Objective To observe the expression changes of peripheral endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and Ang-1/Tie2 in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).Methods From Jun 2011 to Dec 2012,45 patients with PAH charged in Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University were divided into 3 groups according to mean pulmonary arterial blood pressure (15 per group):mild(Group L),moderate(Group M),and severe(Group S),with another 15 normal people as control group(Group C).The EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood of every patient,number counting using fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS),function test using cell culture in vitro.Expression of Ang-1 and Tie2 in the peripheral EPCs were measured by RT-PCR or Western-blot.Non normal data was analyzed by non parametric statistical test.Results The statistical discrepancy existed among Group L,M,S and the control in the number of EPCs [32.0 (27.0,37.0),26.0 (19.0,31.0),24.0 (22.0,26.0) vs 40.0 (37.0,51.0),P ＜ 0.05].The ability of migration [32.1 (26.5,37.5),26.8 (22.4,35.4),21.0 (17.8,34.0) vs 39.0 (33.3,42.4),P＜0.05] and adhesion of the EPCs [57.1(50.9,61.8),51.8(45.2,58.7),46.0 (37.2,55.1) vs 64.1 (56.2,75.0),P ＜ 0.05] among study groups and control group was different in statistic,the same with the proliferation activity of EPCs in different groups [0.6 (0.5,0.7),0.5 (0.4,0.6),0.4(0.3,0.5) vs 0.7(0.6,0.8),P ＜0.05].The mRNA expression of Ang-1 and Tie2 in Group M & S were significantly reduced compared with control [4.33 (2.49,4.62) and 2.89 (2.39,3.44) vs 5.31(3.78,6.22),P＜0.05],Tie2 mRNA[1.32(1.23,1.34)and 1.23(1.08,1.42)vs 1.49(1.25,1.66),P ＜ 0.05],and the protein expression of the phosphorylated Tie 2 in Group M &S were decreased [0.16 (0.15,0.24) and 0.12 (0.08,0.18) vs 0.22 (0.19,0.28),P ＜ 0.05].No significant difference of Ang-1 and Tie2 expression was observed between Group L and control [5.42 (4.72,5.95),1.54 (1.43,1.66) and0.23(0.19,0.33),P=0.674,0.867 and 0.674].Conelusion With the severity of PAH,the number and function of circulating EPCs decreased,as consistent with Ang-1 and Tie2 expression changes,suggesting that function decrease of EPCs in patients with PAH may be associated with the decrease of Ang-1/Tie2 expression.

OBJECTIVETo assess the feasibility of using saliva for Schistosomiasis japonica diagnosis.

METHODSSchistosoma japonicum infected animal model was established. Pairs of saliva and serum samples from rabbits and chronic schistosomiasis patients were collected. Anti-schistosoma specific antibodies in saliva and serum were detected by indirect ELISA.

RESULTSThe specificities of antibody detection of rabbit saliva and serum were 93% (28/30) and 97% (29/30), respectively, and the sensitivities of antibody detection of rabbit serum and saliva were 100% (24/24) and 88% (21/24), respectively. A significant correlation (r = 0.5307, P = 0.0038 < 0.05) existed between anti-SEA IgG levels in serum and saliva. As with those in serum, anti-SEA IgG levels in saliva could reflect the state of infection and treatment. The sensitivity of antibody detection was 91% (29/32) for patient saliva samples and 100% (32/32) for their sera. 8 samples were positive in 140 normal saliva samples (i.e. 6% false positive rate) and 6 samples were positive in 156 normal serum samples (4% false positive rate). There was a significant correlation (r = 0.4227, P = 0.008 < 0.05) between specific antibodies in saliva and serum.

CONCLUSIONThe detection of specific antibodies in saliva can be used as a non-invasive immunodiagnosis method of Schistosomiasis japonica.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; analysis ; Child ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Rabbits ; Saliva ; immunology ; Schistosoma japonicum ; immunology ; Schistosomiasis japonica ; diagnosis

Objective To explore the treatment effect of sildenafil combined with pulmonary surfactant (PS) on newborn meconium aspiration syndrome ( NMAS) children with persistence pulmonary hypertension ( PPH) , and to summarize the nursing experience .Methods Sixty NMAS children with PPH were chosen and randomly divided into the control group and the observation group according to the random number table , each with 30 cases. All children received the routine treatment including high frequency oscillation assisted ventilation , proper rehydration , antibiotics and so on , and the control group received the intratracheal instillation of PS, and the observation group received the sildenafil on the basis of PS .The oxygenation index ( OI ) , alveolar-arterial oxygen difference ( A-aDO2 ) and pulmonary artery pressure ( PAP) were compared between two groups before and after the treatment .Results The differences were found in the OI and A-aDO2 4 and 12 h after the treatment between two groups (P<0.01); The OI was (11.7 ±2.8) in the observation group 36 h after the treatment, and was (19.1 ±3.4) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=9.202, P<0.01); the A-aDO2 was (12.1 ±3.2)mmHg in the observation group, and was (27.6 ± 5.5)mmHg in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=13.342, P<0.01).The PAP was (40.4 ±10.7) mmHg in the observation group 24 ~36 h after the treatment, and was (49.3 ± 13.4)mmHg in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant (t=2.843, P<0.01).No serious complications were found in two groups .Conclusions The sildenafil combined with PS , meanwhile, the respiratory tract nursing and the high frequency oscillation assisted ventilation airway nursing were well , can further enhance the treatment effect of NMAS combined with PPH .