Objective To explore the clinical significance of dyslipidemia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods By independent-samples t test,serum lipid level was compared between 326 SLE patients and 300 healthy controls.The total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were partially compared in subgroups of SLE patients.The correlation of serum TC,TG,LDL-C and HDL-C with clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in SLE was analyzed by Pearson or Spearman correlation analysis.Results ①The serum levels of TC [(3.8±1.5) mmol/L],TG [(2.1±1.6) mmol/L] and LDL-C [(2.1±0.9) mmol/L] were significantly higher in SLE group than those of the control group [(3.4±0.6),(0.8±0.4),(1.9± 0.5) mmol/L],and the serum level of HDL-C [(1.2±0.9) mmol/L] was significantly lower in SLE group than that of the control group [(2.0±0.5) mmolFL] (t=4.953,P=0.000; t=14.569,P=0.000; t=3.204,P=0.001; t=-14.335,P=0.000].② The serum levels of TC [(4.0± 1.7) mmol/L],TG [(2.5± 1.7) mmol/L] and LDL-C [(2.2±1.0) mmol/L] were significantly higher in LN group than those of the non-LN group [(3.6±1.0),(1.6± 1.0),(1.9±0.7) mmol/L; t=2.646,P=0.009; t=6.292,P=0.000; t=3.261,P=0.001].③ The serum level of TG [(2.2±1.6) vs (1.8±1.4) mmol/L] was significantly higher in SLE patients with hypocomplementemia than that of the normal ones (t =2.098,P=0.038).The serum level of HDL-C [(1.1 ±0.4) vs (1.6± 1.7) mmol/L] was significantly lower in SLE patients with hypocomplementemia than that of the normal ones (t=-2.375,P=0.020).④ The serum level of TG [(2.3±1.7) vs (2.0±1.4) mmol/L] was significantly higher in anti-dsDNA antibody positive patients than that of negative ones (t=1.989,P=0.048).The serum level of HDL-C [(1.5± 0.4) vs (1.4±1.2) mmol/L] was significantly lower in anti-dsDNA antibody positive patients than that of negative ones (t=-2.979,P=0.003).⑤ The lipid level was correlated with the clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in SLE patients.Conclusion Dyslipidemia exists in patients with SLE and has close correlation with LN,hypocomplementemia and positive anti-dsDNA antibody.

Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics in elderly onset rheumatoid arthritis(RA) patients combined with interstitial lung disease(ILD).Methods Four hundred and four cases of elderly onset RA patients were summarized.They were divided into two groups according to whether combined with ILD.Its clinical manifestations,laboratory examinations and combined diseases were analyzed.Results (1)Male elderly patients with onset of RA were more likely to occur ILD than female(χ2=6.251,P=0.012).There was no significant difference in duration analysis of two groups(t=1.750,P=0.081).(2)The elderly onset patients in RA with knee pain were more likely to happen ILD(χ2=7.048,P=0.008),the difference was significant.And there was no significantly statistical difference in the shoulder joint pain(χ2=0.028,P=0.866),elbow pain(χ2=0.022,P=0.882),hand joint pain(χ2=2.041,P=0.153),hip pain(χ2=0.129,P=0.720),joint deformities(χ2=0.013,P=0.908),morning stiffness(χ2=0.000,P=0.984) and joints rheumatoid nodules(χ2=0.349,P=0.555) of two groups.(3)The elderly onset RA patients with a high level of serum RF were more likely to happen ILD(t=3.325,P=0.001),the difference was significant.And there was no significantly statistical difference in serum ANA antibodies(χ2=0.004,P=0.948),anti SSA(χ2=0.718,P=0.397),SSB antibody(χ2=0.638,P=0.424),AKA antibody(χ2=0.949,P=0.330),CCP antibody(χ2=0.500,P=0.479) and the level of ESR(t=0.582,P=0.561),CRP(t=0.381,P=0.703) and PLT(t=-1.246,P=0.213).(4)The elderly onset RA patients with ILD were more likely to appear osteoporosis(χ2=7.467,P=0.006),the difference was significant.And there was no significantly statistical difference in the occurrence of high blood pressure(χ2=0.403,P=0.526) and diabetes(χ2=0.180,P=0.671) in the two groups.Conclusion Male patients,the elderly onset RA patients with knee pain and associated with high level of serum RF more often occur with ILD.And the elderly onset RA patients with ILD are more likely to appear osteoporosis.

