Objective To investigate the changes in eosinophil counts and the activation of microglial cells in the brain tissues of mice at different stages of Angiostrongylus cantonensis infection, and to examine the role of microglia in regulating the progression of angiostrongyliasis and unravel the possible molecular mechanisms. Methods Fifty BALB/c mice were randomly divided into the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-day and 25-d infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. All mice in infection groups were infected with 30 stage III A. cantonensis larvae by gavage, and animals in the control group was given an equal amount of physiological saline. Five mice were collected from each of infection groups on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice were collected from the control group on the day of oral gavage. The general and focal functional impairment was scored using the Clark scoring method to assess the degree of mouse neurological impairment. Five mice from each of infection groups were sacrificed on days 7, 14, 21 d and 25 d post-infection, and 5 mice from the control group were sacrificed on the day of oral gavage. Mouse brain tissues were sampled, and the pathological changes of brain tissues were dynamically observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Immunofluorescence staining with eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) was used to assess the degree of eosinophil infiltration and the counts of microglial cells in mouse brain tissues in each group, and the morphological parameters of microglial cells (skeleton analysis and fractal analysis) were quantified by using Image J software to determine the morphological changes of microglial cells. In addition, the expression of M1 microglia markers Fcγ receptor III (Fcgr3), Fcγ receptor IIb (Fcgr2b) and CD86 antigen (Cd86), M2 microglia markers Arginase 1 (Arg1), macrophage mannose receptor C-type 1 (Mrc1), chitinase-like 3 (Chil3), and phagocytosis genes myeloid cell triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (Trem2), CD68 antigen (Cd68), and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) was quantified using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) assay in the mouse cerebral cortex of mice post-infection. Results A large number of A. cantonensis larvae were seen on the mouse meninges surface post-infection, and many neuronal nuclei were crumpled and deeply stained, with a large number of bleeding points in the meninges. The median Clark scores of mouse general functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 0 (interquartile range, 0.5), 6 (interquartile range, 1.0), 14 (interquartile range, 8.5) points and 20 (interquartile range, 9.0) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.45, P < 0.01), and the median Clark scores of mouse focal functional impairment were 0 (interquartile range, 0), 2 (interquartile range, 2.5), 7 (interquartile range, 3.0), 18 (interquartile range, 5.0) points and 25 (interquartile range, 6.5) points in the control group and the 7-d, 14-d, 21-d and 25-d groups, respectively (H = 22.72, P < 0.01). The mean scores of mice general and focal functional impairment were all higher in the infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed a significant difference in the eosinophil counts in mouse brain tissues among the five groups (F = 40.05, P < 0.000 1), and the eosinophil counts were significantly higher in mouse brain tissues in the 14-d (3.08 ± 0.78) and 21-d infection groups (5.97 ± 1.37) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.28) (both P values < 0.05). Semi-quantitative analysis of microglia immunofluorescence showed a significant difference in the counts of microglial cells among the five groups (F = 17.66, P < 0.000 1), and higher Iba1 levels were detected in mouse brain tissues in 14-d (5.75 ± 1.28), 21-d (6.23 ± 1.89) and 25-d infection groups (3.70 ± 1.30) than in the control group (1.00 ± 0.30) (all P values < 0.05). Skeleton and fractal analyses showed that the branch length [(162.04 ± 34.10) μm vs. (395.37 ± 64.11) μm; t = 5.566, P < 0.05] and fractal dimension of microglial cells (1.30 ± 0.01 vs. 1.41 ± 0.03; t = 5.266, P < 0.05) were reduced in mouse brain tissues in the 21-d infection group relative to the control group. In addition, there were significant differences among the 5 groups in terms of M1 and M2 microglia markers Fcgr3 (F = 48.34, P < 0.05), Fcgr2b (F = 55.46, P < 0.05), Cd86 (F = 24.44, P < 0.05), Arg1 (F = 31.18, P < 0.05), Mrc1 (F = 15.42, P < 0.05) and Chil3 (F = 24.41, P < 0.05), as well as phagocytosis markers Trem2 (F = 21.19, P < 0.05), Cd68 (F = 43.95, P < 0.05) and Apoe (F = 7.12, P < 0.05) in mice brain tissues. Conclusions A. cantonensis infections may induce severe pathological injuries in mouse brain tissues that are characterized by massive eosinophil infiltration and persistent activation of microglia cells, thereby resulting in progressive deterioration of neurological functions.

