BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells have bean a hot topic in life science research. EpCAMhigh/CD44+ colorectal cancer stem cells are beneficial to observe morphological characteristics and distribution of cancer stem cells.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the quantity, location, distribution and hematoxylin-easin staining morphologic features of colorectal cancer stem cells (Co-CSCs).DESIGN, "rIME AND SETrlNG: The observational study was performed at the Department of Pathology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA from March to August 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 67 colorectal cancer paraffin embedding samples were collected from 200512007 archive at the Department of Pathology, Lanzhou General Hospital of Lanzhou Military Area Command of Chinese PLA, comprising 27 males and 40 females, aged 29 90 years.METHODS: EpCAM and CD44 was used to label cancer stem cells in paraffin embedding colorectal cancer samples. The locations of EpCAM and CD44 double positive cells were detected by SP(streptavidin HRP) immunohistochemical staining and double immunohistochemical staining. The morphologic features of them were investigated on hematoxylin-easin staining at the same position.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number, location, distribution of EpCAM and CD44-posltive cells, and morphology following hematoxylin-eosin staining.RESULTS: The number of double-positive cells accounted for 0.1% to 30.0% of all tumor cells, and the cells were scattered or distributed focally along the basement of glandular-like structure. The cells with scarcely cytoplasm were cube or oval, and its nucleus was oval or high cylindrical, deep stained and homogeneous; The quantity of double-positive cells were negatively correlated with the differentiation of colorectal cancer.CONCLUSION: Cancer stem cells are the causes of tumor development, metastasis and recurrence and drug resistance. To observe the number, location, distribution and morphology of Co-CSCs and to analyze the relationship between Co-CSCs and pathological parameters will provide guidance for the diagnosis, staging, prognostic evaluation and clinical prognosis of cotorectal carcinoma.

Objective: To investigate factors influencing adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), and to provide a scientific basis for effective prevention and treatment programs. Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted among 6 757 students who participated in the scoliosis screening program for primary and middle school students in Zhongshan City, China from April 2019 to March 2020. Visual examination and Adams flexion test were used to measure the rotation angle of trunk. For each student, individual and family demographics, family history of scoliosis, daily postural habits, school bag carrying habits, vision, health, school environment, and physical activity were collected by questionnaire. Factors influencing AIS were analyzed using Chi square test and multivariate Logistic regression. Results: The positive screening rate for AIS was 2.0%(135 cases). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis revealed that female gender, no family history of AIS, standing with lumbar spine tilted forward, habit of leaning to the left when seated, and a monthly family income of >10 000 yuan were related to the occurrence of AIS in adolescents ( OR =3.01, 0.38, 2.29, 1.74, 0.44, P <0.05). Conclusion Female students aged 10-16 years with a family history of scoliosis in Zhongshan are identified as a high risk group for scoliosis screening. Developing proper standing and sitting habits helps to reduce the risk of AIS in adolescents.

OBJECTIVETo analyze the clinical characteristics, prognosis and therapeutic effects of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSHL) patients associated with vertigo, and to investigate the strategy of diagnosis and treatment.

METHODSWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical characteristics of 240 patients diagnosed as SSHL with vertigo, who were treated in the Chinese PLA General Hospital from July 2008 to August 2012. Various factors affecting the therapeutic effects were analyzed, such as audiological features, vestibular function tests, genders, audiograms, lasting before seeing a doctor, courses of vertigo and vascular factors.

