Objective To investigate the predictive value of serum matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)and soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(sTREM-1)in postoperative urinary tract infec-tion(UTI)in patients with ureteral calculi.Methods Among the ureteral calculi patients admitted to the De-partment of Urology in a hospital from October 2021 to October 2022,68 patients with postoperative UTI(UTI group)and 68 patients without UTI(non-UTI group)were selected as the study objects.Serum MMP-9 and sTREM-1 levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA).Spearman method was used to analyze the correlation between serum MMP-9 and sTREM-1 levels and clinical data in UTI group,and the predictive value of serum MMP-9 and sTREM-1 levels in postoperative UTI in ureteral calculi patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic curve.The influencing factors of postoperative UTI in ureter-al calculi patients were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression.Results Compared with non-UTI group,serum MMP-9 and sTREM-1 levels in UTI group were significantly increased,with statistical significance(P＜0.05).Correlation analysis showed that serum MMP-9 and sTREM-1 levels were positively correlated in UTI group(r=0.585,P＜0.001).The combined prediction of the area under the curve(AUC)for postopera-tive UTI in ureteral calculi patients was 0.961(95％CI:0.934-0.988).The sensitivity and specificity were 73.36％and 85.68％,respectively.The AUC predicted by MMP-9 and sTREM-1 was higher than that predic-ted by MMP-9 and STREM-1 alone(Z=25.420,P＜0.001;Z=21.531,P＜0.001).The levels of MMP-9 and sTREM-1 were the influencing factors of postoperative UTI in ureteral calculi patients(P＜0.05).Conclusion The serum levels of MMP-9 and sTREM-1 in postoperative UTI in ureteral calculi patients are increased,and the detec-tion of both levels has important predictive value for the occurrence of postoperative UTI in ureteral calculi patients.

This research aimed at the key issue that chemical drugs and Chinese medicine hydrophilic small molecule anti-tumor drugs were difficult to break through the dense interstitial permeability barrier of pancreatic cancer to achieve the key problem of drug efficacy in the deep part of tumor tissue. To solve this problem, the lipophilic molecule squalene (SQ) and the hydrophilic anti-tumor drug chidamide (CHI) were linked by a trypsin responsive bond to form a prodrug (SQ-CHI) and a folic acid modified prodrug self-assembled nanoparticles (FA-SQ-CHI NPs) were further developed. The feature of prodrug molecules and nanoparticles were characterized. The in vitro release characteristics and cytotoxicity of blank vector were investigated. The efficacy and permeability of the prodrug nanoparticles in the PSN-1 monolayer cell and PSN-1/HSPC co-cultured tumor spheroids model was evaluated. The results showed that SQ-CHI prodrug molecules and FA-SQ-CHI NPs were successfully developed. The nanoparticles were regular spherical, well-dispersed, with a particle size of (173.3 ± 1.5) nm, a drug load of (59.02 ± 0.8) % and showed trypsin responsive release ability. The prodrug nanoparticles can significantly enhance the penetration and anti-proliferation effects of CHI in the PSN-1/HSPC tumor spheroids. In conclusion, the construction of folic acid-modified SQ-CHI prodrug self-assembled nanoparticles can significantly enhance the penetration of CHI in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment in vitro. This research would provide a new idea for the construction of targeted drug delivery system for chemical drugs and Chinese medicine hydrophilic small molecule drugs in the application of anti-pancreatic cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to investigate the viral and bacterial etiology and epidemiology of patients with acute febrile respiratory syndrome (AFRS) in Qinghai using a commercial routine multiplex-ligation-nucleic acid amplification test (NAT)-based assay. METHODS: A total of 445 nasopharyngeal swabs specimens from patients with AFRS were analyzed using the RespiFinderSmart22kit (PathoFinder BV, Netherlands) and the LightCycler 480 real-time PCR system. RESULTS: Among the 225 (225/445, 51%) positive specimens, 329 positive pathogens were detected, including 298 (90.58%) viruses and 31 (9%) bacteria. The most commonly detected pathogens were influenza virus (IFV; 37.39%; 123/329), adenovirus (AdV; 17.02%; 56/329), human coronaviruses (HCoVs; 10.94%; 36/329), rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV; 10.03%; 33/329), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs; 8.51%; 28/329), and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneu; 8.51%; 28/329), respectively. Among the co-infected cases (17.53%; 78/445), IFV/AdV and IFV/M. pneu were the most common co-infections. Most of the respiratory viruses were detected in summer and fall. CONCLUSION In our study, IFV-A was the most common respiratory pathogen among 22 detected pathogens, followed by AdV, HCoV, RV/EV, PIV, and M. pneu. Bacteria appeared less frequently than viruses, and co-infection was the most common phenomenon among viral pathogens. Pathogens were distributed among different age groups and respiratory viruses were generally active in July, September, and November. Enhanced surveillance and early detection can be useful in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of AFRS, as well as for guiding the development of appropriate public health strategies.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharynx ; virology ; Seasons ; Sentinel Surveillance ; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ; epidemiology ; virology ; Young Adult

