OBJECTIVE: Previous opinions consider the secondary diffuse osteoporosis as the very cause of vertebral fractures in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, recent studies on bone mineral density (BMD) and vertebral fractures in AS patients reveal that there is no relation between the two. This article aims at investigating the association of lumbar vertebral fractures with clinical, laboratory, and imaging indexes in AS patients.METHODS: A contrast observation was performed between 65 AS patients and 62 healthy physical examinees, whose lumbar vertebral plain radiographs were taken for checking vertebral fractures. Disease activity evaluation indexes included C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, finger-to-ground distance, Schobar's index score, Bath AS radiology index (BASRI) and syndesmophyte score. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry technique was used to measure BMD levels of lumbar vertebras and femurs.RESULTS: Out of the total 65 AS patients, 10 ones (15.4%) had lumbar vertebral fractures, with 4 ones with wedge deformities and the other 6 ones with biconcave deformities. BMD levels of Lumbar vertebras and femurs in AS patients were significantly lower than those in controls (P < 0.01). There were significant differences in Schober's index scores, finger-to-ground distance scores, Bath scores, syndesmophyta scores and intertrochanter BMD values between AS patients with and without vertebral fractures (P < 0.01 ). Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that intertrochanter BMD values were independently associated with lumbar vertebral fractures in AS patients (P =0.043).CONCLUSION: There is a correlation between low femoral BMD levels and the risk of lumbar vertebral fractures in patients with AS, especially at the intertrochanter area.

BACKGROUND:Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs) have been widely used in MRI. It is vital to prepare the superparamagnetic MRI contrast agent with high stability, biocompatibility and tumor targeting in order to prevent the aggregation of Fe 3 O 4 NPs and realize the high-precision diagnose of tumor. OBJECTIVE:To prepare the amphiphilic superparamagnetic composite particles with tumor targeting mediated by folate receptor. METHODS:The stable amphiphilic superparamagnetic composite particles with tumor targeting function were prepared by coating the Fe3O4 NPs with a Pluronic F127-folic acid conjugate, which was synthesized via an esterification reaction between the carboxyl group of the tumor targeting molecule, folic acid and the hydroxyl group of an amphiphilic triblock copolymer, Pluronic F127. The resultant Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe3O4 composite particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared-spectra, UV-vis absorption spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis, vibrating sample magnetometer and T2-weighted imaging. WST assay was used to characterize their cytotoxicity preliminarily. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The Pluronic F127-folic acid conjugates were prepared via esterification reaction. Then Fe 3 O 4 NPs were wrapped with Pluronic F127-folic acid to result in the superparamagnetic composite particles with wel dispersion and biocompatibility. The size of most superparamagnetic composite particles was less than 200 nm and the size of Fe 3 O 4 core was 10-20 nm from the observation of transmission electron microscopy. The results from the Fourier transform infrared-spectra and UV-vis absorption spectroscop confirmed that folic acid molecules were modified on the surface of the superparamagnetic composite particles successful y. The mass ratio of Pluronic F127-folic acid conjugate was determined by thermal gravimetric analysis as 27.2 wt%in the resultant Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe 3 O 4 composite particles. The saturated magnetic intensity of the superparamagnetic composite particles was 47.35 emu/g by vibrating sample magnetometer and the relaxation rate was 0.025×106 mol/s from MRI. The WST assay showed the negligible cellcytotoxicity of Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe3O4. The superparamagnetic composite particles have potential application as the MRI contrast agents with tumor targeting, and the Pluronic F127-folic acid-Fe 3 O 4 composite particles is expected to be used as a MRI contrast agent for tumor targeting.

