Objective:To investigate the efficacy and side effects of concurrent chemoradiotherapy with or without nimotuzumab in the treatment of locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.Methods:In the prospective study, 100 patients with stage Ⅲ-Ⅳa locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (except T 3N 0M 0 stage) who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into the experimental and control groups using the random number table method. Patients in both groups were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy using TPF (paclitaxel liposome, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) regimen for 2 cycles. At 2 weeks after chemotherapy, concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus nimotuzumab targeted therapy was given in the experimental group, and concurrent chemoradiotherapy was delivered in the control group. The main observation index was the distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) rate. Log-rank test and multivariate Cox regression analysis were used. Results:The objective remission rate and complete remission rate in the experimental and control groups were 100% vs. 98% ( P=1.000) and 92.0% vs. 80% ( P=0.084). The 3-year DMFS in the experimental and control groups were 91.4 % vs. 76.1 % ( P=0.043). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS) and overall survival (OS) in two groups were 87.3 % vs. 74.1 % ( P=0.097), 94.5 % vs. 85.6 % ( P=0.227) and 90.5% vs. 85.2% ( P=0.444). Subgroup analysis showed that patients with age<60 years ( HR=0.34, 95% CI=0.12-0.94, P=0.037), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR)≤4 ( HR=0.34, 95% CI=0.13-0.89, P=0.028) received concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus nimotuzumab obtained better PFS. Multivariate analysis showed that NLR was an independent risk factor for disease progression ( HR=5.94, 95% CI=1.18-29.81, P=0.030) and distant metastasis ( HR=13.76, 95% CI=1.52-124.36, P=0.020). Conclusions:Compared with concurrent chemoradiotherapy alone, concurrent chemoradiotherapy combined with nimotuzumab after neoadjuvant chemotherapy can significantly increase DMFS rate for patients with locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The incidence of side effects is similar in two groups. Concurrent chemoradiotherapy plus nimotuzumab after neoadjuvant chemotherapy may be a preferred treatment strategy for locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

The continuous pandemic coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2)is a serious threat to human life and health because of high infectious pathogenicity, and it also has posed a new challenge to the current medical model. Many literatures have shown that these changes range from the more common ocular surface diseases such as inflammation of the cornea, conjunctiva, and sclera, to the relatively rare paracentral acute middle maculopathy and acute macular neuroretinopathy. For patients with ocular symptoms as the first or accompanying symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, how to identify the correlation between ocular manifestations and SARS-CoV-2 infection is undoubtedly a serious challenge for ophthalmologists. In this review, the ocular pathology caused by both SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination was discussed, covering pathological changes in the ocular surface, uvea, retina and macula, and cranial nerves.

Objective: To investigate the diagnosis and treatment of Chiari malformation patients with hoarseness and other otorhinolaryngological symptoms. Methods: The clinical data of 18 patients of Chiari malformation with hoarseness were retrospectively collected, which was composed of 5 men and 13 women, aged 3-71 with median age of 52. All the patients were admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University from January 1989 to January 2020. All patients underwent brain MRI and laryngoscopy. The patient's symptoms and first diagnosis department, diagnosis time, total course of disease, hoarseness course, diagnosis and treatment, and postoperative recovery time were summarized. Follow-up time was 3-16 years, with median follow-up time of 6.5 years. Descriptive methods were used for analysis. Results: The first visit departments of 18 patients included neurology (9 cases), otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery (5 cases), pediatrics (2 cases), orthopedics (1 case) and respiratory department (1 case). Except for the 7 cases in neurology department, the other 11 patients were not diagnosed in time. The disease duration of 18 patients with Chiari malformation ranged from 2 months to 5 years, and hoarseness was present from 20 days to 5 years. After diagnosis, 9 patients underwent posterior fossa decompression surgery, and 1 of them underwent syrinx drainage at the same time. The symptoms of 8 cases improved significantly after operation, with the improvement time from 1 to 30 days. In addition, 9 patients chose conservative treatment, among whom 8 had no improvement in symptoms and 6 progressed. Conclusions: Posterior fossa decompression is an effective treatment for Chiari malformation, and the prognosis is good. Timely diagnosis and treatment can improve the prognosis of patients.
