OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on the short-term immune function of type 2 diabetic patients and to explore the correlation between the immune regulatory effect and blood glucose control.

METHODSClinical data of 28 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery in our hospital during January 2014 to January 2015 were retrospectively collected. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM), T lymphocytes CD3(+), killer T cells CD3(+)CD8(+), helper T cells CD3(+)CD4(+), natural killer(NK) cell subsets CD16(+),CD56(+) and B cell subsets CD19(+),CD45(+) levels were detected and compared between before and after surgery. Correlation of immunoglobulin and immune cell subsets with the level of FBG and HbA1c were examined.

RESULTSAfter operation, FBG and HbA1c decreased significantly from (5.78±1.15) mmol/L to (14.21±1.89) mmol/L, and (9.96±0.97)% to (6.87±0.69)%, respectively (all P<0.05), and immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM) increased significantly [IgG: from(9.41±1.23) g/L to (12.74±1.61) g/L, IgM: from (1.71±0.22) g/L to (2.43±0.39) g/L, IgA: from (1.25±0.26) g/L to (1.97±0.23) g/L, all P<0.05]. Besides, T lymphocytes CD3(+), killer T cells CD3(+)CD8(+) and B cell subsets CD19(+)CD45(+) elevated significantly as well [T lymphocytes CD3(+): from (55.3±3.8)% to (67.6±4.6)%, killer T cells CD3(+)CD8(+): from (15.6±5.3)% to (28.7±4.2)%, B cell subsets CD19(+)CD45(+): from (8.4±3.7)% to (18.1±4.1)%, respectively, all P <0.05]. There was no significant difference in the expression of helper T cells CD3(+)CD4(+) and natural killer cell subsets CD16(+)CD56(+) between pre-operation and post-operation(all P>0.05). Levels of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM), CD4(+)/CD8(+) ratio and B cell subsets were negatively correlated with HbA1c and FBG levels (IgG with FBG: r=-0.865, IgA with FBG: r=-0.887, IgM with FBG: r=-0.902, CD4(+)/CD8(+) with FBG: r=-0.956, CD19(+)CD45(+) with FBG: r=-0.834; IgG with HbA1C: r=-0.859, IgA with HbA1C: r=-0.957, IgM with HbA1C: r=-0.843, CD4(+)/CD8(+) with HbA1C: r=-0.912, CD19(+)CD45(+) and HbA1C: r=-0.885, all P<0.05), but the proportion of NK cells was not significantly correlated with HbA1c and FBG (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLaparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has good effect on the immune function of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Improvement of immune function is correlated with the control of FBG and HbA1c.

Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; immunology ; surgery ; Gastric Bypass ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Laparoscopy ; Lymphocyte Subsets ; immunology ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies

INTRODUCTIONIn 2006, Singapore adopted the universal hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIg) policy. Since then, all infants of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive mothers receive HBIg, irrespective of maternal hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) status. However, the benefits of HBIg for infants of HBeAg-negative mothers are unclear. We compared the vertical transmission rates among children of HBeAg-negative mothers who were given HBIg versus a retrospective cohort who were not given HBIg, to determine its protective effect.

METHODSThis observational study involved pregnant HBsAg-positive women seen at National University Hospital, Singapore, between June 2009 and December 2013. If the infants of these mothers completed the recommended vaccination schedule, they were recruited into the study, along with their older siblings. Serological testing for the children was performed three months after completion of the last dose of vaccine, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface gene sequencing was carried out if HBV DNA was detected.

RESULTSA total of 111 infants and 47 siblings were recruited. 2 (1.5%) children were found to have vertical transmission despite receiving HBIg, while no incidences of vertical transmission were found among the historical controls who did not receive HBIg (p = 1.00).

