A method for simultaneous determination of 12 kinds of chlorinated disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water was developed based on liquid-liquid extraction gas chromatography equipped with electron capture detector (GC/ECD).The procedural standard calibration was adopted to eliminate the interference of different matrix.The method detection limits for 12 DBPs were 0.08-0.21 μg/L and the entire analytical procedure was finished in 21.50 min.The recoveries were in the range of 80.9%-115.7% and the relative standard deviations (RSD) were between 0.9% and 9.9% at different concentration levels (5 and 50 μg/L) in tap water and surface water.The correlation coefficients for all 12 kinds of DBPs were greater than 0.99 in the linearity range of 0.5-200 μg/L.The method was applied to determine DBPs in drinking water and source water.This method was rapid and competent for detection of volatile DBPs in drinking water.

Objective To investigate the role of IL-35-producing regulatory B cells(IL-35 + Breg)in immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods Thirty-two children with KD and 28 age-matched healthy children were allowed to participate in this study.Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the proportions of IL-35 + Breg as well as requlatory T cells (Treg)and expression levels of associated molecules such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-LI),CD169,programmed death 1 (PD-1),CD43,IL-12p35,epstein-Barr virus induced 3 (IL-27 EBI3).IL-12 receptor beta 2 (IL-12 Rβ2),IL-27 receptor alpha (IL-27 Rα),phosphated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (pSTAT1) and phosphated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3).Transcription levels of the Src homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2),phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN),vav1 guanine nucleotide exchange factor(Vav) in CD19 + B cells were determined by using quantitative real-time PCR.Plasma concentrations of IL-35,tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α) and IL-12 were measured by adopting enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results (1) The proportions of IL-35 +Breg and its expressions of IL-12p35,IL-27EBI3 and IL-10 in patients with acute KD were lower than those of healthy controls [IL-35 + Breg:(5.79 ± 2.60) ％ vs (12.65 ± 5.34) ％;F =19.23,9.70,14.30.7.08;all P ＜ 0.05],but they were significantly increased after intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) treatment [IL-35 + Breg:(10.52 ± 4.95) ％;all P ＜ 0.05].(2) The proportions of Treg and its transcriptional levels of IL-12p35 and IL-27 EBI3 were down-regulated during acute KD [Treg:(4.12 ± 1.51) ％ vs (8.06 ± 3.32) ％;F =19.70,17.69,38.22;all P ＜ 0.05],but were increased after therapy [Treg:(7.39 ± 2.85) ％;P ＜ 0.05].A positive correlation was found between the proportions of Treg and IL-35 + Breg during acute KD (r =0.69,P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,plasma concentrations of IL-35 and expression levels of IL-12Rβ2,IL-27Rα,pSTAT1 and pSTAT3 in CD19 + B cells were significantly down-regulated in children with acute KD,but they were increased after treatment(F =8.09,7.54,7.69,5.89,12.59,all P ＜ 0.05).(3) Compared with healthy controls,expressions of PD-L1 and CD169 on CD14 + cells and plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-12 were elevated during acute KD (F =24.94,16.53,34.71,19.51;all P ＜ 0.05).Expression levels of PD-1,CD43 and its downstream molecules (SHP-2,PTEN,Vav) in CD19 + B cells were down-regulated during acute KD (F =6.43,5.57,19.52,10.37,11.37;all P ＜ 0.05),and restored remarkably after therapy (all P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Insufficiency of IL-35 + Breg and its expression of IL-35 may be the important factors contributing to immunological dysfunction in KD.