Objective To investigate the capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and its association with hepatic fibrosis during the development of alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide the basis for unraveling the mechanisms underlying the role of LSEC in the development and prognosis of hepatic injuries and hepatic fibrosis caused by alveolar echinococcosis. Methods Forty C57BL/6 mice at ages of 6 to 8 weeks were randomly divided into a control group and 1-, 2- and 4-week infection groups, of 10 mice in each group. Each mouse in the infection groups was intraperitoneally injected with 2 000 Echinococcus multilocularis protoscoleces, while each mouse in the control group was given an equal volume of phosphate-buffered saline using the same method. All mice were sacrificed 1, 2 and 4 weeks post-infection and mouse livers were collected. The pathological changes of livers were observed using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and hepatic fibrosis was evaluated through semi-quantitative analysis of Masson’s trichrome staining-positive areas. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition were examined using immunohistochemical staining of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1), and the fenestrations on the surface of LSECs were observed using scanning electron microscopy. Primary LSECs were isolated from mouse livers, and the mRNA expression of LSEC marker genes Stabilin-1, Stabilin-2, Ehd3, CD209b, GATA4 and Maf was quantified using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay. Results Destruction of local liver lobular structure was observed in mice 2 weeks post-infection with E. multilocularis protoscoleces, and hydatid cysts, which were surrounded by granulomatous tissues, were found in mouse livers 4 weeks post-infection. Semi-quantitative analysis of Masson’s trichrome staining showed a significant difference in the proportion of collagen fiber contents in mouse livers among the four groups (F = 26.060, P < 0.001), and a higher proportion of collagen fiber contents was detected in mouse livers in the 4-week infection group [(11.29 ± 2.58)%] than in the control group (P < 0.001). Immunohistochemical staining revealed activation of a few HSCs and ECM deposition in mouse livers 1 and 2 weeks post-infection, and abundant brown-yellow stained α-SMA and COL1A1 were deposited in the lesion areas in mouse livers 4 weeks post-infection, which spread to surrounding tissues. Semi-quantitative analysis revealed significant differences in α-SMA (F = 7.667, P < 0.05) and COL1A1 expression (F = 6.530, P < 0.05) in mouse levers among the four groups, with higher α-SMA [(7.13 ± 3.68)%] and COL1A1 expression [(13.18 ± 7.20)%] quantified in mouse livers in the 4-week infection group than in the control group (both P values < 0.05). Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant differences in the fenestration frequency (F = 37.730, P < 0.001) and porosity (F = 16.010, P < 0.001) on the surface of mouse LSECs among the four groups, and reduced fenestration frequency and porosity were observed in the 1-[(1.22 ± 0.48)/μm² and [(3.05 ± 0.91)%] and 2-week infection groups [(3.47 ± 0.10)/μm² and (7.57 ± 0.23)%] groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.001). There was a significant difference in the average fenestration diameter on the surface of mouse LSECs among the four groups (F = 15.330, P < 0.001), and larger average fenestration diameters were measured in the 1-[(180.80 ± 16.42) nm] and 2-week infection groups [(161.70 ± 3.85) nm] than in the control group (both P values < 0.05). In addition, there were significant differences among the four groups in terms of Stabilin-1 (F = 153.100, P < 0.001), Stabilin-2 (F = 57.010, P < 0.001), Ehd3 (F = 31.700, P < 0.001), CD209b (F = 177.400, P < 0.001), GATA4 (F = 17.740, P < 0.001), and Maf mRNA expression (F = 72.710, P < 0.001), and reduced mRNA expression of Stabilin-1, Stabilin-2, Ehd3, CD209b, GATA4 and Maf genes was quantified in three infection groups than in the control group (all P values < 0.001). Conclusions E. multilocularis infections may induce capillarization of LSECs in mice, and result in a reduction in the expression of functional and phenotypic marker genes of LSECs, and capillarization of LSECs occurs earlier than activation of HSC and development of hepatic fibrosis.

