Objective To evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)and endostatin (ES) in the serum of patients with differentiated thyroid cancer at the time of before and after operation and postoperative recurrence. Methods The serum samples were obtained from 7 patients with postoperative lung metastasis and 21 patients with local recurrence after operation.The serum samples from 30 normal subjects were obtained as control.The levels of serum VEGF and serum endostatin were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbentassay (ELISA).Thelevelsofserumthyroglobulinwereanalyzedby Chemiluminescence method.Statistical analysis was performed with t-test using SPSS 13.0 software.Pearson correlation analysis was performed for the correlation between serum VEGF and serum ES and thyroglobulin.ResultsThe levels of serum VEGF and serum ES in patients with lung metastasis 3 weeks after operation were significantly lower than those before operation and at the time of recurrence [ VEGF:( 210.3 ± 30.4) ng/L vs (412.6 ±57.3) ng/L and(619.5 ± 126.4) ng/L,P ＜0.05 ;ES:(25.2 ±6.2)ng/L vs (34.3 ±7.6)ng/L and (38.6 ± 8.7) ng/L,P ＜ 0.05 ].And the levels of serum VEGF and serum ES in patients with local regional recurrence 3 weeks after operation were significantly lower than those before operation and at the time of recurrence [ VEGF:(209.3 ±36.7) ng/L vs (399.4 ±56.3) ng/L and (406.5 ±59.2) ng/L,P ＜0.05;ES:(25.7 ± 4.7 ) ng/L vs ( 35.2 ± 6.8 ) ng/L and ( 31.2 ± 7.6 ) ng/L,P ＜ 0.05 ].The expression of serum VEGF and serum ES in patients with pulmonary metastasis were significantly higher than those in patients with local regional postoperative recurrence ( P ＜ 0.05 ).There was a linear positive correlation between serum VEGF,serum ES and thyroglobulin levels in the patient with recurrent differentiated thyroid cancer( r =0.752,0.349,P ＜0.01 ).Conclusion The serum VEGF and serum ES level were significantly elevated in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer before operation and recurrence.The serum VEGF and serum ES were importantindicators to reveal the biological behaviors of differentiated thyroid cancer.

Objective:To investigate the effect of perineural invasion (PNI) on patients with early squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue (ESCCT) and the controversial issues related to PNI's effect on loco-regional recurrence, cervical lymph node metastases, and prognosis. Methods:Data of 156 patients with ESCCT were analyzed. Two subgroups comprising 40 patients each were investigated. One was PNI-positive subgroup, and the other subgroup was consisted of patients with PNI-negative carcinomas. These patients had similar histopathological characteristics and were randomly selected from the total number of cases. The relationship among the prevalence of PNI, loco-regional recurrence, cervical lymph node metastases, and prognosis was analyzed. Results:PNI was significantly correlated with high cervical lymph node metastases and poor 5-year survival rates (P=0.045 and P=0.034, respectively) but not with local recurrence (P=0.531). Elective neck dissection was considerably associated with a low risk of regional recurrence among the PNI-positive ESCCT patients (P=0.001). Conclusion:PNI should be considered as a predictor for high cervical lymph node metastases and poor 5-year survival of early tongue squamous cell carcinoma. Elective neck lymph node dissection should be performed among patients with PNI-positive early tongue squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective To evaluate the expression of serum vascular endothelial growth factor(sVEGF) in differentiated thyroid carcinoma(DTC)patients before and after thyroidectomy and when recurrence occured.To analyze the relationship between serum VEGF and serum thyroglobulin(Tg)level.Methods sVEGF levels of 30 cases of DTC (7 patients with pulmonary metastasis,23 patients with locoregional recurrence)were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) before and after thyroidectomy and when recurrence occured.The levels of serum Tg and thyroglobulin antibodies (TgA) were detected by chemiluminescence method.The results were compared with those of the 30 cases of normal controls.Results sVEGF levels had no significant difference between pulmonary metastasis group and locoregional recurrence group before operation (t =0.373,P ＞ 0.05),but they were significantly higher than those in the normal control group(t =8.597 and 14.14 respectively,all P ＜ 0.05).sVEGF levels in patients with pulmonary metastasis or locoregional recurrence were significantly reduced at the 3rd week after operation and the difference had statistical significance with those before operation(t =5.977,11.50,P ＜ 0.05).The difference of postoperative level of sVEGF in patients with pulmonary metastasis,locoregional recurrence and in patients of normal control group had no statistical significance (t =1.593,1.525,P ＞ 0.05).sVEGF levels in patients with pulmonary metastasis or locoregional recurrence were significantly higher after recurrence than those before recurrence (t =7.387,12.16,P ＜ 0.05).After recurrence sVEGF levels in patients with pulmonary metastasis were significantly higher than those in patients with locoregional recurrence (t =4.167,P ＜ 0.05) It showed a positive linear correlation between serum Tg level and sVEGF level in DTC patients with recurrence(r =0.786,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion sVEGF is significantly elevated in DTC patients before operation and with postoperative recurrence,making it an important indicator to reveal the biological behaviors of DTC.

Objective: To explore the relation of the serum level of sIL-2R in relapse patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL). Methods:With ELISA, we determined the levels of sIL-2R of 48 patients with ALL after their first diagnoses,complete remission 1 and relapse. The levels of sIL-2R of 30 patients from complete remission 1 to relapse were monitored. Results: The levels of sIL-2R were higher in the relapse group and first diagnosed group than in the control. The levels of sIL-2R were higher in the relapse group and first diagnosed group than in the complete remission 1 group. However,the difference between the complete remission 1 and the control had no statistical significance. When we determined the levels of sIL-2R dynamically, we found that after complete remission ,the levels of sIL-2R decreased,however, before one month of hematological relapse, the levels of sIL-2R increased. Conclusion: Monitor of the level of sIL-2R can predict impending relapse of patients with ALL and is helpful to early diagnosis of relapse.

Objective To investigate the effect of CTLA4-Ig chimera protein on mice mortality, histopathological changes, viral fiters, expression of CTLA4 protein on infiltrated T lymphocyte and the balance of Thl/Th2 in mice myocarditis caused by coxsackie virus B3 (CVB3). Methods A total of 106 four to six week-old male BALB/c mice were used in the experiments, which were divided into CTLA4-Ig group (n = 16), CVB3 group (n=40), IgG group (n =40) and normal control group(n = 10) randomly. The mice in CVB3 group, IgG group and CTLA4-Ig group were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0. 15 ml CVB3 and the mice in norreal control group with 0. 15 ml Eagle. The mice in IgG group and CTLA4-1g group were inoculated with IgG (0. I mg/kg) and CTLA4-Ig(0. 1 mg/kg) at 6 h and 72 h post inoculation(p, i. ), respectively, The surplus mice in each group were sacrificed at day 7 p.i. Light microscope was used to quantify the inflammation. The expression of CVB3 mRNA in mycardium were semi-quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR). The expression of CTLA4 protein were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The levels of IL-2, IL-4 and 1FN-γ in serum were measured by ELISA. Results The mice mortality, histopathological score and CVB3 mRNA in CTLA4-Ig group were lower than that in CVB3 group ( P < 0.05, P < 0.01, P < 0. 05, respectively). The expression of CTLA4 was significantly increased in CTLA4-Ig therapy group (P < 0.05 ). The serum level of IFN-γ of mice in CVB3 group were significantly higher than that in normal control group( P < 0.01 ). The serum level of IL-4 of mice in CVB3 group were much lower than that in normal control group( P < 0.01 ). The serum level of IL-2 in CVB3 group had no statistical significance with that in normal control group ( P > 0.05 ). The serum level of IFN-γ in mice of CTLA4-Ig group were much lower than that in CVB3 group ( P <0.01 ) and lgG group (P < 0. 01 ). The serum level of IL-4 of mice in CTLA4-Ig group were significantly higher than that in CVB3 group (P<0.01) and IgG group (P<0.01). The serum level of IL-2 in CTLA4-Ig group had no statistical significance with that in CVB 3 control group and lgG group ( P > 0. 0 5 ) . Conclusion CTLA4-Ig may relieve inflammation and reduce mice mortality by blocking the costimulation signals for T lymphocyte activation and reinforcing Th2 response.

