Objective To observe the effect of cupping plus Chinese medicinal fumigation on expectoration in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to phlegm-heat obstructing the lung. Method Eighty-two patients with COPD due to phlegm-heat obstructing the lung were randomized into a treatment group and a control group, 41 cases in each group. The control group was given regular Western medications, while the treatment group was intervened by cupping plus Chinese medicinal fumigation in addition to the treatment given to the control group, once a day, 5 d as a treatment course. The therapeutic efficacies were observed after 2 treatment courses. Result The clinical effective rate of the treatment group was higher than that of the control group, with a statistical significance (P<0.05). Conclusion Cupping plus Chinese medicinal fumigation can enhance the expectoration in patients with COPD due to phlegm-heat obstructing the lung.

Objective To investigate the association between interleukin(IL)-1F7 gene (rs3811047)single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods SNP of IL-1F7 gene (rs3811047) was analyzed in 158 patients with AS and 181 healthy controls by ligase detection reaction based on high temperature ligase (LDR-PCR). The distribution of IL-1 F7 (rs3811047 ) genotypes and allele frequencies were detected between the two groups. Results Significant differences were found in the distribution of IL-1F7(rs3811047 ) genotypes and allele frequencies between AS patients and healthy controls. The frequency of A allele of IL-1F7 gene at positions rs3811047 was 12.03% and 17.68% in AS group and the control group,and the frequency of G allele was 87.97%, 82.32%, respectively (x2=4.2204, P=0.0399). The percentage of AA, AG and GG genotype was 0, 24.05%, 75.95% in AS group, which differed from the controls group (2.76%, 29.83%, 67.41% ). The difference had remarkable statistical significance (x2=6.2675, P=0.043).The positive rate of HLA-B27 in AS patients which represented as AG genotype was 70.27% (26/37),remarkably lower than that in AS patients which represented as GG genotype 94.23% (98/104), the difference was statistically significant (x2=2.168, P=0.030), erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C reactive protein levels were conspicuously lower than that in GG genotype (t=2.971, P=0.013; t=3.300, P=0.001 ). Conclusion Our study suggests that the SNP (rs3811047) of IL-1F7 may be a susceptibile factor for AS in Anhui Han population, the genotype may influence the clinical phenotypes of AS.Patients who carry the A allele may have less inflammation than patients who do not carry the A allele.

ObjectiveTo investigate the association between the FCRL5 gene (rs6427384 and rs12036228) single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP) and patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods SNP of FCRL5 gene (rs6427384 and rs12036228) was analyzed in 169 patients with AS and 184 healthy controls by ligase detection reaction based on high temperature(LDR)-PCR. The distribution of FCRL5 genotypes and allele frequencies were detected between the two groups. Chi-square test, one-way ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. ResultsSignificant differences were found in the distribution of allele frequencies of FCRL5 gene between AS patients and health controls(P＜0.05). The C allele frequencies of FCRL5 gene at positions of rs6427384 and rs12036228 were 17.3％, 92.3％ and 25.0％, 87.2％ respectively in the AS group and the control group. And the T allele frequencies of rs6427384 and rs12036228 were 82.7％, 7.7％ and 75.0％, 12.8％ in the AS group and the control group. The percentages of CC, CT and TT genotype(rs6427384) were 3.7％, 27.2％, and 69.1％ in the AS group, which were significantly different from those of the control group(3.9％, 42.2％ and 53.9％ ) (x2=8.7637, P=0.0125 ). Staging of sacroiliitis in X ray were significantly different during AS patients whose genotype represented as CC, CT and TT (rs6427384)(x2=34.159, P=0.0001 ). Incidences of the initial symptoms (low back pain or inflammation of periphery joint)in the AS group were obviously differed among patients with different genotypes (rs6427384) (x2=7.254, P=0.027), so did the mean duration of morning stiffness (F=4.159, P=0.018) and the average scores of BASDAI (F=4.461, P=0.014). Incidences of the initial symptoms in the AS group were also conspicuously different between the AS patients with different genotypes (rs 12036228 ) (x2=6.640, P=0.036 ). ConclusionOur study suggests that the SNP(rs6427384 and rs12036228) of FCRL5 may be a susceptibility factor for AS in Anhui Han population and the genotype may influence the clinical phenotype of AS.

Objective To investigate the relationship between complement C3 level and the degree of disease activity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE).Methods A total of 1 012 patients with SLE were enrolled in this study from January 2006 to December 2013 at department of rheumatology and immunology,the first affiliated hospital of Anhui medical university.Serum complement C3 level was detected by rate erythenephelometry assay.The relationship between reduction of complement C3 and SLE was analyzed.Results Serum complement C3 clearly decreased in 782 patients,accounted for 77.27％.There were significant differences concerning serum complement C3 level among different groups of disease activity (F =131.275,P＜0.01).The low serum complement C3 level was correlated with the high degree of disease activity (r =-0.517,P ＜0.01).Patients with SLE had a severe disease activity (SLE disease activity index ≥ 15) when the level of serum complement C3 was less than 0.57 g/L.Serum complement C3 levels were positively correlated with serum complement C4 (r =0.845,P ＜ 0.01),peripheral blood leukocyte count (r =0.115,P ＜ 0.01),hemoglobin (r =0.069,P ＜ 0.01),platelet count (r =0.177,P ＜0.01) and albumin level (r =0.091,P ＜ 0.01).There was also a negative association of serum complement C3 with 24 h urinary protein (r =-0.228,P ＜ 0.01).101 patients whose average level of serum complement C3 was(0.48 ±0.26)g/L,were treated with glucocorticoid pulse therapy as high degree of disease activity.Conclusions There is a close relationship between serum complement C3 level and the degree of disease activity in SLE.Serum complement C3 less than 0.57 g/L might be seen in SLE with severe disease activity.

Objective To investigate the value of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α receptor gene,TNFRSF1A+36A/G(rs767455) and-383A/C(rs2234649),TNFRSF1B+196T/G(rs1061622) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for the susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and the relationship between SNP and AS.T test,Chi-square test,and ANOVA were used for statististical analysis.Methods Two hundred and fifteen patients who had definite diagnosis of AS and 216 healthy blood donors were involved in this study.SNPs of TNF-α receptor gene:TNFRSF1A +36A/G(rs767455),-383A/C(rs2234649) and TNFRSF1B+196T/G (rs1061622) were detected with the ligase detection reaction (LDR-PCR) method.Results ① Distribution frequencies of A alleles(86.8％,91.5％) and G alleles (13.2％,8.5％) of TNFRSF1A(rs767455) in AS and controls were significantly different with each other (x2=4.627,P=0.0315),while the distribution frequency in group of homozygotes (AA or GG genotype) in AS and controls were 74.6％(150/201) and 83.9％(177/211),the frequencies in group of heterozygotes (AG) were 25.4％ (51/201) and 16.1％(34/211)(x2=5.390,P=0.020).Frequency of alleles and the genotypes of TNFRSF1A (rs2234649) and TNFRSF1B (rs1061622) between AS and control group were similar(P＞0.05).It also demonstrated that TNF-αreceptor gene haplotype (rs1061622T-rs2234649A-rs767455G) carriers apparently increased the susceptibility to AS (11.5％ vs 6.9％)(OR:1.753,95％CI:1.078～2.852,P=0.022).② Analysis of variance found that the duration of morning stiffness (F=3.168,P=0.044) and peripheral joint tenderness counts (F=4.598,P=0.011) among the three genotype groups of TNFRSF1B (rs1061622) in patient with AS were evidently differed with each other.Bath AS functional index (BASFI) among different genotype groups of TNFRSF1A (rs2234649) in AS had remarkable diversity (F=5.783,P=0.004).None of above indicators among groups of different genotypes of TNFRSF1A (rs767455) in AS were uniform (P＞0.05).③ Forty-four patients were treated with TNF-α antagonist (entanercept),25 mg,subcutaneous injection,twice weekly for 3 months,then followed with Sulfaslazine (SASP) 2.0 g/d and Celecoxib 0.4 g/d for another 9 months.ASAS20 was the primary endpoint for the evaluation of therapeutic effect at the visit of 3 month and 12 month.No associations were found between SNP and short or long term outcome of treatment with TNF-α antagonist in AS (P＞0.05).Conclusion TNFRSF1A (rs767455) SNP correlates with susceptibility to AS in Anhui Han local patients.Carriers of TNF-α receptor gene haplotype (rs1061622T-rs2234649A-rs767455G) may increase the susceptibility to AS.SNP of TNFRSF1B (rs1061622) is associated with disease activity in AS,while SNP of TNFRSF1A(rs2234649)relates to functional index of the disease.There is no association between SNP of TNFRSF1A / TNFRSF1B and short or long term outcome of treatment with TNF-α antagonist in AS.