Objective To explore the relationship between cardiac involvement and laboratory indicators in patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA). Methods Cardiac echocardiography and ECG performance of 184 patients with RA were analyzed retrospectively. Results Among the 184 patients with RA, the pulmonary hypertension detection rate was 8. 3%, valvular disease 38. 9%, arteriosclerosis 27. 8%, wall to reduce the exercise 13.9%, myocarditis 5.6% and pericardial effusion 5.6%, according to the echocardiography examinations;Sinus tachycardia was evidenced in 15. 22% patients, ST-T changes in 39. 13%, electric axis left side in 8. 70%, branch block in 13.04%, left ventricular hypertrophy in 4. 35%, atrial fibrillation in 4. 35%, premature in 8.70%, early repolarization syndrome in 2. 17% and electric-axis right side in 4. 35% patients by ECG examinations. The serum level of CRP (46. 77 ±5. 87) mg/L was significantly higher in RA patients with cardiac involvement than that in the non-cardiac involvement patientsm (28. 45 ±3. 21) mg/L (P ＜0.05) ;While the serum level of ESR,RF,IgG,IgA,IgM, PLT showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05); Within RA patients withcardiac involvement, the serum level of CRP showed no significant difference among different sub-groups , which were classified according to the echocardiography performance (P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Cardiac involvement occurred frequently in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The valvular disease, arteriosclerosis, reducing of the wall motion and pericardial effusion are the main manifestations by echocardiography examination; Sinus tachycardia, ST-T changes,branch block and premature beats are the main ECG abnormalities. The serum level of CRP is significantly higher in RA patients with cardiac involvement than that with non-cardiac involvement patients. The higher level of CRP in patients with RA may indicate the cardiac involvement presence.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with polymyositis(PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), and compare the differences of PM/DM to help the understanding of clinical diagnosis and treatment. Methods One hundred and forty-five hospitalized PM/DM patients from Department of Rheumatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xiˊan Jiaotong University were collected from May 2008 to December 2014, and the clinical manifestations, muscle enzymes, electromyogram, muscle biopsy, treatment outcome were retrospectively analyzed. Mann-Whitney U test and χ2 test were used for statistical analysis. Results The most common initial symptom of PM was muscle weakness, accounted for 51.2%, while rash was the initial presentation in most DM patients(43.1%). The incidence of interstitial lung disease (ILD) (62.7% vs 39.5%, χ2=11.009, P=0.001), and the elevation of CRP (48.9% vs 26.8%, χ2=10.272, P=0.001) were all higher in DM than PM, while the elevation of level of CK (85.4% vs 61.8%, U=-2.668, P=0.008) and CKMB (82.9%vs 41.2%, U=-3.303, P=0.001) were more common in PM compared with DM. The pathological study showed degeneration of muscle fiber, connective tissue hyperplasia in most PM patients, and perimysium atrophy, vacuoles degeneration, muscle bundles, perivascular inflammatory cell infiltration were observed in most DM patients. During the follow-up, the clinical remission rate was 57.5%, the relapse rate and the mortality rate was 7.5%and 31.1%respectively. The mortality rate was higher in DM than PM (34.6% vs 21.4%, χ2=4.861, P=0.027). Infection and tumors were the major causes of death, and the lung was the most common site of infection. Conclusion Differences in the clinical features, muscle enzymes, CRP level, pathology and the mortality rate between PM and DM are evident, while ILD, infection and the higher mortality rate are more common in DM than in PM.

Objective To assess the disorders of glucose metabolism and insulin resistance in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its relationship with disease activity.Methods One hundred and twenty-three RA patients along with 98 age and sex matched controls were studied.Seventy-five g oral glucose tolerance test was performed.The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and beta cell function (HOMA-β) were evaluated.Disease activity score (DAS28) was used to assess disease activity.According to their DAS28 values,patients were divided into high disease activity group and low to moderate disease activity group.Glucose tolerance and HOMA-IR were compared between the two groups.Parameters that reflects disease activity,such as CRP and ESR,as well as disease activity scores were compared between patients with T2DM or prediabetes and patients with normal glucose tolerance.The data was analyzed by t test,Pearson correlation analysis and chi-square test.Results The prevalence of T2DM [20.3％(25/123) vs 5.1％ (5/98),x2=10.774,P＜0.01] and prediabetes [39.0％ (48/123) vs 7.1％ (7/98),x2=29.657,P＜0.01] increased in RA patients compared to controls.RA patients had higher HOMA-IR (2.5±1.5 vs 0.8±0.4; t=5.185,P＜0.01) and lower HOMA-β (83±69 vs 192±85; t=3.768,P＜0.01) compared to controls.ESR [(55±30) mm/1 h vs (37±26) mm/1 h; t=3.159,P＜0.01],CRP [(40±23) mg/L vs (19±10) mg/L; t=3.628,P＜0.01] and DAS28 score (5.6±1.3 vs 4.8±1.2; t=2.923,P＜0.01) were higher in RA patients with T2DM or prediabetes than in RA patients with normal glucose tolerance.In RA patients,the HOMA-IR was significantly positively correlated with DAS28 (r=0.39,P＜0.01),ESR (r=0.54,P＜0.01)and CRP (r=0.20,P＜0.05).The HOMA-IR value and fasting insulin levels were higher in high disease activity patients (DAS28＞ 5.5) than in low-to-moderate disease activity patients (DAS28 ≤5.5) although fasting plasma glucose level did not differ significantly in these two groups.Conclusion The prevalence of T2DM and prediabetes increases in RA patients comparing to controls.RA patients have insulin resistance that is associated with disease activity and systemic inflammation.

