Treatment of immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis: outcomes of glucocorticoid therapy combined with steroid-sparing agents.

Background: Immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS) is a newly recognized immune-mediated systemic disease. Despite its good response to steroid therapy, its treatment protocol is not standardized and the long-term outcome is controversial. The study was conducted to determine the short-term and long-term outcomes of IgG4-RS patients treated with glucocorticoids and steroid-sparing immunosuppressive agents, to analyze secretory function, serological and radiological changes in salivary glands and to assess the usefulness of serum IgG4 level as an indicator of disease activity.

[Effects of Salidroside on Tic Behavior of Tourette Syndrome Model Rats].

Objective: To observe the effect of salidroside on tic behavior and in vivo dopamine DA) and serotonin (5-HT) levels in Tourette syndrome (TS) model rats.

Methods: Forty rats were randomly divided into the blank control group, the TS model group, the haloperidol-treated group (0.5 mg/kg x d(-1)), and the salidroside-treated group (50 mg/kg x d(-1)), 10 in each group.

Efficacy and safety of weekly leflunomide for the treatment of early rheumatoid arthritis: a randomized, multi-center study.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy and safety of a weekly dose of leflunomide (50 mg/week) in early rheumatoid arthritis patients with mild or moderate disease activity.

Methods: The patients of early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) with mild or moderate disease activity were randomly selected for inclusion in this study and were assigned to either the treatment group (leflunomide 50 mg/week, LEF50) or the control group (leflunomide 10 mg/day, LEF10). All patients were treated for 24 weeks.

AlCl3 induces lymphocyte apoptosis in rats through the mitochondria-caspase dependent pathway.

To investigate apoptosis mechanisms in lymphocytes induced by aluminum trichloride (AlCl3) through the mitochondria-caspase dependent pathway, the spleen lymphocytes of rats were cultured with RPMI-1640 medium and exposed to AlCl3·6H2O in the final concentrations of 0 (control group, CG), 0.3 (low-dose group, LG), 0.6 (mid-dose group, MG), and 1.

A survey of anxiety and depression symptoms among primary-care physicians in China.

Objective: Anxiety and depression disorder are the most prevalent mental health problems. However, few studies are available pertaining to these problems among Chinese doctors, especially the assessment of the anxiety and depression symptoms among primary-care providers. The aim of this study was to assess the anxiety and depression symptoms among Chinese primary-care physicians and their associated factors.

Hyperuricemia accompanied with changes in the retinal microcirculation in a Chinese high-risk population for diabetes.

Objective: To investigate the association of retinal vascular calibers with hyperuricemia in a middle-aged and elderly population.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was applied in this study and 869 participants aged =40 years from a high-risk group for diabetes were recruited. All participants received the anthropometrical measurements and laboratory tests.

[The clinical significance of D-dimer in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of D-dimer in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The study group comprised 261 SLE patients who were admitted in ward from 2005 to 2008 in Peking University People's Hospital. Collect the clinical data to investigate the clinical significance of D-dimer.

[Possible mechanisms of peripheral elevated CD8+ IL-17+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To identify interleukin-17 (IL-17 )-producing CD8 positive T cells from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and investigate its cytokines as well as their correlations.

Methods: Peripheral blood got from 39 RA patients and 40 healthy donors. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the subsets of T cells in peripheral blood from these 39 RA patients and 27 healthy donors.

Assessing heavy-metal contamination and sources by GIS-based approach and multivariate analysis of urban-rural topsoils in Wuhan, central China.

Nine potentially harmful heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Zn) were measured in 477 topsoil samples collected from urban-rural areas in the city of Wuhan in order to identify their concentrations and possible sources, and characterize their spatial variability for risk assessment. Results showed that in most rural areas heavy-metal concentrations in soil were similar to their natural background values, but Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations were relatively higher in densely populated districts and around industrial facilities. Multivariate analyses (correlation matrix, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis) indicated that Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs, and Co, Cr, and Mn were controlled by natural source, whereas Ni appeared to be affected by both anthropogenic and natural sources.

[Studies on the physiological response of Phytolacca americana to manganese toxicity by FTIR spectroscopy].

A technique based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrometry was used to detect the physiological changes in chemical composition of Phytolacca americana under a wide range of Mn2+ treatments (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.

[Therapeutic effect and impact on cytokine production by methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To examine the clinical benefit and impact on cytokine production by methotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: Thirty patients with RA were treated with oral methotrexate (mean, 15 mg per week) as monotherapy for 24 weeks. Clinical assessment using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for improvement was performed at baseline and at the end of 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 weeks.

[Glucose metabolism status and angiographic features of coronary artery in patients undergoing their first coronary angiography: study of 553 cases].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between glucose metabolism status and coronary artery lesion in the patients undergoing their first coronary angiography (CAG).

Methods: Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and CAG were performed in 553 patients with suspected or confirmed coronary artery disease (CAD), aged 60.1 +/- 9.

[Analysis on the trend of severe acute respiratory syndrome epidemic in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region].

Objective: To analyse the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemics in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region and to provide scientific basis for prevention and control strategies against it.

Methods: Data from legal communicable diseases surveillance reporting system was analyzed epidemiologically.

Results: The first SARS case was reported in Inner Mongolian Autonomous Region on March 27, 2003.

Re-expression of p16 gene in the myeloma cell line U266 induced by synergy of sodium butyrate and 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine.

Objective: To understand the synergic effect of histone deacetylase inhibitor sodium butyrate (SB) and demethylating agent 5-Aza-2'- deoxycytidine (5-Aza-CdR) on cell growth and to explore the possibility of re-expression of the hypermethylated and silenced p16 gene in the myeloma cell line U266.

Methods: U266 cells were cultured in RPMI 1640 in the presence of varied doses of SB and 5-Aza-CdR, and the growth curve was obtained by trypan-blue exclusion assay and cell count. The cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry and the expression level of mRNA and protein of p16 gene were detected by reverse transcriptase-PCR and Western blotting, respectively.