Objective:To study the efficacy and immunoregulation of pidotimod combined with routine treatment in the children with recurrent respiratory tract infections. Methods:Totally 114 cases of children with recurrent respiratory tract infections were divid-ed into the control group and the treatment group according to the sequence of hospitalization. The 58 patients in the control group re-ceived the conventional treatment, while the 56 patients in the treatment group were given pidotimod additionally. After two-month treatment, all the children were given 1 -6-month follow-up, and the symptom disappearance time, clinical efficacy, recurrence, physiological indices and change of immunological function in the two groups were observed and compared. Results:The disappearance time of symptom and lung physical signs in the observation group was much shorter than that in the control group (P<0. 05);the total effective rate of the observation group was 92. 86%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group (67. 24%, P <0. 001). The number of upper and lower respiratory tract infections in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the con-trol group (P<0. 05). After the treatment, the immune parameters in the observation group were significantly improved (P<0. 01), which were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0. 05 or P<0. 01). The immune parameters before and after the treatment in the control group showed no statistically significant difference (P>0. 05). Conclusion:Pidotimod combined with routine treatment in the children with recurrent respiratory tract infections exhibits promising efficacy, which can improve immunity effectively.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of desloratadine for the treatment of allergic rhinitis. Methods A total of 50 cases of chronic or acute allergic rhinitis confirmed clinically were randomized into control and experimental groups for double blind study. Scoring of clinical symptoms, examinations of the nasal cavity, blood and urine routine examination, functions of liver and kidney and electrocardiogram (ECG) were conducted on day 14 before and after the experiment. The collected data were analyzed statistically. Results The clinical data of the two groups were comparable. The effective rate of desloratadine was significant in allergic rhinitis, being 95.45%. No remarkable adverse effect was noted in this experiment. Conclusion Desloratadine is more effective and safe than loratadine in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and it may be feasible for clinical application.

AIM: To study effect of endogenous carbon monoxide on intracellular calcium concentration and explore the mechanism in brain protection of endogenous CO in focal cerebral ischemia in rats. METHODS: SD rats were divided into three groups randomly, which including hemin, ZnPP group and saline group as control. Respectively saline, hemin, ZnPP were injected intra-peritoneally twelve hours before middle cerebral artery was occluded. Twenty four hours after MCAO model was set up, the concentration of carbon monoxide in blood and intracellular calcium in neural cells was examined. RESULTS: Contrast to saline group, the concentration of CO in blood rose up while intracellular calcium in occluded side decreased in hemin group; the concentration of CO in blood went down while intracellular calcium in occluded side rose up in ZnPP group, there was significant difference among them (P0.05). CONCLUSIONS: It may be one of mechanisms on brain protection in ischemic cerebral tissue that carbon monoxide affected intracellular calcium concentration of neural cells by regulating Ca~(2+)-K~+ channel on cell membrane as a messenger gaseous molecular and neurotransmitter. [

Objective:To investigate the efficacy of levetiracetam combined with low-dose topiramate on epilepsy and its effects on bone metabolism and lipid metabolism in children.Methods:A total of 108 children with epilepsy who received treatment in the First People's Hospital of Yongkang from August 2016 to December 2019 were included in this study. They were randomly allocated to study and control groups ( n = 54/group). The study group was treated with levetiracetam combined with low-dose topiramate. The control group was treated with carbamazepine combined with low-dose topiramate. Before treatment and half a year after treatment, serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels, blood Ca 2+ and P 3- concentrations, and bone mineral density (BMD) were determined. Clinical efficacy was evaluated in each group. Results:Half a year after treatment, blood Ca 2+ concentration, blood P 3- concentration, and BMD in the study group were (2.41 ± 0.35) mmol/L, (1.57 ± 0.26) mmol/L, and (2.21 ± 0.52) g/cm2, respectively, which were significantly greater than those in the control group [(2.19 ± 0.27) mmol/L, (1.18 ± 0.15) mmol/L, (1.81 ± 0.38) g/cm, tca2+ = 4.20, tbloodP3- = 5.73, tBMD = 6.42, all P < 0.05). ALP level was significantly lower in the study group than in the control group [(129.78 ± 25.63) U/L vs. (181.55 ± 21.94) U/L, t = 15.39, P < 0.05). Half a year after treatment, TC, TG, and LDL-C levels in the study group were (4.38 ± 0.64) mmol/L, (1.71 ± 0.42) mmol/L, and (1.65 ± 0.32) mmol/L, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(4.76 ± 0.83) mmol/L, (1.96 ± 0.45) mmol/L, (1.98 ± 0.34) mmol/L, tTC = 3.81, tTG = 4.14, tLDL-C = 5.58, all P < 0.05]. HDL-C level in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group [(1.96 ± 0.38) mmol/L vs. (1.63 ± 0.27) mmol/L, tHDL-C = 7.39, P < 0.05]. Half a year after medication, clinical efficacy was significantly higher in the study group than that in the control group (94.44% vs. 81.48%, χ2 = 6.29, P < 0.05). Conclusion:Low-dose topiramate combined with levetiracetam is highly effective on epilepsy in children. The combined therapy has less impact on the levels of bone and lipid metabolism indicators and is suitable for clinical application.

Objective To explore the characteristics of opportunistic infections(OIs)in HIV-infected indi-viduals with suboptimal immune reconstitution after ART treatment so as to provide a reference for preventing and managing HIV infections.Methods The clinical data including opportunistic infections specifically were acquired from 112 HIV-infected individuals with suboptimal immune reconstitution from the outpatient department of Wuming Hospital,Guangxi Medical University.The impact of baseline CD4+T lymphocyte counts on the incidence,type,and mixed infection rates of the opportunistic infections were analyzed.Results The opportunistic infection rate among the 112 HIV-infected individuals with suboptimal immune reconstitution was 42.86%,among which fungal infections were the most commonly seen.The opportunistic infection rate of the patients with a baseline of CD4+T lymphocyte counts≤50/μL was significantly higher than that of the patients with a baseline of CD4+T lymphocyte counts>50/μL,and there was no significant difference in the type of opportunistic infections as well as the rate of mixed infections.Conclusion HIV-infected people with suboptimal immune reconstitution in Guangxi are susceptible to HIV OIs.Among them,the group with a baseline CD4+ T lymphocyte counts≤50/μL has a higher rate of OIs,mainly fungal infections.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor ( KIR) genes and immune reconstitution failure in human immunodeficiency virus infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) patients after anti-retroviral therapy (ART). Methods:HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART for ≥1 year who attended the AIDS outpatient clinics of Wuming Hospital of Guangxi Medical University and People′s Hospital of Mashan from May 2007 to December 2019 were included. Patients were divided into immune reconstitution failure group and full immune reconstitution group. Polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) was used to detect KIR genotypes in all subjects, and the genotype frequency (PF) of 16 KIR genotypes was calculated. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square test. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between KIR genotypes and immune reconstitution failure.Results:There were 102 patients with HIV/AIDS, including 44 immunological non-responders and 58 immunological responders. The PF of KIR2 DL5 in immune reconstitution failure group was 59.09%(26/44), which was higher than 36.21%(21/58) in full immune reconstitution group, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=5.27, P=0.022). Multivariate logistics regression analysis showed that KIR2 DL5 was associated with immune reconstitution failure when adjusted for age and baseline CD4 + T cell count. Positive expression of KIR2 DL5 may be a risk factor for immune reconstitution failure (adjusted odds ratio (a OR)=2.431, 95% confidence interval 1.012 to 5.844, P=0.047). Conclusions:Positive expression of KIR2 DL5 may be related to immune reconstitution failure in HIV/AIDS patients after ART.

ObjectiveTo investigate the potential mechanism of action of the Qufeng Tongqiao Cough-relieving Decoction （祛风通窍止咳方， QTCD） in the treatment of upper airway cough syndrome （UACS）. MethodsTwenty-four guinea pigs were randomly divided into blank group， model group， traditional Chinese medicine （TCM） group， and inhibitor group， with six guinea pigs in each group. Except for the blank group， guinea pigs were sensitized with ovalbumin and aluminum hydroxide via intraperitoneal injection， followed by ovalbumin nasal drops combined with smoke exposure to establish the UACS model. After modeling， the TCM group was administered QTCD 0.9 g/（100 g·d） by gavage， the inhibitor group received the transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor 4 （TRPV4） inhibitor GSK2193874 1 mmol/L， 5 min by nebulisation， and the blank group and model group were given 2 ml/（100 g·d） normal saline by gavage once daily. After 7 days of treatment， a cough provocation test was performed using 0.4 mol/L citric acid. The levels of IgE in serum and inflammatory cytokines， including interleukin-6 （IL-6）， interleukin-8 （IL-8） in serum， bronchoalveolar lavage fluid （BALF）， and nasal lavage fluid （NLF） were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay （ELISA）. Histopathological changes in lung and nasal mucosal tissues were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the protein levels of TRPV4， substance P （SP）， and calcitonin gene-related peptide （CGRP） in lung and nasal mucosal tissues. Real-time polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the mRNA expression of TRPV4， SP， and CGRP in lung tissues. ResultsHE staining showed significant structural damage and infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung and nasal mucosal tissues in the model group， while the TCM group and inhibitor group showed improved pathological changes. Compared with the blank group， the model group showed increased cough frequency， serum IgE level， and IL-6 and IL-8 levels in serum， BALF， and NLF. The protein levels of TRPV4， SP， and CGRP in lung and nasal mucosal tissues and their mRNA expression were elevated （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the model group， the TCM group and inhibitor group showed reduced cough frequency， serum IgE level， and TRPV4 and SP mRNA expression in lung tissues. The TCM group showed reduced IL-6 and IL-8 levels in serum， BALF， and NLF， and reduced TRPV4 and CGRP protein levels in lung and nasal mucosal tissues. The inhibitor group showed reduced IL-6 and IL-8 levels in serum， BALF， and NLF， reduced IL-6 in BALF， reduced IL-8 in NLF， and decreased TRPV4， SP， and CGRP protein levels in lung tissues and SP and CGRP protein levels in nasal mucosal tissues （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. Compared with the TCM group， the inhibitor group had increased serum IgE， IL-6， and IL-8 levels， increased IL-6 level in BALF， and increased IL-8 levle in NLF， but decreased SP protein level in lung tissues and increased TRPV4 and SP mRNA expression in lung tissues （P＜0.01）. ConclusionQTCD effectively reduces cough frequency in the UACS guinea pig model. Its mechanism may involve inhibiting the activation of the TRPV4 pathway， improving airway neurogenic inflammation， alleviating inflammatory responses， and reducing cough hypersensitivity.