Ag-doped ZnS nanoparticles were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis from the raw powders of thiourea, zinc acetate and silver nitrate. The effects of Ag[Formula: see text] on the structural, morphological, composition, elemental analysis and luminescence properties were investigated. The results showed that the powders were all found in the cubic sphalerite structure with an average particle size of approximately 40 nm. In addition, various Ag[Formula: see text] doping concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 3, 4, 7 and 10 at.%) were selected to study the optical properties of the ZnS nanoparticles. It was found that the photoluminescence (PL) spectra excited by 325 nm and X-ray showed a peak at 490 nm for all samples and exhibited concentration quenching behavior. The PL results also indicate that the most favorable silver doping concentration for emission is 3 at.%. These results suggested that ZnS:Ag (3 at.%) nanoparticles were promising candidate materials for certain areas, such as screen displays, scintillators and lasers.

Background:Cholesterol crystal embolism (CCE) syndrome is a multisystemic disorder caused by small arteries cholesterol crystal emboli subsequent to small pieces of atheromatous plaques from the aorta or other major arteries break off. CCE is often overlooked because it mimics symptoms of systemic vasculitis due to its clinical characteristics such as ulceration and gangrene of toes, livedo reticularis, renal insufficiency. Acute inflammatory reactants such as ESR, CRP may elevate in CCE patients since the cholesterol crystals trigger a foreign-body inflammatory reaction around the arterioles.Objectives:This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of CCE patients, to make rheumatologists learn more about this disease.Methods:Peer-reviewed articles in the electronic databases Medline, PubMed, Science Citation Index, China Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), China Journal Full Text Database (CNKI), and WANFANG Data were searched using the terms “cholesterol crystal embolism syndrome”, “cholesterol embolism”, “atherosclerotic embolism”, “atherosclerotic nephropathy”, or “CCE”. Only articles or case reports containing detailed medical records of CCE patients were included. We also included CCE patients in our department.Results:A 66-year-old male CCE patient presented with multiple ulceration and gangrene of toes and heels (Figure 1), subacute renal insufficiency, and elevated CRP and ESR. This patient had been considered as “suspected systemic vasculitis” and was referred to our rheumatology department. Another 39 Chinese CCE patients from the above databases were qualified for analysis. Among these 40 patients, 87.5% (35/40) were male and the mean age was 68±6 years. The most common involved was kidney and 90% (36/40) of patients presenting with renal insufficiency including the progressive increase of serum creatinine, hematuria, proteinuria, or sudden (or sharp) aggravation of hypertension. Next common involved was skin that occurred in 87.5% (35/40) of patients, especially in the toes and heels. For skin manifestations, blue toe syndrome occurred in 82.5% (33/40) of patients, ulceration or gangrene in 25% (10/40), and livedo reticularis in 15% (6/40). Additionally, 12.5% (5/40) showed ocular involvement such as visual impairment and visual field defect. In 2 patients, embolized cholesterol crystal in retinal arteries that is called Hollenhorst plaques was detected by fundoscopy. There were 62.5% (25/40) of patients having elevated CRP or ESR. The positive rate for skin or subcutaneous biopsies was 58% (11/19) and for kidney biopsies was 100% (6/6). The precipitating factors preceding the occurrence of classical symptoms such as blue toe syndrome, livedo reticularis and/or subacute renal insufficiency is important for CCE diagnosis especially for patients who had contraindications or were intolerant to biopsy. The precipitating factors include endovascular intervention (80%), vascular surgery (5%), and anticoagulant or thrombolytic therapy (2.5%). Only 12.5% (5/40) of patients were spontaneous and didn’t have any predisposing factors. General interventions of CCE included statins (82.5%), antiplatelets (32.5%), and dialysis (32.5%). Twelve patients (30%) received glucocorticoids and 75% (9/12) of them renal function improved and ulceration healed (Figure 1). Among 36 patients who presented with renal insufficiency, the renal function returned to normal after treatment in 2 patients (5.6%), but 27 patients (75%) still showed abnormal renal function even though somewhat improved, and 7 patients (19.4%) needed renal replacement therapy or dialysis for maintenance.Conclusion:This study reported CCE patients had high prevalence of renal insufficiency, blue toe syndrome, and ulceration or gangrene of toes, as well as elevated CRP or ESR, thus rheumatologists should be alert to this disease as one of the differential diagnosis of systemic vasculitis, especially for elderly patients with evidence of atherosclerosis who undergo a recent cardiovascular procedure.