Objective To investigate the potential clinical factors associated with the prognosis and relapse of adult onset Still's disease(AOSD).Methods The factors possibly influencing the prognosis and relapse of AOSD were analyzed by logistic regression and COX regression in the cohort study.Ninety-six con- secutive inpatients of AOSD diagnosed based on Yamaguchi criteria in the hospital from March 1996 to September 2004 were included in the study.Results Nine cases(9.4%)were lost during the follow-up. Eleven patients(12.6%)were diagnosed as other diseases(5 with other rheumatic diseases,4 with tumor and 2 with infections)in the 87 follow-up cases.In 76 cases,3 patients(3.9%)died and 33 patients(43.4%) got remission over one year after treatment.Splenomegaly(OR=3.14,95%CI=1.01～9.74)and treated with methotrexate(OR=0.22,95%CI=0.07～0.67)were associated with the prognosis from the logistic regression analysis of the 76 cases.The serum ferritin(RR=I.05,95%CI=1.01～1.08)and treated with methotrexate (RR=0.13,95%CI=0.02～0.76)were associated with relapse from the COX regression analysis of the 61 remis- sion cases.Conclusion We need to be very cautious in the follow-up of AOSD patients because some of them may change to other diseases.Methotrexate may be an importent therapy of AOSD not only in improve- ment the prognosis but also in reduction of relapse.

OBJECTIVETo observe the central nervous system symptoms and alterations in the blood indicators in rats within a short term after benzene poisoning.

METHODTwenty-four female SD rats were randomized into 4 equal groups to receive intraperitoneal injection of low-, medium- or high-dose benzene (39.05, 78.11, and 234.33 mg/kg, respectively) or peanut oil. Blood samples were taken from the rats via the femoral artery 24 h after the injections for routine blood test and liver and kidney function test.

RESULTSIntraperitoneal injection of benzene at a high dose, but not at a low or medium dose, caused obvious symptoms in the central nervous system. Benzene either at a low or medium dose did not produce obvious changes in routine blood test or liver and kidney function test as compared with the control group, but a high dose resulted in significant changes in WBC, PLT, ALT and AST (P<0.05). Abnormalities in the renal function were found in none of the groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONExposure to high-dose benzene can result in abnormalities in the central nervous system, routine blood indicators and liver function, but does not obviously affect the kidney function in rats.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Benzene ; toxicity ; Blood Cell Count ; Central Nervous System Diseases ; chemically induced ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Adult ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Microdissection ; methods ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the strategy of applying molecular genetic methods and techniques in the diagnosis of spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA).

METHODSThis study included 43 patients with SCA from 36 families, 38 sporadic SCA patients, 60 healthy individuals from the SCA families and 44 normal controls. The trinucleotide repeats were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining technique. The repeat numbers were calculated by software.

RESULTSSCA3 was the most common type in the Hans of south China, accounting for 42.0%, followed by SCA2 (7.4%), SCA1 (4.9%), SCA7 (3.7%), SCA6 (2.5%) and SCA12 (1.2%). No patient was found to have SCA8, SCA10, SCA17, and dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy(DRPLA).

CONCLUSIONMolecular genetic detection is an effective way to confirmation of SCA subtype diagnosis and presymptomatic genetic diagnosis.

Adult ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pedigree ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Spinocerebellar Ataxias ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Trinucleotide Repeats ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To screen the inflammatory mediators genes regulated by HSF1, and explore the mechanism of downstream genes regulated by HSF1. METHODS: HSF-/- and HSF1+/+ mice were injected with 15 mg/kg LPS intraperitoneally (ip), respectively, and were treated as previous after HSR. The total RNA of lung tissues were extracted and filtrated by SuperArray gene Microarry. The promoter of candidate genes were analyzed by transcription element search software to search for heat shock element (HSE). Select the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) with HSE. Macrophage cells were stimulated with 400 ng/mL LPS, and were treated as previous after HSR, then the total RNA was extracted respectively. RT-PCR and northern blot assay were performed to detect the expression levels of SOCS3 mRNA. RESULTS: Fifteen genes were repressed by HSF1, including 9 genes with complete HSE. Eleven genes were accelerated by HSF1 possibly, including 8 genes with complete HSE. The promoter of SOCS3 gene contained one complete HSE. LPS stimulation obviously increased the levels of SOCS3 mRNA in macrophages of RAW264.7 mice, which was inhibited by HSR and over-expression of HSF1. CONCLUSION HSR or HSF1 inhibits LPS induced expression of SOCS3 mRNA; HSF1 might inhibit LPS-induced expression of SOCS3 mRNA by binding to HSE in the promoter of SOCS3 gene.
Animals ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; genetics ; pharmacology ; Endotoxemia ; chemically induced ; genetics ; Heat Shock Transcription Factors ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; Inflammation ; genetics ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Macrophages ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Knockout ; Mutation ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Signal Transduction ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein ; Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of Nrf2 gene expression induced by RU486 at different doses on A549 cell damage induced by paraquat (PQ).

METHODSAfter A549 cells transfected with Ad-RUNrf2 were treated by RU486 at the doses of 10(-10), 10(-9), 10(-8) and 10(-7) mol/L for 6 h, A549 cell cultures were exposed to 10(-3) mol/L of PQ for 48 h. Then qRT-PCR and EMSA assays were used to detect the expression of Nrf2 gene, and qRT-PCR and ELISA assays were utilized to measure the effects of Nrf2 gene on the expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α, apoptotic factors Caspase-3, Caspase-9 and Cytochrome C. The oxidation factors (CAT and MDA protein contents) were observed by Chemical Colorimetric Analysis.

