BACKGROUND: LY01005 (Goserelin acetate sustained-release microsphere injection) is a modified gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist injected monthly. This phase III trial study aimed to evaluated the efficacy and safety of LY01005 in Chinese patients with prostate cancer. METHODS: We conducted a randomized controlled, open-label, non-inferiority trial across 49 sites in China. This study included 290 patients with prostate cancer who received either LY01005 or goserelin implants every 28 days for three injections. The primary efficacy endpoints were the percentage of patients with testosterone suppression ≤50 ng/dL at day 29 and the cumulative probability of testosterone ≤50 ng/dL from day 29 to 85. Non-inferiority was prespecified at a margin of -10%. Secondary endpoints included significant castration (≤20 ng/dL), testosterone surge within 72 h following repeated dosing, and changes in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prostate specific antigen levels. RESULTS: On day 29, in the LY01005 and goserelin implant groups, testosterone concentrations fell below medical-castration levels in 99.3% (142/143) and 100% (140/140) of patients, respectively, with a difference of -0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], -3.9% to 2.0%) between the two groups. The cumulative probabilities of maintaining castration from days 29 to 85 were 99.3% and 97.8%, respectively, with a between-group difference of 1.5% (95% CI, -1.3% to 4.4%). Both results met the criterion for non-inferiority. Secondary endpoints were similar between groups. Both treatments were well-tolerated. LY01005 was associated with fewer injection-site reactions than the goserelin implant (0% vs . 1.4% [2/145]). CONCLUSION: LY01005 is as effective as goserelin implants in reducing testosterone to castration levels, with a similar safety profile. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04563936.
Humans ; Male ; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal/therapeutic use* ; East Asian People ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone/agonists* ; Goserelin/therapeutic use* ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Testosterone

BACKGROUND: Corneal disease is second only to cataract considered as the leading cause of blindness in the world, with high morbidity. Construction of corneal substitutes In Vitro by tissue engineering technology to achieve corneal regeneration has become a research hotspot in recent years. We conducted in-depth research on the biocompatibility, physicochemical and mechanical properties of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBM-MSCs)-seeded gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) as a bioengineered cornea. METHODS: Four kinds of GelMA with different concentrations (7, 10, 15 and 30%) were prepared, and their physicchemical, optical properties, and biocompatibility with rBM-MSCs were characterized. MTT, live/dead staining, cell morphology, immunofluorescence staining and gene expression of keratocyte markers were performed. RESULTS: 7%GelMA hydrogel had higher equilibrium water content and porosity, better optical properties and hydrophilicity. In addition, it is more beneficial to the growth and proliferation of rBM-MSCs. However, the 30%GelMA hydrogel had the best mechanical properties, and could be more conducive to promote the differentiation of rBM-MSCs into keratocyte-like cells. CONCLUSION As a natural biological scaffold, GelMA hydrogel has good biocompatibility. And it has the ability to promote the differentiation of rBM-MSCs into keratocyte-like cells, which laid a theoretical and experimental foundation for further tissue-engineered corneal stromal transplantation, and provided a new idea for the source of seeded cells in corneal tissue engineering.

Objective:To investigate the effects of excessive fluoride exposure on astrocytes and the expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), in vitro and in vivo. Methods:(1) In vivo experiment: 24 SPF SD rats, half male and half female, were randomly divided into control and fluoride exposed groups according to sex and body weight, 12 rats in each group. Rats were fed with < 1 mg/L and 50 mg/L sodium fluoride solution prepared by tap water for 6 months, respectively. The expression levels of GFAP protein in rat brain tissue were measured by immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. (2) In vitro experiment: adult (6-month-old) rat cortical astrocytes were extracted and cultured in primary culture (4 mmol/L sodium fluoride solution for 24 h), and the astrocytes were identified by immunofluorescence, and GFAP mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively, and astrocytes apoptosis and calcium ion content were detected by flow cytometry. Results:(1) In vivo experiment: the results of immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and Western blotting showed that the GFAP protein expression level in brain tissue of rats exposed to fluoride was higher than that of control group (0.440 ± 0.200 vs 0.250 ± 0.120, t =-5.93, P = 0.027; 0.270 ± 0.020 vs 0.240 ± 0.050, t =-4.87, P = 0.040; 1.017 ± 0.001 vs 0.486 ± 0.006, t =-52.48, P = 0.001). (2) In vitro experiment: GFAP positive cells were identified as astrocytes by immunofluorescence; GFAP mRNA expression level was higher in fluoride exposed group than that of control group by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (2.780 ± 0.120 vs 0.134 ± 0.005, t =-37.84, P = 0.001). The Western blotting results showed that the GFAP protein expression level was higher in fluoride exposed group than that of control group (2.76 ± 0.10 vs 1.38 ± 0.05, t =-20.44, P = 0.002). Flow cytometry results showed that the apoptosis rate of astrocytes was higher in fluoride exposed group than that of control group (%: 55.0 ± 1.0 vs 3.5 ± 0.6, t =-10.28, P = 0.009) and the calcium ion content was lower than that of control group (%: 54 ± 9 vs 72 ± 13, t = 4.64, P = 0.043). Conclusion:Excessive fluoride exposure causes increased GFAP expression in astrocytes in vitro and in vivo, promotes apoptosis, and affects calcium signaling pathways.

Infectious diseases are still one of the leading causes of morbidity and death globally, affecting public health and life, social and economic development, and even national security. Early detection focuses on detecting the abnormal information of infectious disease outbreaks or epidemics in a timely and sensitive way to conduct field investigation and verification. It is also a precursor to effective surveillance and early warning system. The effective surveillance and early warning system can fully and accurately understand the real conditions, driving forces, and transmission chain of the occurrence of a specific infectious disease outbreak and epidemic and put forward scientific and effective prevention and control strategies and measures. Due to the measurement of the resources support and the particular data collection value, it is not easy to obtain epidemiological, etiological, and other data information in a timely, complete and accurate manner. This paper summarized the theory and technology on early detection, effective surveillance, and early warning information on infectious diseases. It also integrated and utilized the multi-source data, including effective infectious disease surveillance and the country's early warning system, to better understand the outbreak epidemic, causes, risks, processes, and driving forces. Thus, it is possible to set up a sensitive, specific staging measurement innovative technical system to monitor, early warning, and timely respond to acute infectious diseases through multidisciplinary cooperation in China. It provides the basis for strengthening the surveillance and early warning of new emerging and major infectious diseases and public health emergencies, avoiding the spread of inadequate response to infectious disease, and preventing the resources waste of over-response.

