Elevated serum levels of Interleukin‐37 are associated with inflammatory cytokines and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis

Interleukin‐37 (IL‐37) is closely associated with several inflammatory diseases. However, the role of IL‐37 in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the associations between serum levels of IL‐37 and disease activity, inflammatory cytokines, and bone loss in patients with RA. Serum cytokines levels were examined by Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Radiographic bone erosion was assessed using the van der Heijde‐modified Sharp score and bone mineral density (BMD) was measured using DXA. Serum IL‐37 levels in RA patients were significantly higher than those in HCs (p < 0.001), and were significantly positively correlated with clinical parameters of disease activity and serum levels of IL‐17 and IL‐23. In addition, serum IL‐37 levels were significantly higher in patients with stage IV of radiographic bone erosion than those with stage III and stage I–II, and they were significantly higher in those with osteopenia and osteoporosis than in those with normal BMD. Our results suggest that serum IL‐37 levels were increased in patients with RA and were positively associated with disease activity, IL‐17/IL‐23 and bone loss in RA, suggesting that IL‐37 may play a critical role in the pathogenesis of RA.     

基因诊断技术在脊柱结核诊断中的应用现状

脊柱结核是一种常见的肺外结核病。近年来,随着脊柱结核患者逐年增多,不典型脊柱结核患者亦逐渐增多,而不典型脊柱结核诊断较为困难,需要与一般细菌感染、肿瘤以及非结核分枝杆菌感染相鉴别。基因诊断技术是一项诊断脊柱结核的重要工具,对临床不典型脊柱结核的诊断有较高价值。本文将对脊柱结核的流行现状、诊断及基因诊断技术进行综述,以帮助临床工作者对脊柱结核做出更加准确的诊断。     

Laparoscopic versus open pancreatoduodenectomy: an individual participant data meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BackgroundRandomized trials have compared laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy (LPD) to open pancreatoduodenectomy (OPD) with conflicting results. An IPDMA may give more insight into the differences between LPD and OPD, and could identify high-risk subgroups.MethodsA systematic literature search was performed in the Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane library databases (October 2019). Out of 1410 studies, three randomized trials were identified. Primary outcome was major complications (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ III). Subgroup analyses were performed for high-risk subgroups including patients with BMI of ≥25 kg/m2, pancreatic duct <3 mm, age ≥70 years, and malignancy.ResultsData from 224 patients were collected. After LPD, major complications occurred in 33/114 (29%) patients compared to 34/110 (31%) patients after OPD (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.62; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.3–1.4, P = 0.257). No differences were seen for major complications and 90-day mortality LPD 8 (7%) vs OPD 4 (4%) (adjusted OR 0.2; 95% CI 0.02–1.3, P = 0.080). With LPD, operative time was longer (420 vs 318 min, p < 0.001) and hospital stay was shorter (mean difference ?6.97 days). Outcomes remained stable in the high-risk subgroups.ConclusionLPD did not reduce the rate of major postoperative complications as compared to OPD. LPD increased operative time and shortened hospital stay with 7 days.     

Biomarkers in the prognostic evaluation of ischemic stroke: Is there benefit in the measurements of TREM-1 and TREM-2 in the acute phase?

Background and purposeTriggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells 1 and 2 (TREM-1 and TREM-2) are cell surface receptors important for modulation of microglia immune response. In this study, we evaluate serum levels of TREM-1 and TREM-2 as potential biomarkers in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Material and methodsProspective cohort study of 50 patients with AIS admitted at our hospital. Serum TREM-1 and TREM-2 was evaluated within 24 h of the acute event and on the third and fifth days after the stroke. Neurological stroke severity and global disability were determined with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at the same three times and at the time of hospital discharge.ResultsTREM-1 and TREM-2 levels were elevated in stroke. TREM-1, but not TREM-2, exhibited correlations with NIHSS and mRS within 24 h (NIHSS and TREM-1: r_S = 0.31, p = 0.029; mRS and TREM-1: r_S = 0.32, p = 0.023). The serum level of TREM-1 within 24 h correlated with the neurological outcomes at hospital discharge (NIHSS and TREM-1: p = 0.021; mRS and TREM-1: p = 0.049). The serum concentrations of TREM-1 protein within 24 h after stroke was significantly higher in patients with poor outcome (mRS > 2) at hospital discharge (p = 0.021). After Exact Logistic Regression, large segmental stroke (O.R. = 4.14; 95CI = 1.07–16.09; p = 0.040) and initial sTREM levels (O.R. = 1.02; 95CI 1.00–1.04; p = 0.045) remained independent prognostic factors for AIS poor outcome (mRS > 2).ConclusionIn our study, TREM-1 and TREM-2 were significantly increased in AIS. Early elevation of TREM-1 correlated with stroke severity and it was an independent prognostic factor for stroke outcome.     

