Objective: This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of specific exercise therapy for the treatment of skeletally immature idiopathic scoliosis (IS). Methods: A total of 51 mild IS patients receiving specific exercise therapy in Guangdong Xinmiao Scoliosis Prevention Center from October 2017 to September 2021 were recruited in this study. Treatment outcome were evaluated at 1 year follow up. All the participants were divided into two groups: open ( n =32) and closed triradiate cartilage group ( n =19), and outcome of treatment were compared within the two groups. Results: After (26.5±9.8) months of treatment, the Cobb angle of the major curve was corrected from an average of (15.5±4.2)° to (11.3±6.7)°, with an average correction of (4.5±5.7)°. Among them, 58.9% patients achieved improvement in the major curve Cobb angle, 33.3% achieved stabilization, and 7.8% progressed. There was no significant difference in the major curve Cobb angle between the closed and open triradiate cartilage groups before treatment( t =-0.73, P =0.47), whereas there was a significant difference in the correction of the major curve after treatment( t =-2.73 , P <0.05). Conclusion Specific exercise therapy effectively prevents the progression or corrects the scoliosis in patients with skeletally immature idiopathic scoliosis. It s more effective in patients with open triradiate cartilage than in those with closed triradiate cartilage.

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: Eighty-seven patients with GC and 78 patients with colorectal cancer(CRC) from National Cancer Center/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were selected, 83 individuals undergoing healthy physical examination were selected as the healthy controls. The levels of serum miR-378 and miR-21 were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) (result data were transformed as log2 for analysis). Results: Relative expression levels of miR-378 in the serum were -1.24, -3.25 and -2.73 in healthy controls, GC and CRC patients, respectively. Compared with the healthy controls, the levels of serum miR-378 were significantly decreased in GC and CRC patients (both P<0.05). Relative expression levels of miR-21 in the serum were 0.11, 2.34 and 2.47 in healthy controls, GC and CRC patients, respectively. Compared with the healthy controls, the levels of serum miR-21 were significantly up-regulated in GC and CRC patients (both P<0.05). Moreover, the serum level of miR-378 in GC patients was inversely associated with tumor clinical stage (P<0.05). However, the level of miR-21 showed no significant differences among patients with different clinical and pathological characteristics (all P>0.05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of miRNA-378 to diagnose GC was 0.770, 82.0% and 66.0%, respectively, and were 0.900, 85.0%, and 88.0% of miR-21, respectively. The AUC, sensitivity and specificity of combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 to diagnose GC were 0.930, 92.0% and 87.0%, respectively, while the AUC of combined detection of serum CEA and CA-199 was 0.767, the AUC of combined all of the four factors was 0.946. Conclusion The combined detection of serum miR-378 and miR-21 have a certain effect on diagnosis of GC.

Objective To analyze the correlation between the polymorphism of PTPN22 gene (R620W and R263Q sites)and pulmonary tuberculosis(TB)in Chinese Han population and to investigate the environmental factors associated with pulmonary TB. Methods A case-control study was conducted on 235 patients with pulmonary TB and 251 healthy subjects. The single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNP)of PTPN22 gene at R620W and R263Q sites were detected by the assay of polymerase chain reaction and re-striction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). A questionnaire was designed to gather information about tuberculosis-associated environmental factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic analysis were con-ducted. Results Genotype frequencies of PTPN22 R620W(C1858T)SNP were 233(99. 15% ,CC),2 (0. 85% ,CT),0(0% ,TT)in patients with pulmonary TB and 240(95. 62% ,CC),11(4. 38% ,CT), 0(0% ,TT)in healthy subjects. There was a difference with the distribution of PTPN22 C1858T allele be-tween patients with pulmonary TB and healthy subjects[0. 43% vs 2. 19% ,P = 0. 01,odds ratio(OR)=0. 19,95% confidence interval(CI)= 0. 07-0. 35]. Genotype frequencies of PTPN22 R263Q(G788A) were 218(92. 77% ,GG),17(7. 31% ,GA),0(0% ,AA)in patients with pulmonary TB and 248 (98. 71% ,GG),3(1. 29% ,GA),0(0% ,AA)in healthy subjects. The frequencies of G788A allele in patients with pulmonary TB were higher than those in healthy subjects(3. 62% vs 0. 60% ,P﹤0. 01,OR=6. 03,95% CI=2. 12-18. 38). Conclusion The results of this study suggested that the R263Q GG geno-type of PTPN22 gene was associated with the susceptibility to TB in Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND:Increasing autologous stem cellmobilization is conceived to achieve effectively repair of cardiac ischemic injury. Therefore, it is important to seek a specific and effective mobilization agent. OBJECTIVE:To observe the effects of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cellmobilization in myocardial infarction. METHODS:Left anterior descending artery was ligated to establish a rat model of acute myocardial infarction in 90 outbreeding Sprague-Dawley rats, and then the models were randomly divided into three groups. In HIF-1α-antisense oligonucleotide (ASODN) group, HIF-1α-ASODN was infused into the tail vein to restrain the expression of HIF-1αin infarcted ischemic tissue. In HIF-1α-missense oligonucleotide (MSODN) group or control group, an equal volume of HIF-1α-MSODN or saline was injected. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After 30 hours and 7 days of modeling, the number of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in the peripheral blood of the control group were similar to the HIF-1α-MSODN group, but significantly higher than the HIF-1α-ASODN group. After 7 days of modeling, the expressions of HIF-1αprotein, vascular endothelial growth factor protein and mRNA in the ischemic myocardial tissues of the control group were similar to the HIF-1α-MSODN group, but significantly higher than the HIF-1α-ASODN group. After 7, 14 and 28 days of modeling, the capil ary density in the ischemic myocardial tissues of the control group was similar to the HIF-1α-MSODN group, but significantly higher than the HIF-1α-ASODN group. These findings indicate that after acute myocardial infarction, high expression of HIF-1αexhibits a causal relationship with mobilization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, initiating a series of self-healing process of myocardial tissues.

