Objective: To evaluate possible effects of Gelctin-9 on acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) development and clinical outcomes in patients before and afer allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) . Methods: Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 29 patients and 15 healthy volunteers with heparin anticoagulant tubes. Samples were analyzed using ELISA kits to measure the serum concentrations of Galectin-9. Results: Patients developing aGVHD had significantly lower level of Galectin-9 [ (7.96±1.18) μg/L] before allo-HSCT compared with those not developing aGVHD [ (12.37±0.97) μg/L, P<0.001]. And after allo-HSCT, the consentration of Galectin-9 increased markedly in patients developing aGVHD [ (17.78±1.78) μg/L] compared with those not developing aGVHD [ (9.45±0.80) μg/L, P<0.001]. Patients developing 3-4 grade aGVHD had significantly higher level of Galectin-9 [ (23.25±2.59) μg/L] compared with those developing 1-2 grade aGVHD [ (14.37±1.45) μg/L, P=0.008] and those without aGVHD [ (9.45±0.80) μg/L, P<0.001]. The patients with lower level of Galectin-9 after allo-HSCT (<13.61 μg/L) showed more favorable clinical outcomes compared with those with higher level of Galectin-9 (≥13.61 μg/L) . The 3-year overall survival rates were (100.00±6.05) % and (69.23±12.80) %, respectively (P=0.009) . The cumulative incidence of non-relapse mortality was significantly higher in high Galectin-9 group [ (23.08±11.69) %] in comparison with low Gaelctin-9 group [ (0.00±7.39) %] (P=0.023) . There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the cumulative incidence of relapse. The cumulative incidence of relapse at 3 years were (8.33±7.98) % and (12.50±8.27) % in high and low Galectin-9 groups, respectively (P=0.708) . Conclusions The serum concentration of Galectin-9 at the time of engraftment after allo-HSCT may be used as a predictor for the development and severity of aGVHD. Galectin-9 might be considered as a potential new approach to regulate transplant rejection to achieve desirable survival.

Cell death plays important roles in living organisms and is a hallmark of numerous disorders such as cardiovascular diseases, sepsis and acute pancreatitis. Moreover, cell death also plays a pivotal role in the treatment of certain diseases, for example, cancer. Noninvasive visualization of cell death contributes to gained insight into diseases, development of individualized treatment plans, evaluation of treatment responses, and prediction of patient prognosis. On the other hand, cell death can also be targeted for the treatment of diseases. Although there are many ways for a cell to die, only apoptosis and necrosis have been extensively studied in terms of cell death related theranostics. This review mainly focuses on molecular imaging and therapeutic strategies directed against necrosis. Necrosis shares common morphological characteristics including the rupture of cell membrane integrity and release of cellular contents, which provide potential biomarkers for visualization of necrosis and necrosis targeted therapy. In the present review, we summarize the updated joint efforts to develop molecular imaging probes and therapeutic strategies targeting the biomarkers exposed by necrotic cells. Moreover, we also discuss the challenges in developing necrosis imaging probes and propose several biomarkers of necrosis that deserve to be explored in future imaging and therapy research.

