Objective:To investigate the effect of long-term low dose ionizing radiation on the levels of interleukin (IL) and TGF-β1 in the population in high background radiation area(HBRA).Methods:Appropriate amount of peripheral blood was drawn from 41 and 44 healthy men aged 45-65 years who were randomly selected from Tangkou town of Yangjiang city (HBRA) and Hengpo town of Enping city (control area, CA), respectively. After centrifugation and stratification, the upper plasma of blood was separated to determine IL-2, sIL-2R, IL-4, IL-5 and TGF-β1 by using ELISA. The difference of plasma IL of the residents in those two regions was analyzed. The influence of region, age, smoking, drinking and income on the indexes of ILs and TGF-β1 was evaluated by Covariance analysis.Results:The concentration of IL-2 at HBRA area was slightly higher than those in the control area, but the other indexes were lower than those in CA residents. The differences of IL-5 ( t=7.124, P<0.001) and TGF-β1 ( t=4.900, P<0.001) between two areas were significant statistically. Covariance analysis showed that smoking had a significant effect on IL-2 level ( F=5.283, P<0.05). Conclusions:Under the influence of long-term low-dose ionizing radiation, all kinds of plasma interleukin levels of residents in HBRA were different with that in CA. The immune balance was biased towards Th1 type cytokines, and the immune function in HBRA was slightly stronger than that in CA, suggesting that long-term chronic low-dose ionizing radiation may induce adaptive changes in the immune function, which needs further study.

The outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia(NCP) caused by 2019 novel coronavirus has become a global public health challenge. Some patients accompany with liver function damage in addition to the main typical respiratory symptom. Here we analyzed the clinical features, susceptible population, potential causes and therapeutic strategies of NCP related liver injury.

Hydrocephalus is often treated with a cerebrospinal fluid shunt (CFS) for excessive amounts of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain. However, it is very difficult to distinguish whether the ventricular enlargement is due to hydrocephalus or other causes, such as brain atrophy after brain damage and surgery. The non-trivial evaluation of the consciousness level, along with a continuous drainage test of the lumbar cistern is thus clinically important before the decision for CFS is made. We studied 32 secondary mild hydrocephalus patients with different consciousness levels, who received T1 and diffusion tensor imaging magnetic resonance scans before and after lumbar cerebrospinal fluid drainage. We applied a novel machine-learning method to find the most discriminative features from the multi-modal neuroimages. Then, we built a regression model to regress the JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R) scores to quantify the level of consciousness. The experimental results showed that our method not only approximated the CRS-R scores but also tracked the temporal changes in individual patients. The regression model has high potential for the evaluation of consciousness in clinical practice.

Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy of tight suturing for shortening healing scar tissues in repair of Myerson type III old rupture of Achilles tendon. Methods: A retrospective case series study was performed to analyze the clinical data of 16 patients with Myerson III type chronic Achilles tendon ruptures admitted to Sports Hospital Affiliated to Chengdu Sport University from January 2015 to December 2017. All of the patients were males with sports injuries, aged 19-71 years (mean, 40.6 years). The Achilles tendon defect was 5-7 centimeter (mean, 5.2 centimeter). The patients received tight suturing and shortening healing scar tissue for the repair. The operation time and surgical wound size were recorded. The clinical efficacy was evaluated by Amer-Lindholm standard and American 0rthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) ankle-hindfoot score. Meanwhile, the complications such as wound infection, Achilles tendon re-rupture, heel lifting weakness, muscle strength decline, ankle dysfunction, lameness and symptoms of sural nerve injury were recorded. Results: All patients were followed up for 11-41 months, with an average of 26 months. The operation time ranged from 25-51 minutes, with an average of 37 minutes. The incision was 4-12 cm, averaging 7 cm. According to the Amer-Lindholm standard, 14 patients were graded as excellent and two were graded as good, with the excellent and good rate of 100%. AOFAS ankle-hindfoot score increased from (42.7±6.8)points before operation to (95.1±4.9)points at the last follow-up (P<0.05). During the follow-up, there were no complications such as infection, Achilles tendon rupture, heel lifting weakness, muscle strength decline, ankle joint dysfunction, lameness and gastrocnemial nerve injury. Conclusion For Myerson type III old rupture of Achilles tendon, tight suturing for shortening healing scar tissue can increase the postoperative function scores without wound infection or complications.

Allergy contact dermatitis is a type IV delayed type hypersensitivity that is induced by exogenous compounds and involves many cell types. Traditional animal testing uses guinea pigs or mice as a model. With progress of the adverse outcome pathway(AOP)on skin sensitization, a concept for development of alternative methods based on a molecular initiating event and key events is provided. Dendritic cell(DC)activation plays a key role in the AOP. Many alternative methods have been developed,with several methods validated and accepted as guidance for assays. This paper examines DC screening, characteristics of test parameters, and limitations and applicability of DC-derived methods. Progress on interactions between DCs and other cells, co-culture systems, and the human body-on-a-chip will also be introduced. Altogether,this paper will provide information for optimization of in vitro alternative methods for sensitization detection.

Objective To establish an in vitro skin sensitization test,human cell line activation test (h-CLAT),based on THP-1 cell line (a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line),and to assess the sensitizing potency of plant raw materials of chemical and cosmetic products by this in vitro skin sensitization test.Method THP-1 cells were cultured in vitro and exposed to 11 reference skin sensitization chemicals and 9 samples,by monitoring the cell viability,cell surface marker CD54 /CD86 and relative fluorescence intensity of cells surface after the cells was exposures to the substances,and to discover whether there is a positive reaction.At the same time,Buehler test was used to validate the results of samples tested by h-CLAT.Results 11 reference chemicals were distinguished correctly by h-CLAT.Among the 9 samples tested,7 samples were recognized as negative sensitizer and 2 plant extracted substances were identified as suspicious skin sensitizer.The qualitative classification of the 9 samples by h-CLAT test was consistent with the results obtained by animal test.Conclusions The h-CLAT-in vitro test can be used to replace some animal tests for the prediction of soluble skin sensitizing substances.

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes, LM) is an excellent tumor vaccine vector. In this study, recombinant LM vaccine candidate expressing human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) E7 protein was constructed and its charactericts were determined. Through homologous recombination, E7 gene was cloned in frame with the LM4 Phly promoter-signal sequence, and introduced into the chromosome of LM4. The recombinant strain named LM4△hly::E7 with the plasmid-free and antibiotic-resistant gene-free was constructed. LM4△hly::E7 could express and secrete E7-LLO fusion protein; its size is 66 kDa and has immunological activity. Furthermore, LM4△hly::E7 could multiply in RAW264.7 macrophages by confocal laser scanning microscope. Additionally, LM4△hly::E7 could induce specific antibodies against E7 in immunized mice in ELISA. Also, the 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) of LM4△hly::E7 strain was 3.863×10⁹ CFU (Colony-Forming Units) in C57BL/6 mice with intraperitoneal immunization, which was more attenuated than wild type LM4. Mice immunized with LM4△hly::E7 did not show obvious pathological change. These data show that LM4△hly::E7 expressing E7-LLO fusion protein has good safety, which may provide the materials for research of antitumor effect and would be a promising vaccine candidate for cervical cancer.
Animals ; Cancer Vaccines ; immunology ; Listeria monocytogenes ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Papillomavirus E7 Proteins ; immunology ; Papillomavirus Infections ; prevention & control ; Plasmids ; RAW 264.7 Cells ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; immunology ; Vaccines, Attenuated ; immunology ; Viral Vaccines ; immunology

