Objective:To investigate the expression and clinical significance of decoy receptor 3 (DcR3) and its signal pathway-related molecules in PBMCs of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods:Peripheral blood samples, clinical data and laboratory test results were collected from 100 patients with ankylosing spondylitis [50 patients with AS activity (ASA), 50 patients with AS stability (ASS)], 30 patients with osteoarthritis and 30 patients with gouty arthritis (as disease control group), and 60 healthy controls (HC). The mRNA expression levels of DcR3 and its signal pathway related genes (DR3, TL1A, Fas, FasL, LIGHT, LIGHTR, LTβR) were measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Measurement data among the three groups in normal distribution were analyzed by t test or one-way analysis of variance, pairwise comparisons using LSD- t test, non-normal distribution data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney test or Kruskal-Wallis H test, χ2 test was used for correlation analysis of categorical variables. Correlation analysis between variables were analyzed using Spearman correlation analysis. Results:① By comparing the AS group, disease control group and HC group, the expression levels of DcR3 mRNA and DR3 mRNA in the AS group were lower than those in disease control group and HC group, and DcR3 mRNA and DR3 mRNA in disease control group were lower than those in the HC group {DcR3mRNA: [6.21 (3.89, 10.70)]×10 -4vs [9.51 (5.89, 16.65)]×10 -4vs [17.81 (11.27, 24.20)]×10 -4, H=55.28, P<0.001; DR3 mRNA: [41.05 (24.09, 66.95)]×10 -4vs [58.28 (28.41, 94.38)]×10 -4vs [94.79 (54.07, 144.51)]×10 -4, H=37.10, P<0.001}. The expression level of TL1A mRNA in the AS group was higher than that in disease control group {[14.71(4.91, 42.22)]×10 -4vs [4.00(1.07, 16.60)]×10 -4vs [7.70 (3.52, 27.83)]×10 -4, H=17.71, P<0.001}; The expression level of Fas mRNA in AS group and disease control group was lower than that in HC group {[20.99(4.63, 62.89)]×10 -4vs [23.97(15.82, 38.99)]×10 -4vs [78.45 (27.32, 146.46)]×10 -4, H=31.17, P<0.001}. The expression level of FasL mRNA in AS group was higher than that in disease control group and HC group {[42.87(6.57, 91.21)]×10 -4vs [5.45(2.83, 10.32)]×10 -4vs [6.88 (4.57, 23.79)]×10 -4, H=46.42, P<0.001}. The expression level of LIGHTR mRNA in AS group was lower than that in disease control group {[52.66 (7.20, 143.21)]×10 -4vs [98.80 (53.11, 166.24)]×10 -4vs [63.47(40.85, 138.07)]×10 -4, H=11.96, P<0.001}. There were no significant differences in LIGHT mRNA and LTβR mRNA among all groups ( H=0.86, P>0.05; H=3.18, P>0.05). ②The expression levels of DcR3 mRNA, DR3 mRNA and Fas mRNA in ASA group and ASS group were lower than those in HC group. DcR3 mRNA in ASA group was higher than that in ASS group, and DR3 mRNA in ASA group was lower than that in ASS group {DcR3 mRNA: [7.28 (4.92, 16.56)]×10 -4vs [4.59 (2.49, 7.03)]×10 -4vs [17.81 (11.27, 24.20)]×10 -4, H=62.63, P<0.001; DR3 mRNA: [30.93(16.18, 66.66)]×10 -4vs [47.17(29.91, 67.40)]×10 -4vs [94.79(54.07, 144.51)]×10 -4, H=41.48, P<0.001; Fas mRNA: [20.04(3.29, 62.30)]×10 -4vs [22.49(5.63, 64.79)]×10 -4vs [78.45(27.32, 146.46)]×10 -4, H=23.54, P<0.001}. The expression levels of TL1A mRNA and LTβR mRNA in the ASA group were higher than those in the ASS group and the HC group {TL1A mRNA: [32.36(10.09, 97.84)]×10 -4vs [9.98(1.29, 21.63)]×10 -4vs [7.70(3.52,27.83)]×10 -4, H=21.14, P<0.001; LTβR mRNA: [6.13(2.16,20.06)×10 -4vs [2.13(0.53,8.04)]×10 -4vs [2.72 (1.24,5.73)]×10 -4, H=12.86, P<0.001}. The expression level of FasL mRNA in the ASA group and the ASS group was higher than that in the HC group {[60.70 (8.16, 106.16)]×10 -4vs [30.14 (5.37, 78.40)]×10 -4vs [6.88 (4.57, 23.79)]×10 -4, H=18.99, P<0.001}. The expression level of LIGHTR mRNA in ASS group was lower than that in HC group {[49.79(10.75, 168.48)]×10 -4vs [15.92(3.27, 105.91)]×10 -4vs [63.47(40.85, 138.07)]×10 -4, H=11.80, P<0.001]. There was no significant difference in LIGHT mRNA among all groups ( H=4.15, P>0.05). ③Spearman correlation analysis showed that DcR3 level was positively correlated with BASDAI score and hsCRP in AS patients ( r=0.52, P<0.001; r=0.35, P<0.01), and DR3 level was negatively correlated with BASDAI score, ESR and hsCRP level ( r=-0.28, P<0.001; r=-0.25, P<0.001; r=-0.31, P<0.001). TL1A was positively correlated with BASDAI score, ESR and hsCRP level ( r=0.23, P=0.046; r=0.26, P=0.015; r=0.25, P=0.017). Conclusion:DcR3 and its signal pathway-related molecules are differentially expressed in PBMCs of patients with AS, suggesting that they may participate in the occurrence and development of AS.

