Objective To investigate T cell subtypes and their functions in liver immune microenvironments among patients with alveolar echinococcosis (AE) using single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). Methods Four AE patients that were admitted to Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital in 2023 for hepatic surgery for the first time were enrolled, and liver specimens were sampled 1 cm (peri-lesion, PL group) and > 5 cm from AE lesions (distal lesion, DL group) among each patient. Finally, a total of eight liver specimens were sampled from four AE patients for scRNA-seq analysis. Genome and transcriptome data of liver specimens were processed using the software Cell Ranger and R package. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and their biological functions were analyzed using gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and the primary intercellular communication patterns and interaction mechanisms were identified among T cell subtypes in liver specimens using the CellChat package. In addition, the developmental stages of T cells were subjected to trajectory analysis with the monocle package to investigate the expression of genes associated with cell growth and tumor transformation, and to predict the developmental trajectories of T cells. Results All four AE patients were female, with a mean age of (25.00 ± 9.06) years, and there were three cases from Jiuzhi County, Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture and one case from Chengduo County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. The viability of single-cell samples from eight liver specimens was 90.41% to 96.33%, and a total of 81 763 cells were analyzed, with 19 cell types annotated. Of these cell types, 13 were immune cells (87.60%), and T cells (33.13%), neutrophils (15.40%), and natural killer cells (11.92%) were the three most common cell types. Re-clustering of 27 752 T cells and proliferative T cells identified 10 distinct T cell subtypes, with CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells (23.43%), CD8⁺ naive T cells (12.80%), and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells (17.73%) as dominant cell types. The proportions of T helper 2 (Th2) cells (5.19% vs. 3.63%; χ² = 38.35, P < 0.01) and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells (21.59% vs. 13.67%; χ² = 244.70, P < 0.01) were significantly higher in liver specimens in the PL group than in the DL group, and the proportion of CD4⁺ helper T cells was significantly lower in the PL group than in the DL group (7.50% vs. 14.75%; χ² = 330.52, P < 0.01). KEGG pathway analysis revealed that Th2 cells were significantly enriched in cell apoptosis and multiple cancer-associated pathways, and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells were significantly enriched in the regulation of cytokines and chronic inflammation, while CD4⁺ helper T cells were significantly enriched in immune responses regulation. Trajectory analysis of T cells showed that CD4⁺ helper T cells were at an earlier developmental stage relative to Th2 cells and CD4⁺ effector memory T cells, and the expression of inhibitor of DNA binding 3 (ID3), thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP), Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) and heat shock protein family B (small) member 1 (HSPB1) genes appeared a tendency towards a decline over time. Conclusions CD4⁺ effector memory T cells and CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells are primary interacting cells in the liver specimens of AE patients. Reduced expression of Th2 cells and CD4⁺ helper T cells contributes to an inhibitory immune microenvironment, which promotes immune evasion by Echinococcus multilocularis, and Th2 cells are significantly enriched in multiple cancer-associated pathways, which may be linked to the invasive growth of E. multilocularis.

