Diagnostic value of a novel salivary gland ultrasound scoring system in IgG4-related sialadenitis.

Objectives: To develop a novel ultrasound scoring system for the major salivary glands in patients with immunoglobulin G4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS) and assess its diagnostic value in a multicentre cohort of Chinese patients.

Methods: Twenty clinicians (rheumatologists, stomatologists and radiologists) participated. The study was conducted in four steps: (i) defining the ultrasonography (US) elements, (ii) developing a novel ultrasound scoring system for US of the salivary glands, (iii) evaluation of inter- and intra-reader reliabilities using the new ultrasound scoring system, and (iv) assessing the diagnostic value of this novel ultrasound scoring system in IgG4-RS patients in a Chinese multicentre cohort.

Decreased natural killer T-like cells correlated to disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: To evaluate the absolute numbers and frequencies of natural killer T-like (NKT-like) cells in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to characterize the possible role of the cells.

Methods: Seventy-nine patients with SLE together with 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were enrolled. Flow cytometric determination of peripheral NKT-like cells was carried out for all participants by detecting the absolute counts (Abs) and percentage (%) of CD3 + CD16 + CD56 + cells.

Salivary gland ultrasonography in primary Sjögren's syndrome from diagnosis to clinical stratification: a multicentre study.

Background: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of major salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) using the novel Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) scoring system in a large-scale multicentre study.

Methods: SGUS was conducted for 246 pSS patients, 140 control subjects with conditions other than SS and 27 healthy control subjects. The echostructure features from the parotid and submandibular glands on both sides were graded using the novel OMERACT scoring system.

Sonoelastography of salivary glands for diagnosis and clinical evaluation in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objectives: To explore the performance of sonoelastography (SE) in diagnosis and clinical evaluation of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS).

Methods: SE examination of major salivary glands was conducted for 79 pSS patients, 39 disease controls and 15 healthy subjects. Elastographic images were determined with a qualitative 4-point scoring method.

Toll-like receptors expressed by synovial fibroblasts perpetuate Th1 and th17 cell responses in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial fibroblast hyperplasia and bone and cartilage erosion. Synovial fibroblast- and T cell-mediated inflammation plays crucial roles in the pathogenesis of RA. However how this inflammation is initiated, propagated, and maintained remains controversial.

Increased IL-33 in synovial fluid and paired serum is associated with disease activity and autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis.

Objectives: IL-33, a newly found cytokine which is involved in joint inflammation, could be blocked by a decoy receptor-sST2. The expression and correlation of IL-33 and sST2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are of great interest.

Methods: Synovial fluid (SF) was obtained from 120 RA and 30 osteoarthritis (OA) patients, and paired sera were collected from 54 of these RA patients.

[Diagnostic significance of serum allergen detection in diagnosis of allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma].

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic significance of serum total IgE, specific IgE (SIgE), Phadiatop, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) in allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma.

Methods: The serum total IgE, SIgE , and Phadiatop were tested in 122 patients with allergic rhinitis. The ECP, SIgE, and Phadiatop were tested in 135 patients with bronchial asthma.