OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of polysaccharide nucleic acid of BCG (BCG-PSN) injection on immune and pulmonary function in asthmatic children complicated with allergic rhinitis.

METHODSThirty-seven cases were separated at random into two groups, the BCG-PSN group (17 cases) was treated with BCG-PSN plus inhaled glucocortisteriods, and the control group (20 cases) was treated with inhaled glucocortisteriods only. The children in both groups were followed up for 6 months to record their lung function, allergic rhinitis scores, frequency of asthmatic attacks and respiratory infection. The levels of interleukin (IL)-4, interferon-gamma (IFN-g) and plasma total IgE were detected by using double antibody sandwich ELISA at the beginning and the end of treatment.

RESULTSIn comparison with the control group, after treatment, the levels of IFN-g and the ratio of IFN-g/IL4 in the BCG-PSN group significantly increased, whereas the level of IL-4 and the plasma total IgE significantly decreased (P less than 0.05), while those of the control group had no significant change. The lung function of both groups had significant improvement (p less than 0.05). The frequencies of asthmatic attacks in BCG-PSN and control groups were 0.81 +/- 0.20 vs. 1.72 +/- 0.80, and the difference was statistically significant. The frequencies of respiratory tract infection in BCG-PSN and control groups were 1.15 +/- 0.55 vs. 3.21 +/- 0.73, the difference was significant.

CONCLUSIONBCG-PSN may be able to correct the imbalance of Th1/Th2 and improve the lung function of children with asthma complicated with allergic rhinitis, which suggest that the immune adjusting treatment should be emphasized besides anti-inflammation therapy.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Adolescent ; Asthma ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; BCG Vaccine ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; methods ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Nucleic Acids ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial ; chemistry ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of leukotriene receptor antagonist on the levels of Th1 and Th2 cytokines and the serum cysteinyl leukotrenes (CysLTs) in infants and young children with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) pneumonia.

METHODSThirty-seven infants and young children with RSV pneumonia were divided into two groups after discharge. The cases in group 1 (n=24) were treated with a leukotriene receptor antagonist, Singulair 4 mg once daily for 12 weeks; the cases in group 2 (n=13) were treated with budesonide aerosol 200 ug once or twice daily for 12 weeks. The serum CysLTs, IFN-gamma and IL-4 were detected with enzyme_linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for all the 37 cases, and 10 healthy infants of the same age served as controls.

RESULTSThe serum CysLTs level in the cases with RSV pneumonia was significantly higher than that in controls (P<0.05). There was an imbalance in expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines (IFN-gamma and IL-4 ) in these cases. Both Singulair and budesonide aerosol could correct the imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. The serum CysLTs level declined after treatment with Singulair in 24 cases, but no significant change occurred after treatment with budesonide aerosol in the remaining 13 cases.

CONCLUSIONSThe serum CysLTs level in children with RSV pneumonia was higher than that in healthy children, and there was an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines in these infants, which was similar to those with asthma. Leukotriene receptor antagonist may be effective in preventing children with RSV pneumonia from evolving into asthma.

Child, Preschool ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Leukotriene Antagonists ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Male ; Pneumonia, Viral ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; virology ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo assess the value of immunoregulants in improving the prognosis of infants with wheezing.

METHODSForty-three infants with wheezing with given oxygen support, injection or inhalation of glucocorticosteroids or bronchodilatator to relieve the symptoms. Of these infants, 24 received immunoregulant treatment with bronchovaxom at the daily dose of 3.5 mg for 10 days every a month for a treatment course of 3 months. The other 19 infants were managed with budesonide aerosol at 200 microg once or twice daily for 3 months (basic treatment group). All the infants were followed up for 1 year to record the number of wheezing episode and infections. Ten healthy infants were also included in this study as the control group.

RESULTSIn infants with bronchovaxom treatment, 25% reported more than 3 wheezing episodes within the 1-year follow-up, a rate significantly lower than that in the control group (63.2%, Chi(2)=6.344, P<0.05). The episodes of respiratory infection were similar between bronchovaxom group and the healthy control group (t=0.72, P>0.05), but significantly higher in the basic treatment group than in bronchovaxom and the healthy control group (t=3.11 and 3.92, respectively. P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBronchovaxom can effectively reduce the recurrence of wheezing and respiratory infections in the infants with wheezing attack to reduce the risks of asthma development.

