Objective:To investigate the inductive function of tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-? to dentritic cell(DC) and its effect on erythroid hematopoiesis.Methods:Human CD34~+ cells was separated and purified by MACS method.With the existence of stem cell factor(SCF),interleukin-3(IL-3) and erythropoietin(EPO),CD34~+ cells were cultured together with TNF-? through external fluid.The expanding times of cells and their superficial markings were analysed by flow cytometry.Meanwhile,the morphological transformation of expanding cells was observed by microscope.Results:TNF-? could inhibit the development of glycophorin A(GPA;a specific erythroid marker) positive cells,while stimulates the growth of those GPA negative of non-erythroid cells.These cells usually possess the morphological characteristic of DCs and express phenotypical markers of DCs accordingly.Those erythroid progenitor cells which contact directly with DCs appear to have the change of cellular apoptosis.Conclusion:The inhibition of TNF-? to erythroid hematopoiesis is probably related to the induction of DCs proliferation.The possible reason for cellular apoptosis of erythoid progenitor cells may be their direct contact with DCs.

Objective To assess the efficacy and safety of leflunomide in active ankylosing spondylitis.Methods Totally 62 cases of active ankylosing spondylitis were included,and divided randomly into leflunomide group(n=26)and methotrexate group(n=36).The patients in leflunomide group received an oral leflunomide loading dose of 50 mg or 40 mg once daily for the first 3 days followed by a maintenance dose of 50 mg or 40 mg once weekly,according to whether the bodyweight was more than 50 kg or less than 50 kg,respectively.The patients in methotrexate group were prescribed oral methotrexate 5 mg once in the first week,10 mg once in the second week,15 mg once in the third week and thereafter weekly.Sulfasalazine was prescribed 0.75 three times daily in both groups.The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index(BASDAI)and The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index(BASIM)scoring instruments were used to assess the responsiveness to leflunomide and methotrexate at entry,three months,six months,twelve months and eighteen months after treatment,respectively.Laboratory data including peripheral blood counts(WBC,HGB,RBC),erythrocyte sedimentation rates(ESR),liver enzymes,serum creatinine,urinary sediments were detected at the same time.Sacroiliac joints CT scan and other involved joints x-ray radiograph examinations were taken at entry,six months,twelve months and eighteen months after treatment,respectively.Results Twenty-two cases in leflunomide group and 29 cases in methotrexate group were followed up to eighteen months.BASDAI in leflunomide group was significantly lower(P

Objective To study the immunological changes and clinical features of pachydermodactyly.Methods Thirteen cases of pachydermodactyly were studied and the literature about this disease was reviewed.Results The mean disease onset age was (16?3)years,11 of whom were male,2 were female;clinical feature was chronic non-inflammatory bulbous swelling of proximal interphalangeal joints,most of which distributed symmetrically;there were no abnormal results in immunological examination;X-ray showed only soft tissue swelling with no articular or bone damage.Conclusion Pachydermodactyly belongs to rheumatological diseases,and should be differentiated from other arthritis involving PIP joints.

Objective:To prepare the polyclonal antibodies against advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP),and to provide an effective agent for research on the pathogenesis of AOPP and assess exactly the relationship between AOPP and relative diseases.Methods:AOPP-rabbit serum albumin (AOPP-RSA) was prepared by treating RSA with hypochloric acid.The rabbit anti-AOPP-RSA polyclonal antibodies were generated and purified by affinity chromatography. The titers and the specificity of the antibodies were measured by ELISA.The plasma AOPP and the localization of AOPP in nephridial tissues of some patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) were determined using rabbit anti-AOPP-RSA.Results:Titers of the antibodies were 10-6.Purified antibodies reacted specifically with oxidized albumin from different genus,but could not react with normal albumin and glycosylated albumin.The high level of AOPP in plasma from CKD patients was confirmed by Western blot.The antibodies could be used to immunostain AOPP deposition in different regions of kidney tissues from both CKD patients and CKD rat models.Conclusion:We successfully generate rabbit anti-AOPP polyclonal antibodies with high titers and striking specificity.The presence of plasma AOPP and localizations of AOPP in kidney tissues of CKD patients can be demonstrated using the antibodies.The development of anti-AOPP polyclonal antibodies may provide a new tool to explore the pathogensis of AOPP and assess exactly the relationship between AOPP and relative diseases.

Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Curettage ; methods ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumor of Bone ; diagnostic imaging ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Sacrum ; Time ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Bushen Tongdu Capsule (BTC) on RANK/RANKL/ OPG pathway of collagen induced arthritis (CIA) rats, thereby laying theoretic evidence for treating rheumatic arthritis (RA) by Chinese medicine.

METHODSRA model was induced by CIA. Totally 42 rats were randomly divided into six groups, i.e., the normal control group, the model group, the low dose BTC (BSL) group, the medium dose BTC (BSM) group, the high dose BTC (BSH) group, and the Tripterygium Glycosides (TG) group, 7 in each group. BTC at the daily dose of 120, 240, and 480 mg/kg was given by gastrogavage to rats in the BSL, BSM, and BSH group respectively from the 13th day of modeling. TG at the daily dose of 24 mg/kg was given by gastrogavage to rats in the TG group. All medication was given once daily, 2 mL each time. Two mL normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. All medication lasted for 18 days. Samples were taken at day 31. The TRAP section of the ankle joint was fixed in 10% formalin for TRAP stain. Serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) were detected using ELISA.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, positive reactions of pathological ankle joint section, inflammation, and osteoclasia degree were significantly improved in the model group, serum levels of RANKL and M-CSF were up-regulated, levels of OPG and OPG/RANKL were significantly lowered (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, positive reactions of pathological ankle joint section, inflammation, and osteoclasia degree also significantly decreased in the BSH group and the TG group (all P < 0.01). RANKL and M-CSF were significantly down-regulated in each medicated group, while levels of OPG and OPG/RANKL were significantly up-regulated (all P < 0.01). Compared with the TG group, M-CSF was lower, but levels of OPG and OPG/RANKL were significantly up-regulated in the normal control group (all P < 0.01). RANKL and M-CSF were significantly up-regulated, while levels of OPG and OPG/RANKL were significantly down-regulated in the model group and each BS group (all P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBTC could relieve bone damage of CIA rats possibly through regulating and controlling osteoclasts.

Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Inflammation ; Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; metabolism ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoprotegerin ; metabolism ; RANK Ligand ; metabolism ; Rats ; Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-kappa B ; metabolism ; Tripterygium

Objective With awareness, attitudes, and rice-intake behavior of Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD) and the analysis of the factors that influence KBD related rice-intake behaviors among resident's in Aba,this research could provide evidences for KBD-Control, and benefit the policy development related to KBD-Control.Methods Villages were chosen by proportional stratified random sampling from KBD monitoring villages among agriculture areas, pastoral areas, and farming & pastoral areas in Aba, Sichuan, in July 2009. Interview questionnaire of household survey, designed by research associates of this project, was used in this research for residents in endemic area of KBD in Aba. The questionnaire covered demographic and socio-economic characteristics, KBD knowledge and diet habits. Multi-level Variance Component Analysis was used to explore factors which would influence the KBD related rice-intake behaviors. Results A total of 1029 permanent residents were recruited in this research, among which the detection rate of KBD was 48.01％ (482/1004). Most of the patients lived in farming & pastoral areas(84.44％, 407/482). Pastoral residents had the least knowledge of KashinBeck disease, and the composition ratios ofGeneral andGood were 15.87％ (33/208)and 3.36％ (7/208),respectively. Still, people who were willing to have rice as staple food were 93.13％(935/1004). It indicated that only (50.40 ± 23.68)％ on average, of research subjects had the life style of rice intake. Ethnic, work status,language situation and attitudes to rice intake were influencing factors for rice-intake behavior. Conclusions The percentage of rice intake in Aba KBD epidemic areas is low. And to prevent KBD, the advocacy actions should be targeted at ethnic, work status, language situation, and attitudes to rice intake.

