[A multicenter study of coronary artery disease and its risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis in China].

OBJECTIVE: To learn about the prevalence and risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Data were obtained from a 12-month retrospective investigation of the patients with RA, randomly selected from Departments of Rheumatology and Immunology in 21 big hospitals in China. The data were collected about their social conditions, clinical conditions, medications associated with RA, such as disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoid, biologic agents. A nonparameter test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed. RESULTS: In the study, 960 patients were enrolled. The prevalence of CAD was 3.5% in China, which was obviously higher than that of normal people. The prevalence of overweight and obesity, smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia and cerebrovascular disease were 35.1%, 12.3%, 17.0%, 7.7%, 0.4% and 3.0%, respectively. Compared with the control group, the CAD group had higher age [(64.7±9.3) years vs. (52.3±14.0) years,P<0.001], more rheumatoid nodules (14.7% vs. 3.1%,P=0.005), lower rate of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use (5.9% vs. 22.6%,P=0.021), higher prevalence rates of lung interstitial disease (17.5% vs. 7.0%,P<0.001), diabetes mellitus and hypertension (29.4% vs. 7.0%,P<0.001; 38.2% vs. 16.2%,P=0.001). There was no obvious correlation of CAD in RA with joint deformity, rheumatoid factor (RF) titer, glucocorticoid use, hypercholesterolemia and body mass index (BMI). Multivariate analysis showed higher age, diabetes mellitus and hypertension were independent predictors of CAD, and the use of HCQ was a protective factor of CAD. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CAD is 3.5%. Higher age, diabetes mellitus and hypertension are independent predictors of CAD, and the use of HCQ is a protective factor of CAD.

[Survey of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors application in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current status of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors application in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in China and to analyze the related factors. METHODS: A retrospective survey was conducted in 21 hospitals from different parts of China. The patients with RA were randomly enrolled. Data of their social backgrounds, clinical conditions, usage and adverse effects of TNF inhibitors were collected. The costs of TNF inhibitors and the indirect costs of the disease were calculated. A multivariate Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the factors related to TNF inhibitors application. RESULTS: In the study, 1 095 RA patients from July 2009 to November 2010 were enrolled, of whom 112 had received TNF inhibitors, representing 10.2% of the total patients. The patients who received etanercept and infliximab were 7.4% (86/1 095) of the patients and 2.4% (26/1 095), respectively. There were 0.5% of the patients (5/1 095) who had received both of the TNF inhibitors. The patients who had accepted etanercept and treatment duration for less than 3 months and 3-6 months accounted for 38.5% and 25.0% respectively, while those treated with Infliximab were 38.1%. Their health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) scores were 1.1, 0.5 and 0.1, corresponding to treatment duration of infliximab for less than 3, 3-6 and 6-9 months and those were 1.3, 1.0, 0.3 corresponding to treatment duration of etanercept, respectively. Infliximab costs were RMB 24 525.0, 69 300.0 and 96 800.0 Yuan and etanercept costs were RMB 7 394.8, 9 158.6, 54 910.9 Yuan, respectively. Indirect costs for RA patients who accepted infliximab for less than 3, 3-6 and 6-9 months were RMB 365.6, 0 and 158.9 Yuan and those who accepted etanercept were RMB 2 158.4, 288.5 and 180.1 Yuan, respectively. Allergy and infection were the main side-effects of etanercept and both happened in 3.5% of all the patients. Liver damage happened in 2.3% of all the patients, while allergy and infection happened in 6.5% of all the patients who accepted infliximab. Logistic regression analysis showed that patients with higher education experience increased the odds of entering the TNF inhibitors group (OR: 1.292, 95%CI: 1.132-1.473, P=0.000). CONCLUSION: About one-tenth of RA patients in China have accepted TNF inhibitors. Higher education experience is the key factor for using TNF inhibitors.

[Sulphasalazine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China: a cross-sectional study].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the medication status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to analyze the clinical use of sulphasalazine (SSZ) and the adverse effect. METHODS: A total of 1 096 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with RA were investigated in 21 hospitals all over China from July 2009 to December 2010, including gender, age of onset, clinical manifestations, as well as the clinical characteristics and medication status of 160 RA patients who received SSZ therapy. RESULTS: In the group of 160 patients who received SSZ, the male-to-female ratio was 1:7, The average age at onset was (46.1±15.0) years, while the average course was (9.9±7.8) years. The average dose of sulphasalazine was (1.87±0.52) g/d for a mean duration of (26.3± 14.6) months. Only 17% (27/160) of the patients received SSZ monotherapy. Methotrexate (63.1%), leflunomide (36.2%) and hydroxychloroquine (18.1%) were most commonly used combination drugs. And 36.2% (58/160) of the patients used the two-drug combination of methotrexate plus sulphasalazine .In this group, 41.9% (67/160) once used SSZ but withdrew for adverse events and other reasons, while 17.5% (28/160) withdrew for adverse events, of which the most common were gastrointestinal (8.8%), skin (3.8%) and liver toxicity (3.1%). CONCLUSION: Sulphaszlazine is not a common choice in the RA therapeutics in China, and the average dose of SSZ is lower than the standard dose of 2 to 3 g/d . The adverse events of SSZ are common; however, there are few severe adverse events or threat to life,SSZ is relatively safe in clinical practice.

