Objective To observe the effects of dexamethasone (DEX) therapy on the clinical outcome and changes of lymphocyte subsets in children with mild and severe encephalitis.Methods Eighty-two children with mild and severe viral encephalitis were randomly divided into two groups: with DEX treatment (n=46) or without(n=36).The clinical efficacy was evaluated 3 weeks later, and the clinical manifestation were also observed. The changes of CD4~+,CD8~+ T lymphocyte percentage were determined by flow cytometry on admission and at 1 week,4 weeks after treatment.Another group of 20 cases was enrolled as control group.Results Compared with the control group,both the DEX treatment group and non-DEX treatment group showed a reduced CD4~+ lymphocyte count, an increased CD8~+ lymphocyte count(P

0.05).Conclusion Long-term inhaled glucocorticosteroids has no obvious effect on GH and height growth of asthmatic children.

Objective To determine whether the inhibition of paxillin tyrosine residues 31 and tyrosine residues 118 (Pxn Y31 and Pxn Y118) phosphorylation via inhibition of c-Abl kinase will effectively block its downstream effector molecules vessel endothelium-cadherin (VE-cad), and whether Rho/Rho kinase activation which will induce the vascular barrier dysfunction. Methods Ninety healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into nine groups (each n =10). Only tracheotomy was undergone in the sham group. Groups of protective ventilation were set at a volume tidal (VT) of 6 mL/kg, a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of 5 cmH2O (1 cmH2O =0.098 kPa) for 1 hour or 2 hours (namely group PVT 1 h and group PVT 2 h), respectively. Groups of high VT were put on mechanical ventilation (MV) at high VT 30 mL/kg, PEEP 0 for 1 hour or 2 hours (namely group HVT 1 h and group HVT 2 h), respectively. Groups UO126 and AG957 pretreatment were set on MV at HVT for 1 hour or 2 hour respectively, but they were given p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p42/44MAPK) inhibitor UO1261 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection or c-Abl kinase inhibitor AG95710 mL/kg by intragastric injection 1 hour before HVT ventilation. All the animals were sacrificed after experiments and specimens of lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested. Pulmonary vascular permeability was measured by Evans blue (EB). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in BALF were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then the change of lung tissue pathology was observed with light microscope, diffuse alveolar damage system (DAD) score and lung wet/dry ratio (W/D) were estimated. The myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was measured by colorimetric analysis, phosphorylations of c-Abl Y245, Pxn Y31, Pxn Y118, VE-cad Y658, p42/44MAPK Y202/Y204, myosin light chain (MLC) and myosin-associated phosphatasetype Y696 (MYPT Y696) were determined by Western Blot. Results ① There were no obvious pathological changes in the lung tissue in the sham group and PVT 1 h or 2 h group, and also there were no significant differences in all the parameters between above groups. However, the injury in lung tissue was severe in the HVT groups. In addition, DAD score, lung W/D ratio, EB content, the activity of MPO, and TNF-α in BALF in HVT groups were significantly higher than those in sham group and PVT groups. After pretreatment with AG957 or UO126, all the parameters were significantly decreased as compared with those of groups HVT. ② The levels of phosphorylation of the proteins in lung tissue in HVT groups were increased as compared with those of group sham and groups PVT, especially at 2 hours of MV. However, compared with groups HVT, the level of p-VE-cad Y658 in lung tissue decreased significantly in group AG957 and group UO126 at 2 hours after HVT. However, the levels of all phosphorylated proteins at 2 hours were significantly lowered in the AG957 group compared with those of the HVT group [p-c-Abl Y245 (gray value): 0.29±0.04 vs. 0.42±0.04, p-Pxn Y31 (gray value): 0.51±0.03 vs. 0.70±0.05, p-Pxn Y118 (gray value):0.65±0.04 vs. 0.91±0.04, p-VE-cad Y658 (gray value): 0.77±0.07 vs. 1.32±0.07, p-p42/44MAPK Y202/Y204 (gray value): 0.38±0.06 vs. 0.61±0.03, p-MLC (gray value): 0.37±0.04 vs. 0.77±0.05, p-MYPT Y696 (gray value):0.54±0.05 vs. 0.87±0.06, all P < 0.05]. After pretreatment with UO126, the phosphorylation level of VE-cad in lung tissue at 2 hours was significantly lower than that of HVT group (gray value: 0.74±0.04 vs. 1.32±0.07), and the phosphorylation levels of p42/44MAPK and its downstream effector molecules MLC and MYPT Y696 were also significantly decreased [p-p42/44MAPK Y202/Y204 (gray value): 0.38±0.07 vs. 0.61±0.03, p-MLC (gray value):0.37±0.04 vs. 0.77±0.05, p-MYPT Y696 (gray value): 0.55±0.05 vs. 0.87±0.06, all P < 0.05]. Conclusions Pxn Y31 and Pxn Y118 phosphorylation could be blocked by inhibition of c-Abl kinase, which could strengthen VE-cad at attachment junction and might block formation of Pxn-guanine nucleotide-exchange factor H1 (GEF-H1)-p44/42MAPK signalosome which induce activation local Rho signaling, lead to activation of MLC phosphorylation, actomyosin contraction, and increase endothelial permeability.

