Epigenomic imbalance drives abnormal transcriptional processes,promoting the onset and progression of cancer.Although defective gene regulation generally affects carcinogenesis and tumor suppression networks,tumor immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumor responses may also be affected by epigenomic changes,which may have significant implications for the development and application of epigenetic therapy,cancer immunotherapy,and their combinations.Herein,we focus on the impact of epigenetic regulation on tumor immune cell function and the role of key abnormal epigenetic processes,DNA methylation,histone post-translational modification,and chromatin structure in tumor immunogenicity,and introduce these epigenetic research methods.We emphasize the value of small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modulators in enhancing antitumor immune responses and discuss the challenges of developing treatment plans that combine epigenetic therapy and immuno-therapy through the complex interaction between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology.

BACKGROUND:Currently,artificial valves used in heart valve operations include biological valves and mechanical valves.The design and processing of the biological valve bracket determine the shape of the biological valves,which in turn determines their service life. OBJECTIVE:Various lobe and bracket models were created based on the spatial geometric equation.Through a comparison of the deformation and stress distribution of various lobe and bracket models,a more rational bracket model was derived.Subsequently,3D printing technology was utilized to produce a solid model. METHODS:According to the geometric and mathematical models of the heart valve leaf and valve bracket,parabolic and ellipsoidal heart valve bracket models were created.Three-dimensional modeling was used to design the heart valve bracket.Two-way fluid-structure coupling analysis was conducted to analyze the force and deformation of the valve bracket in the blood flow field.An appropriate printing method and materials were selected to achieve 3D printing of the heart valve bracket. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The distribution rules of deformation,maximum principal stress,and maximum shear stress of the parabolic bracket and ellipsoidal bracket are the same.The deformation and stress of the ellipsoidal bracket were greater than those of the parabolic bracket.The distribution law of maximum principal stress and maximum shear stress was mainly concentrated in the joint part of the lobe and bracket.The total deformation,maximum principal stress,and maximum shear stress of the bracket decrease with the increase of the bracket diameter.

Objective:To investigate the effect of CD226 gene knockout (CD226 -/-) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4) -induced liver fibrosis in mice. Methods:Eight 6-8 week-old male wild-type and CD226 -/- C57BL/6 mice were used, with weights of (22.16±2.24) g and (21.84±2.50) g, respectively. Four mice each from wild-type and CD226 -/- mice were injected intraperitoneally with CCl 4 to establish a liver fibrosis model, namely, the liver fibrosis group and the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group, and the remaining four mice each corresponded to the control group and the CD226 -/- control group. The effect of CD226 -/- on liver mass, liver index and Ishak fibrosis score were observed. HE, Masson, and Sirius red staining were performed to observe the liver injury and liver fibrosis. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were used to detect the protein expression levels of collagen type I (Collagen I) and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in liver tissues. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the proportion of T lymphocytes and their intracellular IFN-γ secretion levels in the peripheral blood and liver tissues. The mRNA expression level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) in the liver tissues was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR). Results:Compared to the liver fibrosis group, the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group showed an increase in liver mass [(2.00±0.14) g vs. (1.41±0.16) g] and liver index (7.25±0.59 vs. 5.33±0.30), and a decrease in Ishak's fibrosis score [(6.75±0.96) score vs. (10.00±1.41) score], and the differences were statistically significant (all P<0.05). HE staining showed disorganization of the liver tissue structure, and degeneration and necrosis of the hepatocytes both occurred in the liver fibrosis group and CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group, but the degree of inflammatory cell recruitment was milder in the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group than the liver fibrosis group. Sirius red and Masson staining revealed reduced collagen fibre deposition in the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group compared to the liver fibrosis group. Immunohistochemical staining showed that the expression of Collagen I [(4.38±0.51)% vs. (6.55±1.40)%] and α-SMA [(0.77±0.20)% vs. (1.20±0.24)%] were reduced in the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group compared to the liver fibrosis group, and the differences were statistically significant (both P<0.05). Western blot indicated that the relative expression level of Collagen I was reduced in the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group compared to the liver fibrosis group (0.35±0.14 vs. 1.66±0.73), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Flow cytometry revealed increased intracellular IFN-γ secretion by T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood in the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group compared to the liver fibrosis group. qPCR result revealed that the relative mRNA expressions of TGF-β1 was reduced in the CD226 -/- liver fibrosis group compared to the liver fibrosis group (0.38±0.18 vs. 0.61±0.28), and the difference was statistically significant ( P<0.05). Conclusion:CD226 -/- attenuates CCl 4-induced hepatic inflammatory infiltration and hepatic fibrosis, which may be related to its affected intrahepatic T lymphocytes and intracellular IFN-γ secretion.