Polyelectrolyte Complex Nanoparticles Based on Methoxy Poly(Ethylene Glycol)-B-Poly (ε-Caprolactone) Carboxylates and Chitosan for Delivery of Tolbutamide

Abstract

In this study, a novel chitosan (CS)-modified nanoparticles (NPs) were developed to orally deliver tolbutamide (TOL). Methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)- b-poly(ε-caprolactone) carboxylates (mPEG₂₀₀₀-b-PCL₄₀₀₀) was synthesized via an esterification reaction. CS-modified mPEG₂₀₀₀-b-PCL₄₀₀₀-COOH NPs (CS@NPs) were fabricated by injecting mPEG₂₀₀₀-b-PCL₄₀₀₀-COOH NPs suspension (1.0?mg/mL) into CS solution (1.0?mg/mL, pH 5.0). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra were used to confirm the obtaining of mPEG₂₀₀₀-b-PCL₄₀₀₀-COOH. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was carried out to observe morphology of all NPs. Nano ZS90 Malvern ParticleSizer were used to monitor the size distribution of obtained NPs. Thermogravimetry analysis (TGA) was performed to investigate the thermostability of CS@NPs. In vitro TOL release profiles were carried out in pH 1.2 and 7.4 buffers. FTIR spectra confirmed the obtaining of mPEG₂₀₀₀-b-PCL₄₀₀₀-COOH. TGA curves indicated that the protection of CS shells improved the thermostability of mPEG₂₀₀₀-b-PCL₄₀₀₀-COOH NPs. Cell tests indicated the CS@NPs had no obvious cytotoxicity, and they were easily taken up by 293T cells. In vitro release profiles showed that 91.0?±?1.9% of encapsulated TOL were released from TOL-CS@NPs in pH 7.4 buffer. Therefore, the positive potential of CS@NPs could increase their combining capacity with intestinal mucosal cells. Finally, these NPs would improve the bioavailability of hydrophobic drugs.     

补肾调冲方在多囊卵巢综合征中的辅助治疗作用及机制研究

目的 探讨补肾调冲方治疗多囊卵巢综合征（PCOS）的临床疗效对氧化应激的影响。方法 选取我院2016年1月-2018年12月符合PCOS诊断标准的病例100例,以随机数表法随机分为观察组和对照组,每组50例。对照组采取达英-35+来曲唑组进行治疗,观察组在对照组治疗方案的基础上同时给于补肾调冲方治疗,总疗程为6个月经周期,记录两组患者临床资料,检测治疗前后患者脂肪细胞因子、性激素、氧化应激等指标。结果 治疗后,观察组内脂素（visfatin,VF）、瘦素（leptin,LEP）、体质量指数（body mass index,BMI）、腰臀比（waist-to-hip ratio, WHR）,睾酮（testosterone,T）、促黄体生成激素（luteotropic hormone,LH）、卵泡刺激素（follicle-stimulating,FSH）、LH/FSH,丙二醛（malondialdehyde ,MDA）水平以及流产率显著低于对照组;脂联素（adiponectin,APN）水平,雌二醇（estradiol,E2）水平,超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（Glutathione peroxidase,GSH）水平,排卵率及妊娠率水平显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,差异有统计学意义。结论 补肾调冲方对PCOS有较好的治疗作用,可减轻患者体质量,有效调节性激素水平,其机制可能与其改善氧化应激状态,缓解胰岛素抵抗有关。     

Expression of miR-32 in human non-small cell lung cancer and its correlation with tumor progression and patient survival

