Myeloid-derived suppressor cells are a heterogeneous population of early myeloid progenitors,immature granulocytes,macrophages,and dendritic cells at different stages of differentiation.These cells have the capacity to suppress both the innate immunity response mediated by the cytotoxic natural killer cells and natural killer T cells,and the adaptive immune response mediated by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.In addition,myeloid-derived suppressor cells have close links with macrophages,dendritic cells,regulate T cells and so on,and also play an important role in the process of tumor progression.

Natural killer T(NKT) cells are a heterogeneous group T cells that share properties of both natural killer cells and T cells,play an important role in tumor immunity.Related researches have confirmed that actived NKT cells can inhabit tumor progress,but activated NKT cells commonly become anergic for some unknown reasons after a short time.This article reviews researches on the possible mechanisms and solutions to NKT cells anergy.

AIM: To evaluate the changes of serum total prostate specific antigen (T-PSA), free prostate specific antigen (F-PSA) and the ratio of F-PSA to T-PSA (F/T) in patients with prostate cancer (PCa) and its clinical significance. METHODS: The concentrations of T-PSA and F-PSA in serum were measured by micropartical enzyme immunoassay (MEIA) using AxSYM System, and the F/T ratio was calculated. RESULTS: Before operation, the concentrations of T-PSA and F-PSA in patients with PCa were much higher and F/T ratio was significantly lower than that in patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). T-PSA and F-PSA levels decreased, but F/T ratio increased after operation in PCa and BPH. F/T ratio in 83.5% PCa and 6.5% BPH was less than 0.16. To diagnosis PCa, the sensitivity of F/T ratio was 83.5%, and the specificity was 86.7%. CONCLUSION: Serum T-PSA, F-PSA and F/T ratio are important parameters for the early diagnosis of prostate cancer. [

Objective To investigate the ultrasound characteristics,etiology and prognosis in hydrops fetalis.Methods From September 2002 to May 2010,156 hydrops fetalis presented in Shenzhen Maternity and Child Healthcare Hospital were studied retrospectively,including ultrasound characteristics,etiology,and prognosis.Results All of the 112 typical hydrops fetalis,20 cases with isolated ascites,8 cases with isolated pleural effusion,7 cases with isolated pericardial effusion,5 cases with isolated subcutaneous edema,4 cases with isolated placental thickening were observed by ultrasonography.The major etiology and associated diagnosis consisted of 35.9％ (56/156) of non-immune anemia,9.6％ (15/156) of cardiac abnormalities,7.1％ (11/156) of intrauterine infection,6.4％ (10/156) of twin problems,5.8％ (9/156) of meconium peritonitis,5.1％ (8/156) of thoracic-lung disease,4.5％ (7/156) of chromosomal abnormalities,1.9％ (3/156) of immune anemia.Alpha thalassemia was the most common non-immune anemia (96％,54/56).An etiology and associated diagnosis could be determined in 81.4％ ( 127/156 ) of cases.Follow-up data showed that 7 cases were fetal death,110 women elected to terminate their pregnancies,3 cases lost follow-up,the other 36 cases preserve continuing pregnancy,including 28 liveborn infants and 8 fetal deaths.Etiology of twin-twin transfusion syndrome,meconium peritonitis,congenital chylothorax,intrauterine infection,cardiac abnormalities and so on had survived fetuscases.The survival rate of typical hydrops fetalis in the present series was 3.6％ ( 4/112 ).Conclusions Ascites is the most common characteristics of sonogram in hydrops fetalis.The etiology of hydrops fetalis is extremelycomplex.The prognosis is associated with the etiology and hydrops subtype.

