OBJECTIVE: To investigate the synthesis of IL 13 in cultured human mesangial cells (HMC) following LPS activation and the inhibitory effect of IL 13 on the pro inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and pro fibrogentic cytokine expression by HMC. METHODS: The expression of IL 13 mRNA and production of IL 13 protein were determined using the semiquantitative reverse transcription PCR technique and ELISA respectively. TNF α, IL 1α, IL 1β, MCP 1, IL 8, and TGF β1 mRNA expressions were determined by ribonuclease protection assay. RESULTS: ①Basal levels of IL 13 were undetectable and HMC stimulated with LPS produced IL 13 in a dose dependent manner. ②HMC which was incubated in the medium alone did not express IL 1α and MCP 1 mRNA, and constitutive mRNA expression in unstimulated cells was found for TNF α, IL 1β, IL 8, and TGF β1. LPS significantly upregulated TNF α, IL 1α, IL 1β, MCP 1, IL 8, and TGF β1 mRNA expressions. Recombinant human IL 13 inhibited TNF α, IL 1α, IL 1β, MCP 1, IL 8, and TGF β1 mRNA expressions in a dose dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: LPS can synergistically induce the expression of IL 13 in HMC. IL 13 can inhibit pro inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and profibrogenic cytokine synthesis, which suggests that IL 13 has important regulatory effects on the inflammatory response of HMC.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between DNA ploidy and apoptosis in vivo in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: Using flow cytometry, the assay of apoptosis of bone marrow lymphoblasts of 22 children with recent onset ALL before and after chemotherapy was done. RESULTS: No apoptotic cell was found in any of the cases before chemotherapy. During chemotherapy, the percentage of apoptotic cells in hyperdiploid cases with DNA index (DI) 1.16 ～ 1.6 ( 22.06% ± 8.98% ) was higher compared with that of non hyperdiploid cases with DI< 1.16 or DI> 1.6 ( 9.38% ± 10.27% )(P< 0.01 ).CONCLUSIONS: Hyperdiploid lymphoblasts are easier to undergo apoptosis in vivo, which is responsible for a good prognosis in childhood hyperdiploid ALL.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the complete remission (CR) and continuous complete remission (CCR) resulting from two different treatment regimes for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and to explore the factors that could affect the long term survival of ALL patients. METHODS: Forty four patients were divided into two groups according to the chemotherapeutic regimes. In the conventional chemotherapy group (Group A, n=12), VCP(VCR, CTX, Pred) was used in remission induction therapy; MTX and Ara C were used in prophylactic therapy of extramedullary leukemia; 6 MP and MTX were used in maintenance therapy; and VCP and COAP (VCR, CTX, DXM and Pred) were used alternatively in consolidation and intensification. In the intensified chemotherapy group (Group B, n=32 ), the recommended regime for treating ALL laid down at the Beihai Convention in Guangxi, in 1983 was followed, though the dosage of HD MTX was ( 1.5 ～ 2.0 ) g/m 2 each time instead of the recommended dosage. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of treatment, CR was obtained in all of the 44 patients. But to obtain CR, it took ( 3.83 ± 0.41 ) weeks in Group A and ( 3.00 ± 0.82 ) weeks in Group B (P< 0.05 ). To obtain CCR, it took ( 20.31 ± 16.71 ) months in Group A and ( 43.5 ± 25.56 ) months in Group B (P< 0.05 ). There was significant difference in the incidence of recurrence between Group A and Group B ( 66.7% vs 32.5% , P< 0.05 ). No significant difference was found between the two groups in the occurrence of complications during the chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients of the intensified chemotherapy group not only obtained CR within a shorter period of time but also proved that the intensified chemotherapy is much better than the conventional therapy in both obtaining CCR and preventing the recurrence of ALL. The occurrence of complications resulting from chemotherapy could be prevented or reduced so long as appropriate measures are taken and close cooperations are provided by the parents of the patients. It is suggested that the intensified chemotherapy is more effective than the conventional one in childhood ALL.