Objective To measure the number of peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPCs) and membrane expression of CD34 on these cells in patients with SLE. Methods Lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of 30 patients with SLE and 14 normal human controls. Flow cytometry using FITC-labeled antibodies was performed to determine the percentage of CD34+ HSC/HPCs and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD34 on these cells. Their correlation with clinical data was analyzed.Results The percentage of CD34+ HSC/HPCs in peripheral lymphocytes was (0.15 ± 0.10)% and (0.09 ±0.07)% in active and stable SLE patients, respectively, significantly lower than that in normal controls [(0.37 +0.17)%, F = 17.18, P ＜ 0.01], however, there was no significant difference between active and stable SLE patients (t = 1.51, P＞ 0.05). The MFI of CD34 was higher in active SLE patients than in the normal controls (41.35 ± 19.24 vs. 27.43 ± 7.57, F= 3.13, P ＜ 0.05), but no difference was observed between stable SLE patients and normal controls (F= 3.13, P ＞ 0.05). In patients with SLE, the percentage of CD34+ HSC/HPCs was negatively correlated with serum IgG levels (r = -0.588, P ＜ 0.01 ), but uncorrelated with SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) or serum levels of complement, anti-dsDNA antibodies, anti-C1q antibodies, antinucleosome antibodies, etc. Conclusions The count of CD34+ HSC/HPCs is reduced while the MFI of CD34 antigen is elevated in SLE patients, hinting that there is a functional abnormality of HSC/HPCs in SLE patients, which may be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To measure the number of peripheral blood CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC/HPC) expression of CD34 in the peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and exploreits relationship with clinical manifestations. Methods CD34+ HSC/HPCs in the peripheral blood of RA patients (n=32) and healthy controls (n=16) were detected using flow cytometry. The relationship between the frequency of HSC/HPCs, mean fluorescence intensities (MFI) of CD34 and clinical manifestations and rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies, disease activity score (DAS) 28,X rays stages and healthy assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were analyzed. Student's t-test and pearont test were used for statistical analysis. Results Frequency of CD34+ HSC/HPC in the peripheral blood of RA patients was decreased compared with normal controls [ (0.13±0.09)% vs (0.38±0.21)%, P＜0.05 ], CD34 MFIwere higher in RA patients than those in the normal controls (57±33 vs 3111, P＜0.05). The frequency was positively correlated with the number of (RBC red blood cell), (Hb hemoglobin), and was negatively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP), and the MFI of RA patients was positively correlated with healthy assessment questionnaire (HAQ) and X ray stages, but negatively correlated with the number of platelets.Conclusion CD34+ HSC/HPC of the peripheral blood of RA patients are significantly abnormal, which is characterized by decreased CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell, and the decrease is positively correlated with RBC and Hb, but negatively correlated with CRP. CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell may play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA.

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphisims in pre-miR-146a rs2910164 and miR-146a expression in rheumatoid arthritis(RA).MethodsPolymerase chain reaction- ligation detection reaction (PCR-LDR) was used to detect the pre-miR-146a rs2910164 single nucleotide polymorphisms in 123 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 220 healthy controls.Expression of miR-146a in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied using quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 68 RA patients,10 osteoarthritis (OA) patients and 20 healthy controls.After application of glucocorticoid and NSAIDS combined with DMARDS for three months in 10 patients with active RA,miR-146a expression was again analyzed by qRT-PCR.Clinical characteristics including sex,age at onset,rheumatoid factor (RF),anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody,RA activity (DAS28 ≥3.2) and bone erosion (X-ray ＞ Ⅰ stage) were taken into account.X2 test,One-Way ANOVA,t test and Pearson correlation were used for statistical analysis.ResultsThe polymorphisms of the pre-miR-146a rs2910164 were not correlated with susceptibility to RA (P＞0.05).There were no associations between pre-miR-146a rs2910164 genotypes and sex,age at onset,status of RF and antiCCP,RA activity,bone erosion and miR-146a expression in RA patients (P＞0.05 for each).MiR-146a expression was significantly higher in RA patients than that in OA patients and that in healthy controls( P＜0.01 for each) but did not differ between the latter two groups (P＞0.05).MiR-146a expression was significantly higher in active RA patients than that in inactive patients and that in healthy individuals (P＜0.01 for each).After treatment,miR-146a expression and DAS28 score were lower obviously (P＜0.05,P＜0.01,respectively).MiR-146a expression was positively correlated to ESR,CRP and DAS28 score (P＜0.01 for each),but not to RF titer and anti-CCP antibody titer (P＞0.05 for each).ConclusionThe polymorphisms of the pre-miR-146a rs2910164 are not associated with susceptibility to RA,and not correlated with clinical characteristics and miR-146a expression in RA patients.MiR-146a expression is upregulated in patients with RA,and may be a potentially useful marker of disease activity in these patients.

