Objective To investigate the effects of different therapeutic strategies on recurrence of postoperative Crohn's disease (CD) patients.Methods From September 2009 to September 2014,85 CD patients with intestinal resection were enrolled.The clinical features and maintenance therapeutic medication were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were divided into non-treatment group (induding continuously or cumulatively taking medicine less than three months),5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) group and immunosuppressant agents group (including azathioprine,methotrexate and thalidomide).Kaplan-Meier method was performed to compare the recurrence rate in postoperative CD with different therapeutic medication and the risk factors of postoperative recurrence were also analyzed.Results Among 85 CD patients,there were 32,21 and 32 patients in non-treatment group,5-ASA group and immunosuppressive agents group,respectively.After surgery,the one year accumulated clinical recurrence rate of immunosuppressant agents group was 12.5％ (4/32),which was significantly lower than that of non-treatment group (56.3％,18/32) and 5-ASA group (38.1％,8/21),and the differences were statistically significant (x2 =12.250,P＜0.01;x2 =4.102,P =0.043).After surgery,the two years accumulated clinical recurrence rate of immunosuppressant agents group was 12.9 ％ (4/31),which was significantly lower than that of non-treatment group (75.9％,22/29) and 5-ASA group (47.6％,10/21),and the differences were statisitcally significant (x2 =17.840,P＜0.01;x2 =6.597,P=0.010).After operation,the one year accumulated endoscopic recurrences rates of non-treatment group,5-ASA group and immunosuppressant agents group were 39.1％ (9/23),5/16 and 34.6％ (9/26),respectively;while the two year accumulated endoscopic recurrence rates were 59.1％ (13/22),6/16 and 44.0％ (11/25),respectively.However,there was no statistically significant difference among the groups (all P＞0.05).Penetrating lesion was an risk factor of postoperative clinical recurrence in CD patients (x2 =4.963,P=0.026,oddsratio (OR) =2.221,95 ％ confidence interval (CI) 1.121 to 5.775).Conclusions Immunosuppressive agents rather than 5-ASA have remarkable effects in preventing postoperative clinical recurrence in CD patients.Postoperative clinical recurrence is more likely to happen in patients with penetrating lesions.

The extrarenal effects of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) activation are closely related to the regulation of blood pressure. The activation ability of MR varied with age and gender in blood pressure regulation. MR of different types of cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension by increasing the expressions of osteogenic transcription factors, epithelial sodium channels, fibrotic substances and fibrogenic factors, change of vascular L-type calcium channels, aggravation of inflammation and oxidative stress, etc., leading to arterial elasticity weakened, myocardial fibrosis, and water sodium retention. Cell-specific MR block provides a theoretical basis for the development of targeted drugs for treatment of hypertension in the future. The effect of cell-specific MR on the regulation of blood pressure has been reviewed in present paper.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of drug-containing serum of Chinese herbal compounds [Xiongshao Capsule (XS, for activating blood) and Huanglian Capsule (HL, for dispelling toxin)] on tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced adherence between human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), inflammatory reaction and expression of related proteins in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODSThirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups (8 in each group) using random digit table: the blank control group treated with distilled water, the test group I treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg), the test group II treated with Chinese herbal compound of HL (0.135 g/kg), and the test group Ill treated with Chinese herbal compound of XS (0.135 g/kg) and HL (0.135 g/kg). All medication was given by gastrogavage once a day for a week. Rats' blood serum was harvested 1 h after the last administration to prepare drug-containing serum. HUVECs were exposed to TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL) to induce cell injury model and incubated with corresponding drug-containing serum (10%) for 24 h. Normal rats' serum was given to cells in the blank control group and the model group, while XC + HL containing serum was given to cells in the rest 3 groups. The adherence of HUVECs and PMN cells was detected by using rose bengal strain. Levels of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1P) in the supernatant of cultured HU-VECs were determined by ELISA. Protein expressions of mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 12) were determined by Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, HUVECs were seriously injured; PMN adherence amount significantly increased; levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1beta increased; expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 in the supernatant of HUVECs significantly increased in the model group (all P < 0.01). Compared with the model group, HUVECs-PMN adherence amount decreased (P < 0.05); levels of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and IL-1 beta in the supernatant of HUVECs decreased (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); expression levels of p-p38MAPK and p-ERK 1/2 of endothelial cells decreased in the test group I, II, and III (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSDrug-containing serums of activating blood, activating blood and dispelling toxin could attenuate TNF-alpha induced injury of HUVECs, inhibit HUVECs-PMN adherence and the release of adhesion factors. Its mechanism might be involved with protein phosphorylation of p38MAPK and ERK 1/2 in the MAPK pathway.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; E-Selectin ; Endothelial Cells ; physiology ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-1beta ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 ; Neutrophils ; Rats ; Serum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of tocilizumab inpatients with refractory systemic'onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA),and to provide a new option for the treatment of this severe disease.Methods We retrospectively studied 25 cases of hospitalized patients with refractory SoJIA treated withtocilizumab,of whom 22 had data that fit for analysis,from May 2005 to February 2016.Data of 22 cases were collected retrospectively from physicians in charge of the patients.Children with SoJIA were treated with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),Glucocorticoid (GC),methotrexate,cyclosporin A,etanerceptetc before,but still in high disease activity due to inadequate response were involved.Weretrospective analyzedthe laboratory test results like C'reactive protein (CRP),Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR),Ferritin and other inflammatory index.Improvement of pain,fever,rash,hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenectasis of active SoJIA (disease course ≥6 months,and inadequate response to NSAIDs and GC) after tocilizumab treatment (Body weight ≥30 kg,8 mg/kg;Body weight＜30 kg,12 mg/kg,per 4 weeks) were analyzed.Safety data of 22 cases were collected throughout the treatment period including neutropenia,infections,anaphylaxis and elevated liver enzymes etc.We also retrospectively analyzedthe dose change of GC and the long'term effect.Dichtomous paramenters were compared teween groups using thex2 test.Continuous parameters were compared using the analysis of uariance.Results In comparison to the indices before the treatment,the level of CRP [(8.7±2.2) mg/L vs (111.6±74.4) mg/L,F=5.192,P=0.002],ESR [(6.4±6.3) mm/1 h) vs (65.6±24.3) mm/1 h,F=50.393,P=0.000],white blood cell (WBC) [(8.4±2.5)×109/L vs (17.6±8.6)×109/L,F=9.321,P=0.000],Neutrophil count [(4.9±2.4)×109/L vs.(14.4±8.7)×109/L,F=10.541,P=0.000],blood platelet (PLT) [(269.5±79.2)×109/L vs (405.4± 145.3)×109/L,F=5.704,P=0.000] and globulin [(19.2±4.1) g/L vs (30.1±3.8) g/L,F=22.896,P=0.000] decreased rapidly and hemoglobin [(118.3±9.0) g/L vs (108.5±9.8) g/L,F=4.693,P=0.002] increased significantly at 24 weeks after Tocilizumab (TCZ) treatment.Clinical manifestationssuch as fever,rash,hepatosplenomegaly,joint swelling and pain were significantly improved.GC dose [(1.25±3.8) mg·kg-1·d-1 vs (16.2±12.8) mg·kg-1·d-1,F=8.21,P=0.000] were significantly reduced after TCZ treatment (P＜0.05);American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Pedi 30/50/70/90 was improved after TCZ treatment.Adverse events occurred in 3 cases of 25 children,who were not included in the statistical analysis group.Conclusion This retrospective case series has demonstrated the efficacy of tocilizumab in SoJIA,low incidence of adverse reactions.Further studies are needed to be developed because this case series haslimited sample size.

Objective:To investigate the imaging manifestations and diagnosis of hepatic hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHHT). Methods:The imaging features and clinical data of three HHHT patients were analysed and the related data were reviewed. B-type ultra-sonography, contrast enhanced CT and DSA were utilized to show the changes of the involved liver and the vessels. Results:B-type ultra-sonic graph showed abnormal blood vessels in hepatic hila. CT or DSA demonstrated intra-and extra-hepatic abnormal ectatic arteries, intrahepatic telangiectasia, cirrhosis and hepatic enlargement. Conclusion:CT might be used as one of the key measures for the diagnosis of HHHT.

