Objective To investigate the relationship between the single nucleotide polymorphism of aminoimidazole carbexamide ribonucleotide transformylase gene and the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate treatment in rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Total of 359 patients with RA were divided into mono-therapy with MTX group, combination therapy with other DMARDs group and other DMARDs combination with no MTX treatment group. The clinical and laboratory measurements were evaluated before therapy and 12, 24 weeks after therapy. Efficacy (evaluated by ACR20) and side effects of the drugs were also assessed. Real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was conducted to test ATIC 347C/G mutation in RA patients and 340 healthy controls. Results There was no statistical significant difference in 347 CC, CG, GG between RA patients and healthy controls. In the MTX mono-therapy group (n=107), 72% (n=77) there was no statistical significant difference in 347CC, CG, GG between patients with good response and patients without efficacy. 32.7%(n=35) of these patients experienced adverse drug reactions. The ATIC G allele carriers (22.4%) experienced a greater frequency of side effects than the CC carriers (OR=2.672, 95%CI, 1.27～5.59, P<0.05). In MTX combined with other DMARDs group (n=128) and other DMARDs combination without MTX group (n=90), the polymorphism in the ATIC gene was not associated with good clinical response and adverse events (P>0.05). Conclusion There is no statistical significant difference between RA and healthy controls in the ATIC347 gene. Polymorphism in the ATIC gene is not associated with clinical response to MTX treatment, but the ATIC347 G allele is associated with MTX toxicity. It maybe used to predict the adverse drug reactions of patients who take MTX.

BACKGROUND:In terms of the histocompatibility, immune rejection and scar formation after repair, acel ular nerve al ograft is closer to autologous nerve cel s. At present, hyaluronic acid has been applied for autologous peripheral nerve repair;however, research on the nerve al ograft is rarely reported.
OBJECTIVE:To explore the effect of hyaluronic acid on the anastomotic scar in acel ular nerve al ograft repair of rat sciatic nerve defect.
METHODS:Thirty-six Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups (n=12 per group). The rat model of nerve defect of 10 mm was established by cutting the sciatic nerve of the left hind leg and then given nerve al ograft combined with the injection of hyaluronic acid at anastomosis (experimental group), only nerve al ograft (control group) and autologous nerve graft (nerve autograft group), respectively. Afterwards, the healing of the proximal anastomosis was observed and scar components were assessed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Gross observations showed that the rat skin and muscle fascia had no significant differences in healing among groups, while the surrounding tissue adhesion in the experimental group was milder than that in the control group (P<0.05). Masson staining found that col agen deposition in the epinerium could be observed in each group. In the experimental group, a smal amount of col agen fibers arranged orderly in the epineurium;in the control group numerous col agen fibers accumulated and arranged irregularly;in the nerve autograft group, sparse epineurial col agen fibers appeared in an order arrangement. The gray value of col agen type I in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P<0.05), while the gray value of col agen type III was lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). No significant differences were found in the sum gray values of col agen type I and III among groups (P>0.05). These findings indicate that in the peripheral nerve repair, hyaluronic acid abrogates the scar formation by increasing the deposition of col agen type III and reducing the deposition of col agen type I.

AIM: To explore the localization and semi-quantification o f the glo merular complement C5b-9 complexes and synthesis of some inflammatory mediators or cytokines such as nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor ?(TNF?) in the ra ts with anti-thymocyte serum nephritis(ATSN). METHODS: The animal mo del of rat AT SN was reproduced by a single intravenous injection of anti-thymocyte serum (ATS ). Then, the deposits of glomerular C5b-9 complexes were localized and quantifie d by immunohistochemical staining and microscopic image scanning separately. And the glomerular mesangial cells (MC) surrounded by C5b-9 complexes were counted under microscope. In addition, the expression of glomerular MC inducible NO synt hase(iNOS) mRNA and excretion of urinary NO metabolite ( NO - 2/NO - 3 ) and TNF ? in the rats with ATSN were detected. RESULTS: The MC in t h e rats with ATSN emerged necrosis followed by a rapid proliferation. In the early time of MC injury, the C5b-9 complexes were mainly seen in glomerular mesangium and MC sur fac e. But with the progression of ATSN, the MC enclosed by C5b-9 appeared gr adual decrease. Moreover, the expression of MC iNOS mRNA in early stage of ATSN obviously increased and the excretion of urinary NO - 2/NO - 3 and TNF ? also significantly increased. However, the changes of parameters mentioned abov e in ATSN proliferative stage (after 7 days) alleviated gradually. CONCLUSION: The second ary lysis of MC has relation to the deposition of C5b-9 complexes and synthesis and release of NO and TNF ? in rats with ATSN.

Objective To compare the effect of different needle-retaining time on post-stroke hypermyotonia in acupuncture treatment.Method Ninety patients with post-stoke hypermyotonia were randomized into group A, group B, and group C, 30 in each group. The three groups were all treated by the twelve hand-foot needling method from the thirteen therapies invented by acupuncture master WANG Le-ting, once a day, 5 times a week, 20 times in total. For group A, needles were removed right after needling qi arrived; for group B, needles were retained for 30 min after needling qi arrived; for group C, needles were retained for 60 min after needling qi arrived. The modified Ashworth Scale (MAS), Clinical Spasticity Index (CSI), and Fugl-Meyer assessment scale (FAS) were adopted for observation before and after intervention.Result After treatment, the MAS was significantly changed in all three groups (P<0.05). The CSI score and FAS score of the affected limb were significantly changed in all three groups after intervention (P<0.05). Both group A and B were significantly different from group C in comparing the CSI and FAS scores (P<0.05).Conclusion Compared to retaining needles for 60 min, acupuncture without retaining needles or retaining needles for 30 min can produce better effect in improving post-stroke hypermyotonia, spasticity, and motions of limbs.

