Objective:To investigate the expression of the novel immune checkpoint SIGLEC9 and SIGLEC9+T cells in cervical cancer and its clinical correlation.Methods:A total of 132 paraffin-embedded specimens of cervical tissue from patients with cervical cancer who under-went surgical treatment or pathological biopsy at The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from May 2022 to October 2023 were included for study.In addition,58 paraffin-embedded specimens of normal cervical tissue from patients with benign uterine leiomyomas who underwent total uterine excision during the same period were selected as normal controls.Furthermore,108 peripheral blood samples from patients with cervical cancer who underwent surgical treatment or pathological biopsy were collected for study,and 86 peripheral blood samples from healthy individuals during the same time period were selected as controls.Bioinformatics technology,im-munohistochemical(IHC)staining,flow cytometry,and double immunofluorescence(IF)staining were used to assess the expression of SIGLEC9 and SIGLEC9+T cells in cervical cancer,followed by correlation analysis with clinical indicators.Results:The bioinformatics,IHC,and double IF staining results showed that SIGLEC9 and SIGLEC9+T cells were highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues(P<0.05).The flow cyto-metry results showed that SIGLEC9+CD4+T and SIGLEC9+CD8+T cells were increased in the peripheral blood of patients with cervical cancer(P<0.05).SIGLEC9 expression correlated with tumor size,FIGO stage,lymph node metastasis,and human papillomavirus(HPV)infection(P<0.05).Conclusions:The novel immune checkpoint SIGLEC9 was highly expressed in cervical cancer tissues,and SIGLEC9+T cells infiltrated cervical cancer tissues.In vitro cell experiments showed that SIGLEC9 affects T cell function.In summary,SIGLEC9 provides a novel research direction for understanding the immune escape mechanism of cervical cancer and a novel therapeutic target for cervical cancer immuno-therapy.

Objective To assess the diagnostic efficacy of extracellular volume fraction(fECV)based on multi-slice spiral CT in evaluating lymph node metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.Methods A total of 74 patients diagnosed as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma from March 2018 to March 2023 in the First Hospital of Jiaxing were retrospectively collected.All patients underwent enhanced multi-slice spiral CT examination.Hematocrit was collected before examination.CT values at the plain phase,portal phase,the equilibrium phase of the lesion and CT values of abdominal aorta at the same level were respectively measured after examination,and fECV was calculated.Using postoperative pathological results as the"gold standard",the efficacy of fECV in diagnosing lymph node metastases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curve.Results There were 33 cases with lymph node metastasis in positive group and 41 cases in negative group.There was no statistically significant difference in fECV at the portal phase between lymph node metastasis positive group and negative group(t=0.80,P＞0.05).There was statistically significant difference in fECV at the equilibrium phase between positive and negative lymph node metastasis group(t=2.84,P＜0.001).The area under the curve of lymph node metastasis in portal phase and equilibrium phase were 0.517 and 0.870,respectively.Conclusion The fECV based on multi-slice spiral CT equilibrium phase can evaluate lymph node metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Objective:To explore expression of Siglec-7 on monocytes in peripheral blood of patients with brucellosis and cor-relation between Siglec-7+monocytes and Th1/Th2 cells,and to analyze clinical significance of Siglec-7 molecule in patients with bru-cellosis.Methods:Fifty patients with newly diagnosed Brucella infection(BI group)and 46 healthy controls(control group)were in-cluded.Flow cytometry was used to detect expression of Siglec-7 on monocytes,and correlation between Siglec-7+monocytes and clini-cal indicators of patients with brucellosis were analyzed.Flow cytometry was used to detect Th1/Th2 cells levels,and CBA method was used to detect IFN-γ and IL-4 in peripheral serum.Correlation between Siglec-7+monocytes and Th1/Th2 cells,IFN-γ/IL-4 were ana-lyzed.Results:Siglec-7+monocytes level in BI group was significantly higher than that in control group(P<0.001);Siglec-7+mono-cytes level in patients with abnormal liver function and lung X-ray were higher than those in patients with normal liver function and lung X-ray(P<0.001,P<0.05);Compared with control group,Th2 cell and IL-4 levels were significantly increased(P<0.05),while Th1 cells and IFN-γ levels were significantly reduced(P<0.001);Th1/Th2 and IFN-γ/IL-4 were also significantly reduced(P<0.001).Siglec-7+monocyte level was negatively correlated with Th1 and IFN-γ(r=-0.651,r=-0.407),while was positively correlated with Th2 and IL-4(r=0.706,r=0.530).Conclusion:During Brucella infection,increased percentage of Siglec-7+monocytes may be involved in Th1/Th2 cell imbalance.

