Objective To analyze the distribution of B-cell subtypes and IgG subclasses in pa-tients with non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) and to investigate their potential functions in the progress of NSCLC.Methods Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the distribution of immature B cells, memory B cells and mature B cells in 25 healthy subjects and 55 patients who were at different clinical stages of NSCLC.Enzyme-linked immune-sorbent assay ( ELASA) was performed to measure the concentrations of IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4 and total IgG, as well as the ratio of each IgG subclass in total IgG.Results The percentages of immature and memory B cells in CD19+B cells were positively correlated with the progress of NSCLC.The ratio of IgG4/IgG gradually increased along with the development of NSCLC, while that of the other three IgG subclasses showed no significant changes as compared with that of the control group.Conclu-sion The imbalanced distribution of B-cell subtypes and the up-regulated ratio of IgG4/IgG were closely as-sociated with the development of NSCLC.This study paved the way for further investigation on more effective immune therapy strategies targeting NSCLC.

Objective To explore the clinical, pathologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) and stromal tumor beyond the gastrointestinal tract. Methods Expression of CD117, CD34, SMA, Desmin and S-100 protein in 53GIST were detected using immunohistochemical S-P method, and then analyzed. Results Of 53 cases, 38 cases were detected as spindle type, 6 as epithelioid type and 9 as mixture type; 9 cases were benign,20 were borderline and 24 were malignant. Of the 9 benign cases, 8 originated in stomach, while only one originated in intestine and beyond the gastrointestinal tract. The rate of immunohistochemical expression was showed as follows: CD117 92.45% and CD34 77.36%. Conclusion GIST has its unique morphological characteristics. To detect CD117 and CD34 simultaneously may be helpful to the diagnosis. The malignant potential of stromal tumor in intestine and beyond the gastrointestinal tract is higher than that in stomach. The estimation of benignancy and malignancy depends on the site, the size and nuclei mitoses of the tumor.

Objective To study the relationship between blood lead levels and hearing threshold changes among children. Methods The lead levels in whole blood of 62 children aged 5~7 years were determined by graphite furnance atomic absorption spectrophotometry.The levels of air mediated hearing threshold were determined by Madsen Model DB77 audiometer and headphone at frequencies of 250,500,1 000, 2 000,4 000 and 6 000 Hz. Results The average levels and range of blood lead were 181.97 ?g/L and 39.1~393.6 ?g/L respectively.The spearman correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between the levels of hearing threshold and the blood lead levels with r =0.33~0.74 among childen( P

Objective To study the mutagenic activity of the organic extract and its five fractions of the dust collected from an aluminum electrolytic plant in so as to find out the genetic toxicants with stronger mutagenic activity.Methods The dust derived from aluminum electrolytic plant was collected on a fiberglass filter within the scope of the operator's breathing air. Four samples were equidistantly placed in the electrolytic plant. The sampling time lasted for 2 days. Before and after each sampling period, the filter was conditioned at constant relative humidity (50%±2%) and temperature (22℃±2℃) for 24 h and weighted to obtain the weight of suspended dust. The dust-laden filter was placed in Soxhlet extractor and the organic material was extracted for 8 h with 250 ml of spectrograde benzene. The benzene solution was filtered, concentrated to 10 ml and then lyophilized to have the dust organic extract. The dust organic extract was fractionated with a modified method of Wynder and Hoffmann into three fractions: organic acid, organic alkali and neutral. The neutral part was divided into aliphatic hydrocarbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and polar compounds. The dust organic extract and its five fractions were dissolved in DMSO, and stored in the dark at 4℃. The mutagenic activities of these fractions were detected with two Salmonella typhimurium strains (TA98 and TA100). Both of the two strains bring R factor, and very sensitive to mutagenic activity of environmental pollutant. Based on the results of four-step method, they accorded with the experimental standard. A 9000g liver supernatant S9 was prepared from Aroclor 1254-induced male Wistar rats. In the tests of metabolic activation, 50 μl of S9 was used in a plate. Ames test was performed essentially according to the procedure described by Maron and Ames. Dust organic extract and its five fractions were dissolved in DMSO. Three doses of the test were 200 μg/plate, 400 μg/plate and 800 μg/plate, respectively. Meanwhile, blank and positive controls were used, each treatment in triplicate. All of the tests were repeated 3 times.Results Mutagenic activities of the dust organic extract and its five fractions were different from one another although within the concentration range of the test, the dust organic extract and its five fractions all increased in revertants for TA98 and TA100. After addition of S9, revertants increased slightly. Mutagenic activity of the dust organic extract was very strong for TA98 and TA100, and after adding S9, it was higher than that without S9. All polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon showed a mutagenic activity for TA98 and TA100, with and without S9. All polar compounds, detected for TA98, with and without S9, showed mutagenic activities, but they could result in mutagenic activity for TA100 at the concentrations of 400-800 μg/plate only. Organic acid showed mutagenic activity only at the concentrations of 400-800 μg/plate for TA98 and TA100, with and without S9. In the same conditions, no mutagenic activities were detected in the other two fractions, namely organic alkali and aliphatic hydrocarbon, either for TA98 or TA100, with and without S9.Conclusions The dust organic extract derived from an aluminum electrolytic plant and its three fractions, namely organic acid, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and polar compounds, showed mutagenic activities. According to the results of this study, protective measures should be taken to abate the dust in aluminum plants, control carcinogens and mutagens, and to protect the environment and human health.

