[The effect of CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cell inactivation combined with levofloxacin on murine tuberculosis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of inactivation of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) combined with the administration of levofloxacin (LFX) on the cellular immune response of murine tuberculosis. METHODS: Inactivation of Treg was achieved by intraperitoneal injection of anti-CD(25), clone PC61. Female C57BL/6 mice were divided into 4 groups, PC61 alone, LFX alone, PC61 plus LFX, and the control, with 19 mice in each group. The LFX group and the control group were treated with rat-IgG isotope control. Mice were inoculated with H(37) Rv (1 x 10(6) CFU) via the tail vein 3 days later. From the 2nd day, the LFX group and the PC61 plus LFX group received intragastric administration of LFX at 200 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1) per mouse for 45 days. Blood and spleen Tregs were measured by flow cytometry. The cellular immune response and pulmonary histopathology at different time points were also evaluated after infection. RESULTS: At the 10th and 30th day, the ratio of CD(4)(+)CD(25)(+)/CD(4)(+)T cells in the spleen was (30 +/- 4)% and (17.3 +/- 1.6)% respectively in the control group, (21 +/- 4)% and (16.1 +/- 1.3)% respectively in the PC61 group, (44 +/- 6)% and (24.7 +/- 2.0)% respectively in the LFX group, (24 +/- 3)% and (10.4 +/- 1.0)% respectively in the PC61 plus LFX group. The differences were significant between groups (q = 3.62 - 5.56, P < 0.05), but the difference between the PC61 plus LFX group and the PC61 group at the 10th day. Same results were obtained from the peripheral blood. PC61 plus LFX therapy resulted in BCG specific cytokine response (IL-17, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha) from murine spleen cells at the 10th and the 30th day, and also in milder pathologic changes and the lowest mortality. CONCLUSIONS: The cellular immune response was enhanced by Treg inactivation and LFX therapy, which decreased the pathologic changes and the mortality of murine tuberculosis.

[Study on the diagnostic test with C-reactive protein in elderly patients with infections].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of C-reactive protein (CRP) to diagnostic test in elderly patients with infections. METHODS: C-reactive protein were investigated in 142 elderly patients with infections and 216 elderly patients without. CRP 7 - 20, 21 - 40 and 41 - 60 mg/L were stratified, the index of diagnostic test counted. RESULTS: Concentrations of CRP in patients with different diseases were upper respiratory tract infection 36.9 mg/L +/- 28.9 mg/L, acute bronchitis 30.1 mg/L +/- 28.1 mg/L, pneumonia 55.9 mg/L +/- 32.9 mg/L, urinary infection 49.0 mg/L +/- 27.6 mg/L and enteritis 39.3 mg/L +/- 35.6 mg/L. They were all higher than those in control group (5.2 mg/L +/- 2.9 mg/L, P < 0.001). Stratified analysis disclosed that the specificity of CRP was 83.3% - 99.0% for diagnostic infection disease. The positive likelihood ratio (LR) of 7 - 20, 21 - 40 and 41 - 60 mg/L were 3.6, 27.0 and 128.0, respectively. CONCLUSION: C-reactive protein was an important marker to diagnose elderly patients with infections.