Studies on newly recognized chronic sialadenitis / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Some kinds of chronic sialadenitis were recognized during the recent years. They have specific pathogenesis, clinical and histopathologic appearances, and require specific treatment. IgG4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS) is one of the immune-mediated diseases, characterized by tumefactive lesions. The incidence of IgG4-RS obviously increased during the past 30 years. The study on the potential relationship between occupational exposure to chemical substances and the incidence of IgG4-RS showed that subjects with occupational exposure to agents known to cause IgG4-RD had an increased risk for IgG4-RS. Surgical excision of involved SMG could not control the disease progression, which is not recommended for treatment of IgG4-RS. The combination of glucocorticoid and steroid-sparing agents is effective for treating IgG4-RS, and restores salivary gland function. Radioiodine induced sialadenitis (RAIS) is one of the common complications of postoperative adjuvant treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer by 131I. The incidence of the disease is related to radiation dosage. Clinically, the patients suffered from swelling and tenderness in the buccal or submandibular regions, especially during the mealtime. Imaging appearances are similar to those of chronic obstructive sialadenitis. Conservative managements, such as gland massage, sialagogues, are the mainstream methods in the treatment of RAIS. Sialendoscopy is feasible for RAIS, but not as effective as conventional obstructive sialadenitis (COS). Therefore the prevention of RAIS is crucial. Eosinophilic sialodochitis (ES) is a new type of chronic inflammatory disease of the salivary gland related to allergy. It has characteristics of swelling of multiple major salivary glands, strip-like gelatinous plugs discharged from the duct orifice of the gland, elevated level of serum IgE and eosinophils in peripheral blood, infiltration of eosinophils and IgE positive plasma cells in the tissues, allergic history, increased expression of allergy-related cytokines, such as IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, and eotaxin, which suggest allergic reactions as a potential pathogenesis of the disease. The clinical, laboratory, histological, and immunohistochemical characteristics of ES are significantly different from conventional obstructive sialadenitis (COS). Therefore, it is suitable to separate ES from COS. Conservative managements, such as self-maintenance therapy and anti- allergic modality are the choices of treatment for ES. Based on the results of our comprehensive studies a new classification of chronic sialadenitis is suggested.

Clinical characteristics of central nervous system involvement in IgG4 related diseases / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To improve the understanding of the clinical characteristics of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) with central nervous system (CNS) involvement, so as to contribute to the early diagnosis and treatment.@*METHODS@#In this study, 10 patients with IgG4-RD with CNS involvement were selected. Clinical data including demographic features, clinical manifestations, organ involvement, laboratory findings, radiological results, pathology, treatments and outcomes were collected retrospectively.@*RESULTS@#Among the 10 IgG4-RD patients complicated with CNS involvement, 6 cases manifested as pituitary involvement and 4 cases manifested as dural involvement. Only 2 patients had nervous system involvement alone, while the left patients were complicated with other organ involvement besides nervous system. Half of the patients presented nervous system involvement as the initial manifestation, and the main symptoms of nervous system included polydipsia, polyuria, headache, decreased vision and so on. In the laboratory examination, the serum IgG4 level was increased in 9 cases (90.0%), and the total serum IgE was increased in 7 cases (87.5%). At the same time, their IgG, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were increased, while complement (C) 3 and C4 were decreased in some patients. Eight patients underwent tissue biopsies in different parts, the pathological examination showed a large number of lymphocyte and plasma cell infiltration, accompanied by fibrous tissue proliferation in part. All the patients were treated with glucocorticoids, and 8 cases (80%) were given immunosuppressants at the same time, and 3 cases were treated with rituximab when they expe-rienced disease relapse. As a result, 2 cases (20%) achieved complete remission (CR), and 8 cases (80%) achieved partial remission (PR). The median follow-up time was 13.5 months, and 4 cases relapsed.@*CONCLUSION@#Pituitary and dura are common affected organs of IgG4-RD with CNS involvement. Most IgG4-RD patients with CNS involvement are combined with other organ involvement, but half of them presented nervous system involvement as the initial manifestation, and the symptoms are not typical. In order to make an early diagnosis, laboratory, imaging examination and tissue biopsy should be taken into consideration in combination if necessary.

