ABSTRACT
Objective To study the serum levels of low molecule weight IgM (LMW IgM) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to evaluate the relationship of LMW IgM levels with the disease activities. Methods The levels of LMW IgM and pentameric IgM in AS patients, RA patients and healthy controls were measured with ELISA after separated using ultrafiltration assay. Differences in the percentage of LMW IgM between subject groups were analysed using Mann-Whitney U test. Results The percentages of LMW IgM increased dramatically in AS patients and RA patients compared with healthy controls (0.194 ± 0123, 0.061 ±0.026, 0.028 ±0.165 separately). The LMW IgM percentages were not correlated with the disease activities. Conclusion The increase of LMW IgM indicates humoral immune function abnormality in AS patients and RA. However, the mechanism needs further study.
ABSTRACT
Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of gastric mucosal lesions and the parietal oxyntic function in rats under stress as a result of seawater-immersion after open abdominal injury. Methods Thirty-two SD rats were subjected to open abdominal injury followed by seawater immersion. The animals were randomly divided into four groups: control, 1h, 2h, 3h stress for 1h, 2h, and 3h groups. The pH value of gastric juice and gastric mucosal ulcer index (UI) were measured. The gastric mucosal lesions were observed with light microscopy, and the ultrastructural changes in parietal cells were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results There was a significantly negative relationship between UI and pH value (r=-0.70,P
ABSTRACT
Objective: To explore the molecular mechanism of HMC-1 cell apoptosis on exposure to tripterine. Methods: After the HMC-1 cells were incubated with tripterine, the expression of bcl-2, bax, bcl-X,c-myc and ICE were assayed by using immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR. Results: The expression of bax,c-myc were up-regulated and bcl-2 down-regulated at protein level.The expression of bax,bcl-X L, especially bcl-2 were down-regulated, and ICE was up-regulated at mRNA level. Conclusion: These results suggest that apoptosis of HMC-1 cells induced by tripterine is regulated by different expression of apoptosis-related genes.