Objective To investigate the effects of Qi-Boosting Toxin-Resolving Formula (QBTRF) on CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and Th17 cells of patients with middle to late staged nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Methods Flow cytometry was performed to detect the ratio of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and Th17 cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PMBC) among 18 patients with middle to late stage of NPC treated by QBTRF added to conventional therapy (treatment group), Foxp3 mRNA and ROR-γt mRNA in PMBC was determined by RT-PCR technique. Furthermore, serum levels of IL-6 and TGF-β were assayed by ELISA. Meanwhile, 15 patients with NPC treated by conventional therapy were taken as the control group. Results The ratio of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells to the total CD4+ T cells and the transcriptional level of Foxp3 mRNA in PMBC were significantly lower in treatment group than that of control group (P<0.05), the ratio of Th17 cells to the total CD4+T cells and the transcriptional level of ROR-γt mRNA in PMBC were significantly higher in treatment group than that of control group (P<0.05). However, the serum level of IL-6 was obviously higher in treatment group than that of control group (P<0.05), and the serum leve of TGF-βwas obviously lower in treatment group than that of control group (P<0.05). Conclusion QBTRF can significantly affect the number ratio and functional activity of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells and enforce the differentiation of Th17 cells among patients with middle to late staged NPC, which it may be reversed the immune tolerance of NPC through regulating the level of IL-6 and TGF-β.

The introduction of MOOC to medical education in China can greatly promote the development of modern medical education.Using the content analysis method,the paper systemizes the research literatures on MOOC published in 2013-2015 in China.According to the analysis,currently,the research on MOOC in China is still in the initial stage.Therefore,it proposes the focus of domestic research on MOOC and the research development direction in medical education in the future.

objective To explore the effect of application of cluster-based strategies on preventing the complication of fibrosclerosis of patients with systemic scleroderma.Methods A total of 59 patients with systemic scleroderma were randomly assigned to the experimental group (34 cases) and the control group (25 cases) during the period of hospitalization in our department.The experimental group took the cluster-based strategies after admission,including a gymnastics,two kinds of respiratory breathing,three kinds of habits,four kinds of protection to prevent the complication of fibrosclerosis.The control group received the conventional care procedures of dermatology.The skin stiffness,joint function,Raynaud's phenomenon and swallowing function were evaluated when patients were admitted and before discharge in two groups.The length of stay between the two groups was also compared.Results The skin stiffness,joint function,Raynaud's phenomenon and swallowing function scored (14.74±1.33),(7.06±0.69),(0.88±0.33),(0.54±0.21) in the experimental group,significantly better than those of the control group,(24.08±1.12),(13.48±0.77),(1.24±0.60),(0.96±0.34),P ＜ 0.01.The length of stay in the experimental group and the control group was (23.65±5.45),(32.00±6.56) days,t=-5.340,P ＜ 0.01.Conclusions Application of cluster-based strategies can be effective against the fibrosclerosis damage of patients with systemic scleroderma and reduce the occurrence of complications.

To explore the therapeutic effect of micro-traumatic surgery of loose seton and cutting seton by rubber bands in the treatment of high anorectal fistulae.Application of cutting seton (truss rubber bands) implemented the high part of fistulae and loose seton (ligation rubber band but non-fastened) for the low part of fistulae.133/136 patients undergoing micro-traumatic surgery were cured by one operation,2 cases had pseudo-healing and there was 1 recurrent case.And the curative rate was 97.8％.The microtraumatic surgery of loose seton and cutting seton by rubber bands in the treatment of high anorectal fistula has such multiple advantages as small incision,minor trauma,lesser pain,faster healing and a shorter course of treatment.And it may preserve the proper anal function and the integrity of anal skin.And its clinical efficacy is satisfactory.

Objective:To analyze the status of ethical management of biobanks in Shanghai public hospitals. Methods :A questionnaire survey on ethical management of biobanks was conducted in 9 representative ethics com-mittees, which were established in public hospitals with biobanks in Shanghai. Results: The ethics committees in Shanghai public hospitals had paid relatively high attention to ethical review of protocols were related to biobanks. Nonetheless, the ethical supervision and training on biobanks in Shanghai public hospitals should be enhanced. Con-clusion:The unified ethical guideline on biobanks should be developed in Shanghai for strengthening the standard-ized ethical management and ethics training to promote the development and use of biological samples library re-sources.

