Search

Background Stroke is a disease characterized by sudden cerebral ischemia and is the second leading cause of death worldwide. We aimed to develop and validate a nomogram model to predict mortality in intensive care unit patients with stroke. Methods All data involved in this study were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III database (MIMIC-III). The data were analyzed using multivariate Cox regression, and the performance of the novel nomogram, which assessed the patient’s overall survival at 30, 180, and 360 days after stroke, was evaluated using Harrell’s concordance index (C-index) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. A calibration curve and decision curve were introduced to test the clinical value and effectiveness of our prediction model. Results A total of 767 patients with stroke were randomly divided into derivation (n = 536) and validation (n = 231) cohorts at a 7:3 ratio. Multivariate Cox regression showed that 12 independent predictors, including age, weight, ventilation, cardiac arrhythmia, metastatic cancer, explicit sepsis, Oxford Acute Severity of Illness Score or OASIS score, diastolic blood pressure, bicarbonate, chloride, red blood cell and white blood cell counts, played a significant role in the survival of individuals with stroke. The nomogram model was validated based on the C-indices, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis results. Conclusions The plotted nomogram accurately predicted stroke outcomes and, thus may contribute to clinical decision-making and treatment as well as consultation services for patients.

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are a complex class of small non-coding RNAs which specifically interact with the PIWI protein to play important roles in germline development and somatic tissues. Aberrant expressions of piRNAs have been recently found in a variety of malignant tumors and associated with cancer hallmarks. However, current methods of analyzing piRNAs are limited to reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction and next generation sequencing. In this study, we have developed a universal catalytic hybridization assembly system (uniCHA) to quantify piRNAs as well as microRNAs. The system simply comprises two universal hairpin DNA strands and one starting hairpin DNA which can be tailored by a simple rule to bind different piRNA and miRNA targets. The uniCHA system was proved to be able to analyze various piRNAs and miRNAs at the same reaction condition with low leakage and high sensitivity of pM level. With this system, we have detected piR-651 and miR-1246 in 10

Liquid biopsy is becoming an innovative tool in precision oncology owing to its noninvasive identification of biomarkers circulating in the body fluid at various time points for continuous and real-time analysis of disease progression. MicroRNAs in blood exosomes are identified as a new promising class of potential biomarkers for cancer diagnostics and prognostics. Conventional detection of blood exosomal microRNAs need multiple-step, complicated, costly, and time-consuming sample preparation of exosomes isolation and RNA extract, which affect the accuracy and reproducibility of analytical results. In this work, we set up an in situ quantitative analysis of human plasma exosomal miR-1246 by a probe of 2'-O-methyl and phosphorothioate modified molecular beacon. The probe has outstanding nuclease resistance in highly active RNase A/T1/I, which makes it stable for direct application in blood samples. With rapid rupture of exosomes membrane by Triton X-100, the probe can enter exosomes to specifically target miR-1246 exhibiting quantitative fluorescent signals. Using the output signals as a diagnostic marker, we differentiated 33 breast cancer patients from 37 healthy controls with 97.30% sensitivity and 93.94% specificity at the best cutoff. The blood biopsy is simple without extracting plasma exosomes and their nucleic acids content, time-saving in about 2 h of total analysis process, and microvolumes needed for plasma sample, suggesting its good potential to clinical application.

Breast cancer is the second cause of cancer mortality in women globally. Early detection, treatment, and metastasis monitoring are of great importance to favorable prognosis. Although conventional diagnostic methods, such as breast X-ray mammography and image positioning biopsy, are accurate, they could cause radioactive or invasive damage to patients. Liquid biopsy as a noninvasive method is convenient for repeated sampling in clinical cancer prognostic, metastatic evaluation, and relapse monitoring. MicroRNAs encased in exosomes circulating in biofluids are promising candidate cancer biomarkers because of their cancer-specific expression profiles. Here, we report an in situ detection of microRNA-1246 (miR-1246) in human plasma exosomes as breast cancer biomarker by a nucleic acid functionalized Au nanoflare probe. Needing neither time-consuming and costly isolation of exosomes from the plasma sample nor transfection means, the Au nanoflare probe can directly enter the plasma exosomes to generate fluorescent signal quantitatively by specifically targeting miR-1246. Only 40 μL of plasma is needed to incubate 4 h with the probe, giving signal sensitive enough to distinguish samples of breast cancer to normal control. Using plasma miR-1246 level detected by our assay as a marker, we differentiated 46 breast cancer patients from 28 healthy controls with 100% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity at the best cutoff. This simple, accurate, sensitive, and cost-effective liquid biopsy by the Au nanoflare probe is potent to be developed as a noninvasive breast cancer diagnostic assay for clinical adaption.