Objective To investigate the prevalence of Echinococcus infections in small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, so as to provide insights into precision echinococcosis control. Methods One or two quadrats, each measuring 50 m × 50 m, were randomly assigned in Shanglaxiu Township and Longbao Township, Yushu City, Qinghai Province on June 2023, respectively, and 300 plate-type mouse traps, each measuring 12.0 cm × 6.5 cm, were assigned in each quadrat. Small rodents were captured during the period between 10 : 00 and 18 : 00 each day for 4 days. Then, all captured small rodents were identified and dissected, and liver specimens with suspected Echinococcus infections were subjected to pathological examinations. The Echinococcus cytochrome c oxidase 1 (cox1) gene was amplified using PCR assay, and the sequence of the amplified product was aligned to that was recorded in the GenBank to characterize the parasite species. In addition, a phylogenetic tree of Echinococcus was generated based on the cox1 gene sequence using the neighbor-joining method. Results A total of 236 small rodents were captured in Shanglaxiu and Longbao townships, Yushu City, including 65 Qinghai voles and 51 plateau pikas in Shanglaxiu Township, and 62 Qinghai voles and 58 plateau pikas in Longbao Township, and there was no significant difference in the constituent ratio of small rodents between the two townships (χ² = 0.294, P > 0.05). Seven plateau pikas and 12 Qinghai voles were suspected to be infected with Echinococcus by dissection, and pathological examinations showed unclear structure of hepatic lobules and disordered hepatocyte arrangement in livers of small rodents suspected of Echinococcus infections. PCR assay identified E. shiquicus DNA in 7 Qinghai voles, which were all captured from Shanglaxiu Township. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the cox1 gene sequence of Echinococcus in small rodents was highly homologous to the E. shiquicus cox1 gene sequence reported previously. Conclusion Plateau pika and Qinghai vole were predominant small rodents around human residential areas in Yushu City, Qinghai Province in 2023, and E. shiquicus infection was detected in Qinghai voles.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of cup-stacking task based on the dyadic coping model in patients with ischemic stroke, in order to provide reference for clinical nurses to effectively rehabilitate these patients and improve their disease coping ability.Methods:This was a quasi-experimental study, a total of 90 patients with upper extremity motor function disorder after ischemic stroke admitted to the Neurology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University were selected as participants from October 2022 to March 2023. Among them, 45 patients admitted from October 2022 to December 2022 were selected as the control group, 45 patients admitted from January 2023 to March 2023 were selected as the experimental group. Patients in the control group received routine care and patients in the experimental group received cup-stacking task based on the dyadic coping intervention model. The dyadic coping between the two groups and their spouses were compared before intervention and after intervention(3 months after discharge), the upper extremity motor function, activities of daily living, anxiety, rehabilitation self-efficacy between the two groups were compared before the intervention and after intervention.Results:A total of 5 patients were dropped and 43 patients of the control group and 42 patients of the experimental group completed the study at last. In the control group, there were 28 males, 17 females, aged (61.84 ± 7.13) years old; while their spouses were 17 males, 26 females, aged (61.02 ± 6.79) years. In the experimental group, there were 28 males, 14 females, aged (62.36 ± 7.03) years old; while their spouses were 14 males, 28 females, aged (60.95 ± 6.81) years. After the intervention, the scores of the dyadic coping between the experimental group patients and their spouses were (135.05 ± 8.52), (139.24 ± 9.67) points, which were higher than (119.26 ± 12.23), (120.02 ± 12.34) points of the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t=6.92, 8.00, both P<0.05); the scores of the upper extremity motor function, activities of daily living, rehabilitation self-efficacy of the experimental group patients were (55.48 ± 4.78), (79.55 ± 6.83), (83.64 ± 10.30) points, which were higher than (51.44 ± 6.20), (72.74 ± 8.93), (70.28 ± 13.13) points of the control group, the differences were statistically significant ( t=3.36, 3.94, 5.21, all P<0.05); the score of anxiety was (13.26 ± 2.96) points, which was lower than (18.53 ± 3.35) in the control group, and the difference was statistically significant ( t=-7.69, P<0.05). Conclusions:The cup-stacking task based on the dyadic coping model can effectively improve the dyadic coping level of patients after ischemic stroke and their spouses, improve the patients′ upper extremity motor function and rehabilitation self-efficacy, so as to facilitate disease recovery and improve the quality of life, which is worthy of clinical promotion.

