[Effects of airborne fine particulate matters on pulmonary inflammation injury and Th17/Treg balance of sub-chronic exposure mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore effects of fine particulate matters (PM 2.5) onpulmonary inflammation, and the changes of Th17/Treg balance as well as related cytokines. METHOD: Thirty-two C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into 4 groups including 1 saline control group and 3 PM2.5 exposure groups (1.5, 7.5 and 15 mg/kg BW, respectively). Each group received intratracheal instillation twice per week for 3 consecutive months. 24 hours after the last exposure, anaesthetize the mice with chloral hydrate, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected for inflammatory cells and cytokines analysis. The Th17- and Treg-related cytokines in BALF was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The level of the specific transcription factors of Th17 and Treg in lung tissue was determined by real-time PCR. Unlavaged left lung were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for histopathological detection. RESULTS: Th17-related cytokine IL-17 increased, but Treg-related cytokine IL-10 decreased significantly in BALF at 7.5 and 15 mg/kg BW PM2.5 exposure groups compared with control group (P < 0.05). Consistently, the relative mRNA expression of ROR-gammat (specific transcription factors of Th17) increased in a dose-response way, the relative mRNA expression of Foxp3 + (specific transcription factors of Treg) decreased in a dose-response way. CONCLUSION: Sub-chronic PM2.5 exposure caused persistent inflammation, immune injury and disordered the Th17/Treg imbalance as well as related cytokines.

Prevalence, Incidence, and Characteristics of Tuberculosis Among Known Diabetes Patients - A Prospective Cohort Study in 10 Sites, 2013-2015.

What is already known about this topic?: The association of diabetes mellitus (DM) with both increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) and unfavorable treatment outcomes has been identified by many studies (1). However, epidemic data for TB cases in DM patients is absent in China. What is added by this report?: This current population-based prospective cohort study, conducted in ten counties located in eastern, central, and western China during 2013-2015, revealed a high prevalence and incidence of TB in known DM patients. Most TB cases were captured by active case-finding and a much higher presence of being asymptomatic among TB/DM patients was obtained. What are the implications for public health practice?: Active case-finding should be carried out in DM patients and populations at high risk for developing TB. A TB symptom screening-based case-finding strategy is not enough; chest radiography check should be done once a year for these patients.