Background::Bladder cancer, characterized by a high potential of tumor recurrence, has high lifelong monitoring and treatment costs. To date, tumor cells with intrinsic softness have been identified to function as cancer stem cells in several cancer types. Nonetheless, the existence of soft tumor cells in bladder tumors remains elusive. Thus, our study aimed to develop a microbarrier microfluidic chip to efficiently isolate deformable tumor cells from distinct types of bladder cancer cells.Methods::The stiffness of bladder cancer cells was determined by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The modified microfluidic chip was utilized to separate soft cells, and the 3D Matrigel culture system was to maintain the softness of tumor cells. Expression patterns of integrin β8 (ITGB8), protein kinase B (AKT), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) were determined by Western blotting. Double immunostaining was conducted to examine the interaction between F-actin and tripartite motif containing 59 (TRIM59). The stem-cell-like characteristics of soft cells were explored by colony formation assay and in vivo studies upon xenografted tumor models. Results::Using our newly designed microfluidic approach, we identified a small fraction of soft tumor cells in bladder cancer cells. More importantly, the existence of soft tumor cells was confirmed in clinical human bladder cancer specimens, in which the number of soft tumor cells was associated with tumor relapse. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the biomechanical stimuli arising from 3D Matrigel activated the F-actin/ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis pathways to enhance the softness and tumorigenic capacity of tumor cells. Simultaneously, we detected a remarkable up-regulation in ITGB8, TRIM59, and phospho-AKT in clinical bladder recurrent tumors compared with their non-recurrent counterparts.Conclusions::The ITGB8/TRIM59/AKT/mTOR/glycolysis axis plays a crucial role in modulating tumor softness and stemness. Meanwhile, the soft tumor cells become more sensitive to chemotherapy after stiffening, that offers new insights for hampering tumor progression and recurrence.

Objective To investigate the current status of infection management quality control centers in county-level hospitals in Guangdong Province,providing reference for the development of quality control management programs for county-level infection control centers by provincial infection control centers,and exploring corresponding management strategies.Methods A survey was conducted using the QuestionStar questionnaire platform to investigate county-level quality control centers established in Guangdong Province before December 31,2023.The survey covered the establishment time,personnel structure,level of in-formatization,management,quality control,and training of hospital infection management professional quality control centers.Results There are 68 county-level infection control centers in Guangdong Province,with a coverage rate of 50.37%,and 95.59%of them have been established within the past five years.Experts mainly come from clinical and nursing backgrounds(accounting for23.75%and62.97%respectively),and the majority have a bachelor's degree(71.06%).Only 13%have operational funding.Among them,39 have established hospital infection informatization monitoring,23 have not been equipped,and 6 are under construction.Twenty centers have conducted quality control supervision and issued quality control reports,ac-counting for 29.41%,while 41 have organized training,accounting for 60.29%.Conclusion The coverage rate of county-level infection management quality control centers in Guangdong Province is steadily increasing,but not all counties and districts are covered.There is a lack of policy and funding support,insufficient personnel allocation,and inadequate professional coverage.The health administrative departments and county-level infection control centers need to unify monitoring standards,quality con-trol specifications,and evaluation programs,improve infection control capabilities,and enhance the"four-level"management and training system to effectively promote the quality and safety management level of primary healthcare institutions.

Objective The objective of this study was to establish a mouse model of allergic rhinoconjunctivitis and investigate the role of the NLRP3 signaling pathway in allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.Methods Thirty-three female C57 mice(SPF)were randomLy divided into 3 groups:the control group,the experimental group,and the NLRP3-/-group.On days 0,4,7,14,and 21,the experimental group and NLRP3-/-group received a 0.2 mL intraperitoneal injection of medicine containing OVA(100 μg)and adjuvant Al(OH)3(4 mg),respectively.After an interval of 3 days,each eye and nose were dosed with 10 μL of 5%OVA for five consecutive days a week to induce allergic symptoms.During sensitization and excitation stages,the control group was replaced with an equiva-lent amount of PBS.Ocular and nasal symptoms were observed and scored.The levels of OVA-specific IgE,IL-4,IL-17,and IL-18 in serum were measured using ELISA,while changes in palpebral conjunctiva and nasal mucosa were assessed by hematoxylin-eosin staining.The expression of NLRP3 mRNA in conjunctival tissue and nasal mucosa was determined using real-time PCR analysis.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS17.0 software with P<0.05 considered as statistically significant difference.Results The experimental group and NLRP3-/-group exhibited induced nasal and ocular allergic symptoms.In the experimental group,the duration of nasal allergy symptoms was(10.500±1.080)days,while the duration of eye allergy symptoms was(20.300±2.058)days.In the NLRP3-/-group,the duration of nasal allergy symptoms was(13.400±1.955)days,and for eye allergy symp-toms it was(20.900±2.132)days.The duration of nasal allergies in the NLRP3-/-group significantly exceeded that in the experimental group(P<0.05),whereas there were no significant differences observed in eye allergy durations between these two groups(P>0.05).Levels of OVA-specific IgE,IL-4,and IL-17 were significantly higher in both the experimental and NLRP3-/-groups compared to those in the control group(P<0.05).Additionally,serum IL-18 content increased significantly in the experimental group when compared with both control and NLRP3-/-groups(P<0.05).Conjunctival tissue lesions as well as nasal mucosa damage were evident in both experimental and NLRP3-/-groups.mRNA expression levels of NLRP3 within conjunctival tissue and nasal mucosa from the experimental group showed a significant increase when compared to those from both control and NLRP3-/-groups(P<0.05).Conclusion Allergic rhinoconjunctivitis pathogenesis is influenced by various factors;however,the involvement of NLPR3 signaling pathway promotes its development.

