Objective CD44, a cell surface glycoprotein, plays an important role in tumor growth and glycolysis.The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of neutralizing CD44 antibodies on the growth and glycolytic metabolism of B16 cells in melanoma in vitro.Methods B16 cells were treated with control antibodies (50 μg/mL) or different concentrations of CD44 antibodies (2, 10, and 50 μg/mL) for 24 hours, followed by examination of the activation of the AKT pathway in the B16 cells by Western blot.Then the tumor cells were also treated with control antibodies (50 μg/mL) or CD44 antibodies (50μg/mL) after pretreated with API-2 (4 μmol/L) in a parallel test.After 48 hours of treatment, the expression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in the B16 cells and the level of lactate in the culture supernatant were detected by immunofluorescence and colorimetry, respectively.Lastly, the B16 cells were treated with control antibodies (50μg/mL), API-2 (4 μmol/L), CD44 antibodies (50μg/mL), or API-2 + CD44 antibodies for 96 hours, followed by measurement of the proliferation of the cells by MTT and their apoptosis by AO/EB and AnnexinV staining.Results In comparison with the control antibody group, the level of AKT phosphorylation (p-AKT) in the B16 cells showed a concentration-dependent increase in the 2, 10, and 50 μg/mL CD44 antibody groups (1.00±0.25 vs 2.51±0.32, 3.89±0.46, and 4.07±0.42, P<0.01), and the expression of LDHA was increased by (2.13±0.24) times, with the lactate level in the culture supernatant significantly elevated from (35.32±3.24) to (56.34±8.19) mmol/L (P<0.01) after 96 hours of treatment with 50 μg/mL CD44 antibodies.Treatment with API-2+CD44 antibodies, however, suppressed the increase in the LDHA expression and reduced the level of lactate.Compared with the control antibody group, the proliferation rate of the B16 cells was markedly decreased in the API-2, CD44 antibody, and API-2+CD44 antibody groups ([103±12.91] vs [84.87±19.35], [71.35±16.23], and [41.16±9.15]%, P<0.05), while the apoptosis rate remarkably increased ([5.23±0.96] vs [13.65±4.27], [19.21±3.53], and [43.21±7.87]%, P<0.01).Conclusion Neutralizing the function of CD44 in the B16 cells in vitro can inhibit the growth of the cells and promote AKT-mediated glycolytic metabolism, while suppressing the AKT pathway may enhance the antitumor activity of the CD44 antibody.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of Infliximab (IFX) in pediatric Crohn′s disease (CD).Methods:The efficacy of IFX therapy in 30 patients suffering from active CD who were not completely improved with traditional medicine and enteral nutrition or had intolerance to the medicine in Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from December 2014 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed.Pediatric Crohn′s Disease Activity Index (PCDAI), blood biochemistry indices, mucosal healing, nutritional status, and adverse reactions were compared and evaluated.Results:Thirty active CD cases, with 18 males and 12 females, were enrolled, and the average age was (8.63±4.76) years old.Three cases who didn′t complete 3 times of IFX injection and 1 case who lost to be followed up were excluded.A total of 26 cases of CD in active period were enrolled in this study on efficacy.The clinical remission and response rate of 26 cases were 61.5% and 84.6%, respectively, at 14-week of IFX therapy.The clinical remission and response rate of 21 cases were 71.4% and 85.7%, respectively, at 30-week.The clinical remission and response rate of 15 cases were 86.7% and 93.3%, respectively, at 54-week.At week 14 th, PCDAI score [(9.56±8.05) scores vs.(29.02±10.86) scores] decreased compared with before treatment ( t=7.339, P<0.05). The levels of erythrocyte sedimentation rate [(15.54±10.26) mm/1 h vs.(33.77±21.30) mm/1 h] and C-reactive protein [(4.79±12.94 ) mg/L vs.(16.33±23.43) mg/L] were obviously decreased, and the hemoglobin [(126.27±16.51) g/L vs.(110.58±16.45) g/L], hematocrit [(37.03±3.95)% vs.(33.52±4.32)%], and albumin levels [(42.30±3.03) g/L vs.(37.13±5.68) g/L] were remarkably increased compared with those before treatment ( t=3.932, 1.993, -3.398, -3.060, -4.009, all P<0.05). Height for age Z score and body mass index Z score were increased after IFX treatment, without statistically significant differences (all P>0.05). Conclusions:IFX therapy had good clinical efficacy in controlling inflammatorys and inducing clinical remission in pediatric CD.

