Potential role of Th17 cells in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease

The etiopathology of inflammatory bowel disease(IBD)remains elusive.Accumulating evidence suggests that the abnormality of innate and adaptive immunity responses plays an important role in intestinal inflammation.IBD including Crohn's disease(CD)and ulcerative colitis(UC)is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract,which is implicated in an inappropriate and overactive mucosal immune response to luminalflora.Traditionally,CD is regarded as a Th1-mediated inflammatory disorder while UC is regarded as a Th2-like disease.Recently,Th17 cells were identif ied as a new subset of T helper cells unrelated to Th1 or Th2 cells,and several cytokines [e.g.interleukin(IL)-21,IL-23] are involved in regulating their activation and differentiation.They not only play an important role in host defense against extracellular pathogens,but are also associated with the development of autoimmunity and inflammatory response such as IBD.The identif ication of Th17 cells helps us to explain some of the anomalies seen in the Th1/Th2 axis and has broadened our understanding of the immunopathological effects of Th17 cells in the development of IBD.

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of probiotics in Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy

AIM:To evaluate the role of probiotics in the standard triple Helicobacter pylori therapy.METHODS:In this meta-analysis,we investigated the efficacy of probiotics in a standard triple H.pylori therapy in adults.Searches were mainly conducted in MEDLINE/Pub Med,EMBASE,and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials.Fourteen studies met our criteria,and the quality of these studies was assessedusing the Jadad scale.We used STATA version 12.0to extract data and to calculate the odds ratios(ORs),which are presented with the corresponding 95%confidence intervals(CIs).The data are presented as forest plots.RESULTS:The pooled ORs for the eradication rates calculated by intention-to-treat analysis and perprotocol analysis in the probiotic group vs the control group were 1.67(95%CI:1.38-2.02)and 1.68(95%CI:1.35-2.08),respectively,using the fixed-effects model.The sensitivity of the Asian studies was greater than that of the Caucasian studies(Asian:OR=1.78,95%CI:1.40-2.26;Caucasian:OR=1.48,95%CI:1.06-2.05).The pooled OR for the incidence of total adverse effects was significantly lower in the probiotic group(OR=0.49,95%CI:0.26-0.94),using the random effects model,with significant heterogeneity(I2=85.7%).The incidence of diarrhea was significantly reduced in the probiotic group(OR=0.21,95%CI:0.06-0.74),whereas the incidence of taste disorders,metallic taste,vomiting,nausea,and epigastric pain did not differ significantly between the probiotic group and the control group.CONCLUSION:Supplementary probiotic preparations during standard triple H.pylori therapy may improve the eradication rate,particularly in Asian patients,and the incidence of total adverse effects.

Corrosion Behavior of S450EW Low-alloy Weathering Steel in Cyclically Alternate Corrosion Environments

Weathering steel is widely used in various fields due to its excellent mechanical properties and high corrosion resistance. The effect of chromium content on the S450 EW weathering steel in cyclic immersion test was studied. The results indicated that the corrosion resistance of S450 EW weathering steel is closely related to chromium content. The addition of chromium significantly inhibited the weathering steel corrosion. The corrosion rate of experimental steel after 96 h immersion was 1.101 g·m-2·h-1. The rust of S450 EW weathering steel was mainly constituted of Fe OOH and Fe3O4 phase, and the elevation of chromium content promoted the formation of α-Fe OOH. The fine precipitates of the two phases contributed to the formation of dense dust layer of test steel. Furthermore, the increase of chromium is beneficial for the cure of original defects and cracks of the rust layer via the enrichment of chromium. The corrosion potential and the resistance of corrosion process were thus increased, protecting the experimental steel from further corrosion. A S450 EW steel with corrosion resistance more than 1.5 times of Q450NQR1 steel was prepared.