The association between bacterial colonization and inflammatory pattern in Chinese chronic rhinosinusitis patients with nasal polyps

BACKGROUND

Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) can be subdivided according to the mucosal inflammatory patterns. In mainland China, apart from interleukin (IL)-5-positive and IL-17-positive polyps, a large group of patients with IL-5/IL-17/interferon-gamma (IFNγ)-negative nasal polyps (referred to as key cytokine-negative (KCN) polyps) can be found.

OBJECTIVE

To further study the KCN polyps and evaluate the associations between bacterial colonization and mucosal inflammatory pattern in KCN vs IL-5-positive nasal polyps.

METHODS

Nasal polyp or nasal turbinate tissue was obtained from 89 Chinese CRSwNP patients and 36 nonatopic control subjects during surgery. Samples without and after SEB exposure were processed for the assessment of pro-inflammatory cytokines and mediators by immunoassay. Prior to surgery, nasal swabs were taken from each patient for microbiological evaluation.

RESULTS

Overall, 80% polyp tissue did not express IL-5, with about 70% (49/71) of these being KCN. Key cytokine-negative nasal polyps were characterized by the synthesis of mediators promoting neutrophilic inflammation (myeloperoxidase (MPO), IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8), whereas IL-5-positive nasal polyps were characterized by the synthesis of mediators promoting eosinophilic inflammation (IL-5, ECP, total IgE and SE-IgE). Key cytokine-negative nasal polyps were associated with greater Gram-negative bacterial load compared with controls, while IL-5-positive nasal polyps were associated with greater Gram-positive bacterial colonization vs controls and KCN polyps.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that the bacteria colonizing nasal polyps of CRSwNP patients may impact on or be determined by the presence/absence of IL-5.

Search for CP violation in τ±→K(S)0π±ντ decays at Belle

We report on a search for CP violation in τ(±)→K(S)(0)π(±)ν(τ) decays using a data sample of 699 fb(-1) collected by the Belle experiment at the KEKB electron-positron asymmetric-energy collider. The CP asymmetry is measured in four bins of the invariant mass of the K(S)(0)π(±) system and found to be compatible with zero with a precision of O(10(-3)) in each mass bin. Limits for the CP violation parameter Im(η(S)) are given at the 90% confidence level. These limits are |Im(η(S))| < 0.026 or better, depending on the parametrization used to describe the hadronic form factors, and improve upon previous limits by 1 order of magnitude.

[Effects of huai qi huang on cytokines Th1, Th2 and Th17 and phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in rats with asthma]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of huai qi huang, a traditional Chinese medicine, on cytokines Th1, Th2 and Th17 levels and alveolar macrophage phagocytosis in asthmatic rats sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA).

METHODS

Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five groups: normal control, untreated asthma, budesonide-treated, huai qi huang-treated and budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma (n=8 each). Asthma was induced by OVA sensitization and challenge. The levels of IL-4, IFN-γ and IL-17 in plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were measured using ELISA. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages which were isolated and purified from BALF was evaluated by the colorimetric assay.

RESULTS

The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increased, in contrast, the IFN-γ level decreased in plasma and BALF in the untreated asthma group compared with those in the normal control group. The IFN-γ level in the huai qi huang-treated asthma group was higher than that in the untreated asthma group. The IFN-γ level increased and the IL-17 level decreased more significantly in the budesonide+huai qi huang-treated asthma group when compared with the budesonide and huai qi huang alone treatment groups. The phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in the untreated asthma group was lower than that in the normal control group. Huai qi huang alone or combined with budesonide increased the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages compared with the normal control, untreated asthma and budesonid-treated asthma groups. The levels of IFN-γ in plasma and BALF were positively correlated with the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages.

CONCLUSIONS

The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 increase and the IFN-γ level decreases in plasma and BALF, and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages decreases in asthmatic rats. Huai qi huang treatment may increase the IFN-γ expression in plasma and BALF and the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages in asthmatic rats. There is a synergistic effect between huai qi huang and glucocorticoids.

Observation of X(3872)→J/ψγ and search for X(3872)→ψ'γ in B decays

We report a study of B→(J/ψγ)K and B→(ψ'γ)K decay modes using 772×10⁶ B ̅B events collected at the Υ(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We observe X(3872)→J/ψγ and report the first evidence for χ(c2)→J/ψγ in B→(X_{c ̅cγ)K decays, while in a search for X(3872)→ψ'γ no significant signal is found. We measure the branching fractions, B(B(±)→X(3872)K(±))B(X(3872)→J/ψγ)=(1.78(-0.44)(+0.48)±0.12)×10(-6), B(B(±)→χ(c2)K(±))=(1.11(-0.34)(+0.36)±0.09)×10(-5), B(B(±)→X(3872)K(±))B(X(3872)→ψ'γ)<3.45×10⁶ (upper limit at 90% C.L.), and also provide upper limits for other searches.

