OBJECTIVETo study the levels of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the peripheral blood of children with epilepsy and the roles of Tregs in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

METHODSForty-one children with epilepsy and thirty-eight healthy children were enrolled. The percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs in CD4+ T cells and the percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, nature killer (NK) cells and B cells in lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe percentages of peripheral blood CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs and CD4+ T cells and the ratio of CD4+ T cells to CD8+ T cells in epileptic children were (2.4±0.5)%, (35±5)% and 1.32±0.24 respectively, which were significantly lower than those in healthy children ［(6.1±1.2)%, (38±4)% and 1.60±0.24 respectively; P<0.05］. In contrast, the percentages of CD8+ T cells, NK cells and B cells in lymphocytes in epileptic children were significantly higher than those in healthy children［(27±3)% vs (24±3)%, (11.1±5.1)% vs (8.5±1.9)% and (24±9)% vs (16±5)% respectively; P<0.05］.

CONCLUSIONSThe abnormal percentage of CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ Tregs in the peripheral blood may be involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

Objective To study the relationship between erythromyein sensitivity and ermB gene in 143 Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) clinical isolates. Methods We detected the minimum inhabit concen-trations (MICs) of Uu to erythromycin by broth dilution method and MIC≥8 μg/ml was used as standard concentration of resistance to erythromycin. Polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the ermB gene and biotype Uu with primers based on multi-band antigen gene. Results The MICs, MIC50 MIC90 of Uu to erythromycin were ≤0. 125 μg/ml to ≥128 μg/ml, 16 μg/ml, and ≥128 μg/ml, respectively, with a high resistance rate of 64.38%. ermB gene, which was mainly detected in Uu with MIC≥8 μg/ml, was positively detected in 40 out of 143 Uu strains (27.97%). No significant differences of the resistance to erythromycin and positive rate of ermB gene were found between the two biovars in the study . Conclusion ermB gene may probably be one of the important genes conferring resistance to erythromycin in Uu. Further studies are needed to discover the difference of resistance and mechanism of erythromycin between the two bi-ovars.

Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma were widely used in strengthening spleen under different disease conditions, and were easily and often misused each other. Therefore, DNA barcode was used to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Atractylodis Rhizoma from their adulterants to ensure the safe use. The sequence lengths of ITS2 of Atractylodes macrocephala, Atractylodis Rhizoma (A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana) were both 229 bp. Among the ITS2 sequences of A. macrocephala, only one G/C transversion was detected at site 98, and the average GC content was 69.42%. No variable site was detected in the ITS2 sequences of A. lancea. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of both A. japonica and A. coreana were 0.013. The maximum K2P intraspecific genetic distances of A. macrocephala, A. lancea, A. japonica and A. coreana were less than the minimum interspecific genetic distance of adulterants. The ITS2 sequences in each of these polytypic species were separated into pairs of divergent clusters in the NJ tree. DNA barcoding could be used as a fast and accurate identification method to distinguish Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma, Atractylodis Rhizoma, from their adulterants to ensure its safe use.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA Barcoding, Taxonomic ; methods ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; DNA, Ribosomal Spacer ; genetics ; Drug Contamination ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; classification ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; Quality Control ; Rhizome ; classification ; genetics

A 48-year-old man presented with a 4-day history of fever and 10-year history of papulovesicles on the face, neck, trunk and limbs which had been aggravated 10 days prior to the presentation.Skin biopsy showed a dermal infiltration of numerous small- to medium-sized atypical lymphocytes, which was mainly located around blood vessels or appendages, with the involvement of subcutaneous fat tissue and destruction of blood vessels. The infiltrating atypical cells stained positive for CD45RO, CD8, CD56, T-cell intracellular antigen-1, granzyme B, Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small nuclear RNAs (EBER), but negative for CD20, CD79a, CD3, CD4 or CD30. Cytoplasmic CD3ε was also observed in these cells. Laboratory examinations on admission revealed a progressive decrease in peripheral erythrocytes, white cells and platelets, persistent increase in serum aminotransferase and bilirubin, and decline in serum fibrinogen and hypertriglyceridemia. The B-mode ultrasound of the abdomen showed hepatosplenomegaly. Based on the above findings,the diagnosis was made as extranodal nasal type NK/T-cell lymphoma of skin complicated by hemophagocytic syndrome.

Objective To study the resistance mechanism of Ureaplasma urealyticum (Uu) to erythromycin.Methods The susceptibility of 73 clinical isolates of Uu to erythromycin was evaluated by using broth dilution techniques. PCR and DNA sequencing were carried out to screen hot spot mutations at the variable region of 23S ribosomal RNA in erythromycin-resistant strains of Uu. Moreover, erythromycin resistance methylase genes (ermA, ermB, ermC) and efflux pump genes (mefA/E, msrA/B, mreA) were screened by using PCR with specific primers. Results There were 35 (47.95%) resistant Uu strains out of the 73 isolates, and the minimal inhibitory concentration varied from 8 to 32 mg/L among these resistant strains. The ermB gene was detected in 19 (54.29%) resistant strains, and msrA/B gene in 9 (25.71%) resistant strains. Two resistant strains harbored both ermB gene and msrA/B gene. No mutation at 23S ribosomal RNA or amplification of resistance-associated genes was noted in sensitive or reference strains of Uu. Conclusion The ermB and msrA/B genes may be responsible for the erythromycin resistance of Uu.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of American Ginseng Capsule (AGC) on the liver oxidative injury and the Nrf2 protein expression in the liver tissue of rats exposed by 900 MHz cell phone electromagnetic radiation.

