Baseline cytokine response in immunocompetent PC host compared with the controls.

<p>(A)Serum IFN-γ level was significantly reduced in the PC patients (***<i>P</i> < 0.001). No significant differences in IL-2, IL-10, IL-4 and IL-12 levels were observed between the two groups. (B) Serum IFN-γ levels was higher in the nodules subgroup than in the non-nodules subgroup (*<i>P</i> < 0.05); similar levels of the other cytokines was observed in the two subgroups. (C) Serum IFN-γ levels was higher in the surgical treatment subgroup than in the non-surgical subgroup; the amounts of the other cytokines were similar in the two subgroups.</p

The Role of <i>Cryptococcus</i> in the Immune System of Pulmonary Cryptococcosis Patients

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>To investigate the role of <i>Cryptococcus</i> in the immune system of immunocompetent patients with pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) by analysing the dynamic changes of patients’ immune status before and after antifungal therapy.</p><p>Methods</p><p>The level of the serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-2, -4, -10 and -12 was measured before and after 6-months of treatment. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 30 immunocompetent PC patients and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and incubated with recombinant human IL-12 (rhIL-12) for 48 h. Then the concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatant were analysed.</p><p>Results</p><p>Baseline serum IFN-γ level was significantly lower in the PC patients as compared with the control group (<i>P</i> < 0.001). The serum IL-2 and IFN-γ of PC patients were significantly increased after appropriate treatments (<i>P</i> < 0.05 and <i>P</i> < 0.001 when compared to their baseline levels). The productions of IFN-γ in the culture supernatant of PBMCs showed no significant difference between the control and PC patients both before and after antifungal treatments. RhIL-12 is a potent stimulus for IFN-γ production. Culture PBMCs collected from PC patients before treatments had a smaller increase of IFN-γ production in the present of rhIL-12 than the control (<i>P</i> < 0.01); PBMCs from PC patients completing 6-months of treatment showed a comparable increase of IFN-γ production by rhIL-12 stimulation to the control group.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>In apparently immunocompetent patients with PC, a normalization of serum IFN-γ was achieved after recovery from infection. This suggests that <i>Cryptococcus</i> infection per se can suppress the immune system and its elimination contributes to the reestablishment of an immune equilibrium.</p></div

Influence of the effective therapy on the serum cytokine response in immunocompetent PC patients.

<p>(A) Average levels of the serum IL-2 and IFN-γ were significantly higher following effective therapy than at baseline (*<i>P</i> < 0.05 and **<i>P</i> < 0.001), whereas IL-4, IL-10 and IL-12 levels were similar to baseline. (B) Serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the non-nodules group compared with the baseline (**<i>P</i> < 0.01 and ***<i>P</i> < 0.001); in the nodule group, only the IFN-γ levels were much higher compared with the baseline (*<i>P</i> < 0.05); the effective therapy did not affect the secretions of IL-10, IL-4 and IL-12. (C) Serum IL-2 and IFN-γ levels were significantly increased in the non-nodules group compared with the baseline (**<i>P</i> < 0.01 and ***<i>P</i> < 0.001); in the nodules group, only IFN-γ levels were much higher compared with the baseline (*<i>P</i> < 0.05); the effective therapy did not affect the secretion of IL-10, IL-4 and IL-12.</p

Multivariate analyses assessing the effects of only-child on sex-related acknowledge, attitude and behavior.

a<p>Standardized regression coefficient and odds ratio with 95% confidence interval in parentheses was adjusted for age, major, grade, nationality, hometown area, and family economic status.</p>b<p>p<0.05 ^cp<0.01.</p

Supernatant IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in rhIL-12-stimulated PBMCs <i>in vitro</i> following the effective therapy.

<p>(A) Supernatant IFN-γ and IL-4 levels after the effective therapy were not significantly different from the baseline. (B) rhIL-12 stimulation significantly increased the median levels of supernatant IFN-γ compared with the baseline (**<i>P</i> < 0.01). (C) Supernatant IFN-γ level was much higher in different subgroups compared with the baseline (**P < 0.01 and ***P < 0.01). (D.E) No significant difference in the supernatant IL-4 level and increment of changes in IL-4 was observed following the effective therapy compared with baseline.</p

Demographic and clinical characteristics of the immunocompetent patients with PC.

<p>Demographic and clinical characteristics of the immunocompetent patients with PC.</p

Baseline supernatant IFN-γ and IL-4 levels in rhIL12-stimulated PBMCs <i>in vitro</i>.

<p>(A) Concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-4 in the supernatant of PBMCs without rhIL12 stimulation was similar between the patients and controls, between the nodules and non-nodules subgroups and between surgical and non-surgical treatment subgroups. (B) rhIL-12 stimulated the release of IFN-γ; increase in IFN-γ level was lower in the patients (4.47-fold) than in the controls (7.40-fold) (**<i>P</i> < 0.01); rhIL-12 did not stimulate IL-4 secretion in the supernatant of PBMCs in both groups. No differences in IFN-γ or IL-4 levels were observed between the nodules and non-nodules subgroups and between surgical and non-surgical treatment subgroups.</p

Risky sexual behaviors and risks among sexually active female students who were only-child and students with siblings.

a<p>Missed cases were excluded.</p>b<p>Significance tests was chi-squared tests for dichotomous variables.</p

Sex-related acknowledge, attitude and behavior among students who were only-child and students with siblings.

a<p>Missed cases were excluded.</p>b<p>Significance tests was chi-squared tests for dichotomous variables.</p

Psychosocial variables by suicidal ideation status.

<p>Psychosocial variables by suicidal ideation status.</p