炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中的表达及临床意义

目的:探讨炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中的表达水平及其临床意义。方法:收集2014年6月至2016年6月我院儿科收治的79例大叶性肺炎患儿为病例组,按照临床肺部感染评分(CPIS)分为重度组(n=46)和轻度组(n=33),于同期随机选取30例健康儿童为对照组,采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)检测各组支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清炎症因子如白细胞介素-6(IL-6)、白细胞介素-8(IL-8)、白细胞介素-17(IL-17)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)以及高迁移率族蛋白B1(HMGB1)表达水平。结果:重度组、轻度组血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于对照组,重度组血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。病例组患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于血清,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。重度组、轻度组支气管肺泡灌洗液IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平高于血清,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),重度组支气管肺泡灌洗液、血清IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平分别高于轻度组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。经Spearman积矩相关分析,支气管肺泡灌洗液与血清中IL-6、IL-8、IL-17、TNF-α及HMGB1水平分别呈正相关关系(r=0.711、0.695、0.752、0.793、0.728,P0.05)。结论:炎症因子在大叶性肺炎患儿支气管肺泡灌洗液及血清中呈高表达,并与大叶性肺炎病情严重程度密切相关,联合检测有助于早期评估病情。     

麻黄碱通过调控TGF-β1/NF-κB信号通路抑制小鼠的气道炎症反应

为了研究麻黄碱通过调控转化生长因子β1/核因子κB (transforming growth factor-β1/nuclear factor-κB,TGF-β1/NF-κB)信号通路对哮喘小鼠气道炎症和气道重塑的影响,将BALB/c小鼠随机分为空白对照组、哮喘模型组、麻黄碱低剂量组、麻黄碱高剂量组和地塞米松组,并利用卵清白蛋白(ovalbumin, OVA)联合氢氧化铝腹腔注射法构建小鼠哮喘模型。药物处理14 d后,通过无创性肺功能检测法测量小鼠气道反应性,采用苏木精-伊红染色法(hematoxylin-eosin staining, HE staining)观察小鼠肺组织病理情况,采用瑞氏-吉姆萨染色法分析小鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液(bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, BALF)中的炎症细胞比例,利用酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA)检测小鼠血清OVA特异性免疫球蛋白E (immunoglobulin E, Ig E)的表达水平及BALF中炎症因子的表达水平,利用免疫印迹法检测小鼠肺组织TGF-β1...     

TGF-β1调控GATA3促进骨关节炎中软骨细胞钙化

[目的]探究TGF-β1与GATA3对骨关节炎中软骨细胞钙化的影响。[方法]收集外伤及骨关节炎患者的膝关节软骨组织并分离软骨原代细胞,将软骨细胞分为正常组和研究组。用SB-431542或K-7174干扰软骨细胞中TGF-β1/GATA3的表达。用钙化诱导培养基使软骨细胞发生钙化。通过蛋白免疫印迹实验和实时荧光定量PCR实验分析软骨细胞中TGF-β1/GATA3的表达。通过茜素红染色统计细胞钙化水平。[结果]与正常组软骨细胞比较,OA组患者软骨细胞TGF-β1和GATA3的表达水平和钙化水平显著增加(1.01±0.02 vs 2.98±0.03;0.91±0.05 vs 2.33±0.11;P<0.05);与PBS组比较,K-7174组软骨细胞的ALP和COLX的表达水平(2.18±0.05 vs 0.91±0.06;2.83±0.03 vs 0.46±0.01)以及钙化细胞数量显著降低(0.63±0.03 vs 0.25±0.01;P<0.05);与PBS组比较,SB-431542组软骨细胞的ALP和COLX的表达水平(1.01±0.02 vs 0.46±0.05;1.05...     

