p38 MAPK is Crucial for Wnt1- and LiCl-Induced Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis （IPF） is characterized by myofibroblast loci in lung parenchyma. Myofibroblasts are thought to originate from epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition （EMT）. Wntl and lithium chloride （LiCl） induce EMT in alveolar epithelial cells （AECs）, but the mechanisms are unclear. AECs were treated with Wntl and LiC1, respectively; morphological change and molecular changes of EMT, including E-cadherin, fibronectin, and vimentin, were observed. SB203580 was administrated to test the role of p38 MAPK signaling in EMT. Then AECs were treated with siRNAs targeting p38 MAPK to further test the effects of p38 MAPK, and the role was further confirmed by re-expression of p38 MAPK. At last β-catenin siRNA was used to test the role of β-catenin in the EMT process and relationship of β-catenin and p38 MAPK was concluded. Exposure of AECs to Wntl and LiC1 resulted in upregulation of vimentin and fibronectin with subsequent downregulation of E-cadherin. Wntl and LiC1 stimulated the p38 MAPK signaling pathways. Perturbing the p38 MAPK pathway either by SB203580 or through p38 MAPK siRNA blocked EMT and inhibited fibronetin synthesis, which were reversed by transfection of p38 MAPK expression plasmid. β-catenin siRNA attenuated the EMT process and decreased p38 MAPK phosphorylation, indicating that β-catenin is involved in the EMT- related changes through regulation of p38 MAPK phosphorylation. These findings suggest that p38 MAPK participates in the pathogenesis of EMT through Wnt pathway and that p38 MAPK may be a novel target for IPF therapy.

Clinical Characteristics of H1N1 Influenza A-Associated Mild Encephalopathy with Reversible Splenial Lesion: 4 Pediatric Cases

Objective Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion(MERS)is associated with a variety of infections and anti-epileptic drug withdrawal.Here we report the clinical characteristics of H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS based on our experience of four pediatric cases.Methods A detailed retrospective analysis of four patients with H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS was performed at Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center.Results All patients exhibited mild influenza-like illness and seizures.Three patients presented with a new-onset seizure with fever after 5 years of age.75%patients had altered mental status.For all four patients,influenza A(H1N1)viral RNA was detected in throat swab specimens at least twice.Brain magnetic resonance images revealed similar ovoid lesions in the corpus callosum,mainly in the splenium and for one patient in the splenium and genu of the corpus callosum.Only one patient had an abnormal electroencephalogram tracing.Cells and protein in the cerebrospinal fluid were normal in all patients.All patients received oseltamivir and one patient received intravenous immunoglobulin.As a result,all patients fully recovered after 2 months and showed no neurologic sequelae at discharge.Conclusion This case series provides insight towards clinical features of H1N1 influenza A-associated MERS.

Clinical observation on the treatment of severe hand-foot-mouth disease with antelope horn powder combined with auricular point application

Objective:To explore the Clinical observation on the treatment of severe hand-foot-mouth disease with antelope horn powder combined with auricular point application.Methods:From July 2016 to June 2018,90 children were randomly divided into control group(n=30),treatment group(n=30)and control group(n=30).The control group was treated with routine western medicine,the treatment group 1 was treated with oral antelope horn powder on the basis of control group,the second group was treated with auricular point application on the basis of treatment group 1,and the time of symptom relief and clinical cure were observed in each group.Related immune function and related inflammatory factors,serum neuron-specific enolase(NSE),safety index.Results:In treatment group 1,the time of herpes regression,antipyretic,antispasmodic time and clinical cure time were shorter than those of control group,and the time of treatment 2 group was shorter than that of group 1(P<0.05).The levels of CD3,CD4 and CD8 were increased after treatment in the three groups,especially in the treatment group(P<0.05),and the levels of TNF-毩αand IL-2,IL-6,IL-10 were decreased after treatment in the three groups,especially in the treatment group(P<0.05).NSE decreased after treatment in three groups,especially in treatment group 2(P<0.05).Conclusion:The application of antelope horn powder combined with auricular point application can obviously improve the severe hand,foot and mouth disease,and the clinical curative effect is definite.It is worth popularizing and applying in clinical practice.