Objective To explore the immune function of the whole body and the tumor site of human nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients as well as its correlation with CCR4. Methods The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+cells to lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry in tissues (25 cases) and peripheral blood (35 cases) from nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients, and then statistical analysis was made. Results The ratios of CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+ cells in tissue and peripheral blood of NPC were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). In NPC the ratios of the two cells in tissue were higher than in peripheral blood respectively (P<0.05), but there was no such difference between tissue and peripheral blood in the control group (P>0.05). The ratio of CD4~+CD25~+T cells in tissue at stage Ⅲ+Ⅳ was higher than that at stage Ⅰ+Ⅱ of NPC (P<0.05), but there was no such difference between the two stages in peripheral blood in NPC. There was a positive correlation between CD4~+CD25~+T cells and CCR4+ cells in tissue and peripheral blood of NPC (P<0.05). Conclusion NPC patients have different immunosuppression, and there is even more severe immunosuppression in the tumor site. The ratio of CD4~+CD25~+T cells is correlated with the stage of NPC. Therefore, as NPC progresses to later stages, the percentage of CD4~+CD25~+T cells is increased, which is correlated with poor prognosis. CCR4 plays an important role in reactant of CD4~+CD25~+T cells to tumor sites, and is resistant to immunosurveillance.

Objective To explore the effect of nucleos(t)ide analog (NA)antiviral treatment on the pathological differentiation of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)and the prognostic factors of HCC.Methods Totally 127 patients with HBV-related HCC who were hospitalized and received partial hepatectomy in First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from March 2007 to November 2013 were included in this study.Sixteen cases received antiviral treatment before operation and the remaining 111 cases had no history of NA treatment.The differences of histopathological grading were compared between the two groups.Twenty-nine patients received antiviral treatment for the first time after surgery,and the rest 82 patients did not.All these patients were followed up for survival and recurrence.Multivariate analysis was used to explore the prognostic factors for HCC.The categorical variables were analyzed byχ2 test or Fisher exact test.Survival rate was compared with Log-rank test. Univariate or multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to explore the related factors of survival. Results The proportions of well-,moderately- or poorly-differentiated HCC in patients with antiviral treatment before surgery were 18.75 %,68.75 % and 12.5 %,respectively.Whereas the proportions in those without treatment were 16.22%,66.67% and 17.11 %,respectively.There was no significant difference in histopathological grading of HCC between the two groups (χ2=0.224,P =0.885 ).The overall median survival time was 39 months.The 6-month,1-and 2-year survival rates were 91 .7%, 77.5 % and 59.3%,respectively.The 6-month,1- and 2-year survival rate of postoperative antiviral treatment were 96.3%,92.4% and 78.5 %,respectively,which were significantly higher than those of no antiviral treatment group (85 .9%,70.0% and 48.5 %,respectively;χ2= 6.967,P = 0.008 ). Univariate analysis showed that tumor number,size,portal vein transfer,AFP level,postoperative antiviral treatment,histopathological grading,TNM staging,BCLC staging,γ-GT and PTA were prognostic factors for postoperative HCC survival.Multivariate analysis showed that AFP level (HR=1 , 95 %CI :1 .0004—1 .002,P =0.004),postoperative antiviral treatment (HR =0.38,95 %CI :0.38—0.15 ,P =0.04)and BCLC stage (B vs A:HR=1 .55 ,95 %CI :0.76—3.18;C vs A:HR=3.63,95 %CI :1 .31 —10.09,P =0.04)were independent prognostic factors.Conclusions Preoperative antiviral treatment has no impact on the histopathological grading of HCC. BCLC stage, AFP level and postoperative antiviral treatment are independent prognostic factors for HBV-related HCC.

Objective To investigate the application of Critical Care Chest Ultrasonic Examination (CCUE)-plus (CCUE-plus) in the etiological diagnosis in patieuts with dyspnea and/or hemodynamic instability caused by abdominal abnormalities.Methods Patients who suffered from dyspnea and/or hemodynamic instability in the Department of Critical Care Medicine,Xiangya Hospital,Central South University from September 2013 to September 2016 were recruited in this study.A total of 255 consecutive patients completed CCUE within 2hrs of admission.If the diaphragm could not be seen in the routine phrenic points according to Bedside Lung Ultrasound Evaluation (BLUE) protocol,it would be found along midaxillary line and defined m-point.The 59 patients with altered diaphragmatic position (m-point was more than 2 cm higher than phrenic point) received sequential abdominal ultrasonography.The latter ultrasonographic findings were compared with CT results.Results There were 42 (71.19％) cases with positive findings of abdominal ultrasonography,including 18 cases of seroperitoneum,16 cases of intestinal obstruction and 8 cases combined.Compared with 56 patients who applied with CT exam,the abdominal ultrasonography revealed a sensitivity of 76.7％ and a specificity of 100.0％ to diagnose seroperitoneum (AUCRoc 0.917);whereas the sensitivity was 75.0％ and the specificity was 90.9％ (AUCRoc 0.778) to diagnose intestinal obstruction.Moreover,there were 44 (74.58％) patients with normal left ventricular systolic function;more than three quarters (46/59,77.97％) patients had pulmonary consolidation.Conclusion In patients with dyspnea and/or hemodynamic instability caused by abdominal abnormalities and altered diaphragmatic position in BLUE protocol,CCUE-plus protocol has a high positive predictive value of more than 90％ in abdominal abnormality.The findings of abdominal ultrasonography may change therapeutic target from cardio-pulmonary optimization to relief of intestinal obstruction or drainage of seroperitoneum.

