OBJECTIVESince human mast cell is an important source of cytokines, it is of importance to understand the effects of anti-allergic drugs on cytokines modulation in mast cells. In the present study, we aimed at observing whether IL-4 could be released from human mast cell line (HMC-1) after the stimulation of PMA + A23187, and the effects of systemic glucocorticosteroid, dexamethasone, topical glucocorticosteroid, budesonide and H1 antagonist, desloratadine on IL-4 release and mRNA expression.

METHODSHMC-1 was stimulated with 25 ng/ml phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and 2.5 x 10(-7) mol/L ionomycin (A23187) and cultured for 6 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours respectively in the presence or absence of 10(-6)-10(-10) mol/L concentrations of test drugs. Culture supernatants were collected and the levels of IL-4 were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The mRNA expression of IL-4 was measured by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSHMC-1 expressed IL-4 mRNA and the resulting protein production of IL-4 released after being stimulated with PMA plus A23187. Dexamethasone, budesonide and desloratadine had potent inhibitory effect on IL-4 release at any concentrations and time points, with significant deference (P < 0.05) compared to the control cells. The inhibitory effect did not show time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner. Desloratadine and budesonide showed neither up-regulatory nor down-regulatory effects on IL-4 mRNA expression at the test concentrations, however, desloratadine could down-regulate IL-4 mRNA expression.

CONCLUSIONSHMC-1 could express and produce IL4 after stimulation. Dexamethasone, budesonide and desloratadine all had inhibitory effects on IL-4 release from HMC-1. In addition, desloratadine could also inhibit the IL-4 mRNA expression.

Budesonide ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Dexamethasone ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; biosynthesis ; Loratadine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Mast Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate ; pharmacology

Objective: This pilot study investigated whether serum B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) can be used to predict fluid overload and clinical outcomes in pediatric sepsis. Methods: Pediatric sepsis patients were enrolled. BNP, BIA, and LVEDD were obtained on admission and on Day 3. Diagnostic performances of BNP, BIA, LVEDD and correlation with fluid status were obtained. Results: Twenty-two patients were enrolled. Day 3 BNP was higher in non-survivors (9241 vs. 682.2 pg/mL, p=0.04) and day 3 LVEDD Z-score was lower in non-survivors (-3.51 vs. -0.01, p=0.023). There was no difference in the fluid balance between survivors and non-survivors. Admission BNP >670.34pg/mL predicted vasopressor use with a sensitivity of 85.71% and specificity of 86.67% while ΔBNP>5388.13pg/mL predicted mortality with 100% sensitivity. Day 3 LVEDD <22mm predicted mortality with a sensitivity of 94.74%. Cumulative fluid balance was strongly correlated with BIA and LVEDD (r=0.65, p=0.001; r=0.74, p<0.001 respectively). The median length of stay in hospital days for non-survivors was not significantly different from survivors (4 [1-12] vs. 8 [6-12] days,p=0.21). Conclusion Rise in BNP levels appear to be independent of fluid status and is a good predictor of mortality, vasopressor, and mechanical ventilator use but not of length of hospital stay. LVEDD and BIA are good estimates of cumulative fluid balance but not as predictors of mortality, vasopressor, mechanical ventilator use, and length of hospital stay. Significance of the outcomes of the study was limited due to the small sample size.
Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; Echocardiography

The true incidence and prevalence of congenital Mullerian duct anomalies are difficult to determine. Some patients may present as adolescents with apparent primary amenorrhea, cyclical abdominal pain and sexual difficulties. It is important to ascertain a correct diagnosis for timely and appropriate interventions necessary to prevent sequelae that often affect the future fertility of these patients. This is a case of a fifteen year old with severe cyclical pelvic pain and hematuria with amenorrhea. Work up included a transrectal ultrasound and a magnetic resonance imaging of the pelvis revealing presence of a uterine corpus and cervix but absence of uterine isthmus. A conservative surgical approach was planned. The patient underwent end-to-end anastomosis of the cervix and uterine corpus. At present, the patient is regularly menstruating with no pelvic pain.
Amenorrhea

