Anti-RNA antibodies(ARNA)were determined by dot-immunogold silver staining(Dot-IGSS)in 280 clinical serum samples.144 of these sera were tested simultaneously by ELISA ascontrast.The coincident rate of the detection results obtained from Dot-IGSS and from ELISAwas 91% and the difference between these results was insignificant in statistics.Moreover,therewas a positive linear correlation between the results Of quantitative analysis by the two methods.The positive rate of ARNA was 46.6% in group of autoimmunodiseases(AID),while 5.1% inthe group of non-AID and normal persons and ARNA could be regarded as another lead forscreening AID,especially for ANA-negative patients.

Having been launched for almost two decades,the seven-year medical educational program in Jiangsu province has cultivated and exported a certain amount of popular high-level medical talents with high and integrated quality for our society.To establish and construct the medical educational hierarchy which takes the five-year program as the principal part while focuses on the eight-year program corresponding to our economic level will be the inevitable tendency for the development of the higher education in our province.

Objective To study the molecular identification method of Sporothrix schenckii based on the nucleotide sequences in internal transcribed spacer region 2 of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) genes. Methods Species-specific primers were used to amplify the internal transcribed spacer region 2 of rDNA of 22 clinical isolates of Sporothrix schenckii and 12 strains of dematiaceous fungi. Totally 11 strains of Sporothrix schenckii were sequenced and analyzed, in which 1 strain came from the US and the others were isolated from different areas in China. A pair of species-specific oligonucleotide primers (SSP) were designed based on the ITS2 sequence. With the species-specific primers, rDNA of Sporothrix schenckii and dematiaceous fungi were amplified by PCR. Results Sequencing and analysis showed that internal transcribed spacer region 2 of rDNA gene was conservative in Sporothrix schenckii. A 300 bp fragment was obtained from 22 strains of Sporothrix schenckii, but not from the other species. Conclusions This method is specific, sensitive and reliable for the identification of Sporothrix schenckii and could be used for clinical molecular diagnosis.

As an important force in the process of China’s public medical education, private higher medical education is faced with severe challenges at the same time the development is made. On the basis of analyzing the development situation of private higher medical colleges and the deep space of development, the article promotes suggestions of the healthy development of private medical colleges, by macro-coordination from the government, private schools running orderly, improving the quality of education, and social support.

Objective: To investigate changes of plasma glucagon level in patients with heart failure (HF) caused by coronary heart disease (CHD) and its clinical significance. Methods: A total of 30 HF patients caused by CHD were selected as HF group, another 30 healthy subjects with corresponding age and gender were regard as normal control group. HF patients received comprehensive therapy of enhancing myocardial contractility, diuretic and vasodilator of 7~10d according to Chinese diagnostic and treatment guideline of chronic heart failure. Changes of glucagon level before and after treatment were observed. Results: Before treatment, plasma level of glucagon in HF group was significantly higher than that of normal control group [(205.67±120.22) ng/L vs. (90.53±20.5) ng/L, P<0.05]. After treatment, plasma level of glucagon [(120.42±30.33) ng/L] significantly decreased than before treatment (P<0.05) in HF group. Conclusion: Plasma glucagon significantly increases in patients with heart failure and gradually decreases to near normal level after treatment. Glucagon level may be regard as one of indexes judging patients’ condition.

The ketoreductase (KR) domain in the first extending module of the polyketide synthase (PKS) catalyzes the reductions of both an α-keto group and a β-keto group in the biosynthesis of bacillaene, suggesting the intrinsic substrate promiscuity. In order to further investigate the substrate specificity, the KR domain (BacKR1) was heterologously overexpressed in Escherichia coli. In vitro enzymatic analysis showed that only one of the four diastereomers was formed in the reduction of the racemic (±)-2-methyl-3-oxopentanoyl-N-acetylcysteamine thioester catalyzed by BacKR1. In addition, BacKR1 was revealed to catalyze the reductions of cyclohexanone and p-chloroacetophenone, indicating the potential of KR domians of PKSs as biocatalysts.
Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Catalysis ; Cyclohexanones ; metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; Polyketide Synthases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Substrate Specificity ; omega-Chloroacetophenone ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the validity of assessing synovitis and tenosynovitis by using musculoskeletal ultrasound scoring systems after standardized training in Chinese doctors.Methods All participants received a 30 minutes' training for the ultrasound scoring systems of synovitis and tenosynovitis.Ten static images were applied to evaluate the changes before and after training,respectively.Each parameter was assessed by a four scale semi-quantitative system recommended by outcomes measures in rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials (OMERACT).Paired t-test was used to assess the differences before and after training.Results Thirteen rheumatologists and two ultrasonographers completed the entire procedure.Significant differences were found before and after training when assessing the severity of gray-scale of synovitis (0.61± 0.30 vs 0.45±0.23;t=2.230,P＜0.05) and power Doppler of synovitis (0.57±0.26 vs 0.31±0.18;t=2.928,P＜0.05) and tenosynotis (0.56±0.15 vs 0.31±0.16;t=5.286,P＜0.05),while no significant difference was found when assessing the gray scale of tenosynovitis (t=-1.679,P＞0.05).Conclusion Standardized training is helpful to improve the validity of ultrasound scoring systems of synovitis and tenosynovitis in Chinese rheumatologists and ultrasonographers.The validity of assessing gray-scale of tenosynovits needs improvement.

Objective To investigate the musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) findings in Chinese knee osteoarthritis (OA) patients.Methods All the MSUS data were from the outpatients with knee OA who visited Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology,Peking University First Hospital from February 2013 to August 2014.MSUS findings included number and position of osteophyte,synovitis,thickness of cartilage,and so on.Comparisons between groups were made using t test,Chi-square tests.Results Six hundreds and seventy-four patients were included.Almost all the patients (96.1％) had osteophytes,most patients had both knees osteophytes.The most common osteophyte location was femoral (85.2％),followed by tibia and the upper edge of patella.The number of osteophytes differed from none to ten,and the distribution of bilateral knee osteophytes was symmetrical in most patients.There was no significant difference in the number of osteophytes between male and female,and patients over 60 years old had more osteophytes than the patients aged 60 or below.In all bursae lesions,the suprapatellar bursa were the most commonly affected [effusion,279 (41.4％),synovial hyperplasia,189(28.0％),synovitis 24 (3.6％)].There was no significant difference in the cartilage thickness between bilateral knees.But the cartilage thickness of female patients was significantly thinner than that of men [left:(2.0±0.5) mm vs (2.5:1:0.8) mm,t=3.859,P＜0.05;right:(2.0:1:0.5) mm vs (2.5±0.8) mam,t=4.109,P＜0.05],and the patients over 60 years old had thinner cartilage than patients younger than 60 years old [left:(2.0±0.6) mm vs (2.2±0.6) mm,t=2.108,P＜0.05;right:(2.0±0.6) mm vs (2.2±0.6) mm,t=2.507,P＜ 0.05].None patient had Calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate (CPPD) deposition in the cartilage.Conclusion In the ultrasonographic findings of knee OA in China,osteophyte could be found in 96％ patients,the most common location of osteophyte is the femur area.The distribution of bilateral knee osteophytes is symmetrical in most patients.Patients over 60 years old have more osteophytes.Nearly haff patients have joint effusion,one third patients have synovial hyperplasia or synovitis.Bilateral knee cartilage degeneration is symmetrical.Women and patients over 60 years old have thinner cartilage.

Objective:To evaluate the levels of interleukin 18(IL-18) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs),livers and spleens in monkey endotoxic shock models.Methods:Cynomolgus monkeys were injected i.v. with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) (2.8 mg/kg) to prepare the endotoxic shock models. The mRNA levels of IL-18 in PBMCs,livers and spleens were tested by fluorescence semi-quantitative realtime reverse transcription(RT)-PCR and compared with that of TNF-? and IL-1?.Results:IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs remarkably increased at 120 min after LPS administration, so did in livers and in spleens at the same time. mRNA levels of TNF-? in PBMCs peaked at 60 min after LPS injection, and also increased markedly at 120 min in livers and spleens. IL-1? mRNA levels peaked at 60 min in PBMCs, and did not change so much in livers and in spleens.Conclusion:IL-18 mRNA expression in PBMCs can be up-regulated by LPS, but changed latterly than TNF-? and IL-1? in endotoxic shock cynomolgus monkeys. It is presumed that IL-18 can be produced by PBMCs and liver Kupffer cells(maybe splenic macrophages),and TNF-? is produced by a variety of cells, but IL-1? in bloodstream mainly come from PBMCs after LPS challenge.

Objective:To study the apoptosis of T lymphocyte subsets of peripheral blood in systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and the correlated pathogenesis.Methods:The percentages of T lymphocyte subsets,the positive expression rates of Fas/FasL on T lymphocyte subsets,and the apoptosis of T lymphocyte subsets were determined by three-colorflow cytometry.The level of serum IL-10 was analyzed by ABC-ELISA.IL-10 antibody and FasL antibody were added respectively into the 48 hours' culture of 10 SLE patients' PBMCs in vitro,whose serum IL-10 significantly increased,and then,the changes of T lymphocyte subsets of SLE PBMCs were determined by three-colorflow cytometry.Results:1) In SLE,mainly in hyperactive SLE,the apoptosis of CD4+ T lymphocytes increased significantly(P