OBJECTIVEKawasaki disease (KD) is an acute febrile vasculitic syndrome of unknown etiology that preferentially affects coronary artery. It has been suggested that proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) are key players during acute KD. Recently, the polymorphisms relative to major transcriptional start site of TNF-alpha and IL-10 gene were shown to influence the level of TNF-alpha and IL-10 production in vitro. This study was aimed to investigate the genetic association of TNF-alpha and IL-10 promoter polymorphisms in juvenile patients of Han nationality with KD, and to investigate the possible associations with clinical manifestations of the disease.

METHODSFour polymorphism sites of TNF-alpha and IL-10 gene promoter regions from 96 children with KD were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). One hundred and sixty age-matched normal children of the Han nationality were used as control. All patients accepted Doppler echocardiography examination in order to differentiate coronary artery lesions.

RESULTSThere was significant difference in allele frequencies of -308 (A/G) site of the TNF-alpha gene between children of the Han nationality and those of Japanese and Caucasian in America. There were significant differences in the allele frequencies of -1082 (G/A), -819 (C/T) and -592 (A/C) of IL-10 gene between children of the Han nationality and their British Counterparts (P < 0.01). There was no significant difference in allele frequencies of -308 (A/G) site of TNF-alpha gene between children with KD and normal controls. There was no significant difference in the haplotypes and the allele frequencies of the above three sites of IL-10 between the two groups. However, when clinical features were examined, the genotype frequency of TNF-alpha-308A was significantly higher in IVIG-resistant KD patients than that of TNF-alpha-308G genotype (67% vs 5%, chi(c)(2) = 90.48, P < 0.01). The genotype of TNF-alpha-308A was closely associated with IVIG-resistant KD (P < 0.01, relative risk 42.25, 95% confidence interval 15.81-112.88). The haplotype frequency of IL-10 -1082A/-819T/-592A was also higher in patients with coronary artery lesion (CAL) caused by KD than those of Non-ATA haplotype (52% vs 20%, chi(2) = 18.36, P < 0.01). The haplotypes of IL-10 -1082A/-819T/-592A was significantly associated with CAL caused by KD (P < 0.01, relative risk 4.26, 95% confidence interval 2.20-8.25).

CONCLUSIONThe genotype of TNF-alpha-308A is one of the important factors that probably influence the therapeutic effect of KD. The haplotypes (-1082/-819/-592) of IL-10 gene promoter might be related to the pathogenesis of coronary artery complication of KD and -1082A/-819T/-592A haplotypes might be regarded as a genetic marker of risk factor for coronary artery lesion in KD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-10 ; genetics ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; genetics ; pathology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; genetics

Objective To establish a quantitative analysis method for determining 99mTc-HYNIC-PEG4-E[PEG4-c(RGDfK)]2 (99mTc-3PRGD2,a radioactive tumor agent)byγcounter, and to investigate the distribution of 99mTc-3PRGD2 in mice bearing with lung carcinoma xenograft. Methods The mice were divided into 4 normal groups and one blocking peptide group(control group). The 99mTc-3PRGD2(8μg/kg)was injected to mice bearing with lung carcinoma xenograft through the tail intravenous administration. Tissues of the normal mice were taken at 0.5,1,2 and 4 h. The control group were treated by 3PRGD2 and 99mTc-3PRGD2. The control mice were injected with the 3PRGD2 saline solution(2.5 mg/ml,0.2 ml)at 0.5 h earlier before the injection of 99mTc-3PRGD2. The tu?mor and organ tissues of the control mice were taken at 2 h. The radioactivity was detected by Gamma Counter. Results The radioac?tivity of 99mTc-3PRGD2 detected was high in the tumor and very low in brain. In addition,high radioactivity in kidneys and bladder sug?gested that the drug excreted by renal. Conclusion The results proved that the blocking peptide can competitively inhibit the combi?nation of 99mTc-3PRGD2 and integrinαvβ3 receptors.

Objective:To investigate the value of clinical monitoring of regional cerebral oxygen saturation (SctO₂) for severe traumatic brain injury (sTBI). Methods:From December, 2017 to January, 2019, 33 patients with sTBI within 24 hours were monitored SctO₂, intracranial pressure (ICP) and cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) with near-infrared spectroscopyonce per six hours for seven days. They were assessed with Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) at admission and Glasgow Outcome Score (GOS) six months after injury. Results:SctO₂ was the lowest on the third day of monitoring, and then increased gradually. SctO₂ negatevely correlated with ICP (r < -0.857, P < 0.001), and positively correlated with GCS, CPP and GOS (r > 0.697, P < 0.05). Conclusion:SctO₂ monitoring is valuable after sTBI to identify the secondary injuries and severity of injuries, and predict the outcome partly.

BACKGROUND: Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a less pressure-dependent type of glaucoma with characteristic optic neuropathy. Recently, the biomechanical mechanism has been thought to account for glaucomatous optic neuropathy to some degree. We intended to compare dynamic corneal response parameters (DCRs) among patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with normal tension or hypertension and controls. The correlations between DCRs and known risk factors for glaucoma were also analyzed. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 49 NTG subjects, 45 hypertension glaucoma (HTG) subjects, and 50 control subjects were enrolled. We compared the differences in DCRs using corneal visualization Scheimpflug technology among the NTG, HTG, and control groups. We also analyzed the correlations between DCRs and known risk factors for glaucoma (eg, central corneal thickness [CCT], intraocular pressure [IOP], etc). RESULTS: The maximum inverse concave radius (NTG: 0.18 [0.17, 0.20] mm-1; control: 0.17 [0.16, 0.18] mm-1; P = 0.033), deformation amplitude ratio of 2 mm (DAR 2 mm, NTG: 4.87 [4.33, 5.39]; control: 4.37 [4.07, 4.88]; P < 0.001), and DAR 1 mm (NTG: 1.62 [1.58, 1.65]; control: 1.58 [1.54, 1.61]; P < 0.001) were significantly higher in NTG than in the controls. The integrated radius (IR, NTG: 8.40 ± 1.07 mm-1; HTG: 7.64 ± 1.31 mm-1; P = 0.026) and DAR 2 mm (NTG: 4.87 [4.33, 5.39]; HTG: 4.44 [4.12, 5.02]; P < 0.007) were significantly higher, whereas the stiffness parameter at the first applanation (SP-A1, NTG: 91.23 [77.45, 107.45]; HTG: 102.36 [85.77, 125.12]; P = 0.007) was lower in NTG than in HTG. There were no significant differences in the DCRs between HTG and control groups (P > 0.05). In the univariate and multivariate analyses, some of the DCRs, such as IR, were negatively correlated with CCT and IOP, whereas SP-A1 was positively correlated with CCT and IOP. CONCLUSIONS The cornea was more deformable in NTG than in HTG or controls. There were no significant differences in corneal deformability between HTG and controls. The cornea was more deformable with the thinner cornea and lower IOP.
Biomechanical Phenomena ; Cornea ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Intraocular Pressure ; Low Tension Glaucoma