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Objective:To explore the clinical features and risk factors of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) concomitant with interstitial lung disease(ILD) in children.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed.A total of 111 hospitalized children diagnosed with SLE in the Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Children′s Hospital of Soochow University from February 2016 to November 2018 were selected as the research subjects and divided into the SLE-ILD group(18 cases) and the SLE-non-ILD group(93 cases)according to the lung high-resolution CT manifestations. T-test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to compare and analyze the general situation, clinical manifestations and laboratory results.Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of SLE-ILD. Results:The prevalence of SLE-ILD was 16.2%(18/111 cases). There were significant differences between the SLE-ILD group and the SLE-non-ILD group in the course of disease [14.00 (12.00-24.25) months vs.1.00(1.00-2.00) months], the incidence of serositis [55.6%(10/18 cases) vs.8.6%(8/93 cases)], post-activity shortness of breath [83.3%(15/18 cases) vs.25.8%(24/93 cases)], nervous system damage [27.8%(5/18 cases) vs.6.5%(6/93 cases)], cardiovascular system damage [38.9%(7/18 cases) vs.9.7%(9/93 cases)], the occu-rrence of increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate [66.7%(12/18 cases) vs.31.2%(29/93 cases)], the decreased C 3[88.9%(16/18 cases) vs.62.4%(58/93 cases)], positive anti neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) [88.9%(16/18 cases) vs.18.3%(17/93 cases)], positive anti-Sm antibody [61.1%(11/18 cases) vs.15.1%(14/93 cases)] and anti ribonucleoprotein antibody (anti RNP antibody)[66.7%(12/18 cases) vs.16.1%(15/93 cases)](all P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that serositis( OR=30.535, 95% CI: 2.167-430.336, P=0.011), shortness of breath after exercise( OR=55.115, 95% CI: 1.117-2 579.852, P=0.041), positive ANCA( OR=65.090, 95% CI: 4.488-944.071, P=0.002) and positive anti-RNP antibody( OR=10.007, 95% CI: 1.362-73.500, P=0.024) were risk factors for SLE-ILD. Conclusions:The longer the course of SLE, the higher the incidence of ILD; serositis, shortness of breath after exercise, positive ANCA and positive anti RNP antibody may be risk factors for SLE-ILD.
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Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is defined as arthritis of unknown etiology during childhood.The pathogenesis of this disease is still unclear and the main principle of treatment is to eliminate symptoms, control infla-mmation, and protect joint function.Clinical prognosis can be improved in most JIA patients, but still some patients will eventually become disabled.With the advent of new biologic treatment agents, the treatment management model of JIA is also facing great challenges.Currently, there is still no unified standard to measure and monitor the clinical situation in all patients.This review aims to describe the disease assessment indices important to routine clinical care and integral to the design of outcome studies and clinical trials in JIA.
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Objective To explore the dynamic changes and significance of costimulatory molecules CD40 and lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of children with eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EG). Methods The CD40 expression and lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry (FCM) in 15 children with EG (acute stage and remission stage) and 15 healthy controls. The level of serum interleukin (IL) -4 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The eosinophil (EOS) was count by blood cell analyzer. Results In acute stage, the children with EG had significantly higher expression of CD40, CD3+, CD4+, CD4+/CD8+, and CD19+CD23+ in peripheral blood, higher serum IL-4 level, higher EOS count and lower CD8+ than in remission stage and control group (P all<0.05). There were no differences between remission stage and control group (P>0.05). In acute stage, the expression of CD40 in peripheral blood in children with EG was positively correlated with the expression of CD4+ and IL-4 (P all<0.05). Conclusions CD40 may be involved in the pathogenesis of EG. That the increase of IL-4 secreted by CD4+ T cells that were induced by CD40 results in abnormal increase of EOS may be one of mechanisms of the pathogenesis of EG.
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Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus (TAC) for treatment of Henoch-SchSnlein purpura nephritis in children.Methods Forty children with Henoch-SchSnlein purpura nephritis (pathological grade Ⅲ-Ⅵ) in Children's Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University from January 2013 to June 2016 were selected and divided into TAC group (n =19) and cyclophosphamide (CTX) group (n =21).The children in TAC group were given TAC orally;the children in CTX group were given CTX pulse therapy intravenously.The 24 h urine protein,urine red blood cell count,serum albumin,serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen of children before treatment and after 6 months treatment were observed and compared between the two groups.The treatment effects and adverse reactions of patients were observed and compared between the two groups.Results There was no statistic difference in the 24 h urine protein,urine red blood cells count,serum albumin,blood creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of children between the two groups before treatment (P ＞ 0.05).The 24 h urinary protein and urine red blood cells count of children after 6 months of treatment in the two groups were significantly lower than those before treatment (P ＜ 0.05);there was no statistic difference in the serum albumin,serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of children in the two groups before treatment and after 6 months of treatment (P ＞ 0.05).Mter 6 months of treatment,the 24 h urine protein and urine red blood cells count of children in TAC group were significantly lower than those in the CTX group (P ＜ 0.05);there was no statistic difference in the serum albumin,serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels of children between the two groups (P ＞ 0.05).After 6 months treatment,the effective rate of children in the TAC group was significantly higher than that in the CTX group (x2 =4.607,P ＜ 0.05).The incidence of adverse reactions of children in the TAC group was significantly lower than that in the CTX group (x2 =4.043,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion TAC is effective in treatment of Henoch-Sch(o)nlein purpura nephritis in children.It is easy to take,and has less adverse reactions.
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Objective To observe the effect of bone morphogenetic protein 4(BMP4) on the infil-tration of macrophages and the expression of nuclear factor-κB in mice model of unilateral ureteral obstruc-tion(UUO).Methods C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups:injected intra-abdominally with saline-sham-operated group(saline-sham group,n =8),injection intra-abdominally with saline-UUO-operated group(saline-UUO group,n=8),injection intra-abdominally with anti-BMP4-sham-operated group (anti-BMP4-sham group,n=8),and injection intra-abdominally with anti-BMP4-UUO-operated group(anti-BMP4-UUO group,n=8).Either saline or anti-BMP4(group 200 μl/gram of body weight per day) were injected intra-abdominally for 7 days after surgery.Mice were sacrificed at 7th day to evaluate the expression of CD68 and p-P65 by immunohistochemical staining in each group.Besides,the p-P65 protein level was also analyzed by Western blotting in four groups.Results Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expres-sions of CD68 and p-P65 were significantly reduced in the kidney cortices in anti-BMP4-UUO group than in saline-UUO group(P<0.05,respectively).Similar to that,the p-P65 protein level was significantly reduced in the kidney cortices in anti-BMP4-UUO group than in saline-UUO group(P < 0.05,respectively). Conclusion BMP4 participates in the process of renal interstitial inflammation in obstructive nephropathy, and may play a role through the activation of nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway.
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The resistance to steroid remains a major trouble in the treatment of idiopathic nephrotic syn-drome,and the mechanisms are complicated. Recent studys have shown that multidrug resistance gene l and P-glycoprotein170,glucocorticoid receptor,renal pathology,gene mutation and complications are all closely related to the resistance to steroid. This review is focused on the mechanisms of steroid resistance of children′s idiopath-ic nephrotic syndrome.
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Objective To compare the clinical manifestations,renal histological lesions,and the levels of urinary protein markers between the children with IgA nephropathy (IgAN) and those with IgM nephropathy (IgMN), and to determine whether urinary protein markers could predict the severity of renal histological lesions in children with IgAN and IgMN.Methods Seventy-four children with renal biopsy-proven IgAN and IgMN from January 2002 to October 2014 were enrolled in the study.The levels of IgG, albumin (Alb), transferrin (TRF), α1-microglobulin (α1-MG) ,β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) and N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase (NAG) in morning urine samples before biopsy were measured.The semi-quantitative scores of mesangial hypercellularity (MC), glomerulosclerosis (GS), and tubule-interstitial damage (TID) were used to assess renal histological lesions.Multivariate Logistic regression analysis was used to determine whether urinary protein levels were independently associated with renal histological lesions.The area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated to assess the predictive ability of urinary protein markers.Results Seventy-four children (44 cases with IgAN,30 cases with IgMN) were included.The urinary levels of α1-MG and Alb were significantly higher in children with IgAN as compared to those with IgMN.The differences, however, did not remain significant after adjustment for age.The urine protein, as an independent factor associated with severe MC(＞ 5 mesangial cells per mesangial area) was TRF(B =0.010), and severe GS (≥ 10％ glomeruli showing segmental adhesion or sclerosis) was significantly correlated with Alb(B =0.001) ,and severe TID (focal or diffuse tubular and interstitial lesions) was significantly correlated with NAG(B =0.038).Urinary β2-MG was not significantly associated with severe MC, GS and TID.Urinary TRF, Alb and NAG achieved the best AUC of 0.85 (P ＜ 0.001) ,0.78 (P =0.002), and 0.78 (P =0.003), respectively, for predicting severe MC, GS, and TID.Conclusions Urinary proteins are useful to predict the severity of renal histological lesions in children with IgAN and IgMN.Urinary TRF, Alb and NAG have better predictive value.
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Objective To investigate the expression of Toll-like receptors 2 (TLR2) mRNA,p38 mitogen activated protein kinase(p38 MAPK) mRNA and cytokine in peripheral blood of children with measles and to study the effect and possible mechanism for TLR2-p38 MAPK signal pathway defects on immune suppression in the children with measles during acute phase.Methods Thirty children with measles hospitalized in the department of infectious diseases from June 2012 to July 2013 were enrolled into the measles group,and 30 healthy children were chosen as the healthy control group.The mRNA expressions of TLR and p38 MAPK in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The protein levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ),tumor necrosis factor-β (TNF-β),interleukin (IL)-12,IL-6 and IL-10 in plasma were measured by using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA),and flow cytometry (FCM)was applied to detect the percentage of lymphocyte subpopulation.The serum IgG,IgA and IgM levels were detected by velocity scatter turbidimetry.Results (1) The expressions of TLR2 mRNA and p38 MAPK mRNA in the measles group were both significantly lower than those in the healthy control group (all P ＜ 0.05).(2) Compared with the healthy control group,the protein levels of IFN-γ,TNF-β and IL-12 in the plasma of the measles group decreased significantly (all P ＜ 0.05),and the levels of IL-6 and IL-10 increased significantly(all P ＜ 0.05).(3)Compared with the healthy control group,the percentage of CD3 +,CD4 +,CD4 +/CD8 + ratio and the level of IgG and IgA in the measles group decreased significantly(all P ＜ 0.05),and the percentage of CD19 + increased significantly(P ＜ 0.05),but there was no any significant change in the percentage of CD8 + and the level of IgM (all P ＞ 0.05).Conclusions The mRNA expressions of TLR2 and p38 MAPK are low in PBMC in the measles children during acute phase.There are different degrees of suppression of cell immunity,humoral immune and cytokines disorder in children with measles.Defects of TLR2-p38 MAPK signal pathway may cause the formation of measles immune suppression.
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Objective To investigate expression of 4-1BB and lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of children with acute infectious lymphocytosis. Methods Flow cytometry (FCM) was applied to detect the expression of 4-1BB and lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of 15 cases of acute infectious lymphocytosis and 20 cases of acute upper respiratory infection, and 20 healthy children. Results The expression of 4-1BB and CD3+, CD4+and CD8+lymphocytes were higher in acute infectious lymphocytosis group than those in acute upper respiratory infection group and healthy control group (P0.05). A positive correlation was found between 4-1BB expression and CD3+ lymphocytes expression in acute infectious lymphocytosis group (r=0.73, P<0.05). Conclusions The abnormal expression of 4-1BB may play a pathological role in the development of acute infectious lymphocytosis. T cells in chil-dren with acute infectious lymphocytosis may not function to activate B cells.