Objective To investigate the relationship between interleukin-17 (IL-17) and vitiligo.Methods Totally,32 vitiligo patients and 30 healthy human controls were enrolled in this study.Blood samples were collected from all the subjects,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed to determine the plasma levels of IL-17.The relationship of plasma IL-17 levels with disease stage,clinical course and lesion area was assessed.Results The plasma levels of IL-17 were significantly higher in the patients with progressive and stable vitiligo than in the healthy controls (both P ＜ 0.05),and higher in the patients with progressive vitiligo than in those with stable vitiligo (P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,the plasma levels of IL-17 were positively correlated with the area of vitiligo lesions (r =0.456,P ＜ 0.05),but unrelated to the clinical course of vitiligo (r =0.239,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion IL-17 may play a certain role in the occurrence and development of vitiligo.

Objective:To identify the function of extracellular soluble vimentin that promotes proliferation, activation and chemotaxis of inflammatory cells. Methods: The proliferation of rat splenocytes stimulated with vimentin was evaluated in vitro. The lymphocyte counts and vimentin-antibody levels of peripheral blood in mice immunized with vimentin were detected in vivo. Peritoneal macrophages were collected and cultured with different concentrations of vimentin to detect the effect on phagocytosing chicken red blood cells. The chemotaxis of NIH3T3 fibroblast towards vimentin was observed in transwell chamber. Results:In vitro vimentin dose dependently promoted the proliferation of splenocytes. The proliferation indexes of primed and naive splenocytes cultured with 16μg/ml vimentin were reached up to ( 196. 0 ± 9. 7 )% and ( 208. 9 ± 4. 6 )% respectively without significant difference. In vivo vimentin significantly enhanced the lymphocytes number(109 L-1)of peripheral blood(5. 74±0. 51 vs. 1. 69±0. 13)and the levels of vimentin specific antibody( OD value 2. 31 ± 0. 06 vs. 0. 19 ± 0. 08 ) that shown no significant difference from immunization with vimentin plus CFA. In vitro vimentin dose dependently stimulated phagocytic ability of macrophages and performed the chemotactic effects on NIH3T3 fibroblasts. Conclusion:Extracellular soluble vimentin promotes the proliferation,activation and chemotaxis of concerned inflammatory cells and possesses the functions as an alarmin.

Adult ; Alkanesulfonic Acids ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Male ; Pemphigoid, Bullous ; chemically induced

0.05).But there was less operation time and less volume of bleeding in the group one ( P

Objective To investigate the feasibility of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide- enhanced(USPIO)-enhanced MR imaging for monitoring synovitis of antigen-induced arthritis in rabbit model and explore the optimal MR imaging sequences.Methods Nine female white rabbits with antigen(0.5 ml mBSA,2 mg/ml)induced arthritis of the right knees were used in the study.The left knees of these rabbits and both knees of another 3 rabbits served as the control.Nine to 28 days(mean 21.3 d)after successful model induction,all knees were imaged before and 24 h after intravenously injection of USPIO (0.3 ml/kg),among which 2 rabbits were also imaged at 48 and 72 h after administration of USPIO respectively.The MR protocol included spin-echo(SE) T_1WI,fast spin-echo(FSE)T_2WI,gradient echo (GRE)T_2~* WI and short tau inversion recovery(STIR).Images were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively based on signal characteristics and patterns of the synovium.Paired t-test was used for the analysis of the signal intensity of inflammatory synovial membrane before and 24 h after injection of USPIO. MR findings were correlated with histopathology.Results Arthritis was successfully induced in all 9 right knees with intraarticular injection of mBSA.Pathological examination revealed hyperplasia of synovium with infiltration of USPIO-loaded-macrophages.MR depicted synovial thickening(thickness 2.07?0.97 mm) and joint effusion.Synovium and joint fluid appeared as slightly hypo- or iso-intense on T_1 WI and hyper- intense on T_2 WI or T_2~* WI.Twenty four hours after USPIO injection,significant T_1 enhancement(ASNR 41.91%?27.94%),negative T_2 and T_2~* enhancement(△SNR -34.92%?11.77% and -57.24%? 16.05%)were demonstrated in the region of synovial inflammation respectively.The signal at 48 h and 72 h changed less than that at hour 24.No signs of arthritis occurred in all left knees and in all knees of the artificial model group.Conclusion Iron oxide phagocytized into macrophages can be a root cause resulted in signal change on USPIO-enhanced MR images.The gradient echo sequence should be the optimal sequence to be used in USPIO-enhanced MR imaging in antigen-induced arthritis.

Although agomelatine may be associated with an increased risk of hepatotoxicity, the incidence rate of acute hepatitis seemed divergent between clinical trials and daily practice. Whether aging or gender is a risk factor in developing hepatotoxicity due to agomelatine is not clear. We present 3 older female cases with acute hepatitis occurring due to highly probable idiosyncratic drug-induced liver injury caused by agomelatine. From these cases, regular surveillance on liver function in the older women taking antidepressants would be of benefits.

OBJECTIVETo explore correlation between lung and large intestine and the two meridians under pathological condition in the view of meridian theory.

METHODSNinety-six cases of bronchial asthma were applied palpation at the running course of 12 regular meridians under the elbow and knees and back-shu points. And abnormal reactions were recorded, the affected meridians and back-shu points were discovered.

RESULTSThe abnormal reactions most frequently appeared on the Lung Meridian, followed by the Large Intestine Meridian, the Spleen Meridian, the Liver Meridian, the Stomach Meridian and the Triple Energizer Meridian. And the unusual reaction of the back-shu points most frequently appeared on Feishu (BL 13), and Dachangshu (BL 25) and Pishu (BL 21) followed as the next two.

CONCLUSIONThe existence of correlation between the Lung Meridian and the Large Intestine Meridians under pathological condition can be proved through meridian and acupoint palpation on bronchial asthma patients.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Asthma ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Large ; physiopathology ; Lung ; physiopathology ; Male ; Meridians ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Angiomyolipoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Kidney ; pathology ; Kidney Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; Ureter ; surgery

Objective To investigate the epidemic factors of human brucellosis in Qiqihar from 2008 to 2014 so as to provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.Methods Descriptive epidemiologic method was used to analyze the monitoring results of human brucellosis in Qiqihar between 2008 and 2014.Indexes observed were:the incidence rate,the distribution of gender,age,occupation,area and time.Results From 2008 to 2014,there were a total of 15 003 cases of brucellosis covering all counties.The average incidence rate was 38.85/100 000.The average incidence rate of Meilisi Daur District was the highest,178.93/100 000.Cases occurred year around and peaked in March-July.The average incidence rate of male and female brucellosis was 57.53/100 000 and 19.35/100 000,respectively,and male patients were more than female (x2 =3 658.973,P ＜ 0.05).Most patients were in the 41-50 years old age group,and the number of patients was 4 386.The major occupation was farmer (herdsmen),which acount for 93.96％ (14 097/15 003).Conclusions Qiqihar is the epidemic area of brucellosis and has a higher incidence.Governments should pay nore attention to the epidemic of brucellosis.Health education and intervention measure for high-risk population should be strengthened and the professional team should be reinforced so as to reduce the incidence of brucellosis.

[Summary] Microcephalic or Majewski's osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type Ⅱ ( MOPD Ⅱ) is an extremely rare genetic disease mainly caused by pericentrin ( PCNT) gene mutations. This paper reported one 13-year-old boy, who was admitted because of the slow growth for more than 13 years and deepened skin color over six months. He was diagnosed as MOPD Ⅱ associated with a combination of growth hormone deficiency, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, acanthosis nigricans, multiple café-au-lait spots. On magnetic resonance imaging of brain, no vascular malformations such as aneurysms were shown. There were novel compound heterozygous mutations of PCNT gene in the patient, with the nonsense mutations of c. 502C > T ( p. Gln168 * heterozygous variation) and c. 3103C > T (p. Arg1035* heterozygous variation). His father carried a nonsense mutation c. 3103C > T ( p. Arg1035 *heterozygous variation ) and his mother had a nonsense mutation c. 502C > T ( p. Gln168 * heterozygous variation). After treatment with metformin for three months, his blood glucose returned to normal, and acanthosis nigricans was improved. It seems critical to evaluate the abnormal condition of blood vessels regularly for MOPD Ⅱpatients with PCNT gene mutations.