Objective:To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis patients with anti-granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) autoantibodies.Methods:A total of 216 non-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related cryptococcal meningitis cases with positive cultures of Cryptococcus, hospitalized at Huashan Hospital, Fudan University during January 2014 and December 2021, were retrospectively included. The serum anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, and the clinical characteristics and prognosis were compared between patients with and without anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies. Statistical comparisons were mainly performed using the chi-square test or Fisher′s exact test. Cox proportional-hazards model was used to analyze the risk factors associated with prognosis. Results:Among 216 enrolled patients, 23 patients were positive of anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies, with a positive rate of 10.6%. Among 23 patients, seven cases were infected with Cryptococcus gattii, and 16 cases were infected with Cryptococcus neoformans. In the group with positive anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies, 30.4%(7/23) of the patients were infected with Cryptococcus gattii, which was higher than that of 1.6%(3/193) in the group with negative anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies, and the difference was statistically significant ( χ2=38.82, P<0.001). In the group with positive anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies, 30.0% (6/20) had mass lesions with a diameter greater than three centimeters in the lungs, and the one-year all-cause mortality rate was 50.0% (10/20), which were both higher than those of 3.4%(5/145) and 16.1% (29/180) in the negative group, respectively. The differences were both statistically significant (both Fisher′s exact test, P<0.01). Age≥60 years (hazard ratio ( HR)=4.146, P=0.002), predisposing factors ( HR=3.160, P=0.021), epilepsy ( HR=6.129, P=0.002), positive anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies ( HR=2.675, P=0.034), white blood cell count of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)<100 ×10 6/L ( HR=2.736, P=0.039), the titers of cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide antigen of CSF≥1∶1 280 ( HR=4.361, P=0.009) were independent risk factors for one-year all-cause mortality in patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Conclusions:In non-AIDS related cryptococcal meningitis patients, the positive rate of serum anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies is as high as 10.6%. Patients with anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies could be infected with both Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, and they have higher proportion of lung mass lesions than patients with negative anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies. The one-year survival rate decreases significantly in patients with anti-GM-CSF autoantibodies, which is an independent risk factor for the prognosis of cryptococcal meningitis.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and safety of high-dose caspofungin (70 mg/d)as initial or salvage treatment for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.Methods Twenty-one patients with proven or probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis from June 2014 to October 2017 in Huashan Hospital,Fudan University were retrospectively reviewed.According to the anti-fungal treatment before high-dose caspofungin application,patients were divided into initial treatment group and salvage treatment group.Patients' clinical data and laboratory data were collected.The characteristics,clinical efficacy,adverse reactions,one-year survival rate and the overall effective rate were evaluated.The prognosis of the two groups was compared by Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results Twenty of the 21 patients opportunistic acquired invasive pulmonary aspergillosis during the treatment of underlying diseases.Five patients were initially treated with high-dose caspofungin for 68 (62) days.At week 12,one patient achieved complete response,3 patients achieved partial response,and the overall effective rate was 80％ (4/5).Sixteen patients received caspofungin as salvage therapy for 66.50 (58) days,of which one patient got complete response at week 12,10 had partial response,and the overall effective rate was 68.75％ (11/16).One-year follow-up showed that no patient died in the initial treatment group,and the one-year survival rate was 100％ (5/5).In salvage treatment group,3 patients died of pulmonary bacterial infections and the one-year survival rate was 81.25％ (13/16).During treatment,one patient had elevated total bilirubin,which was possibly associated with high-dose caspofungin.Conclusions High-dose caspofungin regimen has good efficacy and safety,both for initial treatment and salvage therapy in patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the accuracy of different methods for image registration in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) for cervical cancer. METHODS: The last treatment planning CT images (CT1) and the first treatment planning CT images (CT2) were acquired from 15 patients with cervical cancer and registered with different match image qualities (retained/removed catheter source in images) and different match regions [target only (S Group)/ interested organ structure (M Group)/body (L Group)] in Velocity3.2 software. The dice similarity coefficient (DSC) between the clinical target volumes (CTV) of the CT1 and CT2 images (CTVCT1 and CTVCT2, respectively) and between the organs-at-risk (OAR) of the two imaging datasets (OARCT1 and OARCT2, respectively) were used to evaluate the image registration accuracy. RESULTS: The auto-segmentation volume of the catheter source using Velocity software based on the CT threshold was the closest to the actual volume within the CT value range of 1700-1800 HU. In the retained group, the DSC for the OARs of was better than or equal to that of the removed group, and the DSC value of the rectum was significantly improved ( < 0.05). For comparison of different match regions, the high-risk target volume (HRCTV) and the low-risk target volume (IRCTV) had the best precision for registration of the target area, which was significantly greater than that of M group and L group ( < 0.05). The M group had better registration accuracy of the target area and the best accuracy for the OARs. The DSC values of the bladder and rectum were significantly better than those of the other two groups ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The CT value range of 1700-1800 HU is optimal for automatic image segmentation using Velocity software. Automatic segmentation and shielding the volume of the catheter source can improve the image quality. We recommend the use of interested organ structures regions for image registration in image-guided adaptive brachytherapy for cervical cancer.
Brachytherapy ; methods ; standards ; Female ; Humans ; Organs at Risk ; diagnostic imaging ; Radiotherapy Dosage ; Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted ; methods ; standards ; Radiotherapy, Image-Guided ; methods ; standards ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods ; standards ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; radiotherapy

