Progress in the classification of hereditary dentin disorders and clinical management strategies / 中华口腔医学杂志

Heterogeneous mutations in dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) gene, which is located on autosome 4, are associated with hereditary dentin developmental disorders. According to the new classification proposed by de La Dure-Molla et al, diseases caused by DSPP gene mutations mainly manifested as abnormal dentin development are collectively referred to as dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI), including dentin dysplasia type Ⅱ (DD-Ⅱ), dentinogenesis imperfecta type Ⅱ (DGI-Ⅱ) and dentinogenesis imperfecta type Ⅲ (DGI-Ⅲ) in Shields classification. And dentin dysplasia type Ⅰ (DD-Ⅰ) in Shields classification is redesignated as radicular dentin dysplasia. In this paper, progress in the classification, clinical characteristics and genetic mechanisms of DI are reviewed. This paper also provides clinical management and treatment strategies for patients suffering DI.

Etiology, diagnosis and treatment of infraoccluded primary second molars / 中华口腔医学杂志

Infraocclusion is a phenomenon that the relative occlusal growth of a tooth stops after the period of active eruption and then the tooth becomes depressed below the occlusal plane. Infraocclusion occurred more commonly in children and the mostly affected teeth were the primary mandibular second molars. The occlusal problem caused by infraocclusion may progressively worsen with age. This review summarizes the etiology, diagnosis and treatment of infraoccluded second primary molars, so as to provide reference for the dental clinicians.

Increased Macroautophagy in Interferon-Gamma-Producing T Cells from Patients with Newly Diagnosed Systemic Lupus Erythematosus / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Imbalance of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4, and IL-17 producing by T cells is confirmed to contribute to the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Autophagy is now emerging as a core player in the development and the function of the immune system. Therefore, we investigated the autophagic behavior in IFN-γ-, IL-4-, and IL-17-producing T cells from patients with SLE.</p><p><b>Methods</b>Thirty patients with SLE and 25 healthy controls matched for gender and age were recruited between September 2016 and May 2017. The autophagic levels in IFN-γ T cells, IL-4 T cells, and IL-17 T cells from patients with newly diagnosed SLE and healthy controls were measured using flow cytometry. The plasma levels of IFN-γ were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in SLE patients and healthy controls. Unpaired t-tests and the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare data from patients with SLE and controls. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was applied for calculation of the correlation between parallel variables in single samples.</p><p><b>Results</b>Our results showed increased percentage of autophagy in IFN-γ T cells from patients with SLE and healthy controls ([8.07 ± 2.72]% vs. [3.76 ± 1.67]%, t = 5.184, P < 0.001), but not in IL-4 T cells or IL-17 T cells (P > 0.05) as compared to healthy donors. Moreover, the plasma levels of IFN-γ in SLE patients were significantly higher than those in healthy controls ([68.9 ± 29.1] pg/ml vs. [24.7 ± 17.6] pg/ml, t = 5.430, P < 0.001). Moreover, in SLE patients, the percentage of autophagy in IFN-γ T cells was positively correlated with the plasma levels of IFN-γ (r = 0.344, P = 0.046), as well as the disease activity of patients with SLE (r = 0.379, P = 0.039).</p><p><b>Conclusion</b>The results indicate that autophagy in IFN-γ T cells from SLE patients is activated, which might contribute to the persistence of T cells producing IFN-γ, such as Th1 cells, and consequently result in the high plasma levels of IFN-γ, and then enhance the disease activity of SLE.</p>