Objective To study the effects of Fasudil on expression of Nogo-A and NF200 in neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage(HIBD) rats.Methods One hundred and twenty 7-day-old Wistar rats were divided into 3 groups with random number table:Sham operation group (n =40),HIBD group (n =40) and Fasudil group (n =40).Sham group only separated from the common carotid artery,without ligation,direct suture the incision does not do hypoxia; HIBD group were injected with saline; Fasudil group was injected with fasudil(10 mg/kg).The rats were killed at 6 h,12 h,24 h,72 h,7 d,after administration.The pathological changes were observed by means of HE.The expression of Nogo-A and NF200 was studied with immunohistochemical staining.Results 1.Naked eye observation:Sham group bilateral symmetrical cerebral hemispheres; HIBD group of brain edema aggravated,the visible hemisphere focal necrosis; fasudil treatment group of edema than HIBD group ease.2.HE stain:the structure and shape of brain in Sham operation group were normal.In HIBD group,the cells became edema,karyopyknosis,lyse,and the inflammatory cells became more.The number of edema cells and karyopyknosis decreased in Fasudil group.3.Immunohistochemical stain:there were less expressions of Nogo-A in Sham operation group.It increased slightly after 12 h in HIBD group but decreased later.The expression of Nogo-A in Fasudil group was less than the other two groups at any time except 6 h (P ＜0.01).There was more expression in HIBD and Fasudil group compared with Sham operation group(P ＜0.01).NF200 was less expression in Sham operation group.NF200 appeared after 6 h and became less after 12 h.The expression of NF200 was at 24 h and later became more.The expression of NF200 in Fasudil group was more with HIBD group at each different time (P ＜ 0.01).The expressions of NF200 in Fasudil and HIBD group were more compared with Sham operation group.Conclusions Fasudil can rehabilitate the damaged axon and promote nerve regeneration through controlling the Rho/Rock and make the expression of NF200 increase.

Objective To investigate the clinic value of procalcitonin( PCT)and c-reactive protein ( CRP)in differential diagnosis for febrile diseases. Methods One hundred and forty patients with febrile diseases in May 2009 to February 2014 in the No. 309th Hospital of People Liberation Army were investigated and analyzed retrospectively. Based on discharge diagnosis,patients were divided into bacterial infection group( n=58),non-bacterial infection group(n=47)and rheumatic diseases group(n=35),another 40 healthy people were served as the control group. Serum PCT and CRP were detected and compared in four groups. One month after backing to normal temperature in all the patients,detected serum PCT and CRP again. Results Serum PCT and CRP level in bacterial infection group,non-bacterial infection group,rheumatic diseases group and control group were(5. 18 ± 1. 92)and(0. 45 ± 0. 22),(0. 34 ± 0. 13)and(0. 16 ± 0. 05)μg/L,(25. 31 ± 4. 24), (1. 94 ± 0. 37 ),( 62. 32 ± 15. 10 ) and( 1. 30 ± 0. 04 ) mg/L respectively. Serum PCT and CRP level in bacterial infection group were significantly higher than that in control group(P﹤0. 01). Even though serum PCT and CRP level in non-bacterial group slightly higher than that of healthy control group,there was no statistical difference(P﹥0. 05). Serum PCT and CRP level in bacterial infection group were significantly higher than that of non-bacterial infection group( P ﹤0. 01 ). Serum CRP level in rheumatic diseases group was significantly higher than that of healthy control group( P﹤0. 01),while PCT level only slightly higher compared with healthy control group(P﹥0. 05). One month after backing to normal temperature in all the patients,serum PCT and CRP level in bacterial infection group reduced significantly compared with that of febrile period( P ﹤0. 01). Serum PCT and CRP level in non-bacterial infection group were no significant change( P﹥0. 05 ),and serum CRP level in rheumatic diseases group reduced significantly( P﹤0. 01 ),while serum PCT were no significant change(P﹥0. 05). Conclusion Serum PCT combined with CRP might be of great importance in the differential diagnosis for febrile diseases.

BACKGROUND:Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important cytokine signaling pathway, which plays an important role in inflammatory diseases. However, it is unclear whether gene polymorphism of STAT3 is associated with rheumatoid arthritis in the Chinese Han population. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association of gene polymorphism of STAT3 with rheumatoid arthritis in the Chinese Han population. METHODS:Four tag-single-nucleotide polymorphisms (tag-SNPs) in STAT3 were selected from the Chinese Han population of HapMap database. The study was performed with 228 rheumatoid arthritis cases and 228 normal controls. Four tag-SNPs (rs12601982, rs2293152, rs8078731 and rs9912773) were examined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The frequency of GG genotype at rs9912773 was 18.9% and 10.5% respectively in rheumatoid arthritis and control groups, and there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). These results indicate the possible association between the STAT3 gene polymorphism at rs9912773 and the susceptibility of rheumatoid arthritis in the Chinese Han population.