Objective To investigate the changes and significance of ubiquitination of Foxp3 pro-tein during the acute phage of Kawasaki disease ( KD) .Methods Forty-eight children with KD and twenty-eight age-matched healthy children were recruited in this study.Co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot assays were performed to determine the poly-ubiquitination status of Foxp3 in CD4+T cells.The percentages of CD4+CD25high Foxp3+regulatory T cells ( Treg) and the levels of IL-10, transforming growth factor-β( TGF-β) , cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein-4 ( CTLA4 ) , STIP1 homology and U-Box containing protein 1 (STUB1), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), ubiquitin-specific-processing protease 7 (USP7) and pSTAT3 were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis.Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate the tran-scription levels of TLR1-10, IL-1R1, IL-1RAP, IL-6Rα, gp130, TNFR1, MyD88 and RIP1 in CD4+T cells.Plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-αwere measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent as-say.Results (1) The percentages of Treg cells and the levels of IL-10, TGF-β, CTLA4 and forkhead box P3 (Foxp3) in patients with acute KD were lower than those of healthy subjects (P<0.05), while the poly-ubiquitination of Foxp3 protein was significantly enhanced in patients with acute KD [(0.52 ±0.19) vs (0.08±0.02),P<0.05].Meanwhile, the four former items in KD patients with coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL+) were lower than those of KD patients without coronary artery lesions (KD-CAL-) (P<0.05), while the polyubiquitination level of Foxp3 protein in KD-CAL+group was much higher than that of KD-CAL-group [(0.70±0.28) vs (0.43±0.17), P<0.05].The levels of Treg cells, IL-10, TGF-βand CTLA4 in patients with KD were increased and the ubiquitination of Foxp3 protein was inhibited [(0.24±0.10) vs (0.52±0.19), P<0.05] upon the treatment with IVIG.(2) The levels of STUB1 and HSP70 in CD4+T cells were significantly elevated during acute KD, while the levels of USP7 were decreased (P<0.05).The ratios of STUB1/USP7 in patients with acute KD were much higher than those of the control group [(2.65± 0.92) vs (1.09±0.37), P<0.05], but were significantly decreased after IVIG therapy [(1.46±0.53) vs (2.65±0.92), P<0.05].A negative correlation was found between STUB1/USP7 ratio and Foxp3 level during acute KD (r=-0.56, P<0.05).Moreover, KD patients with CAL+showed higher levels of STUB1 and HSP70 and higher ratios of STUB1/USP7 (P<0.05), but lower levels of USP7 as compared with those of KD-CAL-group (P<0.05).(3) The plasma concentrations of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α), the levels of surface receptors ( IL-1R1/IL-1RAP/TLR4, IL-6Rα/gp130 and TNFR1) and its downstream molecules ( MyD88, pSTAT3 and RIP1) in CD4+T cells were up-regulated during acute KD ( P<0.05), especially in patients with CAL+, but were down-regulated upon the IVIG therapy (P<0.05).No significant differences with other TLRs were found among the groups (P>0.05).Conclusion Hyper-ubiq-uitination of Foxp3 protein might be involved in the immune dysfunction during Kawasaki disease.

Objective To investigate the role of regulatory B cells ( Breg ) in the immunological pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease ( KD) .Methods Twenty-eight children with acute KD and twenty-eight age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this study .Blood samples were collected before and after the treatment of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).The proportions of CD19+CD24hiCD38hi Breg and CD4+CD25+Foxp3+regulatory T cells (Treg), and the expressions of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86 and PD-L1) were analyzed by flow cytometry .The concentration of IL-10 protein was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay .Real-time PCR was performed to evaluate the expressions of Foxp 3, CTLA4 and GITR in CD4+T cells and IL-10 in CD19+B cells at mRNA level.Results (1) The proportions of CD19+CD24hi CD38hi Breg in peripheral blood and the expressions of IL-10 at mRNA level in CD19+B cells from patients with KD were lower than those from healthy controls (P<0.05), but significantly increased after treated with IVIG (P<0.05).Upon stimulation of lipopolysaccharide for 48 hours, the concentrations of IL-10 protein in culture supernatant of B cells from patients with KD were still lower than those from healthy controls [(31.06±8.26) pg/ml vs.(46.32±13.91) pg/ml, P<0.05].(2) Compared with healthy controls , the expressions of CD80, CD86 and PD-L1 were remarkably down-regulated in patients with acute KD ( P<0.05).With the treatment of IVIG, the expressions of CD80 and CD86 were significantly up-regulated though lower than those of the control group (P<0.05).There was no significant difference in the expression of PD-L1 before and after treatment (P>0.05).(3) The proportions of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg and the expressions of Foxp3, CTLA-4 and GITR at mRNA level were significantly decreased in KD group compared with those in control group (P<0.05), but were increased to some extent after IVIG treatment (P<0.05). In addition, a positive correlation between the proportion of CD 19+CD24hiCD38hi Breg and the proportion of CD4+CD25+Foxp3+Treg was found in patient with acute KD (r=0.62, P<0.05).Conclusion Breg cell deficiency and its impaired function might be one of the important factors causing immune dysfunction in pa -tients with acute KD .