猪蛔虫感染对小鼠肺部免疫病理反应的动态观察

目的：动态观察感染猪蛔虫后,小鼠肺组织的病理变化及肺泡灌洗液中相关细胞因子的变化,从而了解蛔虫感染对肺脏的侵害过程。方法：温箱孵育猪蛔虫受精卵至含蚴卵,用灌胃法感染小鼠,分别在感染后第0、7、14、45天处死小鼠,观察肺组织的病理改变,并通过ELISA方法检测肺泡灌洗液（bronchoalveolarlavagefluid,BALF）中IL-4、IFN-γ、IL-10和TGF-β1含量的动态变化。结果：感染14天组,肺组织的病理改变最为严重：大量炎症细胞浸润,嗜酸性粒细胞增多,严重者支气管狭窄,肺泡塌陷;感染45天组,小鼠肺组织病理变化比前者显著减轻。BALF中IL-4含量在感染7天、14天后分别为（169．20±34．61pg／m1）,（381．33±57．39pg／m1）,均明显高于未感染组（38．03±6．09pg／m1）;在感染45天后降低（98．49±25．33pg／m1）,但仍高于未感染组。IL-10水平在感染后降低;但感染45天组,IL-10水平却有所增高（179．78±21．33pg／m1）,并高于感染前。IFN-γ、TGF-β1,含量在感染后也有明显降低。结论：猪蛔虫感染初期,小鼠肺部损伤严重,小鼠BALF中促炎症细胞因子占主导地位;但在感染后期,BALF中促炎症细胞因子含量降低,炎症抑制因子IL-10有所增高,炎症缓和。     

重症支气管哮喘患者肺泡灌洗液病原菌分布及血清CRP和TNF-α水平

目的研究重症支气管哮喘患者肺泡灌洗液中病原菌分布及血清C反应蛋白(CRP)、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF-α)水平,为该病的治疗提供参考。方法选取2017年5月至2019年5月我院收治的支气管哮喘患者为研究对象,按照病情严重程度分为重度组(n=85)和轻度组(n=80)。收集两组患者肺泡灌洗液并进行细菌培养,同时抽取两组患者静脉血检测血清CRP、TNF-α水平。采用Spearman相关系数分析法分析血清CRP、TNF-α水平与哮喘程度的关系。结果重度组患者肺泡灌洗液中检出革兰阳性菌23株,占36.51%;革兰阴性菌38株,占60.32%;真菌2株,占3.17%。革兰阳性菌中肺炎链球菌占47.83%,金黄色葡萄球菌占30.43%;革兰阴性菌中大肠埃希菌占23.68%,流感嗜血杆菌占26.32%。重度组患者肺泡灌洗液中革兰阴性菌比例及血清CRP与TNF-α水平均显著高于轻度组(均P<0.05)。支气管哮喘严重程度与血清CRP和TNF-α水平均呈正相关(均P<0.05)。结论重度支气管哮喘患者肺泡灌洗液中革兰阴性菌占比较高,同时其血清CRP、TNF-α水平也较高。CRP、TNF-α水平与哮喘严重程度成正比。     

复方抗敏灵对哮喘大鼠ICAM—1表达及PLA2的影响

采用卵蛋白等致敏大鼠哮喘模型,观察正常组、哮喘组和中药治疗组大鼠支气管肺泡上皮细胞粘附分子（ICAM－1）的表达情况及支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中磷脂酶A2（PLA2）活性变化,以及BALF中细胞总数及细胞分类情况。结果表明：复方抗敏灵能够抑制哮喘大鼠肺组织ICAM－1表达（P＜0.01）;显著降低哮喘大鼠BALF中PLA2活性（P＜0．01）;同时,具有降低哮喘大鼠BALF中各种炎性细胞的作用（P＜0．01）。     

