B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA) is an immune checkpoint discovered in the early 21st century. BTLA is a typeⅠtransmembrane protein that belongs to Ig super family. The ligand for BTLA is herpesvirus-entry mediator (HVEM), a TNF receptor family protein. BTLA regulates the homeostasis of γδ T cells and innate lymphocytes (ILCs), promotes the survival of effector T cells and helps them differentiate into memory T cells. BTLA also plays an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of dendritic cells (DCs). Studies have shown that BTLA knockout mice have increased susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Recent studies showed that BTLA also plays a crucial role in allergic diseases (such as allergic conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis) and autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus and ankylosing spondylitis). This article makes a systematic review about recent researches of BTLA in immune diseases.

Objective To review and summarize the experiences of modified extracardiac conduit Fontan operation for heterotaxia syndrome with complex congenital heart disease. Methods There were 11 patients with cynosis complex congenital heart disease, 9 were aspleenia syndrome (right atrium isomerism, including 6 single ventricle with common atrioventricular valve, 2 double outlet right ventricle with atrioventricular discordance, and 1 corrected transposition of the great arteries), and 2 were polyspleenia (left atrium isomerism, double outlet right ventricle with common atrioventricular valve). The mean age was (6.3?3.7)year-old, the mean body weight was (21.0?5.5)kg. 3 patients underwent one-stage modified extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure, 8 patients after bi-directional Glenn operation underwent two-stage procedure. Results During early postoperative period, two patients had low cardiac output syndrome, 1 renal dysfunction; and 1 supraventricle tachycardiac. The time of chest drainage (120*!ml/d) was more than 10 days in 2 patients. 2D-echo showed that superior vena cava blood flow rate was 0.6 to 0.8 m/s, inferior vena cava flow rate was 0.3 to 0.4 m/s. Oxygen saturation were from 0.92 to 0.95 in room air in 9 patients, 2 patients were under 0.86. The exercise capacity was significantly improved. All patients were survived and no early death. At follow-up ranging from 6 months to 2 years, supra vena cava blood flow rate was 0.8*!m/s, inferior vena cava flow rate is 0.4 to 0.7*!m/s. There was no thrombus formation in the conduit. The diameter of fenestration was 0.34*!cm and blood flow from right to left. No pulmonary vein drainage obstruction. Heart function was normal. No atrial arrhythemia were detected. The oxygen saturation in the room air was more than 0.90. No chronic effusion and protein-losing enteropathy, no mid-term death. Conclusion Modified extracardiac conduit Fontan operation is suited for heterotaxia syndrome with complex congenital heart disease. The incidence of arrhythemia is low.

Objective To evaluate the feasibility and advantages of gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via the infraclavicular approach.Methods A single 2-to 4-cm infraclavicular incision was made at the ipsilateral side under local anesthesia.The subplastysmal plane was dissected up to the anterior neck to build a gasless space by mechanical method.Afterwards,by using ultrasonic scalpel,thyroidectomy was performed.Results The procedure was completed in 34 cases with a mean operation time of(120?30) min and mean blood loss of(20?12) ml.After the surgery,3 patients developed subcutaneous fluid and 1 patient had incisional infection,all of the 4 patients were cured by conservative therapy.The 34 cases were followed up for 1 to 30 months with a mean of 18.5 months,during the period,none of them had recurrence.Conclusions Gasless endoscopic thyroidectomy via the infraclavicular approach is a simple and safe method with good cosmetic outcomes.

Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) and endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) combined with small endoscopic sphincterotomy (SEST) in treatment of large choledocholithiasis. Methods 78 patients with large choledocholithiasis from January 2014 to December 2015 were randomly divided into EPBD group, and combination treatment group. The level of bilirubin, transaminase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) before and after the operation, the success rates of stone removal, serum amylase of 24 h after the operation, the operation times of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and whether complicated with postoperative pancreatitis were compared between the two groups. Results There was no significant difference of the success rates of stone removal, serum amylase of 24 h after the operation, the operation times of ERCP between the two groups. The level of bilirubin, transaminase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was declined after EPBD or EPBD and SEST, and the results of the two groups had no statistical significance (P > 0.05). Also there was no significant difference of the incidence of postoperative pancreatitis, postoperative bleeding and postoperative hyperamylasemia between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion EPBD is worthy of promoting because it has a similar clinical efficacy and safety to EPBD and SEST in treatment of large choledocholithiasis.