Objective: To investigate the influencing factors of depressive symptoms among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases in China, so as to provide insights into depression prevention and control among the rural elderly patients with chronic diseases. Methods: The basic demographics, health status, and lifestyle of rural residents at ages of 65 years and older who had at least one chronic disease were retrieved from The Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) database in 2018, and participants' depressive symptoms were assessed with The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10 (CES-D-10) scale. Factors affecting the depressive symptoms were identified with a multivariable logistic regression model. Results: Totally 5 146 rural elderly patients with chronic diseases were enrolled, including 2 373 men (46.11%) and 2 773 women (53.89%). The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27.13%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified having two and more children (OR=0.614, 95%CI: 0.387-0.975), living alone (OR=1.450, 95%CI: 1.192-1.764), life satisfaction (general, OR=1.933, 95%CI: 1.651-2.264; low, OR=5.366, 95%CI: 3.488-8.254), self-assessed health status (general, OR=2.697, 95%CI: 2.284-3.185; poor, OR=5.338, 95%CI: 4.262-6.685), disability in instrumental activities of daily living (OR=1.592, 95%CI: 1.328-1.908), sleep duration (normal, OR=0.502, 95%CI: 0.429-0.586; too long, OR=0.494, 95%CI: 0.405-0.603), exercise (OR=0.721, 95%CI: 0.607-0.856), watching TV (OR=0.787, 95%CI: 0.664-0.933), and gardening activities (OR=0.781, 95%CI: 0.626-0.975) as factors affecting depressive symptoms among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases. Conclusions The prevalence of depressive symptoms was 27.13% among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases. Number of children, living style, life satisfaction, health status, sleep duration, exercise, watching TV, and gardening activities are associated with the development of depressive symptoms among rural elderly patients with chronic diseases.

Cervical angina has been defined as chest pain that resembles true cardiac angina but originates from the disorders of the cervical spine. Thus, physicians and spine surgeons alike should raise awareness of this unusual condition for diagnosis and treatment. Particularly when neurologic signs and symptoms are present, there should be a strong suspicion for cervical angina in any patient with inadequately explained noncardiac chest pain. Cervical angina can be diagnosed according to negative cardiac workups, positive neurologic examination, and cervical radiographic findings (herniated disk, spinal cord compression, or foraminal encroachment). However, the mechanisms of pain production in cervical angina remain unclear. Previous studies attributed the pain to cervical nerve root compression, cervical sympathetic afferent fibers, referred pain, or lesions of the posterior horn of the spinal cord. Conservative treatments, which include neck collar fixation, head traction, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been determined to be successful in most patients with cervical angina. But when conservative treatment fails, anterior cervical surgery with complete decompression of the spinal cord and/or nerve root has been identified to effectively relieve cervical angina symptoms.

Cervical angina has been defined as chest pain that resembles true cardiac angina but originates from the disorders of the cervical spine. Thus, physicians and spine surgeons alike should raise awareness of this unusual condition for diagnosis and treatment. Particularly when neurologic signs and symptoms are present, there should be a strong suspicion for cervical angina in any patient with inadequately explained noncardiac chest pain. Cervical angina can be diagnosed according to negative cardiac workups, positive neurologic examination, and cervical radiographic findings (herniated disk, spinal cord compression, or foraminal encroachment). However, the mechanisms of pain production in cervical angina remain unclear. Previous studies attributed the pain to cervical nerve root compression, cervical sympathetic afferent fibers, referred pain, or lesions of the posterior horn of the spinal cord. Conservative treatments, which include neck collar fixation, head traction, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, have been determined to be successful in most patients with cervical angina. But when conservative treatment fails, anterior cervical surgery with complete decompression of the spinal cord and/or nerve root has been identified to effectively relieve cervical angina symptoms.

