Objective To study the value of application of histamine provocation test and airway resistance measurement in diagnosis and therapeutic efficacy in preschool children with asthma.Methods Histamine provocation test and airway resistance measurement by the Italian MEFAR MB3 provocating instrument and Germen Microloop lung function instrument for 42 cases who were diagnosed as asthmatic(27 patients with bronchial asthma and 15 cases of cough variant asthma)and 21 healthy cases was compared,and the differences between the 2 groups and the value of therapeutic efficacy were analyzed.Results The resistance ratio of respiratory tract of control group was(97.11?9.09)%,which in asthma and cough variant asthma group was(229.37?57.48)% and(248.80?76.80)%.There was significant difference between the 3 groups(F=48.466 P

Objective To investigate whether the spores from mushroom antigen can cause the allergic pneumonia and manufacture allergic animal model in the C57BL/_6 mouse.Methods Aged 6 weeks old,weight 25-30 g C57BL/_6 mice were collected.In the mouse tail injection compound of spore antigen and the Freud′s adjuvant.Then pours into through the trachea the antigen once a week.The mice were divided into 4 groups.Group A was the normal mouse,Group B was given Freud′s adjuvant(the same method)to determine whether there was affect to the mouse.Group C and D were injected spore antigen 2 and 4 times.When the antigen sensitization finished 1 week later group C and D were completely divided 2 groups,among them one group was inhalation 1.5% spore antigen and induce the acute response.Six hours later the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) was collected to observe cell change,and excise the lung tissue to manufacture the pathology specimen,another group had not been induced the acute response and collect the BALF and to exsise the lung tissue directly.Group B were inhalted saline later to collect the BALF and the lung tissue.In the mouse blood serun,enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to mensurate antigen specific IgG.Results In group C and D,antigen specific IgG significantly inhanced than that in group A and B(all P

OBJECTIVEThe role of air pollution on asthma can not be ignored, diesel exhaust particles (DEP) in the air is one of the most important pollutants. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of DEP inhaled on immediate reaction in the asthma rats.

METHODSixty male Wistar rats of "Clean" grade, 6 - 7 week-old, with an average weight of (140 +/- 20) g were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups, 10 in each. Group A was treated with normal saline attack as a negative control, Group B with ovalbumin attack as a positive control. After ovalbumin attack, groups C, D, E, F continued to inhale DEP for 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks and 4 weeks, respectively. The concentration of DEP was 200 microg/ml, the animals were subjected to inhalation of ultrasound nebulized DEP for 30 min per day. One week after all the attacks were concluded, Group A was stimulated with normal saline for 30 min, other groups were stimulated with ovalbumin. Then the airway resistance was determined with multi-channel signal acquisition and processing system and compared. The changes in neutrophils, eosinophils, and other inflammatory cells of BALF and the pathological changes in lung tissue, including epithelial cells loss, the inflammatory cells infiltration around the airway, basement membrane fibrosis, goblet cell hyperplasia etc. were observed. The concentration of IL-5 and gamma-interferon in the lung tissues, and the changes of serum IgE etc. were determined.