Male ; Humans ; Female ; Child ; Hoarseness/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Conservative Treatment ; Drainage ; Laryngoscopy

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy and safety among three different entry points of needle knife, including tenderness point, intervertebral foramen point and articular process node, for lumbar disc herniation (LDH). METHODS: A total of 105 patients with LDH were randomly divided into a tenderness point group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ), an intervertebral foramen point group (35 cases) and an articular process node group (35 cases, 1 case dropped off ). In the three groups, the needle knife was given at positive tenderness points of lumbosacral and hip, the external point of intervertebral foramen and the node of vertebral joint process respectively, once a week for a total of 4 times. The scores of Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA), Oswestry disability index (ODI), visual analogue scale (VAS) were recorded before treatment, 2 weeks and 4 weeks into treatment, and 3 months follow-up after treatment, and the clinical efficacy and safety was observed. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the JOA scores in each group were increased 2, 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05); 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up, the JOA scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were higher than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). Compared before treatment, except for ODI score 2 weeks into treatment in the intervertebral foramen point group, the ODI and VAS scores in each group were decreased 2, 4 weeks into treatment and in the follow-up (P<0.05), and the ODI scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were lower than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). In 2 weeks into treatment, the VAS scores in the tenderness point group and the articular process node group were lower than those in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05); in 4 weeks into treatment and follow-up, the VAS scores in the tenderness point group were lower than the other two groups (P<0.05). After treatment, the clinical efficacy of each group was similar (P>0.05); during the follow-up, the total effective rate in the tenderness point group was higher than that in the intervertebral foramen point group (P<0.05). There were no serious adverse events in each group. CONCLUSION The three different entry points of needle knife all could improve the symptoms of patients with LDH. The comprehensive effect of improving the subjective symptoms, lumbar function, pain degree and long-term curative effect is better in the tenderness point group.
Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement/therapy* ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Lumbosacral Region ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Baidu Jieduan Granules (BDJDG) to treat common type coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective, and observational clinical trial included 230 common COVID-19 patients in Leishenshan, Huangshi, and Laohekou Hospitals in Wuhan from January 21 to March 26, 2020. The included patients were further divided into two subgroups according to the use of supplemental oxygen, mild and moderate groups. During the first 14 d of hospitalization, all patients were administered BDJDG combined with conventional Western medicine, and observed for continuous 28 d. Primary outcomes were disease progression rate and discharge rate. Secondary outcomes included negative conversion time of nucleic acid, hospitalization duration, clinical symptom subsidence time, and symptom regression rate. RESULTS: A total of 230 common COVID-19 patients were analyzed (138 in moderate group and 92 in mild group). By day 28, the disease progression rate was 4.3% and the discharge rate was 95.7%. All mild cases recovered and were discharged from hospital. The median negative conversion time of nucleic acid of all 230 COVID-19 patients was 12 d [inter-quartile range (IQR) 3.5-17], the median hospitalization duration was 15 d (IQR 12-20). The median time to fever, cough, and fatigue recovery was 4 d (IQR 2-6), 8 d (IQR 5-12), and 8 d (IQR 5-11). The recovery rate of fever, cough, and fatigue was 94.6%, 90.5%, and 93.5%. The median time to clinical improvement was 12 d (IQR 10-17). Compared with the baseline, total leukocyte counts, neutrophil counts, lymphocyte counts, and platelet counts were increased significantly on days 7 and 14 (P<0.01). C-reactive protein markedly increased on day 3 and significantly decreased on days 7 and 14 (P<0.01). No serious adverse events occurred during treatment. CONCLUSION BDJDG may be effective and safe for treatment of common type COVID-19. (Registration No. ChiCTR2000030836).
C-Reactive Protein ; China ; Cough/drug therapy* ; Disease Progression ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Humans ; Nucleic Acids ; Oxygen ; Retrospective Studies ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Treatment Outcome ; COVID-19 Drug Treatment

BACKGROUND: Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most globally prevalent cancers in the world. The pathogenesis of GC has not been fully elucidated, and there still lacks effective targeted therapeutics. The influence of altered kinesin superfamily protein 22 (KIF22) expression in GC progression is still unclearly. The aim of this study was to investigate the KIF22 effects on GC and related mechanisms. METHODS: Gastric carcinoma tissues and matching non-cancerous tissues were collected from patients with GC who have accepted a radical gastrectomy in Lanzhou University Second Hospital from May 2013 to December 2014. The expression of KIF22 was examined in GC of 67 patients and 20 para-carcinoma tissues by immunochemical staining. The relationship between the expression of KIF22 and clinicopathologic characteristics was next investigated in the remaining 52 patients except for 15 patients who did not complete follow-up for 5 years. Cell viability was performed via 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) test and colony formation assay in the MGC-803 and BGC-823 GC cells. Cell scratch and trans-well invasion assay was performed to assess migration ability in the MGC-803 and BGC-823 GC cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) pathway enrichment analysis was performed to explore the potential functions. Cell cycle was detected by flow cytometry. In addition, the two GC cell lines were used to elucidate the underlying mechanism of KIF22 in GC in vitro via assessing the effects on mitogen-activated protein kinase and extracellular regulated protein kinases (MAPK/ERK) signal transduction pathway-related expressions by Western blotting assays. The differences were compared by t tests, one-way analysis of variance, and Chi-squared tests. RESULTS: The study showed that KIF22 was up-regulated in GC, and KIF22 high expression was significantly related to differentiation degree (χ = 12.842, P = 0.002) and poorly overall survivals. GSEA pathway enrichment analysis showed that KIF22 was correlated with the cell cycle. Silence of KIF22 decreased the ability of the proliferation and migration in gastric cells, induced G1/S phase cell cycle arrest via regulating the MAPK-ERK pathways. CONCLUSIONS KIF22 protein level was negatively correlated with prognosis. KIF22 knockdown might inhibit proliferation and metastasis of GC cells via the MAPK-ERK signaling pathway.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antidepressive Agents ; therapeutic use ; Body Mass Index ; Depression ; microbiology ; Diarrhea ; microbiology ; Duloxetine Hydrochloride ; therapeutic use ; Feces ; microbiology ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; Middle Aged ; Pilot Projects ; Probiotics ; therapeutic use ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; genetics ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell( BMSC) transplantation on early stage of inflammation in mice exposed to silica dust. METHODS: Specific pathogen free healthy male C57 BL /6 mice were used.Five mice were used to isolate BMSCs using bone marrow adherent method. Thirty mice were randomly divided into 3groups: control group,silica group and BMSCs transplantation group. The mice of the control group were given 20. 0 μL of0. 90% sodium chloride solution by one time intratracheal injection. The mice of silica group and the BMSCs transplantation group first received 20. 0 μL( 250 g / L mass concentration) of silicosis dust suspension by one time intratracheal injection; followed by 500. 0 μL of 0. 90% sodium chloride solution in the silica group,and 500. 0 μL of BMSCs suspension( cell density 1 × 109/ L) by tail vein infusion in the BMSCs transplantation group 6 hours later. Mice were euthanized on the 7th day of the experiments. The histopathology changes in lung tissues were examined. The serum levels of interleukin( IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the mRNA relative expression levels of above cytokines in the lung tissues. RESULTS: The positive rates of BMSCs surface molecules cluster differentiation( CD) 29,CD34,CD90,CD105 and CD106 were 67. 70%,0. 12%,39. 00%,37. 10% and 20. 10%,respectively. Histopathology examination showed the thickened alveolar walls,broadening alveolar septum and the damaged alveolar structure in silica group. In the BMSCs transplantation group,there was no obvious damage found in the lung tissue. There was no change in the alveolar cavity and alveolar structure was complete. The IL-1β and IL-6 levels in serum and mRNA relative expression of IL-1β and IL-6in lung tissue in the silica group were higher than those of the control group and BMSCs transplantation group( P < 0. 05).The IL-1β level in serum and mRNA relative expression of IL-1β in lung tissue in the BMSCs group were higher than those of the control group( P < 0. 05). The IL-10 level in serum and mRNA relative expression of IL-10 in lung tissue in all groups showed no statistical difference( P > 0. 05). CONCLUSION: The BMSCs can alleviate pulmonary inflammatory damage at early stage by down-regulating the expression of proinflammatory factors of IL-1β and IL-6.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells( BMSCs) in alleviating pulmonary alveolitis in mice exposed to silica dust. METHODS: Five specific pathogen free healthy male C57 BL /6 mice were used to isolate BMSCs using bone marrow adherent method. The poly-potent differentiation ability of BMSCs were identified by 3 differentiation-inducing experiments. Forty-five mice of similar background were randomly divided into 3groups: control group,silica group and BMSCs transplantation group. The mice of the control group were given 20. 0 μL of0. 90% sodium chloride solution by one time intratracheal injection. The mice of silica group and BMSCs transplantation group were first received 20. 0 μL( 250 g / L mass concentration) of silica dust suspension by one time intratracheal injection; followed by 500. 0 μL of 0. 90% sodium chloride solution or 500. 0 μL of BMSCs suspension( cell density 1 ×109/ L) by tail vein infusion 6 hours later. Mice were euthanized on the 3rd day of the experiment. Lung functional coefficient and pathologic changes in the lung were examined. The level of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid( BALF) was detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Wright-Giemsa staining was used for staining cells in BALF for counting. Flow cytometry( FCM) was used to measure the percentage of macrophages of BALF in the mice. RESULTS: BMSCs were successfully induced to differentiate into osteogenic,adipogenic and chondrogenic cells and developed into osteoblast,adipogenic cells and chondroblast. On the 3rd day of the experiment,the mice in silica group showed histopathological changes similar to pulmonary alveolitis; while there was no obvious inflammatory change observed in the BMSCs transplantation group,and the structure of lung tissue appeared normal. The lung coefficient of the silica group was higher than that of the control group( P < 0. 05); the lung coefficient of BMSCs transplantation group was lower than that of the silica group( P < 0. 05),but it showed no significant difference when compared to the control group( P > 0. 05). The interleukin( IL)-1β,IL-6 and chemokine ligand 3 levels in BALF in the silica group were higher than those of the control group( P < 0. 05),and the above 3 indices in the BMSCs transplantation group regaining the level of the control group( P > 0. 05) were lower than those of the silica group( P < 0. 05). The level of tumor necrosis factor-α in BALF in silica group and BMSCs transplantation group were higher than that of the control group( P < 0. 05),but there was no significant difference between silica group and BMSCs transplantation group( P > 0. 05). The level of IL-10 in BALF showed no significant difference in these 3 groups( P > 0. 05). Wright-Giemsa staining results showed that the number of total cells and macrophages in BALF in the silica group was higher than that of the control group( P < 0. 05),and the above cell number of BMSCs transplantation was lower than that of silica group( P < 0. 05),but it showed no significant difference when compared to the control group( P > 0. 05). The FCM result showed that the percentage of macrophages was in accordance with that of the Wright-Giemsa staining. CONCLUSION: The BMSCs can alleviate pulmonary alveolitis in the mice exposed to silica dust by inhibiting the amounts and activity of alveolar macrophages and down-regulating the expression of IL-1β and IL-6 in BALF.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of 1,2-dichloroethane( 1,2-DCE) on myelin basic protein( MBP),neuron specific enolase( NSE) and S100 protein in the plasma of SD rats. METHODS: Forty-eight specific pathogen free adult SD rats were randomly divided into control group,low-dose group and high-dose group,with 8 females and 8 males in each group. Rats were given 1,2-DCE orally at the dose of 0,27 and 79 mg / kg body weight every other day( every Wednesday,Monday and Friday) for 4 weeks. After 1,2-DCE administration,8 survived rats( half male and female) were randomly selected in each group. The plasma levels of MBP,NSE and S100 protein were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The blood and urinary samples were collected to assess the concentration of 1,2-DCE and its main metabolites( 2-chlorideacetic acid, 2-chlorideacetaldehyde and 2-chlorideethanol) by gas chromatography. The pathological changes of cerebrum and cerebellum were observed through optical microscope,and the expression of MBP was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Rats in high-dose group showed abnormal behavior from the third day of1,2-DCE exposure and 6 rats( 2 females,4 males) died from 1,2-DCE intoxication. Rats in low-dose group and control group appeared normal and no death was observed. MBP level in the plasma of high-dose group was higher than that in the control group( P < 0. 05),but the levels of NSE and S100 protein in each group did not show significant statisticaldifference( P > 0. 05). 1,2-DCE and 2-chloroethanol in the urine were detected in the high-dose group,and were below detection limit in the other two groups. 2-Chloroacetic acid level in high dose-group was significantly higher than that in the low-dose group( P < 0. 05),and was below detection limit in the control group. 2-Chloroacetaldehyde in the urine of each group was below detection limit. 1,2-DCE and its 3 kinds of metabolites were not detected in the plasma of all rats. There was no obvious structural damage,bleeding,edema or necrosis found in the cortex and white matter of cerebrum and cerebellum. The expression of MBP in the choroid plexus epithelial cells were significantly enhanced in the lateral ventricle and the fourth ventricle of rats in the high-dose group,and slight enhanced in rats in the low-dose group. CONCLUSION: MBP may play a role in the toxic effect of 1,2-DCE.