Objective To explore the expression, as well as the proportion of subsets of the natural killer (NK) T cells in peripheral blood of patients with esophageal carcinoma before and after surgery, and provide ideas and experimental basis for immune treatment through tests. Methods Using CD3, CD56, CD4 and CD8 antibody to study the NKT cells and its subsets. Peripheral NKT cell subsets in 59 patients with esophageal carcinoma were analysed by flow cytometer. Results With the ratio of CD+3 CD+56 CD+8/CD+3 CD+56 CD+4 gradually increased, the proportion of phase Ⅲ- Ⅳ patients with esophageal carcinoma is gradually decreased between the groups. One-way ANOVA analysis showed that there were differences between the groups (P ＜0.05). The ratio of CD+3 CD+56 CD+8/CD+3 CD+56 CD+4 was in Non-linear related to CD+3 CD+56 CD+4NKT cells; CD+3 CD+56 CD+8; NKT cells were positively correlated with CD-3 CD+56 NK cells and negatively correlated with CD+3 T cells.Conclusion The ratio of CD+3 CD+56 CD+8/CD+3 CD+56 CD+4 may relate to tumor burden, and is helpful to determine the extent of disease in patients with esophageal carcinoma and prognosis.

Objective: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic immune-mediated esophageal disease.The current domestic reports of EoE in children is rare.The aim of this study was to analyze the clinical features, the diagnosis and treatment advance of EoE in children by case analysis and literature review. Method: Clinical data of 22 children with EoE from January, 2011 to December, 2015 in Children′s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were recorded, retrospective analysis was performed on clinical presentation, gastroendoscopy and histopathological examination features and the treatment. Result: (1) Clinical data: EoE can occur at any age in children (5 months to 13 years). The most common clinical manifestations of EoE are vomiting and abdominal pain, 45% (10/22) and 41%(9/22) respectively. (2) Endoscopy and pathological features of esophageal mucosa: 11 cases with coarse mucous membrane (50%), 6 cases with congestion or erosion of esophageal membrane (27%), 5 cases with longitudinal crack (23%), 3 cases with ring uplift (14%), 3 cases with granular uplift (14%), 3 cases with normal mucosa(14%). Histopathologic manifestation is eosinophil infiltration and the eosinophil counts were all more than or equal to 15/HP. (3) Laboratory results: 13 cases had increasing eosinophil counts and eosinophils proportion (62%). (4)Allergy history: among 22 cases, 7 patients had allergy history (32%). (5) Situation of treatment and remission: 16 cases had clinical remission by oral omeprazole; 2 cases had clinical remission by oral Omeprazole and Montelukast sodium; 1 case acquired remission by elimination diet; 1 case acquired remission by elimination diet and oral prednisone. 2 cases dropped out; Only 2 patients received gastroendoscopy re-examination after 3 months and revealed esophageal mucosal histologic complete recovery. Conclusion The clinical symptoms of EoE in children varies.Esophageal mucosal features of gastroendoscopy examination in children with EoE were longitudinal crack, white exudates or plaques, paper mucosa, ring uplift and granular uplift.Most patients could achieve remission by using proton-pump inhibitors, only few children needed elimination diet and change formula, or even oral glucocorticoids.