Modeling vocal-fold vibration is extremely significant in realizing the vibration properties of human vocal folds and investigating their physiological and pathological characteristics. A combined model presented is two mass-finite element (T-F) model, which integrates all merits of both the finite element method (FEM) model and the asymmetric two-mass model of vocal folds. The high-speed glottis graph (HGG) can also be synthesized by the model. The result shows that T-F model can simulate the vibration behavior of normal and pathological vocal folds in a more realistic way with competitively computational speed. Therefore, the T-F model is helpful to gaining a thorough understanding of the vibration properties of vocal folds.
Computer Simulation ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Models, Biological ; Speech ; physiology ; Vibration ; Video Recording ; instrumentation ; Vocal Cord Paralysis ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Vocal Cords ; physiology

Objective:To compare the effects of Feishu(BL13)combined with Tianshu(ST25)and Feishu(BL13)alone on pulmonary function and tissue inflammation in asthma model rats. Methods:Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a normal group,a model group,a lung treatment group,and a lung-intestine treatment group according to the random number table method,with 12 rats in each group.Except for the normal group,rats in the other three groups were sensitized by ovalbumin followed by atomization stimulation to establish the asthma model.After the model was made successfully,rats in the lung treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)for 30 min;rats in the lung-intestine treatment group were treated with acupuncture at bilateral Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)for 15 min,respectively,for 30 min in total.Acupuncture was performed once a day for 14 d.Rats in the other two groups did not receive any intervention.After intervention,the pulmonary function of each group of rats was measured by a pulmonary function tester.The histopathological changes stained by hematoxylin-eosin staining and the collagen deposition degree stained by Masson in lung tissue,as well as the inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)stained by Wright's-Giemsa staining were observed under a light microscope;the levels of interleukin(IL)-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-25,IL-33,leukotrienes(LT),thymic stromal lymphopoietin(TSLP),and prostaglandin D2(PGD2)were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results:Compared with the normal group,the peak expiratory flow(PEF),the dynamic lung compliance(Cdyn),the forced expiratory flow 25%(FEF25%),the forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity(FEV1/FVC),and the maximum mid-expiratory flow(MMEF)in the model group were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05);the lung resistance(RL),the collagen deposition,the IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 levels,and the neutrophil proportion in the BALF were increased significantly(P<0.01 or P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the FEF25%and FEV1/FVC in the pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01,P<0.05),while the collagen fiber deposition and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung treatment group;the PEF,FEF25%,and FEV1/FVC in pulmonary function were significantly increased(P<0.01 or P<0.05),while the RL and the collagen fiber deposition,as well as the neutrophil proportion and the levels of IL-4,IL-5,IL-13,IL-17,IL-33,LT,TSLP,and PGD2 in the BALF were significantly decreased(P<0.01 or P<0.05)in the lung-intestine treatment group.Compared with the lung treatment group,the IL-5 level in the rat lung tissue of the lung-intestine treatment group was decreased(P<0.05). Conclusion:Acupuncture in the lung treatment and the lung-intestine treatment groups improved pulmonary function,lung inflammation,and inflammatory cells in the BALF in asthma model rats;the lung-intestine treatment was better than lung treatment in improving the IL-5 level.The combination of Feishu(BL13)and Tianshu(ST25)was superior to Feishu(BL13)alone in the treatment of asthma in trend.

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical value of screening the serum markers during the second trimester of pregnancy in preventing congenital birth defect and predicting the pregnancy outcome.

METHODSBetween November, 2011 and October, 2013, a total of 25 520 pregnant women (15-20+6 gestational weeks) underwent a screening test of triple serum markers including free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (free βhCG), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and unconjugated estriol (µE3) during the second semester of pregnancy. The women identified by the screening test as having high risks were referred to invasive prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis, or to color Doppler ultrasound examination for suspected patent neural tube defect (NTD), and their pregnancy outcomes were followed up.