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Passive transfer of ANA and anti-SSA has been reported in patients with common variable immunodeficiency disorder who received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG). IVIG is also recommended to treat some special or life-threatening rheumatic diseases.Objectives:This study was aimed to explore whether any extractable nuclear antibodies (ENAs) were transferred to these rheumatic patients who received IVIG therapy.Methods:IVIG products of three batches were tested for ANA by using indirect immunofluorescent assay, and for ENAs by using line immunoassay (LIA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). These IVIG products were administrated to rheumatic patients at a dose of 20g/d×3 days (day1 to day3). Serum samples of these patients before IVIG (day0) and after IVIG (day4, day8, day10, day12, and more than one month) were tested by using LIA and CLIA. Anti-SSA was also detected using ELISA.Results:In these IVIG products, ANA was positive at a titer of 1:640 (cytoplasmic speckled) and 1:80 (speckled). Among 14 types of ENAs that could be tested using LIA, anti-SSA, anti-Ro52, anti-mitochondrial M2, and anti-centromere B antibodies were clearly detectable in IVIG products (Table 1). Likewise, another assay CLIA also detected the same positive autoantibodies in these products. LIA showed the highest concentration in anti-mitochondrial M2, while CLIA showed the highest concentration in anti-mitochondrial M2 and anti-Ro52. One 31-year-old male patient who was diagnosed as SLE (Figure 1) and one 72-year-old male patients who was diagnosed as necrotizing myositis received these IVIG products. Anti-SSA, anti-Ro52, anti-mitochondrial M2, but not anti-centromere B, were positive in the day4 serum samples, although all of these antibodies were negative at baseline (day0). The concentration of these antibodies decreased gradually as days passed and became undetectable around one month after IVIG.Table 1.The concentration of autoantibodies in intravenous immunoglobulin productsanti-SSAanti-Ro-52anti-mitochondrial M2anti-centromere BCut-offLIA(grey value)20±328±369±1019±4≥11CLIA (U/ml)333±107444±86434±66390±89>20ELISA (U/ml)90±13NANANA>20LIA, line immunoassay; CLIA, chemiluminescence immunoassay; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assayConclusion:This study preliminarily reported transient positivity of anti-SSA, anti-Ro52, and anti-mitochondrial M2 in rheumatic patients maybe because the passive transfer of these antibodies from IVIG products to the patients, although the potential influence of this transfer on the rheumatic diseases remained unknown.Figure 1.The concentration of autoantibodies in a 31-year-old male SLE patient receiving intravenous immunoglobulin at a dose of 20g/d×3 days (day1 to day3). Serum samples of these patients before IVIG (day0) and after IVIG (day4, day8, day10, day12, and day51) were tested by using line immunoassay (LIA) and chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA). Anti-SSA was also detected using ELISA. The horizontal red lines were the corresponding cut-off values of each assay.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Tophi is a cardinal sign of advanced gout. Risk factors of gout are also closely related to the formation of tophi, such as impaired kidney function and serum uric acid (sUA). Several dietary factors, such as alcohol, fructose-containing beverage, red meat, sea foods have been confirmed increasing the risk of gout. Diet patterns vary widely in different countries. Dietary factors’ association with tophi formation remain elusive in Chinese gout patients.Objectives:This study aimed to study whether dietary factors were risk factors for tophi.Methods:We recruited consecutive gout patients who fulfilled the 2015 Gout Classification Criteria of ACR/EULAR and collected demographic data, gout disease characteristics and comorbidities. Tophi was evaluated by physical examination and/or musculoskeletal ultrasound. All gout patients completed 10-items food intake frequency questionnaire which included red meat, animal offal, seafood, alcohol, fructose-containing beverages, milk and dairy products, coffee, hotpot, slow-cooking soup and tea. Patients were advised to report the average frequency of food consumption in the preceding year of first gout attack. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate risk factors of tophi. Dependent variables were those met p values less than 0.1 on univariate analysis.Results:a)There were 682 gout patients recruited with 94% male, mean age 44±16 years, and median gout duration 4 (2,7) years. The mean sUA was 9.0±2.3mg/dl. Tophi presented in 166 (24.3%) patients with 31 (4.5%) patients diagnosed by ultrasound. In patients with gout duration <3 years, 3~4.9 years, 5~9.9 years and ≥10 years, the prevalence of tophi were 6.7%, 19.4%, 38.8%, and 49.6%, respectively. b)Tophus patients were characterized by older age (48±16 vs. 42±15 years), longer gout duration [7(4, 10) vs. 3(1, 5) years], more ever involved joints [11(4, 24) vs. 3(2, 5)] and more flare times in the last year [11(4, 24) vs. 3(2, 6)]. For comorbidities, tophus patients presented higher prevalence of urolithiasis (36% vs. 23%), hypertension (54% vs.40%,) and diabetes (20% vs. 11%) but less hypertriglyceridemia (19% vs. 32%, all P<0.05). c)Compared with patients without tophi, tophus gout patients consumed more red meat (>300g/d: 12% vs. 6%), seafood (>2 times/w: 18% vs.13%), hotpot (≥1 time/w: 17% vs. 10%) and alcohol (>84g/d: 23% vs. 9%). d)Dependent variables of multivariate logistic regression analysis included age, gender, gout duration, diuretics, BMI, sUA, serum creatinine, urine pH, hypertriglyceridemia, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, urolithiasis, alcohol consumption, hotpot, red meat, and seafoods. Gout duration, sUA, serum creatinine and urine pH were positively correlated with tophi, while hypertriglyceridemia was negatively associated with tophi. For dietary factors, heavy alcohol consumption (> 84g/ day vs. < 1g/ day OR=2.624, 95%CI: 1.437-4.793) and hotpot (≥ 1 time/w vs. <1 time/w, OR=2.164, 95%CI: 1.217-3.847) were positively correlated with tophi.Conclusion:Our data suggest tophi should not be ignored in gout patients with short duration. Heavy alcohol consumption and hotpot are associated with the formation of tophi.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

Background:Focal lymphocytic sialadenitis defined as focus score (FS) ≥1 on labial gland (LG) biopsy plays an integral role in various classification criteria of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS). However, suspected patients often hesitate to receive a biopsy; and rheumatologists hope a decision for biopsy based on a high predicted incidence of FS≥1, or against biopsy based on an absolutely low predicted incidence.Objectives:To build a decision model of LG biopsy based on B-mode ultrasonography (US) with shear-wave elastography (SWE) in patients with suspected SS.Methods:Patients who had at least one symptom of oral dryness (based on AECG questions) or had anti-SSA positive were recruited and signed a written informed consent. Bilateral parotid (PG) and submandibular glands (SMG) were examined with B-mode US which graded the echostructure of each gland on a scoring system scaled 0 to 4 (US score), and SWE which described the elasticity of glands. Then LG biopsy was performed.Results:(1)Ninety-one patients whose mean age was 43±15 years were enrolled and 93% of them were female. Anti-SSA was detected in 77 patients (85%) and 28 patients (31%) showed unstimulated whole saliva flow rate (USFR)≤0.1mL/mim. There were 57 patients (63%) showing FS≥1 on LG biopsy. Sixty-three patients (69%) were classified as primary SS, 10 patients (10%) were secondary SS, 18 patients (20%) were uCTD and one patient was RA without SS.(2)US scores were equal between PG and SMG in 59 patients (65%), while the rest patients showed different US scores between two glands: 7 patients (8%) showed higher US scores in PG and 25 patients (27%) showed higher scores in SMG. In each pair of glands US scores were equal. SWE values in PG or SMG of US score 1, 2 or 3 were significantly higher than those of US score 0, while SWE values in glands of US score 4 became declined and showed no significant difference from those with US score 0 (Figure 1A).(3)Heatmap showed US scores in either major salivary gland of patients with FS≥1 on LG biopsy were significantly higher than those with FS<1 (all p<0.001, Figure 1B). ROC curve showed a total US score (including bilateral PG and SMG) ≥9 and a total SWE value (including bilateral PG and SMG)≥30 could significantly recognize patients with FS≥1, respectively with specificity of 100% and 93% (Figure 1C). In this cohort, among 51 patients with a total US score ≥9 and/or a total SWE value≥30, 49 patients (96%) showed FS≥1 on LG biopsy; while two outliers showed total US scores were both 8 although combined SWE values≥30. Other 29 patients showed total US scores≤6 with total SWE values <30 and only one patient (3%) showed FS≥1 on LG biopsy. The remaining 11 patients showed total US scores were 8 with total SWE values <30 and 64% of them (n=7) showed FS≥1.Conclusion:A preliminary decision model of LG biopsy based on B-mode US with SWE in patients with suspected SS were built in Table 1. For example, rheumatologists should reassess the need for biopsy if the incidence of FS≥1 would be <5%. Another cohort of patients with suspected SS is needed for further validation.Table 1.A preliminary decision model of LG biopsy based on B-mode US with SWE in patients with suspected SSAlgorithm*Comments on the decision of LG biopsyA total US score≥9 and/or a total SWE≥30The specificity of FS≥1 on biopsy is >93%. Biopsy is recommended. In some special cases (e.g. contraindicated to biopsy), this item is a potential alternative to LG biopsy.A total US score 7~8 with a total SWE <30It is hard to predict the result of FS, so biopsy is strongly recommended.A total US score≤6 with a total SWE <30The incidence of FS≥1 would be <5%. Rheumatologists should reassess the need for biopsy.References:NoneDisclosure of Interests:None declared