Effects of danshen injection on the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes cultured with human serum / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effects of Danshen Injection (DSI) on the proliferation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes (RA FLSs) cultured in RA patients' serum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The RA FLSs harvested from RA patients' synovial fluid were primarily cultured by routines. The cells were cultured with 10% inactivated human serum (the healthy human serum and the RA patients' serum) for 24 h. Then DSI at the final concentration of 0. 4 mg/mL was added in the cells for further 24 h culture. By taking 10% fetal calf serum as the control, the morphological changes were observed under optical microscope. The proliferation was analyzed by MTT. The apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. The total RNA was extracted and reverse transcription was performed. The Bax mRNA expression was detected by fluorescent quantitative PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) After human serum was added in the healthy human serum and RA patients' serum, cells could grow adhering to the wall. Compared with the fetal calf serum group (FCS), the cell density was higher in the healthy human serum group than in the fetal calf serum group, with no obvious morphological changes. (2) MTT results showed that, compared with the fetal calf serum group, the absorbance value (OD) obviously increased in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). After adding DSI at the final concentration of 0.4 mg/mL, cells from different serums were inhibited to various degrees (with OD significantly decreased, P <0.05). The OD value significantly increased more in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group than in the fetal calf serum group, showing statistical difference (P <0.01). There was statistical difference between the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group (P <0.01). (3) The apoptosis rate in the RA patients' serum group obviously decreased with statistical difference, when compared with the Salvia miltiorrhiza free fetal calf serum group (P >0. 01). The apoptosis rate in the fetal calf serum group and the RA patients' serum group significantly increased after adding 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza, showing statistical difference when compared with the Salvia miltiorrhiza free fetal calf serum group and the Salvia miltiorrhiza free RA patients' serum group (P <0.05). The FLSs were effected by 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza, the apoptosis rate significantly decreased in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group, showing statistical difference when compared with the fetal calf serum group (P <0. 05, P <0.01). (4) The expression of Bax gene significantly increased in the RA patients' serum group and the fetal calf serum group after action of 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza, showing statistical difference (P <0. 01). When 0.4 mg/mL Salvia miltiorrhiza was added, the expression of Bax mRNA obviously increased in the healthy human serum group and the RA patients' serum group, showing statistical difference when compared with the fetal calf serum group (P <0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>(1) Although healthy human serum can be favorable to the growth of RA FLSs, the fetal calf serum could reflect the actual results better in the cyto biological research on specific diseases (if there is no serum from patients with corresponding disease). (2) DSI could inhibit the proliferation of RA FLSs through promoting their apoptosis.</p>

Anti-EPO receptor antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus with anemia / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the presentationand significance of circulating autoantibodies to erythropoietin receptor (EPOR) in sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods One hundred and twenty-four consecutive patients with SLE, seven with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), 19 patients with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and 45 normal individuals were involved in this study. In all patients with SLE, the disease activity was evaluated using the European consensus Lupus Activity Measurement scale. Antibodies to EPOR were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All data were tested with Chi-squared or Student's t tests by SPSS software. Results A higher frequency of antibodies to EPOR were detected in SLE patients than healthy controls (20.2% vs 2.2%, P=0.004), however, they could not be detected in AIHA and IDA patients. Moreover, anti-EPOR antibodies were detected in 17 (33.3%) of 51 SLE patients with anemia, compared with that in 8 (11.0%, P=0.002) of 73 patients without anemia. Furthermore, patients with antibodies to EPOR had more severe anemia and often presented as microcytic anemia (P =0.005) than those without anti-EPOR antibodies. Finally, anti-EPOR antibodies seemed to be more likely to occur in patients with skin rash (P=0.014), low levels of C3 component of complement (P=0.01), positive anti-dsDNA antibodies (P=0.000) and higher disease activity scores (P= 0.024). Conclusion The higher incidence of antibodies to EPOR in SLE patients with anemia suggest that anti-EPOR antibodies might play a vital role in the development of anemia in SLE patients. Thus, detecting anti-EPOR antibodies in SLE patients with anemia may be helpful.

Detecting anti-megakaryocyte antibodies in serum of systemic lupus erythematosus patients by indirect immunofluorescence / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was purposed to investigate the mechanism of thrombocytopenia in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) through detecting anti-megakaryocyte antibodies in SLE patients. The serum anti-megakaryocyte antibodies in 36 SLE cases with thrombocytopenia were detected by using indirect immunofluorescence, the detected results were compared with detected results of 30 SLE cases without thrombocytopenia and 30 healthy persons. The results showed that the positive incidences of anti-megakaryocyte antibody in serum of 36 SLE cases with thrombocytopenia, 30 SLE cases without thrombocytopenia and 30 healthy persons were 19.4% (7/36), 6.7% (2/30) and 3.3% (1/30) respectively. As compared with SLE patients without thrombocytopenia and healthy persons, SLE patients with thrombocytopenia had higher incidence of anti-megakaryocyte antibodies, moreover there was significant difference between SLE patients with thrombocytopenia and healthy persons (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between SLE patients with or without thrombocytopenia (p > 0.05). It is concluded that autoantibodies against megakaryocytes exist in SLE patients and may partially contribute to the incidence of thrombocytopenia in SLE patients. The detection of anti-megakaryocyte antibodies with a enough case number is needed to make a final conclusion on thrombocytopenia pathogenesis in SLE.

