[Clinical, pathologic and radiologic analysis of paragonimiasis in children].

Objective: To analyze the clinical, pathological and radiological characteristics of paragonimiasis in children for accurate diagnosis and therapy. Methods: A total of 31 patients with paragonimiasis treated from 2002 to 2016 were selected, including 17 cases from migrant areas and 14 cases from Wenzhou area. Results: In migrant children group, the serum IgE was significantly higher than that in Wenzhou area group [(2 379±944) IU/mL∶(1 552±1 121) IU/mL, t=-2.23, P<0.05], and the duration of therapy was remarkable longer [(13.8±6.5) days∶(9.9±3.4) days, t=-2.15, P<0.05]. Among all cases, 10 showed polyserositis including pleural effusion, ascites and pericardial effusion at different degrees on chest CT scans. Five cases with cerebral paragonimiasis were confirmed by MR imaging. Most of the lesions were located in the parietal lobe with slight low signal on T1WI but high signal on T2WI surrounded by disproportionate edema. Annular enhancement was prominent by Gd-DTPA. Paragonimiasis serum antibody was positive in all cases by ELISA. Pathologic features included formation of irregular lacunae or sinus tracts, presence of paragonimus bodies, and eosinophilic infiltration in the adjacent tissues. Conclusions: Clinical manifestations of paragonimiasis are complex and non-specific in children.In migrant children group, clinical manifestations are diverse, more serious with more complications and difficulties in treatment, while patients in Wenzhou area group have favorable prognosis and less complicated treatment. The early diagnosis and timely treatment should be determined by patient's detailed history, eosinophilic count, radiologic findings and immunological test to avoid serious complications.

Effect of early vitamin D supplementation on asthma and the possible mechanisms.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways with variable airflow obstruction and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. It is believed that Th2-derived cytokines orchestrate the asthmatic response and the maintenance of the balance of Th1/Th2 plays a crucial role in prevention of asthma. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3, the biologically activate form of vitamin D, was reported with an almost opposite role in prevention and treatment of asthma. Therefore, in this study, we elucidated the evaluations of in vivo anti-asthma effects when treated with different doses of vitamin D and validated the relationship between vitamin D and asthma. Our data demonstrated that intervention with the appropriate dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 in early life could improve pulmonary function and reduce eosinophil cell infiltration in the airways of rat asthma models. However, overdose might play a detrimental effect. Its mechanism may correlate with the effect of 1,25(OH)2D3 on interleukin (IL)-4, IL-12, IL-13, interferon-γ, and ovalbumin-specific immunoglobulin E secretion and the expression of p-JAK1/p-STAT6/SOCS5.

MiR-30c-5p inhibits high glucose-induced EMT and renal fibrogenesis by down-regulation of JAK1 in diabetic nephropathy.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) and has become the major cause of end-stage renal failure. MicroRNAs (miRs) play key roles in many pathologic processes for initiating and progressing, including DN. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and renal fibrogenesis are important features of DN. However, the role of miR-30c-5p in high glucose (HG)-induced EMT and renal fibrogenesis is not clear. This study was aimed at determining the regulatory network of miR-30c-5p and JAK1 in DN. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot assays were performed to detect expressions of miR-30c-5p, JAK1, vimentin, α-SMA, and E-cadherin. The possible binding sites between miR-30c-5p and JAK1 were predicted by TargetScan online database and verified by Luciferase report assay. The secretion of fibronectin (FN) and Collagen IV (Col IV) in the supernatant was detected by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay. RESULTS: MiR-30c-5p was downregulated and JAK1 was upregulated in renal fibrosis tissue and HG stimulated HK2 cells. Transfection of miR-30c-5p inhibited HG-induced EMT and renal fibrogenesis in HK2 cells, which was reversed by miR-30c-5p inhibitor. Moreover, JAK1 was confirmed as a direct target of miR-30c-5 and knockdown of JAK1 markedly inhibited HG-induced renal fibrogenesis and EMT in HK2 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of JAK1 attenuated the inhibitory effect of miR-30c-5p on HG-induced EMT and renal fibrogenesis in HK2 cells. CONCLUSIONS: MiR-30c-5p evidently inhibited HG-induced EMT and renal fibrogenesis by down-regulation JAK1 in DN, providing a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of DN.

[Effect of pyronaridine, mefloquine and quinine on artesunate-sensitive and artesunate-resistant Plasmodium falciparum].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity of artesunate-sensitive and artesunate-resistant P. falciparum to pyronaridine, mefloquine and quinine and to understand the effect of artesunte combined with the above-mentioned 3 drugs respectively on artesunate-resistant P. falciparum. METHODS: Rieckmann's in vitro miorotechnique was used. RESULTS: The ID50 values of pyronaride, mefloquine, quinine and artesunate were 59.0, 69.7, 283.8 and 9.6 nmol/L to artesunate-sensitive P. falciparum; the ID50 of the 4 drugs mentioned above were 170.6, 63.2, 272.4 and 85.1 nmol/L to the artesunate-resistant P. falciparum, respectively. In artesunate pyronaridine combination, the ID50 values were 1/3.7 (22.8/85.1) and 1/4.7 (36.6/170.6) of the 2 drugs singly used. In artesunate mefloquine combinaton, the ID95 is 1/125 (3.2/400) and 1/16 (80/128) of the 2 drugs singly used, respectively. CONCLUSION: The artesunate-resistant P. falciparum isolate has no cross resistance to mefloquine and quinine. When artesunate was used in combination with the 2 drugs mentioned above respectively, the efficacy proved to be enhanced.

L-carnitine protects against cyclosporine-induced pancreatic and renal injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: L-carnitine has protective effects against various types of injury. This study was designed to evaluate the beneficial effects of L-carnitine on pancreatic and renal injuries caused by cyclosporine (CsA). METHODS: Rats maintained on a low sodium diet were given vehicle (olive oil, 1 mL/kg/d), CsA (15 mg/kg/d), L-carnitine (50 or 200 mg/kg/d), or a combination of CsA and L-carnitine for 4 weeks. The impact of L-carnitine on pancreatic injury was assessed by blood glucose levels, plasma insulin concentrations, and hemoglobulin A1c (HbA1c). In addition, the protective effects of L-carnitine against CsA-induced kidney injury were evaluated in terms of renal function, histopathology (inflammatory cell influx and tubulointerstitial fibrosis), oxidative stress (8-hydroxy 2'-deoxyguanosine, 8-OHdG), transforming growth factor-betal (TGF-ß1), apoptosis (caspase-3), and autophagy (LC3-II). RESULTS: CsA treatment caused diabetes, renal dysfunction, tubulointerstitial inflammation (ED-1-positive cells), and fibrosis, which were accompanied by an increase in 8-OHdG production and upregulation of TGF-ß1, caspase-3, and LC3-II. Concomitant administration of L-carnitine increased plasma insulin concentrations, decreasing plasma glucose and HbA1c levels. In the kidney, L-carnitine induced dose-dependent improvement of renal function, inflammation, and fibrosis in parallel with suppression of the expression of TGF-ß1 and 8-OHdG. Furthermore, the administration of L-carnitine at a high dose inhibited the expression of caspase-3 and LC3-II. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that L-carnitine has a protective effect against CsA-induced pancreatic and renal injuries.

Y-27632 improves the erectile dysfunction with ageing in SD rats through adjusting the imbalance between nNo and the Rho-kinase pathways.

We investigated whether the effect of Y-27632 to improve the erectile function in SD rats was associated with the degree of the imbalance between nNOS and the Rho-kinase pathways. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate nNOS and Rho-kinase protein expression in 10 young and 10 old SD rats. Imbalance value between nNOS and Rho-kinase protein levels was obtained by subtracting nNOS from Rho-kinase. A 5-V stimulus was given in SD rats before and after the administration of 200 nmol kg(-1) of Y-27632 intracavernosally and ICP/MAP was recorded. The improvement of erectile function induced by Y-27632 was expressed as the margin of ICP/MAP after and before the administration of Y-27632. In young rat group, the contents of nNOS and Rho-kinase protein were 1.7 +/- 0.15 and 1.8 +/- 0.14 respectively. In old rat group, the nNOS protein decreased to 1 +/- 0.15, and in contrast, the Rho-kinase protein increased to 2.6 +/- 0.2. The imbalance value between nNOS and Rho-kinase was 0.2986 +/- 0.1109 and 1.5961 +/- 0.1206 in young and old rat groups. The improvement of erectile function induced by Y-27632 was 0.0500 +/- 0.0294 and 0.3420 +/- 0.660 in young and old rat groups. In all rats, the correlation coefficient between the imbalance value of nNOS and Rho-kinase and the improvement of erectile function was 0.649, P < 0.01. In conclusion, this study suggested that impaired erectile function with ageing in SD rats be associated with the imbalance between nNO and Rho-kinase activity and Y-27632 could improve the erectile function in old SD rats through adjusting this imbalance.