The incidences of adverse events in small-cell lung cancer patients after radiotherapy and immunotherapy treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Immunotherapy is important in treating small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), and its anti-tumor effects are better when combined with radiotherapy. However, the toxicity of this combination is little known. This study assessed the incidences of adverse events when adding radiotherapy to ICIs in patients with SCLC. We searched the online databases to identify eligible studies and included nine references. For extensive-stage SCLC patients, the median PFS ranged from 4.5 to 12.5 months, and median OS ranged from 8.4 to NR months, respectively. The incidences of grade 3 or higher pneumonitis, lung infection, diarrhea, and fatal adverse events were 8.7% (95% CI: 5%-14.7%), 6.7% (95% CI: 2.5%-16.5%), 12.6% (95% CI: 7.6%-20%), and 5.1% (95% CI: 2.1%-11.6%), respectively. Our findings suggest that radiotherapy plus ICIs may provide acceptable safety and favorable efficacy for SCLC patients.

[Endovascular thrombectomy in patients with intracranial large artery occlusion and atrial fibrillation].

Objective: To investigate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion. Methods: Fifty-eight patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion in the intervention group of East (Endovascular Therapy for Acute ischemic Stroke Trial) were analyzed. According to the TOAST (Trial of Org 10 172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification, patients were divided into ICAS (Intracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis) group and cardiogenic embolism group. Clinical characteristics, treatment methods and clinical prognosis were compared between ICAS group and cardiogenic embolism group. Results: A total of 58 patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion were included in this study, including 46 patients in the cardiogenic embolism group (79%) and 12 patients in the ICAS group (21%). The pre-hospital transport time in ICAS group was longer than that in cardiogenic embolism group (P<0.05).Patency rate in patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion was 98.3% (57/58), The rate of patients with the 90-day function independent (mRS 0-2) was 51.7% (30/58). There were no statistically significant differences in functional independence, mortality rate, ICH and sICH at 90 days between the cardiogenic embolism group and the ICAS group. Conclusions: Mechanical thrombectomy is an effective method to treat patients with atrial fibrillation complicated with acute intracranial arterial occlusion.

[Clinical analysis of five cases of autism spectrum disorder complicated with epilepsy with chromosome copy number variation].

Objective: To explore the clinical features and genetic causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) patients with epilepsy. Methods: The clinical data of five patients with ASD and epilepsy admitted to Xuanwu Hospital between September 2017 and September 2018 were collected, including medical history, intelligence level, developmental level, physical examination, neuroimaging and electroencephalogram. High-throughput whole-genome sequencing was applied to five patients and their parents. Results: Of five patients, four were male and one was female. All five patients had mild mental retardation, and one patient had significant growth retardation and craniofacial deformity. The average epilepsy onset age was 6.3 years old (7 months to 16 years). The main epileptic type was tonic-clonic seizure with abnormal EEG results. All patients have a favorable response to anti-epileptic drugs. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) revealed copy number variation in all 5 patients. Among them, 3 cases were reported to be pathogenic, and 2 cases were not reported (chromosome 16p13.3 duplication and chromosome 21q22.3 deletion). Conclusions: The results of current study support that autism spectrum disorders with seizures is often associated with copy number variations, such as Williams-Beuren region duplication syndrome, chromosome 15q11.2 duplication syndrome and chromosome 15q11.2 deletion syndrome. We reported two novel copy number variations (chromosome 16p13.3 duplication and chromosome 21q22.3 deletion) in two autism spectrum disorder patients with epileptic seizures.

[Proteomic analysis of aqueous humor in acute primary angle-closure glaucoma].

