Distribution and clinical significance of B-cell subtypes and IgG subclasses in patients with non-small cell lung cancer / 中华微生物学和免疫学杂志

Objective To analyze the distribution of B-cell subtypes and IgG subclasses in pa-tients with non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) and to investigate their potential functions in the progress of NSCLC.Methods Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the distribution of immature B cells, memory B cells and mature B cells in 25 healthy subjects and 55 patients who were at different clinical stages of NSCLC.Enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay ( ELASA) was performed to measure the concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and total IgG, as well as the ratio of each IgG subclass in total IgG.Results The percentages of immature and memory B cells in CD19+B cells were positively correlated with the progress of NSCLC.The ratio of IgG4/IgG gradually increased along with the development of NSCLC, while that of the other three IgG subclasses showed no significant changes as compared with that of the control group.Conclu-sion The imbalanced distribution of B-cell subtypes and the up-regulated ratio of IgG4/IgG were closely as-sociated with the development of NSCLC.This study paved the way for further investigation on more effective immune therapy strategies targeting NSCLC.

Blood lead level of children in the urban areas in China / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood lead level of 3 - 5 year old children living in the cities in China and to provide scientific data for making policy on environmental lead pollution for children health protection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Six thousand five hundred and two vein blood samples from 3 - 5 year old children in nineteen cities of nine provinces were sampled. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) were employed to determine lead level in whole blood after microwave digestion for sample preparation and questionnaire survey was also performed. Data were analyzed with multiple regression on factors which affecting blood lead levels.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results showed that mean blood lead level was 88.3 micro g/L for 3 - 5 year old children living in the cities in China and mean blood lead level of boys (91.1 micro g/L) was higher than that of girls (87.3 micro g/L). Twenty-nine point nine one per cent of the children's blood lead level exceeded 100 micro g/L. The research finding showed: (1) higher blood lead levels had negative effects on children's physical growth, language ability etc. (2) behavior of parents had certain effects on children's blood lead levels. (3) blood lead levels of children were affected by unhealthy habits.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Problem of childhood lead poisoning in China has become more serious. During the past ten years, blood lead levels of children has been increased in China while decreasing in developed countries. Blood lead levels of children in China are higher than that of developed countries, which called for special concern by government and society.</p>

Lead Exposure and Hearing Impairment Among Children / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To study the relationship between blood lead levels and hearing threshold changes among children. Methods The lead levels in whole blood of 62 children aged 5~7 years were determined by graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrophotometry.The levels of air mediated hearing threshold were determined by Madsen Model DB77 audiometer and headphone at frequencies of 250,500,1 000, 2 000,4 000 and 6 000 Hz. Results The average levels and range of blood lead were 181.97 ?g/L and 39.1~393.6 ?g/L respectively.The spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the levels of hearing threshold and the blood lead levels with r =0.33~0.74 among childen( P