The effect of macrophage on IL-2 production by tonsillar T cells was investigated. The human tonsillar mononuclear cells were purified by a two-step procedure including depletion of plastic-adherent cel1s and rosetting with SRBC. The purity of Enriched T cel1s (ETC) was 98%. It was found that IL-2 production was greatly decreased in ETC by removing adherent cells and could be completely restored by replacing the adherent cells. The IL-2 production in the same extent was induced in ETC when TPA was substituted for adherent cells and the synergistic effect of TPA and macrophages greatly augmented the IL-2 secretion by ETC. Incubation of ETC with high concentration of PHA or ConA alone resultes in efficient IL-2 production. These results indicated that IL-2 production was macrophage dependent.

Objective To investigate the predictive value of breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) and class Ⅲβ-tubulin protein expression in tumor tissue for the efficacy of taxol and cisplatin combined chemotherapy (TP) in stage Ⅲβ/Ⅳ non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) patients. Methods A total of 92 stage Ⅲβ/Ⅳ NSCLC patients were recruited with 87 patients evaluated. Bronchoscopy or lung puncture tumor biopsy samples were obtained with BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin protein expression examined immunohistochemically before chemotherapy. The patients were randomly assigned to be received 4 to 6 cycles of TP chemotherapy regiments and followed up until death or lost. Response rate (RR) , overall survival (OS) and time to tumor progression (TTP) were assessed. Results Among the 87 evaluated patients, the positive expression rates of BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin were 57. 5% (50/87) and 48. 3%(42/87) respectively. There was no significant difference in clinical characteristics among patients with different positive expression rate. According to different expression of BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin, the patients were divided into four groups: group A (low expression of both BRCA1 and class 1 p-tubulin) ,group B (high expression of both BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin) , group C (high expression of only BRCA1) and group D (high expression of only class Ⅲβ-tubulin). The RR was higher in group A than other three groups (60. 7% , 34. 8% , 9/19 and 6/17 respectively). The OS and TTP were longer in group A than other three groups [OS: (539. 4 ± 17. 6) days, (267. 2 ± 20. 5) days, (325. 6 ± 24. 1) days and (283.7±26.2) days respectively ; TTP: (256. 9 ± 28. 4) days, (143.8±17.6) days, (179. 3 ± 19. 8)days and (152. 6 ±23. 5) days respectively]. There were no significant differences among the other three groups. Conclusions The expression level of BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin in tumor tissue is probably a predictor for the efficacy of TP chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. TP chemotherapy is more suitable for the NSCLC patients with lower expression of both BRCA1 and class Ⅲβ-tubulin. Our study may provide a new sight for tailored chemotherapy in NSCLC patients.

The purpose of this study is to show the basic principle of receiver operating characteristic (ROC). Some advantages of ROC were given. A simple ROC curve was made to explain the method of plotting. An example of ROC applied to fMRI data was displayed, which showed that ROC can be effectively used in fMRI data.
Brain ; physiology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; ROC Curve ; Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted

Objective To study the effects of social isolation (SI)on the spatial and nonspatial cognitive ability in mice.Methods The postnatal 21 day kunming mice were divided into control group,SI 2 weeks group,SI 4 weeks group,SI 8 weeks group and SI 2 weeks gregarious group according to randomized block design,with ten animals each.SI 2 weeks group,SI 4 weeks group and SI 8 weeks group were isolated for 2,4 and 8 weeks respectively,SI 2 weeks gregarious group would be housed under normal grouped housing condition after 2 weeks isolation until adult,the relative control groups were the same age as the relative SI and SI gregarious group.All animals were measured the spatial and nonspatial cognitive ability by carrying the object recognition test(ORT) and object location test (OLT) after the treatment.Results In the ORT,compared to the relative control group,the discrimination index in the SI 2 weeks group,SI 4 weeks group and SI 8 weeks group ( ( - 0.03 ± 0.003 ),( - 0.11 ±0.02) and( - 0.21 ± 0.02 ) respectively) were strikingly lower than the relative control group ( ( 0.29 ± 0.03 ),(0.13±0.07) and (0.09 ±0.03) respectively) (P＜0.05).In the OLT,compared to the relative control group,the discrimination index in the SI 2 weeks group,SI 4 weeks group and SI 8 weeks group( ( -0.15 ±0.02),( -0.30± 0.02),( - 0.32 ± 0.02 ) respectively ) were strikingly lower than the relative control group ( (0.33 ± 0.02 ),(0.41 ± 0.03 ),(0.27 ± 0.04)respectively)(P＜ 0.05 ),while the SI 2 weeks gregarious group with the resocialization to the normal housing condition showed no change.Conclusions 2 weeks,4 weeks and 8 weeks isolation on mice lead to the spatial and nonspatial cognition deficits,while the resocialization to the normal housing condition could recover the damage.

