Objective:To investigate the changes of T lymphocyte subsets and cytokines in children with he-patitis B virus(HBV)-associated glomerulonephritis (HBV-GN), and their relationship with HBV-DNA load.Methods:Forty-one children who was the first diagnosed with HBV-GN in Department of Pediatrics, the People′s Hospital of Gansu Province and Institute of Infectious Diseases, the First Hospital of Lanzhou University from September 2012 to September 2016 were collected as the objects(HBV-GN group). At the same time, the 40 patients with HBV infection (chronic HBV infection, normal liver and kidney function, normal 24-hour proteinuria quantitation, no hematuria under the microscope, no recent symptoms of cold and fever, etc.) were enrolled as the control group.The levels of T lymphocyte subset, tumor necrosis factor α(TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 in the HBV-GN group and the control group were compared, and the relationship between HBV-DNA and cell factors was farther analyzed.Results:Compared with the control group, the proportions of CD3 + T, CD4 + T lymphocyte and CD4 + /CD8 + ratio decreased in the HBV-GN group(0.632±0.052 vs.0.692±0.047, 0.204±0.050 vs.0.466±0.038, 0.006±0.002 vs.0.017±0.003, t=1.025, 3.342, 5.234, all P<0.05), and the proportions of CD8 + T lymphocyte was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.411±0.023 vs.0.220±0.043, t=4.452, P<0.01). Besides, IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in the HBV-GN group were significantly lower than those in the control group[(23.36±2.55) ng/L vs.(36.33±1.24) ng/L, (19.20±2.18) ng/L vs.(61.25±2.08) ng/L, all P<0.05], and the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were significantly higher than those in the control group[(19.60±1.46) ng/L vs.( 6.68±2.32) ng/L, (13.65±3.34) ng/L vs.(1.35±1.52) ng/L, (5.57±1.02) ng/L vs.(1.43±0.57) ng/L, (26.32±3.45) ng/L vs.(9.68±2.55) ng/L, (19.82±2.78) ng/L vs.(1.02±0.56) ng/L, all P<0.01]. Moreover, in HBV-GN patients, there was negative correlation between HBV-DNA load and IFN-γ, IL-2( r=-0.985, -0.943, all P<0.05), and positive relationship in HBV-DNA load with TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8 and IL -10 levels( r=0.942, 0.966, 0.953, 0.944, 0.963, all P<0.05). Conclusions:There is an CD4 + /CD8 + imbalance and an abnormal level of cell factors in HBV-GN progression.In further HBV-GN treatment, HBV-DNA and the cell factors should be detected simultaneously to dynamically eva-luate the illness change and the clinical curative effect.

Objective:To investigate serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25-(OH)D3], the vitamin D receptor(VDR), LL-37, cytokines such as interleukin 6(IL-6)and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in elderly and non-elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, and to study the correlation between serum vitamin D levels and clinical characteristics.Methods:A total of 56 elderly patients and 56 non-elderly patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis admitted to Chengdu Public Health Clinical Center from January 2019 to March 2019 were enrolled.The levels of 25-(OH)D3, VDR, LL-37, IL-6 and TNF-α were detected by ELISA and compared between the two groups.Clinical data such as the number of T lymphocytes, lesions and cavities in bilateral lung fields and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis were collected.Results:There were significant differences in serum vitamin D levels [(28.94±12.88)nmol/L vs.(34.47±12.78)nmol/L, t=3.650, P=0.025], while levels of VDR, LL-37, IL-6 and TNF-α(all P>0.05)were similar between the elderly and non-elderly groups.Besides, patients in the elderly group were associated with significantly lower levels of CD4 + T lymphocytes [(295.71±153.83)×10 6/L vs.(421.25±206.00)×10 6/L]and CD8 + T lymphocyte count [159.5(101.0, 239.0)×10 6/L vs.261.5(187.0, 409.0)×10 6/L]than those in the nonelderly group(all P=0.000). Also, there were more severe pulmonary tuberculosis cases in the elderly group than the non-elderly group [(51/56, 91.1%) vs.(28/56, 50.0%), χ2=22.730, P=0.000]. The serum level of 25-(OH)D3 was positively correlated with CD4 + T cell count in elderly patients( r=0.190, P< 0.05). Conclusions:Elderly patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have a high proportion of severe tuberculosis and reduced serum levels of vitamin D, CD4 + T cell count and CD8 + T cell count, compared with non-elderly patients.Attention should be paid to vitamin D levels and their potential impact on disease progression in elderly patients with active tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of direct current electric fields on directional migration and arrangement of dermal fibroblasts in neonatal BALB/c mice and the related mechanisms.