猪蛔虫感染对小鼠肺部免疫病理反应的动态观察

目的:动态观察感染猪蛔虫后,小鼠肺组织的病理变化及肺泡灌洗液中相关细胞因子的变化,从而了解蛔虫感染对肺脏的侵害过程。方法:温箱孵育猪蛔虫受精卵至含蚴卵,用灌胃法感染小鼠,分别在感染后第0、7、14、45天处死小鼠,观察肺组织的病理改变,并通过ELISA方法检测肺泡灌洗液（bronchoalveolar lavage fluid,BALF）中IL-4、IFN-γ、IL-10和TGF-β₁含量的动态变化。结果:感染14天组,肺组织的病理改变最为严重:大量炎症细胞浸润,嗜酸性粒细胞增多,严重者支气管狭窄,肺泡塌陷;感染45天组,小鼠肺组织病理变化比前者显著减轻。BALF中IL-4含量在感染7天、14天后分别为（169.20±34.61pg/ml）,（381.33±57.39pg/ml）,均明显高于未感染组（38.03±6.09 pg/ml）;在感染45天后降低（98.49±25.33 pg/ml）,但仍高于未感染组。IL-10水平在感染后降低;但感染45天组,IL-10水平却有所增高（179.78±21.33 pg/ml）,并高于感染前。IFN-γ、TGF-β₁含量在感染后也有明显降低。结论:猪蛔虫感染初期,小鼠肺部损伤严重,小鼠BALF中促炎症细胞因子占主导地位;但在感染后期,BALF中促炎症细胞因子含量降低,炎症抑制因子IL-10有所增高,炎症缓和。     

支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP水平与肺结核患者支气管狭窄发生风险的关系及其预测价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨支气管灌洗液中沉默信息调节因子1（SIRT-1）、转化生长因子-β1（TGF-β1）及I型前胶原N端前肽（PINP）水平与肺结核患者支气管狭窄发生风险的关系，并分析三指标预测肺结核发生支气管狭窄的价值。方法：选择2020年2月至2023年2月江苏大学附属宜兴医院收治的187例肺结核患者，根据是否发生支气管狭窄分为狭窄组（86例）和非狭窄组（101例）。检测并比较两组支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP水平和肺功能。Pearson相关性分析支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP水平与肺功能的相关性。多因素Logistic回归模型分析肺结核患者发生支气管狭窄的影响因素。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP水平预测肺结核患者发生支气管狭窄的价值。结果：狭窄组肺不张、呼吸困难比例、支气管灌洗液TGF-β1、PINP水平高于非狭窄组（P＜0.05），SIRT-1水平、第1秒用力呼气量（FEV1）、用力肺活量（FVC）、最大呼气峰流速（PEF）低于非狭窄组（P＜0.05）。支气管狭窄肺结核患者的支气管灌洗液SIRT-1水平与FEV1、FVC、PEF呈正相关（P＜0.05），TGF-β1、PINP水平与FEV1、FVC、PEF呈负相关（P＜0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析，结果显示，呼吸困难、高水平TGF-β1、高水平PINP是肺结核患者发生支气管狭窄的危险因素（P＜0.05），高水平SIRT-1则是保护因素（P＜0.05）。支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP单独检测预测肺结核患者发生支气管狭窄的曲线下面积（AUC）为0.736、0.799、0.730，联合检测支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP预测的AUC为0.861，高于单独指标检测的预测效能。结论：支气管狭窄肺结核患者的支气管灌洗液中SIRT-1水平降低，TGF-β1、PINP升高，且与肺功能下降以及支气管狭窄发生风险增加有关，支气管灌洗液SIRT-1、TGF-β1及PINP水平检测对肺结核患者发生支气管狭窄具有一定预测价值，且联合检测的预测效能更高。     