Objective: To analyze the difference among expression of aqueous humor proteins in acute primary angle-closure glaucoma (APACG). Methods: Case-control study. The patients with APACG combined cataract (APACG with cataract group) and patients with cataract (cataract group), who had undertaken surgical treatment at the Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital from October 2016 to June2017 were collected. Upon receipt of patient's consent, 50 µl of aqueous humor were collected with 1 ml syringe and No.1 needle through the surgical access during the surgery, and then injected into a sterile collection tube to be stored at -80 ℃. Those proteins extracted from aqueous humor were analyzed by quantitative proteomic mass spectrometry. The differential significance test was performed by Maxquant significances A approach. The differential proteins of the two groups were screened and determined with the conditions of P<0.05 and difference multiple>2. The functions and signal pathway of differential proteins in aqueous humor were annotated in biological big data, on the basis gene ontology (GO) and the Kyoto gene and genomic encyclopedia (KEGG) analyses. Results: There were 3 males and 7 females with an average age of (68±6) years in the APACG group. The cataract group included 2 males and 8 females with an average age of (71±8) years. There were no statistical differences in gender ratio and age between the two groups (both P>0.05). A total of 91 differential proteins were detected in this experiment, including 50 up-regulated proteins (annexinA1, vimentin, S100 calcium binding protein A8, interleukin 6, C reactive protein, laminin ß2, etc.) and 41 down-regulated (keratin 85, γ-crystallin D, syntaxin-binding protein 5, semaphoring 4B, matrilin 2, cathepsin O, cadherin 4, semaphoring 3B, platelet-derived growth factor D, transforming growth factor ß, etc.). On one hand, the functions of differential proteins involved in many aspects. AnnexinA1, CD163, S100 calcium-binding protein A8, C reactive protein, interleukin 6 are involved in the inflammatory reaction, cadherin 4 and laminin ß2 regulate cell adhesion, matrilin 2, vimentin and laminin ß2 participate in tissue fibrosis; on the other hand, KEGG analysis showed that the differential proteins participate diverse signaling pathways such as phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway, transformation growth factor ß signaling pathway, mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, the nuclear factor κ-light chain enhancer of the activated B cells signaling pathway, focal adhension and extracellular matrix receptor interaction pathway and so on. Conclusions: The expression of annexin A1 is significantly up-regulated in the aqueous humor in APACG, while some other factors such as transformation growth factor ß, cadherin-4, and matrilin 2 are down-regulated. The change of proteins in aqueous humor is related with the outbreak of APACG. (Chin J Ophthalmol, 2019, 55: 687-694).

Cucurbitacin B inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis in colorectal cancer by modulating methylation status of BTG3.

A previous report has revealed that cucurbitacin B (CuB) inhibits cancer cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through epigenetic modifications of several genes. However, whether CuB regulates cell proliferation and apoptosis by altering methylation status of BTG3 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. In the present study, the results showed that BTG3 was downregulated in CRC tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. CuB significantly increased BTG3 levels, induced promoter demethylation, and decreased the levels of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b) in both CRC cell lines (SW480 and Caco-2), and the effects of CuB were comparable with those of 5-Aza-dC. We also found that CuB inhibited cell proliferation, accompanied with decreased expression of Ki67. Furthermore, CuB treatment induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase in SW480 and Caco-2 cells, as well as decreased levels of Cyclin D1 and Cyclin E1. Incubation with CuB promoted cell apoptosis in both CRC cell lines in vitro, accompanied with elevation of cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP. BTG3 knockdown abolished the effects of CuB in CRC cells. In summary, CuB-induced proliferation inhibition and cell apoptosis may be due to the reactivation of BTG3 by promoter demethylation. CuB may be a promising agent for CRC therapy.

[Efficacy analysis of LVIS and Enterprise stent assisted coil in the treatment of vertebral artery dissection aneurysm].

Objective: To observe and evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of LVIS stent and Enterprise stent assisted coil in embolization of vertebral artery dissection aneurysm (VDA). Methods: Clinical data of 96 patients with VDAs treated by LVIS stent and Enterprise stent assisted coil were analyzed retrospectively between January, 2013 and June, 2017.Of all, the LVIS stent assisted coil was performed in 28 patients (LVIS-stent group) and Enterprise in 68 patients (Enterprise-stent group). The clinical and imaging follow-up were performed. The instant embolization rate, complications, and recurrence rate were analyzed and compared between the two groups. Results: Instant angiographic results:in the LVIS stent group, complete occlusion was achieved in 17 VDAs (60.7%), near-complete occlusion in 10VDAs (35.7%), and partial occlusion in 1 VDA (3.6%). In the Enterprise stent group, complete occlusion was achieved in 27 VDAs (39.7%), near-complete occlusion in 34VDAs(50.0%), partial occlusion in 7VDAs (10.3%). Procedure-related complications occurred in 3 patients (10.7%) in LVIS stent group and 3 patients (4.4%) in Enterprise stent group. DSA follow-up was performed during 6 to 12 months after surgery, and 10 patients with vertebral artery dissection aneurysm recurred, 2 in the LVIS group and 8 in the Enterprise stent group. The latest modified Rankin Scale score was 0 in 55 patients,1 in 13, 2 in 1, 3 in 1, and 6 in 1. Among them, all follow-up patients in the LVIS stent group had good prognosis, while in the Enterprise stent group, 50 patients (94.4%) had a good prognosis. Conclusions: The stent-assisted coils have a higher degree of embolization in the vertebral artery dissection aneurysms, a higher rate of near-total embolization, a lower incidence of neurological complications, and a good prognosis. The complete andnear-complete occlusion rates and the incidence of neurological complicationsin the LVIS group was higher than that in the Enterprise groupand the recurrence ratesin the LVIS group was lower than that in the Enterprise group,both with no statistically significant difference.