Objective To observe the value of one-step spectral imaging and perfusion imaging in diagnosis of solitary pulmonary nodule(SPN).Methods Forty-seven patients with SPN proved by pathology underwent perfusion scan with gemstone spectral ima-ging mode,who were divided into malignant group in 28 patients and benign one in 1 9.The parameters of CT perfusion including blood volume (BV),blood flow (BF),mean transit time (MTT)and permeability surface (PS)were analyzed.Iodine concentration (IC),normalized iodine concentration (NIC)and slope rate of spectral curve in both arterial phase and venous phase were measured and calculated.The independent sample t test was performed to compare quantitative parameters between malignant and benign SPN.Results BF,BV and PS of malignant SPN were higher than those of benign ones (P <0.05).No statistically significantly differences between malignant and benign SPN were found (P >0.05).IC,NIC and slope rate of spectral curve in malignant SPN were higher than those in benign ones in both phases (P <0.05).Conclusion One-step spectral imaging and perfusion imaging can provide more parameters,which is helpful for the diagnosis of SPN.

The effect of obesity on idiopathic central precocious puberty (ICPP) girls is still under discussion.The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and sexual hormone levels of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) stimulation test in ICPP girls is controversial and the underlying mechanism is unclear.This study aims to further explore the independent effect of excess adiposity on peak luteinizing hormone (LH) level of stimulation test in ICPP girls and the role of other related factors.A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed on 618 girls diagnosed as having ICPP,including 355 cases of normal weight,99 cases of overweight and 164 cases of obese.The results showed that obese group had more progressed Tanner stage and no significant difference (P=0.28) in LH peak was found as basal LH value was used as a covariate.The obese group had higher total testosterone (TT),adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH),17-α hydroxyprogesterone (17-αOHP) and androstendione (AN),with significantly increased fasting insulin (FIN) and homeostasis model of assessment for insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR).Stratified analysis showed inconsistency of the relationship between BMI-standard deviation score (BMI-SDS) and LH peak in different Tanner stages (P for interaction=0.017).Further smoothing plot showed linear and non-linear relationship between BMI-SDS and LH peak in three Tanner stages.Then linear regression model was used to analyze the relationship between BMI-SDS and LH peak in different Tanner stages,with and without different confounding factors being adjusted.In B2 stage,BMI-SDS was negatively associated with LH peak.In B3 stage,when BMI-SDS ＜1.5,as BMI-SDS increased,the level of LH peak decreased (model Ⅰ:β=-1.8,95％ CI=-4.7 to 1.1,P=0.214).When BMI-SDS ≥1.5,BMI-SDS was significantly positively associated with LH peak (model Ⅰ:β=4.5,95％ CI=1.7 to 7.4,P=0.002).In B4 stage,when BMI-SDS ＜1.5,BMI-SDS was negatively associated with LH peak (model Ⅰ:β=-11.6,95％ CI=-22.7 to-4.5,P=0.049).When BMI-SDS ≥1.5,BMI-SDS was positively associated with LH peak (model Ⅰ:β=-4.2,95％ CI=-3.3 to 11.7,P=0.28).It is concluded that there is an independent correlation between BMI-SDS and LH peak of stimulation test in ICPP girls,their relationships are different in different Tanner stages,and the effect of BMI-SDS can be affected by adrenal androgens,estradiol and glucose metabolism parameters.

The effect of phenol concentration on the structure and function of microbial communities,which were cultured in different conditions using coking wastewater biofilm as seeding,was investigated by Biolog and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE)methods.The less number of bands of cultivated sam-ples on the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprint of 16S rRNA gene indicated reduction of di-versity after enrichment and cultivation.Some bands on the DGGE gel were significantly influenced by the phenol concentration in medium.The results of Biolog showed that the original biofilm sample had the highest substrate utility capacity as measured by average well color development(AWCD).But low concen-tration of phenol enriched sample S7 showed more diverse activity on the utility of Carboxylic acids.The principal component analysis(PCA)of Biolog data revealed that the metabolic patterns were similar when using the same phenol concentration,although the sample S7 much less similar to other cultivated samples.These results suggested that the enrichment and cultivation with phenol supplemented decreased the diver-sity and also changed the metabolic function of the microbial community.Lower phenol concentration in-creased the microbial community metabolic activity.The phenol degrading capacity of isolates from each samples indicated that the enrichment and cultivation condition had changed the type and property of cul-truable bacteria.Based on these results,we concluded that the different microorganisms will be isolated un-der different cultivation condition.