Objective:To retrospectively analyze the patients with spinal metastases who received surgical intervention and summarize the evolution of their clinical and pathological characteristics and surgical methods.Methods:The data of 703 patients with spinal metastases from January 2007 to December 2018 were collected retrospectively. There were 395 males (56.19%, 395/703) and 308 females (43.81%, 308/703) with an average age of 58.14±11.46 years (range 13-84 years). According to the degree of invasion and thoroughness of tumor resection, the surgical methods could be divided into minimally invasive surgery, decompression surgery, separation surgery, piecemeal resection and total en-bloc spondylectomy surgery. The operative methods were minimally invasive surgery in 89 cases (12.66%), decompression surgery in 96 cases (13.66%), separation surgery in 303 cases (43.10%), piecemeal resection in 182 cases (25.89%) and total en-bloc spondylectomy in 33 cases (4.69%). To analyze the trend of the clinical, pathological types and surgical treatment of patients with spinal metastases over the years, and determine the relevant factors affecting the decision-making of surgical methods by multivariate logistic regression.Results:The ratio of male to female was 1.28:1. 39.54% (278/703) of patients with single-segment involvement in 703 patients, 24.04% (169/703) of patients with double-segment metastasis and 36.42% (256/703) of patients with multi-segment metastasis. The most common type of primary tumor was lung cancer (34.57%, 243/703), followed by breast cancer (8.25%, 58/703), myeloma (8.11%, 57/703), gastrointestinal tumor (6.82%, 48/703) and renal malignant tumor (6.40%, 45/703). From 2007 to 2018, there was no significant difference in the percentage change of different age, gender and primary tumor source composition (age: χ 2=14.01, P=0.233; gender: χ 2=35.73, P=0.341; primary tumor: χ 2=120.09, P=0.074). The percentage of patients with sacrococcygeal metastasis decreased from 20.00% in 2008 to 1.89% in 2017 and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=8.09, P=0.005). The percentage of patients with multi-level metastasis increased from 26.67% in 2008 to 52.83% in 2017, and the difference was statistically significant (χ 2=7.23, P=0.007). The percentage of patients with minimally invasive surgery decreased from 25.00% in 2007 to 5.88% in 2018, and the percentage of patients with segmented resection decreased from 53.33% in 2008 to 10.29% in 2018. The proportion of the two surgical methods showed a significant downward trend, and the differences were statistically significant (minimally invasive surgery: χ 2=1.46, P=0.026; segmented resection surgery: χ 2=19.56, P<0.001). The percentage of patients undergoing separation surgery increased from 13.33% in 2008 to 64.71% in 2018, and the proportion of patients undergoing total en-bloc spondylectomy increased from 0 in 2007 to 10.29% in 2018. Both surgical methods showed a significant growth trend and the differences were statistically significant (separation surgery: χ 2=27.09, P<0.001; χ 2=4.16, P=0.042). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that age, metastatic site, number of metastatic segments, pathological vertebral fractures, Frankel grade, SINS score and VAS score were independent factors influencing surgical decision-making ( P<0.05). Conclusion:With different time and age, the invasiveness and thoroughness of surgery are increasing, which shows that the percentage of patients who underwent separation surgery and to-tal en-bloc spondylectomy is significantly increasing. Age, metastatic site, number of metastatic segments, pathological vertebral fractures, Frankel grade, SINS score and VAS score are independent factors affecting surgical decision-making.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of the New England spinal metastasis score (NESMS) in predicting the prognosis of patients with spinal metastases by retrospectively analyzing the medical records of multicenter spinal metastases in China.Methods:The data of 179 patients with spinal metastases from January 2008 to December 2018 were retrospectively collected. There were 108 males (60.3%) and 71 females (39.7%) with an average age of 59.79±10.88 years old (range 27-84 years). The patient demographic characteristics, primary tumor type, spinal metastases and segments, vertebral pathological fractures, neurological Frankel classification, physical function status, Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), visual analogue score (VAS), the spinal instability neoplastic score (SINS), modified Bauer score, NESMS score, Tomita score and modified Tokuhashi score were collected. The clinical value of NESMS score, Tomita score and modified Tokuhashi score in predicting the survival of patients with spinal metastases were compared. The independent factors affecting survival in these patients were analyzed by Cox proportional hazards regression model.Results:Among the 179 patients, the peak incidence of spinal metastases was in the age group of 61-75 years (45.3%, 81/179) of all patients. Lung cancer was the most common primary tumor (46.9%, 84/179). 40.8% (73/179) of patients had multi-segment metastasisand thoracic spine was the most common site with single-site metastasis (26.3%, 47/179). 28.5% (51/179) of the patients had visceral metastases and 52.0% (93/179) of the patients had extraspinal bone metastases. 31.3% (56/179) of the patients had pathological fractures of the involved vertebral bodies.114 patients received surgical treatment (63.4%). The mortality rates in 3-months, 6-months and 1-year were 22.4% (40/179), 51.4% (92/179) and 77.1% (138/179), respectively. The median survival time of patients with NESMS score of 0-3 was 3, 4, 8, and 10 months respectively with the mean survival time was 3.60±2.10, 6.77±3.39, 9.69±5.71 and 10.53±6.25 months. The 1-year mortality rates were 100% (13/13), 87.5% (42/48), 71.6% (63/88) and 66.7% (20/30) respectively. The consistency of NESMS score, Tomita score and modified Tokuhashi score in predicting survival of all patients was 0.63, 0.58 and 0.55, respectively. For patients with spinal metastases, the NESMS score was better than the Tomita score and modified Tokuhashi score in predicting survival at 3-months (AUC=1.00, 0.63, 0.42) and 6-months (AUC=0.71, 0.63, 0.45). But the accuracy of Tomita score was best in predicting survival at 1-year (AUC=0.66, 0.61, 0.38). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model analysis showed that growth rate of primary tumor, neurological function Frankel score, albumin level and surgical treatment were independent factors affecting the survival time of patients with spinal metastases ( P<0.05). Conclusion:The consistency and accuracy of NESMS score in predicting survival of patients with spinal metastases are better than Tomita score and modified Tokuhashi score, especially in predicting 3- and 6-month survival. The growth rate of primary tumor, Frankel classification, albumin level and surgical treatment were independent factors affecting the survival time of patients with spinal metastases.