CONCLUSIONThe overall effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination programme for children of HBsAg-positive mothers was high, regardless of HBIg administration. The addition of HBIg did not appear to confer additional benefits, in terms of vertical transmission rate, among infants born to HBeAg-negative mothers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; immunology ; prevention & control ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; administration & dosage ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; immunology ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control ; Male ; Mutation ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ; virology ; Retrospective Studies ; Siblings

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to conduct a preliminary study on the possible role and significance of interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-27 in the pathogeneses of oral lichen planus (OLP).

METHODSThirty cases of patients with OLP (fifteen cases of reticular OLP and fifteen cases of erosive OLP) were enrolled in this study, and twenty cases of healthy people served as controls. Lymphocyte subsets CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, and CD16+56 [natural killer cell (NK)] were tested using flow cytometry, and humoral immunity [immunoglobulin (Ig)G, IgA, IgM, C3, C4] were examined using nephelometry assays. IL-12 and IL-27 contents in serum of patients with OLP and normal controls were detected through enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The correlations between the levels of IL-12, IL-27, immune status, and clinical characteristics of patients with OLP were analyzed, respectively.

RESULTSCD3+, CD4+, and CD8+in patients with OLP were markedly lower than the normal value, whereas CD 19+ of OLP in patients was significantly higher than the normal value (P<0.05). IgM inpatients with OLP was increased, whereas C4 was declined (P<0.05). IL-12 and IL-27 levels showed significant upregulation or ULF patients compared with control groups (P<0.05). Meanwhile, positive correlations existed between IL-12 andIL-27 levels in the serum of patients with OLP (r=0.912, P<0.01). No significant correlations of IL-12 and IL-27 epressions with clinical characteristics of OLP were found (P>0.05). Negative correlations of IL-12 and IL-27 levels with CD16+56(NK) cells were observed (r1 = -0.416, P1 = 0.022; r2 = -0.392, P2=0.032, respectively), whereas a positive correlation existed for IgG (r1=0.445, P1=0.014; n=0.549, P2=0.002, respectively).

CONCLUSIONA cellular immune dysfunction mainly dominate in patients with OLP, accompanied by some degree of humoral-immunity-function disorder. The abnormally high expressions of IL-12 and IL-27 are possibly synergized and promoted inflammation development in OLP. Its promotion takes place through the negatie feedback regulation of humoral immune responses, which are involved in the regulation of immune mechanisms of OLP.

Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Interleukin-12 ; blood ; Interleukin-12 Subunit p35 ; metabolism ; Interleukin-27 ; blood ; Interleukins ; metabolism ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lichen Planus, Oral ; blood ; immunology

INTRODUCTIONAnti-thyroid antibodies are associated with extra-thyroid diseases such as Graves' ophthalmopathy and Hashimoto's encephalopathy. Some evidence suggests that anti-thyroid antibodies are also associated with depression. Interleukin (IL)-17 appears to play an important role in autoimmune thyroid disease. This study investigated whether specific thyroid autoantibodies and IL-17 distinguished persons with depression from non-depressed controls.

MATERIALS AND METHODSForty-seven adult females with non-psychotic, current major depressive disorder and 80 healthy female controls participated in this study. Thyroid peroxidase antibodies, thyroglobulin antibodies, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor antibodies, free T3 and T4, TSH and IL-17 were measured from the serum. Measurements were repeated to assess test-retest reliability. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to estimate discriminatory values of the measurements. Differences between groups and associations between the clinical and biochemical assessments were analysed.

RESULTSMedian TSH receptor antibody concentration was significantly higher in the depressed than control group (P <0.001). Area under the ROC curve was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.73 to 0.88). Higher TSH receptor antibody titres were associated with greater depression severity scores (r = 0.33, P <0.05). IL-17 levels were not associated with TSH receptor antibody levels or depression severity scores. Thyroid function and other thyroid autoantibodies were not associated with depression severity.

CONCLUSIONTSH receptor antibodies might be a biomarker of immune dysfunction in depression.

