Clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment

Abstract Objective This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of serum microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors in children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia after azithromycin treatment. microRNA-146a is known to regulate inflammatory responses, and excessive inflammation is a primary characteristic of MPP. Methods Children with MPP received conventional symptomatic therapy along with intravenous administration of azithromycin for one week. Serum levels of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors were measured using RT-qPCR and ELISA kits, respectively. The correlation between microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was analyzed by the Pearson method. Pulmonary function indexes were assessed using a pulmonary function analyzer, and their correlation with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors after treatment was evaluated. Children with MPP were divided into effective and ineffective treatment groups, and the clinical significance of microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic curves and logistic multivariate regression analysis. Results Serum microRNA-146a was downregulated in children with MPP but upregulated after azithromycin treatment, contrasting with the trend observed for pro-inflammatory factors. MicroRNA-146a showed a negative correlation with pro-inflammatory cytokines. Pulmonary function parameters were initially reduced in children with MPP, but increased after treatment, showing positive/inverse associations with microRNA-146a and pro-inflammatory factors. Higher microRNA-146a and lower pro-inflammatory factors predicted better efficacy of azithromycin treatment. MicroRNA-146a, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC) were identified as independent factors influencing treatment efficacy. Conclusion Azithromycin treatment in children with MPP upregulates microRNA-146a, downregulates pro-inflammatory factors, and effectively improves pulmonary function.

Study on the effect and mechanism of Pirfenidone on endothelial-mesenchymal transition in endothelial cells / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM:To establish the hypoxia induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition(EndoMT)model of endothelial cells, and to investigate the effect and mechanism of Pirfenidone(PFD)on inhibiting the subretinal fibrosis progression.<p>METHODS: Primary cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVEC), 4-7 passages were used for experiments after cell identification. CoCl₂ induced hypoxia to establish the transformation model of endothelial cells into fibroblasts. CCK-8 was performed to detect cell proliferation rate and chose the optimal drug concentration. All cells were divided into 4 groups: control group(FBS-free), CoCl₂(200μmol/L)group, CoCl₂+0.3mg/mL PFD group, CoCl₂+0.6mg/mL PFD group. The protein expression of CD31, VE-cadherin, α-SMA, FSP1, p-p38 and p38 were detected by Western blot. Double immunofluorescence labeling method was used to observe the CD31/α-SMA expression. Wound healing assay detected the cell migration. The q-PCR was applied to detect the mRNA levels of TGF-β1 and SNAI1.<p>RESULTS: Compared with CoCl₂ group, PFD increased cell proliferation rate and inhibited cell migration significantly under hypoxia(<i>P</i><0.05). PFD decreased the protein expression of the mesenchymal markers α-SMA and FSP1, and increased the protein level of the endothelial markers CD31 and VE-cadherin(<i>P</i><0.05). Double immunofluorescence results showed that PFD could reduce the expression of α-SMA and increase the level of CD31(<i>P</i><0.05). In the process of EndoMT, the p38 protein expression level was stable(<i>P</i>>0.05). PFD down-regulated significantly the high protein expression of p-p38, and high mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and SNAI1 compared with control group(<i>P</i><0.05). There was no significant difference between the 0.3 and 0.6mg/mL PFD groups in all results above.<p>CONCLUSION: PFD can inhibit the formation of fibrosis in endothelial cells. TGF-β/p38MAPK signaling pathway might be one of the mechanisms that PFD regulates EndoMT progression. PFD will be expected to become a potential new sight on the treatment of subretinal fibrosis.

Characteristics of optical coherence tomography image in diabetic optic neuropathy / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

AIM:To analyze the characteristics of optical coherence tomography ( OCT ) in diabetic optic neuropathy ( DON ) retrospectively. ●METHODS:Retrospective study. A total of 175 cases of type ll diabetes with fundus lesions from Dec. 2013 to Dec. 2015 were selected and the clinical information was collected. These cases were diagnosed by consultation between Departments of Ophthalmology and Endocrinology in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi′an Jiao Tong University. The results of body examination were recorded and cases were examined by color fundus photography, fluorescein fundus angiography ( FFA) and OCT. All these data were analyzed. ●RESULTS: A total of 49 cases ( 90 eyes, 25. 7%) were diagnosed DON through FFA which manifested abnormal fluorescence in optic papilla. Results of OCT showed:among 90 eyes of DON patients, 15 eyes ( 16. 7%) had normal optic nerve form; 20 eyes(22. 2%) of excavation of optic disc became smaller or disappeared, with prelaminar tissue and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) swelling;26 eyes (28. 9%) manifested optic cup deep and cup/disc ratio increasing;18 eyes (20. 0%) had tissue hyperplasia in the hollow or on the surface of optic disc; 11 eyes(12. 3%) had symptoms including vitreous traction optic papilla and optic disc rim rising. DON eyes which had similar fluorescence features could manifest different tissue morph by OCT. ●CONCLUSION: FFA defines DON by change of blood circulation in optic nerve. However, OCT can show differences of tissue morph of optic nerve that FFA fails to do. So OCT can manifest the causes and sites of optic neuropathy more clearly and also provide basis for treatment. The advantages of OCT are conducive to reviews and curative effect tracking among DON patients and these advantages including noninvasive, convenient, inexpensive and repeatable.