RESULTSNrf2 gene relative expression and protein contents increased with RU486 concentrations, and the above expression was the highest when the concentration of RU486 was 10(-7) mol/L, which was significantly higher than those in control and PQ exposure groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The relative gene expression and protein expression of IL-6 and TNF-α enhanced with the reduced concentrations of RU486, which were the lowest when RU486 concentration was 10(-7) mol/L, as compared with control and PQ exposure groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05), while the change of IL-10 content was the opposite. The relative expression of Caspase3, Caspase9 and Cytochrome C genes also increased with the reduced concentrations of RU486, which were the lowest when RU486 concentration was 10(-7) mol/L, as compared with control and PQ exposure groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). The content of CAT enhanced with RU486 concentration, which was the highest when RU486 concentration was 10(-7) mol/L, as compared with control and PQ exposure groups (P < 0.05). But the change of MDA content was the contrary.

CONCLUSIONNrf2 expression induced by RU486 can promote the balance of oxidation-antioxidation system in A549 cells and inhibit the inflammation and apoptosis factors, which has a protective effect on A549 cell injury induced by PQ.

Cell Line ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Interleukin-10 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Mifepristone ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; genetics ; Paraquat ; toxicity ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo provide right time points in selection of right aged animals and the normal physiological data of TX mice.

METHODS7-12 months old TX and DL mice were studied, each group contained 3 female and 3 male mice of TX or DL mice. The concentration of copper in the serum, dry tissues (liver, brain and kidney), together with copper biochemistry indexes were measured. The liver histopathology was observed under light microscopy and electron microscope.

RESULTSTransaminase increased significantly only in 10 and 11-month- old (AST(TX10) = 218.3 U/L, AST(TX11) = 197.5 U/L, AST(DL10) = 171.5 U/L, AST(DL11) = 165.0 U/L, P(10) less than 0.001, P(11) = 0.022), but the copper concentration of liver, brain and kidney was significantly increased during 7-12 month old (the average concentration of copper, Liver(TX) = (750.0 +/- 85.5) mg/kg, Brain(TX) = (39.7 +/- 2.2)mg/kg, Kidney(TX) = (29.8 +/- 5.0) mg/kg, Liver(DL) = (11.6 +/- 1.5) mg/kg, Brain(DL) = (16.8 +/- 0.9) mg/kg, Kidney(DL) = (14.2 +/- 1.0) mg/kg, t = 21.16, 23.60, 7.47, for all these organs P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTX mice is a suitable model of liver disease with natural recovery, so selecting animal model of suitable time point is very important.

Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Brain ; metabolism ; Ceruloplasmin ; metabolism ; Copper ; metabolism ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Kidney ; metabolism ; Liver ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Diseases ; blood ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the epidemiologic characteristics of traffic injuries among people over 60 years old in the Nan'an district (urban) and Jiangjin district (rural) of Chongqing, and to discuss the corresponding strategies for its prevention and cure.

METHODSRecords of traffic injuries in people over 60 years old registered by the traffic police between 2000 and 2006 in Nan'an district and Jiangjin district were collected in the Database of Road Traffic Accidents and Traffic Injuries. Epidemiologic characteristics of traffic injuries among the aged people were analyzed and compared.

RESULTSBetween the year 2000 and 2006, the average annual incidence of traffic injuries and mortality rate in the aged people in Nan'an district were 124.62/100 000 and 13.85/ 100 000 respectively, higher than that in Jiangjin district (27.49/ 100 000, 7.13/100 000, P less than 0.01). However, the mortality rate for the aged people who were involved in traffic injuries in Jiangjin district was 20.60%, higher than that in Nan'an district (10.00%, P less than 0.01). Head injury was the primary cause of death. Totally 76.58% of casualties were pede-strians. Over 90% of the traffic accidents occurred in the areas with no traffic signal or traffic control system.

CONCLUSIONSThe traffic environment is unfavorable to the aged people. It is important to enhance traffic safety consciousness of drivers and the elderly and to strengthen traffic safety system and traffic law, so as to provide a safe road traffic environment for the aged people.

Accidents, Traffic ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Risk Factors ; Wounds and Injuries

Objective To study the electric shock protection requirements of in vitro diagnostic equipment and to help manufacturers understand the relevant requirements in order to design products reasonably. Methods The requirements of IEC 61010-1:2010 were analyzed, the electric shock protection measures were explored, and the principles for protecting ground impedance against electric shock were described. An example was taken to study the electric shock protection measures for the sampling needle of the automatic bio-chemical analyzer, so that the existence of electric shock hazard could be determined. Results The sampling needle proved its rationality in structure design by avoiding the risk for being electriferous in case of failed basic insulation, although the requirements for protective earthing, double insulation or reinforced insulation were not met efficiently. Conclusion The requirements for electric shock protection can be determined based on comprehensive understanding of the standard, determination of electriferous components of the equipment as well as analysis on electric shock protection measures.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of Pediatric Critical Illness Score (PCIS) in evaluating the prognosis and severity of severe hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).

METHODSThis study included 424 children with severe HFMD, consisting of 390 survivors and 34 deceased patients. Related physiological parameters and clinical data were collected for calculating PCIS scores. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was employed to assess the performance of PCIS in evaluating the complications and outcomes.

RESULTSThe median of PCIS scores for survivors was higher than that for deceased patients (P<0.01). Of the 424 children with severe HFMD, only 26 (6.1%) had critical illness according to the severity assessment using PCIS. The AUC (95%CI) of PCIS was 0.74 (0.66, 0.82) in predicting pulmonary edema, 0.82 (0.74, 0.90) in predicting pulmonary hemorrhage, and 0.83 (0.75, 0.92) in predicting death.

CONCLUSIONSPCIS can predict the complications and prognosis in children with severe HFMD. However, the existing scoring system of PCIS cannot fully assess the severity of HFMD.

Child, Preschool ; Critical Illness ; Female ; Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis