Objective This study was focused on the association between neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM).Methods Thirty six patients who satisfied the Bohan & Peter criteria for DM were recruited to this study,among whom 19 were complicated with ILD.Forty seven age and sex matched healthy Chinese volunteers were selected to be control subjects.The plasma samples of these patients were tested for the formation and degradation of NETs.Results DM plasma induced more NETs formation than control plasma did [(246±93) RFUs vs (192±53) RFUs,P=0.002].Compared to control,DM plasma exhibited a signficantry decreased ability to degrade NETs.Further mere,compared with DM patients without ILD (DMNL),DM patients with ILD (DML) could not degrade NETs completely [(83±13)％ vs (59±21)％,P＜0.01].All four DM patients with subacute ILD exhibited a significantly lower ability to degrade NETs than patients with chronic or asymptomatic ILD [(36±14)％ vs (65±19)％,P=0.0139].Conclusion These data show that more NETs formation is induced by plasma and DML fails to completely degrade NETs.These suggest that NETs may play a role in the pathogenesis of DM and DM-associated ILD.

Objective To evaluate the automatic synthesis of 18F-labeled cyclic RGD peptide c(RGDyK)and its biological distribution in the tumor-bearing mice. Methods N-succinimidyl-4-18 F-fluorobenzoate (18F-SFB) was automatically synthesized and then re-dissolved in acetonitrile (MeCN). The cyclic RGD peptide c(RGDyK) was mixed with an hydrous DMSO and N, N-diisopropyl ethylamine (DIPEA). 18F-FBRGD was obtained by the reaction of peptide solution with 18 F-SFB. The final product was purified by HPLC gradient separation system and solid-phase extraction method. The biodistribution study and competition test of N-4-18F- fluorobenzoyl-RGD (18F-FB-RGD) in the tumor-bearing mice was performed. Results The labeling yield of 18 F-FB-RGD was (33.6 ± 3.5)%. The synthesis time was 110 min. The radiochemical purity was more than 98%. The tumor uptake of 18F-FB-RGD was (3.43 ±0.15), (2.61 ±0.14), (2.11 ±0.13), and (1.79 ±0.18) %ID/g, respectively, at 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after injection. The ratio of tumor to muscle activity ranged from 4.26 ±0.69 to 5.80 ±0.78. The tumor uptake decreased dramatically after RGD blockage. The uptake was (0.46 ±0.21) %ID/g and (2.87 ±0.59) %ID/g in the blocked and unblocked mice, respectively, at 60 min after blockage. Conclusions 18 F-FB-RGD can be automatically synthesized and it may become a promising tumor imaging agent.

OBJECTIVETo assess the clinical value of (18)F-FDGPET/CT in the diagnosis of larynx carcinoma. Methods Forty-seven patients with larynx carcinoma or suspected larynx carcinoma underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination within a week before therapy. The value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and staging of the malignancy was compared with that of unenhanced contrast CT.

METHODSForty-seven patients with larynx carcinoma or suspected larynx carcinoma underwent (18)F-FDG PET/CT examination within a week before therapy. The value of (18)F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and staging of the malignancy was compared with that of unenhanced contrast CT.

RESULTSAmong the 47 patients, a definite diagnosis of larynx carcinomas was established pathologically in 43 patients. For detection of primary tumors, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of (18)F-FDG PET/CT were 95.3%, 75% and 93.6%, as compared with 74.4%, 50%, and 72.3% with unenhanced contrast CT scan, respectively, showing significant differences in the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy between the two modalities (Χ=7.340, P=0.007; Χ=7.532, P=0.006). Twenty-six of the 43 patients were identified to have lymph node metastasis, for which (18)F-FDG PET/CT showed a significantly higher diagnostic sensitivity than unenhanced contrast CT (92.3% vs 61.5%, Χ=6.933, P=0.008). In the 46 excised lymph nodes from 19 patients, 26 were found positive for metastasis, for which (18)F-FDG PET/CT showed a diagnostic sensitivity of 92%, significant higher than that with unenhanced contrast CT (64%, Χ=5.71, P=0.017). PET/CT detected synchronous tumor in one case. (18)F-FDG PET/CT resulted in a change of staging in 34.9% of the patients, including upstaging in 14 patients and down-staging in one patient.

CONCLUSION(18)F-FDG PET/CT can be an important means for diagnosis and initial staging of larynx carcinoma.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Multimodal Imaging ; methods ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Objective To construct luciferase reporter vector containing full-length high-mobility group box 1 ( HMGB1, GenBank NM-010439) promoter for the screening of medicine. Methods The full-length HMGB1 promoter was amplified by polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) , and then was inserted into GV238 vector to construct plasmid GV238-HMGB1-P-Luc. GV238-HMGB1-P-Luc combined with internal reference plasmid pRL was co-transfected into Hela cells ( GV238-HMGB1-P-Luc group, which served as positive control group) . Plasmid pGL3-basic combined with pRL was co-transfected into Hela cells (pGL3-basic group, which served as negative control group) . Additionally, lipopolysaccharides ( LPS, 0.2 μg/mL) was used as the activator for the positive control group (LPS group), and then sodium butyrate (SB, 10 mmol/L) was used as the inhibitor for LPS group ( SB group) . At the end of experiment hour 24, luciferase activity was detected. Results The results of digestion, amplification, sequencing and identification showed that the full length of HMGB1 promoter was 2 140 bp, and the DNA sequence was correct, without mutation. Luciferase activity in GV238-HMGB1-P-Luc group was increased as compared with that of the pGL3-basic group ( P<0.05) . Luciferase activity in the LPS group was increased ( P<0.01, compared with that of GV238-HMGB1-P-Luc group) , and then was decreased after the administration of SB ( P<0.01, compared with that of the LPS group) . Conclusion A model of luciferase reporter vector containing HMGB1 promoter has been successfully constructed. Its activity can be increased by LPS, and then is in hibited by SB. The model can be used for further screening of medicine with the activities of regulating HMGB1 promoter.

OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between physical and biological effects of alternating magnetic field and study the influence of the magnetic field on the reproductive function of murine testes.

METHODSThirty ICR mice were randomized into 5 groups: normal control, X-ray radiation, weak magnetic field (1000 Hz), 1 h strong magnetic field and 2 h strong magnetic field (2000 Hz). The mice were sacrificed at 7 days after the exposure for the analysis of testicular sperm motility, observation of histopathological changes in the testis by HE staining and evaluation of the changes by modified Johnsen grade criteria.

RESULTSThe rates of sperm motility were (42.37 +/- 10.24)% in the normal control group, (39.00 +/- 12.35)% in the X-ray radiation group, (36.00 +/- 17.28)% in the weak magnetic field group, (10.72 +/- 5.67)% in the 1 h strong magnetic field group and (4.44 +/- 2.87)% in the 2 h strong magnetic field group, respectively. Johnsen's scores decreased and the testis damage increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONMagnetic field, either strong or weak, may damage the testis function by inducing injury to seminiferous tubules and Leydig cells, thickening of the basal membrane, derangement, exfoliation, massive apoptosis and necrosis of spermatogenic cells in the lumen, situation of the epididymis, and consequently the absence of sperm.

Animals ; Electromagnetic Fields ; adverse effects ; Leydig Cells ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Sperm Motility ; Testis ; cytology ; pathology ; radiation effects

Objective To investigate the prevalence of vitiligo in China through a multi-center and larse-population epidemiological survey.Methods A community-based survey was conducted in 6 cities from 6 provinces.Cluster sampling method was used.Subjects were required to fulfill the self-report questionnaires and received physical examination by dermatologists.EpiData and SPSS11.5 were utilized for statistical analysis. Results Totally,19 974 patients participated in this study,and 17 345 valid questionnaires were retrieved with a return rate of 86.84%.Of them,122 were found to have vitiligo.The prevalence and standardized prevalence of vitiligo was 0.70% and 0.56% in all patients,0.95% (75) and 0.69% in male patients and 0.50% (47) and O.45% in female patients.respectively.A significant elevation was observed in the prevalence of vitiligo in males than in females (P<0.01).The prevalence of vitiligo was increased with age and peaked in patients aging from 60 to 69 years and those over 70 years.The age at onset of vitiligo varied from 0 to 19 years in 21.85% of these patients,from 20 to 49 years in 47.05%.The most connnon type was focal vitiligo,which accounted for 36.06%,while the rarest type wag segmental type (2.46%).The pesitivity rate of family history of vitiligo was 9.84% in patients and 1.31% in community population (P<0.01).About 31.97% of the patients complained of negative influence of vitiligo on quality of life.Conclusions The standardized prevalence of vitiligo is 0.56%in 6 provinces from China.Males seem to have a higher prevalence of vifiligo than females.

BACKGROUNDDespite low morbidity, acute or subacute spinal epidural hematoma may develop quickly with a high tendency to paralysis. The delay of diagnosis and therapy often leads to serious consequences. In this study we evaluated the effects of a series of methods for the diagnosis and treatment of the hematoma in 11 patients seen in our hospital.

METHODSOf the 11 patients (8 males and 3 females), 2 had the hematoma involving cervical segments, 2 cervico-thoracic, 4 thoracic, 1 thoraco-lumbar, and 2 lumbar. Three patients had quadriplegia, including one with central cord syndrome; another had Brown-Sequard's syndrome; and the other seven had paraplegia. Five patients were diagnosed at our hospitals within 3 - 48 hours after appearance of symptoms, and 6 patients were transferred from community hospitals within 21 - 106 hours after development of symptoms. Key dermal points, key muscles and the rectal sphincter were determined according to the American Spinal Injury Society Impairment Scales as scale A in two patients, B in 5 and C in 4. Emergency MRI in each patient confirmed that the dura mater was compressed in the spinal canal, with equal intensity or hyperintensity on T(1) weighted image and mixed hyperintensity on T(2) weighted image. Preventive and curative measures were taken preoperatively and emergency operation was performed in all patients. Open laminoplasty was done at the cervical and cervico-thoracic segments, laminectomy at the thoracic segments, laminectomy with pedicle screw fixation at the thoraco-lumbar and lumbar segments involving multiple levels, and double-sided laminectomy with the integrity of articular processes at the lumbar segments involving only a single level. During the operation, special attention was given to hematoma evacuation, hemostasis and drainage tube placement.

RESULTSNeither uncontrollable hemorrhage nor postoperative complications occurred. All patients were followed up for 1 - 6 years. A marked difference was noted between postoperative and preoperative scales (u = 3.66, P < 0.01). Most patients recovered after therapy, but the recovery of patients treated at our hospitals was superior to that of those transferred from community hospitals (t = 2.95, P < 0.05). Of the patients treated at our hospitals, 4 were cured and 1 was upgraded with scale from A to D, whereas none of those transferred from community hospitals recovered completely, even one remained scale C.

CONCLUSIONSPhysical examination plus MRI is essential to early diagnosis of acute or subacute spinal epidural hematoma. Preventive and curative measures including emergency operation are helpful to the recovery of patients' nerve function.

Acute Disease ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVEThe progression of prostate cancer (PCa) after endocrine therapy varies widely in different PCa patients. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence the progression-free survival time of PCa patients after endocrine therapy in an attempt to improve the prognosis of the disease.

METHODSWe reviewed the clinicopathological data of 116 cases of prostate cancer treated by endocrine therapy, analyzed the clinicopathological factors that influence the progression-free survival time of PCa patients using univariate (log-rank test) and multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, and investigated the correlation among these factors by Spearman rank correlation analysis.

RESULTSIn the stepwise Cox proportional hazard model, the independent prognostic factors for PCa progression after endocrine therapy were found to be Gleason score (P < 0.01) and clinical stages (P < 0.01). The hazard of PCa progression after endocrine therapy increased 2.126 times that of the baseline for each unit of increase in Gleason score, and 6.625 times for each unit of increase in the clinical stage. The pretreatment PSA level was correlated with both clinical stages (P < 0.01) and Gleason score (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONClinical stages and Gleason score were important factors that influenced the progression-free survival time after endocrine therapy in this cohort of PCa patients.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Prostate ; pathology ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; therapy