Objective:To investigate the clinical efficacy of fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in the treatment of anteromedial knee osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle.Methods:Between June 2017 and June 2018, 62 consecutive patients were treated at Department of Joint Surgery, Fuzhou Second Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University for anteromedial knee osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle using a fixed-bearing UKA system. They were 27 men and 35 women, aged from 58 to 85 years (average, 69.8 years). There were 58 cases of anteromedial knee osteoarthritis and 4 cases of spontaneous osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle. The courses of disease ranged from 2 to 10 years (average, 5.1 years). Medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty was performed for all the patients on the fixation platform SLED. Recorded were the hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) of the patients 2 days after operation, Oxford knee score (OKS) and American Knee Society score (KSS) at the final follow-up and post-operative complications.Results:The 62 patients were followed up for 9 to 21 months (average, 15.6 months). Tibial plateau fracture occurred in one case who eventually obtained bony union after open reduction and internal fixation. Another case had a wound healing problem which responded to drainage and debridement with prosthesis preservation. Another case presented prepatellar pain which was improved after physical therapy. In the 62 patients, the HKA 2 days after operation (172.27°±1.61°) was significantly improved compared to the preoperative value (177.79°±1.32°), the OKS at the final follow-up (19.8±2.7) significantly lower than the preoperative value (50.2±3.1), and the KSS at the final follow-up (89.7±2.6) significantly higher than the preoperative value (49.6±5.2) (all P<0.05). Follow-ups revealed no cases of joint infection or prosthetic loosening. Conclusion:Fixed-bearing unicompartmental knee arthroplasty can lead to fine short-term outcomes for anteromedial knee osteoarthritis or spontaneous osteonecrosis of the femoral condyle.

Objective: To investigate the effect of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derived exosomes (hUC-MSC-exo) on the phenotype of peripheral blood macrophages from rabbit autoimmune dry eye and the expression of related cytokines. Methods: The hUC-MSCs were isolated and characterized.Exosomes derived from hUC-MSCs were extracted by ultracentrifugation and observed directly using electronic microscopy.Specific markers of exosomes were analyzed by Western blot.Six rabbits were randomly divided into the normal control group and the dry eye group by using the random number table method, 3 rabbits for each group.Rabbit model of autoimmune dry eye was established in the dry eye group, and the lacrimal glands were collected for quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) at the 8th week.In vitro, activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from rabbit autoimmune dry eye model were incubated with hUC-MSC-exo or phosphate buffered saline (PBS). After 48 hours, cells from the hUC-MSC-exo group and the PBS control group were collected.The mRNA expression levels of related cytokine genes and subpopulation-related marker genes in macrophages were quantified by qRT-PCR.The use and care of the animals complied with Regulations for the Administration of Affair Concerning Experimental Animals by State Science and Technology Commission.This study protocol was approved by Ethic Committee of Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital (No.TJYY20181217001). Written informed consent was obtained from each family before obtaining umbilical cord. Results: Exosomes derived from hUC-MSCs had typical morphology and specific markers.qRT-PCR results showed that, the relative expression quantity of M1 macrophages phenotypic molecular nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) mRNA and inflammatory factor tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) mRNA in the lachrymal organization in the dry eye model group was significantly higher than those in the normal control group (3.06±1.00 vs. 1.00±0.03, 2.77±0.72 vs. 1.01±0.02 and 1.30±0.08 vs. 1.01±0.01, respectively), the relative expression quantity of M2 macrophages phenotypic molecular arginase 1 (Arg1), CD206 and IL-10 mRNA in the lachrymal organization in the dry eye model group was significantly lower than those in the normal control group (0.55±0.07 vs. 1.00±0.00, 0.60±0.13 vs.1.00±0.00, 0.65±0.14 vs. 1.01±0.01, respectively), with significant differences between them (all at P<0.05). In vitro, the relative expression quantity of M1 macrophages phenotypic molecular NOS2 mRNA and inflammatory factor TNF-α, IL-1β mRNA in PBMCs in the hUC-MSC-exo group was significantly lower than those in the PBS control group (0.59±0.08 vs.0.98±0.03, 0.56±0.07 vs. 1.03±0.11, 0.47±0.04 vs.1.00±0.08)(all at P<0.05); the relative expression quantity of M2 macrophages phenotypic molecular Arg1, CD206 mRNA and anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β, IL-10 and IL-4 mRNA in PBMCs in the hUC-MSC-exo group was significantly higher than those in the PBS control group (2.13±0.28 vs. 1.10±0.17, 1.32±0.03 vs. 1.01±0.06, 1.53±0.20 vs. 1.05±0.10, 1.47±0.08 vs.0.98±0.03, 1.51±0.16 vs. 1.01±0.03), with significant differences between them (all at P<0.05). Conclusions hUC-MSC-exo can polarize peripheral blood macrophages toward immune-suppressive M2-like phenotype, inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, and meanwhile increase the expression of anti-inflammatory factors IL-10 and TGF-β.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the disease burden of prostate cancer (PC) and assess key influencing factors associated with the disease expenditures of PC in the United States. METHODS: The total deaths, incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life-years of PC were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey was used to estimate healthcare expenditures and productivity loss and to investigate patterns of payment and use of healthcare resources in the United States. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to identify key factors influencing expenditures. RESULTS: For patients aged 50 and older, the burden for all age groups showed a modest increase over the 6-year period. Annual medical expenditures were estimated to range from US$24.8 billion to US$39.2 billion from 2014 to 2019. The annual loss in productivity for patients was approximately US$1,200. The top 3 major components of medical costs were hospital inpatient stays, prescription medicines, and office-based visits. Medicare was the largest source of payments for survivors. In terms of drug consumption, genitourinary tract agents (57.0%) and antineoplastics (18.6%) were the main therapeutic drugs. High medical expenditures were positively associated with age (p=0.005), having private health insurance (p=0.016), more comorbidities, not currently smoking (p=0.001), and patient self-perception of fair/poor health status (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS From 2014 to 2019, the national real-world data of PC revealed that the disease burden in the United States continued to increase, which was partly related to patient characteristics.

