The survey of serum retinol of the children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Vitamin A can have a positive impact on growth and development of children, but vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was found to be a public health problem in Zhejiang Province, China in 1998. There have been no studies on this topic in Zhejiang Province recently. This study was designed to evaluate the serum retinol levels of children aged 0~4 years in Zhejiang Province, southeast China. This epidemiological data will help design supplementation strategies for vitamin A in high-risk groups and improve their vitamin A status.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Children were randomly recruited for this study using a stratified sampling method. A blood sample was collected from each child. Assessment included C-reactive protein (CRP), serum retinol measured with HPLC and a questionnaire completed providing for family information and nutritional status. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk factors for VAD in children.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A group of 357 subjects aged 1 day to 4 years were recruited. The mean plasma retinol concentration was 1.653 (sd 0.47) μmol/L. There were 3.08% (11/357) of children affected with VAD, and 7.28% (26/357) of children had low vitamin A status, but none of the children showed any clinical symptoms of VAD. There was no significant difference in the levels of plasma retinol and the incidence rate of VAD between male and female children. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that living in urban region, having parents with good education and taking vitamin A capsule regularly prevented children from VAD, whereas being young (less than 2 years old) was a risk factor.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Low vitamin A status remains a nutritional problem in Zhejiang Province. The high-risk group in this study were young, dwelled in rural regions, had parents with poor education and did not take a regular vitamin A containing supplement.</p

Replicating viral vector platform exploits alarmin signals for potent CD8⁺ T cell-mediated tumour immunotherapy.

Viral infections lead to alarmin release and elicit potent cytotoxic effector T lymphocyte (CTL &lt;sup&gt;eff&lt;/sup&gt; ) responses. Conversely, the induction of protective tumour-specific CTL &lt;sup&gt;eff&lt;/sup&gt; and their recruitment into the tumour remain challenging tasks. Here we show that lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can be engineered to serve as a replication competent, stably-attenuated immunotherapy vector (artLCMV). artLCMV delivers tumour-associated antigens to dendritic cells for efficient CTL priming. Unlike replication-deficient vectors, artLCMV targets also lymphoid tissue stroma cells expressing the alarmin interleukin-33. By triggering interleukin-33 signals, artLCMV elicits CTL &lt;sup&gt;eff&lt;/sup&gt; responses of higher magnitude and functionality than those induced by replication-deficient vectors. Superior anti-tumour efficacy of artLCMV immunotherapy depends on interleukin-33 signalling, and a massive CTL &lt;sup&gt;eff&lt;/sup&gt; influx triggers an inflammatory conversion of the tumour microenvironment. Our observations suggest that replicating viral delivery systems can release alarmins for improved anti-tumour efficacy. These mechanistic insights may outweigh safety concerns around replicating viral vectors in cancer immunotherapy

HIV Replication Enhances Production of Free Fatty Acids, Low Density Lipoproteins and Many Key Proteins Involved in Lipid Metabolism: A Proteomics Study

BACKGROUND: HIV-infected patients develop multiple metabolic abnormalities including insulin resistance, lipodystrophy and dyslipidemia. Although progression of these disorders has been associated with the use of various protease inhibitors and other antiretroviral drugs, HIV-infected individuals who have not received these treatments also develop lipid abnormalities albeit to a lesser extent. How HIV alters lipid metabolism in an infected cell and what molecular changes are affected through protein interaction pathways are not well-understood. RESULTS: Since many genetic, epigenetic, dietary and other factors influence lipid metabolism in vivo, we have chosen to study genome-wide changes in the proteomes of a human T-cell line before and after HIV infection in order to circumvent computational problems associated with multiple variables. Four separate experiments were conducted including one that compared 14 different time points over a period of >3 months. By subtractive analyses of protein profiles overtime, several hundred differentially expressed proteins were identified in HIV-infected cells by mass spectrometry and each protein was scrutinized for its biological functions by using various bioinformatics programs. Herein, we report 18 HIV-modulated proteins and their interaction pathways that enhance fatty acid synthesis, increase low density lipoproteins (triglycerides), dysregulate lipid transport, oxidize lipids, and alter cellular lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that HIV replication alone (i.e. without any influence of antiviral drugs, or other human genetic factors), can induce novel cellular enzymes and proteins that are significantly associated with biologically relevant processes involved in lipid synthesis, transport and metabolism (p = <0.0002-0.01). Translational and clinical studies on the newly discovered proteins may now shed light on how some of these proteins may be useful for early diagnosis of individuals who might be at high risk for developing lipid-related disorders. The target proteins could then be used for future studies in the development of inhibitors for preventing lipid-metabolic anomalies. This is the first direct evidence that HIV-modulates production of proteins that are significantly involved in disrupting the normal lipid-metabolic pathways

Multiplicity of cerebrospinal fluid functions: New challenges in health and disease

This review integrates eight aspects of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) circulatory dynamics: formation rate, pressure, flow, volume, turnover rate, composition, recycling and reabsorption. Novel ways to modulate CSF formation emanate from recent analyses of choroid plexus transcription factors (E2F5), ion transporters (NaHCO3 cotransport), transport enzymes (isoforms of carbonic anhydrase), aquaporin 1 regulation, and plasticity of receptors for fluid-regulating neuropeptides. A greater appreciation of CSF pressure (CSFP) is being generated by fresh insights on peptidergic regulatory servomechanisms, the role of dysfunctional ependyma and circumventricular organs in causing congenital hydrocephalus, and the clinical use of algorithms to delineate CSFP waveforms for diagnostic and prognostic utility. Increasing attention focuses on CSF flow: how it impacts cerebral metabolism and hemodynamics, neural stem cell progression in the subventricular zone, and catabolite/peptide clearance from the CNS. The pathophysiological significance of changes in CSF volume is assessed from the respective viewpoints of hemodynamics (choroid plexus blood flow and pulsatility), hydrodynamics (choroidal hypo- and hypersecretion) and neuroendocrine factors (i.e., coordinated regulation by atrial natriuretic peptide, arginine vasopressin and basic fibroblast growth factor). In aging, normal pressure hydrocephalus and Alzheimer's disease, the expanding CSF space reduces the CSF turnover rate, thus compromising the CSF sink action to clear harmful metabolites (e.g., amyloid) from the CNS. Dwindling CSF dynamics greatly harms the interstitial environment of neurons. Accordingly the altered CSF composition in neurodegenerative diseases and senescence, because of adverse effects on neural processes and cognition, needs more effective clinical management. CSF recycling between subarachnoid space, brain and ventricles promotes interstitial fluid (ISF) convection with both trophic and excretory benefits. Finally, CSF reabsorption via multiple pathways (olfactory and spinal arachnoidal bulk flow) is likely complemented by fluid clearance across capillary walls (aquaporin 4) and arachnoid villi when CSFP and fluid retention are markedly elevated. A model is presented that links CSF and ISF homeostasis to coordinated fluxes of water and solutes at both the blood-CSF and blood-brain transport interfaces

Thigh-length compression stockings and DVT after stroke

Controversy exists as to whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves survival in patients with invasive bladder cancer, despite randomised controlled trials of more than 3000 patients. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the effect of such treatment on survival in patients with this disease

Morbidade referida e seus condicionantes em crianças de 5 a 9 anos em Sobral, CE, Brasil Reported morbidity and its conditionings in children 5 to 9 years old in Sobral, CE, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Descrever a morbidade referida em crianças de 5 a 9 anos e analisar seus possíveis condicionantes. METODOLOGIA: Corte de base populacional com amostra aleatória e representativa em crianças de 5 a 9 anos da zona urbana de Sobral - CE, Brasil. Entrevistas domiciliares com 3.276 crianças e exame clínico em 2.594. A morbidade referida foi classificada segundo a CID-10. O desfecho analisado foi morbidade referida nos últimos 15 dias, utilizando Stata 7.0. RESULTADOS: 43,9% das crianças apresentaram morbidade referida: Doenças do Aparelho Respiratório (DAR), 28,7%; doenças da pele, 3,4%; doenças infecciosas, 2,2%. Daquelas que adoeceram, 41,5% procuraram atendimento. Dessas, 77,4% em Unidades de Saúde Familiar. Apresentaram maiores chances de DAR as crianças com as seguintes características: residir no núcleo urbano principal do município, ter antecedente de desnutrição e frequentar escola, com um valor de ODDS Ratio, respectivamente de 1,48 (IC95%1,10-1,99), 1,30 (IC95%1,05-1,60) e 1,54 (IC95%1,02-2,32). DISCUSSÃO: Chamou a atenção a elevada prevalência de DAR em crianças do núcleo urbano principal, cerca de duas vezes maior que a observada em outros estudos de metodologia similar, levantando hipóteses de sobrerelato ou poluição ambiental. A maioria das crianças apresentou problemas de saúde de menor gravidade e teve acesso facilitado aos serviços de saúde, principalmente ao PSF. CONCLUSÕES: Serão necessários novos estudos para identificar possíveis causas da elevada prevalência de DAR em crianças do núcleo urbano principal do município. As ocasiões em que as crianças demandam os serviços de saúde da família por doenças de baixa gravidade podem ser aproveitadas para medidas de prevenção e promoção da saúde.<br>INTRODUCTION: This study was based on a random sample of 3,276 children aged between 5 and 9 years from the urban region of Sobral - CE, Brazil. OBJECTIVE: The main goal was to describe reported morbidity in children aged between 5 to 9 years and to analyze their conditionings. METHODOLOGY: Home interviews were carried out with 3,276 children and clinical exams were conducted in a sub-sample of 2,594. Health problems reported by mothers were classified according to the tenth revision of the International Disease Classification. Analyses were performed using Stata 7.0. Outcomes analyzed were reported morbidity in the past 15 days. The independent variables were grouped into socioeconomic, environmental, health service access, and nutritional status. RESULTS: The most prevalent morbidities were diseases of the respiratory system (DRS), 28.7%; diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, 3.4%; infectious and parasitic diseases, 2.2%. The independent variables that had statistically significant correlations with the prevalence of DRS were related to the children who lived in the main urban center, had a history of malnutrition, and low school attendance, with odds ratio of respectively, 1.48 (1.10-1.9995%CI), 1.30 (1.05-1.6095%CI), 1.54 (1.02-2.3295%CI). DISCUSSION: A high prevalence of DRS was observed in children in the main urban center. DRS prevalence was about twice higher than that observed in other studies with similar methodology. This observation has raised the hypotheses of over reporting or environmental pollution. Most children had minor health problems. They also had facilitated access to health services, especially to the FHP