Objective To detect EPPB41L3 methylation frequency difference between esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissues and the normal tissues and between ESCC patients′plasma and healthy volenteers′plasma, and to analyze the correlation with clinicopathological parameters. Methods We collected esophageal squamous cell carcinoma tissues (n = 42 patients) and adjacent surrounding normal tissues (n = 42 patients), and plasma from 42 patients with ESCC and from 50 healthy individuals. We used methylation specific PCR (MSP) combined with agarose gel electrophoresis to detect the methylation status of the EPB41L3. We used the SPSS 13.0 software for statistical analysis by χ2 test and Fisher′s exact test. Results EPB41L3 frequency of methylation was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in the adjacent tissues (59.5% vs. 4.8%), the difference was statistically significant (χ2 = 28.873, P < 0.001). For plasma, EPB41L3 methylation frequency was 31.0%in cancer patients, while was not detectable in the healthy volunteers. Methylation of EPB41L3 in tissues was more frequently found in patients with tumor size of ≥ 5 cm or T3 than in patients with tumor size of < 5 cm or T1-2. Conclusions The methylation frequency of EPB41L3 is higher in ESCC tissues than in control normal tissues, and higer in plasma from ESCC patients than that from the healthy volunteers. EPB41L3 methylation is more frequently found in patients with more advanced disease.

Objective:To understand the changing trends of HIV testing rates, with a focus on HIV self-testing, and to evaluate the impact of HIV self-testing on expanding HIV testing among MSM in China in past few years.Methods:MSM were recruited online nationwide via a gay social networking app (Blued) from 2013 to 2016 and 2018. The survey collected information about socio-demographic backgrounds, sexual behaviors, and prior HIV testing experiences, including HIV self-testing. Trend analyses were conducted.Results:Respectively, 1 342, 1 424, 1 173, 2 105 and 699 MSM were recruited nationwide from 2013 to 2016, and in 2018. The mean age was (30.6±6.6)years in 2013 and showed a decreasing trend afterwards. The HIV testing rate was 60.0% (805/1 342) in 2013 and there was a rising trend from 2013 to 2016, and 2018 (trend Z =19.3, P <0.001), reaching a peak at 77.3% (540/699) in 2018. Further, the HIV self-testing rate increased from 19.3% (259/1 342) in 2013 to 58.1% (406/699) in 2018 ( χ2=237.5, P <0.001). The proportion of MSM who had HIV self-testing among prior HIV testers significantly increased from 32.2% (259/805) to 75.2% (406/540) during the study period (trend Z =14.3, P <0.001). Conclusions:The HIV testing rate, HIV self-testing rate and proportion of men who had HIV self-testing among former HIV testers among web-based Chinese MSM showed substantial increases from 2013 to 2016,and 2018. This suggests that HIV self-testing may have a significant effect on the expansion of HIV testing coverage in MSM, and has important public health implications for HIV/AIDS prevention in China.