[Efficacy analysis of the endovascular treatment for 175 unruptured vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, clinical effect and follow-up outcome of the different endovascular treatment techniques in the treatment of unruptured vertebrobasilar dissecting aneurysms (VBDAs). Methods: The clinical data of 160 consecutive patients (175VBDAs) from January 2012 to December 2016 in Beijing Tiantan hospital were retrospectively analyzed.All of the 175 aneurysms were treated with endovascular embolization, including 115 stent-assisted coils, 27 simple stents, 21 blood flow diverting devices, and 12 parent arteries occlusion.The imaging and clinical follow-up were performed after the operation. Results: Headache including cervical-occipital pain(43.1%)was the most common clinical manifestation.The incidence of perioperative complications was 3.75%, no intraoperative bleeding and no deaths.The imaging findings of 113 aneurysms were followed up for (9.9±7.3) months.Of the 71 stent-assisted coils, 62 recovered well and 9 relapsed; of the 19 aneurysms treated with simple stent, 4 recovered well, 11 improved, 2 stable and 2 relapsed; of the 15 aneurysms treated by the blood flow diverting devices, 4 recovered and 11 improved; all of the 8 aneurysms with parent arteries occlusion recovered well.A total of 144 patients were follow-up (17.3±16.6) months by the Modified Rankin Scale(mRS) score: 140 patients were 0-2 score and 4 patients were 3-6 score. Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of the unruptured VBDAs are complex, and the headache is the most common clinical symptom.Endovascular treatment for the treatment of unruptured VBDAs is safe and feasible.The principle of individualization should be followed during embolization.

Examining the effect of ions and proteins on the heat dissipation of iron oxide nanocrystals.

In this paper, the effect and contribution of physiological components like ions and proteins under an applied alternating magnetic field (AMF) towards heat dissipation of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) are discussed. Our results have shown that under an applied AMF, magnetic hyperthermia efficiency could be significantly enhanced if SPIONs were suspended in 1× phosphate buffered saline (PBS) compared to a suspension in de-ionized (DI) water. However, no heat enhancement was found when SPIONs were suspended in blood which is an amalgamation of physiological ions and proteins. Closer investigations have revealed that the presence of physiological ions can contribute positively to heating efficiency, and the heating efficiency increases with concentration of ions, ionic mass and solubility. However, the heating efficiency of ions can be suppressed to an insignificant level (comparable with measurement error), in the presence of physiological proteins in 1×PBS. Our electrochemical studies also showed that ionic mobility can be reduced significantly if proteins were present in the solution, thus retarding the heating efficiency.

Genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in coronary heart disease.

BACKGROUND: To better understand the molecular mechanisms of atherosclerosis, we conducted a comparative analysis of DNA methylation patterns in right coronary arteries in the area of advanced atherosclerotic plaques (CAP), great saphenous vein (GSV), and internal mammary artery (IMA) of patients affected by coronary heart disease. METHODS: DNA methylation data (accession number E­GEOD-62867) were divided into three paired groups: CAP vs. IMA, CAP vs. GSV, and IMA vs. GSV. Differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were extracted to analyze the changes in the DMGs in the three different tissues. The gplots package was used for the clustering and heatmap analysis of DMGs. Subsequently, DMG-related pathways were identified using DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery) and transcription factors (TFs) were predicted. RESULTS: Based on the filtering criterion of p < 0.05, and a mean beta value difference of ≥0.2, there were 252, 373, and 259 DMGs, respectively, in the CAP vs. IMA, CAP vs. GSV, and IMA vs. GSV groups. Interestingly, the S100A10 gene was hypomethylated in CAP compared with IMA and GSV. Clustering and heatmap analyses suggested that DMGs were segregated into two distinct clusters. Hypermethylated genes in CAP as compared with GSV were only involved in the pathway of fat digestion and absorption, while hypomethylated genes in CAP compared with GSV mainly participated in immune response-associated pathways (cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signaling pathway). CONCLUSION: The DNA methylation differences in vascular tissues of patients with coronary artery disease may provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the development of atherosclerosis. The functions identified here-cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signaling pathway, DMG (S100A10), and TF (NF-kB)-may serve as potential targets in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Endotypes of difficult-to-control asthma in inner-city African American children.