Objective To investigate the predictive values of Kwon's score,Chumbler's score,Age,Atrial Fibrillation,Dysphagia,Sex,Stroke Severity (A2DS2) score,the Preventive ANtibacterial THERapy in Acute Ischemic Stroke (PANTHERIS) score,Acute Ischemic Stroke-Associated Pneumonia Score (AIS-APS),and prestroke Independence,Sex,Age,NIHSS (ISAN) score for stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods The patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled retrospectively.They were grouped according to whether to be complicated with SAP or not.The demography and baseline characteristics were compared between the SAP group and the non-SAP group.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the independent risk factors for SAP.Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to compare the predictive values of the 6 kinds of scores for SAP.Results A total of 1 427 patients with acute ischemic stroke were enrolled.Three hundred ninety-five patients (27.7％) complicated with SAP within 7 d after onset.There were significant differences in age,gender,past history (pneumonia,atrial fibrillation,smoking),laboratory tests (white blood cell count ＞11 × 109/L,baseline blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L),Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) classification,falling at the time of onset,dysphagia,mechanical ventilation and the modifiel Rankin Scale (mRS) score before onset,baseline Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score,baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and 6 scores between the SAP group and the non-SAP group (all P ＜ 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that age (odds ratio [OR] 1.034,95％ confidence interval [CI] 1.019-1.049;P=0.001),white cell count ＞ 11 × 109/L (OR 4.386,95％CI 2.763-6.905;P=0.001),baseline blood glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/L (OR 1.933,95 ％ CI 1.305-2.864;P =0.001),dysphagia (OR 7.839,95％ CI 4.892-12.563;P =0.001),baseline NIHSS (OR 1.120,95％ CI 1.077-1.165;P =0.001),and baseline GCS score (OR 1.132,95％ CI 1.019-1.257;P =0.021) were the independent risk factors for SAP.The areas under the ROC curves of SAP predicted by the Chumbler's,AIS-APS,A2DS2,ISAN,Kwon's and PANTHERIS scores were 0.830 (95％ CI 0.805-0.855),0.827 (95％ CI 0.802-0.852),0.818 (95％ CI 0.792-0.845),0.788 (95％ CI 0.762-0.814),0.774 (95％CI 0.774-0.803),and 0.727 (95％ CI 0.695-0.758),respectively.There were no significant differences in the area under ROC curves of Chumbler's,A2DS2 and AIS-APS scores between the pairwise comparisons.There were significant differences in the area under ROC curves of the Chumbler's,A2DS2,AIS-APS and ISAN scores between the pairwise comparisons (AIS-APS compared with ISAN:P =0.001;the rests P ＜ 0.001).Conclusions The accuracies of predicting SAP with the Chumbler's,AIS-APS and A2DS2 scores are superior to the ISAN,Known's and PANTHERIS scores,and have higher clinical application value.

Objective: To evaluate Herbert screwing directly via the anterior approach for femoral head fractures of Pipkin type Ⅱ in the youth. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the 16 patients who had been treated at Department of Orthopaedics, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College for femoral head fractures of Pipkin type Ⅱ from August 2016 to June 2018. They were 9 men and 7 women, aged from 18 to 45 years (mean, 25.6 years). Of them, 10 cases who had been complicated with posterior dis-location of the hip received emergency hip reduction(<6 h) before surgical fixation. All the patients underwent Herbert screwing directly via the anterior approach. Their incision length, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, Harris hip scores, therapeutic efficacy and complications were recorded. Results: In this series, the incision length averaged 10.4 cm, operation time 45.6 min, intraoperative blood loss 46.5 mL, and hospitalization time 4.0 d. All the 16 patients were followed up for 11 to 15 months (average, 12.7 months). Their Harris hip scores at preoperation, 3, 6 and 9 months postoperation and at the last follow-up were, respectively, 14.3±2.2, 64.8±2.4, 81.1±4.9, 88.1±4.6 and 91.9±3.4 points, showing a significant difference between any 2 time points (P<0.05). The therapeutic efficacy at the last follow-up by the Thompson-Epstein clinical evaluation was assessed as excellent in 9 cases, as good in 6 and as fair in one. No osteonecrosis of the femoral head or heterotopic ossification was observed by follow-up. Conclusion For young patients with femoral head fracture of Pipkin type Ⅱ, Herbert screwing directly via the anterior approach provides easy exposure and manipulation, does not aggravate the blood supply to the femoral head, decreases incidence of heterotopic ossification, and leads to shorter operation time and quick functional recovery of the hip.