Air ; analysis ; Alkenes ; analysis ; Butadienes ; analysis ; Chromatography, Gas ; methods ; Environmental Monitoring ; methods ; Workplace

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC) might exert great influence on children in body and mental health, social-psychological development and long-term life quality. At present, there is not precise definition, clear classification, unite diagnostic standards and practicable systematic treatment project for FC in children. As a non-traumatic diagnostic means for chronic transiting constipation, gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) is considered as one of the objective indexes for dynamically observing gastrointestinal transit function, and has significance in the diagnosis of abnormal gastrointestinal dynamics, etiological investigation and therapeutic effect assessment.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the difference of GTT between constipation children and normal healthy control, so as to elicit its significance in assessing the dynamics of whole gastro-intestine and each segment.DESIGN: Case control comparative study based on FC children and healthy children.SETTING: Department of Pediatrics, Guangdong Provincial General Hospital, Chinese People's Armed Police Forces.PARTICIPANTS: This study was carried out at Pediatric Department of Guangdong Provincial General Hospital, Chinese People' s Armed Police Forces. Totally 28 children with confirmed FC in the General Hospital of Armed Police took part in the experiment, and 68 healthy children from a certain kindergarten and an elementary school in Guangdong province were selected as normal controls.METHODS: Whole gastrointestinal transit time(GTT), mouth-intestine transit time and colon transit time(CTT) were determined with plain abdominal photograph at 12 hours, 24 hours and 48 hours after orally administrated of radio-opaque markers.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Whole GTT, mouth-intestine transit time and CTT, as well as right colonic transit time, left colonic transit time, rectosigmoid transit time.RESULTS: 50% whole gastrointestinal transit time, mouth-intestine transit time and CTT were[(23.6±1.6) vs (80.4±2.1) hours], [(9.9±1.4)vs(20.7±0.6) hours] and[(14.8±0.8) vs (59.9±2.3) hours] in constipation and healthy group respectively, with significant difference between them( P < 0.01 ) . Moreover there was statistical difference in right colon transit time, left colon transit time and rectosiqmoid transit time between two groups( P < 0.01).CONCLUSION: GTT of constipation children is obviously different from that of healthy children; it can be used for assessing the dynamics of whole gastrointestine and each segment, thereby possess practical significance in the diagnosis and therapeutic effect assessment of FC in children.Yang M, Wang BX, Wang MG. Determination of gastrointestinal transit time in functional constipation in children.