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma with fever, arthritis and skin pigmentation: A case report / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma is a rare T-cell lymphoma. The clinical manifestations are not specific. In addition to the common clinical manifestations of lymphomas such as fever, weight loss, night sweats and lymphadenopathy, it may also have skin rashes, arthritis, multiple serous effusions, eosinophilia and other systemic inflammatory or immune symptoms. The lymphoma cells of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma originates from follicular helper T cells, and the follicular structure of lymph nodes disappears. In the tumor microenvironment, in addition to tumor cells, there are a large number of over-activated immune cells, such as abnormally activated B cells, which produce a series of systemic inflammation or immune-related symptoms. This disease is rare and difficult to diagnose. This article reports a 36-year-old female. She got fever, joint swelling and pain, skin pigmentation, accompanied by hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, anemia and other multiple-systems manifestations. The clinical manifestations of this patient were similar to autoimmune diseases such as adult onset Still's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic sclerosis, which made the diagnosis difficult. At the beginning of the disease course, the patient got arthritis and fever. And her white blood cells were significantly increased. Adult onset Still's disease should be considered, but her multiple-systems manifestations could not be explained by adult onset Still's disease. And her arthritis of hands should be distinguished with rheumatoid arthritis. However, the patient's joint swelling could get better within 3-7 days, and there was no synovitis and bone erosion on joint imaging examination. The rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibody were negative. The diagnostic evidence for rheumatoid arthritis was insufficient. The patient's skin pigmentation and punctate depigmentation were similar to those of systemic sclerosis. But the patient had no Raynaud's phenomenon, and her sclerosis-related antibody was negative. The diagnostic evidence for systemic sclerosis was also insufficient. After 3 years, she was finally diagnosed with angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma by lymph node biopsy aspiration. This case suggests that the clinical manifestations of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma are diverse, and some symptoms similar to immune diseases may appear. When the patient's clinical symptoms are atypical and immune diseases cannot explain the patient's condition, and further evidence should be sought to confirm the diagnosis.

Clinical features of hydronephrosis induced by retroperitoneal fibrosis: 17 cases reports / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical features and outcome of hydronephrosis induced by retroperitoneal fibrosis (RPF), and to evaluate the effect of corticosteroid based therapy combined with surgical intervention of ureteral obstruction.@*METHODS@#A total of 17 RPF patients with hydronephrosis hospitalized in Peking University International Hospital from May 2016 to December 2019 were analyzed retrospectively.@*RESULTS@#The median age was 56 (53, 65) years, the male to female ratio was 2.4 : 1, and the disease duration was 4.00 (0.83, 8.00) months. The initial symptoms included back pain (9 cases), abdominal pain (6 cases), oliguria (2 cases) and lower limb edema (3 cases). Eight patients presented left hydronephrosis, 1 right hydronephrosis and 8 bilateral hydronephrosis. C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were both elevated in 13 patients (76.5%, n=17). Immunoglobin (Ig) G4 increased in 5 cases (29.4%, n=17). IgG, IgE and IgA increased in 4 cases (30.8%, n=13), 4 cases (30.8%, n=13) and 1 case (7.7%, n=13), respectively. Among 12 patients who underwent biopsy, 3 patients were diagnosed with IgG4-relate disease. The level of IgG4 in the tissues varied, 6 cases expressed less than 10 per high power field (HPF) or no expression (50.0%). Only 2 cases expressed 10-30/HPF (16.7%), and 4 cases revealed more than 30/HPF (33.3%). Among the 17 patients with ureteral obstruction, no urinary drainage procedure was needed in 4 patients who had mild ureteral obstruction, whereas, ureteral stenting was carried out in the other 13 cases before drug treatment. Time was too short to evaluate the effect of urinary drainage procedures in 4 patients. For the rest, ureterolysis had to be performed in 3 cases after failed ureteral stent insertion. Successful drain removal was accomplished in all of these 9 patients and the mean time to drain removal was (6.7±3.0) months. In addition, 10 patients had complete medical records after an average follow-up time of 5 (3-13) months. Levels of ESR, CRP, IgG4, IgG, IgE, IgA were 54.0 (36.3, 98.5) mm/h, 26.8 (8.7, 53.0) mg/L, 1.34 (0.55, 3.36) g/L, 16.3 (13.0, 21.1) g/L, 40.5 (31.4, 203.0) IU/mL, 2.51 (1.82, 3.25) g/L at baseline, which all decreased predominantly after treatment. ESR, CRP, IgG4, IgG, IgE and IgA dropped by 38.5 (23.5, 54.3) mm/h (P < 0.01), 23.0 (5.5, 52.0) mg/L (P < 0.05), 0.92 (0.40, 2.85) g/L (P < 0.01), 6.5 (1.7, 9.1) g/L (P < 0.05), 23.7 (4.8, 162.0) IU/mL (P < 0.05) and 0.77 (0.32, 1.26) g/L (P < 0.05), respectively. Size of mass measured by CT/MRI imaging became smaller significantly and hydronephrosis relieved.@*CONCLUSION@#Onset of RPF is insidious and lack of specific initial symptoms. Corticosteroid based therapy combined with surgical intervention of relieving obstruction is effective.