ObjectiveTo explore the association between air pollutants and hospital outpatient visits in a district of Shanghai. MethodsDaily meteorological data， environmental data， data of outpatient visits to two secondary hospitals and two tertiary hospitals in this district from January 1， 2015 to December 31， 2019 were collected. A Poisson regression generalized linear model was used to analyze the exposure-response relationship between the air pollutants and hospital outpatient visits in this area. ResultsDuring the study period， the total number of outpatient visits in the included hospitals was 17 802 634， with an average daily total of （9 750±4 191） outpatient visits，and an average daily of （761±341） respiratory outpatient visits. In the lag effect of single pollutant model， when the concentration of air pollutant increased by 10 μg·m^-3， PM_2.5， SO₂， NO₂ had the maximum lag effect on the number of outpatient visits in the department of internal medicine for respiratory diseases on lag day 4， day 5 and day 7， respectively. And the RR values and 95%CI were 1.002 0（1.001 3‒1.002 6）， 1.0154（1.012 3‒1.018 5）， and 1.006 1（1.005 3‒1.006 9）， respectively. ConclusionThere is a exposure-response relationship between air pollutants and the number of outpatient visits in each department of the hospitals， and different pollutants have different degrees of lag effects.

Objective To observe the effect of astaxanthin on radiotherapy sensitivity of lung cancer A549 cells transplanted in nude mice. Methods Twenty BALB/c nude mice were divided into four groups:control group (mice were gavaged with pure water containing with 10% DMSO), astaxanthin group (mice were gavaged with astaxanthin suspension containing with 10%DMSO, astaxanthin was given to mice with the dose of 50 mg/kg on the first day, and every other day in the following days with a total of 7 times), radiotherapy group (mice were gavaged with pure water containing with 10%DMSO, the tumor site was given local radiotherapy with a dose of 5 Gy per time and the total dose was 15 Gy) and combination group (mice were given 50 mg/kg astaxanthin and radiotherapy with 15 Gy total irradiated dose). When the minor axis of the tumor reached 5 mm we began experiment. Tumor growth curve was measured by detecting the line of apsides every other day. Mice were killed on the second day after the last time of astaxanthin administration. Weights of tumor were measured by a balance and then tumor mass was processed into paraffin sections. Expressions of proliferating tumor cell antigen Ki-67, phosphorylated-signal transducers and activators of transcription (p-STAT3), and cell apoptosis (measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick- end labeling, Tunnel) were detected by immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with control group, the transplanted tumor growth rate slowed down in other three groups (P<0.05), and tumor growth was the most slowly in the combination group. Tumor weight, Ki-67 and p-STAT3 expressions were decreased gradually in turn in control group, astaxanthin group, radiotherapy group and combination group. The anti-tumor rate and percentage of cell apoptosis were increased gradually in turn. There was significant difference between groups by multiple comparison statistics(P<0.05). Conclusion Astaxanthin enhances radiotherapy sensitivity of human lung cancer A549 cells in nude mice by down-regulating the expression of p-STAT3.

