ObjectiveThis study aims to compare the modeling effects of submaxillary gland antigen and salivary gland antigen in the establishment of Sjögren syndrome (SS) mouse models, and to characterize the phenotypic and immunological features of these models in comparison with spontaneous SS-prone non-obese diabetic (NOD)/LtJ mice. MethodsAdult C57BL/6J mice (equal numbers of males and females) were immunized with submaxillary gland antigen or salivary gland antigen, respectively, combined with Freund's adjuvant to induce SS models. Mice immunized with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) combined with Freund's adjuvant served as the control group. Immunization was induced via multiple subcutaneous injections in the back with antigen combined with Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA) on Days 1 and 7. A booster immunization was administered via multiple subcutaneous injections in the back with antigen combined with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA) on Day 14. Female NOD/LtJ mice were used as the spontaneous SS model group, with ICR mice as the corresponding control strain for comparative analysis. Body weight, water intake, and salivary flow rate of mice were dynamically monitored for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, tissue and serum samples were collected, the weights of submaxillary glands, thymus, and spleen were measured, and organ indices (organ-to-body weight ratios) were calculated. Pathological morphological analysis of the submaxillary gland and spleen was performed with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) level was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA expression levels of SS type A (SSA) and SS type B (SSB) in submaxillary gland tissues. ResultsFemale mice in the submaxillary gland antigen group exhibited significantly increased water intake (P<0.05) and reduced salivary flow rate (P<0.05) compared with the female control group. No statistically significant differences were observed in the submaxillary gland index, thymus index and spleen index (P>0.05). Focal lymphocytic infiltration was observed in the submaxillary glands, and the splenic marginal zone was enlarged. Serum IL-17 levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in submaxillary gland SSA/SSB expression levels (P>0.05). Compared with the female control group, female mice in the salivary gland antigen group showed no statistically significant differences in water intake, salivary flow rate, submaxillary gland index, and spleen index (P>0.05), whereas the thymus index was significantly reduced (P<0.01). Mild inflammatory cell infiltration and glandular atrophy were observed in the submaxillary glands, and the splenic white pulp and marginal zone were slightly enlarged. Serum IL-17 levels and submaxillary gland SSB mRNA expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.01), whereas no significant change was observed in submaxillary gland SSA expression levels (P>0.05). Compared with the male control group, mild submaxillary gland atrophy was observed in male mice in the submaxillary gland antigen group, whereas no obvious changes were found in other modeling-related indicators (P>0.05). Compared with the ICR control group, NOD/LtJ model mice exhibited elevated water intake (P<0.05), significantly reduced salivary flow rate (P<0.01), no significant differences in the submaxillary gland index or spleen index (P>0.05), but a significantly increased thymus index (P<0.05). Marked focal infiltration was observed in the submaxillary glands, the splenic marginal zone was obviously enlarged, and serum IL-17 concentrations as well as submaxillary gland SSA/SSB expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). ConclusionSubmaxillary gland antigen and salivary gland antigen can induce SS-related features in female C57BL/6J mice. The SS-related phenotype is more pronounced in the submaxillary gland antigen group than in the salivary gland antigen group, but weaker than that in spontaneously SS-prone female NOD/LtJ mice. Immunization of male C57BL/6J mice with submaxillary or salivary gland antigens fails to induce an obvious SS phenotype.

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a very important pathogen, especially for children.On a global scale, GAS is an important cause of morbidity and mortality.But the burden of disease caused by GAS is still unknown in China and also has not obtained enough attention.For this purpose, the expert consensus is comprehensively described in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of GAS diseases in children, covering related aspects of pneumology, infectiology, immunology, microbiology, cardiology, nephrology, critical care medicine and preventive medicine.Accordingly, the consensus document was intended to improve management strategies of GAS disease in Chinese children.

