Objective To investigate the clinical utility of anti-dsDNA antibody in the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Total and high affinity anti-dsDNA antibodies of 431 serum samples were measured by total and high affinity anti-dsDNA antibody EIA kits.Modified SLE disease activity index (M-SLEDAI) was scored for each SLE patients at the time of serum collection.The agreements between total and high affinity anti-dsDNA EIA tests and the correlation of anti-dsDNA antibody levels with disease activity and clinical manifestations were analyzed.Statistical analysis was performed using x2 test,Spearman correlation,Mann Whitney U test & Fisher exact,Student t test.Results ① The overall agreement between total and high affinity anti-dsDNA antibodies was 93.3％,and the total agreement of SLE patients was 89.6％.Twenty-two out of 23 (95.7％) SLE patients with positive total anti-dsDNA antibody but high affinity antidsDNA antibody were inactive with the M-SLEDAI score less than 4.Four patients with other autoimmune diseases had positive total anti-dsDNA antibody but negative on high affinity anti-dsDNA antibodies.② The total and high affinity anti-dsDNA antibody levels were significantly positively correlated with disease activity (M-SLEDAI) and negatively correlated with serum C3 and C4 levels (P＜0.01).③ The ratio of high affinity to total anti-dsDNA antibody was significantly higher in patients with M-SLEDAI ≥4 or with active kidney damage (P＜0.01).Conclusion Both total and high affinity anti-dsDNA antibodies are significantly correlated with SLE disease activity and kidney damage.However,the high affinity anti-dsDNA antibody may be more specific for active SLE and helpful in the differential diagnosis with other autoimmune diseases.High affinity anti-dsDNA antibody is more valuable in monitoring SLE disease activity status,especially on kidney damage,compared to total anti-dsDNA antibodies.

Objective To detect anti-clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM)-140 antibody in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) or CADM,and to estimate its clinical correlation.Methods Serum samples were collected from 22 patients with DM,16 patients with CADM,46 patients with other connective tissue diseases complicated by interstitial lung disease(including 8 cases of polymyositis,15 cases of systemic lupus erythematosus,5 cases of systemic sclerosis,6 cases of Sj(o)gren syndrome,6 cases of mixed connective tissue disease,6 cases of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis),and 5 normal human controls.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed with the recombinant melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5(rMDA)as a substrate to measure the anti-CADM-140 antibody in these serum samples.Clinical manifestations were compared between patients with anti-CADM-140 antibody and those without.Results The anti-CADM-140antibody was found in 43.8% (7/16) of patients with CADM and 9.1%(2/22) of patients with DM(P<0.05),but absent in the patients with other connective tissue diseases and in the normal human controls.A significant incroase was observed in anti-CADM-140 antibody-positive patients with DM/CADM in the incidence of cutaneous ulceration and necrosis,interstitial lung disease and rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (8/9 vs.6.9%,P<0.01;9/9 vs.48.3%,P<0.01;5/9 vs.0,P<0.05),serum lactate dehydrogenase level(328.3±104.2 vs 241.1±100.3 IU/L P<0.05),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(40.8±23.1 vs.22.5±16.8 mm/1 h,P<0.05),high resolution computed tomography score(122.9±54.8 vs.70.0±59.8,P<0.05)compared with anti-CADM-140 antibody-negative patients with DM/CADM.The ereatine kinase level was significantly lower(156.3±260.8 vs.1806.2±3737.1 IU/L P<0.05)in anti-CADM-140 antibody-positive patients with DM/CADM than in anti-CADM-140 antibody-negative patients with DM/CADM,while no significant difference was noted in the positivity rate of antinuclear antibodies or incidence of malignancies between the antibody-positive and-negative patients with DM/CADM.Conclusions Anti-CADM.140 antibody not only is useful for the diagnosis of interstitial lung disease in patients with DM/CADM,but also may serve as a serum marker for rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease.Monitoring of serum anti-CADM-140 antibody might help to predict the progression of interstitial lung disease in patients with DM/CADM.