Observation of transverse polarization asymmetries of charged pion pairs in e+e- annihilation near √s = 10.58 GeV

The interference fragmentation function translates the fragmentation of a quark with a transverse projection of the spin into an azimuthal asymmetry of two final-state hadrons. In e(+)e(-) annihilation the product of two interference fragmentation functions is measured. We report nonzero asymmetries for pairs of charge-ordered π(+)π(-) pairs, which indicate a significant interference fragmentation function in this channel. The results are obtained from a 672 fb(-1) data sample that contains 711 × 10(6) π(+)π(-) pairs and was collected at and near the Υ(4S) resonance, with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider.

Observation of the h(c)(1P) Using e+ e- collisions above the DD threshold

Using 586  pb(-1) of e+ e- collision data at E(c.m.) = 4170  MeV, produced at the Cornell Electron Storage Ring collider and collected with the CLEO-c detector, we observe the process e+ e- → π+ π- h(c)(1P). We measure its cross section to be 15.6±2.3±1.9±3.0  pb, where the third error is due to the external uncertainty on the branching fraction of ψ(2S) → π0 h(c)(1P), which we use for normalization. We also find evidence for e+ e- → ηh(c)(1P) at 4170 MeV at the 3σ level and see hints of a rise in the e+ e- → π+ π- h(c)(1P) cross section at 4260 MeV.

Numerical simulation of microneedles' insertion into skin

Microneedles have recently received much attention as a novel way for transdermal drug delivery. In this paper, a numerical simulation of the insertion process of the microneedle into human skin is reported using the finite element method. A multilayer skin model consisting of the stratum corneum, dermis and underlying hypodermis has been developed. The effective stress failure criterion has been coupled with the element deletion technique to predict the complete insertion process. The numerical results show a good agreement with the reported experimental data for the deformation and failure of the skin and the insertion force. The influences of the mechanical properties of the skin and the microneedle geometry (e.g. tip area, wall angle and wall thickness) on the insertion force are discussed. The numerical results are helpful for the optimum design of the microneedles for the transdermal drug delivery system.

Ursolic acid promotes robust tolerance to cardiac allografts in mice

Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is an important molecule in T cell activation. Our previous work has found that T cell-restricted NF-κB super-repressor (IκBαΔN-Tg) mice, expressing an inhibitor of NF-κB restricted to the T cell compartment, can permanently accept fully allogeneic cardiac grafts and secondary donor skin grafts. In this study, we explore if transient NF-κB inhibition by a small molecular inhibitor could induce permanent graft survival. Ursolic acid, a small molecular compound, dose-dependently inhibited T cell receptor (TCR)-triggered NF-κB nuclear translocation and T cell activation in vitro. In vivo, ursolic acid monotherapy prolonged significantly the survival of cardiac allograft in mice. Assisted with donor-specific transfusion (DST) on day 0, ursolic acid promoted 84·6% of first cardiac grafts to survive for more than 150 days. While the mice with long-term surviving grafts (LTS) did not reject the second donor strain hearts for more than 100 days without any treatment, they all promptly rejected the third-party strain hearts within 14 days. Interestingly, this protocol did not result in an increased proportion of CD4(+) CD25(+) forkhead box P3(+) regulatory T cells in splenocytes. That adoptive transfer experiments also did not support regulation was the main mechanism in this model. Splenocytes from LTS showed reduced alloreactivity to donor antigen. However, depletion of CD4(+) CD25(+) regulatory T cells did not alter the donor-reactivity of LTS splenocytes. These data suggest that depletion of donor-reactive T cells may play an important role in this protocol.

Observation of B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(980) and evidence for B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(1370)

We report the observation of B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(980) and evidence for B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(1370), which are CP eigenstate decay modes. These results are obtained from 121.4 fb⁻¹ of data collected at the Υ(5S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e⁻ collider. We measure the branching fractions B(B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(980); f₀(980)→π(+)π⁻)=(1.16(-0.19)(+0.31)(stat)(-0.17)(+0.15)(syst)(-0.18)(+0.26)(N(B(s)((*))B(s)((*)))))×10⁻⁴ with a significance of 8.4σ, and B(B(s)⁰→J/ψf₀(1370); f₀(1370)→π(+)π⁻)=(0.34(-0.14)(+0.11)(stat)(-0.02)(+0.03)(syst)(-0.05)(+0.08)(N(B(s)((*))B(s)((*)))))×10⁻⁴ with a significance of 4.2σ. The last error listed is due to uncertainty in the number of produced B(s)((*))B(s)((*)) pairs.

