Objective To determine the expression of CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ regulatory T cells(Treg cells) in peripheral blood of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and investigate the clinical significance of Treg cells determination in clinical practice. Methods Flow cytometry was employed to measure the levels of CD4+ CD25+ T cells and CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T cells in peripheral blood of 18 HCC patients, 26 hospitalized patients without HCC (clinical control) as well as 24 healthy persons (healthy control). Results The percentage of CD4+ CD25+ T cells in total CD4+T cells isolated from the HCC patients(4.25% ± 3.98 % ) was elevated significantly compared to that in the clinical control group (1.34% ± 1.14%) or healthy control group (1.29% ±0.95%) (both P＜0.01). There was no difference in the percentage between the clinical control group and the healthy control group (P＞0.05). Meanwhile, the ratio between CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T cells and CD4+ T cells in HCC patients (2.94%0.91%) also increased significantly compared to that in the clinical control group (0.76% ± 0.34%) or healthy control group (0.81% ± 0.29%) ( both P＜0. 001), which showed a more obvious increasing tendency than the ratio of CD4+ CD25+ T cells and CD4+ T cells. No difference in percentage of CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T cells in CD4+ T cells was found between the clinical control group and the healthy control group (P＞0.05). Conclusion As the more accurate regulatory T cells, CD4+ CD25+ FOXP3+ T cells are able to detect the increase of population in HCC patients. Therefore, it is important to determine the levels of CD4+ CD25+FOXP3+ T cells in HCC patients for prevention and treatment of malignancy.

Background Clinical work found that triamcinolone acetonide (TA)bleeding during vitrectomy in proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR),but its mechanism is not clear.Objective This study was to explore the anastalsis of TA in vitrectomy for PDR.Methods A prospective study was performed.Twelve eyes of 12 patients who received vitrectomy combined with the intraocular use of TA for PDR were in cluded in Tianjin Medical University General Hospital from 2011 to 2014 and served as TA group.Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients who underwent vitrectomy for epimacular membrane or macular hole were enrolled as control group.The vitreous specimens of 0.6 ～0.8 ml was collected during the surgery.The concentrations of urokinase plasminogen activator (u-PA),tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and plasminogen activator inhibitors 1 (PAI-1) in vatreous were measured by ELISA.Results The mean contents u-PA,t-PA and PAI-1 in the vatreous were 25.45,127.44 and 0.42 ng/ml respectively in the TA group,and those the mean contents in the control group were 22.94,142.37 and 0.27 ng/ml respectively,shouwing a significant difference between the TA group and the control group (Z=-2.268,P＜0.05).NO significant difference was found in vitreous t-PA and PAI-1 between TA and control groups (Z =-0.092,-1.847,both at P＞0.05).Conclusions Vitreous u-PA content is increased in PDR eyes,which is more likely to lead bleeding.Anastalsis of TA during vitrectomy for PDR may be relatived to decreasing vitreous t-PA and u-PA contents as well as increasing PAI-1 contents.