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyze clinical data of patients who has left-side valvular disease combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation and evaluate the effect of our modified tricuspid annuloplasty with enforcement of artificial felt strip.Methods76 patients who had left-side valvular disease combined with severe tricuspid regurgitation received operations between Jan.2008 and Jun.2010.The average age of the patients was 53.5 years old (32 male and 44 female).Besides the severe tricuspid regurgitation, other combined cardiac impairments included mitral valvar disease (52 cases), aortic valvar disease(5 cases), double valvar disease(19 cases) and left atrial thrombosis(22 cases).6 patients had grade II cardiac function according to the NYHA criteria, while 47 and 23 were in grade III and IV, respectively.Other signs included cyanosis(5cases), jaundice(11 cases), neck vein engorgement(48 cases) , ascites(22 cases), hepatomegaly(41 cases) and pitting edema in the lower limbs(68 cases).The concomitant operative procedures included mitral valve replacement in 52 patients,aortic valve replacement in 5 patients, double valve replacement in 19 patients, removal of left atrial thrombus in 22 patients,left atrium folding in 21 patients and left atrium appendage suture in 68 patients.Left-sided valve disease were corrected first,TAP was performed on the beating heart after the heart had been defibrillated.The anteroseptal commissure was plicated first.A double-armed 3-0 pledgeted suture was taken through the base of the septal leaflet, 5-6 mm from the commissure, extending along the annulus, and out from the point in the anterior annulus 10-12 mm from the anteroseptal commissure.Both ends of the suture was tied until the two Teflon pledgets approximated each other near the commissure.Then a semicircular De Vega type of plicating with a 3-0 prolene was taken, starting just from the anterior annulus near the anteroposterior commissure, and extending clockwise to a point just cephalad to the posteroseptal commissure.The suture was tied with positioning a 27-29 mm valve siser across the tricuspid valve.At last, a 3-5 mm width felt strip was prepared and was sutured to the plicated posterior annulus region with interrupted mattress sutures of 2 to 3 2-0 prolene.A favorable result was considered when TR was not marked by saline injection.Echocardiography was routinely examined one week postoperatively and patients were followed up 6 month after discharge.ResultsThere is no death in all patients.The CVP diminished significantly from 16mmHg preoperatively to 8mmHg postoperatively (P = 0.0021).The systomic pulmonary pressure diminished from 59 mmHg preoperatively to 41 mmHg postoperatively (P = 0.038).Echo one week postoperative showed no tricuspid regurgitation in 56 patients and mild in 18 patients, while 2 had moderate tricuspid regurgitation.The diameter of right atrium diminished significantly postoperatively, too.The ejection fraction was improved even though there was not significant difference as compared with preoperative data.The cardiac function of all patients improved and the signs of right heart failure were alleviated or disappeared.Follow up 1 to 36 months showed no change of the regurgitation except for one become moderate from mild when discharged.No hepatic congestion or edema was observed in all patients.ConclusionThese new modifications make the technique more selective in the remodeling of the tricuspid annulus.It could achieve better coaptation of the anterior leaflet with the others, successful annular reduction, better maintenance of the contractile property of the tricuspid ring, better distribution of pursing force in the more dilated region.It could prevent the tear of the endocardium in the posteroseptal region in the long period of time postoperatively.

The effects of repaglinide combined with glargine (n=31)on glucose metabolism and β-cell function were observed in the patients with type 2 diabetes after secondary sulfonylureas failure and the results were compared with glimepiride combined with glargine (n=32). The preprandial capillary blood glucose, postprandial capillary blood glucose and HbA1C in both groups after 6-month treatment were significantly reduced as compared with those at baseline (all P＜0.01). The treatment with repaglinide(2 mg tid) plus glargine was more efficient than glimepiride(4 mg qd) plus glargine in improving β-cell function, ameliorating HbA1C and postprandial blood glucose excursions in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Objective To investigate the effect of hypoxic postconditioning and diazoxide postconditioning on the calreticulin expression during hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) in rat cardiomyocytes. Methods Primary cultured male SD rat cardiomyocytes were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 8 each): control group (group C),H/R group; hypoxic postconditioning group (group HP) and diazoxide postconditioning group (group DP). Group C were cultured continuously for 2 h. Group H/R, Hp and DP were exposed to 45 min hypoxia (95% N2-5% CO2)followed by 1 h reoxygenation. In group HP, the cells were subjected to three cycles of 3 min hypoxia at 3 min intervals at the end of 45 min hypoxia before 1 h reoxygenation. In group DP, diazoxide 50 μmol/L was giyen at the end of hypoxia. Caspase-3 activity, calreticulin expression and intracellular free calcium ion concentrations were determined. Results Compared with group C, caspase-3 activity was significantly increased in the other groups,the calreticulin expression was up-regulated in group HP and DP, and the free calcium ion concentrations were increased in group H/R (P ＜ 0.05 or 0.01). Compared with group H/R, caspase-3 activity was significantly decreased in HP and DP, the calreticulin expression was up-regulated and the free calcium ion concentrations were decreased in group HP and DP (P ＜ 0.01). Conclusion Hypoxic postconditioning and diazoxide postconditioning attenuate H/R injury in rat cardiomyocytes through up-regulating the expression of calreticulin and reducing intracellular calcium overload.