Objective To investigate the effect of expression of Cullin 4B (CUL4B) on the prognosis of patients after liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).Methods The retrospective case-control study was conducted.The clinicopathological data of 79 patients who underwent liver transplantation for HCC in the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University between January 1,2014 and June 30,2015 were collected.The specimens of HCC tissues were collected and embedded in paraffin,and then were detected by immunohistochemistry staining.Observation indicators:(1) expression of CUL4B in HCC tissues;(2) follow-up and survival;(3) prognostic factors analysis after liver transplantation;(4) association between expression of CUL4B and recurrence and metastasis of tumor after liver transplantation.Follow-up using outpatient examination and telephone interview was performed to detect tumor recurrence or metastasis and survival up to June 2018.Measurement data with normal distribution were represented as (x)±s.The comparison between groups of count data was done using the chi-square test.The survival curve drawn using the Kaplan-Meier method,and the survival analysis was done by Log-rank test.The univariate and multivariate analysis were respectively done using the COX regression model.The association analysis was done using the Pearson test.Results (1) Expression of CUL4B in HCC tissues:immunohistochemistry staining showed that CUL4B was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm,with a powerful brownish-yellow staining.The high expression and low expression of CUL4B in HCC tissues were detected in 64 and 15 patients,respectively.(2) Follow-up and survival:79 patients were followed up for 38-56 months,with an average time of 46 months.During the follow-up,37 patients had no tumor recurrence and 42 had tumor recurrence (32 with tumor extrahepatic metastasis and 10 with intrahepatic metastasis);36 had survival and 43 died;the 1-and 3-year overall survival rates were respectively 86.84％ and 63.25％,and 1-and 3-year tumorfree survival rates were respectively 62.31％ and 51.27％.(3) Prognostic factors analysis after liver transplantation:① Results of univariate analysis showed that preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),Child-Pugh score,maximum tumour dimension,capsular invasion,intravascular tumor thrombus,Edmonson pathological grading and expression of CUL4B were related factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC [Hazard Ratio (HR) =2.17,3.36,3.66,2.43,2.19,3.36,2.84,95％ confidence interval(CI):1.17-4.04,1.53-7.42,2.10-6.42,1.33-4.17,1.08-9.04,1.58-7.59,1.17-6.32,P＜ 0.05].The preoperative alpha-fetoprotein (AFP),Child-Pugh score,maximum tumour dimension,capsular invasion,intravascular tumor thrombus,Edmonson pathological grading and expression of CUL4B were related factors affecting the 3-year tumor-free survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC (HR =2.06,3.72,3.16,2.36,2.83,3.21,1.69,95％CI:1.34-4.85,1.72-8.63,1.79-7.31,1.46-4.86,1.19-8.63,1.19-7.92,1.06-4.87,P＜0.05).② Results of multivariate analysis showed that maximum tumour dimension,intravascular tumor thrombus and expression of CUL4B were independent factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC [Odds ratio(OR) =3.43,3.69,2.81,95％CI:1.16-6.02,1.96-9.38,1.04-9.63,P＜0.05].The maximum tumour dimension,intravascular tumor thrombus and expression of CUL4B were independent factors affecting the 3-year tumor-free survival rate of patients after liver transplantation for HCC (OR=2.25,4.72,2.74,95％C1:1.16-4.02,1.98-9.47,1.03-7.10,P＜ 0.05).The 3-year overall survival rate in patients with high-and low-expressions of CUL4B was respectively 66.7％ and 32.8％,with a statistically significant difference (x2 =5.69,P＜0.05).The 3-year tumor-free survival rate in patients with high-and low-expressions of CUL4B was respectively 73.3％ and 18.6％,with a statistically significant difference (x2 =4.63,P＜0.05).(4) Association between expression of CUL4B and recurrence and metastasis of tumor after liver transplantation:results of Pearson test showed that expression of CUL4B was significantly associated with HCC recurrence and metastasis after liver transplantation (r =0.62,P＜0.05).The further analysis showed that expression of CUL4B was significantly associated with extrahepatic metastasis after liver transplantation (r=0.84,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The expression of CUL4B is associated with HCC recurrence after liver transplantation,and it can be as a predictor for HCC recurrence and distant metastasis after liver transplantation.