It has been well established that immune surveillance plays critical roles in preventing the occurrence and progression of tumor. More and more evidence in recent years showed the host anti-tumor immune responses also play important roles in the chemotherapy and radiotherapy of cancers. Our previous study found that tumor- targeting therapy of anti-HER2/neu mAb is mediated by CD8(+) T cell responses. However, we found here that enhancement of CD8(+) T cell responses by combination therapy with IL-15R/IL-15 fusion protein or anti-CD40, which are strong stimultors for T cell responses, failed to promote the tumor therapeutic effects of anti-HER2/neu mAb. Analysis of tumor microenviornment showed that tumor tissues were heavily infiltrated with the immunosuppressive macrophages and most tumor infiltrating T cells, especially CD8(+) T cells, expressed high level of inhibitory co-signaling receptor PD-1. These data suggest that tumor microenvironment is dominated by the immunosuppressive strategies, which thwart anti-tumor immune responses. Therefore, the successful tumor therapy should be the removal of inhibitory signals in the tumor microenvironment in combination with other therapeutic strategies.
Animals ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; immunology ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; immunology ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Humans ; Immune Tolerance ; immunology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neoplasm Transplantation ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; immunology ; Tumor Microenvironment ; immunology

Objective To explore the effects of gadopentetate dimeglumine injection on renal function. Methods The study included 623 consecutive patients. Their serum creatinine concentrations before and within 3 days after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine were analyzed. Their eGFR ( estimated glomerular filtration rate) were calculated. Patients were divided into two groups according to their injection dose: group received single dose and group received double dose. Patients in each group were subdivided into three subgroups according to their eGFR: subgroup of normal renal function, subgroup of mild renal insufficiency and subgroup of moderate renal insufficiency. Paried sample t test and group design paried sample Rank Sum test were used for statistical analysis. Results There was no adverse reaction oroccurrence of acute renal insufficiency. The mean level of serum creatinine dropped from (74. 0 ±17. 2) μ mol/L to (71.5 ± 19. 0) μ mol/L (t = 5. 39, P ＜ 0. 05 ) in 623 cases after injection of gadopentetate dimeglumine. However, the mean level of serum creatinine increased from (89.6 ± 12. 2 ) μmol/L to (92. 1 ± 14. 6) μmol/L ( t = 0. 68, P ＞ 0. 05 ) in subgroup of mild renal insufficiency under group received double dose and increased from ( 118. 3 ± 15. 3 ) μmol/L to ( 135.7 ± 8. 5 ) μ mol/L ( t = 2. 02, P ＜ 0. 05 ) in subgroup of moderate renal insufficiency under group received double dose, the mean level of serum creatinine dropped in all other subgroups. Conclusions Single dose gadopentetate dimeglumine is safe for patients with normal renal function and mild, moderate renal insufficiency in short term, but patients with abnormal renal function should be followed up after double dose injection.

Objective To study the changes of the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values and the association with serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) in prostate cancer patients. Methods Diffusion-weighted echo-planar imaging (EPI) sequences were performed in 47 patients with biopsy proved locally confined prostate cancer,age ranged from 56 to 86 years.t-PSA range,f-PSA range and F/T range in serum of all patients were 1.41-603.16 ng/ml,0.10-12.29 ng/ml and 0.01-0.36,respectively.The patients'clinical staging were 2 cases of stage A,18 cases of stage B and 27 cases of stage C,among which 1 cases were well differentiated (Gleason 2-4), 23 were moderately differentiated (Gleason 5-7) and 23 were poorly differentiated(Gleason 8-10),respectively.Images were obtained with a diffusion factor of 800 s/mm2.According to the pathological results obtained by ultrasound guided systemic biopsy,the locations of the prostate cancerous region were marked as one or more of the sextants.The ADC values of every region and whole gland were measured and analyzed with ROC curve.Correlations between the ADC and t-PSA,f-PSA,F/T ratios were analyzed.Results Acceptable images for ADC measurement were obtained in all cases.The mean ADC values of cancerous and noncancerous regions in 47 prostate patients were(1.29±0.28)×10-3mm2/s and (1.78+0.32)×10-3mm2/s and significant difference was noted in ADC values between cancerous and noncancerous regions(t=13.58,P＜0.01).Negative correlation was found between the ADC values and t-PSA,f-PSA,(γ=-0.353,P＜0.01;γ=-O.401.P＜0.01).There were no significant associations between the ADC values and F/T(γ=-0.123,P＞0.05). Conclusions The ADC values in cancerous regions were negatively correlated with t-PSA,f-PSA. Measurement of ADCs,combined with serum PSA,might be useful to accurate location and preoperative assessment of tumor.

