Genetic and clinical markers for predicting treatment responsiveness in rheumatoid arthritis / 医学前沿

Although many drugs and therapeutic strategies have been developed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treatment, numerous patients with RA fail to respond to currently available agents. In this review, we provide an overview of the complexity of this autoimmune disease by showing the rapidly increasing number of genes associated with RA.We then systematically review various factors that have a predictive value (predictors) for the response to different drugs in RA treatment, especially recent advances. These predictors include but are certainly not limited to genetic variations, clinical factors, and demographic factors. However, no clinical application is currently available. This review also describes the challenges in treating patients with RA and the need for personalized medicine. At the end of this review, we discuss possible strategies to enhance the prediction of drug responsiveness in patients with RA.

Comparative study on the efficacy and safety of interventional therapy of uterine fibroid using Embosphere and Pingyangmycin lipiodol emulsion / 实用放射学杂志

Objective To observe the curative effect and safety of interventional therapy of uterine fibroids using Embosphere and Pingyangmycin lipiodol emulsion.Methods The clinical data of 120 cases with uterine fibroids treated in our hospital were reviewed,and the patients were according to the different treatments given,divided into two groups (each with 60 cases).Patients in control group were treated with interventional therapy of Pingyangmycin lipiodol emulsion,while patients in the study group were given interventional therapy of Embosphere.The clinical efficacy and safety in the two groups were compared.Results The total efficiency in the study group was 93.33%,which was significantly higher than that in the control group (75.00%),and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).The comprehensive indexes after the treatment were improved in both groups compared with those before the treatment,and the improvement in the study group was significantly better than the control group (P<0.05,P<0.01).Besides,the total incidence of adverse effects in the study group was 11.67%,which was significantly lower than that in the control group (26.67%)(P<0.05). Conclusion The interventional therapy using Embosphere has better effect on uterine fibroid compared with the therapy using Pingyangmycin lipiodol emulsion,which is worthwhile to be brought into clinical application.

Role of TLR2 in AngⅡ-induced cardiac fibrosis in hypertensive mice / 中华老年心脑血管病杂志

Objective To study the role of TLR2 in AngⅡ-induced cardiac fibrosis in hypertensive mice .Methods Eighteen wild C57 mice were randomly divided into blank control group ,AngⅡgroup and TLR2 blocking group (6 in each group) .A hypertension model was established by sub-cutaneous infusion of AngⅡthrough a mini-pump for 7 days .Cardiac fibrosis in mice was observed with immunohistochemical staining .Results The area of cardiac fibrosis was significantly larger and the expression levels of collagen Ⅰ and TGF-βwere significantly higher in Ang Ⅱgroup than in blank control group (P<0 .05) .The area of cardiac fibrosis was 71 .2% smaller ,the expression level of collagen Ⅰ was 75 .5% ,and the expression level of TLR2 was 77 .7% lower in TLR2 blocking group than in Ang Ⅱgroup (P<0 .05) .Conclusion TLR2 is involved in Ang Ⅱ-induced cardiac fibrosis in hypertensive mice .

Significance and implication of the changes of serum interlukin-11 level in patients with hematological malignancy post-chemotherapy / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To explore the relationship between plasma interleukin-11(sIL-11) level and platelet count post-chemotherapy with hematological malignancy patients and analyse a sIL-11 level which may maintain a safe platelet count so as to guide the treatment. Methods Blood samples were collected from the patients with hematological malignancy at certain time point of pre-and post-chemotherapy, and serum level of sIL-11 and platelet count were determined separately. Different statistical methods were applied to test the relationship between sIL-11 level and platelet changes. Results 99 cases finished this study. The findings are: the sIL-11 level went up and reached the peak on day 6 post-chemotherapy, while the platelet count kept dropping to the lowest on day 10, the sIL-11 peak occurred before the lowest platelet count, patients with faster sIL-11 increase may maintain a comparatively higher plateled count. 99 eases were grouped according to the lowest platelet count and compared: the group with higher platelet count tend to have higher peak sIL-11, more cases with higher peak sIL-11, with faster daily average sIL-11 increase, the lowest platelet count occurred later. Logistic regression analysis showed the factors contributed to lower platelet includes slower daily average sIL-11 increase and sIL-11 level less than 2000 pg/ml on Day4 post-chemotherapy. Conclusion There were correlation between the serum sIL-11 level and platelet counts, the platelet count change may be predicted by determining the plasma sIL-11 level post-chemotherapy. Patients with sIL-11 level less than 2000 pg/ml on Day4 post-chemotherapy may be endangered with severe thrombocytopenia, rhIL-11 or platelet transfusion treatment should be considered.