Adult ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Depressive Disorder, Major ; diagnosis ; immunology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating ; blood ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; Middle Aged ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales ; ROC Curve ; Statistics as Topic ; Thyroid Gland ; immunology

Body fat is an important source of adipokine, which is associated with energy balance and inflammatory and immune responses. However, the role of adipokines in coronary artery complications in Kawasaki disease (KD) has not yet been fully explained. We investigated whether serum adipokine level can be a useful marker for patients with KD who are at higher risk of developing coronary artery lesion (CAL). We measured adipokine levels and other inflammatory parameters in 40 patients with KD, 32 febrile controls, and 15 afebrile controls. Interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and other laboratory parameters were also measured before and after intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, and in the convalescent phase. At admission, the serum resistin levels in KD children were significantly higher than those in controls (177.56 ng/mL in KD children, 76.48 ng/mL in febrile controls, and 17.95 ng/mL in afebrile controls). In patients with KD, resistin levels were significantly associated with decreased hemoglobin levels (P=0.049) and increased IL-6 levels (P=0.014). The serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher and body mass index was significantly lower in the group of KD with CALs than those without CALs (228.26 ng/mL vs. 39.18 ng/mL and 15.09 vs. 16.60, respectively). In conclusion, resistin is significantly elevated in KD patients, although it has no prognostic value of predicting coronary artery lesion in the acute stage.
Biological Markers/*blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels/pathology ; Echocardiography ; Female ; Hemoglobins/analysis ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins, Intravenous/therapeutic use ; Inflammation/blood/immunology ; Interleukin-6/*blood ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/*blood/pathology ; Resistin/*blood ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*blood

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a group of neuro-developmental disorders in early childhood which are defined by social difficulties, communication deficits and repetitive or restrictive interests and behaviours. The etiology of ASD remains poorly understood. Much research has shown that children with ASD suffer from immunological dysfunction. This article reviews the current research progress on immunological dysfunction in children with ASD, including abnormalities in immune cells, antibodies, complements, cytokines, major histocompatibility complex and their potential association with ASD, and explores the impacts of maternal immunological activation on the immune dysfunction of children with ASD.
Autoantibodies ; blood ; Child ; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive ; etiology ; immunology ; Cytokines ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the characteristics of immune function in newborn infants of different gestational ages.

METHODSA total of 115 premature infants free of infection between June 1, 2012 and June 1, 2013 were divided into two groups according to their gestational age at birth: early preterm infant group (28-33+6 weeks, n=57) and late preterm infant group (34-36+6 weeks, n=58). Meanwhile, 88 full-term infants (37-41+6 week) were recruited to the control group. Venous blood samples were collected within 24 hours after birth. The percentages of lymphocyte subsets, such as CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ T cells and natural killer (NK) cells were measured by flow cytometry, and the absolute count of each population was calculated using the results from routine blood work. Concentrations of serum IgG, IgA, and IgM were measured by immunoturbidimetry.

RESULTSBoth preterm infant groups had significantly higher percentages of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells and CD4+/CD8+ ratio (P<0.05) and significantly lower percentages of CD8+ and CD19+ T cells and NK cells (P<0.05), as compared with the full-term infant group. The absolute counts of total lymphocytes, CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ T cells, and NK cells in both preterm infant groups were significantly lower than those in the full-term infant group (P<0.05), and the above parameters in the late preterm infant group were significantly higher than those in the early preterm infant group (P<0.05). Both preterm infant groups showed significantly lower concentrations of serum IgG than the full-term infant group (P<0.05), while no significant differences in concentrations of serum IgA and IgM were observed between the three groups (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSNeonatal gestational age has an effect on cellular and humoral immunity. The immune function gradually improves with increasing gestational age.

CD4-CD8 Ratio ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; immunology ; Lymphocyte Count

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical therapeutic effect of OM-85 BV(OM-85 Broncho-Vaxom) in children with asthma and recurrent respiratory tract infection, and the effect of OM-85 BV on human β-defensins 1 (hBD-1) and immunoglobulin levels.