Asthma ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Bacteria ; Cell Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunologic Factors ; therapeutic use ; Infant ; Male ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Sounds ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes of T lymphocytes subsets in children with infectious mononucleosis (IM) and the effects of different interventions.

METHODSForty-eight children with IM were enrolled, 28 cases were assigned to the group treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) 400 mg/(kg x d) for 5 continuous days or IVIG 1 g/(kg x d) for 2 continuous days, the remaining 20 cases were treated with ganciclovir (GCV) 5-10 mg/(kg x d) for 5 consecutive days. All these children were given general supportive therapies. Twenty healthy children from healthcare clinic serviced as control group.

RESULTSCD4 (%), CD8 (%) and the CD4/CD8 ratio in healthy control group were (34.12 +/- 3.53)%, (26.22 +/- 4.43)% and (1.41 +/- 0.3), in IVIG group were (24.2 +/- 4.3)%, (36.4 +/- 6.8)% and (0.72 +/- 0.12), and in GCV group were (23.7 +/- 5.1)%, (37.3 +/- 7.8)% and (0.67 +/- 0.13), respectively. CD4 (%), CD8 (%) and the ratio CD4/CD8 in the control group were significantly different from those in both groups with IM (P < 0.05). Compared with pre-treatment levels, the 28 cases treated with IVIG had significant improvement, the CD4 (%) increased, CD8 (%) decreased and the ratio of CD4/CD8 increased after treatment (P < 0.05). However, 20 cases in GCV treatment group made less changes (P > 0.05) . Meanwhile, the clinical symptoms and signs in the IVIG group were improved faster than that in the GCV group (P < 0.05). The rate of remission in IVIG group was 88.7% vs. 59.2% of GCV group (P < 0.05); the hospital days in IVIG group were (9.2 +/- 4.3) days vs. (13.8 +/- 5.1) days in the GCV (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONIt is indicated that the subsets of T lymphocytes in peripheral blood are obviously abnormal in children with IM caused by EBV infection in acute phase. IVIG can regulate the immunological derangements of T lymphocytes subsets, on which anti-viral therapy alone may have little impact.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Ganciclovir ; administration & dosage ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; administration & dosage ; Infant ; Infectious Mononucleosis ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Male ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy of 3 commonly used protocols for management of acute exacerbation of asthma in children.

METHODSTotally 113 asthmatic children were randomized into 3 groups. In group A (53 cases), the children were treated with inhalation of nebulized budesonide suspension plus salbutamol and ipratropium bromide twice daily for 5 days; in group B (41 cases), budesonide plus salbutamol and ipratropium aerosol was administered, and in group C (29 cases), dexathmisone plus aminophylline injection was given once daily for 5 days. All the children received basic treatment with fluid infusion, antibiotics or/and anti-virus medications.

RESULTSThe children in both groups A and C showed effectively controlled asthma attack, with significant differences in the therapeutic effects (P>0.05). In contrast, only a few children showed improvement in group B, suggesting the ineffectiveness of the treatment.

CONCLUSIONNebulized medicine is one of the best means for management of acute asthma exacerbation in children, and inhalation of budesonide suspension plus salbutamol and ipratropium bromide can effectively relieve the asthmatic symptoms in these children with good compliance and convenient administration.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Aerosols ; Albuterol ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; Bronchodilator Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Budesonide ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Ipratropium ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo generate an oncolytic herpes simplex virus (oHSV) permissive mouse melanoma cell line B16RHSV, preserving the tumorigenic ability in syngeneic mice.

METHODSThe herpes simplex virus entry mediator (HVEM) gene was amplified by PCR from human melanoma cell line A375, and cloned into pGEM-T Easy vector for sequencing. The HVEM gene was then cloned into pcDNA3 vector to generate pcDNA3-HVEM for transfection of mouse melanoma cell line B16-F10 cells. After that, the putative transfected cells were selected in full growth medium containing G418. The HVEM-expressing cells were isolated by immunomagnetic bead separation. The mouse melanoma cell line expressing oHSV receptor-HVEM, designated as B16RHSV, was generated. The permissibility of B16RHSV cells to oHSV infection was examined with green fluorescence protein (GFP)-expressing oHSV (oHSVGFP). To investigate the tumorigenic ability of both cells in vivo, 2×10(5) cells in 100 µl were subcutaneously inoculated into the right flanks of C57/BL mice.

RESULTSIn vitro, the B16RHSV mouse melanoma cells were shown by fluorescence microscopy capable of being infected by oHSVGFP. In vivo, the B16RHSV cells, like their wild type counterpart, grew to form melanoma in syngeneic mice.

