Objective To detect the expression of CD70 in peripheral T lymphocytes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and the effect of azacitidine, an inhibitor of DNA methylation, on it. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 10 patients with active SLE (SLEDAI score ≥5), 10 patients with nonactive SLE (SLEDAI score < 5) and 10 normal human controls. Peripheral T lymphocytes were isolated and cultured for 72 hours. A part of the T lymphocytes from normal controls, which were cultured in the presence of azacitidine at 1 mol/L, served as the methylation-inhibited group. Semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR and flow cytometry were applied to detect the mRNA expression of CD70 and frequency of CD70+CD4+ cells in the cultured lymphocytes, respectively. Results The frequency of CD70+CD4+ lymphocytes was 14.55%±5.49% in normal control group, 85.25%±14.08% in active SLE group, 77.65% ±18.77% in nonactive SLE group, and 81.54%±8.71% in methylation-inhibited group. Compared with the normal control group, a significant increase was observed in both the frequency of CD70+CD4+ lymphocytes (all P < 0.01) and the expression of CD70 expression (all P < 0.05) in other three groups. There was a positive correlation between the frequency of peripheral CD70+CD4+ lymphocytes and disease activity of SLE in patients (r = 0.72, P < 0.05). Conclusions The elevated expression of CD70 appears to play a significant role in the immunologic disarrangement in SLE, and may act as a indicator of disease activity of this disease.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate feasibility and effectiveness of pedicle screw bi-cortical fixation in lumbar spondylolisthesis or destabilization of aged people. METHODS: The statistical significance of the distance between the anterior edge of vertebral body and the anterior major blood vessels at the level of pediculus arcus vertebrae by CT scan at random were measured and analyzed. 82 cases of lumbar spondylolisthesis or destabilization, aged 65 years (range 51 to 75 years), including 35 males and 47 females, were treated pedicle screw bi-cortical fixation, with the anterior edge of the vertebral body penetrated by one screw thread. The function was evaluated by Macnab backleg pain scale standards. RESULTS: There was significant difference in the distance of the anterior edge and the major vessels between the old and the young (P< 0.05). All the 82 cases were operated successfully, and the mean time was 145 minutes and the mean amount of bleeding was 530 mL. The 43 cases including 15 males and 28 females were followed up for 18 months (range 3 to 53 months). There was one case of rupture of the spinal dura mater with no sequela after the suture. There were 3 cases of transient paralysis and pain of lower limbs, which were alleviated after 2 months' treatment. No complications of nerve root or vessel injuries were found. All incisions healed well at the primary stage. The lumbocrural pain of all 43 cases was alleviated to a certain content. There were 31 cases of excellent, 10 of good, and 2 of fair; the excellent and good rate was 97%. CONCLUSION: It is feasible and safe to treat the lumbar spondylolisthesis or destabilization in the old with the pedicle screw bi-cortical fixation.

OBJECTIVEPsoriasis is an autoimmune-related chronic inflammatory skin disease strongly associated with the dysfunction of Th17 cells. Retinoic acid-related orphan nuclear receptor γt (RORγt) plays a critical role in the differentiation and maturation of Th17 cells and in cell-derived immunologic derangement. We conducted this study to investigate potential mechanism by which the derivative of digoxin selectively antagonizes RORγt transcriptional activity.

METHODUsing molecular docking in combination with molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), we detected the interaction between the derivative of digoxin (Dhd) and ROR transcription factor (RORα,RORβ and RORγt), and the results were further confirmed by bioluminescent assay.

RESULTMolecular docking demonstrated that Dhd could exclusively inhibit the conformation of RORγt; bioluminescent assay further indicated that RORγt was selectively antagonized by Dhd in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONDhd can selectively suppress RORγt transcriptional activity.

Digoxin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Models, Chemical ; Molecular Docking Simulation ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 1 ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; Transcription, Genetic