ObjectiveTo determine whether the inhibition of caveolin-1 tyrosine residues 14 (Cav-1-Y14) phosphorylation with protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors (PP2) will upregulate heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) activity to protect against ventilation induced lung injury in vivo of an animal model.Methods Fifty-four male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into nine groups (eachn = 6). Group A served as normal control group, in which rats did not receive ventilation but tracheotomy. Groups B1 and B2 received lung protective ventilation respectively for 1 hour or 2 hours. Groups C1 and C2 received high tidal volume (40 mL/kg) ventilation for 1 hour or 2 hours, respectively. The group D1 or D2 also received high tidal volume ventilation for 1 hour or 2 hour respectively, but they were given PP2 1 hour before high tidal volume ventilation. The groups E1 and E2 also received high tidal volume ventilation respectively for 1 hour or 2 hours, but tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2 and HO-1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrinⅨ(ZnPPⅨ) were given to animals 18 hours before high tidal volume ventilation. All the animals were sacrificed after ventilation, and the specimens of lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were harvested. Then the changes in pathology of lung tissue was observed, and diffuse alveolar damage scores (DAD) were calculated, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was measured by colorimetric analysis, lung wet/dry ratio (W/D) was estimated. The expressions of phosphorylated caveolin-1 (P-Cav-1-Y14), caveolin-1 (Cav-1) and HO-1 were determined by Western Blot. The expressions of high mobility group B1 (HMGB1) and advanced glycation end product receptor (RAGE) in lung tissues were assayed with immunohistochemistry staining. The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) in BALF were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results There was no significant difference in all the parameters between group A and groups B. Compared with group B1, DAD score, W/D ratio, the activity of MPO and the concentration of TNF-α in BALF in group C1 were significantly increased [DAD score:7.97±0.59 vs. 0.55±0.13, W/D ratio: 5.70±1.61 vs. 5.04±0.63, MPO (U/g): 1.82±0.14 vs. 0.77±0.26, TNF-α(ng/L): 370.10±29.61 vs. 54.38±8.18, allP< 0.05], and the injury in ventilation 2 hours group was more serious than that in ventilation 1 hour group. Compared with groups C, all the parameters in groups D were significantly decreased. The parameters in groups E were significantly higher than those in groups A, B, and D, but no significant difference was found as compared with groups C. Compared with groups B, the protein expressions of Cav-1 and P-Cav-1-Y14 (gray value) in groups C were significantly increased (1 hour: 1.49±0.02 vs. 1.26±0.13, 1.34±0.02 vs. 0.87±0.04;2 hours: 1.58±0.02 vs. 1.27±0.27, 1.31±0.01 vs. 0.95±0.02, allP< 0.05), and the expression of HO-1 protein (gray value) was significantly decreased (1 hour: 0.59±0.02 vs. 1.10±0.01, 2 hours: 0.49±0.01 vs. 1.20±0.02, both P< 0.05). No significant difference in Cav-1 protein expression between groups D as well as groups E and groups C. The protein expression of P-Cav-1-Y14 in groups D and E was significantly lower than that in groups C. The protein expression of HO-1 in groups D was significantly higher than that in groups C, but the phenomenon was not found in groups E as compared with groups C. Compared with group A, the positive expression of HMGB1 and RAGE in lung tissue in groups C and E was significantly increased, but no significant difference was found between groups B as well as groups D and group A.Conclusion Cav-1-Y14 phosphorylation is the key factor for ventilator induced lung injury, which can not only lead to a decrease in vascular barrier function, but also inhibit the activity of HO-1 enzyme, thus further aggravates inflammatory injury of the lung as induced by mechanical ventilation.