Objective:To observe the preventive effects of infliximab in autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and to explore its mechanism.Methods:The mice AIH model was established by injecting concanavalin A (Con-A) into the caudal vein. Forty mice were divided into prevention group and control group, with 20 mice in each group. The mice of prevention group were injected intravenously with infliximab (20 mg/kg) one hour before Con-A injection and the mice of control group were administrated with 200 μL phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Serum was collected 3, 8, 12 and 24 h after Con-A/PBS injection. The serum level of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was detected by colorimetry. The level of cytokine interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), IL-4, IL-17A, IL-10 and chemokine C-X-C motif ligand 10 (CXCL10) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Liver samples were taken 12 h after Con-A/PBS injection for hematoxylin-eosin staining. Liver infiltrated lymphocytes were assessed by flow cytometry. The expression of T-box transcription factor 21 ( TBX21), GATA binding protein 3 ( GATA3), RAR related orphan receptor C ( RORC) and CXCL10 at mRNA level was evaluated by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The expression of CXCL10 in liver was detected by Western blotting. Paired t test and one-way analysis of variance were used for statistic analysis. Results:At 8, 12, and 24 h after Con-A injection, the serum ALT level, AST level, IL-1β and IFN-γ of prevention group were all lower than those of control group ((545.8±190.3) U/L vs. (865.8±237.7) U/L, (947.6±267.9) U/L vs. (1 448.0±403.5) U/L, (508.6±131.1) U/L vs. (976.6±207.6) U/L; (620.7±132.0) U/L vs. (952.9±106.8) U/L, (801.6±212.0) U/L vs. (1 424.8±236.0) U/L, (632.1±117.8) U/L vs. (1 008.3±187.5) U/L; (31.38±10.12) ng/L vs. (48.12±11.53) ng/L, (39.34±11.40) ng/L vs. (60.00±14.17) ng/L, (29.49±8.22) ng/L vs. (46.89±5.50) ng/L; and (432.93±66.82) ng/L vs. (674.66±97.88) ng/L, (655.09±169.17) ng/L vs. (937.90±166.36) ng/L, (263.40±54.97) ng/L vs. (410.74±86.64) ng/L), and the differences were statistically significant ( t = 2.350, 2.308, 4.263, 4.374, 4.860, 3.806, 2.440, 2.541, 3.939, 4.560, 2.660 and 3.210; all P<0.05). The serum IL-6 levels 3, 8, 12 and 24 h after Con-A injection of prevention group were all lower than those of control group ((1 075.79±303.77) ng/L vs. (1 914.48±317.80) ng/L, (1 945.97±271.85) ng/L vs. (2 100.80±378.42) ng/L, (1 578.60±504.54) ng/L vs. (2 525.40±406.55) ng/L, (1 020.64±280.03) ng/L vs. (1 582.00±311.96) ng/L), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=4.266, 2.903, 3.267 and 2.994; all P < 0.05). At 3 h after Con-A injection, serum CXCL10 level and CXCL10 mRNA expression in liver tissues of prevention group were both lower than those of control group ((1 755.8±148.1) ng/L vs. (2 102.0±334.0) ng/L and 7.20±3.00 vs. 27.60±1.90), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.356 and 2.623, both P<0.05). At 3 and 8 h after Con-A injection, T- bet expression at mRNA level in liver tissues of prevention group was lower than that of control group (6.94±2.29 vs. 15.20±3.48 and 9.38±3.48 vs. 18.17±4.48), and the differences were both statistically significant ( t = 4.427 and 3.673, both P<0.05). However, 3, 8, 12 and 24 h after Con-A injection, there were no statistically significant differences in serum IL-4, IL-17A, IL-10, or GATA3 or RORC expression at mRNA level between prevention group and control group (all P > 0.05). Conclusions:Infliximab has certain preventive effects in mice AIH model, which may be achieved by antagonizing TNF-α and decreasing the expression of CXCL10 in liver, reducing the infiltration of T-helper 1 cells and CD8 + T cells into liver, and by reducing T lymphocyte activation induced by inflammatory cytokines thus alleviating the damage of T lymphocytes to hepatocytes.

Objective Explore differences in the cognitive abilities of socially different Labradors.Methods The dog mentality assessment(DMA)test created by the Swedish Working Dog Association was modified to employ 12 behavioral variables from five subtests of the DMA test,social contact,play Ⅰ,distance-play,ghosts and play Ⅱ,to assess sociability of the dogs.In accordance with the scoring criteria,49 labradors provided by the China Guide Dog Training Centre in Dalian were scored on the social behavioral variables and classified into high(n=15)and low(n=34)sociability groups by cluster analysis.A new system to test canine cognitive ability was developed using the dog cognitive development battery,which tests various domains of cognitive ability such as social cue use,unsolvable task,inhibitory control,cognitive flexibility,working memory,and multistep problem solving task.The dogs'behavioral performance and duration of the test were also recorded.Statistical analysis was performed to determine assess differences in the cognitive abilities of socially diverse dogs.Results Dogs in the high and low social subgroups differed significantly in behavioral variables of the unsolvable task,inhibitory control test,and multistep problem solving task.In the unsolvable task,dogs in the high social group looked at people for significantly longer than dogs in the low social grouping(P=0.008)and looked at people with significantly less latency time than dogs in the low social group(P=0.0001).In the inhibitory control,dogs in the high social group chose significantly more correctly than dogs in the low social group(P=0.034)and chose for significantly less time than dogs in the low social group(P=0.039).In the multistep problem solving task,for dogs in the high social group.successfully completed number of stakes was significantly higher than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.044).The percentage of operation pale time was significantly lower than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.05).The average latency time to solve the bone task was significantly higher than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.037).Moreover,the percentage of operation bone time was significantly lower than for dogs in the low social group(P=0.038).In tests involving a manipulable apparatus,dogs in the high social group spent more time looking at people than dogs in the low social group and less time manipulating the apparatus than dogs in the low subgroup,but no statistically significant differences were observed(P＞0.05).Conclusions Highly sociable labradors have a greater cognitive ability,they are more able to suppress impulses during tests,more able to complete the multistep problem solving task,and more inclined to change strategies to seek new cues from people rather than obsessing over manipulating the apparatus when they are unable to solve a problem.

