OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical characteristics of anti-HBc IgM positive chronic hepatitis B patients and the relation of anti-HBc IgM development to serum HBV DNA load and the state of HBeAg/anti-HBe.

METHODSThe clinical data were collected from patients with chronic hepatitis B hospitalized in the Infectious Diseases Hospital, Zhangjiakou city, and in Ditan Hospital, some of whom were anti-HBc IgM positive and some others were negative. Their HBV DNA load was examined by real-time PCR, and HBeAg/anti-HBe was detected by AXSYM auto-enzyme analyzer with the third generation EIA regent.

RESULTSTotally 200 patients were enrolled in this study. The number of patients with mild, moderate and severe hepatitis was 71, 83 and 46. The anti-HBc IgM positive patients were older and had longer course of disease than those of anti-HBc IgM negative patients. Of the anti-HBc IgM positive group, 45.71 percent and 54.29 percent had mild and moderate hepatitis, which were significantly different from those in the anti-HBc IgM negative patients (30.00 percent and 70.00 percent). But there was no difference between anti-HBc IgM positive and negative patients in serum HBV DNA level, the state of HBeAg/anti-HBe and outcome.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-HBc IgM state of chronic hepatitis B patients was related to the severity of hepatitis, but not with virus load and state of HBeAg/anti-HBe.

Adult ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; genetics ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Core Antigens ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; immunology ; virology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Viral Load ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDInhibition of the key costimulatory signals results in T cell anergy, indicating the alloantigen-specific immunologic unresponsiveness. In this study, the effect of blockage of costimulatory signal CD(86) on murine abortion-prone model was studied.

METHODSThirty CBA/J female mice cohabitated with DBA/2 male or BALB/c male mice were investigated. CBA/J x DBA/2 matings were used as the abortion-prone model, and CBA/J x BALB/c matings were used as the normal pregnant model. The abortion-prone models were divided into experimental and control groups, and the normal pregnant models were set as a normal group (10 mice in each group). The mice in the experimental group were treated with anti-mouse CD(86) monoclonal antibody (mAb) (100 microg) on day 4.5 of gestation, while the controls received irrelevant-isotype matched rat IgG(2b). As for the normal group, nothing was given to the mice. The mice were killed on day 13.5 of gestation, embryo resorption rate and the expression of transforming growth factor beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) were detected. Then the data were analyzed by Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test.

RESULTSThe embryo resorption rate in the experimental (8.2%) and normal groups (7.7%) was significantly lower than that of the control (23.5%, P < 0.05). No significant difference was detected between the experimental and normal groups (P > 0.05). The positive expression rates of TGF-beta(1) and PAI-1 proteins in the experimental and normal groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05). The positive expression rate of MMP-9 protein in the experimental and normal groups was significantly lower than that in the control group (P < 0.05). No significant difference in the positive expression rates of the three proteins was detected between the experimental and normal groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBlockage of costimulatory signal CD(86) at early pregnancy can treat uncertain recurrent spontaneous abortion by stimulating the expression of TGF-beta(1), MMP-9 and PAI-1 and reducing the embryo resorption rate.

Abortion, Habitual ; therapy ; Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; therapeutic use ; B7-2 Antigen ; immunology ; physiology ; Embryo Loss ; prevention & control ; Female ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; analysis ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 ; analysis ; Pregnancy ; Signal Transduction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the echocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation features in patients with left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

METHODSEchocardiographic characteristics of 9 patients with LVNC were analyzed and the localization of lesions were determined according to the standardized myocardial segmentation (SMS) recommended by American Heart Association (AHA).

RESULTSLoose trabeculation in the myocardial lesions were evidenced in all LVNC patients. Communication between deep intertrabecular recess and LV cavity was evident with color flow imaging. According to SMS of AHA, noncompaction of ventricular myocardium was localized in apical segment in all 9 patients, in apical segment of the inferior wall (IW) in 9 patients, in apical segment of the lateral wall (LW) in 7 patients, in middle segment (MS) of IW in 7 patients, in MS of LW in 6 patients. One NC segment was also evidenced in apical segment and MS of septal ventricular wall, basal segment of IW and LW and right ventricular apex, respectively. NC was not found in left ventricular anterior wall.

