UNLABELLEDThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of cellular immunity activation on P58(+) cells expressing killer cell inhibitory receptor (KIR) and their regulatory function on cellular immunity, and provid theoretical data for preventing graft-vers-host disease (GVHD) in stem cell transplantation therapy. The mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood were incubated with IL-2, Con A and Lipostin (LP) for 72 hours. The KIR expressing cells, P58.1(+) and P58.2(+) cells, were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that the percentages of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), CD16(+)CD56(+), P58.1(+) and P58.2(+) cells were greatly increased after treated with IL-2, Con A and LP, separately or in combination, and the percentages of above cells in combined treatment groups were higher than those of single stimulated groups, especially the percentage of cells in the IL-2 + LP group was significantly higher than those in IL-2 and LP singly treated groups.

IN CONCLUSIONIL-2, Con A and LP possess the ability to induce the expression of KIR and stimulate proliferation of P58.1(+) and P58.2(+) cells while to activate the celluar immunity response, the expression of P58 gene may be regulated by the activation of cellular immunity.

Adult ; CD3 Complex ; analysis ; CD4 Antigens ; analysis ; CD56 Antigen ; analysis ; CD8 Antigens ; analysis ; Cell Count ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Concanavalin A ; pharmacology ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; pharmacology ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; cytology ; drug effects ; immunology ; Receptors, IgG ; analysis ; Receptors, Immunologic ; analysis ; Receptors, KIR ; Receptors, KIR2DL3

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; pharmacology ; Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins ; Bacterial Typing Techniques ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Neisseria meningitidis, Serogroup B ; classification ; drug effects ; genetics ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo investigate the inhibitory effect on HBV replication of antisense locked nucleic acid (LNA) targeting to both S and C genes in HBV transgenic mice.

METHODSThirty HBV transgenic mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6): glucose control group were treated with 5% glucose solution, liposome control group were treated with liposome alone, S group were treated with LNA targeting to S gene, C group were treated with LNA targeting to C gene, and dual-target group were treated with LNA targeting to both S and C genes. Antisense LNA was injected into mice via the tail vein. Serum HBsAg was quantified by TRFIA. Serum HBV DNA was quantified by real-time PCR. The expression of HBV C-mRNA in the liver was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of HBsAg and HBcAg in the liver was detected by immunohistochemistry. Serum ALB, ALT, BUN and CR were measured using an automatic biochemical analyzer. The effects of antisense LNA on mouse organs were investigated by HE staining.

RESULTS5 days after LNA injection, serum HBsAg levels in the dual-target group were reduced by 72.8%, and serum HBV DNA levels were decreased by 52.9%. These values were significantly higher than those in the control groups (all P < 0.05). No significant differences were noted in serum ALB, ALT, BUN and CR between the experiment groups and the control groups (all P > 0.05). The expression levels of HBsAg and HBcAg in the liver of dual-target group were significantly lower than those in the control groups. No significant histopathological abnormality was found in liver and kidney tissues in all groups.

CONCLUSIONAntisense LNA targeting to both S and C genes can significantly inhibit HBV replication in transgenic mice.

Animals ; Antiviral Agents ; pharmacology ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; analysis ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; analysis ; blood ; Hepatitis B virus ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Injections, Intravenous ; Liposomes ; Liver ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Transgenic ; Oligonucleotides ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Transcription, Genetic ; Virus Replication ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo analyze the impact of depletion of the twin arginine translocation (TAT) system on virulence and physiology of Yersinia enterocolitica for a better understanding of its pathogenicity.

METHODSWe constructed a DeltatatC::SpR mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica by P1 phage mediated transduction using Escherichia coli K-12 DeltatatC::SpR strain as a donor.

RESULTSA P1-mediated genetic material transfer was found between the two species of enterobacteria, indicating a great potential of acquisition of antibiotic resistance in emergency of a new threatening pathogen by genetic material exchanges. Periplasmic trimethylamine N-oxidase reductase activity was detected in the wild type Y. enterocolitica strain and translocation of this enzyme was completely abolished by the DeltatatC::SpR mutation. In addition, the DeltatatC::SpR mutation showed a pleiotropic effect on the metabolism of Y. enterocolitica. However, the tat mutation did not seem to affect the mobility and virulence of Y. enterocolitica under the conditions used.

CONCLUSIONUnlike other pathogenic bacteria studied, the TAT system of Y. enterocolitica might play an important role in the pathogenic process, which is distinct from other pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157:H7.

Drug Resistance, Microbial ; genetics ; Genes, Bacterial ; Mutation ; Oxidoreductases Acting on CH-NH Group Donors ; metabolism ; Transduction, Genetic ; Virulence ; Yersinia enterocolitica ; enzymology ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathogenicity

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of fruit juices with different antioxidant capacity on antioxidant system function of aged rats.

METHODSThirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: pomegranate juice and apple juice as two experimental groups, while distilled water as normal control group. They were administrated fruit juices or distilled water respectively by gavage daily for 4 weeks. At the end of experiment, the antioxidant system function was assessed.

RESULTSThe aged rats in pomegranate juice group showed significantly higher serum antioxidant capacity (0.90 +/- 0.13) mmol/L than that in control group (0.79 +/- 0.10) mmol/L (P < 0.05). The concentrations of serum carbonyl and oxLDL were decreased significantly in pomegranate juice group as compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The percentage of injured blood lymphocyte DNA and the ratio of tail length/total length were declined significantly in pomegranate juice group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). The apple juice showed no effects except decreased ratio of tail length/total length of injured lymphocyte DNA. There were no changes in concentrations of serum vitamin C, vitamin E, urinary 8-OH-dG excretion and the activities of serum SOD, GSH-Px, CAT among three groups.

CONCLUSIONSThe pomegranate juice should possess higher antioxidant capacity and might improve the antioxidant system function of aged rats, while the apple juice is relatively lower in antioxidant capacity and not very effective. The polyphenols in pomegranate juice might be the important functional components.

Aging ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Ascorbic Acid ; blood ; Beverages ; Catalase ; blood ; Comet Assay ; Female ; Fruit ; chemistry ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; urine ; Malus ; chemistry ; Punicaceae ; chemistry ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; Vitamin E ; blood

Adolescent ; Amino Acid Sequence ; Humans ; Male ; Meningitis, Meningococcal ; microbiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Neisseria meningitidis ; classification ; drug effects ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

【Objective】 To evaluate the safety and efficacy of balloon-expandable vertebral body stenting （VBS） in treating elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. 【Methods】 Thirty-eight elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures were randomly divided into two groups according to the parity of their hospital admission numbers to receive VBS and traditional percutaneous kyphoplasty （PKP）， respectively. The two groups were compared regarding changes in the intensity of pain， functional score， imaging parameters related to vertebral compression， and sagittal Cobb angle as well as the incidence of bone cement leakage after treatment， to evaluate the safety and efficacy of VBS. 【Results】 All the patients underwent the operations smoothly， which were performed with the bilateral percutaneous puncture technique under local anesthesia by the same surgeon， and were followed up for more than half a year. Both VBS group and PKP group showed significant improvement in the visual analogue scale score， the Oswestry disability index， the height of the fractured vertebral body， and the Cobb angle at 3 days， 1 month， 3 months and 6 months after treatment （all P<0.05）. There were significant differences in those indicators between the two groups （all P<0.05）. 【Conclusion】 VBS is an effective treatment approach for elderly patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. It can effectively recover fractured vertebral body height， relieve patients’ pain， and have fewer complications such as bone cement leakage.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

OBJECTIVEThis study was to investigate the mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA-3, ROR γt and Foxp3 mRNA in peripheral blood of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) in different stages and explore their potential role in the pathogenesis and clinical diagnosis.

METHODSA total of 46 newly diagnosed and untreated patients with CLL was chosen as patient group, including 16 patients in the stage of Binet A, 15 in the stage of Binet B, and 15 in the stage of Binet C; 20 healthy persons were selected as controls. The quantitative fluorescence PCR was adopted to detect the mRNA expression of T-bet, GATA-3, RORγt and Foxp3 in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMNC).

RESULTS(1) The expression of T-bet mRNA in patient group was lower than that in normal controls (P < 0.05), while the mRNA expression of GATA-3 mRNA, ROR γt, Foxp3 in CLL patients group were higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.05), and the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 and RORγt/Foxp3 in CLL in patient group were lower than that in normal controls(P < 0.05); (2) The later the stage, the higher the mRNA expression of GATA-3 and Foxp3. The mRNA expression of GATA-3 in stage Binet B and stage Binet C of CLL patients were higher than that in stage Binet A (P < 0.05),and the mRNA expression of Foxp3 in stage Binet C was higher than that in stage of Binet A and Binet B (P < 0.05); the later the stage, the lower the ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 and RORγt/Foxp3. The ratio of T-bet/GATA-3 in stage of Binet A CLL patients was higher than that in stage Binet C (P < 0.05) and the ratio of RORγt/Foxp3 in stage of Binet A and stage of Binet B were higher than that in stage Binet C (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThis study found in the level of transcription factors in CLL patients that with the process of disease, the balance shifts from Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg to Th17 and Treg, and Treg cell may play a critical immunosuppressive role in the development of CLL.

Forkhead Transcription Factors ; GATA3 Transcription Factor ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell ; Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1, Group F, Member 3 ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Box Domain Proteins ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells