Objective To investigate the change of Th22 cells in peripheral blood of patients with Primary sjogren’s syndrome (pSS)and evaluate clinical significance.Methods 37 patients with pSS from January 2014 to November 2015 were enrolled the study as the observation group.Then 37 healthy adults receiving check-up during the same period were selected as con-trol groups in accordance with the proportion of 1∶1.Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the levels of Th22 cells in peripheral blood,and tenzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA)was used to measure the serum IL-22 levels.Pearson analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between Th22 level and serum IL-22 level,C3,C4,anti-SSA,anti-SSB, ANA antibody,EULAR Sjogren's syndrome disease activity index (ESSDAI)score in observation group.Then the levels of Th22 cells and serum IL-22 were compared among different labial gland pathologic stage in patients with pSS.Results The levels of Th22 cells and serum IL-22 in the observation group were (2.53±1.56)%,718.6±176.8 pg/ml respectively,and significantly higher than (1.24±0.51)%,258.9±72.4 pg/ml in control group (P<0.05).Th22 cell level was positively related with the level of serum IL-22,anti-SSA,anti-SSB and ESSDAI score,and negatively related with the content of C3 and C4 (P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the levels of Th22 cells and serum IL-22 different labial gland pathologic stage in patients with pSS (P>0.05).Conclusion The levels of Th22 cells and serum IL-22 significantly in-creased in patients with pSS,and related to other inflammatory indexes and disease activity,so they may participate in the genesis and development of pSS.

AIM: To study the anti-aging effects of polysaccharides from rhizomorph of Armillaria mellea(ARP) on fruit fly and mouse. METHODS: Regarding fruit files and D-galactose induced aging mice as research objects,observing the fruit flies lifespan;The ability to learn and memorize on model mice were observed by jumping platform test and maze test,the body weight,thymus and spleen index,SOD and GSH-Px activities、MDA and NO levels in serum,liver and brain were measured. RESULTS: ARP could significantly lengthen the lifespan of fruit flies;Obviously improve the ability to learn and memorize,markedly increase the body weight and resist the atrophy of thymus and spleen of model mice,SOD and GSH-Px activities increased obviously,MDA and NO levels decreased dramatically on model mice. CONCLUSION: ARP has anti-aging effects by immune-regulatory and eliminating free radicals.

Objective To investigate the expression of CD40 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rat peritoneal mesothelial cells(RPMC) and the role of NF-κB signal transduction pathway. Methods RPMCs were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rat peritoneal cavity and maintained under defined in vitro conditions. The cells were exposed respectively to different concentrations of LPS for 12 h or treated with LPS (5 μg/ml) for different time points. To observe the effect of LPS on the expression of CD40 and ICAM-1, the RPMCs were treated with LPS (5 μg/ml) for different time points. To observe the effect of LPS on the expression of NF-κB and p-NF-κB protein, the RPMCs were treated by LPS or pretreated with BAY11-7085 (5 μmol/L or 1 μmol/L ) for 3 h, then treated with LPS for another 3 h, respectively. Expression of CD40 and ICAM-1 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR. Expression of NF-κB and p-NF-κB protein was detected by Western blot. Results Compared with medium control group, stimulation of RPMCs with 1 μg/ml and 5 μg/ml of LPS resulted in a significant increase in the expression of CD40 and ICAM-1 mRNA(P<0.05). 10 μg/ml of LPS had strongest effect on CD40 and ICAM-1 expression compared with that of 1 μg/ml and 5 μg/ml of LPS. Treatment with 5 μg/ml of LPS resulted in time-dependent increase in the gene level of CD40 and ICAM-1, with the peak at 3 h. However, after that time point, the gene level of them was gradually attenuated. Following treatment with LPS (5 μg/ml), the level of p-NF-κB began to increase at 15 min, gradually reached the peak at 1 h, and then decreased. But the level of p-NF-κB at 2 h was still significantly higher than that of medium control. 5 μmol/L of BAY11-7085 decreased significantly the up-regulation of CD40 and ICAM-1 induced by LPS. Conclusion LPS enhanced the expression of CD40 and ICAM-1 on RPMCs in a concentration-dependent and a time-dependent manner. LPS induced expression of CD40 and ICAM-1 depend on the NF-κB signal transduction pathway.

