OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between the expression of monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in nasal polyp (NP) tissues and the role of MCP-1 in the formation of nasal polyps.

METHODSForty nasal polyp tissues obtained from NP patients were used to detect the expression of MCP-1 and VEGF at the levels of protein and mRNA by immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assay. Twenty-five inferior turbinate (IT) samples obtained from chronic rhinitis patients were used as control.

RESULTSThe expression of MCP-1 and VEGF was higher in NP tissue than in IT at protein and mRNA levels (P <0.01). The expression of these two cytokines was positively correlated(r = 0.871, P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSMCP-1 and VEGF were involved in the formation of nasal polyps.

Adult ; Aged ; Chemokine CCL2 ; metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Nasal Polyps ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the therapeutic effects of bicyclol combined with ganciclocir on infantile cytomegalovirus hepatitis.

METHODSSeventy infants with cytomegalovirus hepatitis were randomized into treatment group (n=35) and control group (n=35) for a 2-week-long treatment with ganciclocir (5 mg/kg) with and without oral bicyclol (3 mg/kg, twice daily), respectively.

RESULTSIn both groups, significant changes occurred in the levels of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, serum total bilirubin, serum total bile acid, and glutamyl transpeptidase after the 2-week treatment (P<0.01); these parameters differed significantly between the two groups after the treatment (P<0.01). Compared with those in the control group, the infants in the treatment group showed significantly better responses to the treatment (P<0.05) with a significantly higher rate of serum anti CMV IgM negativity (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBicyclol combined with ganciclocir can reduce glutamic pyruvic transaminase, alkaline phosphatase and serum total bilirubin, and decrease bile acid levels to lessen liver cell damage and promote the recovery of liver cells.

Alanine Transaminase ; metabolism ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; metabolism ; Antiviral Agents ; therapeutic use ; Bilirubin ; blood ; Biphenyl Compounds ; therapeutic use ; Cytomegalovirus ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; drug therapy ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Ganciclovir ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis ; drug therapy ; virology ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Function Tests

This study was purposed to investigate the changes of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells and NK cells in peripheral blood of acute leukemia children at different stages, the function of immune system and the possible roles of the CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells as well as NK cells in leukemia immunity. The number and proportion of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells and NK cells were detected by flow cytometry in the peripheral blood of 53 acute leukemia children, including 25 patients in new diagnosis and 28 patients in continuous complete remission (CCR), and were compared with that of 20 normal children. The results indicated that the mean proportion of CD4(+) CD25(+) CD127(+) in CD4(+) T cells of peripheral blood in newly diagnosed patients, patients with CCR and normal children were (9.55 +/- 2.41)%, (8.54 +/- 2.51)% and (6.25 +/- 0.85)% respectively, the mean proportions of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(+) in newly diagnosed patients and patients with CCR were higher than that in normal children, the mean proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+)CD127(+) in newly diagnosed patients were higher than that in patients with CCR (p < 0.05). At the same time, the NK cell count in patients with acute leukaemia decreased as compared with normal control, while after achieving CCR, the NK cell count in patients were also less than that in normal control (4.11 +/- 3.87% and 10.41 +/- 7.20% vs 14.06 +/- 5.95%, p < 0.05). It is concluded that the application of CD4(+), CD25(+) and CD127(+) to detect regulatory T cells is a simple, reproductive and accurate method, and the CD4(+) CD25(+) CD127(+) T cells can better reflect the proportion of CD4(+)CD25(+) regulatory T cells. The increase of regulatory T cells and decrease of NK cells in pediatric patients with acute leukemia indicate that the function of NK cells may be depressed. Treg T cells play a role in occurrence and development of leukemia, and are involved in down-regulating NK cell function.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Killer Cells, Natural ; immunology ; Leukemia ; blood ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease, among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China.

METHODSA total of 10 336 children aged 0-14 years were selected from urban Zhongshan by cluster random sampling. The Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010 was used to analyze the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of childhood asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease.

RESULTSAsthma was diagnosed in 179 cases (1.73%). The prevalence of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (2.25% vs 1.16%; P<0.01). Of the 179 patients, severe attacks were common in 104 cases (58.1%), 110 cases (61.5%) had slow onset, 102 cases (57.0%) had gradually relieved conditions, 61 cases (34.1%) suffered from asthma during seasonal transition, and 150 cases (83.8%) developed asthma due to respiratory tract infection. Among all asthmatic children, 71.5% had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 71.5% had been treated with bronchodilator. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of penicillin allergy, a family history of allergy, food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, cesarean delivery, family mould, and perinatal passive smoking were independent risk factors for childhood asthma.

CONCLUSIONSThe prevalence of childhood asthma in urban Zhongshan is on a high level, and is associated with gender. The treatment of asthma has been standardized, but still needs further improvement. The onset of asthma attack is influenced by various factors.

Adolescent ; Asthma ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Seasons ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) in the migration of eosinophils (EOS) and to determine if AQP-1 can be viewed as the chemotactic activity marker of EOS.

METHODSAsthma model of guinea pigs were developed and EOS were purified from both peripheral blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The smears of EOS were studied by in situ hybridization for determining AQP1 mRNA and immunofluorescence under laser scanning confocal microscope for determining AQP1 protein.

RESULTSAQP1 was found expressed in EOS both from peripheral blood and from BALF. Compared with the expression of AQP1 mRNA (mean grey value 109.200 +/- 5.756, x +/- s) and protein (average fluorescence intensity 279.926 +/- 11.293) in EOS from BALF, there was stronger expression of AQP1 mRNA (92.904 +/- 3.290) and protein (425.081 +/- 17.474) in EOS from peripheral blood. The difference both of AQP1 mRNA (t = 9.519, P < 0.05) and protein(t = 27.020, P < 0.05) were considered statistically significant respectively.

CONCLUSIONSAQP1 plays a crucial role in EOS movement. It is possible that EOS produce more AQP1 protein to accelerate its migration to inflammatory tissues under allergic disease and EOS with AQP1 highly expressed are activated. AQP1 can be viewed as the chemotactic activity marker of EOS.

Animals ; Aquaporin 1 ; metabolism ; Asthma ; metabolism ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid ; Eosinophils ; metabolism ; Guinea Pigs ; Male ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the three-year efficacy and safety with standardized dust mite subcutaneous immunotherapy in patients with allergic rhinitis.

METHODSNinety patients who were diagnosed as allergic to mite by skin prick test and serum IgE were include in the standardized allergen-specific dose-escalation regimen. Nasal symptom score (0-3) were collected before treatment and three years after treatment; VAS (visual analogue scale, 0-10) of all nasal symptoms and drug use score were collected every four months; frequency of local and systemic reactions were recorded in the duration of dose escalation and maintenance.

RESULTSNasal blocking, sneeze, rhinorrhea and nasal itch were significantly improved after 3 years treatment (before treatment: 2[2;3], 2[2;3], 2[2;3], 2[1;2] ; after treatment: all were 0[0;0]; Z value were -8.310, -8.408, -8.377, -8.287, all P were 0.000). VAS of all nasal symptoms and drug use score decreased dramatically after escalation period (before treatment: 8.00[7.00;8.85], 2.00[1.50;2.00]; after treatment: 1.00[1.00;1.50], 0 [0;0]; Z value were -8.287, -8.248, P value 0.086, 0.744), and maintained afterwards (F value were 2.483, 0.296; P value were 0.086, 0.744). Ninety-eight case times (64.47%) local reactions mainly happened in maintenance period; the frequency of systemic reactions was 2.54%.

CONCLUSIONThe standardized specific allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis is safe and effective.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Allergens ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Desensitization, Immunologic ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pyroglyphidae ; immunology ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; therapy ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