Objective:To detect the expression of interleukin 2 (IL-2)/Janus kinase 3/signal transduction and transcriptional activator 5 (JAK3/STAT5) signaling pathway in peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and explore its mechanism in the development and progression of AS.Methods:Clinical data, peripheral blood and laboratory tests of 30 patients with active AS (ASA), 30 patients with stable AS (ASS) and 50 healthy subjects (HC) were collected. The mRNA expression levels of JAK3, signal transduction and transcription activator 5a (STAT5a) and signal transduction and transcription activator 5b (STAT5b) were detected by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The expression levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b proteins and phosphorylated proteins were detected by Western-blot. Plasma IL-2 concentration was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Two independent samples t-test or one-way analysis of variance were used for measurement data consistent with normal distribution, LSD- t test was used for pairwise comparison between the three groups, Mann-Whitney U test or Kruskal-Wallis H test was used for non-normal distribution, χ2 test was used for correlation analysis of categorical variables. Spearman correlation analysis was used for correlation analysis between variables, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b mRNA expression levels in monitoring AS activity. Results:① The mRNA expression levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b were significantly different among the three groups ( F=65.98, P<0.001; F=21.15, P<0.001; F=13.67, P<0.001). JAK3 mRNA expression in ASA group (2.5±0.9) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (1.1±0.4) and healthy subjects (1.0±0.5), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The mRNA expression level of STAT5a in ASA group (1.4±0.3) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.9±0.3) and healthy subjects group (1.0±0.3), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). STAT5b mRNA expression level in ASA group (1.5±0.6) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (1.0±0.4) and healthy subjects (1.0±0.4), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The expression level of JAK3 mRNA in HLA-B27 positive group (1.9±1.0) was higher than that in HLA-B27 negative group (1.4±0.6), and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-2.22, P=0.032). The phosphorylation levels of JAK3, STAT5a and STAT5b showed statistically significant differences among the three groups ( F=91.56, P<0.001; F=25.15, P< 0.001; F=178.59, P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of JAK3 protein in ASA group (1.04±0.08) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.568±0.019) and healthy subjects (0.536±0.064), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of STAT5a protein in ASA group (1.166±0.096) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.923±0.018) and healthy subjects (0.911±0.017), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The phosphorylation level of STAT5b protein in ASA group (0.81±0.05) was significantly higher than that in ASS group (0.21±0.03) and healthy subjects (0.24± 0.07), the difference was statistically significant (both P<0.001). The difference of plasma IL-2 concentration among the three groups was statistically significant ( F=3.32, P=0.040). The IL-2 concentration in the ASA group [(110±40) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that in the ASS group [(89±40) pg/ml] and the healthy group [(88±39) pg/ml], the difference was statistically significant ( P=0.044, P=0.016). ② Spearman correlation analysis showed that STAT5a mRNA expression level was positively correlated with platelets in AS patients ( r=0.353, P=0.006). JAK3 mRNA expression level in ASA group was positively correlated with IL-2 concentration ( r=0.766, P<0.001), and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate ( r=-0.485, P=0.007). STAT5a mRNA expression level was positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( r= 0.680, P<0.001), and STAT5b mRNA expression level was positively correlated with hypersensitive C-reactive protein (CRP) ( r=0.823, P<0.001). ③ The ROC curve showed that JAK3 mRNA expression level predicted the area under ROC curve (AUC) of ASA with a 95% CI of 0.920 (0.853, 0.987), sensitivity and specificity of 86.7% and 90.0%, respectively. STAT5a mRNA expression level predicted the AUC 95% CI of ASA was 0.874 (0.787, 0.961), and the sensitivity and specificity were 96.7% and 66.7%, respectively. STAT5b mRNA expression level predicted the AUC 95% CI of ASA was 0.749 (0.617, 0.881), and the sensitivity and specificity were 73.3% and 80.0%, respectively. Conclusion:This study suggests that IL-2/JAK3/STAT5 may be involved in the pathogenesis of AS, and JAK3 mRNA can be used as a biological indicator to monitor the activity of AS disease.