Objective Few studies are reported on the prevention and management of oral mucositis(OM) induced by post-operative radiotherapy in patients with oral cavity cancer.This study aimed to investigate the therateutic effect of the recombinant human epidermal growth factor(rhEGF) gel on radiation-induced OM. Methods Sixty-eight cases of radiation-induced OM after surgery for oral cavity cancer were randomly divided into an experimental and a control group of equal number,the former treated with rhEGF gel while the latter with borax mouthwash. Comparisons were made between the two groups of patients in the severity of oral cavity mucous membrane injury,the intensity of radiation-induced oral pain,the in-cidence of oral cavity infection, and the duration of radiotherapy. Results At 3 weeks of radiotherapy,the patients of the experimental group showed mainly mild and moderate OM while the controls chiefly moderate and severe OM,and at 6 weeks,the former exhibited mainly moderate while the latter chiefly severe OM, with statistically significant differences in the incidence rate between the two groups (P<0.01). The experimental group, compared with the controls, had a significantly higher incidence rate of grade-Ⅰ radiation-induced pain (47.1% vs 20.6%,P<0.01),but lower rates of grade-Ⅱ(17.6% vs 32.4%,P<0.01) and grade-Ⅲpain(2.9% vs 20.6%,P<0.01).The rates of oral infection and antibiotics medication were remarkably lower in the experimental group than in the controls(23.5% vs 38.2% and 11.8% vs 26.5%,P<0.05),and the duration of radiotherapy was markedly shorter in the former than in the latter ([42.37±3.14] d vs [48.47±4.39] d, P<0.05). Conclusion The rhEGF gel can significantly reduce the severity of radiation-induced oral mucositis,improve its symptoms,and shorten the time of postoperative radiotherapy for patients with oral cavity cancer.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the interleukin 17 (IL-17) gene and serum protein levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.

METHODSA total of 228 patients with chronic HCV infection and 81 healthy controls were enrolled in the study. The frequencies of IL-17 rs8193036 and rs2275913 polymorphisms were detected by the TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. Serum levels of IL-17 protein were detected by ELISA. Pairwise comparisons were made by the Chi-square test, and the significance of between-group differences was assessed by the Student's t-test with P less than 0.05.

RESULTSThe patients with chronic HCV infection and the healthy controls showed similar frequencies of the rs8193036 C/T allele (x2 = 1.428, P = 0.232) and the rs2275913 A/G allele (x2 = 0.106, P = 0.744). In addition, the two groups showed similar distribution of the rs8193036 CC (chronic HCV infection: 46.49% vs. healthy controls: 41.98%), CT (45.61% vs. 44.44%) and TT (7.89% vs. 13.58%) genotypes (x2 = 2.346, P = 0.309), and of the rs2275913 AA (16.23% vs. 13.58%), AG (48.25% vs. 50.62%) and GG (35.53% vs. 35.80%) genotypes (x2 = 0.340, P = 0.844). Subgroup analysis of chronic HCV infection patients stratified according to HCV genotypes 1 and 2 showed no differences in the distribution of rs8193036 and rs2275913 alleles (x2 = 1.127, P = 0.288; x2 = 1.088, P = 0.297) and genotypes (x2 = 2.825, P = 0.246; x2 = 0.970, P = 0.616). However, the chronic HCV infection group did show significantly higher levels of serum IL-17 than the controls (97.67+/-39.68 vs. 71.60+/-19.78 pg/ml, t = 2.414, P = 0.033).

