Objective To investigate the preventive effect of probiotics on pediatric food allergy.
Methods From MEDLINE bibliographical database, we searched and reviewed all randomized controlled trials on the preventive effects of probiotics on pediatric food allergies up to September 2013 and excluded the studies that do not meet inclusion criteria and extracted the data. Meta-analysis for the results of homogenous studies was performed using RevMan 5.0 and the co-effect was pooled by using fixed-effects model of relative risk (RR) ratios.
Results Ten trials published between 2007 and 2012 including 2701 cases were included. Meta-analysis based on included data showed that the preventive effect of prenatal and postnatal probiotic supplementation on food allergies was not significant with the RR=0.88 (95%CI:0.76-1.03).
Conclusion Present evidences cannot show in unequivocal terms that prenatal and postnatal probiotic supplementation will prevent food allergic diseases.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ustekinumab in the therapy of plaque psoriasis.
Methods Literatures published up to November 2013 were collected from Cochrane library, MEDLINE, and PubMed which were related with ustekinumab for plaque psoriasis. The efficacy was estimated using relative risk of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response rate at the week 12 endpoint in clinical trials, and adverse effects were also analyzed. Meta-analysis was carried out by using Review Manager 5.1.
Results Six randomized control trials consistent with the inclusion criteria were selected and reviewed. Ustekinumab 45 mg group and 90 mg group could get better therapeutic effect compared with the placebo group (all P<0.00001). Furthermore, ustekinumab 90 mg group was more effective than ustekinumab 45 mg group (P=0.01). Adverse effects in the 6 trials were mentioned including headache, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngtis, infection, serious infection, cardiovascular events, and malignant tumors. There were no statistically significant differences of these adverse effects among three groups (all P>0.05), except that infection rate in ustekinumab 45 mg group was higher than the placebo group (P=0.02).
Conclusions Ustekinumab is an effective and safe therapeutic method for plaque psoriasis. However, further longer time analysis of safety is needed.

Objective To investigate the anti-tumor effect of ZM-66 on multidrug-resistant leukemic cell line K562/ADM.
Methods The K562/ADM cells were treated with varying concentrations (0, 1, 2, 4×10-3 mmol/L) of ZM-66 or etoposide for 24 hours. The proliferation was detected by Sulforhodamine B Sodium Salt (SRB) assay and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry analysis and fluorescent staining. In addition, the expression levels of p53 and bax genes in K562/ADM cells were detected by RT-PCR analysis. The level of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), P53 and Bax protein in K562/ADM cells were detected by Western blot assay.
Results SRB assay demonstrated that etoposide had little inhibitory effect on K562/ADM cells, whereas ZM-66 (1, 2, 4×10-3 mmol/L) had significantly inhibitory effect on K562/ADM cells (all P<0.01). The acridine orange/propidium iodide dual staining showed that there were typical condensation of chromatin and nuclear fragmentation nuclei with red color in ZM-66 treated cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that there was a significantly increase of apoptotic cells in K562/ADM cells after treated with ZM-66. RT-PCR showed that the p53 and bax mRNA expression levels in K562/ADM cells treated with ZM-66 at 1, 2, 4×10-3 mmol/L were higher than those in the cell without treatment. Western blot showed that the P53 and Bax protein expression levels in K562/ADM cells treated with ZM-66 at 2, 4×10-3 mmol/L were higher than those in the cell without treatment. But the P-gp protein expression level in K562/ADM cells treated with ZM-66 at 2, 4×10-3 mmol/L was gradually lower than those in the cell without treatment.
Conclusion ZM-66 is able to induce cell death by apoptosis in vitro, as a result of the reverse of the apoptosis resistance in drug-resistant K562/ADM cells by modulating expression of key factors associated with apoptosis induction.