Objective To investigate the role of tissue-resident memory T lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of psoriasis.Methods Clinical information was collected from 32 patients with progressive plaque psoriasis.Tissue specimens were obtained from both lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin of all the patients,as well as from faded lesions in 9 of these patients.Tissue specimens from the normal skin of 10 healthy individuals served as the controls.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect the two characteristic surface markers CD69 and CDI03 on tissue-resident memory T lymphocytes and to analyze the status of these T lymphocytes at different stages of psoriasis.The results of immunohistochemical staining were compared by t test.Results The mean number of CD69+CD103+ T lymphocytes per high-power field was significantly higher in lesional skin than in nonlesional skin of the 32 patients (11.34 ± 7.60 vs.2.72 ± 4.20,t =8.46,P ＜ 0.01),but similar between psoriatic lesions in the 9 patients before and after subsidence (14.33 ± 2.21 vs.12.00 ± 4.58,t =1.98,P =0.08).There was no significant difference in the mean number of CD69+CD103+ T lymphocytes between nonlesional psoriatic skin and normal control skin (2.72 ± 4.20 vs.1.70 ± 2.98,t =0.71,P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion Tissue-resident memory T lymphocytes may play a role in the formation and recurrence of psoriatic lesions in patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells with melanocytes in skin of patients with psoriasis,and to study their clinical significance.Methods Tissue specimens were obtained from both lesional and nonlesional skin of 29 patients with progressive psoriasis and 5 patients with regressive psoriasis,as well as from normal skin of 6 healthy individuals.Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the quantity and distribution of CD4+ T and CD8+ T cells,as well as the quantity of melanocytes and proportion of cells containing pigment granules in the basal layer of these specimens.Statistical analysis was carried out with the software SPSS 18.0 by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA),least significant difference (LSD) test and Pearson correlation analysis.Results In patients with psoriasis,the mean number of CD4+ T cells per high-power (× 200) field was significantly larger in lesional skin than in nonlesional skin (epidermis:5.29 ± 4.66 vs.0,P＜ 0.05;dermis:77.50 ± 43.66 vs.9.67 ± 7.73,P＜ 0.05),so was the mean number of CD8+ T cells per high-power (× 200) field (epidermis:7.83 ± 6.27 vs.0.71 ± 1.20,P＜ 0.05;dermis:46.08 ± 34.26 vs.5.54 ± 4.43,P ＜ 0.05).A significant increase was also observed in the number of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lesional skin of patients with psoriasis compared with the normal control skin (both P ＜ 0.05).The lesional skin of patients with psoriasis also showed significandy increased number of melanocytes (103.45 ± 16.96),but decreased proportion of pigment granule-containing cells (7.45％ ± 3.86％) in the basal layer compared with nonlesional skin (43.62 ± 14.20,P＜ 0.05;43.10％ ± 14.91％,P＜ 0.05) and normal control skin (43.33 ± 14.02,P＜ 0.05;54.17％ ± 29.40％,P ＜ 0.05).There were no significant differences in either the mean number of CD4+ T cells,CD8+ T cells and melanocytes or the proportion of pigment granule-containing cells between nonlesional psoriatic skin and normal control skin (all P ＞ 0.05).The mean number of melanocytes was significantly higher in regressive psoriatic lesions than in white patches arising in subsided psoriatic lesions (P ＜ 0.05) and normal control skin (P ＜ 0.05),but similar between white patches and normal control skin (P ＞ 0.05),while the proportion of pigment granule-containing cells was insignificantly lower in regressive psoriatic lesions than in white patches (P ＞ 0.05),and significantly lower in regressive psoriatic lesions and white patches than in normal control skin (both P ＜ 0.05).Neither the number of CD4+ T cells nor that of CD8 + T cells was correlated with the number of melanocytes or the proportion of pigment granule-containing cells in progressive psoriatic lesions (both P ＞ 0.05),while the number of both CD4 + T cells and CD8 + T cells was positively correlated with that of melanocytes (r =0.46 and 0.56,respectively,both P ＜ 0.05),but uncorrelated with the proportion of pigment granule-containing cells in nonlesional psoriatic skin (both P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions In progressive psoriatic lesions,there is a significant increase in the number of CD4+ and CD8 + T cells as well as melanocytes in the basal layer,but a significant decrease in the proportion of pigment granule-containing cells.After subsidence of psoriatic lesions,both the number of melanocytes and proportion of pigment granule-containing cells gradually reach the levels in normal skin of healthy individuals.

Objective To evaluate the reversal effect of a cholinergic receptor agonist on acantholysis in pemphigus,and to investigate its mechanism.Methods Human HaCaT keratinocytes were co-cultured with pemphigus vulgaris immunoglobulin G (PV-IgG) to establish a cell model of pemphigus,then classified into two groups to be incubated with the cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol for 12 hours (test group) or remain untreated (control group).Cell dissociation assay was performed to quantitatively estimate the reversal effect of carbachol on acantholysis,and immunofluorescence assay to qualitatively assess the changes of desmosomal proteins.Radio-immunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) lysis buffer and Triton X-100 were used to lyse HaCaT cells to obtain total proteins and cytoplasmic proteins,and Western blot was conducted to determine the expression levels of adhesion-related proteins desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) and plakoglobin (PG) on the surface of HaCaT cells,as well as the phosphorylation levels of p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) at different time points.Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to detect the mRNA expressions of the above surface proteins,and coimmunoprecipitation assay to qualitatively evaluate the interaction between Dsg3 and PG.Results The number of cell debris was significantly lower in the test group than in the control group (18.67 ± 2.52 vs.46.67 ± 2.03,t =11.22,P＜0.01).Immunofluorescence assay showed that carbachol could reverse the internalization of desmosomal molecules induced by PV-IgG.In the pemphigus cell model,the levels of total Dsg3 and PG as well as non-desmosomal Dsg3 were decreased,while the level of non-desmosomal PG increased,and the interaction between Dsg3 and PG was attenuated.When the pemphigus cell model was co-cultured with carbachol,these above changes were reversed.Carbachol also increased the mRNA levels (expressed as 2-△△Ct) of Dsg3 and PG from 1.428 ± 0.215 and 1.563 ± 0.247 in the control group to 4.974 ± 0.948 (t =3.65,P =0.01) and 13.420 ± 1.715 (t =6.85,P ＜ 0.01) in the test group respectively.In phosphorylation assay,carbachol inhibited the phosphorylation of EGFR,but had no significant effect on that of p38 MAPK.Conclusions The cholinergic receptor agonist carbachol can reverse acantholysis in pemphigus,likely by inhibiting the internalization of Dsg3 and PG,enhancing their expressions and interaction,and suppressing the phosphorylation of the key signaling molecule for acantholysis,EGFR.