Systemic Inflammatory Biomarkers, Especially Fibrinogen to Albumin Ratio, Predict Prognosis in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

PURPOSE: Systemic inflammatory response is a critical factor that promotes the initiation and metastasis of malignancies including pancreatic cancer (PC). This study was designed to determine and compare the prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and fibrinogen-to-albumin ratio (FAR) in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred fifty-three patients with resectable PC and 807 patients with locally advan-ced or metastatic PC were recruited in this study. These patients were classified into a training set (n=758) and a validation set (n=402). Kaplan-Meier survival plots and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to analyze prognosis. RESULTS: Overall survival (OS) was significantly better for patients with resectable PC with low preoperative PLR (p=0.048) and MLR (p=0.027). Low FAR, MLR, NLR (p < 0.001), and PLR (p=0.003) were significantly associated with decreased risk of death for locally advanced or metastatic PC patients. FAR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.522; 95% confidential interval [CI], 1.261 to 1.837; p < 0.001) and MLR (HR, 1.248; 95% CI, 1.017 to 1.532; p=0.034) were independent prognostic factors for locally advanced or metastatic PC. CONCLUSION: The prognostic roles of FAR, MLR, NLR, and PLR in resectable PC and locally advanced or metastatic PC were different. FAR showed the most prognostic power in locally advanced or metastatic PC. Low FAR was positively correlated with OS in locally advanced or metastatic PC, which could be used to predict the prognosis.

[Epidemiological investigation of back pain and spondyloarthritis in Shougang resident communities].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the epidemiological features of back pain, spondyloarthritis (SpA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Beijing Shougang district. METHODS: Set up Chinese version of questionnaire about incidence of spondyloarthropathy. Employees and retired ones were drawn out from sub-factory units by non-randomized sampling.15 357 subjects were investigated, of which 12 125 questionnaires were taken. Suspected cases were then screened with sacroiliac joint X ray and HLA-B(27) testing. 2009 assessment in ankylosing spondylitis (ASAS) criteria were used for diagnosing SpA. RESULTS: Back pain is common with total incidence of 42.7%, and the most common pattern is mechanical pain. The incidence of SpA is 0.58% and that of AS is 0.36%, while only 28.9% AS patients had been diagnosed before and received treatment. CONCLUSION: The AS incidence in Shougang district is similar with the epidemiological data got from other districts of China. And knowledge of SpA and AS is needed in China.

Remission of rheumatoid arthritis and potential determinants: a national multi-center cross-sectional survey.

The aim of this study is to investigate the remission rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China and identify its potential determinants. A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2009 to January 2012. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews of the rheumatology outpatients in 28 tertiary hospitals in China. The remission rates were calculated in 486 RA patients according to different definitions of remission: the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), the Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI), the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI), and the American College of Rheumatology/European League Against Rheumatism (ACR/EULAR) Boolean definition. Potential determinants of RA remission were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. The remission rates of RA from this multi-center cohort were 8.6% (DAS28), 8.4% (SDAI), 8.2% (CDAI), and 6.8% (Boolean), respectively. Favorable factors associated with remission were: low Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) score, absence of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), and treatment of methotrexate (MTX) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Younger age was also predictive for the DAS28 and the Boolean remission. Multivariate analyses revealed a low HAQ score, the absence of anti-CCP, and the treatment with HCQ as independent determinants of remission. The clinical remission rate of RA patients was low in China. A low HAQ score, the absence of anti-CCP, and HCQ were significant independent determinants for RA remission.

Effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody in alleviating renal ischemia-reperfusion injury.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha monoclonal antibody (anti-TNF-alpha mAb) in alleviating renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. METHODS: Fifty normal male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups, namely group A that was subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury with intravenous administration of anti-TNF-alpha mAb (0.1mg/kg.b.w.) 5 min before reperfusion (treatment group), group B with the same injury followed by saline administration in the same manner (control group), and group C with only anesthetization and leparotomy but not ischemia (sham operation group). Routine assays were performed for testing the levels of blood creatine (Cr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), plasma TNF-alpha and the cell apoptosis. Ultrastructure of the kidney was also observed. RESULTS: Renal ischemia-reperfusion resulted in significant increase of the levels of Cr, BUN and TNF-alpha in the plasma (P<0.01), but these effects were offset by administration of anti-TNF-alpha mAb (P<0.01). In group B, widespread pathological changes and cell apoptosis were observed in the renal tissue following renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, while similar changes were scarcely visible in group A due to the protective effect of intravenous administration of anti-TNF-alpha mAb 5 min before reperfusion. CONCLUSION: Renal ischemia-reperfusion injury can be alleviated by anti-TNF-alpha mAb treatment.