Objective To investigate the clinical,therapeutic and prognostic features of patients with lateral sinus stenosis and isolated intracranial hypertension,and further explore the possible mechanisms of their coexistence.Methods We retrospectively enrolled 16 patients with neurosurgery in our hospital from January 2009 to December 2016,who were clinically diagnosed as simple intracranial hypertension with bilateral or predominant lateral sinus stenosis and lateral stenting.These 16 patients were recorded surgical procedures and postoperative outcomes,and followed-up to understand the long-term prognosis of them.Results There were 14 females in the 16 patients,with an average age of (32.4 ± 10.1) years,a mean duration of (10.9 ± 7.3) months,and an average body mass index of (28.9 ± 3.6) kg/m2.In terms of clinical manifestions,majority of the patients presented with headache (n =15) and visual symptoms (n =14),and all with papilledema by fundus examination.The elevated opening cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure was noticed:five cases between 25-33 cmH2O (1 cmH2O =0.098 kPa),11 cases more than 33 cmH2O.The mean pressure difference in the proximal and distal sinus of the anterior chamber was (36.3 ± 9.4) cmH2O in the range of 15-91 cmH2O.The pressure difference between the two ends of the stenosis disappeared immediately after the operation in 12 cases and the pressure difference less than 15 (2-12) cmH2O in four cases.Thirteen patients underwent lumbar puncture at one week after operation.The CSF pressure of them decreased significantly,of which eight were in the normal range.Six months after the operation,11 patients underwent DSA/MRV,none of which had serious surgical complications.With the average follow-up of (35.4 ± 9.8) months,the overall prognosis of these patients was good.Headaches in 14 of 15 patients were improved,out of which 12 were free of headache,two with only mild headache and a slight intracranial hypertension (19 and 23 cmH2O,respectively);visual complaints were reversed in nine out of 14 cases;10 patients underwent fundus examination,and nine of them were observed the improvement of papilledema.During the follow-up period,the symptoms of other patients were improved (headache relief and visual improvement) except one,the overall effective ratio being 15/16.Conclusions The interventional treatment of lateral sinus stenting is effective in patients with sinus stenosis associated with simple intracranial hypertension.The stenosis of the lateral sinus may be the main mechanism of increased intracranial pressure.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in antileucine-rich glioma-inactivated 1 (LGI1) encephalitis by analyzing the clinical and immunologic data of patients treated with MMF in this prospective cohort of anti-LGI1 encephalitis.Methods Patients treated with MMF for more than one year in Peking Union Medical College Hospital were included in this study.MMF was given at a dosage of 1.5-3.0 g/d in the induction period (two to four months) and 0.75-2.00 g/d in the maintenance period.All the patients were followed up regularly.Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score evaluation,serum IgG and peripheral CD19-positive B cells,CD4-positive T cells and CD8-positive T cells testing were performed every two months.Results Fifteen patients were included in this study who received first-line immunotherapy combined with MMF.No other second-line therapy including rituximab was used.Thirteen patients responded well to MMF combined with first-line immunotherapy (a decrease in mRS score of more than 1).All 15 patients had a good outcome (i.e.,a mRS score of 0-2),including nine patients without residual symptoms (a mRS score of 0).After 12 months of MMF treatment,CD19-positive B cells were significantly decreased (median 320 (227,628) × 106/L vs 152 (105,223) × 106/L;Z=-2.028,P=0.043),while serum IgG (9.07 (6.70,11.32) g/L vs 8.35 (6.63,10.69) g/L,P=0.144)),CD4-positive T cells (1 136 (736,1 432) × 106/L vs 1 055 (802,1 072) × 106/L,P =0.866) and CD8-positive T cells (627 (413,784) × 106/L vs 568 (393,743) × 106/L,P =0.735) were not significantly changed.Three patients relapsed and were treated with additional cycle of first-line immunotherapy and increased dosage of MMF (induction dosage) resulting in remission.CD19-positive B cells were tested to be increased during the patients' relapse.No serious adverse event was noted in all these patients.Conclusions MMF is safe and effective as a long-term immunotherapy in patients with anti-LGI1 encephalitis.MMF can be used as an add-on therapy to first-line immunotherapy for autoimmune encephalitis.CD19-positive B cell count should be monitored and used as a parameter to individualize dosage of MMF.

Cardiac arrest (CA) is the most serious clinical emergency situation and cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation (CPCR) performed on site with high quality is the optional therapy for its management. It has been reported that prolonging the resuscitation time after 30-minute failed conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) could improve the in-hospital survival rate of CA patients, and how to improve the out-hospital survival rate and survival quality of these patients is a research hot focus at present. A male patient admitted to Emergency Center of Shihezi People's Hospital reported in Xinjiang in this study had two CAs. In 2002, he experienced Adams-Strokes syndrome due to acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and survived after 35-minute of successful CPR. The criminal vessel was judged to re-canalize clinically 2 hours after thrombolytic therapy with urokinase, and he was cured and discharged from hospital 25 days later. In 2016, the second CA insult him and after the 185-minute CPR, he survived but experienced the post-CA syndrome. As long as 7-day continuous mild hypothermia was performed, the temperature of displacement fluids in continuous blood purification (CBP) was adjusted to 35 ℃ to achieve the goal of brain protection management requirements. He was cured and discharged from hospital 75 days later. During the 9-month follow-up, he did well in activities of daily living and could engage in routine housework. This paper introduces the treatment process of the patient in detail, and provides experience for clinical treatment.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and cardiovascular risk factors of silent brain infarct (SBI) in Shunyi Cohort.Methods This study was based on the population based Shunyi Study in China.One thousand and twenty-seven stroke-free participants older than 35 years,who completed cerebral MRI,were included.Cardiovascular risk factors were assessed by interview,physical examination and blood sample tests.SBI was evaluated on 3D-T1WI,T2WI and FLAIR sequences.Associations between risk factors and SBI were analyzed by Logistic regression and adjusted for age,sex,and relevant confounders.Results One thousand and twenty-seven participants,aged (55.9 ± 9.4) years,37.7％ male,were assessed.One hundred sixty-four participants(16.0％) had SBI on MRI.The prevalence of SBI increased by age (every 10 years,OR=2.12,95％ CI 1.74-2.58,P＜0.01).Hypertension(OR =2.67,95％ CI 1.77-4.04,P＜0.01),diabetes(OR=2.48,95％ CI 1.64-3.76,P＜0.01) and smoking(OR=1.98,95％ CI 1.08-3.62,P =0.028) were significantly associated with SBI.Conclusions The prevalence of SBI in this Chinese population is 16.0％,which increases with age.Hypertension,diabetes and smoking are associated with SBI.

