Multiplex cytokine and antibody profile in cystic echinococcosis patients during a three-year follow-up in reference to the cyst stages.

BACKGROUND: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a worldwide parasitic zoonosis caused by infection of the larval stage of tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. In human CE, the parasites develop and form cysts in internal organs. The differentiated cysts can be classified into five types based on WHO-IWGE standard CE1-5 representing different developmental stages. Infection with E. granulosus triggers hosts' humoral and cellular response, displaying elevated serum antibodies and Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which are presumed to be in association with the disease outcome. Identification of immunological markers for evaluation of disease progression has been a growing concern. However, the distinctive profile of cytokines and antibodies associated with the cyst progression has not been ascertained. METHODS: To better understand the interaction between host immune response and disease outcome, the present study followed-up four CE patients over three years by yearly measuring serum level of 27 cytokines, total IgG and isotypes, and ultrasound scanning, beginning in year 1 for all patients with CE1 and CE2 cysts before treatment and continued in year 2 with CE4 and in year 3 with CE3-CE5 post-treatment. RESULTS: Nine cytokines including Th1-type IL-2, Th17-type IL-17A, and inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, IL-1Rα and TNF-α, chemokines IL-8, MIP-1α, MIP-1ß, and growth factor G-CSF were significantly elevated in patients with cyst type CE1, compared to the normal controls, and then declined to a normal level at CE4 and CE5. Examining the antibody production, we found that serum specific IgG was significantly increased in patients with active and transitional cysts, specifically the total IgG at CE1/CE3/CE4-CE5, IgG4 at CE1 and IgG1 at CE1/CE3 cyst status, in comparison with the normal controls, but showed no significant changes between the cyst stages. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide new information on the profile of multiplex cytokines and serum antibodies associated with cyst stages in cystic echinococcosis patients through a three-year follow-up, implying that further studies using an approach combining cyst-associated immune parameters may aid in identifying immunological markers for differentiation of disease progression.

Association between ventricular repolarization variables and cardiac diastolic function: A cross-sectional study of a healthy Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic electromechanical couple, a well-described phenomenon in symptomatic heart failure, has not been well studied in healthy people. We hypothesized that ventricular repolarization variables, such as the QT interval, Tpeak-to-Tend (Tpe) interval and Tpe/QT ratio, are associated with cardiac diastolic function in the healthy Chinese population. AIM: To assess the relationship between ventricular repolarization variables and cardiac diastolic function in apparently healthy Chinese individuals. METHODS: This was a community-based cross-sectional study conducted in Shenyang, China. A total of 414 healthy subjects aged 35-91 years were enrolled. All subjects underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography (ECG) and comprehensive echocardiography. ECG enabled the measurement of QT and Tpe intervals and Tpe/QT ratio. echocardiographic parameters, such as the ratio of mitral early diastolic inflow velocity (E) and late diastolic inflow velocity (A), E-wave deceleration time, left atrial volume (LAV) and LAV index, were measured to assess diastolic function. E/A < 0.75 was considered to indicate reduced diastolic function. ECG and echocardiography results were analyzed separately and in a blinded fashion. Correlation and regression analyses were applied to determine associations. RESULTS: Ventricular repolarization variables, such as the QTc interval (393.59 ± 26.74 vs 403.86 ± 33.56; P < 0.001), Tpe interval (72.68 ± 12.41 vs 77.26 ± 17.86; P < 0.01), Tpec interval (76.36 ± 13.53 vs 83.32 ± 21.25; P < 0.001) and Tpe/QT ratio (0.19 ± 0.03 vs 0.20 ± 0.04; P < 0.01), were significantly different between the normal diastolic function group and the reduced diastolic function group. Significant associations were found between repolarization variables and diastolic function. After adjusting for all other possible confounders, the QTc and Tpec intervals were significantly associated with the E/A ratio (P = 0.008; P = 0.010). In men, the QTc interval was associated with abnormal diastolic function, and compared to the third QTc tertile, in the second QTc tertile, the odds ratio was 0.257 (95%CI: 0.102-0.649; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: Repolarization variables are associated with cardiac diastolic function even in healthy people. Moderate levels of the QTc interval exert a protective effect on diastolic dysfunction in men.

Genetic polymorphisms of 54 mitochondrial DNA SNP loci in Chinese Xibe ethnic minority group.

We analyzed the genetic polymorphisms of 54 mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variants in Chinese Xibe ethnic minority group. A total of 137 unrelated healthy volunteers from Chinese Xibe group were the objects of our study. Among the selected loci, there were 51 variable positions including transitions and transversions, and single nucleotide transitions were common (83.93%) versus transversions. These variations defined 64 different mtDNA haplotypes exclusive of (CA)n and 9 bp deletion variation. The haplotype diversity and discrimination power in Xibe population were 0.9800 ± 0.004 and 0.9699, respectively. Besides, we compared Xibe group with 18 other populations and reconstructed a phylogenetic tree using Neighbor-Joining method. The result revealed that Xibe group was a close to Xinjiang Han and Yanbian Korean groups. Our data also indicated that Xibe group has a close relationship with Daur and Ewenki groups, which is reflected by the history that Xibe was influenced by Daur and Ewenki groups during the development of these groups. In conclusion, the variants we studied are polymorphic and could be used as informative genetic markers for forensic and population genetic application.