RESULTAirway resistance values of group A, B, C, D, E, F after ovalbumin excitation for 30 min were (3.56 +/- 0.21), (7.06 +/- 0.63), (6.46 +/- 0.38), (7.47 +/- 0.33), (8.87 +/- 0.61), (11.00 +/- 0.69) cm H2O/(ml.s). No airway hyperresponsiveness occurred in group A, while Groups B, C, D, E, F had higher airway resistance than group A, group E and F had higher airway resistance than that of group B, the differences were statistically significant. And the airway resistance was different in each group among 0 min, 10 min, 20 min and 30 min (F = 160.646, 148.901, 162.204, 156.186, P < 0.01 for both). The time of DEP inhalation and the airway resistance was positively correlated (r = 0.948, P < 0.01); IgE concentrations of the serum between groups B, C, D, E, F was not significantly different (P > 0.05), but higher than that of group A (F = 2.639, P < 0.01). The infiltrated inflammatory cells included eosinophils and lymphocytes, etc. The percentages of neutrophil(%) were (4.3 +/- 2.0), (9.7 +/- 5.2), (10.3 +/- 5.6), (13.0 +/- 5.2), (42.6 +/- 18.3), (55.3 +/- 6.9). The groups E and F had higher percentage than Group A and Group B (F = 114.226, P < 0.01). The percentages of eosinophils(%) were 0, (11.9 +/- 3.8), (15.8 +/- 6.3), (13.0 +/- 4.9), (21.1 +/- 5.6), (27.1 +/- 4.8). The difference between Groups B, C, D, E, F and Group A was statistically significant. There was significant difference between groups C, D, E, F and group B (F = 46.462, P < 0.05); Lung tissue biopsy in group A showed that the epithelial cells were intact, no inflammatory cells infiltrations were found around the airways, instead, mainly ciliated columnar epithelial cells and only a small number of goblet cells were seen without basement membrane fibrosis. With the inhalation of DEP, the epithelial cells showed gradual necrosis, disruption and loss, goblet cells showed hyperplasia, and infiltrations with inflammatory cells were seen around the airway. In the lung tissue, concentrations of IL-5 in group B, C, and E were (12.8 +/- 2.8), (17.1 +/- 5.2), (18.6 +/- 4.2) pg/mg, the difference between groups C, E and group B was statistically significant (F = 4.236, P < 0.01), the difference in gamma-interferon concentration among all groups was not statistically significance (F = 1.185, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDEP inhalation increased the airway responsiveness of asthma rats in immediate reaction, promoted the lung epithelial cell loss, inflammatory cell infiltration, basement membrane fibrosis and goblet cell hyperplasia.

Air Pollutants ; adverse effects ; Airway Resistance ; Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; pathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; etiology ; Immunoglobulin E ; blood ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-5 ; metabolism ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Vehicle Emissions

Objective To investigate the effect of telmisartan on the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma(PPARγ)and its regulation in myocardial remodeling in spontaneously type 2 diabetic male Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty(OLETF)rats fed with high-fat diet.Methods Twenty-eight four-week-old male OLETF rats were fed with high-fat diet. From 22-week of age, the pre-diabetic OLETF rats were randomly assigned to three groups:telmisartan-treated group[O-T group,5 mg/(kg·d),n=10],pioglitazone-treated group[O-P group,10 mg/(kg·d),n=8]and untreated group ( O-C group, equal volume of normal saline, n=10), continuously administration for 22-week. Twelve sex and age matched Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka(LETO)rats were used as control(LETO group).At 22 and 48-week of age, the glucose tolerance of the rats was assessed by the oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT).At 48 weeks of age,five rats were randomly selected from each group,and clamp experiments were carried out.The glucose infusion rate from 60 min to 120 min(GIR60-120)was measured.All rats were sacrificed and the myocardial tissues were dissected.The ratio of heart weight to body weight(HW/BW)was calculated.Blood samples were collected,and serum PPARγ,tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α),interleukin-6(IL-6)and adiponectin were measured using ELISA and radioimmunoassay.The mRNA expressions of IL-6,PPARγ1 and PPARγ2 were measured by real-time PCR.The protein expression levels of PPARγ,adiponectin,IL-6 and NF-κB were determined by Western blot assay.The myocardial pathological changes were observed under light microscope (HE staining, Masson staining and PAS staining), and ultrastructural changes were observed under transmission electron microscope.Results At 22-week of age,neither type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)nor IGT were found in three groups.At 48-week of age,T2DM was found in seven rats of O-C group,and IGT was found in two rats.T2DM was found in one rat of O-C group,and IGT was found in three rats.Neither T2DM nor IGT was found in the other two groups.GIR60-120and HW/BW were all significantly lower in the O-P group and O-T group than those of the O-C group at 48-week of age (P<0.05). Systolic blood pressure(SBP)and diastolic blood pressure(DBP)were significantly lower in O-T group than those in other three groups(P<0.05).Compared with the O-C group,the serum levels of PPARγ and adiponectin were significantly up-regulated,whereas the serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were down-regulated by telmisartan administration in O-T group (P<0.05).There were no significant differences in the above indexes between O-P and O-T groups.The results of real-time PCR and Westen blot assay showed that the mRNA expression of PPARγ1 was increased,and IL-6 expression decreased in O-T group compared with those of O-C group. The protein expressions of PPARγ and adiponectin were increased, and protein expressions of NF-κB and IL-6 were significantly decreased in O-P group and O-T group compared with those of O-C group(P<0.05).In the O-C group,the arrangernent of myocardial cells was irregular,myocardial fibers were swollen,a large amount of fibrotic tissue in the myocardial interstitium, and glycogen accumulation under light and electron microscope. Besides, myofibril breakage and perinuclear space expansion, myocardial mitochondria were apparently damaged or even dissolved. Compared with the O-C group, myocardial fibers arranged neatly, no obvious glycogen deposition and the ultrastructural changes of myocardium were obviously reduced in O-T group and O-P group. Conclusion Telmisartan can increase the expression level of PPARγ in the serum and myocardial tissue, reduce myocardial fibrosis and alleviate cardiac remodeling in the high-fat-diet OLETF rats.

