Practice of network platform teaching in standardized residency training of rheumatology and immunology / 中华医学教育探索杂志

This article intends to explore the application and implementation effect of network platform teaching in the standardized residency training of rheumatology and immunology. Through the implementation of online platform teaching (micro-class, online PBL teaching, and air class) for the training residents rotating in the rheumatology and immunology department, the questionnaire survey was carried out. The results showed that the satisfaction of the residents with the online platform teaching reached 96.88% (31/32), and more than 90.00% of the residents believed that their self-learning ability and clinical thinking ability have been improved, and their learning initiative and enthusiasm have also been improved, which deserves further promotion.

Continuation, reduction, or withdrawal of tofacitinib in patients with rheumatoid arthritis achieving sustained disease control: a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, is characterized by synovitis and progressive damage to the bone and cartilage of the joints, leading to disability and reduced quality of life. This study was a randomized clinical trial comparing the outcomes between withdrawal and dose reduction of tofacitinib in patients with RA who achieved sustained disease control.@*METHODS@#The study was designed as a multicenter, open-label, randomized controlled trial. Eligible patients who were taking tofacitinib (5 mg twice daily) and had achieved sustained RA remission or low disease activity (disease activity score in 28 joints [DAS28] ≤3.2) for at least 3 months were enrolled at six centers in Shanghai, China. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to one of three treatment groups: continuation of tofacitinib (5 mg twice daily); reduction in tofacitinib dose (5 mg daily); and withdrawal of tofacitinib. Efficacy and safety were assessed up to 6 months.@*RESULTS@#Overall, 122 eligible patients were enrolled, with 41 in the continuation group, 42 in the dose-reduction group, and 39 in the withdrawal group. After 6 months, the percentage of patients with a DAS28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of <3.2 was significantly lower in the withdrawal group than that in the reduction and continuation groups (20.5%, 64.3%, and 95.1%, respectively; P  < 0.0001 for both comparisons). The average flare-free time was 5.8 months for the continuation group, 4.7 months for the dose reduction group, and 2.4 months for the withdrawal group.@*CONCLUSION@#Withdrawal of tofacitinib in patients with RA with stable disease control resulted in a rapid and significant loss of efficacy, while standard or reduced doses of tofacitinib maintained a favorable state.@*TRIAL REGISTRATION@#Chictr.org, ChiCTR2000039799.

Recommendations of diagnosis and treatment of Takayasu′s arteritis in China / 中华内科杂志

Takayasu′s arteritis (TAK) mainly involves the aorta and its major branches, which is characterized as a chronic, progressive and inflammatory disease. China belongs to one of the regions with a high prevalence of TAK referring to its global distribution. However, it is insufficient for the spread and update of standardized diagnosis and treatment of TAK. Based on the evidence and guidelines from China and other countries, Chinese Rheumatology Association developed the standardized diagnosis and treatment of TAK in China. The purpose is to standardize the methods for diagnosis of TAK, assessment of disease activity and disease severity, strategies of internal treatment and timing of surgical intervention, and further leading to protect the function of important organs and improve the disease prognosis.

Analysis of clinical characteristics and adverse events related factors in patients with giant cell arteritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To identify the clinical characteristics and adverse events of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA).Methods:Patients who were hospitalized and diagnosed with GCA in Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, from December 2009 to November 2020 were enrolled into a retrospective study analysis. Baseline data and follow-up data were collected. Adverse events were defined as one of the following events: relapses, ischemic complications and death. Patients with adverse events were analyzed in clinical features and risk factors by univariate and multivariate analysis. Associations with adverse events were assessed using ROC curve and survival curves.Results:A total of 69 patients with GCA were included in this study, with the male: female ratio of 1∶1.03. Fatigue and headache were common symptoms. Finally, 61 patients were followed up at the end of May in 2021. Over the mean follow-up time of (35±20) months, adverse events occurred in 16 cases (26.2%). Patients with adverse events had significantly lower levels of platelet and globulin at baseline than those without adverse events [(325±142)×10 9/L vs (238±112)×10 9/L, t=2.22, P=0.030]; [(31±6) g/L vs (26±6) g/L, t=2.74, P=0.008]. Red cell volume distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) was considered an independent risk factor for adverse events [ OR (95% CI)=0.32 (0.14,0.74), P=0.008]. Further, patients especially with RDW-CV<14.75% were prone to have adverse events, which occurred in 2.6%, 20.5%, 25.6%, 33.3%, 41.00% in 1, 2, 3, 5, 10 years. Its risk increased significantly after 2 years ( P=0.042, P=0.021, P=0.002, P=0.001). The incidence of adverse events was much higher in patients with RDW-CV<14.75%(95% CI=0.002). Conclusion:Adverse events are common in patients with GCA. RDW-CV is an independent risk factor for having adverse events. Low level of RDW-CV predicts an increased risk of adverse events by the following years.