Objective: Tests were carried out for obtaining contamination level and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella on broiler carcasses after chilling in four poultry slaughterhouses in Henan. Methods: Totally, two hundred sixty nine broiler carcasses after chilling were collected in four slaughterhouses with the daily slaughter amount around 15 000 to 50 000. For qualitative analysis of Salmonella EFSA method was used and for quantitative analysis of Salmonella modified Rappaport-Vassiliadis most probable number (MSRV-MPN) method was used. All of the isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 8 antibiotics by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Results: Overall, 48.7% (131/269) of the broiler carcasses after chilling were contaminated by Salmonella, and the average of contamination level is 1.32 most probable number MPN/g. Eight serotypes were detected. The dominant serotype is Salmonella enteritidis (93, 71.0%) followed by Salmonella Indiana (21, 16.0%). Only 2 (1.5%) Salmonella enteritidis strains were sensitive to all the tested antibiotics and the remaining 129 isolates were resistant to at least one kind of eight class antibiotics. Among them, resistant to NAL was the common (104, 79.4%) and 51 (38.9%) Salmonella isolates were multidrug-resistant. Conclusion The contamination rate and multiple antimicrobial resistant of Salmonella on broiler carcasses after chilling from slaughterhouses was very serious, while the isolates contained various serotypes.

