Objective To investigate the serum level of calcium-binding protein A9(S100A9)in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and explore its potential clinical significance. Methods The serum level of S100A9 was measured by ELISA in 79 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and 20 healthy controls (HC). The correlation of S100A9 level and relevant clinical parameters were analyzed. Results The serum level of S100A9 was significantly increase in RA patients than those in HC. The serum level of S100A9 was higher in high disease activity than that in moderate and low disease activity in the RA group. There was a positive correlation in serum S100A9 level and DAS28 score,Rheumatoid factor,tender joint count and swollen joint count. Conclusion The serum level of S100A9 increases in RA patients and correlates with RA activity.

OBJECTIVE:To observe the effect of ulinastatin on the serum inflammatory cytokines of patients with ulcerative colitis. METHODS:Totally 60 patients with ulcerative colitis were randomly divided into observation group and test group,and an-other 20 healthy volunteers were selected as normal control group. Test group were received routine treatment,including nutrition support and maintaining water,electrolyte balance and 5-amino salicylic acid (5-ASA),etc. Patients in observation group were treated by ulinastatin 200 000 U by intravenous infusion based on the treatment of test group,q12h. 7 d were as a course for the pa-tients,and it lasted for 2 courses. The clinical data in healthy control group and other 2 groups was observed,including tumor ne-crosis factor-α(TNF-α),interleukin-1β(IL-1β),IL-8,C-reactive protein(CRP)levels,colon peroxidase activity(MPO),clinical activity index(CAI)scores and the incidence of adverse reactions before and after treatment. RESULTS:Before and after treatment, the TNF-α,IL-1β,IL-8,CRP and MPO in other 2 groups were significantly higher than health control group,with significant dif-ferences(P<0.05). After treatment,the TNF-α and IL-1β in 2 groups and the IL-8 and CRP levels in observation group were low than before,and the TNF-α,IL-8 and CRP levels in observation group were significantly lower than test group,with significant dif-ferences(P<0.05). There were no obvious adverse reactions during treatment. CONCLUSIONS:Based on the routine treatment, ulinastatin can effectively inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines of patients with ulcerative colitis,and relieve the inflam-mation and injury of colon,with good safety.

Objective To identify the Ligustrum sinense Lour.and Jasminum elongatum(Bergium) Wild.from the macroscopic appearance and microscopic features.Methods Fresh samples of stems,leaves,flowers and fruits of the two kinds of medicinal plants were harvested.Stereoscopy was used for the observation of macroscopic appearance of Ligustrum sinense Lour.and Jasminum elongatum (Bergium) Wild.,and the microscopy was used for the examination of their microscopic features of stem and leaf cross section,tear film and the powder of leaf upper and lower epidermis.Results Original plant characteristics of the two kinds of species were as follows:Ligustrum sinense Lour.had a racemes and funnel-shaped corolla,while Jasminum elongatum (Bergium)Wild.had a cymes and salverform corolla.Microscopic identification results were as follows:the stem pith of Ligustrum sinense Lour.was smaller,and the stem pith ofJasminum elongatum(Bergium) Wild.was bigger;Ligustrum sinense Lour.stem powder had less pit or texture in the sclereids,and had reticulate vessels,and Jasminum elongatum(Bergium) Wild.stem powder had apparent pit or texture in the sclereids,and had spiral vessels.Conclusion The results will provide a basis for the identification,exploitation and utilization of Ligustrum sinense Lour.and Jasminum elongatum(Bergium) Wild.

Objective To investigate the expression of Circulating tumor cells ( CTCs ) in peripheral blood cells of patients with different stages of Small-Cell Lung Cancer ( SCLC) ,and to evaluate its significance in early diagnosis of lung cancer metastasis.Methods Thirty-five patients with SCLC ( 12 in limited stage and 23 in extensive stage ) and 25 patients with benign lung disease were recruited at the Shanghai Changhai Hospital from April 2011 to April 2013.Samples were prepared from 7.5 ml peripheral venous blood and collected in CellSave tubes.The CTC counts were determined using CellTracks AutoPrep fluorescence scanning system according to the manufacturers′instructions.The expression of CTCs in peripheral blood of SCLC patients and benign lung disease patients were analyzed.The expression of CTCs in different stages of SCLC was measured and compared.Furthermore, samples were prepared from 2 ml peripheral venous blood by centrifugation.The serum levels of NSE Neuron specific enolase were measured.The relationship between the expression of CTC and NSE was analyzed.Results CTCs positive rates in SCLC were significantly higher than in benign lung disease controls [ Positive rates of CTC≥1 were 80.0%and 12.0%(χ2 =27.003,P<0.000 1),CTC≥5 were 51.4%and 0 (χ2 =18.367,P<0.000 1), CTC≥10 were 34.3%and 0(χ2 =10.714,P<0.001),CTC≥50 were 17.1 and 0(P=0.036,P<0.05), respectively ].CTCs positive rates in SCLC extensive stage were significantly higher than limited-stage [Positive rates of CTC≥1 were 58.3% and 91.3%(P=0.033,P<0.05), CTC≥5 were 65.2% and 25.0%(P=0.035,P<0.05), respectively].The expression of CTCs was significantly correlated with NSE (r=0.743 7, P<0.000 1).Conclusion The expression of CTC in SCLC patients is significantly higher than those in control group , and is closely related to clinical stages , which may provide new clues to early predicting of SCLC metastasis and deterioration.

Objective To investigate the impact of diabetes on coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)in peroperative patients. Methods Clinical data of 692 CABG patients were collected retrospectively from Sep. 2006 to Jul. 2010. The CABG patients were divided into diabetic group (n = 276) and nondiabetic group (n = 416) according to with the status of diabetes or not before operation. Blood glucose was dynamicaly monitored and treated with insulin to control blood glucose in perioperativeperiod. The postoperative effect,perioperative complication and inhospital case fatality and their relationship with diabetes were analyzed using univariate analysis. Results No significant differences were found regarding the incision complications (5. 8%vs. 4. 3 % , P > 0. 05). The volume of blood transfusion was (890. 7 ± 520. 6) ml in the diabetes group, which was not significantly different from that of (825. 2 ±518. 4)mlin the non-diabetes group (P>0. 05). No significant difference was found on cardiac arrhythmia (13.0% vs. 13. 5%),renal function insufficient (5. 1% vs. 2.4%)and case fatality (2. 9% and 1. 9%) between the diabetes and non-diabetes group (Ps >0. 05). In the diabetes group and non-diabetes group, the duration of IABP (3.7 ± 1. 6) d vs (3.5 ± 1.6)d, use of ventilator (2. 6 ± 1.9)d vs. (2. 4±1.5)d were not sigfnificantly different (Ps >0.05). The length of hospital stay and cost were (22. 0 ±8. 8)d and (8. 11 ±2. 40) thousand RMB in the diabetes group, which were significantly higher than that of (20. 6 ±7. 6)d and (7. 63 ±2. 20) thousand RMB in the non-diabeties group (t =2. 22 and 2. 71 ,Ps <0.05) . Conclusion There are no significant differences in the operative case fatality and complications between patients with diabetes and without nondiabetes. However,diabetes increases hospital stay and expense.

Some important network addresses of microbiology teaching reso ur ces and two effective searching engines in Internet were provided. How to searc h, download and apply these resources to the teaching practice were discussed in this paper.

Total 149 strains of endophytic bacteria were isolated from different healthy organisms of Glycyrrhiza inflata Bat. from Xinjiang. The fermented liquids of these strains were screened by TLC and analysed by HPLC, and the glycyrrhizinic acid monoammonium salt was taken as standard control at the same time. Only one endophtytic bacterial stain of Bacillus subtilis could produce Glycyrrhizinic acid monoammonium salt analogue.

?AIM: To study the association of the single nucleotide polymorphism ( SNP) rs1157699 in the calcitonin receptor-like receptor ( CRLR ) gene with primary angle closure ( PAC) in a Han Chinese population.?METHODS: All samples, involved 232 PAC cases and 306 controls, were obtained from an epidemiologic survey conducted in Funing, Jiangsu Province, China. Genotyping were carried out by TaqMan-MGB probe using the real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction system to study the relationship between SNP of rs1157699 in CRLR gene and PAC.?RESULTS: The prevalence of CRLRrs1157699 genotype was 67.4%, 30.0%, 2.6% for CC, CT, TT in cases, and 71.3%, 27.0%, 1.7% in controls respectively.There was no difference between the two groups in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of rs1157699 (P>0.05).?CONCLUSION:Our results do not support a significant role for rs1157699 in CRLR with PAC.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Erxian Decoction (EXD), a traditional Chinese compound herbal medicine and its separate prescriptions such as Wenshen Yijing Recipe (WSYJR, a recipe for warming kidney and replenishing essence), Ziyin Xiehuo Recipe (ZYXHR, a recipe for nourishing yin and dispersing fire) and Tiaoli Chongren Recipe (TLCRR, a recipe for regulating thoroughfare and conception vessels) and some extracts from EXD on the levels of LH and FSH in the primary cultured anterior pituitary cells from female rats. METHODS: EXD, its separate prescriptions and traditional Chinese herbal extracts from EXD were added directly to the incubators. The levels of LH and FSH were tested by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of LH and FSH in the supernatant of anterior pituitary cells treated by EXD or its separate prescriptions including ZYXHR and TLCRR were increased significantly as compared with those in the blank control. There was a tendency for stimulating the secretions of LH and FSH in the WSYJR-treated group too. Dimethyl sulfoxide as the solvent of icariin and curculigoside could interfere with the results. CONCLUSION: EXD and its separate prescriptions such as ZYXHR and TLCRR can increase the levels of LH and FSH significantly.

ObjectiveTo investigate the outcome and risk factors for kidney involvement by analyzing 64 patients with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody(ANCA)-associated vasculitis.MethodsData analyzed including the demographic information,survival status,renal survival status and laboratory parameters such asserum albumin level,serum creatinine level,urinary protein excretion level,hematuria,high sensitivity C-reactive protein(CRP),ANCA titer,and the Birmingham vasculitis activity score (BVAS).Logistic regression analysis,Cox regression analysis and ROC curve were used to evaluate the risk factors of patients with renal involvement and all-event survival.ResultsTotally 64 patients were enrolled [24 females with the average age of (59.9±2.0) years] and followed up for a median of (38±16) months.The morality rate was 14％,and the prevalence of end stage renal disease was 39％.Compared with those who had better outcomes,patients who died or with end stage renal disease had higher serum creatinine level [ (624±246),(245±127 ) μ mol/L,respectively,t=7.17,P＝0.005 ] and erythrocyte sediment rate [ (112±24),(76±48) mm/1 h,respectively,t=3.74,P＜0.01 ],but lower serum albumin level [(294±31 ),(316±42) g/L,respectively,t=-2.27,P=0.01 ] and hemoglobin level [ (79±13),(99±33) g/L,respectively,t=-3.23,P＜0.01 ] at baseline.Logistic regression analysis found that serum creatinine level and erythrocyte sediment rate at baseline were associated with poor outcome and Cox regression analysis further confirmed this result[Scrβ=1.004,95％CI1.002～1.006,P＜0.01; ESR β=l.018,95％CI 1.000～1.037,P=0.046].ROC curve analysis showed that serum creatinine and erythrocyte sediment rate were predictors for AAV patients' prognosis and their AUC were 0.95 and 0.80,the sensitivity of these parameters was both 94％,and the specificity was 93％ and 70％respectively.ConclusionThe intensity of initial treatment should be based on disease severity and activity in order to improve the prognosis of those with ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement.Increased serum creatinine and erythrocyte sediment rate may serve as predictors for poor prognosis in this patient cohort.