Reactions of La(NO3)3·6H2O with the polar, tritopic quaternized carboxylate ligands N-carboxymethyl-3,5-dicarboxylpyridinium bromide (H3CmdcpBr) and N-(4-carboxybenzyl)-3,5-dicarboxylpyridinium bromide (H3CbdcpBr) afford two water-stable metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) of {[La4(Cmdcp)6(H2O)9]}n (1, 3D) and {[La2(Cbdcp)3(H2O)10]}n (2, 2D). MOFs 1 and 2 absorb the carboxyfluorescein (FAM)-tagged probe DNA (P-DNA) and quench the fluorescence of FAM via a photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process. The nonemissive P-DNA@MOF hybrids thus formed in turn function as sensing platforms to distinguish conservative linear, single-stranded RNA sequences of Sudan virus with high selectivity and low detection limits of 112 and 67 pM, respectively (at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3). These hybrids also exhibit high specificity and discriminate down to single-base mismatch RNA sequences.

We report herein five sensing platforms for the detection of five gastric cancer associated microRNAs (miRNAs). The sensing platforms are hybrids formed from a water-stable metal organic framework (MOF) {[Cu(dcbb)2(H2O)2]·10H2O}n (1, H2dcbbBr=1-(3,5-dicarboxybenzyl)-4,4'-bipyridinium bromide), respectively with five carboxyfluorescein (FAM) labeled probe single-stranded DNA (probe ss-DNA, denoted as P-DNA). Within the hybrid, MOF 1 tightly interacts with the P-DNA through electrostatic and/or π-stacking interactions and results in fluorescence quenching of FAM via a photo-induced electron transfer (PET) process. In the presence of the complementary target miRNAs miR-185, miR-20a, miR-92b, miR-25 and miR-210, which are expressed abnormally in the plasma of gastric carcinoma patients, P-DNA is released from the surface of MOF 1 ascribed to the stronger base pair matching, leading to the FAM fluorescence recovery. Each P-DNA@1 system is effective and reliable for the detection of its complementary target miRNA with the detection limits from 91 to 559pM, and is not interfered by other four miRNA sequences.

