Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, pathogenesis is complex, variety of inflammatory cells and cytokines involved in the airway allergic diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α)plays a role in the pathogenesis of asthma as an integral part of inflammatory mediators. Suffering from asthma,respiratory epithelial cells, vascular endothelial cells may release TNF-α which may cause airway hyperreactivity and the partial inflammation, and play a role in airway remodeling. The studies show that anti-TNF-α therapy has certain therapeutic action to airway remodeling in asthma patient and severe asthma, it can decline the level of TNF-α in the blood and the respiratory, reduce airway inflammation, provide new ideas and methods for the treatment of asthma.

Objective:To study the inhibition of collagen-induced arthritis by an altered CⅡ263-272 peptide(sub268-270) with three consecutive substitutions of TCR-contacting residues.Methods:Arthritis was induced by bovine collagen type Ⅱ. The altered peptide sub268-270 was given intravenously with a dose of 90 ?g once a week. Peptide control and blank control were treated with similar approaches. The therapeutic effect of the altered peptide was evaluated by arthritis score index, radiological score and pathological score.Results:The arthritis score of rats treated with altered peptide, control peptide and blank control were 5.60?1.24, 11.20?1.21 and 11.80?1.22 respectively(P

Objective To describe sagittal pelvic pattern,and to analyze sagittal spino-pelvic alignment in asymptomatic Chinese adults.Methods This was a prospective radiological analysis.Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs of the whole spine were taken in 139 Chinese volunteers,including 94 males and 45 females,aged from 21 to 28 years (average,23.5±1.5 years).By using picture archiving and communication systems,several pelvic and spinal parameters (pelvic incidence,pelvic tilt,sacral slope,lumbar lordosis,thoracic kyphosis,cervical lordosis,sagittal vertical axis,apex of total lumbar lordosis,total lumbar lordosis,upper arc of total lumbar lordosis,lower arc of total lumbar lordosis,junctional level,apex of total thoracic kyphosis,total thoracic kyphosis,total cervical lordosis,and lordosis tilt) were measured and the correlations of all parameters were analyzed.Results The mean value of pelvic incidence was 45.1°±9.6°,which was significantly less than those reported in western and Korean subjects.Total lumbar lordosis has a significant correlation with pelvic incidence,sacral slope,total thoracic kyphosis,cervical lordosis and sagittal vertical axis.The sagittal lumbar-pelvic alignment was classified into 4 types according to position of apex of total lumbar lordosis:type Ⅰ (11 cases),the apex was located in L5 or intervertebral space between L4 and L5; type Ⅱ (61 cases),the apex was located in bottom or middle of L4; type Ⅲ (33 cases),the apex was located in upper part of L4 or in intervertebral space between L3 and L4; type Ⅳ (34 cases),the apex was located at L3 level or more high level.Conclusions The sagittal pelvic pattern of Chinese adults is significantly different from those of western and Korean.Lumbar lordosis plays a critical role in regulating spinal sagittal balance.With upper shift of apex of total lumbar lordosis,the lower lumbar lordosis angle and sacral slope increase,but the lordosis tilt decreases.

Objective To establish the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)method in detecting the anti-M3RP antibody in Sj(o)gren's syndrome (SS) patients.and to explore the significance of this autoantibody in the diagnosis of SS.Methods The synthesized M3 receptor polypeptide was used as antigen in EUSA to detect the anti-M3RP antibody in sera of patients with SS.other CTDS and healthy controls.and the association between the clinical features of SS and anti-M3RP antibody was analyzed.Results Antibodies against M3RP were detected in 84.6%patients with pSS and 81-3% with sSS.8.8%with other CTD and 1%in heahhy controls.The positive rates of antibodies in pSS and sSS were higher than those in other CTDs and healthy controls.The presence of anti-M3RP antibodies had no significant correlation with clinical manifesta-tions and internal organ involvement.Furthermore.the positive rates of anti-M3RP antibodies in anti-α-fodrin.SSA,SSB,and ANA antibodies negative SS patients were 85%.89-3%,88.9%and 95.2%,respectively.body is a complementary parameter in the diagnosis of antibody-negative SS.