莲心碱对LPS诱导小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

目的探讨莲心碱对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤(ALI)的作用。方法BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组、LPS组、LPS+莲心碱(2、4、8 mg/kg)组、地塞米松(5 mg/kg)组,鼻腔滴入法建立LPS诱导的急性肺损伤模型。12 h后,组织学观察肺组织的病理学变化;ELISA检测肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β的含量;Wright-Giemsa染色检测BALF中中性粒细胞数;BCA法检测总蛋白含量;Evans blue检测肺毛细血管通透性;分光光度法检测肺匀浆上清中MPO的活性、MDA的含量、SOD的活性、GSH的含量;流式细胞术检测肺组织中ROS的含量。结果 LPS组可见肺组织具有炎性细胞浸润、支气管肺泡壁增厚和肺充血现象,而莲心碱组可以改善肺损伤情况;LPS组BALF中TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量明显增加、中性粒细胞数和总蛋白量显著增多,肺毛细血管通透性、MPO活性和MDA含量增加,SOD活性和GSH含量降低,ROS含量增加,而莲心碱组能够降低BALF中TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量,减少中性粒细胞数和总蛋白量,降低肺毛细血管通透性,降低MPO活性和MDA含量,增加SOD活性和GSH含量,降低ROS的含量。结论莲心碱可通过抗炎抗氧化作用保护LPS诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤。     

烟草烟雾暴露对哮喘大鼠气道CCR6 mRNA及其蛋白表达的影响

目的研究烟草烟雾暴露对支气管哮喘（简称哮喘）大鼠气道chemokine receptor 6（CCR6）表达的影响,探讨吸烟加重哮喘气道炎症的免疫学机制。方法雄性Wistar大鼠40只,随机分为对照组、烟雾暴露组、哮喘组和哮喘＋烟雾暴露组,每组10只。建立哮喘大鼠模型和哮喘大鼠烟草烟雾暴露模型,采集大鼠支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）行白细胞计数及分类,采用逆转录-聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）方法及免疫组织化学法检测各组大鼠气道CCR6 mRNA及蛋白的表达。结果①哮喘组（69.0±3.5;4.1±1.0;8.9±2.0）、哮喘＋烟雾暴露组（86.7±5.2;2.2±1.0;19.0±2.8）BALF中白细胞总数、嗜酸粒细胞、中性粒细胞均高于对照组（10.1±3.8;1.3±0.7;2.2±1.1）、烟雾暴露组（47.7±6.8;0.5±0.3;2.7±1.4）（P均〈0.05）;哮喘＋烟雾暴露组BALF中白细胞总数和中性粒细胞高于哮喘组,嗜酸粒细胞低于哮喘组（P均〈0.05）。②哮喘组（8.15±0.88;0.452±0.013）、哮喘＋烟雾暴露组（15.16±0.87;0.531±0.024）CCR6 mRNA及其蛋白表达水平均明显高于对照组（1.01±0.52;0.299±0.027）、烟雾暴露组（5.55±0.54;0.442±0.018）（均P〈0.01）;哮喘＋烟雾暴露组明显高于哮喘组（均P〈0.01）。结论烟草烟雾暴露可通过促使气道CCR6 mRNA及其蛋白高表达,加重哮喘大鼠气道慢性炎症。     

Pollen,ovules, and pollination in pea: Success,failure, and resilience in heat

Field pea (Pisum sativum), a major grain legume crop, is autogamous and adapted to temperate climates. The objectives of this study were to investigate effects of high temperature stress on stamen chemical composition, anther dehiscence, pollen viability, pollen interactions with pistil and ovules, and ovule growth and viability. Two cultivars (“CDC Golden” and “CDC Sage”) were exposed to 24/18°C (day/night) continually or to 35/18°C for 4 or 7 days. Heat stress altered stamen chemical composition, with lipid composition of “CDC Sage” being more stable compared with “CDC Golden.” Heat stress reduced pollen viability and the proportion of ovules that received a pollen tube. After 4 days at 35°C, pollen viability in flower buds decreased in “CDC Golden,” but not in “CDC Sage.” After 7 days, partial to full failure of anthers to dehisce resulted in subnormal pollen loads on stigmas. Although growth (ovule size) of fertilized ovules was stimulated by 35°C, heat stress tended to decrease ovule viability. Pollen appears susceptible to stress, but not many grains are needed for successful fertilization. Ovule fertilization and embryos are less susceptible to heat, but further research is warranted to link the exact degree of resilience to stress intensity.     

