Advances in relapse risk factors of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis / 中华神经科杂志

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis mediated by anti-NMDAR antibody. Current studies have found that most patients with anti-NMDAR encephalitis have a good prognosis after immunotherapy and tumor therapy, but there are still 4.5%-36.4% patients with relapse. It is important to identify the risk factors for the prevention of relapse. This article aims to review the relapse risk factors of NMDAR encephalitis in order to provide help for the prevention of relapse.

Recent advance in experimental animal models of anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor encephalitis / 中华神经科杂志

Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis is an autoimmune encephalitis mediated by anti-NMDAR antibody. At present, the pathogenesis of the disease is not completely clear, and reliable animal models are of great significance for the study of its pathogenesis and pathophysiological process. The authors reviewed the reports of anti-NMDAR encephalitis′s animal models in recent years, and discussed the advantages and limitations of each model, in order to provide a more suitable animal model for further research on anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

Evaluation of TGF-beta1 and MCP-1 expression and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and IgA nephropathy: A clinical correlation

OBJECTIVES: Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and immunoglobulin A nephropathy are two diseases with similar clinical presentations but very different prognoses. Transforming growth factor β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 have been associated with the development of tissue fibrosis. We examined the development of tubulointerstitial fibrosis and its relationship with Transforming growth factor β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in these patients. METHODS: Renal tissue samples were collected by renal biopsy from 50 children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis and 50 children with immunoglobulin A nephropathy. Hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome-stained tissues were examined using light microscopy. Tubulointerstitial fibrosis was graded using the method described by Bohle et al. (1). The immunohistochemical detection of Transforming growth factor β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression was correlated with the tubulointerstitial fibrosis grade. Clinical Trial registration number: ZJCH-2012-0105. RESULTS: Transforming growth factor β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in the renal tissues was significantly greater in the patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy than in the patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (both p<0.001). The immunoglobulin A nephropathy patients had a higher tubulointerstitial fibrosis grade than the Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis patients (p<0.001). The tubulointerstitial fibrosis grade was in accordance with the Transforming growth factor β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression levels in both diseases (both p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Transforming growth factor β1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression was associated with the development of immunoglobulin A nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. Further studies are needed to better evaluate this association.

Serum Uric Acid Level and Its Influencing Factors in Children with Primary Nephrotic Syndrome / 中国医科大学学报

Objective To explore the correlation between serum uric acid levels and uric acid excretion indexes in children with primary nephrot?ic syndrome(PNS),and to reveal the prevalence of hyperuricemia and its possible causes in PNS. Methods The clinical data in 74 cases of pe?diatric PNS were retrospectively analyzed. These patients were grouped as hyperuric acid(HUA)or non?hyperuric acid(NUA),and their clinical features and laboratory findings were compared between two groups,including age,serum uric acid,serum creatinine,urea,cystatin C,triglycer?ide,cholesterol,albumin,creatinine clearance rate,24 hours urine uric acid,serum uric acid/serum creatinine,uric acid clearance,and the frac?tional excretion of uric acid and other indicators of differences. In addition ,a correlation analysis was carried out for the excretion of uric acid index. Results Several factors were lower in HUA group than that of NUA group ,such as the serum albumin and fractional excretion of uric acid(P1=0.034,P2=0.025);while the serum cystatin C and serum uric acid/serum creatinine ratio(P1=0.038,P2=0.001)was higher in HUA group. The uric acid excretion was negatively correlated with serum uric acid levels in all 74 children with PNS(r=-0.43,P=0.016),and the serum uric acid/creatinine ratio was positively correlated with serum uric acid(r=0.486,P=0.001). Conclusion Both the increase of blood uric acid production and excretion reduction were observed in children with PNS ,and the serum uric acid levels and renal tubular function is closely related.

Clinical Value of Neck Vascular Ultrasound and Homocysteine Level in Patients With Cerebral Infarction and Carotid Stenosis / 中国循环杂志

Objective:To investigate the clinical value of neck vascular ultrasound and homocysteine (Hcy) level in patients with cerebral infarction and carotid stenosis. Methods: Our research included 2 groups. Cerebral infarction group, n=115 patient who were treated in our hospital from 2012-01 to 2013-12, and Control group, n=110 healthy subjects from physical check-up. Neck vascular ultrasound was conducted to classify the degree of carotid stenosis as ①no stenosis, ②mild degree, the stenosis rate≤29%, ③moderate degree, the stenosis rate at 30%~69%,③severe degree, the stenosis rate at 70%~99%,④complete occlusion. Carotid plaque formation and vascular intima-media thickness (IMT) were examined by neck ultrasound. Blood levels of Hcy and triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured in clinical laboratory. Results: Compared with Control group, Cerebral infarction group had the higher rate of carotid stenosis 89.56%vs 10.91%, more plaque formation 73.91%vs 6.08%and increased IMT (1.85 ± 0.42) mm vs (0.75 ± 0.21) mm;higher blood levels of Hcy (42.32 ± 12.02) μmol/L vs (6.32 ± 2.45) μmol/L and higher rate of high blood Hcy syndrome 71.30%vs 3.63%;higher levels of TC (4.25 ± 1.12) mmol/L vs (1.63 ± 0.74) mmol/L and LDL-C (5.96 ± 1.36) mmol/L vs (2.32 ± 0.82) mmol/L, P Conclusion: The patients with cerebral infarction and carotid stenosis have obviously increased blood level of Hcy. Hcy may predict various degree of carotid stenosis in relevant patients.

Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Effects of Ginger Oil / 中草药·英文版

Objective Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is widely used as a spice in cooking and as a medicinal herb in traditional herbal medicine. The present study was to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of ginger oil in experimental animal models. Methods The analgesic effect of the oils was evaluated by the acetic acid and hot-plate test models of pain in mice. The anti-inflammatory effect of the oil was investigated in rats, using rat paw edema induced by carrageenan, adjuvant arthritis, and vascular permeability induced by bradykinin, arachidonic acid, and histamine. Indomethacin (1 mg/kg), Aspirin (0.5 g/kg) and Dexamethasone (2.5 mg/kg) were used respectively as reference drugs for comparison. Results The ginger oil (0.25-1.0 g/kg) produced significant analgesic effect against chemically- and thermally-induced nociceptive pain stimuli in mice (P < 0.05, 0.01). And the ginger oil (0.25-1.0 g/kg) also significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema, adjuvant arthritis, and inflammatory mediators-induced vascular permeability in rats (P < 0.05, 0.001). Conclusion These findings confirm that the ginger oil can be used to treat pain and chronic inflammation such as rheumatic arthritis.