Nonsmooth tumor margins correlated with the histopathologic presence and location of MVI. Therefore, nonsmooth margins detected on multiphasic CT may be predictive of MVI in HCC.

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F(TWH), commonly known as the Thunder‐God‐Vine, is a popular remedy for rheumatism in southern China. In this study, we investigated the effect of T2 (an extract from TWH) on adjuvant‐induced paw oedema in rats and inflammatory mediators. The results showed that an intraperitoneal injection of T2 could significantly decrease the adjuvant‐induced paw oedema of rats. During in vitro study, lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated human mononuclear prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the culture supernatant was significantly inhibited by T2 at a concentration of 2 μg/mL compared with the control group without T2 treatment (22352±4725 vs 43433±9014 pg/mL, p<0.05). When rat neutrophils were treated with 3 μg/mL of T2, the superoxide production was significantly lower than that of the group without T2 treatment (0.72±0.07 vs 1.37±0.04 nmol, p<0.05). T2 failed to suppress the β‐glucuronidase release from rat neutrophils but when the concentration was 30 μg/mL, it expressed a significant inhibition of lysozyme release (20.7±2.9 vs 38.2±4.0 in the control, p<0.05). The findings suggest this Chinese herb, like non‐steroid antiinflammatory drugs, expresses a potential antiinflammatory effect through its inhibition of PGE2 and superoxide function and lysozyme release. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Purpose:To investigate blood perfusion of vertebral lesions using dynamic Gd-DTPA-enhanced MRI. Materials and Methods:Dynamic MR studies were performed for cases of acute compression fracture, chronic compression fracture, metastatic vertebral lesions with or without compression fracture. A total of 42 patients (71 vertebral segments) were included. Five types of time-intensity curves (TICs) were defined as: nearly no enhancement (type A), slow enhancement (type B), a rapid contrast wash-in followed by an equilibrium phase (type C), a rapid contrast wash-in followed by early wash-out (type D), and a rapid contrast wash-in with a second slower-rising slope (type E).Results: Metastatic vertebral lesions with or without fracture had a higher peak enhancement percentage and steeper enhancement slope than those of chronic compression fracture, but had no difference as compared to those of acute compression fracture. The type D curve had high positive predictive value for metastatic group (100%), and the type E curve had high positive predictive value for benign compression fracture (85.7%). Conclusion:Type D and E curves are valuable in the differentiation of benign and malignant vertebral lesions.

Objective: To evaluate the changes in anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCP) and rheumatoid factor (RF) following etanercept treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study included 90 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who failed treatment with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). All patients were allowed to continue treatment with DMARDs; 52 of them received etanercept as a twice weekly 25 mg subcutaneous injection for three months, and the others did not. Serum samples were collected at baseline and one month intervals during the treatment course. The serum levels of anti-CCP and RF were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and nephelometry, respectively. Results: At baseline, 45 of the 52 etanercept treated patients (86.5%) and 32 of the 38 controls (84.2%) were positive for anti-CCP. Tests for RF were positive in 78.9% and 84.2% of patients with or without etanercept treatment, respectively. The serum levels of anti-CCP and RF decreased significantly after a three month etanercept treatment (p = 0.007 and p = 0.006, respectively). The average decrease from baseline calculated for each individual patient in the etanercept treated group was 31.3% for anti-CCP and 36% for RF. The variation in anti-CCP was positively correlated with the variation in disease activity, swollen and tender joint counts, RF, and C reactive protein.Conclusions: Etanercept combined with DMARDs leads to a much greater decrease than DMARDs alone in the serum levels of anti-CCP and RF in rheumatoid arthritis, compatible with a reduction in clinical disease activity.

In Taiwan Chinese, carriage of B60 is increased in HLA-B27-negative AS patients. The association between B61 and HLA-B27-negative AS patients has not been reported previously. Whether the gene involved is HLA-B60 or B61 or another gene in linkage disequilibrium with these genes is unknown.

We propose definitions for a disease flare based on self-reported items in patients previously diagnosed as having gout. Patient-reported flare, joint pain at rest, warm joints, and swollen joints were most strongly associated with presence of a gout flare. These provisional definitions will next be validated in clinical trials.

Rising levels of BMP in AS patients with spinal fusion and the positive correlation between BMP and spinal radiograph scores indicate that BMP may play a role in the process of spinal ankylosis. Serum levels of BMP may reflect radiographic progression of the spine and hip joints.

To determine the prevalence of hyperuricaemia, gout and gout-related factors in Central Taiwan Atayal aborigines, 342 subjects over 18 yr old were interviewed and examined. A questionnaire was designed to screen for signs and symptoms of gout and gout-related risk factors. Serum uric acid, triglyceride and creatinine were measured in all subjects. The prevalence of hyperuricaemia was 41.4% and that of gout 11.7% in aborigines. The uric acid level was 7.9+/-1.7 mg/dl in males and 5.7+/-1.5 in females, and differed significantly under age 70 yr (P < 0.001). Significantly increased triglyceride, creatinine and alcoholism was found in gouty patients compared with non-gouty patients. In 40 cases with gout, 54% had tophi and 35% of their first-degree relatives had gout. The high prevalence of hyperuricaemia and gout in Taiwan Atayal aborigines, a significant family predisposition, increased creatinine level and alcoholism suggest multiple factors affecting the hyperuricaemia.