The effects of imidacloprid combined with endosulfan on IgE-mediated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cell degranulation and anaphylaxis.

Low levels of endosulfan are known to stimulate mast cells to release allergic mediators, while imidacloprid can inhibit IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation. However, little information about the effects of both pesticides together on mast cell degranulation is available. To measure the effects, IgE-activated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) were treated with imidacloprid and endosulfan, individually, and simultaneously at equi-molar concentrations in tenfold steps ranging from 10-4 to 10-11 M, followed by measuring several allergy-related parameters expressed in BMMCs: the mediator production and influx of Ca2+, the phosphorylation content of NF-κB in the FcεRI signaling pathway. Then, the effects of the mixtures on IgE-induced passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA) of BALB/c was detectded. This study clearly showed that the application of equi-molar mixtures of both pesticides with 10-4-10-5 M significantly inhibited the IgE-mediated mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells degranulation in vitro and 10-4 M of them decreased IgE-mediated PSA in vivo, as the application of imidacloprid at the same concentration alone did. Morever endosulfan alone had no remarkable stimulatory effects on any of the factors measured. In conclusion, simultaneous application of equi-molar concentrations of both pesticides generally showed highly similar responses compared to the responses to imidacloprid alone, suggesting that the effects of the mixture could be solely attributed to the effects of imidacloprid.

[Cardiac catheterization in neonates: experience in 26 neonates].

Cardiac catheterization is rarely performed in neonates in China. The medical records of 26 neonates who underwent cardiac catheterization in Shanghai Children's Medical Center from June 1994 to June 2004 were reviewed. These infants weighed 2300 to 4500 g (mean 3 400 +/- 500 g). Postnatal age ranged from 5 to 28 days (mean 15.2 +/- 8.7 days). Right heart ventricle angiography was performed in 24 cases, left heart ventricle angiography in 20 cases and pulmonary angiography in 6 cases. Balloon aortic septostomy (BAS) was performed in 10 cases. Twenty cases were diagnosed with complex cyanotic cardiovascular malformations and 4 with acyanotic heart disease. The implantation of a temporary cardiac pacemaker was performed in 2 cases. All diagnostic and interventional procedures were successfully performed. The catheterization-related complications occurred in 15.3% of the 26 cases, but without mortality. In conclusion, cardiac catheterization is an accurate and safe method for diagnosing complex congenital heart diseases in neonates. Interventional catheterization is useful in the treatment of complex congenital heart malformations.