Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; Talc ; adverse effects

Objective To further explore the pathogenesis of disturbed adaptive immune response in infants with sepsis. Methods Forty-eight infants with sepsis and 26 age-matched healthy infants were enrolled in this study. The HLA-DR expression of CD14~+ monocyte, the proportion of CD4~+ CD25~+ Foxp3~(high) Tr cells and the proportion of Thl7 cells were measured by flow cytometry. Cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10, TGF-β and IL-17A) were measured by ELISA. Real-time PCR were used to evaluate the mRNA levels of Foxp3, ROR-γt in CD4-positive cells and IL-17A. Forty-eight infants with sepsis were divided into two groups according to HLA-DR expression of CD14~+ monocyte: DR-H group ( ＞ 30% ) and DR-L group ( ＜ 30% ). Results The ratio of IL-10/TNF-α in DR-L group was higher than that in healthy control or DR-H group(P ＜0.05). The proportion of CD4~+ CD25~+ Foxp3~(high) Tr cells and mRNA expression of transcription factor Foxp3 in DR-L group was found to be significantly higher than that in healthy control or DR-H group(P＜0.05). The proportion of Thl7 cells, Serum concentration of IL-17A, the mRNA expression of IL-17A and transcription factor ROR-γt were significantly increased in DR-H group and DR-L group (P ＜ 0.05) , while there is no significant difference between DR-H and DR-L group( P ＞0.05). Serum levels of Th17-inducing cytokine such as IL-1β, IL-6 were significantly elevated in DR-H group and DR-L group (P＜0.05), while there is no significant difference between DR-H and DR-L group( P＞0.05). Serum level of CD4~+ CD25~+ Foxp3~(high) Tr-inducing cytokine TGF-p in DR-L group was higher than that in DR-H or healthy control group(P＜0. 05). Conclusion Over-activation of Th17 cells may be one of the factors causing aberrant increase of pro-inflammatory cytokine/chemotatic factor in infant with sepsis. The imbalance of CD4~+ CD25~+ Foxp3~(high) Tr cells/Th17 cells may be contributed to the pathogenic mechanism of mixed antagonist response syndrome ( MARS) in infant with sepsis. The changes of cytokine environment in infants with sepsis may be one of the factors causing the imbalance of CD4~+ CD25~+ Foxp3~(high) Tr cells/Th17 cells.

Objective To study the molecular mechanisms of ampicillin- resistant haemophilius influenzae (Hi)in Nanjing. Methods One hundred and fifty- eight strains of Hi isolated from children were collected to detect bata-lactamase. TEM and ROB bata- lacta-mase genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) ,and cloned into T vector for sequencing. Results The rate of ampicillin resistance was 41. 77% in Hi isolated from children in Nanjing,40.51 % was found to be bata-lactamase production. Eighty-nine strain were TEM positives, 1 strain was ROB positive,63 strains bata - lactamase positive ampicillin- resistant Hi were identified. The resistance mechanism of ampicillin resistant Hi was production of bata - lactamase , mainly TEM - type enzyme. Two bata - lactamase negative ampicillin - resistant Hi were identified , predicts the other mechanisms of ampicillin - resistant Hi was occuered yet . One strain of non -TEM - type,and non - ROB - type bata - lactamase - producing Hi was identified. Conclusions Ampicillin - resisitant in Hi isolated from children in this region is challenging. TEM bata - lactamase is the principal mechanism of ampicillin - resistant of Hi.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the features of pathophysiological neural networks in rat temporal lobe epileptogenesis. To establish electrogenic epilepsy model, repetitive tetanization (60 Hz, 2 s, 0.4-0.6 mA) was delivered into the right dorsal hippocampus (HPC) of rat brain. Rats were divided into different groups. Experimental animals received tetanic stimulation once a day for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 days, respectively. Primary wet dog shakes (WEDS) of the animals were recorded daily during the stimulation to understand the development of behavioral seizures at early stage of epilepsy. The T(2)-weighted (T(2)-WI) spin-echo images were obtained from each experimental rat. The results demonstrated that T(2)-WI hyperintensity of experimental rats was observed in bilateral symmetric dorsal lateral ventricle (LV) areas at stimulating day 2 (n=4), in contralateral medial and ventral LV areas to the side of the electrode at stimulating day 6 (n=5), in contralateral ventral LV areas at stimulating day 8 (n=3), and in ipsilateral ventral LV areas at stimulating day 10 (n=4). Therefore the peak rate of primary WEDS appeared on stimulating day 4 in the experimental rats. Morphological identification demonstrated that the T(2)-WI signal abnormalities were related to the enlarged LV and pathological ventricular choroidea plexus hyperplasia. The results suggest that the development of rat brain abnormalities from dorsal LV to ventral LV at early stage of epilepsy can be measured by magnetic resonance image, which implies reorganization of pathophysiologically functional networks before kindling effect appear.
Animals ; Brain ; physiopathology ; Disease Progression ; Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe ; diagnosis ; pathology ; In Vitro Techniques ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The purpose of this work was to study the characteristics of rat brain abnormalities at two hemispheres at the early stage of electrogenic epilepsy. Experiments were performed on 37 male Sprague-Dawley rats. Chronically repetitive tetanization (60 Hz, 2 s, 0.4 - 0.6 mA) was used to stimulate the right dorsal hippocampus (DHPC) of the rat brain once a day for 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10 d, respectively. The T(2) weighted magnetic resonance image (T(2)-WI) were obtained from each experimental rat at the end of the experiments. Histological sections were obtained after experimentation. The results showed that the main pathologic changes at the early stage of epilepsy included: (1) T(2)-WI hyperintensification, the histological enlargement of lateral ventricle (LV) and pathological hyperplasia of ventricular choroidea plexus occurred. The pathological hyperplasia was symmetric in two hemispheres, but the LV enlargement was not. (2) Histologically enlarged LV area showed a resemblance to T(2)-WI hyperintensive area. Compared with the control rats, large T(2)-WI hyperintensive area (P=0.0259; P=0.0184; P=0.0184; P=0.0404; P=0.0259) and histologically enlarged LV area (P=0.0210; P=0.01; P=0.0100; P=0.0152) were present in chronically tetanized rats. (3) Dynamic characteristics of histologically enlarged LV area resembled to those of T(2)-WI hyperintensity area in chronically tetanized rats at different stimulating day. Lateralization of T(2)-WI hyperintensity was in accordance with that of T(2)-WI abnormal area and of histologically enlarged LV. These abnormalities were severe on the contralateral side on the stimulating day 6, or on the ipsilateral side on the stimulating day 10. These results imply characteristic propagation of brain abnormalities crossing to the opposite hemisphere at the early stage of an electrogenic rat epilepsy.
Animals ; Cerebral Cortex ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Electric Stimulation ; Epilepsy ; etiology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of leukocyte-associated Ig-like receptor-1(LAIR-1) in children with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), in order to explore the possible role of LAIR-1 in the pathogenesis of childhood ITP.