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cytotoxicity to K562 cells and the solube interleukin 2 receptor (sIL 2R) level of cord blood, cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) activated by phytohemagglutinin (PHA), αCD3Ab and IL 2 in vitro. METHODS: By calculating the number of living cells in different culture medium systems, the proliferative capability of activated CBMC was measured. The level of sIL 2R in the supernatant of the cultured CBMC was measured using ELISA. Tumor cells necrosis induced by the effecter cells was detected by the release of 3H TdR. RESULTS: After a 3 day culture in vitro, the proliferation, cytotoxicity and the level of sIL 2R in cord blood PHA CD3AK cells were much greater than those in PHA LAK,CD3AK and LAK cells (P< 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that the synergistic enhancing role of PHA,IL 2 and αCD 3Ab in CBMC activation and PHA CD3AK cells have some advantages over PHA LAK, CD3AK and LAK cells in the proliferation and cytotoxicity.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the action of Na + K + ATPase of the brain in neonatal rats with hyperbilirubinemia and to explore the pathogenesis of bilirubin encephalopathy. METHODS: Seventy two 7 day old SD rats were randomly assigned to the control group and the experiment group. The rats of the experiment group were subdivided into 5 groups: T 1, T 2, T 3, T 4 and T 5 groups according to the increased bilirubin injected intraperitoneally. And the hyperbilirubinemic animal model was established. The bilirubin contents in the brain and serum were measured and the action of Na + K + ATPase in the brain was assayed by measuring the inorganic phosphorous content per milligram protein of brain tissues in the rats. RESULTS: Four and 8 hours after the bilirubin injection, as the injected bilirubin was increasing, the serum total bilirubin concentration and the brain bilirubin content were increasing, and the action of Na + K + ATPase in the brain was decreasing. Except for the T 1 group, there were significant differences in all the experiment groups compared with the control group (P< 0.05 or 0.01 ). No difference was found in the serum bilirubin content between 4 and 8 hours after the bilirubin injection in all the experiment groups, while there were significant differences in the brain bilirubin content and the action of Na + K + ATPase in the brain between 4 and 8 hours after the bilirubin injection in the T 2～T 5 groups (P< 0.05 ). There was negative relation between the bilirubin content and the action of Na + K + ATPase in the brain (r= -0.86 , P< 0.01 ). No relation was noted between the serum total bilirubin concentration and brain bilirubin content. CONCLUSIONS: The bilirubin might inhibit the action of Na + K + ATPase in the brain.

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of the myocardial cellular structure and energy metabolism and to explore the effects of myocardial energy metabolic disorders on the development into the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) in systemic inflammatory response (SIRS) rats. METHODS: The SIRS rat model was created by injecting high dose endotoxin (20 mg/kg). The contents of ATP, ADP and AMP were measured with the method of HPLC in the myocardium of the SIRS A group rats (1 hour after injections of endotoxin), the SIRS B group rats (3 hours after injections of endotoxin) and the control group rats (no endotoxin was given). The pathological changes in all the SIRS rats were studied with the electron microscope. RESULTS: The contents of ATP, ADP and AMP in the SIRS A group rats [( 1.51 ± 0.39 )×10 -1 ,( 3.22 ± 0.59 )×10 -1 and ( 2.17 ± 0.56 )×10 -1 mmol/g] and the SIRS B group rats [( 1.31 ± 0.53 )×10 -1 ,( 2.75 ± 0.74 )×10 -1 and ( 1.88 ± 0.57 )×10 -1 mmol/g] were lower than those in the control group rats [( 2.57 ± 0.82 )×10 -1 ,( 5.75 ± 0.69 )×10 -1 and ( 5.35 ± 0.76 )×10 -1 mmol/g](P< 0.05 ). No significant difference in the ATP, ADP and AMP contents was found between the SIRS A group rats and SIRS B group rats. Under the electron microscope, the mitochondria in myocardium cells revealed structural disorders with vacuolar degeneration and edematous myocardial fibers in all the SIRS rats. CONCLUSIONS: Energy metabolism disorders and mitochondria dysfunctions of the myocardium may play an important role in the development of SIRS.