Objective To investigate the application of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of left atrial ear volume and function changes in patients with patent foramen ovale and atrial fibrillation. Methods Eighty patients with patent foramen ovale were selected as the study objects, and were divided into atrial fibrillation group (n=44) and non-atrial fibrillation group (n=36), and 30 healthy subjects were selected as control group. Transesophageal echocardiography was performed in three groups. The left atrial appendage volume and changes of function in three groups were compared. Results The left atrial appendage maximum volume (LAAV_max), left atrial appendage minimum volume (LAAV_min), left atrial appendage opening maximum area (MA) and left atrial appendage opening maximum length diameter (MD) in the atrial fibrillation group and non-atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher, and the left atrial appendage maximum emptying velocity (LAAeV) and left atrial appendage maximum filling velocity (LAAfV) were significantly lower than those of the control group (P < 0.05). The LAAV_max, LAAV_min as well as MA and MD of left auricular opening in patients with left auricular spontaneous imaging (SEC) in the atrial fibrillation group were significantly higher than those in the non-atrial fibrillation group, and LAAeV and LAAfV were significantly lower than those in the non-atrial fibrillation group (P < 0.05). After treatment, the incidence of end-point events in the atrial fibrillation was significantly higher than that in the non-atrial fibrillation group (P < 0.05). Conclusion The application of transesophageal echocardiography in the evaluation of left atrial ear volume and function changes in patients with patent foramen ovale and atrial fibrillation is effective. The left atrial appendage function of patients with atrial fibrillation is worse than that of patients without atrial fibrillation.

Objective:To systematically evaluate the prevalence of norovirus causing sporadic acute gastroenteritis in China.Methods:Relevant articles on acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus in China published between January 2010 and October 2023 were retrieved from Wanfang, CNKI and PubMed database. The articles met inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled in this study. Excel software and SPSS20.0 software were used for statistical analysis. The epidemiological features of sporadic cases of acute gastroenteritis caused by norovirus in China were summarized using descriptive statistical analysis.Results:A total of 500 articles were included in this study, involving 784 486 cases of acute gastroenteritis and 670 292 samples in 32 provinces and regions. Norovirus GⅡ was the predominant genogroup causing acute gastroenteritis in China in recent years, but there were significant differences in the distribution of genotypes and epidemic strains at different times. GⅡ.4 was the predominant genotype in each year, and GⅡ.4/2006b and GⅡ.4 /Sydney_2012 were the main epidemic strains. Norovirus-related diarrhea occurred throughout the year, especially between the months of October and December. The incidence of norovirus infection was high in children under five years old and varied in different regions.Conclusions:Norovirus GⅡ was the predominant genogroup causing norovirus-related sporadic acute gastroenteritis in China, but there was an obvious genetic evolutionary trend in the epidemic strains. Factors such as epidemic strains, season and geographical region should be considered when making strategies for the prevention and control of norovirus-related diarrhea and developing vaccines.