Inclination towards a research career among first year medical students: an international study.

Introduction: The importance of fostering clinicians who are also scientists is well recognized. It is of value to assess medical students’ inclination towards and self-perceived readiness for a research career, as this has implications on the future development of such individuals. Methods: A questionnaire was self-administered to all consenting first year medical students from eleven universities in ten countries. Questions were asked pertaining to inclination towards research careers, confidence in research methodology and ability to understand medical literature. Results: A total of 1354 questionnaires were completed, with a mean response rate of 76.5%. While 24.8% students expressed an interest in pursuing a research career, 48.3% were undecided. Students with prior research experience and students who were attending graduate medical school programmes were more likely to have an interest in a research career after graduation. Males were more interested in learning about biostatistics than females, while the reverse was true for learning about research ethics. Discussion: Most students in their first year of medical school are not inclined towards a research career. This finding applies internationally, across different countries and medical school systems. Thus, the onus is on medical schools to help transform the perception and attitudes of their students during the course of their training, so that a greater proportion will be interested in and ultimately pursue research careers.

An investigation of the sexual physiological and psychological development of 2,770 high school students in Yibin / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the actual condition of the sexual physiological and psychological development of the high school students in Yibin in order to get a reliable basis for sexual education of the teenagers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>With a proportion of 1% to the whole, 2,770 students were randomly selected from eight high schools in the urban and rural areas of the city. We devised a questionnaire and asked each student to fill in his or her answers presently.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>So far as sexual physiological and psychological development was concerned, the high school students of Yibin were found rather precocious, with very little sexual knowledge and psychological endurance in sexual affairs and a relative lack of sexual education.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It is imperative to extend the scope of puberty sexual education in high schools. Teenagers must be taught different kinds of sexual knowledge at different periods of growth as well as how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and gestation. The sexual knowledge level of the teachers must also be raised. It is a must to establish service or specialist consultation hot lines about sexual knowledge for teenagers. Parents are expected to change their traditional views and assume an active role in the joint efforts of sexual education for their children.</p>

Efficacy evaluation of oral liquid of bambuterol hydrochloride in treatment children with asthma / 实用儿科临床杂志

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral liquid of bambuterol hydrochloride in treatment children with asthma. Methods One hundred and fifty cases as study group treated with oral liquid of bambuterol hydrochloride,50.cases as control group treated with etinoline. Results Two groups had good efficacy, however, gasp and lung wheezing were better improved in study group compared with control group after 1 week treatment(P

Effects of estrogen and wall-shear stress on rat osteblasts in vitro / 实用口腔医学杂志

Objective: To observed the efects of estrogen and wall-shear stress alone or in combination on the proliferation and function of rat osteoblast in vitro. Methods: Isolated and purified osteoblast from the calvaria of newborn SD rats were cultured and passaged.The cells of passes three to four were treated with 0.1 nmol/L estrogen (goup E),wall-shear stress at 80 r/min (group WSS) or 0.1 nmol/L combined with wall-sher stress at 80 r/min (group EWSS) respectively.Cell proliferation was studied by MTT assay and alkline phosphatase (ALP ) by a ALP test kit. Results: Both the estrogen and wall-shear stress alone caused the increase of cells proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity.But long period of wall-shear stress decreased the cell proliferation.Wall-shear stress increased ALP activity more quickly and more remarkably than the estrogen did.The combination of estrogen and wall-shear stress increased the cell proliferation and the ALP activity.In the early stage (6～24 h) of the cell proliferation, the combination functioned synergicly.The combination functioned antagonistically on ALP from 6 to 12 h while synergicly after 12 h. Conclusion: Estrogen and wall-shear stress can elevate the cell proliferation, ALP activity of osteoblasts in vitro.