Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptococcosis ; drug therapy ; Fluconazole ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male

Adolescent ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Female ; Humans ; Portal Vein ; abnormalities

The expression of CD(8) (+)CD(25) (+)FoxP(3) (+) regulatory T cells (CD(8) (+)Tregs) in the peripheral blood of patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and the effect of muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist tiotropium bromide on the expression of CD(8) (+)Tregs were investigated. Twenty-three patients with moderate to severe stable COPD were enrolled in this study. All patients inhaled tiotropium bromide (18 μg daily) for 3 months. Before and after inhalation of tiotropium bromide, peripheral blood samples were collected from the patients, and T cells were labeled by three-color labeled monoclonal antibodies. Flow cytometry was used to detect the quantity and percentage of CD(8) (+)T cells, CD(8) (+)CD(25) (+)T cells, CD(8) (+)Tregs, CD(4) (+)T cells, CD(4) (+)CD(25) (+)T cells and CD(4) (+)CD(25) (+)FoxP(3) (+) regulatory T cells (CD(4) (+)Tregs) respectively. The percentage of CD(4) (+)T cells was increased from (27.82±2.18)% to (35.53±1.3)% (t=3.20, P=0.004) in the peripheral blood of patients with stable COPD after inhalation of tiotropium bromide for 3 months, that of CD(4) (+)CD(25) (+)T cells was decreased from (10.03 ±1.42)% to (4.21 ±0.65)% (t=3.78, P=0.001), and that of CD(8) (+)Tregs was increased from (8.41 ±1.68)% to (21.34 ±4.20)% (t=2.72, P=0.013). At baseline, CD(8) (+)T cells, CD(8) (+)CD(25) (+)T cells and CD(4) (+)Tregs were detectable in the peripheral blood, but no significant changes were observed after treatment. Linear correlation analysis revealed that the difference before and after treatment in CD(4) (+)T cells and CD(4) (+)CD(25) (+)T cells was negatively correlated with the ratio of change in CD(8) (+)Tregs before and after treatment (r=-0.61, P=0.013; r=-0.72, P=0.001 respectively). In the peripheral blood of patients with stable COPD, there was the expression of CD(8) (+)Tregs and CD(4) (+)Tregs. Muscarinic receptor antagonist, tiotropium bromide, can promote the amplification of CD(4) (+)T cells, inhibit the expression of CD(25) (+)T cells, and enhance the expression of CD(8) (+)Tregs. CD(8) (+)Tregs and CD(4) (+)Tregs can be used as new indicators to understand the immune status of patients. They are helpful in judging the treatment efficacy and disease immunophenotype.

Objective To explore the clinical factors on the functional recovery of spinal cord cavernous hemangioma operation. Methods Fifty cases patients with complete spinal cord cavernous hemangioma were retrospectively analyzed their clinical data and its influence on prognosis of 2 years. Single factor and multiple factors analysis were performed. Results Compared with the preoperative stage,the grade of Aminoff-Logue score of 28 cases(50. 9%)had improved at least one grade,14 cases(25. 5%)patients with no significant changes and 13 cases(23. 6%)with decreased one grade at least. Logistic regression model showed that patients with clinical types(OR=3. 27,95%CI 2. 34-15. 83,P=0. 006),the time of the attacks to the surgery(OR=2. 93,95%CI 1. 41-10. 61,P=0. 012),and the attacks to the operation time( OR=4. 31,95%CI 2. 46 -12. 32,P = 0. 019 ) were related to neurological function recovery of spinal cord cavernous hemangiomas. Conclusion For patients with SCH dysfunction,regardless of what kind of clinical types of neurological dysfunction extent,should receive surgical treatment to improve neurological function recovery rate as soon as possible.

DNA barcoding is a rapidly developing frontier technology in the world and will be useful in promoting the quality control and standardization of traditional Chinese medicine. Until now, many studies concerning DNA barcoding have focused on leaf samples but rarely on Chinese herbal medicine. There are three issues involved in DNA barcoding for traditional Chinese medicinal materials: (1) the extraction methods for total DNA of the rhizomes of the medicinal materials; (2) intra-specific variation among samples from different places of origin; (3) accuracy and stability of this method. In this study, Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was used to verify the stability and accuracy of DNA barcoding technology. Five regions (ITS2, psbA-trnH, matK, rbcL, and ITS) were tested for their ability to identify 86 samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix and their adulterants. After improving the DNA extraction method, genomic DNA from all samples was successfully obtained. To evaluate each barcode's utility for species authentication, PCR amplification efficiency, genetic divergence, and species authentication were assessed. Among all tested regions only ITS2 locus showed 100% of PCR amplification and identification efficiencies. Based on the established method, we successfully identified two samples of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix bought in pharmacy to the original species.

Objective To investigate the effects of intravenous immunoglobulin(IVIG) on apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes in mice with viral myocarditis.Methods Three hundreds and twenty Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 8 groups.Different courses of IVIG were given in varying time after virus inoculation,Chinese medicine Huangqi given in control group.The virus titer in myocardium、percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes were detected, myocardial histopathologic scores were counted.Results In every IVIG treatment group,the above 3 items were all significantly lower than that in virus control group and Huangqi group,as IVIG early long course group had the best effect.Conclusion IVIG may reduce the percentage of apoptosis and necrosis of myocytes and virus titer in myocardium in mice with viral myocarditis,the effects are better than that of Huangqi.

