High-resolution imaging of progressive articular cartilage degeneration.

The objective of this study was to develop and verify a new technique for monitoring the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) by combining a rat model with the imaging modality optical coherence tomography (OCT). Time-sequential, in vivo, OCT imaging was performed on the left femoral condyles of 12 Wistar rats following sodium-iodoacetic acid-induced OA progression. The right femoral condyles (untreated) were also imaged and served as controls. Imaging was performed on days 0, 10, 20, 30, and 60 with an OCT system capable of acquiring images at four frames per second and an axial resolution of 5 microm. Progressive changes were analyzed using an OA scoring system. OCT successfully identified progressive cartilage degeneration as well as alteration of the cartilage/bone interface. Significant changes to both of these structures were observed in the sodium-iodoacetic acid-injected condyles. Structural changes detected with OCT were confirmed histologically. OCT in combination with a well-known model used in arthritis research represents a powerful tool for following degenerative joint disease progression in a given animal by detecting changes to the cartilage/bone interface and articular cartilage.     

Effect of Tripterygium Vilfordii on Adrenal Cortex in Rat with Adjuvant Arthritis

(张明敏)(刘沛霖)(叶望云)ＥｆｆｅｃｔｏｆＴｒｉｐｔｅｒｙｇｉｕｍＶｉｌｆｏｒｄｉｉｏｎＡｄｒｅｎａｌＣｏｒｔｅｘｉｎＲａｔｗｉｔｈＡｄｊｕｖａｎｔＡｒｔｈｒｉｔｉｓ￥ＺＨＡＮＧＭｉｎｇ－ｍｉｎ；ＬＩＵＰｅｉ－ｌｉｎ；ＹＥＷａｎｇ－ｙｕｎ（Ｔｏｎｇｊｉ...     

The HLA-DQ7 and -DQ8 associations in DR4-positive rheumatoid arthritis patients A combined analysis of data available in the literature

Several different lines of evidence have demonstrated that inherited susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with the DRB1 genes encoding the HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR1 molecules. A contrasting hypothesis has recently been proposed, suggesting that, in general, the DRB1 locus is associated with protection to RA and that the RA-associated DRB1 alleles are not responsible for the primary disease association but merely permissive for the susceptibility conferred by the HLA-DQ alleles with which they are in linkage disequilibrium. We have performed a critical review of the literature on the HLA association in RA with special emphasis on studies in which both an HLA-DR and -DQ association has been investigated. Our analyses provide strong evidence against the hypothesis that HLA-DQ molecules play a major role in the general susceptibility to RA. Thus, the strongest association in rheumatoid arthritis is with DRB1 genes rather than DQB1 genes.     

类风湿因子IgM-RF、IgG-RF和IgA-RF的临床意义分析

目的　探讨 3种类风湿因子 (RF)诊断类风湿关节炎 (RA)、反映病情活动度和疗效的临床意义。方法对关节痛 /关节炎 (A组 )、确诊的RA (B组 )、其它免疫结缔组织病 (C组 )患者和正常人 (D组 )共 6 18例用酶联免疫法进行 3种RF的动态检测并随访观察。结果　 4组人群中 3种RF的阳性率和浓度以B组最高 [IgM RF为 92 4 % ,(182 5± 5 1 4 )IU/ml;IgG RF为 6 7 8% ,(2 2 9 7± 75 6 )IU/ml;IgA RF为 78 8% ,(2 35 8± 80 7)IU/ml],组间比较依次为B组 >A组 >C和D组 (均为P <0 0 5 )。B组中高活动期RA患者的 3种RF浓度明显高于其它 3组 (P <0 0 5 ) ,IgM RF和IgA RF在稳定期和低活动期较高活动期均明显降低 (均为P <0 0 5 ) ,而IgG RF变化无显著性。随访 3～ 18个月 ,A组中最后确诊为RA的比率以 3种RF同时阳性者最高 (10 0 0 % ) ,2种RF同时阳性者次之(90 9%～ 93 3% ) ,以单一RF作比较则IgG RF >IgA RF >IgM RF阳性者。结论　早期诊断RA以IgM RF的敏感性最高 ,以IgG RF的特异性最高 ,任何 2种以上RF阳性可提高RA诊断的可靠性 ,RF浓度可作为判断RA活动度及药物治疗效果的指标之一。     

