Lower incidence of hospital-treated infections in infants under 3 months of age vaccinated with BCG

BackgroundLive vaccines potentially have non-specific effects that protect against other infections than those the vaccines are targeted against. The national vaccination program (NVP) in Finland was changed on September 1st, 2006: before BCG vaccine was given to all newborn babies and afterwards to babies in risk groups only. We used this natural experiment to study the non-specific effects of BCG in the frame of NVP using before-after design.MethodsWe compared the incidence of several outcomes obtained from Finnish health registers between children born between July 1st, 2004, and June 30th, 2006 (BCG-eligible) and an age- and season-matched reference cohort born between July 1st, 2007, and June 30th, 2009 (BCG-non-eligible) using Poisson regression. These cohorts were restricted to full-term children whose parents were born in Finland. Follow-up began at birth and lasted 3 months, which is the scheduled age for DTaP-IPV-Hib vaccination, and from 4 months until first birthday. The outcomes included all infections, pneumonia and injuries as a negative control outcome.ResultsThe incidence rate ratio (IRR) of the BCG-eligible cohort (N = 93,658) compared to BCG-non-eligible cohort (N = 94,712) for hospital-diagnosed infections was 0.89 (95 %Cl 0.86–0.93) for the 3-month follow-up. The decrease was mainly caused by respiratory infections. In 4–12 months follow-up the BCG-eligible had slightly more infections than BCG-non-eligible children (IRR 1.03, 1.01–1.06).ConclusionsBCG vaccination was associated with a lower incidence of all hospital-diagnosed infections during the first three months of life. The difference cannot be attributed to lung tuberculosis, since only few paediatric cases occurred in Finland during 2000s. The disappearance of non-specific effect after administration of an inactivated vaccine is compatible with previous studies.     

Resistin is elevated in cystic fibrosis sputum and correlates negatively with lung function

Background

Resistin is an immunometabolic mediator that is elevated in several inflammatory disorders. A ligand for Toll-like receptor 4, resistin modulates the recruitment and activation of myeloid cells, notably neutrophils. Neutrophils are major drivers of cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease, in part due to the release of human neutrophil elastase- and myeloperoxidase-rich primary granules, leading to tissue damage. Here we assessed the relationship of resistin to CF lung disease.

The relationships among monocyte subsets,miRNAs and inflammatory cytokines in patients with acute myocardial infarction

Background

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) causes irreversible myocardial damage and release of inflammatory mediators, including cytokines, chemokines and miRNAs. We aimed to investigate changes in the levels of cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-10), miRNAs profiles (miR-146 and miR-155) and distribution of different monocyte subsets (CD14++CD16-, CD14++CD16+, CD14+CD16++) in the acute and post-healing phases of AMI.

LPS对骨肉瘤细胞迁移、侵袭及TLR4/HOTAIR通路的影响

目的探讨脂多糖(LPS)对骨肉瘤细胞迁移和侵袭的影响及其潜在的作用机制。方法将人MG-63骨肉瘤细胞随机分为2组:对照组和LPS组。LPS组细胞用10 g/ml的LPS干预24 h,对照组用生理盐水干预。ELISA检测干预后培养基中促炎因子的水平,Transwell实验检测细胞迁移和侵袭能力,Western Blot检测相关蛋白的表达。结果与对照组相比,LPS组培养基中促炎因子TNF-α、IL-1和IL-6的释放水平均显著增高(P<0.05),LPS组迁移细胞数和侵袭细胞数均显著增高(P<0.05),LPS组中E-cadherin的表达显著降低(P<0.05),而N-cadherin、α-SMA、波形蛋白、TLR4和HOTAIR的表达均显著增高(P<0.05)。结论LPS诱导的肿瘤微环境可促进骨肉瘤细胞的迁移和侵袭,其机制与TLR4/HOTAIR途径介导的EMT过程的发生有密切关系。     

Immunomodulatory activity of Asparagus racemosus on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity: Implications for immunoadjuvant potential

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Roots of Asparagus racemosus Willd (Shatavari in vernacular) are widely used in Ayurveda as Rasayana for immunostimulation, galactogogue as also in treatment of conditions like ulcers and cancer. Various studies have indicated immunomodulatory properties of Shatavari root extracts and formulations.

Aim of the study

To study the effect of standardized Asparagus racemosus root aqueous extract (ARE) on systemic Th1/Th2 immunity of SRBC sensitized animals.

Materials and methods

We used HPTLC to quantify steroidal saponins (Shatavarin IV, Immunoside^®) and flow cytometry to study effects of ARE on Th1/Th2 immunity. SRBC specific antibody titres and DTH responses were also monitored as markers of Th2 and Th1 responses, respectively. We also studied lymphocyte proliferation. Cyclosporin, cyclophosphamide and levamisole were used as controls.

Results

Treatment with ARE (100 mg/(kg b.w. p.o.)) resulted in significant increase of CD3⁺ and CD4/CD8⁺ percentages suggesting its effect on T cell activation. ARE treated animals showed significant up-regulation of Th1 (IL-2, IFN-g) and Th2 (IL-4) cytokines suggesting its mixed Th1/Th2 adjuvant activity. Consistent to this, ARE also showed higher antibody titres and DTH responses. ARE, in combination with LPS, Con A or SRBC, produced a significant proliferation suggesting effect on activated lymphocytes.

Conclusion

The study suggests mixed Th1/Th2 activity of ARE supports its immunoadjuvant potential.     

Bacterial ghosts (BGs)—Advanced antigen and drug delivery system

Bacterial ghosts (BGs) are empty bacterial envelopes of Gram-negative bacteria produced by controlled expression of cloned gene E, forming a lysis tunnel structure within the envelope of the living bacteria. BGs are devoid of cytoplasmic content and possess all bacterial bio-adhesive surface properties in their original state while not posing any infectious threat. BGs are ideally suited as an advanced drug delivery system (ADDS) for toxic substances in tumor therapy. The inner space of BGs can be loaded with either single components or combinations of peptides, drugs or DNA which provides an opportunity to design new types of (polyvalent) drug delivery vehicles. Uptake of BGs loaded with Doxorubicin (Dox) by CaCo2 cells led to effective Dox release from endo-lysosomal compartments and accumulation in the nucleus. Viability and proliferative capacity of the cells were significantly decreased (2–3 orders of magnitude) after internalization of Dox loaded BGs as compared to cells incubated with free Dox. The same effect was observed with leukemia cells. Melanoma cells also revealed a high capability to internalize BGs. These results indicate that BGs are able to target a range of types of cancer. BGs have also been investigated as DNA delivery vectors. Studies show DNA loaded BGs are efficiently phagocytosed and internalized by both professional APCs and tumor cells with up to 82% of cells expressing the plasmid-encoded reporter gene. Our studies with BGs as an ADDS system contribute (i) to optimize drug delivery for the treatment of cancer; (ii) define specific conditions for selection and preparation of BG formulations; (iii) and provide a background for the clinical application of BGs in cancer therapy.     

柴苓小方对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞异常增殖的影响

目的：探讨柴苓小方对大鼠肾小球系膜细胞（GMCs）异常增殖的影响及相关机制。方法：采用脂多糖刺激系膜细胞异常增殖。MTT法检测柴苓小方对㈣异常增殖的影响；免疫细胞化学方法检测药物作用后增殖细胞核抗原（PCNA）的表达；乳酸脱氢酶释放实验检测柴苓小方的细胞毒作用。采用RT—PCR检测药物作用不同时间点细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶抑制剂p21的表达。结果：柴苓小方可以剂量依赖性的抑制系膜细胞异常增殖并显著减少PCNA阳性细胞数而没有明显的细胞毒作用。并且柴苓小方可以显著地上调p21基因的表达（P〈0．05）。结论：柴苓小方可剂量依赖性的抑制GMC8异常增殖．其机制可能与上调p21mRNA表达有关。     

1987年石家庄市结核病流行病学抽样调查

对石家市结核病的流行情况进行了随机抽样调查,共抽取24个调查点(市区8个、郊县16个)35745人。调查结果:平均患病率及菌阳患病率为0.63％和1.27％,其中郊县与市区分别为0.67％和0.54％及1.60‰和0.42‰(Ρ<0.01);15岁以下儿童有卡痕者,其结素反应阳性率年龄曲线,在7岁和12岁表现为低谷;1～3岁卡痕检出率,市区与郊县分别为90.5％与35.4％(Ρ<0.01)。通过本调查表明,我市结核病患病率高于全国1985年调查的平均数值。