Objective To determine the persistence time of genotype 4 hepatitis E (HE) viremia after the onset of clinical symptoms in HE patients and provide essential data for study on HE epidemiologieal transmission, so that to evaluate potential contagiousness of HE patients after clinical stage. Methods The first serum samples from 162 HE patients after hospitalized in Eastern China were collected and tested for hepatitis E virus (HEV) RNA by nested reversed transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The persistence time of HEV viremia after the onset of clinical symptoms was estimated with Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results HEV RNA was detectable in 101 out of 162 serum samples with positive rate of 62.35%, which was all grouped to genotype 4 by homology analysis. Furthermore, HEV RNA was detectable in 74 (64.91%) out of 114 male and 27 (56.25%) out of 48 female, which was not significantly different (χ2 = 1.08, P=0. 30). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the median persistence time of HEV genotype 4 viremia was 24 days after the onset of clinical symptoms (95% CI: 18-30 days), which meant that the viremia of 50% HE patients remaining detectable up to 24 days after the onset. The 75% and 25% percentiles were 14 days and 31 days, respectively. There was no significant difference of viremia persistence time between male and female (Breslow test: P=0.98, Tarone-Ware test: P=0.91). Conclusions The viremia of 75% patients with HEV genotype 4 infection could persistent until 2 weeks after the onset of clinical symptoms and that of some patients could persistent over 1 month. It is indicated that the viremia is still persistent and HE patient could be a reservoir even after the clinical symptoms disappeared and biochemical marks normalized.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of 1,8-cineol on lung functions and mechanism in asthmatic guinea pigs. METHODS The guinea pig model was performed by intraperitoneal injection of the 0.5 ml Al(OH)_3 gel containing OVA 20 μg. The guinea pigs were constructed by immunization of intraperitoneal injection on the 0 day and the 7th day, and the experiment was performed on the 28th day. The effect of 1,8-cineol 10, 30 and 100 ml·kg~(-1) on the airway resistance(R_(aw)) and dynamic lung compliance (C_(dyn)) of asthmatic guinea pigs 1 h after challenge of OVA. The changes in leukocyte and different kinds of leukocyte in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after the challenge of OVA have been studied. The levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), interleukin(IL)-4, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in lungs of guinea pigs were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The changes in R_(aw) and C_(dyn) of asthmatic guinea pigs were investigated 17 h after challenge of OVA and inhalated methacholine (MCh). The changes in leukocyte and different kinds of leukocyte in BALF after the challenge of OVA have been studied. The levels of ECP, IL-4, IL-8 and TNF-α in lungs of guinea pigs were determined using ELISA. RESULTS 1,8-Cineol inhibited increase in R_(aw) and decrease in C_(dyn) from 1 to 30 min after challenge of OVA in model group. The levels of ECP, IL-4 and TNF-α in asthmatic model group were higher than those in normal control group(P<0.05). The levels of ECP, IL-4 and TNF-α of 1,8-cineol 100 mg·kg~(-1) group were significantly lower than those in asthmatic model group (P<0.01). The level of IL-8 of asthmatic model group didn't have any significant difference from that of control group. 1,8-Cineol 100 mg·kg~(-1) could significantly decrease the numbers of leukocyte and the percent of eosinophils in BALF. Seventeen hours after challenge of OVA, R_(aw) and C_(dyn) of asthmatic model group were higher than these of control group (P<0.05, P<0.01); 1,8-cineol 100 mg·kg~(-1) significantly inhibited the increase in R_(aw), compared with model group (P<0.05); 1,8-cineol 10, 30 and 100 mg·kg~(-1) improved the decrease in C_(dyn) after MCh-induced in model group which were challenged by OVA after 17 h; 1,8-cineol 100 mg·kg~(-1) could significantly decrease the numbers of leukocyte and the percent of neutrophils, the levels of ECP, IL-8 and TNF-α compared with asthmatic group. The level of IL-4 in asthmatic model group didn't have any significant difference from that in normal control group. CONCLUSION In the course of early stage of asthma, 1,8-cineol inhibites the asthma by decreasing the number of eosinophils and down-regulating the activity of EPO. In the course of later stage of asthma, 1,8-cineol inhibits or improves the aggravation and lasting states of asthma which is directly coursed by neutrophils accumulating in the BALF that related to the increase in IL-8.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of spearmint oil on emphysema-like changes and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta(IL-1beta), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-9) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated rats.

METHODEmphysematous changes model was induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS once a week for up to 8 weeks in rats. Rats were divided into control, dexamethasone (0.3 mg x kg(-1)), and spearmint oil (10, 30,100 mg x kg(-1)) groups. Each group was treated with saline, dexamethasone, and spearmint of oil respectively for 4 weeks. Then total and different white blood cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) were carried out. The pathologic changes of lung tissue such as alveolar structure, airway inflammation, and goblet cell metaplasia were observed by HE and AB-PAS staining. Expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, TIMP-1 and MMP-9 were measured.

RESULTBoth spearmint and dexamethasone decreased the destruction of pulmonary alveolus. The total and different white blood cell counts in BALF including neutrophile and lymphocyte of spearmint oil 100 mg x kg(-1) and dexamethasone group were significantly reduced, and the goblet cell metaplasia was also inhibited. Dexamethasone had inhibitory effect on the expression of TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, TIMP-1 and MMP-9. Spearmint oil 30, 100 mg x kg(-1) significantly reduced TNF-alpha and IL-1beta respectively. Spearmint oil 10, 30 and 100 mg x kg(-1) had no effect on the expression of TIMP-1, but could decrease the expression of MMP-9 significantly in lung tissues.

CONCLUSIONSpearmint oil has protective effect on rats with emphysematous changes, since it improves alveolar destruction, pulmonary inflammation, and goblet cell metaplasia. The mechanism may include reducing TNF-alpha, IL-1beta content and inhibiting overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in lung tissues.

Animals ; Azo Compounds ; pharmacology ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; cytology ; Goblet Cells ; drug effects ; Interleukin-1beta ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Leukocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Mentha spicata ; chemistry ; Metaplasia ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neutrophils ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Oils ; therapeutic use ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; pathology ; Rats ; Respiratory System ; drug effects ; pathology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; drug effects ; metabolism