Objective: To explore the clinical features and complications of foreign bodies in the upper gastrointestinal tract in children and to investigate the effectiveness of endoscopic management. Methods: Data of patients with foreign bodies in upper gastrointestinal tract were collected retrospectively at Endoscopy Center, the Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from January 2011 to December 2016. Clinical characteristics, the types of foreign bodies, the location and duration of foreign body impaction were summarized. The risk factors of complications and endoscopic removal failure were analyzed by using Logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 1 334 patients (825 males and 509 females) were enrolled. The median age was 2.5 years, with a range from 0.25 to 15 years and peak age 1-3 years. Twenty patients had esophageal diseases. The most common foreign body ingested was coin (n=964, 72.3%). Foreign bodies were most commonly located in the esophagus (n=1 002, 75.1%), especially in the upper esophagus (n=857, 85.5%). The duration of foreign body impaction ranged from 3 hours to 5 years. Among 1 334 patients, 252 patients (18.9%) developed complications, including ulcers (n=101, 40.0%) and perforations(n=13, 5.2%). The success rate of endoscopic removal was 96.6% (n=1 288). By Logistic regression analysis, sharp foreign body ingestion (OR=6.893, 95%CI: 4.421-10.746) , esophageal impaction (OR=5.253, 95%CI:3.352-8.233) and foreign body impaction longer than 24 hours (OR=4.336, 95%CI:3.091-6.082) were risk factors of complications. Sharp foreign body ingestion was the risk factor of endoscopic failure (OR=5.372, 95%CI:2.773-10.406) . Conclusions Coin is the most common foreign body in upper gastrointestinal tract. Sharp foreign bodies impacted in the esophagus over 24 hours increase the risk of complications. Endoscopic removal of foreign bodies from the upper gastrointestinal tract in children has a high success rate. Sharp foreign body ingestion increases the risk of failure in endoscopic removing.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of enteral nutrition in children with accidental upper gastrointestinal injury. Methods: The medical records of 128 patients with mechanical or chemical gastrointestinal mucosal injury, who were hospitalized in Department of Gastroenterology, Children's Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine from January 1, 2011 to December 30, 2017, were collected. All cases were treated with enteral nutrition. The clinical features and etiologies were retrospectively analyzed. Weight-for-age Z score and lab findings including white blood cells, C-reactive protein, neutrophils, albumin, prealbumin, urea nitrogen and hemoglobin before and after treatment were extracted. The clinical characteristics, the duration of enteral nutrition and gastrointestinal mucosal healing between different etiologies were further analyzed. Normal distribution variables and categorized variables were compared with t test and χ² test respectively, and abnormal distribution data was compared with Wilcoxon test. Results: Among all the cases, 77 were males and 51 were females. The average age was (29±22) months. The mean duration of hospitalization and enteral nutrition were (11±7)d and (27±20)d respectively. Vomiting was the most common clinical presentation (72 cases, 56.3%). In 79 cases the problems were caused by mechanical injury, among which coins were most commonly seen. The rest 49 cases were caused by chemical injury. However, the duration of hospitalization ((13±8) d vs. (10±6)d, t=-3.089, P=0.002) and enteral nutrition ((39±22) vs. (19±14) d, t=-5.365, P=0.000) were longer in children with chemical injury than those with mechanical injury. A total of 112 cases got complete blood count and C-reactive protein both before and after enteral nutrition. Inflammatory markers, including leukocytes ((7.7±2.7) ×10⁹/L vs. (13.7±5.0) ×10⁹/L, t=12.244, P <0.05), neutrophils ((3.4±1.9)×10⁹/L vs. (9.4±4.6) ×10⁹/L, t=13.655, P<0.05), and C-reactive proteins (5.0(3.0,7.8) vs. 13.5(6.0,40.5) mg/L, Z=7.776, P <0.05) were significantly decreased. The nutritional markers, including the weight-for-age z score (-0.1 ± 1.0 vs. 0.0 ± 1.0, t=-2.622, P=0.010) and the prealbumin (0.1 ± 0.1 vs. 0.2 ± 0.0 g/L, t=-3.671, P=0.001) were significantly increased. Fifty-five (82.1%) children in mechanical injury group recovered in 4 weeks, while 27 (79.4%) children in chemical injury group recovered in 7 weeks. Conclusion Enteral nutrition can provide adequate nutritional requirements for children with upper gastrointestinal injury, and may help to decrease imflammation and improve mucosal healing.

Objective:To analyze the changes of common pathogens of viral diarrhea in children during the COVID-19 epidemic.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on children with acute diarrhea treated in Children’s Hospital affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine from 2019 April to 2019 December(before COVID-19, n=407)and 2020 April to 2020 December (during COVID-19, n=645). Children were further divided into 1-6 months, >6 months-2 years, >2-5 years age groups. Detection rates of norovirus GI (NOVI), norovirus GⅡ (NOVⅡ), rotavirus A (ROVA), rotavirus C (ROVC), intestinal adenovirus (EADV), sapovirus (SAV) and astrovirus (ASV) in different age groups and seasons before and during COVID-19 were compared by χ2 or Fisher exact test. Results:The total detection rates of diarrhea-causing viruses among age groups were significantly higher before COVID-19 than those during COVID-19( χ2=8.43, 38.22 and 9.23, all P<0.05). The detection rates of NOVⅡ and EADV in infants aged 1-6 months and >6 months-2 years were decreased during the period of COVID-19 epidemic( χNOVⅡ2 =36.87 and 17.77, both P<0.001, χEADV2 =9.08, P=0.014 and 0.003); the detection rates of NOVⅡ in children aged 2-5 years was decreased during the period of COVID-19 epidemic( χ2=3.96, P=0.047); the detection rates of other diarrhea-causing viruses were not decreased during the period of COVID-19 epidemic(all P>0.05). The detection rates of diarrhea-causing viruses among 4-6 months, 7-9 months and 10-12 months were higher during the period of COVID-19 epidemic( χ2=11.62, 65.41 and 27.80, all P<0.001). Conclusion:After the outbreak of COVID-19, the detection rate of common pathogens of viral diarrhea in children is decreased, especially NOVⅡ and EADV, which may be related to the measures in response to major public health events in Zhejiang Province.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of infliximab versus corticosteroids in achieving clinical remission in pediatric patients with Crohn's disease in China.

METHODData of all newly diagnosed active Crohn's disease pediatric cases seen from June 2009 to December 2013 in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were retrospectively recorded and reviewed.

INCLUSION CRITERIAthe age of the children was less than 18 years; pediatric Crohn's disease activity index (PCDAI) was more than 10; infliximab or corticosteroids were used for inducing remission; infliximab, immunosuppressive medications or mesalamine was prescribed for maintaining remission. Patients in steroids group were followed up for more than 1 year. The enrolled patients were divided into two groups: infliximab group and steroids group. Clinical data, laboratory findings and side effects of the medications were collected at week 2, 4, 12, 24 and 48. PCDAI and Crohn's disease endoscopic index score (CDEIS) were calculated. Clinical response rate, clinical remission rate, relapse rate, mucosal healing and growth were evaluated.