CONCLUSIONChronic HCV infection is associated with increased serum IL-17; however, the IL-17 polymorphisms rs8193036 and rs2275913 were not associated with chronic HCV infection susceptibility in this study's Chinese cohort.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alleles ; Case-Control Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Hepacivirus ; Hepatitis C, Chronic ; blood ; genetics ; virology ; Humans ; Interleukin-17 ; blood ; genetics ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) and diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) in detecting regional cerebral metabolic changes and changes of water molecular motion in rabbits after explosive brain injury at different time points of injury after being treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Methods Ninety New Zealand white rabbits were divided into control group, trauma group and hyperbaric oxygen treatment group. The injured models in the later 2 groups were established using 600 mg TNT equivalent of paper detonators in the rabbit brain at the top of 6.5 cm vertical distance. Rabbits in the trauma group and hyperbaric oxygen treatment group were sub-divided into 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 d treatment groups, respectively. The survival of these rabbits was observed at these time points. Hyperbaric oxygen treatments lasting for 1, 3, 7, 14 and 21 d were given to each hyperbaric oxygen treatment sub-groups, respectively. Performance under MRS was detected and dynamic changes of N-acetylaspartate (NAA)/creatine (Cr) ratio and NAA/choline(Cho)+Cr value were observed with MRS. DWI was employed to detect the dynamic changes of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. Results The NAA/Cr ratio in the trauma group markedly decreased right after the injury and slightly rose 7 d after the injury. Compared with that in the trauma group, the NAA/Cr ratio in the hyperbaric oxygen treatment group was significantly increased (P＜0.05). The NAA/Cho+Cr value in the trauma group was markedly decreased right after the injury, while that in the hyperbaric oxygen treatment group was obviously increased as compared with that in the trauma group (P＜0.05). ADC values in the region of interest of the trauma group was decreased after 1 d of treatment and gradually increased after 3 d of treatment; the ADC values in the hyperbaric oxygen treatment group was obviously higher than those in the trauma group (P＜0.05). Conclusion Hyperbaric oxygen might improve the prognosis by improving local metabolism of neurons, inhibiting brain edema, and enhancing local gliosis repair;, ultra-early intervention (within one week of injury) may be much favorable for animals/patients after explosive brain injury.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of cord blood dendritic cells (DCs) on the in vitro proliferation capability, immunophenotype changes, level of secreted cytokines and activity against leukemia cells of the homologous cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells. DCs and CIK cells were induced from cord blood mononuclear cells. They were co-cultured at the ratio of 1:5, and CIK cells from cord blood or DC-CIK cells from peripheral blood were cultured as controls. Immunophenotypic changes were analyzed by flow cytometry, increased number of cells were counted by trypan-blue staining, the killing activity to leukemia cells was assayed by MTT, the levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) in the cultured supernatant were detected by ELISA. The results showed that the proliferation capability of cord blood DC-CIK cells was significantly higher than that of cord blood CIK cells and peripheral blood DC-CIK cells (p < 0.05 and p < 0.05). Under the same condition, the rate of double positive cells with CD3(+)CD8(+) and CD3(+)CD56(+) in CIK cells was significantly enhanced by co-culture with cord blood DCs (p < 0.05). The level of IL-12, IFN-γ, and TNF-α in cultured supernatants of cord blood DC-CIK cells increased noticeably on day 3 as compared with CIK cells cultured alone (p < 0.01, p < 0.05, p < 0.05). Within the effector-target ratio range between 2.5:1 to 20:1, the activity of cord blood DC-CIK cells against all subtypes of acute leukemia cells was much higher than that of CIK cells (p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference among all subtypes of acute leukemia cells, which was the same with the killing effect of peripheral blood DC-CIK cells against leukemia cells. It is concluded that the proliferation capability and anti-leukemia effect of the homologous CIK cells can be enhanced by cord blood DCs. The proliferation capability of cord blood DC-CIK cells is stronger than that of peripheral blood DC-CIK cells, but there is no significant differences of cytotoxicity between DCs and CIK cells. As the cord blood is easily gained and does not easily cause a serious graft rejection, the DC-CIK cells should be clinically applied more extensively as novel immune therapy.
Cell Proliferation ; Coculture Techniques ; Cytokine-Induced Killer Cells ; cytology ; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic ; Dendritic Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma ; metabolism ; Interleukin-12 ; metabolism ; Leukemia ; immunology ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate determinants of long-term survival for carcinoma of ampulla of Vater treated by local resection.

