Objective:To investigate the expression level of plasma miR-320c in patients with osteoarthritis(OA), and explore the clinical significance and the role in pathogenesis of OA.Methods:The clinical data and peripheral blood of 30 patients with OA, 30 patients with connective tissue diseases and 30 healthy control individuals were collected.The levels of plasma miR-320c were detected byfluorescentquantitative reverse transcription PCR(qRT-PCR). Correlation analysis was used to explore the correlation of plasma miR-320c level with knee X-ray data and VAS pain score in OA patients.Finally the miR-320c mimic, the miR-320c inhibitor, and the control material were transfected to the chondrocyte HC-a.The proliferative capacity of HC-a chondrocytes was examined at different time points as determined by the CCK-8 assay.Results:The expression level of plasma miR-320c was significantly higher in OA group(3.26±0.55)than that in the connective tissue diseases group(1.62±0.50)and in healthy control group(1.21±0.66)( F=107.66, P<0.001). Plasma miR-320c expression was positively correlated with radiographic grade( r=0.830, P<0.001), and had no correlation with VAS pain score in OA group( P>0.05). Through repeated measurement variance analysis, the time effect, the group effect and the interaction effect between group and time showed statistically significant differences in chondrocyte proliferation between NC mimic group and miR-320c mimic group( Ftime=5256.767, Fgroup=1947.436, Ftime×group=114.314, all P<0.001). The level of proliferation was significantly reduced.Apoptosis rate of chondrocytes was significantly increased in the group transfected with miR-320c( t=7.85, P<0.01). Conclusions:The expression level of plasma miR-320c is significantly higher in osteoarthritis patients and associated with knee radiographic severity grade.Furthermore, over-expression of miR-320c could suppress the proliferation of chondrocytes.Plasma miR-320c might be potential bio-marker for osteoarthritis knee severity assessment, and involves in regulating chondrocyte growth in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) is a group of systemic small vasculitis characterized by ANCA positive in serum. Three diseases are included in this group of diseases: granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA). In China, standardized diagnosis and treatment of AAV is still lacking. Based on the evidence and guidelines from China and abroad, the Chinese Rheumatology Association formulated the standardization of diagnosis and treatment of ANCA associated vasculitis. The purpose is to standardize the diagnosis of AAV and disease activity assessment, and recommend the treatment strategies.

Objective:To explore the characteristics of plasma microRNA (miRNA) profiles and bioinformatics in patients with osteoarthritis(OA) in order to search for diseases related biomarkers.Methods:Blood samples from 20 cases of OA patients and 15 cases of normal control (NC) were collected to extracted total RNA in plasma. The plasma miRNA expression profile was tested by using Agilent Human miRNA array. Target gene analysis and clustering analysis were performed on differentially expressed microRNAs. Three differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-134-5p, miR-320c and miR-940) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) for further confirmation of microarray data. The differences were tested using t test analysis. Results:① MiRNA microarray showed that compared with NC, there were 74 differential expression genes in plasma of patients in the OA group (FC≥2, P≤0.01), among which 45 were up-regulated and 29 were down-regulated. ② A total of 2 731 potential target genes were predicted in three database, and involved in 462 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEEG) pathways. Target gene ontology (GO) functional clustering found that the main functions of miRNAs were intercellular adhesion, collagen synthesis, intracellular signal transduction, etc. The main KEGG pathways of miRNAs include mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, osteoclast differentiation signaling pathway, etc. ③ The expression level of miR-20a-5p and miR-320c in OA group were significantly higher than that in controls ( t=-6.142, P<0.05; t=-3.854, P<0.05), while miR-940 was significantly lower than that of controls ( t=2.767, P<0.05) . The trend was consistent with the microarray data. The receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) curve analyses showed that they were useful biomarkers for differentiating patients with OA from controls. Conclusion:The study shows that plasma in OA patients has a specific miRNAs expression, and miRNAs play an important role in the pathogenesis of OA.

