Efficacy of tacrolimus in rheumatoid arthritis patients who have been treated unsuccessfully with methotrexate: a six-month,double-blind,randomized, dose-ranging study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy, safety, and optimal dose of tacrolimus monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: This phase II, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled monotherapy study was set in 12 community sites and 9 university-based sites. Two hundred sixty-eight patients with RA who were resistant to or intolerant of methotrexate (mean dose 15.2 mg/week) and had active disease for at least 6 months (mean tender joint count 28.2, mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate 46.5 mm/hour) were randomized to receive treatment after discontinuation of methotrexate. Those who received at least 1 dose of tacrolimus were analyzed; 141 completed the study. Stable dosages of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and low-dose prednisone were allowed during treatment. All patients were given 1, 3, or 5 mg of tacrolimus or placebo once daily for 24 weeks. The American College of Rheumatology definition of 20% improvement (ACR20) and the tender and swollen joint counts at the end of treatment were the primary outcomes. RESULTS: ACR20 response rates demonstrated a clear dose response. The ACR20 response was observed in 15.5% of patients receiving placebo (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 7.1-23.9%), 29% of the 1 mg tacrolimus group (95% CI 18.3-39.7%) (P < 0.058); 34.4% of the 3 mg group (95% CI 22.7-46.0%) (P < 0.013), and 50% of the 5 mg group (95% CI 37.8-62.3%) (P < or = 0.001). The tender joint count improved statistically significantly in all tacrolimus groups. The swollen joint count, physical function, and patient-assessed pain improved statistically significantly in the 3 mg and 5 mg groups. The incidence of creatinine elevation > or =40% above baseline levels increased in a dose-dependent manner. Dropout rates were high (41-59%) and were more common for inefficacy in the placebo patients (71.4%), whereas they were more common for toxicity in the high-dose tacrolimus groups (31-33%). Discontinuation for creatinine elevation occurred in the 3 mg (3.1%) and 5 mg (10.9%) tacrolimus groups. CONCLUSION: Tacrolimus improved disease activity in methotrexate-resistant or -intolerant patients with RA. A dose response was observed when efficacy and toxicity were assessed at different doses. The optimal dose of tacrolimus appears to be >1 mg but < or=3 mg daily.     

Dinitrophenol, cyclosporin A, and trimetazidine modulate preconditioning in the isolated rat heart: support for a mitochondrial role in cardioprotection

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have postulated that mitochondrial ATP-sensitive potassium (mitoK(ATP)) channel activation may modulate mitochondrial function with the resultant induction of a preconditioning phenotype in the heart. We hypothesized that the modulation of mitochondrial homeostasis might confer preconditioning-like cardioprotection. METHODS: We used a model of regional ischemia in Langendorff-perfused isolated rat hearts. Short-term administration of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation and cyclosporin A (CSA), an inhibitor of mitochondrial respiration, was used in an attempt to elicit preconditioning-like cardioprotection. The anti-ischemic drug trimetazidine, known to attenuate CSA-induced disruption in mitochondrial function, and the mitoK(ATP) channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD) were used to inhibit the effects of DNP and CSA. Finally, we studied the effect of trimetazidine on adenosine-induced and ischemic preconditioning. Risk zone and infarct size were measured and expressed as a percentage of the risk zone (I/R ratio). RESULTS: DNP, CSA and adenosine pretreatment reduced infarct size (I/R ratio: DNP 9.0+/-2.4%, CSA 12.5+/-1.4%, adenosine 11.9+/-3.6%, all P<0.001 vs. control, 30.2+/-1.3%) similarly to ischemic preconditioning (9.5+/-0.6%, P<0.001 vs. control). Trimetazidine limited the effect of ischemic preconditioning (22.2+/-2.0%, P<0.001 vs. ischemic preconditioning) and completely reversed the DNP, CSA, and the adenosine-mediated reduction in infarct size. 5-HD abolished the effect of ischemic preconditioning and CSA. CONCLUSION: DNP and CSA trigger preconditioning-like cardioprotection in the isolated rat heart. Trimetazidine, a known mitochondrial 'protector', attenuated both drug-induced and ischemic preconditioning. These data support the hypothesis that modulation of mitochondrial homeostasis may be a common downstream cellular event linking different triggers of preconditioning.     

