BACKGROUND: The morbility of rheumatoid arthritis is closely associated with cell apoptosis process. Hyperplasia of synoviocyte lies in the relatively insufficiency of synoviocyte apoptosis. Therefore, induction of synoviocyte apoptosis has clinical significance in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Arteannuin and its derivatives can induce the apoptosis of various cells. OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of artesunate on the expression of Fas/FasL and Bcl-2/Bax, which are correlated with apoptosis in synoviocyte of adjuvant arthritis. DESIGN: Randomized and controlled observation. SETTING: First College of Clinical Medical Science, Three Gorges UniversityMATERIALS: The experiment was conducted in the laboratories of Immunology and Morphology, Three Gorges University from September 2005 to November 2005. Fifty 8-week-old male Wistar rats of clean grade and (150±21) g were provided by the Animal Experimental Center of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology; Complete Freud adjuvant by SIGMA, U.S., and artesunate solution by Guilin Pharmaceutical Corporation.rabbit anti-mouse Fas (SC-716), rabbit anti-mouse FasL and Technology (No. SCXK 2004-2007).Complete Freud adjuvant (SIGMA, U.S. No. 093K8932); artesunate solution (Guilin Pharmaceutical Cor); rabbit anti-mouse Fas (SC-716), rabbit anti-mouse FasL multi-antibody (SC-834), goat anti-mouse IgG-HRP multimer, rabbit anti-mouse P53 (M3566) multi-antibody, Bcl-2 (sc-7382) multi-antibody, rabbit anti-mouse Bax (sc-7480) multi-antibody, ABC compound reagent kit and DAB coloring reagent all acquired from Santa Cruz biotechnology (Santa Cruz, USA); methotrexate (MTX) purchased from Shanghai Hualian Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.; microscope and image analysis system obtained from Leica (Leica,Germany); microtome (Leica, Germany).METHODS: Fifty rats were randomly divided into six groups: normal group (n =8), model group (n =8), high dose artesunate group (n =8), low dose artesunate group (n =8), artesunate plus methotrexate (MTX) group (n =8), and MTX group (n =8). ①Model construction was referred to literature: Except the normal group with 0.1 mL normal saline, all rats were injected with 0.1 mL complete Freund's adjuvant into the right voix pedis to establish the models of adjuvant arthritis. Since the 13th day after modeling, high and low dose artesunate groups were intraperitoneally injected with 40 and 20 mg/kg artesunate, respectively everyday; artesunate plus MTX group was intraperitoneally injected with 20 mg/kg artesunate everyday and 0.4 mg/kg MTX every three days; MTX group with 0.4 mg/kg MTX solution every three days;model group with 1 mL normal group everyday. ②The arthrosis index (Al) of each group was evaluated before and 13 days after administration; the expressions of Fas/FasL, Bcl-2, and Bax in synovial membrane tissue were examined by immunohistochemistry.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES : Al and the expression of Fas/FasL, Bcl-2, and Bax in synovial membrane tissue of each group.RESULTS: Fifty rats were involved in the result analysis. ①Thirteen days after administration, the Al of each experiment group (including model control) was remarkably lower than that before treating (P ＜ 0.01). The Al of eachexperiment group was significantly lower than that in model control group (P ＜ 0.01). ②The expression of Fas/FasL in high and low dose artesunate groups and artesunate plus MTX group was up-regulated significantly compared with that in model group (P ＜ 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the expression between MTX group and model group (P ＞ 0.05); the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated but Bax up-regulated in two artesunate groups,artesunate plus MTX group and MTX group compared with that in model group (P ＜ 0.05).CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that artesunate could alleviate adjuvant arthritis, up-regulate the expression of Fas/FasL and Bax, but down-regulate that of Bcl-2, in which the induction of synoviocyte apoptosis may be one of the mechanisms.

Objective: To explore the approaches and ideas of clinical pharmacists participating in drug therapy of patients with brucellosis. Methods: Clinical pharmacists participated in the clinical consultation for one patient with brucellosis. Clinical pharmacists analyzed comprehensively by asking medical history, occupation and contact history in details, adjusting the treatment scheme and performing medical education etc. Results: The consultation comments and suggestions proposed by clinical pharmacists were recognized by clinics, which played an important role in assisting doctors in the rational drug use and significantly improved the medical treatment. Conclusion: Clinical pharmacists should participate in the individualized medication and help clinicians optimize drug therapy, which can improve the safety and efficacy of medication.

