OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of Sarcandra glabra extract (SGE) on immune system in restrained mice.

METHODThe male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into normal control group, stress control group, 125, 500 mg x kg(-1) SGE group. The spleen lymphocyte suspensions of each group were prepared. The parameters of spleen T cells subsets, NK cell and NKT cell proportion and number was detected by Flow cytometry.

RESULTSGE regulated the balance of T cell subsets, increased the percent of NK cells and NKT cell proportion and number in restrained mice.

CONCLUSIONSGE has immunologic protective effect in restrained mice probably via the amelioration of immune cells proportion and number.

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Killer Cells, Natural ; drug effects ; immunology ; Magnoliopsida ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Natural Killer T-Cells ; drug effects ; immunology ; Restraint, Physical ; Stress, Psychological ; immunology ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets ; drug effects ; immunology

Objective To investigate the current situation in Chinese rheumatologic physicians' clinical diagnosis and evaluation of Takayasu's arteritis (TA).Methods Nineteen rheumatology experts and three vascular surgery specialists in China were invited to make the nationwide investigation for the first time about the diagnosis and disease activity evaluation of TA in China,through the questionnaire survey on the internet.Weighted average was used to calculate the average scores of corresponding problems.Results Chinese experts mainly adopted 1990 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for clinical diagnosis of TA.In details,symptoms of age,limb claudication and amaurosis,signs including pulselessness or pulse weakening,vascular bruits,increasing bilateral pulse pressure and hypertension and acute phase reactants (APR) were critical to the clinical diagnosis of TA.Besides,noninvasive imaging examinations,such as computed tomography angiography (CTA),magnetic resonance angiography (MRA),vascular ultrasonography,and positron emission tomography (PET) were also of great importance.In the aspect of disease activity assessment,Chinese experts mainly used Kerr scoring tool.APR and noninvasive radiological examinations were considered with vital value.Some TA patients with carotid artery involvement were recommended using vascular ultrasonography,while others with pulmonary artery and thoracic/abdominal aorta trunk involvement were preferred CTA other than MRA.Conclusions APR and noninvasive imaging examinations were thought with great help to make clinical diagnosis and evaluation of TA for Chinese physicians.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of non-invasive prenatal screening (NIPS) for fetal sex chromosome anomalies. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out for 20 802 women undergoing NIPS screening. For 165 cases suspected for fetal sex chromosomal anomalies, the results of invasive prenatal diagnosis were obtained. RESULTS: Among the 165 cases suspected for fetal sex chromosome anomalies, 129 have accepted invasive prenatal diagnosis, and 45 were confirmed, which yielded a positive predictive value of 34.88%. These included 16 cases of 47,XYY, 10 cases of 47,XXY, 6 cases of 45,X/46,XX, 5 cases of 47,XXX, 3 cases of 45,X, 1 case of 45,X/46,X,i(X)(q10), 1 case of 45,X/46,X,del(X)(q22), 1 case of 46,X,del(X)(q22), 1 case of 46,X,del(X)(p11) and 1 case of Xp22.31 1.2 Mb deletion. CONCLUSION NIPS has limited value for detecting fetal sex chromosome anomalies. Karyotyping analysis combined with other diagnostic techniques can offer effective prenatal diagnosis for suspected cases.
Aneuploidy ; Female ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Chromosomes/genetics* ; Trisomy

Objective To investigate the value of ultrasound screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in fetuses and to summarize the clinical manifestations.Methods From January 2012 to December 2017,we retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 905 gravidas who received invasive prenatal diagnosis in Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital for abnormal prenatal ultrasound findings including ventriculomegaly,intracranial calcification,microcephaly,echogenic bowel and fetal growth restriction (FGR).CMV DNA loads in amniotic fluid and neonatal urine were detected by real-time polymerase chain reaction.CMV-specific IgM and IgG in umbilical cord and neonatal peripheral blood were detected by commercial enzyme 1 inked immunosorbent assay kits.Eighteen fetuses with normal karyotype were diagnosed as congenital CMV infection.Relationships of ultrasound features and CMV DNA loads in amniotic fluid to pregnancy outcomes were analyzed with x2 test or Fisher's exact test.Results (1) Congenital CMV infection was detected in 18 fetuses in this study with an detection rate of 1.99％ (18/905).Three pregnancies were terminated immediately after the diagnosis was confirmed,two terminated when the ventriculomegaly progressed,five terminated for hydrocephaly and eight continued to delivery.(2) Congenital CMV infection rate was significantly higher in those with two or more ultrasound abnormalities than that in those with only one abnormal indicator [3.92％(8/204) vs 1.28％(9/701),x2=4.619,P=0.032].Fetuses with craniocerebral abnormalities were more likely to have congenital CMV infection than those without [3.11％(13/418) vs 0.82％(4/487),x2=6.392,P=0.012].(3) Among the 18 fetuses with congenital CMV infection,those with serious ultrasound abnormalities had a significantly higher rate of adverse outcomes than those without (11/11 vs 3/7,Fisher's exact test,bilateral P=0.043).No significant difference in the rate of adverse outcomes was found between fetuses with low and high CMV DNA loads in amniotic fluid (3/4 vs 12/14,Fisher's exact test,bilateral P=1.000).Conclusions Ultrasound abnormalities including ventriculomegaly,intracranial calcification,microcephaly,echogenic bowel and FGR,especially those with multiple abnormalities and brain abnormalities,increased risk of congenital CMV infection.Congenital CMV fetuses with serious ultrasound abnormalities has adverse outcomes.

The immune checkpoint blockade therapy has profoundly revolutionized the field of cancer immunotherapy. However, despite great promise for a variety of cancers, the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors is still low in colorectal cancer (CRC). This is mainly due to the immunosuppressive feature of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Emerging evidence reveals that certain chemotherapeutic drugs induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), demonstrating great potential for remodeling the immunosuppressive TME. In this study, the potential of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) as an ICD inducer against CRC cells was confirmed using in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches. The ICD efficacy of Rg3 could be significantly enhanced by quercetin (QTN) that elicited reactive oxygen species (ROS). To ameliorate in vivo delivery barriers associated with chemotherapeutic drugs, a folate (FA)-targeted polyethylene glycol (PEG)-modified amphiphilic cyclodextrin nanoparticle (NP) was developed for co-encapsulation of Rg3 and QTN. The resultant nanoformulation (CD-PEG-FA.Rg3.QTN) significantly prolonged blood circulation and enhanced tumor targeting in an orthotopic CRC mouse model, resulting in the conversion of immunosuppressive TME. Furthermore, the CD-PEG-FA.Rg3.QTN achieved significantly longer survival of animals in combination with Anti-PD-L1. The study provides a promising strategy for the treatment of CRC.