Objective To investigate the correlation between drinking behavior combined with polymorphisms of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) genes and pancreatic cancer.
Methods The genetic polymorphisms of EC-SOD and ALDH2 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism in the peripheral blood leukocytes obtained from 680 pancreatic cancer cases and 680 non-cancer controls. Subsequently the frequency of genotype was compared between the pancreatic cancer patients and the healthy controls.The relationship of drinking with pancreatic cancer was analyzed.
Results The frequencies of EC-SOD (C/G) and ALDH2 variant genotypes were 37.35% and 68.82%respectively in the pancreatic cancer cases, and were significantly higher than those in the healthy controls (21.03% and 44.56%, all P<0.01). People who carried EC-SOD (C/G) (OR=2.24, 95% CI=1.81-4.03, P<0.01) or ALDH2 variant genotypes (OR=2.75, 95%CI=1.92-4.47, P<0.01) had a high risk to develop pancreatic cancer. Those who carried EC-SOD (C/G) genotype combined with ALDH2 variant genotype had a high risk for pancreatic cancer (29.56%vs. 6.76%, OR=7.69, 95%CI=3.58-10.51, P<0.01). The drinking rate of the pancreatic cancer group (64.12%) was significantly higher than that of the control group (40.15%; OR=2.66, 95% CI=1.30-4.42, P<0.01). An interaction between drinking and EC-SOD (C/G)/ALDH2 variant genotypes increased the risk of occurrence of pancreatic cancer (OR=25.00, 95%CI=11.87-35.64, P<0.01).
Conclusion EC-SOD (C/G), ALDH2 variant genotypes and drinking might be the risk factors of pancreatic cancer.

Objective To explore the inhibitory effect of recombinant mutant human tumor necrosis factor-α(rmhTNF-α) in combination with cisplatin on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.
Methods Human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549 was treated with varying concentrations of rmhTNF-α (0.38, 0.75, 1.50, 6.00 and 12.00 IU/ml) or cisplatin (3.91, 7.81, 15.63, 31.25 and 62.50 μg/ml) for 24 hours. Viable cell number was analyzed by using crystal violet staining. The inhibitory rates of A549 cells growth by the two drugs were calculated. For analyzing whether there was a synergistic effect of rmhTNF-α with cisplatin, A549 cells were treated with 0.75 IU/ml rmhTNF-αand increased concentrations of cisplatin.
Results rmhTNF-αor cisplatin inhibited the growth of A549 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibitory effect of rmhTNF-αcombined with cisplatin was significantly greater than cisplatin alone at the same concentration (all P<0.01).
Conclusion rmhTNF-αcombined with cisplatin might have synergistic inhibitory effect on human lung adenocarcinoma cell line A549.

Objectives To reveal etiologies of persistent isolated hematuria (PIH) through ultrastructural pathological examination, to disclose clinicopathological correlation in cases with PIH, and to summarize appropriate management of patients with PIH.
Methods we retrospectively studied 155 PIH patients receiving renal biopsy between January, 2003 and December, 2008 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. All the clinical data and follow-up result were analyzed.
Results All subjects included 38 children and 117 adults, with mean age of 11.38±3.25 years for children and 35.17±8.44 years for adults. Thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN) was the most common pathology (55.3% of children and 49.6% of adults), followed by IgA nephropathy (18.4% of children and 32.5% of adults, mainly grade 2-3) and mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) without IgA deposition (13.2%of children and 12.8%of adults). Besides, Alport syndrome (2.6%of children) and membrane nephropathy (2.6%of children and 0.9%of adults) were demonstrated as other causes of PIH. Elevated mean arteral pressure or protein excretion rate, as well as episodic macrohematuria, indicated higher risk for MsPGN rather than TBMN. On the other hand, severity of microhematuria was irrelevant to pathological types of PIH. Totally, 86 patients were followed up and 37 cases therein stayed on track for long term (mean duration 41.11±28.92 months, range 8-113 months). Most cases had benign clinical course except 3 cases with TBMN, 5 cases with IgA nephropathy, 1 case with MsPGN (without IgA deposition), and 1 case with Alport syndrome, who developed hypertension or proteinuria. All of them were administered timely intervention.
Conclusions Close follow-up should be required as the primary management for PIH. Equally important is careful monitoring for early identification of undesirable predictors;while renal biopsy and other timely intervention are warranted if there is hypertension, significant proteinuria or renal impairment.

Objective To report a case of the implantation of thyroid hyperplastic or neoplastic tissue after endoscopic thyroidectomy and discuss this complication in aspects of prevalence, pathogenesis, protection, and therapies.
Methods A systematic search of literature from the PubMed database was conducted for identifying eligible studies on implantation of thyroid hyperplastic or neoplastic cells after endoscopic thyroid surgery.
Results Overall, 5 reported cases on patients suffering from endoscopic thyroid surgery with implantation of thyroid hyperplastic or neoplastic cells were included in the systematic review.
Conclusions Unskilled surgeons, rough intraoperative surgical treatment, scarification or rupture of tumor, contamination of instruments, chimney effect, aerosolization of tumor cells may be associated with the implantation after endoscopic thyroidectomy. To minimize the risk of such complication, we should be more meticulous and strict the endoscopic surgery indications.