Objective: To detect norovirus (NoV) GⅠ.1- and GⅡ.4-specific IgG, IgA and histo-blood group antigen (HBGA)-blocking antibodies in healthy populations of all age groups in China for better understanding the epidemiological features of norovirus in China from a serological point of view and providing basic data for vaccine development and clinical trial design. Methods: Indirect ELISA and HBGA-blocking assay were used to detect NoV-specific IgG, IgA and HBGA-blocking antibodies in serum samples collected from healthy natural populations (n=839, aged from six months to 88 years old) in Guangzhou, Fuyang and Yantai. The results were statistically analyzed. Results: The total positive rates of NoV GⅠ.1- and GⅡ.4-specific IgG antibodies were 91.9% and 93.0%. The positive rates of GⅠ.1- and GⅡ.4-specific IgA antibodies were 48.6% and 75.6%, and the titers of HBGA-blocking antibodies to GⅠ.1 and GⅡ.4 norovirus were 5.04 (95%CI: 4.63-5.49) and 18.15 (95%CI: 16.11-20.44). The positive rates of IgG and IgA antibodies generally showed an increasing trend with age. The positive rates of GⅠ.1- and GⅡ.4-specific IgG antibodies ranged from 79.2% to 100.0% and 76.7% to 100.0% in different age groups. They were 81.7% and 85.0% in the age group of 0.5-<1 year, 79.2% and 76.7% in the age group of 1-<2 years, and 98.1% and 96.3% in the age group of 12-<18 years, and maintained at 96% and 98% in the older age groups. The positive rates of GⅠ.1-specific IgA antibody ranged from 11.7% to 93.8% in different age groups and rapidly increased with age. It was 11.7% in the age group of 0.5-<1 year, and reached 93.3% in people aged 45-<60 years and 93.8% in people aged ≥60 years. The positive rates of GⅡ.4-specific IgA antibody ranged from 50.8% to 88.8% in different age groups with 50.8% in people aged 0.5-<1 year, and 86.7%-90.7% in people aged 12-<18 years and older. The titer of GⅠ.1 HBGA-blocking antibody generally increased with age. The antibody titer in populations aged 0.5-<12 years old was lower than that in those aged 18 years and above (GMT: 2.98-4.07 vs 8.21-11.62, P<0.001), and the titer in people of 12-<18 years old was lower than that in those of 45 years old and above (GMT: 5.21 vs 11.03-11.62, P<0.05). No obvious change with age was observed in the titer of GⅡ.4 HBGA-blocking antibody excepting the significant difference between populations of 2-<5 and 22-<45 years old (GMT: 26.73 vs 11.87, P<0.01). Conclusions This study revealed the characteristics of serum NoV GⅠ.1- and GⅡ.4-specific IgG, IgA and HBGA blocking antibodies in populations of different age groups in central and eastern China through analyzing their positive rates and titers and provided preliminary seroepidemiological data for the development of NoV vaccines in China.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current status of diagnosis and management of acute appendicitis (AA) in China. METHODS: Questionnaire survey was used to retrospectively collect data of hospitalized patients with AA from 43 medical centers nationwide in 2017 (Sort by number of cases provided: Jinling Hospital of Medical School of Nanjing University, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Lu'an People's Hospital, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Dalian Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Dongying People's Hospital, Jinjiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huangshan Shoukang Hospital, Xuyi People's Hospital, Nanjing Jiangbei People's Hospital, Lanzhou 940th Hospital of PLA, Heze Municipal Hospital, The First College of Clinical Medical Science of China Three Gorges University, Affiliated Jiujiang Hospital of Nanchang University, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Affiliated Central Hospital of Shandong Zaozhuang Mining Group, The Third People's Hospital of Kunshan City, Xuzhou First People's Hospital, The 81st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Linyi Central Hospital, The General Hospital of Huainan Eastern Hospital Group, The 908th Hospital of PLA, Liyang People's Hospital, The 901th Hospital of Joint Logistic Support Force, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, The Fourth Hospital of Jilin University, Harbin Acheng District People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Nanjing Luhe People's Hospital, Taixing Municipal People's Hospital, Baotou Central Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Linyi People's Hospital, The 72st Group Army Hospital of PLA, Zaozhuang Municipal Hospital, People's Hospital of Dayu County, Taixing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Beijing Guang'anmen Hospital, Langxi County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanyang Central Hospital, The Affiliated People's Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University).The diagnosis and management of AA were analyzed through unified summary. Different centers collected and summarized their data in 2017 and sent back the questionnaires for summary. RESULTS: A total of 8 766 AA patients were enrolled from 43 medical centers, including 4 711 males (53.7%) with median age of 39 years and 958 (10.9%) patients over 65 years old. Of 8 776 patients, 5 677 cases (64.6%) received one or more imaging examinations, and the other 3 099 (35.4%) did not receive any imaging examination. A total of 1 858 (21.2%) cases received medical treatment, mainly a combination of nitroimidazoles (1 107 cases, 59.8%) doublet regimen, followed by a single-agent regimen of non-nitroimidazoles (451 cases, 24.4%), a nitroimidazole-free doublet regimen (134 cases, 7.2%), a triple regimen of combined nitroimidazoles (116 cases, 6.3%), nitroimidazole alone (39 cases, 2.1%) and nitroimidazole-free triple regimen (3 cases, 0.2%). Of the 6 908 patients (78.8%) who underwent surgery, 4 319 (62.5%) underwent laparoscopic appendectomy and 2589 (37.5%) underwent open surgery. Ratio of laparotomy was higher in those patients under 16 years old (392 cases) or over 65 years old (258 cases) [15.1%(392/2 589) and 10.0%(258/2 589), respectively, compared with 8.5%(367/4 316) and 8.0%(347/4 316) in the same age group for laparoscopic surgery, χ²=91.415, P<0.001; χ²=15.915,P<0.001]. Patients with complicated appendicitis had higher ratio of undergoing open surgery as compared to those undergoing laparoscopic surgery [26.7%(692/2 589) vs. 15.6%(672/4 316), χ²=125.726, P<0.001].The cure rates of laparoscopic and open surgery were 100.0% and 99.8%(2 585/2 589) respectively without significant difference (P=0.206). Postoperative complication rates were 4.5%(121/2 589) and 4.7%(196/4 316) respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (χ²=0.065, P=0.799). The incidence of surgical site infection was lower (0.6% vs. 1.7%, χ²=17.315, P<0.001), and hospital stay was shorter [6(4-7) days vs. 6(5-8) days, U=4 384 348.0, P<0.001] in the laparoscopic surgery group, while hospitalization cost was higher (median 12 527 yuan vs. 9 342 yuan, U=2 586 809.0, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is still clinically based, supplemented by imaging examination. Appendectomy is still the most effective treatment at present. Laparoscopic appendectomy has become the main treatment strategy, but anti-infective drugs are also very effective.
Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Appendectomy ; Appendicitis ; diagnosis ; therapy ; China ; Female ; Health Care Surveys ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