Cadmium transport, resistance, and toxicity in bacteria, algae, and fungi

Cadmium is an important environmental pollutant and a potent toxicant to bacteria, algae, and fungi. Mechanisms of Cd toxicity and resistance are variable, depending on the organism. It is very clear that the form of the metal and the environment it is studied in, play an important role in how Cd exerts its effect and how the organism(s) responds. A wide range of Cd concentrations have been used to designate resistance in organisms. To date, no concentration has been specified that is applicable to all species studied under standardized conditions. Cadmium exerts its toxic effect(s) over a wide range of concentrations. In most cases, algae and cyanobacteria are the most sensitive organisms, whereas bacteria and fungi appear to be more resistant. In some bacteria, plasmid-encoded resistance can lead to reduced Cd2+ uptake. However, some Gram-negative bacteria without plasmids are just as resistant to Cd as are bacteria containing plasmids encoding for Cd resistance. According to Silver and Misra (1984), there is no evidence for enzymatic or chemical transformations associated with Cd resistance. Insufficient information is available on the genetics of Cd uptake and resistance in cyanobacteria and algae. Mechanisms remain largely unknown at this point in time. Cadmium is toxic to these organisms, causing severe inhibition of such physiological processes as growth, photosynthesis, and nitrogen fixation at concentrations less than 2 ppm, and often in the ppb range (Tables 2 and 3). Cadmium also causes pronounced morphological aberrations in these organisms, which are probably related to deleterious effects on cell division. This may be direct or indirect, as a result of Cd effects on protein synthesis and cellular organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts. Cadmium is accumulated internally in algae (Table 4) as a result of a two-phase uptake process. The first phase involves a rapid physicochemical adsorption of Cd onto cell wall binding sites, which are probably proteins and (or) polysaccharides. This is followed by a lag period and then a slow, steady intracellular uptake. This latter phase is energy dependent and may involve transport systems used to accumulate other divalent cations, such as Mn2+ and Ca2+. Some data indicate that Cd resistance, and possibly uptake, in algae and cyanobacteria is controlled by a plasmid-encoded gene(s). Although considerable information is available on Cd toxicity to, and uptake in fungi, further work is clearly needed in several areas. There is little information about Cd uptake by filamentous fungi, and even in yeasts, information on the specificity, kinetics, and mechanisms of Cd uptake is limited.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Frequency of Discrimination,Harassment, and Violence in Lesbian,Gay Men,and Bisexual in Italy

Background

This cross-sectional study assessed the frequency of discrimination, harassment, and violence and the associated factors among a random sample of 1000 lesbian, gay men, and bisexual women and men recruited from randomly selected public venues in Italy.

Methods

A face-to-face interview sought information about: socio-demographics, frequency of discrimination, verbal harassment, and physical and sexual violence because of their sexual orientation, and their fear of suffering each types of victimization.

Results

In the whole sample, 28.3% and 11.9% self-reported at least one episode of victimization because of the sexual orientation in their lifetime and in the last year. Those unmarried, compared to the others, and with a college degree or higher, compared to less educated respondents, were more likely to have experienced an episode of victimization in their lifetime. Lesbians, compared to bisexual, had almost twice the odds of experiencing an episode of victimization. The most commonly reported experiences across the lifetime were verbal harassment, discrimination, and physical or sexual violence. Among those who had experienced one episode of victimization in their lifetime, 42.1% self-reported one episode in the last year. Perceived fear of suffering violence because of their sexual orientation, measured on a 10-point Likert scale with a higher score indicative of greater fear, ranges from 5.7 for verbal harassment to 6.4 for discrimination. Participants were more likely to have fear of suffering victimization because of their sexual orientation if they were female (compared to male), lesbian and gay men (compared to bisexual women and men), unmarried (compared to the others), and if they have already suffered an episode of victimization (compared to those who have not suffered an episode).