METHODSExpression levels of LAIR-1 on CD4(+) T cells, CD8(+) T cells and CD19(+)CD20(+) B cells of peripheral blood were measured in 40 children with ITP by flow cytometry. Serum level of solubility LAIR-1 (sLAIR-1) was measured using ELISA. Real-time PCR was used to measure LAIR-1 mRNA expression. Thirty-two healthy children served as the control group.

RESULTSThe percentages of CD19(+)CD20(+) B cells in the ITP group were significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). In contrast, the percentage of CD4(+) T cells in the ITP group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.05). The expression levels of LAIR-1 on CD4(+) T cells and CD8(+) T cells were significantly lower in the ITP group than in the control group (P<0.05). Serum sLAIR-1 level and LAIR-1 mRNA expression in the ITP group significantly increased compared with the control group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLAIR-1 expression on CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells decreases and serum sLAIR-1 level increases in children with ITP, suggesting that LAIR-1 may play an important role in immune imbalance in these children.

CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; genetics ; physiology

Objective To investigate the role and mechanism of matrix metalloproteinase 9(MMP-9) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma (AS). Methods The rat models of AR and AS were made by injecting ovalbumin. The infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells were detected by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining and toluidine blue staining respectively, and the expression of MMP-9 and TNF-α in nasal mucosa and lung tissue were examined by immunohistochemical staining ( SP method). The relationship of their expression with upper and lower respiratory tract inflammation was analyzed. SPSS 13.0 software was used to analyze the data. Results The numbers of MMP-9 positive inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of AR were ( 154.8±12.0)and (124. 0 ±8.2), (43. 2 ±7.6) and (34. 5 ±5.0) in the control groups, the difference was significant (t value were 24. 260, 29. 525 respectively, all P＜0.05). The numbers of MMP-9 positive inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of AS were (149.9±11.7)and(120.1±7.3), (48.6 ± 7. 6) and (39.1±5.2)in control groups, the difference was significant (t value were 22. 929 and 28. 530respectively, all P＜0.05).The numbers of TNF-α positive inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of AR were (188.8±17.0), and (134.8±7.9), (57.6±23.3)and(40. 3 ± 8. 2 ) in control groups, the difference was significant (t value were 13. 836 and 26. 220, all P ＜0.05). The numbers of TNF-α positive inflammatory cells in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of AS were (179. 2 ± 15.4 ) and ( 153. 5 ± 10. 1 ), (70. 5 ±33. 1 ) and ( 33.8 ± 14. 0) in control groups, the difference was significant ( t value were 9. 412 and 21. 858, all P ＜0. 05). There was a correlation between the expression of MMP-9 and TNF-α in nasal mucosa and lung tissue of AR ( r values were 0. 893 and 0. 700 respectively, P values were 0. 001 and 0. 024, respectively ) and AS ( r values were 0. 692 and 0. 644 respectively, P values were 0. 027and 0. 044 respectively) groups. Conclusions The inflammation is similar between AR and AS. The MMP9 and TNF-α may play an important role in the pathogenesis of upper and lower respiratory tract inflammation.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical features and mutation of MUT gene in a Chinese patient with isolated methylmalonic acidemia.