Clinical and genetic risk factors for glucocorticoid-associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head: a prospective cohort study / 中华骨科杂志

Objective:To perform a prospective cohort study to identify individual susceptibility of glucocorticoid (GC) -associated osteonecrosis of the femoral head (GA-ONFH) and their clinical and genetic risk factors. Methods:The present prospective cohort study enrolled patients who received their first GC therapy between July 2015 and January 2018 at Zhongshan Hospital. All patients did not receive any GC treatment before enrollment. Further, they planned to start GC treatment with the dose (equivalent prednisone) of ≥30 mg/d, lasted ≥3 weeks, or pulse dose ≥200 mg/d, lasted ≥3 d. Blood samples were collected before GC treatment to evaluate bone metabolism and its released factors. Hip MRI was performed at the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th month to diagnose GA-ONFH. All patients were followed-up for ≥2 years. The endpoint was regarded as diagnosis of GA-ONFH or completion of 2 years follow-up. Lasso regression was performed to determine which clinical features were associated with GA-ONFH. A nested case-control sub-cohort (A, n=12) was established prospectively based on the main cohort by 1∶1 matching. Whole exome sequencing was performed to screen differential and functional candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms and insertion-deletions (SNP/InDels). Another sub-cohort (B, n=50) was constructed retrospectively in patients with GA-ONFH and non-ONFH patients received standard high dose GC treatment for more than two years. The candidate SNP/InDels were verified by Sanger sequencing based on the patients from sub-cohort B. Results:A total of 96 patients were enrolled of which 88 of them (32 males and 56 females, mean age 42.30 years) completed follow-up. Eight cases (9.1%) were diagnosed with GA-ONFH. The median time from the start of GC therapy to the diagnosis of ONFH was 53.00(34.00,13.50) days. The baseline characteristics, such as age, sex and body mass index, indicated no significant difference between the ONFH group and the non-ONFH group. The cumulative GC dose of the ONFH patients in the first month was higher than that of non-ONFH [32.74(29.55, 47.05) mg/kg vs. 24.00(21.10, 29.45) mg/kg, Z=-2.410, P=0.016]. However, there was no significant difference of patients who underwent pulse therapy (37.5% vs. 10.0%, adjusted χ 2=2.829, P=0.093). The ratio of serum apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (ApoB/ApoA1) in patients with ONFH was higher than that in non-ONFH group before GC use [0.95(0.80, 1.50) vs. 0.70(0.60, 0.80), Z=-2.875, P=0.000]. Due to the multicollinearity, Lasso regression model was performed to reduce overfitting. All variables were included in the model. The results suggested that higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio, lower serum β-c-terminal telopeptide (β-CTX) and higher cumulative GC dose in the first month were the top three risk factors of GA-ONFH. This model had an accuracy of 0.982 in internal validation. Seven differential candidate SNP/InDels were found by whole exome sequencing of sub-cohort A. We further verified these SNP/InDels in sub-cohort B. The patients with COLEC12 mutation (rs2305027, G1816A) were at risk of GA-ONFH ( OR=6.00, 95% CI: 1.17, 30.73). Conclusion:Higher first-month GC dose, lower serum β-CTX level before treatment, higher ApoB/ApoA1 ratio and COLEC12 mutation (rs2305027, G1816A) could increase the risk of GA-ONFH.

