Objective To investigate the expression of serum B factor in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),and explore its role in the pathogenesis.Methods Seventy eight patients with SLE in our hospital and 46 healthy persons were eligible to participate in this study.Rate nphelometyr was used to test serum B factor for 78 patients with SLE and 46 healthy controls.According to systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI),participants were divided into steady SLE group (SLEDAI ＜ 5) and active SLE group (SLEDAI ≥5),which was further divided into mild,moderate,and serious subgroups.The differences in serum B factor between SLE patients and healthy controls,including SLE patients with different severity,were all compared.Then we analyzed the differences in serum B factor and other laboratory and clinical indexes between active and steady SLE patients.The correction of serum B factor and other laboratory and clinical indexes were also analyzed.Results Compared to healthy controls,patients with SLE had significantly lower value of serum B factor [(27.13 ± 8.98) mg/dl vs (36.73 ± 5.47) mg/dl,t =7.4,P ＜ 0.01].Compared to steady SLE group,SLE active group had significantly lower level of serum factor B,C3 and C4,and also had significant higher level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (all P ＜ 0.05).Moreover,There were significant differences in the lower level of serum B factor between subgroups.Correlation analysis showed that the level of serum B factor was negatively associated with the levels of CRP and SLEDAI scores,whereas serum B factor was positively associated with the levels of C3 and C4 (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Serum B factor is related to SLE.Serum B factor might be involved in the pathogenesis of SLE.Detection of serum B factor is helpful for diagnosis and evaluation of SLE disease activity.

Purpose To describe the clinical and pathological features of atypical vascular lesions (AVLs) after conservative surgery and radiation of the breast cancer,and to discuss the association with post-radiation angiosarcoma.Methods The clinical and pathological features in one case of AVLs was evaluated.The literatures were reviewed.Results The patient is a 57-yeAR~-old female who underwent a conservative surgery of the right breast because of a carcinoma.She received standard dose of radiation as adjuvant therapy.Three years later, multiple erythematous plaques developed around the former scar, which radiated to the nipple.Clinically,the plaques were considered as relapses of the carcinoma.However, fine needle aspiration gave negative results.Biopsy of one large plague revealed a circumscribed vascular lesion confined to the superficial dermis.It was composed of thin-walled anastomosing lymphatic vessels lined by attenuated endothelial cells.In focal areas, the vessels extended to the mid-dermis.Immunohistochemically, the endothelial cells were positive for CD31, CD34 and D2-40,with absent of α-SMA positive pericytes.Review of the breast tumor sections showed an invasive micropapillary carcinoma.Conclusions AVLs is a rare vascular lesion related with conservative surgery and post-radiation therapy of the breast.AVLs may represent as a precursor of breast angiosarcoma.Being familiar with the clinicopathologic characteristics of AVLs is important not only for the pathologists but also for the clinicians.

Objective: : The surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) caused by petrous apex meningioma (PAM) is still a challenge because of the lesion’s deep location and the surrounding complex structures. The authors describe the intradural anterior transpetrosal approach (ATPA) and its effect on the treatment of TN secondary to PAM. Methods: : A retrospective analysis of 15 patients with TN secondary to PAM who underwent surgery via the intradural ATPA was conducted. The key techniques, which included drilling off the petrosal apex (PA) and opening the upper wall of Meckel’s cave (MC), are described in detail. Results: : Total removal of the tumor and complete pain relief (Barrow Neurological Institute I) were achieved in all 15 patients without significant morbidity. Five patients developed new facial numbness postoperatively, which disappeared within three months after surgery. The postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed temporal lobe swelling in three patients, but no clinical symptoms. One patient had cerebrospinal fluid leakage and was managed with bed rest and temporary lumbar drainage. One patient had an intracranial infection and was treated with antibiotics. By the last follow up, no patients had pain relapse or/and tumor recurrence. It is worth noting that the vascular compression at the root of the trigeminal nerve was found in one patient during the operation. Conclusion : Our experience suggests that drilling off the PA and opening the upper wall of the MC are key elements for a good outcome of the treatment of TN secondary to PAM. The intradural ATPA has the advantages for both tumor resection and pain relief.