Objective:To systematically summarize and assess risk prediction models for occurrence of cervical cancer and to provide evidence for selecting the most reliable model for practice, and guide cervical cancer screening.Methods:Two groups of keywords related to cervical cancer and risk prediction model were searched on Chinese databases (CNKI, and Wanfang) and English databases (PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library). Original articles that developed or validated risk prediction models and published before November 21, 2019, were selected. Information form was created based on the CHARMS checklist. The PROBAST was used to assess the risk of bias.Results:12 eligible articles were identified, describing 15 prediction models, of which five were established in China. The predicted outcomes included multiple stages from cervical precancerous lesions to cancer occurrence, i.e., abnormal Pap smear (1), occurrence or recurrence of CIN (9), and occurrence of cervical cancer (5), etc. The most frequently used predictors were HPV infection (12), age (7), smoking (5), and education (5). There were two models using machine learning to develop models. In terms of model performance, the discrimination ranged from 0.53 to 0.87, while only two models assessed the calibration correctly. Only two models were externally validated in Taiwan of China, using people in different periods. All of the models were at high risk of bias, especially in the analysis domain. The problems were concentrated in the improper handling of missing data (13), preliminary evaluation of model performance (13), improper use of internal validation (12), and insufficient sample size (11). In addition, the problems of inconsistency measurements of predictors and outcomes (8) and the flawed report of the use of blindness for outcome measures (8) were also severe. Compared with the other models, the Rothberg (2018) model had relatively high quality. Conclusions:There are a certain number of cervical cancer risk prediction models, but the quality is poor. It is urgent to improve the measurement of predictors and outcomes, the statistical analysis details such as handling missing data and evaluation of model performance and externally validate existing models to better guide screening.

Transplantation acquired food allergy (TAFA) is a rare complication of solid organ transplantation. The pathogenesis of TAFA has not been fully elucidated. There are two possible mechanisms for its occurrence: food allergy mediated by IgE delivery of the donor and food allergy caused by food intolerance after transplantation. At present, there is still insufficient understanding of this complication among transplant physicians. Through systematic review of relevant literature, the authors summarized the research progress of TAFA, which mainly included the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, treatment and prognosis of TAFA. In order to provide reference for the diagnosis and treatment of TAFA.

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is one of the most prevalent pathologic processes affecting 5% of people over 50 years of age and contributing to 45% of dementia cases. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the pathological roles of chronic hypoperfusion, impaired cerebral vascular reactivity, and leakage of the blood-brain barrier in CSVD. However, the pathogenesis of CSVD remains elusive thus far, and no radical treatment has been developed. NG2 glia, also known as oligodendrocyte precursor cells, are the fourth type of glial cell in addition to astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes in the mammalian central nervous system. Many novel functions for NG2 glia in physiological and pathological states have recently been revealed. In this review, we discuss the role of NG2 glia in CSVD and the underlying mechanisms.
Animals ; Neuroglia/metabolism* ; Central Nervous System/metabolism* ; Astrocytes/metabolism* ; Oligodendroglia/metabolism* ; Cerebral Small Vessel Diseases/metabolism* ; Antigens/metabolism* ; Mammals/metabolism*