Study on the value of different diagnostic/classification criteria for the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To compare the diagnostic efficacy of Chinese diagnostic model, the 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria and the 2018 ACR new classification criteria (draft) for Takayasu arteritis (TA).Methods:A total of 196 TA patients who came to our hospital from January 1, 2009 to May 31, 2019 in the TA database of the department of rheumatology and immunology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University and 131 patients with other vascular diseases visited during the same period were selected. General characteristics, clinical data, laboratory tests and imaging tests of all patients were collected. Categorical variables were presented as numbers and percentages, between-group differences were analyzed using the χ2 test. Continuous variables were presented as the Mean± SD for a normal distribution or median and interquartile range (IQR) for a non-normal distribution. Between-group differences were analyzed using the Student's t-test or Mann- Whitney test, as appropriate. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, accuracy and receiver operating characteristics of the above diagnostic/classification criteria area under the curve were analyzed. P<0.05 was considered significant. Results:In terms of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and area under receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), Chinese diagnostic models was 85.7%, 96.2%, 89.9%, 97.1%, 81.5%, 0.909, 1990 ACR criteria was 47.4%, 97.7%, 67.6%, 96.9%, 55.4%, 0.726, 2018 ACR classification criteria was 79.1%, 98.5%, 86.5%, 98.7%, 75.9%, 0.888. The difference between the Chinese diagnostic model and the 2018 ACR criteria in AUC was not statistically significant ( Z=1.186 , P>0.05). The sensitivity, accuracy and diagnostic efficiency of Chinese diagnostic model was the best, that of the 1990 ACR classification criteria was the worst, and the specificity of the 2018 ACR classification criteria was the highest. The Kappa value of the 2018 ACR classification criteria and the Chinese diagnostic model was 0.719, which had good consistency, and the Kappa value of the consistency between the 1990 ACR classification criteria and the Chinese TA diagnostic model was 0.516. Conclusion:The Chinese diagnostic model, which is based on the clinical characteristics of the Chinese TA population, has a good diagnostic efficacy for the Chinese population. The 2018 ACR classification criteria (draft) is highly consistent with the Chinese TA diagnostic model, and can be promoted and applied in practice.

Clinicial features of Takayasu arteritis: a cohort study / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To analyze the characteristics of patients with Takayasu arteritis (TA) in the east China Takayasu arteritis (ECTA) cohort and their subgroups, and evaluate the disease characteristics.Methods:Patients diagnosed with TA in ECTA cohort from January 2009 to October 2019 were enrolled and their data were analyzed. The characteristics were analyzed and compared within subgroups using t-test or Wilcoxon rank sum test or Chi-square test. Results:A total of 454 patients were included, with the male to female ratio of 1∶4.75(79/375), and the main complaint were dizziness/headache, fatigue, and chest tightness/pain. The type Ⅴ and Ⅰ were the most common angiographic pattern, among which the subclavian artery and carotid artery were most vulnerable, manifested as vascular stenosis. Hypertension, tuberculosis and hepatitis B were common complications. In subgroup comparison, symptoms and inflammation index were much more evident in the active group, female group, <40 years old, and newly diagnosed group. C-reactive protein (CRP)[10(2, 33) mg/L vs 3(1, 14) mg/L, Z=-4.49, P<0.01), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) [(45±33) mm/1 h vs (25±23) mm/1 h, t=-5.82, P<0.01), in the active group were significantly higher than those in the inactive group, while the ESR in female patients was only higher than that in males, but without statistical significant difference. SAA in the young age group, ESR in the newly diagnosed group was significantly higher than that in the other subgroups [19(6, 95) mg/L vs 10(4, 39) mg/L, Z=2.06, P<0.05] [(44±34) mm/1 h vs (32±28) mm/1 h, t=3.77, P<0.01]. Conclusion:The TA patients are mainly young women, and are in active disease when first being diagnosed. The type Ⅴ and Ⅰ are the most common artery involve-ment pattern. Hypertension and tuberculosis are the most frequent complications.

