Correlation between fractional exhaled nitric oxide and airway reversibility in children with IgE-mediated asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the correlation between fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and airway reversibility in children with IgE-mediated asthma.@*METHODS@#A total of 86 children, aged 6-14 years, who were initially diagnosed with acute attack of asthma from September 2016 to August 2018 were enrolled as subjects. According to the results of serum specific IgE, they were divided into IgE mediated group with 61 children and non-IgE mediated group with 25 children. According to the results of allergen detection, the IgE mediated group was further divided into four groups with one, two, three, and four or more positive allergens. FeNO and the parameters of pulmonary ventilation function before and after dilation test were measured. Pearson correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation of FeNO with each parameter of pulmonary function.@*RESULTS@#The IgE mediated group had significantly higher FeNO than the non-IgE mediated group (P0.05). In the non-IgE mediated group, FeNO level was not correlated with the above indicators (P>0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#FeNO level is associated with the degree of allergies. For children with IgE-mediated asthma, FeNO is positively correlated with airway reversibility, which has a certain value in the diagnosis of asthma, disease evaluation, and understanding of airway reversibility. For children with non-IgE-mediated asthma, FeNO cannot be used to evaluate airway reversibility. These two types of asthma should be treated differently.

Epidemiological survey of asthma among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease, among children aged 0-14 years in 2010 in urban Zhongshan, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 10 336 children aged 0-14 years were selected from urban Zhongshan by cluster random sampling. The Third National Childhood Asthma Epidemiological Questionnaire 2010 was used to analyze the prevalence, current treatment, and clinical characteristics of childhood asthma, as well as the risk factors for this disease.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Asthma was diagnosed in 179 cases (1.73%). The prevalence of asthma in male children was significantly higher than that in female children (2.25% vs 1.16%; P<0.01). Of the 179 patients, severe attacks were common in 104 cases (58.1%), 110 cases (61.5%) had slow onset, 102 cases (57.0%) had gradually relieved conditions, 61 cases (34.1%) suffered from asthma during seasonal transition, and 150 cases (83.8%) developed asthma due to respiratory tract infection. Among all asthmatic children, 71.5% had been treated with inhaled corticosteroids, and 71.5% had been treated with bronchodilator. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that a history of penicillin allergy, a family history of allergy, food allergy, eczema, allergic rhinitis, cesarean delivery, family mould, and perinatal passive smoking were independent risk factors for childhood asthma.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The prevalence of childhood asthma in urban Zhongshan is on a high level, and is associated with gender. The treatment of asthma has been standardized, but still needs further improvement. The onset of asthma attack is influenced by various factors.</p>

Association of ORMDL3 single nucleotide polymorphisms with lysophosphatidylcholine and apolipoprotein B levels in children with asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the association of ORMDL3 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC) and apolipoprotein B (apoB) levels.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 300 children diagnosed with bronchial asthma between January 2010 and December 2012 were selected for the asthma group, and 298 children diagnosed with upper respiratory tract infection in the same period were selected for the control group. Serum LysoPC and apoB levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Genotype analysis was performed using the TaqMan probe.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>LysoPC and apoB levels were significantly higher in the asthma group than in the control group (P<0.01). Among children with various genotypes of ORMDL3 gene at locus rs12603332, the asthma group had significantly higher LysoPC and apoB levels than the control group (P<0.01). Among the children with asthma, those with CC genotype had significantly higher LysoPC and apoB levels than those with CT and TT genotypes (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>LysoPC and apoB may intervene in the pathological process of asthma. Pro-inflammatory gene ORMDL3 SNP rs12603332 may be associated with high LysoPC and apoB levels, which leads to the occurrence of childhood asthma.</p>

Spectrum of pathogens for community-acquired pneumonia in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the spectrum of pathogens for community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children, and to provide a basis for the diagnosis and treatment of CAP.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Respiratory secretions and venous blood samples were collected from 1560 children with CAP aged from one month to 9 years within 2 hours after admission, for detection of multiple pathogens. Respiratory virus antigens in nasopharyngeal swab specimens were detected by immunofluorescence. Sputum was used for bacterial culture. Levels of Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP)-IgM and Chlamydia pneumoniae (CP)-IgM in venous blood were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 579 strains of bacteria were isolated from all respiratory secretions, including 213 (36.8%) Gram-positive strains and 366 (63.2%) Gram-negative strains. The five most common strains were Haemophilus influenzae (7.50%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (6.73%), Staphylococcus aureus (6.35%), Moraxella catarrhalis (5.19%), and Escherichia coli (3.46%), wherein the beta-lactamase-producing strains accounted for 3.3% of all strains. The non-bacterial pathogens mainly included respiratory syncytial virus (12.88%), MP (7.88%), and CP (8.91%). Mixed infection of pathogens was serious, and the mixed infection of respiratory syncytial virus with Haemophilus influenzae infections were the most common. For most pathogens, the infection rate was higher in children aged under one year than in those aged over one year.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Haemophilus influenzae, respiratory syncytial virus, MP and CP are the main pathogens for children with CAP. For most pathogens, the infection rate is higher in children aged under one year than in those aged over one year. Mixed infection rate of pathogens is high.</p>