Objective:To study the clinical characteristics and compliance of early-onset gout patients by case-control analysis.Methods:A total of 111 early-onset patients (onset age ≤35 years old) were included as Group A, and 111 non-early-onset patients (onset age >35 years old) with matched disease durationwere included as Group B. The differences ofclinical characteristics, causes of acute gout attack, dairy diet habits, compliance, and misunderstanding of the disease were compared.Results:Compared with the non-early-onsetgoutpatients, the early-onset patients had a higher proportion of obesity (63 cases vs 28 cases), family history (36 cases vs 20 cases) and tophus (39 cases vs 23 cases) and higher level of VAS scores (8.5±1.3 vs 7.6±1.7; χ2=22.988, P<0.01; χ2=5.749, P=0.016; χ2=5.729, P=0.017; t=4.639, P<0.01), lowerproportionof the first metatarsophalangeal joint involvement as the initial joint involvement (45.9%, 51 cases vs 59.4%, 66 cases; χ2=4.066, P=0.044), higher proportion of the ankle involvement as the initial joint involvement (34.2%, 38 cases vs 21.6%, 24 cases; χ2=4.386, P=0.036), higher proportion of alcohol drinkers and high fructose drinkers, which was more likely to relate to alcohol intake, strenuous exercise and high fructose intakeas trigger of the flare ( χ2=6.513, P=0.011; χ2=7.126, P=0.008; χ2=1.978, P=0.160), while the proportion of regular exercisers and on diet in the family was lower ( χ2=22.887, P<0.01; t=-4.917, P<0.01). The proportion of poor diet and medication compliance in Group A was higher than that in Group B(57.7%, 64 cases vs 38.7%, 43 cases; χ2=5.207, P=0.022; χ2=5.867, P=0.015). As for the reason for poor treatment compliance, early-onset gout patients were more worry about the side-effects of drugs than non-early onset patients ( χ2=4.190, P=0.041). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the main misunderstanding of gout. Conclusion:Although early onset gout patients are young, their condition is more serious, and compliance is poorer, this group of patients should be highly valued in clinical diagnosis and treatment.

In recent years, the clinical experts consensuses or guidelines of ankylosing spondylitis (AS)/spondyloarthritis (SpA) have been constantly updated, but to better understand and practice, patient self-participation management is one of the key points to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment. Through questionnaire survey of these patients, we screened out the most concerned issues, and established the AS/SpA patient practice guideline working group with multidisciplinary physicians and patients. Fifteen opinions, as the AS/SpA patient practice guidelines, are proposed in accordance with the relevant principles of the "WHO guidelines development manual" , and with the international normative process.

Hyperuricemia/gout is a common metabolic disease in China, which is a serious threat to people′s health. In clinical practice, the standardization of prevention and diagnosis and the rate of treat-to-target need to be improved. There is still a lack of education for the patients about the understanding of clinical guidelines, the disease knowledge and the importance of cooperating with doctors to carry out diagnosis and treatment. From the most concerned issues of the patients, we established the hyperuricemia/gout patient practice guideline working group with multidisciplinary physicians and patients. Seventeen opinions, as the hyperuricemia/gout patient practice guidelines, are proposed in accordance with the relevant principles of the "WHO guidelines development manual" , and with the international normative process, aiming to improve the patients compliance, improve the level of health management of the disease.

Objective:To analyze the relevant risk factors for restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of patients with Takayasu′s arteritis.Methods:Clinical data of 43 patients undergoing percutaneous angioplasty due to Takayasu arteritis were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relevant risk factors for restenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.Results:There were 9 males and 34 females. The mean age was 23 (18-33) years old, 59 times of PTA were performed, including 44 in renal artery, 9 in aorta, 2 in iliac and 2 in carotid artery, 1 in brachiocephalic trunk and 1 in left subclavian artery. The mean follow up time was (64±42) months. The rate of restenosis was 47.5%(28/59)and the mean time of restenosis was (23±27) months. The restenosis rate of aorta and iliac artery was 9.1%, that of renal artery was 52.3% and that of supra aortic artery was 100% . The rate of restenosis was higher in patients with symptoms of headache, syncope and low back pain, the elevated ESR and CRP increased the risk of restenosis (all P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that preoperative elevation of ESR and CRP were risk factors for restenosis after percutaneous angioplasty for Takayasu arteritis. Conclusions:PTA was safe and effective in Takayasu arteritis involving aorta-iliac and renal artery, the elevated ESR and CRP was related to high risk of restenosis.