Objective To compare the virtual non-enhanced chest CT (VNCT)generated from spectral CT with conventional non-enhanced chest CT in patients with lung disease in terms of CT number accuracy and image quality.Methods A total of 30 patients with lung disease proved by pathology underwent the conventional non-enhanced thoracic CT and contrast enhanced CT with spectral imaging mode in arterial phase (AP)and venous phase (VP).The VNCT images were reconstructed based on the enhanced spectral CT imaging data.The mean CT number,signal to noise ratio (SNR)for the lesions and image quality score were obtained and compared between the true non-contrast CT (TNCT)and the VNCT (including AP and VP)with paired t test.Results The mean±standard deviation for CT number were (38.74±5.17)HU,(39.08±5.07)HU and (38.96± 5.18)HU for TNCT,VNCT at AP and VNCT at VP,respectively, with no statistical difference (P>0.05).All 3 sets of images demonstrated acceptable image quality,even though there were statistically significant differences in the SNR value and image quality score.The mean ± standard deviation values for SNR were 4.74±0.42 with TNCT, 3.79 ± 0.5 1 with VNCT at AP and 3.77 ± 0.39 with VNCT at VP (P <0.05),and the image quality scores were 5.00 ±0.00 with TNCT,4.17±0.65 with VNCT at AP and 4.17±0.53 with VNCT at VP (P<0.05).Conclusion In patients with lung disease,the vir-tual non-enhanced CT images generated from spectral CT provide accurate CT numbers for lesions and acceptable image quality com-pared with the true non-contrast CT.VNCT may be used to replace TNCT to improve work flow and reduce radiation dose.

OBJECTIVE To recognize the frontal recess cells and analyze their distributional characteristics during image navigation assisted endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS 20 cases(39 sides)of chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps were observed in this study. The fontal recess cells and frontal sinus were opened under the endoscope and the distributional characteristics were observed and recorded, and then confirmed by the image navigation system. RESULTS Centred on frontal sinus ostium, frontal recess cells were divided into three areas: the agger nasi cell(ANC)and frontal cells(FC)are located in front of frontal sinus ostium(FS); frontal septum cells(IFSSC)and terminal cells(RT)are located at the same plane of FS; supra-ethmoidal bulla recess(SBR), frontal bulla cell(FBC)and super-obital cells(SOEC)are in the posterior area. The coincidence of identification for ANC, FCI and II, SBR, FBC and IFSSC under endoscope and image navigation is 100%, the coincidence of identification for FS is 89.7%, SOEC 80%, RT 71.4% and FC III and IV 60%. CONCLUSION The distribution of the frontal recess cells around the frontal ostium showed a fixed pattern.It would well benefit the orientation of frontal ostium and the opening of frontal sinus. Furthermore, it is significant for the orientation and opening of the frontal recess cells.

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at high b value for unilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusive disease in patients without obvious infarct lesions on conventional MR imaging.MethodsDTI at high b value (2200 s/mm2 ) was performed using a 3.0 Tesla MR scanner in 34 patients with unilateral middle cerebral artery occlusion,who had no obvious infarct lesions on conventional MR imaging. Fractional anisotropy (FA),apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC),axial diffusivity (eigenvalue λ1) and radial diffusivity (eigenvalues λ2,λ3) were measured at the ipsilateral and contralateral corona radiata,anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule,cerebral peduncle and pons in all subjects.Mean ADC,FA,λ1,λ2 and λ3 values of corona radiata,anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule,cerebral peduncle and pons were compared between the ipsilateral and contralateral MCAterritory by t test. Results Among the 34 patients,left MCA occlusion in M1 segment occurred in 16 patients and right MCA occlusion in Ml segment occurred in 18 patients.At the ipsilateral corona radiata,mean FA,ADC,λ1,λ2 and λ3 were 0.419 ±0.032,(5.975 ±0.272) × 10 3,(5.704 ±0.365) ×10-3,(6.412 ±0.368) × 10-3 and (6.605 ±0.343) × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.At the contralateral corona radiata,mean FA,ADC,λ1,λ2 and λ3 were 0.443 ± 0.033,(5.804 ± 0.282) × 10 -3,(5.651 ±0.350) × 10-3,(6.099 ±0.353) × 10-3 and(6.372 ±0.355) × 10-3 mm2/s,respectively.At the ipsilateral corona radiata,mean FA was significantly decreased(t =11.614,P ＜0.01),and mean ADC (t=12.421,P＜0.01),λ1(t =7.447,P＜0.01),λ2(t=10.244,P＜0.01) and λ3(t=9.890,P＜0.01) were significantly increased.At the ipsilateral anterior and posterior limb of the internal capsule,mean FA were 0.609 ±0.026 and 0.674 ±0.033,λ1 were(5.330 ±0.462) × 10 -3 and(5.171 ±0.456) ×10-3 mm2/s,respectively.At the contralateral anterior and posterior limb of the internal capsule,FA were 0.622 ±0.026 and 0.694 ±0.034,λ1 were(5.064 ± 0.448) × 10 -3 and(4.924 ± 0.365) × 10 -3 mm2/s,respectively.Mean FA was significantly decreased (t =7.823,8.013,all P ＜ 0.01) and mean λ1 was significantly increased (t =7.811,8.800,all P ＜0.01) at the ipsilateral anterior and posterior limbs of the internal capsule.There was no significant difference in ADC,λ2 and λ3 value between the ipsilateral and contralateral sides.And all the DTI parameters,including mean ADC,FA,λ1,λ2 and λ3 values,showed no statistical difference between both sides of cerebral peduncle and pons.ConclusionDTI at high b valuc can provide useful information for visualizing ischemic white matter injury in patients without obvious infarct lesions on conventional MR imaging.