BACKGROUND: Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is one of the main activators of heart failure. Currently, no drug can completely reverse or inhibit the development of pathological cardiac hypertrophy. To this end, we proposed a silicate ion therapy based on extract derived from calcium silicate (CS) bioceramics for the treatment of angiotensin II (Ang II) induced cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS: In this study, the Ang II induced cardiac hypertrophy mouse model was established, and the silicate ion extract was injected to mice intravenously. The cardiac function was evaluated by using a high-resolution Vevo 3100 small animal ultrasound imaging system. Wheat germ Agglutinin, Fluo4-AM staining and immunofluorescent staining was conducted to assess the cardiac hypertrophy, intracellular calcium and angiogenesis of heart tissue, respectively. RESULTS: The in vitro results showed that silicate ions could inhibit the cell size of cardiomyocytes, reduce cardiac hypertrophic gene expression, including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and b-myosin heavy chain (b-MHC), decrease the content of intracellular calcium induced by Ang II. In vivo experiments in mice confirmed that intravenous injection of silicate ions could remarkably inhibit the cardiac hypertrophy and promote the formation of capillaries, further alleviating Ang II-induced cardiac function disorder. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the released silicate ions from CS possessed potential value as a novel therapeutic strategy of pathological cardiac hypertrophy, which provided a new insight for clinical trials.

Objective:To retrospectively summarize the clinical experiences of managing renal artery stenosis after donor kidney transplantation in children.Methods:From January 2018 to October 2021, 114 pediatric kidney transplants(donor/recipient aged <18 years)were performed.According to the findings of color Doppler ultrasonography, they were divided into two groups of normal( n=80)and rapid flow( n=34). Rapid flow group were assigned into symptomatic( n=13)and asymptomatic( n=21)sub-groups based upon clinical features of hypertension and renal instability. Results:Among them, there were 65 males and 49 females.A significant inter-gender difference existed in the proportion of higher arterial flow rate of transplanted kidney(38.5% and 18.4%, P=0.02). No significant difference existed in age or body weight of transplant recipients among all groups( P>0.05). The mean age(10.4 months)and body weight(9 kg)of donors were significantly lower in symptomatic group than those in normal group(65.3 months, 21 kg)and asymptomatic group(64.4 months, 21.2 kg). The mean velocity of symptomatic group was significantly higher than that of asymptomatic group(363.5 vs 228.8 cm/s)( P<0.001). In symptomatic group, 6 cases received medications and their clinical manifestations were completely relieved.Among 7 patients invasively treated, one percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA)was offer once( n=2), twice( n=2)and triple( n=1)with clinical relief and stable renal function.One case of bleeding at puncture site during PTA had treatment failure with a gradual loss of graft function.One ineffective case of PTA was subsequently placed with an endovascular stent.However, repeated stent dilation failed due to restenosis.After surgical exploration, vascular stent removal and transplantation of renal artery clipping, clinical symptoms were relieved. Conclusions:Male recipient, low body weight or young donor may be risk factors for transplant renal artery stenosis(TRAS)during pediatric donor renal transplantation.A higher flow rate of transplanted renal artery on ultrasonography could not confirm the diagnosis of TRAS.Greater arterial flow and associated clinical manifestations often hint at a strong possibility of TRAS, requiring drug or invasive treatment interventions.If PTA efficacy is not satisfactory, multiple treatments should be performed.Nevertheless, stenting should be avoided as far as possible to prevent in-stent restenosis.