Objective:To investigate the effect of interleukin (IL)-23 receptor (IL-23R) overexpression on the balance of T helper 17 (Th17 cells)/regulatory T cells (Treg cells) in experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) mice.Methods:Twelve 8-week-old female C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into LV-Ctrl group and LV-IL-23R group, with 6 mice in each group. Two groups of mice were injected with LV-Ctrl and LV-IL-23R lentiviruses through the tail vein, respectively; 7 days after injection, the EAU mouse model was established by active immunization with vitamin A-binding protein 1-20 between photoreceptors. Starting from 13 days after immunization, the fundus of the mice was observed by indirect ophthalmoscopy every 2 days and clinical scores were performed; 30 days after immunization, hematoxylin-eosin staining was used to observe the histopathological changes of mouse retina. The levels of IL-17 in serum of the two groups of mice were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; the proportion of Th17 cells and Treg cells was detected by flow cytometry. The relative mRNA expression of IL-23R, IL-17, retinoic acid-related orphan receptor γt (RORγt), IL-10 and forkhead transcripyion factor p3 (Foxp3) were detected by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Comparisons between groups were performed using repeated measures analysis of variance, independent samples Mann-Whitney U test, and independent samples t test. Results:Compared with the LV-Ctrl group, the retinal inflammatory reaction of the LV-IL-23R group was more severe. At 13 days after immunization, there was no significant difference in fundus inflammation scores between LV-IL-23R group and LV-Ctrl group ( t=-2.001, P=0.058); 15-29 days after immunization. The fundus inflammation scores of LV-IL-23R group were higher than those of LV-Ctrl group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.429,-6.578, -7.768, -10.183, -6.325, -7.304, -4.841, -6.872; P<0.001). Histopathological examination showed that the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the fundus increased, the retinal structure was damaged more seriously, and the histopathological score was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.339, P=0.001). Compared with the LV-Ctrl group, the relative expression of IL-23R mRNA in the spleen of the LV-IL-23R group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( Z=2.087, P=0.037). The relative expression of IL-17 and RORγt mRNA increased, while the relative expression of IL-10 and Foxp3 mRNA decreased, and the differences were statistically significant ( t=-6.313,-5.922, 4.844, 7.572; P=0.003, 0.004, 0.008, 0.002). Compared with the LV-Ctrl group, the level of IL-17 in the serum of the mice in the LV-IL-23R group was significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-5.423, P=0.002); the proportion of Th17 cells in the spleen and lymph nodes was significantly increased, whereas, the proportion of Treg cells was significantly reduced, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-4.290, 3.700; P=0.002, 0.006). Conclusion:IL-23R overexpression can promote Th17/Treg imbalance in EAU mice, and aggravate the clinical and pathological manifestations of EAU.

