Research Progress on the Mechanism of Tubulin in Megakaryopoiesis and Regulation of Platelet Count--Review / 中国实验血液学杂志

Tubulin affects platelets count through the control of mitosis and the formation of pro-platelets during the maturation of megakaryoblast to platelets. Tubulin is involved in maintaining the integrity of platelet skeleton, and also participates in the change of platelet morphology during platelet activation. Some new anti-tumor drugs targeting cell mitosis are trying to reduce the effect on tubulin in order to reduce the side effect of drugs on platelet formation. In some patients with thrombocytopenia, the variation and polymorphism of the tubulin gene affect the structure of microtubule multimers, which leads to the decrease of platelet formation. This review summarized the latest progresses of tubulin in the regulation of megakaryopoiesis and thrombopoiesis.

Genetic and Clinical Characteristics of A Family with Combined PROC and PROS1 Genetic Variants / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To test the anticoagulation functions, perform the genetic diagnosis and analyze the clinical characteristics in a family with combined heterozygous genetic variants of PROC and PROS1.@*METHODS@#Peripheral blood was collected from all the family members. Hematological phenotypes and activity of anticoagulant factors were analyzed. Target genes were amplified by PCR from DNA isolated from peripheral blood, and then were analyzed by Sanger DNA sequencing.@*RESULTS@#Many members in the family displayed the combined genetic variants in protein C and protein S, and six family members accompanied by deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The influences of genetic and secondary factors on the incidence of venous thrombosis in the family members were analyzed. The results showed that in this family, carriers of combined protein C and protein S gene defects had a higher incidence of VTE, but acquired factors still played a key role in the eventual thrombotic symptoms.@*CONCLUSION@#Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a multifactorial disease, the combined genetic heterozygous mutations of protein C and S is an important genetic factor, and the clinical phenotype show a high heterogenicity, the secondary factors contribute to the VTE incidence.

The effects of recombinant human beta-defensin-3 on expression of interleukin-17A and interleukin-22 in BEAS-2B cell / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To research the effects of recombinant human beta-defensin-3 (hBD-3) on expression of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) and interleukin-22 (IL-22) in BEAS-2B cell.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The BEAS-2B cells were stimulated with different concentrations of hBD-3 for 6 hours and 24 hours, respectively. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), IL-17A and IL-22 mRNA expression levels were determined by real-time PCR, and the expression levels of IL-17A and IL-22 protein were examined by enzyme linked immune-sorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TLR2 mRNA in BEAS-2B cells were significantly increased in a concentration-and time-dependent manner after stimulating by hBD-3 for 24 hours compared to 6 hours. The IL-17A has significantly increased in mRNA and protein levels stimulated 24 hours in a concentration of 100 ng/ml, however, IL-17A mRNA expression has increased while protein didn't change stimulated 6 hours in a concentration of 50 ng/ml. The IL-22 mRNA and protein expression reached peak levels after stimulating in a concentration of 50 ng/ml of hBD-3 while IL-22 expression declined in mRNA and protein levels as the concentration of hBD-3 increased.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Recombinant hBD-3 can up-regulated the expression of TLR2, IL-17A and IL-22, lower concentration of hBD-3 mainly increased the expression of IL-22 while higher concentration of hBD-3 mainly increased the expression of IL-17A. These results show that different concentrations of hBD-3 maybe activate different transcription factors which was mediated by TLR2, initiating host immune response.</p>

Etiology and epidemic characteristics of hospital acquired pneumonia in children / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the etiology and epidemic characteristics of hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP) in children.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>A retrospective hospital infection study was performed in 52,639 children admitted to our hospital from January 2005 to December 2008.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Six hundred and ninety eight patients were diagnosed as HAP. The incidence of HAP was 1.33%, among which, 108 (15.47%) cases were early-onset HAP and 590 (84.53%) were late-onset HAP. The HAP patients aged 3 days to 15 years (503 male and 195 female). The proportion of patients younger than 1 year was 51.4%. Main underlying diseases were cytomegalovirus hepatitis, congenital heart disease, malignant tumor, granulocytopenia or agranulocytosis, prematurity and low birth weight. There was significant difference in the incidences among different departments with the highest one seen in ICU, followed by departments of infectious diseases, hematology and digestive diseases. Two hundred and thirty one stains of pathogens were identified from sputum of 355 cases. One hundred and fifty six (67.5%) strains were Gram-negative bacteria, which accounted for the highest proportion. There were 30 (13.0%) Gram-positive bacterial strains, and 29 (12.6%) respiratory tract virus strains, and 15 (6.5%) fungal strains, and 1 (0.4%) mycoplasma strain. The predominant bacterial pathogens were Klebsiella pneumoniae, followed by Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii. The isolation rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli with positive extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) were 94.8% and 85.7%, respectively. Those two bacteria were universally resistant to the third and forth generations cephalosporins. The main pathogens of early-onset HAP were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, while the main pathogens of late-onset HAP were ESBLs-positive Klebsiella pneumonia, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Burkholderia cepacia, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumannii.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HAP in children is most common in children younger than 1 year and with underlying diseases. The main pathogens are Gram-negative bacteria. RSV was an important pathogen of HAP. The pathogens of early-onset HAP are different from those of late-onset HAP. These results may be of some help in prevention and control of HAP in children and in guiding for rational application of antibiotics, especially the empirical antibiotic choice.</p>

A comparative study of sentinel lymph node detection in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma by lymphoscintigraphy method and blue dye / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical value of sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma patients with clinically negative neck (cN0) by lymphoscintigraphy method and blue dye.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty patients with cN0 laryngeal neoplasms and ten patients with cN0 hypopharyngeal carcinoma scheduled for tumor resection and neck dissection, were eligible for the study. single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT lymphoscintigraphy was performed with injection of radioactivity isotope ⁹⁹Tc(m) labeled sulfur colloid (⁹⁹Tc(m)-SC). Methylthioninium was injected into the same points as ⁹⁹Tc(m)-SC during surgery, and the patients underwent lymphatic mapping with a handheld gamma-detecting probe. All removed lymph nodes were examined by routine histopathology.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-five patients with laryngeal carcinoma and six patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma detected SLN by radiolabeled tracer method, the detection rate of SLN was 82.0%. Twenty-nine patients with laryngeal carcinoma and 4 patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma detected SLN by blue dye method, the detection rate of SLN was 66.0%. There were significant difference between two groups (chi² = 2.769, P < 0.05), and the number of SLN were respectively 96 and 83 by radiolabeled tracer method and blue dye (chi² = -2.098, P < 0.05), The sensitivity of SLN detection were respectively 83.3% and 66.7%. Twelve (24.0%) patients had lymph node metastasis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Either lymphoscintigraphy or blue dye mapping can be used to detect the SLN in cN0 laryngeal and hypopharyngeal carcinoma. The lymphoscintigraphy not only preoperatively can locate the accuracy of SLN detection, but also has higher detection rate and sensitivity than dye method.</p>