African Americans have higher rates of asthma prevalence, morbidity, and mortality in comparison with other racial groups. We sought to characterize endotypes of childhood asthma severity in African American patients in an inner-city pediatric asthma population. Baseline blood neutrophils, blood eosinophils, and 38 serum cytokine levels were measured in a sample of 235 asthmatic children (6-17 years) enrolled in the NIAID (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)-sponsored Asthma Phenotypes in the Inner City (APIC) study (ICAC (Inner City Asthma Consortium)-19). Cytokines were quantified using a MILLIPLEX panel and analyzed on a Luminex analyzer. Patients were classified as Easy-to-Control or Difficult-to-Control based on the required dose of controller medications over one year of prospective management. A multivariate variable selection procedure was used to select cytokines associated with Difficult-to-Control versus Easy-to-Control asthma, adjusting for age, sex, blood eosinophils, and blood neutrophils. In inner-city African American children, 12 cytokines were significant predictors of Difficult-to-Control asthma (n = 235). CXCL-1, IL-5, IL-8, and IL-17A were positively associated with Difficult-to-Control asthma, while IL-4 and IL-13 were positively associated with Easy-to-Control asthma. Using likelihood ratio testing, it was observed that in addition to blood eosinophils and neutrophils, serum cytokines improved the fit of the model. In an inner-city pediatric population, serum cytokines significantly contributed to the definition of Difficult-to-Control asthma endotypes in African American children. Mixed responses characterized by TH2 (IL-5) and TH17-associated cytokines were associated with Difficult-to-Control asthma. Collectively, these data may contribute to risk stratification of Difficult-to-Control asthma in the African American population.

[Urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 enhances tamoxifen resistance in breast cancer cells through competitively inhibiting miR-18a].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how urothelial carcinoma-associated 1 (UCA1) and miR-18a modulates acquired tamoxifen resistance and the relevant mechanisms in estrogen receptor (ER) positive cancer cells. METHODS: qRT-PCR was performed to detect UCA1 and miR-18a expression in breast cancer cells. Dual luciferase assay was performed to detect the binding between miR-18a and UCA1 3'UTR. Tamoxifen sensitive MCF-7 cells were transfected with UCA1 expression vector or miR-18a inhibitors. Tamoxifen resistant LCC9 and BT474 cells were transfected with UCA1 siRNA or miR-18a mimics. CCK-8 assay was performed to detect cell viability. Soft agar assay was performed to assess cell colony formation. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to check cell cycle distribution. RESULTS: UCA1 was significantly upregulated in tamoxifen resistant LCC2, LCC9, and BT474 cells than in tamoxifen sensitive MCF-7 cells. UCA1 expression was significantly upregulated in MCF-7 cells after treatment with 0.1 µmol/L tamoxifen. UCA1 overexpression enhanced cell viability of MCF-7 cells after tamoxifen treatment, while UCA1 siRNA significantly suppressed viability of LCC9 and BT474 cells after tamoxifen treatment. In MCF-7 cells, compared with vector control+tamoxifen group, the average cell colony number and colony size of the UCA1+tamoxifen group was 19.0% more and 29.0% larger respectively, while the proportions of the cells in G1 phase and in S phase were 7.3% lower and 6.7% higher respectively. In BT474 cells, compared with siRNA control+tamoxifen group, the average cell colony number and colony size of the si-UCA1+tamoxifen group were 54.0% less and 42.0% smaller respectively, while the proportions of the cells in G1 phase and in S phase were 9.0% higher and 6.2% lower respectively. UCA1 directly interacted with miR-18a and reduced its expression in ER positive breast cancer cells. Knockdown of miR-18a increased viability of MCF-7 cells after tamoxifen treatment, while miR-18a overexpression significantly reduced viability of BT474 cells after tamoxifen treatment. In MCF-7 cells, compared with miRNA inhibitor control+tamoxifen group, the average cell colony number and colony size of the miR-18a inhibitor+tamoxifen group were 15.0% more and 33.0% larger respectively, while the proportions of the cells in G1 phase and in S phase were 8.8% lower and 5.3% higher respectively. In BT474 cells, compared with miRNA control+tamoxifen group, the average cell colony number and colony size of the miR-18a mimics+tamoxifen group were 47.0% less and 25.0% smaller respectively, while the proportions of the cells in G1 phase and in S phase were 13.3% higher and 7.9% lower respectively. CONCLUSION: UCA1 can increase tamoxifen resistance of ER positive breast cancer cells via competitively inhibiting of miR-18a.