Conclusions

The study provides important insights into the violence experiences of lesbian, gay men, and bisexual women and men and the results may serve for improving policy initiatives to reduce such episodes.     

Incorporating Science,Technology, Fairness,and Accountability in Environmental,Health, and Safety Decisions

The Precautionary Principle is in sharp political focus today because (1) the nature of scientific uncertainty is changing and (2) there is increasing pressure to base governmental action on more “rational” schemes, such as cost-benefit analysis and quantitative risk assessment, the former being an embodiment of ‘rational choice theory’ promoted by the Chicago school of law and economics. The Precautionary Principle has been criticized as being both too vague and too arbitrary to form a basis for rational decision making. The assumption underlying this criticism is that any scheme not based on cost-benefit analysis and risk assessment is both irrational and without secure foundation in either science or economics. This paper contests that view and makes explicit the rational tenets of the Precautionary Principle within an analytical framework as rigorous as uncertainties permit, and one that mirrors democratic values embodied in regulatory, compensatory, and common law. Unlike other formulations that reject risk assessment, this paper argues that risk assessment can be used within the formalism of tradeoff analysis—a more appropriate alternative to traditional cost-benefit analysis and one that satisfies the need for well-grounded public policy decision making. This paper will argue that the precautionary approach is the most appropriate basis for policy, even when large uncertainties do not exist, especially where the fairness of the distributions of costs and benefits of hazardous activities and products are a concern. Furthermore, it will offer an approach to making decisions within an analytic framework, based on equity and justice, to replace the economic paradigm of utilitarian cost-benefit analysis.     

DNA stress and strain, in silico, in vitro and in vivo

A vast literature has explored the genetic interactions among the cellular components regulating gene expression in many organisms. Early on, in the absence of any biochemical definition, regulatory modules were conceived using the strict formalism of genetics to designate the modifiers of phenotype as either cis- or trans-acting depending on whether the relevant genes were embedded in the same or separate DNA molecules. This formalism distilled gene regulation down to its essence in much the same way that consideration of an ideal gas reveals essential thermodynamic and kinetic principles. Yet just as the anomalous behavior of materials may thwart an engineer who ignores their non-ideal properties, schemes to control and manipulate the genetic and epigenetic programs of cells may falter without a fuller and more quantitative elucidation of the physical and chemical characteristics of DNA and chromatin in vivo.     

Levels of iron, zinc, and copper in aqueous humor, lens, and serum in nondiabetic and diabetic patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) levels of aqueous humor, lens, and serum in nondiabetics and diabetics and to determine the effects of diabetes on Fe, Zn, and Cu contents in the lens. Fe, Zn, and Cu contents of aqueous humor, lens, and serum samples of 19 patients (9 nondiabetic patients with a mean age of 62.3±5.4 yr, and 10 diabetic patients with a mean age of 59.5±5.9 yr) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry using a prospective study design. The lens levels of Cu in diabetic patients were significantly higher compared with nondiabetic patients (p=0.02); however; there was no difference in the other elements (Zn, Fe; p=0.28, p=0.74, respectively). The levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the aqueous humor and serum of diabetic patients were not found to be statistically significant when compared to nondiabetics (p=0.46, p=0.11, p=0.18, and p=0.22, p=0.43, p=0.72, respectively). These results demonstrate that increased Cu content of the lens presumably has a greater association with the development of lens opacification in diabetics than Zn and Fe content.     

Love, careers, and heights in France, 2001

Short men are less likely to be married or live in a permanent relationship than their taller counterparts. This pattern is not due to their social status. While blue-collar workers are shorter on average than managers, the effects of height on finding a mate are similar in the two social groups. Being tall is also economically advantageous for men. With identical educational attainment levels, tall men have better careers than short men as they are given greater supervisory responsibilities. In making a commitment, some women might take height into account as an anticipated indicator of future resources of the household. Choice of partner is also influenced by social norms--i.e., partners should be physically well-matched--which is more difficult for shorter men.