Treatment of refractory anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 anbibody-positive dermatomyositis complicated by rapidly progressing interstitial pulmonary disease: Two case reports.

Background: Anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 antibody-positive (anti-MDA5 Ab) dermatomyositis complicated with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (anti-MDA5 Ab DM-RP-ILD) has an unclear underlying mechanism with no recommended unified treatment plan. Herein, one of the cases that we report (Case 2) was successfully treated with tocilizumab despite having lung infection.

Case Summary: Case 1 was a 30-year-old woman who was admitted due to recurrent rash for 5 mo, fever and cough for 1 mo, and chest tightness for 3 d.

Therapeutic effect of okra extract on gestational diabetes mellitus rats induced by streptozotocin.

Objective: To explore the effect of okra extract on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) rats and its probable molecular mechanism.

Methods: A total of 30 female SD rats were caged with male rats for pregnancy, 27 pregnant rats were obtained and weighed. The pregnant rats were equally randomized into the control group, GDM group and intervention group.

Effect of oxygen free radicals and nitric oxide on apoptosis of immune organ induced by selenium deficiency in chickens.

Selenium is an essential element with antioxidant roles in immune regulation, but there is little understanding of how Se acts in apoptosis in the immune organs of birds. The aim of study was to evaluate the influence of Se deficiency on oxygen free radicals, NO and apoptosis in immune organ of chickens. 160 1-day-old chickens were randomly assigned to two groups of 80 each and were fed on a low-Se diet (0.

Effects of oxidative stress on immunosuppression induced by selenium deficiency in chickens.

Selenium (Se) is an important nutritional trace element possessing immune-stimulatory properties. The aim of this 75-day study was to investigate effect of oxidative stress on immunosuppression induced by selenium deficiency by determining antioxidative function, morphological changes, DNA damage, and immune function in immune organ of chickens. One hundred sixty 1-day-old chickens (egg-type birds) were randomly assigned to two groups of 80 each and were fed on a low-Se diet (0.

[Serum metalloproteinase-3 levels in assessing efficacy of Etanercept in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To investigate the value of metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) levels in assessing efficacy of etanercept treatment in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: The serum and synovial fluid levels of MMP-3 were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 48 patients with AS in week 0, 6 and 12; and also measured in 30 serum samples and 10 synovial fluid samples from healthy controls.

Results: The serum levels of MMP-3 in AS patients were significantly higher than those in controls.

[Alendronate prevents steroid-induced osteoporosis in patients with rheumatic diseases].

Objective: To investigate the effects of alendronate (Alen) on the prevention of systemic glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in patients with rheumatic diseases.

Methods: 140 patients suffering from rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and Sjögren's syndrome, with normal bone mineral density (BMD) and treated with oral glucocorticoids were randomly divided into 2 groups: Alen + calcium group (n = 74) receiving Alen 10 mg once a day and castrate D 600 0.6 g once a day for 24 weeks and control group (n = 66) receiving castrate D 600 0.

[Clinical significance of CD4+CD25+ T cells in peripheral blood of patients in systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To investigate the expressions of C(4)D(+)CD(25)(+) T cells in the peripheral blood of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to identify the relationship between the levels of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) T cells and the disease activity and progression of SLE.

Methods: Fifty-three SLE patients were enrolled in the study. Flow-cytometric assay was employed for detection of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) T cells and CD(4)(+)CD(25)(bright) T cells were defined according to fluorescence intensity of CD(25) expression exceeding 100.

Studies on the Method for the Determination of beta1-4 Galactosyltransferase and Its Kinetics.

A fluorescence assay method for beta1-4galactosyltransferase (beta1-4GT) has been developed involving a pyridylaminated sugar as an acceptor substrate, a fluorescent sugar chain, with the reducing end of the Gnbeta1 - 2Malpha1 - 6(Gnbeta1-2Malpha1-3)Mbeta1 - 4Gnbeta1 - 4Gn - PA aminated with 2-aminopyridine. Microsome was prepared from the liver of normal male rats as an enzyme sample. Then the fluorescent reaction product was separated by reverse-phase HPLC.