ObjectiveTo evaluate three methods of detecting anti-aquaporin 4 (AQP4) antibody in neuromylitis optica (NMO),including indirect immunofluorescence assay organization(IIF),cell immunofluorescence method (CBA) and ELISA.MethodsThe patients were divided into NMO group (n =29), multiple sclerosis (MS) group (n = 23),and healthy controls group (n = 50).IIF, CBA and ELISA were used in 3 groups to detect serum anti-AQP4 antibody.The sensitivity and specificity as well as the consistency of positive results were compared.ResultsIn the aspect of the sensitivity of the three antiAQP4 antibody to diagnosis NMO, CBA (72.4％) ＞ IIF (62.1％) ＞ ELISA (51.7％) ; in the aspect of specificity, CBA (100.0％) ＞ ELISA (98.6％) ＞ IIF (97.3％).Kappa testing and evaluation method showed that the three detection methods were all in good consistency, particular in CBA and ELISA (P ＜0.01).ConclusionsCBA method showed a highest specificity and sensitivity in all these three anti-AQP4 antibody detection methods.CBA and ELISA are in better consistency of positive results.

Objective To investigate serum uric acid (UA) levels and related clinical characteristics of neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Methods The serum uric acid levels were measured in 65 patients with NMO, compared to control groups which were 76 cases with multiple sclerosis ( MS), 126 cases with cerebral vascular diseases (CVD) and 130 healthy controls(HC). The disability severity in NMO was assessed by the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ) was performed to strengthen assessment the involved lesions. Serum AQP4 antibody was tested in a cell based immunofluorescence assay. Results In male groups, serum UA levels in NMO patients [ (298.90±74.14) μmol/L] were significantly lower than that in CVD [ (355.37 ±50. 30) μmol/L] and HC subjects [ (340.33 ± 58.23 ) μmol/L, P ＜ 0.05 ]. No difference was found between NMO and MS [ ( 292.36 ±92.95) μmol/L] groups. In female groups, serum UA levels in NMO patients [(198.21 ± 62.62)μmol/L] were significantly lower than that in CVD [(274.51 ± 70.66) μmol/L] and HC subjects [(243.26 ±60.65) μmol/L,P ＜0.05]. No difference was found between NMO and MS [(232.29 ±71.95 ) μmol/L ] groups. UA levels were significantly lower in females [ ( 198.21 ± 62. 62) μ mol/L] than in males [ (298.90 ±74.14) μmol/L]. UA levels were significantly lower in patients with EDSS≥5 [ ( 195.48 ± 83.70 )μmol/L] than EDSS ＜ 5 [ (241.00 ± 63.20)μmol/L] NMO patients. In our study UA levels were not correlated with longitude of spinal lesions, activity revealed by MRI and AQP4 antibody tires.Conclusion Lower serum UA levels were found in patients with NMO and related to more severe symptoms.

Objective To investigate the feature brain damage and clinical manifestations in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) patients; To investigate the relationship between serum NMO-IgG antibody and NMO brain damage. Methods Clinical data of 37 NMO patients and their head and spinal cord MRI by 1.5T superconducting MR scanner, were analyzed; serum NMO-IgG antibody were measured by immunofluorescence. Results 17 cases were found to have abnormal signals on MRI, which were mainly in the white matter, pons, medulla, ventricle, aqueduct, and around the corpus callosum; According to pathological changes, brain damage can be divided into scattered irregularity (13 cases), fusion (3 cases),multiple sclerosis-like (1 case) ,with scattered irregularity more common,5 cases had clinical manifestations of brain damage: somnolence, vomiting, diplopia, visual rotation, 11 cases patients with brainstem damage show positive serum NMO-IgG antibodies. Conclusions Brain damage can be seen in half of NMO patients, they often located in the high expression area of AQP4: brain white matter, periventricular,brainstem and so on. Clinical symptoms has nothing to do with the size of lesions but the location, they often occur when brainstem was involved. Serum NMO-IgG is helpful in differentiating NMO with brain damage and MS.

Objective To investigate serum uric acid (UA) levels and related clinical features in patients with high risk syndrome of neuromyelitis optica. Methods UA levels were measured in 51 patients with high risk syndrome of neuromyelitis optica including 34 with longitudinally extensive transverse myelitis (LETM) and 17 with optic neuritis (ON), 48 with neuromyelitis optica (NMO), 45 with other neurological diseases (OND) and 65 with healthy controls (HC). The disability severity was assessed by the expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Spinal lesions were viewed by MRI. Serum aquaporin-4(AQP4) antibody was tested in cell based immunofluorescence assay. Results Serum UA levels in LETM ( ( 189. 84 ±85. 65) μmol/L) and ON patients ( (222. 12 ±61.68) μmol/L) were significantly lower than that in OND ((315.90±71.36) μ mol/L) and HC ((291.05 ±76.64) μ mol/L) subjects (P＜0.01). No difference was found between LETM, ON and NMO groups. UA levels were significantly lower in females ( ( 158.24 ±55.92), (187.00±47.52), (198.21 ±62.62), (274.51 ±70.66)and (243.26±60.65) μmol/L)than in males ( ( 262. 09 ± 101.63 ), ( 262. 45 ± 62. 13 ), ( 298.90 ± 74. 14 ), ( 355.37 ± 50. 30 ) and (340. 34 ±58. 23) μmol/L) in all groups (t=3. 183, 2.578, 4.356, 4.365 and 6.579, all P＜0.05).UA levels in patients with high risk syndrome of NMO were not correlated with mono or relapse course,duration or status of serum AQP4 antibody. UA were negatively correlated with EDSS in patients with LETM (r= -0.714, P＜0.01). Conclusion Lower serum UA levels were found in patients with high risk syndrome of NMO and related to more severe symptoms in LETM group.

