Imidacloprid inhibits IgE-mediated RBL-2H3 cell degranulation and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis

BACKGROUND: Imidacloprid has been commonly used as a pesticide for crop protection and acts as nicotinic acetylcholine receptor agonists. Little information about the relationship between imidacloprid and allergy is available. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the effects of imidacoprid on IgE-mediated mast cell activation. METHODS: The rat basophilic leukemia cell line RBL-2H3 (RBL-2H3 cells) were treated with 10⁻³ – 10⁻¹² mol/L imidacloprid, followed by measuring the mediator production, influx of Ca²⁺ in IgE-activated RBL-2H3 cells, and the possible effects of imidacoprid on anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA). RESULTS: It was shown that imidacoprid suppressed the production of histamine, β-hexosaminidase, leukotriene C4, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and Ca²⁺ mobilization in IgE-activated RBL-2H3 cells and decreased vascular extravasation in IgE-induced PCA. CONCLUSION: It is the first time to show that imidacloprid suppressed the activation of RBL-2H3 cells.

MSCT perfusion imaging and its correlation with perfusion parameters, survivin expression, MVD, and pathologic grade in hepatocellular carcinomas / 中南大学学报(医学版)

OBJECTIVE@#(1)To obtain the perfusion parameters of hepatocellular carcinomas(HCCs), peritumour livers and normal livers by multi-slice CT(MSCT)and to investigate their characteristics and clinical significances;(2)To investigate the correlation among perfusion parameters, survivin expression, microvessel density(MVD)and pathologic grade of HCCs.@*METHODS@#A total of 31 patients with HCC (5 well-differentiated HCCs, 17 moderately differentiated HCCs, and 9 poorly differentiated HCCs) and 10 normal liver were studied. All underwent CT plain scan, perfusion scan, and conventional enhancement scan of the whole liver using 16-slice spiral CT (Philips Brilliance 16). Perfusion parameters were obtained by time-density curves (TDC) of region of interest (ROI) through the perfusion scans. Tissue sections of HCCs and their corresponding peritumour liver tissues of the 31 patients were detected by immunohistochemistry (SABC methods) for protein expression of survivin and MVD, and 10 normal liver tissue sections were as used as negative controls. The correlation among the perfusion parameters, survivin expression, MVD and pathology grade were analysed.@*RESULTS@#(1)The mean values of HAP, HPP, TLP, and HAI of HCCs were 27.50 mL/(min.100 mL), 19.37 mL/(min.100 mL), 46.87 mL/(min.100 mL), and 60.38%, respectively. The mean values of those of the peritumour livers were 14.93 mL/(min.100 mL), 55.70 mL/(min.100 mL), 69.63 mL/(min.100 mL), and 21.51%, respectively. The mean value of those of the normal livers were 12.22 mL/(min.100mL), 74.56 mL/(min.100 mL), 86.78 mL/(min.100 mL), and 14.00%, respectively. The values of HAP and HAI of HCCs were significantly higher than those of the peritumor livers and the normal livers(P<0.01), and the HPP and TLP of HCCs were significant lower than those of the normal livers(P<0.01).The increase of HAP and decrease of HPP of peritumor livers were both significant compared with that of the normal livers(P<0.05). The HAP, HPP, and HAI of HCCs were significantly different from those of peritumor livers (P<0.01)except TLP. (2) Survivin expression in HCCs was detected in 23/31(74.1%), which was significantly higher than that in corresponding non-cancerous adjacent liver tissues and normal liver tissues (P<0.01). Survivin expression was positively correlated with MVD in HCCs. (3) HAP values were significantly and positively correlated with survivin expression (r=0.932,P<0.01)in HCCs.(4)The values of HAP and HAI were correlated with the pathologic grade in HCCs, and those values were increased gradually(P<0.05) among well differentiated HCCs, moderately differentiated, and poorly differentiated HCCs.@*CONCLUSION@#CTPI can quantitatively reflect abnormal blood supply of HCCs, which will be helpful for the detection and differentiation of lesions. CT perfusion parameters well correlate with survivin expression, MVD, and the pathologic grade in HCCs, which illustrate that CTPI could hopefully be used to evaluate the angiogenesis and biological behaviors of HCCs prospectively, noninvasively, and dynamically.

Epidemiological Survey on the Infection of Paragonimus westermani in Jiangxi Province / 中国寄生虫学与寄生虫病杂志

Objective To investigate Paragonimus westermani infection in the intermediate hosts and animal reservoivs in Jiangxi Province. \ Methods\ Two forest farms in Jingan and Wanzai Counties and one town in Yushan County of Jiangxi Province were selected as pilots for epidemiological and retrospective survey. The intermediate hosts (snails, crabs) and reservoir hosts(cat, dog, civet cat, wildcat, etc.) were collected and examined. Data on the changes of ecological environment and people's behaviors were also collected. \ Results \ The average infection rate in Semisulcospira libertina and Sinopotamon spp. was 0^21% and 54^3% respectively, and that of reservoir hosts was 5^6%. Compared with those in 20 years ago, the infection rate in Sinopotamon spp. decreased considerably. \{Conclusion\}\ The three areas are still endemic for P.westermani with lower prevalence than before possibly due to the change of ecological environment.