Aim To investigate the role of ATP-sensi-tive potassium channels-Akt pathway in exogenous hy-drogen sulfide( H2 S) inhibiting the high glucose( HG)-induced injury in H9c2 cardiac cells. Methods The expression level of Akt protein was tested by Western blot assay. The cell viability was measured by cell counter kit-8(CCK-8 assay). The number of apoptotic cells was tested by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining fol-lowed by photofluorography. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species ( ROS ) were detected by DCFH-DA staining followed by photofluorography. Mi-tochondrial membrane potential ( MMP ) was examined by JC-1 staining followed by photofluorography. Results H9c2 cells were treated with 35 mmol·L-1 glucose (high glucose, HG) for 0 ~24 h respectively. After treating for 3 h, the expression level of phosphorated ( p )-Akt protein began to be obviously reduced, the maximum reduced expression level was observed after the cells were exposed to HG for 24 h. Pretreatment of the cells with 50 μmol · L-1 pinacidil ( Pin, a KATP channel opener) or 400 μmol·L-1 NaHS( a donor of H2 S) prior to exposure to HG considerably blocked the down regulation of p-Akt expression level induced by HG. However, pretreatment with 1 mmol · L-1 KATP channel blocker glibenclamide( Gli) obviously attenua-ted the inhibitory effect of NaHS on HG-induced down-regulation of p-Akt expression level. On the other hand, the protective effects of NaHS against the HG-induced cardiomyocyte injury were markedly blocked by 30 μmol·L-1 Ly294002(an inhibitor of Akt), as indicated by the decrease in cell viability and MMP dissipation as well as the increases in the number of apoptotic cells and ROS generation. Conclution KATP channels-Akt pathway mediates the protective effect of H2 S against the HG-induced cardiac injury.

AIM:To investigate the roles of ATP-sensitive potassium ( KATP ) channels in high glucose-induced cardiac injury and the inhibitory effect of hydrogen sulfide ( H2 S) on the cardiomyocyte injury.METHODS:The expres-sion level of KATP channel protein was tested by Western blot.The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The number of apoptotic cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining.Mitochondrial membrane potential ( MMP) was exam-ined by JC-1 staining.RESULTS:After the H9c2 cells were treated with 35 mmol/L glucose ( high glucose, HG) for 1~24 h, the protein level of KATP channel was significantly reduced at 6 h, 9 h, 12 h and 24 h, reaching the minimum level at 12 h and 24 h.Pretreatment of the cells with 400μmol/L NaHS ( a donor of H2 S) prior to exposure to HG for 12 h con-siderably blocked the down-regulation of KATP channels induced by HG.Pretreatment of the cells with 100 μmol/L mito-chondrial KATP channel opener diazoxide, 50μmol/L non-selective KATP channel opener pinacidil or NaHS obviously inhibi-ted HG-induced injuries, leading to an increase in the cell viability, and decreases in the number of apoptotic cells and the MMP loss.Pretreatment with 100μmol/L mitochondrial KATP channel antagonist 5-hydroxydecanoic acid or 1 mmol/L non-selective KATP channel antagonist glibenclamide attenuated the above cardioprotective effects of NaHS.CONCLUSION:KATP channels mediate the inhibitory effect of H2 S on HG-induced cardiac injury.

AIM:To study whether hydrogen sulfide (H2S) protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against high glucose ( HG)-induced injury by inhibiting necroptosis .METHODS:The protein levels of RIP3 ( an indicator of necroptosis ) and cleaved caspase-3 were determined by Western blot .The cell viability was measured by CCK-8 assay.The intracellular le-vels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by 2’, 7’-dichlorfluorescein diacetate staining followed by photofluo-rography.Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was examined by rhodamine 123 staining followed by photofluorogra-phy.The number of apoptotic cells was observed by Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining followed by photofluorography .RE-SULTS:After the H9c2 cells were treated with HG (35 mmol/L glucose) for 0~24 h, the protein expression of RIP3 in the H9c2 cells was significantly increased at 3 h, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h and 24 h, reaching the maximum level at 24 h.Pretreat-ment of the cells with 400μmol/L NaHS (a donor of H2S) or co-treatment of the cells with necrostatin-1 (Nec-1;a speci-fic inhibitor of necroptosis) considerably blocked the up-regulation of RIP3 protein induced by HG.Moreover, pretreatment with NaHS or co-treatment with Nec-1 obviously inhibited HG-induced injuries , leading to an increase in the cell viability , and decreases in the generation of ROS and MMP loss .On the other hand , pretreatment with NaHS also reduced the num-ber of apoptotic cells and the protein level of cleaved caspase-3 in the HG-treated H9c2 cardiomyocytes .CONCLUSION:H2 S protects H9c2 cardiomyocytes against HG-induced injury by inhibiting necroptosis .