Classification of patients with gout and their clinical features / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To investigate the classification of patients with gout, and further analyze their clinical features.Methods:Outpatients with gout were enrolled from January 2018 to July 2019 in Depart-ment of Rheumatology, Zhongshan Hospital. Subjects were classified into four groups according to their 24-hour urinaryexcretion and fractional excretion of urate. Clinical features of different groups were analyzed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Kruskal-Wallis H test, or χ2 test. Results:Finally, 378 subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Among them, 186(49.2%) were renal underexcretion type, 100(26.5%) were combined type, 57(15.1%) were renal overload type, 35(9.3%) were the normal type. Renal underexcretion type was the main subtype in any age-stratified groups. With aging, the proportion of combined type decreased, while the normal type increased. Participants in the combined type were the youngest [(42±14) years of age] with the highest estimated glomerular filtration rate [(94±18) ml·min -1·1.73 m -2], while their serum urate levels were the highest [(554±104) μmol/L]. Subjects in the normal type were the oldest [(60±15) years of age] with the lowest estimated glomerular filtration rate [(71±19) mL·min -1·1.73 m -2], however, their serum urate concentrations were the lowest [(427±118) μmol/L], The difference was statistically significant (age, F=13.98; estimated glomerular filtration rate, F=16.11; urate, F=17.14; P<0.01). Prevalence of urolithiasis were similar among the four groups ( χ2 =2.00, P>0.05). Conclusion:The renal underexcretion type is the main type of gout. Young patients are more likely to suffer from combined type with the highest serum urate levels and the best renal function.

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis overlap immunoglobulin G4-related diseases: a 4 case series and review of literature / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective:To summarize the characteristics and treatment outcomes of immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) overlapped with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV).Methods:The clinical data of four patients with AAV overlaped with IgG4-RD from Zhongshan Hospital of Fudan University from August 2018 to July 2019 were collected and the related literature were reviewed.Results:Four patients were included, in which two were diagnosed with IgG-RD and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), one was probable IgG4-RD and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and one was probable IgG4-RD and GPA. All patients were female, with an average age of (42±12) (26-56) years, and disease duration was (7±4) (4-13) months. The manifestations were ocular inflammatory pseudotumor, sinusitis, otitis media, mastoiditis, parotitis, meningitis, lung and kidney involvement. After treatment with glucocorticoid and immunosuppressants (including cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, azathioprine, leflunomide), 2 patients failed to achieve remission, and 2 patients relapsed 8-15 months after treatment. One patient was treated withglucocorticoid pulse therapy combined with rituximab and one was treated with glucocorticoid combined with methotrexate and rituximab, and the patient was relieved.Conclusion:AAV and IgG4-RD may be a new overlap syndrome. Hypertrophic meningitis, orbital mass, chronic periaortic inflammation and interstitial glomerulonephritis are reported in the literature. The pathological changes of orbit, nasopharynx, parotid gland and lung are common. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive agents have poor treatment response, which indicates that AAV is refractory when combined with elevated IgG4. The induced remission rate is low, and easy to relapse. Glucocorticoid pulse therapy and rituximab treatment are effective.

