IL-17在鼻病毒感染后哮喘中的作用机制研究进展

儿童时期,呼吸道病毒感染是哮喘急性加重的重要原因,其中鼻病毒占2/3,而鼻病毒导致哮喘急性发作的机制尚不明确。本文从白介素-17与中性粒细胞炎症反应和气道重塑方面综述白介素-17在鼻病毒感染后哮喘中的作用机制,IL-17可以通过NF-κB,MARP以及T2-ERK1/2-MSK1信号转导通路发挥生物学作用。IL-17A和IL-17RA的单克隆抗体治疗Th17相关炎症的临床研究已有报道,这为治疗鼻病毒感染后哮喘提供了新的思路。     

Barbados眼病研究中年龄相关性黄斑变性的9年发病率

目的:报道一非洲裔人群中年龄相关性黄斑变性(AM D)的9年发病率。设计:以人群为基础的队列研究。受试者:2793例(有效病例81%)患者共随访9年。主要观察指标:通过眼底照相分级和(或)临床检查确定AM D相关性特征,由此评价AM D的9年发病率。结果:早期AM D的总发病率为12.6%(95%CI11     

Prostaglandin levels in blood plasma during asthmatic attacks in patients with aspirin idiosyncrasy

It has been suggested that prostaglandin release is an important factor in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Aspirin inhibits prostaglandin synthesis, yet there are a group of patients, with aspirin idiosyncrasy, who develop asthma after ingestion of aspirin. We measured prostaglandin levels in seven individuals with this syndrome. Only trace amounts of PGE₂ and PGF_2α were found in plasma during asthmatic attacks provoked by aspirin.     

Haemoglobin electrophoresis patterns in Barbados

Despite the extensive data on haemoglobinopathies and their widespread geographic distribution, the number of prospective Caribbean studies which document the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies from birth are few. The purpose of this cohort study was to document the prevalence of haemoglobinopathies in newborn infants in Barbados. One thousand successively collected cord bloods of newborn infants were screened for haemoglobinopathies using the Paragon acid electrophoresis technique. Seventeen infants were retested at 1 year of age to confirm the diagnosis. Three mothers could not be located so their infants' diagnoses could not be confirmed. From the 997 blood samples with conclusive results, a haemoglobinopathy was found in 72 (7%) samples. Laboratory analysis revealed: 925 patients (93%) with Hb AA, 41 (4%) with Hb AS, 27 (2.7%) with Hb AC, 2 (0.2%) with Hb SS, 1 (0.1%) with Hb CC and 1 (0.1%) with Hb SC. The prevalence of the sickle gene and number of cases of Sickle Cell anaemia in the Barbadian population is less than has been reported from other regional territories.     

HIV infection among children in Barbados

We studied a cohort of children with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Barbados in order to determine the prevalence of HIV infection, the clinical course including morbidity and mortality and the magnitude of the health care and social problems. Forty-seven children were diagnosed with HIV infection during the study period. The number of HIV infected children increased from 5 during 1981-85, to 14 during 1986-90, and to 21 during the 1991-95 period. The majority (91.5%) of infections resulted from perinatal transmission. Six (12.8%) cases remained asymptomatic and 41 (87.2%) were symptomatic with 19(46.3%) presenting in infancy, while 22 (53.5%) presented post-infancy. The median age at diagnosis (class P-2) was 13 months. Generalized lymphadenopathy (47.5%), hepatosplenomegaly (40.0%), failure to thrive (27.5%), persistent recurrent diarrhoea (15.0%), oral candidiasis (37.5%), Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (37.5%), lymphoid interstitial pneumonia (12.5%) and progressive neurological disease (10.0%) were common HIV related conditions. Two children developed non-hodgkin's lymphoma. The median age at death for 23 children was 12 months, whereas the median survival after diagnosis was 4 months. Mortality was higher among those diagnosed in infancy (73.7%) as compared to those diagnosed post-infancy (42.8%). Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia was the most common (65.2%) cause of death. Paediatric HIV infection is rising and contributes considerably to infant mortality. In this study, children took longer to be symptomatic when compared to other reports. However, once symptomatic, they died early.     

Human external ophthalmomyiasis occurring in Barbados

Human infection with the sheep nasal botfly Oestrus ovis occurs sporadically. In most cases, there is a history of a strike in the eye by the adult fly. Human O. ovis has been reported rarely from the Americas. We report the first case of O. ovis infection in the Caribbean region, which occurred in an urban area of Barbados. The patient responded to removal of the larvae from the conjunctiva and symptomatic treatment.