Precision medicine became the key strategy in development priority of science and technology in China. The large population-based cohorts become valuable resources in preventing and treating major diseases in the population, which can contribute scientific evidence for personalized treatment and precise prevention. The fundamental question of the achievements above, therefore, is how to construct a large population-based cohort in a standardized way. The Chinese Preventive Medicine Association co-ordinated experienced researchers from Peking University and other well-known institutes to write up two group standards Technical specification of data processing for large population-based cohort study (T/CPMA 001-2018) and Technical specification of data security for large population-based cohort study (T/CPMA 002-2018), on data management. The standards are drafted with principles of emphasizing their scientific, normative, feasible, and generalizable nature. In these two standards, the key principles are proposed, and technical specifications are recommended in data standardization, cleansing, quality control, data integration, data privacy protection, and database security and stability management in large cohort studies. The standards aim to guide the large population-based cohorts that have been or intended to be established in China, including national cohorts, regional population cohorts, and special population cohorts, hence, to improve domestic scientific research level and the international influence, and to support decision-making and practice of disease prevention and control.
China ; Cohort Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Humans ; Population Surveillance ; Quality Control ; Reference Standards

Objective: To explore the relationship of family environment in childhood and adolescence and mental health in adulthood. Methods: A total of 791 subjects aged ≥25 years were selected through the Chinese National Twin Registry (CNTR). The short-form of Family Environment Scale-Chinese Version (FES-CV) was used to evaluate the family environment during childhood and adolescence in three dimensions: relationship, system maintenance and personal growth. The mental health status in adulthood was assessed with the Chinese version of 6-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6). The generalized linear mixed model was used to examine their relationship. Results: About 4.6% of the subjects reported general or worse mental health status. Compared with the subjects with good mental status, statistical difference was observed only in parenting way among twins (living together or not). After adjusting the potential confounders, such as age, sex, zygosity, education and lifestyle (smoking, drinking and physical activity), good family relationship and system maintenance had a positive effect on mental health, with the OR (95%CI) of 0.66 (0.51-0.87) and 0.70 (0.50-0.98) respectively. Furthermore, parenting way did not modify the effect of family environment on mental health status in adulthood (interaction: P>0.05). In each scale, scores of cohesion and organization were positively correlated with mental health, while the score of conflict was negatively correlated with the mental health. Conclusion: Good family relationship and system maintenance in childhood and adolescence had a positive impact on mental health in adulthood.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; China ; Family Relations ; Female ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Male ; Mental Health ; Parenting

