Objective To investigate the imbalance between T helper 17 (Th17) cells and CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (Treg) cells in the peripheral blood of patients with psoriasis vulgaris and its significance. Methods Peripheral blood were collected from 48 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and 32 normal human controls. Pasoriasis area and severity index (PASI) was used to assess the disease severity in these patients. Flow cytometry was performed to determine the percentage of Th17 and Treg cells in peripheral blood, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the levels of serum interleukin (IL) -17 and IL-10. Results There was a significant increase in the percentage of Th17 cells [(2.70 ± 1.43)% vs. (0.86 ± 0.25)%, P< 0.01] and serum IL-17 level (90.65 ± 29.61 ng/L vs. 48.82 ± 5.49 ng/L, P < 0.01), but a decrease in the percentage of Treg cells [(3.63 ± 1.14)% vs. (7.87 ± 1.26)%, P< 0.01] and serum IL-10 level (17.78 ± 4.09 ng/L vs. 23.76 ± 3.82 ng/L, P <0.01) in patients with psoriasis vulgaris compared with the normal controls. The ratios of Thl7 to Treg cells and serum IL-17 to IL-10 level were significantly higher (0.95 ± 0.76 vs. 0.12 ± 0.06, 5.78 ± 3.19 vs. 2.16 ±0.68, both P < 0.01) in the patients than in the normal controls. The PASI score in patients was positively correlated with the percentage of Th17, serum level of IL-17, Th17/Treg ratio and IL-17/IL-10 ratio (r = 0.97,0.93, 0.99 and 0.97, all P < 0.01), but negatively correlated with the percentage of Treg cells and serum IL-10 level (r = -0.87, -0.90, both P < 0.01). Conclusion The imbalance between Th17 and Treg cells may play an important role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris.

BACKGROUND:A variety of cel lines participate in the construction of animal models of osteosarcoma. OBJECTIVE:To compare the abilities of subcutaneous tumorigenesis of human osteosarcoma cel lines MG63, U2OS and 143B in nude mice, and to establish the basis for experimental studies on osteosarcoma. METHODS:A total of 18 nude mice were randomly divided into MG63, U2OS and 143B groups. The back of nude mice was subcutaneously injected with MG63, U2OS and 143B cel lines in corresponding groups, and the process of tumorigenesis was observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:MG63 and U2OS could not induce subcutaneous tumorigenesis in nude mice. Tumors were observed after injection with 143B cels for (6±1) days, with the tumor formation rate of 100% (6/6). The tumor grew very fast. The mean volume of tumors was (3 475±1 544) mm3 at 2 months. The survival time of nude mice burdened with tumors was (68±10) days. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed that in tumor tissue, cancer cels formed nest shape, nuclei were big and darkly stained, and split mostly. These results suggested that 143B cel line could wel induce subcutaneous tumorigenesis, which could be used for animal research of osteosarcoma.

Objective To establish the normal reference range for serum folate of healthy children in Guangzhou region.Methods Levels of serum folate of 1 860 healthy children (1 061 males and 799 females) and 129 adults (52 males and 77 females) living in Guangzhou region were examined by LK3000V Vitamin Analyzer.Then the data were analyzed with statistical methods.Results ①There was no statistical difference between boys and girls for levels of serum folate in every group defined by age (P＞0.05).②The levels of serum folate [median(P2.5,P97.5)] defined by age were as follows:9.39 (6.12,14.85) nmol/L for 0～1 year-old group,10.65 (6.05,16.52) nmol/L for 1.01～17 year-old group and 11.12 (6.3,17.51) nmol/L for the adult group.Statistical difference was found between any two groups of the three (P＜0.05).③No statistical correlation was found between age and the level of serum folate (r=0.039,P=0.09).Conclusion Reference range for serum folate for healthy children in Guangzhou region include two parts:6.12～ 14.85 nmol/L for 0～ 1 year-old group and 6.05～～16.52 nmol/L for 1.01～17 year-old group.

Objective To study the values of glycosylated hemoglobin in screening for patients with prediabetic state in Guang-zhou region .Methods 525 Guangzhou people who had accepted health examination were enrolled and were subjected to oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) .BIO-RAD D-10 automatic glycosylated hemoglobin analyzer was employed to detect their glycosylated he-moglobin A1c(GHbA1c) .OGTT results were served as diagnostic criteria ,Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to obtain the optimal threshold of GHbA1c in diagnosing impaired glucose regulation (IGR) .Results The optimal threshold of GHbA1c in diagnosing IGR was 5 .95% .The sensitivities of GHbA1c≥5 .95% and GHbA1c≥5 .7% in diagnosing IGR were 53 .3% and 84 .8% ,respectively ,while their specificities were 72 .8% and 31 .0% ,respectively .The difference of sensitivity between GHbA1c≥5 .95% combined with FPG≥5 .6 mmol/L and GHbA1c≥5 .7% alone in diagnosing IGR showed no statistical significance(P= 0 .406) ,while the specificity increased obviously (P= 0 .000) .Conclusion The criteria of GHbA1c≥5 .7% can be used for prediabetic state screening but not for diagnosis .GHbA1c≥5 .95% combined with FPG≥5 .6 mmol/L can be used effectively for prediabetic state screening in Guangzhou people .