Comparison study on knee osteoarthritis in rabbits induced by different concentrations of papain / 中国骨伤

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the knee osteoarthritis (OA) models in rabbits by different concentrations of papain and provide data for exploring pathogenesis and treatments of this disease.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of 15 each and given injections into the right knee on days 1, 3 and 5 including intra-articular injections of 2%, 5% or 10% (w/v) papain and 0.03 mol/L L-cysteine at the dose of 0.1 ml/kg (experimental groups). The 0.9% NaCl (w/v) with a dose of 0.1 ml/kg were injected intra-articularly into the right knees of rabbits in the control group. The rabbits were sacrificed at 2, 4, 6 weeks respectively after the initiation of papain injection and these OA models were evaluated through recording the width of knee joint, performing the morphological observation and histological evaluation of articular cartilage and synovium.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The degenerative changes were demonstrated in knee joints of rabbit in all experimental groups, such as thinner articular cartilage, fibrillation and destroyed cartilage matrix, and inflammation, proliferation, and degeneration of the synovial tissue. All these changes were much worse with increased concentration and prolonged observation time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Different severity of OA are established through intra-articular injections of 2%, 5% or 10% papain and 0.03 mol/L L-cysteine at the dose of 0.1 ml/kg. These models are of the characters of short period and a good reproducibility.</p>

Efficacy of specific sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farinae drops in the treatment of cough variant asthma in children / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the efficacy and safety of specific sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farinae drops in the treatment of cough variant asthma in children.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 106 children aged 4-14 years old with cough variant asthma and positive skin prick test responses to dermatophagoides farinae allergens were randomly divided into two groups: SLIT group (n=53), which received specific sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farinae drops as well as standardized treatment and conventional treatment group (n=53), which received standardized treatment alone. Improvement in cough/asthma symptom scores and the time taken for symptoms to improve were observed after treatment. Serum eosinophil (EOS) level and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were measured after treatment. The side effects were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the conventional treatment group, the SLIT group showed significant decrease in symptom scores and serum EOS level and significant increase in PEF (P<0.05). The time at which symptoms began to improve in the SLIT group was earlier than in the conventional treatment group (P<0.05). The effective rate in the SLIT group was significantly higher than in the conventional treatment group (85% vs 68%; P<0.05). Local reactions such as redness, swelling, and itching occurred in some children of the SLIT group but disappeared on the following day.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Specific sublingual immunotherapy with dermatophagoides farinae drops is an effective and highly safe treatment for cough variant asthma in children.</p>

Study of genetic susceptibility in 198 children with asthma / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the frequency distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of four asthma-related gene loci (ACE I/D; ADRB2 Arg16Gly; TNF-α G-308A; MS4A2 Glu237Gly) in 198 asthmatic children, and to investigate its association with genetic susceptibility to childhood asthma and some clinical phenotypes of asthma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction product electrophoresis identification and real-time quantitative PCR detecting system were used to determine the frequency distributions of the SNPs of the four asthma-related gene loci in 198 asthmatic children and 110 healthy controls. The serum total IgE (TIgE) levels and blood eosinophil proportion (%EOS) of the asthmatic children were measured. Different genotypes at the four asthma-related gene loci were compared in terms of TIgE and %EOS.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The genotype DD of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) had a significantly higher frequency in the asthmatic children than in the healthy controls (χ2= 30.667, P<0.01), and the frequency of D allele was also significantly higher in the asthmatic children than in the healthy controls (χ2=7.151, P<0.01). No correlation was found between the polymorphism of each gene locus and serum TIgE level and %EOS (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Genotype DD of ACE is related to genetic susceptibility to childhood asthma and may be the risk factor for childhood asthma.</p>

