OBJECTIVETo assess the characteristics of enhanced magnetic resonance image with ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide (USPIO) in the inflammatory and tumor metastatic rabbit model, and explore its relevance with histologic ultrastructural findings.

METHODSTotally 36 New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into lymphadenitis group and metastatic group. Complete Freund's adjuvant was injected into the bilateral dorsal footpads of 18 rabbits to set up ipsilateral lymphadenitis model. The other 18 rabbits received a subcutaneous implantation of VX2 tumor cell suspension (1.5 x 10(7) cells/ml) in both thighs to set up metastatic lymph node model. Magnetic resonance scan were performed 24 hours before and after USPIO (90 micromol Fe/kg) injection. T2 values of each lymph node were measured and lymph node T2 enhancement rate was calculated as well. HE staining, Prussian blue staining, and electronic microscopy were performed to observe the pathological microstructure changes and the distribution of the iron particle in lymph node. Relationship between lymph nodes USPIO enhancement and its microstructures were further analyzed. Results Thirty-six lymph nodes in lymphadenitis group showed different degrees of reactive hyperplasia. Twenty-six lymph nodes in metastatic group were invaded by tumor cell. Non-enhanced scan showed mild difference between T2 signal intensity of the two pathological lymph node types. After USPIO enhancement, inflammatory lymph nodes showed distinct T2 signal reduction at the center, and metastatic lymph nodes showed homogenous and faint T2 signal reduction. Enhancement rate of benign and malignant lymph nodes were 57.39% and 29.45% respectively (P < 0.01). HE staining and Prussian blue staining indicated USPIO particles located mainly in the macrophages at inflammatory lymphatic medulla, while paracortical area and cortical area contained relatively much less USPIO particles due to less macrophages distribution. MRI findings were correlated with the pathological results. Electronic microscopy also verified that the majority of USPIO particles were located in the numerous cytophagic bubbles of macrophages. Lymph nodes metastasis including 4 lymph nodes with completed structure destruction due to entire tumor infiltration, 19 lymph nodes with partially lymph node structure destruction but reduced USPIO-contained macrophage numbers or reduced USPIO particles in macrophages, and 3 lymph nodes with only localized foci tumor metastasis at subcapsular area. Conclusions USPIO enhancement pattern of different lymph nodes is closely related to distribution and functional status of the intra-node macrophages. It may affect the accuracy of the lymph node property diagnosis based on USPIO enhanced image.

Animals ; Dextrans ; metabolism ; Female ; Image Enhancement ; methods ; Lymph Nodes ; ultrastructure ; Lymphadenitis ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; diagnosis ; ultrastructure ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; methods ; Magnetics ; Magnetite Nanoparticles ; Male ; Nanoparticles ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation

BACKGROUNDPancreatic cancer is one of the most common tumors and has a 5-year survival for all stages of less than 5%. Most patients with pancreatic cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage and therefore are not candidates for surgical resection. In recent years, investigation into alternative treatment strategies for this aggressive disease has led to advances in the field of gene therapy for pancreatic cancer. E. coli purine nucleoside phosphorylase/6-methylpurine deoxyribose (ePNP/MePdR) is a suicide gene/prodrug system where PNP enzyme cleaves nontoxic MePdR into cytotoxic membrane-permeable compounds 6-methylpurine (MeP) with high bystander activity. hTERT is expressed in cell lines and tissues for telomerase activity. In this study we examined the efficacy of ePNP under the control of hTERT promoter sequences and assessed the selective killing effects of the ePNP/prodrug MePdR system on pancreatic tumors.

METHODSRecombinant pET-PNP was established. The protein of E. coli PNPase was expressed and an antibody to E. coli PNPase was prepared. Transcriptional activities of hTERT promoter sequences were analyzed using a luciferase reporter gene. A recombinant phTERT-ePNP vector was constructed. The ePNP/MePdR system affects SW1990 human pancreatic cancer cell lines in vitro.