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of iron deficiency on memory and learning capability in rats. METHODS: Sixty four SD rats were randomly assigned to the control group and the experimental group. The experimental group received a low iron content diet, and the control group got 5 mg iron dextrin weekly by intraperitoneal injection. The iron contents in the brain and liver were determined using the DCP AES technique in all the rats at the second and tenth week. The memory and learning capability were tested by means of the MG 2 model maze. RESULTS: In the iron deficient nonanemic stage, the iron content of the brain was significantly lower than that of the control group [( 11.2 ± 5.5 ) μg/g vs ( 20.7 ± 6.5 ) μg/g](P< 0.01 ). And the memory and learning capability tended to be low. The iron content of the brain of the experimental group in the anemic stage was much lower [( 13.7 ± 3.5 ) μg/g vs ( 26.1 ± 2.7 ) μg/g](P< 0.01 ) and the memory and learning capability remained markedly lower compared with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that iron deficient rats had memory and learning defects which may be related to the low iron content of the brain.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the characteristics of renal function in relation to gestational age and postnatal day in premature infants. METHODS: Urinary microalbumin (mAlb), retionl binding protein (RBP) and N acetylbeta D glucosceminidase (NAG) concentrations were detected using the immunerurbidinetric method, ELISA method and rate method on the first day, fourth day and seventh day after birth in premature infants. The premature infants were divided into three groups in terms of gestational age: Group Ⅰ: 28～31 weeks; Group Ⅱ: 32～34 weeks; Group Ⅲ: 35～37 weeks. RESULTS: Within the same gestational age of the premature infants, the mAlb concentration showed a decreasing trend following increased postnatal day, but there was no statistical difference. The mAlb concentration in the premature infants of the same postnatal day decreased significantly as the gestational age increased in the three groups (P< 0.01 or 0.05 ). In Group Ⅰ and Group Ⅲ, the concentrations of RBP and NAG elevated with the increase of postnatal day and reached a peak on the fourth day, and decreased then significantly. In the premature infants of the same postnatal day, the changes of urinary RBP and NAG were the same as mAlb, decreasing significantly with the increase of gestational age, and there was a significant difference in the concentrations of RBP and NAG between the three groups (P< 0.01 or 0.05 ). CONCLUSIONS: The stature of glomerulus and renal tubules in premature infants is affected by gestational age and postnatal day.

OBJECTIVE: To study the perinatal factors that affect premature infants and to explore measures for the prevention of premature delivery. METHODS: A retrospective review of the medical records of 2,567 neonates (170 premature infants and 2 397 full term infants) over a 5 year period in our hospital was done. The perinatal factors, including maternal age, preterm rupture of membranes, multiple pregnancy, placenta previa, hypertension of pregnancy, abruptio placentae and antenatal care, were studied. The complications of premature infants were reviewed. RESULTS: The incidence of preterm birth was 6.62% . Except for maternal age, all the other perinatal factors showed significant differences between the full term infants and the preterm infants (P< 0.01 or 0.05 ). The complications of premature infants were mainly neonatal pneumonia, neonatal scleredema, hyperbillirubinemia and intracranial hemorrhage. The earlier the gestational age and the lower the birth weight, the higher the mortality rates in premature neonates. CONCLUSIONS: The key issue of reducing perinatal mortality is to reduce the incidence of perterm birth. It is necessary to improve perinatal care and regular antental examinations. It is necessary to make strategic planning to prevent complications and to reduce the incidence of preterm birth.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate CT and MRI images in the diagnosis of corpus callosum dysplasia. METHODS: The CT and MRI findings in 16 pediatric and adult cases with corpus callosum dysplasia were reviewed. RESULTS: CT and MRI diagnostic criteria of corpus callosum dysplasia were: ①separation of the frontal horns of the lateral ventricles and interventricular foramina; ②nearly parallel separation of the bodies of the lateral ventricles; ③enlarged occipital horns of the lateral ventricles; ④dilatation and anterior displacement of the third ventricle; ⑤abnormal proximity of interhemispheric fissure to the anterior part of the third ventricle. CONCLUSIONS: Correct diagnosis of corpus callosum dysplasia could be made on the basis of CT and MRI characteristics, but MRI might directly reveal the developmental abnormality of the corpus callosum on sagital scans.