Objective To investigate the quality of life and psychological resilience of nurses in Operation Room, and to explore the relationship between them. Methods From January to June 2017, 5 Class Ⅲ Grade A hospitals in Wuxi were selected by convenient sampling, and 40 nurses in Operating Room were selected as the research objects in each hospital by drawing method. They were surveyed by the basic data questionnaire, Work-related Quality of Life Scale-2 and Chinese version of Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. The independent sample t test, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Results Totally 196 valid data were finally collected. The scores of quality of work life and psychological resilience of 196 nurses were (96.83±14.77)and (56.83±9.65) respectively, both of which were below average. The psychological resilience of nurses in Operating Room was positively related to the quality of work life (r=0.612,P<0.01). The results of multivariate analysis showed that employment forms, working life and psychological resilience were the factors influencing the quality of working life of nurses in Operating Room (the standard regression coefficients were 0.077,-1.956,0.682;P<0.01), which explained 39.6% of the variation. Conclusions Resilience has positive influence on the quality of work life of nurses in Operating Room. Nursing managers can take appropriate measures to alleviate the work pressure of nurses, and fully mobilize their work enthusiasm, improve psychological resilience and then improve the quality of work life.

Objective:To investigate the ethical cognition of clinical research among medical staff working at different grades of hospitals in Qinghai Province and thus to provide references for the construction of medical ethics organization in hospitals.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the knowledge of hospital ethics among medical staff from 11 hospitals of different grades in Qinghai Province.Results:Among the 611 med-ical staff,329 (53.8％) received medical ethics education in continuing education and 378 (61.9％) knew that the ethics committee had been set up in their hospitals.The medical staff in different grades of hospitals showed a statistical difference (P ＜ 0.05) in the medical behavior cognition of ethical laws and regulations and the need for ethical review.Conclusion:Hospitals in Qinghai province need to strengthen the training of medical ethics knowl-edge,improve medical staff's awareness of ethics committee,and promote the efficient operation of hospital ethics.

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis.Methods Clinical features and outcomes of 46 proven cases of chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis admitted in Huashan Hospital,Fudan University from January 2009 to December 2016 were retrospectively reviewed.Results Of the 46 patients enrolled,left sphenoid sinus,ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus were affected in 24,23 and 20 cases,respectively,while right maxillary sinus,ethmoid sinus and sphenoid sinus were affected in 18,16 and 15 eases,respectively.Left and right frontal sinus were affected in 9 and 6 cases,respectively.The central nervous system and orbit were the most commonly affected sites in external nasal involvements,noted in 22 cases respectively.Left sphenoid (17 cases) and ethmoid sinus (15 cases) involvements were most common in central nervous system affected patients.Left sphenoid (14 cases) and ethmoid sinus (13 cases) involvements were most common in orbit affected patients.Aspergillus species were the primary pathogens observed in 42 eases.Zygomycete,candida and dark filamentous fungus were observed in two,one and one case,respectively.Pathologically,37 of the cases were chronic nongranulomatous type and the left 9 were chronic granulomatous type who were all immunocompetent hosts.The initial symptoms usually included headache,dizziness and nasal discomforts including nasal obstruction and purulent secretion.The chief complaints usually included headache,dizziness,and visual disturbances including blurred vision,vision loss or even blindness.Antifungal treatment combined with surgical interventions for removal or drainage focus lesions achieved significant effect,and 42 patients were cured.Conclusions Chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis should be taken into consideration in the presence of nasal discomforts or nonspecific symptoms such as headache and dizziness.The possibility of chronic invasive fungal rhinosinusitis should be cautious after the emergence of vision abnormalities.