OBJECTIVE To observe bacterial distribution and drug resistance in Ningxia.METHODS The patients with nosocomial infection mornitored by Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region Nosocomial Infection Surveillance System from Jan 2003 to Dec 2007 were analyzed and summarized.RESULTS Amomg 3276 isolates,1752 strains(53.48%) were Gram-negative bacilli,1471 strains(44.9%) were Gram-positive cocci and,53(1.62%) fungi.The most common pathogens were Escherichia coli(909),Staphylococcus aureus(509),S.epidermidis(260),Enterococcus faecalis(258),and Pseudomonas aeruginosa(206).Most of them were multidrug resistant.Most strains of Gram-negative bacilli were highly susceptible to imipenem,while most strains of Gram-positive cocci were highly susceptible to vancomycin.CONCLUSIONS Most pathogens of nosocomial infection are multidrug resistant,the resistance detection of bacteria has an important significance to clinical treatment and infection control.

Objective To evaluate the reproducibility of measuring renal oxygenation in rat using blood oxygen level-dependent MR imaging(BOLD MRI).Methods Five intact male Wistar rats were included in this study and their body weights were measured before MRI scans.BOLD MRI were performed ou day 1(d1),day 5(d5),day 10(d10),day 30(d30)and day 50(d50)on a 3.0 T MR scanner to measure the apparent spin-spin relaxation(R2*).On d30 and d50,the differences of R2*(△R2*)were calculated between before and 10 min after furosemide injection through the tail vein.The reproducibility of the baseline R2* of 5 times repeated scans were verified by the repeated-measure ANOVA test.The R2* and △R2* between pre-and post-furosemide iniection on d30 and d50 were measured on the codex and the medulla and a paired t test was run to analyze their responses to furosemide and the reproducibility of △R2*.Results The average body weight on d1,d5,d10,d3 and d50 was(150.4±3.7)g、(170.2±7.0)g、(201.0±5.8)g、(306.2±17.0)g and(352.0±12.2)g,respectively,with statistical difference(F=422.103.P＜0.01).The R2* showed no statistical difference in the cortex and medulla among the five scans(P＞0.05).On d30.the R2* of the cortex and medulla was(25.2±1.2)and(32.8±2.2)Hz before and significantly decreased to(21.1±2.2)and(25.9±3.0)Hz after furosemide administration,respectively(P＜0.01).On d50,the R2* of the cortex and medulla was(25.9±0.8)and(34.3±3.9)Hz before and significantly decreased to(20.2±1.5)and(27.0±3.2)Hz after furosemide administration.respectively(P＜0.01).The △R2* on the codex and medulla was(4.1±1.7)and(6.9 4-2.8)Hz on d30 and(5.8±1.1)and(7.3±2.8)Hz on d50,respectively,but there is no significant difference between eortex and medulla(P＞0.05).Conclusion The baseline R2* in the cortex and medulla were reproducible over 50 days and they were not body weighted.On 3.0 T MR scanners.R2* in the codex and medulla decreased significantly after administration of furosemide.

Objective To detect the changes of cerebral perfusion in patients with MELAs syndrome by using MR perfusion technique.Methods Thirteen patients with MELAS syndrome and 13 controls with normal neurological conditions were scanned with the sequence of flow-sensitive alternating inversion recovery exempting separate T1 measurement(FAIREST).Their rCBF values were obtained in regions of bilateral basilar nuclei and thalami,as well as bilateral temporal lobes and occipital lobes.Regression analysis was carried out to determine the effect of location and side on the measurement of rCBF in controls.One-way ANOVA was conducted to compare rCBF values among the control group.the lesion ROIs and normal ROIs of the MELAS syndrome group.Results The values of rCBF were 0.83±0.23,1.17±0.30.0.93±0.28,and 1.11±0.25 for the left basilar ganglia,thalamus,temporal lobe,and occipital lobe respectively,while they were 0.77±0.15,1.03±0.34,1.06±0.23,and 1.09±0.23 for the right basilar ganglia,thalamus,temporal lobe.and occipital lobe respectively.Regression analysis revealed no effect of location and side on the rCBF (P＞0.05).The rCBF value for control group was 1.00±0.28,while it was 1.01±0.31 for the normal ROIs and 1.95±0.43 for the lesion ROIs in the MELAS syndrome group(F=54.99.P＜0.01).The rCBF of the lesion ROIs in the MELAS syndrome group was significantly higher than the normal ROIs and the control group.Conclusion CBF maps can reveal changes of cerebral blood flow in patients with ietal MELAS,which suggests increased perfusion in the stroke-like lesions.