Objective To explore the perihematomal perfusion typing and spot sign on computed tomography angiography (CTA) source images in order to assist in individualizing therapeutic decisions for patients with intracerebral hemorrhage by possibly forecasting perihematomal ischemia and hematoma enlargement.
Methods We examined 58 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage by computed tomography perfusion and CTA within 6 hours after symptom onset. Hematoma volumes were determined from non-contrast CT images and compared between first and second CT images. The perfusion of hematoma region and perihematoma region was evaluated for presence or absence of the perihematomal penumbra. Three kinds of perihematoma perfusion typing were defined according to the perfusion of hematoma region and perihematoma region. CTA source images was reviewed to make sure presence or absence of the spot sign.
Results Finally, 53 patients (34 males, 19 females) were enrolled in our study according to exclusion criteria. Finally, 21 patients were classified into the normal group, 23 patients were classified into the mild group, and 9 patients were classified into the severe group. There were significant differences in hematoma size between the presence and absence of the perihematomal penumbra group (P<0.05). Thirteen (24.5%) patients presented with spot sign. Hematoma expansion occurred in 15 (28.3%) patients on follow-up. In which 12 patients were with spot sign. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for expansion were 80.0%, 97.4%, 92.3%, and 92.5%, respectively.
Conclusion In acute intracerebral hemorrhage patients, the perihematoma perfusion typing and CTA spot sign provide more radiological information that might assist in individualizing therapeutic decisions for patients by possibly forecasting perihematomal ischemia and hematoma enlargement.

Objective To investigate the associations between epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations and serum tumor markers in advanced lung adenocarcinomas.
Methods We investigated the association between EGFR gene mutations and clinical features, including serum tumor marker levels, in 97 advanced lung adenocarcinomas patients who did not undergo the treatment of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. EGFR gene mutation was detected by real-time PCR at exons 18, 19, 20, and 21. Serum tumor marker concentrations were analyzed by chemiluminescence assay kit at the same time.
Results EGFR gene mutations were detected in 42 (43%) advanced lung adenocarcinoma patients. Gender (P=0.003), smoking status (P=0.001), and abnormal serum status of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA, P=0.028) were significantly associated with EGFR gene mutation incidence. Multivariate analysis showed the abnormal CEA level in serum was independently associated with the incidence of EGFR gene mutation (P=0.046) with an odds ratio of 2.613 (95%CI:1.018-6.710). However, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed CEA was not an ideal predictive marker for EGFR gene mutation status in advanced lung adenocarcinoma (the area under the ROC curve was 0.608, P=0.069).
Conclusions EGFR gene mutation status is significantly associated with serum CEA status in advanced lung adenocarcinmoas. However, serum CEA is not an ideal predictor for EGFR mutation.

Objective To investigate the expression of phosphatase and tension homolog (PTEN) in adipose tissue of KKAy diabetic mice, a mouse model of type 2 diabetes.
Methods KKAy diabetic mice were fed with high fat diet for 4 weeks. After blood glucose met the criteria of diabetes (over 16.7 mmol/L), mice were randomly divided into 3 groups:a control group (without any treatment), a rosiglitazone group (treated with rosiglitazone 12.5 mg/kg·d once per day), and a metformin group (treated with metformin 3 g/kg·d twice daily). After 4 weeks, we then determined the expression of PTEN and phosphoserine 473-Akt (pS473-Akt) in the epididymal adipose tissue with Western blots. The mice in each group were further divided into the insulin (-) subgroup and insulin (+) subgroup, which were intraperitoneally injected with saline and insulin (5 mU/g body weight), respectively.
Results The expression of PTEN was elevated in the epididymal adipose tissue obtained from KKAy diabetic mice compared with that from the C57BL/6J mice (P<0.001). In accordance with the enhanced expression of PTEN, the level of pS473-Akt stimulated by insulin was decreased in the adipose tissue of KKAy mice compared to the C57BL/6J mice (P<0.001). Treatment with the insulin-sensitizing agents, rosiglitazone and metformin did not inhibit the elevated expression of PTEN in adipose tissue of KKAy diabetic mice.
Conclusion PTEN may play an important role in the development of insulin resistance in adipose tissue of type 2 diabetes mice model.