A role for MCP-1/CCR2 in interstitial lung disease in children

Background

Particulate matter (PM) can exacerbate allergic airway diseases. Although health effects of PM with a diameter of less than 100 nm have been focused, few studies have elucidated the correlation between the sizes of particles and aggravation of allergic diseases. We investigated the effects of nano particles with a diameter of 14 nm or 56 nm on antigen-related airway inflammation.

Methods

ICR mice were divided into six experimental groups. Vehicle, two sizes of carbon nano particles, ovalbumin (OVA), and OVA + nano particles were administered intratracheally. Cellular profile of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, lung histology, expression of cytokines, chemokines, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and immunoglobulin production were studied.

Results

Nano particles with a diameter of 14 nm or 56 nm aggravated antigen-related airway inflammation characterized by infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and mononuclear cells, and by an increase in the number of goblet cells in the bronchial epithelium. Nano particles with antigen increased protein levels of interleukin (IL)-5, IL-6, and IL-13, eotaxin, macrophage chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and regulated on activation and normal T cells expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the lung as compared with antigen alone. The formation of 8-OHdG, a proper marker of oxidative stress, was moderately induced by nano particles or antigen alone, and was markedly enhanced by antigen plus nano particles as compared with nano particles or antigen alone. The aggravation was more prominent with 14 nm of nano particles than with 56 nm of particles in overall trend. Particles with a diameter of 14 nm exhibited adjuvant activity for total IgE and antigen-specific IgG₁ and IgE.

Conclusion

Nano particles can aggravate antigen-related airway inflammation and immunoglobulin production, which is more prominent with smaller particles. The enhancement may be mediated, at least partly, by the increased local expression of IL-5 and eotaxin, and also by the modulated expression of IL-13, RANTES, MCP-1, and IL-6.     

Dichloroacetate- and trichloroacetate-induced phagocytic activation and production of oxidative stress in the hepatic tissues of mice after acute exposure

Dichoroacetate (DCA) and trichloroacetate (TCA) are by-products formed during chlorination of the drinking water and were found to be hepatotoxic and hepatocarcinogenic in rodents. In this study, the abilities of the compounds to induce oxidative stress and phagocytic activation have been studied in B6C3F1 mice. Groups of mice were administered 300 mg/kg of either DCA or TCA, p.o, and were sacrificed after 6 or 12 h. Peritoneal lavage cells (PLCs) were isolated and assayed for superoxide anion (SA) production, and hepatic tissues were assayed for the production of SA, lipid peroxidation (LP), and DNA-single strand breaks (SSBs). TCA resulted in significant production of SA in the PLCs, and in the production of SA, LP, and DNA-SSBs in the hepatic tissues, 12 h after dosing, as compared with the control. DCA administration, on the other hand, resulted in significant increases in the productions of LP and DNA-SSBs in the hepatic tissues at both time points, and in SA production in PLCs and hepatic tissues, 6 h after dosing. However, DCA-induced increases in SA production in PLC and hepatic tissues declined at the 12-h time point, reaching control level in the hepatic tissues. These results may implicate the contribution of phagocytic activation to the induction of oxidative stress in the hepatic tissues and also the role of SA production in the induction of LP and/or DNA damage in those tissues, in response to the compounds. The results also suggest studying the involvement of these mechanisms in the long-term hepatotoxicity/hepatocarcinogencity of the compounds.     

姜黄素灌胃对糖尿病大鼠心肌酶和氧化指标的影响

目的:探讨姜黄素灌胃对糖尿病心脏病变大鼠心肌酶和氧化指标的影响。方法:将成年雄性SD大鼠随机分为对照组、糖尿病组、姜黄素治疗2周组与姜黄素治疗4周组。取心室肌组织匀浆分别检测心肌酶、超氧化物歧化酶(Superoxide dismutase,SOD)和丙二醛(Malondialdehyde,MDA)的含量。结果:糖尿病组与对照组比较,心肌酶天冬氨酸氨基转移酶(Aspartate transaminase,AST)、乳酸脱氢酶(Lactic dehydrogenase,LDH)、肌酸激酶(Creatinekinase,CK)、肌酸激酶同工酶(Creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB,CK-MB)均增高(P0.01)。心肌氧化代谢产物MDA含量升高(P0.01),抗氧化损伤的SOD含量降低(P0.01);姜黄素治疗组与糖尿病组相比,各心肌酶含量有所下降,治疗4周组有明显统计学差异(P0.01)。同时心肌SOD和MDA含量在治疗组均有显著改善(P0.05或P0.01),治疗4周组心肌组织SOD含量较2周组明显升高(P0.05)。结论:姜黄素灌胃可以减轻糖尿病大鼠心肌损伤,提高抗氧化能力。     

Comparison of the cytobrush, cottonswab, and low-volume uterine flush techniques to evaluate endometrial cytology for diagnosing endometritis in chronically infertile mares

Endometritis is the most important cause of infertility in barren mares. The quick method of endometrial cytology (EC) has a relatively high reliability in diagnosing endometrial inflammation in the mare. For reliable cytological results, a collection technique that yields many well-preserved cells representative of a large uterine surface area without causing harm to the reproductive tract is required. The aim of the study was to compare three usually employed techniques for collection of endometrial and inflammatory cells (guarded cotton swab, uterine lavage, and cytobrush) in chronically infertile mares. Twenty Standardbred mares were used. In each mare, samples for EC were collected, first by a cotton swab (DGS), then by a cytobrush (CB), and finally by low volume flush (LVF). The slides were stained using the Diff Quick stain. The following parameters were assessed for each tested technique: background content of the slides; quality of the cells harvested; total cellularity; neutrophils; ratio PMN/uterine epithelial cells; inflammatory cells; vaginal epithelium cells. Categorical variables were compared using contingency tables and Pearson Chi-square tests, whereas continuous variables were compared using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA); P < 0.05 was considered significant. Samplings by DGS and CB resulted easy and quick to perform via a single operator in all cases. LVF was performed easily, but required the presence of 2-3 players and took more time. The background content of the slides prepared by DGS appeared proteinaceous, slides prepared by LVF appeared contaminated by red blood cells or debris, whereas slides prepared by CB appeared clear. All smears showed a good total cellularity. The CB yielded significantly more cells (P < 0.0001) than DGS and LVF. The DGS produced significant more cells than LVF (P < 0.0001). The DGS produced significantly more (P = 0.003) intact cells than CB and LVF. Distorted cells were significantly (P = 0.001) more frequent in smears by LVF. The CB harvested significantly (P = 0.009) more fragmented cells. CB and LVF produced significantly (P < 0.0001; P = 0.02) more PMNs/HPF than DGS. In smears collected by LVF the proportion of PMNs/uterine epithelial cells was significantly (P = 0.0062; P = 0.0023) higher than in smears by CB and DGS. CB collected a significantly higher (P = 0.0011) proportion of PMNs than DGS. Acute endometritis was diagnosed in 50% (10/20) of the mares by DGS cytological samples, 25% (5/20) by CB, and 75% (15/20) by LVF. Inflammatory cells other than PMN (lymphocytes, macrophages, eosinophils) were collected exclusively by CB method. Epithelial cells from the vagina were only detected in LVF slides. The agreement of the diagnosis of endometritis between the three techniques of collection and between the different criteria adopted to evaluate smears obtained with the same technique was poor (k ≤ 0.3). In conclusion, results show that cytobrush and flush specimens were superior in all parameters to cotton swab smears. Even though the cytobrush technique requires specialized equipment, sample collection by this method was easier, more consistent, and quicker than the lavage method, indicating that the brush would be the preferred collection method for use on field in the mare. More studies are needed to establish criteria for interpretation of inflammation in the mare on cytobrush samples.     

低血压灌注对无心跳大鼠肺支气管肺泡灌洗液中不同白细胞及HMGB1 的影响

目的:研究低血压灌注对无心跳大鼠肺支气管肺泡灌洗液中不同白细胞及HMGB1的影响。方法:将32只180-200g SD雄性大鼠随机分成对照组[sham]、缺血30min组[30I]、缺血60 min组[60I]和缺血90 min组[90I](n=8),4组大鼠分别接受麻醉后持续机械通气,测定并统计各组支气管肺泡灌洗液中总白细胞计数及不同白细胞计数,免疫印迹法检测支气管肺泡灌洗液中HMGB1蛋白的表达。结果:总白细胞、巨噬细胞、淋巴细胞计数及HMGB1蛋白表达均随着低血压灌注时间的延长而逐渐增加,尤其在[60I]和[90I]两组,灌洗液中巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞计数有显著增高,并且巨噬细胞和淋巴细胞与HMGB1蛋白表达呈正相关。结论:本研究证实HMGB1蛋白表达和巨噬细胞,淋巴细胞计数在低血压灌注缺血期内升高,提示HMGB1蛋白可能具有驱动炎症反应的作用。     