CONCLUSIONEchocardiographic standardized myocardial segmentation is helpful to diagnose LVNC and NC was mostly localized in the apical segments of LVNC patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathies ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Echocardiography ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardium ; pathology ; Reference Standards ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the recent emerged endemic region of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) regarding its natural reserves, in Charles Hilary, northern Xinjiang and to isolate and characterize the viral geographic strain.

METHODSUsing indirect fluorescent assay to detect tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) specific IgG antibodies from serum of local residents including 2 unconfirmed viral encephalitis patients in 2011 spring-summer. Viruses were isolated from tick samples by inoculating BALB/c mice and BHK-21 cells. For phylogenetic analysis. TBEV NS1 gene fragments were detected by RT-PCR and then subjected to sequence alignment.

RESULTS1760 ticks were captured from the fields to have found that Ixodes persulcatus were dominated among the tick population. Two viral encephalitis patients were diagnosed as TBEV infection. In addition, 35.4% (23/65) local residents were detected positive for presence of TBEV specific-IgG antibodies in serum. After inoculation, morbidity and mortality of BALB/c mice were 72.9% (70/96) and 55.7% (44/79), respectively. TBEV specific-fragments were amplified from brain tissue of dead mice and cells culture supernatant. NS1 sequence alignment showed that the viral isolates were clustered into TBEV far-eastern sub-type, phylogenetically, and were mostly close to the isolates from northeastern China (99%) and Russian strain (98%).

CONCLUSIONIn this study, a new endemic loci of TBE was firstly described in Charles Hilary natural reserve, northern Xinjiang. TBEV geographic isolates belonged to TBEV far-eastern subtype while Ixodes persulcatus and Dermacentor silvarum played crucial roles for disease transition.

Adult ; Animals ; China ; epidemiology ; Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne ; genetics ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Encephalitis, Tick-Borne ; epidemiology ; transmission ; virology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mice ; RNA, Viral ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels and voltage-dependent K(+) (K(V)) channels in rat coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs), and evaluate the vasorelaxation mechanisms of DHA.

METHODSBK(Ca) and K(V) currents in individual CASMC were recorded by patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration. Effects of DHA at various concentrations (0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L) on BK(Ca) and K(V) channels were observed.

RESULTS(1) DHA enhanced IBK(Ca) and BK(Ca) tail currents in a concentration-dependent manner while did not affect the stably activated curves of IBK(Ca). IBK(Ca) current densities were (68.2 ± 22.8), (72.4 ± 24.5), (120.4 ± 37.9), (237.5 ± 53.2), (323.6 ± 74.8) and (370.6 ± 88.2)pA/pF respectively (P < 0.05, n = 30) with the addition of 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L DHA concentration, and half-effect concentration (EC(50)) of DHA was (36.22 ± 2.17)µmol/L. (2) IK(V) and K(V) tail currents were gradually reduced, stably activated curves of IK(V) were shift to the right, and stably inactivated curves were shifted to the left in the presence of DHA. IK(V) current densities were (43.9 ± 2.3), (43.8 ± 2.3), (42.9 ± 2.0), (32.3 ± 1.9), (11.7 ± 1.5) and (9.6 ± 1.2)pA/pF respectively(P < 0.05, n = 30)post treatment with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60 and 80 µmol/L DHA under manding potential equal to +50 mV, and EC(50) of DHA was (44.19 ± 0.63)µmol/L.

CONCLUSIONDHA can activate BK(Ca) channels and block K(V) channels in rat CASMCs, the combined effects on BK(Ca) and K(V) channels lead to the vasodilation effects of DHA on vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals ; Coronary Vessels ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Female ; Large-Conductance Calcium-Activated Potassium Channels ; metabolism ; Male ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channels, Calcium-Activated ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of serum levels of trace elements with core symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: From September 2018 to September 2019, an investigation was performed for 1 020 children with ASD and 1 038 healthy children matched for age and sex in the outpatient service of grade A tertiary hospitals and special education institutions in 13 cities of China. Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) were used to assess the core symptoms of the children with ASD. The inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to measure serum levels of trace elements magnesium, iron, copper, and zinc. RESULTS: The children with ASD had significantly lower serum levels of magnesium, copper, and zinc than the healthy children ( CONCLUSIONS The serum levels of magnesium and zinc may be associated with core symptoms in children with ASD, which requires further studies. The nutritional status of trace elements should be monitored for children with ASD in clinical practice.
Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Child ; China ; Copper/analysis* ; Humans ; Trace Elements/analysis* ; Zinc