[Association of peripheral blood hypoxia-inducible factor-1α with metastasis of colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA levels in the peripheral blood and the metastasis of colorectal cancer. METHODS: HIF-1α mRNA in the peripheral blood was detected by RT-PCR in 40 patients with colorectal cancer and 20 healthy subjects. RESULTS: Seventeen patients with colorectal cancer showed positivity for HIF-1α mRNA, showing a significantly higher positivity rate (42.5%) than the healthy subjects (P<0.05). The expression of HIF-1α mRNA is closely related to the staging of colorectal cancer (CRC). CONCLUSION: HIF-1α mRNA may serve as a potential marker in the detection of metastasis of colorectal cancer.

[Clinical analysis of 286 cases of abdominal trauma with gastrointestinal tract laceration].

OBJECTIVE: To improve the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal injury. METHODS: The clinical data of 286 patients with gastrointestinal tract laceration admitted between 2004 and 2009 to our hospital was analyzed. RESULTS: The duration after trauma was 15 min to 2 days. Of the 286 patients eventually confirmed by laparotomy, 273 were cured, 3 showed improvement and 10 died. CONCLUSION: Abdominal trauma in patients with gastrointestinal tract laceration, Abdominal puncture diagnosis and orthostatic abdominal X-ray are rapid and effective diagnostic methods for gastrointestinal tract laceration in patients with abdominal trauma. Laparotomy is the primary treatment measures and should be performed as early as possible.

[Application of intraoperative colon irrigation in primary resection and anastomosis of left colorectal cancer with intestinal obstruction].

OBJECTIVE: To study the application of intraoperative irrigation of the colon in primary resection and anastomosis of left colorectal cancer with intestinal obstruction. METHODS: The clinical data were analyzed in 58 patients with left colon rectal cancer and intestinal obstruction undergoing intraoperative irrigation of the colon for primary anastomosis, and the results were compared with 58 patients receiving conventional primary tumor resection. RESULTS: The mean intraoperative blood loss or postoperative hospital stay was comparable between the two groups, but the patients undergoing colon irrigation had significantly delays in the recovery of bowel movement. CONCLUSION: With strict control of the surgery indication, intraoperative colon irrigation can be safe and feasible in primary resection and anastomosis of left colorectal cancer with intestinal obstruction.

[Relationship between micro-lymphatic vessel density and lymphatic metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma].

AIM: To investigate the relationship between micro-lymphatic vessel density (MLVD) and lymphatic metastasis in follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). METHODS: MLVD and micro-vascular density (MVD) were determined and counted by Envision immunohistochemistry using D2-40 and CD34 monoclonal antibodies in 35 specimens of follicular thyroid carcinoma(FTC)and 20 of nodular goiter. The relationship between MLVD and lymphatic metastasis was analyzed. RESULTS: MLVD and MVD in follicular thyroid carcinoma were closely related with lymphatic metastasis. At the same time, the cancer embolus in the micro-lymphatic vessel was significantly related with the lymphatic metastasis (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The metastasis process of follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) is associated with the formation of the micro-lymphatic vessel and micro-vascular. Inhibition of the lymphatics formation may be a potential therapeutic maneuver for thyroid neoplasms in the future.

[Detection of CD95 and CD95L mRNA expression after liver transplantation using SYBR real-time PCR during acute rejection].

OBJECTIVE: To detect the expression of CD95 and CD95L mRNAs after liver transplantation and investigate the role of CD95 and CD95L in acute liver allograft rejection. METHODS: The expressions of CD95 and CD95L mRNAs of peripheral blood lymphocyte from 56 liver allograft recipients were examined using SYBR real-time PCR. RESULTS: CD95 and CD95L mRNA levels in the recipients with acute rejection were significantly higher than those without rejection (P<0.01), and the elevation occurred about 2 days earlier than that of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. CONCLUSION: CD95 and CD95L are related to acute liver allograft rejection and their mRNA expression level may serve as an indicator for prediction and diagnosis of acute rejection episodes.

[Preparation and functional identification of testicular Sertoli cells].

OBJECTIVE: To simplify the method for separation and cultivation of rat testicular Sertoli cells with high viability, quantity and expression efficiency. METHODS: Testicular Sertoli cells from 2 to 3-week-old male Wistar rats were prepared by digestion with collagenase, trypsin and DNase and cultured together with active lymphocytes to observe their killing effect against lymphocytes. After cell culture for 72 h, the Sertoli cells were morphologically observed by different means and identified with transmission electron microscope. Fas ligand and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) were examined immunohistochemically to identify testicular Sertoli cells. SABC method was used for labeling the Fas ligand on the testicular Sertoli cells. RESULTS: The viability of the isolated and cultured Sertoli cells was more than 90%, and in in vitro culture, Sertoli cells, which expressed the Fas ligand, could kill the active lymphocytes. CONCLUSION: This method improves the efficiency in acquisition of rat testicular Sertoli cells expressing Fas ligand, which are believed to be a potential donor for co-transplantation with parathyroid cells to offer immune privilege.