OBJECTIVETo examine the levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) in the induced sputum of children with cough variant asthma (CVA), with the aim of studying the roles of NGF and IL-4 in childhood CVA.

METHODSThirty-four children with CVA were enrolled in this study. Twenty healthy children were used as a normal control group. The induced sputum was separated into supernatant and cells. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to count differential cells. The expression of NGF and IL-4 in supernatant was measured using ELISA. The mRNA expression of NGF and IL-4 in cells was determined by Real-time PCR analysis.

RESULTSThe percentage of eosinophils in the CVA group was significantly higher than in the control group [(13.4±3.6)% vs (2.6±1.7)%; P<0.01]. The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly higher in the CVA group than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA was positively correlated with the percentage of eosinophils (P<0.01). The expression of NGF and IL-4 protein and mRNA in induced sputum was significantly reduced in the CVA group after treatment (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSEosinophils infiltration and increased expression of NGF and IL-4 play key roles in the development of childhood CVA, suggesting that they may be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood CVA.

Asthma ; complications ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Cough ; etiology ; Eosinophils ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Male ; Nerve Growth Factor ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Sputum ; metabolism

Purpose:To summarize our experience in related donor renal transplantation. Methods:Analyzedand reviewed the clinical date of 7 cases related donor renal transplantation in our center. Results:All 7 patientsrecovered smoothly from the operation. 1 of 7 had rejection. 6 of 7 had their transplanted kidney funtioned well,and 1 case died of liver function failuer. Conclusions:The advantage of related transplantation was less rejectionoccoured and much longer graft survive time obtained. But a care operation in the harvesting of donor graft wasneeded.

OBJECTIVETo study the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status through heterosexual transmission in Yining city and to provide information on effective intervention measures.

METHODSCohort of HIV sero-discordant couples identified from 1997 to 2000 was formed. Proportional risk model was used to analyze the time of HIV sero-conversion and the related factors. All the recruiters were under informed consent.

RESULTSThrough following on 22 sero-discordant couples, we found that the incidence density (ID) of HIV sero-conversion was 32.49/100 person-year (PY) with 33.74/100 PY for women. In the proportional hazard model, the course of sero-conversion was only 2.43 years and the frequency of sexual contact was statistically significant (>or= 3 times/week vs. < 3 time/week: RR = 1.984, 95% CI: 1.045 - 3.767), indicating this factor was related to the hazard of HIV sero-conversion. However, the viral load of HIV infections has no such effect on HIV sero-conversion of their spouses. In addition, the ratio of CD4(+)/CD8(+) was lower in spouses of HIV sero-conversion than that in spouses of HIV non-sero conversion (t test: t = 4.77, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONIn order to control HIV transmission among general population, we suggested that HIV/AIDS counseling and testing be developed for pre-marital people in the region with high HIV prevalence.

Blotting, Western ; China ; epidemiology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; HIV ; immunology ; HIV Infections ; epidemiology ; immunology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sexual Behavior ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral ; epidemiology ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical phenotypes and hereditary patterns of the generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+).

METHODSDetailed family trees were constructed by inquire and physical examinations for the probands of the 15 pedigrees of GEFS+. Some patients received electroencephalography, cranial CT or MRI examination. The seizures and epilepsy syndromes were classified according to the 2001 Seizure International Classification. The clinical data of GEFS+ were reviewed.

RESULTSThe 15 families consisted of 196 individuals. Seventy-five individuals were confirmed with epilepsy. The phenotypes of 64 out of the 75 patients with epilepsy conformed to GEFS+. The 64 patients included 38 males and 26 females (1 deceased) and there was no gender difference in the morbility of GEFS+. The age at onset was all in childhood. GEFS+ had a diversity of phenotypes. Febrile seizures (FS) were confirmed in 44 patients, FS and myoclonic seizure in 1, febrile seizures plus (FS+) in 13, FS+ and absence seizure in 2, FS+ and myoclonic seizure in 1, and FS+ and focal seizure in 3.