Frailty is a clinical syndrome characterized by the gradual decline of multiple organ func-tion and the emergence of vulnerable phenotype.Patients with frailty exhibit diminished resistance to stress,which often leads to unfavorable outcomes following surgery,including cognitive decline,prolonged hospital-ization,and increased rates of complications and mortality.Given that frailty is a dynamic and reversible process,it is recommended to implement appropriate optimization measures during the perioperative period in order to improve patient outcomes.Recent studies have revealed that abnormal energy metabolism plays a crucial role in the development and occurrence of frailty.This article will primarily focus on abnormalities in glucose metabolism,lipid metabolism,and amino acid metabolism among frail patients,and emphasize the significance of correcting these metabolic irregularities during the perioperative period in order to reduce complications and improving surgical safety.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of pneumococcal meningitis(PM),and drug sensitivity of Streptococcus pneumoniae(SP)isolates in Chinese children.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical information,laboratory data,and microbiological data of 160 hospitalized children under 15 years old with PM from January 2019 to December 2020 in 33 tertiary hospitals across the country.Results Among the 160 children with PM,there were 103 males and 57 females.The age ranged from 15 days to 15 years,with 109 cases(68.1% )aged 3 months to under 3 years.SP strains were isolated from 95 cases(59.4% )in cerebrospinal fluid cultures and from 57 cases(35.6% )in blood cultures.The positive rates of SP detection by cerebrospinal fluid metagenomic next-generation sequencing and cerebrospinal fluid SP antigen testing were 40% (35/87)and 27% (21/78),respectively.Fifty-five cases(34.4% )had one or more risk factors for purulent meningitis,113 cases(70.6% )had one or more extra-cranial infectious foci,and 18 cases(11.3% )had underlying diseases.The most common clinical symptoms were fever(147 cases,91.9% ),followed by lethargy(98 cases,61.3% )and vomiting(61 cases,38.1% ).Sixty-nine cases(43.1% )experienced intracranial complications during hospitalization,with subdural effusion and/or empyema being the most common complication[43 cases(26.9% )],followed by hydrocephalus in 24 cases(15.0% ),brain abscess in 23 cases(14.4% ),and cerebral hemorrhage in 8 cases(5.0% ).Subdural effusion and/or empyema and hydrocephalus mainly occurred in children under 1 year old,with rates of 91% (39/43)and 83% (20/24),respectively.SP strains exhibited complete sensitivity to vancomycin(100% ,75/75),linezolid(100% ,56/56),and meropenem(100% ,6/6).High sensitivity rates were also observed for levofloxacin(81% ,22/27),moxifloxacin(82% ,14/17),rifampicin(96% ,25/26),and chloramphenicol(91% ,21/23).However,low sensitivity rates were found for penicillin(16% ,11/68)and clindamycin(6% ,1/17),and SP strains were completely resistant to erythromycin(100% ,31/31).The rates of discharge with cure and improvement were 22.5% (36/160)and 66.2% (106/160),respectively,while 18 cases(11.3% )had adverse outcomes.Conclusions Pediatric PM is more common in children aged 3 months to under 3 years.Intracranial complications are more frequently observed in children under 1 year old.Fever is the most common clinical manifestation of PM,and subdural effusion/emphysema and hydrocephalus are the most frequent complications.Non-culture detection methods for cerebrospinal fluid can improve pathogen detection rates.Adverse outcomes can be noted in more than 10% of PM cases.SP strains are high sensitivity to vancomycin,linezolid,meropenem,levofloxacin,moxifloxacin,rifampicin,and chloramphenicol.[Chinese Journal of Contemporary Pediatrics,2024,26(2):131-138]

Objective To investigate the incidence rate,clinical characteristics,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen,China.Methods Led by Shenzhen Children's Hospital,the Shenzhen Neonatal Data Collaboration Network organized 21 institutions to collect 36 cases of neonatal stroke from January 2020 to December 2022.The incidence,clinical characteristics,treatment,and prognosis of neonatal stroke in Shenzhen were analyzed.Results The incidence rate of neonatal stroke in 21 hospitals from 2020 to 2022 was 1/15 137,1/6 060,and 1/7 704,respectively.Ischemic stroke accounted for 75％(27/36);boys accounted for 64％(23/36).Among the 36 neonates,31(86％)had disease onset within 3 days after birth,and 19(53％)had convulsion as the initial