METHODSTwelve neonatal BALB/c mice were divided into 4 batches. The skin on the back of 3 neonatal mice in each batch was obtained to culture fibroblasts. Fibroblasts of the second passage were inoculated in 27 square cover slips with the concentration of 5 × 10(4) cells per mL. (1) Experiment 1. Six square cover slips inoculated with fibroblasts of the second passage were divided into electric field group (EF) and sham electric field group (SEF), with 3 cover slips in each group. The cover slips were put in live cell imaging workstation. The cells in group EF was treated with electric power with EF intensity of 200 mV/mm, while simulating process without actual power was given to SEF group (the same below) for 6 h. Cell proliferation rate was subsequently counted. (2) Experiment 2. Six cover slips were divided and underwent the same processes as in experiment 1. Cell movement locus within EF hour (EFH) 6, direction change of cell migration at EFH 0 (immediately), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 which was denoted as cos(α), cell migration velocity within EFH 6, direction change of long axis of cell within EFH 6, and direction change of cell arrangement at EFH 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 which was denoted as polarity value cos[2(θ-90)] were observed under live cell imaging workstation. After EFH 6, the morphological changes in microtubules and microfilaments were observed with immunofluorescent staining. (3) Experiment 3. Six cover slips were divided into cytochalasin D group (treated with 1 μmol/L cytochalasin D for 10 min) and colchicine group (treated with 5 μmol/L colchicine for 10 min), with 3 cover slips in each group. The morphological changes in microfilaments and microtubules were observed with the same method as in experiment 2. (4) Experiment 4. Nine cover slips were divided into control group (no reagent was added), cytochalasin D group and colchicine group (added with the same reagents as in experiment 3), with 3 cover slips in each group. Cells in the 3 groups were exposed to an EF of 200 mV/mm for 6 h. Cell movement locus within EFH 6, cell migration velocity within EFH 6, cell polarity values at EFH 0, 3, and 6, and morphological changes of cells at EFH 0 and 6 were observed. Data were processed with independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and LSD test.

RESULTS(1) There was no statistically significant difference in cell proliferation rate in group EF and group SEF (t=-0.24, P﹥0.05). (2) Within EFH 6, cells in group EF migrated towards the anode of EF, while cells in group SEF moved randomly. At EFH 0, the values of cos(α) of cells in the 2 groups were both 0. The absolute value of cos(α) of cells in group EF (-0.57 ± 0.06) was significantly higher than that in group SEF (0.13 ± 0.09, t=6.68, P<0.01) at EFH 1, and it was still higher than that in group SEF from EFH 2 to 6 (with t values from 5.33 to 6.83, P values below 0.01). Within EFH 6, migration velocity of cells in group EF was (0.308 ± 0.019) μm/min, which was significantly higher than that in group SEF [(0.228 ± 0.021) μm/min, t=-2.76, P<0.01]. Within EFH 6, long axis of cells in group EF was perpendicular to the direction of EF, while arrangement of cells in group SEF was irregular. Cell polarity values in group EF were significantly higher than that in group SEF from EFH 2 to 6 (with t values from -7.52 to -0.90, P values below 0.01). At EFH 6, the morphology of microfilaments and microtubules of cells in EF group was similar to that in SEF group. (3) The fluorescent intensity of microfilaments of cells in cytochalasin D group became weakened, and the filamentary structure became fuzzy. The microtubules of cells in colchicine group became fuzzy with low fluorescent intensity. (4) Within EFH 6, cells in control group migrated towards the anode of EF, while cells in cytochalasin D group and colchicine group moved randomly. Within EFH 6, there was statistically significant difference in migration velocity of cells in the 3 groups (F=6.36, P<0.01). Migration velocity of cells in cytochalasin D group and colchicine group was significantly slower than that in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). At EFH 0, 3, and 6, cell polarity values in the 3 groups were close (with F values from 0.99 to 1.51, P values above 0.05). At EFH 0, cells in control group were spindle; cells in cytochalasin D group were polygonal or in irregular shapes; cells in colchicine group were serrated circle or oval. At EFH 6, no morphological change was observed in cells in control group; cells in cytochalasin D group were spindle with split ends on both ends; cells in colchicine group were serrated oval.