Objective:To observe the efficacy and safety of Tofacitinib in treating elderly rheumatoid arthritis(RA), in order to provide clinical evidence.Methods:In the randomized control trial, a total of 90 elderly RA patients admitted to the Department of Rheumatology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2019 to January 2021 were selected and divided into Methotrexate group(MTX group, MTX 10mg, qw, n=45)and Tofacitinib group(TOF group, oral 5mg, bid, n=45). The efficacy and safety of the two groups were evaluated at week 12.The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients meeting the American College of Rheumatology 50%(ACR50)improvement response criteria at week 12.Secondary endpoints included ACR20/70 improvement response, proportion of patients who met treat-to-target(T2T)criteria, including Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using erythrocyte sedimentation rate(DAS28-ESR), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using C-reactive protein level(DAS28-CRP), clinical disease activity index(CDAI), and simplified disease activity index(SDAI), and patient-reported outcomes(PROs)which included changes compared to baseline in pain visual analog scale(VAS)and Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index(HAQ-DI)score, at week 12.Safety outcomes including drug-related adverse events, serious adverse events, dropping out due to adverse events, and deaths were assessed throughout.Results:Five patients in each group withdrew from the trial due to adverse events, and the number of patients who finally completed the observation was 40 in each group.At week 12, the ACR50 response rate was higher in TOF group than in MTX group[35%(14/40) vs.12.5%(5/40), χ2=5.591, P=0.018)], achieving the primary endpoint.When comparing TOF vs.MTX group, the ACR20 response rate[55%(22/40) vs.25%(10/40), χ2=7.500, P=0.006]and ACR70 response rate[25%(10/40) vs.7.5%(3/40), χ2=4.501, P=0.034], and proportions of indexes of disease remission including DAS28-ESR<2.6[25%(11/40) vs.7.5%(3/40), χ2=4.501, P=0.034], or DAS28-CRP<2.6[27.5%(11/40) vs.7.5%(3/40), χ2=5.541, P=0.019], or CDAI≤2.8[30%(12/40) vs.10%(4/40), χ2=5.000, P=0.025], or SDAI≤3.3[27.5%(11/40) vs.7.5%(3/40), χ2=5.541, P=0.019], and the proportions of patients with low disease activity including DAS28-ESR≤3.2[32.5%(14/40) vs.12.5%(5/40), χ2=5.591, P=0.018], or DAS28-CRP≤3.2[32.5%(14/40) vs.12.5%(5/40), χ2=5.591, P=0.018], or CDAI≤10[37.5%(15/40) vs.17.5%(7/40), χ2=4.013, P=0.045], or SDAI≤11[37.5%(15/40) vs.15%(6/40), χ2=5.230, P=0.022], as well as changes compared to baseline data in pain VAS[(26.51±8.32)scores vs.(14.16±4.39)scores, t=8.371, P<0.001]and in HAQ-DI score(0.65±0.24 vs.0.32±0.06, t=9.387, P<0.001)were all better in the TOF group than in the MTX group at week 12.During the 12-week observation period, the number of patients with infection and hyperlipidemia was higher in TOF group than in MTX group, while the number of patients with abnormal blood cell count and liver function was lower than that in MTX group, but the differences were not statistically significant(all P<0.05). Conclusions:Tofacitinib has good efficacy and safety in the elderly RA.In patients over 70 years of age who are at high risk of infection, tofacitinib should be used with caution.

Molecular docking is one of the main methods for computer-aided drug design (CADD). In recent years, molecular doc-king is widely used and has made some progress in the screening of pharmacodynamic substance, the target of finding drugs for diseases, and the mechanism exploration for traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, the principle and mechanism of molecular docking, and some commonly used software were introduced. And the application of molecular docking technology was summarized in the studies on the screening and pharmacodynamic mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, the existing problems were discussed, and the fu-ture trend in this field was looked ahead. The study can provide more scientific basis for the clinical research and development of new drugs.