Objective: To investigate and analyze clinical symptoms, auxiliary examination results, therapeutic methods and the prognosis of the pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae in children. Methods: The clinical data including symptoms, auxiliary examination results, therapeutic methods of 125 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in our hospital from September 2016 to February 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Results: Among the 125 children with Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia, the main symptoms were cough (100%) and fever (68%) and some cases accompanied by different extra-pulmonary complications. Varying degrees of changes were found from all the children’s abnormal chest X-ray films. Conclusions The symptoms of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia in children were serious, with slight clinical signs and varying degrees of change of the X-ray films. Early standardized application of macrolide antibiotics was beneficial for treatment.

Foodborne disease is one of the most important public health issues worldwide. China faces various and unprecedented challenges in all aspects of the food chain. Data from laboratory-based foodborne disease surveillance systems from 2013 to 2016, as well as different regions and ages, can be found along with differences in the patterns of pathogens detected with diverse characteristics. Vibrio parahaemolyticus has been the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in China, especially among adults in coastal regions. Salmonella has been a serious and widely distributed pathogen responsible for substantial socioeconomic burden. Shigella was mostly identified in Northwest China and the inland province (Henan) with less-developed regions among children under 5 years. Data from foodborne disease outbreak reporting system from 2011 to 2016 showed that poisonous animals and plant factors responsible for most deaths were poisonous mushrooms (54.7%) in remote districts in southwest regions. The biological hazard that caused most cases reported (42.3%) was attributed to V. parahaemolyticus, the leading cause of foodborne outbreaks. In this review, we summarize the recent monitoring approach to foodborne diseases in China and compare the results with those in developed countries.
Bacteria ; classification ; isolation & purification ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Food Microbiology ; Foodborne Diseases ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Laboratories ; Mushroom Poisoning ; epidemiology ; Population Surveillance ; Public Health

Objective To compare the short and long term effect of knee osteoarthritis treatment with two therapeutic methods which are simple high cut of fibula and arthroscopic lavage debridement combined with fibular osteotomy.Methods Data of 45 consecutive patients with knee osteoarthritis were retrospectively observed and selected,and then they were divided into two groups according to the operation method.23 patients with simple high cut of fibula were selected as the control group,and 22 patients with arthroscopic lavage debridement combined with fibular osteotomy were selected as the observation group.Results The VAS and AKS scores of the control group at the time of 3m,6m,1 2m were (4.1 3 ±0.76)points,(1 07.04 ±21 .53)points;(2.70 ±0.64)points,(1 41 .1 7 ±1 2.57)points;(2.43 ±0.79)points,(1 48.26 ±5.81 )points;and the scores of the observation group were (3.45 ± 0.60)points,(1 26.64 ±1 4.24)points,(2.70 ±0.73)points,(1 46.45 ±7.26)points,(2.41 ±0.85)points and (1 48.26 ±5.81 )points.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant at the time of 3 months after surgery(t =3.32,-3.62,all P <0.05),the effect of observation group was better than the control group;but the other indices had no statistically significant differences (t =0.51 ,-1 .72,0.1 1 ,-0.20,all P >0.05 ). Conclusion The simple high cut of fibula with small trauma,less cost,less surgical difficulty,and long -term clini-cal curative effect is not less than the arthroscopic lavage and debridement combined with fibular osteotomy.There-fore,it should be carried out in the primary hospitals widely.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, named as tyromols A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from cultures of basidiomycete Tyromyces chioneus, along with two previously reported 15-hydroxy-6 α, 12-epoxy-7β, 10αH, 11βH-spiroax-4-ene (3) and agripilol C (4). Compounds 1-4 were separated and purified by silica gel, RP-18, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis including IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR experiments.