Effects of active and latent H. pylori infection coupled with chronic alcohol ingestion on cytokine profiles and markers of oxidative balance in men seropositive for H. pylori CagA Ab: An observational study.

This study aimed to explore the effects of active and latent Helicobacter pylori infection coupled with alcohol consumption on cytokine profiles and markers of oxidative balance in men seropositive for H. pylori CagA Ab.The 100 male subjects were divided into groups with active H.

The Correlation and Risk Factors between Carotid Intima-Media Thickening and Alcoholic Liver Disease Coupled with Helicobacter pylori Infection.

The aim of this study was to explore the associations and differences in influencing factors between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) coupled with Helicobacter pylori infection and atherosclerosis and to determine whether there is a "double hit phenomenon" in atherosclerosis patients with ALD and H. pylori infections. Included cases (n = 160) were categorized into 4 groups: 41 cases of ALD coupled with H.

Association between circulating inflammatory molecules and alcoholic liver disease in men.

The association between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the inflammatory response remains controversial. The aim of this study was to explore this association between ALD and inflammation. We enrolled 214 male participants, who were divided into three age-matched groups: ALD (n = 135), chronic alcohol ingestion without ALD (non-ALD; n = 42), and control (n = 37).

PRISMA-Compliant Article: Clinical Characteristics and Factors Influencing Prognosis of Patients With Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach in China.

Most previous studies have been single case reports, and studies with large samples are presently lacking. In addition, no studies have investigated the associations between the clinical characteristics and prognosis of hepatoid adenocarcinoma of the stomach (HAS). The aim of this study was to explore the associations of different clinical characteristics with the ages, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, and survival times of HAS patients.

Risk Factors Associated With Increased Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in a Male Population With Chronic Alcohol Consumption: A Prospective Observational Study.

Previous studies have reported a relationship between alcohol consumption and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). However, the exact associations between different severities of CIMT and dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, inflammatory immune markers, and oxidative markers associated with chronic alcohol consumption remain unknown. The aim of this study was to explore whether there are associations between different severities of CIMT and dyslipidemia, dyslipoproteinemia, inflammatory immune markers, and oxidative markers associated with chronic alcohol consumption.

Influence of H. pylori CagA Coupled with Alcohol Consumption on Cytokine Profiles in Men.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) coupled with chronic alcohol ingestion on cytokine profiles.A total of 215 male subjects were divided into the following 4 groups: 130 alcohol H pylori CagA-negative consumers (CagA-) (group A), 50 alcohol H pylori CagA-positive consumers (CagA+) (group B), 24 nonalcohol H pylori CagA-negative consumers (group C), and 11 nonalcohol H pylori CagA-positive consumers (group D). The serum CagA, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, E-selectin, adiponectin (ADP), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were measured through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs).

Causes of Thickening of Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Patients With Alcoholic Liver Disease: A Prospective Observational Study.

Several studies have reported the relationship between alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Few studies, however, have investigated the causes of CIMT thickening in patients with ALD. The authors explored the causes of CIMT thickening in patients with ALD.

Effect of H. pylori Infection on Cytokine Profiles and Oxidative Balance in Subjects with Chronic Alcohol Ingestion.

Different amounts of ingested alcohol can have distinct effects on the human body. However, there is limited research on chronic alcohol consumption with Helicobacter pylori infection. We sought to investigate the relationship between the cytokine profile, oxidative balance and H.

Changes in tumor necrosis factor-α, heat shock protein 70, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase in patients with different severities of alcoholic fatty liver disease: a prospective observational study.

The relationships among inflammation, oxidative balance, and the severity of alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) remain unknown. The aim of this study is to explore the relationships among tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the severity of AFLD.From January 2012 to December 2013, 162 participants were enrolled in this study and divided into 4 groups: 44 cases of mild AFLD (group A), 55 cases of moderate-to-severe AFLD (group B), 44 cases of alcohol consumption without AFLD (group C), and 20 cases of no alcohol consumption without AFLD (group D).

Etoricoxib versus indometacin in the treatment of Chinese patients with acute gouty arthritis: a randomized double-blind trial.

Background: Acute gout is an intensely painful, inflammatory arthritis. Although the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for this condition, the efficacy is based on only a few studies, particularly in China. We tried to assess the safety and efficacy of etoricoxib in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis in China.

Multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial of treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis with T-614 compared with methotrexate.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of T-614 versus methotrexate (MTX) in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this multicenter, double-blind trial, 489 patients randomly received either T-614 25 mg/day for the first 4 weeks and 50 mg/day for the subsequent 20 weeks (group 1, n = 163), T-614 50 mg/day for 24 weeks (group 2, n = 163), or MTX 10 mg/week for the first 4 weeks and 15 mg/week for the subsequent 20 weeks (n = 163). Clinical and laboratory parameters were analyzed at baseline and at 4, 10, 17, and 24 weeks.

[The predictive factors and unfavourable prognostic factors of interstitial lung disease in patients with polymyositis/dermatomyositis].

Objective: To analyze the predictive factors and the unfavourable prognostic factors of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with polymyositis (PM)/dermatomyositis (DM).

Methods: The clinical data were collected from 87 inpatients with DM or PM, who were admitted to Shanghai Changhai Hospital from January 1997 to November 2006. The patients were divided into an ILD group and a non-ILD group.