Objective To establish a method for determination of urinary iodine by an automatic biochemical analyzer,and to analysis the applicability on the detetion of iodine deficiency disorders.Methods An automatic biochemical analyzer was used to determine urinary iodine content.Linear range,detection limit,precision,recovery and so on were studied.Results The linear range was 0-300 μg/L;the detection limit was 1.57 μg/L (600 μl sample);the relative standard deviations (RSD) were 1.30％,0.83％ and 1.05％ when measuring urine samples with iodine concentrations of (84.8±1.1),(156.5 ± 1.3) and (227.7 ± 2.4)μg/L,respectively;the average recovery was 98.0％,100.1％ and 98.6％,and the total average recovery was 98.9％,when measuring urine samples containing three different iodine concentrations.The test results of standard material were all within the required ranges.The difference of measuring 24 urine samptes in the field by this method and the standard method was not statistically significant by paired t test (t =0.35,P ＞ 0.05).Compared with standard method,the amount usage of arsenic trioxide was reduced to 2％ (0.50 to 25.00 mg per sample).Conclusions The method has theadvantages of simple operation,low requirement for environment,and the linear rang of detection is reasonable.Using this method,the usage of highly toxic reagent can be greatly reduced,as well as the risk of harm to personnel health and the level of environment pollution.The standard solution and reagents can be prepared by ourselves,which greatly reduces the costs.With short reaction time,high detection speed and measuring automatically for large numbers of samples,this method for determination of urinary iodine by an automatic biochemical analyzer can be applied in monitoring of iodine deficiency disorders.

Objective To evaluate accurately the cardiac output, an early post-operative indicator for the cardiac function, after cardiac surgery in the neonates with congenital heart diseases and assess the risk factors for surgery, with an aim at exploring the early strategy for decressing the mortality. Methods From January 2007 to November 2007, forty-seven consec-utive neonates with complex congenital heart diseases underwent surgical correction at Shanghai Children's medical center.There were 38 boys and 9 girls with age from 3 days to 29 days [mean age (21.98 +8.15) days] and weight from 2.6 kg to 4.2 kg [ mean (3.49±0.51 ) kg]. 15 patients had delayed sternal clousure. The operations were performed with hypothermia, deep hypothermia low flow, or deep hypothermia circulatory arrest techniques. Cardiac index (CI) was derived from pulse contour analysis and calculated with the PiCCO plus system. Meanwhile, serum cardiac troponin I ( cTnl), mixed venous oxygen saturation ( SvO_2 ) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time were measured. Finally, the risk factors for surgical treatment in survivors and that associated with an increased mortality were analyzed. The association between post-operative cardiac output and the death after surgery was examined. Results Four neonates died after surgery, with a surgical mortality of 8.5%. CIvalue in the neonates [ (2.0±0.3 ) liters per minute per square meter of body surface was less than normal 2.5±0. 3. CI was associated inversely with CPB time but had a positive correlation with SvO_2. No significant difference association between CI and cTnI was observed. The value of cTnl was associated with the type of surgical procedures. Cases for which DHCA and low flow cerebral pefusion technique were used were free from neurological complications, ischemia in the lower extremities and oli-guria. The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass, urgent state of the operation and the abnormal coronary artery were associated with high mortality in the neonates after cardiac surgery. Conclusion The cardiac output of the neonates in whom cardiac pro-cedures were performed is adequate for the the oxygen supply required by the whole body though it is slightly lower than nomad after cardiac surgery. Higher mortality in the neonates during early postoperative period may be due to the complexity of the primary diseases, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, residual abnormalities and severe acidosis before operation. Various techniques for CPB and that for the myocardial protection are safe and can provide an appropriate operative field.

Objective To investigate the acoustic characteristics of snoring sound in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and with simple snoring. Methods 22 patients with OSAHS and 15 with simple snoring were included in this study. Natural overnight snoring was digitally recorded and portable sleep mo-nitoring was performed simultaneously. 10 snores, which were the 1st snores after 10 cycles of obstructive apnea, from each patient in OSAHS group, and 10 snores from each patient in simple snoring group were analyzed in the time and frequency domains. Results The sound waves of snoring in the two groups exhibited different patterns both in the time and frequency domains. The snoring spectrum of patients with simple snoring showed distinct fun-damental- harmonic structures which were not clear in patients with OSAHS. The central frequency of the patients with OSAHS was higher, and 800 Hz power ratio was lower than those of the patients with simple snoring. In the OSAHS group, the central frequency of the patients with moderate-to-severe OSAHS was higher, and 800 Hz power ratio was lower than those of the patients with mild OSAHS. The differences of the two parameters were of statistical significance. Conclusion The snoring sounds in patients with OSAHS and with simple snoring have dif-ferent characteristics in time and frequency domains, indicating that it is feasible to research the OSAHS by way of snore monitoring and analyzing technique.