Objective To investigate the changes and significances of inducible IL-35-producing regulatory T cells(iTR35) in immunological pathogcnesis of Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods Forty-eight children with KD and 32 age-matched healthy children (healthy control group) consented to participate in this study.Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the proportions of CD4+ FOXP3-IL-12p35+IL-27EBI3+iTR35 and CD4+CD25high FOXP3+regulatory T cells (Treg),and expression levels of associated molecules such as programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1),CD169,programmed death 1 (PD-1),CD43,IL-12p35,Epstein-Barr virus induced 3 (IL-27EBI3),glycoprotein 130(gp130),IL-12 receptor beta 2 (IL-12Rβ2),phosphated signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (pSTAT1) and phosphated signal transducer and activator of transcription 4 (pSTAT4).Transcription levels of the Sre homology 2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2),phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN),Vavl guanine nucleotide exchange factor(Vav) in CD4+T cells were determined by quantitative real-time PCR.Plasma concentrations of IL-35,IL-10,TNF-α and IL-12 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results (1) The proportions of iTR35 and its expressions of IL-12p35 and IL-27EBI3 in patients with acute KD dccreased remarkably[iTR35:(0.72±0.26) ‰ vs (1.65±0.43) ‰,P＜0.05],and restored after treatment [iTR35:(1.58±0.63) ‰ vs (0.72±0.26) ‰,P＜0.05].(2) The proportions of Treg and transcriptional levels of IL-12p35 and IL-27EBI3 were down-regulated during acute phase of KD [Treg:(3.26±1.21) ％ vs (7.26±2.86) ％,P＜0.05],and increased to some extent after therapy [Treg:(5.89±2.60)％ vs (3.26±1.21)％,P＜0.05].Meanwhile,plasma concentrations of IL-35 and IL-10,and expressions of gp130,IL-12Rβ2,pSTAT1 and pSTAT4 in iTR35 of patients with acute KD were found lower than those of the healthy control group (all P＜0.05),and increased after treatment (P＜0.05).Additionally,positive correlations were found between plasma concentrations of IL-35 and the proportion of iTR35 or its expressions of IL-12p35 and IL-27EBI3,respectively.(3) Expressions of PD-L1 and CD169 on CD14 + cells and plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-12 were elevated significantly during acute KD(all P＜0.05),as well as expression levels of the ligands (PD-1 and CD43) and its downstream molecules (SHP-2,PTEN,Vav) in CD4 + T cells were found to be lower in patients with acute KD (P＜0.05),and restored remarkably after therapy.Conclusion Insufficiency of iTR35 and its expression of IL-35 might be one of the important factors contributing to immunological dysfunction in KD.

Objective To explore the clinical features and genetic characteristics of primary immunodeficiency disease (PIDs) with skin symptoms in children. Methods The clinical data of PIDs with skin symptoms in 15 children from January 2014 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Results The median age at onset in 15 children was 4 months (neonatal period to 11 years 8 months). All of them showed obvious skin symptoms, including eczema or chilblain rash, pustular psoriasis, skin infections, subcutaneous hemorrhage or skin ecchymosis, ichthyosiform erythroderma, progeroid appearance, or other cutaneous vasculitis. The accompanying manifeslations included recurrent infections, auto inflammation, autoimmunity, growth retardation, or lymphoid proliferation, and impairment of brain, lung, kidney and other important organs. Eosinophil counts were increased in 5 children, IgE levels were elevated in 5 children, and 4 children were abnormal in both indicators. Gene detection showed WAS, RNASEH2C, NLRP12, IL36RN, NRAS, PIK3CD, STAT1, FOXP3, STAT3, DOCK8, TYK2, SPINK5, NBAS or ITGB2 gene mutations, respectively. Two children died from multiple organ dysfunction syndrome, 1 child was lost for follow up, the remaining 12 children survived and were under the individualized treatment. Conclusions A variety of PIDs can have skin symptoms. When accompanied by recurrent infections, auto inflammation, autoimmune, growth retardation, or lymph proliferation, PIDs should be considered, and gene detection is helpful for the diagnosis.