Objective:To study the patterns of tocilizumab (TCZ) use, its efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in routine clinical practice.Methods:A total of 407 patients with RA were enrolled from 23 centers and treated with TCZ within 8 weeks prior to the enrollment visit, and were followed for 6-month. The patterns of TCZ treatment at 6 months, the effectiveness and safety outcomes were recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS version 9.4.Results:A total of 396 patients were included for analysis, in which 330 (83.3%) patients received TCZ combined with conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs), and 16.7%(66/396) received TCZ monotherapy. At baseline, TCZ was initiated in 56.6%(224/396) and 9.6%(38/396) of patients after failure of DMARDs and other biological agents (bDMARDs) respectively. During the 6-month follow-up period, the mean frequency of TCZ administration was (3.7±1.6), the mean TCZ dosage was (7.4±1.2) mg/kg, and the mean interval between doses was (40±13) days. 120(25.8%) patients were on TCZ treatment at the end of the study. Improvements in disease activity, systemic symptoms and patient report outcomes were observed at the end of the study. 22.7%(90/396) patients experienced at least one treatment related adverse event, and 8 patients experienced at least one serious adverse event.Conclusion:This study demonstrates that TCZ treatment is effective in patients with RA when being treated for 6 months with an acceptable safety profile. The duration of TCZ treatment needs to be extended.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the capacity and efficiency of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) to differentiate into neuron- like cells after induction with B27- supplemented serum- free medium. METHODS: HUCMSCs at passage 4 were cultured for 14 days with serum-containing medium (SCM) (group A), SCM supplemented with 20 ng/mL nerve growth factor (NGF) and 10 ng/mL basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (group B), serum-free medium (SFM) (group C), or SFM supplemented with 20 ng/mL NGF and 10 ng/mL bFGF. The culture medium were changed every 3 days and the growth of the neurospheres was observed using an inverted microscope. The cell markers were analyzed with flow cytometry and the expressions of nestin, neuron- specific enolase (NSE), neurofilament heavy polypeptide (NEFH), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were quantified by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. RESULTS: Before induction, HUCMSCs expressed abundant mesenchymal stem cell surface markers including CD29 (99.5%), CD44 (49.6%) and CD105 (77.7%). Neuron-like cells were observed in the cultures on days 7, 10, and 14, and the cell differentiation was the best in group D, followed by groups C, B and A. In all the 4 groups, the cellular expressions of nestin and GFAP gradually lowered while those of NEFH and NSE increased progressively. The expressions of GFAP, NEFH, nestin and NSE were significantly different between group A and the other 3 groups ( < 0.001 or 0.05). CONCLUSIONS B27-supplemented SFM effectively induces the differentiation of HUCMSCs into neuron- like cells, and the supplementation with cytokines (NGF and bFGF) strongly promotes the cell differentiation.

Objective To investigate the ultrasonographic features and its diagnostic value in portal vein stenosis (PVS) after pediatric liver transplantation. Methods Clinical data of 84 pediatric recipients undergoing liver transplantation who were followed up by routine ultrasound were retrospectively analyzed. According to ultrasound and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) results, all recipients were divided into the normal group (n=57) and PVS group (n=27). The incidence of PVS was assessed by ultrasound. The measurement parameters consisted of diameter of portal vein anastomosis, flow velocity of portal vein anastomosis, hepatic artery velocity, resistance index (RI) of hepatic artery and maximum diameter of the spleen, etc. The ultrasound parameters were statistically compared between the PVS and normal groups. The diagnostic value of ultrasound parameters for PVS after pediatric liver transplantation was evaluated. Results The diameter of portal vein anastomosis in the normal group was significantly larger than that in the PVS group[(0.44±0.08) cm vs. (0.27±0.10) cm], and the flow velocity of portal vein anastomosis in normal group was significantly lower than in the PVS group[(43±12) cm/s vs. (119±58) cm/s] (both P < 0.001). The hepatic artery velocity, RI of hepatic artery and maximum diameter of the spleen did not significantly differ between two groups (all P > 0.05). The diameter of portal vein anastomosis for the optimal diagnosis of PVS in pediatric liver transplantation, pediatric liver transplantation from organ donation after citizen's death and living-related donor pediatric liver transplantation was 0.35 cm, 0.35 cm and 0.33 cm, respectively. The corresponding area under curve (AUC) was 0.906, 0.916 and 0.906, the sensitivity was 0.947, 0.951 and 0.938, and the specificity was 0.852, 0.833 and 0.889, respectively. The flow velocity of portal vein anastomosis for the optimal diagnosis of PVS was 62.7 cm/s, 69.6 cm/s and 61.2 cm/s. The AUC was 0.990, 0.993 and 1.000, the sensitivity was 1.000, 1.000 and 1.000, and the specificity was 0.930, 0.951 and 1.000. Conclusions Ultrasound features of the pediatric recipients with PVS after liver transplantation include the smaller diameter of portal vein anastomosis and faster anastomotic flow velocity, which possess high diagnostic value.

