Objective To measure the levels of caspase-1 and its downstream factor interleukin (IL)-18 and IL-33 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore their possible mechanisms.Methods Blood samples were drown from 56 patients with RA and 22 healthy subjects.Serum levels of caspase-1,IL-18 and IL-33were tested by the method of enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Kruskal-Walls and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare the levels of caspase-1,[L-18 and IL-33 and Spearman's correlation test was used for correlation analysis.Results The level of caspase-1 was significantly increased in RA group compared to healthy group [(32±26) ng/ml vs (15±6) ng/ml,P＜0.01].Meanwhile,the active disease groups showed a higher level than the remission group,and level in the untreated group was higher than the treated group [(47±27) ng/ml vs (25±22) ng/ml,P＜0.01].The levels of IL-18 and IL-33 were significantly increased in RA group compared to healthy group [(121±121) ng/L vs (58±33) ng/L,(1032±1011) ng/L vs (510±231)ng/L,respectively,P＜0.05].Meanwhile,the active disease groups had a higher level than the remission group and the untreated group had higher levels than the treated group [IL-18 and IL-33 were (172±139) ng/L vs (97±106) ng/L,(1469±1039) ng/L vs (825±941) ng/L,respectively,P＜0.05].Caspase-1 was correlated withIL-18 and IL-33 (r=0.824,0.854,P＜0.01) and IL-18 was correlated with IL-33 (r=0.800,P＜0.01).But neither of the three factors was related with clinical indexes including disease duration,RF,anti-CCP antibody,tender joints count and swollen joints count.Conclusion Caspase-1 and its downstream factor IL-18,IL-33 increase in RA,and they may play important roles in RA.

Objective To investigate efficacy of citalopram on pathological crying after cerebral infarction.Methods 106 patients with pathological crying after cerebral infarction were randomly divided into two groups,treatment group(54 cases) and control group(52 cases).Control group received conventional treatment of cerebrovascular disease.Treatment group taken citalopraml0-20mg orally one time per day for three months based on conventional treatment.The total response rate,effectual time,and Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS) scores were compared between two groups after treatment.Results There were significant differences in total response rates (94.4％ and 38.5％,respectively),effectual time(1.98 ± 1.24 and 78 ± 17.95,respectively) and HDS(8.43 ±2.21 and 6.24 ±2.02,respectively) between treatment group and control group (P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion The study suggests that it is effective to treat pathological crying with citalopram and its effect is quick.Citalopram can not only control patient’s pathological crying,but also improve cognitive function.

Objective To elucidate significance of hyperintense vessel signs(HVS)on FLAIR MRI in patients with cerebral infarction. Methods Two hundred and sixty-two patients with cerebral infarction admitted in our hospital were included in this study. We retrospectively defined HVS on FLAIR MRI in these patients in comparison with time of flight(TOF)on MR angiograms(MRA), hyperintense lesions on diffusion-weighted images(DWI). Results HVS on FLAIR MR[were identified in 117 patients with cerebral infarction(45.4%), of which 47 patients(83.9%)were obtained within 24 hours of symptom onset. HVS on FLAIR MRI were detected in 74 patients at sylvian fissure(62.2%), 11 at cortical sulci (9.2% ,11/119),34 at the posterior circulation regions(28.6% ,34/119). HVS on FLAIR MRI coincided well with ischemia of TOF on MRA and lesion patterns on DWI (χ2 test,P<0.01, respectively). Conclusion HVS on FLAIR MRI is helpful to evaluate abnormal major cerebral arteries of patients with cerebral infarction.

Objective To investigate the significance and characteristics of T lymphocyte subsets and co-stimulatory CD28 in peripheral blood of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis. Methods Tri-colour flow-cytometry was used to detect the levels of T lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood in 98 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and 30 age and gender matched healthy controls. Results Compared to control group the percentage of CD4+ T increased and CD8+ T lymphocyte decreased in the PBC group. The CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the PBC group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05). And the percentage of CD4+CD28- T cells and CD8+CD28- T cells increased, too (P<0.05). Conclusion There are immunological abnormalities in PBC and the expression of co-stimulator CD28 is significantly decreased. CD8+CD28-T lymphocytes may have immune regulatory effect in PBC.

