Objective To investigate the effects of LBL-007, a novel fully human lymphocyte activation gene 3 (LAG-3) monoclonal antibody, in combination with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) antibody, on the invasion, migration and proliferation of tumor cells, and to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Methods Human lymphocyte cells Jurkat were co-cultured with A549 and MGC803 tumor cell lines and treated with the isotype control antibody human IgG, LBL-007, anti-PD-1 antibody BE0188, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α, the NF-κB signaling pathway agonist). Tumor cell proliferation was assessed using a colony formation assay; invasion was measured by Transwell^TM assay; migration was evaluated using a wound healing assay. Western blotting was employed to determine the expression levels of NF-κB pathway-related proteins: IκB inhibitor kinase alpha (Ikkα), phosphorylated Ikkα (p-IKKα), NF-κB subunit p65, phosphorylated p65 (p-p65), NF-κB Inhibitor Alpha (IκBα), phosphorylated IκBα (p-IκBα), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), and MMP2. Results Compared with the control and IgG isotype groups, LBL-007 and BE0188 significantly reduced tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. They also decreased the phosphorylation of p-IKKα, p-p65 and p-IκBα, and the expression of MMP9 and MMP2 of tumor cells in the co-culture system. The combined treatment of LBL-007 and BE0188 enhanced inhibitory effects. Treatment with the NF-κB signaling pathway agonist TNF-α reversed the suppressive effects of LBL-007 and BE0188 on tumor cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and NF-κB signaling. Conclusion LBL-007 and anti-PD-1 antibody synergistically inhibit the invasion, migration, and proliferation of A549 and MGC803 tumor cells by blocking the NF-κB signaling pathway.
Humans ; Cell Proliferation/drug effects* ; Cell Movement/drug effects* ; Signal Transduction/drug effects* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Antibodies, Monoclonal/pharmacology* ; Programmed Cell Death 1 Receptor/antagonists & inhibitors* ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Antigens, CD/immunology* ; Lymphocyte Activation Gene 3 Protein ; A549 Cells ; I-kappa B Kinase/metabolism* ; Jurkat Cells ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9/metabolism*

Magnetic stimulation has made significant strides in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. Nonetheless, current magnetic stimulation techniques lack the precision to accurately modulate specific nuclei and cannot realize deep brain magnetic stimulation. To address this, we utilized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as mediators to achieve precise targeting and penetration. We investigated the effects of magnetic fields with varying frequencies on neuronal activity and compared the activation effects on neurons using a 10-Hz precise magneto-stimulation system (pMSS) with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in mice. Oxytocin levels, dendritic morphology and density, and mouse behavior were measured before and after pMSS intervention. Our findings suggest that pMSS can activate oxytocinergic neurons, leading to upregulation of oxytocin secretion and neurite outgrowth. As a result, sociability was rapidly improved after a one-week pMSS treatment regimen. These results demonstrate a promising magneto-stimulation method for regulating neuronal activity in deep brain nuclei and provide a promising therapeutic approach for autism spectrum disorder.
Animals ; Autism Spectrum Disorder/physiopathology* ; Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus/physiology* ; Disease Models, Animal ; Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation/methods* ; Male ; Social Behavior ; Mice ; Oxytocin/metabolism* ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Neurons/physiology*

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF), characterized by excessive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) that causes oral mucosal tissue sclerosis, and even cancer transformation, is a chronic, progressive fibrosis disease. However, despite some advancements in recent years, no targeted antifibrotic strategies for OSF have been approved; likely because the complicated mechanisms that initiate and drive fibrosis remain to be determined. In this review, we briefly introduce the epidemiology and etiology of OSF. Then, we highlight how cell-intrinsic changes in significant structural cells can drive fibrotic response by regulating biological behaviors, secretion function, and activation of ECM-producing myofibroblasts. In addition, we also discuss the role of innate and adaptive immune cells and how they contribute to the pathogenesis of OSF. Finally, we summarize strategies to interrupt key mechanisms that cause OSF, including modulation of the ECM, inhibition of inflammation, improvement of vascular disturbance. This review will provide potential routes for developing novel anti-OSF therapeutics.
Humans ; Oral Submucous Fibrosis/immunology* ; Extracellular Matrix/metabolism* ; Myofibroblasts

