Safety and efficacy of allogeneic natural killer cell immunotherapy on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 immunological non-responders: a brief report / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

BACKGROUND@#Allogeneic natural killer (NK) cell immunotherapy is recognized as a promising anti-tumor strategy, but whether it plays a role in poor CD4 recovery among human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infected patients is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the safety and effectiveness of allogeneic NK cells immunotherapy on HIV-1 immunological non-responders (INRs) receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART).@*METHODS@#From February to April 2018, a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label clinical trial, which enrolled 20 HIV-1 INRs following specific inclusion criteria, was conducted at Nankai University Second People's Hospital. Participants were randomly allocated (simple randomization 1:1) to either the combined treatment (NK + ART) group (n = 10) or the control (ART) group (n = 10). The allogenic highly activated NK cells from killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR)/human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Cw mismatched healthy donor were prepared (10 cells in each injection) and intravenously infused to each recruited patient of NK+ART group in three courses. Key immune parameters (CD4 count, CD8 count, CD4/CD8 ratio), laboratory tests (count of blood cells, biochemistry panel) and symptoms at baseline and at month 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 were measured/collected to analyze the safety and efficacy of the therapy. Comparisons were between the seven time-points of both groups using repeated measurement analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) model was performed to evaluate the overall effect of the NK+ART group vs. the ART group.@*RESULTS@#From baseline to 24 months, we noted a mean CD4 count augmentation (139 to 243 cells/μL) in the NK + ART group and (144 to 176 cells/μL) in the ART group (difference, 67; 95% CI, 10 to 124; P = 0.024). Our estimations revealed that NK+ART group could improve CD4 level (β = 54.59, P = 0.006) and CD8 level (β = 322.47, P = 0.010) on average among the six measurements compared with the ART group. Only two (2/10, 20%) participants in the NK+ART group developed a transient mild fever after the first course.@*CONCLUSIONS@#This preliminary study informs that HIV-1 INRs, allogenic NK cells immunotherapy is safe and could significantly improve CD4 recovery but not CD4/CD8 ratio. The practical effects, however, need long-term follow-up observations. Further study on the potential underlying mechanism is warranted. REGISTRATION INFO:: www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.aspx?proj=34912 (No. ChiCTR1900020634).

Clinical Value of Serum Anti-Mullerian Hormone and Inhibin B in Prediction of Ovarian Response in Patients with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical value of serum anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) and inhibin B (INHB) in predicting the ovarian response of patients with polyeystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).A total of 120 PCOS patients were enrolled and divided into three groups in terms of the ovarian response:a low-response group (n=36),a normal-response group (n=44),and a high-response group (n=40).The serum AMH and INHB levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).The follicle stimulating hormone （FSH),luteinizing hormone (LH),and estradiol (E2) levels were determined by chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay.The correlation of the serum AMH and INHB levels with other indicators was analyzed.A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was established to analyze the prediction of ovarian response by AMH and INHB.The results showed that there were significant differences in age,body mass index (BMI),FSH,total gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH),LH,E2,and antral follicle counts (AFCs) between the groups (P＜0.05).The serum AMH and INHB levels were increased significantly with the ovarian response of PCOS patients increasing (P＜0.05).The serum AMH and INHB levels were negatively correlated with the age,BMI,FSH level,Gn,and E2 levels (P＜0.05).They were positively correlated with the LH levels and AFCs (P＜0.05).ROC curve analysis of serum AMH and INHB in prediction of a low ovarian response showed that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) value of the serum AMH level was 0.817,with a cut-off value of 1.29 ng/mL.The sensitivity and specificity were 71.2％ and 79.6％,respectively.The AUC value of serum INHB was 0.674,with a cut-off value of 38.65 ng/mL,and the sensitivity and specificity were 50.7％ and 74.5％,respectively.ROC curve analysis showed when the serum AMH and INHB levels were used to predict a high ovarian response,the AUC value of the serum AMH level was 0.742,with a cut-off value of 2.84 ng/mL,and the sensitivity and specificity were 72.7％ and 65.9％,respectively;the AUC value of the serum INHB level was 0.551 with a cut-off of 45.76 ng/mL,and the sensitivity and specificity were 76.3％ and 40.2％,respectively.It was suggested the serum AMH and INHB levels have high clinical value in predicting the ovarian response of PCOS patients.

Expression and its significance of Cyclin D1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression and significance of Cyclin D1 in oral squamous cell ma (OSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A immunohistochemistry method, Envosion, was employed to test the manifesting Cyclin D1 in pathological slices of 50 OSCC cases and 10 normal cases, and the results was treated with statistical lysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In 50 OSCC cases, Cyclin D1 mainly manifested in karyon, and a little in cytoplasm. manifesting rates of Cyclin D1 in the samples was 80.0%, which was significantly higher than the manifesting of 20.0% in normal oral mucous membrane (P < 0.01). The manifestation of Cyclin D1 was correlated with rent pathological grades, clinical phases and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The abnormal tation of Cyclin D1 is closely related with the occurrence and development of OSCC. Therefore, it can subsidiary index for OSCC treatment and prognosis.</p>

Expression and significance of angiopoietins in oral squamous cell carcinoma / 华西口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To observe the expression of angiopoietins in oral squamous cell carcinoma and relationship between the expression of angiopoietins and pathologic classification.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 protein in samples from 42 oral squamous cell carcinoma and 16 oral normal mucosa were detected by immunohistochemical technique.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 was found in both oral squamous cell carcinoma and normal control. It was found Ang-1 expression alike in oral squamous cell carcinoma and control (P > 0.05). Ang-2 expressed at low level in control while strongly positive in oral squamous cell caroinoma and the level of Ang-2 expression in oral squamous cell caroinoma was related to pathologic classification (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ang-2 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma is related to angiogenesis and pathological classification, which is probably involved in angiogenesis regulation, promotes the development and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma.</p>

Small-diameter prosthetic H-graft portacaval shunts in the treatment of portal hypertension / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Portasystemic shunts, especially total shunts, are effective tools for reducing portal pressure and controlling variceal bleeding but lead to high risk of encephalopathy and accelerating liver failure. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical effects of small-diameter expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) H-graft portacaval shunts in the treatment of portal hypertension.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Thirty-one patients with portal hypertension were treated with ePTFE small-diameter H-graft portacaval shunts from December 1995 to April 2002. Twenty-one had externally ringed grafts and 10 had non-ringed grafts; 20 had 10 mm diameter grafts and 11 had 8 mm grafts. The left gastric artery and coronary vein were ligated in 22 patients. Additionally, 6 patients underwent pericardial devascularization, and splenectomies were performed on 30 patients.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>An average decrease of free portal pressure (FPP) from (32.13 +/- 4.86) cmH2O before shunting to (12.55 +/- 5.57) cmH2O after shunting was observed. Portal blood flow was reduced by 1/3 compared with the levels measured before shunting. Twenty-eight patients survived after the operation, and no upper gastrointestinal rebleeding occurred in the follow-up period (40.2 months on average). We lost contact with one patient. Color Doppler ultrasonography and/or portography revealed the shunts to be patent in 28 cases and occluded in 2 (6.4%) cases. Encephalopathy developed in 4 patients (12.9%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Small-diameter ePTFE H-graft portacaval shunts can effectively reduce portal pressure. Moreover, the majority of the hepatopetal flow from the portal vein can be adequately maintained. The reinforced shunts may achieve a higher rate of patency. Morbidity from encephalopathy was less frequent than in patients receiving total shunts. Small-diameter H-graft portacaval shunts are also effective in preventing recurrent variceal bleeding.</p>