特发性甲状旁腺机能减退症颅脑CT及MRI表现

目的探讨颅脑CT及MRI检查对特发性甲状旁腺机能减退症(IHP)的诊断价值。方法回顾性分析16例经临床确诊的IHP患者头颅CT(16/16)和MRI(3/16)表现,观察病变的范围和密度/信号等特点。结果IHP颅内主要表现为多发钙化性病变,在CT上表现为高密度,CT值114～373HU,在MRT1WI呈稍高信号或高信号,T2WI呈等信号。双侧尾状核、苍白球、壳核及丘脑的对称性、条形或团块状钙化16例;双侧额、颞、顶、枕叶皮层下钙化10例;小脑齿状核钙化6例(双侧4例,单侧2例);侧脑室旁钙化2例。结论CT和MR对IHP的诊断非常重要,其中CT对病变的显示优于MR,与临床结果结合,对IHP具有定性诊断意义。     

青少年肌阵挛性癫(癎)

青少年肌阵挛性癫是一种以晨起肌阵挛、全身强直-阵挛发作为临床特征的特发性全身性癫综合征,有时伴有失神发作。本文就青少年肌阵挛性癫的临床表现、遗传学、脑电图特点、鉴别诊断以及治疗方法进行了阐述。     

Anti-avian antibodies and rheumatoid factor in pigeon hypersensitivity pneumonitis

BACKGROUND: Although several immunological abnormalities may be present in pigeon hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP), few specific hallmarks have been described. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) could be useful to discriminate pigeon HP from asymptomatic breeders (AB) and other interstitial lung diseases. METHODS: Fifty-three patients with pigeon HP, 47 AB, 31 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients and a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) group were studied. IgM RF was determined through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot using human IgG and IgG Fc fragment as antigens. IgG and IgA anti-avian antibodies (AA) against pigeon serum antigen were also measured. The use of F(ab')2 fraction of peroxidase-labelled anti-human immunoglobulins prevented endogenous interferences. Possible cross-binding of RF with avian antigens and the reactivity against human IgG by AA were studied. RESULTS: RF tests were frequently positive in HP (52.8%) in comparison to AB (4.2%) and IPF (12.9%; P = 2.6 x 10-10 and 4.1 x 10-5). Therefore, the presence of RF in pigeon HP showed a sensitivity of 52% and was highly specific considering the results of AB and IPF (95 and 87%, respectively). The RA group revealed positive RF but negative AA tests. RF activity was confirmed through western blot using purified IgG Fc fragment. Overlapping levels of IgG and IgA AA were found in HP and AB. The frequency of AA was low in IPF. The cross-reaction of RF with avian antigens was excluded, and no reactivity against human IgG by AA was detected. Other endogenous interferences were ruled out. CONCLUSION: No single immunological test may definitively distinguish pigeon HP from AB and other interstitial lung disorders; however, positive RF, together with high AA levels, seems to be useful in differentiating the diagnosis.     

女性服刑人员精神创伤的特征

目的调查女性服刑人员精神创伤的特征。方法在湖南新路职业学校中,采用多级随机整群抽样的原则抽取471个女性服刑人员,分青少年组（年龄≤25岁）和成年组（〉25岁）。运用创伤性生活事件问卷（TLEQ）和访谈相结合的技术评估她们的精神创伤经历。结果（1）90.4%的女性服刑人员至少经历1件创伤性事件,63.7%至少经历3件或以上的多重创伤。青少年组的事件数量多于成年组（平均为4和3件,P〈0.01）。暴力和毒品相关犯罪组的事件数量相当（平均4件）,都多于经济犯罪组（2件）;中学或相当教育程度者的事件数量最多（4件）,大专或以上者最少（2件）;未婚、离婚/丧偶2组经历的事件数量最多（4件）,已婚组最少（2件）,均差异有显著性（P〈0.05）。（2）最多见的创伤类型是机动车祸（46.9%）、目睹家庭暴力（46.1%）和被抢劫（38.9%）。16.7%的女犯在18岁以前遭遇过性虐待。与成年组相比,青少年组经历了更多的创伤类型为被抢劫、目睹被惨打、目睹家庭暴力,以及儿童期性虐待。结论我国文化背景下,女性服刑人员的精神创伤经历相当普遍,是精神创伤的潜在受害者。     

Inflammation and the Aging Process: Devil or Angel

Inflammation is often viewed as a pathologic mechanism leading to tissue damage and interference with function, such as the process of chronic tissue scarring or fibrosis. However, it is important to note that inflammation is a crucial component of normal tissue repair as well as being fundamental to the body's defense against infection. Considering inflammation as a "causative agent in aging" belies the underlying mechanisms whereby the acute inflammatory response is necessary for survival, and efforts to reduce and control the inflammatory response leave the host susceptible to infectious agents and improper healing. Chronic inflammation inevitably has initiating mechanisms that include immune, autoimmune, and metabolic pathways, leading to the activation and presence of the host-protective response. It is more appropriate to target the underlying initiating conditions than the inflammatory process that ensues and treat the basic mechanisms of disease rather than interfere in a very important protective mechanism of the host.