ObjectiveTo investigate the characteristics of health-related physical fitness of patients with chronic neck pain, and the relationship between neck pain and physical fitness. MethodsFrom Match to June, 2020, 30 healthy controls and 30 patients with chronic neck pain in Dalian University of Technology were included. They were assessed with Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Visual Analog Scale for pain (VAS). The body composition, grip strength (dominant), shoulder joint flexibility, cardiopulmonary endurance and neck muscle endurance of all the participants were measured. ResultsThe content of standardized subcutaneous fat was more, and the trunk muscle content was less in the patients than in the healthy controls, while the standardized grip strength, endurance of neck flexor and extensor, right shoulder flexibility, absolute maximum oxygen uptake were all poorer (|t| > 2.088, P < 0.05). The score of VAS correlated (P < 0.05) with the score of NDI score (r = 0.407), grip strength (r = -0.406), endurance of neck extensor (r = -0.384), right shoulder joint flexibility (r = -0.551) and absolute value of maximal oxygen uptake (r = -0.510). ConclusionHealth-related physical fitness has been impaired for patients with chronic neck pain, and correlates with the intensity of pain.

Objective:To observe the level of microparticles in the vitreous of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and preliminarily explore the role of microparticles in the pathogenesis of PDR.Methods:A case control study. From January to December 2018, 54 cases of 54 eyes of PDR patients (PDR group) and 20 cases of non-diabetic retinopathy patients (control group), who were diagnosed and treated with vitrectomy (PPV) in the Department of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital vitreous samples were included in the study. Among 54 eyes in the PDR group, there were 42, 21, and 17 eyes with vitreous hemorrhage (VH), traction retinal detachment (TRD), and previous intravitreal injection of drugs, respectively. Among the 20 eyes of the control group, idiopathic macular hole, idiopathic anterior macular membrane, vitreous macular traction syndrome, and complete lens dislocation were 6, 6, 2, and 6 eyes, respectively. The PDR group was divided into uncombined TRD group and combined TRD group according to PDR stage and whether TRD occurred, with 33 and 21 eyes, respectively. According to the presence or absence of VH, they were divided into groups with VH and without VH, with 42 eyes and 12 eyes, respectively. According to whether anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drugs were injected into the intravitreal cavity 3 days before PPV, they were divided into anti-VEGF drug group and no anti-VEGF drug group, with 17 eyes and 37 eyes respectively. The levels of retinal photoreceptor cells (RMP), platelets (PMP), endothelial cells (EMP) and phosphatidylserine (PS-MP) expressing on the membrane surface in the sample were detected by flow cytometry. The comparison between the two groups of samples was performed by t test, and the comparison between multiple groups of samples was performed by one-way analysis of variance or Mann-Whitney test. Results:Compared with the control group, the vitreous RMP level of the PDR group was significantly decreased, and the EMP and PMP levels were significantly increased. The differences were statistically significant ( t=-2.361, 5.064, 3.531; P=0.018, <0.001, 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in PS-MP levels between the two groups ( t=-1.617, P=0.110). Compared with the TRD group, the levels of RMP and PMP in the vitreous of the TRD group were significantly increased, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.221, -2.098; P=0.031, 0.041). The level of EMP in the vitreous body of the anti-VEGF drug group was significantly lower than that of the non-anti-VEGF drug group, however, it was still higher than the control group. The difference was statistically significant ( Z=-2.430, -2.499; P=0.015, 0.012). The level of PMP in the vitreous body of the eye without VH was significantly higher than that in the group with VH, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-3.097, P=0.003). Conclusions:The elevated levels of EMP and PMP in the vitreous of PDR patients may be related to the damage of retinal capillaries; intravitreal injection of anti-VEGF drugs before surgery can reduce the level of EMP. VH may be related to the procoagulant effect of PMP.

Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus, characterized by neurodegeneration and microangiopathy. Currently, the treatment of DR is mainly focused on the management of late complications and has not achieved the desired clinical outcome. Evidence suggests that the PI3K/AKT pathway, as one of the important intracellular signaling pathways during the cell cycle, is involved in the whole process of DR pathogenesis. This article focuses on the structural composition, activation and blocking pathways, conduction pathways, regulatory mechanisms and biological functions of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway to review its role in DR and to explore the potential of targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway for the treatment of DR.