Type-3 innate lymphoid cell(ILC3)differentiate into lymphocyte progenitor cells and widely distributed in body,serving as a bridge between innate immunity and adaptive immunity.Previous studies believed that ILC3 was mainly involved in intesti-nal immune regulation,however,the latest studies have shown that,in addition to its role in intestinal diseases,ILC3 can also partici-pate in occurrence and development of a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases.This article reviews role of ILC3 in chronic inflamma-tory diseases.

Abstract: Objective To investigate the expression of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3 (Tim-3) on the surface of T cells in patients with brucellosis (Bm), as well as the expression of interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) in serum, and to analyze the differential expression of these indicators in patients with acute and chronic brucellosis, in order to provide new approaches for the differential diagnosis of acute and chronic brucellosis. Methods A total of 56 patients diagnosed with brucellosis at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from April 2023 to September 2023 were selected, including 31 patients in the acute phase and 25 patients in the chronic phase. Additionally, 35 healthy individuals underwent routine physical examinations within the same period served as healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to detect and compare Tim-3 levels on the CD4+ T cells' surface among the groups. Levels of serum IL-10 and TGF-β were measured and compared using CBA and ELISA, respectively, and the relationship of these factors with the staging of brucellosis patients was analyzed. Results The proportions of Tim-3+CD3+CD4+T cells in the control group, acute group, and chronic group were (2.56±1.25)%, (5.14±1.98)%, and (13.66±2.66)%, respectively. The Tim-3 levels in the patients with brucellosis were higher than those in the healthy control group, with the chronic group showing even higher levels, and these differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The levels of IL-10 and TGF in the patient group were higher than those in the healthy control group, with the chronic group exhibiting significantly higher levels of IL-10 and TGF-β than the acute group, also presenting statistically significant differences (P<0.05). The areas under the ROC curve for predicting chronic brucellosis with Tim-3, IL-10, and TGF-β scores were 0.876, 0.865, and 0.663, respectively. Conclusions There are certain differences in the expression of Tim-3, serum IL-10, and TGF-β among patients with brucellosis, with high expression indicating a potential transition to the chronic phase of the disease. Tim-3 has shown the best diagnostic performance. Therefore, as a diagnostic indicator, Tim-3 may provide new ideas and strategies for the treatment and differential diagnosis of brucellosis.

Objective     To investigate the left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR) in patients with aortic valve insufficiency with reduced ejection fraction (AIrEF) and aortic valve insufficiency with preserved ejection fraction (AIpEF) after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods    The clinical and follow-up data of patients who underwent TAVR in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine from 2018 to 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the guideline, the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction<55% were allocated to an AIrEF group, and the patients with left ventricular ejection fraction≥55% were allocated to an AIpEF group. Results    A total of 50 patients were enrolled. There were 19 patients in the AIrEF group, including 15 males and 4 females with a mean age of 74.5±7.1 years. There were 31 patients in the AIpEF group, including 19 males and 12 females with a mean age of 72.0±4.8 years. All patients underwent TAVR successfully. Echocardiographic results showed that TAVR significantly promoted LVRR in the patients. Significant LVRR occurred in the early postoperative period (the first day after the surgery) in both groups. It remained relatively stable after the LVRR in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) in the AIpEF patients, while it continued to occur in the early postoperative period (the first day after surgery) to three months after the surgery in the AIrEF patients, and then remained relatively stable. Compared to preoperative values, AIrEF patients had a reduction in the average left ventricular end-diastolic volume index and left ventricular end-systolic volume index by 16.8 mL/m2 (P=0.003) and 8.6 mL/m2 (P=0.005), respectively, and the average left ventricular end-diastolic diameter index and end-systolic diameter index decreased by 2.5 mm/m2 (P=0.003) and 1.9 mm/m2 (P=0.003), respectively on the first day after the surgery. In comparison to the first day after the surgery, AIrEF patients experienced an average increase of 12.1% in the left ventricular ejection fraction three months after the surgery (P<0.001). Conclusion    TAVR has achieved good therapeutic effects in patients with aortic valve insufficiency, significantly promoting the LVRR in patients, and has better curative effects in AIrEF patients.

Objective:To explore the changes of left ventricular remodeling after artificial chordae implantation and its effect on the recurrence of mitral regurgitation(MR).Methods:Clinical data of 141 patients with severe mitral regurgitation(Carpentier type Ⅱ) repaired by artificial chordae technique in our hospital from January 2010 to December 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into significant regurgitation group(15 cases) and non- significant regurgitation group(126 cases) according to the presence or absence of moderate regurgitation by follow-up echocardiography. To observe the effect of left ventricular reverse remodeling(LVRR) on the recurrence of MR after artificial chordae implantation and analyze the risk factors.Results:All patients successfully underwent mitral valvuloplasty with artificial chordae. In the early postoperative period(30 days after operation), LVRR appeared in both groups(LVEDD and LVESD were significantly smaller than those before operation, P<0.05); LVRR was further enhanced(LVEDD and LVESD were further reduced, P<0.05) in non- significant regurgitation group at 1 year after operation, but left ventricular remodeling reoccurred in significant regurgitation group at 1 year after operation(LVEDD and LVESD increased compared with the early postoperative period, P<0.05). After 12-132 months’ follow-up, 15 patients had more than moderate MR. In the early postoperative period, 13 patients had more than mild MR, 8 of which evolved to more than moderate MR during follow-up. Cox regression showed that LVEDD≥65 mm( HR=5.573) and more than mild MR in the early postoperative period( HR=8.801) were the risk factors for the recurrence of MR after artificial chordae implantation. Conclusion:LVRR appeared in the early postoperative period, and the degree of LVRR further increased at 1 year after operation, but the patients with significant MR would reappear left ventricular remodeling. Early postoperative LVRR had a bad effect on the recurrence of MR after artificial chordae implantation, while further enhanced LVRR at 1 year after operation had little effect on the recurrence MR.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical phenotype and genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree suspected for branchiootic syndrome (BOS). METHODS: The proband was subjected to target-capture high-throughput sequencing to detect potential variant of deafness-associated genes. Candidate variants were verified by Sanger sequencing of the family members. RESULTS: The proband was found to harbor a c.1627C>T (p.Gln543Ter) nonsense variant of the EYA1 gene. Sanger sequencing confirmed that all of the 4 patients with the BOS phenotype from the pedigree have harbored the same heterozygous variant. Based on the guidelines of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics, the variant was predicted to be pathogenic (PVS1+PS+PP3+PP4). CONCLUSION The c.1627C>T (p.Gln543Ter) variant of the EYA1 gene probably underlay the BOS phenotype in this pedigree. Above finding has provided a basis for its clinical diagnosis.
Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome ; China ; Humans ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics* ; Mutation ; Nuclear Proteins/genetics* ; Pedigree ; Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases/genetics*

Objective    To summarize the experience and efficacy of "one-stop" left atrial appendage clipping (LAAC) combined with transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and aortic valve disease. Methods     From April 2018 to March 2021, 16 patients with AF and severe aortic valve disease underwent "one-stop" LAAC and TAVR in our department. All patients had long-standing persistent AF. There were 10 males and 6 females with an average age of 77.2±6.2 years. CHA2DS2-VASc score was 4.4±0.8 points, and HAS-BLED score was 3.5±0.7 points. Results    All patients successfully underwent "one-stop" LAAC combined with TAVR. There was no death during perioperative and follow-up periods. The length of the left atrial appendage base measured during the operation was 37.8±3.5 mm. The types of atrial appendage clip were 35 mm (n=3), 40 mm (n=8) and 45 mm (n=5). The time required for clipping the left atrial appendage (from skin cutting to skin suturing) was 25.7±3.8 min. There was no stroke or bleeding of important organs during the perioperative period. The average hospital stay was 6.8±2.0 d. The follow-up time was 19.6±10.1 months, during which there was no patient of cerebral hemorrhage or cerebral infarction. During the administration of warfarin, 2 patients had subcutaneous ecchymosis and 1 patient had gingival bleeding. Conclusion    "One-stop" LAAC combined with TAVR can be safely and effectively used to treat AF and aortic valve disease patients with high risk of thromboembolism and anticoagulant bleeding. The early and middle-term curative effect is satisfactory.

Objective:To construct the pET30a-EgG1Y162-2 prokaryotic expression plasmid and induce the expression of EgG1Y162-2 protein, so as to provide a research basis for development of Echinococcus granulosus vaccine. Methods:Using Echinococcus granulosus cDNA as a template, the target gene of EgG1Y162-2 was synthesized by PCR, and after digestion with restriction enzymes EcoRⅠ and Hind Ⅲ, it was connected to the prokaryotic expression vector pET30a to construct the recombinant plasmid pET30a-EgG1Y162-2. The recombinant plasmid was transformed into competent cell BL21 (DE3) and induced by isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) to express a large number of proteins. The recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography. The purification level was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the expression product was identified by Western blotting. Results:The recombinant plasmid pET30a-EgG1Y162-2 was successfully constructed. After inducting expression, the bacterial supernatant and the eluate were both at a relative molecular weight of about 15 × 10 3, and the protein antigen component eluted with 200 mmol/L imidazole was relatively pure. Western blotting results showed that the purified recombinant protein EgG1Y162-2 with His tag could be recognized by His monoclonal antibody. Conclusion:The pET30a-EgG1Y162-2 prokaryotic expression plasmid of Echinococcus granulosus is successfully constructed, and the recombinant protein of EgG1Y162-2 is induced to express, laying a foundation for further study on anti- Echinococcus granulosus vaccine.