Abstract: TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway has a wide range of biological activities and plays an important roles in regulating cell growth, adhesion, differentiation, cell dynamic balance, and immune responses. The higher activity of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway may promote scar formation, organ fibrosis, immunosuppression, and late-stage cancer progression, while low activity may lead to inflammation, dysplasia, poor healing and oncogenesis. The function of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is extremely complex and can exhibit inhibitory or enhancing effects on immunity and inflammation under different circumstances, but immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects are dominant. During HIV infection, the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway interacts with HIV in a complex manner as HIV proteins tat and gp120 can induce TGF-β expression. Meanwhile, this signaling pathway may also play a role in HIV infection and replication, latent virus reservoir, host immune deficiency and HIV-related inflammation. It is worth noting that even though TGF-β, which mainly exhibits anti-inflammatory effects, is induced by HIV, high levels of TGF-β do not seem to inhibit HIV-related inflammation. So far, the relationship between TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and HIV infection has not been elucidated, and its role and mechanism in HIV infection and related illnesses need further exploration and validation. This review summarizes the relevant research progress on the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway and HIV infection, and provides a reference for further understanding of HIV pathogenesis and exploring strategies of AIDS treatment.

Objective: To analyze the death among children under 5 years of age in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province from 2012 and 2021, so as to provide insights into reduction of mortality among children. Methods: The mortality surveillance data among children under 5 years of age in Huzhou City from 2012 to 2021 were collected from Children Death Report Cards and Surveillance Report among Children under 5 Years of Age, including gender, place of residence, date of death and death diagnosis. The trends in mortality and cause of death were analyzed among children under 5 years of age in Huzhou City from 2012 to 2021. Results: A total of 1 262 deaths occurred among children under 5 years of age in Huzhou City from 2012 to 2021, with mean annual mortality of 4.39‰, and the mortality appeared a tendency towards a decline (χ2trend=132.695, P<0.001). A total of 899 infants died, with mean annual mortality of 3.13‰, and 363 children at ages of 1 to <5 years died, with mean annual mortality of 1.26‰. The mortality appeared a tendency towards a decline among both infants (χ2trend=117.778, P<0.001) and children at ages of 1 to <5 years (χ2trend=19.201, P<0.001). A total of 724 local children died, with mean annual mortality of 3.33‰, and there were 538 deaths among floating children, with mean annual mortality of 7.65‰. The mortality appeared a tendency towards a decline among both local (χ2trend=43.728, P<0.001) and floating children (χ2trend=94.038, P<0.001). The five most common causes of death included preterm birth or low birth weight (207 deaths, 16.40%), drowning (155 deaths, 12.28%), accidental asphyxia (138 deaths, 10.94%), other congenital abnormalities (126 deaths, 9.98%), and congenital heart diseases (113 deaths, 8.95%). Conclusions The mortality appeared a tendency towards a decline among children under 5 years of age in Huzhou City from 2012 to 2021, and preterm birth or low birth weight was the predominant cause of death.

Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Maple Syrup Urine Disease ; diagnosis ; genetics ; therapy

Objective To determine the prevalence and clinical features of peripancreatic vascular abnormalities in patients with pancreatitis.Methods The clinical data of 102 pancreatitis patients between January 2013 to December 2014 in the General Hospital of Shenyang Military Command who underwent contrast enhanced CT or contrast enhanced MRI scans were retrospectively analyzed.The radiological features of peripancreatic vascular abnormalities in such patients were examined, and the clinical features of pancreatitis patients with or without peripancreatic vascular abnormalities were investigated.Results Peripancreatic vascular abnormalities were found in 18 patients(17.6%), and vascular abnormalities were relatively common in portal vessels.No significant differences were observed on the age at onset, gender ratio, smoking status, alcohol consumption and length of stay between patients with and without peripancreatic vascular abnormalities.Compared with those without peripancreatic vascular abnormalities, patients with peripancreatic vascular abnormalities had a significantly higher incidence of peripancreatic fluid collection, pancreatic pseudocyst and gastric varices, and the differences were statistically significant(all P<0.05).Conclusions Peripancreatic vascular abnormalities can be complicated with pancreatitis.Enhanced CT or enhanced MRI were valuable in the diagnosis.Pancreatic pseudocyst, peripancreatic fluid collection and gastric varices were more common in pancreatitis complicated with peripancreatic vascular abnormalities.

To improve the quality of tea.ching,investigating the effect of practice-based in the teaching of human parasitology by department of parasitology in our school.We take medical laboratory science professional as an example,the parasite teaching is the traditional model of infusion teaching at present,besides the classical contents,it is difficult for some courses to meet the needs of social development at present,which has deficiency in attracting students' interest.Based on the optimization of teaching content,and teaching methods for the teaching process,part of contents were carryed out on the base of cultivating students' ability to practice.The objective of this teaching model is to solve practical problems as the goal,particularly focus on learning process of solving the problem.These results show that the teaching model based on culturing students' ability to practice could better embody the idea of studentcentered teaching,to some extent,it helps to stimulate students' independent thinking ability,and enhance students' learning achievement,and cultivate students' analysis and problem-solving ability,practical ability and teamwork spirit.