Objective:To explore the safety and efficacy of TBF conditioning regimen of thiotepa, fludarabine and busulfan in haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) for recipients with hematological malignancies unsuitable for BUCY conditioning regimen (busulfan, cyclophosphamide & mBUCY).Method:A retrospective analysis was conducted for 20 recipients with malignant hematologic diseases receiving TBF conditioning regimen before haplo-HSCT at Soochow Hopes Hematologic Hospital from January 2020 to December 2023. The regimen-related toxicity of TBF was assessed by the Bearman scoring criteria. For comparing the safety and efficacy of TBF conditioning regimen with mBUCY regimen, propensity score matching was performed in a ratio of 1: 2 with disease type, patient age and gender as matching factors.Result:Mild oral mucositis and gastrointestinal reaction were major side-effects without severe cardiac events. Median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftments in TBF group was 11 and 18 days with comparable engraftment in mBUCY group. TBF regimen had a significantly lower incidence of grade Ⅱ-Ⅳ acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) than mBUCY at Day 100 (5% vs 35%, P=0.01). No significant inter-group difference existed in overall survival (68% vs 62%, P=0.98) while 1-year incidence of graft-versus-host disease-free, relapse-free survival (GRFS) improved (63% vs 37%, P=0.06) in TBF group. Conclusion:TBF is a promising conditioning regimen with low toxicity and decent safety for haplo-HSCT. TBF patients tend to have a lower incidence of grade Ⅱ-ⅣaGVHD and better GRFS than mBUCY.

To explore the efficacy and safety of immunoadsorption (IA) in removing de novo donor specific antibody (DSA) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the relevant clinical data were retrospectively reviewed for one female patient of severe aplastic anemia (SAA). Desensitization treatment with IA after HSCT was offered for removing de novo DSA and ultimately promoting platelet engraftment at First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University in March 2021.

Objective To investigate the effect of dihydroartemisinin(DHA)for enhancing the inhibitory effect of cisplatin(DDP)on DDP-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HNE1/DDP and explore the mechanism.Methods CCK-8 method was used to assess the survival rate of HNE1/DDP cells treated with DHA(0,5,10,20,40,80,and 160 μmol/L)and DDP(0,4,8,16,32,64,128 μmol/L)for 24 or 48 h,and the combination index of DHA and DDP was calculated using Compusyn software.HNE1/DDP cells treated with DHA,DDP,or their combination for 24 h were examined for cell viability,proliferation and colony formation ability using CCK-8,EdU and colony-forming assays.Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS).The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins cleaved PARP,cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting.The effects of N-acetyl-cysteine(a ROS inhibitor)on proliferation and apoptosis of HNE1/DDP cells with combined treatment with DHA and DDP were analyzed.Results Different concentrations of DHA and DDP alone both significantly inhibited the viability of HNE1/DDP cells.The combination index of DHA(5 μmol/L)combined with DDP(8,16,32,64,128 μmol/L)were all below 1.Compared with DHA or DDP alone,their combined treatment more potently decreased the cell viability,colony-forming ability and the number of EdU-positive cells,and significantly increased the apoptotic rate,intracellular ROS level,and the expression levels of cleaved PARP,cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 in HNE1/DDP cells.N-acetyl-cysteine pretreatment obviously attenuated the inhibitory effect on proliferation and apoptosis-inducing effect of DHA combined with DDP in HNE1/DDP cells(P<0.01).Conclusion DHA enhances the growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effect of DDP on HNE1/DDP cells possibly by promoting accumulation of intracellular ROS.