Objective To evaluate the recognition and uptake of transglutaminase 3 (TG3) by dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) receptors on the membrane surface of DC-SIGN-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells and monocytederived dendritic cells (MDDCs).Methods The eukaryotic expression vector pGCMV-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) containing DC-SIGN gene fragments was transfected into HEK293T cells to prepare DC-SIGN-EGFP-HEK293T cells by using liposome transfection method.CD14+ monocytes were isolated from peripheral blood samples by magnetic bead-based negative selection,and then were induced by granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) to prepare MDDCs.Laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry were performed to evaluate the recognition and uptake of TG3 protein by DC-SIGN receptors on the surface of HEK293T cells and MDDCs.MDDCs treated without Alexa Fluor 647 dye-tagged TG3 served as blank control group,and those treated with Alexa Fluor 647 dye alone served as negative control group.Results After co-culture with TG3 for 3 hours,laser confocal microscopy and flow cytometry both showed that TG3 could be recognized by and uptaken through DC-SIGN receptors into HEK293T cells and MDDCs.Flow cytometry also revealed that the binding of TG3 to MDDCs could be partially blocked by DC-SIGN blocking antibodies.Neither the negative control group nor the blank control group showed the recognition and binding of TG3 to HEK293T cells and MDDCs.Conclusion TG3 can serve as a kind of autoantigen to be recognized and bound by DC-SIGN receptors,followed by uptake by dendritic cells.

Objective To detect the serum level of transglutaminase 2 (TG2)-specific IgE (slgE) in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD),and to analyze its correlation with the disease condition.Methods A total of 77 patients with AD were enrolled into this study,including 44 patients aged ≥ 12 years and 33 patients aged ＜ 12 years.Of the 77 patients,20 were diagnosed with intrinsic AD,which was characterized by the absence of sIgE and total serum IgE values ＜ 150 kU/L,and 49 with extrinsic AD characterized by positive (++) or even strongly positive slgE for more than 1 kind of exogenous allergens,or total serum lgE values ≥ 150 kU/L.[mmunocapture-biotinylated detector enzyme immunoassay was performed to detect the serum level of TG2-sIgE in 77 patients with AD,40 adult patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) and 30 healthy adult controls.Clinical data on the AD patients were recorded,including age,disease duration,SCORAD score,blood eosinophil count,levels of total IgE and TG2-sIgE.Results The serum levels of TG2-sIgE in AD patients aged ≥ 12 years,AD patients aged ＜ 12 years,PV patients and healthy controls were 1.02 ± 0.2,1.04 ± 0.044,0.93 ± 0.25 and 0.71 ± 0.13,respectively.Additionally,the serum level of TG2-sIgE significantly differed among AD patients aged ≥ 12 years,PV patients and healthy controls (x2 =37.407,P ＜ 0.001),and was significantly higher in both AD patients aged ≥ 12 years and PV patients than in the healthy controls (t =7.38,4.83,respectively,both P ＜ 0.001).Moreover,the intrinsic AD group showed significantly higher TG2-sIgE levels compared with the extrinsic AD group (1.16 ± 0.03 vs.1.02 ± 0.20,t =2.27,P =0.02).The TG2-sIgE level was uncorrelated with the patients' age,disease duration,SCORAD score,blood eosinophil count or serum total IgE levels in AD patients (r =0.03,0.14,-0.04,-0.08,0.06,respectively,all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The serum level of TG2-sIgE obviously increases in AD patients,so TG2 may be one kind of autoantigen in AD patients,but there is no significant correlation between the TG2-sIgE level and AD severity.