ObjectiveTo investigate the stability of FibroTouch (FT) in the determination of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP). MethodsA total of 309 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver function abnormalities, or other diseases who underwent FT in the outpatient service of Department of Hepatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, were enrolled. FT was performed at three different measurement points for the same subject, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Bland-Altman method were used to evaluate the stability of measured values. The Kendall’s W test and pie charts were used to evaluate the stability of diagnostic results. ResultsLSM and CAP values of the three different measurement points for the same subject had an ICC of ＞0.75 in different disease groups (all P＜0.001), among which the chronic HBV infection group had the highest ICC of LSM of 0.905, the other disease group had the highest ICC of CAP of 0.805, the NAFLD group had the lowest ICC of LSM of 0.785 and the lowest ICC of CAP of 0.780. The Bland-Altman plots were generated for the three measurement points, and the dots within the limits of agreement accounted for about 95%. The diagnostic results of LSM and CAP staging of the three measurement points had a Kendall’s W coefficient of 0.825 and 0.858, respectively (all P＜0.001). The proportion of patients with consistency between the diagnostic results for F≥2 stage (LSM＞7.3 kPa) and mild (or more severe) fatty liver stage (CAP＞240 dB/m) based on mean value of measurement points and all three measurement points was ＞60%, while the proportion of patients with consistency between the diagnostic results based on mean value of measurement points and only one measurement point was ＜10%. ConclusionThe values and diagnostic results of FT measurement have good stability; however, in order to improve its stability in diagnosing F ≥2 stage and mild (or more severe) fatty liver, it is suggested to use the mean value of multiple measurement points for diagnosis.

Helper T cell (Th) has been identified as a critical immune cell for regulating immune response since 1980s. The type 2 helper Tcell (Th2), characterized by the production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5 and IL-13, plays a critical role in immune response against helminths invading cutaneous or mucosal sites. It also has a functional role in the pathophysiology of allergic diseases such as asthma and allergic diarrhea. Currently, most studies have shed light on Th2 cell function and behavior in specific diseases, such as asthma and helminthes inflammation, but not on Th2 cell itself and its differentiation. Based on different cytokines and specific behavior in recent research, Th2 cell is also regarded as new subtypes of T cell, such as IL-9 secreting T cell (Th9) and CXCR5(+) T follicular helper cells. Here, we will discuss the latest view of Th2 cell towards their function and the involvement of Th2 cell in diseases.
Animals ; Asthma ; immunology ; metabolism ; Cell Differentiation ; physiology ; Humans ; Interleukin-9 ; metabolism ; Th2 Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; metabolism

Objectivc To observe the therapeutic effects of combined cytokines on hematopoietic injuries induced by 4.5 Gy60 Co γ-rays irradiation in beagles,and to provide experimental evidences for the clinical treatment of extremely severe myeloid acute radiation sickness(ARS).Methods 16 beagles were given 4.5 Gy60 Co γ-rays total body irradiation,and then randomly assigned into irradiation control group,supportive care group and cytokines group.In addition to supportive care,recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF),recombinant human interleukin-11(rhIL-11)and recombinant human interleukin-2(rhIL-2)were administered subcutaneouly to dogs in cytokines group.Peripheral blood hemogram was examined once every two days.Bone marrow and peripheral blood were collected to proceed colony cultivation 4 d pre-irradiation and 1 and 45 d post-irradiation.Conventional histopathological sections of sternum were prepared to observe the histomorphology changes. Results After irradiation,the population of all kinds of cells in peripheral blood declined sharply.WBC nadir Was elevated(1.04×109/L,but 0.28×109/L and 0.68×109/L for the irradiation control group and the supportive care group separately),the duration of thrombocytopenia was shortened (24 days,but 33 days for the supportive care groug) and red blood cell counts were maintained in the range of normal values after cytokincs treatment in combination.The colony forming efficiency of haemopoietic stem cells(HSCs)in bone marrow and peripheral blood decreased obviously 1 d post irradiation,but recovered to the level of that before irradiation 45 d post irradiation after supportive care and cytokines treatment.Hematopoietic cells disappeared in bone marrow of animals in irradiation control group,but hematopoietic functions were recovered after cytokines were administrated.Conclusions RhG-CSF.rhIL-11 and rhIL-2 used in combination could elevate WBC nadir,accelerate the recovery of leukocytes,platelets and red blood cells and promote the proliferation,differentiation and maturity of HSPCs left in the body after 4.5 Gy γ-rays total body irradiation,eventually restore the hematopoietic function.Hence,combination of rhG-CSF,rhIL-11 and rhIL-2 could serve as better therapeutic strategy to treat extremely severe myeloid ARS.