Objective Thymoma is associated with autoimmune diseases. We retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of thymoma complicated systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Patients were from Qilu Hospital Shandong University between June 2004 and June 2014, and satisfied classification criteria of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria 1997 for SLE. Thymoma was diagnosed by chest CT scan. Results Nine cases were of thymoma complicated with SLE, with the male:female ratio of 1∶8. The age of SLE onset was (48±19) years, age of thymoma discovery was (47±19) years. The follow-up period was 3 to 10 years. Three cases (33%) were benign thymoma and underwent thymectomy and verified by histopa-thology test. One case presented thymoma 9 years after SLE, 5 cases (56%) presented SLE and thymoma simultaneously, 3 cases (33%) presented SLE after thymectomy. Clinical manifestations of SLE included 4(44%) skin lesions, 8(89%) polyarthritis, 5(56%) nephritis, 3(33%) leukocytopenia, 3(33%) throm-bocytopenia, 2 (22%) of interstitial pneumonia, 4 (44%) pleural effusion, no neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Nine cases (100%) were ANA positive, 7 (78%) were anti-dsDNA positive. Conclusion SLE complicated thymoma usually occurs in relatively older age, tend to present with multi-systemic presentations, and high percentage of anti-dsDNA positivity.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize advances in clinical application of ureter stent and its biocompatibility. METHODS: A computer-based online search of CNKI (1989/2009) and Medline (1989/2009) was performed with the key words of "ureter, biocompatibility, stent, treatment, complications" in Chinese and English respectively. A total of 51 articles were collected. and 21 were included. The treatment advances and its biocompatibility of ureter stent were summarized, and clinical application advances, biocompatibility and complication prevention of ureter stent were explored. RESULTS: Ureter stent includes polymerizer, metal and degradable material stents. As the common implants in treatment of upper urinary tract diseases, ureter stent functions as stent and internal drainage, and relieve ureteral obstruction, prevent leakage of urine postoperatively and ureterostenosis. Complications following ureter stent implantation include stent shifting, urine reflux, irdtative symptoms of bladder, fouling and stone formation as well as infection. However, these complications can be relieved through positive treatment. CONCLUSION: Ureter stent is an effective approach to treat urologic disease, but the biocompatibility required improvement. Rigorous operation during stent implantation and positive treatment of complication can effectively prevent complications.

Objective To explore the effect of exogenous recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) on neuronal apoptosis in neonatal rats after hyperoxia brain injury.Methods Thirty neonatal Wistar rats were randomly divided into 3 groups by random number table method:rhEPO treatment + 800 mL/L hyperoxia group (group A),9 g/L saline +800 mL/L hyperoxia group (group B),9 g/L saline + air group (group C).Group A was given subcutaneous injection of rhEPO 1 000 IU/kg for 5 days.Group B and group C received the same dose of 9 g/L saline.Group A and group B were continuously exposed to atmospheric pressure hyperoxia model cabin to maintain the oxygen concentration in the container (800 ± 30) mL/L for 5 days.During the course of the experiment,the general situation and weight changes in rats were observed.After 5 d,all rats were sacrificed and brain tissues were taken.Neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal structural region of the newborn rats was observed by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick and labeling(TUNEL) staining.Immunohistochemical method was used to detect the expression of 5-lipoxygenase in hippocampal structural region of newborn rats.Results The weight gain and brain weight of group B were lower than those of group C,the weight gain and brain weight of group A were higher than those of group B,and the differences were statistically significant(F =11.179,8.140,all P ＜ 0.05).In group A and group B were found that the neuronal nucleus of the hippocampal neurons was partially contracted,deeply dyed,and the neuronal arrangement was loose,even with local neuron deletions and focal necrosis,but in group A neuron density was higher with less necrosis than that in group B.The neuronal cells in hippocampal structural region were neat and intact in group C.The number of TUNEL positive cells in hippocampal structural region of group B[(6.20 ± 1.93) number/high power field] was significantly higher than that in group C [(1.80 ± 0.79) number/high power field],the number of TUNEL positive cells in hippocampal structural region of group A [(4.20 ± 1.32) number/high power field] was significantly lower than that in group B,and the difference was statistically significant (F =23.912,P ＜ 0.05).The number of 5-lipoxygenase positive cells in group B [(6.90 ± 1.29) number/high power field] was significantly higher than that in group C [(1.00 ± 0.67) number/high power field],the number of 5-lipoxygenase positive cells in group A [(5.60 ± 0.97)number/high power field] was significantly lower than that in group B,and the difference was statistically significant (F =95.044,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion rhEPO has a protective effect on neonatal rats with hyperoxia brain injury,and alleviates brain cell apoptosis caused by hyperoxia brain injury,which may interfere with the 5-lipoxygenase pathway.

Objective To investigate the olfactory function in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to explore factors that may influence it.Methods The Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) test was carried out in SLE patients and healthy controls for olfactory function testing.ELISA method was used to detect anti-ribosomal P protein antibody in the serum.The statistical methods used in this study including t test,ANOVA,LSD-t test,Pearson correlation analysis,multiple linear regression analysis,andx2 test.Results ① The CCCRC scores of the active,inactive group and healthy controls were compared,the difference was statistical significant (F=26.52,P=0.01).CCCRC score in active SLE group (62±16) was lower than that of the inactive group (80±13) the and the normal control group (83±12) (P＜0.01),while there was no statistical significant difference between the inactive group and the normal controls (P=0.226).② CCCRC score was lower in 16 ARPA positive SLE patients (61±17) than 49 negative patients (74±16) (t=2.681,P=0.009).③ In addition,CCCRC score showed a negative correlation with ARPA serum concentration (r=-0.327,P=0.008).There was no significant correlation between CCCRC score and disease course (r=0.141,P＞0.05).④ Multiple linear regression analysis indicated that CCCRC score was associated with age and ARPA.Conclusion SLE patients have olfactory dysfunction and the dys-function is associated with age and ARPA.

