Depression among Migrant and Left-Behind Children in China in Relation to the Quality of Parent-Child and Teacher-Child Relationships

The objective of this study was to examine rates of depression among migrant children (MC) and left-behind children (LBC) as compared to non-left-behind children (NLBC) and also to examine the relationship between depression among these children and the quality of their parent-child and teacher-child relationships. This study collected data from a large sample of 3,759 children aged from 8 to 17 years, including 824 who had been left behind by one parent (LBCO), 423 who had been left behind by both parents (LBCB), 568 MC and 1944 NLBC. Children’s Depression Inventory–Short Form was used to measure child depression. Parent-Child Relationship Scale (PCRS) and Teacher-Child Relationship Scale (TCRS) were used to measure the quality of parent-child and teacher-child relationships, respectively. The results showed that the prevalence of depression was 10.5% among NLBC, 13.1% among LBCO, 16.1% among LBCB, and 20.1% among MC. Depression was related to parent-child relationship quality and teacher-child relationship quality. Negative parent-child relationship was more relevant to depression than negative teacher-child relationship among LBCB, while negative teacher-child relationship was the most correlated with depression among MC.     

Cyclins,cyclin-dependent kinases and differentiation

Cyclin-dependent kinases and their regulatory subunits, the cyclins, are known to regulate progression through the cell cycle. Yet these same proteins are often expressed in non-cycling, differentiated cells. This review surveys the available information about cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases in differentiated cells and explores the possibility that these proteins may have important functions that are independent of cell cycle regulation.     

Lymphocytes generated by in vivo priming and in vitro sensitization demonstrate therapeutic efficacy against a murine tumor that lacks apparent immunogenicity

The adoptive transfer of sensitized lymphocytes is an effective means to mediate the regression of established tumors. However, successful therapy can only be demonstrated in animal models where tumors are intrinsically immunogenic, capable of eliciting systemic immunity. To explore the potential of this therapeutic approach to tumors of less immunogenicity, we have selected and used a murine tumor, MCA 102, for the current study because all attempts to immunize syngeneic mice failed. We report here that inoculation of mice with a mixture of tumor cells and a bacterial adjuvant, Corynebacterium parvum led to the production of sensitized, but not fully functional, lymphocytes in the draining lymph nodes (LN). These cells, termed pre-effector cells, could nevertheless further differentiate to acquire full immunologic function by an established in vitro sensitization culture method. In adoptive immunotherapy experiments, transfer of as few as 1.5 X 10(7) in vitro sensitized cells not only reduced established pulmonary MCA 102 metastases but also prolonged survival and cured tumors in a majority of the treated animals. In order to elicit pre-effector cells in vivo, inoculation with both tumor cells and C. parvum was essential. Although a broad range of numbers of MCA 102 tumor cells appeared to be effective, generation of pre-effector cells was dependent on the dose of C. parvum. We have found that a C. parvum dose of 25 micrograms was optimal, whereas higher doses of the adjuvant had suppressive effects. Analysis of the kinetics of their appearance revealed that the generation of pre-effector cells was transient. They were detectable 7 days after in vivo priming followed by a rapid decline. Furthermore, pre-effector cells were detected only in the regional draining LN. No reactivity was demonstrable in the spleen, mesenteric LN, PBL, or bone marrow. Taken together, these results expand the scope of immunotherapy by demonstrating the feasibility of manipulating a limited and obscure immune response to the MCA 102 tumor for therapeutic efficacy.     

tRNA METHYLTRANSFERASE ACTIVITY IN NEONATAL AND MATURE MAMMALIAN NEURAL TISSUE

Abstract— The activity and kinetic characteristics of tRNA methyltransferases were measured with enzyme preparations obtained from neonatal and adult mouse brain tissue. Both neonatal and mature brain enzyme preparations were shown to contain a considerable amount of protein methylase activity which could interfere with the measurement of the tRNA methyltransferases. When increasing amounts of the unfractionated enzymes from young and adult neural tissue were added to reaction mixtures, the saturation kinetics were found to be considerably different. However, fractionation of the samples by precipitation at pH 5 resulted in an increase in the enzyme activity of preparations obtained from adult brain. Although the precipitation at pH 5 allowed a quantitative recovery of the enzyme activity of immature brain samples, this partial purification step led to an apparent activation of the tRNA methyltransferases in adult preparations. This activation was shown to be independent of differential changes in the thermolability of the enzymes but rather to be associated with an increase in the sites methylated and the measured affinity of the adult enzyme preparations with the tRNA substrate. Nicotinamide, a potent inhibitor of tRNA methyltransferase activity in other tissues, was shown to be ineffective in modulating brain tRNA methyltransferase activity. The results are discussed in light of the possible modulation of the activity of specific enzyme species and the alterations in the synthesis of nucleic acid precursors during neural development.     

Change of hepatitis B virions (Dane particles) phosphorylation pattern by human hepatoma cell particulate fraction

Protein kinase activity has been found in hepatitis B virions (Dane particles) purified from the plasma of hepatitis B surface antigen carriers [Albin, C., and Robinson, W.S. (1980) J. Virol. 34, 297-302]. Dane particles were purified from the pooled, HBeAg-positive plasma. When this preparation was incubated with [gamma 32P]ATP in the presence of 10mM MnCl2 and 0.5% NP-40 for 15 seconds at 30 degrees C, several phosphorylated polypeptides of 20,000, 42,000, 48,000, 50,000 and 56,000 daltons were detected in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. When the Dane particles were incubated with [gamma 32P]ATP, 10 mM MnCl2, and 0.5% NP-40 in the presence of human hepatoma cell (J-5) particulate fraction at 30 degrees C, 15 seconds, the 42,000, 48,000 and 50,000 daltons phosphorylated polypeptides were not found. When human peripheral blood lymphocytes particulate fraction was incubated with Dane particles under the same conditions, no change of Dane particle phosphorylated polypeptides was detected. Previous publications [Albin, C., and Robinson, W.S. (1980) J. Virol. 34, 297-302; Gerlich, W.H. et al. (1982) J. Virol. 42, 761-766] showed that when hepatitis B core particles purified from hepatoma tissues contained protein kinase activity, only phosphorylated polypeptide was 20,000 daltons. Our data suggested that when Dane particles were put in an environment of hepatoma cells (or tissues), the protein kinase could only phosphorylate selected polypeptides in these particles.     

Modulatory effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus KLDS 1.0738 on intestinal short‐chain fatty acids metabolism and GPR41/43 expression in β‐lactoglobulin–sensitized mice

We investigated the correlation between the beneficial effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus on gut microbiota composition, metabolic activities, and reducing cow's milk protein allergy. Mice sensitized with β‐lactoglobulin (β‐Lg) were treated with different doses of L. acidophilus KLDS 1.0738 for 4 weeks, starting 1 week before allergen induction. The results showed that intake of L. acidophilus significantly suppressed the hypersensitivity responses, together with increased fecal microbiota diversity and short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentration (including propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate) when compared with the allergic group. Moreover, treatment with L. acidophilus induced the expression of SCFAs receptors, G‐protein–coupled receptors 41 (GPR41) and 43 (GPR43), in the spleen and colon of the allergic mice. Further analysis revealed that the GPR41 and GPR43 messenger RNA expression both positively correlated with the serum concentrations of transforming growth factor‐β and IFN‐γ (p < .05), but negatively with the serum concentrations of IL‐17, IL‐4, and IL‐6 in the L. acidophilus–treated group compared with the allergic group (p < .05). These results suggested that L. acidophilus protected against the development of allergic inflammation by improving the intestinal flora, as well as upregulating SCFAs and their receptors GPR41/43.