Objective:To investigate the single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP), haplotypes and genotypes of mannan-binding lectin(MBL) gene in the Bai(Pai) nationality from YunNan province, China.Methods:The three SNP sites CGT52TGT, GGC54GAC and GGA57GAA(named alleles D, B and C respectively, wildtype named A) in exon1 of MBL gene of 70 DNA samples of Bai nationality whose three SNP sites, -550G/C, -221C/G and +4C/T(named alleles H/L, X/Y and P/Q respectively), in promoter region of MBL gene had been clear, haplotypes and genotypes of MBL genes were detected and analyzed by sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction.Results:It was found that in Bais population, the frequency of alleles B was 0.100, there only were five haplotypes, HYPA, LXPA, LYQA, LYPA and LYPB, whose frequencies were 0.250, 0.107, 0.407, 0.135 and 0.100 respectively, the frequencies of several genotypes were LYPA/LYPA 0.043, LXPA/LYQA 0.143, LYPA/LYPB 0.014, HYPA/LYQA 0.086, LYPA/ LYQA 0.157, HYPA/LYPA 0.014, LYPB/LYQA 0.143, HYPA/LYPB 0.043, LXPA/LXPA 0.014, HYPA/LXPA 0.043, LYQA/LYQA 0.143 and HYPA/HYPA 0.157.Conclusion:In the MBL genes in Bais population, there is the allele B, the polymorphism haplotypes are mostly LYQA and HYPA, and the genotypes, LYPA/LYQA, HYPA/HYPA, LXPA/LYQA, LYPB/LYQA and LYQA/LYQA.

Objective： This study was designed to observe the efficacy and side effects of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in the treatment of hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Methods： In the 7 patients, two received autologous bone marrow transplantation (ABMT) and five received autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT). The conditioning regimen consisted of VCCA (Vincristine, Me-CCNU, Ara-C, CTX) and TLI(total lymph irradiation) for malignant lymphoma, VCCED (VCR, Me-CCNU, CTX, Vp-16, DNR) and TBI for acute myeloid leukemia-M4, VCCME (VCR, Me-CCNU, CTX, Mitoxantron,Vp-16) for breast cancer. All harvests of stem cells were stored at 4℃ except one at -80℃ ,than transfused back to the patients within 72 hours without purgation. Results： The number of mononuclear cells and CD34＋ cells in harvest in APBSCT patients was (7.45± 5.89)× 108/kg and (18.62± 4.74)× 106/kg,respectively. The patients' granulocyte count reached ≥ 0.5× 109/L on day＋ 9.6 and＋ 11, platelet count reached ≥ 50× 109/L on day ＋ 12.6 and＋ 21.5 and reticulocyte reached ≥ 0.5％ on day＋ 11.2 and＋ 16.5,respectively,after APBSCT and ABMT. The side effects were mainly the gastrointestinal reactions. Up to now, no relapse were seen but four women had developed secondary amenorrhea after AHSCT. Conclusion： AHSCT is an efficient way for malignant tumors and there were earlier hematopoietic reconstitution and fewer side effects in patient with APBSCT than with ABMT. The impairment of gonad by conditioning may affect the quality of life.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; Humans ; Mycoplasma pneumoniae ; drug effects ; pathogenicity ; Pneumonia ; drug therapy ; microbiology

OBJECTIVETo enhance our understanding of pediatric Crohn's disease and improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic efficacy by characterizing the clinical picture and reviewing 10 years' clinical experience in diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSNine cases with active Crohn's disease diagnosed between 1996 and 2005, including 8 males and 1 female, aged 6 - 13 years, were reviewed. Clinical, radiologic, endoscopic and histological data as well as therapeutic results were analized.

RESULTSThe mean interval from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis was 10 months. The sites of involvement were both the small intestine and colon in 6, small intestine only in 3. Abdominal pain and diarrhea were the two most common gastrointestinal symptoms. The main extraintestinal manifestations were weight loss in 7, hypoalbuminemia in 5, mild anemia in 5, fever in 4 and hypocalcemia in 2. All the patients had undergone colonoscopy, and the findings included ulcerations, segmental lesions, cobblestone appearance, pseudopolyps and perianal abnormalities. Capsule endoscopic examination in one patient demonstrated the segmental distribution with typical longitudinal cleft-like ulcers and cobblestone appearance. Gastrointestinal barium meal X-ray examination was performed in 7 patients, the main findings were segmental strictures and abnormal mucosa. Histological examination of biopsy specimens mainly showed nonspecific chronic inflammation. Non-caseating granulomas were identifiable in 2 cases. Although there were many macroscopic and microscopic features supporting the diagnosis of Crohn's disease, no epithelioid granuloma could be found in surgical specimens of two patients. Treatment was given up by parents of 2 patients after the diagnosis was established. All the other 7 patients were treated with 5-acetylsalicylic acid, antibiotics and nutritional support during the acute phase. Corticosteroids were used in two patients. Long-term remission was achieved and maintained in 3 children, and in one of them medication could be discontinued and had no signs of disease activity at the end of the follow-up.

CONCLUSIONSChildren and adolescents presenting with Crohn's disease commonly have weight loss and nutritional impairment, which may provide clues to the diagnosis. Appropriate formulation and higher dosage of 5-acetylsalicylic acid [30-50 mg/(kg x d)] may be effective in inducing and maintaining remission in pediatric Crohn's disease.

Adolescent ; Child ; Colon ; pathology ; Colonoscopy ; Crohn Disease ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Intestinal Mucosa ; pathology ; Male ; Malnutrition ; etiology ; Weight Loss