Characterization of IL-10-producing regulatory B cells in thymoma.

BACKGROUND: Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a subset of B cells that secrete interleukin 10 (IL-10) and play a vital role in suppressing the immune response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the proportion of Bregs in patients with thymoma. METHODS: The proportions of subgroups of Bregs in 23 patients with thymoma and 15 healthy controls were detected by flow cytometry. The serum IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, IFN-γ, and TNF-α levels of the subjects were measured using a cytometric bead array (CBA). RESULTS: The proportions of circulating IL-10+ B cells, IL-10+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs, and IL-10+CD24hiCD27+ Bregs and the serum IL-10 level were significantly higher in patients with thymoma than in the control group and were negatively correlated with the Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) score. The serum levels of cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IFN-γ, and TNF-α were higher and serum IL-17A level was lower in patients with thymoma. Patients with advanced-stage thymoma exhibited significantly higher proportions of IL-10-producing Bregs and a higher serum IL-10 level. After tumour resection, the frequency of circulating IL-10+CD24hiCD38hi Bregs and the serum IL-10 level were significantly decreased in patients with thymoma. The serum IL-10 levels exhibited the best accuracy in assessing the risk of thymoma occurrence in this study. CONCLUSIONS: The expression of IL-10 produced by Bregs is increased in patients with thymoma, particularly those with advanced-stage disease, which may suggest that Bregs are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of thymoma.

Evaluation of intervention effect of different health education on dietary behavior of high school students / 中国学校卫生

Objective@#To understand the effects of different health education on dietary behavior of high school students, and to provide support for appropriate and healthy dietary education.@*Methods@#Five high schools were selected in Gulou District, Nanjing. Two classes were randomly selected from each high school for health education intervention. Questionnaire survey was conducted before and after intervention to compare the changes in dietary behaviors.@*Results@#After intervention, the dietary knowledge score for the control group was (9.79±2.28), and (14.66±2.71) for the intervention group, which was statistically significant (P<0.01). For adolescents in the intervention group, no significant differences were found before and after intervention. However, significant differences in dietary knowledge score were found for the control group before and after intervention (P<0.01). Dietary behavior score in the intervention group before intervention was (3.34±1.78) and increased significantly after intervention (5.05±1.79, P<0.01). There was no statistical significance before and after intervention in the control group (P>0.05). After the intervention, dietary knowledge scores increased significantly in the education group, mobile APP intervention group, the lecturebased study group, and the classroom-based study work group after intervention (t=-10.196, -29.222, -5.721, -14.394, P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that mobile APP intervention group (OR=2.91), dietary knowledge score ≥13 (OR=4.43), age≥17 years (OR=3.72), classroombased study group (OR=2.35) were positively associated with dietary behavior among high school students.@*Conclusion@#Oneweek intervention can effectively improve dietary knowledge and dietary behavior among high school students. Social media intervention shows promising effect on dietary behavior among high school students.