Objective To evaluate left ventricular systolic function by real-time three-dimension speckle tracking imaging (RT3D-STI) in coronary artery diseases (CHD) patients,to determine the clinical value of RT3D-STI in CHD.Methods 34 control subjects and 55 patients with CHD by coronary angiography were involved.Left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS),left ventricular global circumferential strain (GCS),left ventricular global radial strain (GRS),left ventricular global area strain (GAS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF),etc,was acquired by RT3D-STI,respectively.The parameters by RT3D-STI to diagnose CHD were analyzed.Results Compared with control group,GLS,GCS,GRS and GAS were significantly decreased in CHD group (P ＜ 0.05).The area under receiver operating characteristics (AUC) curve of GLS to diagnose CHD was 91.6％.The cutoff value,the sensitivity and Youden index of GLS were-12.5,90.3 ％ and 0.612,respectiuely.The cutoff value,the sensitivity and Youden index of GAS were-23.0,95.8％ and 0.539,respectiuely.GLS,GAS correlated well with LVEF in CHD group (r =-0.860,r =-0.926).Conclusions GLS is the most sensitivity and GAS is the most specificity in the all of strain parameters.RT3D-STI can early show the changes of left ventricular global systolic function in patients with CHD.

BACKGROUND: Ligustrazine possesses the effect to reduce ototoxicity of gentamicin, whether does it antagonize the ototoxicity of gentamicin through influencing the expression of heat shock protein (HSP) 70 in cochlea of guinea pigs with gentamicin induced ototoxicity? BJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of ligustrazine on the expression of HSP70 in cochlea of guinea pigs with gentamicin induced ototoxicity through immunohistochemistry and image analysis technique in combination with the measurement of auditory brainstem response (ABR).DESIGN: A randomized controlled study, and linear correlation analysis. ETTING: Physiological Department of Shenyang Medical College and Audiological Laboratory of China Medical University.MATERIALS: Totally 40 white and red-eye healthy guinea pigs of lean grade and with keen auricle reflect, weighing 200 - 250 g, of either gender, were at random divided as gentamicin group, ligustrazine + gentamicin group, ligustrazine group, and normal control group, with 10 in each group.METHODS: Ligustrazine injection 140 mg/kg was intraperitoneally at the left side given for animals in ligustrazine + gentamicin group, and at the same time gentamicin sulfate injection 100 mg/kg was given intraperitoneally at the right side. The same dosage of gentamicin sulfate injection was intraperitoneally given for animals in gentamicin group. The same dosage of ligustrazine was intraperitoneally give for animals in ligustrazine group. The normal saline 2.5 mL/kg was intraperitoneally given for animals in normal control group. Administration was consecutively given for 10 days for each group, once a day. The body mass was measured every day for regulating the dosage. Before starting and after finishing the administration, the thresholds of ABR of all animals in each group were measured respectively. After finishing administration, all animals in each group were put to death, and the conditions of expressions of HSP70 in cochlea of guinea pigs were investigated by SABC immunohistochemistry and image analysis technology.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ① the thresholds of ABR of all animals in each group; ② expressions of HSP70 in cochlea of guinea pigs in each group.RESULTS: ① The thresholds of ABR of guinea pigs: The thresholds in ligustrazine + gentamicin group and gentamicin group were obviously higher than that in normal control group [(21.09±4.50) dBnHL, (36.55±6.13)dBnHL, (2.50±2.75) dBnHL, t=15.764-22.665, P ＜ 0.001]. The threshold in ligustrazine + gentamicin group was obviously lower than that in gentamicin group (t=9.092, P ＜ 0.001). ② The expressions of HSP70 in each part of cochlea of guinea pigs: The mean gray values of cellular HSP70 positive reaction products in Corti's organ, vascular stria and spiral ligament, spiral limbus and spiral ganglion in gentamicin group were lower than those in normal control group (88.24±4.34, 96.85±1.05; 121.24±0.92,128.76±1.59; 96.15±1.10, 98.78±0.54; 117.73±1.18, 120.51±0.80, t=6.097-18.307, P ＜ 0.001). The mean gray values of cellular HSP70 positive reaction products in ligustrazine + gentamicin group were lower than those in gentamicin group (92.53±2.25, 88.24±4.34; 125.20±1.43, 121.24±0.92;98.71±0.91, 96.15±1.10, 118.91±0.46, 117.73±1.18, t=3.925-10.415, P＜ 0.001).③ The mean gray value of cellular HSP70 positive reaction products in each part of cochlea of guinea pigs was highly correlated with the threshold of ABR (r=-0.814 1 to -0.984 1, P ＜ 0.001).CONCLUSION: Ligustrazine could reduce the threshold of ABR and the expression of HSP70 in cochlea with gentamicin toxicosis so as to relieve gentamicin ototoxic injury, hence improving auditory function.