Objective To investigate the relationship between cow's milk protein allergy(CMPA)and gastroesophageal reflux disease(GERD)and the prognosis of GERD combined with CMPA.Methods Fifty patients(24 boys and 26 girls)with GERD were enrolled in this study from January 2015 to June 2016 at Department of Pediatrics,Tangdu Hospital of the Fourth Military Medical University.All children were treated with serum milk protein soluble IgE(sIgE)and milk protein avoidance test,and those with positive results of children's milk protein by provocation test and those with milk serum protein sIgE negative by milk protein provocation tests were diagnosed as CMPA children with GERD according to the CMPA diagnostic criteria and received diet therapy for 1 month and then their blood eosinophil ratio and 24-hour esophageal pH were monitored.Results Twenty-three cases(46％)of 50 children with GERD were diagnosed as CMPA.There was significant difference in clinical symptoms between GERD group and GERD combined with CMPA group(x2=22.78,P<0.05),but there existed cross-symptoms among individual patients,so clinical accurate diagnosis turned out to be difficult.There was no significant difference in family history of allergy between GERD group and GERD combined with CMPA group(x2=3.19,P>0.05).For children with GERD combined with CMPA,the patients received dietary treatment for 1 month.There was significant improvement in vomiting,runny nose/wheezing/cough and diarrhea(P<0.05).However,because the treatment of eczema was long and it could relapse easily,there was no significant change after 1 month of therapy(P>0.05).The proportions of blood eosinophils were decreased after treatment compared with those before treatment [(2.7±1.8)％vs.(8.2±2.7)％,t=10.006,P<0.01].The results of 5 children's 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring showed that the reflux index and the number of acid GERD episodes were lower than before,and the difference was all statistically significant before and after(all P<0.05).Conclusions The occurrence of GERD in infants is partly related to CMPA,and the treatment of CMPA can relieve the clinical symptoms of GERD.

Objective:To study the value of ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy in children with uncomplicated appendicitis.Methods:This study was a single center, retrospective study, including all electronic cases of appendicitis diagnosed clinically in Department of Pediatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University from October 2018 to October 2020 and received ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy.The clinical features, treatment and prognosis of the children were retrospectively analyzed.Results:A total of 152 electronic cases were included, there were 77 males and 75 females, aged(6.84±3.09) years.All the 152 children were treated with ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy.Intubation success rate and clinical success rate was 98.03%(149/152 cases)and 97.99%(146/149 cases), respectively.The median time of endoscopic therapy was 42.50 (31.00, 56.00) minutes.Mean postoperative hospital stay was (2.81 ±1.41) days, and the mean total hospital stay was (4.19 ±1.71) days.A total of 139 patients were followed up with a median follow-up time of 5 (1, 26) months.During the follow-up, the recurrence rate was 7.19%(10/139 cases), and the median time of recurrence was 2 (1, 3) months.Conclusions:Ultrasound-guided endoscopic retrograde appendicitis therapy had high effective rate and low recurrence rate in children with uncomplicated appendicitis, preserved the physiological function of appendix and avoided radiation damage.It can be used as a safe and effective treatment for acute and chronic uncomplicated appendicitis in children.

Objective: To analyze and discuss the social factors and clinical characteristics of oral poisoning in children, so as to provide reference for preventing and treating children poisoning. Methods: The clinical data of 173 pediatric patients with oral poisoning diagnosed and treated in Department of Pediatrics, the Fourth Military Medical University in Tangdu Hospital from January to December 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Pesticide and insecticide poisoning topped the list(68 cases, 39.31%)and the clinical manifestations of different poisons were varied.Geographically, the urban and rural distribution was mainly rural(118 cases, 68.21%), among which 103 cases(87.29%)were left-behind children in rural areas.Within one year, the number of urban children fluctuated slightly, with a small peak in March and the number of rural children fluctuated greatly, with a large peak in July.In addition, urban children were mainly poisoned by oral internal medicine(34 cases, 61.82%), while rural children were mainly poisoned by oral pesticide and insecticide(64 cases, 54.24%). The gender distribution was mainly male(101 cases, 58.38%), with the highest incidence in early childhood(97 cases, 56.07%). The main reasons for taking poison included children′s misadministration(123 cases, 71.10%), parents′ accidental feeding(24 cases, 13.87%), and elder children′s self-administration due to emotional factors(26 cases, 15.03%). The treatment methods were gastric lavage, emetic stimulation and enema according to the type and time of poisoning of administration, and timely use of specific antidote and symptomatic treatment was also the key to treatment. Conclusion The situation is more serious in rural areas of oral poisoning in children, especially for left-behind children in rural areas, who are at the highest incidence in early childhood.Oral pesticides, insecticides and oral drugs are the most prominent, and misadministration is the main reason.Family poison management should be strengthened for prevention, and treatment should vary according to the type and time of taking poison.