Objective To choose the optimal b-values for the DWI of gastric cancer(GC),and investigate the value of DWI in the diagnosis of GCs.Methods MRI examinations(T_1WI,T_2WI,and DWI)were performed on 31 patients with gastric cancer.Three diffusion-weighted sequences were designed with different b values,including 300 s/mm~2(low),600 s/mm~2(intermediate),and 1000 s/mm~2(high). Free water grade was used to evaluate the suppression of content in gastric lumen.Background contrast grade was used to evaluate the discriminating ability of different sequences between GC and nearby tissues.The ADCs of GCs,nearby gastric wall region,and free water in gastric lumen were measured.SNRc_(Ca),CNR_(Ca-Gw) and SIRc_(Ca-Gw)of high b-value DWI and routine MRI sequences were evaluated and compared.Results The signal intensity of free water in gastric lumen decreased as b-value increased,and the SIR were 8.11? 0.77(b=300 s/mm~2),2.70?0.35(b =600 s/mm~2),and 1.13?0.22(b=1000 s/mm~2)(F= 55.368,P

Objective:To investigate modulation of a specific HDAC inhibitor,Valproate acid sodium(VPA),on expression of Caspase3,Caspase8,Caspase9 by inhiting HDAC,as well as apoptosis rate of cancer cells treated with VPA and the specific inhibitors of Caspase3,Caspase8,Caspase9.Methods:Heptocellular carcinoma cells-HepG2,gastric carcinoma cells-BGC-823 and breast cancer cells-MCF-7 were cultured with 0.75-4.0 mmol/L of VPA for 48 hrs in vivo,apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry with Annexin V/PI assay.The activities and protein expressions of Caspase3,Caspase8,Caspase9 were detected by spectrophotometry and indirect immunofluorescence technique.Results:Contrary to control groups,VPA at concentrations between 0.75 and 4.0 mmol/L induced a significant apoptosis in HepG2,BGC-823,MCF-7 cells(P0.05).The apoptosis rates of cancer cells treated with VPA and specific inhibitors of Caspase3,Caspase9 together was lower than in the groups with VPA treatment singlely(P

Objective To investigate the expression of slit diaphragm proteins of glomerular podocyte,such as NEPH1 and Nephrin in type Ⅴ lupus nephritis (V-LN). Methods Twenty-five patients with V-LN and 18 patients with idiopathic membranous nephritis (IMN) were enrolled into the study, and 5 normal renal samples were the normal control group. Twenty-four hours urine protein excretion, serum albumin, creatinine, triglyceride, total cholesterol, serum C3, C4, urine C3 and NAG were tested respectively.Glomerular lesions were measured by light microscopy. The expressions of NEPH1 and Nephrin were determined by indirect immunofluorescent staining. The statistical treatment was used t-test. Results Compared to the IMN group, the 24 hours urine protein excretion and the concentrations of serum albumin, creatinine, urine C3 were not significantly different while the triglyceride, total cholestorel, serum C3, C4 were significantly decrease in the V-LN group (P<0.05). Urine NAG was increased in the V-LN group (P<0.01). By indirect immuno-fluorescent histochemitry examination, the glomerular expressions of NEPH1 and Nephrin were significantly decreased in both V-LN and IMN. Compared with the IMN group, the decrease of NEPH1 and Nephrin expression was more remarkable in the V-LN group. Conclusion The expression changes of NEPH1 and Nephrin may play an important pathogenic role in proteinuria of Ⅴ lupus nephritis. Renal tubular epithelial cell damage may play a role in proteinuria of V-LN.

AIMTo investigate the protective effects and mechanism of IPC on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

METHODSEffects of IPC on arrhythmia and coronary blood flow and the release of AST, CPK, LDH, SOD and LFO at different time after ischemia/reperfusion injury in rat Langendorff hearts were studied.

RESULTSIPC decreased the release of AST, CPK and LDH and increased myocardial SOD activity and decreased LPO level. IPC also inhibited ischemia/reperfusion arrhythmias and increased coronary blood flow.

CONCLUSIONThe results showed that IPC had well protective effects on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury.