Objective:To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with acute brucellosis, providing reference for early diagnosis and standardized treatment of brucellosis in children.Methods:The data of 140 children with acute brucellosis at Xi'an Children's Hospital from April 2012 to October 2021 were collected. Their general information, epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, laboratory and imaging examinations, treatment and prognosis were analyzed retrospectively.Results:Among 140 children with acute brucellosis, there were 78 males and 62 females, with a median age of onset and interquartile range of 3.4 (1.8, 5.8) years; 88.6% (124/140) of these children came from rural areas. The peak season for the onset of brucellosis was summer (47.1%, 66/140); 92.9% (130/140) had a confirmed epidemiological history; 7.9% (11/140) of the affected children were latent carriers. Among the 129 children with obvious clinical manifestations, fever accounted for 99.2% (128/129), hyperhidrosis accounted for 52.7% (68/129), and involvement of the reticuloendothelial system, joints, and nervous system accounted for 46.5% (60/129), 44.2% (57/129), and 6.2% (8/129), respectively, joint effusion accounted for 64.9% (37/57). All patients tested positive for tiger red plate agglutination test; 97.9% (137/140) of the patients had a serum tube agglutination test titer ≥1 ∶ 100. Positive blood culture accounted for 85.7% (120/140). The positive detection rate of serum tube agglutination test was higher than that of blood culture (χ 2 = 13.69, P < 0.001). Brucella was cultured from the cerebrospinal fluid of 8 children with concomitant encephalitis. The initial treatment plan for all children was oral compound sulfamethoxazole/doxycycline + rifampicin. In cases of arthritis, osteomyelitis or encephalitis, third-generation cephalosporins or meropenem were used intravenously at the same time. Dexamethasone was used for patients suffered from bilateral abductor nerve damage. All patients were cured without recurrence. Two cases had sequelae, namely introverted vision in the right eye and knee joint movement disorders. Conclusions:Most children with acute brucellosis have a confirmed epidemiological history and are mainly distributed in rural areas. The main clinical manifestation is fever, and joint involvement is also common. Standardized treatment can cure them.

Objective To observe the efficacy and safety of balloon occlusion hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy(b-HAIC)for treating unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)complicated with hepatic arterioportal fistula(HAPF).Methods Eight patients with unresectable HCC complicated with HAPF who underwent FOLFOX b-HAIC were retrospectively enrolled.The technical success rate and b-HAIC related adverse events were recorded,and the efficacy was evaluated.Results Totally 17 times b-HAIC were successfully performed in 8 cases,with technical success rate of 100%.One month after the first b-HAIC,shunt flow of HAPF decreased or even completely closed,with effective rate of 100%.After 2-3 times b-HAIC,the objective response rate(ORR)and disease control rate(DCR)of HCC was 87.50%(7/8)and 100%(8/8),respectively.Grade 1-3 adverse events were observed in all 8 cases,mainly presented as abdominal pain(7/8,87.50%)and transient elevation of transaminases and all alleviated after rest or symptomatic treatments.No grade 4-5 adverse event occurred.Conclusion b-HAIC was effective and relatively safe for treating unresectable HCC complicated with HAPF.

Objective To observe the drainage pathways of interstitial fluid(ISF)and substance clearance pattern in rat brain with fluorescence tracing imaging and treacer-based MRI.Methods Thirty-three male SD rats were randomly divided into fluorescence tracing group(F group,n=18)and treacer-based MRI group(MRI group,n=15),then further divided into thalamic,hippocampal and caudate nucleus subgroups,respectively.Evans blue was injected to rats in F group,and cardiac perfusion was performed after injection,then brain tissue was harvested,and frozen sections were made to observe the drainage pathways of IFS in different subgroups.MRI was performed on rats in MRI group before and after injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid(Gd-DTPA)to observe signal intensity in ROI of brain regions in different subgroups,the signal unit ratio was calculated,and the changing trend was explored.Results ISF in thalamus,hippocampus and caudate nucleus had different dominant drainage pathways,and the time of tracer reached to adjacent brain regions and whole brain in F group were different.In MRI group,within 4 h after injection of Gd-DTPA,there were differences in direction and clearance rate among tracer in thalamus,hippocampus and caudate nucleus,mainly manifesting as the tracer in thalamus and hippocampus drained to the ipsilateral cortex and lateral ventricle,while the tracer in the caudate nucleus diffused to the cortex and midbrain,and there were differences of the peak time of tracer signal among adjacent drainage brain regions.Conclusion Fluorescence and MR dual-mode imaging showed that there were differences in the dominant drainage pathways of IFS and clearance rates of small molecule substances among hypothalamus,hippocampus and caudate nucleus of rats.

