Objective To compare the clinical outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with different disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) by analysing the clinical data and improve the understanding of different DMARDs.Methods The clinical data of RA patients who were treated and followed-up during Jan.1999 to Mar.2003 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were retrospectively reviewed.The clinical efficacy and radiotogical changes were compared between patients treated with one DMARD only,2 DMARDs combination and 3 DMARDs combination.The short-term and long-term effects among different dosage regimens in the three groups,and the long-term results of different duration of DMARD treatment were also compared.Resuits Three hundred and twenty-night patients had their clinical and follow-up data available for analysis.Among them,256 patients had DMARDs as their initial treatment.Some of the patients showed eorticosteroid in their treatment regimen while some patients did not have steroid.The clinical effectiveness had no significant difference between patients who had corticosteroid or not.Patients treated with 2 or more DMARDs combination had more improvement in ESR,CRP level,morning stiffness and number of swollen and tender joints compared with one DMARD alone.There was no significant difference in adverse reactions between the 3 groups treated with DMARDs.Conclusion DMARDs combination treatment can significantly and rapidly improve the symptoms and lab parameters in RA.

Objective · To detect gingival thickness of the anterior teeth region of Han nationality youths in Shanghai by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT), and evaluate its clinical application feasibility and the gingival biotype. Methods · Firstly, gingival thickness in the same site (5 participators, 30 sites) was detected by bone sounding and CBCT respectively, and the data were compared. A total of 30 participators with healthy gingival were recruited to the study and examined by the CBCT, the gingival thickness of selected sites (330 sites) was assessed and compared. All the subjects were examined by the experienced doctors and classified into three groups, thick-type middle-type and thin-type. Gingival thickness range and the proportion of every type were obtained. All data analyses were performed using SPSS 13.0. Results · There was no statistical difference in the thickness of gingival measured by bone sounding and CBCT (P>0.05). The main gingival biotypes of Han nationality youths in Shanghai were thin-type and middle-type. The average gingival thickness of upper central incisors [(1.32±0.15) mm] was larger than those of upper lateral incisors [(1.07±0.16) mm,P=0.000] and upper canines [(1.08±0.18) mm, P=0.000]. Conclusion · CBCT is feasible for detecting gingival thickness. Gingival thickness of the upper central incisors is significantly larger than those of upper lateral incisors and upper canines. The main gingival biotype of Han nationality youths in Shanghai is middle-type, the proportion of thick-type is least.

Objective · To establish a replicative senescence model of human gingival fibroblasts (hGFs), investigate changes in aging related biological characteristics, and provide an efficient cell model for further study on the aging in periodontal diseases. Methods · hGFs were isolated from healthy gingival tissues and cultured with tissue block method in vitro. The tissue source was verified with immunofluorescence. hGFs were continuously cultured and cumulative population doublings (CPD) were calculated and used to draw the curves. Changes in the proliferative capacity of hGFs with CPDs of 10.82, 20.65, 29.52, 42.22, 60.79, and 70.03 were examined with CCK-8. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate changes in the mRNA expression of senescence-related genes p16INK4a and p21Cip1. Results · CPD curves showed that after continuous culture, the CPD value increased gradually and became stable after achieving 70.03. hGFs became flatter and more cell rocessesappeared with the increase of CPD value. The cell proliferative capacity declined and mRNA levels of p16INK4a and p21Cip1 significantly increased (P=0.000). Conclusion · A replicative senescence model of hGFs is established throughcontinuous culture. CPD curves can reflect the aging of hGFs.

Objective To explore the relationship between Mel-CAM and adherence and invasion of trophoblastic cells and proliferation of Mel-CAM defined intermediate trophoblast.Methods Double immunohistochemical staining technique was used to detect the expression of Ki-67 in Mel-CAM defined intermediate trophoblast in human villi during the first trimester and hydatidiform mole.Results In this study there was a significantly stronger expression of Mel-CAM in hydatidiform mole than that in first-trimester villi (P

Objective To examine the changes of the airway resistance(AR) in asthmatic bronchitis children before and after budeso-nide-solution inhaled therapy.Methods Fifty-six cases of asthmatic bronchitis children were randomly divided into A(regular treatment+budesonide-solution inhaled) and B groups(regular treatment),and 30 normal children at the same age as control group.The AR was eva-luated by Microloop lung function meter with MicoroRint sensor.The changes of AR were compared within above 3 groups.Results AR in asthmatic bronchitis children increased significantly compared with normal children.After 2 weeks treatment,AR decreased significantly in both A and B groups compared with that of 2 groups before therapy,AR in A groups declined to normal control level,but still kept higher level in B groups.Conclusions AR in asthmatic bronchitis children increase significantly.The effect of Budesonide-solution in asthmatic bronchitis children is partly via reducing AR to improve ventilated condition.

