Human liver stem/progenitor cells decrease serum bilirubin in hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rat

AIM:To test the ability of adult-derived human liver stem/progenitor cells(ADHLSC)from large scale cultures to conjugate bilirubin in vitro and in bilirubin conjugation deficient rat.METHODS:ADHLSC from large scale cultures were tested for their phenotype and for their capacity to conjugate bilirubin in vitro after hepatogenic differentiation.In vivo,Gunn rats[uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1(UGT1A1)deficient animal]were injected with ADHLSC and cryopreserved hepatocytes(positive control).Two,4,13 and 27 wk posttransplantation,transplanted Gunn rat bilirubin serum levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography.Human cell engraftment of trans-planted cells was assessed 27 wk post-transplantation using immunohistochemistry and RTqPCR.RESULTS:Large scale culture conditions do not modified ADHLSC phenotype,ADHLSC were able to specifically conjugate bilirubin.ADHLSC were intraportally injected into Gunn rats and blood UCB was measured at different times post-transplantation,infused-Gunn rats exhibited a metabolic effect 3 mo post-transplantation and maintained over a 6 mo period.ADHLSC engraftment into Gunn rat’s liver was demonstrated by RTqPCR and immunohistochemistry against albumin and UGT1A1.CONCLUSION:ADHLSC from large scale cultures are efficient in conjugating bilirubin in vitro and in restoring a deficient metabolic function(reducing bilirubin level)in hyperbilirubinemic rats.

Is There an Association between the Type of Activities and Respiratory Disorders among e-Waste Workers? Case of Two Major Cities in West Africa

Background: Several studies have demonstrated that e-waste workers had a risk to develop the respiratory disorders but this was not specifically differentiated according to the type of the e-waste activities. The main aim of this study was to evaluate if the risk to develop respiratory disorders was different according to the type of activities carried out by the e-waste workers. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in Abidjan and Cotonou, two big cities in West Africa. The participants were randomly selected based on the list of e-waste workers provided by the census of different sites of e-waste. The spirometry was performed on all the study participants to assess whether they had respiratory disorders. A regression logistic model was performed to estimate the risk of developing respiratory disorders according to the type of activities carried out by the e-waste workers. Results: In total 308 e-waste workers including 149 at Abidjan and 159 at Cotonou were interviewed. Participants of this study ranged in age from 14 years to 69 years and the mean age was 33.71 ± 10.96. The main activities carried out by the study participants were respectively repairing (44.8%), buying or selling (40.3%), dismantling (31.8%). The prevalence of respiratory disorders was 20.1%. The multivariate analysis had not found a significant association between the type of activities and the presence of respiratory disorders. Conclusion: The effect of exposure to e-waste on respiratory health of workers was not different according to the type of activities. So, any policy that aims to reduce the risk of exposure on respiratory health must take into account all the e-waste workers regardless of the type of activities they perform in this sector.

Comparative Variability of Nasal Potential Difference Measurements in Human and Mice

Background: Nasal potential difference (NPD) test has long been used to assist in the diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) and more recently as an outcome measure in clinical trials of new CF therapies. This test has also been adapted to the mouse nose. Objectives: We aimed at evaluating variability of the NPD measurements in CF patients displaying two severe CFTR mutations and in sex-matched healthy controls. NPD recorded from F508del-CF and normal wild-type mice were also compared. Methods and results: In each setting, tests were performed by a single qualified operator. In the clinical setting, the latest standardized operation protocol of the CF foundation was followed. A total of 80 tracings were obtained from 10 patients (23.2 y;range 14 to 32) and 10 healthy subjects (34 y;range 24 to 53), each tested twice, in both nostrils. Two CF and two controls were excluded from the statistical data analysis due to the presence of a single non interpretable NPD tracing (4/80, 5%). To achieve equal sample size, tests were obtained from 8 CF mice and normal wild-type. Comprehensive multivariate analysis of paired data showed a good reproducibility of NPD parameters in the clinical and the preclinical setting;lower variability was observed in mice. However, 95% repeatability limits of NPD parameters were large indicating a large measurement error, poor precision and low within-subject repeatability. In both settings, chloride secretion was shown to be the most reproducible and repeatable parameter. Conclusion: In human as in mice, NPD showed good reproducibility but limited within-subject repeatability.

Estimating Exposure to Traffic-Related Air Pollution and Its Consequences on Respiratory Health in Population Working or Living along the Trunk Road: A Systematic Review

Introduction: Urban Air pollution is increasingly becoming a major health and sustainable development issue. Several studies showed that Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) is one of the main sources of urban air pollution and has serious consequences on respiratory health. As no systematic review focused on the traffic-related air pollution and respiratory health in the target population of individuals working in a shop or in an office or individuals living along the trunk road, the authors conducted the current study to try to fill this gap. Methods: A systematic review search was conducted using MEDLINE (PubMed), Scientific Research Publishing: SCIRP, Web of Science, Google scholar. Studies were included if they meet the following selection criteria: 1) focus on population working or living along a major/trunk road; 2) studies had reported clearly at least on the exposure variables related to TRAP; 3) the association between TRAP and development of respiratory symptoms or respiratory diseases was established. Results: 13 articles were selected on the 192 articles that were retrieved in the initial research. Exposure to traffic-related air pollution was determined by using distance to road, traffic intensity and pollutants measured. The main respiratory health problems found were cough, wheeze, asthma and bronchitis. No article discussed about roundabouts in characterizing exposure to traffic-related air pollution. Conclusion: Distance to road, traffic density and pollutants measured are the usual methods to characterize the exposure to traffic-related air pollution and its consequences on respiratory health. Regarding the context of area occupations in African cities, it is necessary to focus on population around roundabouts and see if they are not more exposed to TRAP.

Respiratory Symptoms Associated with Workplaces Located along a Road with High-Traffic at Cotonou, Benin

Objective: Air pollution is becoming one of the public concerns requiring urgent feasible response per local context. Defining accurately the level of exposure of outdoor air pollution effect on health of venders working along main roads and roundabouts with high traffic is important. This study was conducted to assess respiratory health risks on venders associated with different geographical positions in Cotonou. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted along the main road with high traffic including three roundabouts in Cotonou. The 194 study participants from all shops, one respondent per shop, were given a unique GPS data associated to indicate the shop’s geographical position. The study employed validated questionnaire on respiratory symptoms. Results: Study participants had mean age of 36.26 (±11.65) years with sex ratio of (M/F) 1.8. Majority (72.7%) of study participates reported to have at least one respiratory symptom and 69% of them were working in non-ventilated rooms. The proportion of having at least one respiratory symptom was significantly different (p Conclusion: Working in roundabout is associated with more respiratory symptoms than working in shops along main road. Air pollution mitigation efforts should focus in such settings, taking into account the sub-population of workers in resource limited countries.

用Sauvegrain法测定青春期骨龄准确性的研究

背景：Sauvegrain方法是通过分析肘部X线片来评估骨龄，常用于青春期生长发育最为迅速的两年间的骨龄测定。本文旨在研究该方法的准确性以及在小儿骨科中的应用价值。 方法：Sauvegrmn法主要评估肘部的4个解剖标志点：外髁、肱骨滑车、尺骨鹰嘴突以及桡骨近端骨骺。它是一个27分制的评分系统。对上述结构所得的评分进行合计而得出一个总分，然后使用标准图表确定骨龄。让三位观察者分别利用该方法进行骨龄评估。三位观察者通过分析60个男孩和60个女孩样本左肘部的前后位和侧位X线片来测定骨龄，并将该结果与通过分析左手和腕部后前位X线片的Greulich和Pyle图谱而得出的骨龄结果进行比较。间隔4周后每个观察者再测定骨龄一次。 结果：通过分析肘部X线片的方法测定骨龄更为精确，因为采用该方法测定骨龄可以精确到半岁。根据观察者的评定，Sauvegrain法显示出很好的观察者之间的相关性（r=0．93）和可重复性（r=0．96）。Sauvegrain法与Greulich和Pyle图谱之间有很好的相关性（r=0．85）。然而，一些肘部生长中心显示出一种中间的发育形态，这种形态学不适合Sauvegrain法的评分。这就导致了数据分析时出现误差。我们建议对于这些样本设定中间评分，并且通过修改原始图表而使评分更为精确。 结论：改良的Sauvegrain法简单、可靠而且可重复性高，它补充了Greulich和Pyle图谱的不足。在临床实践中，骨骼成熟度可以通过骨龄、年生长率以及第二性征而得以很准确的评估。因此，当青春期需要进行骨骺或脊柱关节融合术时，这种方法对于确定手术时间具有重要意义。 可信水平：诊断性研究，Ⅱ级，进一步可信度参见作者介绍。

采用免疫检查点抑制剂对结直肠癌进行免疫治疗:错配修复功能正常的肿瘤未来在何方?

在对黑色素瘤和肺癌的治疗取得初步成功之后,免疫检查点抑制剂(ICIs)现已被公认为多种实体癌主要的免疫治疗方案。目前在结直肠癌中,仅有错配修复功能缺陷和高度微卫星不稳定(dMMR/MSI-H)的一小部分患者可以从免疫治疗获益;但绝大多数错配修复功能正(pMMR)或微卫星稳定(MSS)的结直肠癌患者无法获益。对于部分经过选择的结直肠癌患者,免疫评分(immunoscore)和共识分子亚型(consensus molecular subtype)作为其疗效预测的分子标志物,具有良好的应用前景。另外,在pMRR/MSS型CRC中,也需要通过生物标记物来了解调控免疫反应的分子机制并预测其与治疗的关系。生物标记物的不断发展,将为肿瘤治疗提供一些新的视角和更加个体化的治疗选择(包括改变肿瘤微环境的ICIs治疗)。本文重点讨论了结直肠癌ICIs的应用现状以及生物标志物在预测免疫治疗反应中的作用,并探讨了通过联合疗法使pMMR/MSS型结直肠癌更具免疫原性、从而提高其免疫治疗反应的方法。