OBJECTIVE:To provide reference for exploring the strategy of promoting TCM formula granules.METHODS:The questionnaire was designed to investigate the cognition and attitude of TCM practitioners from different grades to TCM formula granules in our university,and the investigation data were analyzed statistically.RESULTS:A total of 312 questionnaires were collected and 306 questionnaires were collected with recovery rate of 98.08％.Among them,305 questionnaires were effective with effective rate of 99.67％.46.89％ of interviewed practitioners were found to know and understand about TCM formula granule,52.46％ knew but did not understand;the higher the grade,the higher the proportion of the known and the better understanding (P＜0.05);the cognitive channels included diagnosis and treatment course (69.64％),took by others (65.02％),took by oneself (51.49％).TCM formula granules were easy to take without decoction (95.71％) and easy to carry (87.13％),the advantage of which had high popularity,but there was not much knowledge about other advantages.7.54％ of interviewed practitioners fully appreciated TCM formula granules and 69.18％ recognized them;the higher the grade,the higher the degree of recognition (P＜ 0.05).89.51％ were willing to learn more about TCM formula granules.60.98％ said they would prescribed TCM formula granules in the furure.Among the influential factors for the attitude of the practitioners to TCM formula granules,the three factors with the highest influence were the influence of the teachers,the influence of the patients and their own practice.CONCLUSIONS:The practice of TCM practitioners in our university in Beijing is not ideal for the cognition of TCM formula granules.There is still a great room for improvement in the attitude to TCM formula granules.The teachers and patients are key influential factors for the attitude to TCM formula granules.

Objective:To explore the relationships between the gut microbiota in patients with cervical and endometrial cancers and the severity of radiation enteritis they suffered during radiotherapy.Methods:Feces samples were collected from 37 patients with cervical or endometrial cancer who received radical radiotherapy (RR) and postoperative radiotherapy (PR). Symptoms were recorded according to the grades of diarrhea and proctitis stated in CTCAE 5.0. The grade of symptoms was considered a high grade (HG) in the case of ≥ 2 and a low grade (LG). The 16S rRNA sequencing technology was used for DNA analysis of the samples.Results:The α diversity of gut microbiota was significantly higher in patients with LG symptoms (LG group) than that in patients with HG symptoms (HG group, P<0.05) and the β diversity also differed between the two groups (stress<0.2) before radiotherapy. Meanwhile, the Ruminococcus gnavus was significantly higher in the HG group than that in the LG group before radiotherapy ( P<0.05), and thus it may serve as a biomarker for the prediction of the severity of radiation enteritis in the patients before radiotherapy. The gut microbiota in the LG and HG groups showed different changes after three weeks of radiotherapy. In addition, RR patients showed higher gut microbiota diversity and less severe radiation enteritis than PR patients. Meanwhile, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii was significantly higher in RR patients than that in PR patients before radiotherapy ( P<0.05), which may correlate negatively with radiation toxicity. Conclusions:The characteristics of gut microbiota in patients with cervical and endometrial cancers were closely related to the severity of radiation enteritis they suffered during radiotherapy. Furthermore, prior treatment such as surgery might reduce radiation tolerance of the patients.

Objective:To assess the three-dimensional dose distribution in radiotherapy plans using the structural similarity index(SSIM), compare the performance of SSIM with commonly used quality assessment indices, and develop a SSIM-based quality assessment method of multiple prescribed doses.Methods:The SSIM was introduced to providea quality score of various voxels by comparing actual and ideal three-dimensional dose data and combining the spatial location information of the voxels. Then the average value in a region of interest (ROI) was calculated as the quality score of the region. Fifty-three cases of cervical cancer were selected to analyze the correlation of the SSIM with the uniformity index (HI), conformity index (CI) of the dose distribution in various ROIs and to explore the capability of the SSIM to reflect the uniformity and conformity of dose distribution.Two types of quality defects were individually introduced into two of 53 radiotherapy plans. Then the two plans were compared with normal plans to characterize the response of the SSIM.Results:There was no correlation between HI and SSIM in positive lymph nodes(PGTVnd) due to the decrease in the HI sensitivity, while there was a significant negative correlation between them in regions where PGTVnd was removed from the planning target volume(PTV, R=-0.86, P<0.01). Meanwhile, there was a significant positive correlation between CI and SSIM in PGTVnd ( R=0.83, P<0.01). Therefore, the SSIM can be used to identify the artificial design defects in plans by determining abnormal dose gradients. Conclusions:Apart from reducing the defects of previous assessment parameters, the SSIM has the capability to assess the quality of radiotherapy plans by combining the uniformity and conformity of dose distribution and can provide accurate feedback on the spatial locations of quality defects.