Programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) is an important immunosuppressive molecule, which inhibits the function of T cells and other immune cells by binding to the receptor programmed cell death-1. The PD-L1 expression disorder plays an important role in the occurrence, development, and treatment of sepsis or other inflammatory diseases, and has become an important target for the treatment of these diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are a kind of pluripotent stem cells with multiple differentiation potential. In recent years, MSCs have been found to have a strong immunosuppressive ability and are used to treat various inflammatory insults caused by hyperimmune diseases. Moreover, PD-L1 is deeply involved in the immunosuppressive events of MSCs and plays an important role in the treatment of various diseases. In this review, we will summarize the main regulatory mechanism of PD-L1 expression, and discuss various biological functions of PD-L1 in the immune regulation of MSCs.

ObjectiveTo assess the screening ability of two new anthropometric indices： a body shape index （ABSI） and body roundness index （BRI） for metabolic associated fatty liver disease （MAFLD） in adults， and to determine the optimal cut-off value. MethodsBased on the valid baseline data collected from March 2018 to October 2019 in Dongguan City， Guangdong Province by South China Cohort （SCC） project， a total of 9 214 adults were included， with physical examination， ultrasound and laboratory tests. MAFLD was diagnosed according to the consensus statement of international experts. Body mass index （BMI）， waist circumference （WC） and waist-height-ratio （WHtR） were used as reference to evaluate the screening ability of ABSI and BRI. Spearman rank test and logistic regression model were used to compare the correlation between each index and MAFLD. The receiver operating characteristic curve （ROC） was used to compare the area under the curve （AUC）. ResultsThe prevalence of MAFLD was 31.41%， which increased linearly across the quartile of each index except ABSI. There was a positive correlation between each index and MAFLD but ABSI was the weakest （r_s=0.069 in males and r_s=0.045 in females） while BRI was stronger （r_s=0.409 in males and r_s=0.413 in females）. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of the presence of MAFLD for the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile of each anthropometric measure， showed that ABSI had the lowest OR without statistical significance. The OR and 95%CI was 1.09 （0.85， 1.41） in males and 0.90 （0.74， 1.08） in females， respectively. BRI was similar to WHtR， and BMI had the strongest association whose OR and 95%CI was 61.15 （35.12， 106.47） in males and 20.07 （15.24， 26.43） in females， respectively. ABSI had the lowest AUC for MAFLD （0.55 in males and 0.53 in females） and the cut-off value was respectively 0.080 5 in males and 0.078 2 in females. BRI had a higher AUC （0.77 in males and 0.75 in females）， equal to WHtR and similar to WC （0.79 in males and 0.77 in females） but lower than BMI （0.81 in males and 0.79 in females）. The optimal cut-off value for BRI was 4.10 in males and 4.51 in females. BRI also showed a certain screening ability on MAFLD in lean/normal weight population （0.73 in males and 0.69 in females）， patients with diabetes （0.73 in males and 0.71 in females） and subjects with lean/normal weight and metabolic dysfunction （0.60 in males and 0.55 in females）. ConclusionsBRI can effectively identify MAFLD （AUC>0.7） and the optimal cut-off value is 4.10 for males and 4.51 for females， while ABSI performs poorly. Considering the screening on MAFLD in population with different characteristics， BRI shows a potential for use in early screening of MAFLD.

Objective There are few studies on whether progesterone has neuroprotective effects on cerebral hemorrhage. This study aimed to observe the effects of different doses of progesterone on Matrix metalloproteinase-9（MMP-9）and Nuclear factor-κB （NF-κB）in cerebral hemorrhage in male rats, and to explore the neuroprotective effects and possible mechanism of progesterone on cerebral hemorrhage in rats. Methods We randomly divided 174 adult male rats into six groups of equal number with random number table. The models of cerebral hemorrhage were established. The low-, medium- and high-dose progesterone groups were administered with progesterone 4, 8, 16 mg/kg, respectively. The rats in the sham operation and model groups were given same volume of normal saline. We detected the expression of MMP-9 and NF-κB in the brain tissue of each group by Western blotting at 3 days. Moreover, we used the other rats to obtain the neurological severity scores（NSS），and measure the water content of brain tissue. Furthermore, we detected the expressions of MMP-9 and NF-κB by immunohistochemistry at 1, 3 and 7 days. Results The low-, medium- and high-dose progesterone groups could all improve the neurological function of rats after cerebral hemorrhage, and the middle dose group showed the best effects（P<0.05）. Moreover, the low-, medium- and high-dose progesterone groups can reduce the expression of MMP-9 and NF-κB, and the middle dose group also indicated the best effects （P<0.05）. Conclusion Progesterone might improve the neurological function and reduce edema in rats after cerebral hemorrhage, which may be related to the decrease of MMP-9 and NF-κB expression.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (EBV-PTLD) is a potentially life-threatening complication after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or solid organ transplantation. In the last decade, the survival of patients with EBV-PTLD has been significantly improved by immunotherapeutic interventions among high-risk patients. The immunotherapeutic interventions for EBV-PTLD include reduction in immunosuppression, CD20 monoclonal antibodies (rituximab) as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy, and adoptive immunotherapy with EBV-specific T cells. This paper reviews the latest update on the high-risk factors, clinical manifestations and immunotherapy of EBV-PTLD.
Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; complications ; therapy ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; methods ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; etiology ; therapy ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; therapy ; Risk Factors

Adult ; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; Humans ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia Type 2a ; genetics ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret ; genetics ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics

BACKGROUNDHuman immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)-related stigma is an obstacle to the implementation of treatment, care, and support programs for people living with HIV/AIDS. This study explored the association of the HIV knowledge with the attitudes toward HIV/AIDS.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted in HIV epidemic rural areas with 5355 participants. Their knowledge and attitudes about HIV/AIDS were assessed, and the associations of HIV transmission and non-transmission knowledge with negative attitudes towards the HIV/AIDS were analyzed.