Objective To evaluate the immune effects of virus-like particles ( VLPs) assembled from the capsid protein VP1 of a recombinant norovirus ( NoV) GⅡ. 17 genotype. Methods The recombi-nant NoV GⅡ. 17 VP1 VLPs were purified, and then tested by SDS-PAGE and Western blot to analyze the purity. The size, morphology and diameter distribution of the recombinant VLPs were detected by transmis-sion electron microscopy ( TEM) and dynamic light scattering ( DLS) analyzer. The recombinant VP1 VLPs adsorbed by aluminium adjuvant were used to immunize BALB/c mice. Serum samples were collected after immunization. Specific antibody level and neutralizing antibody activity were evaluated with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay ( ELISA) and histo-blood group antigen ( HBGA)-VLP blocking test. Cross-reactivity of serum samples with GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 VLPs were detected. Moreover, cross-protection against GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 VLPs was analyzed. Results The purity of the recombinant NoV GⅡ. 17 VP1 VLP was greater than 90％ and specific bands were detected by Western blot. TEM images and DLS experiments showed that VLPs were 30-50 nm in size with good morphology and uniformity, indicating that the recombi-nant VLPs were similar to the wildtype virus. High titers of specific antibodies were detected in serum sam-ples of the immunized mice. A certain degree of cross-reactions between serum samples and VP1 VLPs of NoV GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 were observed, but no cross-protection was detected. Conclusion The recombinant GⅡ. 17 VP1 VLPs in combination with aluminum adjuvant can induce higher titers of HBGA blocking anti-bodies in mice, suggesting that it could be used as a candidate target antigen for norovirus vaccine.

Objective To investigate the effect of celecoxib on the cell cycle and cell autophagy of HepG2 cell line and its possible molecular mechanism. Methods HepG2 cells were treated with celecoxib at different concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 500μM), then MTT was used to detect the cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis were detected by flow cytometry, the cell autophagy was observed by transmission electron microscopy, and the expressions of cyclin and autophagy protein were determined using Western blot. Results Celecoxib inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in a concentration dependent manner (0, 50, 100, 200 and 500 μM) and time-dependent manner (24,48h)(P<0.05). There was no significant change in necrocytosis and apoptosis after ttreated by different concentrations of (0, 50, 100, 200 and 500 μM). The celecoxib inhibited cell cycle arrest at G1 phase, the cell rate of G1 phase increased, while the cell rate of S phase decreased in a concentration dependent manner (0, 50, 100, 200 and 500 μM) and time-dependent manner (0, 8, 16, 24h)(P<0.05). The protein expressions of cyclin D1,cyclin D3, cyclin E2, CDK2 and CDK4 significantly decreased by 500 μM celecoxib (P<0.05). The celecoxib induced autophagy in HepG2 cells, and transformed autophagy protein LC3-Ⅰto LC3-Ⅱ in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusion Celecoxib can effectively inhibit the proliferation of human malignant hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, which provides a new idea for the clinical application of celecoxib.

Objective To evaluate the immunopotentiating effect of cyclic guanosine monophos-phate-adenosine monophosphate (cGAMP) as an adjuvant on norovirus (GⅡ. 4) virus like particles (VLPs) in the development of norovirus vaccine. Methods BALB/c mice were intramuscularly immunized with norovirus (GⅡ.4) VLPs composed of capsid protein VP1 in combination with cGAMP or Al(OH)3. Norovirus VLPs-specific antibodies in serum were detected by ELISA. A synthetic histo-blood group antigen (HBGA)-VLPs blocking assay was used to analyze neutralizing antibodies against norovirus VLPs in serum samples. Results Immunization with norovirus VLPs in the presence of cGAMP induced a strong humoral immune response in BALB/c mice. Levels of specific IgG antibodies in serum induced by using cGAMP as the adjuvant were significantly higher than those induced by using Al(OH)3adjuvant when immunization of BALB/c mice with the same dosage of VLPs. The antibody level induced by 1 μg of VLPs in combination with cGAMP was equivalent to that elicited by 10 μg of VLPs combined with Al(OH)3adjuvant. Results of the synthetic HBGA-VLPs blocking assay showed that the blocking rate in cGAMP+VLPs immunization group were significantly higher than that in Al(OH)3+VLPs immunization group when using the same dosage of VLPs. No significant difference in blocking rate was observed between cGAMP+VLPs(1 μg) and Al(OH)3+VLPs (10 μg) immunization groups. Conclusion cGAMP significantly enhanced the specific humoral immune response induced by norovirus (GⅡ.4) VLPs in mice as compared with Al(OH)3adjuvant. It might be used as a novel adjuvant to replace the traditional aluminum adjuvant in the development of norovir-us vaccine.