Objective In order to evaluate the possible effects of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) on graft versus host disease (aGVHD) development and clinical outcomes,this study systematically detected the dynamic changes of MDSCs accumulation in patients during the first 100 days after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Methods Peripheral blood was obtained from 30 patients and 10 healthy volunteers with heparin anticoagulant tubes for 6 mL.For patients,peripheral blood was collected during the first 100 days after allo-HSCT and MDSCs levels were detected by flow cytometry.For measuring the serum concentrations of IL-6,IL-10,IL-1β,TNF-α,Arg-1,HO-1 and iNOS,samples were analyzed using ELISA kits.Results Patients developing aGVHD were infused with significantly less number of MDSCs [(39.94 ± 8.383) 106/kg]than in those not developing aGVHD [(209.0 ± 57.68) 106/kg,P =0.002 6];Patients developing aGVHD Ⅰ-Ⅱ and patients without aGVHD received significantly greater number of MDSCs [(61.96 ± 13.67) 106/kg and (209.0 ± 57.68) 106/kg] than in those developing aGVHD Ⅲ-Ⅳ [(20.37 ±4.304) 106/kg,P =0.013 9].After allo-HSCT,the mean percentage of MDSCs increased markedly in patients developing aGVHD [(7.725 ± 1.460)％] as compared with those not developing aGVHD [(3.423± 1.044)％,P =0.021 3].The high MDSCs group (＞53.712 × 106/kg) showed more favorable clinical outcomes than in the low MDSCs group (≤53.712 × 106/kg).The 2-year overall survival rate as 100％ in high MDSCs group,and 50％ in low MDSCs group (P =0.001 3).The cumulative incidence of 2-year relapse was 6.250％ and 29.252％ in high MDSCs group and low MDSCs group respectively (P =0.112 3).The cumulative incidence of NRM was significantly lower in high MDSCs group (0％) than in low MDSCs group (49.519％,P=0.001 8).MDSCs frequencies significantly increased in patients developing aGVHD after allo-HSCT.After allo-HSCT,the concentrations of IL-6,IL-10,TNF-α,Arg-1,iNOS and HO-1 were significantly elevated in patients developing aGVHD.Conclusion The number of MDSCs when engraftment may be used as a predictor for the development and severity of aGVHD.MDSCs might be considered as a potential new approach to regulate transplant rejection and achieve long-term survival.

Objective To investigate the risk factors of gastrointestinal graft versus host disease(GVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT).Method 214 patients receiving allo-HSCT from 2003 to 2012 were enrolled in this study,and assessed on the degree of gastrointestinal GVHD.The effects of the primary diseases status,gender,age,conditioning regimen intensity,donor type,the number of cells positive for the CD34 expression,and the use of anti-lymphocyte immunoglobulin (ALG) in the pretreatment scheme on the occurrence of gastrointestinal GVHD was studied.The responses of different degrees of GVHD to immunotherapy were evaluated.Result Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the graft type and the conditioning regimen intensity were the risk factors of gastrointestinal GVHD (P＜0.05).Conclusion Donor type and conditioningregimen intensity may be the main risk factors of gastrointestinal GVHD.

Objective To compare curative effect of decompression and conservative treatment for traumatic superior orbital fissure syndrome to discuss the operation indications and the operative oppor-tunity for this syndrome. Methods Data of 12 patients (seven males and five females) with 14 sides were compared to evaluate different curative effect between decompression and conservative treatment so as to optimize the initial corresponding treatment. Results The patients were at mean age of 28 years and followed up for mean six months. All patients were complicated by one and more of following symptoms in-cluding ophthalmoplegia, ptosis, proptosis and anaesthesia in the distribution of V1 and a fixed dilated pupil. There was one patient complicated by orbital apex syndrome. CT showed involvement of the superi-or orbital fissure in seven patients. Of seven patients treated with decompression, six got recovery at dif-ferent degrees. Meanwhile, three out of five patients treated with conservative treatment recovered to some extent. Conclusions Early effective treatment can improve the functional rehabilitation of the injured nerve. Decompression of superior orbital fissure is proved to be effective in ameliorating symptome, re-ducing disability and improving quality of life.

Objective To discuss clinical effects of early (<48 hours after injury) fraeture exter-nal fixation in treatment of severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) combined with extremity fracture. Meth-ods The study involved patients with no statistical difference in aspects of age, sex, GCS, fracture ,distri-bution and general condition. According to different treatment methods at early stage (<48 hours), the pa-tients with TBI were divided into Group A (early extremity fracture external fixation) and Group B (early extremity fracture traction or cast immobilization). A comparative observation was done on complications in-cluding bedsore, pneumonia and deep venous thrombosis and on duration in ICU, hospitalization, time for fracture healing and mortality in two groups. Results Incidence rate of bedsore, pneumonia, deep ve-nous thrombosis and mortality in Group A was lower than that in Group B (P<0.05), and Group A had shorter time for ICU, hospitalization and fracture healing (P < 0.05). Conclusion For patients with se-vere TBI combined with extremity fracture, early fracture external fixation is more effective to reduce com-plications, shorten the recovery time and reduce mortality, compared with conservative methods.