IgG4-related disease with massive pericardial effusion diagnosed clinically using FDG-PETCT: a case report.

Background: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic inflammatory disease which involves various organs such as the pancreas, lacrimal gland, salivary gland, retroperitoneum, and so on. These organs can be affected concomitantly. 18-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography computed tomography (FDG-PETCT) is a systemic examination which can identify active inflammation and detect multiple organ involvement simultaneously. Pericardial involvement is rare in IgG4-RD, early detection and treatment can greatly improve the prognosis of patients. Case summary: We reported a 82-year-old female patient referred to our department complaining of chest tightness and abdominal fullness for 8 months and massive pericardial effusion for 2 months. A large amount of pericardial effusion was found during the hospitalization of Gastroenterology. Then she was transferred to cardiology. Although infectious, tuberculous, and neoplastic pericardial effusions were excluded, there was still no diagnosis. The patients were examined by FDG-PETCT which considered IgG4-RD. After coming to our department, the results of the patient's laboratory tests showed that immunoglobulin subgroup IgG4 was 14.0 g/L. Then we performed a biopsy of the right submandibular gland. Pathological morphology and immunohistochemistry suggested IgG4-RD. Combined with level of IgG4, clinical, pathological and immunohistochemical results, we determined the final diagnosis of IgG4 related diseases. Then we gave glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant treatment. At the end, pericardial effusion was completely absorbed. As prednisone acetate was gradually reduced, no recurrence of the disease has been observed. Conclusion: Pericardial effusion can be the initial presentation in IgG4-RD. For patients with massive pericardial effusion of unknown cause, early detection of IgG4 is recommended, and PETCT may be helpful for obtaining the diagnosis.

Dual-Functionalized Fluorescent Cationic Organic Network: Highly Efficient Detection and Removal of Dichromate from Water.

Dichromate is a widespread contaminant in wastewater, threatening the health of humans and other organisms. Therefore, effective detection and removal of dichromate from water is of great significance. Herein, a tetraphenylethylene functionalized cationic organic network (CON-LDU2) was constructed via a facile quaternization reaction. CON-LDU2 was successfully integrated with both detection and removal functionalities toward dichromate. On the one hand, benefiting from the strong fluorescence, CON-LDU2 was employed as a chemosensor, it could efficiently and selectively probe Cr2O72- in water with "turn-off" fluorescent response. On the other hand, the cationic skeleton and free anions inside framework make CON-LDU2 an excellent adsorbent for Cr2O72-, it could capture Cr2O72- from water with rapid kinetics and high capacity. The kinetic constant for adsorption of Cr2O72- can reach up to 1.784 g mg-1 min-1, while the capacity is determined as 325 mg g-1. Furthermore, CON-LDU2 displayed good recyclability and can be reused for at least 5 cycles. Therefore, CON-LDU2 can serve as an ideal candidate not only in detection but also in removal of Cr2O72- in water medium.

Binding Performance of Human Intravenous Immunoglobulin and 20(S)-7-Ethylcamptothecin.

A previous study showed that intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) could preserve higher levels of biologically active lactone moieties of topotecan, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) and 10-hydroxycamptothecin at physiological pH 7.40. As one of camptothecin analogues (CPTs), the interaction of 7-ethylcamptothecin and IVIG was studied in vitro in this study. It was shown that the main binding mode of IVIG to 7-ethylcamptothecin was hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding, which is a non-specific and spontaneous interaction. The hydrophobic antigen-binding cavity of IgG would enwrap the drug into a host-guest inclusion complex and prevent hydrolysis of the encapsulated drug, while the drug is adjacent to the chromophores of IgG and may exchange energy with chromophores and quench the fluorescence of the protein. Also, the typical ß-sheet structure of IVIG unfolded partially after binding to 7-ethylcamptothecin. Additionally, the binding properties of IVIG and six CPTs with different substituents at A-ring and/or B-ring including camptothecin, topotecan, irinotecan, 10-hydroxycamptothecin, 7-ethylcamptothecin and SN-38 were collected together and compared each other. Synergizing with anti-cancer drugs, IVIG could be used as a transporter protein for 7-ethylcamptothecin and other CPTs, allowing clinicians to devise new treatment protocols for patients.