Introduction: miR-32 has recently been found to be implicated in many critical processes in various types of human cancer. However, its clinical significance in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not yet been elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the expression of miR-32 in NSCLC and analyzed its association with clinical features and prognosis of NSCLC patients. Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure expression level of miR-32 in lung cancer cell lines, normal bronchial epithelial cells, 90 pairs of tumor samples and adjacent non-tumor tissues. To determine its prognostic value, overall survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed using the Cox proportional hazard analysis. Results: The expression of miR-32 was significantly decreased in lung cancer cell lines and NSCLC tissues compared with normal bronchial epithelial cells and adjacent non-tumor tissues (P < 0.05). This reduction of miR-32 was associated with tumor stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis demonstrated that patients with low miR-32 expression had shorter overall survival time than those with high miR-32 expression (P < 0.05). Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant correlations between overall survival and miR-32 level, tumor stage and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05). Furthermore, miR-32 levels, tumor stage and lymph node metastasis were independently associated with overall survival (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our results provided the first evidence that down-regulation of miR-32 was correlated with NSCLC progression, and miR-32 might be a potential molecular biomarker for predicting the prognosis of patients.     

Investigation on the association between inerleukin-10 -592C/A, 819C/T and -1082A/G gene polymorphisms and development of diabetic nephrophathy

We conducted a case-control study to investigate the association between interleukin (IL)-10-592C/A, -819C/T and -1082A/G polymorphisms and susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy. A hospital-based case-control study was taken in our study. A total of 172 patients with proven type 2 diabetes mellitus and 344 controls were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University between March 2012 and October 2014. Genotyping of IL-10 -592C/A, -819C/T and -1082A/G polymorphisms was done by done by PCR-RFLP methods. By the χ² test, the distributions of the GG, GA and AA genotypes in IL-10 -1082A/G were significantly different between patients with diabetic nephropathy and control subjects (χ² = 8.09, P = 0.02). By conditional logistic regression analysis, we found that the AA genotype of IL-10 -1082A/G was associated with an elevated risk of diabetic nephropathy compared to the GG genotype in codominant model, and the adjusted OR (95% CI) was 2.38 (1.23-4.57). In dominant model, the GA+AA genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of diabetic nephropathy compared to the GG genotype in dominant model (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.05-2.16). In recessive model, the AA genotype could influence the susceptibility to diabetic nephropathy when compared with the GG+GA in recessive model (OR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.12-3.85). In conclusion, we suggested that IL-10 -1082A/G gene polymorphism was correlated with development of diabetic nephropathy, but no association was observed between IL-10 -819T/C and -592A/C and risk of diabetic nephropathy.     

微生态制剂对溃疡性结肠炎的治疗效果及作用机制研究

目的探讨微生态制剂对溃疡性结肠炎（UC）的治疗效果及其作用机制。方法前瞻性入组2007年5月至2010年6月间新乡医学院第一附属医院收治的60例UC患者。按随机数字表法分为金双歧组、畅美组和联合组（金双歧联合畅美）,每组各20例。分别予以金双歧2．0g口服、2次／d,畅美1．0g口服、3次／d,及两种药物联合应用,疗程为24个月。治疗前及治疗后24个月对各组患者进行临床症状评分、内镜分级评分以及结肠炎性反应评分;并通过免疫组织化学染色和酶联免疫双抗体夹心法分别检测结肠黏膜及血清中的白细胞介素IO（IL-10）含量。结果联合组患者治疗后24个月,临床症状评分（12．5±2．1比2．3±0．8,P=O．016）、内镜分级评分（3．02±0．17比0．25±0．13,P=O．032）和炎性反应评分（2．63±0．19比0．77±0．16,P=O．028）均显著优于治疗前;而金双歧组和畅美组治疗前后各项评分的差异均无统计学意义（均P〉O．05）。联合组患者治疗24个月时,IL．10在结肠黏膜中的阳性表达率[85％（17／20）比55％（11／20）,P=O．038]和在血清中的表达水平f（17．4±2．2）ng／L比（12．8±2．2）ng／L,P=O．015]均显著高于治疗前;而金双歧组和畅美组治疗前后IL．10表达水平的差异均无统计学意义（均P〉O．05）。结论金双歧联合畅美治疗UC疗效肯定,其治疗作用可能与促进IL-10表达升高有关。