presentation.Cerebral MRI showed that 22 neonates(61％)had left cerebral infarction and 13(36％)had basal ganglia infarction.Magnetic resonance angiography was performed for 12 neonates,among whom 9(75％)had involvement of the middle cerebral artery.Electroencephalography was performed for 29 neonates,with sharp waves in 21 neonates(72％)and seizures in 10 neonates(34％).Symptomatic/supportive treatment varied across different hospitals.Neonatal Behavioral Neurological Assessment was performed for 12 neonates(33％,12/36),with a mean score of(32±4)points.The prognosis of 27 neonates was followed up to around 12 months of age,with 44％(12/27)of the neonates having a good prognosis.Conclusions Ischemic stroke is the main type of neonatal stroke,often with convulsions as the initial presentation,involvement of the middle cerebral artery,sharp waves on electroencephalography,and a relatively low neurodevelopment score.Symptomatic/supportive treatment is the main treatment method,and some neonates tend to have a poor prognosis.

Objective:To prepare mesenchymal stem cells with antioxidant capacity (AO-MSC ) from human umbilical cords and evaluate its cell biological properties.Methods:In control group,mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) were isolated by digesting human umbilical cord Wharton's Jelly tissues with 0.2％ collagenase Ⅱ,and the released cells were collected and cultured in an animal serum-free culture medium.In AO-MSC group,incompletely collagenase Ⅱ-digested tissue debris were allowed to adhere to flusk flat bottoms and the AO-MSC was harvested by adherent culture. The conventional digestion and culture method was used as control.MSC colony forming ability was evaluated by fibroblast colony forming assay (CFU-F).MSC proliferative capacity was evaluated by CCK-8 assay.The MSC surface markers were detected by using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining.The adipogenic and osteogenic capacity of MSC was evaluated by multi-differentiation in vitro,and the mRNA expression of genes that control adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR );Moreover,the mRNA expression of antioxidant substances such as SOD-1,GSH,GAT,and NQO1 in MSC was also evaluated by RT-qPCR.Results:The AO-MSC isolated by this strategy reached a confluence of 80％-90％ at around 18 days and grew in a swirling pattern.Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining assays showed that CD73,CD29,CD105,CD90 were highly expressed and CD31,CD45,HLA-DR were scarcely expressed in AO-MSC.AO-MSC exhibited stronger self-renewal and differentiation ability compared to MSC.However,the in vitro adipogenic-osteogenic capacity of MSC in the control group was stronger than that of AO-MSC.RT-qPCR assay showed that AO-MSC expressed higher mRNA levels of antioxidant substances compared to MSC.Conclusion:Human AO-MSC is successfully prepared from human umbilical cord without animal serum.

Objective: To explore the prognostic factors of extracellular NK/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) treated with pegaspargase/L-asparaginase. Methods: The clinical data of 656 ENKTL patients diagnosed at 11 medical centers in the Huaihai Lymphoma Working Group from March 2014 to April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: a training set (460 cases) and a validation set (196 cases) at 7∶3, and the prognostic factors of the patients were analyzed. A prognostic scoring system was established, and the predictive performance of different models was compared. Results: Patients' median age was 46 (34, 57) years, with 456 males (69.5% ) and 561 nasal involvement (85.5% ). 203 patients (30.9% ) received a chemotherapy regimen based on L-asparaginase combined with anthracyclines, and the 5-year overall survival rate of patients treated with P-GEMOX regimen (pegaspargase+gemcitabine+oxaliplatin) was better than those treated with SMILE regimen (methotrexate+dexamethasone+cyclophosphamide+L-asparaginase+etoposide) (85.9% vs 63.8% ; P=0.004). The results of multivariate analysis showed that gender, CA stage, the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score, HGB, and EB virus DNA were independent influencing factors for the prognosis of ENKTL patients (P<0.05). In this study, the predictive performance of the prognostic factors is superior to the international prognostic index, Korean prognostic index, and prognostic index of natural killer lymphoma. Conclusion: Gender, CA stage, ECOG PS score, HGB, and EB virus DNA are prognostic factors for ENKTL patients treated with pegaspargase/L-asparaginase.