AIM: To investigate the effects of curcumin (Cur) on the expression of High mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in amyloid-β(Aβ)-induced primary rat microglial cells.METHODS: Microglia were derived from the cerebral cortices of postnatal rat brains.The cells were i-dentified by immunocytochemistry using mouse anti rat Iba-1 monoclonal antibody.A cell model using primary rat microgli-al cells incubated with Aβ25-35 as an inflammation model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) was set up.The morphological char-acters of primary rat microglial cells were observed.The concentration of Aβ25-35 and the treatment concentration of curcumin were selected by CCK-8 assay.Cultured primary rat microglial cells were divided into 5 groups: normal cell group, Aβ25-35 group, Cur group, Aβ25-35 +Cur group and Aβ25-35 +DMSO group.The expression of HMGB1, NF-κB, and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) was detected by Western blot.The levels of HMGB1, IL-1β, and TNF-αin the culture supernatant were measured by ELISA.RESULTS: The purity of primary microglias determined by Iba-1 immuno-fluorescence was more than 95%.The protein levels of HMGB1, RAGE and NF-κB were significantly increased after Aβ25-35 stimulation.After treatment with Cur, the protein levels of HMGB1, RAGE and NF-κB were significantly decreased (P <0.05).The levels of HMGB1, IL-1βand TNF-αin the supernatant were significantly increased after Aβ25-35 stimula-tion.Cur significantly decreased the level of HMGB1, IL-1βand TNF-αin the supernatant.CONCLUSION: Curcumin significantly inhibits neuroinflammation stimulated by Aβ25-35 in primary rat microglial cells.

Objective To observe the effects of total flavone from litchi chinensis sonn (TFL) on the liver function in-cluding p16 protein, pro collagen type 3 (PC3) and pro collagen typeⅠ(PCⅠ) in model rats with liver fibrosis induced by bile duct ligation. Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into four groups:sham operation (SO) group, bile duct liga-tion (BDL) group, TFL group and silibinin (SIL) group. Rats were gavaged with saline (5 mL·kg-1·d-1) in SO and BDL group, rats were gavaged with TFL (200 mL·kg-1·d-1) in TFL group and rats were gavaged with SIL (5 mL·kg-1·d-1) in SIL group for four weeks. The serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), bilirubin direct (BILD) and bilirubin total (BILT) were detected in four groups. The liver tissues were stained by HE and Masson methods. The ex-pression levels of p16, PC3 and PCⅠin liver tissues were determined by Western blot assay. Results The serum levels of ALT (44.6 IU/L±8.0 IU/L), AST (103.8 IU/L±18.1 IU/L), BILD (0.76 μmol/L±0.28μmol/L) and BILT (1.48μmol/L±0.35μmol/L) were lower in SO group. There was a higher level of ALT in BDL group (147.4 IU/L±86.3 IU/L) than that of TFL group (92.9 IU/L±47.3 IU/L). The serum level of ALT was higher in AST group (362.7 IU/L±106.6 IU/L) than that of TFL group (290.1 IU/L ± 171.7 IU/L) and SIL group (250.2 IU/L ± 54.9 IU/L). The serum level of BILD was lower in BDL group (99.71μmol/L±40.87μmol/L) than that of SIL group (137.01μmol/L±38.86μmol/L). The serum levels of BILD and BILT were significantly lower in TFL group (81.48μmol/L±47.50μmol/L, 106.64μmol/L±61.04μmol/L) than those of SIL group (P<0.05). There were small amount of new bile duct and no obvious cells degeneration, small amount of infiltration of in-flammatory cells and collagen deposition in TFL group. The liver fibrosis improved significantly in TFL group than that of BDL group. There were more new bile duct in hepatic portal area in SIL group than those of TFL group. The expression levels of p16, PC3 and PCⅠwere significantly higher in BDL group than those of TFL group. The expression level of PC3 was significantly lower in BDL group than that of SIL group. The expression level of PCⅠwas significantly higher in BDL group than that of SIL group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the expression level of p16 between BDL group and SIL group. The expression levels of PC16 and PC3 were significantly lower in TFL group than those of SIL group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the ex-pression level of PCⅠbetween TFL group and SIL group. Conclusion TFL can improve the liver function in model rats with choles-tatic liver fibrosis and reduce liver fibrosis, which may be related with inhibitory effects on the expressions of p 16, PC3 and PCⅠ.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in critical hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD).Methods The data from PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBSChost, Cochrane Library, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid, China Biology Medicine disc, Wanfang Data, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Citation Database, and other references and grey literatures were retrieved, screening out all those related to clinical trials on treating critical HFMD by IVIG.Standard methods of the Cochrane Collaboration were employed to evaluate the methodological quality of the trials.Meta analysis was performed with Rev man 5.3 software.Results Eleven trials including 967 cases were investigated.The meta analysis showed that IVIG had significantly clinical efficacy (OR =6.84,95％ CI:3.74-12.52 ,P ＜ 0.05).IVIG could significantly decrease duration of fever (MD =-1.94,95％ CI:-3.07--0.81 ,P ＜0.05) ,hospitalization time (MD =-4.56,95％ CI:-8.95--0.17,P ＜0.05).There was no significant difference in duration of fever (MD =-0.28,95 ％ CI:-0.59-0.03, P ＞ 0.05), duration of herpes (MD =0.18,95％ CI:-0.22-0.59, P ＞ 0.05), hospitalization time (MD =-0.12,95％ CI:-0.47-0.23, P ＞ 0.05) when the dosage of injection was adjusted.Conclusions IVIG is recommended for treating critical HFMD because it is effective in decreasing the duration of fever and hospitalization.Well designed studies with more sample in multi-center are required in further study to explore the efficacy and safety of IVIG on critical HFMD.