Objective To investigate the effect and mechanism by which PPARγ ligand, rosiglitasone, regulates the expression of CD40 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in the rat peritoneal mesothelial cells (RPMCs) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Methods RPMCs were harvested from Sprague-Dawley rat peritoneal cavity and maintained under defined in vitro conditions. The cells were randomly divided into groups as follows: medium, LPS (5 mg/L), LPS (5 mg/L)+BAY11-7085(5 μmol/L, NF-κB inhibitor), rosiglitazone (10 μmol/L or 20 μmol/L, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ activator), LPS (5 mg/L)+rosiglitazone (10 μmol/L)+GW9662 (3 μmol/L, peroxisome proliferator-aetivatcd receptor γ antagonist), and LPS (5 mg/L)+vehicle (DMSO 0.2 ml/L). The expressions of CD40 and ICAM-1 RNA in RPMCs were examined by RT-PCR after 3 hour treatment, and the protein expressions of CD40, ICAM-1, p-NF-κB p65 and p-IκBα were examined by Western blot or immunofluorescence after 24 hour treatment. Results Following treatment with LPS, both the expressions of CD40 and ICAM-1 protein in RPMCs were up-regulated significantly (P<0.05), and the phosphoralation of p65 was increased greatly (1.10±0.17 vs 0.55±0.06, P<0.05). BAY11-7085 (5 μmol/L) significantly decreased the protein expression of p-p65 (0.22±0.11 vs 1.10±0.17, P<0.01), CD40 (0.34±0.02 vs 0.50±0.06, P<0.05) and ICAM-1 (0.35±0.16 vs 0.74±0.03, P<0.05). Pretreated with rosiglitazone for 3 h then added with LPS for 1 h, the levels of p-p65, CD40 and ICAM-1 in RPMCs were significantly decreased compared with those of LPS group (0.77±0.08 vs 0.90±0.10, P

Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of varicella epidemic situation at schools and kindergartens in Fengxian district of Shanghai during 2012-2018, and to provide evidence for developing control and prevention strategies. Methods: Data of varicella epidemic situation at schools and kindergartens and varicella cases were analyzed by descriptive methods. The rates were compared with chi-square test. Results: A total of 6 727 varicella cases were reported in Fengxian during 2012-2018, for an incidence of 85.34 per 100 000 population. Totally 66 varicella epidemic outbreaks and public health emergencies caused by varicella were reported, which involved 741 varicella cases. Among them, 426 were breakthrough cases (57.49%). The average interval time of breakthrough cases were (6.78±2.79)years, and the incidence was more concentrated in the 3-9 years after vaccination with varicella vaccine. Most breakthrough cases appeared 5 years past vaccination. The peak time of varicella was from April to June and from October to December. Most of cases were in the 5-11 year-old group and 15-17 year-old group. The cases in males was higher than in females. Kindergarten childcare and primary school children were at high risk of varicella. Timeliness of reporting was positively correlated with the duration of the varicella epidemic situation( r =0.52， P <0.05). Conclusion Most varicella epidemic situation in Fengxian district of Shanghai occued in primary schools during autumn and winter, and most of the varicella cases were breakthrough cases. Emergency vaccination of varicella vaccine can effectively control the spread of the epidemic. It is suggested to increase the publicity of the immunization program of 2 doses of varicella vaccine and raise the awareness of varicella vaccination of children’s parents.

Objective: To examine the vitamin A status of children and adolescents aged between 6-17 years old in Chongqing, and to analyze the influencing factors of vitamin A deficiency, providing a scientific basis for nutritional improvement measures. Methods: From 2016 to 2017, a multi-stage random sampling method was used to select approximately 1 508 children and adolescents aged between 6-17 years old from three rural and three urban locations in Chongqing. This study carried out a questionnaire survey and laboratory testing, and the statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The mean vitamin A level was (1.45±0.42)μmol/L, while the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and the subclinical deficiency rate were 0.46% and 13.46%, respectively. The binary Logistic regression analysis revealed that the following factors were associated with a lower risk of vitamin A deficiency:overweight and obese students(OR=0.51); students whose mothers had a high school education or above(OR=0.35, P=0.01); students from big cities; and higher quartile albumin levels (Q 3 and Q 4). Students who did not eat meat each day(OR=2.05), students aged 6-8 years old, and students with C-reactive protein in the third (OR=2.12) and fourth (OR=4.54) higher quartiles were at a higher risk of vitamin A deficiency. Conclusion The subclinical vitamin A deficiency rate was relatively high among children aged 6-17 years old in Chongqing. Measures including nutritional education, reasonable diets, and nutritionally fortified food or fortifiers should be used when necessary.

