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.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; Prognosis ; Young Adult

Objective To establish a quality standard of Hovenia dulics Thunb. Method The presence of quercetin was identified and assayed by TLC and HPLC, respectively. Result Linearity of marker was obtained over the range of 1.32 ～ 5.28 ?g (r =0.9999). The average recovery rate was 98.78% (RSD=1.08%). Conclusion TLC is specific. The method of quality is accurate, reappearance, simple, rapid, and suitable for the quality control of Hovenia dulcis Thunb.

Objective To investigate the effect of Fangjifulingtang on preventing proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells and the expression of PAI-1, so as to provide experimental evidence for Fangjifulingtang to cure chronic kidney disease. Method Glomerular mesangial cells were cultured and TNF-? was used as a stimulation to make the cells proliferate. Then Fangjifulingtang was incubated together at different doses. Cell vitality were evaluated and qualified by MTT. Cell period were analysed by Flow CytoMeter (FCM). Secretion of PAI-1 expression was measured by ELISA. Results The proliferation of Glomerular mesangial cells was inhibited (P

Objective To explore influence of long-term inhaled glucocoticoids(IGS) on soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1)) in children with bronchial asthma.Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) method was used to detect the serum sICAM-1 level in 36 healthy children and 29 children with bronchial asthma(untreated and post-treated for 3,6 and 12 months).Results 1.Serum sICAM-1 level was significantly elevated in children with asthma and significantly higher than that in normal control group(P

Objective To establish an animal model of pancreatic juice reflux esophagitis, and compare the roles of single pancreatic juice with pancreatic juice plus bile acids reflux in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Methods Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, group A: gastrectomy and end- to- side esophagojejunostomy (pancreatic juice and bile combination group, n=20); group B, gastrectomy and end-to-side esophagojejunostomy and bile-duct-jejunostomy (single pancreatic juice group, n = 20 ); group C: simple laparotomy ( n = 10). The rats were sacrificed 1, 2, 4 weeks after operation, and the change of weight of the rats and esophageal morphology was observed. Results Four rats in combination group died during or after operation, and the success rate of the model was 80%, 6 rats in single pancreatic juice group died, and the success rateof the model was 70%, both group A and B rats lost more weight significantly than that in control group, and the weight gradually increased 2 weeks later, but it was still lower than that in control group [(218 ±21), (216 ±20)g vs. (286 ±28)g, P＜0.05]. Reflux esophagitis of different degree was present in both groups, which was more severe in the lower part of esophagus, and severity increased with time. The main histologic changes were inflammation, erosion, ulcer and epithelial cell hyperplasia and metaplasia. The severity of esophagitis was not significantly different between group A and group B. Conclusions The models of single pancreatic juice reflux esophagitis can be successfully made. It establishes the foundation for experimental research of pancreatic juice induced esophageal mucosa injury.

Serum bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) , osteocalcin (OC) , C-telopeptides of type-1 collagen (CTx) , osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels, and bone mineral density (BMD) were evaluated in 62 hyperthyroid patients and 60 healthy subjects matched for sex and age. In hyperthyroid patients, the biochemical evaluations and bone density were performed before and after 6 months of methimazole ( MMI) treatment. Results showed that the BMD in lumbar spine L2 - L4, neck of femur, Ward's triangle and greater trochanter of patients before treatment were all significantly lower than those in healthy controls, and improved markedly after MMI treatment. The serum bone turnover parameters BAP, OC and CTx in patients before treatment were all significantly higher than those in control group, and were decreased markedly after treatment. The serum OPG level in patients with hyperthyroidism was significantly higher than that in healthy controls, and decreased markedly after treatment. The serum OPG levels were significantly correlated with bone turnover parameters ( BAP, OC, CTx) and BMD, which indicates that serum OPG level can reflect the abnormality of bone metabolism in patients with hyperthyroidism.

ObjectiveTo observe the effects of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α)-targeting small interfering RNA(siRNA) on the expression of HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in HaCaT ceils under hypoxic conditions. MethodsHaCaT cells were cultured and divided into four groups, normal control group (without any treatment), hypoxia group (cultured under hypoxic conditions for 24 hours),liposome control group (transfected with liposome followed by hypoxic culture for 24 hours), RNA interference group (transfected with HIF-1α-targeting siRNA/liposome complexes followed by hypoxic culture for 24 hours). Fluorescence real-time quantitative PCR was utilized to determine HIF-1oα and VEGF mRNA expression in HaCaT cells, and Western blot to detect HIF-1α and VEGF protein expression. ResultsNo significant difference was observed in the mRNA expression of HIF-1α between the hypoxia group and normal control group(0.907 ± 0.032 vs. 0.878 ± 0.034, F =1.108, P ＞ 0.05), while the expression levels of VEGF mRNA,HIF-1α and VEGF proteins were significantly higher in the hypoxia group than in the normal control group (0.935 ± 0.032 vs. 0.652 ± 0.053, 0.813 ± 0.047 vs. 0.236 ± 0.014, 0.791 ± 0.030 vs. 0.316 ± 0.013, all P ＜0.05). A significant decline was noted in the mRNA and protein expression levels of VEGF (0.230 ± 0.044 vs.0.978 ± 0.030, 0.213 ± 0.026 vs. 0.817 ± 0.049, both P ＜ 0.05) and HIF-1α(0.497 ± 0.033 vs. 0.806 ±0.040, 0.249 ± 0.028 vs. 0.833 ± 0.052, both P ＜ 0.05) in the RNA interference group than in the liposome control group. ConclusionsHypoxia may enhance the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF in HaCaT cells, and to inhibit the HIF-1α expression may suppress the expression of VEGF in HaCaT cells under hypoxia.

Objective To develop the improved monitoring and evaluation system of adverse drug reaction during infusion in clinic and emergency department,and investigate the effect of this system.Methods To develop monitoring and evaluation system of adverse drug reaction,which was consistent with the medical safety (adverse) event reporting,and running it.The system consisted of organizational structure,knowledge training,event reporting and processing,data analysis,quality control and continuous improvement.We collected the observed indicators of the cases of adverse drug reaction,quality and network reporting time pass rate,which were compared with those of the conventional system.Results One year during the improved system running,the cases of adverse drug reaction in clinic and emergency department infusion was reduced,the quality of reporting and handling significantly improved,network report pass rate increased.Conclusions Improved monitoring and evaluation system of adverse drug reactions has some significance in safety management of clinic and emergency department infusion,which is worthy of promotion in clinical work applications.

Objective To determine the effect of bacille Calmette-Guerin-polysaccharide nucleic acid (BCG/PSN)on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in Nc/Nga mice.Methods Fifteen mice were randomly and equally classified into 3 groups,i.e.,control group receiving topical acetone on foot pad and abdomen and intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline,model group receiving topical 5% DNCB solution and intraperitoneal injection of physiological saline,treatment group receiving 5% DNCB solution and intraperitoneal iniection of BCG/PSN,and all drugs were used every other day for 7 weeks.Further more,0.1% DNCB was topically applied on the ear and neck of Nc/Nga mice once a week from week 2 to week 7.The effects of BCG/PSN were evaluated by ear thickness,skin histopathology and immunological parameters.Results Repeated application of DNCB caused the development of eczematous dermatitis in mice.Mice in model group chnieally manifested skin dryness,erythema,edema and erosion with histopathological changes including dermal and epidermal thickening,hyperkeratosis,and inflammatory infiltration.The serum levels of IL-4 and IrE in model group were significantly higher than those in control group[(174.72±12.64)μg/L vs (17.32±3.56)μg/L,(91.49±6.32)ng/L vs (83.95±6.63)ng/L,both P<0.05].Increased serum IL-12 and IFN-γ and decreased serum IgE were observed in treatment group compared with the model group[(122.10±4.64)ng/L vs (20.14±6.15)ng/L(73.89±2.39)ng/L vs (51.53±3.45)ng/L, (84.27±9.35)μg/L vs (174.72±12.64)μg/L, all P<0.05].Conclusion BCG/PSN might be beneficial for the treatment of atopie dermatitis-like skin lesions in Nc/Nga mice by enhancing the secretion of IL-12 and IFN-γ and suppressing the synthesis of IgE.