Objective To analyze the prevalence and clinical features of cytomegalovirus (CMV)infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods Patients with SLE in Peking University Third Hospital from 2013 to 2015 and age and sex matched healthy controls were enrolled.All patients were detected for CMV antibody,CMV DNA and CMV PP65 in the blood.The prevalence of CMV infection and the clinical characteristics were analyzed using Chi-square test.Results Altogether 349 SLE patients and 209 healthy controls were enrolled.In SLE group,the positive rate of CMV IgG was 90.3％ (315/349),which was similar to that of the control group,while the positive rate of CMV IgM was 8.0％ (28/349),which wassignificantly higher than controls 1.4％(3/209) (x2=10.811,P=0.001),and the active CMV infection rate was 69.1％(241/349).Those in the active phase of SLE were more likely to have active CMV infection when compared with those in remission [75.4％(93/256) vs 51.6％(48/93),x2=18.049,P＜0.01].The percentage [43.2％(104/241)] of severe patients in those with active CMV infection was much higher than that in those without CMV infection 9.2％(10/108) (x2=38.953,P＜0.01).Those SLE patients had active CMV infection were clinically more severe and the most common clinical manifestation were proteinuria/hemoturia,cytopenia and fever.Conclusion In SLE patients,the positive rate of CMV IgM is significantly higher than healthy control and the prevalence of active CMV infection is high,especially in those at active disease.Those with active CMV infection are clinically more severe but have no features of active CMV infection,which indicates that the CMV infection might be a trigger of SLE activity.

Objective To investigate the clinical and radiographic features of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with cervical subluxations.Methods The clinical, laboratory and imaging data of 68 RA patients who were hospitalized to our hospital because of cervical syndrome were retrospectively reviewed.The patients were divided into two groups depend based on whether cervical spine subluxations presented or not.Mann-Whitney U test, t test and Person correlation, x2 test were used for statistical analysis.Results This study confirmed the high frequency (11.6％, 39/335) of radiological cervical subluxations in RA patients.The nNeck pain was a common symptom, accounting for 87％ (34/39).Other symptoms included limb numbness 59％ (23/39).The rate of positive C-reactive protein (CRP) in the subluxation group was both significantly higher than that of the non-subluxation group [89％(24/27) vs 59％(16/27),x2=6.17, P＜0.01].Anterior atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS) was the most common form, accounting for 95％(37/39) of all cervical subluxations,followed by vertical subluxation (VS), accounting for 18％ (7/39).Subaxial subluxation (SAS) of the lower cervical vertebrae was less common (5.1％).The ratio of bone destruction, spinal stenosis, spinal cord compression in image findings of the subluxation group was significantly higher than that of the non-subluxation group (x2=7.96, x2=6.12, x2=4.89, P＜0.05).But more hyperostosis and osteosclerosis feature of the non-subluxation group could be observed more hyperostosis and osteosclerosis feature (x2=6.21, P＜0.05).PADI correlated with ADI (r=-0.588, P=0.015).Conclusion This study confirms the high frequency of radiological cervical involvement in patients with RA.AAS is the most common form of cervical involvement and may occur either independently or concomitantly with cranial settling and subaxial subluxation.

Objective To analyze the efficacy of the combination of MALDI-TOF and immunoadsorption to detect new biomarkers for lupus. Methods Twenty lupus patients at active stage (SLE group), 10 SLE patients in remission (SLE control group), 10 RA patients and 10 PSS patients (other rheumatic disease control group) and 20 healthy volunteers (healthy control group) were enrolled. The serum samples before and after immunoadsorption from SLE group and those from the control groups were co-incubated with activated chitosan copper derivative nano material. The adsorbed nano material was spotted onto the matrix used in MALDI-TOF for analysis by the Axima-CFR plus MALDI-TOF mass spectrometer. T-test was used for statistical analysis. Results MALDI-TOF MS screening showed that three potential protein biomarkers of mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio 3136, 3264, 3326 were found to be very specific for lupus patients: All of them were expressed before immunoadsorption in high quantity and none of them could be detected both after immunoadsorption and in all the three control groups. None of them (<10 000) were in the molecular weight range of the biomarkers used nowadays such as auto antibodies and complement (>50 000). Conclusion The combination of MALDI-TOF and immunoadsorption is effective in the detection of new serum protein biomarkers for lupus and it may be helpful in the screening of SLE patients at active stage from healthy people.