Objective To study the relationship between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection.Methods HCMV was isolated from the peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) of 63 patients with SLE.Indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) was performed to investigate HCMV pp65 antigen and polymerase chain reaction (PCH) was performed to investigate the expression of HCMV UL54 DNA in cell cultures.The clinical and Iaboratory parameters were also assessed.Results The rate of HCMV infection in SLF patients was higher than that in the healthy controls and SLE patients.It was higher in the active phase than in the inactive phase.The total amount of urine protein in 24 houm collection,ESR,SLEDA1,preyalence of arthritis and some autoantibodies were considerably higher in patients with positive HCMV infection than those with negative HCMV infection.Conclusion The HCMV infection rate in SLE patients is higher than healthy controls.HC:MV infection may contribute to the disease flare in some SLE pahents.

Objective Establish an experimental model for primary subchondral bone osteoblasts culture of neonatal SD rat's condylar process. Methods Under the condition of sterile,24-hour SD rat was executed and its condylar process was isolated. Removing cartilage layer, the subchondral bone was exposed obviously, then it was cultured with modified repeating enzymatic digestion-adherent explants method. The cellular morphology was identified with invert microscope and immunohistochemistry staining, the osteoblasts were identified by alkaline phosphorase (ALP) staining and calcified nodules staining, and the proliferation of the acquired cells was examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Results A variety of cell morphologies were observed, such as spindle-shaped, triangular and irregular-shape, and their cell processes were significant. The alkaline phosphatase staining and calcified nodules staining of cultured osteoblasts with mineralized nodules were positive. Cells grew slowly in 1-3 days, and the cells growth reached the highest level at the 8th day. The cells growth trend has gradually slowed down after 8 days. Conclusion The method is an efficient way to culture and obtain purified neonatal SD rat's subchondral bone osteoblasts with typical characteristics.

Seven-year-program medical education is an important model to train high-level medical person.Through the change of the teaching concept in medicine cytobiology experiment,re-form of the teaching content,and the use of a variety of effective teaching methods,students’com-prehensive quality,innovative thinking and practical ability is improved,which can meet the needs of modern medical education.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer is increasing year by year, but the clinical diagnosis and treatment progress is limited and the prognosis is poor. Tumor microenvironment (TME) is closely related to the invasion, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance of pancreatic cancer. Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are fibroblasts in a state of continuous activation, which are the most prominent components in TME. CAFs can promote the malignant biological behavior of pancreatic cancer through a variety of molecule-mediated mechanisms. Moreover, several attempts targeting CAFs for the treatment of pancreatic cancer have been largely unsuccessful. It may be related to the heterogeneity of CAFs in pancreatic cancer. Therefore, in-depth study of its heterogeneity and accurate targeting of some specific phenotypes and functional CAFs subtypes in the matrix on this basis may be more promising in the clinical treatment of pancreatic cancer.

AIM: To explore the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), the specific inhibitor of NF-?B, on anti-thymocyte serum nephritis (ATSN) in rats. METHODS: The rat model of ATSN was reproduced with rabbit anti-thymocyte serum (ATS). The rats were divided into ATSN group, ATSN+PDTC group and control group. The expression of NF-?B p65 and the apoptosis, lysis as well as proliferation of mesangial cells (MC) were examined by immunohistochemical staining, Tdt-mediated X-dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL), light microscope and electron microscope at 40 minutes, 24 hours and 7 days after injection of ATS or normal serum. RESULTS: The expression of glomerular NF-?B p65 in the ATSN group was observed with significant difference compared to controls at 40 min (P

Objective To explore the CT and MRI manifestations and clinical features of juxtaglomerular cell tumor (JGCT). Methods A retrospective analysis the data of eight JGCT patients who resected by surgery and comfirmed by histopathology. Seven cases were examined by CT before operation, five of whom underwent CT scan and dynamic enhanced scan, two of whom underwent CT scan, and all of the eight underwent MRI scan and dynamic enhanced scan. The clinical manifestations of patients were also observed, whether they have hypertension and reduced blood potassium, recorded the results of lying and standing test, and collected the segmental renal vein blood to detect the renin levels. Meanwhile, the CT and MRI manifestations were also recorded. Results (1) We found that all of the eight patients appeared hypertension, and hypokalemia were found among five cases. Seven patients proceeded the lying and standing test, six of whom the plasma renin activity (PRA) were elevate in erect position, and the levels of angiotensin Ⅱand aldosterone (ALD) were rised among all of the seven cases in erect position. Four patients were collected the segmental renal vein blood, and one of whom has positive result of the renin activity. (2) The tumors of all the eight cases were single, the border was clear, and the average size was 2.7 cm (range 1.9 to 3.8 cm). The CT scan results showed there's no calcification or pseudocapsule were detected, four cases showed homogeneous iso-density, one case with slightly high density, another one showed low density with dotty high density and one case with low density. The dynamic enhanced CT scan showed that four cases performed continuous enhancement from cortical to medullary phase, and no obvious enhancement was found in one case. The T2WI results of MRI scan showed six cases had pseudocapsule, 6 cases had heterogeneous signal (4 cases with patchy low signal and 2 cases with patchy high signal), and 2 cases had homogeneous signal (one case with iso-high signal and another with high signal). The T1WI results showed two cases performed low signal, anther two cases showed iso-signal, and four cases with heterogeneous signal. The DWI results showed all of the 8 lesions with homo-or peripheral high signal. The dynamic enhanced MRI scan results showed seven cases performed gradual enhancement, and the border of another case became clear on delay phase. Conclusions JGCT has specific clinical and imaging features, and the combination will help make a correct diagnosis.