[Antibiotic resistance analysis of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from the hospitalized children in Shanxi Children's Hospital from 2012 to 2014].

Objective: To investigate the antibiotic resistance status of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from hospitalized children in Shanxi Children's Hospital. Method: E-test and Kirby-Bauer methods were applied to determine drug sensitivity of the isolates collected from the body fluid specimens of hospitalized children in Shanxi Children's Hospital from January 2012 to December 2014. The antimicrobial sensitivity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Streptococcus pneumoniae to the conventional antibiotics were analyzed, in order to compare the annual trends of non-invasive isolates, while the differentiation of sensitivity from specimens. The comparison of rates was performed by Chi-squared test and Fisher's exact test. Result: A total of 671 isolates of streptococcus pneumoniae were obtained, which could be divided as non-invasive isolates(607), invasive isolates from non-cerebrospinal fluid(non-CSF)(40) and invasive isolates from cerebrospinal fluid(CSF)(24). The antimicrobial sensitivity(isolates(%)) of the 671 isolates were respectively vancomycin 671(100.0%), linezolid 671(100.0%), levofloxacin 665(99.1%), penicillin 595(88.7%), ceftriaxone 516(76.9%), cefotaxime 512(76.3%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprin(SMZ-TMP) 103(15.4%), clindamycin 28(4.2%), tetracycline 26(3.9%), erythromycin 12(1.8%). From 2012 to 2014, the susceptibility rates of non-invasive isolates to penicillin every year were 95.0%(96/101), 97.3%(110/113), 87.3%(343/393), respectively, and there was significant difference among the three years(χ(2)=13.266, P<0.05), and the values of MIC(50, )MIC(90) and the maximum values of MIC(mg/L) of penicillin were 0.064, 2.000, 6.000 in 2012, which grew up to 1.000, 3.000, 16.000 in 2014. There was no significant difference in the susceptibility rate of non-invasive isolates to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime during these three years, (χ(2)=1.172, 1.198, both P>0.05). On the other hand, the values of MIC(50, )MIC(90) and the maximum value of MIC(mg/L) of ceftriaxone and cefotaxime both increased from 0.500, 2.000, 8.000 in 2012 to 0.750, 4.000, 32.000 in 2014. There was no significant difference in the susceptibility rate of non-invasive isolates to the rest antibiotic. Based on the same examining standard of CSF, the antimicrobial sensitivity(isolates(%)) of the non-invasive isolates to ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, SMZ-TMP were respectively 281(46.3%), 278(45.8%), 78(12.9%), were significantly lower than the susceptibility rate of the invasive isolates from non-CSF (28(70%), 28(70%), 14(35%), χ(2)=8.453, 8.817, 15.094, all P<0.012 5), and lower than the invasive isolates from CSF (18(75%), 18(75%), χ(2)=7.631, 7.905, P<0.012 5; 11(45.8%), P=0.001). The sensitivity of the isolates to the rest antibiotics were similar(P>0.05). Conclusion: More than 95.0% strains of the streptococcus pneumoniae isolates from the hospitalized children in Shanxi Children's Hospital were sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, levofloxacin, and the susceptibility rate of penicillin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime were 88.7%, 76.9%, 76.3%. However, less than 20.0% of streptococcus pneumoniae were sensitive to erythromycin, clindamycin, SMZ-TMP and tetracycline. The susceptibility rate of penicillin of non-invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae declined by these years, and the differences to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime can be neglected, but the values of MIC(50, )MIC(90) and the maximum value of MIC of all were linearly rising. The susceptibility rate of antibiotics to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime of the non-invasive isolates was lower than the invasive isolates.