Objective To determine the prognostic factors in systemic sclerosis.Methods Clinical data of definite systemic sclerosis patients were collected,including disease onset age,sex,disease course,Raynaud's phenomenon,skin involvement,gastroesophageal reflux,interstitial pneumonia,cardiac lesions,kidney lesions and scleroderma renal crisis.serum antibodies to scl-70.RNP and anti-centromere antibody were detected.Pulmonary artery pressure was measured by ultrasound cardiography.Cox hazard ratio model was employed to assess the mortality risk of systemic sclerosis patients.Results No difference in Raynaud's phenomenon,gastroesophageal reflux,anti-nuclear antybody,anti-sol-70 antibody,anti-centromere antibody,interstitial pneumonia,diffusion capacity (DLco),coronary artery disease,and peripheral artery atherosclerotic disease could be found between the dead and alive systemic sclerosis patients(P>0.05).Dead systemic sclerosis patients had later disease,onset(older than 60 years old)(P=0.002).Male gender(P=0.023),more diffuse skin involvement(P=0.000),more positive anti-RNP antibody(P=0.014),more pulmonary artery hypertension(P=0.000).more cardiac lesions(P=0.000),more cerebral infarets (P=0.035),more kidney lesions(P=0.000),and more scleroderma renal crisis(P=0.000) could be found jn dead sclerosis patients.Cox regression analysis showed that,onset later than 60 years old(OR=5.441.95% CI 2.126～13.926,P=0.000),male sex (OR=5.531,95%CI 2.014～15.190,P=0.001),anti-RNP antibedy positivity (OR=2.664,95%CI 1.016～6.592,P=0.034),diffuse skin involvement(OR=3.432,95%CI 1.400～8.411,P=0.007),pulmonary artery hypertension (OR=25.718,95% CI 5.954～111.085,P=0.000),cardiac lesions (OR=4.141.95%CI 1.685～10.159,P=0.002),kidney lesions(OR=4.214,95%CI 1.654～10.737,P=0.003) and scleroderma renal crisis (OR=20.677,95% CI 4.161～102.764.P=0.000)were risk factors for mortality in systemic sclerosis.Severe pulmonary hypertension was the most strong predictive factor for mortality in systemic sclerosis (OR=55.809,95% CI 12.879～241.832.P=0.000).Conclusion Aggressive therapy should be given to those systemic sclerosis patients with onset later than 60 years old,male sex,diffuse skin involvement,anti-RNP antibody positivity,cardiac involvement,kidney lesions,scleroderma renal crisis and pulmonary artery hypertension,especially seevere pulmonary hypertension.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) are ancient,asexual,and obligate symbiotic endophytes which have not been cultured in vitro.So there is some limitation in the study of mycorrhizology.While the molecular technology based on DNA analysis could increase the detection sensitivity and specificity of AMF.rDNA sequence homology and variability can reveal the relationship between species and their evolution.Thus rDNA sequence analysis are widely used in the classification,identification,genetic,ecology and bio-diversity of AMF.This article summarizes the rDNA sequence analysis techniques and their application in phylogeny,molecular detection and community structure of AMF in different plant vegetation.

Objective: To observe the effects of tendon-regulating and stretching manipulation plus JIN's three-needle therapy for the shoulder on pain and shoulder joint function in subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods: Eighty patients with SIS were recruited and divided into a control group and a treatment group by the random number table method, with 40 cases in each group. The control group was given JIN's three-needle therapy for the shoulder, and the treatment group received additional tendon-regulating and stretching manipulation. The visual analog scale (VAS) score and constant-Murley score (CMS) were observed before and after the intervention, and the total effective rate was also observed. Results: The total effective rate was 92.5％ in the treatment group versus 70.0％ in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The VAS score and CMS changed notably after treatment in both groups (P<0.05), and the improvements were markedly greater in the treatment group than in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Tendon-regulating and stretching manipulation plus JIN's three-needle therapy for the shoulder can facilitate the relief of pain and the improvement of shoulder joint function in SIS patients.

Objective To investigate the effects of different magnitudes of mechanical stress on human interverte-bral disc degeneration. Methods The human intervertebral disc cells were subjected to different magnitudes of mechanical stress (0, 6%, 12%, or 18%elongation) for 24 h using a Flexercell Strain Unit. The mRNA expressions of anabolic genes (col-lagen-1A1, collagen-2A1, aggrecan and versican) and catabolic genes (MMP-3, MMP-13, ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5) were examined by real-time PCR and Western blot methods. Results The expression levels of collagen-1A1 and collagen-2A1 were increased at 12%of mechanical stress, and collagen-2A1 was decreased at 18%of mechanical stress compared with those of control. The mRNA expressions of catabolic genes, MMP-13 and ADAMTS-5, were increased at 12%and 18%of mechanical stress than those of control. The mechanical stretch induced a magnitude-dependent increase in ADAMTS-4 synthesis, which was finely tuned by stretching-triggered activation of distinct mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades. Specifically, an ERK1/2 specific inhibitor, U0126, significantly inhibited the stretching-induced ADAMTS-4 expression, whereas the inhibitors of p38 and JNK, SP6000125 and SB203580, showed only slightly effect on the stretching-induced ADAMTS-4 expression. Conclusion The different magnitudes of mechanical stretch exhibited different effects on the bio-logical behavior of intervertebral disc cells, which profoundly affects the intervertebral disc degeneration.

Objective Neonatal sepsis (NS) is one of the main causes of neonatal death.Immune therapy is an important way in the comprehensive treatment of NS.This study investigated several databases in order to find the clinical evidence for the immunological treatment of neonatal sepsis (NS),and to explore its clinical application value.Methods Systematic reviews and randomized (or quasi-randomized) controlled trials (RCT) for immunological treatment of NS in newborn infants were searched from the databases of MEDLINE,EMBASE and Cochrane Library.The relevant literatures were statistically analyzed.Results Six systematic reviews (including 37 RCTs) were found to be involved in the therapy,and the drugs included intravenous immunoglobulin (containing high level of IgM),antistaphylococcal immunoglobulins,neutrophile granulocyte,granulocyte colony-stimulating factor,granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor,pentoxifylline and glutamine.Pentoxifylline could decrease the mortality (Z =2.71,P =0.006 8),shorten the hospitalization (Z =2.01,P =0.044),and reduce the incidence rate of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) (Z =1.67,P =0.095) of the NS infants.No therapeutic effect was found for other drugs in the treatment of NS.Conclusions Current clinical evidence for the immunological treatment of NS indicates that only Pentoxifylline could decrease the mortality,reduce the incidence rate of NEC and shorten the hospitalization of infants with NS.However,current evidence is only a small scale sampling and lacks multicenter studies.Researchers are encouraged to undertake large scale and well-designed multicenter trials to confirm the effectiveness of the immunological treatment of NS.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical efficiency of electrocoagulation for the treatment of noninvoluting congenital hemangioma.

METHODSSixteen infants with noninvoluting congenital hemangioma who were admitted to our hospital from January 2011 to June 2013 were included in this study. Color Doppler ultrasound was used to determine the hemangioma location, as well as its size and depth. High frequency electrocoagulation was adopted for the treatment. The output power was set at 10-20 W. The probes were inserted around the tumor or at the surface of the tumor. After switching on for 1-2 seconds, the direction and position of the probe was modulated until covering the whole tumor. After the treatment, the absorption of tumor was about 3-6 months. The efficiency was evaluated during the follow-up.

RESULTSTumor atrophy was obvious after treatment in all patients. The temperature around the tumor mass was decreased, and the aberrant blood signals were decreased under the ultrasonic examination. Complete or partial atrophy were observed. The efficiency was graded as level I, II, III, IV in 0, 2, 9 and 5 patients, respectively. One patient showed local infection due to improper nursing, which was completely relieved after corresponding treatment. No severe adverse events were observed.

CONCLUSIONSHigh-frequency electrocoagulation is effective for treating noninvoluting congenital hemangioma through coagulating the aberrant blood vessels in the tumor, interrupting the vascular endothelial cell, blocking the aberrant blood flow, as well as leading to atrophy and absorption of tumor mass. Besides, no obvious scar is observed after the surgery.

Electrocoagulation ; methods ; Hemangioma ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Hemangioma, Capillary ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Skin Neoplasms ; congenital ; diagnostic imaging ; surgery ; Temperature ; Ultrasonography