Objective To investigate the effect of dihydroartemisinin(DHA)for enhancing the inhibitory effect of cisplatin(DDP)on DDP-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line HNE1/DDP and explore the mechanism.Methods CCK-8 method was used to assess the survival rate of HNE1/DDP cells treated with DHA(0,5,10,20,40,80,and 160 μmol/L)and DDP(0,4,8,16,32,64,128 μmol/L)for 24 or 48 h,and the combination index of DHA and DDP was calculated using Compusyn software.HNE1/DDP cells treated with DHA,DDP,or their combination for 24 h were examined for cell viability,proliferation and colony formation ability using CCK-8,EdU and colony-forming assays.Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species(ROS).The expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins cleaved PARP,cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 were detected by Western blotting.The effects of N-acetyl-cysteine(a ROS inhibitor)on proliferation and apoptosis of HNE1/DDP cells with combined treatment with DHA and DDP were analyzed.Results Different concentrations of DHA and DDP alone both significantly inhibited the viability of HNE1/DDP cells.The combination index of DHA(5 μmol/L)combined with DDP(8,16,32,64,128 μmol/L)were all below 1.Compared with DHA or DDP alone,their combined treatment more potently decreased the cell viability,colony-forming ability and the number of EdU-positive cells,and significantly increased the apoptotic rate,intracellular ROS level,and the expression levels of cleaved PARP,cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved caspase-3 in HNE1/DDP cells.N-acetyl-cysteine pretreatment obviously attenuated the inhibitory effect on proliferation and apoptosis-inducing effect of DHA combined with DDP in HNE1/DDP cells(P<0.01).Conclusion DHA enhances the growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effect of DDP on HNE1/DDP cells possibly by promoting accumulation of intracellular ROS.

Objective:To explore the clinical characteristics of 1q21.1 microdeletion by using single nucleotide polymorphism microarrays (SNP array).Methods:Eighteen cases of 1q21.1 microdeletion syndrome diagnosed at the Longgang District Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital of Shenzhen City from June 2017 to December 2022 were selected as the study subjects. Clinical data of the patients were collected. Results of chromosomal karyotyping and SNP assay were retrospectively analyzed.Results:Among the 18 cases with 1q21.1 microdeletions, 13 had a deletion between BP3 and BP4, 4 had a deletion between BP1/BP2 and BP4, whilst 1 had a proximal 1q21.1 deletion (between BP2 and BP3) involving the Thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) region. The deletions had spanned from 360 kb to 3.9 Mb, which encompassed the GJA5, GJA8, CHD1L, RBM8AB and other morbid genes. In three families, the proband child has inherited the same 1q21.1 microdeletion from their parents, whose clinical phenotype was normal or slightly abnormal. The clinical phenotypes of 1q21.1 microdeletion had included cognitive or behavioral deficits in 9 cases (9/18, 50.0%), growth retardation in 8 cases (8/18, 44.4%), craniofacial deformities in 7 cases (7/18, 38.8%), cardiovascular malformations in 5 cases (5/18, 27.8%), and microcephaly in 3 cases (3/18, 16.7%). Conclusion:1q21.1 microdeletion syndrome has incomplete penetrance and varied expression such as intellectual impairment, growth and development delay, and microcephaly, with a wide range of non-specific phenotypes.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of protein A immunoadsorption (PAIA) combined with rituximab (RTX) in highly sensitized patients who underwent haplo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) .Methods:The clinical data of 56 highly sensitized patients treated with PAIA and RTX before haplo-HSCT at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University and Soochow Hopes Hematonosis Hospital between March 2021 and June 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The number of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) antibody types and the mean fluorescence intensity (MFI), humoral immunity, adverse reactions during adsorption, and survival within 100 days before and after adsorption were measured.Results:After receiving the PAIA treatment, the median MFI of patients containing only HLA Ⅰ antibodies decreased from 7 859 (3 209-12 444) to 3 719 (0-8 275) ( P<0.001), and the median MFI of HLA Ⅰ+Ⅱ antibodies decreased from 5 476 (1 977-12 382) to 3 714 (0-11 074) ( P=0.035). The median MFI of patients with positive anti-donor-specific antibodies decreased from 8 779 (2 697-18 659) to 4 524 (0–15 989) ( P<0.001). The number of HLA-A, B, C, DR, and DQ antibodies in all patients decreased after the PAIA treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (A, B, C, DR: P<0.001, DQ: P<0.01). The humoral immune monitoring before and after the PAIA treatment showed a significant decrease in the number of IgG and complement C3 ( P<0.001 and P=0.002, respectively). Forty-four patients underwent HLA antibody monitoring after transplantation, and the overall MFI and number of antibody types decreased. However, five patients developed new antibodies with low MFI, and nine patients continued to have high MFI. The overall survival, disease-free survival, non-recurrent mortality, and cumulative recurrence rates at 100 days post-transplantation were 83.8%, 80.2%, 16.1%, and 4.5%, respectively. Conclusions:The combination of PAIA and RTX has a certain therapeutic effect and good safety in the desensitization treatment of highly sensitive patients before haplo-HSCT.