends

OBJECTIVETo investigate genotype of HCV infection among residents in a rural village, Hebei Province.

METHODSBlood samples of the 520 residents were collected, and C/E1 of HCV genome of the 483 samples were obtained by RT-PCR amplifying, and the gene sequences were analyzed and the polygenetic tree were drawn by the software Mega 4.0.

RESULTSIn 483 subjects, HCV-RNA positive objectives are 70, positive prevalence is 14.5%, genotyping for all the samples successfully, including genotypes 1b and 2a, which are 36 (51.4%), 34 (48.6%) respectively.

CONCLUSIONHCV RNA positive rate is 14.5%, which is higher than general people. Subtypes 1b and 2a seemed to be the dominant genotypes of HCV in Zhao county area of Hebei Province.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Donors ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Hepatitis C ; epidemiology ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Young Adult