Objective To establish an animal model of annulus fibrosus (AF) partial defect for the repairing of interver?tebral disc (IVD) defect. Methods Image J 1.46r software was used to measure the T12/L1-L6/S1 intervertebral height in ovine lumbar spine X-ray films. AF thickness was measured by axial split disc. A 11 blade was used to make a trapezoid de?fect of upper bottom 3 mm, lower bottom 5 mm, height 5 mm and thickness 3 mm, whose lower bottom toward the nucleus pulposus (NP) in the left front of ovine lumbar IVD in vitro. The minimally invasive lateral approach was used to make the same type of trapezoid defect in the left front of the ovine lumbar IVD in vivo. The trapezoidal defect length of the axial divid?ing disc was measured, AF and a small amount of NP from trapezoidal defect in IVD were weighed, and the production of trapezoidal defect in IVD was evaluated. Results The lumbar intervertebral space height of ovine was (4.45 ± 0.28) mm. There were significant differences in the thickness of AF (4.08±0.50) mm , thickness (3 mm) and height (5 mm) of trapezoidal defect (P<0.05), respectively. There were no significant differences in trapezoidal defects in ovine lumbar IVD in vitro on the upper bottom (3.03 ± 0.09)mm, the lower bottom (5.03 ± 0.09) mm, the height (4.97 ± 0.10) mm, the thickness(3.02 ± 0.06) mm and the trapezoidal defect predetermined value on the upper bottom 3 mm, the lower bottom 5 mm, the height 5 mm and the thickness 3 mm (P>0. 05). The weights of the AF and NP taken out from ovine lumbar IVD in vitro and in vivo were (0.162 ± 0.011) g and (0.166 ± 0.014) g, and there was no significant difference between them (P > 0.05). Conclusion Through the operation of minimally invasive lateral approach, the method of making a trapezoidal defect in the experiments can establish animal model of AF partial defect, which meets the requirements for the repairing of IVD defect, and is simple, safe and reliable.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression is associated with the balance of T-regulatory (Treg) and T-helper 17 (Th17) cells, while the role of microRNAs (miRs) in regulating Treg/Th17 cell balance has not been clarified. This study aimed to assess whether moxibustion could regulate Treg/Th17 cell balance by modulating the miR-221/suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) axis in the RA mouse model. METHODS: A mouse model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established in male DBA/1J mice. Twenty-two days after CIA induction, the mice received daily treatment with moxibustion for 12 times. Pathological scores were assessed according to the levels of synovial hyperplasia. The expression levels of cytokines interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-17 and IL-10 were analyzed in serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4⁺) splenocytes was analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The expression levels of RA-related miRs and target genes were subsequently detected, and the target of miR-221 was confirmed by the dual-luciferase reporter assay. RESULTS: It was revealed that moxibustion treatment decreased the pathological scores and downregulated the expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-17, while upregulated the expression level of IL-10. The Treg/Th17 cell balance was regulated by moxibustion treatment. The expression level of miR-221 was suppressed by moxibustion treatment. Furthermore, SOCS3 was found as the direct target of miR-221, which mediated the function of moxibustion by regulating the Treg/Th17 cell balance. CONCLUSION Moxibustion therapy regulated the Treg/Th17 cell balance by modulating the miR-221/SOCS3 axis in the RA mouse model.
Animals ; Arthritis, Experimental/therapy* ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy* ; Cytokines ; Disease Models, Animal ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-17 ; Interleukin-6 ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred DBA ; MicroRNAs/genetics* ; Moxibustion ; T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory ; Th17 Cells/pathology* ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Objective　To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid（SUA） level and red cell distribution width in patients with acute ischemic stroke（AIS） and its clinical significance. Methods　The clinical and biochemical data were retrospectively analyzed in 481 patients with AIS in the department of neurology at Renji Hospital Baoshan branch affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University from January 2018 to June 2019.Included patients were divided into normal SUA group and high SUA group according to the SUA levels，and the clinical and biochemical characteristics between the two groups were compared. The correlation between SUA level and red cell distribution width was analyzed. Results　There were no significant difference in gender，age，previous medical history（hypertension，diabetes mellitus，coronary heart disease etc.），total cholesterol，low density lipoprotein，red blood cell count，hemoglobin，erythrocyte aggregation index，mean corpuscular hemoglobin，erythrocyte rigidity index，glutamic-oxiracetam transaminase，cysteine level，erythrocyte sedimentation rate，D-dimer，white blood cell，antiplatelet，hypoglycemic，antihypertensive drugs between normal serum uric acid level group and high serum uric acid level group（P>0.05）. There was significant difference in uric acid，creatinine，urea，triglyceride，high density lipoprotein level，erythrocyte hemoglobin distribution width and mean corpuscular volume，red cell distribution width（P<0.05）. The relationship between the serum uric acid level and the red cell distribution width was u-shape. When SUA levels were within the normal range，serum uric acid levels were negatively correlated with red cell distribution width（r=-0.113，P=0.023）. When serum uric acid levels were high，the SUA were positively correlated with red cell distribution width（r=0.380，P<0.001）. Conclusion　The red cell distribution width was increased with high SUA level in patients with AIS. The above findings were helpful to explore the possible mechanism of high SUA in promoting AIS by influencing the red blood cell deformation function.

Objective To explore the composition and distribution of metal and metalloids in fine particulate metter in a certain area of Shanghai through four consecutive years of dynamic monitoring. Methods The sampling point was on the roof of a community health service center in Shanghai, with a height of 12.5 meters.In the four winters of 2014-2017 from Dec. to Feb. next year, samples were continuously collected for 7 days(from 10^th to 16^th) a month and 22 hours for each day.Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used for the determination of metals and metalloids in collected samples. Results The pairwise comparisons between the total metals, Al, Be, Cr, Hg, Pb, Mn, Ni, Se and Tl in any two years were statistically different through the rank sum test.In the Cochran-Armitage trend test, Al showed an upward trend in the whole periods, while Cr, Pb and Ni was on a downward trend.In factor analysis, factor 1 in each year had relatively stable component elements (As, Cd, Pb, Mn, Se), while the internal components of the remaining factors were relatively unstable. Conclusions There may be relatively stable sources of pollution locally.Al, Cr, Pb and Ni have a significant tendency to increase or decrease.