The interleukin-12 (IL-12) family, including IL-12, IL-23, IL-27,and IL-35, is characterized by unique structures and molecular partners.This is the only family of heterodimeric cytokines, which endows them with a unique set of connections and functional interactions.They not only play an important role in the regulation of inflammation, but are closely related to various autoimmune diseases.Here we discuss the structural aspects of these cytokines and their effect on some autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To analyze and to predict the 1 year re-admission risk in patients of chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) by echocardiography.
Methods: A total of 313 HFrEF patients in our hospital community from 2007-01 to 2008-12 were studied. The patients were followed-up for (6-7) years and the end point was 1 year re-admission. All patients received routine echocardiography and the parameters included left ventricular ejection fraction of (LVEF), left ventricular diameter (LVd), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP), mitral regurgitation (MR), tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and pericardial effusion. Based on the above 6 parameters, the risk factors for 1 year re-admission were analyzed.
Results: Univariate analysis indicated that MR (HR=1.437, 95%CI 1.190-1.737, P=0.000), TR (HR=1.288, 95%CI 1.056-1.572, P=0.013) and pericardial effusion (HR=1.560, 95%CI 1.050-2.318, P=0.028) had better predictive value for 1 year re-admission. Multivariate analysis presented that MR (HR=1.404, 95%CI 1.159-1.701, P=0.001) took ifrst place for predicting the 1 year re-admission and pericardial effusion took second place (HR=1.410, 95%CI 1.030-1.928, P=0.032).
Conclusion: MR, TR and pericardial effusion were the independent predictors for 1 year readmission in HFrEF patients;while MR and pericardial effusion were the independent risk factors for 1 year re-admission.

Objective: To assess blood levels of renal function related influencing factors with baseline clinical parameters for predicting the risk of 8-year survival in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A total of 293 CHF patients admitted in our hospital from 2006-07 to 2009-11 were enrolled. The patients were followed-up until 2014-6-30, the end point was death. According to followed-up results, they were divided into 2 groups: Survival group,n=107 and Death group,n=186. All patients received routine renal function and electrolytes examination including blood levels of urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, anion gap and phosphorus; GFR was calculated by MDRD formula. Baseline clinical parameters as left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured by echocardiography; blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. The risk factors for 8-year survival in CHF patients were analyzed. Results: Compared with Survival group, Death group had increased LVEDD, urea nitrogen, creatinine and uric acid, while decreased LVEF, HR, GFR, blood sodium and calcium, allP<0.05. Univariate analysis indicated that LVEDD, LVEF, GFR, urea nitrogen, creatinine, uric acid, blood sodium, calcium and phosphorus had the better predictive value for the risk of 8-year survival in CHF patients, allP<0.05. Multivariate analysis presented that LVEDD, GFR and blood sodium had the highest predictive value for the risk of 8-year survival, allP<0.001; the next one was blood calcium,P<0.01. Conclusion: LVEDD, GFR, blood sodium and calcium were the independent predictors for the risk of 8-year survival in CHF patients.

Objective To explore the status of reproductive health of women at the reproductive age.Method A self-designed questionnaire was used among 960 married women at the reproductive age to investigate the health status.Results The women(59.8%)had an abnormal pregnant history.The reproductive diseases in them were mainly cervicitis(11.6%),pelvic inflammatory disease(5.4%)and uterine fibroids(4.0%).Thirty-one point one perent of them knew well about their fertile time, 58.6%of them wanted most to know the choice of contraception,and 30.0%obtained the knowledge on female reproductive health knowledge from the hospitals.Conclusion Such measures as doing health education in various ways,strengthening the reproductive health knowledge and enhancing the knowledge of contraception are important for the improvement of the reproductive health knowledge.