Physcion 8­O­ß­glucopyranoside extracted from Polygonum cuspidatum exhibits anti­proliferative and anti­inflammatory effects on MH7A rheumatoid arthritis­derived fibroblast­like synoviocytes through the TGF­ß/MAPK pathway.

The present study aimed to investigate the anti­arthritic effect of physcion 8­O­ß­glucopyranoside (POGD) and its possible mechanisms. The anti­proliferative effects of POGD on MH7A cells were detected using a CCK­8 assay, and the release of pro­inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)­1ß, IL­6, IL­8, IL­12 and IL­17A, were determined by ELISA. A type II collagen­induced arthritis (CIA) rat model was established to evaluate the anti­arthritic effect of POGD in vivo. The paw volumes, arthritis indices and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α, IL­1ß, IL­6, IL­8, IL­17A were determined by ELISA. The mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)­2, MMP­3, MMP­9, vascular endothelial growth factor and cyclooxygenase­2 were determined by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, and the expression levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)­ß1, small mothers against decapentaplegic (Smad)4, Smad7, c­Jun N­terminal kinase (JNK), phosphorylated (p­)JNK, p­P38, P38, p­extracellular signal­regulated kinase (ERK)1/2, ERK1/2, nuclear factor (NF)­κB p65 in the nucleus (N), cytosolic NF­κB p65 (C), and inhibitor of NF­κB (IκB) were determined by western blot analysis. The results indicated that POGD significantly inhibited MH7A cell growth. POGD markedly inhibited paw swelling and the arthritis indices of the CIA rats, and POGD may also inhibit the release of pro­inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, POGD downregulated the expression levels of TGF­ß1, Smad4, NF­κB p65 (N), p38, p­p38, p­ERK1/2, JNK, p­JNK, TGF­ß1, Smad4, p­JNK, JNK, p­P38, P38, p­ERK1/2, ERK1/2 and NF­κB p65 (N), and upregulated the Smad7, NF­κB p65 (C) and IκB in TNF­α induced MH7A cells. In conclusion, the results suggested that POGD is a promising potential anti­inflammatory drug, and that POGD may decrease the expression of pro­inflammatory cytokines and mediators via inhibiting the TGF­ß/NF­κB/mitogen­activated protein kinase pathways.

Polymorphisms in the receptor for advanced glycation end products gene are associated with susceptibility to drug-resistant epilepsy.

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that inflammation plays an important role in epilepsy (EP). As a cell-surface molecule of the immunoglobulin superfamily, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is involved in inflammation-related disease. Functional polymorphisms in the regulatory elements and/or ligand-binding regions of RAGE may alter the expression and function of RAGE, thus affecting EP susceptibility. Here, we have identified a novel association between genetic variants in the RAGE G82S locus and EP (p=0.033) using a case-control study in a Chinese population. Further analyses showed that the 82S+ genotype and S allele were more common in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) than in those with drug-responsive EP compared with controls. The loci -374T/A and -429T/C did not demonstrate any association with EP, but the haplotype T-A-A exhibited significantly different frequencies between DRE patients and controls (OR=1.696, 95% CI: 1.188-2.420, P=0.003). Our study provides preliminary evidence that the G82S polymorphism in RAGE is associated with increased DRE risk and that the GS genotype of the G82S locus is a risk factor for DRE in the Chinese population.

Determination of phenol at ng l-1 level by flow-injection chemiluminescence combined with on-line solid-phase extraction.

In this paper, a simple flow-injection chemiluminescence (CL) system combined with on-line solid-phase extraction is presented to determine phenol. This method is based on the enhancement effect of phenol on the luminol-K3Fe(CN)6 CL system. The solid-phase extraction promised the high sensitivity and improved selectivity of CL detection. With the calibration range from 4.7 ng l-1 to 470 ng l-1 phenol concentration, the proposed method was applied to analyzing phenol in water samples and the obtained results were validated by the standard method. The detection limit was determined as 0.66 ng l-1. The relative standard deviation was 1.5% for determining 4.7 ng l-1 phenol standard (n=7).