Preparation of porous nano-calcium titanate microspheres and its adsorption behavior for heavy metal ion in water

Using D311 resin as a template, porous nano-calcium titanate microspheres (PCTOM) were prepared by a citric acid complex sol-gel method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM and FTIR. The method's adsorption capabilities for heavy metal ions such as lead, cadmium and zinc were studied and adsorption and elution conditions were investigated. Moreover, taking the cadmium ion as an example, the thermodynamics and kinetics of the adsorption were studied. The results show that the microspheres were porous and were made of perovskite nano-calcium titanate. The lead, cadmium and zinc ions studied could be quantitatively retained at a pH value range of 5-8. The adsorption capacities of PCTOM for lead, cadmium and zinc were found to be 141.8 mg g(-1), 18.0 mg g(-1) and 24.4 mg g(-1) respectively. The adsorption behavior followed a Langmuir adsorption isotherm and a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, where adsorption was an endothermic and spontaneous physical process. The adsorbed metal ions could be completely eluted using 2 mol L(-1) HNO(3) with preconcentration factors over 100 for all studied heavy metal ions. The method has also been applied to the preconcentration and FAAS determination of trace lead, cadmium and zinc ion in water samples with satisfactory results.

Double Layered HA Coating, its Characterization and Preparation

Hydroxyapatite (HA) has been universally used because of good biocompatibility. There are varieties of coating methods, however, they still have problems. The most significant problem is layer thickness. We introduced a new coating procedure to eliminate this difficulty.

The characterization of the coating was studied by X-ray diffractometry, infrared spectroscopy, SEM and chemical analysis. Said examination indicated that the double layer consisted of carbonate HA and CaTiO3 and the thickness of the layer was 2-4 μm. The coating was performed on the inner surfaces of 50-200 μm sized pores and was also consistent in the smallest of the pores even those of 50 μm. Our results indicated that the coating layer was homogeneous and thin. In addition, both layers consisted of Ca ions. The consistency of coating into even the smallest pore size suggested that our method promises to have widespread clinical applications in artificial implants because of increased surface contact area.

A case of hematidrosis successfully treated with propranolol

We report a typical case of hematidrosis in a Chinese girl who had experienced frequent bleeding episodes for more than 3 years. During hospitalization, spontaneous bleeding from her intact skin was witnessed by our staff on more than 20 occasions. Characteristically, bloody droplets from the intact skin contained all blood components. Histopathologic examination showed some inconspicuous abnormalities, with normal sweat gland structure containing no blood, and bloody exudate also came from some areas that do not contain sweat glands. We believe that the blood was mixed with a sweat-like fluid, rather than real sweat. The patient's bleeding problem was dramatically resolved by treatment with propranolol. We suggest that sympathetic nerve activation might play a role in these events, and that β-adrenoceptor antagonists might be an effective treatment for this disorder.

First measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays

We report a first measurement of inclusive B→Xsη decays, where Xs is a charmless state with unit strangeness. The measurement is based on a pseudoinclusive reconstruction technique and uses a sample of 657×10(6)BB pairs accumulated with the Belle detector at the KEKB e+e- collider. For MXs < 2.6 GeV/c2, we measure a branching fraction of [26.1±3.0(stat)-2.1+1.9(syst)-7.1+4.0(model)]×10(-5) and a direct CP asymmetry of ACP=-0.13±0.04-0.03+0.02. Over half of the signal occurs in the range MXs > 1.8 GeV/c2.

Basiliximab or antithymocyte globulin for induction therapy in kidney transplantation: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To compare efficacy and safety of basiliximab versus antithymocyte globulin (ATG) for induction therapy in kidney transplantation.

METHODS

A literature search of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CBMdisc, and Cochrane databases was used to identify randomized controlled trials that compared basiliximab and ATG for induction therapy in kidney transplantation. Inclusion criteria comprised: prospective randomized controlled clinical trials, follow-up time >or=12 months, randomized comparisons of ATG versus basiliximab as induction therapy in kidney transplantation. Meta-analytical techniques were applied to identify differences in outcomes between the two agents.

RESULTS

A total of six studies involving 853 patients were identified. No differences between ATG and basiliximab were seen in terms of biopsy-proven rejection (relative risk [RR] 1.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.88-1.52, P = .31), delayed graft function (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.69-1.51, P = .93), graft loss (RR 1.15, 95% CI 0.73-1.80, P = .55), and patient death (RR 1.22, 95% CI 0.65-2.30, P = .54). But basiliximab had a lower incidence of infection (RR 0.87, 95% CI 0.78-0.97, P = .02) and neoplasm (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.97, P = .04).

CONCLUSIONS

Basiliximab is as effective as ATG for induction therapy in kidney transplantation, whereas basiliximab has a lower incidence of infection. Basiliximab may be a safer and preferable option for induction therapy in kidney transplantation.