Objective To investigate the effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on the counts and functions of tolerogenic dendritic cells(tDC) and regulatory T cells(Treg) in a mouse model of asthma. Methods Forty female BALB/c mice at age 20 days were randomly allocated into four groups including the normal saline ( NS)/air treatment group, the NS/cigarette smoke ( CS) treatment group, the ovalbumin (OVA)/air treatment group and the OVA/CS treatment group (n=10).A mouse model of asthma was es-tablished by intraperitoneally injecting OVA in an interval of two weeks to cigarette smoke for three weeks. The percentages of Treg cells in PBMCs and the changes of CD80 and CD86 expression on the surface of DCs of the mice in each group were analyzed by flow cytometry analysis.The transcriptional levels of forkhead box P3 ( Foxp3) in lung tissues were measured by real-time quantitative PCR.The levels of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-17A and TGF-β1 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BALF) samples were measured by ELISA.Results Exposing young mice to cigarette smoke significantly increased the percentages of Treg cells in PBMCs and the expression of Foxp3 at mRNA level in lung tissues of mice with asthma.High levels of TGF-β1 and IL-10 were detected in BALF samples of the heathy mice and those with asthma exposed to CS at a young age.The mice with asthma exposed to CS at an early age showed decreased expression of CD80 and CD86 on the surface of DCs.Lower levels of IL-12p40 and IL-6 and higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-17A in BALF samples were observed in mice from the OVA/CS treatment group.Conclusion Expo-sing to cigarette smoke at an early age was involved in the dysfunction of T cell-mediated immune responses in mice with asthma.This study might provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of asthma.

Objective To study the consistency and complementarity of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS),white light endoscopy (WLE) and magnifying endoscopy (ME) in diagnosis of ulcerative colitis (UC).Methods We collected 125 cases of UC patients diagnosed by WLE and EUS (including 51 cases of WLE + ME + EUS).According to UC mucosal morphology under WLE and crypt openings under ME,we divided all the cases into several groups and analyzed intestinal wall thickness (TWT) under EUS in each group.Results According to the results of UC inflammation degree under WLE,all patients were divided into four groups: 16 severe cases,46 moderate cases,44 mild,and 19 remission stage.TWT results were (5.903 ± 1.551 ) mm,(4.673 ± 1.235 ) mm,(3.756 ± 1.322 )mm and ( 3.464 ± 0.970) mm,respectively.Differences were significant between any two groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ),except for that between mild and remission groups.According to the results of UC inflammation degree under ME,all patients were divided into six groups: 9 cases of villous-like structure,9 cases of typical coral reef-like structure,8 severe coral reef-like structure,13 regular crypt opening,6 epithelial minimal defect and 6 small yellow spot (SYS).TWT results were (5.701 ±0.941 )mm,(5.518 ±0.581 )mm,(5.181 ±0.751 )mm,(3.763 ±0.659) mm,(3.587 ±0.461 )mm and (2.505 ± 0.330 )mm,respectively.Differences were significant between any two groups ( P ＜ 0.05 ) except for those between epithelial minimal defect and regular crypt opening,typical coral reeflike structure,villous-like and severe coral reef-like structure.EUS results showed SYS (6/6) and regular crypt opening ( 10/13 ) were mostly located in mucosa,while lesions of severe coral reef-like structure (8/8) invaded the muscularis propria.Conclusion EUS shows high consistency with WLE and ME in diagnosis of UC inflammation degree and invasive depth.It could assist and even substitute ME for evaluation.

Bardet-Biedl Syndrome ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Child ; Female ; Humans

The purpose of this study was to synthesize and evaluate the necrosis target of MRI contrast agent based on rhein.The novel ligand 10-{ [6-(1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone-3-carboxamido) hexyl] amino} acetyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1,4,7-triacetic acid (DO3A-rhein) was synthesized by two-step acylation and two-step deprotection.The paramagnetic contrast agent gadolinium 10-{ [6-(1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone-3-carboxamido) hexyl] amino} acetyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1,4,7-triacetate (Gd-DO3A-rhein) was obtained by coordination of Gd3+ with the synthesized ligand.Its necrosis affinity was evaluated by liver infarction and muscular necrosis on rat models.The MRI was performed before administration of Gd-DO3A-rhein and during 0 h to 12 h after administration of Gd-DO3A-rhein (0.1 mmol/kg),respectively,and Gd-DOTA was used as control.After MRI scanning,rats were sacrificed and necrotic tissues were stained using triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) and hematoxylin-eosin (HE).MRI images of liver infarction and muscular necrosis on rat models showed significantly enhanced signal intensity compared with normal tissues.The contrast ratios of necrotic liver/normal liver were 1.61 ±0.14 and 2.36 ±0.20 at 3 h and 12 h postinjection of Gd-DO3A-rhein (0.1 mmol/kg) respectively,demonstrating a significant difference compared with pre-administration of Gd-DO3A-rhein (1.16 ±0.10;P ＜ 0.05).The same results were obtained from necrotic muscles.These findings suggested that Gd-DO3A-rhein possessed the necrosis target and imaging capability of necrotic tissues.