Health workers (HW) are on the frontline fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic,they are exposed to multiple occupational hazards.This article analyzed the comprehensive measures of protecting HWs during the COVID-19 response in China.Occupational health protection of HWs was one of the key strategies of the public health measures adopted against the COVID-19 outbreak from the earliest stage in China.This prioritization of HWs health protection was based on the technical and policy guidance of WHO and Intemational Labor Organization as well as the experiences from previous outbreaks in China.The comprehensive measures in China can be sum-marized as '6P-approach':public health emergency response,prompt learning from lessons,proactive measures of occupational health,precaution strategies against occupational hazards,personal protective equipment and medical devices supply,and professional networking.Through this 6P-approach,China was able to minimize the incidence of COVID-19 infection among HWs,while successfully containing the outbreak during the first quarter of 2020.Although the COVID-19 vaccines have been rolled out,however,the COVID-19 pandemic is still under rapidly evolving situation.Experiences from China may provide other countries with an example of prioritiz-ing and incorporating occupational health protection of HWs in their public health measures responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinical features of food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES).Methods:The medical history and follow-up data of 5 children with FPIES diagnosed in Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Children′s Hospital of Capital Medical University from July 2018 to September 2019 were collected, and their clinical characteristics were summarized and analyzed.Results:Five children with FPIES were all infants, including 3 females and 2 males.Before the onset of the disease, the cases visited multiple departments and the average number of visits before diagnosis was 3.There were 4 cases of milk protein allergy and 1 case of egg white allergy.The patients had acute vomiting [5 cases (100%)], diarrhea [4 cases (80%)], early shock symptoms [5 cases (100%)], transient fever [2 cases (40%)]. Hematogenous leukocytes were increased in 3 cases (60%), C-reactive protein was increased in 1 case (20%), faecal leukocytes(+ )[2 cases (40%)], occult blood (+ ) [1 case (20%)]. Four cases were tested for food allergen specific IgE, of which 2 cases (40%) were positive for milk protein.After avoiding allergens, 3 patients (60%) needed intravenous rehydration treatment and 2 cases (40%) received oral rehydration treatment.The above 5 cases recovered quickly.Three patients (60%) used antibiotics.Four cases (80%) of the first-degree relatives of FPIES had a clear history of allergy.Families of children with FPIES had low awareness of the disease before the diagnosis was made, and the allergens were strictly avoided according to the doctor′s instructions after the diagnosis was made.Similar allergic reactions did not occur again, and complementary foods were gradua-lly added under the guidance of the doctor.Two patients had multiple food allergies.The body weight and length of 2 children with growth retardation were catching up with each other.Conclusions:FPIES is a serious food allergy related gastrointestinal disease which is easy to be misdiagnosed clinically.The diagnosis requires a combination of the family and personal allergy history, diet records, the characteristic performance of disease onset, the effect of diet avoi-dance and the necessary differential diagnosis.The long-term management and monitoring after diagnosis is also very important.

Objective:To investigate endoscopic and clinical characteristics of intestinal Behcet′s disease (BD) in children.Methods:General information, clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, imaging examinations and endoscopic characteristics of 14 children with intestinal BD treated in the Department of Gastroenterology, Beijing Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2016 to March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Fourteen children with intestinal BD were recruited, involving 5 males and 9 females with the age of 1 month to 12 years and 11 months [(6.68±3.73) years old], and a median disease course of 6 months.All of them had gastrointestinal symptoms, including 11 cases with abdominal pain, 7 cases with diarrhea and 2 cases with vomiting.Complications of children with intestinal BD included gastrointestinal bleeding, intestinal perforation and stenosis.Extragastrointestinal symptoms included recurrent oral aphthosis in all the 14 cases, fever in 11 cases, skin lesions in 9 cases, vascular manifestations in 8 cases, positive pathergy test in 6 cases, joint manifestations in 5 cases, neurological manifestations in 1 case, and malnutrition in 6 cases.Observed by the endoscopy, lesions were mainly distributed in the distal ileum [61.5%(8/13 cases)]and ileocecal part[53.8%(7/13 cases)], with the main manifestation of ulcer.There were 3 cases with single ulcer and 10 cases with multiple ulcers, including 7 cases with deep and large ulcers.Pathological examinations of endoscopic lesions showed that the main features were mucosa chronic nonspecific inflammation, mucosa chronic active inflammation with ulcer and vasculitis.Conclusions:Clinical manifestations of intestinal BD vary a lot and are non-specific.Some children with intestinal BD may develop severe complications.Endoscopic lesions of intestinal BD have certain characteristics, which contribute to the diagnosis.Gastroenterologists need to be fully aware of intestinal BD.

Objective:To investigate the clinical phenotype and prognosis among different genotypes of progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis(PFIC) by cases analysis.Methods:The PFIC cases diagnosed at Beijing Children′s Hospital from 2015 to 2022 were collected, and the clinical phenotypic characteristics, treatment and prognosis were compared and analyzed.Results:A total of 628 cases of cholestatic liver disease were diagnosed, and 26 cases of PFIC were found, accounting for 4.1%.The number of PFIC 2 were the most, 14(53.8%)cases; three(11.5%) cases were PFIC 1; five(19.2%)cases were PFIC 3; while two(7.7%) cases were PFIC 4 and PFIC 6, respectively, and there was no case of PFIC 5.Type 1, 2, 4, and 6 had early onset ages(2 days to 21 months), while type 3 had a wide range of onset ages(8 to 145 months). The symptoms included jaundice(96.2%), pruritus(42.3%), and mucosal bleeding(15.4%). All three cases of type 1 had extrahepatic manifestations of diarrhea and malnutrition.Two cases of type 3 were found to have end-stage liver disease.Cases of PFIC 3 had increased serum γ-glutamyltransferase(97.2-439.5 U/L), while those of other types were normal.The bile acids were all increased(10.1-599.6 μmol/L). Abdominal ultrasound mainly showed liver enlargement(80.8%)and enhanced echogenicity of liver parenchyma(73.1%), enlargement of the spleen(61.5%). Ultrasound liver elastography ranged from 6.3 kPa to 23.1 kPa, there were 21(80.8%) cases ≥9 kPa.Among 26 cases, one case was lost to follow-up, and 11 cases were effective by oral medication alone.Fourteen children were still suffering from relapse or progress after drug treatment: four cases received liver transplantation (three cases had a good prognosis and one case died), two cases received biliary drainage, six cases were still taking drugs orally, and two cases died without active intervention in disease progress.Conclusion:Type 2 is the most common type in PFIC.The onset of most cases is in infancy.Jaundice, pruritus and hepatosplenomegaly are common clinical manifestations, and extrahepatic manifestations can be seen in type 1 cases.Type 3 cases can start with end-stage liver disease.Bile acid of all cases are increased.Except for type 3, the serum γ-glutamyltransferase of cases are normal.Oral medication has certain effects on some cases, but more than half progress, and some need biliary diversion or liver transplantation.

Objective: To investigate the antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori(Hp) isolates cultured from endoscopic gastric mucosal samples and influencing factors for antibiotic resistance in children. Methods: From April 2013 to February 2016, Hp cultured from mucosa samples of the gastric antrum and the body of stomach was investigated in 246 patients with ¹³C breath test positive examined by gastroscopy.Resistance to Amoxicillin, Clarithromycin, Metronidazole, Tetracycline was tested for Hp by using E-test.The clinical data were collected from the patients, and the relationship among age, gender, endoscopic diagnosis, histological performance, eradication number factors and antibiotic resistance rate were analyzed. Results: Of 246 specimens, 174 cases (70.7%) were positive.The overall antibiotic resistance rates of isolates obtained were 96.55% (168/174 cases), 57.47% (100/174 cases), 4.02% (7/174 cases), 1.15%(2/174 cases) with respect to Clarithromycin, Metronidazole, Tetracycline and Amoxicillin.An antibiotic resistance rate was 43.10% (75/174 strains), among which the Clarithromycin resistance rate was 93.33% (70/75 strains), and the Metronidazole resistance rate was 6.67% (5/75 strains). Double resistance rate was of 54.02%(94/174 strains), among which the resistances rate of Clarithromycin+ Metronidazole was 52.30%(91/94 strains), and the resistances rate of Clarithromycin+ Tetracycline was 1.72%(3/94 strains). Triple resistance rate of Clarithromycin+ Metronidazole+ Tetracycline was 1.15%(2/174 strains). Quadruple resistance rate of Clarithromycin+ Metronidazole+ Amoxicillin+ Tetracycline was 1.15%(2/174 strains). Factor analysis showed that the resistance rate of Clarithromycin in children who had failed in eradication therapy [98.7%(148/150 cases)] was higher than that in children who had not undergone eradication therapy [83.3%(20/24 cases)], and the difference was statistically significant(χ²=14.610, P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the relationship between Hp resistance to Metronidazole and Clarithromycin and the age, gender, endoscopic diagnosis and histological manifestations(all P>0.05). Conclusions Hp resistance rate to Clarithromycin, Metronidazole is very high in children, but it is relatively low to Amoxicillin and Tetracycline, and multiple antibiotic resistance is at high prevalence.