METHODSThe clinical and pathological data of 38 such patients treated by local resection from 1983 to 2003 were retrospectively analyzed. According to UICC staging system, there were T1 30, T2 7 and T3 1. Lymph nodes were involved in 4 during operation which was present in primary lesions larger than 2 cm across. All patients were treated by local resection. At first, external palpation was carried out to ascertain accessibility. Then with the duodenum opened, direct exploration was carried out. On deciding for resection, the common bile duct was probe explored which guided the circumferential ring resection 1 cm, away from the tumor, including all layers of duodenum, ampula and partial bile and terminal pancreatic ducts and the posterial wall of duodenum was completed in steps. Meticulous care was taken not to suture the pancreatic duct and endotheliation was ensured at the mouth of common bile duct and duodenum. The basal tissue was frozen sectioned to ensure negative stumps. The gall bladder of 6 patients was also resected. SPSS 10.0 software was used in data processing, log-rank test used in univariate analysis and Cox equation for multivariate analysis and Kaplan-Meirer method for the survival rates.

RESULTSThirty-eight patients received local resection giving an operative mortality of 0% and morbidity of 13.2%. The 1-, 5- and 10-year survival rate was 83.5%, 51.4%, and 38.9%, respectively, with a median survival of 3.35 years. Up to now, 13 patients have survived for more than five years and 2 patients beyond ten years. The tumour size, tumour grading, lymph node status and UICC stage were significant prognostic factors in univariate analysis. However, only lymph node status was a statistically independent predictor of prognosis in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONLocal excision is safe giving low morbidity and good survival in carefully selected cases. Preferably it is indicated only in high risk patients with a pT1 and well differentiated ampullary cancer smaller than 1 cm in diameter.

Adenocarcinoma ; surgery ; Adult ; Aged ; Ampulla of Vater ; surgery ; Common Bile Duct Neoplasms ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo analyze a large cohort of patients with rectal cancer within a cancer center to determine the prognostic factors by univariate and multivariate analyses.

METHODSA total of 952 patients with rectal cancer were treated surgically during a period of 10 years. R0, R1 and R2 operations were carried out in 741 patients (77.8%), 75 patients (7.9%) and 136 patients (14.3%), respectively. There were more Miles operation (53.5%) than lower abdominal resection (LAR, 33.7%).

RESULTSThe operation mortality was 0.3%, 418 patients were dead within 108 months postoperatively due to recurrence or metastases to liver, lung and bone in 53, 39 and 12 patients. The overall mean survival time for all patients was 73.52 +/- 1.70 months and the overall 3-, 5-and 10-year survival rates were 67.6%, 55.4% and 38.2%. The overall 3-, 5- and 10-year survival rates for patients treated by radical operation were 81.4%, 70.3%, 48.8%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimate showed that patient gender, age, radicality of resection, histological type, liver and pulmonary metastasis and TNM stage were the predictors of survival. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant correlation with radicality of operation, histological type, depth of tumor invasion, lymphatic invasion, TNM stage, liver and pulmonary metastasis.

CONCLUSIONFor survival, statistically significant differences among prognostic factors in relation to radicality of resection, lymphatic invasion, TNM stage, depth of tumor invasion, histological type, liver and pulmonary metastasis are found.

Adenocarcinoma ; mortality ; secondary ; surgery ; Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lung Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Rectal Neoplasms ; mortality ; pathology ; surgery ; Sex Factors ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the beneficial effect of intraperitoneally applied mitomycin bound to activated carbon particles (MMC-CH) in the prevention and treatment of intraabdominal recurrence after curative surgery for gastric cancer.

METHODSOne hundred and twenty-four patients with radically resected gastric cancer infiltrating the serosal surface were randomly divided into group receiving 50 mg mitomycin bound to a solution of 375 mg carbon adsorbent intraperitoneally before closure of the abdominal wound (n = 62) and a control group (n = 62). The patients with MMC-CH and the control group were received systemic chemotherapy 3 months or 3 weeks after operation respectively. The postoperative recurrence-free survival was evaluated to analyze the benefits of this treatment.

RESULTSAfter observation for 8 months (range, 2 - 65). The 3-, 5-year postoperative recurrence-free survival rates were significantly higher in the MMC-CH group (70.16%, 44.51%) than in the control group (27.09%, 14.45%), P < 0.01.

CONCLUSIONAdjuvant intraperitoneal chemotherapy of gastric cancer by mitomycin bound to activated carbon particles is effected by an increased postoperative recurrence-free survival rate.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Charcoal ; administration & dosage ; Chemotherapy, Cancer, Regional Perfusion ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Prognosis ; Prospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome