TGF-beta-dependent suppressive function of Tregs requires wild-type levels of CD18 in a mouse model of psoriasis.

Dysfunctional Tregs have been identified in individuals with psoriasis. However, their role in the pathogenesis of the disease remains unclear. Here we explored the effect of diminished CD18 (beta2 integrin) expression on the function of CD4+CD25+CD127(-) Tregs using the Cd18 hypomorphic (Cd18hypo) PL/J mouse model of psoriasis that closely resembles the human disease.

[Procalcitonin].

This article reviews the production, metabolism, and clinical application of procalcitonin (PCT). PCT is a useful indicator to differentiate bacterial infection and virus infection. Also, it can be used to determine the infection severity and prognosis.

[Gastrointestinal dysfunction/failure and critical care medicine].

This article reviews the recent advances in gastrointestinal function research, especially the gastrointestinal dysfunction/failure in critical care medicine.

[Functional hemodynamic monitoring].

Hemodynamic monitoring is important for critically ill patients in emergency medicine. While the conventional static hemodynamic monitoring may not accurately reflect the hemodynamic status, functional hemodynamic monitoring can dynamicly and individually monitor the hemodynamic status, and thus becomes a valuable supplementation for conventional static hemodynamic monitoring. This article reviews the limitations of conventional hemodynamic monitoring and introduces the methodology of functional hemodynamic monitoring.

[Apoptosis of gastric mucosa and gastric barrier dysfunction in acute ischemic stroke].

Objective: To evaluate the role of gastric mucosa apoptosis in the stress of ischemic stroke, and to discuss the relationship between gastric mucosa apoptosis and gastric barrier.

Methods: Ten dogs were artificially made ischemic stroke by operation (IS group), and another 10 shamly-operated dogs were served as control group. Sucrose permeability were measured after the operation.

[Effects of small volume resuscitation on the hemodynamics and extravascular lung water of septic shock dogs].

Objective: To observe the effect of small volume resuscitation by hypertonic-hyperoncotic solution on the hemodynamics and extravascular lung water of septic shock dogs.

Methods: Lipopolysaccharide of E. coli was injected to 24 healthy dogs via femoral vein to induce septic shock.

[Effects of methylene blue on refractory hemorrhagic shock].

Objective: To evaluate the effects of methylene blue (MB) on refractory hemorrhagic shock.

Methods: Totally 24 rabbits subjected to prolonged hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation were randomly divided into hemorrhagic shock group (12 rabbits) and MB group (12 rabbits; MB was administered immediately after resuscitation was performed). The plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) , interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, nitric oxide (NO), lactic acid (LA) , and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were detected before shock, immediately after resuscitation, and 0.

[Residency training in emergency medicine: an arduous and constant challenge].

With increasing demands and recognition, emergency medicine has advanced rapidly in China in recent decades. The education and training of professionals in this field are important for the further development of emergency medicine. With an attempt to investigate the way to strengthen residency training system in emergency medicine, this article reviews its potential development direction, training modes, learning materials, and quality control.

Beta2 integrins separate graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia effects.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Migration of donor-derived T cells into GVHD target organs plays an essential role in the development of GVHD. beta2 integrins are critically important for leukocyte extravasation through vascular endothelia and for T-cell activation.

[An analysis of the early diagnostic criteria for tuberculosis meningitis].

Objective: To find a method for the early diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis (TM).

Methods: Cases with the discharge diagnosis of TM during 1995 - 2004 ten years in the Peking Union Medical College Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. History of tuberculosis other sites of tuberculous infection, the findings of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and CSF culture result were studied.

Finite element analysis of impact loads on the femur.

Objective: To investigate the stress distribution and fracture mechanism of proximal femur under impact loads.

Methods: The image data of one male's femur were collected by the Lightspeed multi-lay spiral computed tomography. A 3D finite element model of the femur was established by employing the finite element software ANSYS, which mainly concentrated on the effects of the directions of the impact loads arising from intense movements and the parenchyma on the hip joint as well as those of the femur material properties on the distribution of the Mises equivalent stress in the femur after impact.

Gastric lavage in acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning (GLAOP)--a randomised controlled trial of multiple vs. single gastric lavage in unselected acute organophosphorus pesticide poisoning.

Background: Organophosphorus (OP) pesticide poisoning is the most common form of pesticide poisoning in many Asian countries. Guidelines in western countries for management of poisoning indicate that gastric lavage should be performed only if two criteria are met: within one hour of poison ingestion and substantial ingested amount. But the evidence on which these guidelines are based is from medicine overdoses in developed countries and may be irrelevant to OP poisoning in Asia.

Opposing effects of ICOS on graft-versus-host disease mediated by CD4 and CD8 T cells.

ICOS, a CD28 family member expressed on activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, plays important roles in T cell activation and effector function. Here we studied the role of ICOS in graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) mediated by CD4(+) or CD8(+) T cells in allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. In comparison of wild-type and ICOS-deficient T cells, we found that recipients of ICOS(-/-) CD4(+) T cells exhibited significantly less GVHD morbidity and delayed mortality.

T-cell tolerance or function is determined by combinatorial costimulatory signals.

Activated in immune responses, T lymphocytes differentiate into effector cells with potent immune function. CD28 is the most prominent costimulatory receptor for T-cell activation. However, absence of CD28 costimulation did not completely impair effector function of CD4 or CD8 T cells.

T regulatory cells as an immunotherapy for transplantation.

Advances in immunosuppressive therapies have made tissue and organ transplantation a common procedure in clinical medicine. However, true donor and recipient tolerance is not regularly achieved and almost all transplant recipients continue to require immunosuppressants throughout life, which is associated with side effects of the drugs. The identification and characterisation of regulatory T cells (Tregs) has recently opened up exciting opportunities for new ways of adoptive immunotherapy in transplantation.

Alloantigen affinity and CD4 help determine severity of graft-versus-host disease mediated by CD8 donor T cells.

TCR affinity dictates T cell selection in the thymus and also has a high impact on the fate of peripheral T cells. Graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) is a pathological process initiated by activation of donor T cells after adoptive transfer into an allogeneic recipient. How TCR affinity affects the potential of alloreactive T cells to induce GVHD is unclear.

A multicentre, randomized, controlled trial of oseltamivir in the treatment of influenza in a high-risk Chinese population.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir treatment in a population at high risk for influenza.

Research Design And Methods: This was a randomized, open-label, controlled trial involving Chinese patients with chronic respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis, obstructive emphysema, bronchial asthma or bronchiectasis) or chronic cardiac disease. Patients showing symptoms of influenza were randomly assigned to receive oral oseltamivir 75 mg twice daily for 5 days (oseltamivir group), or symptomatic treatment (control group) within 48 h after symptom onset.

Antigen-dependent suppression of alloresponses by Foxp3-induced regulatory T cells in transplantation.

Adoptive transfer of polyclonal CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells (Treg) can tolerize transplantation alloresponses. Treg are activated via their specific TCR, but the antigen specificity of wild-type Treg remains elusive, and therefore controlling potency and duration of Treg activity in the transplantation setting is still not feasible. In this study, we used murine graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) as a model system to show that antigen-specific Treg suppress the response of T effector cells to alloantigens in vitro and prevent GVHD in vivo.

Prevention of lethal acute GVHD with an agonistic CD28 antibody and rapamycin.

Successful hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) from an allogeneic donor ideally should produce tolerance to recipient alloantigens while preserving anti-infectious and antitumor immunity. Rapamycin together with costimulation blockade can induce tolerance in organ allograft models by inhibiting G(1) --> S-phase progression and promoting T-cell apoptosis. In contrast to blocking costimulation through CD28, administration of agonistic CD28-specific antibody 37.

[A multicenter randomized controlled study of the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in the treatment of influenza in a high risk population].

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oseltamivir in the treatment of influenza in a high risk population.

Methods: A randomized, open, control trial was conducted from Nov. 2002 to Feb.

CD28 ligation induces transplantation tolerance by IFN-gamma-dependent depletion of T cells that recognize alloantigens.

Administration of an agonistic anti-CD28 mAb paradoxically inhibits donor T cell expansion and prevents graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) in mice. Here we examined the mechanism of anti-CD28-mediated immunosuppression and found that anti-CD28 mAb activated, rather than blocked, CD28-mediated signaling in vivo. Anti-CD28 treatment prevented GVHD by selectively depleting alloantigen-activated donor T cells through apoptosis but spared the T cells that did not recognize recipient alloantigens.

Lck is required for activation-induced T cell death after TCR ligation with partial agonists.

TCR engagement can induce either T cell proliferation and differentiation or activation-induced T cell death (AICD) through apoptosis. The intracellular signaling pathways that dictate such a disparate fate after TCR engagement have only been partially elucidated. Non-FcR-binding anti-CD3 mAbs induce a partial agonist TCR signaling pattern and cause AICD on Ag-activated, cycling T cells.

Treatment of open supracondylar fracture of humerus.

Objective: To explore the injury mechanism and treatment principle of open supracondylar fracture of humerus.

Methods: The data of 32 patients with open supracondylar fracture of humerus hospitalized in our department in the recent 20 years were analyzed retrospectively. On an average, they were followed up for 30 months.