Objective: Fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18F-FDG-PET) is a new technique for identifying different malignant tumors using different uptake values between tumor cells and normal tissues. Here we assessed the diagnostic accuracy of 18F-FDG-PET in patients with testicular cancer by pooling data of existing trials in a meta-analysis. Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane Central Trials databases were searched and studies published in English relating to the diagnostic value of FDG-PET for testicular cancer were collected. The summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was used to examine the FDG-PET accuracy. Results: A total of 16 studies which included 957 examinations in 807 patients (median age, 31.1 years) were analyzed. A meta-analysis was performed to combine the sensitivity and specificity and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), from diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), positive likelihood ratios (PLR), negative likelihood ratio (NLR). SROC were derived to demonstrate the diagnostic accuracy of FDG-PET for testicular cancer. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.75 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.70-0.80) and 0.87 (95% CI, 0.84-0.89), respectively. The pooled DOR was 35.6 (95% CI, 12.9-98.3). The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.88. The pooled PLR and pooled NLR were 7.80 (95% CI, 3.73-16.3) and 0.31 (95% CI, 0.23-0.43), respectively. Conclusion: In patients with testicular cancer, 18F-FDG-PET demonstrated a high SROC area, and could be a potentially useful tool if combined with other imaging methods such as MRI and CT. Nevertheless, the literature focusing on the use of 18F-FDG-PET in this setting still remains limited.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assesses whether concurrent chemoradiotherapy is associated with improvement in survival outcomes for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma., Key Points Question Is induction chemotherapy or adjuvant chemotherapy associated with additional survival benefit in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma? Findings In a systematic review and meta-analysis of 28 randomized clinical trials of 8036 patients, concurrent chemoradiotherapy was associated with substantial improvement in survival outcomes for patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Survival benefit was also associated with the addition of induction chemotherapy but not adjuvant chemotherapy to concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Meaning For locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma, concurrent chemoradiotherapy should be recommended as the standard treatment strategy, with the addition of induction chemotherapy but not adjuvant chemotherapy., Importance The role of induction chemotherapy (IC) or adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in the treatment of locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains controversial. Objectives To update meta-analyses on the association of survival outcomes with IC and AC regimens in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC and assess whether the current evidence is conclusive by a trial sequential analysis (TSA) approach. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched for articles published from inception until June 1, 2019. Study Selection Randomized clinical trials that assessed the efficacy of radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy among previously untreated patients and patients with nondistant metastatic NPC. Data Extraction and Synthesis Data were extracted by 2 investigators from each trial independently and synthesized by the 2 investigators. All trial results were combined and analyzed by a fixed- or random-effects model. Main Outcomes and Measures Overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), distant metastasis–free survival (DMFS), and locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Results A total of 8036 patients (median age, 46.5 years; 5872 [73.1%] male) from 28 randomized clinical trials were included in the analysis. Pooled analyses revealed that concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was significantly associated with improved OS, PFS, DMFS, and LRFS compared with radiotherapy across all subgroups. The TSA confirmed the treatment outcomes of CCRT compared with radiotherapy. The additional IC regimen was associated with an improvement in OS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.84; 95% CI, 0.74-0.95), PFS (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.64-0.84), DMFS (HR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.59-0.78), and LRFS (HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64-0.85). These findings were consistent in subgroup analyses of multicenter trials with sample sizes greater than 250, years of survival rate of 5 or greater, median follow-up longer than 5 years, or low risk of bias. However, the additional AC regimen was not associated with a survival benefit in OS (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.78-1.23), PFS (HR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.70-1.07), DMFS (HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.64-1.10), or LRFS (HR, 0.80, 95% CI, 0.59-1.09). The TSA provided sound evidence on the additional benefit of IC but not AC. Conclusions and Relevance These data suggest a significant association of survival outcomes with CCRT in patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. The addition of IC instead of AC could achieve survival benefits. The potential therapeutic gain of AC should be explored in the future.

In this report, the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of dehydrocheilanthifoline (DHCH), a quaternary ammonium alkaloid isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine Corydalis saxicola Bunting (Papaveraceae), was determined in vitro. Following six days of treatment, DHCH efficiently suppressed the secretions of HBsAg and HBeAg in HepG2.2.15 cell cultures, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 15.84 and 17.12 μM, and with a therapeutic index (TI) of 7.32 and 6.77, respectively. Further studies revealed that DHCH reduced the levels of extracellular DNA, intracellular DNA and covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) of HBV in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, with IC50values of 15.08, 7.62 and 8.25 μM, respectively after six days of treatment. In contrast, the level of viral pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA) increased 6.13-fold after treatment with DHCH. Together, it was demonstrated for the first time that DHCH could significantly inhibit the replication of HBV, which warrants further studies on the antiviral mechanisms of DHCH, and suggests that it may be a promising candidate in the therapy of HBV infection.