Male ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Asparaginase/therapeutic use* ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Etoposide ; Cyclophosphamide ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use* ; DNA/therapeutic use* ; Treatment Outcome

Objective: To observe the characteristics of the evolution of liver indexes in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) treated with CAR-T-cells based on BCMA. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed of patients with RRMM who received an infusion of anti-BCMA CAR-T-cells and anti-BCMA combined with anti-CD19 CAR-T-cells at our center between June 1, 2019, and February 28, 2023. Clinical data were collected to observe the characteristics of changes in liver indexes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), and direct bilirubin (DBIL) in patients, and its relationship with cytokine-release syndrome (CRS) . Results: Ninety-two patients were included in the analysis, including 41 patients (44.6%) in the group receiving a single infusion of anti-BCMA CAR-T-cells, and 51 patients (55.4%) in the group receiving an infusion of anti-BCMA combined with anti-CD19 CAR-T-cells. After infusing CAR-T-cells, 31 patients (33.7%) experienced changes in liver indexes at or above grade 2, which included 20 patients (21.7%) with changes in one index, five patients (5.4%) with changes in two indexes, and six patients (6.5%) with changes in three or more indexes. The median time of peak values of ALT and AST were d17 and d14, respectively, and the median duration of exceeding grade 2 was 5.0 and 3.5 days, respectively. The median time of peak values of TBIL and DBIL was on d19 and d21, respectively, and the median duration of exceeding grade 2 was 4.0 days, respectively. The median time of onset of CRS was d8, and the peak time of fever was d9. The ALT, AST, and TBIL of patients with CRS were higher than those of patients without CRS (P=0.011, 0.002, and 0.015, respectively). CRS is an independent factor that affects ALT and TBIL levels (OR=19.668, 95% CI 18.959-20.173, P=0.001). The evolution of liver indexes can be reversed through anti-CRS and liver-protection treatments, and no patient died of liver injury. Conclusions: In BCMA-based CAR-T-cell therapy for RRMM, CRS is an important factor causing the evolution of liver indexes. The evolution of liver indexes after CAR-T-cell infusion is transient and reversible after treatment.
Humans ; Antigens, CD19 ; B-Cell Maturation Antigen/therapeutic use* ; Bilirubin ; Immunotherapy, Adoptive ; Liver ; Multiple Myeloma/drug therapy* ; Retrospective Studies ; T-Lymphocytes

Objective:To explore the effects of standard meal and treadmill exercise test on body surface gastrointestinal electrogram in healthy subjects, and to provide more evidence for the clinical application of gastrointestinal electrogram.Methods:From January to June 2021, a total of 100 healthy asymptomatic volunteers underwent gastrointestinal electrogram after fasting, standard meal and treadmill exercise test. After the subjects fasted for more than 8 hours, the gastrointestinal electrogram was performed after the subjects were lying flat, quiet, and breathing steadily, electrodes were placed on the the body surface projection positions of the gastric body, the lesser curvature, the greater curvature, the antrum, the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the rectum. The fasting gastrointestinal electrogram was recorded for 6 min. Then lay for 5 to 10 min after the standard meal (100 g bread, 250 mL milk), the postprandial gastrointestinal electrogram was recorded for 6 min. And lay for 5 to 10 min after treadmill exercise test, then the postexercise gastrointestinal electrogram was recorded for 6 min. The frequency and amplitude of gastrointestinal electrogram waveforms of the three time points were compared, and the percentage of gastrointestinal electrical rhythm disorder, and slow wave frequency instability coefficient were also compared. Stratified analysis of gastric motility was performed according to age, sex and body mass index. Paired t-test, Pearson Chi-squared test, continuity correction Chi-squared test, Fisher′s exact method and Speraman correlation were used for statistical analysis. Results:The standard meal did not obviously affect the mean frequency of the gastric electrocardiogram, however the mean amplitude of gastric electrocardiogram significantly increased after standard meal compared with that of fasting, especially in the electrodes placed at lesser curvature((148.5±8.7) μV vs.