Objetive:To investigate whether the methylation patterns of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene promoter changed and whether environmental factors affected the methylation level of IL-4 gene in the peripheral blood of patients with recurrent aphthous ulcer (RAU).Methods:Totally 20 patients, who were diagnosed with RAU, were recruited from May 2018 to May 2019 in the Department of Stomatology， First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University in the study (RAU group), including 12 females and 8 males, with mean age of 16-35 years. During the same period, 20 healthy volunteers matching the age and gender of the RAU group were selected from the medical personnel of the same hospital as the healty control group, including 11 females and 9 males, with mean age of 15-35 years. Peripheral blood samples of two groups were collected and the methylation levels of the IL-4 promoter were detected by bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP). The IL-4 promoter methylation level of each sample was analyzed by direct sequencing and the IL-4 mRNA level was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. The data obtained were statistically analyzed.Results:The IL-4 gene promoter fragment contained 10 CPG sites from -1400 to -1625 bp. The methylation rates of CPG -1556, CPG -1483, CPG -1479and 10 CPG sites were significantly higher in RAU group ［(32.0±19.9)%, (53.0±13.4)%, (46.0±19.8)% and (39.3±12.4)%］ than in healthy control group ［(20.0±3.2)%, (35.5±12.3)%, (28.0±14.4)% and (32.6±5.8)%］, with statistically significant differences ( P<0.05). The relative expression of IL-4 mRNA in the peripheral blood of RAU patients (1.0±0.1) was significantly lower than that of the healthy control group (1.5±0.2) ( P<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the overall methylation rate of IL-4 gene promoter and the relative expression level of IL-4 mRNA in RAU group ( r=-0.494, P<0.05). In the multivariate analysis, smoking, vitamin B12 and folic acid in the RAU group were significantly correlated with the overall methylation rate of the IL-4 gene promoter ( P<0.01). Conclusions:The hypermethylation of IL-4 promoter in RAU patients may be related to the reduction of IL-4 gene transcription. Vitamin B12, folic acid and smoking may affect IL-4 gene methylation in peripheral blood of RAU patients.

Objective : To analyze the accuracy of the infiltrating depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using pathological sections under a light microscope to provide a clinical reference. Methods : Seventy-three patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma who visited the Department of Stomatology of the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and Xiangya Stomatological Hospital from January 2018 to September 2020 were selected. Preoperative MRI was performed to evaluate the infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma, and intraoperative frozen pathological sections were used to confirm the infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measurement. Results : The infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by T1-weighted imaging was 1.11 mm (95% CI=0.51-1.70; t=3.72; P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient r was 0.95. The T2-weighted average overestimation was 2.17 mm (95% CI=1.32-3.02; t=5.10; P < 0.001), and the correlation coefficient was 0.92. The Bland-Altman plot showed good consistency between T1- and T2-weighted images and pathologic measurements. Conclusion The infiltration depth of tongue squamous cell carcinoma measured by MRI is more accurate, with an average overestimation of 1-2 mm compared with pathological measurements, and T1-weighted images are better than T2-weighted images.

Objective To compare the sonographic features as well as clinical histopathological features of follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinoma(FVPTC) and conventional papillary thyroid carcinoma (CPTC) in pediatric patients.Methods From Jan.2006 to Dec.2017,26 FVPTC patients and 82 CPTC patients were enrolled in this study.The clinical histopathological findings and the sonographic features were compared between the two groups.FVPTCs and CPTCs were divided into PTC-like and follicular neoplasm(FN)-like based on sonographic characteristics.Results The mean nodule size of FVPTCs was larger than that of conventional PTCs.Extrathyroid invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis did not have significant difference between CPTC and FVPTC patients(53.8％ vs 62.2％ and 76.9％ vs 82.9％,respectively).Multiple nodules(P=0.000)and distant pulmonary metastases(P=0.024) were more frequent in CPTCs than in FVPTCs(P＜0.05).The rate of an ill-defined margin (P=0.000) and calcification (P=0.003)in terms of sonographic features were lower in FVPTCs than conventional PTCs(P＜0.05).A Ⅴ+Ⅵ diagnosis of PTC on FNAC of FVPTCs was less common than that of conventional PTCs (P=0.014).Multifocality(P=0.000),extrathyroidal invasion (P=0.000),and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000) were significantly different between PTC-like FVPTCs and FN-like FVPTCs.Conclusion FVPTC in children and adolescents shows a relatively larger size,more benign sonographic features,and a lower diagnostic rate of PTC by FNAC compared with conventional PTCs in pediatric patients.

Objective:To investigate the consistency of domestic F-STROKE, NeuBrainCARE MRI automatic post-processing software and RAPID MRI automatic post-processing software in the output of infarction core area volume, time-to-maximum volume and ischemic penumbra volume in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Methods:The research was cross-sectional. The clinical and imaging data of patients with acute ischemic stroke from January 2016 to March 2021 were retrospectively collected, including 149 cases from Shanghai Fourth People′s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University (Center 1), 120 cases from Langfang Changzheng Hospital of Hebei Province (Center 2), and 45 cases from Wuzhou Workers Hospital (Center 3). All patients underwent diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and dynamic magnetic sensitivity contrast-perfusion weighted imaging (DSC-PWI). RAPID, F-STROKE and NeuBrainCARE automatic post-processing software were used to perform automatic post-processing analysis of MRI images of all patients with acute ischemic stroke. The infarct core (apparent diffusion coefficient<620×10 -6 mm 2/s) volume, time-to-maximum (T max>6 s) volume and the ischemic penumbra (PWI-DWI mismatch) volume were output. The Wilcoxon test was used to analyze the difference between F-STROKE, NeuBrainCARE, and RAPID software outputs of infarct core volume, time to maximum peak volume, and ischemic penumbra volume. Bland-Altman and intraclass correlation coefficient ( ICC) were used to analyze the consistency of the infarct core volume, time-to-maximum volume and ischemic penumbra volume output by F-STROKE, NeuBrainCARE and RAPID software. Results:There were statistically significant differences in the core infarct volume between F-STROKE and RAPID software, NeuBrainCARE and RAPID software ( Z=-10.17, -5.43, both P<0.001). There were significant differences in the time-to-maximum volume between F-STROKE and RAPID software, NeuBrainCARE and RAPID software ( Z=-3.17, -5.51, both P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the ischemic penumbra volume between F-STROKE software and RAPID software ( Z=-1.43, P=0.153), and there was significant difference in the ischemic penumbra volume between NeuBrainCARE software and RAPID software ( Z=-6.45, P<0.05). Bland-Altman analysis showed that the values within the limits of agreement accounted for more than 93.31% of all point values. ICC analysis showed high agreement between F-STROKE, NeuBrainCARE, and RAPID software outputs of infarct core volume, time to maximum peak volume, and ischemic penumbra volume ( ICC>0.6). Conclusion:Domestic F-STROKE software, NeuBrainCARE software and RAPID software have good consistency in evaluating the infarct core volume, time-to-maximum volume and ischemic penumbra volume in patients with acute ischemic stroke, which is worthy of clinical promotion.