18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emision tomography in the assessment of disease activity of Takayasu arteritis: a meta-analysis / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the performance of Positron emision tomography (PET) in the assessment of disease activity of Takayasu arteritis (TA). Methods Information retrieval was based on database such as PubMed/Medline and CNKI, etc. The research before Dec 2016 involving Takayasu arteritis and PET were included.The quality of the research was evaluated by diagnostic accuracy studies-2Q(UADAS-2) and the data was analyzed by Meta-disc. Results Among the 70 research, nine studies were included in this study with a total of 126 patients and 254 controls. All patients were diagnosed according to the classification criteria of American College of Rheumatology. The disease activity was mostly assessed by the scoring system of National Institutes of Health and by clinical assessment in one study. The result of PET was evaluated by visual grade and semi-quantitative analysis. The pooled DOR of the 9 studies was 17.54, the pooled sensitivity and specificity was 84% and 73%,respectively.However,the heterogeneity of specificity was 81.4%. Two studies had included one patients repeatedly and suspected active patients were included in the in-active group in one study,which might impact the statistical result of the meta-analysis.After excluded these studies, the pooled DOR was 30.32. The pooled sensitivity and specificity was 86% and 85%, respectively, with better consistency. Conclusion PET shows stable sensitivity and variant specificity in the diagnosis and assess of disease activity of TA, which is a useful method in the clinically evaluation of disease activity of TA.

Assessment of left ventricular f unction changes in patients with hyperuricemia by three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective The aim of the present study is to measure multi-directional strain in patients with hyperuricemia through 3-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3D-STE) in order to investigate the left ventricular function early changes and clinical application value of 3D-STE. Methods 3-dimension dynamic images of left ventricular full volume in Apical 4-chamber heart view was collected and stored. 3-dimensional specke-tracking technology was applied to measure and compare the left ventricular multi-directional strain of patients with hyperuricemia and healthy controls in order to evaluate the left ventricular systolic function. Results A total of 24 healthy controls and 38 patients with hyperuricemia were included into the study. Among them,patients with hyperuricemia were divided into simple hyperuricemia group(n=12), hyperuricemia complicated with hyperlipidemia group (n=16)and hyperuricemia complicated with both hyper-tension and hyperlipidemia group (n=10). The circumferential strain [(-18.8±4.4)% vs (-25.9±6.4)%, t=-3.48, P=0.001] and area strain [(-31.2±3.9)% vs (-36.8±7.1)%, t=-2.55, P=0.018] of patients with simple hyper-uricemia significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. Besides, the circumferential strain [(-19.9 ± 5.8)% vs (-25.9 ±6.4)%, t=-3.02, P=0.002], longitudinal strain [(-12.6 ±3.3)% vs (-14.4 ±2.5)%, t=-1.95, P=0.038] and area strain [(-29.9±6.6)% vs (-25.9±6.4)%, t=-3.15, P=0.001] of patients with hyperuricemia complicated with hyperlipidemia significantly decreased compared with healthy controls. Conclusion Myo-cardial strain of patients with hyperuricemia complicated with hyperlipidemia or not is both decreased, indicating a decline in left ventricular systolic function.

Clinical study of carotid artery contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in evaluating the activity of Takayasu's disease / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To observe the morphological changes of carotid artery wall by ultrasonography in patients with Takayasu arteritis,and to evaluate the diagnostic value of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography for active Takayasu arteritis.Methods High-frequency ultrasound technique was used to analyze the morphological changes of the carotid artery in 40 patients.NIH score was used as the gold standard and the complete clinical data and acute phase reactors were recorded.T test,Chi-square test,sensitivity and specificity were calculated for statistical analysis.Results The thickness of carotid artery wall in active group was much more thickened than the non-active group [(2.2±0.6) mm vs (1.8±0.5) mm,t=-2.142,P＜0.05].The CDD [(0.89±0.06) in active group vs (0.95±0.03) in non-active group,t=3.683,P＜0.01] and RDD [(0.17±0.06 in active group vs (0.09±0.05) in non-active group,t=-4.020,P＜0.01] were significantly different between the two groups.The distribution of neovascularization in the carotid artery wall of the active group was more diffuse in the central part of the wall.The sensitivity and specificity of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography to diagnose the active of Takayasu arteritis were 72.7％ and 87.5％ respectively,and the positive predictive value and the negative predictive value were 80.0％ and 82.4％ respectively.Conclusion Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography can be used as an effective way to assess the disease activity of TA patients.

Chinese expert investigation on diagnosis and disease activity evaluation in Takayasu's arteritis / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To investigate the current situation in Chinese rheumatologic physicians' clinical diagnosis and evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis (TA).Methods Nineteen rheumatology experts and three vascular surgery specialists in China were invited to make the nationwide investigation for the first time about the diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of TA in China,through the questionnaire survey on the internet.Weighted average was used to calculate the average scores of corresponding problems.Results Chinese experts mainly adopted 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for clinical diagnosis of TA.In details,symptoms of age,limb claudication and amaurosis,signs including pulselessness or pulse weakening,vascular bruits,increasing bilateral pulse pressure and hypertension and acute phase reactants (APR) were critical to the clinical diagnosis of TA.Besides,noninvasive imaging examinations,such as computed tomography angiography (CTA),magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),vascular ultrasonography,and positron emission tomography (PET) were also of great importance.In the aspect of disease activity assessment,Chinese experts mainly used Kerr scoring tool.APR and noninvasive radiological examinations were considered with vital value.Some TA patients with carotid artery involvement were recommended using vascular ultrasonography,while others with pulmonary artery and thoracic/abdominal aorta trunk involvement were preferred CTA other than MRA.Conclusions APR and noninvasive imaging examinations were thought with great help to make clinical diagnosis and evaluation of TA for Chinese physicians.

The relationship between the muscles edema and skeleton involvement surrounding sacroiliac joint of axial seronegative spondyloarthropathy patients with functional magnetic resonance imaging / 复旦学报（医学版）

Objective To observe the muscles and skeleton involvement surrounding sacroiliac joint (SIJ) of axial seronegative spondyloarthropathy (SPA) patients with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI),and to analyze the relationship between them.Methods A prospective study of 38 patients who meet the 2009 axial SpA diagnostic criteria was conducted.We carried out MRI of the SIJ for these patients to evaluate the muscles and skeleton involvement.Those cases were divided into muscles differences between the two groups of image scores,including Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada (SPARCC) scores and Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI Sacroiliac Joint Structural Score (SPARCC SSS).The extent of muscles edema in patients with sacroiliac joints was ranked into twelve grades from 0-12,and we did Spearman rank correlation test of muscles edema scope and two indexes.Results We found that 28 cases (73.68％) of the 38 patients had significant muscle involvement by analyzing the STIR sequence,and found erector spinae in 22 cases (57.89 ％)gluteal muscles in 13 cases (34.21 ％),iliacus muscle in 11 cases (28.95 ％),obturator muscle in 5 cases (13.16％),piriform muscle in 5 cases (13.16％) and other 4 cases (10.53％).SPARCC (t =2.28,P =0.03) and SPARCC SSS (t =3.37,P =0.00) were statistically different between the two groups.SPARCC (P =0.00,r =0.67) and SPARCC SSS (P-0.01,r =0.47) were positively correlated with the extent of muscles edema.Conclusions The muscles edema around sacroiliac joint is an important sign of axial SpA magnetic resonance imaging.Patients who had muscles edema tended to have more serious skeleton changes.

Clinical analysis of 49 cases with IgG4-related disease / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the clinical manifestations,radiographic presentations,histopathological features,treatment and clinical follow-up of IgG4 related disease (IgG4-RD).Methods Forty-nine cases in our hospital were enrolled from 2009 to 2012 and were followed up.Results Of the 49 patients with IgG4-RD,the male to female ratio was 2.1∶1,the mean age was (53±15) years,and the serum IgG4 ranged between 0.39 to 20.8 g/L.The most commonly affected organ was pancreas.Two or more organs were involved in 15 patients.Histopathological findings included tissue infiltration by lymphocytes,IgG+ plasma cells and IgG4+ plasma cells and diffuse fibrosis among 45 patients.The IgG4+ plasma cells were over 10/high power fields (HPF).Responses to glucocorticoid in combination with immunosuppressants were good except 3 patients suffered relapses.Conclusion IgG4-RD is an autoimmune disease affecting multiple organs,and the increased IgG4 positive plasma cells is characteristic.This disease can be effectively alleviated with prompt use of glucocorticoid.

Evaluation of the risk factors for hyperuricemia in patients younger than 45 with coronary artery disease / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To evaluate the risk of hyperuricemia in patients younger than 45 with coronary artery disease.Methods Six hundred and seventy-seven patients with coronary artery disease under 45 years old at disease onset were recruited retrospectively.The subjects were divided into hyperuricemia group (n=164) and normal uric acid group (n=513).Patients with coronary artery disease with hyperuricemia were analyzed for clinical characteristics.The risk of hyperuricemia was analyzed on the severity of coronary lesions.T-test,x2 test and Logistic regression analysis were used for statistical analysis.Results Comparing with patients with normal uric acid,patients in the hyperuricemia group were male predominant and more prevalent with hypertension [197(38.5％) and 93(56.7％) ; x2=16.85,P＜0.01],hypedipidemia [274(53.4％) and 130 (80.7％); x2=37.58,P＜0.01],and cardiac dysfunction [24 (4.7％) and 17 (10.4％); x2=7.18,P=0.01].Hyperuricemia increased the risk of coronary artery disease complicated with cardiac dysfunction [ORlcorrection=2.66,95％CI (1.28,5.53)],and it also increased the risk of coronary artery disease concurrent with cardiac arrhythmia [OR2correction=1.28,95％CI (1.00,1.65)] revealed by multivariate regression analysis.Conclusion In young patients under 45 years old with coronary artery disease,hyperuricemia is the independent risk factor for coronary artery disease complicated with cardiac dysfunction and arrhythmia.

Effect of simvastatin on interleukin-17 production and expression of interleukin-17 transcription factor B-cell activating transcription factor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients and healthy individuals / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the effects of simvastatin on the production of interleukin (IL)-17and B-cell activating transcription factor (BATF) in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and healthy individuals.Methods PBMCs were isolated from heparinized blood of healthy donors or RA patients using Ficoll-Hypaque density gradient centrifugation.The cells were stimulated by PMA and ionomycin in the absence or presence of simvastatin or MVA at 37 ℃ 5％CO2.The mRAN level of IL-17,BATF and GAPDH was detected by RT-PCR; the protein level of IL-17 in supernatants was assayed by ELISA kit; and the protein level of BATF was detected by Western Blotting.The comparison between the two groups was carried out by paired-t test and Chi-square test was used for muhi-group comparison.Results PBMCs of healthy donors [(69.2±12.2) vs (8.1±2.2) pg/ml,P＜0.05; (76.6±14.7) vs (10.2±7.2) pg/ml,P＜0.05] and RA patients [(79.6±12.7) vs (15.8±5.8) pg/ml,P＜0.05; (90.3±9.7) vs (12.9±7.9) pg/ml,P＜0.05] were stimulated with PMA and ionomycin to produce high levels of IL-17.After treatment with simvastatin,the expression and secretion level of IL-17 in healthy controls and RA PBMCs were markedly decreased.The inhibition of simvastatin on the production of IL-17 was reversed by mevalonic acid (MVA),but no significant changes of BATF after treating with simvastatin.Conclusion Simvastatin inhibits the production of IL-17 in the PBMCs at gene and protein levels,which is not targeted at suppressing the expression of IL-17 transcription factor BATF.

Epidemiologic study of the distribution of urate crystals in patients with gout by foot dual-energy CT / 中华风湿病学杂志

Objective To investigate the distribution of urate crystal as well as the relationship bet ween the features of the crystals and the attacks of joint pain and/or swollen by foot dual-energy CT.Methods Eight-four patients (68 were diagnosed as gout, 11 were patients with hyperuricemia and 5 were diagnosed as other types of arthritis) who recently experienced foot swelling and/or pain were enrolled and all of them were performed foot dual-energy CT.The relationship between the features of the urate crystals and the attacks of gouty arthritis was determined by Chi test and the potential risk factors were identified by Logistic multiple regression analysis.Results Two hundred and seventyeight urate crystal depositions were found in 68 gout patients,and the most common deposition sites were the distal parts of the first toe(18.2％),the first metatarso-phalangeal joint ( 16.8％ ),calcaneus ( 17.5％ ),the lower end of tibia ( 11.8％ ).Furthermore,patients with the urate crystals deposited in the first metatrasophalangeal joint or the lower end of of tibia were more likely to experience acute episodes of gout attack (P＜0.01,P＜0.05 respectively).In addition,the shape,size and quantity of urate crystals also affected episodes of acute attack of gout.Conclusion Dual-energy CT,which is a non-invasive method,could clearly reveal urate crystal depositions and is helpful for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with gout.The location,shape,size and quantity of urate crystals and soft tissue swelling,bone erosion may affect the acute attack of gout.

