The relationships between titers of anti-Ro or anti-La as measured by ELISA and salivary production rate with age correction

The objective of this work was to clarify the clinical significance of titers of anti-Ro and anti-La, the relationships between titers of either anti-Ro or anti-La, and salivary production rate (SPR). These autoantibodies were titrated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The Saxon test was performed to measure SPR. Fifty-one females who had anti-Ro but not anticentromere antibodies or anti-U1RNP were enrolled. SPR decreased significantly with age. In order to exclude the effect of aging on SPR, we calculated the “SPR with age correction.” According to the results of a multiple regression analysis, only the anti-La titer was significantly associated with SPR with age correction. The distribution pattern of the anti-La titers consisted of two subgroups (with a titer index cutoff of 100.0): a negative anti-La titer (anti-La < 25.0) and low anti-La titer (25.0 ≤ anti-La < 100.0) group, and a high anti-La titer group (anti-La ≥ 100.0). The concentration of serum IgG and the frequency of Sjögren’s syndrome in the high anti-La titer group were significantly higher than those in the negative anti-La and low anti-La titer group. Several new aspects of the clinical significance of titrating anti-Ro and anti-La in comparison with SPR have been revealed.     

系统性红斑狼疮特异性抗原60KD Ro/SSA的提取和纯化

目的建立从猪脾纯化Ro/SSA自身抗原系统中60KD组分的方法.方法从猪脾提取ENA(可提取核抗原),以硫酸铵沉淀结合离子交换层析分离ENA蛋白组分,并用对流免疫电泳检测60KD SSA抗原的活性,以得到纯化60KD SSA抗原的具体条件.结果 60KD SSA抗原在Tris-HCl缓冲液(pH8.3)中的硫酸铵沉淀范围是硫酸铵饱和度50%～60%.60KD SSA抗原在50mM Tris-HCl缓冲液(pH8.3) NaCl中的DE52离子交换层析洗脱范围为电导值35～40ms/cm.结论结合硫酸铵沉淀和DE52离子交换层析两种纯化方法所得的60KD SSA抗原相对于其它ENA有较高的纯度,并能有效分离中SSA中60KD、52KD两个组分.     

Breast cancer in lupus

The purpose was to evaluate the frequency of breast cancer (BC) in patients with either systemic (SLE) or incomplete lupus erythematosus (ILE), and possibly to find out immunological differences in patients with and without cancer. 133 consecutive female patients with lupus were included. The records were retrospectively analysed with respect to both malignant disease and routine laboratory parameters (e.g. autoantibodies, white blood cell counts). BC was the most common malignancy that was detected in 50% of female lupus patients with concomitant oncological disease. Other malignancies were significantly less (p < 0.001) frequent. Only ILE-patients had BC or other oncological diseases. The proportion of ILE-patients with SSA- and SSB-autoantibodies was significantly higher (p < 1.5 × 10⁻¹⁰ and 9.1 × 10⁻¹⁷) in those with malignancies than without. The presented data suggest that BC is the most common malignancy in patients with ILE. SLE is no prerequisite to acquire an oncological disease. Immunological disturbances (e.g. SSA- and SSB-autoantibodies) could play a role in the oncogensis.     

Sjögren's syndrome and granulomatous panniculitis

An 83‐year‐old Cambodian woman presented with multiple painful erythematous nodules on the lower legs, forearms and wrists. Subsequent history and investigations revealed a granulomatous lobular panniculitis associated with Sjögren’s syndrome. This is a rare cutaneous association of Sjögrens syndrome with only three similar case reports in the literature.     

Guillain-Barré syndrome in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus and anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB autoantibodies

We report a 9‐year follow‐up of a girl with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and probable Sjögren’s syndrome. At the age of 7 years, the patient developed a chilblain‐like eruption with features of SLE, including leucopenia, oral ulcers, positive rheumatoid and antinuclear antibodies and positive anti‐dsDNA, anti‐Ro/SSA and anti‐La/SSB antibodies. At the age of 13 years she developed Guillain–Barré syndrome, which completely resolved with aggressive treatment, including high‐dose corticosteroids and the use of plasma exchange followed by intravenous gammaglobulin.     

Ro60/SSA基因转染HEp-2细胞作为间接免疫荧光检测底物及其应用

本研究拟改造间接免疫荧光技术（IIF）抗核抗体（ANA）检测法的底物HEp-2细胞，建立抗60kDRo60／SSA抗体免疫荧光检测法。采用PCR扩增人源Ro60 cDNA，克隆入真核表达载体pEGFP-C1，并转染HEp-2细胞。通过荧光显微镜、免疫印迹法（IBT）及IIF鉴定转染细胞（HEp-Ro60）中Ro60-绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）融合蛋白的表达和抗原性。分别以HEp-Ro60以及HEp-2为底物的IIF检测10份抗Ro／SSA对流免疫电泳（CIE）检测阳性、其他抗体阴性血清以及对照血清。获得的转染细胞传十几代后仍具有较强的Ro60-GFP表达，融合蛋白保持Ro60的抗原性。IIF检测中HEp-Ro60的滴度比HEp-2增加了6．7倍（P〈0．01），而且2例HEp-2细胞上IIF检测为阴性的血清在HEI-Ro60上为阳性。10例阳性血清中有8例出现了特征性荧光模式。结论是HEp-Ro60可用于IIF检测抗Ro抗体，并增加了ANA检出的敏感性。     

Mortality outcomes based on ED qSOFA score and HIV status in a developing low income country

Objective

To evaluate the utility of the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score to predict risks for emergency department (ED) and hospital mortality among patients in a sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) setting.