RESULTSHigh-risk pregnancies were identified by the screening test in 4.91% (1254/25520) of the total cohort. Of the 818 patients receiving invasive prenatal diagnosis, the abnormal rate was 5.75% (47/818). The high-risk pregnancies identified by the screening test was associated with a significantly higher rate of abnormal outcomes compared with the low-risk pregnancies (1.91% vs 0.1%, P<0.01). Of the 210 high-risk cases of NTD, a definite diagnosis was established in 34 cases. We also found that pregnancies at an advanced age (>35 years) was associated with increased risks for trisomy 21 compared with those at younger ages (15% vs 1.65%P<0.01). The detection rate of abnormal karyotypes in pregnancies with an abnormal MoM value of a single marker was 3.17% (6/189).

CONCLUSIONScreening tests of serum markers during the second trimester of pregnancy can be helpful to identify fetal chromosomal and anatomical anomalies, predict unfavorable pregnancy outcomes, and prevent birth defects in pregnancies at an advanced age. The MoM value of a single marker in the second trimester can be indicative of potential chromosomal abnormalities.

Biomarkers ; blood ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Down Syndrome ; diagnosis ; Estriol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Neural Tube Defects ; diagnosis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

Objective: To evaluate the impact of bleomycin/etoposide/cisplatin (BEP) and paclitaxel/carboplatin (PC) chemotherapy regimens on the fertility and prognostic outcomes in malignant ovarian germ cell tumor (MOGCT) patients who underwent fertility-sparing surgery (FSS). Methods: A propensity score matching algorithm was performed between the BEP and PC groups. The χ2 test and the Kaplan-Meier method were used to compare the fertility outcome, disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). The Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify risk factor of DFS. Results: We included 213 patients, 185 (86.9%) underwent BEP chemotherapy, and 28 (13.1%) underwent PC chemotherapy. The median age was 22 years (range, 8–44 years), and the median follow-up period was 63 months (range, 2–191 months). Fifty-one (29.3%) patients had a pregnancy plan, and 35 (85.4%) delivered successfully. In the before and after propensity score matching cohorts, there were no significant differences in spontaneous abortion, selective termination of pregnancy, during-pregnancy status, and live birth between the BEP and PC groups (p>0.05). Fourteen (6.6%) patients experienced recurrence, including 11 (5.9%) in the BEP group and 3 (10.7%) in the PC group. Four (1.9%) patients in the BEP group died. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed no significant differences in DFS (p=0.328) and OS (p=0.446) between the BEP and PC groups, and the same survival results were observed in the after matching cohort. Conclusion The PC regimen is as safe as the BEP regimen for MOGCT patients with fertility preservation treatment, and no differences were observed in fertility and clinical prognosis.

Objective:To summarize and analyze the clinical data of Chinese patients with colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R)-related leukoencephalopathy, and clarify the phenotypic and genetic characteristics of Chinese patients.Methods:Medical history of patients with CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy diagnosed from April 1, 2018 to January 31, 2021 in the department of neurology of 22 hospitals in China was collected, and scores of Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MoCA), magnetic resonance severity scale were evaluated. Group comparison was performed between male and female patients.Results:A total of 62 patients were included, and the male-female ratio was 1∶1.95. The age of onset was (40.35±8.42) years. Cognitive impairment (82.3%, 51/62) and motor symptoms (77.4%,48/62) were the most common symptoms. The MMSE and MoCA scores were 18.79±7.16 and 13.96±7.23, respectively, and the scores of two scales in male patients (22.06±5.31 and 18.08±5.60) were significantly higher than those in females (15.53±7.41 , t=2.954, P=0.006; 10.15±6.26, t=3.328 , P=0.003). The most common radiographic feature was bilateral asymmetric white matter changes (100.0%), and the magnetic resonance imaging severity scale score was 27.42±11.40, while the white matter lesion score of females (22.94±8.39) was significantly higher than that of males (17.62±8.74 , t=-2.221, P<0.05). A total of 36 CSF1R gene mutations were found in this study, among which c.2381T>C/p.I794T was the hotspot mutation that carried by 17.9% (10/56) of the probands. Conclusions:The core phenotypic characteristics of CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy in China are progressive motor and cognitive impairment, with bilateral asymmetrical white matter changes. In addition, there exist gender differences clinically, with severer cognitive impairment and imaging changes in female patients. Thirty-six CSF1R gene mutations were found in this study, and c.2381T>C/p. I794T was the hotspot mutation.