(113.2±5.0)μV ), greater curvature((176.3±11.3) μV vs.(126.1±7.3) μV), and antrum((161.8±10.6) μV vs.(117.6±4.91) μV), and the differences were statistically significant( t=4.63, 4.63 and 3.99, all P< 0.001). There were no significant changs in rhythm and stability of the gastric electrocardiogram. The mean frequency of intestinal electrograms at the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the rectum decreased after the standard meal compared with that of fasting ((10.8±0.2) count per minute(cpm) vs.(11.5±0.2) cpm, (10.5±0.2) cpm vs.(11.2±1.6) cpm, (10.9±0.2) cpm vs.(11.7±0.2) cpm, (11.1±0.2) cpm vs.(11.8±0.2) cpm), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=3.82, 4.55, 4.39, and 3.98, all P<0.001); the mean amplitude of the ascending colon, the transverse colon, and the rectum increased compared with that of fasting ((129.8±6.1) μV vs. (110.9±6.4) μV, (119.6±4.1) μV vs. (101.3±4.7) μV, (124.1±4.6) μV vs. (106.2±5.7) μV), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.62, 3.76, and 3.16; P=0.010, <0.001, =0.002); and the number of leads with enteroelectric rhythm disorder increased (398 vs. 389, the total number of leads is 400), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=7.31, P=0.026). The mean frequency of gastric electricity after treadmill exercise in electrode placed at antrum increased compared with that after standard meal ((3.4±0.4) cpm vs.(3.3±0.3) cpm), and the differences were statistically significant( t=2.45, P=0.016), and the mean amplitude of gastric electricity in electrodes placed at gastric body, lesser curvature and antrum increased compared with those after standard meal((160.2±8.6) μV vs. (133.9±6.4) μV, (178.1±10.0) μV vs. (148.5±8.7) μV, (202.5±10.2) μV vs. (161.8±10.6) μV), and the differences were statistically significant ( t=2.30, 2.35, and 2.48; P=0.024, 0.021, and 0.015). Treadmill exercise affected the rhythm and stability of gastric electricity, and the number of electrodes with instable and abnormal coefficient frequency slow-wave significantly increased (25 vs. 1, the total number of electrodes is 400), and the difference was statistically significant( χ2=22.90, P<0.001). There was no significant change in the mean frequency of the colonic electricity after treadmill exercise compared with that after standard meal, however the mean amplitude of intestinal electrical waveform at the ascending colon, the transverse colon, the descending colon, and the rectum increased compared with those after standard meal((171.2±8.4) μV vs. (129.8±6.1) μV, (166.1±7.7) μV vs. (119.6±4.1) μV, (147.2±7.2) μV vs. (121.1±4.9) μV, (149.6±7.3) μV vs. (124.1±4.6) μV), and the differences were statistically significant( t=3.51, 5.49, 3.09, and 2.83; P=0.001, <0.001, =0.003, and=0.006), which affected the rhythm and stability of the colonic electricity, and the number of electrodes with instable and abnormal coefficient frequency slow-wave significantly increased (10 vs. 3, the total number of electrodes is 400, χ2=4.04, P=0.040). Gender was correlated with mean frequency of gastric electricity after standrdmeal and treadmill exercise test and mean amplitude of fasting and standard postprandial gastric electricity( r=0.242, -0.272, 0.286, 0.242; P=0.015, 0.006, 0.004, 0.015), and with mean amplitude of fasting and standard postprandial electricity( r=0.225, 0.460; P=0.024, <0.001). Age was only associated with mean frequency of fasting gastric electricity( r=-0.214, P=0.033). Body mass index was correlated with mean gastric electrical amplitude after fasting, standard meal and treadmill exercise( r=-0.347, -0.260, -0.211; P<0.001, =0.009, =0.036), as well as with the mean gastric electricity frequency after treadmill exercise ( r=0.242, P=0.016). Body mass index was correlated with the mean amplitude and frequency of fasting and standard postprandial intestinal electricity ( r=-0.261, -0.296, -0.400, -0.286; P=0.009, =0.003, < 0.001, =0.003). In the healthy volunteers with female gender and body mass index < 24 kg/m 2, there were statistically significant differences in the changes of gastric motility after standard meal (Fisher′s exact method, P=0.022 and 0.024). Conclusion:Both standard meal and treadmill exercise test affect gastrointestinal electrical activity, and exercise caused more changes in gastrointestinal electrical activity than standard meal.