RESULTEleven children received infliximab therapy and 11 subjects received corticosteroids. In Infliximab group, 6, 5 and 7 patients were in clinical remission at week 2, 4, and 8, while so were 6, 9, and 9 patients in steroids group. The difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.00, 3.14, 0.92, P > 0.05). In infliximab group, 8, 8, and 11 patients were in clinical remission at week 2, 4, and 8, so were 8, 9, and 9 patients in steroids group. The difference was not statistically significant (χ² = 0.00,0.26, 2.20, P > 0.05). When compared with data at baseline, significant decreases were observed in the median PCDAI between the two groups at week 2, 4, and 8 (all P < 0.05). But there were no significant differences between two groups at week 2, 4, and 8 (all P > 0.05). At week 12, 24 and 48, 8/11, 7/8, 3/5 cases on infliximab versus 7/11, 9/11, 8/11 cases on steroids maintained remission. There was no significant differences between the two groups (all P > 0.05). In 7 patients and 9 patients remission was successfully induced at week 8. The relapse rate was similar at week 12, 24, and 48 (χ² = 0.83, 0.09, 1.00, all P > 0.05). Height for age Z score in infliximab group was significantly higher than that in steroids group at week 24 (P < 0.05). Body mass index Z score between the two groups at week 8, 24, and 48 were not statistically significant (all P > 0.05). Of the children treated with infliximab, 3 developed side effects. All the children treated with steroids got Cushing's syndrome.

CONCLUSIONIn children with Crohn's disease, infliximab therapy is as effective as corticosteroids to induce remission.Less side effects were observed with infliximab therapy compared with immunosuppressive medication and mesalamine.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; therapeutic use ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; Child ; China ; Crohn Disease ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Infliximab ; Remission Induction ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo understand the junction protein expression of gastric mucosa including occlusal proteins (occludin), closed protein-4 (claudin-4), zonula occluden-1(ZO-1), epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), and β ring protein (β-catenin) and the clinical significance in children with Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection.

METHODSeventy patients in whom gastric endoscopy was performed because of nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, acid reflux, melena, and other gastrointestinal symptoms were enrolled in this study from Dec. 2010 to Apr. 2013 in our hospital. Informed consent was signed by their parents, and the study was in accordance with the principles of medical ethics. Hp positivity was confirmed if both respiratory urea test (RUT) and Hp were positive by gastric mucosal pathology. Gastric mucosal samples from 70 patients were enrolled in this study, 23 of them were Hp negative, 47 of them were Hp positive (24 cases without peptic ulcer, 23 cases with peptic ulcer). The mRNA levels and protein expression of tight junction protein of gastric mucosa were measured by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively. The location and semi quantitative content of E-cadherin and β-catenin in gastric mucosa were detected by immunohistochemical staining method.

RESULTThe mRNA level of E-cadherin, β-catenin, ZO-1 in the Hp positive group regardless of peptic ulcer was significantly lower than that in the Hp negative group. Hp positive without peptic ulcer group were 0.0008, 0.0040, 0.0014, respectively; Hp positive with peptic ulcer group were 0.0010, 0.0090, 0.0013, respectively; Hp negative group were 0.0137, 0.0423, 0.0198, respectively (F values were 36.956, 39.893, 38.962, respectively, all P<0.05). The expression of claudin-4 mRNA in Hp positive group with peptic ulcer increased significantly, the difference among Hp positive group with peptic ulcer, Hp positive group without peptic ulcer and Hp negative group was statistically significant (0.1438 vs. 0.0926 vs. 0.0789) (F value was 11.964, P<0.05), while the difference of occludin mRNA levels among the three groups was not statistically significant.Immunohistochemistry results showed that the score of E-cadherin, β-catenin positive cell in the Hp positive patients were also significantly lower than that in the Hp negative group (t values were 3.981 and 2.340, all P<0.05, respectively). Western blot results showed that the protein levels of β-catenin in Hp positive group with peptic ulcer were significantly lower than that in Hp negative group, while the protein levels of E-cadherin in Hp positive patients regardless of peptic ulcer were decreased significantly in Hp negative group.

CONCLUSIONOur results revealed that the tight junction protein E-cadherin, β-catenin, ZO-1 expression of gastric mucosa were decreased in children with Hp infection, while claudin-4 expression was increased in Hp positive patients with peptic ulcer, suggesting that damage to gastric epithelial barrier function may be the main pathogenesis of Hp associated gastric diseases in children.

Blotting, Western ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Child ; Claudin-4 ; metabolism ; Gastric Mucosa ; metabolism ; pathology ; Helicobacter Infections ; metabolism ; Helicobacter pylori ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Occludin ; metabolism ; Peptic Ulcer ; metabolism ; microbiology ; RNA, Messenger ; Tight Junction Proteins ; metabolism ; Tight Junctions ; metabolism ; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein ; metabolism ; beta Catenin ; metabolism