Animals ; Female ; Heart ; physiopathology ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; methods ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; prevention & control ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Objective To investigate the relationship of pathological response of breast cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy with the imaging findings in dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.Methods Forty- five patients with pathologically confirmed breast carcinoma who finished courses of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had breast MRI prior to operation.Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI scans were performed on a 1.5 T scanner using 3D SPGR sequence before and repeated 6 times after administration of Gd-DTPA. Pathological response was assessed by a pathologist according to Miller & Payne five points classification blinded to breast MRI results.Grade 5 was defined as pCR(pathological complete response).Grade 4 and 5 were defined as major histopathological response(MHR).The type of time signal intensity curve(TIC) (three types),pattern of residual enhancement of each breast cancer were recorded and correlated with pathological findings.Fisher exact test was used for statistical analysis.Results Grade 5 responses were achieved in seven patients;grade 4 in sixteen patients;grade 3 in sixteen patients and grade 1—2 in six patients.70.0%(14/20)of type Ⅰ time signal intensity curve correlated with MHR,while all 6 type Ⅲ curves showed non-MHR response.The type of time signal intensity curve and pathological response grades had statistically significant correlation(P=0.001).18 of the 23 cases with MHR exhibited residual enhancement,while the remaining 5 cases showed no enhancement.Of the 18 MHR cases with residual enhancement,11 showed non-mass-like enhancement and 7 showed mass-like enhancement.The mass(non- mass)morphological pattern in dynamic contrast enhanced-MRI had statistically significant differences in pathological response(P=0.012).Conclusions Pathological response of breast carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy could be characterized using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI by identifying patterns of residual contrast enhancement and kinetic curve.Favorable pathological responses correlated with Type Ⅰ TIC,non-enhancement,and non-mass-like residual enhancement.

Objective To explore the residual undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in embryoid bodies. Methods Mouse R1 and Oct-4-GFP transgenic ESCs were firstly cultured in suspension to form embryoid bodies (EBs). Twenty days later, EBs were digested into single cells and then re-plated in standard ESC culture condition. The morphology of residual undifferentiated cells in EBs was observed, and surface makers and in vitro redifferentiation potency of residual cells were examined by flow cytometry and immunofluoreseent staining. The residual cells were expanded and subcutaneously injected into nude mice, and the specimens were harvested from the injection site for histological analysis 6 weeks after injection. Results There were residual undifferentiated ESCs in EBs differentiated for 20 days, which displayed clonal morphology and expressed undifferentiated cell markers of ESCs, including SSEA1, CD31, CD9 and Oct-4. The cells could be differentiated to form EBs again, and could be re-expanded from secondary EBs. The residual cells were able to form teratoma at the injection site, and mature endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm tissues could be found in teratoma tissues. Conclusion There are residual undifferentiated ESCs after differentiation of ESCs into EBs. The residual ESCs can differentiate again in vitro and in vivo, and can residue again in the in vitro differentiation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of parenteral nutrition (PN) with branched-chain amino acid supplementation on protein metabolism after partial hepatectomy in rats with liver cirrhosis.

METHODSEighteen rats with liver cirrhosis were randomly divided into pre-operation group (n=6), post-operation 8.5% Novamin PN group (n=6) and post-operation 10% Hepa PN group (n=6), with 6 normal rats severing as the normal control group. Five days after the operation, serum albumin (ALB), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) and plasma amino acid spectrum were measured, and ALB mRNA level in the liver was assayed using RT-PCR.

RESULTSPostoperative serum ALB was similar between 10% Hepa PN and 8.5% Novamine PN groups, but the rats in the latter group showed significantly increased serum IGF-1 level, Fischer ratio and hepatic ALB mRNA expression (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdministration of PN with branched-chain amino acid supplementation can ameliorate plasma amino acid spectrum and increase protein synthesis in rats with liver cirrhosis after partial hepatectomy.

Albumins ; metabolism ; Amino Acids, Branched-Chain ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Hepatectomy ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I ; metabolism ; Liver Cirrhosis ; therapy ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of butenolide (BUT) on cultured chondrocytes differentiation and the possible protective effects of selenium (Se).

METHODSEx-vivo cultured chondrocytes were divided into six groups: (1) Control group (without BUT and Se); (2) Se 0.1 microg/ml control group; (3) BUT 0.1 microg/ml group; (4) BUT 1.0 microg/ml group; (5) BUT 5.0 microg/ml group; and (6) BUT 1.0 microg/ml + Se 0.1 microg/ml group. The expression of collagen II (Col II), collagen X (ColX), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) in (or around) chondrocytes in all groups were analyzed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSThe expressions of Col II in 1.0 microg/ml BUT group and 5.0 microg/ml BUT group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of Col II in 1.0 microg/ml BUT + Se group were significantly higher than those in the 1.0 microg/ml BUT group and 5.0 microg/ml BUT group (P < 0.05). The expressions of bFGF and PTHrP of BUT groups were significantly higher than those in the Se and control groups (P < 0.05). No expression of ColX was observed in all groups.

CONCLUSIONBUT can affect the collagen II synthesis of the chondrocytes. Selenium supplementation may play a protective role.

4-Butyrolactone ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chondrocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Selenium ; pharmacology ; T-2 Toxin ; toxicity