Clinicopathological characteristics and diagnosis of IgG4related sialadenitis / 北京大学学报(医学版)

Immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS) is a newly recognized immune-mediated disease and one of immunoglobulin G4-related diseases (IgG4-RD). Our multidisciplinary research group investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and diagnosis of IgG4-RS during the past 10 years. Clinically, it showed multiple bilateral enlargement of major salivary glands (including sublingual and accessory parotid glands) and lacrimal glands. The comorbid diseases of head and neck region including rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and lymphadenopathy were commonly seen, which could occur more early than enlargement of major salivary glands. Internal organ involvements, such as autoimmune pancreatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, and interstitial pneumonia could also be seen. Thirty-five (38.5%) patients had the symptom of xerostomia. Saliva flow at rest was lower than normal. Secretory function was reduced more severely in the submandibular glands than in the parotid glands. Serum levels of IgG4 were elevated in almost all the cases and the majority of the patients had increased IgE levels. CT, ultrasonography, and sialography showed their imaging characteristics. Histologically it showed marked lymphoplasmacytic inflammation, large irregular lymphoid follicles with expanded germinal centers, prominent cellular interlobular fibrosis, eosinophil infiltration, and obliterative phlebitis. Their immunohistological examination showed marked IgG-positive and IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration and high IgG4/IgG ratio. The disease could be divided into three stages according to severity of glandular fibrosis. The serum IgG4 level was higher and the saliva secretion lower as glandular fibrosis increased. IgG4-RS should be differentiated from other diseases with enlargement of major salivary gland and lacrimal gland, such as primary Sjögren syndrome, chronic obstructive submandibular sialadenitis, and eosinophilic hyperplastic lymphogranuloma.