Objective This study was to evaluate the protective effect of pulmonary perfusion with cold modified low- potassium dextran (LPD) solution on lung function after cardiopulmonary bypass in combined aortic and mitral valve replacement. Method Twenty-four consecutive adult patients with combined aortic and mitral valve disease were divided into a control group ( n =14) and a perfused group ( n = 10). Cold modified LPD solution was infused to the main pulmonary artery in the protective group. PaO_2/FiO_2 were monitored at six different time points; preoperation, 0 hour, 1 hours, 2 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours after the termination of CPB. Concentrations of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 in plasma were measured at four different time points; preoperation, 0 hour, 6 hours, and 12 hours after the termination of CPB. Result PaO_2/FiO_2 in the perfused group were increased more than that in the control group. The IL-6 and IL-10 increased in both groups after operations( P <0. 05). Patients of the perfused group showed significantly reduced IL-6 expression, compared with the control group ( P <0. 001), but the rising extents of IL-10 in the perfused group were higher than that in the control group ( P <0.001). Conclusion Pulmonary artery perfusion with cold modified LPD solution during cardiopulmonary bypass relieved lung injury in combined aortic and mitral valve replacement.

Objective To investigate the associations of variants in signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (STAT4) in Chinese Han population with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods The study was performed in 228 RA cases and 228 controls. Haplotypes from the HapMap database Chinese population were used to select tag-single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (r2=0.9) in STAT4 gene. Twenty-three SNPs located in STAT4 gene were examined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested by a chi-square and Fisherˊs analysis. Differences in genotypes of the STAT4 polymorphism variants were evaluated using a Chi-square test. All statistical analyses were done with Haploview 4.1 software. Results Significant difference was detected in three SNPs (rs11685878, rs129888 and rs16833437) in allele frequencies analysis (χ2=6.014 8, 4.024 8, 5.539 1, P<0.05). Association was detected for three SNPs (rs11685878, rs16833437 and rs12988825) in genotype analysis ( χ2=6.814 9, 6.098 7, 6.691 7, P<0.05). Conclusion STAT4 may associate with susceptibility in Chinese Han population.

Objective: To investigate the effects of adrenaline on pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of bupivacaine for interscalene plexus block. Method:Sixteen ASA gradeⅠ-Ⅱadult patients undergoing shoulder or upper limbs operation were randomly divided into two groups (n=8)). The plexus block was induced with 0.75％ bupivacaine 2 mg/kg or 0.75％ bupivacaine 2mg/kg plus 1:200 000 adrenaline. Clinical effects and plasma concentration,the Cmax and Tmax were compared between two groups. Result:The time to reach peak analgesia and the duration of analgesia were longer in adrenaline group than in control group(P

Objective To observe the effects of paeonol on collagen induced arthritis (CIA) and investigate its mechanisms. Methods The tentative arthritis mice model was created by injecting type Ⅱ collagen. The severity degree of RA was scored according to the rating criteria after treatment with paeonol. ELISA method was employed to detect the levels of IL-12, TNF-2, IFN-γ and anti-type Ⅱ collagen autoantibody. The efficacy of paeonol was compared with that of MTX (the positive control) and PBS was used as the negative control. Results We found that paeonol could alleviate severe RA, inhibit the expression of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-12, TNF-2, IFN-γ and reduce the level of anti-type Ⅱ collagen autoantibody in serum, which was similar with MTX. Conclusion The results show that paeonol has a reliable therapeutic effect for RA. This study has provided a good clue for the future research and development of medications for the treatment of RA.

Objective To investigate the role of activities of sympathetic nerve in the pathogenesis of shoulder-hand syndrome (SHS) by analyzing the hand sympathetic skin response (SSR) at the acute stage of SHS after stroke. Methods 50 stroke patients with SHS at the acute stage were assigned as SHS group, another 50 stroke patients without SHS as control group (N-SHS group) and 50 health volunteers as health group. Every patient was subjected to the detection of bilateral hand SSR. Results The detection rates of SSR in the SHS group and N-SHS group were significantly lower than that in the Health group (P<0.01). In comparison within the SHS group, the amplitude of SSR on the affected hand was apparently higher than on the healthy hand (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in the SSR latencies in both hands ( P > 0 . 05 ) . In comparison with the health group , bilateral SSR latencies of the SHS group were longer than those of the health group (P<0.05) and bilateral SSR amplitudes were all lower than those of the health group (P<0.01). Conclusions The bilateral hand sympathetic skin responses could change at the acute stage of SHS after stroke, with possible presentations of central inhibition of sympathetic activity. The abnormality of SSR may be an early warning indicator in patients with hemiplegia after stroke complicated with SHS.