CONCLUSIONSThe heterogeneity of phenotypes and genetics may be the hallmarks of GEFS+. FS and FS+ are common phenotypes while FS+ and absence seizure, FS+ and myoclonic seizure, and FS+ and focal seizure are rare. If one of the parents is affected in a GEFS+ family, the susceptibility of their children to GEFS+ is the same no matter what gender of their children is. It is speculated that the hereditary pattern of GEFS+ conforms to autosomal dominant inheritance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epilepsy, Generalized ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Seizures, Febrile ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) variant levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and cancer cells disseminating through blood.

METHODSSerum AFP variant levels were measured by crossed immunoaffino-electrophoresis in the presence of lectin before initial surgical treatment in HCC patients. Circulating tumor cells were simultaneously detected in pre-operative blood samples using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for AFP mRNA.

RESULTSForty-six HCC patients with serum AFP positive were studied. Serum AFP variant level > or 20% was showed in 37 patients, among whom there were 22 (59.5%) showing AFP mRNA positive. In contrast, the positive AFP mRNA expression was only observed in 2 out of 9 patients (22.2%) with AFP variant level<20% (x(2)=4.02, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONIn hepatocellular carcinoma patients, increased AFP variant levels are associated with a haematogenous spread of tumor cells.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; RNA, Messenger ; blood ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To investigate multilineage-differentiating stress-enduring (Muse) by immunomagnetic bead screening from Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stromal cells(WJ-MSCs), and explore transplantation of Muse cell for safety and effectivensess of sub acute cord injury in rats. METHODS: Donated Wharton's Jelly-mesenchymal stromal cells (WJ-MSCs) were successfully derived from a human umbilical cord by a series of procedures namely physical isolation of Wharton's Jelly from cord membrane, collagenase and trypsin treatment and density gradient centrifugation. Magnetic activated cell sorting was performed to specifically select SSEA3+ Muse cells, and flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry were used to identify further. In vivo, spinal cord contusion injury model in rats was induced by NYU-III impactor, and were randomly divided and equally into four groups, namely group A (sham), group B (control), group C (Non-Muse cells transplantation) and group D (Muse cells transplantation). Laminectomy was conducted in group A but no spinal cord contusion injury. Laminectomy and cord injury were performed in group B, C and D, 10 g trip rod was freely falling down from 12.5 mm. Two weeks later, group B, C and D were received PBS injection, Non-Muse cells transplantation and Muse cells transplantation respectively, four-point injection were performed in each cord with totally 4×10⁵ cells. BBB scores were evaluated on 1 day, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 week after injury. Four weeks after cell transplantation, the rats were sacrificed, and immunohistochemistry were carried out to observe survival, migration and differentiation of the injected cells. RESULTS: The expression of CD105, CD90 and CD73 were over 99.5% in the derived WJ-MSCs population, but CD45 and CD14 were lower than 0.5%, positive rate of SSEA3+ was 1.46% under flow cytometer, However, after MACS sorting, the percentage of 92.0% Muse cells expressed SSEA3 and CD105, and immunohistochemistry results of SSEA3 showed typically membrane morphology with special processes. In vivo, BBB scores was 21 in group A at different time points. One-way ANOVA and LSD analysis showed that BBB scores in group C and D were significantly higher than that in group B (=0.004, 0.002), but there was no significantly difference between group C and D. Further intra-group paired t test showed that BBB score was significantly higher at 4 weeks than that 3 weeks in group C (=0.005). However, in group D, BBB scores were significantly higher at 4 and 6 week than those at 3 and 5 weeks, values were 0.005 and 0.016 respectively. Immunohistochemistry results showed that both Muse cells and Non-Muse cells could survive for 4 weeks in rats and they migrated from the four-point injection to injury site. But there showed more Muse cells survival than Non-Muse cells in the cord. CONCLUSIONS Immunomagnetic bead screening is efficient to select large number of purified SSEA3+ Muse cells. Muse cells could survive and target-migrate in injured cord to improve BBB scores continuously. Muse cells are a novel kind of seed cells in the spinal cord injury treatment.
Alprostadil ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Humans ; Mesenchymal Stem Cells ; Rats ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; Umbilical Cord ; Wharton Jelly