The Janus kinase (JAK) /signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway plays an important role in the occurrence of dermatomyositis. JAK inhibitors can block signal transduction dependent on JAK/STAT pathway-related factors, and inhibit immune cell activation and T cell-mediated inflammatory responses. So far, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved rheumatic arthritis and myelofibrosis as the indications of JAK inhibitors, but there have been many reports on JAK inhibitors for the treatment of refractory dermatomyositis. This review summarizes the role of JAK/STAT pathway in the pathogenesis of dermatomyositis, the mechanism of action and clinical application of JAK inhibitors in the treatment of dermatomyositis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the proteasome inhibitor, gliotoxin, combined with the endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer, tunicamycin, could enhance the apoptotic death of tumor cells. METHODS: MTT assay was used to detect the cytotoxicity. The combined drug index (CDI) was used to evaluate the synergistic effect. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the apoptosis rate. The protein expression level was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The IC50 of gliotoxin and tunicamycin is (1.44±0.23) and (26.14±6.14) μmol·L-1, respectively. In the effective concentration, gliotoxin combined with tunicamycin could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and induce typical apoptotic morphological changes. The combination was synergistic according to the result of MTT assay. As measured by flow cytometry, the combination remarkably increased the apoptosis rates of HT-1080 cells, especially for 0.2 μmol·L-1 gliotoxin combined with tunicamycin, the apoptosis rate was up to 66.6% and CDI was 0.649. The expression changes of apoptosis-related proteins such as caspase-8, caspase-3, PARP and NF-kB were detected when treated with the combination. CONCLUSION: Gliotoxin can improve the chemosensitivity of fibrosarcoma HT-1080 cells to tunicamycin and enhance the apoptosis of tumor cells induced by tunicamycin. Thus, our study may provide a new drug combination to antitumor therapy.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of the vascular ultrasound testing technique on detecting large arterial lesions in neck. MethodsVascular ultrasound testing and digital substraction angiography(DSA) were performed on 75 arteries in 53 consecutive patients with chronic cerebral ischemia, transient ischemic attack(TIA) or cerebral infarction.The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of vascular ultrasound testing on moderate stenosis(50%—69%), severe stenosis(70%—99%),or occlusion of arterial lesions in neck were analysed by means of cross tabulation, using DSA as the standard of reference. ResultsThe sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of vascular ultrasound testing on arterial lesions of moderate stenosis, severe stenosis and occlusion were 85.7%,78.9%,84.0%;90.2%,88.2%,89.3%;93.3%,95.0%,94.6%,respectively.The complete corresponding rate between the two type of tests was 73.3%. ConclusionThe vascular ultrasound testing technique shows high accuracy on detecting large arterial lesions, especially on severe stenosis or occlusion in neck. It can be applied extensively in prevention and treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.

Background Fungal keratitis has a high incidence in China and its clinical treatment is very difficult,and its etiology diagnosis and appraisal is the premise to improve the prognosis of disease.With the changes of regional environment and climate in recent years,whether the spectrum of fungal keratitis change in South China is remarkable.Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate recent pathogenic distribution of fungal keratitis in South China area.Methods The consecutive fungal culture resuhs of 3 350 purulent keratitis at Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center from January 2009 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.The positive rate of fungal culture,genus or species distribution,seasonal distribution and different term distribution were analyzed.Results The culture-positive rate was 31.34％ in this study (1 050/3 350),and the average culture-positive number was 175 strains per year.In the positive fungus,the highest positive rate was Fusarium SP (32.10％,337/1 050),and followed by Aspergillus SP (25.71％,270/1 050),Heminthosporium SP (14.29 ％,150/1 050) and Mucor SP (9.14％,96/1 050).The fungal culture-positive rate was 36.05％ (367/1 018) in 2009 to 2010,32.45％ (324/1 014) in 2011 to 2012,and 26.86％ (354/1 318) in 2013 to 2014,respectively,with a significant difference among the three periods (x2 =22.37,P＜0.01),showing a decreasing tendency of incidence.Two hundreds and sixtyone strains were isolated from January to March (31.15 ％,261/838),182 strains from April to June (25.53 ％,182/713),237 strains from July to September (30.00％,237/790),370 strains from October to December (36.67％,370/1 009),showing a statistically significant difference among them (x2 =25.19,P ＜ 0.01).The number of infectious strains was most during October to December and fewest during April to June.Conclusions The leading pathogenic fungi of fungal keratitis is Fusarium SP and followed by Aspergillus SP,Helminthosporium SP,Mucor SP in turn.Fungal keratitis is usually prevalent from October to December,and its incidence is still rising in Chinese mainland recently.However,the increasing tendency in South China has been prevented in recent six years.

OBJECTIVETo explore the basic features of the prostate carcinoma Gleason grading system of the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP).

METHODSWe analyzed the means and proportions of the Gleason score (GS), primary grade (PG), secondary grade (SG) and third grade (TG) of 667 cases of prostate carcinoma.