Objective: To investigate the clinical features and genetic characteristics of cases with X-linked immunodeficiency with magnesium defect, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, and neoplasia (XMEN). Methods: Characteristics of clinical material, immunological data and gene mutation of two cases with XMEN in the same family in China were retrospectively analyzed. The related reports literature were searched by using search terms'MAGT1 gene’or'XMEN’. Results: The proband, a 2-year-eight-month old boy, was admitted due to 'Urine with deepened color for two days and yellow stained skin for one day’. He had suffered from recurrent upper respiratory tract infection and sinusitis previously. Hemoglobin level was 38 g/L. The absolute count of reticulocytes was 223.2×10⁹/L. Urobilinogen level was 38 μmol/L (3-16 μmol/L). Coomb's test was positive. Both total (77.2 μmol/L) and indirect bilirubin (66 μmol/L) levels were elevated. There was an inverted CD4⁺/CD8⁺T cell ratio (0.89). The gene sequencing results showed MAGT1 gene c.472delG, p.D158Mfs*6 mutation. His 1-year-6-month old brother, was also identified to have MAGT1 gene c.472delG, p.D158Mfs*6 mutation.The younger brother mainly suffered from recurrent upper respiratory tract infection, accompanied by an inverted CD4⁺/CD8⁺T cell ratio (0.45), an elevated ratio and number of total B cells (45.7%). A total of 7 reports were retrieved including 11 male cases caused by MAGT1 gene mutation. These 11 cases were characterized by EBV viremia (11 cases), recurrent upper respiratory tract infection, otitis media or sinusitis (10 cases), secondary neoplasia diseases (8 cases), reduction of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cell ratio (7 cases),and autoimmune thrombocytopenia or hemolytic anemia (2 cases). Conclusion XMEN often manifests as male onset, recurrent upper respiratory tract infection, otitis media or sinusitis, EBV viremia, lymphoproliferative disease or lymphoma, autoimmune diseases and reduction of CD4⁺/CD8 ⁺T cell ratio. NKG2D expression in NK cells is significantly reduced, and gene sequencing analysis shows a pathogenic mutation in MAGT1 gene.

Objective:To investigate the changes of monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (M-MDSC) in children with acute Kawasaki disease (KD) and its roles in the immunological pathogenesis of KD.Methods:A total of 38 children with acute KD were enrolled in the present study and 32 age-matched healthy children were selected as control group. The proportions of HLA-DR -CD11b + CD33 + CD15 -CD14 + M-MDSC and CD4 + CD25 + CD127 - regulatory T cells (Treg) in peripheral blood, concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of arginase-1 (Arg-1), CD39, CD73, CD40, CD40L and CCR5 at protein levels were detected by flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate the transcription levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in M-MDSC and the transcription levels of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated antigen 4 (CTLA4) and lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG3) in Treg. Concentrations of NO, CCL3, CCL4, CCL5, IL-10 and TGF-β in the supernatants of cell culture were measured by ELISA. Results:(1) The proportion of HLA-DR -CD11b + CD33 + CD15 -CD14 + M-MDSC, the concentration of intracellular ROS and the expression of iNOS, CD39 and CD73 in M-MDSC decreased significantly in patients with acute KD as compared with those in the control group ( P<0.05), and the concentrations of NO, IL-10 and TGF-β in culture supernatant of M-MDSC were lower than those in the control group upon lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation for 48 h ( P<0.05). All of the aforementioned indexes restored to some extent after intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy ( P<0.05). No statistical differences were found in Arg-1 expression between healthy controls and patients with KD before or after IVIG therapy ( P<0.05). (2) CD40 expression on M-MDSC was significantly lower in the acute KD group than in the control group ( P<0.05). The concentrations of CCL3, CCL4 and CCL5 in the culture supernatants of M-MDSC were lower in the acute KD group than in the control group after LPS stimulation ( P<0.05). With IVIG treatment, all of the indexes were up-regulated significantly ( P<0.05), although CD40 expression was still lower in the acute KD group than in the control group ( P<0.05). (3) The proportion of CD4 + CD25 + CD127 -Treg and the expression of CTLA4, LAG3, CD40L and CCR5 reduced significantly in patients with acute KD as compared those in healthy controls ( P<0.05), and all increased remarkably after IVIG therapy ( P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between the proportions of M-MDSC and Treg in patients with acute KD ( r=0.58, P<0.05). Conclusions:Insufficiency and impaired function of M-MDSC might be a major cause of immune dysfunction in patients with acute KD.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and mutation of MUT gene in a Chinese patient with isolated methylmalonic acidemia.

