ObjectiveTo learn the serum immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) level in patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) in the active phase by detecting the IgG4 concentration in the patients with PV. MethodsWe collected the serum samples from patients with active-phase PV (including acute-onset and chronic active phases) between April and December 2014. The serum IgG4 level was detected by immuno-scatter turbidmetry, and the difference of serum IgG4 level between PV patients and normal subjects was assessed by Student's t-test. ResultsThirty-two patients with pemphigus vulgaris in the active phase were enrolled for this study, among whom 22 (including 8 males and 14 females) had normal serum IgG4 level, 8 (including 3 males and 5 females) higher and 2 (including 1 male and 1 female) lower. Compared with normal subjects, the average level of serum IgG4 in PV patients was not significantly different (P>0.05). The serum IgG4 level of acute-onset and chronic active PV patients was (1.015±0.825) g/L and (1.058±1.133) g/L, respectively, with no significant difference (P>0.05). ConclusionThe serum IgG4 level of patients with pemphigus vulgaris in the active phase can be normal, higher or lower. And there is no obvious difference in the serum IgG4 level between acute-onset and chronic active PV patients.
ObjectiveTo explore whether platelet activation is associated with systemic inflammatory responses. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study to enroll all aortic dissection (AD) patients (AD group) from January 1, 2015 to June 30, 2015 in the Emergency Department. According to the characteristics of AD patients, we matched hypertension (hypertension group) and health participants (health group) with AD patients at a proportion of 1:1:1. Blood samples were collected on admission for blood routine test [mean platelet volume (MPV)/platelet (PLT)] and inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6] analysis. We compared all parameters among the three groups and performed bivariate correlation analyses. ResultsExpressions of TNF-α and IL-6 in the AD group [(20.9±4.5), (168.8±75.1) pg/mL] were significantly higher than those in the hypertension group [(4.3±1.9), (8.4±2.9) pg/mL] and healthy group [(5.4±1.6), (8.7±3.8) pg/mL] (P＜0.05). MPV/PLT in the AD group was significantly higher than that in the hypertension group and healthy group (0.106±0.035 vs 0.049±0.010, P＜0.05; 0.106±0.035 vs 0.054±0.019, P＜0.05). There were positive correlations between MPV/PLT and TNF-α (r=0.516, P=0.002), and between MPV/PLT and IL-6 (r=0.633, P＜0.001) in the AD group. ConclusionIn summary, our study shows that platelets of AD patients can be activated, and the degree of activation is associated with systemic inflammatory responses.