METHODSTotally 40 male SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group, the model group, the Shuifei Jibin Capsule (SJC) group, and the AGC group,10 in each group. Rats in the normal control group were not irradiated. Rats in the rest three groups were exposed by imitated 900 MHz cellular phone for 4 h in 12 consecutive days. Meanwhile, rats in the SJC group and the AGC group were intragastrically administrated with suspension of SJC and AGC (1 mL/200 g body weight) respectively. Normal saline was administered to rats in the normal control group and the model group. The histolomorphological changes of the liver tissue were observed by HE staining. Contents of malonic dialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX)were detected by colorimetry. The Nrf2 protein expression of hepatocytes was detected by immunohistochemical assay and Western blot.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, hepatocyte nucleus was atrophied or partially disappeared, the contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein obviously increased (P <0. 05, P <0. 01); contents of liver SOD and GSH decreased (P <0. 05) in the model group. Compared with the model group, karyopyknosis was obviously attenuated and approached to the normal level in the SJC group and the AGC group. The contents of liver MDA and Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P <0. 05), and the contents of liver SOD, GSH, and GSH-PX obviously increased (P < 0.05) in the SJC group. The contents of liver MDA and the Nrf2 protein expression decreased (P < 0.05), and contents of SOD and GSH obviously increased in the AGC group (P <0.01, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe electromagnetic radiation induced by 900 MHz cell phone could affect the expression of Nrf2 protein, induce oxidative injury, and induce abnormal morphology of liver cells. SJC and AGC could promote the morphological recovery of the liver cells. Its mechanism might be related to affecting the expression of Nrf2 protein and attenuating oxidative damage of liver cells.

Animals ; Cell Phone ; Electromagnetic Radiation ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; metabolism ; Liver ; Male ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2 ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Panax ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

Objective To detect the msr gene which confers resistance to erythromycin, and ana-lyze its distributing difference between the two biovars of Ureaplasma urealyticum. Methods Broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to erythromycin among 72 U. urealyticum clinical isolates. The msrA, msrB, msrC and msrD genes detection and biotyping of U. urea-lyticum were conducted using PCR. Results The MICs of 72 U. urealyticum isolates to erythromycin ranged from ≤0. 125 μg/ml to ≥128 μg/ml. MIC_(50) was 32 μg/ml and MIC_(50) was ≥128 μg/ml. Biotyping showed that biovar Parvo had 51 strains (51/72, 70.83%) and biovar T960 had 21 (21/72, 29.17%) strains.The msrA, msrB, msrC and msrD genes were obtained in 1, 12, 0 and 24 strains, respectively, with five strains carrying the msrB and msrD genes, and one strain carrying the msrA, msrB and msrD genes. There was no resistance difference to erythromycin between the two biovars when the MIC≥8 μg/ml was considered resistance to eryt hromycin. But the msrB gene was predominantly detected in biovar T960. Conclusion U. urealyticum clinical isolates harbeur the msrA, msrB and msrD genes, and the predominantly detected msrB gene is of biovar T960.

Objective To evaluate the method of detecting antibodies to Bacillus anthracis by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)using crude antigen.Methods The anti-Bacillus anthracis antibody levels in sera of 42 healthy people and 42 patients were detected by indirect ELISA.Standard curve was plotted using the data from positive controls,based on which the relative content of each serum was calculated and compared with the result of rLF.Results The median of antibody's relative content in patient group and healthy people group are 1.19 and 0.24,the differences being statistically significant(uc=7.643,P＜0.05).The result of crude antigen is in concordance with rLF(but not parallel absolutely).Conclusions Crude antigen can distinguish most of patients with healthy population effectively.The results suggested that crude antigen is applicable in anti-Bacillus anthracis antibody surveillance.

Objective To study the effects of 50 Hz magnetic fields on the in vitro proliferation of human osteosareoma cell line MG-63 with different cell densities.Methods Four different magnetic intensities(1 mT, 2 mT,3 roT,4 mT)were used to stimulate the cells,and the experiment was repeated with different cell densities. The method of MTT was employed to evaluate the level of proliferation.Results Fifty Hz magnetic fields signifi- cantly affected the level of proliferation of human osteosareoma cell line MG-63,and the 2 mT intensity exerted the greatest influence on it.The effects of the magnetic field differed with different cell densities.Conclusion The effect of 50 Hz magnetic fields on the in vitro proliferation of human osteosarcoma cell line MG-63 was not only relat- ed to the magnetic intensity,but also the cell density,

Objective To establish the HPLC fingerprint of Sanhuang Xiexin Decoction and provide a method to study the potential basis and the changing of the chemical component for it in different compati- bility.Methods An HPLC method was established with Shimadzu ODS column(150 mm?4.6 mm, 5?m),the mobile phase was methanol-water-0.1% phosphoric acid(0.01 mol/L potassium phosphate monobasic,pH 2.8)as gradient elution,the flow rate was 1.0 mL/min,and the detection wavelength was 260 nm.Through comparing and analyzing the relative retention time of this decoction and of its composi- tion which are positive and negative control fingerprints,the main chromatographic peak origins were con- firmed;The correlated chromatographic peaks were identified by contrasting chromatographic peak reten- tion time and adding reference substances to the sample.Results All tested samples contained the 32 common peaks,the relativity of them were analyzed and 11 peaks were indicated.The similarity of ten batches of samples exceeded 0.92.Conclusion This method shows sensitive and good repeatability,all of the contents are separated well.It is used to determine Sanhuang Xiexin Decoction and its relative prepara- tions.