BACKGROUND: Peripheral helper T (T PH ) cells are uniquely positioned within pathologically inflamed non-lymphoid tissues to stimulate B-cell responses and antibody production. However, the phenotype, function, and clinical relevance of T PH cells in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently unknown. METHODS: Blood, tumor, and peritumoral liver tissue samples from 39 HCC patients (Sep 2016-Aug 2017) and 101 HCC patients (Sep 2011-Dec 2012) at the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were used. Flow cytometry was used to quantify the expression, phenotype, and function of T PH cells. Log-rank tests were performed to evaluate disease-free survival and overall survival in samples from 39 patients and 101 patients with HCC. T PH cells, CD19 + B cells, and T follicular helper (T FH ) cells were cultured separately in vitro or isolated from C57/B6L mice in vivo for functional assays. RESULTS: T PH cells highly infiltrated tumor tissues, which was correlated with tumor size, early recurrence, and shorter survival time. The tumor-infiltrated T PH cells showed a unique ICOS hi CXCL13 + IL-21 - MAF + BCL-6 - phenotype and triggered naïve B-cell differentiation into regulatory B cells. Triggering programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) induced the production of C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) by T PH cells, which then suppressed tumor-specific immunity and promoted disease progression. CONCLUSION Our study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism of T PH cell-regulatory B-cell-mediated immunosuppression and provides an important perspective for determining the balance between the differentiation of protumorigenic T PH cells and that of antitumorigenic T FH cells in the HCC microenvironment.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/metabolism* ; Liver Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Humans ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer/metabolism* ; Animals ; Mice ; Male ; Female ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Middle Aged ; B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/metabolism* ; Flow Cytometry ; Interleukin-21 ; Aged ; Chemokine CXCL13/metabolism*

Objective To observe the functions of far-infrared rays and negative ions in Tourmaline and explore its new healthcare usage. Methods Questionnaires were adopted to obtain changes of diabetic patients in terms of dyskinesia,dysreflexia, abnormal skin and muscle, kinesthesis, touch sensation, algesia, and temperature sensation after using Tourmaline bedding series. Results Diabetic patients in fight and moderate level get improvements after using the series for one year,although the patient in fight level get outstanding improvements. Data showed the shorter therapeutic courses the better therapeutic effects were obtained and the improvements highlighted the changes of pain, ferver, hypesthesia, numbness, hight attack symptoms, and motion abnormality. Motion abnormality, algesia, and temperature sensation are three sensitive indexes of this disease. Conclusion Tourmaline bedding series has the function of improving peripheral neuropathy, which may be related with Tourmaline producing far-infrared rays and negative ions.

The mosquito vector of filariasis malayi and its vectorial capacity was investigated In 5 endemic villages in Leshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The results showed that the man-biting rate, numan blood index and vectorial capacity of An. lesteri anthropophagus were 0.7, 5.1 and 10.63 times higher than those of An. sinensis. Besides, the natural infection by microfilaria in An, lesteri anthropophagus was also higher than that in An. sinensis by 5 times.From the above result, the authors concluded that An. lesteri anthropophagus was the main vector for transmitting filariasis malayi in the area under study.

Objective To study the distribution of the G/A variant at position -30 of the glucokinase gene promoter in southern Chinese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and to investigate the association between different genotypes and indices of glucose metabolism. Methods Four hundred and fourty four unrelated Chinese subjects 〔aged (50.8?12.2)years〕 without diabetics were studied, among them 222 subjects with NGT and 222 with IGT. The G to A substitution at position -30 of the glucokinase promoter, resulting in the loss of a BsiHKA Ⅰ cut site, was detected after BsiHKA Ⅰ digestion of PCR amplified genomic DNA. Results Allele frequency of the A variant was 18.2% in NGT (similar to finding in native Japanese) and 19.8% in IGT subjects. Fasting plasma glucose level was significantly higher in subjects with the A allele (n=153; GA:AA=137:16), when compared to the GG subjects (n=291), 〔(5.35?0.59 vs 5.19?0.53) mmol/L, P=0.006〕. Higherfastingglucoselevelwasalsofound when only IGT subjects with the A variant and GG allele were analyzed 〔(5.54?0.58 vs 5.35?0.52) mmol/L, P=0.02〕. In subjects with NGT, there was no significant difference in fasting plasma glucose levels between different GCK genotypes. Conclusion GCK gene promoter -30 G/A variant is associated with higher fasting plasma glucose levels, and may contributes to the development of IGT in Southern Chinese.