Objective:The study was aimed to investigate the bone mineral density (BMD) status of newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients.Methods:Newly diagnosed SLE patients and healthy controls in Peking University Third Hospital from 2014 to 2018 were enrolled into this cross-sectional study. Medical records including systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI)-2000 and BMD of the lumbar vertebrae and hips measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry were collected. Patients were divided into normal and low BMD groups. Parameters were compared by Student- t test, Mann-Whitney U test and χ 2 test. Results:Eighty-nine patients and 20 healthy controls were included. Approximately 52.8% of the SLE patients had low BMD. Compared to the healthy control group, the BMD of lumbar spine and hip was obviously lower than in the newly diagnosed SLE group[(0.97±0.14) g/cm 2, (1.08±0.10) g/cm 2, t=3.548, P<0.01; (0.88±0.15) g/cm 2, (1.00±0.08) g/cm 2, t=3.878, P<0.01]. The BMD of lumbar spine and hip in the low BMD group was lower than that in the normal BMD group [(0.88±0.10) g/cm 2, (0.80±0.11) g/cm 2; (1.07±0.11) g/cm 2, (0.97±0.13) g/cm 2, respectively]. Compared with the normal BMD group, the body mass index (BMI) was significantly lower [(19.2±2.0) kg/m 2, (23.2±3.6) kg/m 2 respectively, t=3.678, P<0.01], the disease duration was longer [(45.7±7.7) weeks, (16.0±19.5) weeks, respectively, t=-3.306, P<0.01). Patients with low BMD tended to have lower 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D(25-OH-VD 3) level and higher bone metabolism marker levels (Degradation products of collagen B) [(9±5) nmol/L vs (12±7) nmol/L, t=1.385, P>0.05; 0.62(0.21, 1.61) ng/ml vs 0.43(0.19, 0.88) ng/ml, Z=0.624, P>0.05], although their differences didn't reach the statistical significant difference. Conclusion:Newly diagnosed SLE patients' BMD is lower than the healthy people. About 52.8% newly diagnosed untreated SLE patients have low BMD. Lower BMI and longer disease duration are their clinical characteristics. High bone metabolism marker levels, low 25-hydroxy-vitamin-D level might have clinical significance, although the current findings do not find statistically significant difference. Large sample size is required for subsequent research analysis.

Objective To investigate the effects of a 45％high-fat diet(HFD)with isocaloric intake on energy metabolism and endurance exercise capacity in SD rats.Methods Twenty-four male SD rats were randomly divided into normal chow diet group(CON),HFD group,normal chow diet+exercise training group(CONT),and HFD+exercise training group(HFDT).The CON and CONT groups received normal chow diet,while the HFD and HFDT groups received a 45％high-fat diet with isocaloric intake.The HFDT and CONT groups underwent an endurance training of moderate-intensity running for 6 weeks.Body weight,fat mass,and lean mass were measured weekly.Energy expenditure and basal metabolic rate during rest and exercise states were measured using Pheno Master/Calo Treadmill system.Blood glucose,lipids,and creatine kinase levels were detected after the exhaustion test.Results In 6 weeks after intervention,the endurance exercise capacity was significantly enhanced in the HFDT group than the CONT group(P＜0.05).There were no obvious differences in body weight and body composition among the groups under isoenergetic feeding conditions.At rest,no statistical differences were observed in total energy expenditure and basal metabolic rate among the groups.However,prior to the 4th week,the CON group primarily metabolized carbohydrates while the HFD group primarily metabolized fats.But the carbohydrate metabolism was decreased and then increased,and the substrate metabolism rates eventually reached similar levels between the 2 groups on the 5th to 6th week.The HFDT group primarily metabolized fats while the CONT group primarily metabolized carbohydrates,with significant differences persisting after 6 weeks of training(P＜0.05).HFD led to elevated levels of serum cholesterol,triglycerides(TG),and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C),but,endurance training resulted in decreased lipid levels in the HFDT group,accompanied by an increase inβ-hydroxybutyrate(βHB)level(P＜0.05).Isoenergetic diets had no significant differences in their effects on liver and kidney function or muscle damage indicators.Conclusion An isoenergetic HFD can improve fat utilization ability and extend endurance exercise time in rats without altering body composition or affecting liver and kidney function.

Objective To develop a nutritional formula on enhancing the endurance of heavy load exercise,and evaluate its efficacy comprehensively.Methods Sixty C57BL/6J male mice were randomly divided into control group(CON group)and low-,medium-and high-dose nutritional formula groups(LDF,MDF and HDF groups),with 15 mice in each group.Each group received intervention with nutritional formula at corresponding dose for 2 weeks,and underwent adaptive training and heavy load exercise in the 1 st and 2nd weeks,respectively.Exhaustion exercise time,skeletal muscle antioxidant indicators(SOD,MDA,PC and GSH),fatigue related indicators(serum URA,LDH and LA),muscle glycogen,and serum exercise injury related indicators(ALT,AST,CK and CK-MB)were measured and detected in the mice,and comprehensive evaluation was conducted according to relevant evaluation standards.Results The LDF group,MDF group and HDF group had significantly prolonged running exhaustion time than the CON group(P＜0.05),with the HDF group showing the greatest improvement(P＜0.05).Compared with the CON group,the activities of SOD and GSH in the skeletal muscles were significantly increased(P＜0.05),while the levels of MDA and PC in skeletal muscles were obviously decreased in the 3 doses of nutritional formula groups(P＜0.05).PAS staining of the skeletal muscles displayed that the glycogen content was significantly increased in the MDF group and the HDF group than the CON group(P＜0.05),and the highest increase was observed in the HDF group(P＜0.05).Biochemical test revealed that the levels of LDH,LA,ALT,AST,CK,and CK-MB were remarkably lower in the 3 doses of nutritional formula groups than the CON group(P＜0.05).Conclusion The nutritional formula can significantly improve the endurance and skeletal muscle antioxidant capacity in mice under heavy load exercise,and has anti-fatigue and-injury protection effects.This nutritional formula can be used to support physical fitness during heavy load endurance exercise.