Objective: To determine the cognitive function and MRI-based measurement of MTL structures in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) and to find a sensitive cognitive marker or specific MRI-based measurements for early diagnosis of AD. Method:Fifty-two AD patients, 27 VD (vascular dementia) patients and 35 aged matched normal control were recruited. The cognitive functions were evaluated with Alzheimer disease assessment scale-Cognitive portion (ADAS-Cog), Wechsler memory scale-revised and Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE). MTL structures, including hippocampal formation, amygdala and parahippocampal gyrus, were measured by MRI volumetric measurements. Result: Compared with VD patients and healthy controls, there was more pronounced reduction of performance on the main cognitive domains in AD patients, which indicated the diffused deficits of AD, including learning and memory, comprehension, language, orientation and concentration. The atrophy of MTL structures was more prominent in AD patients. A moderate diagnostic accuracy of 83.3% was achieved by Fisher's linear discriminant model, which comprised the scores of word recall, recall of test instructions, commands, constructional praxis and orientation in ADAS-Cog, and the performance on picture recall, visual recognition visual reproduction, logic memory and touch test in Wechsler memory test and part of memory in MMSE. In diagnose of AD, MRI based volumetry of left temporal horn of lateral ventricle and amygdalohippocampal complex had the sensitivity of 78.4% and accuracy of 77.1%. When cognitive indicators were combined with MRI based measurement, the diagnostic accuracy increased to 90.5%. Conclusion: AD produces more diffused cognitive deficit and severer atrophy of MTL structure. Combination of cognitive indicator with MRI based measurement can improve accuracy in diagnosis of AD.

Endothelial Cells ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Myocardium ; pathology

ObjectiveTo investigate the lipid metabolism in ketosis-prone type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients classified by Aβ classification scheme.Methods Two hundred and seventy-seven ketosis-prone T2DM patients were classified according to the A β classification scheme which was based on the presence or absence of pancreatic islet β-cell autoantibody and fasting C peptide:A-β- group (78 cases ),A+ β -group (41 cases ),A- β + group ( 113 cases ) and A+ β + group (45 cases).The levels of blood lipid were determined and compared in the four groups.ResultsIn A- β -,A+ β -,A- β + and A+ β +groups,the levels of triglyeride (TG) were separately (1.72 ± 1.07),(1.86 ± 1.04),(2.21 ± 1.66) and (2.60 ± 1.87 )mmol/L,the levels of very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(VLDL-C) were separately (0.57 ±0.45),(0.61 ±0.48),(0.79 ±0.63) and(0.81 ±0.62) mmol/L,and there were significant differences in TG and VLDL-C among the four groups(P =0.004 and 0.010).There were significant differences in TG and VLDL-C between β + group ( 158 cases) and β - group ( 119 cases) [ (2.32 ± 1.72) mmol/L vs.(1.77 ± 1.06)mmol/L,(0.80 ±0.63) mmol/L vs.(0.58 ±0.46) mmol/L,P =0.001 and 0.001 ].Conclusions Ketosis-prone T2DM patients with different situations of pancreatic islet β-cell autoimmunity and function are different in lipid metabolism,so it is very lmportant to evaluate the blood lipid and perform related lipid-lowering therapy in order to reduce the occurrence of diabetic complication.

Since 2007, a number of published population-based studies have shown that stroke epidemiology has changed. There are some differences in morbidity, mortality, risk factors and clinical prognosis of stroke between the high-income countries and the less developed countries.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the correlation between serum anti-Jo-1 antibody level and myositis disease activity in polymyositis/dermatomyositis.MethodsAnti-Jo-1 antibody levels in serum from 148 polymyositis/dermatomyositis patients and 130 healthy controls were measured by both ELISA and immunoblot assay.Disease activity of the anti-Jo-1 antibody positive patients was assessed by the global myositis disease activity score (visual analogue score,VAS) established by the International Myositis Assessment and Clinical Studies(IMACS) Group.The correlation between disease activity and level of serum antiJo-1 antibody was assessed.Comparisons between groups were performed by x2 test or t test.ResultsThe positive rate of ELISA and EUROLINE was 24.3％(36/148) and 27.0％(40/148) respectively.Fever,ILD,arthritis/arthralgia were found to be more predominant in anti-Jo-1 antibody positive patients than those who were anti-Jo-1 antibody negative patients.There was significant positive correlation between the global myositis disease activity score (VAS) and serum level of anti-Jo-1 antibody (r=0.874,P=9.000).Serum antiJo-1 antibody levels,together with global disease activity,were significantly decreased in the 7 patients after treatment.ConclusionAnti-Jo-1 antibody level measured by ELISA is associated with disease activity of PM/DM,and could be a marker of disease activity.