混合或单一单抗检测肺吸虫病人血清中循环抗原的研究

本文报道应用由７种抗卫氏并殖吸虫囊蚴和成虫单克隆抗体（ＰｗＭ和ＰｗＡ一ＭｃＡｂ）组成的混合ＭｃＡｂ一ＥＬＩＳＡ法检测辽宁省凤城县肺吸虫病流行区２０８份滤纸血循环抗原（ＣＡｇ），阳性率为３８％（７９／２０８）。对１００份同时有滤纸血和血清样本者同步检测进行比较，滤纸血ＣＡｇ阳性率为６２％（６２／１００），血清ＣＡｇ阳性率５７％（５７／１００），符合率为９１％，经确切概率法处理两者无显著性差异，说明滤纸血可代替血清作ＣＡｇ检测。分别用７种ＭｃＡｂ检测５５份混合ＭｃＡｂ检测为阳性的样本，４种抗囊蚴ＭｃＡｂ中Ｇ＿２Ｂ＿３检出率最高，Ａ＿３Ａ＿７次之，３种抗成虫ＭｃＡｂ中Ａ＿３Ｄ＿３检出率最高，表明用Ｇ＿２Ｂ＿３或Ａ＿３Ａ＿７与Ａ＿３Ｏ＿３混合检测Ｐｗ病人ＣＡｇ更省更好。但在斯氏肺吸虫流行区应首选Ａ＿２Ｅ＿７，因其与斯氏Ａｇ有强烈的交叉反应，对斯氏肺吸虫患者血清ＣＡｇ检出率高达９４．７％（１８／１９）。本研究结果提示上述７种ＭｃＡｂ单独应用或不同组合后应用有助于提高ＣＡｇ的检出率并有助于肺吸虫感染虫种和虫期的判别。     

New insights on the emergence of cholera in Latin America during 1991: the Peruvian experience

After a century of absence, in late January 1991, Vibrio cholerae invaded the Western Hemisphere by way of Peru. Although a number of theories have been proposed, it is still not understood how that invasion took place. We reviewed the clinical records of persons attending hospital emergency departments in the major coastal cities of Peru from September through January of 1989/1990 and 1990/1991. We identified seven adults suffering from severe, watery diarrhea compatible with a clinical diagnosis of cholera during the four months preceding the cholera outbreak, but none during the previous year. The patients were scattered among five coastal cities along a 1,000 km coastline. We postulate that cholera vibrios, autochthonous to the aquatic environment, were present in multiple coastal locations, and resulted from environmental conditions that existed during an El Nino phenomenon. Once introduced into the coastal communities in concentrations large enough for human infection to occur, cholera spread by the well-known means of contaminated water and food.     

人类端粒酶逆转录酶hTERT Ki-67及p27^kipl在嗜铬细胞瘤组织的表达及意义研究

目的 研究人端粒酶逆转录酶（hTERT）、Ki-67及p27^kipl的表达在嗜铬细胞瘤发生与发展中的作用和作为预测生物学行为标志物的价值。方法 采用免疫组织化学方法检测hTERT、Ki-67及p27^kipl在2000-2004年广西医科大学第一附属医院病理科的45例嗜铬细胞瘤和神经节细胞瘤及9例正常肾上腺组织中的表达。结果 hTERT蛋白的表达在良性（3／31例）和可疑恶性（6／7例）以及良性与恶性肿瘤（5／7例）间的差异均有统计学意义（P〈0.01）。31例良性肿瘤中26例未检测到Ki-67，而恶性肿瘤和可疑恶性肿瘤均为阳性；Ki-67与hTERT的表达呈正相关性（r=0．544，P〈0．01）。恶性和可疑恶性肿瘤中未检测到p27^kipl，5例良性肿瘤为阳性，所有正常肾上腺髓质标本均可检测到p27^kipl的表达。p27^kipl与hTERT的表达无相关性。结论 端粒酶的激活在恶性嗜铬细胞瘤和神经节细胞瘤的发生发展中起着重要作用，在细胞周期调控中端粒酶可能存在不同的激活途径。hTElit和Ki-67的检测可作为鉴别良恶性嗜铬细胞瘤的手段。     

Occurrence of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in tuberculous pleuritis

