Association of homocysteine with ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with autoimmune diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Current findings regarding plasma/serum homocysteine (HCY) levels in AS patients are inconsistent. This study aims to systematically evaluate the association between circulating HCY levels and AS.

Administration of zoledronic acid alleviates osteoporosis in HIV patients by suppressing osteoclastogenesis via regulating RANKL expression.

Background: Osteoporosis is a common phenomenon in HIV patients on tenofovir treatment, but its underlying mechanisms remain to be explored.

Methods: Quantitative real-time PCR was performed to analyze the expression of miR-302, miR-101, miR-145 and osteoclast-specific genes in the serum of HIV patients treated with tenofovir and ZOL. ELISA was used to evaluate the expression of RANKL, SMAD3 and PRKACB in the serum of these patients.

Rapid Onset of Efficacy of Baricitinib in Chinese Patients with Moderate to Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results from Study RA-BALANCE.

Introduction: Baricitinib is an oral, selective inhibitor of Janus kinase which demonstrates clinical efficacy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This report aims to analyze the onset time of baricitinib in Chinese patients with moderately to severely active RA who had an inadequate response to methotrexate.

Methods: This post hoc analysis evaluated clinical improvements of Chinese patients treated with baricitinib 4 mg once daily compared with placebo, based on data from a phase 3 study RA-BALANCE.

Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in Chinese Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients and the Subgroup Analyses: Results from Study RA-BALANCE.

Introduction: Baricitinib is an oral selective inhibitor of Janus kinase (JAK) 1 and JAK 2, which has demonstrated significant efficacy in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). This analysis aims to describe the efficacy and safety of baricitinib in Chinese RA patients with an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR), and to analyze the effects of baseline characteristics on the efficacy of baricitinib treatment.

Methods: In this 52-week, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 231 Chinese patients with moderately to severely active RA who had MTX-IR were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 115) or baricitinib 4 mg once daily (n = 116).

High remission and low relapse with prolonged intensive DMARD therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (PRINT): A multicenter randomized clinical trial.

Objectives: To determine whether prolonged intensive disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) treatment (PRINT) leads to high remission and low relapse rates in patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: In this multicenter, randomized and parallel treatment trial, 346 patients with active RA (disease activity score (28 joints) [DAS28] (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR]) > 5.1) were enrolled from 9 centers.

A randomized, controlled trial of efficacy and safety of Anbainuo, a bio-similar etanercept, for moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis inadequately responding to methotrexate.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept (Anbainuo) treatment in Chinese moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR); 600 patients (360 in phase III-1 and 240 in phase III-2) poorly responding to MTX were enrolled in the study and randomized at a ratio of 2:1 into an Anbainuo treatment or control group. The study was designed as a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled period followed by a 12-week open-label study. The primary endpoint was the ACR20 response rate at week 12.

Magnetic resonance imaging in early rheumatoid arthritis: a multicenter, prospective study.

To identify the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of hands and wrists in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 129 early arthritis patients (≤1 year) were enrolled in the study. At presentation, MRI of the hands was performed, with clinical and laboratory analyses.

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.

Increased Tim-3 expression on peripheral T lymphocyte subsets and association with higher disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: Both the T cell immunoglobulin domain- and mucin domain-containing molecule-3 (Tim-3) and the death receptor Fas contribute to the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of the present study was to determine whether Tim-3 and Fas are co-expressed on certain peripheral T lymphocyte subsets, and whether this expression is associated with greater disease activity in SLE.

Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from 46 patients newly diagnosed with SLE and 28 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HCs).

Remission of rheumatoid arthritis and potential determinants: a national multi-center cross-sectional survey.

The aim of this study is to investigate the remission rate of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in China and identify its potential determinants. A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2009 to January 2012. Data were collected by face-to-face interviews of the rheumatology outpatients in 28 tertiary hospitals in China.

Expression of G-protein subunit α-14 is increased in human placentas from preeclamptic pregnancies.

G-proteins mediate cellular function upon interaction with G-protein coupled receptors. Of the 16 mammalian G-protein α subunits identified, G-protein subunit α-11 (GNA11) and -14 (GNA14) have been implicated in modulating hypertension and endothelial function. However, little is known about their expression and roles in human placentas.

Effects of triptolide on the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide in rats: a possible role of cytochrome P3A4 inhibition.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of a 10-day course of triptolide (TP) on rat cytochrome (CY) P3A4 activity, and on the pharmacokinetics of cyclophosphamide (CPA).

Methods: In the pharmacokinetics experiment, rats were orally given 0.9% NaCl solution (n=5) and TP [1.

The positive correlations of apolipoprotein E with disease activity and related cytokines in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the expression of apolipoprotein E (apoE) and the relationship between apoE and disease activity of SLE, and the possible effects of glucocorticoid on apoE and other cytokines activities in SLE patients.

Methods: Forty treatment-naïve SLE patients and forty matched healthy controls were studied. All the SLE patients received prednisone 1 mg/kg/day for 28 consecutive days.

Combined measurement of multiple acute phase reactants to predict relapse of rheumatoid arthritis.

Aim: Acute phase reactants (APRs), such as serum C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, plasma fibrinogen and platelet count, are common biomarkers used to monitor the status of inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to determine whether APRs are predictive markers of relapse in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method: We analyzed forty RA patients in clinical remission (disease activity score [DAS28] < 2.