Objective:To confirm the safety and feasibility of totally thoracoscopic repair with leaflet folding, multiple artificial chordae implantation and ring annuloplasty for mitral regurgitation(MR) in Barlow disease.Methods:From June 2018 to December 2019, 10 consecutive Barlow’s disease patients underwent totally thoracoscopic repair with leaflet folding, multiple artificial chordae implantation and ring annuloplasty. The safety and feasibility of this technique was evaluated by its early clinical outcomes.Results:8 males and 2 females. The mean age was(33.5±11.0) years.There was no operative death and related complications. The mean cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) time was(142±26)(112-194)min, and the aortic clamping time was(96±18)(78-128) min. The average number of artificial chordae implantation was(3.4±0.7)(2-4) pairs/case. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) showed the mean mitral valve coaptation length and transvalvular pressure gradient was(1.2±0.2)(0.8-1.5) cm and(1.2±0.4) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa), respectively, without MR or systolic anterior motion(SAM). During a follow-up of 1-18 months, there were 7 cases with no MR and 3 with trace MR, with a mean transvalvular pressure gradient of( 1.5±0.6 )mmHg.Conclusion:Totally thoracoscopic repair with leaflet folding, multiple artificial chordae implantation and ring annuloplasty was a safe and effective procedure with satisfied early clinical outcomes for MR in Barlow’s disease. However, further randomized and long-term follow-up studies were warranted to determine its clinical effects.

Objective To design a new cancer vaccine by using alpha-galactosylceramide (α-Galcer,α-GC) loaded tumor cells in combination with TLR 9 ligand and to evaluate its therapeutic effects on colon canc-er in mice.Methods MC38 cells were transfected with lentivirus (GFP-CD1d) to prepare CD1d-MC38 cells. The expression of CD1d molecules in CD1d-MC38 cells was detected by fluorescence microscopy , RT-PCR and flow cytometry.The sorted CD1d-MC38 cells were loaded with α-Galcer to prepare CD1d-MC38/α-GC complex. Flow cytometry was performed to evaluate the efficiency of combination .A mouse model of colon cancer was es-tablished to investigate the therapeutic effects of α-Galcer loaded tumor cells in combination with TLR 9 ligand ( CD1d-MC38/α-GC+CpG1826) on colon cancer in mice by analyzing tumor growth and mice survival time .Im-munohistochemical staining was used to detect CD 4+T and CD8+T infiltrating lymphocytes in tumor tissues .Re-sults The MC38 cancer cells that expressed CD 1d and GFP were successfully constructed , among which 98.10%±2.53%were positive for CD1d.Moreover, the CD1d-MC38 cells could combine with α-Galcer effec-tively in a dose and time dependent manner .Compared with PBS treated group ,α-GC treated group and TLR9 ligand treated group , the experimental vaccine strategy was sufficient to inhibit the growth of established tumors and prolong survival of tumor-bearing mice (P<0.01).Immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that levels of CD4+T cells and CD8+T cells in experiment group were significantly higher than those in groups treated with PBS,α-GC and TLR9 ligand (P<0.01).Conclusion CD1d-MC38/α-GC in combination with CpG1826 could efficiently inhibit the growth of established tumors and prolong survival of tumor-bearing mice .Immunohisto-chemistry analysis revealed that CD 4+T cells and CD8+T cells played important roles in anti-tumor immunity.