Objective To investigate the expression of micro RNA-146a (miR-146a),TNF receptorassociated factor 6 (TRAF6) gene and IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1 (IRAK1) gene in the peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and their relationship with the disease activity.The role of miR-146a,TRAF6,IRAK1 in the pathogenesis of AS was explored.Methods Expression of miR-146a,TRAF-6 and IRAK-1 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was studied using realtime polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in 45 AS patients and 22 healthy controls.The indicators of disease activity adopted in this study were Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI),erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),C-reactive protein (CRP) level,and immunoglobulin (Ig).The relationship was analyzed in AS patients between the relative expression levels miR-146a,TRAF6,IRAK1 and BASDAI,ESR,CRP,Ig concentration.Non-parametric test,t test,One-way ANOVA,Pearson's and Spearman's correlation analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results ①The relative expression level of miR-146a which was observed in PBMCs of AS patients was significantly higher than that in normal control group [1.46(0.39,4.79)and 0.81(0.17,1.90),P＜0.05].The expression of miR-146a was significantly higher in active AS patients group than that in inactive patients [2.93(0.95,7.95) and 0.54(0.28,1.69),P＜0.05],there was no difference between the treatment group and without treatment group [1.28(0.31,2.37) and 2.22(0.49,7.71),P＞0.05].② There was significant difference in the relative expression level of IRAK-1 between AS patients and the normal control group.IRAK1 was significantly higher in AS patients than that in normal control group (1.4±0.7,1.1±0.4,P＜0.05).However,there was not difference between active AS patients group and inactive patients group as well as treated group and untreated group (1.5±0.9,1.4±0.5; 1.6±0.7,1.3±0.7,P＞0.05).③ TRAF6 expression was obviously lower in AS patients than that in normal control group (1.3±0.6,1.7±0.8,P＜0.05),and that was also significantly lower in the untreated group and active group than that in the normal control group (1.1±0.7,1.7±0.8; 1.1±0.5,1.7±0.8,P＜0.05).④ Signi-ficant positive correlation was observed between the miR-146a level and BASDAI,as well as duration of morning stiffness (r=0.557,P=0.000; r=0.363,P=0.018).The expression level of IRAK1 was significantly negative correlated with IgM (r=-0.313,P=0.046).Conclusion ① miR-146a expression is up-regulated in patients with AS,and it may be a potential useful marker for disease activity in AS patients; ② The abnormal expression of IRAK1,TRAF6 in AS patients may play a role in the pathogenesis of AS.

[Objective]To discuss the characteristics of the edition and the process of collection of Xinkan Huimin Yuyao Yuanfang(referred to as the Seikado Edition),now collected in Seikado Bunko,and to analyze its research value.[Methods]Through the method of documentary research,this paper provided an overview of the book formation and the current status of the editions of Yuyao Yuanfang,focusing on the edition characteristics of the Seikado Edition,the process of collection and its research value.[Results]The Seikado Edition is the only one published in the Yuan Dynasty,with a high quality of engraving.The earliest known collector of this book should be the Qing dynasty collector ZHANG Jinwu,and then in turn through WANG Shizhong,CAI Tingxiang and CAI Tingzhen brothers,LU Xinyuan collected in order,and finally traveled to Japan,received by Japanese Seikado Bunko.In addition,by comparing the other two editions of the Yuyao Yuanfang,it was found that the Seikado Edition had more detailed records of some prescriptions and more accurate records of some drugs dosages.This indicates that the Seikado Edition has certain literary and clinical research value.[Conclusion]The Seikado Edition is a rare version that has been treasured by several famous collectors.Its content is different from the other two editions previously seen in China,and is worth further in-depth study.

Objective To investigate the change and significance of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in peripheral blood in patients with acute and chronic gout. Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect the ratio of Tregs in peripheral blood of healthy controls, patients with acute gout and patients with chronic gout. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect the levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-βand interleukin (IL)-1βin plasma. Then, statistical analysis was conducted to analyze the changes and significance in different stages of gout, such as F test, Kruskal-Walls H test, q test and Pearson and Spearman correlation analysis. Results ① The percentage of CD4+CD25+Foxp+Treg/CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood was (1.22±0.27)％ in control group. While in patients with acute gout, it was (1.51±0.43)％, and (0.47±0.26)％in patients with chronic gout. There were statistical significant difference among the three groups ( F=101.39, P<0.05). The percentage of Tregs in acute gout group was significantly higher than that in control group and chronic gout group, while it was significantly lower in chronic gout group than in control group ( P<0.05). ②The concentration of TGF-β in plasma was (170 ±12) ng/L in control group, (214 ±77) ng/L in patients with acute gout and (179±21) ng/L in patients with chronic gout, the difference was statistically-significant (F=6.20, P<0.05). The concentration of TGF-β in plasma in acute gout group was significantly higher than the control group and chronic gout group, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05), while the difference between chronic gout group and the control group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). ③The con-centration of IL-1β in plasma in the control group was (4.8 ±1.3) ng/L, while that in patients with acute and chronic gout was (10.1±8.5) ng/L and (11.50±12.57) ng/L respectively, the difference between these three groupswas stati-sticallysignificant (P<0.05). The concentration of IL-1β in plasma in acute gout group and chronic gout group wassignificantly higher than that in the control group, the difference was statistical significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference between acute gout and chronic gout (P>0.05) patients. ④ The percentage of Tregs in peripheral blood of gout patients was negatively correlated with the duration of disease and the number of gout attacks within six months (duration of disease: r =-0.381, P <0.01 ; number of gout attacks: r=-0.518, P<0.01). But there wasno significant correlation to the concentration of TGF-β and IL-1β. Conclusion Tregsincreasesin acute gout and participate in the alleviation of gout inflammation, while the persistence of chronic gout may be related to the decrease of Tregs. Therefore, Tregs play an important regulatory role in the transformation of acute and chronic gout.