RESULTSThe hTERT promoter had high transcriptional activity and conferred specificity on cancer cell lines. The antibody to E. coli PNPase was demonstrated to be specific for the ePNP protein. The MePdR treatment induced a high in vitro cytotoxicity on the sole hTERT-ePNP-producing cell lines and affected SW1990 cells in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONSThe hTERT promoter control of the ePNP/MePdR system can provide a beneficial anti-tumor treatment in pancreatic cancer cell lines including a good bystander killing effect.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Escherichia coli ; enzymology ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; therapy ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Purine Nucleosides ; therapeutic use ; Purine-Nucleoside Phosphorylase ; genetics ; Telomerase ; genetics

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Male

Breast Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; methods ; Quality Control

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance of the level of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1) in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in evaluating the conditions and prognosis of children with severe pneumonia. METHODS: A total of 76 children with severe pneumonia who were admitted from August 2017 to October 2019 were enrolled as the severe pneumonia group. According to the treatment outcome, they were divided into a non-response group with 34 children and a response group with 42 children. Ninety-four children with common pneumonia who were admitted during the same period of time were enrolled as the common pneumonia group. One hundred healthy children who underwent physical examination in the outpatient service during the same period of time were enrolled as the control group. The serum level of sTREM-1, APACHE II score, and SOFA score were measured for each group, and the level of sTREM-1 in BALF was measured for children with severe pneumonia. The correlation of the above indices with the severity and prognosis of severe pneumonia in children was analyzed. RESULTS: The severe pneumonia group had significantly higher serum sTREM-1 level, APACHEII score, and SOFA score than the common pneumonia group and the control group (P<0.05). For the children with severe pneumonia, the non-response group had significant increases in the levels of sTREM-1 in serum and BALF and SOFA score on day 7 after admission, while the response group had significant reductions in these indices, and there were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05). Positive correlation was found between any two of serum sTREM-1, BALF sTREM-1, and SOFA score (P<0.05). APACHE II score was not correlated with serum sTREM-1, BALF sTREM-1, and SOFA score (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS The level of sTREM-1 in serum and BALF and SOFA score can be used to evaluate the severity and prognosis of severe pneumonia in children.
APACHE ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Child ; Humans ; Organ Dysfunction Scores ; Pneumonia ; Prognosis ; ROC Curve ; Sepsis ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1

BACKGROUNDIt is important to achieve the definitive pathogen identification in hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), but the traditional culture results always delay the target antibiotic therapy. We assessed the method called quantitative loop-mediated isothermal amplification (qLAMP) as a new implement for steering of the antibiotic decision-making in HAP.

METHODSTotally, 76 respiratory tract aspiration samples were prospectively collected from 60 HAP patients. DNA was isolated from these samples. Specific DNA fragments for identifying 11 pneumonia-related bacteria were amplified by qLAMP assay. Culture results of these patients were compared with the qLAMP results. Clinical data and treatment strategies were analyzed to evaluate the effects of qLAMP results on clinical data. McNemar test and Fisher's exact test were used for statistical analysis.

RESULTSThe detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Streptococcus pneumonia, and Acinetobacter baumannii by qLAMP was consistent with sputum culture (P > 0.05). The qLAMP results of 4 samples for Haemophilus influenzae, Legionella pneumophila, or Mycoplasma pneumonia (MP) were inconsistent with culture results; however, clinical data revealed that the qLAMP results were all reliable except 1 MP positive sample due to the lack of specific species identified in the final diagnosis. The improvement of clinical condition was more significant (P < 0.001) in patients with pathogen target-driven therapy based on qLAMP results than those with empirical therapy.

CONCLUSIONqLAMP is a more promising method for detection of pathogens in an early, rapid, sensitive, and specific manner than culture.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Cross Infection ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Pilot Projects ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Prospective Studies ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; drug effects ; pathogenicity