A comparison study of a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein (rhTNFR:Fc) and methotrexate in treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis in China.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rhTNFR:Fc: a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein compared with methotrexate (MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China. We treated 238 patients with active rheumatoid arthritis with either twice weekly subcutaneous injection rhTNFR:Fc (25 mg) or weekly oral MTX (mean 15 mg per week) for 24 weeks (registration number: 2003L01264). Clinical responses were defined as the percent improvement in disease activity according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR-N).

TLR9/TLR7-triggered downregulation of BDCA2 expression on human plasmacytoid dendritic cells from healthy individuals and lupus patients.

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) can produce a large amount of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) upon exposure to TLR9 or TLR7 agonists. Human pDCs have been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) through increased production of IFN-alpha. So, how to negatively regulate activation of pDCs and how to evaluate the activation of pDC in SLE patients attract much attention.

Safety and efficacy of T-614 in the treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a double blind, randomized, placebo-controlled and multicenter trial.

Background: A novel anti-rheumatic drug, T-614, has been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect and to improve abnormal immunological findings in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To assess the safety and efficacy of T-614 versus placebo in patients with active RA we conducted a 24-week clinical study in 280 Chinese patients.

Methods: In a multicenter, randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study, 280 patients were randomly assigned to receive placebo (n = 95) or T-614 at 50 mg (n = 93) or 25 mg (n = 92) daily.

Targeted disruption of Smad4 in mouse epidermis results in failure of hair follicle cycling and formation of skin tumors.

Smad4 is the common mediator of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) superfamily signaling, which functions in diverse developmental processes in mammals. To study the role of Smad4 in skin development, a keratinocyte-specific null mutant of Smad4 (Smad4(co/co);K5-Cre) was generated in mice using the Cre-loxP system. The Smad4-mutant mice exhibited progressive alopecia as a result of the mutant hair follicles failing to undergo programmed regression.

Expression and function of inducible costimulator on peripheral blood T cells in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To investigate the role of inducible costimulator (ICOS) in the pathogenesis of SLE, we assessed its expression on peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells and functional roles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Expression of ICOS on peripheral blood CD4 and CD8 T cells and ICOS ligand (ICOSL) on peripheral blood CD19 B cells from patients with SLE, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and healthy volunteers were determined by two-colour flow cytometry. The functional costimulatory effects of ICOS on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were assessed by T-cell proliferative responses, cytokines, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody and total IgG production.

[Expression and clinical significance of inducible co-stimulator on peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To investigate the expression of inducible co-stimulator (ICOS) and other immunological molecules on peripheral blood T lymphocyte subsets in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to find out the relationship with disease-activity, disease-stage and the contents of anti-dsDNA antibody and immunoglobulin in serum so as to pave the way for further studying the possibly immunologically pathological role of ICOS in SLE.

Methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 51 patients with SLE, 3 males and 22 females. Three-color flow cytometry was used to detect the levels of ICOS, CD45RO, CD45RA, and HLA-DR expression on the peripheral blood T lymphocytes subsets.

Association of the CTLA-4 gene with rheumatoid arthritis in Chinese Han population.

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4) is important for downregulation of T-cell activation, and CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms have been implicated as risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Previous studies of the association between the +49 polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene in RA have provided conflicting results. In order to determine association of the CTLA-4 gene with RA in Chinese Han population, we used denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) to genotype polymorphisms of four SNPs (MH30, +49, CT60 and JO31) of the CTLA-4 gene in 326 RA patients and 250 healthy controls.

[The extraction and effects on mouse lymphocyte proliferation of immunoregulation components from Lysimachia hemsleyana].

Objective: To study the effects of extracted fractions from the whole plants of Lysimachia hemsleyana Maxim on the proliferation ability of lymphocytes in mice in vitro.

Methods: We extracted the components by using of ethanol, ether from petroleum, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol, successively then study them on the proliferation of lymphocytes in mice.

Results: The n-butanol fraction obviously inhibited the proliferation of spleen lymphocytes induced by LPS, bilaterally regulated the T lymphocyte proliferation induced by ConA.

Prevalence of rheumatic symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gout in Shanghai, China: a COPCORD study.

Objective: To carry out a cross-sectional survey on prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and gout.

Methods: In Shanghai, 4 communities comprising 7603 inhabitants over 15 years of age in an urban population were randomly selected from 13 communities. Interviews were conducted from September 1997 to March 1998 by trained physicians using the COPCORD Core Questionnaire.

[The effects of n-butanol fraction of Lysimachia hemsleyana on the activities of lymphocytes in mice].

Objective: To study the effects of n-butanol fraction from the whole plants (Lysimachia hemsleyana) on the phagocytic activities of the peritoneal macrophage, production of interleukin-2.

Methods: We extracted the components with ethanol, acetic ether, n-butanol and chloroform, then studied the n-butanol fraction on the phagocytic activities of the peritoneal macrophage, production of interleukin-2 (IL-2) from splenocytes induced by ConA in mice in vitro.

Results: n-Butanol fraction of an ethanol extract of air-dried herbs bilaterally regulated the IL-2 production from splenocytes induced by ConA, and enhanced the phagocytic activities of activated mouse peritoneal macrophages.