Application of ultrasonography scoring system in the assessment of IgG4-related sialadenitis / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To assess the diagnostic value of salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) for IgG4-related sialadenitis.@*METHODS@#Ultrasonography examination of major salivary glands was conducted for 48 IgG4-related sialadenitis patients and 50 Sjögren's syndrome patients, whose ages and disease duration were matched. The imaging features were graded using two different scoring systems (0-16 and 0-48, respectively) obtained from the grades of bilateral parotid and submandibular glands. The scores were used to further evaluate the features of salivary gland ultrasonography in IgG4-related sialadenitis and to compare them with Sjögren's syndrome patients. The association of SGUS scores of IgG4-related sialadenitis group with serological tests was analyzed.@*RESULTS@#The mean age of IgG4-related sialadenitis group and Sjögren's syndrome group was 49.23 years and 50.44 years, respectively. The serum IgG4 level of the patients in the IgG4-related sialadenitis group was increased, with an average (9.60±6.43) g/L. And the serum IgE level was at a median of 251.5 (123.4-543.6) IU/mL. In the 0-16 system, the scores of submandibular glands of the patients in IgG4-related sialadenitis and Sjögren's syndrome were 6.0 (6.0-8.0) and 4.0 (2.0-8.0), and the scores of the total four glands were 10.0 (8.0-14.0) and 8.0 (4.0-12.0) respectively. In the 0-48 system, the scores of submandibular glands with IgG4-related sialadenitis and Sjögren's syndrome were 18.0 (14.5-20.0) and 11.0 (7.0-14.0), and the scores of the total four glands were 26.0 (18.5-34.0) and 21.5 (15.0-26.3) respectively. It suggested that in the 0-16 system and the 0-48 system, scores of submandibular glands and the total of four glands of IgG4-related sialadenitis were higher than those of Sjögren's syndrome. Meanwhile, the association analysis of 0-48 system showed a positive correlation of SGUS scores with serum IgG4, which also showed a positive correlation of SGUS scores with serum IgE in 0-16 system.@*CONCLUSION@#Semi-quantitative ultrasonography scoring systems can evaluate and quantify the lesions of salivary glands, which can be helpful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of IgG4-related sialadenitis combined with the clinical manifestations, serological indicators and/or histopathological manifestations. Ultrasonography can also assess the activity of IgG4-related sialadenitis preliminarily.

Analysis of the clinical features and misdiagnosis reasons of 17 patients misdiagnosed with IgG4-related disease / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To summarize the clinical characteristics of patients misdiagnosed with IgG4-related disease, to analyze the reasons of misdiagnosis and to improve the clinical recognition of the disease.@*METHODS@#The general data, clinical manifestations, laboratory examination results and pathological features of 17 patients with IgG4-related diseases misdiagnosed outside the hospital were retrospectively analyzed.@*RESULTS@#Among the 17 patients, there were 9 males and 8 females with a median age of 45 years, and the median time from onset to diagnosis was 12 months. Most patients' initial admission department was not rheumatology or immunology department. Six of the 17 patients were eventually diagnosed with lymphoproliferative disease, 4 with autoimmune disease, and 2 with infectious disease, Rosai Doffman disease, desmofibromatosis, highly differentiated mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the bottom of the mouth, hypereosinophilic syndrome, asthma and allergic rhinitis in 1 case each. The typical sites of IgG4-related disease were involved in 14 patients, including 6 cases of parotid gland, 2 cases of submandibular gland, 3 cases of pancreas and 2 cases of retroperitoneal lesions. Serum IgG4 was elevated in 10 patients, serum IgG4/IgG value was higher than 10% in 7 patients, serum IgE was increased in 7 patients, complement was decreased in 4 patients, and eosinophilic granulocytes were increased in 3 patients. Pathological biopsy was performed in 15 patients, and infiltration of lymphocyte was observed in 10 patients, IgG4+ plasma cells were present in 5 patients, the ratio of IgG4+ plasma cells to IgG+ plasma cells was less than 40% in 4 patients and greater than 40% in 1 patient. However, none of the 15 patients had the storiform pattern of fibrosis and obliterative phlebitis.@*CONCLUSION@#A variety of diseases can perform as IgG4-related disease witih typical sites involved, elevated serum IgG4, even can be characterized by pathological IgG4+ plasma cells infiltration. Physicians should pay attention to the differential diagnosis and comprehensively evaluate the patient's clinical manifestations, and laboratory results. Timely and even repeated pathological biopsy is also needed for definite diagnosis.