Objective To investigate whether the inhibition of caveolin-1 (Cav-1) phosphorylation will regulate effectively nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) signal pathway and downstream effector molecules and protest against ventilation induced lung injury (VILI) in an animal model in vivo. Methods Ninety male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into nine groups (each n = 10): sham group in which rats did not receive ventilation but received tracheotomy; lung protective ventilation (PV) for 1 hour or 2 hours group; mechanical ventilation (MV) at high volume tidal (VT, 40 mL/kg) for 1 hour or 2 hours group; protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor PP2 or rosiglitazone (Rsg) pretreatment + high VT ventilation for 1 hour or 2 hours groups. The two pretreatment groups were given intraperitoneal injection PP2 15 mg/kg or intragastric administration of Rsg 5 mg/kg 1 hour before ventilation respectively. The rats were sacrificed after model reproduction, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected. Pulmonary vascular permeability was measured by Evans blue (EB). The levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), activator protein-1 (AP-1), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in BALF were determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Then the lung tissues were collected, the lung wet/dry ratio (W/D) was calculated, the changes in pathology was observed with light microscope, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was determined by colorimetric analysis. Nrf2 mRNA was determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expressions of Cav-1 tyrosine residues 14 phosphorylation (pCav-1-Y14), Cav-1, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and claudin-5 as well as Nrf2 in cytoplasm and nucleus were determined by Western Blot. The positive expressions of PPARγ and claudin-5 in lung tissues were assayed with immunohistochemistry staining. Results There were no obvious pathological changes in the lung tissue in sham group and PV groups, and there were no significant differences in all the parameters between the two groups either. However, the injury in lung tissue was severe in the high VT groups in which W/D ratio, EB contents, MPO activity, and TNF-α, AP-1, IL-8, NF-κB levels in BALF as well as the protein expressions of Cav-1 and pCav-1-Y14 were significantly higher than those of sham group and PV groups, and the protein expressions of PPARγ and claudin-5 were significant lower than those of sham group and PV groups with a dose-dependent manner; but Nrf2 expressions in cytoplasm and nucleus did not show a statistical increase. After pretreatment of PP2 or Rsg, W/D ratio, MPO activity, EB contents, TNF-α, AP-1, IL-8, and NF-κB in BALF were significantly decreased as compared with those of high VT group, and RT-PCR showed significant up-regulation of Nrf2 mRNA in lung tissues too. Moreover, there was a statistically significant increase in expressed Nrf2 proteins in nucleus in PP2 or Rsg groups as compared with those of high VT groups [Nrf2 in nucleus (gray value): 0.61±0.06, 0.56±0.06 vs. 0.31±0.02 at 1 hour, 0.38±0.06, 0.43±0.07 vs. 0.22±0.03 at 2 hours; all P < 0.05], but no significant difference was found in the expression of Nrf2 protein in the cytoplasm among all groups. The protein expressions of pCav-1-Y14 in PP2 pretreatment groups were significantly lower than those of high VT groups (gray value: 0.89±0.04 vs. 1.48±0.02 at 1 hour, 0.86±0.02 vs. 1.31±0.01 at 2 hours; both P < 0.05); but expressed PPARγ proteins and expressed claudin-5 proteins in PP2 or Rsg pretreatment groups were significantly higher than those of high VT groups [PPARγ (gray value): 0.34±0.07, 0.42±0.13 vs. 0.17±0.07 at 1 hour, 0.38±0.09, 0.33±0.07 vs. 0.16±0.03 at 2 hours; claudin-5 (gray value): 0.33±0.05, 0.38±0.07 vs. 0.14±0.03 at 1 hour; 0.30±0.06, 0.31±0.04 vs. 0.17±0.04 at 2 hours; all P < 0.05]. Conclusions The inhibition of Cav-1-Y14 phosphorylation can increase the expression of Nrf2 in the nucleus, then result in an increase in the protein expressions of PPARγ and claudin-5 of its effector molecules. This effect can reduce the inflammation and capillary permeability of lung tissue in the model of VILI.

AIM: To observe the effects of puerarin on blood pressure(BP),serum lipid in a rat model of insulin resistance and the mechanism.METHODS: Adult SD rats were maintained on high-fat-sugar-salt diet for 12 weeks.Puerarin was administered to the rats from 9th week for 4 weeks by intramuscular injection.BP was measured at the end of 0,8th,12th week.The levels of serum glucose,serum lipid,fasting serum insulin and the levels of MDA,TNF-?,plasma rennin,angiotensinⅡ(AngⅡ) and the activity of SOD were measured and the insulin-sensitivity index was also calculated at the end of the experiment.RESULTS: High and middle dosage of puerarin significantly decreased blood pressure,reduced the levels of serum lipid and AngⅡ,and also increased insulin-sensitivity index.The levels of MDA and TNF-? were significantly decreased by high dosage of puerarin.The activity of SOD was increased significantly.CONCLUSIONS: Puerarin possesses the effects of decreasing the blood pressure and serum lipid in a rat model of insulin resistance,which may be concerned with the changes of rennin-angiotensin system,the levels of oxygen-derived free radicals and TNF-?.