RESULTAmong the contemporaneous SSHL patients (873 cases), the cases with vertigo accounted for 27.49% (240/873). Among the 240 patients with vertigo, the cases with different hearing impaired degree of mild, moderate, severe and profound were 30, 13, 28 and 34, respectively, primarily by the profound cases. Detailed vestibular function tests were performed in 97 patients, with 54 cases having unilateral vestibular disfunction and 43 patients having normal vestibular function, among which 23 cases were diagnosed as benign paroxymal positional vertigo (BBPV). The relationship between vestibular function and different hearing impaired degrees or various audiogram types had no statistically significant difference. 219 cases had detailed records of the onset time of cochlear and vestibular symptoms, including 122 patients with cochlear symptoms and dizziness occurring simultaneously. After standardized drug treatment, the total effective rate was 46.67%, with recovery in 17 cases, excellent in 34 cases, better in 61 cases and poor in 128 cases, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that different genders, audiogram types, vertigo courses of time, the results of vestibular function and neck vascular ultrasounds were not related to the curative effects, while, the treatment time after onset was significantly associated with treatment effects.

CONCLUSIONSSSHL with vertigo has a high incidence, primarily single side affected, with relatively severe hearing impairment, and total deafness and downslope hearing curve mainly. Vestibular function can be normal or low in SSHL patients with vertigo, with a higher incidence of BPPV. Vestibular and cochlear symptoms occur simultaneously in more than half of the patients. The detection rate of vestibular dysfunction gradually increased, as the degree of hearing loss increased, without statistical significance although. The therapeutic effects of sudden hearing loss with vertigo cases have no relationship with dizziness duration or vestibular function, while the disease course plays an important role in treatment.

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo ; complications ; Cochlea ; physiopathology ; Deafness ; Dizziness ; Hearing Loss, Sensorineural ; Hearing Loss, Sudden ; complications ; Hearing Tests ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Vestibular Function Tests ; Vestibule, Labyrinth ; physiopathology

Infectious diseases cause great economic loss and individual and even social anguish. Existing detection methods lack sensitivity and specificity, have a poor turnaround time, and are dependent on expensive equipment. In recent years, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)‍-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system has been widely used in the detection of pathogens that cause infectious diseases owing to its high specificity, sensitivity, and speed, and good accessibility. In this review, we discuss the discovery and development of the CRISPR-Cas system, summarize related analysis and interpretation methods, and discuss the existing applications of CRISPR-based detection of infectious pathogens using Cas proteins. We conclude the challenges and prospects of the CRISPR-Cas system in the detection of pathogens.
Humans ; CRISPR-Cas Systems ; Communicable Diseases ; Gene Editing/methods*

Pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma(PPGL) was a kind of neuroendocrine tumor that derived from chromaffin tissue, which seems to be an important etiology of secondary hypertension. With the development of molecular detection technology, at least 17 kinds of pathogenic genes of PPGL has been discovered, which is related to 35%-40% PPGL, and about 40% malignant PPGL is associated with SDHB gene mutation. In this study, we reported a case with a novel splicing mutation of SDHB gene induced paraganglioma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the asthma control status of occupational sensitizer-induced asthma(OSIA) and explore the influencing factors. METHODS: A total of 50 OSIA patients were selected as study subjects by judgment sampling method. Asthma Control Test(ACT) and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to investigate the asthma control status and the quality of life of patients. The fractional exhaled nitric oxide(FeNO) level, pulmonary function, peripheral blood eosinophil ratio(EOS%)and serum total immunoglobulin E(IgE) level of the patients were measured. RESULTS: Among the 50 cases of OSIA patients, 27(54.0%) cases were well controlled, and 23(46.0%) cases were non-fully controlled. The patients with allergic rhinitis, with no inhaled corticosteroids treatment and with poor compliance were risk factors of the non-fully controlled OSIA(all P<0.05). The scores of ACT and the quality of life, and the percentage of the first second forced expiratory volume(FEV_1%) decreased(all P<0.05), while the level of FeNO increased(P<0.05) in the non-fully controlled group compare with the well-controlled group. There was no statistical significance in EOS% and serum total IgE level between the two groups(both P>0.05).CONCLUSION: Allergic rhinitis, lack of inhaled corticosteroids treatment and poor compliance are the influencing factors that affect the control of OSIA. The combinational scores of ACT and quality of life, FeNO, FEV_1% and other indicators can reflect the status of OSIA and assess the level of asthma control, and help guiding OSIA diagnosis and treatment plans.