The purpose of study was to investigate the in vitro proliferation ability of PHA-induced CIK cells and traditionally prepared CIK cells, the effector cell level and its influence on killing activity to K562 cells, and to analyze the difference between them. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMNC) of healthy persons were isolated and divided into A and B group. The CIK cells in A group were obtained by using traditional culture method, the CIK cells in B group were prepared by PHA induction. During the cultivation, the cell survival rate and cell absolute value in the cell culture system were counted every 3 days. On day 15 of culture, the cell immunophenotype of 2 groups were detected by flow cytometry, and the ratios of CD3(+)CD56(+), CD3(+)CD8(+) and CD3(+)CD4(+) cells in total cell amount of culture system were accounted. Meantime, the killing activity to K562 cells in different effector-target ratios was detected by using CCK-8 kit between the 2 groups. The results showed that the method of preparing CIK by PHA induction promoted the cell proliferation more than that of the traditional method (P0.05), moreover, both the survival rate of cells in 2 groups was more than 90%. The CD3(+)CD8(+), CD3(+)CD56(+) cell ratio in 2 groups obviously increased. As compared with traditional method, the CD3(+)CD8(+) cell level in B group was enhanced (P0.05); but there were no statistical differences in increase of CD3(+)CD56(+) cell level and decrease of CD3(+)CD4(+) cell level between 2 groups. while the effector-target ratio is 5:1, 10:1, 20:1 and 40:1, the killing activity of PHA-induced CIK cells to K562 cells was more stronger than traditionally-prepared CIK cells (P0.05), moreover, along with increase of effector-target ratio, the difference of killing activity to K562 cells in 2 groups significantly increased. It is concluded that compared with traditional method for preparing CIK cells, the new way by PHA induction can increase the proliferation of CIK cells obviously, enhance the ratio of CD3(+)CD8(+) cells and strengthen the killing activity to the K562 cells. This new way provides a new source of CIK cells and reliable evidence for cyto-immune therapy of leukemia and other tumors.

The aim of study was to investigate the effect of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) children bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) on resistance of K562/A02 cells and its mechanism. MSC obtained from bone marrow of AL children were cultured and identified. The co-culture of MSC and K562/A02 and the culture of K562/A02 cell suspension alone was performed, of which 2 kinds of cells were treated with same concentration of adriamycin (ADM), and the rate of apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, bcl-2 and bax of K562/A02 were detected by RT-PCR, while mdr1 gene level was detected by FQ-PCR. The results indicated that the MSC separation and proliferation were viable and steady. The apoptosis rate of the K562/A02 cells co-cultured with MSC was 1.97 ± 0.11%, while apoptosis rate of the K562/A02 cells cultured alone was 8.38 ± 0.29%, there was significant difference (p0.05). As compared with the K562/A02 cells cultured alone, the bcl-2 gene expression in K562/A02 cells co-cultured with MSC obviously increased; ratio of bcl-2/bax was obviously enhanced. The mdr1 gene level in K562/A02 co-cultured with MSC was no statistical different from K562/A02 cultured alone (p0.05), which suggested that adhesion co-cultured with MSC did not induce mdr1 expression higher than the culture of suspension. It is concluded that the MSC of ALL children can escape the leukemia cells from proapoptotic effect of drugs, the resistance of K562/A02 to ADM may be involved in enhancement of bcl-2 gene expression of K562/A02 cells co-cultured with MSC, but not in relation to mdr1 gene in K562/A02 cells themselves.

To develop an objective bioassay for quantitative detection of HIV-induced cell-cell fusion for screening HIV entry inhibitors.HL2/3 cells expressing HIV envelope proteins gp120/gp41, Tat, and other HIV proteins were co-cultured with HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal cells expressing CD4 receptor and HIV LTR triggered reporter gene beta-galactosidase. The enzyme activities of beta-galactosidase were detected by a chromogenic substrate, chlorophenol red-beta-galactopyranoside (CPRG). Specific HIV entry inhibitors were used to validate the established detecting method.No syncytium was formed by mixing HL2/3 and HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal cells. However, the membrane could be fused and the Tat expressed by HL2/3 cells could bind to HIV LTR on HeLa-CD4-LTR-beta-gal cells and trigger the expression of beta-galactosidase. CPRG allowed quantitative and sensitive detection of the activity of beta-galactosidase. Further studies showed that HIV entry inhibitors could inhibit the activity of beta-galactosidase in a dose-dependent manner.We have developed a simple, cheap, objective and quantitative non-infectious cell-cell fusion bioassay that can be used to screen for anti-HIV agents targeting the virus entry from natural and synthetic compound libraries.

