Innate and adaptive immune responses play critical roles in the body's defense against viruses. We investigated the host immune response against the 2009 pandemic H1N1 influenza virus [A(H1N1)pdm09] in patients before and after anti-influenza therapy and found that the numbers of dendritic cells and T cells were significantly reduced compared with those of a healthy control group. In contrast, the frequency of natural killer, cdT and T regulatory (T reg ) cells increased, and the concentrations of plasma interferon (IFN)-a/c and interleukin (IL-15) were significantly higher than those of the control. Following therapy the frequency of cdT and T reg cells returned to normal; the counts of myeloid dendritic and plasmacytoid dendritic cells were still lower than the control, while the concentrations of IFN-a/c and IL-15 remained high. We show that infection with A (H1N1)pdm09 was accompanied by changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte subgroups and cytokine profiles, leading to deleterious imbalances in innate and adaptive immunity.

No abstract

Environmental pollution caused by excessive Sb(III) in the water environment is a global issue. We investigated the effect of processing parameters, their interaction and mechanistic details for the removal of Sb(III) using an iron salt-modified biosorbent (Fe(III)-modified Proteus cibarius (FMPAs)). Our study evaluated the optimisation of the adsorption time, adsorbent dose, pH, temperature and the initial concentration of Sb(III). We use response surface methodology to optimize this process, determining optimal processing conditions and the adsorption mechanism evaluated based on isotherm model and adsorption kinetics. The results showed that—(1) the optimal conditions for the adsorption of Sb(III) by FMPAs were an adsorption time of 2.2 h, adsorbent dose of 3430 mg/L, at pH 6.0 and temperature 44.0 °C. For the optimum initial concentration of Sb(III) 27.70 mg/L, the removal efficiency of Sb(III) reached 97.60%. (2) The adsorption process for Sb(III) removal by FMPAs conforms to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model, and its maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) is as high as 30.612 mg/g. A pseudo-first-order kinetic model provided the best fit to the adsorption process, classified as single layer adsorption and chemisorption mechanism. (3) The adsorption of Sb(III) takes place via the hydroxyl group in Fe–O–OH and EPS–Polyose–O–Fe(OH)2, which forms a new complex Fe–O–Sb and X≡Fe–OH. The study showed that FMPAs have higher adsorption capacity for Sb(III) than other previously studied sorbents and with low environmental impact, it has a great potential as a green adsorbent for Sb(III) in water.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of retroperitoneal laparoscopic ureterolithotomy (RLU) in the treatment of proximal ureteral stones accompanied with obstructive pyelonephritis without preoperative drainage.We retrospectively reviewed 21 cases of proximal ureteral stones with infected kidney undergoing RLU between July 2013 and September 2016. Stone-induced obstructive infected hydronephrosis was diagnosed using blood and urine tests and imaging modalities. Empirical effective broad spectrum antibiotic therapy was initiated immediately, and then urgent RLU was performed without preoperative drainage. During the surgical procedure, infected urine was also aspirated before stone was removed. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical data were collected.Operations were performed successfully without open conversion or blood transfusion. The mean operation time was 69.3 ± 12.33 minutes. For all the patients, the level of plasma procalcitonin decreased after RLU. The mean hospital stay duration was 6.4 ± 1.54 days. No septic shock or other severe complications occurred. By discharge, the body temperature and hemogram of each patient returned to normal. A 100% stone-free rate was achieved.Our study suggests that RLU is a potentially safe and effective method to treat proximal ureteral stones accompanied with obstructive pyelonephritis without any need of preoperative drainage.