[The expression of interferon-alpha in peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome].

PURPOSE: To investigate the interferon-alpha level in peripheral blood of patients with primary Sjogren's syndrome (pSS), and explore preliminarily the correlation between pSS and interferon-alpha. METHODS: ELISA and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the interferon-alpha level in peripheral blood in 37 patients with pSS and 24 patients with non-pSS. Statistical analysis was performed by Student's t test or Fisher's exact test using SAS6.12 software package. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that 43.24% (16/37) patients with pSS had detectable IFN-alpha concentration in plasma (>or=12.5 pg/mL), the other 21 patients (56.76%) with pSS had undetectable IFN-alpha concentration(<12.5 pg/mL). All 24 controls had undetectable IFN-alpha expression.There was significant difference between the two groups(P=7.02 x 10(-5)). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of IFN-alpha gene in peripheral blood cells were over-expressed in patients with pSS(P=0.0124). CONCLUSIONS: The study reveals that interferon-alpha level in peripheral blood with pSS patients is overexpressed.

[The value of imaging methods in diagnosis of submandibular gland diseases].

PURPOSE: To retrospectively analyze the advantages and disadvantages of imaging methods commonly used for diagnosis of gland submandibular diseases. METHODS: One hundred and eighty-two patients with submandibular gland surgery were retrospectively studied to compare the accuracy rate between preoperative imaging and postoperative diagnosis.The data were analyzed using SAS8.0 software package.Fisher's exact test was used to compare the difference between B type ultrasonography, CT and MRI. RESULTS: Compared with postoperative pathological results,diagnostic accuracy rate of B type ultrasonography, CT and X-ray was 85.34%, 79.66% and 92.31%, respectively. MRI had a higher accuracy rate than B type ultrasonography or CT.(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: B type ultrasonography, CT and X-ray examination have misdiagnosis especially in submandibular sialadenitis,which is one of the most important causes of misdiagnosis leading to excision of the glands.MRI has higher application value in diagnosis of submandibular gland diseases.

[Diagnostic value of magnetic resonance sialography for submandibular sialolithiasis].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the role of MR Sialography(MRS) in diagnosis of submandibular sialolithiasis. METHODS: Twenty-one patients with submandibular sialolithiasis were scanned by MRS, the results of MRS were compared with those after proper treatment. RESULTS: The results of MRS were consistent with those after proper treatment. CONCLUSION: MRS has high diagnostic accuracy in diagnosis of sialolithiasis including submandibular sialadenitis.