Objective:To compare long-term efficacy between watch and wait (W&W) strategy and total mesorectal excision (TME) in patients who were diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and attained clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was carried out. A total of 238 patients with stage II-III LARC exhibiting cCR after nCRT in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from September 16, 2010 to January 9, 2018 were enrolled. Patients who were diagnosed with other malignant tumor within 5 years, did not receive regular follow-up in our center for more than 1 year and had no complete examination items after nCRT were excluded. Of 238 patients, 151 were male and 87 were female with a median age of 57 (27-83) years old. According to TNM stage, 61 cases were cII, 177 cases were cIII. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was performed in 20 patients. CCRT plus induction/consolidated chemotherapy was performed in 218 patients. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was applied to radiotherapy. The median radiation dose was 50 Gy/25 Fr for both the primary tumor and clinical target volumes, and the total dose was 45.0 to 50.6 Gy for 227 patients. In 27 patients, single-agent fluorouracil or capecitabine was used as concurrent chemotherapy. But in the other 211 patients, a combined regimen of oxaliplatin and fluorouracil or capecitabine was used. After nCRT, 59 and 179 patients received W&W (W&W group) and TME 6-12 weeks later (TME group), respectively. After the ending of treatment, patient was interviewed one time every 3 months and after 3 years, one time every six months. Overall survival (OS) rate, distant-metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate, and local-recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rate were compared between two groups. The salvage treatment and sphincter preservation rate were analyzed. The survival curve was drawn with Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated by log-rank method.Results:In the cases treated with TME, the median interval from nCRT to surgery was 59 days. The postoperative pCR rate was 63.1%(113/179). The median follow-up time of the whole cohort was 41.8 (12.0-99.0) months. The 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 98.4% and 96.5%; the 3-year and 5-year LRFS rates were 96.5% and 96.5%; the 3- and 5-year DMFS rates were 91.0% and 87.9%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates in the W&W group and the TME group were 100% and 97.9%; the 5-year OS rates in W&W group and the TME group were 90.6% and 97.9% ( P=0.339); The 3-year local recurrence rate (LRR) in the W&W group was 12.9% (7 cases recurred within 2 years), which was significanthy higher then that in the TME group (0.6%, P=0.003). Salvage surgery was successful in 5/6 cases. After salvage surgery, LRFS rate was not significantly different between the two groups ( P=0.137). The 3-year DMFS rate in the W&W group and the TME group were 88.4% and 81.1%, whose difference was not significant ( P=0.593). Recurrence with simultaneous metastasis was seen in 3/7 cases of the W&W group. The sphincter was preserved in 89.8% (53/59) of patients in the W&W group, which was significantly higher than 73.7% (132/179) in the TME group ( P<0.001). When distance of tumor from the anal verge was ≤ 5 cm, the sphincter preservation rate (SPR) in the W&W group was 88.0% (44/50), which was significantly higher than the 54.4% (56/103) in the TME group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:W&W is safe and feasible for patients with LARC and cCR after nCRT. The results should be verified by further clinical trials.

Objective:To compare long-term efficacy between watch and wait (W&W) strategy and total mesorectal excision (TME) in patients who were diagnosed with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) and attained clinical complete response (cCR) after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT).Methods:A retrospective cohort study was carried out. A total of 238 patients with stage II-III LARC exhibiting cCR after nCRT in Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center from September 16, 2010 to January 9, 2018 were enrolled. Patients who were diagnosed with other malignant tumor within 5 years, did not receive regular follow-up in our center for more than 1 year and had no complete examination items after nCRT were excluded. Of 238 patients, 151 were male and 87 were female with a median age of 57 (27-83) years old. According to TNM stage, 61 cases were cII, 177 cases were cIII. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) was performed in 20 patients. CCRT plus induction/consolidated chemotherapy was performed in 218 patients. Intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was applied to radiotherapy. The median radiation dose was 50 Gy/25 Fr for both the primary tumor and clinical target volumes, and the total dose was 45.0 to 50.6 Gy for 227 patients. In 27 patients, single-agent fluorouracil or capecitabine was used as concurrent chemotherapy. But in the other 211 patients, a combined regimen of oxaliplatin and fluorouracil or capecitabine was used. After nCRT, 59 and 179 patients received W&W (W&W group) and TME 6-12 weeks later (TME group), respectively. After the ending of treatment, patient was interviewed one time every 3 months and after 3 years, one time every six months. Overall survival (OS) rate, distant-metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate, and local-recurrence-free survival (LRFS) rate were compared between two groups. The salvage treatment and sphincter preservation rate were analyzed. The survival curve was drawn with Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated by log-rank method.Results:In the cases treated with TME, the median interval from nCRT to surgery was 59 days. The postoperative pCR rate was 63.1%(113/179). The median follow-up time of the whole cohort was 41.8 (12.0-99.0) months. The 3-year and 5-year OS rates were 98.4% and 96.5%; the 3-year and 5-year LRFS rates were 96.5% and 96.5%; the 3- and 5-year DMFS rates were 91.0% and 87.9%, respectively. The 3-year OS rates in the W&W group and the TME group were 100% and 97.9%; the 5-year OS rates in W&W group and the TME group were 90.6% and 97.9% ( P=0.339); The 3-year local recurrence rate (LRR) in the W&W group was 12.9% (7 cases recurred within 2 years), which was significanthy higher then that in the TME group (0.6%, P=0.003). Salvage surgery was successful in 5/6 cases. After salvage surgery, LRFS rate was not significantly different between the two groups ( P=0.137). The 3-year DMFS rate in the W&W group and the TME group were 88.4% and 81.1%, whose difference was not significant ( P=0.593). Recurrence with simultaneous metastasis was seen in 3/7 cases of the W&W group. The sphincter was preserved in 89.8% (53/59) of patients in the W&W group, which was significantly higher than 73.7% (132/179) in the TME group ( P<0.001). When distance of tumor from the anal verge was ≤ 5 cm, the sphincter preservation rate (SPR) in the W&W group was 88.0% (44/50), which was significantly higher than the 54.4% (56/103) in the TME group ( P<0.001). Conclusions:W&W is safe and feasible for patients with LARC and cCR after nCRT. The results should be verified by further clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of Tiaopi huxin prescription （TPHXP） on the atherosclerosis （AS） of ApoE－/－ mice， and to investigate its mechanism. METHODS： Forty male ApoE－/－ mice were divided into blank group， model group， simvastatin group （positive control， 5 mg/kg） and TPHXP low-dose and high-dose groups （50， 150 mg/kg）， with 8 mice in each group. Except that blank group was given common diet， other groups were given high-lipid diet to induce AS model. After modeling， administration groups were given relevant medicine intragastrically， and blank group and model group were given constant volume of normal saline intragastrically， once a day， for consecutive 12 weeks. After last medication， the serum levels of TC， TG， LDL-C and HDL-C were determined by spectrophotometry. The serum level of NO was detected by nitrate reduction method. The serum levels of IL-6 and VCAM-1 were determined by ELISA. After separating thoracic aorta， HE staining was used to observe the formation of plaque in the thoracic aorta of mice in each group， and the corrected plaque area was calculated. Western blotting was conducted to determine the expression of NF-κB p65， Cav-1 and eNOS. RESULTS： Compared with blank group， the serum levels of TC， TG， LDL-C， IL-6 and VCAM-1 were increased significantly in model group， while the levels of HDL-C and NO were decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. The plaque of thoracic aorta was obvious and the corrected plaque area were increased significantly （P＜0.01）. The relative expression of NF-κB p65 and Cav-1 were increased significantly， while the relative expression of eNOS was decreased significantly （P＜0.01）. Compared with model group， the serum levels of TC， TG and LDL-C in administration groups， the serum levels of IL-6 and VCAM-1 in simvastatin group and TPHXP high-dose group were decreased significantly， while the serum levels of HDL-C and NO were increased significantly in administration groups （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. In administration groups， the plaques of thoracic aorta were reduced and the corrected plaque area was decreased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）； the relative expression of NF-κB p65 and Cav-1 were decreased significantly， while the relative expression of eNOS was increased significantly （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS： TPHXP can regulate the level of blood lipid， decrease the level of inflammatory factors and inhibit the formation of AS plaque， the mechanism of which may be associated with inhibiting Cav-1/NF-κB pathway.