Comparative Epidemiology of Human Fatal Infections with Novel, High (H5N6 and H5N1) and Low (H7N9 and H9N2) Pathogenicity Avian Influenza A Viruses.

This study aimed to assess the mortality risks for human infection with high (HPAI) and low (LPAI) pathogenicity avian influenza viruses. The HPAI case fatality rate (CFR) was far higher than the LPAI CFR [66.0% (293/444) vs. 68.75% (11/16) vs. 40.4% (265/656) vs. 0.0% (0/18) in the cases with H5N1, H5N6, H7N9, and H9N2 viruses, respectively; p < 0.001]. Similarly, the CFR of the index cases was greater than the secondary cases with H5N1 [100% (43/43) vs. 43.3% (42/97), p < 0.001]. Old age [22.5 vs. 17 years for H5N1, p = 0.018; 61 vs. 49 years for H7H9, p < 0.001], concurrent diseases [18.8% (15/80) vs. 8.33% (9/108) for H5N1, p = 0.046; 58.6% (156/266) vs. 34.8% (135/388) for H7H9, p < 0.001], delayed confirmation [13 vs. 6 days for H5N1, p < 0.001; 10 vs. 8 days for H7N9, p = 0.011] in the fatalities and survivors, were risk factors for deaths. With regard to the H5N1 clusters, exposure to poultry [67.4% (29/43) vs. 45.2% (19/42), p = 0.039] was the higher risk for the primary than the secondary deaths. In conclusion, old age, comorbidities, delayed confirmation, along with poultry exposure are the major risks contributing to fatal outcomes in human HPAI and LPAI infections.

Enhanced local Foxp3 expression in lung tissue attenuates airway inflammation in a mouse model of asthma.

OBJECTIVE: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway mediated by a Th2 immune response. A great deal of data has demonstrated that regulatory T cells (Tregs) have the ability to suppress Th2 immune responses and the transcription factor fork-head box protein 3 (Foxp3) is indispensable for the development of CD4 + CD25 + Tregs. In this study, we hypothesized that enhanced local Foxp3 expression in lung tissue could suppress Th2-mediated allergic asthma. METHODS: Foxp3/PMX retroviruses containing the mouse Foxp3 gene were constructed and administered into asthmatic mice through intra-tracheal instillation before ovalbumin challenging. Foxp3 expression, airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tissue inflammatory cell and cytokine profiles were characterized. RESULTS: Foxp3 mRNA and protein were increased in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Enhanced expression of Foxp3 locally in the lung tissue reduced the airway AHR, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus production. It also attenuated Th2 and Th17 immune responses as evidenced by reduced IL-4, IL-13 and IL-17 levels. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that enhanced Foxp3 expression in the airway by intra-tracheally instilled Foxp3/PMX retroviruses alleviates allergic airway inflammation by reducing the Th2 immune response.

Effects of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide on transcription factors GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA expression in asthmatic mice.

AIM: To investigate effects of CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG ODN) on the mRNA expression of transcription factors GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3) and T-box expressed in T cells (T-bet) in asthmatic mice. METHODS: An asthmatic mouse model was established and treated with CpG ODN. Total inflammatory cells and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were counted and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue was evaluated. Interferon-gamma and interleukin-4 concentrations in BALF and splenocyte culture supernatants were detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Transcription factor GATA-3 and T-bet mRNA expression in splenocytes and lung tissue were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Total inflammatory cells and eosinophils in BALF were reduced in the CpG ODN-treated group compared with the asthma group, and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue was also significantly alleviated. CpG ODN treatment increased the interferon-gamma concentration but decreased the interleukin-4 concentration in both BALF and splenocyte culture supernatants. GATA-3 mRNA expression was reduced in both lung tissue and splenocytes in the CpG ODN-treated group, while the mRNA ratio of T-bet to GATA-3 in splenocytes was increased. CONCLUSION: CpG ODN treatment inhibits airway inflammatory cell infiltration and regulates interferon-gamma/interleukin-4 synthesis in asthmatic mice, possibly through a mechanism of downregulation of GATA-3 mRNA expression in both lung tissue and splenocytes.

[The study on pathogenesis of latex allergy.].

OBJECTIVE: In order to study the pathogenesis of latex allergy and the significance in the prevention and cure of occupational diseases. METHODS: 651 cases in the out-patient department were tested with skin prick test (SPT), and the specific IgE (sIgE) to latex were detected by means of disk ELISA and Western-blot. RESULTS: It was found that the positive rate of latex SPT (37.5%) and sIgE (31.25%) were rather higher in patients in comparison with those of the normal. The positive rate of latex sIgE was much higher in the high-risk group than that of the low-risk group and the normal. The serum of the patients can react with multi-bands in the latex glove extracts. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of latex allergy is rather high, this disease is mediated by IgE. The people in high-risk should be tested by latex allergy in order to take proper occupational and daily protection.