Objective To investigate the effects and mechanism of nerve growth factor(NGF)on the airway inflammation of asthmatic mice.Methods Male SD rats(n=24)were randomly divided into the control group(group A),the asthmatic group(group B),the anti-NGF group(group C),8 mice in each group.The total cell count and classified count of cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF)were performed.The pathological changes of the lung tissues were detected by HE staining.The concentrations of IL-4,IFN-? and NGF in BALF were measured by ELISA.The mRNA expression of IL-4,IFN-? and NGF in the lung tissues were detected by RT-PCR.Results Compared with the group A,not only the number of the total cells and classified cells in BALF significantly increased(P0.05).Conclusion NGF may play a key role in the formation of airway inflammation in the asthmatic rats by promoting the secretion of Th2 cytokines.

Objective　To review the anatomic and visual outcomes of a series of patients with macular holes who underwent vitreous surgery without adjunctive therapy.Methods　We performed a retrospective review of 16 patients who underwent vitrectomy, fluid-gas exchange and perflu oropropane(C3 F8) gas temponade for 14 eyes with idiopathic and 2 eyes with traumatic macular holes.Results　Anatomical closure of the macular holes was achieved in 15(93%) of 16 eyes with an average follow-up of 7 months. Only one eye needed performing second surgery. Three(19%) eyes achieved postoperative visual acuity of 0.4, four (25%)eyes 0.2～0.3,and nine(56%)eyes 0.1 or worse. Conclusions　Vitreous surgery without adjunctive therapy with intraocular gas tamponade and postoperative posturing is a well tolerated and effective intervention for idiopathic or some traumatic macular holes. Anatomical closure of the macular hole is associated with a significant improvement in visual acuity in most eyes.

Ten cell strains were obtained from the human gastric cancer cell line BGC-823 by using the method of single cell cloning. Through inoculation of these cell strains in nude mice and subsequent observation of their metastatic capability, four cell lines, C_1, C_6 with high, and C_5, C_8 with low metastatic capability were selected out; and their biological and morphological properties were studied. It was demonstrated that all of them did not show apparent difference in growth ability, but morphologically, the mictovilli of C_5 and C_8 cells were scarce and short; and their microfilaments were thick, straight and well organized. Whereas the microvilli of C_1 and C_6 strains were long and abundant comparatively, but their microfilaments were poorly organized. On the basis of present observation,we suggested that the organization of microfilaments in cancer cells appeared to bear reversed relationship with their metastatic capability.

Objective To investigate the reduce of experimental autoirnmune encephalomyelitis(EAE) susceptivity after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure in neonatal rats and its relation with inhibition of macrophage immune function.Methods Litter male neonatal rats were divided into blank control group (n=1 1),phosphate buffer (PBS) group (n=12) and LPS group (n=12);rats in the LPS group were performed intraperitoneal injection of 50 μL LPS on postpartum day 3 and 5.Rats in the PBS group and LPS group were established EAE models by immune induce of spinal cord homogenate of guinea pig with complete Freund's adjuvant at 12 weeks old,while rats in the blank control group were given immune induce of complete Freund's adjuvant.Since the day of induce,the behavioral scale scores of all the rats were assessed.On the 20th d,all rats were sacrificed and paraffin sections were cut and stained with HE to detect inflammatory cell infiltration.The number of infiltrating macrophages and the expressions of CD86,CD80,MHC-Ⅱ were determined by flow cytometry.The transcriptional levels of C-C chemokine receptor type 2 (CCR2),interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in macrophages were determined by real-time fluorogenic quantitative PCR.Results As compared with the PBS group,LPS group had significantly lower EAE incidence (11/12 vs.5/12) and higher EAE latency ([10.50±0.71] d vs.[12.17± 1.17] d),and statistically decreased cumulative clinic scores and peak clinic scores (20.00±9.13 vs.5.58±7.12;2.58±1.08 vs.1.03±0.83,P＜0.05).The inflammation in the spinal cord of the PBS group was severer than that in the LPS group (2.83±0.75 vs.1.17±1.17,P＜0.05).The number of infiltrating macrophages of the PBS group was significantly larger than that in the LPS group ([202.70 ±81.89] × 103 cells vs.[92.58 ±42.65] × 103 cells,P＜0.05).The expressions of CD80 and MHC-Ⅱ,and mRNA levels of CCR2,IL-1β and TNF-α in the PBS group were significantly higher than those in the LPS group (P＜0.05).Conclusion Neonatal LPS exposure reduces the severity of EAE,which may relate to impaired macrophage immune function.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical application value of MR amide proton transfer weighted imaging (APTWI) in predicting the pathological grade of brainstem glioma (BSG).Methods:The data of 41 BSG patients in Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University from August 2019 to June 2020 who underwent both MRI and APTWI 2 weeks before surgery and had pathological grading results were retrospectively analyzed. According to the pathological results, 41 patients were classified into high-grade BSG (20 patients) and low-grade BSG (21 patients). Combined with conventional MR images, the signal intensity (%) of amide proton transfer (APT) in the parenchymal area of the tumor was obtained on APTWI images. χ 2 test or independent sample t-test was used to analyze the differences in gender distribution, age and APT signal intensity between patients with high and low grade BSG. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn to predict the efficacy of APT signal intensity in the differential diagnosis of high and low grade BSG, and Youden index was calculated to obtain the optimal diagnostic threshold; the predictive ability of APT signal intensity was analyzed in combination with Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness of fit test. Results:There was no significant difference in age [(23±18) years, (20±17) years, t=0.97, P=0.340] and gender distribution (9/11, 9/12 for males/females, χ 2=0.02, P=0.890) between high-grade and low-grade BSG patients. The APT signal intensity of high-grade BSG [(3.9±0.9)%] was significantly higher than that of low-grade BSG [(2.8±0.9)%], and the difference had statistical significance ( t=4.16, P<0.001). The area under the ROC curve of APT signal intensity to distinguish high-grade and low grade BSG was 0.836, and with 2.85% as the optimal diagnostic threshold of APT signal intensity, its sensitivity for the diagnosis of high-grade BSG was 90.0% and specificity was 71.4%. The Hosmer-Lemeshow test showed that APTWI had a good predictive ability for BSG grade (χ 2=13.33, P=0.101). Conclusion:APTWI can be applied in distinguishing high grade BSG from low grade BSG, and has clinical value in predicting glioma grading.

Objective To analyze the predictive value of serum levels of procalcitonin(PCT)and cytokines on the prognosis of patients with COVID-19 at admission.Methods From November 2022 to February 2023,patients diagnosed with COVID-19 who were admitted to Beijing Chest Hospital were enrolled.Chemiluminescence was used to detect serum PCT levels,and flow microsphere array was used to detect serum cytokines IL-1β,IL-2,IL-4,IL-5,IL-6,IL-8,IL-10,IL-12p70,IL-17A,IL-17F,IL-22,TNF-α,TNF-β,IFN-γ level.ICU admission,mechanical ventilation and in-hospital death were defined as poor prognosis.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.After excluding patients with bacterial infection,the relationship between serum PCT and cytokine levels at admission and the prognosis of COVID-19 patients was analyzed.Results A total of 176 patients with complete data were included,including 134 in the PCT-normal group and 42 in the PCT-elevated group,with a median age of 71.50 years and 71.59%males.Patients in the PCT elevated-group had significantly higher rates of ICU admission(38.41%vs.13.11%,P<0.05),mechanical ventilation(76.92%vs.24.59%,P<0.001)and in-hospital mortality(38.46%vs.6.56%,P<0.001)were significantly higher than those in the PCT-normal group.Serum levels of cytokines IL-6(7.40 pg/mL vs.4.78 pg/mL,P = 0.033 4)and IL-8(10.97 pg/mL vs.5.92 pg/mL,P<0.001)were significantly higher in patients with poor prognosis than in those with good prognosis.The area under the curve for PCT,IL-6,and IL-8 to predict poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients was 0.687,0.660,and 0.746,respectively;sensitivity was 52.78%,55.17%,and 72.41%,respectively;and specificity was 81.58%,74.19%,and 74.19%,respectively,as calculated from the ROC curve.When PCT,IL-6 and IL-8 jointly predict the prognosis of COVID-19 patients,the area under the curve is 0.764,the sensitivity is 70.00%,and the specificity is 80.00%.Conclusion Serum PCT and cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 could be used as predictive markers for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control. Methods One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ² = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously. Conclusion Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.