Objective:To investigate the effects of subanesthetic concentration of sevoflurane on the plasticity of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex neurons of juvenile rats.Methods:Thirty-six clean-grade male Sprague-Dawley rats, aged 24 days, weighing 50-60 g, were divided into control group (group C) and sevoflurane anesthesia group (group S) using a random number table method, with 18 rats in each group.Group S inhaled 1.2% sevoflurane and 50% oxygen (flow rate 1 L/min) for 3 h, while group C inhaled 50% oxygen (flow rate 1 L/min) for 3 h. Open-field test and Morris water maze test were performed at 3 days after anesthesia.Animals were sacrificed, and brain samples were then taken for determination of the number of apoptotic neurons in layer Ⅱ-Ⅲ of the prefrontal cortex, density of dendritic spines, and expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 and gephyrin by TUNEL staining, Golgi staining or Western blot.Results:Compared with group C, no significant change was found in total distance or time of staying at the central region in the open-field test or the average swimming velocity, escape latency or the number of apoptotic neurons in the Morris water maze test ( P>0.05), and the density of dendritic spines was significantly increased, and the expression of postsynaptic density protein 95 and gephyrin was up-regulated in group S ( P<0.05). Conclusion:Subanesthetic concentration of sevoflurane can enhance the plasticity of dendritic spines in the prefrontal cortex neurons of juvenile rats.

Objective:To analyze the relationship between blood electrolytes and the prognosis of patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and to provide assistance for clinical decision-making.Methods:The clinical data of patients with severe COVID-19 admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) of the Wuhan Third Hospital by the Shanghai aid-Hubei medical team from January 21 to March 4, 2020 were collected. Excluding ineligible patients, 110 patients were finally enrolled. The patients' gender, age, temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, clinical symptoms at admission, time of symptom onset, duration of fever, and relevant indicators at admission to ICU (including blood potassium, chloride, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium, etc.) and prognosis were analyzed. The patients were grouped by blood potassium or calcium levels or blood potassium/calcium ratio. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to analyze the survival of patients in each group. The relationship between the potassium/calcium ratio and the prognosis was analyzed using restricted cubic spline plots. The relationship between each index in the different models and the prognosis was analyzed using Cox regression models.Results:Among 110 severe COVID-19 patients, 78 cases survived, and 32 cases died. Compared with the surviving group, patients in the death group had higher blood potassium levels [mmol/L: 4.25 (3.80, 4.65) vs. 3.90 (3.60, 4.20), P < 0.05] and lower blood calcium levels (mmol/L: 2.00±0.14 vs. 2.19±0.18, P < 0.05). The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that patients in the potassium > 4.2 mmol/L group had a worse prognosis than the potassium < 3.8 mmol/L group and the potassium 3.8-4.2 mmol/L group ( P = 0.011), patients in the calcium > 2.23 mmol/L group had a better prognosis than the calcium < 2.03 mmol/L group and the calcium 2.03-2.23 mmol/L group, and the lower calcium group had a worse prognosis ( P = 0.000 15). Cox regression analysis showed that the hazard ratio ( HR) of blood potassium and calcium were 2.08 and 0.01, respectively, in model 1 (single blood potassium or calcium) and in model 2 (model 1 plus age and gender), the HR of blood potassium and calcium were 1.98 and 0.01 respectively, which were significantly associated with patient prognosis (all P < 0.05). Patients in the group with the potassium/calcium ratio > 1.9 had higher blood potassium levels and a higher proportion of mechanical ventilation, lower calcium levels and lower proportion of survival, and longer time of ICU admission compared with the groups with the potassium/calcium ratio < 1.7 and 1.7-1.9. The Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that the survival rate of the potassium/calcium ratio > 1.9 group was the lowest ( P < 0.000 1), and there was no statistically significant difference in survival between the potassium/calcium ratio < 1.7 group and the potassium/calcium ratio 1.7-1.9 group. A restricted cubic spline plot corrected for age and gender showed that patients in the potassium/calcium ratio > 1.8 group had HR values > 1. Cox regression analysis corrected for other indicators showed that the potassium/calcium ratio was still associated with patient prognosis ( HR = 4.85, P = 0.033). Conclusions:Blood potassium, calcium, and the potassium/calcium ratio at ICU admission are related to the prognosis of patients with severe COVID-19, and the potassium/calcium ratio is an independent risk factor for the death of patients. The higher the potassium/calcium ratio, the worse the prognosis of patients.

Newcastle disease virus is paramyxoviridae, Avian mumps virus genus type I, and infects more than 250 species of birds, causing huge losses on poultry farming worldwide. Numerous experiments have demonstrated that Newcastle disease virus has oncolytic activity on tumor cells and can selectively replicate in cancer cells. Thus, Newcastle disease virus is a potential therapeutic agent for cancer treatment. Some human clinical trials achieved good results. In this review, we summarized research progress of the relationship between the structural protein of Newcastle disease virus and virulence, anti-tumor and autophagy of Newcastle disease.

The medical and economic burden of cardiovascular disease is huge. Many studies have shown that cardiac rehabilitation is important to reduce mortality and complications and improve the quality of life in patients with cardiovascular diseases. However, because of illness status, age, and other factors, few patients participate in outpatient cardiac rehabilitation. Home-based telemonitored cardiac rehabilitation (HTCR) may be an alternative to a traditional program. This study examined the definition, efficacy, practicability, and limitations of HTCR, to gather information for use in further development of HTCR and its application in clinical practice.