Objective: To observe the effect of Huangjing Zanyu Capsule (HZC) on sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in asthenozoospermia patients. METHODS: We assigned 70 asthenozoospermia patients to a treatment group (n = 39) and a control group (n = 31), the former treated with oral HZC at the dose of 4 capsules tid for 3 months while the latter left untreated. We obtained semen parameters from the patients and detected their sperm mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMP) by JC-1 staining and flow cytometry before and after medication, followed by comparison between the two groups. RESULTS: The total effectiveness rate was 71.05% in the treatment group and natural pregnancy was achieved in 3 cases during the medication. A total of 35 patients in the treatment group and 30 controls completed all the laboratory examinations after a 3-month observation. Compared with the controls, the patients treated with HZC exhibited significant improvement after medication in MMP (variation value: ［1.19 ± 10.36］% vs ［20.28 ± 14.21］%, P <0.01), total sperm motility (variation value: ［3.46 ± 8.67］% vs ［20.68 ± 14.12］%, P <0.01), the percentage of progressively motile sperm (variation value: ［2.26 ± 8.29］% vs ［17.58 ± 12.73］%, P <0.01), and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (variation value: ［0.23 ± 3.48］% vs ［3.37 ± 3.99］%, P <0.01). MMP was significantly correlated with total sperm motility (r = 0.69, P <0.01), progressive sperm motility (r = 0.75, P <0.01) and normal sperm morphology (r = 0.26, P <0.01). CONCLUSIONS Huangjing Zanyu Capsule can enhance sperm mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm mitochondrial function, thus improving total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and normal sperm morphology. It is safe and effective for the treatment of asthenospermia.
Asthenozoospermia ; drug therapy ; Capsules ; Case-Control Studies ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pregnancy ; Semen ; drug effects ; Sperm Motility ; drug effects ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; ultrastructure ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo observe the efficacy and safety of chemotherapy regimens oxaliplatin combined with capecitabine (CAPOX) or oxaliplatin combined with tegafur, gimeracil and oteracil potassium capsules (S-1)(SOX), and to investigate the value of expression of thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) proteins in tumor tissue for predicting the efficacy of CAPOX and SOX regimens in advanced gastric cancer patients.

METHODSA total of 107 newly-diagnosed, stage Ⅲc/Ⅳ gastric cancer patients (no surgical indication, ECOG performance scores 0-2 and expected survival time ≥3 months) were recruited with 101 patients evaluated. The patients were randomly divided into two groups. One was study group in which the patients received CAPOX regimen. The other was control group received SOX regimen. Each patient received four cycles, at least two cycles chemotherapy every three weeks and followed up until death or lost. Tumor biopsies were obtained by gastroscopy for immunohistochemical examination of the expression of TP and DPD proteins before chemotherapy. Response rate (ORR), overall survival (OS) and time to tumor progression (TTP) of the patients were assessed.

RESULTSThe objective response rate (ORR) of the study and control groups was 49.0% (5/51) vs. 46.0% (23/50), respectively (P>0.05). The overall survival (OS) was 357.36±24.69 days in the study group and 349.87±22.63 days in the control group, and the time-to-progression (TTP) was 216.75±19.32 days in the study group and 220.54±18.47 days in the control group (P>0.05 for both). Stratified analysis showed that the ORR of TP-positive patients in the study group was significantly higher than that in the control group (72.0 % vs. 41.7 %, P=0.032). There was no significant difference in ORR between the TP-negative patients in the study and control groups (26.9% vs. 50.0%, P=0.087), while the ORR of DPD-positive patients in the control group was significantly higher than that of the study group (51.9% vs. 34.6%, P=0.046). There was no significant difference in the ORR between DPD-negative patients in the study and control groups (64.0% vs. 39.1%, P=0.084). The follow-up showed that the OS (378.42±22.56 days) and TTP (271.77±24.92 days) in the TP-positive patients of the study group were significantly longer than those of the control group (OS: 326.57±19.84 days, and TTP: 229.13±22.68 days)( P<0.05). The OS was 371.25±23.97 days and TTP was 264.66±21.36 days in the DPD-positive patients of control group, significantly longer than those of the study group (OS: 334.73±21.47days, and TTP: 208.58±20.70 days) (P<0.05). But there was no significant difference in the OS and TTP between the TP- and DPD-negative patients in the two groups (P>0.05). In respect of adverse events, both the rates of hematological and non-hematological toxicities were low and similar between the two groups (P>0.05), and well-tolerated by the patients.

CONCLUSIONSBoth CAPOX and SOX regimens are effective chemotherapeutic protocols in treatment of patients with advanced gastric cancer. The expression levels of TP and DPD in tumor tissue can be used as a predictive factor for the efficacy of capecitabine or tegafur, gimeracil and oteracil potassium capsules combined with oxaliplatin regimens. CAPOX chemotherapy regimen is more suitable for the TP-positive gastric cancer patients, and SOX regimen is more suitable for the DPS-positive gastric cancer patients.

Antineoplastic Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Capecitabine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Capsules ; Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) ; metabolism ; Disease Progression ; Humans ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Oxonic Acid ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Pyridines ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; mortality ; pathology ; Tegafur ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Thymidine Phosphorylase ; metabolism