Immune checkpoint inhibitors are members of a class of immune-suppressive molecules that regulate the strength and range of immune responses to avoid normal tissue damage. However, immune checkpoint activity can be stimulated by tumors to es-cape immune surveillance. To elicit anti-tumor effects, immune checkpoint inhibitors can promote the activation of T cells by blocking immune checkpoint proteins. Therefore, these inhibitors can be efficiently and safely used to treat solid tumors. Although the clinical usage of these inhibitors is in the initial stage, they have exhibited good efficacy and safety in lymphoma treatment. This review sum-marizes the biological activities of CTLA-4, PD-1, and PD-L1 and the application of antibodies as drugs for lymphoma treatment.

Objective:To investigate the possible association between Thr241Met polymorphism in the DNA repair gene X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) with genetic susceptibility to glioma in a Chinese Han population living in Shanghai and the surrounding provinces in east China. Methods: Genotyping by a TaqMan assay was performed in 771 brain glioma patients living in Shanghai and the surrounding provinces (Jiangsu.Zhejiang, Anhui.etc. )and in 752 control participants matched in age and gender. The genotyping results of TaqMan assay and the association between Thr241Met polymorphism in the DNA repair gene XRCC3 with genetic susceptibility to glioma were statistically analyzed. Results: Genotypes of 1 468 subjects (760 with brain glioma and 708 were cancer-free control) were successfully performed by TaqMan assay, with the successful rate being 96.4%. Statistical analysis result showed that gene(C/T) and genotype(C/CT/CT/T) frequencies of XRCC3 were not significantly different between the glioma and cancer-free groups. Compared with the CC genotype, the variant TC(P = 0. 909; adjusted by age and gender OR = 0. 981; 95%CI = 0. 701-1. 371) or TT(P=0. 642; adjusted by age and gender OR = 0. 7; 95%CI = 0. 156-3. 146) genotypes of XRCC3 Thr241Met were associated with a non-statistically significant increase of glioma risk. Conclusion: The variant TC or TT genotypes of XRCC3 Thr241Met may not be risk factors for brain glioma in Chinese Han population living in Shanghai and the surrounding provinces in east China.

Objective To study the effect of clove oil on bacterial biofilm of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Methods The components of clove oil were determined by GC-MS mass spectrometry. The suspension of streptococcus mutans was prepared to carry out the germicidal test, and to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of clove oil. The effects of different concentrations of clove oil on the formation of biofilm were observed by laser confocal microscopy, and the average fluorescence intensity of live bacteria and dead bacteria in biofilm was recorded. Results Determination of clove oil 8 components were analyzed by GC-MS mass spectrometry method, most of the Eugenol content was 48.93%, followed by the Caryophyllene 20.78%, Methylis salicylas 14.96%. Through MIC, MBC and the experimental results showed that clove oil had antibacterial activity of Proteus, and with the increase of clove oil concentration, the inhibitory effect was better. When it reached a certain concentration, it can showed bactericidal effect that the MIC and MBC were 0.3125%, 0.6250%. The clove oil also had inhibitory effect on Streptococcus mutans biofilm with the concentration depedence. When the concentration of clove oil was 2.5000%, the average fluorescence intensity (live/dead bacteria) was 0.082 ± 0.007, the proportion of living bacteria decreased obviously, and biofilm disappeared. Conclusions The clove oil not only has inhibitory effect on Streptococcus mutants, but also can inhibit and clear the biofilm formation of Streptococcus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between semi-quantification of urine paraquat and the severity of acute paraquat poisoning, and to evaluate the prognostic value of the test in patients with acute paraquat poisoning.

METHODSA total of 179 patients with acute paraquat poisoning were categorized into four groups according to their semi-quantification results of urine paraquat: +group (n = 36), ++group (n = 23), +++ group (n = 25), and ++++group (n = 95). The clinical features, severity of hepatic and renal injuries, respiratory failure, and clinical classification were compared between these four groups. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate the survival rate.

RESULTSThe 60-day mortality was 45.25% (81/179). The amount of ingestion increased significantly from +group to ++++group (P < 0.05). No patient in +group was found to have serious complications, while most patients in ++++group suffered organ dysfunction or even organ failure. The incidence of acute respiratory failure, renal failure, and hepatic failure in ++++group was significantly higher than that in +group, ++group, and +++group (P < 0.05). The urine paraquat concentration was positively correlated with the clinical severity of acute paraquat poisoning (Spearman correlation coefficient = 0.720, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the mortality of ++++group (73.7%) was significantly higher than that of +++group (40%), ++group (4.3%), and +group (0%) (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe semi-quantification of urine paraquat is a promising test in evaluating the severity of acute paraquat poisoning. This test can be used to guide therapy and to predict the outcomes of patients suffering acute paraquat poisoning.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; poisoning ; urine ; Prognosis ; Young Adult