Objective:To preliminarily study the immune response mediated by inducible costimulation molecule in the role of essential hypertensive renal damage .Methods: The blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats and the wild control group (Wistar-Kyoto rats)was dynamically monitored by noninvasive tail artery blood pressure measuring instrument .The urine protein of the rats in 24 hours was dynamically detected by ELISA .The levels of ICOS protein and its mRNA in the rat′s kidneys were dynamically detected by immunohistochemistry , RT-PCR, respectively.The levels of IL-17A and TGF-β1 in the rat′s plasma and kidneys were dynamically detected by ELISA ,immunohistochemistry ,respectively.The renal pathological changes of the rats were detected by HE and MASSON staining.Results:The blood pressure and urine protein in 24 h of SHRs were significantly higher than that of group WKY from 6 weeks.The expression of ICOS protein and its mRNA in SHRs were significantly higher than that of WKY rats from 6 weeks,and there are significantly positive correlations between the dynamic change of ICOS protein and its mRNA and renal fibrosis score of SHRs (rA=0.813,PA<0.05;rB=0.753,PB<0.05).The expression of IL-17A and TGF-β1 in SHR′s plasma and kidneys were significantly higher than that of WKY rats at the weeks 10 and 23.HE and Masson staining showed that the degree of renal fibrosis of SHRs was sig-nificantly higher than that of WKY rats at 23 weeks.Conclusion:The immune response mediated by ICOS plays an important role in hypertensive renal damage .

Objective To discuss the serum value of human epididymis protein 4(HE4) in the diagnosis of lung can-cer and to analyse the serum levels of HE4 in different pathological types and TNM staging of lung cancer patients. Meth-ods Forty-seven patients with lung cancer and thirty-one healthy controls were selected to join this study. According to various pathological types and TNM staging, the selected lung cancer patients were divided into different subgroups under the two categories. The serum HE4 levels were compared between subgroups. ROC curves of serum HE4 level and serum CEA level were drawn for the diagnosis of lung cancer with the pathological diagnosis as the golden standard. Results There was significantly higher level of serum HE4 in lung cancer group[(253.47±170.03) pmol/L] than that of healthy group [(84.09±51.03) pmol/L](t=5.365). There were no significant differences in serum levels of HE4 between different pathological subgroups of lung cancer patients [non-small cell carcinoma group (241.34±161.81) pmol/L vs small cell carcinoma group (293.5±198.76) pmol/L, t=0.847;squamous cell carcinoma group (304.29±287.61) pmol/L, adenocarcinoma group (224.39± 122.15) pmol/L and small cell carcinoma group F=0.969;and different TNM staging subgroups [ (stageⅠ~Ⅲgroup (255.27± 183.04) pmol/L vs stageⅣgroup (288.16±216.49) pmol/L, t=0.528]. Compared with ROC curves of serum HE4 and serum CEA,the area under the curve (AUC) of serum HE4 (0.902) was larger than that of serum CEA(0.765),( P>0.001). When the serum level of HE4 was 149.145 pmol/L, the sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of lung cancer were 72.3% and 90.3%. When the serum level of CEA was 4.685μg/L, the sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of lung cancer were 57.4%and 83.9%. Conclusion The serum level of HE4 is a sensitive and specific tumor marker in lung cancer. There are no significant differences in the serum levels of HE4 between different pathological types and different TNM staging in lung cancer patients. The detection of serum levels of HE4 are useful for the diagnosis of lung cancer.