A cross-sectional study of the clinical features and physician visit patterns at onset of immunoglobulin G4 related disease / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To comprehend clinical features and patient's physician visit patterns at onset of immunoglobulin G4 related disease (IgG4RD).@*METHODS@#In the study, 100 patients with IgG4RD who received treatments in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of Peking University People's Hospital from Apr. 1st, 2017 to Apr. 1st, 2018 were investigated, including gender, age, height, body weight, age of onset, physician visit history, primary history and how did the disease affected their life, etc. RESULTS: In this 100 IgG4RD cohort (57 males and 43 females), the male/female ratio was 1:0.75, the mean age of onset was (51.51±12.9) years, and the median duration was 49 months (ranging from 4 to 231 months). The onset age of males was significantly older than that of females (P<0.01). The manifestations showed that up to 69% patients had submaxillay glands lesion, 59% patients had lacrimal glands lesion, 28% patients had pancreas involvement and 28% patients had parotid glands involvement. The females had more lacrimal glands involvement (P<0.05). 62% patients were complicated with anaphylactic disease. The primary physician visit departments concentrated upon general surgery department (19/100), oral and maxillofacial surgery department (17/100), rheumatology and immunology department (16/100), ophthalmology department (15/100) and gastroenterology department (10/100). The departments where the confirmed diagnose was made concentrated upon rheumatology department (67/100),oral and maxillofacial surgery department (16/100) and gastroenterology department (7/100). The mean diagnosis duration after 2010 was (16.96±2.163) months, significantly shorter than that before 2010, which was (113.3±11.01) months. Before the definite diagnose was made, 43% patients underwent surgeries and 12% patients had more than one time surgeries. The patients whose first-visit department was a surgery department were more likely to undergo surgeries (P<0.01). 18% patients (18/100) stated that the disease had affected their work.@*CONCLUSION@#In this cohort of the IgG4RD patients, female is common and has earlier onset age than male. The major manifestations of IgG4RD are salivary glands, lacrimal glands and pancreas involvement. The common chief complains are salivary glands and lacrimal glands enlargement. Accompanied by anaphylactic disease is a marked manifestation of this disease. Delayed diagnoses are not rare, though this situation has been improved since 2010, and more attention still should be paid to the disease.

Study on Identification Characteristics of Dichrocephala auriculata(Thunb.) Druce / 广州中医药大学学报

Objective To identify the pharmacognosy features of Dichrocephala auriculata(Thunb.)Druce,and to summarize its identification characteristics,so as to lay a foundation for further study and development of the drug. Methods By original plant identification and microscopic identification methods,we observed the features of the whole plant of Dichrocephala auriculata(Thunb.)Druce. Results The morphological characteristics of the original plant showed as follows:the whole aerial part was covered with tomentum;roots belonged to taproot root system;the alternate leaves were long oval-shaped, pinnatipartite, or divided;flowers were small, presented as capitulum, arranging in umbrella-shape, with several outer layers of white flowers and several inner layers of yellow green flowers. Microstructure characteristics showed as follows:root vascular bundle was broad,and pericycle fiber bundles were found outside;stem vascular bundle had 8-25 cyclocytics,pericycle fibers were found outside, and the medulla was broad with myelinated fibers around;the upper and below epidermis of leaves had stomata and non-tentacle, and the main vein vascular of the leaf was collateral with vascula bundles upside and downside;the nonglandular hairs,starch grains,fibers,pollen grains,and tubes were shown in the powder of whole plant. Conclusion The above results are stable and reliable, and can be applied for pharmacognosy identification of Dichrocephala auriculata(Thunb.)Druce.

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>

Medicine-separated moxibustion combined with healthy guidance for improving human sub-healthy state / 中国针灸

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe results of medicine-separated moxibustion combined with healthy guidance for improving human sub-healthy state and to probe the mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty-two sub-healthy persons from community were selected with health valuation method of traditional Chinese medicine and were treated with healthy guidance and medicine-separated moxibustion at selected points according to causes of disease, syndrome, clinical manifestations. At the same time, changes of clinical physical and chemical indexes and clinical symptoms before and after treatment were monitored.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After treatment, clinical symptoms and natural killer cells (NK) activity significantly increased (P<0.05); complement C3 and C4 levels significantly decreased and IgG level significantly increased (both P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Medicine-separated moxibustion combined with healthy guidance direction can regulate functions of zang- and fu-organs and elevate immunity in the people of sub-healthy state, so as to improve sub-healthy state and increase quality of life.</p>

Overexpression of alpha-synuclein in SH-SY5Y cells partially protected against oxidative stress induced by rotenone / 生理学报

Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the pathogenesis of Parkinsonos disease (PD). Epidemiological studies showed that environmental factors shared with the common mechanisms of resulting in alpha-synuclein aggregation by inhibiting complex I of mitochondria and leading to oxidative stress. To investigate the relationship between alpha-synuclein and oxidative stress, we used human dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells transfected with alpha-synuclein-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). alpha-synuclein gene expression was determined by immunocytochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. Both SH-SY5Y and alpha-synuclein overexpressed SH-SY5Y (SH-SY5Y/Syn) cells were treated with various concentrations of rotenone for different time. Cell viability and oxidative stress were detected by MTT assay and DCF assay. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was assessed with xanthine peroxidase method. Cell apoptosis was detected with flow cytometry. Results showed that alpha-synuclein gene was constantly overexpressed in SH-SY5Y/Syn cells. After treatment with rotenone, both cell viability and complex I activity in these cells were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner. Oxidative stress was also found in these cells. Compared with SH-SY5Y cells, SOD activity in SH-SY5Y/Syn cells was increased distinctly (P<0.05) and alpha-synuclein significantly attenuated rotenone-induced cell apoptosis. These results suggest that the alpha-synuclein overexpression in SH-SY5Y cells has a tendency to partially resist oxidative stress induced by rotenone and this response may assist cell survival.

The effect of atorvastatin on the expression of CD55, CD59 in patients with hyperlipidemia / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the expressions of CD55 and CD59 in patients with hyperlipidemia and the effects of atorvastatin on it, and to identify the possible influential factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We selected 67 patients with hyperlipidemia, and 24 healthy people matched in terms of age, sex and body weight as control. The expressions of CD55 and CD59 on white blood cells were detected by flow cytometry, and their relationships to blood lipids, complement activation indexes (C(5a), sC(5b-9)), inflammatory factors (high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), TNF-alpha, IL-6 were analyzed. 24 patients with hyperlipidemia were treated with atorvastatin for 8-12 weeks and the expressions of CD55 and CD59 were measured before and after atorvastatin therapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of CD55 lymphocytes and monocytes were decreased in patients with hyperlipidemia compared with control (2.07 +/- 0.28 vs 2.29 +/- 0.44 and 3.45 +/- 1.02 vs 4.33 +/- 2.32, P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). CD55 positive lymphocyte MFI was negatively correlated with waist circumference, waist-hip ratio, hsCRP and C(5a). C(5a) was negatively correlated with the MFIs of CD55 positive lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes, and positively with TG and diastolic blood pressure. After atorvastatin therapy, the MFIs of CD59 positive lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes increased (4.34 +/- 1.16 vs 3.69 +/- 0.76, 4.52 +/- 1.36 vs 3.91 +/- 0.89, 5.67 +/- 1.72 vs 4.56 +/- 1.03, P < 0.05, < 0.05 and < 0.01 respectively), which were not correlated with changes of blood lipids.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The expression of CD55 is down-regulated in hyperlipidemia, which might be influenced by obesity, abdominal distribution of adipose tissue and inflammatory status of hyperlipidemia, but not by blood lipids. The expression of CD55 is related with complement activation; The expression of CD59 is up-regulated after atorvastatin treatment independently of blood lipids.</p>

PADI4 mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To explore the role of PADI4 mRNA in the initiation and development of rheumatoid arthritis(RA)and its correlation with clinical features.Methods Fifty-three RA patients,27 OA patients and 30 healthy volunteers were included in the study.The real-time-fluorescence quantitative PCR method was used to measure the expression level of PADI4 mRNA.The level of Anti-CCP antibody and DAS 28 of the RA patients were measured at the same time.Results It was shown that the level of PADI4 mRNA from RA was significantly higher than that of the OA and control group(P