Objective To explore the risk factors for asthma in children.Methods A 1:1 matched and hospital-based case-control study was conducted to analyses risk factors for asthma in 300 pairs of children by logistic regression analysis. Results The result of univariate Logistic regression analysis showed that there were 17 related factors for children asthma, including disease history of parents in respiratory system,family income,atopie character,history of acute respiratory infections, eating habit,the amount of sea foods intakes,foam plastics,family decoration,the way of exhaust fume in kitchen,the exhaust effectiveness,raising pet in house,family history of asthma,family history of allergic rhinitis,family history of food allergy,dust allergy of parents,systemic therapy after the first attack.With multivariate Logistic regression analysis,7 factors were entered the model,6 risk factors including father's history of respiratory diseases(OR 3.771,95%CI 1.533～9.278),low family income(OR 1.503, 95%CI 1.258～1.795),atopy(OR 3.788,95%CI 2.368～6.058),meat-eating habit(OR 2.042,95%CI 1.481～2.815),asthma history of family members(OR 1.710,95%CI 0.988～2.958),the family history of allergic rhinitis(OR 1.991,95%CI 1.234～3.211), and 1 protective factor of raising pet in house(OR 0.443,95%CI 0.265～0.739).The coefficients of these factors in multivariate logistic regression model were 1.327、0.407、1.322、0.714、0.536、0.689、and-0.814 respectively.Conclusion Children asthma was a multi-factorial complex disease,and the interaction of environmental and genetic risk factors played an important role in the onset of this disease.

Objective To understand human rhinovirus (HRV) etiology of acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI) in children in Shanghai area and establish a nested reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (nested RT-PCR) assay.Methods Three hundred and forty-two naso- pharyngeal secretion (NPS) samples from ALRTI cases who were hospitalized were collected during January 2005—December 2005.Nested RT-PCR techniques were used to detect HRV-specific RNA.The PCR products were sequenced and data of nucleotides were analyzed.The proportion of HRV infection in children with ALRTI,the distribution of gender,age and season,and clinical char- acteristics were also investigated.Results Forty-six (13.5%) of 342 samples were HRV positive detected by nested RT-PCR.The sequences of 15 positive samples shared high homology of 83%- 97% with HRV sequence in GenBank.Within the 15 positive samples,nucleotide homology varied from 64.4% to 98.4%,and the ratio of genetic variation was from 1.6% to 48.3%./00.These 15 ampli- cons attribute to the two branches of HRV cladogram.The sequences of 15 amplieons were highly varied,in which single nucleotide mutation and several nearby nueleotides mutations were found. Ribonucleotide deletion and insertion in the nucleotide sequence was also found.HRV positive sam- ples were detected in 33 boys and 13 girls,respectively.The ratio of infection cases between boys and girls was 2.5:1.Of 46 HRV infected cases,27 (58.7%) were less than 12 months of age and 38 (82.6%) were less than 3 years old.HRV infected ALRTI occured all the year round and peaked from March to May.Of the patients whose NPS samples were HRV positive detected by nested RT-PCR,45 patients were diagnosed with bronchopneumonia and 1 was diagnosed with asthmatic bronchitis.Fever of most patients was moderate.The peripheral blood leukocyte counts in thirty-nine (84.8%) patients were less than 10?10~9/L.Neutrophil percentages in thirty-seven (80.4%) patients were less than 0.50.C-reactive protein of thirty-six (78.3%) patients were less than 8 mg/L. All of these features were the characteristics of viral pneumonia.The complications were not common and conditions of most patients were not severe.All the children were cured.Conclusions This nes- ted RT-PCR technique is highly specific,rapid and convenient for the detection of HRV RNA in NPS of patients with ALRTI and the genome of HRV viruses is highly variable.The incidence of HRV infection predominates in children in Shanghai area.ALRTI of HRV is short of specificity and condi- tions of most patients are not severe and their prognoses are fine.

0.05).Conclusions The serum concentrations of cortisol,GH,IGF-Ⅰ and IGFBP3 in children suffered from asthma have no obvious change before and after 24 months long-term inhaled corticosteroids.The height changes before and after therapy have no significant difference between observation group and control group with same age and gender.