Objective This study aimed to estimate the impact of the threshold of Autocapture algorithm on the pacemaker's service life.Methods Seventy-four patients implanted with VVI pacemaker were retrospectively evaluated.Among them,48 were implanted with pacemaker of autocapture function.Diagnostic data were retrieved from device memory.Pacemaker's service life was estimated according to the working flow and voltage.Results (1) The average working voltage of the control group and the observation group was (2.8 ± 0.4) V and (1.1 ± 0.4)V respectively.The difference was statistically significant;(2) The battery life in the observation group was (12.59 ± 0.55) a,significantly longer than that in the control group (6.74 ± 1.12) a,with an 86.8％ increase of the device's estimated service life (P＜0.05).Conclusion The Autocapture function results in a significant service life of cardiac pacemaker and represents valuable clinical technology.

Pregnancy complicated by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) has rarely been reported. Few reports in the medical liter-ature focus on pregnancy complicated by both NHL and hepatitis B virus infection. A multidisciplinary discussion is conducted concern-ing the treatment of the patient. The standard treatment procedure for pregnancy complicated by non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the cre-ation of a multidisciplinary team were also discussed.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical and electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics, therapeutic response and long-term prognosis of early myoclonic encephalopathy.

METHODThe clinical and EEG data of three patients with early myoclonic encephalopathy were analyzed. These patients were admitted to our hospital between September 2008 and January 2012. The patients were followed up for therapeutic response and long-term prognosis.

RESULTThe age of onset was from 2 to 23 days after birth. All patients had the onset of erratic or fragmentary myoclonus. Two patients had frequent simple focal seizures. One patient had tonic spasms when he was 3 months old. The EEG characteristic of all patients was repetitive suppression-burst pattern. The suppression-burst pattern was characterized by paroxysmal short bursts and long periods of suppression. The EEG paroxysms of one patient was asynchronous over both hemispheres. There is no effective therapy for early myoclonic encephalopathy. A patient died before two years of age. Two patients had severe partial epilepsy and showed very severe retardation.

CONCLUSIONEarly myoclonic encephalopathy usually starts in the first month of life. Erratic myoclonus appears first. Myoclonus is the principal features of early myoclonic encephalopathy. Frequent focal seizures occur shortly after erratic myoclonus. Tonic epileptic spasms may develop within 3 - 5 months. The suppression-burst pattern is EEG characteristic. There is no effective therapy for early myoclonic encephalopathy and the prognosis is poor.

Anticonvulsants ; therapeutic use ; Electroencephalography ; Epilepsies, Myoclonic ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Prognosis ; Psychomotor Disorders ; diagnosis ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Spasms, Infantile ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Survival Rate ; Valproic Acid ; therapeutic use

AIM:To explore the application of 10g/L cyclopentolate chloride eye drops in children, and to compare the different effectiveness of cycloplegia between 10g/L cyclopentolate chloride and atropine in Chinese children.METHODS:A total of 236 eyes of 118 children aged 3~12 years old were enrolled in this study including 80 eyes of 40 children with myopia, 156 eyes of 78 children with hyperopia and 146 eyes of 73 children combined with astigmatism. 10g/L cyclopentolate chloride eye drops were used once per 5min for 3 times and refractive diopter was obtained 1h after the last drop of cyclopentolate. Three days after that, 10g/L atropine was then used 1 time per night for 1wk and optometry was performed again. The children were divided into 3 groups ( myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism group ) according to the refractive status, in which astigmatism was independent of the degree of separation of cylinder statistics. The results of retinoscope refraction were then compared between 10g/L cyclopentolate and 10g/L atropine.
RESULTS:The refractive diopter was -2. 25±1. 31D after 10g/L cyclopentolate eye drops and -2. 23±1. 32D after 10g/L atropine in myopic group. The refractive diopter was 1. 35±1. 19D and 1. 38±2. 00D in astigmastic group. No significant difference was found in myopic group and astigmastic group (P= 0. 109, P= 0. 374). While in the hyperopic group, the refractive diopter was 3. 76±2. 4D after 10g/L cyclopentolate eye drops, which was lower than that after 10g/L atropine 4. 39±2. 6D (P=0. 000).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that 10g/L cyclopentolate chloride eye drops can be used in myopia and astigmatism children, and 10g/L atropine should be used in hyperopia children.

Firstly discovered in 1980s,human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) continues to affect more and more people.However,there is no effective drug available for the therapy of HIV infection.Betulinic acid existing in various medicinal herbs and fruits exhibits multiple biological effects,especially its outstanding anti-HIV activity,which has drawn the attentions of many pharmacists.Among the derivatives of betulinic acid,some compounds exhibited inhibitory activities at the nanomolar concentration,and have entered phase Ⅱ clinical trials.This paper summarizes the current investigations on the anti-HIV activity of betulinic acid analogues,and provides valuable data for subsequent researches.