Morphology and ontogeny of dendritic cells in rats at different development periods

AIM:To study the morphology and ontogeny of dendritic cells of Peyer's patches in rats at different development periods. METHODS:The morphometric and flow cytometric analyses were performed to detect all the parameters of villous-crypts axis and the number of OX62+DC, OX62+CD4+SIRP+DC,and OX62+CD4-SIRP-DC in the small intestine in different groups of rats.The relationship between the parameters of villous-axis and the number of DC and DC subtype were analyzed. RESULTS:All morphometric parameters changed significantly with the development of pups in the different age groups(F=10.751,12.374,16.527, 5.291,3.486;P=0.000,0.000,0.000,0.001,0.015). Villous height levels were unstable and increased from 115.24μm to 140.43μm as early as 3 wk postpartum. Villous area increased significantly between 5 and 7 wk postpartum,peeked up to 13 817.60μm2 at 7 wk postpartum.Villous height and crypt depth ratios were relatively stable and increased significantly from 2.80±1.01 to 4.54±1.56,9-11 wk postpartum.The expression of OX62+DC increased from 33.30%± 5.80%to 80%±17.30%,3-11 wk postpartum(F=5.536,P=0.0013).OX62+CD4+SIRP+DC subset levels detected in single-cell suspensions of rat total Peyer's patch dendritic cells(PP-DCs)increased significantly from 30.73%±5.16%to 35.50%±4.08%,5-7 wk postpartum and from 34.20%±1.35%to 43.60%± 2.07%9-11 wk postpartum(F=7.216,P=0.005). CONCLUSION:This study confirms the agerelated changes in villous-crypt axis differentiation in the small intestine.Simultaneously,there are also development and maturation in rat PP-DCs phenotypic expression.Furthermore,the morphological changes of intestinal mucosa and the development of immune cells(especially DC)peaked at 9-11 wk postpartum, indicating that the intestinal mucosae reached a relatively mature state at 11 wk postpartum.

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.

Predictive value of serum NSE, umbilical cord blood albumin levels in hyperbilirubinemia full-term neonates with brain injury

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of of serum NSE,umbilical cord blood albumin levels in hyperbilirubinemia full-term neonates with brain injury.Methods:300 cases of hyperbilirubinemia full-term neonates in our hospital during January 2018 to November 2019 were chosen as hyperbilirubinemia group,200 cases of healthy full-term neonates who were delivered in our hospital during the same period and whose general information matched were chosen as normal control group.According to whether the hyperbilirubinemia group had brain injury,they were further divided into bilirubin encephalopathy group(n=34)and non-bilirubin encephalopathy group(n=266).NSE,umbilical cord blood albumin levels in hyperbilirubinemia group and normal control group were compared.Clinical data,NSE and umbilical cord blood albumin levels between bilirubin encephalopathy group,non-bilirubin encephalopathy group were compared.Risk factors associated with brain injury in full-term newborn with hyperbilirubinemia were analyzed by logistics regression,predictive value of NSE and umbilical cord blood albumin on brain injury in full-term newborn with hyperbilirubinemia were evaluated by ROC curve.Results:NSE level in hyperbilirubinemia group was higher than that in normal control group(P<0.05).There was no significant difference in umbilical cord blood albumin between two groups(P>0.05).Incidence of jaundice,anemia,indirect bilirubin peak,total bilirubin peak and NSE level in bilirubin encephalopathy group were higher than those in non-bilirubin encephalopathy group,level of umbilical cord blood albumin was lower than that in non-bilirubin encephalopathy group(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis showed that jaundice,anemia,indirect bilirubin peak,total bilirubin peak,NSE and umbilical cord blood albumin within 24h after birth were risk factors for hyperbilirubinemia with brain injury(P<0.05).When NSE was 67.09 ng/mL,the yoden index was the highest,with sensitivity and specificity of 79.70%,55.88%respectively.When the umbilical cord blood albumin was 4.20mg/mL,the jorden index was the highest,sensitivity and specificity were 76.32%,82.35%respectively.Conclusion:Abnormal changes in serum NSE,umbilical cord blood albumin levels are observed in full-term neonates with hyperbilirubinemia,moreover they have value of early prediction for subsequent brain injury.

Separation and comprehensive utilization of valuable elements in Ti-bearing electric arc furnace molten slag

A novel route to comprehensive utilization of valuable elements such as Ti, A1, Si and Mg in Ti-bearing electric arc furnace molten slag （Ti-bearing EAF slag） was proposed. The route can be expressed as a three-step process including alkali fusion, water leaching and acidolysis. Following these processes under the optimum conditions, the recovery ratios of TiO2, Al2O3, SiO2 and MgO were about 97.5, 93.5, 27.9 and 53.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, nanostructured TiO2, NaA zeolite and Mg（OH）2 fire retardant were synthesized simultaneously by using Ti-bearing EAF slag as raw materials. In addition, the photocatalytic activity of prepared nanostructured TiO2 and the adsorption property of obtained NaA zeolite were investigated. The results showed that the photodegradation efficiency of as-prepared TiO2 was 80% for rhodamine B and the adsorption efficiency of NaA zeolite was 61% for Cu2＋ under the optimum conditions.