CONCLUSIONSThe physiologic strength of exogenous direct current EF can induce directional migration and alignment of dermal fibroblasts in neonatal BALB/c mice. Microfilaments and microtubules are necessary skeleton structure for cell directional migration induced by EF, while they are not necessary for cell directional arrangement induced by EF.

Animals ; Cell Movement ; Cells, Cultured ; Electricity ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microtubules ; Skin ; cytology

Objective To investigate the effects of edaravone on improving the prognosis of TBI rats.Methods A total of 150 SD male rats were divided into normal control group (10 rats),TBI group (70 rats) and edaravone group (70 rats).In the edaravone treatment group,the rats were injected intraperitoneally once a day continously for 2 weeks with the injection dose of 5.4 mg · kg-1 · d-1.At 6 hours,12 hours,24 hours,48 hours,72 hours,1 week and 2 weeks after injury,the neurobehavioral and motor function scores of rats were monitored respectively,with 10 rats monitored at each time point.Serum and cerebrospinal fluid samples were collected and the levels of β-endorphin and gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA).Results In the edaravone group,the neurobehavioral and motor function scores were higher than those of the TBI group at 6 hours,12 hours,24 hours,48 hours,72 hours,1 week and 2 weeks after injury.At 48 hours after injury,the neurobehavioral scores of the TBI group and the edaravone treatment group were (8.2 ±0.9) points and (10.3 ±0.7) points,respectively (P ＜ 0.05),and the motor function scores were (5.9 ± 1.0) points and (6.9 ± 1.2) points respectively (P ＜ 0.05).Meanwhile,the contents of β-endorphin in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of the normal control group were (50.2 ± 9.5) pg/ml and (16.2 ± 2.8) pg/ml,and the contents of GnRH were (75.2 ± 11.2) pg/ml and (36.2 ± 10.8)pg/ml,respectively.The levels of β-endorphin and GnRH in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were significantly increased at 6 hours,12 hours,24 hours,48 hours,72 hours,l week and 2 weeks after injury.The levels of β-endorphin and GnRH in the edaravone group were lower than those of TBI group.At 72 hour after injury,the levels of β-endorph in serum in TBI group and edaravone group were (165.2 ± 8.5) pg/ml and (109.5 ± 6.3) pg/ml respectively (P ＜ 0.05),and the levels of β-endorph in cerebrospinal fluid were (63.3 ± 3.1) pg/ml and (38.2 ± 2.3) pg/ml respectively (P ＜ 0.05).At 72 hour after injury,the levels of GnRH in serum in TBI group and edaravone group were (203.7 ± 17.1)pg/ml and (110.4 ± 19.2)pg/ml respectively (P ＜0.05),and the levels of GnRH in cerebrospinal fluid is (153.0 ± 13.4) pg/ml and (93.2 ± 10.5) pg/ml respectively (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion During acute and recovery periods after TBI,continuous treatment with edaravone can obviously reduce the levels of β-endorphin and GnRH,which is beneficial to alleviate the secondary brain injury after TBI in rats,promote the recovery of nerve and function,and improve the prognosis.