Circulating Dickkopf-1 and osteoprotegerin in patients with early and longstanding rheumatoid arthritis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by inflammation of the synovial membrane, leading to invasion of synovial tissue into the adjacent cartilage matrix with degradation of articular cartilage and bone as a consequence. Dickkopf-1 (DKK-1) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) have been demonstrated to be key molecules involved in bone erosion and bone remodeling. The aim of this study was to explore the potential role of DKK-1 and OPG in different stage of RA.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The protein levels of DKK-1 and OPG were detected by ELISA. The serum samples were collected from 300 patients with RA and 60 healthy controls. Of which, 150 RA patients were defined as early RA (disease duration < or = 1 year), and other 150 RA patients were defined as longlasting RA (disease duration > or = 5 years). At the time of serum sampling, various clinical and laboratory parameters were assessed. The correlations of DKK-1 or OPG and clinical/laboratory parameters were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The serum level of DKK-1 was elevated in patients with longstanding RA compared with healthy controls, while no significant difference was observed between the two groups in the level of OPG. In contrast, in early RA patients, the circulating OPG was elevated, while there was no significant difference between the two groups in expression of DKK-1. The serum DKK-1 was correlated with Sharp score and DAS28 in longstanding RA patients. In early RA, age was the only parameter that was significantly related to serum OPG.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>There was a cross-talk between DKK-1 and OPG, which involved in bone destruction in RA. In different stage of RA, DKK-1 and OPG may play different roles in the pathogenesis of RA.</p>

Expression of FLICE-inhibitory protein in synovial tissue and its association with synovial inflammation in juvenile idiopathic arthritis / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine the expression of FLICE-inhibitory protein (FLIP) in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and analyze its correlation with synovial inflammation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of FLIP was assessed in 11 JIA and 3 normal synovial tissue samples by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunohistochemistry. The cell types expressing FLIP were further characterized, and the correlation of FLIP expression with the degree of synovial inflammation, as well as the activity of caspase 8 was then analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>RT-PCR revealed the expression of FLIP mRNA in all 11 JIA samples, but not in 3 normal synovial tissues. In JIA, FLIP expression could be found in both the lining and sublining layers, mainly in the macrophage-like cells. Moreover, the expression of FLIP in JIA synovial tissues was positively correlated with the degree of synovial inflammation (r = 0.563, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of antiapoptotic FLIP in JIA synovial tissue and its correlation to accumulation of inflammatory cells in synovial tissue suggests that FLIP potentially extends the lifespan of synovial cells and thus contributes to the progression of joint destruction.</p>

Expression of CC chemokine ligand 5 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and its correlation with disease activity and medication / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To determine the levels of CC chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) in serum and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their relations with disease activity and medication.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>CCL5 in serum and SF was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 28 RA patients and 21 osteoarthritis (OA) patients. In RA patients, the correlations of CCL5 levels in serum and SF with disease activity were analyzed. Meanwhile, the serum CCL5 levels among RA patients treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), Tripterygium Glucosides, and other Chinese herbs without disease-modifying effects were also compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>CCL5 levels in both serum and SF of RA patients were significantly higher than those of OA patients (P < 0.05). Moreover, the level of CCL5 was higher in SF than that in serum of RA patients (P < 0.01). Serum CCL5 level was correlated significantly with the number of swollen joints (r = 0.3329, P < 0.05), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.4001, P < 0.05), and C reactive protein (r = 0.3735, P < 0.01). In addition, the level of CCL5 had a trend of lower in patients treated with DMARDs or Tripterygium Glucosides than those treated with other Chinese herbs, although the difference was not significant among those patients due to the small number of patients in each group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In RA patients, the expression of CCL5 increases and correlates with some clinical and laboratory parameters of RA, which indicate that CCL5 plays an important role in RA and may serve as a useful marker of disease activity. DMARDs and Tripterygium Glucosides might exert their clinical effects through reducing CCL5 production in RA.</p>

Expressions of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in systemic sclerosis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To study the expression of MCP-1 and its correlation with SSc.Methods Twenty-seven patients with SSe and 21 healthy control subjects were examined for MCP-1 expressions by ELISA.mRNA and protein of MCP-1 in fibroblast cells from 5 SSc patients and 3 healthy subjects were also measured by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.At the same time,the correlation between the expression levels of MCP-1 and SSc was analyzed.Results The plasma level of MCP-1 was significantly higher in pa- tients with SSc than in healthy control subjects(787?393)pg/ml versus(426?266)pg/ml,P