Objective: To examine the associations between family history of major chronic diseases and healthy lifestyle in adults in China. Methods: Data were from the baseline and second survey of China Kadoorie Biobank study, which were conducted during 2004-2008 and 2013-2014, respectively. After excluding participants with self-reported histories of coronary heart disease, stroke, cancer or diabetes, a total of 461 213 adults from baseline survey and 20 583 adults from second survey were included in the current study. Participants who reported a family history of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, cancer, or diabetes of any first-degree relative (i.e., biological father, mother, or siblings) were defined as having a family history of major chronic diseases. Healthy lifestyles were defined as current nonsmoking, non-excessive alcohol drinking, eating vegetables and fruits daily, upper quarter of physical activity level, body mass index (BMI) of (18.5-23.9) kg/m(2), and waist- to-hip ratio (WHR) <0.90 (man)/<0.85 (women). Results: At baseline survey, 36.5% of the participants had family history of major chronic diseases. Proportions of the above six healthy lifestyles were 70.5%, 93.0%, 18.0%, 25.0%, 53.4%, and 43.5%, respectively. Compared with participants without family history, the proportions of current nonsmoking, non-excessive drinking, normal BMI, and normal WHR were lower in participants with family history of major chronic diseases, while the proportions of eating vegetables and fruits daily, and being physically active, were higher. In general, the absolute differences in these proportions between participants with and without a family history were only slight. Similar results were observed when other family history status (the type or number of disease, the category or number of affected family members) were analysed. The association between family history of major chronic diseases and healthy lifestyles was consistently observed in the second survey 10 years later. Conclusion: In Chinese population, adults with family history of major chronic diseases did not adopt healthier lifestyles.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; China/epidemiology* ; Chronic Disease/ethnology* ; Female ; Healthy Lifestyle ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Objective: To examine the prevalence of 'healthy lifestyle' from data extracted from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) of 0.5 million adults from ten areas across China. Methods: After excluding participants with self-reported histories of coronary heart disease, stroke or cancer, a total of 487 198 participants at baseline (2004-2008) and 22 604 participants at second survey (2013- 2014), were included for analysis. 'Healthy lifestyle' was defined as haing the following characteristics: a) never smoking or having stopped smoking for reasons other than illness; b) alcohol drinking <25 g/day (men)/<15 g/day (women); c) diet rich in vegetables, fruits, legumes and fish, but low in red meat; d) upper quarter of the physical activity level; e) body mass index of 18.5-23.9 kg/m(2) and waist circumstance <85 cm (men)/80 cm (women). We calculated the healthy lifestyle scores (HLS) by counting the number of all the healthy lifestyle factors, with a range from 0 to 6. Results: At baseline, prevalence rates of the above five healthy lifestyles (except physical activity) were 70.6%, 92.6%, 8.7%, 52.6% and 59.0%, respectively, with the mean HLS being 3.1±1.2. Most participants (81.4%) had2-4 healthy components, while only 0.7% (0.2% in men and 1.0% in women) of all the participants had all six healthy lifestyles. Participants who were women, at younger age, with more schooling and rural residents, were more likely to adhere to the healthy lifestyle. After ten years, the mean HLS showed a slight decrease. Conclusion: The prevalence of optimal lifestyles in Chinese adults appeared extremely low. Levels of 'healthy lifestyle' varied greatly among those populations with different socio-demographic characteristics across the ten areas in China.
Adult ; Asian People/statistics & numerical data* ; China ; Female ; Healthy Lifestyle ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors

Shanghai Diet and Health Survey (SDHS) was designed to prospectively access local residents' food consumption, energy and nutrient intake, related chemical contaminant exposure, and the seasonal change trend to explore the relationship of diet with health. Data from SDHS can be used as fundamental information and scientific evidences for the development of local nutrition and food safety policies.
China ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Health Surveys ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys

Objective: To investigate the utilization of reproductive health services and relating factors among internal migrant population in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing. Methods: A multi-stage cluster sampling method was adopted in this cross-sectional study, conducted in Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing from August 2014 to August 2015. Standard methods on statistics and nonlinear canonical correlation were applied. Results: Out of the 6 545 internal migrant persons, 41.76% ever used the reproductive health services in the past year. Results from the nonlinear canonical correlation analysis revealed that the utilization of reproductive health services was correlated with the demographic features (=0.28, P<0.000 1) and characteristics of the population mobility (=0.21, P<0.000 1), respectively. For the above said demographic features, canonical variable L(1) which represented the demographic features was mainly determined by area, occupation and education attainment. Canonical variable M(1) that reflected the utilization of reproductive health services, was mainly determined by factors as free contraceptives, education on contraception/reproductive health, and pregnancy diagnosis/antenatal care. As for the characteristics of the population mobility, canonical variable U(1), which represented population mobility characteristics, was mainly determined by factors as purpose of migration, current pattern of residence and the length of annual stay in the area. Again, the canonical variable V(1), reflecting the use of reproductive health services was mainly determined by factors as free contraceptives, check-up on reproductive tract infection, education on contraception/reproductive health, and pregnancy diagnosis/antenatal care. Conclusions: The utilization of reproductive health services was low among the internal migrant population under study. Responsible departments for health and family planning in those cities should make internal migrants attach importance to reproductive health.
China ; Cities ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Health Care Surveys ; Humans ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health Services ; Transients and Migrants