[Myoclonus and it's associated factors in Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease].

Objective: To analyze features and the related factors of myoclonus of 47 patients with probable or possible Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Methods: All patients diagnosed with"suspected CJD" and hospitalized in Xuanwu Hospital from January 2013 to November 2015 were included, and their clinical information and myoclonus features were analyzed. Age, clinical, course and manifestation, EEG, MRI, CSF14-3-3 features between myoclonus positive group and negative group were compared, and the correlation between myoclonus features and these factors was analyzed using Spearman correlation analyses. Results: (1) Occurrence rate of extrapyramidal symptoms (P=0.028), visual impairment (P=0.025) and dyssomnia (P=0.004) were higher in myoclonus positive group, the differences were significant. Spearman correlation analysis showed that myoclonus was related to extrapyramidal symptoms (P=0.024), visual impairment (P=0.030) and dyssomnia (P=0.001). (2) EEG features showed no significant difference between myoclonus positive and negative group. The 17 myoclonus positive patients were divided into three subgroups, typical EEG change group 52.94%(9/17), atypical EEG change group 23.53%(4/17) and no EEG change group 23.53%(4/17). Difference of myoclonus and other clinical manifestations were not significant among the three subgroups(P>0.05); correlation analysis also found no statistically significant correlation between myoclonus and EEG (P=0.201). Conclusions: Myoclonus often occurs after the damage of locomotor system (including pyramidal tract, extracorticospinal tract and cerebellum) among CJD patients, and it is related to extrapyramidal symptoms , visual impairment and dyssomnia . There is undefined correlation between myoclonus and periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWC) in EEG.

[Feature of magnetic resonance imaging in patients with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease].

Objective: To assess the imaging features of 43 patients diagnosed as clinically possible or probable Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) for providing referential information and experience on applications of MRI in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of CJD. Method: All patients who were diagnosed with "suspected CJD" and hospitalized in Xuanwu Hospital from January 2013 to November 2015 were collected, and their clinical information and MRI imaging features were analyzed retrospectively. Results: Totally 62 patients with "suspected CJD" were rectruited in this study, and 43 of them were diagnosied as probable and possible CJD when they were discharged.The typical MRI feature of CJD patients was "cortical ribbon" sign in MR DWI sequences and/or high signal in cortex or bilateral basal ganglia.In all patients, the simple coritcal involvement was the highest(76.47%, 26/34), followed by the cortical cortex and basal ganglia(23.53%, 8/34). MRI positive group had more prominent extrapyramidal symptoms than MRI negative group (26/31 vs 9/12, P=0.015), but no statistical difference in clinic feature was found between the group with simple cortex affected and the group with both cortex and bilateral basal ganglia affected (P>0.05). Conclusions: MRI images of patients with CJD have special characteristics and have corresponding changes when the patients are in different stages of disease. In combination with the clinical evaluation of disease progression, brain microscopic pathological changes of CJD patients can be assessed by regularly brain MRI examination.

Prognostic significance of Livin expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: This study was designed to investigate the expression levels of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein Livin in nasopharyngeal cancer tissues and its prognostic significance in nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 83 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who received radiotherapy were enrolled in this study from January 2008 to October 2010. Livin expression in nasopharynx pathological specimens extracted from patients was detected by immunohistochemistry. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was conducted to explore the effects of clinicopathological features and Livin expression on the overall survival and progression-free survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and explore its prognosis relevance after radiotherapy. RESULTS: Of the 83 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma, the overall Livin positive expression rate was 65.1% (54 patients), and the overall response rate of radiotherapy was 81.9% (68 patients). Significant differences in radiotherapy efficacy were found between patients who did not express Livin and those who did (P<0.05). The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that Livin expression, high clinical staging, cervical lymph node metastasis, high T-staging and high N-staging were significantly correlated with a decrease in the overall survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (all P<0.05). A Cox multivariate survival analysis showed that Livin expression, clinical staging and N-staging were independent risk factors for the overall survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radiation (all P<0.05). Furthermore, Livin expression and clinical staging were independent risk factors for the progression-free survival of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma once radiotherapy was introduced (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Expression of Livin, an inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, may be closely linked with poor prognosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma post-radiotherapy and hence it may be a new therapeutic target in the treatment of the disease.

Effects of BCL2 transfection on the cell cycle and proliferation of human GES-1 cells.

