Adipose Tissue Macrophages in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Prevalence, Disease-Related Indicators, and Associations With Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

Objective: Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) are a potent source of inflammatory cytokines, with profound effects on adipose tissue function, yet their potential role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathobiology is largely unstudied.

Methods: Periumbilical subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained from 36 RA patients and 22 non-RA controls frequency matched on demographics and body mass index. Samples were stained for the macrophage marker CD68, and the average proportions of ATMs, crown-like structures (periadipocyte aggregates of 3 or more ATMs), and fibrosis were compared between groups.

C1q and tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 is present in human cord blood and is associated with fetal growth.

Background: To determine the presence of C1q and tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 (CTRP3) in cord blood and its relationship with fetal growth among Chinese newborns.

Methods: This pilot study recruited 126 infants (small for gestational age [SGA], n=34; appropriate for gestational age [AGA], n=60; large for gestational age [LGA], n=32); cord blood CTRP3 levels were measured, and fetal growth parameters were collected.

Results: Median (25-75th percentile) CTRP3 levels in the SGA, AGA, and LGA groups were 297.

Association of Elevations of Specific T Cell and Monocyte Subpopulations in Rheumatoid Arthritis With Subclinical Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis.

Objective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of excess deaths in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, identification of features denoting patients with a risk of developing CAD is lacking. The composition of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) subsets in RA patients differs markedly from that in healthy controls with regard to the extent of T cell activation, with clonal expansion and differentiation to effector memory status, and presence of inflammatory monocytes.

Relationship between human cord blood adropin levels and fetal growth.

Adropin is a recently identified peptide and participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis and vascular function. The aim of this study was to examine the relationships between human cord blood adropin levels and fetal growth. A total of 159 newborns [preterm delivery (PTD), n=72; term delivery, n=87] were recruited.

Immunologic characteristics of intrarenal T cells: trafficking of expanded CD8+ T cell β-chain clonotypes in progressive lupus nephritis.

Objective: To better define the immunologic character of the T cell infiltrate in lupus nephritis.

Methods: We performed double immunohistochemical staining and clonotypic T cell receptor (TCR) β-chain sequencing in multiple anatomic regions isolated by laser-capture microdissection from renal biopsy samples.

Results: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) kidneys have a variably patterned and often extensive infiltrate of predominantly clonally expanded T cells of CD4 and CD8 lineages.

Circulating activated and effector memory T cells are associated with calcification and clonal expansions in bicuspid and tricuspid valves of calcific aortic stenosis.

We sought to delineate further the immunological significance of T lymphocytes infiltrating the valve leaflets in calcific aortic stenosis (CAS) and determine whether there were associated alterations in circulating T cells. Using clonotypic TCR β-chain length and sequence analysis we confirmed that the repertoire of tricuspid CAS valves contains numerous expanded T cell clones with varying degrees of additional polyclonality, which was greatest in cases with severe calcification. We now report a similar proportion of clonal expansions in the much younger bicuspid valve CAS cases.

Preparation of folate-modified pullulan acetate nanoparticles for tumor-targeted drug delivery.

The purpose of this work was to develop a novel nano-carrier with targeting property to tumor. In this study, pullulan acetate (PA) was synthesized by the acetylation of pullulan to simplify the preparation technique of nanoparticles. Folic acid (FA) was conjugated to PA in order to improve the cancer-targeting activity.

Pullulan acetate nanoparticles prepared by solvent diffusion method for epirubicin chemotherapy.

Pullulan acetate (PA) was synthesized by the reaction of pullulan with acetic anhydride in the presence of pyridine. PA was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR). A solvent diffusion method was employed in the current work to prepare PA nanoparticles.

[A randomized controlled trial on effect of hepatitis B immune globulin in preventing hepatitis B virus transmission from mothers to infants].

Objective: To explore the effects of hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) in prevention of mother-to-infant hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmission.

Method: A total of 279 pregnant women positive for HBsAg alone or for both HBsAg and HBeAg were enrolled into this study from January 2001 to May 2005. They were respectively divided into two groups at random, namely, only HBsAg-positiveexperimental group (n = 80), only HBsAg-positive control group (n = 60), both HBsAg and HBeAg-positive experimental group (n = 79) and both HBsAg and HBeAg-positive control group (n = 60).

Recruitment of osteoclast precursors by stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1) in giant cell tumor of bone.

Giant cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a unique bone lesion that is characterized by an excessive number of multinucleated osteoclasts. GCT consists of neoplastic stromal cells, multinucleated osteoclasts and their precursors, thus serving as a naturally occurring human disease model for the study of osteoclastogenesis. It still remains unclear how stromal cells of GCT recruit osteoclast precursors.

Bisphosphonates may reduce recurrence in giant cell tumor by inducing apoptosis.

Giant cell tumor of bone is an aggressive tumor characterized by extensive bone destruction and high recurrence rates. This tumor consists of stromal cells and hematopoietic cells that interact in an autocrine manner to produce tumoral osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. This autocrine regulation may be disrupted by novel therapeutic agents.