Objective To explore the distribution characteristics and function of peripheral regulatory T cells (CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).In addition,we analyzed the relationship between peripheral regulatory T cells and organ damage and the influence of different treatment regimens on them.Methods Two hundred and six SLE patients and 38 healthy volunteers were enrolled,which included 12 patients with untreated new-onset lupus,11 patients with drug withdrawal more than six months and 183 patients with treatments.Phenotypic and functional analysis of peripheral blood CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells were performed by flow cytometry.The correlations of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells with disease activity,organ involvement were analyzed.Thealtered frequency of CD4+CD25 +Foxp3+T cells under different treatment regimens was compared.Statistical Package form Soci-science (SPSS) 21.0 software was used for data analysis,Student's t test,one-way ANOVA,Mann-Whitney T test,Kruskal-Wallis test,Chi-square test,Simple linear correlation analysis was used.Results CD4 +CD25 +Foxp3 + T cells were significantly increased inactive SLE patients [1 1.9％ (9.3％,16.0％),mean difference =104.71,P＜0.01] and inactive SLE patients [11.0％(7.7％,14.7％),mean difference=86.10,P＜0.01] compared with healthy controls [6.1％(5.3％,7.4％)].CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cellsshowed sign-ificantly positive correlations with SLEDAI-2K (r=0.191,P＜0.05),dsDNA (r=0.262,P＜0.05),ESR (r=0.208,P＜0.05) and lgG (r=0.163,P＜0.05),and significantly negatively correlated with complementC3 (r=-0.201,P＜0.05) and C4 (r=-0.227,P＜0.05).Compared with patients without organ damage (Occult lupus),the CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells were increased in SLE patients with organ damage,especially those with skin involvement [10.9％(7.8％,13.1％),mean difference=56.93,P＜0.05] and renal involvement [12.1％(9.1％,16.0％),mean difference=77.26,P＜0.05].The proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells had no significant difference between SLE patients with treatments and patients with untreated new-onset lupus.The expressions of CTLA-4 [(53±15)％,t=7.04,P＜0.01],GITR [(42±19)％,t=2.64,P＜0.01] and ICOS [(28±9)％,t=4.27,P＜0.01] on CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells were significantly lower in SLE patients than in healthy controls [CTLA-4 (71±4)％,GITR (53±10)％ and ICOS (41±6)％].IL-17 synthesized by CD4+CD25+Foxp3+T cells in SLE patients [3.0％(1.8％,3.9％)] was significantly higher than that in healthy controls [1.0％(0.7％,1.2％),Z=-4.40,P＜0.01].Conclusion The peripheral regulatory T cells are significantly increased in SLE patients and correlate with disease activity and organ damage.However,their inhibitory function is defective and they have more pro-inflammatory character-istics.

Objective To explore the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the new onset and treatment-naive systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and study the correlation between serum 25(OH)D values and disease activity of SLE. Methods A retrospective case series analysis was done in 117 new-onset and treatment-na?ve SLE hospitalized patients during May 2016 and May 2017 in the Department of Rheumatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University and 39 age and gender matched healthy controls. Cinical and demographic details were collected. Disease activity of SLE was evaluated according to the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI) score. The t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, Chi-square test, Spearman rank correlation coefficient test and multivariate linear regres sion were performed. Results Among the 117 SLE patients, 102 were female (87.2％) with the mean age of (36 ± 15) years. The median duration before diagnosis was 5(1, 12) months and the mean SLEDAI score was (12 ±7). The mean level of 25(OH)D was significantly lower in SLE patients [(10.1±6.0) ng/ml] than in healthy controls [(17 ±8) ng/ml, t=-5.273, P<0.01 ], and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was higher in SLE patients (109/117, 93.2％) than in healthy controls (28/39, 71.8％, x2=12.486, P<0.01). With 10 ng/ml as the cut-off point of serum 25 (OH)D, patients were divided into two groups. The percentages of haematological damage (84.3％ vs 66.0％, x2=5.321, P=0.021), lupus nephritis (32.9％ vs 14.9％, x2=4.759, P=0.029) and serositis (28.6％ vs 8.5％, x2=6.940, P=0.008), SLEDAI score [(13±8) vs (9±5), t=3.503, P=0.001)] and 24-hour urinary protein [(0.57±1.05) vs (0.21±0.46), t=2.437, P=0.017] were significantly higher in the 25 (OH)D<10 ng/ml group, but complement C3 [(0.5±0.3) g/L vs (0.7±0.3) g/L t=-2.441, P=0.016] and hemoglobin [(93±19) g/L vs (104 ±19) g/L, t=-3.052, P=0.003) were significantly lower in this group. The differences were statistically significant. SLEDAI score (r=-0.433, P=0.000), 24-hour urinary protein (r=-0.434, P=0.000)was significantly inversely correlated and complement C3 (r=0.296, P=0.001), hemoglobin (r=0.323, P=0.000) was significantly positively correlated with serum 25(OH)D level. There was an independent inverse correlation between SLEDAI score and serum 25(OH)D levels (β=-0.376, P=0.000). Conclusion The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in the new-onset and treatment-naive systemic lupus erythematosus patients is significantly higher than that in healthy controls. There is an independent inverse correlation between serum 25 (OH)D values and disease activity of SLE.