Objective:To observe the clinical effect of retrograde distal tibial intramedullary nail fixation in the treatment of proximal ankle fracture of the distal tibia.Methods:A three-dimensional CT examination of 40 adult tibias was performed to measure anatomical indicators such as the posterior medial posterior torsion angle of the distal tibia, the height of torsion, and the height of the safety zone for nail placement. Based on the anatomy database of the human skeleton model, a retrograde distal tibial nail and its supporting instruments were developed in accordance with the anatomical characteristics of the distal tibia and the proximal ankle of Chinese people. From June 2019 to June 2023, a total of 25 patients with distal tibial proximal ankle fractures treated with retrograde intramedullary nail internal fixation in the 909th Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. There were 18 males and 7 females, aged 41.3±10.8 years (range, 22-65 years). The sample size was 1∶1 matched according to gender and age. Twenty-five patients with distal tibial proximal ankle fractures who underwent antegrade intramedullary nail fixation during the same period were matched, including 20 males and 5 females, aged 41.2±9.4 years (range 19-60 years). The reduction quality, postoperative Baird-Jackson score, American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle and hindfoot score, ankle range of motion and complications were observed.Results:All patients were successfully operated and followed up for 14.4±3.5 months (range, 12-24 months). The intraoperative blood loss and hospitalization time in retrograde intramedullary nail group were 33.12±7.38 ml and 10.32±1.75 d, less than 49.04±10.22 ml and 13.16±2.69 d in antegrade intramedullary nail group, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The reduction quality was excellent in 23 cases and good in 2 cases in the retrograde intramedullary nail group, and was excellent in 17 cases and good in 8 cases in the anterograde intramedullary nail group. The proportion of excellent reduction quality in the retrograde intramedullary nail group was higher than that in the anterograde intramedullary nail group, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=4.500, P=0.034). The Baird-Jackson score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score in the retrograde intramedullary nail group were 85.6±2.5 and 85.8±3.3 at 3 months after operation, lower than those at 1 year after operation 95.3±3.1 and 95.8±3.6, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). The Baird-Jackson score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score of the antegrade intramedullary nail group were 85.1±3.3 and 86.1±2.5 at 3 months after operation, lower than 95.2±2.7 and 94.9±3.5 at 1 year after operation, and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). There was no significant difference in Baird-Jackson score and AOFAS ankle and hindfoot score between the two groups at 3 months and 1 year after operation ( P>0.05). At the last follow-up, there was no ankle stiffness, neurovascular injury, deep vein thrombosis, infection or breakage of internal fixation in the two groups. Conclusion:The treatment of distal tibial proximal ankle fractures with retrograde intramedullary nail fixation has satisfactory reduction quality, good postoperative function recovery, and is helpful for early postoperative rehabilitation.

Objective:This study aimed to explore the clinical value of myostatin(MST) and follistatin(FST) as biological biomarkers in evaluating sarcopenia in elderly women.Methods:This was a retrospective cross-sectional study that enrolled 350 females aged 20-89 years who underwent physical examinations in Shanghai Huadong Hospital in 2021. Demographic characteristics, muscle mass, fat mass, bone mineral density, hand grip strength, gait speed, and serum indices of MST and FST were collected.Results:The serum levels of MST did not change significantly with age. However, the serum levels of FST increased with age. In women aged≥60 years, MST was positively correlated with total lean mass and appendicular skeletal muscle index(ASMI; r=0.236, P=0.041; r=0.289, P=0.014), while FST was negatively correlated with ASMI( r=-0.265, P=0.030). In multivariate stepwise regression analysis, after adjusting for age, body mass index, hip bone mineral density, and total fat mass, only FST was independently correlated with ASMI( β=-0.238, P=0.006), while MST was not correlated with ASMI. The receiver operating characteristic curve was plotted using muscle mass reduction as the state variable and serum FST level as the test variable. The area under the curve was 0.753. And when the FST cutoff value was 17.49 ng/mL, the maximum Jordan index was 0.46, with a sensitivity of 77.3% and a specificity of 68.7%. Women aged ≥60 years were divided into three groups based on serum FST levels. Compared to the upper third of the serum FST level group, the low third of the FST level group had a significantly reduced risk of suffering from sarcopenia( OR=0.098, P =0.036). Conclusions:Serum FST lever has a better correlation with muscle mass among elderly women, making it a promising biomarker for evaluating muscle mass.

