Acute choroidal involvement in lupus nephritis: A case report and review of literature.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), characterized by the production of autoantibodies and widespread deposition of immune complexes, predominantly affects women of childbearing age. More than one-third of SLE patients present ocular manifestations. Choroidal disease is currently not completely understood, and its precise differentiation from central serous chorioretinopathy is rarely achieved.

[Expression and role of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor in sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma].

Objective: To evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth inhibitor (VEGI) in sporadic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) and explore its relationships between VEGI expression, pathologic grade and tumor staging.

Methods: Western blot and immunohistochemical staining were used to detect the expression of VEGI in CCRCC cell line (786-O cells), CCRCC and paired normal kidney tissues. A total of 50 CCRCC cases were recruited.

Radiolabeling LyP-1 peptide and preliminary biodistribution evaluation in mice bearing MDA-MB-435 xenografts.

Background: Recent studies have shown the LyP-1 peptide can home to either tumor lymphatics or the tumor cells and be internalized by targeted cells. This study aimed to investigate the possibility of using Na(131)I labeled LyP-1 peptide as an imaging agent or a therapeutic radiopharmaceutical in breast carcinoma and its metastasis.

Methods: The 10-mer cyclic peptide contained the LyP-1 sequence (YCGNKRTRGC) was synthesized by the solid phase method.

[Regional characteristics of sulfur contents in flue-cured tobacco in Hunan Province and their influence to smoking quality].

A total of 559 flue-cured tobacco samples with 3 grades (B2F, C3F and X2F) were collected from the main tobacco-growing areas in Hunan Province, and their sulfur contents were determined to study the regional characteristics of the sulfur contents and their quantitative correlations with the evaluation indices of smoking quality. The results showed that the sulfur content in the flue-cured tobacco was 0.100%-2.

[Effects of infliximab and etanercept, two types of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitor on serum level of matrix metalloproteinase 3 expression in patients with ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Infliximab and Etanercept two types of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) inhibitors, on the serum level of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Method: 47 patients with AS, 40 males and 7 females, aged 17 - 51, were treated with Infliximab (5 mg/kg i.v at weeks 0, 2, and 6); and 26 patients with AS were treated with Etanercept (25 mg, twice a week for 12 weeks).

[The role of mannose binding lectin in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus].

Objective: To detect the serum level of mannose binding lectin (MBL) and its genovariation in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to investigate the role of MBL in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Methods: ELISA was used to measure the serum MBL level of 40 SLE patients and 30 healthy blood donors. Tm genotyping method was used for the first timer in China.

[A short-term efficacy and safety study of infliximab in active ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of a loading regimen of the anti-TNFalpha antibody infliximab in ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: This was an open-labeled trial. Subjects eligible for this study were adults with a diagnosis of definite AS.