RESULTSThe means of GS, PG, SG and TG were 7.06 +/- 1.10, 3.53 +/- 0.66, 3.53 +/- 0.72 and 4.30 +/- 0.96, respectively. The cases with GS 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 accounted for 0.4% (3/677), 37.2% (252/677), 34.4% (233/677), 13.7% (93/677), 12.0% (81/677) and 2.2% (15/677), respectively; those with GS < or = 6 and > or = 7 constituted 37.7% (255/677) and 62.3% (422/677); those with GS3 + 3, 4 + 3 and 3 + 4 made up 37.2% (252/677), 19.2% (130/677) and 15.2% (103/677); and the TG cases held 10.3% (70/677), including 30.0% (21/70) of grade 3, 10% (7/70) of grade 4 and 60.0% (42/70) of grade 5.

CONCLUSIONOur study showed a high proportion of GS, a low proportion of GS < or = 6, and a high proportion of GS > or = 7 in the ISUP prostate carcinoma Gleason grading system. TG of GS needs to be further understood.

Humans ; Male ; Neoplasm Grading ; methods ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation between age and Gleason score (GS) in patients with prostate adenocarcinoma.

METHODSThis study included 674 patients with pathologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma. We determined the GS, primary grade, and secondary grade of the cases, and compared them among different age groups.

RESULTSThe mean age of the patients was (70.22 ± 8.26) yr, ranging from 25 to 96 years, (69.06 ± 8.35) yr in those with GS 6, (70.55 ± 8.16) yr in GS 7, (70.99 ± 6.54) yr in GS 8, (71.56 ± 9.18) yr in GS 9, and (72.79 ± 11.36) in GS 10. The mean GS, primary grade, and secondary grade were 7.08 ± 1.09, 3.54 ± 0.72, and 3.53 ± 0.66, respectively, and the mean GSs in the < 60 yr, 60-69 yr, 70-79 yr, and ≥ 80 yr groups were 6.86 ± 1.10, 6.99 ± 1.10, 7.08 ± 1.04, and 7.38 ± 1.23, respectively. Those with GS 6, 7, and ≥ 8 accounted for 37.7%, 34.3%, and 28.0%, respectively. The patients aged < 60, 60-69, 70-79, and ≥ 80 years constituted 10.5% (71/674), 30.6% (206/674), 47.6% (321/674), and 11.3% (76/674), respectively. The age of the patients was significantly correlated with GS (r2 = 0.013, P = 0.003) and the primary grade (r2 = 0.014, P = 0.002), but not the secondary grade (r2 = 0.005, P = 0.055).

CONCLUSIONOf the prostate adenocarcinoma patients, those aged ≥ 70 years form a larger proportion, and those with GS ≥ 7 comprise a higher percentage. The age of the patient is correlated with Gleason score but has a limited value in its prediction.

Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Grading ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; pathology

Objective To evaluate the application of MSCT 3D reconstruction technology without contrast on pulmonary arterio-venous malformation(PAVM).Methods The clinical and imaging data of 12 cases with PAVM confirmed by DSA were analyzed ret-rospectively.The plain scan with 16 slice spiral CT scanner performed pulmonary 3D reconstruction at post-processing work station by methods of MPR,MIP and VR.Results All cases could be diagnosed accurately,and images could clearly show the spatial struc-tures and its relations of the feeding arteries,draining vein and aneurysmal sac.Conclusion MSCT post-processing technique of PAVM without contrast is able to make a precise diagnosis,and to show the configuration of PAVM,which does not need contrast medium and acquirelow radiation dose.

To provide suggestions for perfecting essential drug centralized bidding and purchasing system. Methods:Using literature method to analyze comparatively essential drug bidding purchasing implement plans of 30 provinces in China. Results:Bidding mode in most provinces was double envelope system. Most evaluation methods did not distinguish the quality level, while there were great differences among provincial evaluation standard and scores of economic, technical and business bidding. Conclusion: To explore scientific and reasonable evaluation standard, it needs to establish an authoritative evaluation system for reference, choose the objective index as far as possible and properly increase the amount of bidding manufacturer.

Objective To investigate the roles of iron ion in the development of experimental hydrocephalus in rats. Methods Seventy-five Sprague-Dawley female rats were divided into 3 groups randomly,that is,the iron group,the semi-iron group and the artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) control group. FeC13 of 5 ?l dissolved in artificial CSF with the concentration of 6.67 g/L and 3.33 g/L were slowly infused into the right lateral cerebral ventricle of the rats in the iron group and in the semis-iron group respectively. The rats in the artificial CSF control group were infused 5 ?l artificial CSF. The rats were sacrificed 1,14 and 28 d later to measure the transverse diameter of the lateral ventricle for the evaluation of hydrocephalus and the index of ventricle,and pathology of brain was also observed. Results There were significant difference of hydrocephalus between the iron group (9/10) and the semis-iron group(1/5) at 28 d (P

At present, lung cancer has entered a new era of immunotherapy. However, a single immunotherapy is unable to satisfy the requirements of the immune microenvironment. More and more different combined immunotherapy schemes have become effective methods to overcome immune resistance. As a promising target in the novel immunotherapy, cancer-testis antigen (CTA) is a highly specific tumor antigen to produce a powerful anti-tumor immune response that is almost only expressed in malignant tumors. This article reviews the research progress of CTA's expression, function and immunotherapy application in lung cancer.