Objective To investigate the relationship between plasma homocysteine on admission and the outcome at discharge of acute ischemic stroke.Methods A non-concurrent cohort study was performed and a total of 1 3 1 9 patients with acute is-chemic stroke were continuously included in this study.According to tertile range of plasma homocysteine,patients were di-vided into three group.Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the independent association between plasma homocys-teine on admission and poor outcome at discharge of acute ischemic stroke.Results The difference of plasma homocysteine on admission between the poor outcome and those with good outcome had statistical significance (P<0.000 1).Without the adj ustment of multiple factors,when comparing to the first group,the second and third tertile seemed to have a tendency of increasing the risk of poor outcome at discharge,the OR (95%CI)was 2.111 (1.297~3.437,P<0.05),2.113 (1.361~3.279,P<0.05).After adjustment for multivariate,the second and third tertile also seemed to have a tendency of increasing the risk of poor outcome at discharge,the OR (95%CI)was 1.876 (1.160~3.036,P<0.05),2.396 (1.414~4.062,P<0.05).Conclusion The current study indicated that higher plasma homocysteine level was an independent risk factor for poor outcome at discharge in ischemic stroke patients.It would increase the risk of the outcome at discharge in patients with acute ischemic stroke,and suggests that there is a dose-response relationship between plasma homocysteine level on admis-sion and the poor outcome at discharge.

Objective To establish a detection method integrating DPRA ( direct peptide reactivity assay) with h?CLAT ( human cell line activation test) to screen the skin sensitization potency of chemicals and plant extracts. Methods 12 chemicals and 7 plant extracts were chosen as the test substances. Firstly, the test substances were incubated together with two different peptides ( cysteine and lysine) respectively for reaction for 24 h. The peptide consumptions were analyzed by HPLC. Simultaneously, THP?1 cells were cultured in vitro and then exposed to different concentrations of test sub?stances for 24 h to examine the cell viability, cell surface markers CD54 and CD86 were assessed by flow cytometry. The predicting results were compared further between DPRA and h?CLAT. Results 12 chemicals were distinguished correctly by DPRA classified as 2 non?sensitizers and 10 sensitizers. The results of DPRA were in accordance with h?CLAT. Predic?ting the sensitization potency of plant extracts by DPRA showed that 6 plant extracts were determined as suspected sensiti?zers except for green tea extract. But using the method of h?CLAT, 4 plant extracts were examined as suspected sensitizers except for green tea extract, herba portulacae extract and ginseng fruit extract. The coherence of DPRA and h?CLAT was 0?57. Conclusion This detection method integrating DPRA with h?CLAT can predict single compound accurately. As for complex compound, it can achieve preliminary prediction and need other integrating methods to make a further identifica?tion.

Objective Midkine ( MK ) and nuclear factor-kappa B ( NF-kB ) play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis, which are considered as promising cancer biomarkers. The efficacy of MK and NF-kB as markers for diagnosis and prediction of synchronous metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer ( PTC ) was the aim of present investigation. Methods Seventy six cases of PTC and seventy cases of multi-nodular goiter ( MNG ) were retrieved. The PTC group was further divided into subgroup 1 (16 cases with synchronous metastasis) and subgroup 2 (60 cases without metastases). A retrospective review of clinical information, radiological examinations,131 I treatments and post-131 I-therapy scans were done. Immunohistochemistry of MK, NF-kB p65, and Ki-67 was performed on paraffin-embedded specimens and results were quantified. Diagnostic values of the parameters were conducted by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were determined. Protein levels of MK and NF-kB p65 were then confirmed by Western blot. Results Immunoreactivities of MK and NF-kB p65, and positive percentage of Ki-67 were significantly higher in PTC group than in MNG group (all P<0. 01). ROC showed good differential diagnostic capabilities of all three parameters with diagnostic accuracies of 82. 192% , 80. 137% , and 84. 091%respectively. Moreover, all three parameters were significantly higher in subgroup 1 than those in subgroup 2 (all P<0. 01). ROC showed good predicting efficacies in synchronous metastasis of all three parameters with diagnostic accuracies of 82. 895% , 80. 263% , and 76. 316% respectively. By one-way analysis of variance, Western blot showed that MK and NF-kB p65 protein levels in lesions from subgroup 1 were significantly higher than those from subgroup 2, both were significantly higher than those in MNG lesions ( P<0. 01). Conclusion MK and NF-kB immunohistochemistry can potentially be used for differential diagnosis between PTC and MNG, and for prediction of synchronous metastases.