There are growing evidences that pinocembrin has better neuroprotective effect. In the present study, the effect of pinocembrin on mitochondrial respiratory function was evaluated in global brain ischemia/ reperfusion (4-vessel occlusion, 4-VO) rats. The results showed that pinocembrin improved the respiratory activity of 4-VO brain mitochondria, through increasing ADP/O, state 3 respiration state (V3), respiration control rate index (RCI) and oxidative phosphorylation rate (OPR). And then, the effect of pinocembrin on brain mitochondria was verified in vitro. The results showed that pinocembrin increased ADP/O, state 3 respiration state, respiration control rate index, oxidative phosphorylation rate in NADH/FADH2 dependent respiratory chain and decreased state 4 respiration state (V4) in NADH dependent respiratory chain. Pinocembrin improved ATP content in brain mitochondria in vitro and in SH-SY5Y cells.
Adenosine Diphosphate ; metabolism ; Adenosine Triphosphate ; biosynthesis ; Animals ; Brain Ischemia ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Respiration ; drug effects ; Flavanones ; pharmacology ; Hippocampus ; pathology ; Male ; Mitochondria ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neuroblastoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Oxygen ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of saikosaponin D on the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of pancreatic cancer Panc-1 cells. The cell counting kit(CCK-8) was used to examine the effects of 7, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, and 28 μmol·L~(-1) saikosaponin D on the proliferation of Panc-1 cells. Three groups including the control(0 μmol·L~(-1)), low-concentration(10 μmol·L~(-1)) saikosaponin D, and high-concentration(16 μmol·L~(-1)) saikosaponin D groups were designed. The colony formation assay was employed to measure the effect of saikosaponin D on the colony formation rate of Panc-1 cells. The cells treated with saikosaponin D were stained with hematoxylin-eosin(HE), and the changes of cell morphology were observed. Hoechst 33258 fluorescent staining was used to detect the effect of saikosaponin D on the cell apoptosis. The autophagy staining assay kit with MDC was used to examine the effect of saikosaponin D on the autophagy of Panc-1 cells. Western blot and immunocytochemistry(ICC) were employed to examine the effect of saikosaponin D on the expression levels and distribution of B-cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein(Bax), cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3(caspase-3), cleaved caspase-3, autophagy-associated protein Beclin1, microtubule-associated protein light chain 3(LC3), protein kinase B(Akt), phosphorylated protein kinase B(p-Akt), mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR), and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin(p-mTOR). The results showed that compared with the control group, saikosaponin D decreased the proliferation rate of Panc-1 cells in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The colony formation rate of the cells significantly decreased after saikosaponin D treatment. Compared with the control group, the cells treated with saikosaponin D became small, accompanied by the formation of apoptotic bodies. The saikosaponin D groups showed increased apoptosis rate and autophagic vesicle accumulation. Compared with the control group, saikosaponin D up-regulated the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase3, Beclin1, LC3Ⅱ/LC3Ⅰ and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, caspase-3, p-Akt/Akt, and p-mTOR/mTOR. In addition, these proteins mainly existed in the cytoplasm. In conclusion, saikosaponin D can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis and autophagy of Panc-1 cells via inhibiting the Akt/mTOR pathway.
Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/genetics* ; Caspase 3 ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; Beclin-1/pharmacology* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics* ; Apoptosis ; Pancreatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Caspases ; Autophagy

AIM: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of adalimumab(ADA)with dose-reduced glucocorticoid for the treatment of Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease(VKH).METHODS: A total of 21 patients(37 eyes)with VKH who received ADA therapy in the Department of Ophthalmology of our hospital from August 2020 to December 2021 were included. The interval of ADA administration was progressively extended after intraocular inflammation controlled and lasted for 3mo, and it returned to the initial treatment interval once the inflammation recurred. After follow-up for 12mo, anterior chamber cell(ACC)grade, vitreous haze(VH)grade, retinal/choroidal lesions, serous retinal detachment(SRD), best corrected visual acuity(BCVA), central macular thickness(CMT)and doses of glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant were compared before and after the first ADA injection. Treatment failure events and adverse reactions were recorded.RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the proportion of eyes with ACC grade ≤1+ and VH grade ≤1+ increased(P<0.05), the proportion of eyes with retinal/choroidal lesions decreased significantly(P<0.01), BCVA and CMT were significantly improved(P<0.01), and the average dose of glucocorticoid reduced significantly(P<0.01)at 2wk, 1, 3 and 6mo after treatment. At the final follow-up, 82% of patients received glucocorticoid ≤5 mg, and all patients stopped using immunosuppressant. There were 13 treatment failure events during the follow-up period, and 12 patients(57%)extended the ADA treatment interval, with no serious adverse events related to ADA treatment observed.CONCLUSION: ADA is effective and safe for the treatment of VKH, reducing the need for glucocorticoid and immunosuppressant. In addition, extending the interval of ADA treatment is effective, which has a lower recurrence rate.

Currently, the specification grading standard for Astragali Radix can not accurately reflect growth years. The aim of this study is to identify the growth ring number of different parts of 1 to 6 year Hengshan imitative wild culture Astragali Radix, in order to get a different absolute growth years, to classify the accumulation rules of the content of flavonoids and saponins, and to lay the foundation for evaluating quality of Astragali Radix. Observing growth ring numbers of 1-6 years Astragali Radix by means of hand sections and paraffin sections in the study, and analyzing the number of different growth years and different diameter. At the same time, HPLC-UV-ELSD was used to analyze the 12 index components of the samples with absolute growth years of 2 to 6 years. The results indicated that the growth ring number excepting hollow part is consistent with the actual growth period of Astragali Radix and the number of growth rings gradually decreased from the upper to lower. The results of HPLC-UV-ELSD determination showed that the saponins content of 3-year-old Astragali Radix was the highest while the flavonoids content of the 4-year-old reached the maximum. The study provided the basis for foundation of the specification grading standard for Astragali Radix and clinical rational use drug.