Proinflammatory Effects of Ubiquitin-Specific Protease 5 (USP5) in Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a worldwide chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease which is affecting approximately 1% of the total population. It is characterized by abnormal proliferation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) and increased production of proinflammatory cytokines. In the current study, we were aiming to investigate the role of ubiquitin-specific protease 5 (USP5) in the inflammatory process in RA-FLS. Expression of USP5 was found upregulated in RA-FLS compared with that in osteoarthritis- (OA-) FLS, and IL-1ß stimulation increased USP5 expression in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, we found that USP5 overexpression significantly aggravated proinflammatory cytokine production and related nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling activation. Consistently, silencing of USP5 decreased the release of cytokines and inhibited the activation of NF-κB. In addition, USP5 was found to interact with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) and remove its K48-linked polyubiquitination chains therefore stabilizing TRAF6. Our data showed that a USP5-positive cell regulates inflammatory processes in RA-FLS and suggested USP5 as a potential target for RA treatment.

The classification of recurrent spinal epidural hematoma: a review of the literature and a comparison with the cases.

Symptomatic postoperative spinal epidural hematoma (SEH) and spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH) are both rare conditions, and recurrent SEH occurs even less frequently. Therefore, we describe a case of symptomatic postoperative SEH after surgical evacuation of SSEH, which was diagnosed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and managed with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). The authors classified the reported recurrent SEHs into two types based on the cause of their previous hematoma, which can be classified as spontaneous or postoperative. The characteristics, diagnosis, managements, and results of recurrent SEHs were analyzed. The authors suggest that the postoperative SEH in the Type II will be treated with NPWT, and the new classification will be helpful for prognosis, diagnosis, and management of the recurrent SEHs.

Potential novel markers to discriminate between active and latent tuberculosis infection in Chinese individuals.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) constitutes the main reservoir for reactivation tuberculosis. The finding of potential biomarkers for differentiating between TB and LTBI is very necessary. In this study, the immunological characteristics and potential diagnostic utility of Rv2029c, Rv2628 and Rv1813c proteins were assessed. These three proteins stimulated PBMCs from ELISPOT-positive LTBI subjects produced higher levels of IFN-γ in comparison with TB patients and ELISPOT-negative healthy subjects (p<0.05). BCG vaccination and non-TB respiratory disease had little influence on the immunological responses of Rv2029c and Rv2628 proteins (p>0.05). The LTBI diagnostic performance of Rv2029c was higher than Rv2628 and Rv1813c by ROC evaluation. But Rv2628 had much higher specificity than Rv2029c in active TB patients and uninfected healthy subjects. The IgG level against Rv1813c was higher in the TB group than in LTBI and uninfected healthy subjects (p<0.05). These results suggest that T cell response to Rv2628 and antibody against Rv1813c might be applicable as biomarkers to distinguish TB from LTBI and uninfected individuals.

[Application of Bioflex dynamic stabilization system in treating multi-segment lumbar degenerative disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of application of Bioflex dynamic stabilization system in treating multi-segment lumbar degenerative disease. METHODS: Clinical datas of 13 patients with multi-segment lumbar degenerative disease (8 males and 5 females,ranging in age from 51 to 72 year with an average of 65.0) were retrospectively analyzed between April 2008 and May 2009. The involved area included L3-S1 in 7 cases, L2-S1 in 3 cases, L3-L5 in 1 cases, L4-S1 in 2 cases. All patients underwent decompression, dynamic stabilization with Bioflex system, according to the severity of degenerative disc with/without interbody fusion. The clinical effects were evaluated by VAS, ODI. ROM and fusion segments were also observed. RESULTS: The mean follow up period was 19.5 months (from 12 to 26 months). The mean operative time was 183.4 min (from 90 to 240 min) and the mean volume of blood loss was 610.2 ml (from 400 to 1 220 ml). The mean VAS score was 7.8 +/- 1.3 preoperatively, 2.3 +/- 0.9 postoperatively and 2.1 +/- 0.8 at the last follow up. The average ODI was (60.50 +/- 4.40)% preoperatively, (17.80 +/- 2.10)% postoperatively and (16.20 + 2.40)% at the last follow up. The VAS and ODI significant improved in postoperatively (P < 0.05), and there was no statistical difference between postoperative and last follow up (P > 0.05). ROM of whole lumbar and non-fused segment showed obviously decreased and adjacent segment showed insignificant increased. The fusion rate of interbody fusion level was 95.0% (19/20). CONCLUSION: The preliminary clinical results show the Bioflex system combined with intebody fusion is a safe and effective technique in treating multi-segment lumbar degenerative disease.

[Establishment of the methods to detect nucleophosmin gene and its mutation in acute myelogenous leukemia].

This study was aimed to establish the PCR methods to detect nucleophosmin (NPM) gene and its mutation. 2 leukemia cell lines and 23 specimens from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) were investigated. The level of NPM mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The exon-12 of NPM gene in leukemia cell lines was amplified by PCR and sequenced. Using the plasmid containing cDNA of NPM mutation A as a positive template, the PCR procedure to detect mutation A was established and evaluated. Then, the mutation of NPM was analyzed in 23 AML specimens. The results indicated that the expression level of NPM in leukemia cell lines was higher than that in normal cells. Different overexpression levels of NPM mRNA were found in all 23 AML specimens. PCR indicated that mutation had been not occurred at NPM exon-12 in THP1 and K562 cells, but a T base was deleted at 3' untranslated region of NPM gene in K562 cells. The PCR used for directly detecting NPM mutation A can specially amplify the NPM mutation gene. The method was reproducible, whose coefficient of variability was 1.6% and 3.1% in intra-and inter-assays respectively. The lowest detectable limit was 100 pg cDNA. Using the PCR methods, NPM mutation A could be detected in 2 out of 23 AML specimens, but NPM mutation A was not found in THP1 and K562 cells. It is concluded that the RT-PCT method detecting NPM mRNA level and the PCR method detecting directly NPM mutation are established. NPM mRNA is overexpressed in leukemia cells; NPM mutation A occurs in some AML patients.

[Nucleophosmin mutations in hematological malignancies - review].

Nucleophosmin (NPM) is a protein that shuttles between the nucleus, nucleoplasm and cytoplasm. NPM gene mutations and aberrant cytoplasmic NPM localization have been recently described in acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) with normal karyotype and in a few myelodysplastic syndromes. Expression of NPM mutant reduces the ability of Arf to initiate a p53 response and to induce cell cycle arrest. Clinical research has revealed that NPM mutations are relative to prognosis and can be used to monitor and quantify minimal residual disease (MRD) in AML patients with normal karyotype, therefore, these findings indicate that nucleophosmin mutations might contribute to illustration of myeloid leukemogenesis. In this paper, the research progress of nucleophosmin mutations in haematological malignancies was reviewed.