Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects of the copper chelator ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a mouse model.Methods:Twenty-four male dilution brown non-Agoutia/1 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: a blank control group (Ctrl group, n=6), a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) + phosphate buffer saline (PBS) treatment group (PBS group, n=6), a CIA+TTM treatment group (TTM group, n=6), and a CIA+Elesclomol treatment group (Eles group, n=6). Eles, a copper ion carrier, served as a control for administration of TTM, a copper ion chelator. One week after treatment, the swelling of mouse paw was observed, and the clinical scoring of the arthritis in mice was evaluated once a week. Paw mechanical pain detection was performed and photographs were taken to observe the severity of paw swelling before the mice were sacrificed. Catwalk gait analysis system was used to evaluate the gait changes in mice. HE and saffron O solid green staining were used to evaluate pathomorphologic changes in the mice knee joints and paws. Immunostaining techniques were used to detect the protein expression of MMP3, CD31, and VEGF in the mice paws. Luminex technology was used to detect alterations in the serum inflammatory factors. Results:Compared with the Ctrl group, in the PBS and Eles groups, the joints were red, swollen and deformed; the arthritis clinical scores were significantly higher; the bone destruction, synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration and pathological changes in the joint tissues were obvious; the expression levels of inflammatory factors, such as serum MCP-1, IL-1 β, IL-9, and IFN- γ, were significantly higher while the expression level of IL-10 was significantly lower. Simultaneously, the expression of CD31 and VEGF factors was significantly enhanced. Compared with the PBS group, in the TTM group, the joint swelling and deformation were significantly improved, the arthritis clinical score was reduced, and the joint bone destruction, inflammatory cell infiltration and synovial hyperplasia were alleviated, and the levels of serum MCP-1, IL-1 β, IL-9 and IFN- γ were significantly decreased while the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was increased. There was no significant difference in the expression of MMP-3, CD31 or VEGF factors between the CTRL group and the TTM group. Conclusion:TTM can block synovial inflammation, angiogenesis, and bone destruction multiple times by simultaneously targeting multiple inflammatory factors, VEGF factors, and bone destruction mediators, thereby alleviating the pathological damage to the joint tissues induced by CIA in RA mice.

Objective:To investigate the therapeutic effects of the copper chelator ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (TTM) on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a mouse model.Methods:Twenty-four male dilution brown non-Agoutia/1 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: a blank control group (Ctrl group, n=6), a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) + phosphate buffer saline (PBS) treatment group (PBS group, n=6), a CIA+TTM treatment group (TTM group, n=6), and a CIA+Elesclomol treatment group (Eles group, n=6). Eles, a copper ion carrier, served as a control for administration of TTM, a copper ion chelator. One week after treatment, the swelling of mouse paw was observed, and the clinical scoring of the arthritis in mice was evaluated once a week. Paw mechanical pain detection was performed and photographs were taken to observe the severity of paw swelling before the mice were sacrificed. Catwalk gait analysis system was used to evaluate the gait changes in mice. HE and saffron O solid green staining were used to evaluate pathomorphologic changes in the mice knee joints and paws. Immunostaining techniques were used to detect the protein expression of MMP3, CD31, and VEGF in the mice paws. Luminex technology was used to detect alterations in the serum inflammatory factors. Results:Compared with the Ctrl group, in the PBS and Eles groups, the joints were red, swollen and deformed; the arthritis clinical scores were significantly higher; the bone destruction, synovial hyperplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration and pathological changes in the joint tissues were obvious; the expression levels of inflammatory factors, such as serum MCP-1, IL-1 β, IL-9, and IFN- γ, were significantly higher while the expression level of IL-10 was significantly lower. Simultaneously, the expression of CD31 and VEGF factors was significantly enhanced. Compared with the PBS group, in the TTM group, the joint swelling and deformation were significantly improved, the arthritis clinical score was reduced, and the joint bone destruction, inflammatory cell infiltration and synovial hyperplasia were alleviated, and the levels of serum MCP-1, IL-1 β, IL-9 and IFN- γ were significantly decreased while the level of anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 was increased. There was no significant difference in the expression of MMP-3, CD31 or VEGF factors between the CTRL group and the TTM group. Conclusion:TTM can block synovial inflammation, angiogenesis, and bone destruction multiple times by simultaneously targeting multiple inflammatory factors, VEGF factors, and bone destruction mediators, thereby alleviating the pathological damage to the joint tissues induced by CIA in RA mice.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the renal function in treatment-naive patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) related cirrhosis and to identify the risk factors for renal impairment.

METHODSWe collected the data of 860 HBV-related cirrhosis patients hospitalized in our unit between Jan 1, 2011 and Dec 31, 2011. Liver function of the patients was assessed with Child-Pugh score system, and the renal function with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated by Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation recommended by Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI). We investigated the prevalence of renal impairment (eGFR>60 ml/min/1.73 m(2)) among these patients and explored the risk factors for renal impairment.

RESULTSOf the 860 patients, 296 had complete clinical data and were included in our analysis. The overall incidence of renal impairment among the enrolled patients was 8.45% (25/296). Patients with Child-Pugh stage C showed a significantly higher incidence of renal impairment than those with stages B and A (17.17% [17/99] vs 6.67%[7/105] vs 1.09% [1/92], P<0.001). Age, history of hyperuricemia, and Child-Pugh score were identified as the risk factors for renal impairment in these patients.

CONCLUSIONIn patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis, the incidence of renal impairment increases significantly with deterioration of the liver function, and renal function should be regularly monitored in these patients for appropriate antiviral treatment.

Adult ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; physiopathology ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors