Efficacy of infliximab in the treatment of Crohn's disease in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of infliximab in the treatment of Crohn's disease in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirteen children who were diagnosed with Crohn's disease and received routine comprehensive treatment and infliximab (5 mg/kg) between January 2011 and December 2014 were enrolled. The changes in their clinical manifestations, laboratory indices, and Pediatric Crohn's Disease Activity Index (PCDAI) after the 30-week treatment were analyzed retrospectively. Meanwhile, endoscopy was performed to evaluate therapeutic effects.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloody stool were relieved soon after infliximab treatment, with no recurrence observed; after the 30-week treatment, the white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and the PCDAI decreased, while the hemoglobin increased significantly compared with those before treatment (P<0.05). After infliximab treatment, two children underwent endoscopy. The endoscopy showed that one child was cured, and the other child failed to respond to the treatment. No adverse drug reactions were seen in all patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Infliximab treatment has significant clinical effects in children with Crohn's disease, with no obvious adverse reactions, and therefore, it can be applied as one of the preferred alternatives for treatment of Crohn's disease in children.</p>

Screening and identification of high-yield poly(β-malic acid) bacterial strain / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To isolate and identify the high-yield poly-malic acid (PMLA) bacterial strains from the nature.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples were collected and cultured. The high-yield PMLA bacterial strains were screened through morphological observation, qualitative PMLA tests by HPLC and ITS sequence analysis on the isolated bacterial strains.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A high-yield PMLA strain II 04 was isolated, the yield of PMLA of the strain reached to 26.23g/L in the rotary shaker at 25 degree for 7d. From morphological observation and ITS sequences analysis, the strain belonged to Aureobasidium pullulans, and named as Aureobasidium pullulans ZUCC-41.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A high-yield bacterial strain has been isolated from the nature and identified to be Aureobasidium pullulans.</p>

Protective effects of recombinant intestinal trefoil factor against intestinal injuries induced by endotoxin in young rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of recombinant intestinal trefoil factor (rITF) against intestinal injuries and the possible mechanism by examining the changes of diamine oxidase (DAO) and TNF-alpha and the intestinal ultrastructural changes in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced intestinal injuries.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ninety-six ten-day-old Wistar rats were randomly injected with either normal saline (1 mL/kg, Control group), LPS (1 mL/kg) or LPS (1 mL/kg) + rITF (0.1 mL) intraperioneally. At 2, 6, 24 and 72 hrs after administration plasma DAO activity was determined using absorption spectrometry; and the intestinal protein and mRNA expression of TNF-alpha were measured using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR methods. The intestinal ultrastructural changes were observed by electron microscopy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The plasma DAO activity in the LPS group began to increase at 2 hrs, peaked at 6 hrs and remained at significantly higher levels until 72 hrs after administration compared with the Control group (P < 0.01). The plasma DAO activity in the LPS + rITF group decreased noticeably compared with the LPS group at all time points (P < 0.01 or 0.05). A significant difference in the plasma DAO activity was only observed at 6 hrs after administration between the LPS + rITF and the Control group. The expression of TNF-alpha protein in the LPS group significantly increased at each time point, peaking at 6 hrs after LPS administration, with the IODT of TNF-alpha of 37,247.64 +/- 3,387.59 vs 6,191.02 +/- 482.32 (P < 0.01) compared with the Control group. rITF treatment decreased the expression of TNF-alpha protein although it remained significantly higher than in the Control group (P < 0.01). The TNF-alpha mRNA was weakly expressed in the Control group but strikingly increased after LPS injection (P < 0.01). Compared with the LPS group, the TNF-alpha mRNA expression in the LPS + rITF group decreased at all time points (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Vacuole changes of mitochodrium, cell nucleus condense, break and depletion of part of microvilli, and widen and disrupted tight junction were observed in the LPS group. The ultrastructural changes of intestinal tissues were improved in the LPS + rITF group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>rITF can decrease the plasma DAO activity and inhibit the expression of TNF-alpha, resulting in a protective effect against intestinal injuries induced by LPS in young rats.</p>