ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression levels of T follicular helper (Tfh) with different subsets in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their serum interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-17 (IL-17), transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) and matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) contents. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 45 RA patients in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College from January 2016 to April 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. They were divided into the RA high activity group (24 cases, group A) (DAS28 score ≥ 5.0) and RA low activity group (21 cases, group B) (3.2 < DAS28 score < 5.0). At the same time, 20 healthy subjects were selected as a control group. Flow cytometry was used to detect the expression levels of Tfh1, Tfh2 and Tfh17, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect serum IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and MMP-3 concentrations. The correlation of Tfh cells with IL-6, IL-17, IL-21 and MMP-3 was analyzed. RESULTS: Those of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells were significantly higher in group A than those in group B (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, the concentrations of serum IL-6, IL-17 and MMP-3 significantly increased (p < 0.001), but that of serum TGF-ß markedly decreased in group A and group B (p < 0.01). The concentrations of serum IL-6, IL-17 and MMP-3 were remarkably higher in group A than those in group B (p < 0.001), but that of serum TGF-ß was significantly lower in group A than that in group B (p < 0.001). The expression level of PBMC Tfh2 cells, PBMC Tfh17 cells was positively correlated with serum IL-6, IL-17 and MMP-3. The expression levels of Tfh2 and Tfh17 cells are positively correlated with serum IL-6, IL-17 and MMP-3 concentrations, negatively correlated with serum TGF-ß concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Tfh2 and Tfh17 are expected to be new targets for immunotherapy in RA patients.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology , Th17 Cells/immunology , Th2 Cells/immunology , Adult , Aged , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood , Case-Control Studies , Female , Flow Cytometry , Humans , Interleukin-17/blood , Interleukin-17/immunology , Interleukin-17/metabolism , Interleukin-6/blood , Interleukin-6/immunology , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Lymphocyte Count , Male , Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/blood , Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/immunology , Matrix Metalloproteinase 3/metabolism , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Th17 Cells/metabolism , Th2 Cells/metabolism , Transforming Growth Factor beta/immunology , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolismABSTRACT
In order to determine the within-subject variability of creatinine excretion, the 24-h output was measured over 5 consecutive d in 12 subjects. The mean within-subject coefficient of variation was 3.6 per cent. There was much greater variation between subjects. The creatinine excretion in g/d was 30-40 per cent lower in Burmese subjects than in Europeans and North Americans, but the excretion per kg was slightly higher, suggesting that the Burmese are more muscular.
Subject(s)
Creatinine/urine , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Myanmar , UrineABSTRACT
BCG test reactions were studied in 1095 non-tuberculous children from 6 months to 5 years of age, who had received BCG vaccination in the newborn period, in order to find out the diagnostic value of the BCG test in previously BCG vaccinated children. Previous BCG vaccination has an effect on the BCG test reaction in the form of an accelerated BCG reaction. Although the degree of reaction decreases with time, 51.4% of children still showed a strongly accelerated BCG reaction 4 1/2-5 years after BCG vaccination. It is concluded that the BCG test cannot be used as a diagnostic test for tuberculosis in children under 5 years of age who have had previous BCG vaccination.
Subject(s)
BCG Vaccine , Tuberculosis/diagnosis , Age Factors , BCG Vaccine/administration & dosage , BCG Vaccine/immunology , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nutritional Physiological Phenomena , Sex Factors , Tuberculosis/prevention & controlABSTRACT
Cross sectional echocardiographic studies were assessed prospectively in 58 infants in whom right ventricular outflow obstruction was subsequently shown angiographically. A subcostal cut was used to display simultaneously the short axis of the aortic root and the long axis of the right ventricular outflow tract. This facilitated the differentiation of the common right ventricular outflow tract obstructive lesions. Tetralogy of Fallot was diagnosed correctly in 22 of 26 infants; pulmonary atresia with intact septum in all of 14 neonates; isolated severe pulmonary valve stenosis in all of nine infants; and pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect in eight of nine infants. The subcostal approach is the technique of choice for evaluating right ventricular outflow tract obstruction as it is more reliable than the left parasternal approach.