Objective To evaluate the clinical effects of long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy (LDOT)in accompany with pummonary rehabilization program on the patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods Seventy two COPD cases receiving LDOT treatment were randomized into treatment group and control group.The patients in control group were given LDOT alone,while the treatment group was given pulmonary rehabilization besides LDOT.Lung functions,arterial blood gas parameters and blood rheological parameters were compared between the two groups 2 years after the observation.Results The follow-up period lasted for 1 - 2 years.The frequency of acute exageration in the treatment group ( 3.0 ± 1.3 ) was significantly lower than that of control group (4.0 ± 1.6) ( t =1.893,P ＜ 0.05 ).Compared with that of control group,the FEV1([1.59±0.08]L vs.[1.41 ±0.13]L,t =-3.966,P ＜0.01),FVC ([2.47 ±0.20]L vs.[2.27 ±0.17]L,t=-2.788,P＜0.05),FEV1％ ([2.47±0.20]％ vs.[2.27±0.17]L,t=-4.402,P＜0.01) and PaO2 ( [79.1 ± 8.9 ] kPa vs.[ 60.0 ± 6.6 ] kPa,t =- 4.622,P ＜ 0.01 ) were significantly increased,while plasma viscosity ( [ 2.14 ± 0.31] mPa · s vs.[ 2.44 ± 0.45 ] mPa · s,t =1.985,P ＜ 0.05 ),Low shear blood viscosity ( [ 13.48 ± 1.97 ] mPa · s vs.[ 14.33 ± 1.87 ] mPa · s,t =2.126,P ＜ 0.05 ),median shear whole blood viscosity( [ 6.33 ± 0.66 ] mPa · s vs.(7.92 ± 0.98 ) mPa · s,t =4.238,P ＜ 0.01 ),high shear whole blood viscosity ([4.58 ±0.59] mPa · s vs.[5.33 ±0.68]mPa · s,t =0.3890,P ＜0.01) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( [ 30.63 ± 5.76 ] mm/1 h vs.[ 35.63 ± 6.925 ] mm/1 h,t =2.230,P ＜ 0.05 ) was greatly decrease.Conclusion Long-term domiciliary oxygen therapy in company with pulmonary rehabilization program is helpful to improve the lung function,arterial blood gas parameters and rheological status of COPD patients.

BACKGROUND:Deep vein thrombosis after hip replacement has a high incidence rate. Moreover, deep vein thrombosis can induce pulmonary embolism that can endanger patients’ life and dysfunction of distant deep vein. The appearance of deep vein thrombosis is a great obstacle for the gradual y increased hip replacement.
OBJECTIVE:To observe the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis of lower limb after total hip replacement in elderly patients, and to screen the risk factors for the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis of lower limbs.
METHODS:Clinical data of 128 elderly patients with hip replacement were analyzed retrospectively. Al patients were examined with color Doppler ultrasound in double lower limbs at 1 day before replacement and 7 days after replacement. Multifactor unconditional logistic analysis was conducted on clinical related factors and the formation of lower limb deep vein thrombosis.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:At 7 days after the operation, 16 patients affected deep vein thrombosis of lower limb. The factors for deep vein thrombosis contained female, general anesthesia, bilateral hip replacement and the application of bone cement (P<0.05). The risk for deep vein thrombosis after total hip replacement significantly increased in elderly patients aged over 70 years. Multifactor unconditional logistic analysis exhibited that the multiple risks of sex, obesity and the use of bone cement in elderly patients with deep vein thrombosis increased to 11.398, 3.109 and 8.925. The patients with a blood type O at the age of over 70 years experienced a decreased risk for deep vein thrombosis after total hip replacement. The occurrence of deep vein thrombosis decreased to 0.186 times after replacement. Blood type O could be considered as a protective factor for the occurrence of deep vein thrombosis.

Objective To investigate the role of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) on migration and invasion of lung cancer cell by upregulating matrix metalloproteinase-9 through nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway.Methods A549 cell line were overexpressed ILK and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) confirmed by cell transfection,siRNA interference,cell scratch test,real-time quantitative PCR and Western Blot.Results Over-expression of ILK stimulated MMP-9 expression in lung cancer cells(P ＜ 0.01).The addition of MMP-9 inhibitor doxycycline and anti-MMP-9 neutralizing antibody significantly impaired the wound healing capacity of ILK-transfected cells(P ＜ 0.01),as well as by in vitro matrigel invasion assay (P ＜ 0.01).In addition,overexpression ILK induced phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-κB subunit p65.Upregulation of MMP-9 was severely abolished by either BAY 11-7028,a specific NF-κB inhibitor,or siRNA targeted to NF-κB p65 in ILK over-expression cells.Conclusion The finding indicate that over-expression of ILK can promote the migration and invasion of lung cancer cell,and upregulate MMP-9 through the NF-κB pathway.