Objective:To investigate the effects of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) suppressive therapy on the expression of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) in thyroid cancer tissue and prognosis.Methods:A total of 102 patients with thyroid cancer who underwent surgical resection in Weihai Central Hospital, Qingdao University from April 2016 to April 2018 were included in this study. They were divided into a hormone replacement group and a TSH suppressive therapy group ( n = 51/group). The hormone replacement group was given hormone replacement therapy after surgical resection, and the TSH suppressive therapy group was given TSH suppressive therapy. The expression of PD-L1 and MMP-2 in the pericancerous tissue was compared between the two groups during surgery and 3 and 6 months after surgery. Tumor recurrence and metastasis were compared between the two groups after 6 months, 1 year, and 3 years of follow-up. Results:At 3 and 6 months after surgery, the PD-L1 positive expression rate in the TSH suppressive therapy group was 9.8% (5/51) and 13.7% (7/51), respectively, and the MMP-2 positive expression rate in the TSH suppressive therapy group was 9.8% (5/51) and 13.7% (7/51), respectively, which were significantly lower than 25.5% (13/51), 31.4% (16/51), 27.5% (14/51), and 33.3% (17/51) in the hormone replacement group ( χ2 = 4.32, 5.24, 4.55, 5.45, P = 0.038, 0.022, 0.033, 0.020). At 3 years after surgery, the tumor recurrence and metastasis rate in the TSH suppressive therapy group was 5.9% (3/51), which was significantly lower than 17.6% (10/51) in the hormone replacement group ( χ2 = 4.32, P = 0.038). Conclusion:For patients with thyroid cancer undergoing surgery, TSH suppressive therapy can better inhibit the expression of PD-L1 and MMP-2 in thyroid cancer tissue, reduce the risk of long-term recurrence and metastasis, and have a better clinical application value for improving the prognosis compared with hormone replacement therapy.

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most common malignant tumor of the genitourinary system. The age of individuals diagnosed with BC tends to decrease in recent years. A variety of standard therapeutic options are available for the clinical management of BC, but limitations exist. It is difficult to surgically eliminate small lesions, while radiation and chemotherapy damage normal tissues, leading to severe side effects. Therefore, new approaches are required to improve the efficacy and specificity of BC treatment. Synthetic biology is a field emerging in the last decade that refers to biological elements, devices, and materials that are artificially synthesized according to users' needs. In this review, we discuss how to utilize genetic elements to regulate BC-related gene expression periodically and quantitatively to inhibit the initiation and progression of BC. In addition, the design and construction of gene circuits to distinguish cancer cells from normal cells to kill the former but spare the latter are elaborated. Then, we introduce the development of genetically modified T cells for targeted attacks on BC. Finally, synthetic nanomaterials specializing in detecting and killing BC cells are detailed. This review aims to describe the innovative details of the clinical diagnosis and treatment of BC from the perspective of synthetic biology.
Humans ; Synthetic Biology ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms/diagnosis*

Objective:To assess the value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET/MR parameters and their changes in predicting and evaluating the curative effect in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer before and after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT). Methods:From June 2017 to June 2020, 13 patients (9 males, 4 females; age (52.2±13.2) years) with locally advanced rectal cancer confirmed pathologically and underwent NCRT in Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. All patients performed the first PET/MR within one month before NCRT and the second PET/MR within one month before operation. PET/MR parameters including maximum standardized uptake value (SUV max), mean standardized uptake value (SUV mean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV) 2.5, total lesion glycolysis (TLG), minimum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC min), and their changing percentage (Δ) before and after NCRT were collected. Patients were divided into pathologically complete remission (pCR) group and non-pCR group or response group and non-response group according to the postoperative pathological results as the gold standard. Mann-Whitney U test and logistic regression analysis were used for data analysis. The cut-off values of related parameters and their diagnostic efficiencies were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results:Of 13 patients, 5 reached pCR and 8 had histological reaction (response). There were no significant differences in parameters (SUV max, SUV mean, MTV 2.5, TLG, ADC min) between different groups before treatment ( U values: 8.00-19.00, all P>0.05). There were significant differences in SUV max, SUV mean, MTV 2.5, TLG and ΔADC min between pCR group and non-pCR group after treatment ( U values: 0.00-6.00, all P<0.05), but only SUV max was correlated with pCR after treatment (odds ratio ( OR)=0.335, 95% CI: 0.123-0.917, P=0.033). The area under curve (AUC) was 0.95 and the cut-off value of SUV max was 3.055, with the sensitivity of 100%, the specificity of 80.0% and the accuracy of 92.3%. There were significant differences in SUV max, SUV mean, TLG, ADC min, ΔSUV max and ΔADC min between the response group and non-response group after treatment ( U values: 0.00-6.00, all P<0.05), but only ΔSUV max was correlated with the response results ( OR=2.022, 95% CI: 1.100-4.130, P=0.048). The AUC was 0.90 and the cut-off value of ΔSUV max was 69.0%, with the sensitivity of 87.5%, the specificity of 80.0% and the accuracy of 84.6%. Conclusions:PET/MR has high accuracy in evaluating NCRT for locally advanced rectal cancer. SUV max is an independent predictor of pCR after treatment, while ΔSUV max is an independent predictor of histological reaction (response).

Objective:To investigate the neuroimaging relationship between tau protein deposition and brain atrophy, and assess their relationships with cognitive decline in Alzheimer′s disease (AD) patients.Methods:From April 2017 to October 2019, 26 AD patients (12 males, 14 females, age (70.7±12.2) years) and 19 cognitively normal controls (CN; 9 males, 10 females, age (65.6±8.1) years) in Chinese PLA General Hospital were retrospectively enrolled. All subjects received (S)-6-[(3- 18F-fluoro-2-hydroxy)propoxy]-2-(4-methylaminophenyl)quinoline ( 18F-THK5317) PET/MR and the standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) and gray matter volume (GMV) were measured. General linear model (GLM) was used to evaluate the differences of SUVR and GMV between two groups. Pearson correlation analysis was used to assess the relationships between SUVR and GMV, and relationships of SUVR and GMV with Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores in AD patients. Results:Compared with CN, the AD patients showed significantly increased 18F-THK5317 retention in lateral temporal, frontal, posterior cingulated/precuneus and occipital cortex with significant differences of SUVR between two groups (2.18±0.54 vs 1.78±0.09, 2.13±0.50 vs 1.82±0.06, 2.03±0.45 vs 1.69±0.08, 2.18±0.57 vs 1.76±0.10, t values: 2.58-6.57, all P<0.001). The AD patients also showed decreased GMV in medial temporal, posterior cingulated/precuneus and orbitofrontal cortex ( t values: 3.67-8.85, all P<0.001). In AD patients, SUVR was negatively associated with GMV in bilateral lateral temporal cortex, pre-frontal cortex and orbital frontal cortex ( r values: from -0.52 to -0.43, all P<0.05). Both SUVR ( r=-0.599, P=0.001) and GMV ( r=0.443, P=0.023) were significantly correlated with MMSE scores in AD patients. Conclusion:AD patients have neocortical 18F-THK5317 abnormal uptake and GMV reduction, which are significantly correlated with cognitive decline.

As a natural extension of One Belt and One Road Initiative in Africa, the Republic of Mozambique plays an important role in the spread of Chinese medicine in Africa. By searching for the materials from the official foreign aid agencies of China, Japan, the United States and Europe, this paper compares and analyzes the current situation of medical aid to Mozambique by China, Japan, the United States and Europe. It is found that Japan, the United States and Europe focus on basic health facilities, social vulnerable groups, local epidemic diseases and other grassroots assistance. Finally, it proposes to set up projects that cater to the needs of recipient countries and strengthen the exchange of traditional medicine to seek multilateral aid cooperation and develop medical aid based on project audience. We hope that we can learn from others, so that China’s medical aid to Mozambique and thus to Africa could be more comprehensive, and the spread of Traditional Chinese Medicine could be spreaded in Africa.

China and Tunisia have frequent exchanges and good relationship. Tunisia has the largest medical center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) among Africa and Arab countries. The development of TCM in Tunisia has shown great potential. By searching the information and legal regulations of the Ministry of health of Tunisia, the West Asia and Africa Department of the Ministry of Commerce of China and the business office of the Chinese Embassy in Tunisia, this paper studies the development status, legislation and drug access, bilateral cooperation, market potential and risks of TCM in Tunisia. It is found that acupuncture and massage are widely used in Tunisia. However, Tunisia has strict control over the sources of TCM. It is proposed that the future development of TCM in Tunisia should be based on the advantages of good relations between China and Tunisia, obtain both government support, take acupuncture and massage as a pioneer, promote TCM, encourage and develop TCM industry.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of the parameters obtained from PET/MR in brain tumors.Methods In this prospective study,28 patients (21 males,7 females,age range: 6-82 years) with clinical suspicion of brain tumor from November 2012 to September 2015 underwent PET/MR multi-modality imaging.The examination of PET/MR included 11C-MET PET and multiple MR sequences.The qualities of images were estimated firstly.The ROC curve and the accuracy of SUVmax,ADCmean,rCBF and NAA/(Cho+Cre) ratio were calculated.The pathology or final clinical diagnosis was taken as the standard.The diagnostic efficiency of the multi-modality imaging was determined based on the cutoff values of the four parameters.Two-sample t test was used to analyze the differences of parameters between glioma group and inflammatory group.Results SUVmax,ADCmean,rCBF and NAA/(Cho+Cre) ratio were validated to be effective parameters in diagnosing brain tumors with the diagnostic accuracy of 89.3％(25/28),82.1％(23/28),78.6％(22/28) and 75.0％(21/28),respectively.The SUVmax exhibited the highest diagnostic accuracy,while the diagnostic efficiency of the combination of four parameters was superior to the separate parameter.The values of SUVmax,rCBF and NAA/(Cho+Cre) ratio were significantly different between glioma group(n=10) and inflammatory group(n=11;t values:-2.31,-3.11,-2.77,all P<0.05).Conclusions PET/MR can provide a one-stop examination with multi-modality imaging of brain.The obtained parameters SUVmax,ADCmean,rCBF and NAA/(Cho+Cre) ratio,especially their combination,have effective diagnostic values on brain tumor.