Objective To investigate the clinical features and related risk factors of osteoporosis (OP) and osteoporotic fracture (OPF) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Two hundred and seventytwo in-patients with RA between 2010-2011 were surveyed,X-ray was detected for the diagnosis of fracture.Bone mineral density(BMD) of proximal femur and lumbar vertebrae (L2-4) in 203 patients were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptio-metry (DEXA),and the radiographic changes in both hands of 169 RA patients were assessed by Sharp scoring system.All the clinical and laboratory factors of RA were recorded in detail by rheumatologists.The results of 120 normal people were used as controls.T-test,Mann-whitney test,x2 test and Logistic regression were used for statistical analysis.Results ① Compared to the normal group,the BMDs of RA patients at each measured location were significantly lower (P＜0.01),the OP incidence was 32.0％ (65/203),which was significantly higher than that of the normal group,which was 15.0％ (18/120) (x2=11.442,P=0.001).There were 33 cases of OPF among all 272 RA patients,and the occurrence rate was 12.1％.BMDs of the femur in RA with OPF were lower than those in RA without OPF (P＜0.01).② Incidence of OP in RA with glucoco-rticoid was 42.2％(46/109),which was higher than that in RA without glucocorticoid (20.2％,18/89) (x2=10.818,P=0.001).Compared with RA without glucocorticoid,the incidence of OPF in RA with glucocorticoid elevated evidently [7.2％ (9/125) vs 17.5％ (24/137)] (x2=6.321,P=0.012).③ Logistic regression (back-ward LR method) analysis found that the risk factors for OP in RA patients were age [OR=1.050,P=0.001,95％CI(1.020,1.080)],HAQ [OR=1.966,P=0.031,95％CI (1.064,3.631)],and glucocorticoid average daily dosage [OR=1.075,P=0.031,95％CI (1.007,1.148)].The risk factors for OPF in RA patients were age [OR=1.041,P=0.046,95％CI (1.001,1.084)] and OP [OR=3.484,P=0.016,95％CI (1.258,9.646)].Conclusion RA patients have higher incidence of OP and OPF than general population.The incidence of OP and OPF are closely correlated with age,diseases activity,local bone erosion and the use of glucocorticosteroid.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the general osteoporosis and local bone erosion in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).Methods Bone mineral density (BMD) of femur (femur neck,Ward area,greater trochanter) and lumbar spine 2-4 (L2-4) by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry was measured in 120 patients with RA and 120 normal controls.All the clinical and laboratory factors of RA were recorded in details,and the radiographic changes in both hands of 76 RA patients were assessed by Sharp'method.Statistical anylysis was carried out by using t test and x2 test.Results ① Compared with normal controls,the BMD of total femur,L2,L3,L4 and L2-4 decreased significantly (P＜0.01),while there was no significant differences in the BMD of femur neck,Ward area and greater trochanter between the two groups (P＞0.05).② The incidence of osteoporosis in RA (34.2％) was higher than that in normal controls (15.0％)(x2=11.889,P=0.001).③ Patients with osteoporosis had elder age,higher scores of HAQ,higher scores of space narrowing and bone erosion of joint by X-ray' Sharp method than those of patients without osteoporosis.There were no significant differences in the changes of other clinical and laboratory parameters between the two groups(P＞0.05).④ BMD of total femur,femur neck,Ward area,greater trochanter,L2,L3,L4 correlated with Sharp scores in RA and had shown a negative correlations(P＜0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that age(OR=1.069,P=0.012,95％CI:1.015-1.125) and Sharp scores(OR=1.022,P=0.003,95％CI:1.007-1.037) were risk factors for osteoporosis in RA patients,but treating with DMARD (OR=0.172,P=0.041,95％CI:0.032-0.930) was a protective factor for osteoporosis in patients with RA.Conclusion The BMD decreases significantly and correlates with age and local bone erosion in patients with RA,while the incidence of osteoporsis increases remarkably.

ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical characteristics and predisposing factors of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) with sepsis.MethodsTwenty-one SLE patients with sepsis admitted to our hospital between 2005-2010 were reviewed in this study.The other 21 inpatients with active SLE in our hospital in the same period were randomly selected as controls.Clinical and laboratory documents of these patients were comparatively analyzed.Results The peak body temperature [ (39.4±0.6) vs (37.2±0.4) ℃,t=13.403,P=0.000],the hyperpyrexia (T≥39 ℃) incidence (71％ vs 5％,X2=19.788,P=0.000),the white blood cell (WBC) counts[(10.2±4.6) vs(6.2±2.5)×109/L,t=3.469,P=0.001)] and neutrophils in the peripheral blood [(8.3±4.5) vs(4.5±2.1)×109/L,t=3.559,P=0.001 ],the C-reactive protein(CRP) level [ (74±59) vs (5±4) mg/L,t=5.398,P=0.000 ] and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level[ (444±343) vs ( 225±144) U/L,t=5.398,P=0.000] in the sepsis group were significantly higher than those in the control group.It was noticeable that CRP in the sepsis group was 15 to 20 times higher than that in the control group.The level of serum albumin[ (29±9) vs(35±7) g/L,t=2.688,P=0.011 ],the maintenance dosage of hydroxychloroquine [(0.11±0.08) vs(0.17±0.09) g/d,t=2.331,P=0.025],the frequency of autoantibodies against SSA (38％ vs 71％,X2=4.709,P=0.03) or SSB(0 vs 43％,X2=11.455,P=0.001) in the sepsis group were significantly lower than those in the control group.Correlation analysis showed that,in the sepsis group,the SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) had significant positive association with SLE duration (r=0.514,P=0.017),the WBC count (r=0.552,P=0.010) and neutrophils count(r=0.545,P=0.011 ),respectively.The neutrophil count correlated positively with the LDH(r=0.482,P=0.032) and CRP(r=0.606,P=0.022).These correlations were not statistically significant in the control group.ConclusionSepsis should be considered when SLE patients have hyperpyrexia,high levels of WBC and neutrophils,markedly elevated LDH and CRP level,especially when the CRP increases ten times higher than the normal limit.SLE activity and sepsis might affect each other,and this may be more evident in patients with longer disease duration.Hypoalbuminemia and negative autoantibody to SSA or SSB are likely to be the risk factors for SLE to develop sepsis while hydroxcyhloroquine may be protective against sepsis.

Objective To characterize the clinical characteristics of lupus mesenteric vasculitis (LMV). Methods Analyzing the clinical, laboratory and treatment data of LMV patients hospitalized from 2002. 1.1 to 2007. 12. 31 retrospectively. Results (1) The three common manifestations were abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit with the prevalence rate of 77%, 70% and 67% respectively. (2)The majority of LMV cases were active vital organ (28/30), kidney (24/30) and hematological system (18/30) were the main organs of involvement. Ten patients had hydroureteronephrosis, and 8 patients had intestinal pseudo-obstruction at the same time. (3) Systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score was ≥10 in 80% (24/30) of patients. The progression of LMV was accompanied with new-onset ieucopenia or worsening leucopenia or hypocomplementemia in 10 cases. (4) Blood antinuclear antibodies were positive in 27 patients detected, and anti-SSA antibody was positive in 15 (56%), anti-U1RNP antibody was positive in 14 (52%). (5) Fourteen cases had bowel wall thickening with target sign or mesenteric vessels with palisade or comb sign in contrast CT scan of abdomen. (6)Twenty-seven cases were treated with orally or intravenous medium to high dose steroid therapy and recovered from LMV. Conclusions (1) Abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomit were frequent manifestations of LMV patients. (2) LMV was one of the serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE), and usually accompanied by active SLE in other organs. (3) A drop in the white blood cell count or complement C3 titer might be correlate with the occurrence of LMV. It needs to further investigate the relationship between LMV and the high positive rate of anti-SSA and anti-U1RNP antibody. (4) LMV patients responded well to intravenous high dose methylprednisolone.

Objective To test the level of cell factor interleukin (IL)-21,CXCL13 in the plasma of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA),and to analyze the relationship between Follicular helper T cells(Tfh)and clinic features and discuss the possible immunological pathogenesis of RA.Methods The Tfh cells were obtained from patients and healthy controls (NC) and detected by Flow cytometery.While the levels of IL-21,CXCL13 in patients and NC were measured by ELISA tests.Those analysis were performed by student's t-test,one-way ANOVA,SNK-q test,Chi-square test,Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression.Results The expression of CD4+CXCR5+ICOS+ cells (Tfh) in PBMCs of RA was significantly higher than normal controls (3.0±1.2 vs 1.1±0.4,P＜0.01).Meanwhile,the three RA groups of patients were divided to low,moderate and high disease activity groups,and the results showed that the expression of Tfh were increased accordingly (1.8±0.7,2.5±0.6,4.0±1.2).The expression of Tfh in the three groups were all significantly higher than that of controls (P＜0.01).There was a positive correlation between Tfh and DAS28,ESR,CRP,TJC,and bone erosion,RF and anti-CCP respectively.The expression of Tfh in those patients who had bone destruction was higher than those with no or mild bone destructions (2.7±1.1vs 3.4±1.3).The expression of Tfh in patients with un-treated RA patients,when compared to those RA patients who were treated appropriately and those who were not treated appropriately,was decreased significantly.The expression of Tfh in appropriately treated RA patients was lower than that without appropriately treatment.The level of IL-21,CXCL13 was decreased in patients with RA in the order of high,moderate,low disease activity and NC.Conclusion The expression of Tfh and the levels of IL-21,CXCL13 are increased significantly,and are closely related to disease activity and bone ersions.The expression of Tfh is decreased after relevant treatment.These results indicate that the abnormality of Tfh may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.