Objective:To explore the effect of ionizing radiation on apoptosis of lung cancer H460 cells after ATRX was silenced by RNAi and its mechanism.Methods:The lentivirus expression vectors targeting ATRX were transfected into the 293T cells,and the lung cancer H460 cells were infected with lentivirus twice,and the ATRX silenced cell model was obtained after puromycin positive screening,then they were named as sh-ATRX1-H460,sh-ATRX2-H460,and sh-ATRX3-H460 cells;the sh-control-H460 cells were regarded as control cells.The cells were divided into sh-control-H460 group and sh-ATRX3-H460 group,accroding to the silencing results and were irradiated by 0,2 and 8 Gy X-rays.The expression levels of ATRX,poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1(PARP1),and caspase-3 proteins were measured by Western blotting method;the apoptotic rate was measured by flow cytometry and AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI kits.Results:The lung cancer cell model of sh-ATRX3-H460 silenced by ATRX was obtained successfully.After 2 and 8 Gy X-ray irradiation,compared with before irradiation,the expression level of ATRX protein in sh-control-H460 group was increased,while there was no expression of ATRX protein in sh-control-H460 group;compared with before irradiation,the apoptotic rates of cells in two groups were increased(P<0.05 or P<0.01);the apoptotic rate in sh-ATRX3-H460 group was significantly higher than that in sh-control-H460 group after 8 Gy X-ray irradiation (P<0.01).The expressions of cleaved PARP1 in the cells in both two groups after 2 Gy and 8 Gy X-ray irradiation were increased and showed similar rule.The expression level of procaspase-3 protein in sh-control-H460 group had little change,and it was increased significantly in sh-ATRX3-H460 group after 8 Gy X-ray irradiation.Conclusion:ATRX silencing can be achived by RNAi,then the silencing could increase the apoptosis induced by irradiation and its mechanism may be related to the PARP1-caspase-3 pathway.

ObjectiveTo investigate the inhibitory effect of 1-methyl-tryptophan (1-MT) on transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma in mice.MethodsHuman hepatocellular carcinoma subcutaneous tumor models were established in mice,and the mice were divided into hepG2 group,empty plasmid group,indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) saline group,IDO) 5-fluoropyrimidine (5-FU) group,IDO 1-MT group,and the group combining IDO 1-MT with 5-FU treatment (n=8 in each group).The tumor growth,tumor volume and pathological examination were observed and the expression of IDO in tumor tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry.ResultsCompared with hepG2 and the empty vector saline groups,IDO saline group had bigger tumor,faster growth,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).Compared with IDO saline group,5-FU group,1-MT group and combination treatment groups showed smaller tumor volume and weight,and the tumor inhibitory rates were 86.54％,79.95％,94.46％,respectively.There were significant differences between these groups (P＜0.05).However,there were no significant differences in tumor volumes between 5-FU group and 1-MT group (P＞0.05).HE pathological observation of ceils in each treatment group showed reduced density,increased necrotic area and significant decrease in peripheral blood alpha-fetoprotein (P＜0.05).ConclusionsIDO can promote the growth of liver cancer cells involved in immune escape.1-MT can inhibit the transplanted tumor growth in mice,and therefore may enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy.

