Sema4D as a biomarker for Predicting rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.

Objective: The semaphorins are membrane or secreted proteins first identified in neural development. Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) is the first family member found to have immune properties. We evaluated the potential of Sema4D as a marker for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity, singly and in combination with other known biomarkers including rheumatoid factor (RF) and C-reactive protein (CRP).

The prognostic value of whole-genome DNA methylation in response to Leflunomide in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Although Leflunomide (LEF) is effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there are still a considerable number of patients who respond poorly to LEF treatment. Till date, few LEF efficacy-predicting biomarkers have been identified. Herein, we explored and developed a DNA methylation-based predictive model for LEF-treated RA patient prognosis.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting stroke risk in rheumatoid arthritis patients.

We developed and validated a nomogram to predict the risk of stroke in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in northern China. Out of six machine learning algorithms studied to improve diagnostic and prognostic accuracy of the prediction model, the logistic regression algorithm showed high performance in terms of calibration and decision curve analysis. The nomogram included stratifications of sex, age, systolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol along with the history of traditional risk factors such as hypertensive, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease.

Quality of life and influencing factors of patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Northeast China.

Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease with a high disability rate, resulting in severe family and social burden. The aim of treatment is to improve the health-related quality of life (QoL) of patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the QoL of patients with RA in Northeast China and analyze its influencing factors.

Development and validation of a nomogram to predict coronary heart disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in northern China.

We developed and validated a nomogram to predict coronary heart disease (CHD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in northern China. We analyzed a cohort of RA patients admitted to the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from 2011 to 2017. To select a high-performance model for clinical data prediction, we evaluated the F1-scores of six machine learning models.

Exploring metabolic and inflammatory abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis patients developing stroke disease: a case-control study using electronic medical record data in northern China.

Objectives: Intend to investigate the roles of serum lipids, inflammatory markers, and serological status in rheumatoid arthritis and stroke patients by using case-control study.

Materials And Methods: Clinical data were retrieved from the electronic medical record of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University during January 2011 to March 2018. The obtained data were categorized into case groups and three control groups, in the ratios of 1:2, respectively, with all matching age and gender.

MicroRNA-217 attenuates intima-media complex thickness of ascending aorta measured by ultrasound bio-microscopy and inhibits inflammation and lipid metabolism in atherosclerotic models of ApoE mice.

Background: Little investigation was done to test the efficiency of microRNA-217 (miR-217) on atherosclerosis in vivo.

Methods: ApoE mice were used to construct atherosclerotic models and ultrasound bio-microscopy (UBM) was applied to detect the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the ascending aorta. The serum level of miR-217 and correlation with IMT was investigated.

Increased frequency of CCR7CD4 T cells from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome: An indicator of disease activity rather than of damage severity.

Expression of CCR7 on T cells has been reported to be associated with the lymphocytic migration and infiltration, which is recognized as a vital part of the pathogenesis of Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Here, we compared the expression of CCR7 on CD4+T cells between pSS patients and control groups, including healthy donors (HD) and patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and examined correlations with disease activity and damage severity, which were evaluated by EULAR Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index (ESSDAI) and Sjogren's Syndrome Disease Damage Index (SSDDI), respectively. Peripheral blood mononuclear Cells (PBMC) were obtained from patients and controls and expressions of CCR7 were evaluated by flow cytometry.

Predicting castration-resistant prostate cancer after combined androgen blockade.

This study analyzed Tcm-MDP bone scans and investigated factors influencing early-stage castration resistance in prostate cancer (CRPC) patients with bone metastasis. We retrospectively analyzed clinical data from 92 patients with bone metastatic prostate cancer treated with maximal androgen blockade. Patients were imaged with Tcm-MDP bone scan to detect metastases, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) values were measured regularly.

[The effect of secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine and its receptor on chemotaxis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the patients with Sjögren's syndrome].

Aim: To investigate the effect of secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLTC) and its receptor CCL21/CCR7 on chemotaxis of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and explore their roles in the SS pathogenesis.

Methods: Thirty-one SS patients were selected, including 18 primary SS patients (pSS) and 13 secondary SS (sSS) patients. In addition, 20 healthy persons were selected as normal controls.

Anti-macrophage-derived chemokine antibody relieves murine lupus nephritis.

We observed the distribution of monocyte's changes in damage to renal tissue and the expression of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC) in MRL/lpr mice. The 8-week-old MRL/lpr mice were randomly assigned to receive either MDC antibodies (n = 6) or placebo (n = 6) at a once-every-other-day dose of 300 μl from week 4. We then quantified the differences in 24-h urine protein and serum creatinine concentrations, performed a histological evaluation of renal tissue and assessed the expression of MDC protein and mRNA between the two groups 4 weeks after treatment was initiated.