Objective To evaluate the effect of the modified balloon dilatation intervention on the pharyngeal constriction function of the brainstem stroke survivors with dysphagia using videofluoroscopy-based digital analysis.Methods Thirty brainstem stroke survivors with pharyngeal dysphagia were recruited and randomly divided into a treatment group and a control group,with 15 in each.The treatment group was treated with the modified balloon dilatation in addition to the routine treatment of 30min,respectively,once a daily,3 days a week,whiled a control group was treated with routine treatment of 30min twice a day,3 days a week.Before and after the treatment,the rate and duration of pharyngeal constriction were measured in both groups.Results After the treatment,the rate of pharyngeal constriction in the treatment group was (0.20 ± 0.030),(0.14 ± 0.05) and (0.15 ± 0.04) when swallowing thin liquid,thick liquid and pasty food,significantly better than before the treatment.The duration of the pharyngeal constriction was (990.34 ±96.14),(1010.47 ± 133.64) and (1180.10 ± 121.27) ms,respectively,also significantly better than before the treatment.In the control group,significant differences were also observed in the rate and duration of pharyngeal constriction before and after the treatment.Conclusions Digital analysis based on videofluoroscopy can be used to quantify swallowing function effectively,and the rate and duration of pharyngeal constriction can be used to evaluate the pharyngeal function before and after treatment.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of the combined detection of serum Dickkopf-1 (DKK1 )and EB viral capsid antigen immunoglobulin A (VCA-IgA)in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).Methods Serum levels of DKK1 and VCA-IgA were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)for the 80 patients with NPC and 65 normal controls.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to calculate the diagnostic value.Results The serum levels [M(QR )]of DKK1 in patients with NPC were significantly higher than those in normal controls [580.773 (429.1 46 )pg/ml vs.31 6.1 74 (252.965)pg/ml],with a significant difference (Z=4.846,P<0.000 1 ).ROC curves showed that the opti-mum diagnostic cutoff for serum DKK1 was 611.981 pg/ml,with an area under curve (AUC)of 0.734 (95%CI:0.654-0.81 5,50.0% sensitivity,96.9% specificity).Measurement of VCA-IgA demonstrated an AUC of 0.71 4 (95%CI:0.631-0.798,47.5% sensitivity,95.4% specificity).The combined detection of DKK1 and VCA-IgA demonstrated an AUC of 0.849 (95%CI:0.783-0.91 4,76.3%sensitivity,95.4%spe-cificity).For patients with early-stage NPC,the detection effect of combined detection of DKK1 and VCA-IgA was much better than that in normal controls,with a significant difference (χ2 =23.784,P <0.001 ). Conclusion Serum DKK1 has potential diagnostic value for NPC.Combined detection of DKK1 and VCA-IgA may aid the early diagnosis of NPC.

Objective Vessel injury provokes the release of angiotensin II that influences the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). T lymphocytes produced, interleukin 10 is of immunoregulatory function. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of recombinant human interleukin 10 (rhIL 10) on the proliferation of isolated rat vascular smooth muscle cell and the activity of p44/p42 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) promoted by angiotensin II. Methods Rat aortic VSMCs were cultured and treated with rhIL 10 or angiotensin II, and then co treated with rhIL 10 and angiotensin II. The proliferation was quantified by colormetric assay. The p44/p42 MAPK activity was evaluated by the immunobloting technique using anti p44/p42 phospho MAPK antibody. Results Compared with control group, angiotensin II stimulated significantly VSMCs proliferation(1 311?0 201 vs 0 781?0 236, P 0 05), but significantly inhibited VSMCs proliferation induced by angiotensin II at a dose of 1,10,100 ng/ml (0 984?0 172 , 0 932?0 134 , 0 784?0 097 vs 1 311?0 201, P