Objective To investigate the clinical value of prenatal MRI in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of congenital bronchopulmonary sequestration (BPS). Methods From January 2009 to December 2014, 16 fetuses with BPS were diagnosed by fetal MRI in Huzhou Maternity and Child Care Hospital and Shanghai Children′s Medical Center Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. The clinical data of these cases were analyzed retrospectively. All were singleton pregnancy, and MRI was carried out within 24-48 hours after routine prenatal ultrasound. All the neonates underwent postnatal enhanced CT scan or surgical biopsy after birth, and the results were compared to prenatal MRI diagnosis. Results (1)With prenatal MRI, 16 cases were diagnosed BPS. The lesions located in left lung in 10 cases, and right lung in 6 cases. As the scope of the lesion, 3 cases located in the whole left lung, 6 cases limited to the left lower lobe, and 1 case was subdiaphragmatic on the left side. 2 cases located in the whole right lung and 4 cases limited to the right lower lobe. One case complicated oligoamnios, and one had pleural effusion. Supplying vessels could be found in 14 cases.(2)When the postnatal results were compared with prenatal MRI, 15 cases were comfirmed as BPS (15/16), including 10 intralobar cases 5 extralobar cases. One that was diagnosed as BPS by prenatal MRI was confirmed to be congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation (CCAM) by pathology. The accuracy of prenatal MRI diagnosis of BPS was 15/16. Prenatal ultrasound missed one case and misdiagnosed two cases, as one was mistakened as CCAM and the other as cystic teratoma. Conclusion Prenatal MRI has good clinical value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of fetal BPS.

Ninety elderly patients with coronary heart disease were randomly divided into 2 groups:in study group (n = 45) the cognitive-behavioral intervention as well as conventional medical treatment were performed and in control group ( n = 45 ) only conventional treatment was given. Short Form-36 ( SF-36),symptom checklist 90(SCL-90), Hamilton anxiety scale( HAMA), Hamilton depression scale( HAMD)were evaluated before and after intervention, the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG)and body mass index (BMI)were measured, the smoking and drinking behaviors were recorded. After 6-month of intervention the smoking [(0. 6 ± 0. 2)cigarettes/d] and drinking [(10. 1 ± 2. 3)g/d] behaviors, the scores of SF-36 (85 ± 16), SCL-90 (104 ±4), HAMA (10 ±4) and HAMD (12 ±3), the systolic blood pressure [( 123 ± 11 ) mm Hg ( 1 mm Hg = 0. 133 kPa)], diastolic blood pressure [(77 ± 5 ) mm Hg], the fasting blood glucose [(4. 2 ± 2. 6 ) mmol/L] and BMI ( 22.5 ± 0. 5 ) in study group were significantly improved compared to control group ( P ＜ 0. 01 ). The results indicate that cognitive-behavioral intervention can improve the mental state and quality of life in elderly patients with coronary heart disease.

Objective: To investigate the effects of grasp seed procyanidins(GSP,原青花素) on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)induced acute lung injury(ALI) in rats with renal function damage and the related possible molecular mechanisms.Methods: The homogenates of lung and kidney were prepared and venous blood were collected at 6 hours after injection of LPS and medicine.The changes of contents of creatinine(Cr),blood urea nitrogen(BUN),lactic acid(Lac) and nitric oxide(NO) in the blood were measured.The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to measure the levels of tumor necrosis factor?(TNF-?),interleukin-1?(IL-1?),monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1) and IL-6 in the serum,lung and renal cortex tissue homogenate in various groups.The histopathological changes of lung tissues were observed.The pulmonary vascular permeability and the lung wet/dry(W/D) weight ratio were determined;the malonaldehyde(MDA) content,Na+K+-ATPase,superoxide dismutase(SOD),myeloperoxidase(MPO) and glutathion peroxidase(GSH-Px) activities in lung and renal tissues were also determined.Changes of mitogen activated protein kinase(MAPKs) were detected by Western blotting,and the combination activity of nuclear factor-?B(NF-?B) to DNA was detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in lung tissues.Results: ①Compared with the normal rats in control group,the lungs of the rats in LPS treatment group and GSP group had significant hyperemia and spotted hemorrhage.The inflammatory granulocyte infiltration,diffuse alveolar septum thickening and spotted hemorrhage were observed in the pathological examinations,while in LPS plus GSP group the above mentioned pathological changes were milder.②Compared with control group,the lung W/D and pulmonary vascular permeability were much higher in the LPS treatment groups(P