CONCLUSIONA herpes simplex virus-permissive mouse melanoma cell line was established. Its tumorigenicity remained unchanged.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Genetic Vectors ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; genetics ; physiology ; Humans ; Melanoma ; pathology ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Plasmids ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Member 14 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Transfection ; Tumor Burden

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to construct a new oncolytic virus oHSV2hGM-CSF and evaluate its oncolytic activity in vitro and in vivo in parallel with oHSV1hGM-CSF.

METHODSoHSV2hGM-CSF was a replication-competent, attenuated HSV2 based on the HG52 virus (an HSV2 strain). It was engineered to be specific for cancer by deletion of the viral genes ICP34.5 and ICP47 and insertion of the gene encoding hGM-CSF. To measure the in vitro killing effect of the virus, 15 human tumor cell lines (HeLa, Eca-109, PG, HepG2, SK/FU, CNE-2Z, PC-3, SK-OV3, A-549, 786-0, MCF-7, Hep-2, HT-29, SK-Mel-28, U87-MG) and mouse melanoma (B16R) cell line were seeded into 24-well plates and infected with viruses at MOI = 1 (multiplicity of infection, MOI), or left uninfected. The cells were harvested 24 and 48 hours post infection, and observed under the microscope. For animal studies, the oncolytic viruses were administered intratumorally (at 3-day interval) at a dose of 2.3 x 10(6) PFU (plaque forming unit, PFU) for three times when the tumor volume reached 7-8 mm3. The tumor volume was measured at 3-day intervals and animal survival was recorded.

RESULTSBoth oHSV2hCM-CSFand oHSV1hGM-CSF induced widespread cytopathic effects at 24 h after infection. OHSV2hGM-CSF, by contrast, produced more plaques with a syncytial phenotype than oHSV1hGM-CSF. In the in vitro killing experiments for the cell lines HeLa, HepG2, SK-Mel-28, B16R and U87-MG, oHSV2hGM-CSF eradicated significantly more cells than oHSV1hGM-CSF under the same conditions. For the mouse experiments, it was observed that oHSV2hGM-CSF significantly inhibited the tumor growth. At 15 days after B16R tumor cells inoculation, the tumor volumes of the PBS, oHSV1hGCM-CSF and oHSV2hGM-CSF groups were (374.7 +/- 128.24) mm3, (128.23 +/- 45.32) mm3 (P < 0.05, vs. PBS group) or (10.06 +/- 5.1) mm3 (P < 0.01, vs. PBS group), respectively (mean +/- error). The long term therapeutic effect of oHSV2hGM-CSF on the B16R animal model was evaluated by recording animal survival over 110 days after tumor cells inoculation whereas all the mice in the PBS group died by day 22 (P < 0.01). The anti-tumor mechanism of the newly constructed oHSV2hGM-CSF against B16R cell tumor appeared to include the directly oncolytic activity and the induction of anti-tumor immunity to some degree.

CONCLUSIONThe findings of our study demonstrate that the newly constructed oHSV2hGM-CSF has potent anti-tumor activity in vitro to many tumor cell lines and in vive to the transplanted B16R tumor models.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genetic Engineering ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor ; genetics ; Herpesvirus 2, Human ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immediate-Early Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Melanoma, Experimental ; pathology ; therapy ; virology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Oncolytic Virotherapy ; methods ; Oncolytic Viruses ; genetics ; physiology ; Random Allocation ; Tumor Burden ; Viral Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

OBJECTIVETo investigate changes in the levels of Th2 cytokine interleukin-4 (IL-4), Th1 cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and TNF-alpha in serum of newborn infants with cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia.

METHODSTwenty-five neonatal cases who were positive for serum IgM antibody to CMV by ELISA were divided into IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group, and 15 healthy neonates were enrolled into the control group. The levels of IL-4, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha were detected by using double antibody ELISA for the control group and the intervention groups at the beginning and end of treatment.