经纤维支气管镜灌洗治疗儿童顽固性肺炎的临床研究

目的:探讨经纤维支气管镜灌洗治疗儿童顽固性肺炎的治疗效果。方法:选择儿童顽固性肺炎患者48例,随机选择26例行纤维支气管镜灌洗治疗+常规治疗(实验组),另22例行单存常规治疗(对照组),对比两组治疗方案的有效率。结果:实验组22例(84.62%)有效,肺炎治疗有效时间为(9±2.1)d,对照组12例(54.55%)有效,肺炎治疗有效时间为(15.6±3.8)d。实验组肺炎治疗有效率明显高于对照组(p<0.05),且肺炎治疗有效时间明显少于对照组(p<0.05)。结论:纤维支气管镜灌洗是治疗儿童顽固性肺炎的一种有效方法。     

Modulatory Effects of Curcumin and Green Tea Extract against Experimentally Induced Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Comparison with N‐Acetyl Cysteine

The study was aimed to investigate the protective effect of green tea extract (GTE), curcumin, and N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) on experimentally induced pulmonary fibrosis. Curcumin (200 mg/kg b.w), GTE (150 mg/kg b.w), and NAC (490 mg/kg b.w) were administered orally for 14 days with concomitant administration of cyclophosphamide (CP). Lung fibrosis was assessed by measuring hydroxyproline and elastin levels and confirmed by histopathological examination. Oxidative stress was also observed in the CP group. Lung myeloperoxidase activity was significantly decreased in animals of the CP group. N‐acetyl‐β‐d ‐glucosaminidase, leukotriene C₄, and protein were increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). Transforming growth factor‐β, interleukin ‐1β, and histamine were increased in both serum and BALF. All modulators markedly attenuated the altered biochemical parameters as compared to CP‐treated rats. These results suggest the possibility of using these treatments as protective agents with chemotherapy and as protective agents for lung fibrosis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 26:461‐468, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com . DOI 10:1002/jbt.21447     

灌洗法配合透明质酸钠治疗膝骨关节炎性滑膜炎

目的：探讨双套管针穿刺膝关节腔内闭式灌洗,配合透明质酸钠治疗膝骨关节炎性滑膜炎的临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析52例膝关节积液明显的膝骨关节炎性滑膜炎患者的临床效疗。结果：无药物反应发生,有3例出现关节红、肿、痛,但2～3天后症状缓解。术后随访3～26月,治愈好转率达96％,平均治愈好转时间为18、4天。2例于治疗半年后复发,经再次治疗后康复。结论：此方法对膝关节呈Ⅰ～Ⅲ期改变的骨关节炎,特别是合并滑膜炎患者有较好疗效。     

Quantitative PCR method for detection of mycoplasma spp. DNA in nasal lavage samples from the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii)

Mycoplasma agassizii and M. testudineum have been associated with upper respiratory tract disease (URTD) in the threatened desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). Because microbiological culture methods have proven difficult to employ in wild desert tortoises, our goal was to develop a sensitive and specific qPCR method for detecting and quantifying mycoplasma DNA in nasal lavage fluid collected in the field. Primers for 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences specific for M. agassizii and M. testudineum were designed, together with primers that recognize conserved sequences of both microorganisms. Standard curves generated with DNA extracted from known numbers of mycoplasma cells revealed a lower detection limit of approximately 5 fg. The qPCR method did not recognize normal flora DNA, and nasal lavage fluid contained no interfering substances. Nasal lavage samples collected from 20 captive desert tortoises housed at the Desert Tortoise Conservation Center (Clark County, Nevada, USA) revealed the presence of M. agassizii DNA in 100% of the tortoises. Concentrations ranged from a low of 6 pg ml^− 1 to a high of 72,962 pg ml^− 1. Only one of the tortoises was positive for M. testudineum. Interestingly, not all of the qPCR positive tortoises showed evidence of seroconversion, suggesting that they were colonized but not infected. This new quantitative method will provide a critical tool for managing threatened populations of the desert tortoise.     

经纤维支气管镜灌洗治疗儿童顽固性肺炎的临床研究

目的：探讨经纤维支气管镜灌洗治疗儿童顽固性肺炎的治疗效果。方法：选择儿童顽固性肺炎患者48例,随机选择26例行纤维支气管镜灌洗治疗＋常规治疗（实验组）,另22例行单存常规治疗（对照组）,对比两组治疗方案的有效率。结果：实验组22例（84.62%）有效,肺炎治疗有效时间为（9±2.1）d,对照组12例（54.55%）有效,肺炎治疗有效时间为（15.6±3.8）d。实验组肺炎治疗有效率明显高于对照组（p〈0.05）,且肺炎治疗有效时间明显少于对照组（p〈0.05）。结论：纤维支气管镜灌洗是治疗儿童顽固性肺炎的一种有效方法。