Protective effect of interleukin-10 and recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor-2 on ventilation-induced lung injury in rats.

A rat model of ventilation-induced lung injury (VILI) during anesthesia was generated to investigate the potential role and possible mechanism of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and recombinant human keratinocyte growth factor-2 (rhKGF-2) in protecting anesthetized rats against VILI. A total of 50 male SD rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (N = 10 each): control, VILI, IL-10, rhKGF-2, and IL-10 + rhKGF-2. The VILI (model) group was generated via ventilation, with a tidal volume of 20 mL/kg. Rats in the IL-10 and rhKGF-2 groups received 8 mg/kg IL-10 and 5 mg/kg rhKGF-2, respectively, prior to ventilation. The rats in the IL-10 + rhKGF-2 group received both 8 mg/kg IL-10 and 5 mg/kg rhKGF-2 72 h before ventilation. The total number of nucleated cells and neutrophils in the bronchial alveolar lavage fluid was quantified, and the pathological changes in the pulmonary tissues examined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The transcript and protein levels of surfactant protein C (SP-C) in lung tissues were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses. The SP-C mRNA expression in both IL-10 and rhKGF-2 groups was similar to that in the VILI group. However, this was significantly elevated in the combined treatment group (P < 0.05), indicating that IL-10 and rhKGF-2 could synergistically protect the lung tissue from VILI via the enhancement of SP-C mRNA expression in lung tissues. The protein assay showed a decreased level of infiltration and activation of inflammatory cells, in addition to increased expression of SP-C, thereby confirming the efficacy of this treatment in preventing VILI during anesthesia.

Risk factors associated with tuberculosis infection among health care workers in Inner Mongolia, China.

SETTING: Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection. In China, surveys examining TB infection among HCWs have not studied general health care facilities, compared tuberculin tests conducted using local protocols against an internationally accepted test or characterised risk factors. OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of and risk factors for TB infection among HCWs in Inner Mongolia, China. DESIGN: Between April and August 2010, we administered QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) tests, skin tests using Chinese tuberculin (TST) and surveys among HCWs at an infectious diseases hospital and a general medical hospital. We assessed whether demographic characteristics, personal exposure and work exposure were associated with QFT-GIT and TST positivity, and assessed agreement between test results. RESULTS: Of 999 HCWs, 683 (68%) were QFT-GIT-positive, which was associated with greater age, longer HCW career, TB disease in a co-worker and greater daily patient exposure using multivariable analysis. TST reactions ≥ 5 mm occurred in 69% of the HCWs; agreement between test results was low ( 0.22). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of TB infection among HCWs in Inner Mongolia is high; infection was associated with occupational exposure. Results from locally conducted TST are difficult to interpret. In China, TB infection control in health care facilities should be strengthened.

[Sequential trial on analgesic effect of vascular headache by toutong dibi ye].

Toutong Dibi Ye (TTDB) is administered into nose in order to relieve headache according to traditional Chinese medicine. Analgesic effect of vascular-headache by the TTDB and placebo were as follows: Effective rate of TTDB was up to 80%, significantly higher than that of placebo. The probability of conclusion error < or = 0.01.

[Distinguishing Anopheles dirus of Hainan Province by gas chromatography of cuticular hydrocarbons].

In order to identify the members of Anopheles dirus complex of Hainan Province an analysis of relative content of cuticular saturated n-paraffins of Anopheles dirus collected from different localities and in different months in Hainan Province was performed by using gas chromatography. The difference among the cuticular hydrocarbons n-paraffins components was statistically insignificant. The values of stepwise cluster analysis (Q model) were very close for all the collected populations. These data suggested that there might be one species of Anopheles virus complex which was further confirmed by the similarities between blood preference, seasonal variation, and nocturnal activity.

[Studies on the susceptibility among geographic strains of Aedes albopictus in China to infection with dengue viruses].

The comparative susceptibility to dengue serotype 1, 2 and 4 viruses infection of 9 geographic strains of Azdes albopictus was studied by means of experimental feeding the mosquitoes on pledgets soaked with virus-erythrocyte suspension and intrathoracic inoculation with dengue viruses. Variation in susceptibility for both dengue serotypes 1 and 2 was found among the geographic strains by feeding, but no significant difference among those by intrathoracic inoculation. It was evident that a "gut barrier" was involved. Thresholds of oral infection were not the same for dengue serotypes 1, 2 and 4. In terms of infection rate, Haikou strain was more susceptible to all three serotypes of viruses; Beijing and Chengdu strains were more susceptible to serotypes 1 and 2, respectively. All the geographic strains were more susceptible to dengue serotype 2 comparing with other two serotypes. The mosquito head squash method for demonstrating dengue virus antigen by indirect fluorescent antibody technique was modified by mosquito brain tissue smear. This would be more accurate in detecting the dengue virus antigen in the brain tissue.