Etiology and risk factors of infantile wheezing / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the etiology and risk factors of infantile wheezing.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinical data of 180 infants with wheezing were retrospectively studied. The risk factors for wheezing attacks were investigated by logistic regression analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Viral infection (33.3%) was the most common cause for wheezing attacks, followed by asthma (19.4%), parental smoking and special environments (15.6%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (12.8%), premature delivery (7.8%), Mycoplasma infection (6.7%), and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (4.4%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed 7 factors that significantly correlated with wheezing attacks: allergic history of parents, sensitization to alimentary or inspiratory allergens, viral or Mycoplasma infection, premature delivery and special environments.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The commonest cause of infantile wheezing is viral infection, followed by asthma. Genetic factors, individual atopic constitution and environmental factors play important roles in wheezing attacks.</p>

Clinicopathological Significance of Expression of Tspan-1, Jab1 and p27 in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of Tspan-1, Jab1 and p27 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their clinicopathological significance. The expression of Tspan-1, Jab1 and p27 was detected in HCC tissues, the tissues around cancer (76 cases), and the normal tissues around the liver hemangiomas (10 cases). The overexpression of Tspan-1 and Jab1 was found in HCC tissues, positively correlated with clinical stage and negatively correlated with survival rate. The expression of p27 was found inversely linked to which of Tspan-1 and Jab1. In conclusion, the expression of Tspan-1, Jab1 and p27 is significantly associated with development of HCC. Overexpression of Tspan-1 and Jab1 suggests poor prognosis but overexpression of p27 may expect good prognosis for patients with HCC.

Packaging and concentrating of high titer of retrovirus containing IL-4RA / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To construct a recombination retroviral expression vector pLNC-IL-4RA with high efficiency transfection and carrying a screening label.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>IL-4RA was inserted into retroviral vector pLNC-Laz to get recombination retroviral expression vector pLNC-IL-4RA and then transfected into packaging cell line PA317 by liposome transfection. The transfected PA317 cells were obtained and amplified by G418 pressure screening. The cell culture supernatants containing viruses were harvested and the viral titer was determined by NIH3T3 cells infection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The G418 resistant clones were titrated and checked for the presence of replication virus. The results showed that the highest titer of viral supernatant was 1 x 10(4) CFU/mL. Genome DNA isolated from the cell clone of the highest titer showed the function gene, IL-4RA cDNA, had integrated into the genome of host cells verified by PCR.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The recombination retroviral vector pLNC-IL-4RA encoding IL-4RA after packaging PA317 cells have higher viral titer. This provides a basis for gene treatment of asthma.</p>

The effect of prolactin on the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the synovium of adjuvant arthritis rats / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To determine the exact roles of prolactin (PRL) in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and supply experimental basis for clinical treatment of RA, and to investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in the synovium of adjuvant arthritis rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty rats were divided into four groups (n = 10): (1) Normal control group (group A); (2) Adjuvant arthritis control group (group B); (3) Hyperprolactinemic adjuvant arthritis group (group C); (4) Hypoprolactinemic adjuvant arthritis group (group D). The content of PRL in the serum was detected by radio-immunoassay method. The activity of MMP-9 was analyzed by gelatin zymography. The alteration of MMP-9 immunoreactivity were investigated by means of immunohistochemistry in the synovium of all groups. The expressions of MMP-9 were investigated by Western blot in the synovium of all groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with group A, the activity and expression of MMP-9 of group B in the synovium were highly increased. The activity and expression of MMP-9 in the synovium were the most distinctive in group C. Compared with group B, the activity and expression of MMP-9 in the synovium were decreased in group D, but still higher than group A.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The present results indicated that PRL might involved in the pathogenesis of RA by regulating the secretion of MMP-9 in the synovium.</p>

Protective Effect of Active Principle of Glycyrrhiza Uralensis Fish(Lx)on Anaphylaxis in Mice / 中国免疫学杂志

The systemic anaphylaxis murine model was induced by the injection of oval albumin (OVA)in aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant. The death rate varied with the mouse species: 40-90% in Swiss and 69% in average,no death in C57BL/6 and 615 but some symptoms. developed. Swiss mice was adopted in this experiment.90% of mice pretreated with Lx remained living after allergen challenge,but only 20% in normal control. For elucidation the possible mechanism of Lx action,the study was carried out on detection of anti-OVA IgE specific antibody and histamin concentration in lung tissues. Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis(PCA)titers for anti-OVA IgE antibody in serum ranged from undilution to 160 in control group and not detectable in group pretreated with Lx. In addition, after absorption of PCA positive sera with anti-IgG antibody.the PCA activity was not affected. Histamin content was 1.54?0.24?g/ml in Lx treated mice caopared to 2.69?0.67?g/ml in control group(p