To detect the serum anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) and interleukin-21 (IL-21) levels in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and study their impact on the liver function of HCV patients.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent(ELISA) assays were used to detect the serum ANA and IL-21 levels in 96 cases of HCV-IgG positive sera, as well as 30 cases of HCV-IgG negative sera. Hitachi 7600 biochemical analyzer was used to test the ALT, AST and ALB of all sera samples.HCV patients have abnormal liver function significantly and their average IL-21 level was much lower than the control group. While the liver function of most ANA positive HCV patients was well-balanced. The IL-21 level of HCV patients with ALTor = 40 U/L or ALT40 U/L were markedly reduced.The production of ANA and IL-21 do help to control the progress of hepatitis and reduce the damage to liver cells in HCV patients.

To study the increasing incidence and the characteristics of Tsutsugamushi disease in the areas of Nan Peng Lie islands, Nan Ao island, Wan Shan archipelago, Nao Zhou island and Lei Zhou peninsula, located in the southern part of China and to develop strategies for preventive measures.Both epidemiological investigation, isolation and gene identification of Orientia tsutsugamushi, as well as pilot preventive measures were carried out.These islands belonged to the epidemic area of south subtropical zone of Tsutsugamushi disease. The main host was Rattus norvegicu and the overall rates of infection on Orientia tsutsugamushi were 22.78%-33.75%. The main biological vector was Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) deliens and the rates of infection on Orientia tsutsugamushi were 40.00%-75.00%. 25 strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi had been isolated from Rattus norvegicu and Leptotrombidium (Leptotrombidium) deliens. Results showed that the isolated strains of Orientia tsutsugamushi were 15 Karp, 8 Kato, 2 Yonchon. Results from serological studies showed that the positive rate of anti-Orientia tsutsugamushi antibodies was high, in both residents and soldiers stationed in these islands. On these islands, rats and biological vectors were killed. Results showed that these measures had positive impact in reducing the incidence.Islands from the southern part of the country belonged to the epidemic area of Tsutsugamushi disease. People visiting this areas should be under protection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA was detected from infants whose mothers were negative for all HBV markers and the fathers were HBV carrier, the homology of HBV sequence of fathers and fetus was high, and HBV mutations concentrated on some points, and the transmission of HBV from father to fetus was also identified in some reports. The present study aimed to study HBV transmission from father to infant.The study enrolled 16 pairs of fathers who were HBV carriers and infants whose mothers were negative for HBV markers. The infants had evidences for intrauterine HBV infection. The five HBV serum markers HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc were detected with ELISA. The positive results for HBsAg and/or HBeAg were regarded as markers of HBV infection. Amplification of HBV DNA was done using a nested PCR method. The first amplification was carried out using primer C1 (nt 2394-2370), and primer C3 (nt 1730-1754). The second amplification was carried out using primer C2 (nt 1955-1974) and primer C6 (nt 2348-2330). Both primers were designed to amplify the part of sequence coding for the hepatitis B C antigen. The size of the amplified fragment obtained by the nested PCR was expected to be 394 bp. The PCR products were electrophoresed on 1.5% agarose gels, which were then stained with ethidium bromide and observed with ultraviolet transillumination. When 394 bp specific band was detectable, the sample was designated positive. Then the positive samples were identified by dot blot. The second PCR products were extracted by phenol-chloroform and 70% ethanol precipitation, then resuspended in TE buffer (pH8.0), and used as the template for cloning. The template was connected into pGEM-T vector by ligase. The ligated products were cloned into fresh competent JM109 cells, and incubated for 90 minutes at 37 degrees C on roller drum. Finally several dilutions were plated on plates containing ampicillin, X-Gal and IPTG, and incubated at 37 degrees C overnight. The white colony on plates was used for identification by the nested PCR with the above primers. When the 394 bp band was detectable by electrophoresis of PCR products in 1.5% agarose gels, the colony was designated positive; a positive colony was incubated in LB medium for 8 to 12 hrs, then plasmid was extracted using the Wizard Plus SV Minipreps DNA Purification System Kit (Promega). The purified plasmid was sent to Beijing Saibaisheng Company for sequencing. The homology of HBV C nt 2022-2301 sequence was compared between fathers and infants.The homology of HBV C nt 2022-2301 sequence were 99% - 100% in 16 pairs of fathers and infants. The results were referred to the published sequence of HBV adw/adr clones, and the nucleic acid databases were searched for homology by using BLAST tool on Internet. HBV of the sixteen pairs of father/infant was closely related to the Japan strain (Genebank accession number AF121249), but there were still 17 more mutations at nucleotide positions 2029, 2034, 2044, 2059, 2078, 2095, 2104, 2154, 2161, 2169, 2189, 2201, 2233, 2251, 2284, 2288, 2293. Moreover the mutations at positions 2189, 2288 resulted in the substitution of the encoded amino acid (corresponding to amino acid positions 97 and 130, respectively), the other mutations at the position were nonphenotypic. The mutation of 2189, 2288 nucleotide of HBV C gene caused 97, 130 amino acid substitution for isoleucine to leucine and proline to threonine. The mutation of 2189, 2288 nucleotide of HBV C gene were detected in 6 (37.5%) of 16 pairs of fathers and infants.The HBV transmission from father to infants did exist. The main HBV C gene mutation strains also existed in the transmission.