BACKGROUND: Pain and cartilage destruction caused by osteoarthritis (OA) is a major challenge in clinical treatment.Traditional intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) can relieve the disease, but limited by the difficulty of longterm maintenance of efficacy. METHODS: In this study, an injectable and self-healing hydrogel was synthesized by in situ crosslinking of N-carboxyethyl chitosan (N-chitosan), adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH), and hyaluronic acid–aldehyde (HA-ALD). RESULTS: This supramolecular hydrogel sustains good biocompatibility for chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of this novel hydrogel can significantly alleviate the local inflammation microenvironment in knee joints, through inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-17) in the synovial fluid and cartilage at 2- and even 12-weeks post-injection. Histological and behavioral test indicated that hydrogel injection protected cartilage destruction and relieved pain in OA rats, in comparison to HA injection. CONCLUSION This kind of novel hydrogel, which is superior to the traditional HA injection, reveals a great potential for the treatment of OA.

BACKGROUND: Pain and cartilage destruction caused by osteoarthritis (OA) is a major challenge in clinical treatment.Traditional intra-articular injection of hyaluronic acid (HA) can relieve the disease, but limited by the difficulty of longterm maintenance of efficacy. METHODS: In this study, an injectable and self-healing hydrogel was synthesized by in situ crosslinking of N-carboxyethyl chitosan (N-chitosan), adipic acid dihydrazide (ADH), and hyaluronic acid–aldehyde (HA-ALD). RESULTS: This supramolecular hydrogel sustains good biocompatibility for chondrocytes. Intra-articular injection of this novel hydrogel can significantly alleviate the local inflammation microenvironment in knee joints, through inhibiting the inflammatory cytokines (such as TNF-a, IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-17) in the synovial fluid and cartilage at 2- and even 12-weeks post-injection. Histological and behavioral test indicated that hydrogel injection protected cartilage destruction and relieved pain in OA rats, in comparison to HA injection. CONCLUSION This kind of novel hydrogel, which is superior to the traditional HA injection, reveals a great potential for the treatment of OA.

Objective:To investigate the role of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 in pancreatic tissue repair and reconstruction in rats with acute pancreatitis and its potential mechanism.Methods:114 male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group (CON group) and acute edematous pancreatitis model group (AEP group), acute necrotic pancreatitis model group (ANP group), ANP control group and ANP intervention group. The rat AEP model was constructed by subcutaneous injection of caerulein, and the rat ANP model was prepared by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. The ANP intervention group and ANP control group were prepared by intraperitoneal injection of TGF-β1 inhibitor SB431542 or DMSO 30 min before, 24 h and 48 h after pancreatitis induction, respectively. Hydroxyproline content in pancreatic tissue was determined by hydroxyproline kit. The expression of TGF-β1, phosphorylated Smad3 (p-Smad3), type Ⅲ collagen and MMP-2 in pancreatic tissue was detected by immunohistochemical method. The activity of MMP-2 was determined by gelatin enzyme spectrometry. The expression levels of MMP-2 and p-Smad3 proteins in pancreatic tissue were detected by Western blot.Results:The hydroxyproline content in CON group was (61.71±8.56)μg/mg protein. The hydroxyproline content in AEP group reached the peak (116.72±8.53)μg/mg on the 3rd day. The peak value of hydroxyproline content in ANP group was (174.93±11.75)μg/mg on day 5. The peak value in ANP group was significantly higher than that in AEP group, and the peak value of hydroxyproline content in AEP group was significantly higher than that in CON group. The hydroxyproline content at day 3, 5 and 7 in the ANP intervention group was (108.07±10.48)μg/mg, (137.14±8.66)μg/mg and (112.35±13.16)μg/mg, respectively, and that at day 3, 5 and 7 in the ANP control group was (132.35±14.2)μg/mg, (175.43±13.75)μg/mg and (137.92±12.65)μg/mg, respectively. TGF-β1 immunohistochemical peak score in control group, AEP group and ANP group was (0.12±0.03), (1.96±0.21) and (3.00±0.28), respectively. p-Smad3 immunohistochemical peak score was (0.15±0.05), (2.05±0.20), and (3.05±0.24), while type Ⅲ collagen immunohistochemical peak score was (0.11±0.04), (1.56±0.15), and (3.10±0.17). MMP-2 immunohistochemical peak score was (0.05±0.03), (1.45±0.20), and (2.45±0.15), respectively. The immunohistochemical peak scores of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, type Ⅲ collagen and MMP-2 in ANP group were significantly higher than those in AEP group. The immunohistochemical peak scores of TGF-β1, p-Smad3, type Ⅲ collagen and MMP-2 in pancreatic tissue of ANP intervention group and ANP control group were (2.36±0.21), (2.25±0.22), (2.47±0.19), (2.00±0.10) and (3.02±0.21), (3.01±0.19), (3.05±0.24), (2.43±0.11), respectively, which in ANP intervention group was significantly lower than those in the ANP control group. The peak value of MMP-2 activity in pancreatic tissue of CON group, AEP group and ANP group was (10.85±1.73), (85.78±7.16) and (115.43±8.7), respectively, which in ANP group was significantly higher than that in AEP group, and in AEP group was significantly higher than that in CON group. In ANP intervention group and ANP control group 3 and 5 days after molding, the expression levels of MMP-2 protein in pancreas were 0.20±0.01, 1.19±0.02, 0.52±0.01, 1.54±0.05, respectively; p-Smad3 protein expression levels were 0.30±0.04, 0.66±0.11, 1.95±0.05, 1.30±0.01, respectively; and MMP-2 and p-Smad3 in ANP intervention group was significantly lower than those the ANP control group. All the differences among the groups above were statistically significant (all P value <0.001). Conclusions:TGF-β1 and MMP-2 play an important role in tissue remodeling and extracellular matrix deposition after acute pancreatitis inflammation.