Objective To analyze systematically the existing classification criteria and assessment tools for osteoarthritis (OA).Methods Comprehensively searched and screened the available classification criteria and assessment tools reported in OA guidelines,textbooks,including secondary and original researchs.We collected and summarized the extracted data with the methods of scoping review and also used Excel software for qualitative analysis.Results A total of 63 OA guidelines,1 textbook,239 secondary or original researches,160 supplementary records were retrieved.The 5 classification criteria and 15 systematic reviews of assessment tools (855 assessment tools) were finally included.Conclusion The existing classification criteria lack a rigorous and transparent development process,and they are also too complicate to guide clinical treatment.We suggest that the development and improvement of OA classification criteria should be linked with the streamlined assessment tools,and conduct trials to test in clinical practice.

Objective To investigate the expression of interleukin-35 (IL-35) in serum of mice with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis.Methods Thirty-six C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups (twelve mice in each group):control group,model group of mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis,glucocorticoid treatment group of mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.The mice were sacrificed at day 7,day 14 and day 28 respectively,and the serum concentration of IL-35 was assayed.Statistical product and service solutions (SPSS) 17.0 statistical software was used for single factor analysis of variance and LSD-t comparison and Pearson correlation analysis was used for the comparison between each two groups.Results The serum IL-35 concentrations between groups and within groups at the time of day 7,day 14 and day 28 were compared respectively.The serum IL-35 concentration of the model group was significantly lower than the control group and the glucocorticoid treatment group at the time of day 7 (F=24.56,P＜0.05).The serum IL-35 concentration of glucocorticoid treatment group was significantly lower than the control group at the time of day 14 (F=8.85,P＜0.05),and which of glucocorticoid treatment group was significantly lower than the control group and the model group at the time of day 28 (F=36.64,P＜0.05).There was no significant difference between days 28 and day 7 within control group (t=1.03,P＞0.05).The serum IL-35 concentration of the model group at the time of day 28 was significantly higher than those of day 7 [(9.36±0.95) ng/ml vs (6.51±0.58) ng/ml,t=5.14,P＜0.05],and which of glucocorticoid treatment group was significantly lower than those of day 7 [(5.27±1.01) ng/ml vs (9.42±0.84) ng/ml,t=6.32,P＜0.05].From day 7 to day 28 the serum IL-35 concentration change of the model group and glucocorticoid treatment group showed significantly negative correlation (r =-0.743,P＜0.05).Conclusion Serum IL-35 concentration has shown an trend of increase during bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis with mice model,and early glucocorticoid treatment can decrease the serum IL-35 in the model mice.

Objective To explore the effect of different concentrations of iguratimod (IGU) on mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.Methods A total of 108 female C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into the control group,the model group,the low dose IGU group,the moderate dose IGU group,high dose with group and the methylprednisolone (MP) group (n=18 in each group).The mice in the control group were injected with 0.2 ml normal saline endotracheally,and others were injected with 0.2 ml bleomycin (5 mg/kg) from endotracheally to induce pulmonary fibrosis model.The next day,the mice in both control group and the model group were fed with 0.2 ml normal saline every day;The mice in the IGU groups and methylprednisolone group were fed with 0.2 ml iguratimod liquid the IGU (10,30,90 mg/kg) and 0.2 ml methylprednisolone (10 mg/kg) every dayrespectively.Finally the mice were sacrificed at day 7,day 14,day 28 respectively,and the lung tissue was examined by HE staining and Masson staining to evaluate the degree of alveolitis and fibrosis.Repeated measurement of variance analysis was used to compare the differences for time and group,and multi-factor analysis of variance LSD test was used for the comparison between groups.Results ① The body mass of mice in bleomycin-induced groups were decreased compared to the control group.② The pathological alveolitis scores in the high dose IGU group and methylprednisolone group were significantly decreased compared to those of the model IGU group at day 7 and day 14 (P＜0.05),and the pathological fibrosis scores were decreased dramatically compared with the model group at day 14 and day 28 (P＜0.05).Conclusion High concentration of IGU and methylprednisolone can reduce and inhibit lung inflammation and fibrosis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice.