Biomarkers on patient T cells diagnose active tuberculosis and monitor treatment response

BACKGROUND. The identification and treatment of individuals with tuberculosis (TB) is a global public health priority. Accurate diagnosis of pulmonary active TB (ATB) disease remains challenging and relies on extensive medical evaluation and detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in the patient’s sputum. Further, the response to treatment is monitored by sputum culture conversion, which takes several weeks for results. Here, we sought to identify blood-based host biomarkers associated with ATB and hypothesized that immune activation markers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells would be associated with Mtb load in vivo and could thus provide a gauge of Mtb infection.METHODS. Using polychromatic flow cytometry, we evaluated the expression of immune activation markers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells from individuals with asymptomatic latent Mtb infection (LTBI) and ATB as well as from ATB patients undergoing anti-TB treatment.RESULTS. Frequencies of Mtb-specific IFN-γ⁺CD4⁺ T cells that expressed immune activation markers CD38 and HLA-DR as well as intracellular proliferation marker Ki-67 were substantially higher in subjects with ATB compared with those with LTBI. These markers accurately classified ATB and LTBI status, with cutoff values of 18%, 60%, and 5% for CD38⁺IFN-γ⁺, HLA-DR⁺IFN-γ⁺, and Ki-67⁺IFN-γ⁺, respectively, with 100% specificity and greater than 96% sensitivity. These markers also distinguished individuals with untreated ATB from those who had successfully completed anti-TB treatment and correlated with decreasing mycobacterial loads during treatment.CONCLUSION. We have identified host blood-based biomarkers on Mtb-specific CD4⁺ T cells that discriminate between ATB and LTBI and provide a set of tools for monitoring treatment response and cure.TRIAL REGISTRATION. Registration is not required for observational studies.FUNDING. This study was funded by Emory University, the NIH, and the Yerkes National Primate Center.     

胎膜早破孕妇生殖道感染情况及对妊娠结局影响

目的 研究胎膜早破孕妇生殖道感染情况及对妊娠结局的影响。方法 选择2014年5月至2015年1月住院分娩的胎膜早破孕妇70例为早破组,同期无胎膜早破70例为对照组,检测两组生殖道病原微生物感染情况,并比较两组的妊娠结局。结果 早破组生殖道感染阳性率高于对照组,且剖宫产率,母体发生产后出血,绒毛膜羊膜炎,胎儿窘迫及新生儿窒息发生率均高于对照组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论 生殖道感染是胎膜早破最常见的诱因,积极筛查及治疗孕妇生殖道感染可以减少相关产科并发症的发生。     

Enzyme-Assisted Extraction of Narirutin from Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium and Anti-allergic Asthma Activity

Background: Asthma is a heterogeneous disorder of the airways related to inflammation; it affects millions of people worldwide. Due to the side effects of inhaled corticosteroids, researchers focused on the therapeutic effects of compounds derived from natural products. Objective: To investigate the therapeutic benefits of Narirutin a valuable flavonoid in Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium for asthma. Methods: Narirutin was extracted using the enzyme-assisted method with the L9 (34) orthogonal array to optimize the temperatures, pH, and reaction time. The mechanism of action of Narirutin was investigated via ELISA, flow cytometry, and Western blot analysis in vivo. Results: Narirutin suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung tissue and decreased IgE and IgG1 levels in serum in vivo. It can also alleviate interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, and interferon-γ concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in mice. Moreover, it increased the ratio of CD4+/CD8+ T cells. Additionally, Narirutin significantly suppressed p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK expression in the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: Narirutin affects the Th1/Th2 imbalance through the p-ERK and p-JNK suppression in the MAPK signaling pathway.     

中国女性的生殖健康权力

<正> 中国的计划生育工作和人口控制的进程取得了举世瞩目的成就,中国妇女在这方面做出了巨大的贡献。在目前的生育调节工作中,妇女承担了几乎全部的生育调节和养育子女的责任及义务。社会、家庭甚至妇女本身都默认和接受了这种程式化的规范。     

Special needs of adolescent and young women in accessing reproductive health: promoting partnerships between young people and health care providers.

This article considers the unique challenges and opportunities that health care providers (HCPs) face when they address the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young women accessing services. Some of the difficulties that HCPs encounter in their work are highlighted, including poor remuneration, the impact of their personal biases and the effect of an under-equipped working environment. The financial, logistical and emotional challenges young people face in accessing services are also described, as well as some small changes that could promote fruitful partnerships between HCPs and their young clientele. Also considered is how international documents concerning reproductive health can be utilized as advocacy tools to ensure that, when governments speak of making young people's needs a priority, resources are also made a priority-so that reproductive health can become a reality for all young people.     

17β-雌二醇对子宫内膜异位症患者在位子宫内膜间质细胞β-catenin mRNA和蛋白表达的影响

目的研究17β-雌二醇(17β-E2)对子宫内膜异位症(内异症)患者在位子宫内膜间质细胞β-catenin mRNA和蛋白表达的影响,探讨Wnt/β-catenin信号通路在介导雌激素促进内异症发生发展的作用。方法体外分离培养内异症患者在位子宫内膜间质细胞。用不同浓度17β-E2处理子宫内膜间质细胞48 h;此后选用10-10mol/L 17β-E2处理子宫内膜间质细胞12、24和48 h,逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)和免疫印迹法(Western blotting)检测17β-E2处理前后子宫内膜间质细胞β-catenin mRNA和蛋白的表达水平。同法分析雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780(10-6mol/L)对17β-E2促进β-catenin mRNA和蛋白表达的影响。免疫组织化学染色观察17β-E2作用后β-catenin在子宫内膜间质细胞中的定位。结果17β-E2能明显促进内异症患者在位子宫内膜间质细胞β-catenin mRNA和蛋白的表达,并呈剂量和时间依赖性,于10-10mol/L作用48 h最明显。雌激素受体拮抗剂ICI182,780能明显抑制17β-E2对子宫内膜间质细胞β-catenin mRNA和蛋白的表达。免疫组织化学染色发现17β-E2能促进β-catenin在子宫内膜间质细胞核内的表达。结论雌激素可能通过激活Wnt/β-catenin信号通路促进内异症在位子宫内膜的异位种植。     

职业接触氯乙烯对生殖功能影响的调查

对全国１２个城市中１３个聚氯乙烯制造工厂中２７３６名接触氯乙烯的工人及３４４２名对照厂工人，进行了生殖功能的流行病学调查研究，结果表明，接触氯乙烯男、女工人的各项生殖结局指标与对照组比较无显著性差异，但女工氯乙烯接触组妊娠合并症的发生率明显高于对照组，表明氯乙烯对女工的妊娠过程有一定影响，因此积极改善劳动条件，不仅对保护工人健康，而且对保护其子代的正常发育成长也有重要意义。     

方格星虫提取物对雄性小鼠免疫及生殖器官的辐射防护作用

目的 观察方格星虫提取物对y射线损伤雄性小鼠免疫器官及生殖器官的保护作用.方法 将50只雄性小鼠随机分为正常对照组、模型组及低[0.5g/(kg·d)]、中[1.0g/(kg·d)]、高[2.0g/(kg·d)]3个剂量方格星虫提取物组,每天灌胃给药1次,给药剂量为2.0 mL/kg,灌胃2周后,除正常对照组外,各组均以剂量率为0.83 Gy/h的60Co γ射线进行1次全身照射,照射剂量为5 Gy.于辐照前1 d,辐照后第3天、第14天测定小鼠体重、外周血白细胞数,辐照后第14天测定小鼠胸腺指数、脾指数、骨髓有核细胞计数、睾丸重量指数、精子总数及精子畸形率.结果 方格星虫提取物可使辐照后第3天3个剂量组小鼠外周血白细胞数明显高于模型组(P＜0.05),辐照后第14天3个剂量组小鼠的胸腺指数及脾指数明显高于模型组(P＜0.05),低、中剂量组小鼠的骨髓有核细胞数显著高于模型组(P＜0.05),高剂量组小鼠骨髓有核细胞数显著高于模型组(P＜0.01),中、高剂量组睾丸重量指数、精子总数明显高于模型组(P＜0.05),中、高剂量组的精子畸形率显著低于模型组(P＜0.01).结论 方格星虫提取物对辐射损伤小鼠的免疫器官及生殖器官具有一定的保护作用.     

Immunology

A selection of interesting papers that were published in the two months before our press date in major journals most likely to report significant results in immunology.     

Induced abortion in China and the advances of post abortion family planning service

<正>This is a review of current situation of induced abortion and post abortion family planning service in China. Induced abortion is an important issue in reproductive health. This article reviewed the distribution of induced abortion in various time, areas, and population in China, and explored the character, reason, and harm to reproductive health of induced abortion. Furthermore, this article introduces the concept of Quality of Care Program in Family Planning, and discusses how important and necessary it is to introduce Quality of Care Program in Family Planning to China.