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of nutritional support in the treatment of primary chylous reflux obstacle caused by primary lymphatic dysplasia among infants and investigate the effects of the essential components of therapeutic formula milk in treating this disease.Methods Seven infants,who were diagnosed at Beijing Shijitan Hospital between 2012 and 2014 with primary chylous reflux obstacle and aged (8.9±4.6) months at the onset,were retrospectively analyzed to evaluate effectiveness of the nutrition support and prognosis of the disease.Results After personalized enteral nutrition support (using proteins,short peptides and medium-chain triglyceride) of (8.3±2.8) months,heights and weights of all the seven infants were kept between the 3rd and 97th percentile lines,and the growth curve showed onward and upward trend.Their plasma albumin levels reached (43.7±4.4) g/L.The infants defecated 1-2 times a day and the texture of feces was formed and soft with yellow color.Conclusion Clinical symptoms and physical signs of the seven infants were improved after nutrition support,which contributed to the recovery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence, risk factors, duration and outcome of delirium in intensive care unit (ICU) patients. METHODS: A prospective observational study was conducted for critically ill patients admitted to the department of critical care medicine, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from September to November 2021. Delirium assessments were performed twice daily using the Richmond agitation-sedation scale (RASS) and confusion assessment method of ICU (CAM-ICU) for patients who met the inclusions and exclusion criteria. Patient's age, gender, body mass index (BMI), underlying disease, acute physiologic assessment and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) at ICU admission, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) at ICU admission, oxygenation index (PaO₂/FiO₂), diagnosis, type of delirium, duration of delirium, outcome, etc. were recorded. Patients were divided into delirium and non-delirium groups according to whether delirium occurred during the study period. The clinical characteristics of the patients in the two groups were compared, and risk factors for the development of delirium were screened using univariate analysis and multivariate Logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 347 ICU patients were included, and delirium occurred in 57.6% (200/347) patients. The most common type was hypoactive delirium (73.0% of the total). Univariate analysis showed statistically significant differences in age, APACHE score and SOFA score at ICU admission, history of smoking, hypertension, history of cerebral infarction, immunosuppression, neurological disease, sepsis, shock, glucose (Glu), PaO₂/FiO₂ at ICU admission, length of ICU stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation between the two groups. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.045, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.027-1.063, P < 0.001], APACHE score at ICU admission (OR = 1.049, 95%CI was 1.008-1.091, P = 0.018), neurological disease (OR = 5.275, 95%CI was 1.825-15.248, P = 0.002), sepsis (OR = 1.941, 95%CI was 1.117-3.374, P = 0.019), and duration of mechanical ventilation (OR = 1.005, 95%CI was 1.001-1.009, P = 0.012) were all independent risk factors for the development of delirium in ICU patients. The median duration of delirium in ICU patients was 2 (1, 3) days. Delirium was still present in 52% patients when they discharged from the ICU. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of delirium in ICU patients is over 50%, with hypoactive delirium being the most common. Age, APACHE score at ICU admission, neurological disease, sepsis and duration of mechanical ventilation were all independent risk factors for the development of delirium in ICU patients. More than half of patients with delirium were still delirious when they discharged from the ICU.
Humans ; Prevalence ; Critical Care ; Risk Factors ; Sepsis ; Intensive Care Units

The combination of conventional single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and computed tomography (CT) may display the morphological changes of lesions and distribution of imaging agents, which is effective to improve the imaging sensitivity and specificity of tumors and non-tumor diseases. SPECT/CT is feasible to analyze the anatomical structure and metabolic status through displaying multi-site lesions with single imaging, thereby improving differential diagnosis and diagnostic accuracy of diseases. In addition, the novel mixed SPECT/CT device shortens the duration of image acquisition and provides precise attenuation correction and fusion imaging, which provides a scientific basis for rational selection of treatment regimens in clinical practice. This review describes the advances in clinical application of SPECT/CT.

Worldwide, the incidence of cancer is greatest in China. Tumor screening is effective to achieve early diagnosis, improve prognosis, increase the quality of life, and reduce mortality among cancer patients. Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging provides metabolic data to support initial staging, treatment planning, and response evaluation in tumor screening, as well as tumor follow-up. The progressive integration of PET/CT imaging in radiotherapy has its basic principle in the biological heterogeneity of inter- and intra-tumor malignant lesions, and the radiation dose is required to be adjusted to achieve effective local tumor control among cancer patients. In addition, PET/CT imaging provides data on the biological features of tumor lesions, such as metabolism, hypoxia, and proliferation, which is useful to identify radiation-resistant regions and optimize treatment plans. These data are effective to reduce the uncertainty and variability in the anatomic description of tumor sites. This review summarizes the application of PET/CT imaging in common tumors.