Purpose To investigate the relationship between maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 18F-FDG PET/CT and clinical features of tongue squamous cell carcinoma (TSCC),in order to provide better PET/CT results for clinical guide.Materials and Methods Fifty-two patients with pathologically confirmed TSCC who accepting PET/CT examination before surgery were retrospectively analyzed.Single-factor analysis and multiple regression analysis were conducted on possible factors influencing primary tumor SUVmax,including gender,age,smoking history,tumor location,tumor size,TNM stage,T stage and N stage.Results Single-analysis showed that SUVmax was correlated with gender,tumor location,tumor size,TNM stage,T stage and N stage (P＜0.05),and was not correlated with tumor differentiation,smoking history and age (P＞0.05).Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that gender,tumor location,tumor size,T stage and N stage were independent influencing factors of primary tumor SUVmax (P＜0.05).Primary tumor SUVmax had predictive value for lymph node metastasis.When the cutoff value was 6.57,the diagnostic efficiency was the highest,the sensitivity was 79.2％ and the specificity was 85.7％.Conclusion TSCC 18F-FDG PET/CT SUVmax is higher among male patients with tongue base tumor location,larger tumor size and lymph node metastasis.Primary tumor SUVmax is of important significance in predicting lymph node metastasis.

Purpose To investigate the application value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis and staging of tongue cancer,in order to improve the accuracy of preoperative staging.Materials and Methods The 18F-FDG PET/CT findings of 52 patients with pathologically confirmed tongue cancer were retrospectively analyzed.The tumor location,size,FDG metabolic characteristics and tumor staging were observed,and compared with postoperative pathology.Results PET/CT showed that most patients were at middle or late stage when initially diagnosed (28/52).The lesions were mostly located on middle or middle-back region of tongues,and the average SUVmax was 6.81 ± 3.81.The sensitivity of PET/CT diagnosing tongue cancer was 94.2％.There was no significant difference in SUVmax between high,medium-high and medium differentiated tongue cancer primary lesions (P＞0.05).The SUVmax of tongue cancer at stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ was obviously higher than that at stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ,and the difference was statistically significant (P＜0.008).The diagnose and staging of tongue cancer using preoperative PET/CT and postoperative pathology were in excellent consistence (Kappa=0.859,P＜0.01).The staging accuracy reached 90.4％ (47/52).Conclusion Higher SUVmax value indicates worse tongue cancer staging,but it is of little significance in predicting differentiation.PET/CT can provide an objective imaging basis for preoperative diagnosis and accurate staging of tongue cancer.

Many brain disorders do not show visible lesions and most likely are resulted from abnormalities in regional brain activity or connectivity.Conventional diagnostic neuroimaging techniques are not capable of precisely localizing the abnormal brain activity,but the recently developed integrated PET/MR technology may have the potential to bridge this gap.Integrated PET/MR has been used in clinical practice.However,its primary application is still a combination of functional PET imaging and structural MRI.Simultaneous PET/fMRI,a "functional+functional" imaging technique,holds the advantages of high spatial and temporal resolution,high sensitivity and specificity,and non-invasiveness.Globally,simultaneous PET/fMRI research is still in its beginning stage,and a few initial PET/fMRI studies have shown that voxel-wise correlation between PET and fMRI metrics was not very high,indicating that they may reflect very different aspects of brain activity.To date more than 5 integrated PET/MR scanners have been set up in mainland China.China has the largest patient population,rapidly developing PET imaging techniques,and well-established capabilities in fMRI neuroimaging analytics.PET/fMRI studies require multi-disciplinary collaborations in nuclear medicine,radiology,chemistry,medical physics,computation science,and cognitive neuroscience.At the moment,the research management system in Chinese hospitals is not conducive to such collaborations and further improvement is needed to encourage multi-disciplinary research such as PET/fMRI.Given the known advantages in patient population and other resources,multi-center and multi-disciplinary studies hold the potential to put China at the leading edge of PET/fMRI research and produce high value results that will advance both neuroimaging sciences and future patient care in brain disorders.