Diagnostic efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging for rheumatoid arthritis: a systemic review and meta analysis / 中华风湿病学杂志

objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of magnetic resonance imaging(MRI)for rheumatoid arthritis(RA).Methods The major international databases was searched by computer and Other methods to collect control studies about MRI for the diagnosis of RA,the searching deadline was December 2009.Data were screened and extracted by inclusion criteria.Meta-disc software Was used for statistics,including sensitivity,specificity,positive likelihood ratio,negative likelihood ratio,diagnostic odds ratio(OR)and heterogeneity analysis.Results Twelve random control tests were included.Meta-analysis indicated that sensitivities of vities of synovitis,bone-erosion and tendenosynovitis were 81%~100%,48%～100%and 67%～96%while specificities of them were 64%～89%,16%~100%and 21%-74%respectively for RA patients(≤2vears).Sensitivities of synovitis and bone-erosion were 91%and 84%while specificities of them were 70%and 81%for RA Datients (>2 years).Conclusion Synovitis shown by MRI is helpful for the diagnosis of earlv and med-to-late RA.Diagnostic values of bone-erosion and tendonosynovitis demonstrated by MRI for earlv RA were not clear.The sample size of the included studies is small and some studies lack of control groupsput the conclusion of this meta-analysis liable for bias.We suggest that better designed and larger sample clinical studies are necessary.

Evaluation of the clinical and radiological.efficacy of recombinant human TNFR Ⅱ -Fc combined with methotrexate in the treatment of moderate and severe rheumatoid arthritis / 中华风湿病学杂志

ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical and radiological efficacy of TNFR Ⅱ -Fc combined with methotrexate( MTX ) in treatment of patients with moderate and severe rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsThree hundred and ninty-six RA patients were randomized into the combined treatment group,the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc only group and MTX only group.All patients were treated for 24 weeks.ACR-N,ACR20,ACR50,ACR70,DAS28-ESR and Sharp score of both hands were measured for efficacy,and the side-effects were analyzed by one-way ANOVA.Results After 24-week therapy,the ACR-N of the combined treatment group [( 12.79±9.24)％-year] was significantly improved than that of the TNFR Ⅱ-Fc only group [(9.56±11.16)％-year,P＜0.05] and that of the MTX only group[(5.08±11.10)％-year,P＜0.05],and the TNFR Ⅱ-Fc group was significantly improved than that of the MTX group(P＜0.05).The ACR20 response rate of the combined group(80.4％) was significantly higher than that of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group(71.1％,P＜0.05) and the MTX group(56.7％,P＜0.01 ).The ACRS0 response rate of the combined group(53.6％) was significantly higher than that of the MTX group(30.8％,P＜0.01 ).The ACR70 response rate of the combined group was 27.7％,which was significantly different from that of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group (15.8％) and MTX group (7.7％,P＜0.05or P＜0.01 ).DAS28-ESR in the combination group was significantly reduced than those of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group and MTX group,and the DAS28-ESR of the TNFR Ⅱ -Fc group was significantly reduced than MTX group.The average total Sharp score of both hands,which demonstrated the radiographic changes,was significantly reduced in the combination group than the MTX group(P=0.03).The total adverse events in the combined group(40.9％) was significantly high than that of the MTX group(28.8％,P＜0.05).Conclusion TNFR Ⅱ -Fc combined with MTX can effectively control the activity of RA and radiological progress.