The risk factors for nosocomial infection in chinese patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in shanghai.

Objective. To analyse the potential risk factors of nosocomial infections in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A total of 2452 active RA patients at Hospitals in Shanghai between January 2009 and February 2011 were analyzed. Their demographic and clinical characteristics were compared with those without infection, and the potential risk factors were determined by logistic regression analysis. Results. Multivariate analysis indicated the gender (OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.53-0.92), duration in hospital (OR = 1.03 , 95%CI 1.01-1.05), number of organs involved (OR = 0.82, 95%CI 0.72-0.92), number of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs ((DMARDs) (OR = 1.22, 95%CI 1.061-1.40)), corticosteroid therapy (OR = 1.02, 95%CI 1.01-1.03), peripheral white blood cell counts ((WBC) (OR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.00-1.08)), levels of serum albumin (OR = 0.98, 95%CI 0.97-0.99), and C-reactive protein ((CRP) (OR = 1.03 , 95%CI 1.01-1.04)) that were significantly associated with the risk of infections. Conclusion. The female patients, longer hospital stay, more organs involved, more DMARDs, corticosteroid usage, high counts of WBC, lower serum albumin, and higher serum CRP were independent risk factors of infections in active RA patients.

[Serum adiponectin and free fatty acid profile in essential hypertensive patients with or without metabolic syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To observe serum adiponectin, free fatty acid (FFA) profile and other glucose and lipid metabolic parameters in essential hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome (HPMS) or without metabolic syndrome (HP). METHODS: The serum adiponectin was measured with the radioimmunoassay, FFA profile measured with the gas chromatography and mass spectrometer in 72 HPMS, 56 HP and 43 normal control subjects. RESULTS: Serum adiponectin were significantly lower in HPMS group than those in the HP and control group (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Serum total free fatty acid (TFA), unsaturated fatty acid (UFA, linoleic acid, oleic acid, arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, eicosatrienoic acid), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n6PUFA were significantly higher in HPMS group than those in the HP and control groups (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Adiponectin was negatively correlated with body mass index, waist circumferences, waist hip ratio, triglycerides (r = -0.222, -0.235, -0.179, -0.194, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, respectively) and positively correlated with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (r = 0.336, P < 0.01); TFA and PUFA were positively correlated with body mass index, waist circumferences, fasting blood glucose, mean arterial pressure (r = 0.241 and 0.280, 0.198 and 0.188, 0.226 and 0.298, 0.274 and 0.334, P < 0.01 or P < 0.05, respectively) in all subjects. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that changes in serum adiponectin, FFA and n6PUFA might promote the development of metabolic syndrome in essential hypertensive patients.

[Preparation of monoclonal antibody against human c-erbB2 and identification of its specificity].

AIM: To prepare monoclonal antibody(mAb) against human c-erbB2 and identify its specificity. METHODS: The epitope of human c-erbB2 antigen was analyzed by using computer software and a immunodominant epitope at the carboxyl-terminal was selected. A peptide consisting of 13 amino acids was synthesized and coupled with keyholelimpet hemocyanin (KLH), and then it was used to immunize BLAB/c mice. The splenocytes of the immunized mice were fused with Sp2/0 cells routinely and the hybridoma cells were selected by HAT selected culture, indirect ELISA, and immunohistochemical staining, and cloned by limiting dilution. The specificity of the mAb was identified by cross-reaction test and blocking test. RESULTS: A hybridoma cell line SC8C1, stably secreting anti-c-erbB2 mAb was obtained. The mAb SC8C1 could react to breast cancer tissue expressing c-erbB2 molecule but did not react to other c-erbB2-negative cells. The mAb will lose the activity after being blocked with synthesized 13 peptide. CONCLUSION: A anti-c-erbB2 mAb SC8C1 is prepared successfully using synthesized 13 peptide as immunogen.