BACKGROUNDCushing's disease (CD) presents a remarkable preponderance in female gender, and a significant minority of patients with CD presented with negative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. The aim of this study was to evaluate gender-related and MRI classification-related differences in clinical and biochemical characteristics of CD.

METHODSWe retrospectively studied 169 patients with CD, comprising 132 females and 37 males, and 33 patients had no visible adenoma on MRI.

RESULTSWe observed that male and MRI-positive patients presented with high adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) values (P < 0.05). Female patients presented with higher prevalence of hirsutism and hyperpigmentation and lower prevalence of purple striae (P < 0.05). The prevalence of buffalo-hump and hypertension was greater in MRI-negative patients (P < 0.05). In addition, male patients with CD presented at a younger age compared with females (P < 0.05). Patients with fatigue and hypokalaemia presented significantly higher urinary-free cortisol, ACTH and cortisol levels compared with patients without these symptoms (P < 0.05). The prevalence of LH reduction, hyper total cholesterol (TC) and hyper low-density lipoprotein was more frequent in MRI-positive patients (P < 0.05). Hyper-TC levels and PRL reduction were more frequent in males (P < 0.05). T3, T4 and FT3 levels negatively correlated with age at diagnosis (r = -0.310, P < 0.01; r = -0.191, P < 0.05; r = -0.216, P < 0.05). T3, T4, FT3 and FT4 levels significantly negatively correlated with 8-am plasma cortisol levels (r = -0.328, P < 0.01; r = -0.195, P < 0.05; r = -0.333, P < 0.01; r = -0.180, P < 0.05). Females presented higher total protein level (P < 0.01) and lower blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels (P < 0.01), compared with male patients.

CONCLUSIONSCarefulness and caution are required in all patients with CD, because of the complexity of clinical and biochemical characteristics in CD patients of different gender and MRI classification, particularly male patients and MRI-negative patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Dyslipidemias ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; diagnosis ; Hypokalemia ; diagnosis ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pituitary ACTH Hypersecretion ; complications ; diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Factors ; Young Adult

ObjectiveTo investigate the abnormal changes of gray matter structure covariant network in post-stroke aphasia (PSA) patients. MethodsFrom June, 2019 to March, 2022, 15 PSA patients (patient group) from Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine and Beijing Bo'ai Hospital were recruited, as well as 15 healthy subjects (control group). Their brain structure magnetic resonance imaging data were collected. The brain covariant network was constructed based on gray matter volume correlation, and graph theory analysis method was used to evaluate the global and node network level topology properties of structural covariant network. The differences of gray matter covariant network properties between patients and controls were compared. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the global network level topology properties between two groups (P > 0.05). At the nodal level, compared with the control group, the betweenness decreased in the right middle frontal gyrus, right posterior cingulate gyrus, right amygdala, left middle occipital gyrus, and increased in the right inferior frontal gyrus and the right suboccipital gyrus of the insula operculum (P < 0.05); the node degree decreased in the left superior frontal gyrus, left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, left hippocampus and left amygdala, while it increased in the right inferior frontal gyrus, left supplementary motor area, right superior occipital gyrus, right inferior occipital gyrus, and right lentiform pallidus (P < 0.05); the node efficiency decreased in the left anterior cingulate and paracingulate gyrus, left hippocampus, left amygdala, left temporal pole: superior temporal gyrus, and increased in the inferior frontal gyrus of right insula, left supplementary motor area and right suboccipital gyrus (P < 0.05). ConclusionThe abnormal reduction of node network properties in some brain regions in the left hemisphere of PSA patients may be a characteristic structural covariation pattern, and there may be some compensation in the right hemisphere of the structural network in some brain regions.