RESULTSNegative attitudes were significantly correlated with the HIV non-transmission knowledge and the correlation was higher than that with HIV transmission knowledge among participants who were male, 20 years old and migrant workers, students and respondents of and above junior high school. However, among those who were female, age 30 and older, illiterate with primary school education, negative attitudes were significantly associated with HIV non-transmission knowledge and the association was lower than that with HIV transmission knowledge.

CONCLUSIONSHIV transmission knowledge and non-transmission knowledge have different influences on negative attitudes towards HIV/AIDS among different demographic subgroups.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; transmission ; Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; HIV Infections ; transmission ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between A46G and C79G polymorphisms in the β2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene and the incidence of essential hypertension (EH) among the Han Chinese population.

METHODSWe conducted a computer retrieval of PUBMED, EMBASE, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP databases prior to May 2010. Articles investigating the relationship of EH and ADRB2 gene polymorphism of Han group were found through literature search, including 15 articles on A46G and 10 articles on C79G. According to the including and excluding criteria, a Meta-analysis was conducted in EH and ADRB2 gene polymorphism of A46G and C79G. The association was examined by RevMan4.2 software through quantitative analysis.

RESULTSEight articles on A46G polymorphism (including 1078 EH cases and 788 control subjects) and six articles on C79G polymorphism (including 1367 EH cases and 1006 control subjects) were included in the current study. Meta-analysis showed that there was a significant association between A46G polymorphism and EH: genotype GG/(AA + AG) (fixed-effected model, OR = 1.35, 95%CI = 1.04 - 1.74, P = 0.02), genotype GG/AA (fixed-effected model, OR = 1.41, 95%CI = 1.06 - 1.89, P = 0.02). No significant association was found between C79G polymorphism and EH of Han group in China: G/C allele comparison (random-effected model, OR = 0.88, 95%CI = 0.55 - 1.39, P = 0.57).

CONCLUSIONSignificant association was found between A46G polymorphism of ADRB2 gene and EH, whereas no association could be found between C79G polymorphism and EH among Han Chinese population.

Alleles ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics ; Risk Factors

To study the intervention programs on smoking cessation in a general hospital and to evaluate its effects of the programs. Four methods including: a) the intervention through specialists in the smoking cessation clinic, b) short-time intervention in the out-patient department,c) free medical intervention, d) group intervention, were adopted for different smokers, with health counseling, psychological intervention and drug treatment. Intervention effect was evaluated by standard methods. During the 20-month period of the project, we treated 690 cases and 402 completed 6-month follow-up. Preliminary results in 402 cases showed that the three methods of smoking cessation interventions could reduce the amount of cigarette smoking and increase the quitting rate. Motivation to quit smoking, intervention methods and intensity of intervention seemed cessation clinic (31.6%) and in the group intervention (30.9%) was higher than short-time intervention in free medical events (15.1%). The successful rate of smoking cessation depended on the motivation of quitters, and the attitude, methods and intervention skills of the physicians.Therefore, it is necessary to explore and develop smoking cessation service models suitable to national context and individual intervention methods in China.

OBJECTIVETo culture and amplify the young rabbit's bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in vitro, and to observe the effect of hypothermia on the cells' growing behavior and biological function.

METHODSBMSCs were acquired from the rabbit' tibia bone marrow and induced to mature osteoblasts in vitro. The cultured cells growing well in vitro were preserved in liquid nitrogen. The anabiotic cells having cryopreserved for 1 week were chosen as the experimental group, and the routine 7th generation as the control group. Their biological function in comparion by the examination of morphological changes, cells' proliferation ability, colone forming ratio, synthesis ability of ALP and protein, mineralized nodes forming ability were observed.

RESULTSAs contrast to the control groups, the anabiotic cells also grew and proliferated well in vitro except a little more slowly than before. They had the similar general shape in all the time segments, but a little differences in cells' ultrastructure. The experimental groups also had the typical characters of mature osteoblasts, and high abilities of the synthesis of ALP and proteins. The statistic data showed that these two groups had no significant difference (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe cryopreserved osteoblasts had the same biological functions and the similar growing behaviors as before. These results suggest that it is practical to use the cryopreserved osteoblasts for further study on bone tissue engineering.

Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Bone and Bones ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; In Vitro Techniques ; Osteoblasts ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering

BACKGROUNDTo observe the LMP2 specific cellular and humoral immune responses after immunization with recombinant adenovirus Ad-LMP2 in rhesus.

METHODSThe rhesuses were immunized with Ad-LMP2 through intra muscular injection in three groups, high dosage (4.5 x 10(11) VP/kg), medium dosage (1.5 x 10(11) VP/kg) and low dosage (0.5 x 10(11) VP/kg) groups. They were totally immunized six times at intervals of 5 days. The specific cellular immune responses were tested during the 7th week by ELISPOT after immunization. And the titers of anti-LMP2 antibody were tested by EIA throughout the period of immunization.

RESULTSLMP2 induced specific cellular and humoral immune responses in all three dosage group. The potency of immune responses was related with the dosage of immunization. Higher dosage elicited more potent immune response. Both the neutralizing antibody to adenovirus and anti-LMP2 antibody could be detected from 2 weeks after immunization. They would reach the peak during 3-4 weeks after immunization, then declined during the 7th week after immunization.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant adenovirus LMP2 could induce specific cellular and humoral responses in rhesus after immunization.

Adenoviridae ; genetics ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; Antibody Formation ; immunology ; Female ; Immunization ; methods ; Macaca mulatta ; Male ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic ; immunology ; Vaccines, DNA ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Matrix Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; genetics ; immunology