We investigated the effects of BCL2 transfection on the cell cycle and proliferation of GES-1 cells. A pcDNA3-BCL2 plasmid was used to transfect GES-1 cell line human gastric epithelial cells. Clones were obtained by G418 screening. BCL2-positive cells were identified by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. The pcDNA3-BCL2 vectors carrying the NeoR gene were transfected into GES-1 cells, while the empty plasmid was transfected into the same cells as controls. BCL2-positive clones were screened by neomycin 418 (G418). Flow cytometry was used to detect the cell cycle. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining revealed morphological changes, and the effects of BCL2 transfection on cell proliferation were analyzed by cell counting and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The plasmid pcDNA3-BCL2 was identified by restriction enzyme digestion. Different degrees of BCL2 gene expression were detected in all seven clones. BCL2 was expressed mainly in the cytoplasm and the nuclear membrane. There were significantly more S-phase cells in the transfection group than in the controls. The morphology did not change after H&E staining. Cell growth was faster than in the controls after transfection for 6 days. At 24, 48, and 72 h after transfection, the A values were 4.15 ± 0.31, 5.98 ± 0.56, and 8.94 ± 0.79; those of the controls were 3.01 ± 0.20, 4.76 ± 0.52, and 7.69 ± 0.84; there was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). BCL2 transfection increased GES-1 cells in the S phase; the GES-1 cells were stable and BCL2 expression was high, which promoted cell proliferation.

SERS detection of R6G based on a novel graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles/silicon pyramid arrays structure.

We present a novel surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate based on graphene oxide/silver nanoparticles/silicon pyramid arrays structure (GO/Ag/PSi). The SERS behaviors are discussed and compared by the detection of R6G. Based on the contrast experiments with PSi, GO/PSi, Ag/PSi and GO/AgA/PSi as SERS substrate, the perfect bio-compatibility, good homogeneity and chemical stability were confirmed. We also calculated the electric field distributions using Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) analysis to further understand the GO/Ag/PSi structure as a perfect SERS platform. These experimental and theoretical results imply that the GO/Ag/PSi with regular pyramids array is expected to be an effective substrate for label-free sensitive SERS detections in areas of medicine, food safety and biotechnology.

Microstructure, mechanical properties and superelasticity of biomedical porous NiTi alloy prepared by microwave sintering.

Porous NiTi alloys were prepared by microwave sintering using ammonium hydrogen carbonate (NH4HCO3) as the space holder agent to adjust the porosity in the range of 22-62%. The effects of porosities on the microstructure, hardness, compressive strength, bending strength, elastic modulus, phase transformation temperature and superelasticity of the porous NiTi alloys were investigated. The results showed that the porosities and average pore sizes of the porous NiTi alloys increased with increasing the contents of NH4HCO3. The porous NiTi alloys consisted of nearly single NiTi phase, with a very small amount of two secondary phases (Ni3Ti, NiTi2) when the porosities are lower than 50%. The amount of Ni3Ti and NiTi2 phases increased with further increasing of the porosity proportion. The porosities had few effects on the phase transformation temperatures of the porous NiTi alloys. By increasing the porosities, all of the hardness, compressive strength, elastic modulus, bending strength and superelasticity of the porous NiTi alloys decreased. However, the compressive strength and bending strength were higher or close to those of natural bone and the elastic modulus was close to the natural bone. The superelastic recovery strain of the trained porous NiTi alloys could reach between 3.1 and 4.7% at the pre-strain of 5%, even if the porosity was up to 62%. Moreover, partial shape memory effect was observed for all porosity levels under the experiment conditions. Therefore, the microwave sintered porous NiTi alloys could be a promising candidate for bone implant.

A sero-epidemiological survey of Chinese Babesia motasi for small ruminants in China.

Babesia motasi BQ1 (Lintan) was first isolated from Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis collected in Gannan Tibet Autonomous Region, Gansu province in April 2000. In this study, a total of 3,204 serum samples from small ruminants in 22 provinces located in different districts of China were tested for antibodies against merozoite antigens from cultured B. motasi BQ1 (Lintan) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. This method can survey the prevalence of low-pathogenic Chinese B. motasi. The results of this survey indicated that the average positive rate was 43.5 %, and the positive rates of investigated provinces were significantly different from 6.1 to 91.0 %, and the infections had been found in all provinces investigated. Our data provide large important information regarding the current sero-prevalence of B. motasi in China.