[The efficacy and safety of tocilizumab combined with disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs in the treatment of active rheumatoid arthritis: a multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of human anti-interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor antibody (tocilizumab) in combination with disease-modifying anti-rheumatoid drugs (DMARDs) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with moderate to severe activity and inadequate response to DMARDs.

Methods: The present study was a multi-center, randomized, double-blinded, placebo controlled trial. Eligible patients were randomized (tocilizumab:Placebo = 2:1) to one of two groups: tocilizumab 8 mg/kg group or placebo group.

The role of Act1, a NF-κB-activating protein, in IL-6 and IL-8 levels induced by IL-17 stimulation in SW982 cells.

Context: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation in the synovial membrane of affected joints. It has been shown that several kinds of cytokine were increased in synovial fluid, while the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood.

Objectives: NF-κB activator 1 (Act1) is a recently identified protein binding to the IκB kinase complex.

Estradiol 17β and its metabolites stimulate cell proliferation and antagonize ascorbic acid-suppressed cell proliferation in human ovarian cancer cells.

Estradiol 17β (E2β) and ascorbic acid (AA) have been implicated in cancer progression. However, little is known about the actions of biologically active metabolites of E2β, 2-hydroxyestradiol (2OHE2), 4-hydroxyestradiol (4OHE2), 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME2), and 4-methoxyestradiol (4ME2) synthesized sequentially by cytochrome P450, family 1, subfamily A (CYP1A1) and B (CYP1B1), polypeptide 1, and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) on ovarian cancer. Herein, we examined the expression of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT, and estrogen receptor α (ERα) and β (ERβ) in human ovarian surface epithelial (IOSE-385) and cancer cell lines (OVCAR-3, SKOV-3, and OVCA-432).

Etoricoxib versus indometacin in the treatment of Chinese patients with acute gouty arthritis: a randomized double-blind trial.

Background: Acute gout is an intensely painful, inflammatory arthritis. Although the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for this condition, the efficacy is based on only a few studies, particularly in China. We tried to assess the safety and efficacy of etoricoxib in the treatment of acute gouty arthritis in China.

A multicenter, randomized, double-blind clinical trial of combination therapy with Anbainuo, a novel recombinant human TNFRII:Fc fusion protein, plus methotrexate versus methotrexate alone or Anbainuo alone in Chinese patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis.

This study aims to evaluate the clinical and radiological efficacy as well as safety profiles of Anbainuo, a recombinant human TNFRII:Fc fusion protein, combined with methotrexate (MTX) versus MTX alone or Anbainuo alone in the treatment of Chinese patients with moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this 24-week, multicenter, double-blind, active comparator-controlled study, 396 RA patients were randomized into combination therapy group (Anbainuo plus MTX), Anbainuo group, or MTX group. Clinical response was assessed using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)-N, ACR20, ACR50, ACR70, and van der Heijde modification of Sharp score, among which ACR-N and ACR20 were defined as primary major endpoints.

[Sulphasalazine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China: a cross-sectional study].

Objective: To investigate the medication status of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to analyze the clinical use of sulphasalazine (SSZ) and the adverse effect.

Methods: A total of 1 096 outpatients and inpatients diagnosed with RA were investigated in 21 hospitals all over China from July 2009 to December 2010, including gender, age of onset, clinical manifestations, as well as the clinical characteristics and medication status of 160 RA patients who received SSZ therapy.

Results: In the group of 160 patients who received SSZ, the male-to-female ratio was 1:7, The average age at onset was (46.

[Survey of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors application in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in China].

Objective: To investigate the current status of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors application in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in China and to analyze the related factors.

Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted in 21 hospitals from different parts of China. The patients with RA were randomly enrolled.

[A multicenter study of coronary artery disease and its risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis in China].

Objective: To learn about the prevalence and risk factors of coronary artery disease (CAD) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Data were obtained from a 12-month retrospective investigation of the patients with RA, randomly selected from Departments of Rheumatology and Immunology in 21 big hospitals in China. The data were collected about their social conditions, clinical conditions, medications associated with RA, such as disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), glucocorticoid, biologic agents.

[A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial of etanercept treatment of Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of etanercept 50 mg once-weekly treatment of Chinese patients with active ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

Methods: Four hundred patients with active AS, enrolled in six medical centers, were randomly divided into either the treatment group or the placebo group in a 3:1 ratio. The total length of the study was 12 weeks.

Noradrenaline regulates substance P release from rat dorsal root ganglion neurons in vitro.

Objective: To determine whether activation and/or inhibition of α-adrenoreceptors influences substance P (SP) release from dorsal root ganglion (DRG) primary sensory neurons in vitro.

Methods: DRGs were dissected from 15-day embryonic Wistar rats. DRG neurons were dissociated and cultured for 2 d and then exposed to noradrenaline (NA) alone (1×10(-4) mol/L), or along with the α1-adrenoreceptor antagonist prazosin (1×10(-6) mol/L) or the α2-adrenoreceptor antagonist yohimbine (1×10(-5) mol/L) for 4 d.

A multicenter, double-blind, randomized, controlled phase III clinical trial of chicken type II collagen in rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: Chicken type II collagen (CCII) is a protein extracted from the cartilage of chicken breast and exhibits intriguing possibilities for the treatment of autoimmune diseases by inducing oral tolerance. A 24-week, double-blind, double-dummy, randomized, methotrexate (MTX)-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CCII in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Five hundred three RA patients were included in the study.