METHODSThe clinical characteristics and laboratory tests data were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes. The 13 exons and their flanking sequences of the MUT gene were amplified with polymerase chain reaction and subjected to direct DNA sequencing.

RESULTSThe patient has featured failure to thrive, lethargy, seizure, hypotonia, severe ketoacidosis and hyperammonemia. Tandem mass results showed reduction of multiple acylcarnitine. Urine organic acid testing showed pronounced increase in methylmalonate excretion. Homocysteine was normal. The patient showed no response to vitamin B12 treatment. The above results suggested that the patient had isolated methylmalonic acidemia. DNA sequencing analysis confirmed that the patient has carried two MUT gene mutations, c.755dupA and a novel mutation c.944dupT.

CONCLUSIONInherited metabolic disease screening plays an important role in the diagnosis of clinical diseases. However, to confirm the results will need gene mutation analysis.

Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors ; enzymology ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase ; genetics ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mutation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the selectively killing effect of adenovirus (Ad) mediated double suicide gene under the regulation of KDR promoter on vascular endothelial cells and colorectal tumor cells.

METHODS293 packaging cells were transfected with the plasmids of pAdEasy- KDR- CDglyTK and pAdEasy- CMV- CDglyTK and the infectious viruses were generated. The KDR expressive cells of ECV304,SW620 and the KDR inexpressive cells of LS174T were infected by two Ads. The infection rate was observed and the expression of CDglyTK was detected by RT- PCR. After treatment with different concentrations of 5- FC and GCV,the killing effect and bystander effect on ECV304,SW620 and LS174T were examined.

RESULTSThe titers of these two purified Ads were 2.0 x 10(12 ) pfu/ml. There was no significant difference in infection rate between two recombinant Ads infecting various cells,and the infection rate increased in accordance with the enhancing titers of Ads. RT- PCR demonstrated that there existed the product of CDglyTK gene in all the cells infected by Ad- CMV- CDglyTK and the cells infected by Ad- KDR- CDglyTK except in the SL174T. The curative effect in this system on various cells was shown as follows: (1) All cells infected with Ad- CMV- CDglyTK and some cells of ECV304 and SW620 infected with Ad- KDR- CDglyTK were highly sensitive to the prodrugs,but there was no significant differences among them (P > 0.05); compared with ECV304 and SW620 cells,LS174T cells were not sensitive to the two prodrugs (P< 0.001). (2) The efficacy of double suicide gene was better than that of single suicide gene (P< 0.001). (3) The system had considerable bystander effect.

CONCLUSIONThe double suicide gene under the regulation of KDR promoter has specific killing effect on the KDR- expressing endothelial cells and colorectal tumor cells.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Endothelial Cells ; cytology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Transgenic, Suicide ; genetics ; Genetic Therapy ; Humans ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of polyethylene glycol 4000 (forlax) in the treatment of constipation in children over 8 years old.

METHODSThis study was designed as a randomized, positive medicine (lactulose) controlled multicenter trial. A total of 216 children with constipation from 8-18 years old from 7 hospitals across China who were matched with a uniform entry criteria were enrolled in this study. The 216 patients were randomized to receive either oral forlax (20 g/d, n=105) or lactulose (15 mL/d, n=111) for 2 weeks. The therapeutic effects, including bowel movement frequency, stool consistency, clinical complete remission rate of constipation and abdominal symptoms, and the safety of forlax and lactulose were evaluated at 1 and 2 weeks of treatment.

RESULTSThe median weekly frequency of bowel movement in the forlax group increased by 4 and 5 times respectively after 1 and 2 weeks of treatment, and increased by 3 and 4 times in the lactulose group (P < 0.05). The stool consistency of the two groups was both improved significantly after treatment. The Bristol score of stool consistency of the forlax and lactulose groups were 3.41+/-1.11 and 3.64+/-1.33 respectively (P < 0.05) after 1 week of treatment, and were 4.26+/-0.89 and 3.63+/-1.33 respectively (P < 0.05) after 2 weeks of treatment. The clinical complete remission rate of constipation in the forlax and lactulose groups was 70% and 40% respectively (P < 0.05) by week 1 of treatment, and that was 72% and 41% respectively (P < 0.05) by week 2 of treatment. Abdominal pain disappeared in 75% of patients in the forlax group but in only 57% in the lactulose group by week 2 of treatment (P < 0.05). No serious adverse events happened and no abnormalities were found in laboratory tests and physical examinations in the two groups after medication.

CONCLUSIONSForlax is safe and effective in the treatment of constipation in children over 8 years old.

Adolescent ; Cathartics ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Constipation ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Lactulose ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Polyethylene Glycols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use