OBJECTIVETo understand the dietary consumption of residents in Xiamen and the content of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) in food, and to assess the plasticizer exposure risk of diet in Xiamen.

METHODSThe survey was conducted by stratified cluster random sampling method in Xiamen from September to October in 2010. According to the Xiamen administrative division, six neighborhood communities were selected as sampling units, then 25 families were randomly chosen from each sampling units.From the above 150 families, the permanent residents over the age of six were permitted to our study. The survey included 495 residents totally. These participants' information, such as basic personal information, physical activity levels, meal frequency and the average consumption of 33 kinds of food in 13 categories were collected using questionnaires. Thirteen categories included cereal and tubers, beans, vegetables, fungi and algae, fruits, dairy products, meat, seafood, eggs, snacks, beverages, cooking oil and spices. The height and weight of residents were measured and the average daily dietary intake was calculated. Thirty-three kinds of food in 13 categories were collected in supermarkets in Xiamen. According to the annual sales ranking, the top three-five brands of each kinds of food were selected and numbered, then two or three brands were chosen by random number table method from them; three completely individual packed samples in the same batch of each brand were detected; 243 samples were included in our study.100-500 g solid samples or 100-500 ml liquid samples were collected. The content of diethyl phthalate (DEP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) in food were detected by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, which expressed by median (minimum-maximum). The exposure dose, contribution rate and risk index of PAEs were calculated by point estimation method.

RESULTSAccording to the average daily dietary intake of residents in Xiamen, the top three ones in 13 categories of food were cereal and tubers (337.16 g/d, 18.21%), vegetables (309.12 g/d, 16.69%) and fruits (213.20 g/d, 11.51%). The content of DEP, DBP or DEHP among different categories of food was significantly different (χ² values were 58.05, 50.19 and 102.10, P < 0.01). Among 13 categories of food, seafood contained the most DEP (0.090 (0.000-0.324)mg/kg); cooking oil had the most DBP (0.700(0.000-2.980) mg/kg) and DEHP (5.115(0.000-24.160) mg/kg). DEP, DBP and DEHP exposure(0.19, 4.20, 18.10 µg × kg⁻¹ ×d ⁻¹)in dietary food in Xiamen were less than the reference dose(RfD) (800, 100, 20 µg × kg⁻¹ × d⁻¹) proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the risk indexes were 0.02%, 4.20% and 90.50%, respectively. Among 13 categories of foods, seafood was the main source of DEP dietary exposure. The exposure dose and contribution rate of DEP in seafood were 0.18 µg × kg⁻¹ × d⁻¹ and 94.74%, respectively.Vegetables were the main source of DBP and DEHP dietary exposure. The exposure dose and contribution rate of DBP and DEHP were 1.48 µg × kg⁻¹ × d⁻¹, 35.24% and 6.07 µg × kg⁻¹ × d⁻¹, 33.54%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe food consumed by residents in Xiamen was overall in a safe state, but to some extent, there still exists DEHP exposure risk in foods.

China ; Dibutyl Phthalate ; Diet ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Food Contamination ; Humans ; Phthalic Acids ; Plasticizers ; Risk Assessment ; Seafood ; United States ; Vegetables