RESULTSThe levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha in patients with CMV pneumonia were higher than that in the healthy neonates, while the levels of IL-4 were lower(t= 2.65 and 3.16, p less than 0.05). The level of IL-4 in patients with CMV pneumonia was significantly lower than that of the healthy neonates (t= 2.49, p less than 0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of IFN-gamma, IL-4 and TNF-alpha between IVIG intervention group and ganciclovir intervention group at the beginning of treatment (t= 1.85, 1.71, 1.76, p greater than 0.05). In IVIG intervention group, the levels of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha significantly decreased after treatment (t=3.98, 5.16, p less than 0.01), the level of IL-4 in this group was higher than that before treatment (t= 2.55, p less than 0.05). In ganciclovir group, the level of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha did not change after treatment (t=1.75, 1.16, p greater than 0.05), the level of IL-4 in this group was higher than that before treatment (t= 2.39, p less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThere seems to be an imbalance of Th1 and Th2 cytokines secretion in the infants with CMV pneumonia and, which may lead to immune-inflammation injury. IVIG can regulate imbalanced Th1/Th2 activities, therefore, immunomodulatory treatment should be applied besides antiviral therapy.

Cytokines ; blood ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male ; Pneumonia, Viral ; immunology ; Th1 Cells ; immunology ; Th2 Cells ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; blood

OBJECTIVETo provide reliable evidence of "J in three-needle therapy" for treatment of stroke.

METHODSMulti-central randomized controlled trials were adopted, 180 hemiplegia patients of ischemic stroke were randomly divided into a fin three-needle group (90 cases) and a routine acupuncture group (90 cases). Two groups were both treated with basic neurology therapies, and J in three-needle group was treated with J in three-needle therapy, three acupoints of tempora, hand and foot etc. were selected; the routine acupuncture group was treated with traditional acupuncture, Quchi (LI 11), Huantiao (GB 30), Futu (ST 32) etc. were selected. Both groups were treated with acupuncture for 5 weeks. The cognitive function score of functional comprehensive assessment scale (FCA), the scores of mini-mental state examination scale (MMSE) and modified Barthel index (BI) were compared before and after treatment between two groups. Results After treatment, the scores of FCA, MMSE and BI in both groups were significantly improved compared to those before treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05); the improvement of FCA score, MMSE score and BI score in the J in three-needle group were superior to those of the routine acupuncture group after treatment (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). The total effective rate of 85.4% in the J in three-needle group was superior to tohat of 70.0% in the routine acupuncture group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONJ in three-needle acupuncture treatment can obviously improve the cognitive function and activity ability of daily life of hemiplegia patients after stroke, and the therapeutic effect of J in three-needle therapy is superior to that of traditional acupuncture treatment.

Activities of Daily Living ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Aged ; Cognition ; Female ; Hemiplegia ; etiology ; psychology ; rehabilitation ; therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Stroke ; complications

BACKGROUNDAirway remodeling is the specific pathological characteristics of asthma, which is related to the clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, and airway hyperreactivity. This study aimed at exploring the effects of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergen-specific immunotherapy (SIT) on the serum interleukin (IL)-13 and pulmonary functions in asthmatic children.

METHODSFifty-eight pediatric asthma patients allergic to dust mite participated in this study. Thirty-five children received SIT with a standardized dermatophagoides pteronyssinus extract for one year (SIT group), and the other 23 children treated with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS group) according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) for one year. Serum levels of IL-13, IL-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma were examined and the pulmonary functions were checked before and after the treatment.

RESULTSAfter the treatment, the number of emergency visiting for asthma attack in SIT group was significantly less than that in ICS group. The serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 were clearly reduced, IFN-gamma and the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 were significantly increased, the pulmonary functions (forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second percentage (FEV(1)%) and peak expiratory flow percentage (PEF%) were significantly improved in the SIT group. Meanwhile, IFN-gamma and the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 were greatly increased, but serum levels of IL-4 and IL-13 had less changes, the pulmonary functions (FVC, FEV(1)% and PEF%) were poorly improved in ICS group. The basic pulmonary functions in both groups were at the same level, which had made more improvement in SIT group than in ICS group one year later.

CONCLUSIONSOne year of dermatophagoides pteronyssinus SIT can significantly reduce the frequencies of emergency visiting for asthma attack and improve the pulmonary functions of children with allergic asthma, and that is attributed to SIT, which can reduce the levels of IL-4 and IL-13 and regulate the imbalance of the Th1/Th2 cells in asthmatic children. All of these might be effective in preventing the asthmatic airway from remodeling.

Adolescent ; Animals ; Antigens, Dermatophagoides ; immunology ; Asthma ; blood ; immunology ; therapy ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; immunology ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Interferon-gamma ; blood ; Interleukin-13 ; blood ; Interleukin-4 ; blood ; Male