Objective: To establish the method for determination of iron and its inorganic oxide in the air of workplace. Methods: The iron and its inorganic oxide was collected by MCE filter membrane and then digested by electric heating digestion apparatus. Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) or inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) was used for the detection of iron and its inorganic oxide. Results: The sampling efficiency was higher than 97%; under the 372.0 nm wavelength, the linearity of AAS was good at the range of 1.0~150.0 μg/ml, the minimum quantitation concentration was 0.28 mg/m³, the maximum quantitation concentration was 6.24 mg/m³, the recovery was ranged from 99%~102%, the RSD of intra-and inter-batch precision were 0.5%~1.2% and 1.0%~2.2%, respectively; the linearity of ICP-OES was good at the range of 0.1~500 μg/ml, the minimum quantitation concentration was 0.28 mg/m³, the maximum quantitation concentration was 20.8 mg/m³, the recovery was ranged from 101%~103%, the RSD of intra-and inter-batch precision were 0.5%~1.0% and 1.5%~1.6%, respectively. Conclusion The sampling method and determination method meet the requirements of analysis and apply to the collection and determination of iron and its inorganic oxide in the air of workplace.

Objective: To establish the method for determination of titanium dioxide in the air of workplace by inductivehy coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) . Methods: The titanium dioxide was collected by filter membrane and then digested by microwave digestion apparatus in the mixed solvents (HNO₃∶HF∶H₂O=4∶1∶1) , dilutedto 25 ml and detected by ICP-OES. Results: The sampling efficiency was higher than 95%; the linearity of ICP-OES was good at the range of 10-500 μg/ml, the minimum quantitation concentration was 0.72 mg/m³ (as collecting 150 L air sample) , the maximum quantitation concentration was 21.7 mg/m³ (as collecting 960 L air sample) , the recovery was ranged from 99.0%-102.0%, the RSD of intra- and inter-batch precision were 0.5%-3.2% and 1.7%-3.5%, respectively. Conclusion The sampling method and determination method meet the requirements of guide for establishing occupational health standards-part 4: determinatin methods of air chemicals in workplace (GBZ/T 210.4-2008) , and areapplys to the collection and determination of TiO₂ in the air of workplace.

To investigate the mutation site of pathogenic gene in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and to analyze the relationship between the genotype and clinical phenotype. Methods: Targeted exon capture sequencing was conducted in a HCM proband for 30 coding exons related HCM gene by all exon amplification and high-throughput sequencing. Furthermore, Sanger sequencing was performed in other family member and in 200 healthy volunteers for verification. The familial investigation included in clinical presentation, physical examination, electrocardiogram and echocardiography. Results: There were 3/6 blood relatives carrying cardiac myosin-binding protein gene MyBPC3 G772A heterozygous mutation, the mutation site was at 258 amino acid of MyBPC3 as glutamic acid (Glu) was substitute to lysine (Lys), such mutation was not found in rest of family member and not in healthy volunteers. The onset of proband and her daughter was rather late, they had palpitation and chest tightness; echocardiography showed interventricular septum basal segment thickening (16-18) mm. Proband was complicating paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia, malignant arrhythmia and heart failure, the maximum pressure gradient of left ventricular outflow was 56 mmHg, which with the high risk for sudden death. Conclusion: Comprehensive gene test has been helpful for clinical stratification, early diagnosis and treatment. MYBPC3 site mutation c.G772A might be the pathogenic mutation in that specific HCM family.

ObjectiveTo examine the clinical features of fractures and related risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA) in China.MethodsSix hundred and eighty-one RA patients were randomly selected from department of rheumatology of 18 hospitals of China.Data were obtained from the questionnaire,including age,sex,disease duration,the involvement of joints,treatment regimen,features of fractures etc.The possible risk factors of fracture in patients with RA were analyzed with a multi-variate Logistic regression analysis.Results① In 681 RA patients of the survey,48 patients had 54 fractures,and the incidence of fractures was about 8％.② Fractures occurred at various sites.Foot/ankle,femur,spine and wrist were the mostfrequent sites.③ The Logistic regression analysis showed that several factors increased the risk of fracture in RA patients,including long disease duration (OR:1.245,95％CI:0.987-1.570,P=0.065),male gender(OR:0.433,95％CI:0.199-0.942,P=0.035),more deformed joints(OR:1.042,95％CI:1.006-1.079,P=0.023),family history of RA (OR:2.201,95％CI:0.984-4.923,P=0.055),and high scores of SF-36(OR:1.017,95％CI:1.002-1.033,P=0.028).④ According to the degree of correlation from strong to weak,the risk factors of fracture were disease duration,SF-36,sex,number of deformed joints and family history of rheumatoid arthritis.ConclusionThe incidence of fracture is high in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.Several factors could increase the risk of fractures in RA patients,including long disease duration,male gender,more deformed joints,and family history of RA.In order to prevent the occurrence of fractures,cautions should be taken to prevent the development of fractures and treat the disease aggressively to suppress the disease activity of RA.