To investigate the mechanism for vertical transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.This study included 6 pairs of mothers and fetuses who were positive for anti-HCV antibody and HCV RNA, and 2 pairs of fathers and fetus in whom the father was positive for anti-HCV and HCV RNA while the mother was negative. HCV genotypes were detected by PCR and the nucleotide sequences of HCV genome spanning the core and envelope gene region (HCV C/E1) determined and compared.The HCV genotypes of the mothers and fetus were consistent. Five mother-fetus pairs were of genotype II, 1 of genotype III, with high homology of HCV between the mothers and their own fetuses. In contrast, in the two father-fetus pairs, no HCV RNA was detected in the fetuses in spite of the positivity of the fathers.Vertical transmission of HCV infection from mothers to fetus is a clinical entity.

To study HBV transmission from father to infants, the study was carried out.The study contained 16 pairs of fathers who was HBV carriers, and infants whose mothers wasn't HBV carriers. The infants infected HBV in womb. The homogenous of HBV S gene were compared between fathers and infants, meanwhile HBV gene phylogenetic tree were analyzed.The genotype of 16 pairs fathers and infants were HBV adw. The homogenous of HBV S gene were 98% approximately 100%. The mutation of 488, 491, 494, 530, 531, 546, 581, 621 nucleotide of HBV S gene caused in 112, 113, 114, 126, 131, 143, 156 amino acid substitution. The mutation of 126 amino acid from Threonine to Alanine didn't existed in the gene bank. The sequence was difference from gene classification.The homogenous of HBV S gene of fathers and infants was very high. The HBV gene characteristic in China was difference from gene bank.

To explore the relationship between serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels and the positivity rate for auto- antibodies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).The levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM, IgA) and rheumatoid factor (RF) were measured using Olympus AU600 system, and indirect immunofluorescence and immunoblotting methods were employed respectively for detecting the autoantibodies in the serum from 40 RA patients and 30 normal adults. Statistical analysis of the relation between the Ig levels and autoantibodies was performed.Compared with normal control group, significantly higher serum IgA, IgG and IgM levels were detected in RA patients (P0.01), and at least one autoantibody was present in the serum sample from 26 out of the 40 RA patients, who had the highest RF positivity rate of 20% (8 cases). The serum IgA level in autoantibody-positive patients was significantly higher than that in autoantibody-negative ones (P0.01), and in the 18 patients with serum IgA level beyond the normal range, 15 (83.3%) were positive for autoantibody, while in the 22 patients with normal serum IgA level, the autoantibody positivity rate was only 50% (11/22), showing significant difference (P0.05).Serum immunoglobulins A (IgA) level is closely associated with the positivity rate for autoantibodies in RA patients, and RA patients with serum IgA level beyond the normal range was more likely to be positive for the autoantibodies.