Objective To assess CT characteristics of acinar cell carcinoma of pancreas(ACCP).Methods Ten patients (9 males,1 female,median age 62 years ) with ACCP proved histopathologically were collected during January 2001 to August 2010.The unenhanced and contrast-enhanced CT were performed in all patients.Results The tumors were distributed in the uncinate ( n =4 ),head ( n =1 ),neck ( n =1 ),body ( n =2 ),and tail ( n =2 ) of pancreas.The average tumor size is 6.7 cm( range 2.0 to 15.0 cm).Two patients whose size over 10 cm were solid-cystic tumors,the rest were solid. All patients demonstrated a defined border,no-infiltrate to surround organs and blood vessels.The tumors enhanced less than adjacent normal pancreatic parenchyma in arterial phase and portal venous phase.All patients could be seen uniform and partial thin and enhancing capsules.Seven patients had no influence on pancreatic (bile) tube.Three patients caused the main pancreatic duct to expansion,one patients caused intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts to expansion. Conclusion ACCP has distinct characteristics in CT and these characteristics are related to its histopathology findings.

Objective To assess imaging appearances of yon Hippel-Lindau disease (VHLD).Methods The clinical and imaging data of ten patients who met VHLD gene diagnostic criteria were retrospectively analyzed.Seven underwent CT abdominal scan,three underwent MRI abdominal scan.All patients underwent MRI cranial scan.Eight patients were treated by surgery,and three of them underwent endoscopic ultrasound guided aspiration biopsy of pancreatic tumors.Results All patients had multiple cysts of the pancreas,eight patients suffered multiple cysts of kidneys.Three patients suffered multiple islet cell tumors of pancreas:one was accompanied with pancreatic serous cystadenoma,another was accompanied with left adrenal pheochromocytoma.Three patients had bilateral renal cell carcinoma (one of them had the right kidney cut off),one patient had right renal cell carcinoma.Two patients suffered cerebellar hemangioblastomas,and one of them was accompanied with mutiple spinal hemangioblastomas and the left retinal hemangioblastoma.Two patients with multiple cysts of pancreas and kidneys had not been found any tumor.Conclusion Multiple cysts of pancreas and kidney are highly suggestive of VHLD.At the same time,endocrine tumors of pancreas,serous cystadenoma of pancreas,adrenal pheochromocytoma,renal carcinomas,multiple hemangioblastomas of central nervous system and retinal hemangioblastoma can also occur in VHLD.

Objective To establish age related reference value for the new reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent (RET-He) parameter in healthy children aged one to thirteen years. Methods Reticulocyte hemoglobin equivalent was measured by Sysmex XE-2100 after completing daily internal quality control in 424 healthy children and the outlying observations was handled afterward, Age related reference value anddistribution of RET-He level were described as the 2.5th and 97.5th centiles, and the equation regardingage related reference value was established through curve fitting methods. Results After grouping accordingto sex, the medians of boys and girls in RET-He were 31.30 pg,31.80 pg. Non-parametric test showed therewas no differences between the boys and girls. When the data from two group was integrated together, thefitted equations of RET-He were: P2.5 =-0.008X3+0.125X2 - 0.178X+26.456; P97.5= 0.021X2-0.184X+34.670(X refers to age) ; R2 were 0.85 and 0.90,respectively(P <0.05). There was statisticallysignificance for the above equations. Conclusions The reference value of RET-He in healthy children isdifferent from those in adult. The equations can be used to produce age related reference value. It could beuseful for anemia diagnosis, differential diagnosis and hematopoiesis screening at early stage.

Objective To explore the characteristics of dipyridamole 201 Tl myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) SPECT in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Thirty patients with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent pharmacological stress 201Tl MPI SPECT after intravenous infusion of dipyridamole (0. 56 mg/kg) for 4 min. The early and delayed SPECT images were acquired respectively at 10 and 240 min after 201Tl injection. The images were analyzed and reported by two or three experienced nuclear medicine physicians. Results All patients were found to have abnormal perfusion patterns at delay imaging, however 90.00% (27/30) were also abnormal at early images. Six patients had reverse redistribution. Conclusion Dipyridamole 201Tl MPI SPECT imaging may be of some value for the assessment of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective To investigate the morphological and functional alterations of peritoneum in uremic rats undergoing peritoneal dialysis(PD). Methods Thirty-five male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group(sham operated group,n=6),uremia group(5/6 nephrectomy,n=6) and uremia with PD group(n=18).Uremia with PD group was subdivided into three subgroups according to different dialysis period(10 d,4 weeks and 8 weeks,n=6).Omenta were obtained for morphological examination,and peritoneal equilibration tests(PET) were performed to assess the transport function of peritoneal membrane. Results The number of blood vessels per high-power field in the uremia group,uremia with PD group and uremia with PD subgroups(5?3,10?5,17?5 and 19?4) were significantly increased compared with the control group(1?1),and that was much bigger in the uremia with PD group than the uremia group(P