Objective:To discuss the efficacy and safety of stereotactic electroencephalography (SEEG) in epileptogenic foci excision in pediatric patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.Methods:A total of 126 pediatric patients (<18 years old) with drug-refractory epilepsy who received SEEG-guided epileptogenic foci excision in Epilepsy Center, Aviation General Hospital from January 2015 to March 2022 were selected. The clinical data and efficacy were retrospectively analyzed, and prognoses of these pediatric patients were evaluated by Engel grading 1 year after resection.Results:(1) A total of 1289 electrodes were implanted, with a mean of (10.09±2.92) electrodes per pediatric patient; 55 pediatric patients had unilateral implant and 71 had bilateral implant. Mean EEG monitoring time was (8.69±5.71) d, ranged 3-28 d. Epileptogenic focus could be located in 114 pediatric patients (90.5%) after initial implantation under SEEG monitoring, and secondary implantation for accurate positioning was given in 12 pediatric patients (9.5%). (2) Lobectomy was performed in 27 pediatric patients (21.4%), multi-lobectomy or tailored cortical resection in 36 (28.6%), tailored cortical resection on single lobe in 60 (47.6%), and tailored cortical resections on single lobe or hippocampal amygdala resection combined with corpus callosotomy in 3 (2.4%). Minimally invasive exploring hemostasis under SEEG was performed in 13 pediatric patients (17 electrodes) and postoperative CT was normal. A little asymptomatic epidural, subdural or cerebral parenchymal hematoma spontaneously absorbed was noted in 4 pediatric patients after implantation under SEEG monitoring. No perioperative infection, CSF leakage, death or severe disability was noted. (3) Mean follow-up was performed for (26.1±7.26) months; 66 (52.3%) pediatric patients reached Engel grading I, 33 (26.2%) reached Engel grading II, 21 reached Engel grading III (16.7%), and 6 (4.8%) reached Engel grading IV. Thirteen pediatric patients with failed resection received SEEG-guided epileptogenic foci excision for the second time: 8 (76.9%) had Engel grading I and 2 had Engel grading II 1 year after follow-up, accounting for 76.9% totally.Conclusion:SEEG-guided epileptogenic foci excision is safe and effective in drug-refractory epilepsy; for pediatric patients with poor initial results, SEEG can be used to relocate the epileptogenic focus, and a second resection of epileptogenic focus can also obtain good results.

Objective To analyze the correlation between the characteristics of Sonazoid contrast-enhanced ultrasound(CEUS)and pathological differentiation in hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods A total of 64 patients with HCC diagnosed pathologically by CEUS examination were included,and a total of 64 lesions were divided into the high,medium and low differentiation groups(6,48 and 10 cases,respectively)according to the degree of pathological differentiation.The enhancement pattern,enhancement level and enhancement pattern of CEUS arterial stage in HCC with different pathological differentiation were compared.Results The enhancement pattern of arterial phase was divided into the uniform enhancement and the uneven enhancement.All lesions in the low differentiated group and 58.3%in the middle differentiated group showed uneven and high enhancement.In the highly differentiated group,lesions showed homogenous hyperintensification,homogenous isointensification and non-homogenous hyperintensification.At arterial stage,all lesions in the middle and low differentiated groups and 66.7%lesions in the highly differentiated group showed high enhancement,and the enhancement levels of HCC with different differentiation degrees were significantly different(P＜0.01).At the portal stage,16.7%,25.0%and 70.0%lesions in the high,medium and low differentiated HCC groups subsided to low enhancement,and the enhancement levels of HCC with different differentiation degrees were significantly different(P＜0.05).In the delayed stage,75%lesions in the medium-differentiated group and all lesions in the low-differentiated group showed low enhancement,and 66.7%lesions in the highly differentiated group showed equal enhancement.Enhancement levels of HCC with different differentiation degrees were significantly different(P＜0.01).At the Kupffer stage,all lesions in the low differentiated group and 95.8%of the moderately differentiated group showed low enhancement,while 50%lesions in the highly differentiated group still showed equal enhancement,and there were significant differences in the enhancement levels of HCC with different differentiation degrees(P＜0.01).The highly differentiated group showed multiple CEUS patterns,the moderately differentiated group mainly showed"fast advance and fast retreat"and"fast advance and slow retreat"patterns,and 90.0%of the low differentiated group showed"fast advance and fast retreat"patterns.There were significant differences in CEUS patterns between HCC with different degrees of differentiation(P＜0.01).Conclusion Sonazoid-CEUS has certain value in evaluating the differentiation degree of HCC.