Objective To evaluate the immune effects of virus-like particles ( VLPs) of VP1 pro-teins derived from norovirus GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 genotypes expressed in Hansenula polymorpha expression sys-tem. Methods SDS-PAGE and Western blot assay were performed to detect the purity of GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 proteins after purification. Morphologies of the recombinant VLPs were observed under transmission electron microscopy ( TEM) . Sizes and distributions of the VLPs were analyzed by dynamic light scattering analyzer. BT50(50% of blocking titer) was detected by HBGA (histo-blood group antigen) blocking assay in BALB/c mice immunized with different regimens. Results SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified recombinant GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 proteins showed that their purity were greater than 90%. Western blot assay con-firmed the specific bands of VLPs. TEM images showed that the sizes of purified GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 VLPs were at a mean diameter of 30-50 nm with clear border and high homogeneity, which was similar to that of wild virus. BT50 significantly increased in the groups, in which Al( OH) 3 was used as adjuvant. Con-clusion Animal studies have shown that administration of GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 VLPs in the presence of Al( OH) 3 induces detectable HBGA-blocking antibody, indicating that GⅠ. 1 and GⅡ. 4 VP1 VLPs are promising candidates for norovirus vaccine.

A 68?year?old female patient was admitted to the hospital for multiple masses in the mouth and lungs as well as on dorsal hands for more than 20 days without obvious subjective symptoms. No abnormalities were found by physical examination. Dermatological examination showed two bean?sized dark?red nodules on the upper jaw as well as one pigeon egg?sized dark?red nodule on the left dorsal hand, and all the nodules were hard with smooth surfaces and limited mobility. Positron emission tomography?computed tomography (PetCT) revealed multiple metastases to the brain, lymph nodes, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, both kidneys, multiple bones and intermuscular tissues. Pathology of nodules from the upper jaw showed lowly differentiated tumor cells with osteoid matrix, chondroid structures and tumor bone in local areas, and immunohistochemical examination of tumor cells found positive staining for S100(focally), vimentin, CD99, P63 and Ki?67(60%), but negative staining for keratin. A diagnosis of osteosarcoma of the right side of the upper jaw was considered. Pathology of nodules from the dorsal hand revealed no obvious abnormalities in the epidermis, while there was a diffuse infiltration of medium?to large?sized histiocyte?like cells in the whole dermis with cell atypia and irregularly red?stained bone matrix and tumor bone in some regions. Immunopathology showed positive staining for Ki67(60%), and negative staining for CD3, CD10, CD20, Bcl?2, and Bcl?6. A diagnosis of cutaneous metastasis of osteosarcoma was made. The patient refused further treatment and died 6 months after the onset of lesions.

[ ABSTRACT] AIM:To evaluate the clinical application of single nucleotide polymorphism array ( SNP array) in prenatal diagnosis for screening the abnormality of women with Down’ s syndrome ( DS) .METHODS:The amniotic fluid samples ( n=312) collected by amniocentesis for the DS screening abnormality women were tested by karyotyping and SNP array analysis, respectively.The findings of karyotyping and SNP array analysis were compared.RESULTS:Two cases of trisomy 21 were identified by karyotyping and SNP array analysis, but SNP array analysis failed to identify 6 cases of chro-mosome balanced structural rearrangement.SNP detected 176 cases copy number variants ( CNVs) in 303 cases normal karyotype were detected by SNP, including 106 benign CNVs, 61 variants of unknown significance (VOUS), 9 de novo CNVs, and none of them was pathogenic.The distribution difference of CNVs in DS screening positive group and DS screening positive plus advanced maternal age group was not statistically significant ( P>0.05) .Furthermore, we reported 14 kinds of CNVs for the first time in population.CONCLUSION:SNP array can further assure chromosome microdupli-cation/microdeletion.In normal karyotype fetus of prenatal diagnosis, SNP can detect some clinical significant CNVs.