Study of bone mineral density and serum bone turnover markers in newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus patients / 北京大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the changes of bone mineral density (BMD) and serum bone turnover factor in newly diagnosed systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients.@*METHODS@#Eighty newly diagnosed SLE patients and 80 age and gender matched healthy controls were enrolled. None of the SLE patients had ever received glucocorticoid, immunosuppressive agents or vitamin D. BMD was measured at radius,lumbar spine and hip by dual X ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone turnover markers including serum levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAP5b),bone alkaline phosphatase (BAP) and 25-hydroxy vitamin D3 (25-OH-VD3) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Logistic regression was employed to analyze the risk factors associated with decreased BMD.@*RESULTS@#Mean age of the SLE patients was (32.8±12.4) years, and 85% were female, none of whom were post-menopausal. BMD was significantly reduced in all the measured sites, compared with the healthy controls. Sixteen (20%) of the patients were osteopenic in at least one site measured locations. The serum levels of 25-OH-VD3 were markedly reduced in the newly diagnosed SLE patients than those of the normal controls [(46.1+12.3) nmol/L vs. (25.4+11.2) nmol/L, P<0.001)]. The serum levels of 25-OH-VD3 in the SLE patients with nephritis were much lower than those without nephritis (P=0.04). A significant negative correlation was demonstrated between the serum concentration of 25-OH-VD3 and the disease activity scores as measured by SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) (r=-0.3,P=0.001). The serum TRAP5b concentration was positively correlated with SLEDAI (r=0.435,P=0.003). Age (P=0.058) and SLEDAI (P=0.085) were probably associated with decreased BMD in Logistic regression analysis.@*CONCLUSION@#The study showed reduced BMD in untreated SLE patients. The role of chronic inflammation was of probable importance in bone metabolism.

Mitochondrial D310 instability in Chinese lung cancer patients.

To characterize the somatic mutation spectrum of mitochondrial DNA at D310 in Chinese lung cancer patients and evaluate its potential significance in Chinese lung cancer diagnosis, in this study, 237 samples, including lung tumor, adjacent normal tissue and blood samples of 79 lung cancer patients were analyzed. By comparing sequences of D310 between lung cancer tissues, adjacent normal tissue and blood samples, the somatic mutations at D310 were detected in 17.72% (14/79) of Chinese lung cancer patients; this implied that somatic mutations at D310 could be served as valuable biomarker for diagnostic of Chinese lung cancer. Further analyses indicated that deletion and heterogeneity were the predominant characters for somatic mutations detected at D310 of Chinese lung cancer patients.

Novel Insights into the Pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's-associated Enterocolitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To systematically summary the updated results about the pathogenesis of Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis (HAEC). Besides, we discussed the research key and direction based on these results.</p><p><b>DATA SOURCES</b>Our data cited in this review were obtained mainly from PubMed from 1975 to 2015, with keywords "Hirschsprung enterocolitis", "Hirschsprung's enterocolitis", "Hirschsprung's-associated enterocolitis", "Hirschsprung-associated enterocolitis", "HAEC", and "EC".</p><p><b>STUDY SELECTION</b>Articles regarding the pathogenesis of HAEC were selected, and the articles mainly regarding the diagnosis, surgical approach, treatment, and follow-up were excluded.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Several factors, mainly including mucus barrier, intestinal microbiota, and immune function, as well as some other factors such as genetic variations and surgical reasons, have been found to be related to the pathogenesis of HAEC. Changed quantity and barrier property of mucus, different composition of microbiota, and an abnormal immune state work together or separately trigger HAEC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The maintenance of intestinal homeostasis is due to a well cooperation of microbiota, mucus barrier, and immune system. If any part presents abnormal, intestinal homeostasis will be broken. Meanwhile, for patients with Hirschsprung's disease or HAEC, dysfunction of these parts has been found. Thus, the happening of HAEC may be mainly attributed to the disorders of intestinal microbiota, mucus barrier, and immune system.</p>

Annexin 1-derived peptide Ac2-26 inhibits eosinophil recruitment in vivo via decreasing prostaglandin D2.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the mucosa and is associated with excess TH2 cytokines, eotaxin, prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) and eosinophilia in the lungs. Previous studies have emphasized that the N-terminal peptide of annexin 1 (peptide Ac2-26) can inhibit mast cell degranulation, antigen-induced eotaxin release as well as the accumulation of both neutrophils and eosinophils in a model of rat pleurisy. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate anti-asthmatic effects of Ac2-26 in an asthma model and to explore possible mechanisms involved. METHODS: The effect of Ac2-26 on TH2 cytokine release, eotaxin production, PGD2 levels and the development of pulmonary eosinophilic inflammation was compared with glucocorticoids in an asthmatic rat model. The study was conducted on rats sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin and plethysmography measured airway responsiveness. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) histopathology and the levels of cytokines, chemokines as well as PGD2 were examined. RESULTS: Our results showed that Ac2-26 suppressed the accumulation of eosinophils in airways, reduced IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, PGD2 and eotaxin levels in the BAL fluid, and lowered the expression of CRTH2. Exogenous PGD2 significantly attenuated the biological effects of Ac2-26. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that Ac2-26 exerted broad inhibitory effects on airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in a rat model of asthma. Exogenous PGD2 reversed the inhibitory effects of AC2-26 on eosinophil recruitment. Ac2-26 exhibited anti-asthmatic, immunomodulatory activity that was substantially mediated by decreasing PGD2 production and its CRTH2 receptor expression in vivo.

[Analysis of relationship between injury and disease by cardiac functional indicators in hypertension rat after trauma].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of cardiac functional indicators in spontaneously hypertension rats (SHR) suffered by struck injuries of soft tissues, form which to discuss the significance in relationship between injury and disease. METHODS: SHRs were divided into four groups according to the degree, and whose thigh was struck with the homemade hit instrument. Then the blood pressure, heart rate as well as serum biochemical indicators (CK, CK-Mb, LDH, Cr, BUN, HBDH and AST) were examined. In addition, the morphological changes of heart, brain and kidney were also observed. RESULTS: The observe values of heart rate and blood pressure of SHRs seemed have relation to the degree of damage, but there were no statistically significance between different hit degree groups. In terms of serum biochemical indicators, all seven indicators of the hit group had significant difference with that of the control group, and the AST CK, CK-MB levels were difference between the group of different strike degree. CONCLUSIONS: Struck injuries of soft tissues can result in forepart damage of cardiac muscle. The biochemical indicators reflect the degree of injury, and they could be used as a type of objective enzymology indicators for analysis of the relationship between injury and disease in forensic practice.

[Follow-up study on psychic and neuropathic delayed effects of acute organophosphorus pesticides poisoning].

OBJECTIVE: To study the delayed effect on neuropsychopathy and its related factors after acute organophosphorus pesticides poisoning (AOPP). METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-seven cases of AOPP in the observation period were chosen to follow-up 2 months later from the 4 county hospitals in Shandong Province where the incidence of organophosphorus pesticide poisoning is high. RESULTS: Nine cases of organophosphate induced delayed polyneuropathy (OPIDP) were found and the incidence rate was 3.5%. The occurrence of OPIDP were related to the need for emergent artificial respiration, and the degree of poisoning, and the kinds of organophosphorus pesticides (Ops). The positive rate of symptoms of peripheral nerves, central nerves and psychogeny except auditory and visual hallucination after poisoning was significantly higher than that before (P < 0.05). The patient's situation of health, economy and work became statistically worse (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We found some had delayed effects on neuropsychopathy after AOPP which could debase the patient's life quality. The control measure should be administered as early as possible.

[Comparison of the characteristics of suicide attempters treated in general hospitals with and without prior suicide attempts].

OBJECTIVE: We compared the characteristics of persons who had made multiple versus single suicide attempts to determine whether or not these are two independent subgroups and, thus, should be provided with different preventive services. METHODS: We administered a 2 - 3 hour interview that included a structured psychiatric examination to 325 individuals with suicide attempts who were treated at four city and county-level general hospitals. RESULTS: The age, gender, years of education, marital status, work status, and family economic status of the 52 persons who had made more than one suicide attempt were similar to those of the 273 persons who had made a single attempt. But repeaters were less likely than non-repeaters to live in rural villages and to attempt suicide by ingesting agricultural poisons. Moreover, repeaters considered suicide prior to the attempt for a longer time, had a lower quality of life in the prior month, had a stronger suicidal intent, had more chronic life events, had a higher chronic stress score, and were more likely to have mental illness (P's all < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Major differences in the characteristics of suicide attempters with and without a prior history of suicide attempts suggest that these are independent subgroups of attempters. These two types of attempted suicide require different preventive approaches.