METHODSSixty-two children with asthma and recurrent respiratory infection treated between 2011 January and December were divided into two groups by the randomized, double blind method: a treatment group and a control group. With inhaling corticosteroids, the treatment group was given OM-85 BV, and the control group was given a placebo. Clinical curative effects and adverse reactions were observed. Serum levels of hBD-1, IgA, IgG, IgM and urea and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured before treatment and 6 months and 12 months after treatment.

RESULTSCompared with the control group and before treatment, the frequency of respiratory tract infection was reduced in the treatment group 6 months and 12 months after treatment (P<0.05), and serum levels of hBD-1, IgA and IgG in the treatment group increased significantly (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum levels of urea, ALT and IgM between the control and treatment groups (P>0.05). Mild adverse reactions occurred in 3 cases in the two groups, 2 cases of abdominal pain and 1 cases of constipation.

CONCLUSIONSOM-85 BV can improve serum levels of hBD-1, IgA and IgG, reduce the occurrence of acute respiratory tract infection and cause mild adverse reactions, suggesting its satisfactory therapeutic effect and safety in the treatment of asthma combined with recurrent respiratory tract infection in children.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; therapeutic use ; Asthma ; drug therapy ; immunology ; Cell Extracts ; therapeutic use ; Child, Preschool ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Male ; Recurrence ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; drug therapy ; immunology ; beta-Defensins ; blood

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene in female BALB/c mice.

METHODSFemale mice weighing 18-22 g were divided into five groups (10 mice/group), which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control group and positive control group were fed with AIN93G diet, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (the proportion is 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus, white blood cell count, histological examination of immune organ, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell, serum half hemolysis value, mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected.

RESULTSNo immunotoxicological effects related to the consumption of the genetically modified wheat were observed in BALB/c mice when compared with parental wheat group, common wheat group and negative control group.

CONCLUSIONFrom the immunotoxicological point of view, results from this study demonstrate that genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene is as safe as the parental wheat.

Animals ; Antibody-Producing Cells ; immunology ; Body Weight ; Cytokines ; blood ; Female ; Genes, Plant ; Hemolysis ; Hypersensitivity, Delayed ; Immune System ; drug effects ; Immunoglobulins ; blood ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Organ Size ; Phagocytosis ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; toxicity ; Spleen ; immunology ; Thymus Gland ; immunology ; Triticum ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo determine the effective dose of hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) for clearing maternally-transmitted hepatitis B virus (HBV) from a newborn.

METHODSFull-term neonates born to HBV-infected mothers were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and HBV DNA in venous blood, Individuals with positive results within two hours after birth were selected for study, and divided among two treatment groups: research group receiving HBIG continually adjusted to quantitative levels of neonatal HBsAg and HBV DNA levels; control group receiving standard HBIG 200IU dose. All neonates were also treated with 10 micrograms of recombinant vaccine. The decreases in HBsAg and HBV DNA over 12 months were comparatively analyzed between the two treatment groups.

RESULTSThe two treatment groups (HBIG adjusted vs. standard) were statistically similar in Apgar score (9.38+/-0.49 vs. 9.37+/-0.48), neonate body weight (3458.67+/-374.93 vs. 3558.61+/-322.85 g), maternal age (26.33+/-3.63 vs. 25.33+/-3.03), and initial HBsAg and HBV DNA levels (rank sum test Z = 1.381, and Z = 0.700, respectively) (all, P more than 0.05). Successful clearance of HBV infection within 12 months was achieved in significantly more neonates in the HBIG adjusted therapy group than in the standard therapy group (82.8% vs. 57.4%; x2 = 9.696, P less than 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdjusting the neonatal HBIG dose according to HBsAg and HBV DNA levels can improve the success rate of clearing maternally-transmitted HBV.

DNA, Viral ; Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic ; Female ; Hepatitis B ; prevention & control ; therapy ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; immunology ; Hepatitis B virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Infant, Newborn ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ; prevention & control