METHODSThe clinical characteristics and laboratory tests data were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. The 13 exons and their flanking sequences of the MUT gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe patient has featured failure to thrive, lethargy, seizure, hypotonia, severe ketoacidosis and hyperammonemia. Tandem mass results showed reduction of multiple acylcarnitine. Urine organic acid testing showed pronounced increase in methylmalonate excretion. Homocysteine was normal. The patient showed no response to vitamin B12 treatment. The above results suggested that the patient had isolated methylmalonic acidemia. DNA sequencing analysis confirmed that the patient has carried two MUT gene mutations, c.755dupA and a novel mutation c.944dupT.

CONCLUSIONInherited metabolic disease screening plays an important role in the diagnosis of clinical diseases. However, to confirm the results will need gene mutation analysis.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; enzymology ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation

Objective:To investigate the changes and significance of granulocyte-like myeloid-derived suppressor cells (G-MDSC) in the acute phage of Kawasaki disease (KD).Methods:Forty-two children with acute KD were enrolled in the present study and 32 age-matched healthy children were selected as control group. The proportion of HLA-DR -CD11b + CD33 + CD14 -CD15 + G-MDSC, the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the expression of arginase-1 (Arg-1), programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4), glycoprotein 130 (gp130) and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (pSTAT3) at protein level were detected by flow cytometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interferon regulatory factor 8 (IRF-8), IL-6 receptor α subunit (IL-6Rα), granulocyte colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSFR), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein β (C/EBPβ), suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) and SOCS3 at mRNA level in G-MDSC. Chromatin immunoprecipitation was performed to detect the acetylation of histone H3 at the promoters of SOCS1 and SOCS3 genes. Plasma concentrations of IL-6 and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and protein levels of IL-10, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and nitric oxide (NO) in the culture supernatant of G-MDSC stimulated with LPS were measured by ELISA. Results:(1) Compared with the control group, the proportion of HLA-DR -CD11b + CD33 + CD14 -CD15 + G-MDSC as well as the concentration of ROS and the expression of inhibitory molecules (Arg-1, PD-L1 and CTLA4) in G-MDSC increased significantly in patients with acute KD ( P<0.05). Moreover, the concentrations of IL-10 and TGF-β in culture supernatant of G-MDSC were also higher than those of the control group after stimulation with lipopolysaccharide for 48 h ( P<0.05). All of the seven afore-mentioned indexes in KD patients with coronary artery lesion (CAL group ) were lower than those in patients without coronary artery lesion (NCAL group) ( P<0.05), and restored to some extent after IVIG therapy ( P<0.05). There were no statistical differences in iNOS expression or NO concentration in culture supernatant of G-MDSC among different groups ( P<0.05). (2) Plasma concentrations of IL-6 and G-CSF, and the expression of IL-6Rα, gp130, G-CSFR, pSTAT3 and C/EBPβ increased remarkably during acute phase of KD ( P<0.05). The expression of IRF-8 at transcription level in patients with acute KD was found to be lower than that of healthy controls ( P<0.05), and restored significantly after IVIG therapy ( P<0.05). Moreover, the plasma concentrations of IL-6 and G-CSF and the expression of IL-6Rα, gp130, G-CSFR and IRF-8 in the CAL group were higher than those in the NCAL group ( P<0.05), while the expression of pSTAT3 and C/EBPβ was lower in the CAL group ( P<0.05), which were restored by IVIG therapy ( P<0.05). (3) In patients with acute KD, the expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 at mRNA level and histone acetylation at the promoters of SOCS1 and SOCS3 genes were reduced significantly in comparison with those in healthy controls ( P<0.05) , but were increased remarkably after IVIG treatment( P<0.05). The four indexes were higher in the CAL group than in the NCAL group ( P<0.05). Pearson correlation analysis showed the expression of SOCS1 and SOCS3 was negatively correlated with the protein level of pSTAT3 in G-MDSC of patients with acute KD ( r=-0.46 and -0.32, P<0.05). Conclusions:Changes in the number and function of G-MDSC caused by aberrant histone acetylation at SOCS1 and SOCS3 genes might contribute to the immune dysfunction and vascular damage in patients with KD.