Objective To evaluate the effects of combined administration of recombinant human interleukin-11(rhIL-11),recombinant human G-CSF(rhG-CSF)and recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2)on acute radiation sickness(ARS)beagles.Methods Sixteen beagle were irradiated with 4.5 Gy60 Co γ-rays to establish ARS models,and were divided into irradiation control group,supportive care group and combined cytokines treatment group.After irradiation irradiation control group was given no treatment,the dogs in supportive care group received purely symptomatic treatment,while combined cytokines treatment group received rhIL-11 50μg/(kg·d)and rbG-CSF 10μg/(kg·d)subcutaneously(0-14 d)and rhIL-2 1×1 06 U/d(29-43 d)besides symptomatic treatment.Manifestation and characteristics of ARS beagles were observed,and the survival time were recorded.At last,post-mortem examination and histological examination were performed.Results All animals underwent nausea,diarrhea and fever.After irradiation,all animals in irradiation control group died in two weeks,and the mean survival time was 12.7 d,while only one died at 33 d in supportive care group.All dogs in combined cytokine group survived at 45 day after exposure,and their haematopoiesis and gastrointestinal tract were recovered.Conclusions Combination of rhIL-11 + rhG-CSF + rhIL-2 treatment could be significantly effective on ARS beagles irradiated by 4.5 Gy60 Co γ-rays,which could accelerate injured haemotopoiesis and intestinal tract recovery,increase the survival rate and improve the life quality of animals.

Objective To investigate the mechanism of treatment of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor(rhG-CSF),recombinant human interleukin-11(rhIL-11)and recombinant human interleukin-2 (rhIL-2)on hematopoietic injuries induced by 4.5 Gy60 Coγ-ray irradiation in beagles,and to provide experimental evidence for the clinical treatment of extremely severe myeloid acute radiation sickness (ARS).Methods Sixteen beagle dogs were given 4.5 Gy60 Co γ-ray total body irradiation(TBI),then randomly assigned into irradiation control group,supportive care group or cytokines+supportive care (abbreviated as cytokines)group.In addition to supportive care,rhG-CSF,rhlL-11 and rhIL-2 were administered subcutaneously to treat dogs in cytokines group.The percentage of CD34+cells,cell cycle and apoptosis of nucleated cells in peripheral blood were examined by Flow cytometry.Results After 4.5 Gy 60 Co γ-ray irradiation,the CD34+cells in peripheral blood declined obviously(61.3%and 52.1% of baseline for irradiation control and supportive care group separately).The cell proportion of nucleated cells in Go/G1 phase was increased notably(99.27% and 99.49% respectively).The rate of apoptosis(26.93% and 21.29% separately)and necrosis(3.27% and 4.14%,respectively)of nucleated cells were elevated significantly when compared with values before irradiation(P<0.05) 1 d post irradiation.When beagles were treated with cytokines and supportive care,the CD34+cells in peripheral blood were markedly increased(135.6% of baseline).The effect of G0/G1 phase blockage of nucleated cells became more serious(99.71%).The rate of apoptosis(5.66%)and necrosis(1.60%)of nucleated cells were significantly lower than that of irradiation control and supportive care groups 1 d after exposure.Conclusions Cytokines maybe mobilize CD34+cells in bone marrow to peripheral blood,indce cell cycle block at G0/G1 phase and reduce apoptosis,and eventually cure hematopoieticinjuries induced by irradiation.