Lactobacillus paragasseri BBM171 Ameliorates Allergic Airway Inflammation Induced by Ovalbumin in Mice via Modulating the Th1/Th2 Balance

Supplementation with specific probiotics has been shown to improve allergic airway symptoms. This study aimed to investigate immunomodulatory effects of a potential probiotic strain isolated from breast milk, Lactobacillus paragasseri BBM171 (BBM171), in an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic mouse model. OVA-sensitized and OVA-challenged BALB/c mice were orally administered live or heat-inactivated BBM171 for 48 consecutive days. After the last allergen challenge, serum immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, inflammatory cell levels in the lungs, and cytokine levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were assessed. The results showed that oral administration of live or heat-inactivated BBM171 decreased serum levels of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE, and OVA-specific IgG1, while increasing OVA-specific IgG2a and reducing the extent of airway inflammation in OVA-induced allergic mice. In addition, both live and heat-inactivated BBM171 modulated the cytokine profile in BALF to a type 1 T helper (Th1) response. Furthermore, ex vivo experiments using OVA-induced allergic mouse splenocytes showed that both live and heat-inactivated BBM171 could regulate the Th1/Th2 balance, decrease the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-17 level, and increase the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 level. Taken together, these results suggest that oral administration of live or heat-inactivated BBM171 improved allergen-induced airway inflammation symptoms by modulating the host immune response toward Th1 dominance.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of the effectiveness and safety of hydroxychloroquine in treating COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: Since COVID-19 outbreak, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has been tested for effective therapies, and the relevant researches have shown controversial results. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted after a thorough search of relevant studies from databases. Trials that have evaluated HCQ for COVID-19 treatment were recruited for statistical analysis with fixed- and random-effect models. RESULTS: Nine trials involving 4112 patients were included in present meta-analysis. It was seen that HCQ-azithromycin (HCQ-AZI) combination regimen increased the mortality rate in COVID-19 (odds ratio [OR], 2.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63-3.36) patients; however, it also showed benefits associated with the viral clearance in patients (OR, 27.18; 95% CI, 1.29-574.32). HCQ-alone when used as a therapy in COVID-19 did not reveal significant changes in mortality rate, clinical progression, viral clearance, and cardiac QT prolongation. Subsequent subgroup analysis showed that HCQ treatment could decrease mortality rate and progression to severe illness in severely infected COVID-19 patients (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.13-0.58). A lower risk of mortality rate was also noted in the stratified group of >14 days follow-up period (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.13-0.58) compared to ≤14 days follow-up period group that conversely showed an increased mortality rate (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.41-3.10). CONCLUSION: Our results indicated that HCQ-AZI combination treatment increased mortality rate in patients with COVID-19, but it also showed benefits associated with viral clearance in patients. HCQ-alone used for treatment has revealed benefits in decreasing the mortality rate among severely infected COVID-19 group and showed potential to be used for COVID-19 treatment in long-term follow-up period group. Accordingly, more rigorous, large-scale, and long follow-up period studies in patients with COVID-19 are needed.

Primary yolk sac tumor of bilateral basal ganglia.

A primary intracranial yolk sac tumor (YST) is a type of germ cell tumor (GCT) and usually involves the pineal or suprasellar regions, as do other GCTs. Primary YST in the basal ganglia is not common, and bilateral basal ganglia involvement is even rarer. Early diagnosis is often difficult because of minimal or subtle findings without space-occupying lesions shown on neuroimaging during the early course of the disease. We report a case of primary intracranial YST encountered in the basal ganglia bilaterally and describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic problem, imaging characteristics, histopathologic features, and prognosis of the tumor. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third reported case of primary YST confined to the basal ganglia in the literature.

Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a newborn.

A full-term female baby was admitted to our hospital at the postnatal age of 37 days with generalized vesiculopapular, crateriform skin lesions. Physical examination revealed a well-nourished baby without fever, hepatosplenomegaly or lymphadenopathy. Laboratory examination was normal except for thrombocytosis (platelet count, 970 x 10(3)/microL). All studies for herpes simplex virus, including culture, polymerase chain reaction and IgM, were negative except for an antigen test from the vesicles for herpes simplex virus type 1, which was positive. Chest X-ray showed increased reticulogranular infiltration over bilateral lung fields and some osteolytic lesions at the left parietal bone. Skin biopsy revealed infiltration of Langerhans cells and eosinophils, plus positive CD1a and S-100 stains. The diagnosis was reconfirmed by a second hospital and chemotherapy was given. In this case report, the differential diagnoses of neonatal vesiculopapular skin lesions, and the classification and outcome of neonatal Langerhans cell histiocytosis are presented.

Extreme hypernatremia combined with rhabdomyolysis and acute renal failure.

Rhabdomyolysis is a life-threatening condition that involves muscle cell destruction. Among its etiologies, severe hypernatremia is a less common cause. We report a teenage girl with congenital central hypoventilation syndrome and hypothalamus dysfunction syndrome who presented with extreme hypernatremia (sodium, 211 mmol/L) with rhabdomyolysis (creatine kinase, 32,850 U/L) and acute renal failure (creatinine, 6.1 mg/dL) following gastroenteritis with 7-kg weight loss. Rhabdomyolysis subsequently led to acute renal failure and hyperkalemia. Acute hemodialysis was initiated on hospital day 3 for hyperkalemia. This resulted in a 13 mmol/L fall in serum sodium in 3 hours despite using a 156 mmol/L sodium bath, but without the development of cerebral edema or neurological defect. This report highlights an unusual cause of rhabdomyolysis in children and the experience of managing such a difficult clinical situation.

Mutagenesis study on the zebra fish SOX9 high-mobility group: comparison of sequence and non-sequence specific HMG domains.

A unique class of proteins, containing high-mobility group (HMG) domain(s), recognizes unusual DNA structures and/or bends specific to AT-rich linear double-stranded DNA. The DNA binding feature of these proteins is exhibited in the HMG domain(s). Although the sequence specific and non-sequence specific HMG domains exhibit very high degrees of sequence similarity, the reasons for the difference between their DNA recognition mechanisms are unclear. A series of zebra fish SOX9 HMG domain mutants was prepared in an effort to elucidate the importance of various residues on protein stability and DNA binding. This study is the first of a comprehensive mutagenesis study on a sequence specific HMG domain. Comparing how various residues influence sequence specific and non-sequence specific HMG domains helps us to rationalize their mode of action. Positively charged amino acids concentrated at the surface of sequence specific HMG domains recognize specific, linear AT-rich DNA segments. After the negative charges at the surface of the DNA are neutralized, the hydrophobic residues of the protein may intercalate DNA. Phenylalanine at position 12 plays a crucial role in the sequence specific HMG domain. The differences in pI values, the instability index, and DNA contact regions between sequence and non-sequence specific HMG domains are associated with their functional modes.