OBJECTIVE: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) have been found in high concentrations in pleural effusions. Because MMP and TIMP may play a part in the causation of the fibrosis seen in tuberculous (TB) pleuritis their occurrence was examined. DESIGN: Pleural effusion fluid and plasma concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were determined by ELISA in 21 patients with TB pleuritis. To adjust for the total protein content, respective ratios were calculated. Activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured by gelatine zymography and the MMP-9/MMP-2 ratios calculated. Pleural effusions and plasma of 15 patients with congestive heat failure (CHF) and plasma of 15 healthy persons (CON) served as controls. RESULTS: Immunoreactive pleural fluid concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were higher in TB compared to CHF, but plasma concentrations were not different between the groups. TB pleural fluid concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 were higher compared to TB plasma. MMP-3 was found in trace amounts only. The MMP-9/total protein ratios in pleural fluid were higher in TB compared to CHF (0.4492+/-0.1633 vs 0.0364+/-0.0145, P<0.005) but the TIMP-1 ratios were lower (139.0+/-28.7 vs 517.8+/-183.7, P<0.0005). In TB pleural fluid vs TB plasma, the respective MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 ratios were increased (0.46+/-0.10 vs 0.17+/-0.02; 25.2+/-2.8 vs 4.2+/-0.9; 139.0+/-28.7 vs 27.8+/-8.2; 0.67+/-0.13 vs 0.18+/-0.04, P<0.0005 each). Gelatine zymography demonstrated MMP-2 and MMP-9 bands of different brightness in TB effusions but in CHF effusions the MMP-9 band was barely visible. The MMP-9/MMP-2 effusion ratios were therefore higher in TB compared to CHF (0.46+/-0.15 vs 0.05+/-0.04, P<0.0005). CONCLUSION: Compartmentalized MMP-1, MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 and, compared to CHF, a surplus of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, and MMP-9 in the pleural space obviously contribute to the fibrotic reactions in TB pleuritis.     

改良保留颈丛的低颈领式切口功能性颈淋巴结清扫术(附95例报告)

目的:探讨一种改良保留颈丛的领式切口功能性颈淋巴结清扫术治疗甲状腺乳头状癌。方法:2012年1月至2013年12月95例甲状腺乳头状癌病人在解放军第八五医院普外科行改良保留颈丛的功能性颈淋巴结清扫术。结果:95例完整清扫Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ区淋巴结。保留锁骨上神经的中间及向内的分支等重要颈部结构。Ⅱa、Ⅱb、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴa和Ⅴb区淋巴结转移率分别为34.7%、12.6%、55.8%、82.1%、4.2%和14.7%。病人术后外耳、肩部、、锁骨下和颈外侧感觉均存在。结论:该改良术式既能完整清扫与甲状腺乳头状癌有关的颈侧区淋巴结,又保留颈丛神经的大多数感觉功能,可作为替代择区性颈淋巴结清扫术的一种选择。     

年龄因素对人类脂肪来源干细胞的影响

背景与目的 脂肪来源问质干细胞（ADMSCs）是一种健康的具有多向分化潜能的来源细胞。其町简单获取，并可应用于多种再生领域。本研究的目的是评估衰老对ADMSCs的影响，探讨与其相关的形态学、衰老特性、生长因子表达和成骨。方法 按不同的年龄组（婴幼儿、成年、老年）获取细胞并培养。利用显微镜检测其形态学特征，利用流式细胞术探查细胞表面标记物。利用实时（real-time）聚合酶链反应测量端粒长度。对比各组间相关成血管和成骨生长因子的表达。通过评估诱导反应及RUNX-2和骨钙蛋白mRNA表达的定量分析，来进一步探索成骨能力。结果 每个供区获取到相同分离比例的间质干细胞，不考虑年龄因素。婴幼儿的脂肪来源干细胞（ADSCs）形态学上表现出瘦长轴状，与老年组相比其端粒长度更长。血管生成因子在婴幼儿组细胞中有更高的表达，而成骨表达在各组间均相似。碱性磷酸酶染色和茜素红染色证实，婴幼儿组干细胞对成骨诱导的反应比老年组更明显，视为与骨相关的基因表达。结论 各年龄组的ADMSCs均是有活性的。与老年组相比，婴幼儿组的来源细胞形态学上表现为梭形，端粒较长，成血管及成骨能力较强。相反，所有年龄组的来源细胞均表现相似的成骨旁分泌能力，因此，我们推断其在成年至老年阶段仍可保持临床适用性。     

以双合成肽为抗原建立的ELISA试验在鼻咽癌血清学诊断中的应用价值

目的研究EBNA1和VCA-P18双多肽包被（EBNA1＋VCA-P18）的ELISA检测在鼻咽癌（NPC）血清学诊断中的价值。方法用合成肽EBNA1和VCA-P18建立ELISA法,检测37例病理确诊的鼻咽癌患者血清和33例健康人血清,并与国产EBVVCA/IgAELISA试剂盒比较。结果双多肽EBNA1＋VCA-P18/IgA灵敏度为91.9%,明显高于国产试剂盒的83.8%;二者特异度相同;EBNA1＋VCA-P18/IgA的阳性预测值、阴性预测值、阳性似然比及优势比均高于国产试剂盒。结论双多肽EBNA1＋VCA-P18/IgA相比商品化试剂盒在鼻咽癌血清学检测中有更高的灵敏度,适用于鼻咽癌早期诊断和人群筛查。