ORMDL3 polymorphisms and their relationship with OPN and TGF-β1 levels in children with asthma in Hunan, China: an analysis of 98 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate ORMDL3 polymorphisms in children with asthma in Hunan, China, and to determine the relationship between ORMDL3 polymorphisms and serum osteopontin (OPN) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) levels.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Peripheral blood samples were collected in children with asthma (n=98; astma group) or without asthma (n=30; control group) from Hunan, China. The asthma group was subdivided into atopic (n=62) and non-atopic (n=36) subgroups. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis was performed, and serum OPN and TGF-β1 levels were measured.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of rs7216389 of the ORMDL3 gene between the asthma and control groups. The serum level of OPN in the asthma group was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). Both the atopic and non-atopic subgroups showed increased serum levels of OPN compared with the control group (P<0.05). The serum level of TGF-β1 in the atopic subgroup was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.05). The serum levels of OPN and TGF-β1 showed no significant differences in asthmatic children with different genotypes. The serum levels of OPN and TGF-β1 were in a positive linear correlation in the asthma group (r=0.620; P<0.01) and its two subgroups (r=0.734, 0.649 respectively; P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In children from Hunan, China, the SNP (rs7216389) of ORMDL3 is not related to asthma susceptibility. OPN and TGF-β1 may be involved in the development of asthma, and they are in a positive linear correlation. The SNP (rs7216389) of ORMDL3 does not influence the expression of OPN and TGF-β1, suggesting that it may not be associated with airway remodeling.</p>

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection and drug resistance in children: an analysis of 1026 cases / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection and drug resistance in children with respiratory tract infection and to provide a rational basis for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MP infection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Throat swabs were collected from 3529 children with respiratory tract infection, who visited the pediatric outpatient department or received treatment in the pediatric ward of our hospital from September 2010 to September 2011. The swabs were cultured to detect MP. The drug sensitivity of MP to azithromycin, roxithromycin, erythromycin, acetylspiramycin and clarithromycin was evaluated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 3529 children with respiratory tract infection, 1026 (29.07%) were MP-positive. There were cases of MP infection in all four seasons of the year but infection rates in summer and autumn were significantly higher than in spring and winter (P < 0.05). The infection rate in females was higher than in males (30.43% vs 28.32%; P > 0.05). The infection rate was negatively correlated with age in these children, and there were significant differences in the infection rate among all age groups (P < 0.05). For macrolide antibiotics suitable for children, the cultured MP developed the highest resistance to roxithromycin, followed by erythromycin, acetylspiramycin, clarithromycin, and azithromycin, with significant differences among them (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MP infection rate is very high among children with respiratory tract infection. The incidence of MP infection is relatively low among school-age children and children are more susceptible to MP infection in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. Throat swabs should be cultured and drug sensitivity tests should be performed as early as possible in children with respiratory tract infection, so that proper intervention can be undertaken in time to reduce drug-resistant strains of MP.</p>

Features of pathological changes in the non-myelin sheath of rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the pathological changes in the non-myelin sheath by observing histological damages to the neurofilament protein and apoptosis of neurons in rats with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-eight Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and EAE (24 rats in each group). Behavioral changes were observed. Inflammation reactions and demyelination were observed by hematoxylin eosin staining and LOYEZ staining.The level of neurofilament was detected by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of the neuron in the spinal cord was detected by TUNEL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Behavioral and histological results confirmed that the model of EAE rats was prepared successfully. In the EAE group, typical morphological features of axonal damage (sparsed axonal density, axonal distortion, axonal transection and even axonal disappearance) were found from the seventh day after immunization and the morphological changes were the most obvious on the fourteenth day. Neurofilament density in the EAE group was significantly lower than in the control group (P<0.01) at 7, 14 and 21 days after immunization. The neuronal apoptosis index in the EAE group at 7, 14 and 21 days after immunization was significantly higher than in the control group (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In addition to inflammatory demyelination, axonal damage and neuronal apoptosis can be observed in the early stage of EAE. Pathological changes may be associated with neurological dysfunction.</p>

Effects of baicalin on apoptosis in rats with autoimmune encephalomyelitis / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic efficacy of baicalin and its effect on apoptosis of inflammatory cells in spinal cords in Wistar rats with autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-four rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group (control, n=10), EAE group (n=12), and two intervention groups with dexamethasone (DXM) or baicalin. Seven days after immunization, the two intervention groups were injected intraperitoneally with DXM (1 mg/kg) and baicalin (200 mg/kg) for 1 week, respectively. The spinal cords were removed 14 days after immunization, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. MBP expression in spinal cords was detected by immunohistochemistry. The apoptosis of inflammatory cells in spinal cords was detected by TUNEL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The weight gain rate in the untreated EAE and the DXM or baicalin intervention groups were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). The weight gain rate in the baicalin intervention group was significantly higher than that in the untreated EAE and the DXM intervention groups (P<0.05). The scores of neurological function in the two intervention groups were significantly higher than that in the untreated EAE group (P<0.05). DXM or baicalin treatment significantly increased the MBP expression compared with the untreated EAE group (P<0.05). The apoptosis of inflammatory cells increased more in the DXM and the baicalin intervention groups compared with the untreated EAE groups (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Baicalin has protective effects against EAE in rats. It can promote the apoptosis of inflammatory cells in spinal cords.</p>

Protective effects of heat shock preconditioning on the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis rats / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the effects of heat shock preconditioning on the expression of heat shock protein-70 (HSP70) and apoptosis of the neuron in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-six Wistar rats were randomly divided into control, EAE and heat shock preconditioning groups (n=12 each). The EAE animal model was induced with guinea pig myelin basic protein. Heat shock preconditioning was performed 24 hrs prior to the EAE model inducement. No treatment was done in the control group. The neurological signs were observed after immunization. The spinal cords were removed and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. HSP70 was detected by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of the neuron was measured by TUNEL.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Heat shock preconditioning significantly alleviated clinical signs and neuronal injury. HSP70 expression in the heat shock preconditioning group was significantly higher than in the untreated EAE group (21.08 +/- 0.87 vs 10.17 +/- 0.51; P < 0.01). Heat shock preconditioning suppressed apoptosis of the neuron compared with the EAE group (apoptosis rate: 21.92 +/- 1.00% vs 58.92 +/- 1.67%; P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Heat shock preconditioning might improve the neurological outcome in EAE rats, possibly through the induction of HSP70 synthesis and the reduction of apoptosis of the neuron in spinal cords.</p>