To observe the symptom control, pulmonary function changes and safety of use of omalizumab in patients with moderate to severe allergic asthma for 1 year. A small sample self-controlled study before and after treatment was conducted to retrospective analysis involved 17 patients with moderate to severe asthma who received omalizumab therapy for 12 months in Peking University People's Hospital and Beijing Jishuitan Hospital from January 2020 to December 2021. The clinical symptoms and pulmonary function changes were compared before treatment, after 6 months and 12 months of treatment, and the clinical data such as the use of other drugs and adverse reactions were observed. Statistical data are collected using the median method, and non-parametric paired Wilcoxon analysis was used for pairwise comparison. Before treatment with omalizumab, the patients' FeNO value was 79(58, 121) ppb, and the total serum IgE was 228(150.5, 345.5) IU/ml. After 6 months of omalizumab therapy, the percent predicted value of the forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) before inhaled bronchodilator increased from 86.70(82.65, 91.35)% to 90.90(87.70, 95.85)% (Z=-3.626, P<0.001). The FEV1%pred after inhaled bronchodilator increased from 92.60(85.75, 96.90)% to 94.30(89.95, 98.15)% (Z=-2.178, P=0.029). The absolute value of improvement in FEV1 decreased from 150(95, 210)ml to 50(20, 125) ml (Z=-2.796, P=0.005), and the improvement rate decreased from 6.60(3.80, 7.85)% to 1.90(0.75, 4.85)% (Z=-2.922, P=0.003). After 12 months of treatment, the FEV1%pred before inhaled bronchodilator further increased to 92.90 (91.60, 98.15)% (Z=-3.575, -2.818, and P<0.001, 0.005 compared with before treatment and 6 months after treatment, respectively). The FEV1%pred after inhaled bronchodilator increased to 96.80 (91.90, 101.25)% (Z=-3.622, -1.638, and P<0.001, 0.008 compared with before treatment and after 6 months of treatment, respectively). The absolute value of improvement in FEV1 was 70 (35, 120) ml (P=0.004, 0.842 before treatment and 6 months after treatment, respectively), and the improvement rate was 3.0(1.0, 5.0)% (Z=-2.960, -0.166, and P=0.003, 0.868, compared with before treatment and after 6 months of treatment, respectively). After 12 months of treatment, ACT increased from 13 (10.5, 18) before treatment to 24 (23, 25) (Z=-3.626,P<0.001). Only 1 patient experienced an injection site skin reaction during treatment. Therefore, after 6 months and 12 months of treatment with omalizumab, the patient's lung function improved and symptoms were relieved, which could effectively prevent the acute exacerbation of asthma. Omalizumab treatment is safe and well tolerated, and no effect on blood pressure and blood glucose was observed.
Humans ; Omalizumab/therapeutic use* ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies ; Bronchodilator Agents/therapeutic use* ; Asthma/diagnosis* ; Treatment Outcome

BACKGROUNDThis study aimed to evaluate the effects of standard rescue procedure (SRP) in improving severe trauma treatments in China.

METHODSThis study was conducted in 12 hospitals located in geographically and industrially different cities in China. A standard procedure on severe trauma rescue was established as a general rule for staff training and patient treatment. A regional network (system) efficiently integrating prehospital rescue, emergency room treatments, and hospital specialist treatments was built under the rule for information sharing and improving severe trauma treatments. Treatment outcomes were compared between before and 1 year after the implementation of the SRP.

RESULTSThe outcomes of a total of 74,615 and 12,051 trauma cases were collected from 12 hospitals before and after the implementation of the SRP. Implementation of the SRP led to efficient cooperation and information sharing of different treatment services. The emergency response time, prehospital transit time, emergency rescue time, consultation call time, and mortality rate of patients were 24.24 ± 4.32 min, 45.69 ± 3.89 min, 6.38 ± 1.05 min, 17.53 ± 0.72 min, and 33.82% ± 3.87% (n = 441), respectively, before the implementation of the standardization and significantly reduced to 10.11 ± 3.21 min, 22.39 ± 4.32 min, 3.26 ± 0.89 min, 3.45 ± 0.45 min, and 20.49% ± 3.11%, separately (n = 495, P < 0.05) after that.

CONCLUSIONSStaff training and SRP can significantly improve the efficiency of severe trauma treatments in China.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Emergency Medical Services ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Wounds and Injuries ; Young Adult

Bone Neoplasms/complications* ; Humans ; Osteosarcoma/complications* ; Pulmonary Embolism/etiology*