The correlation between FCER2 gene polymorphism and the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis / 临床耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective:To investigate the correlation between FCER2（2206A>G） gene polymorphism and the efficacy of inhaled corticosteroids（ICS） in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis（CRS）. Methods:A total of 208 CRS patients were routinely treated with functional endonasal sinus surgery and postoperative ICS. DNA extraction, PCR amplification and gene sequencing were performed to observe the FCER2（2206A>G） gene polymorphism and calculate the allele frequency. The visual analog scale（VAS） score, Lund-Kennedy score, and computed tomography（CT） Lund-Mackay score were determined 6 months after surgery among patients with different genotypes. Moreover, the polymorphism frequency was compared among different subgroups（chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps versus chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps, eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis versus non-eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis）. Results:There were FCER2（2206A>G） gene polymorphism in patients with CRS, and the phenotypes included 3 genotypes, AA, AG and GG, with distribution frequencies of 68（32.7%）, 116（55.8%） and 24（11.5%） cases, respectively. No significant differences were found in age, VAS score, nasal endoscopic Lund-Kennedy score and CT imaging Lund-Mackay score among patients with CRS of each genotype before surgery. In patients with the AA genotype, the changes in VAS score（5.74±1.10）, Lund Kennedy score（5.92 ± 1.14）, and CT imaging Lund-Mackay score（13.26±4.26） were significantly higher than in patients with the AG（4.37±0.86, 5.37±1.24, 10.82±3.77） and GG（4.26±0.80, 5.18±1.56, 10.10±3.53） genotype（P<0.05）. However, there were no marked difference between patients with the AG genotype and those with the GG genotype（P>0.05）. Compared with patients with non-eosinophilic sinusitis, Among them, the differences between the GG genotype and AG /AA genes were more significant in eosinophilic sinusitis compared to non-eosinophilic sinusitis（P<0.01）. Conclusion:The FCER2（2206A>G） gene in patients with CRS has genetic polymorphism and is associated with the recovery of CRS patients after surgery, individual corticosteroid sensitivity, and subgroup variability.

Analysis of norovirus surveillance in adult infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of norovirus in adult cases with infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai， and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of infectious diarrhea caused by norovirus. MethodsFecal samples， clinical information and epidemiological data were collected from January 2013 through December 2019 in surveillance hospitals in Putuo District of Shanghai. Norovirus was examined by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （rRT-PCR）. ResultsIn 1 389 adult cases with infectious diarrhea， norovirus positive rate was 25.41%， which was significantly higher in male （27.16%） than female （23.89%）. Furthermore， in 353 cases positive for norovirus， GⅡ group was the most common （77.98%）.The positive rate was highest in the cases aged 30-44 years. Spring， autumn and winter were the seasons with higher incidence of norovirus （September to May）. The norovirus-infected cases had more nausea， vomiting， hyperactivity of bowel sounds， and watery stool， compared to the negative cases （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe detection rate of norovirus remains high in adult cases with infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai， of which GII is predominant. Seasonality may be spring， autumn and winter. Therefore， it warrants the countermeasures， such as surveillance and health education， for prevention and control of norovirus in susceptible population during epidemic seasons.

Analysis of norovirus surveillance in adult infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai / 上海预防医学

ObjectiveTo investigate the prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of norovirus in adult cases with infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai， and provide scientific evidence for the prevention and control of infectious diarrhea caused by norovirus. MethodsFecal samples， clinical information and epidemiological data were collected from January 2013 through December 2019 in surveillance hospitals in Putuo District of Shanghai. Norovirus was examined by real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction （rRT-PCR）. ResultsIn 1 389 adult cases with infectious diarrhea， norovirus positive rate was 25.41%， which was significantly higher in male （27.16%） than female （23.89%）. Furthermore， in 353 cases positive for norovirus， GⅡ group was the most common （77.98%）.The positive rate was highest in the cases aged 30-44 years. Spring， autumn and winter were the seasons with higher incidence of norovirus （September to May）. The norovirus-infected cases had more nausea， vomiting， hyperactivity of bowel sounds， and watery stool， compared to the negative cases （P<0.05）. ConclusionThe detection rate of norovirus remains high in adult cases with infectious diarrhea in Putuo District of Shanghai， of which GII is predominant. Seasonality may be spring， autumn and winter. Therefore， it warrants the countermeasures， such as surveillance and health education， for prevention and control of norovirus in susceptible population during epidemic seasons.

Activation of phagocytosis by immune checkpoint blockade / 医学前沿

Inhibition of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis has emerged as an essential mechanism for tumor immune evasion. One mechanism inhibiting the innate response is the presence of the macrophage inhibitory molecule, signal regulatory protein-α (SIRPα), on tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and its cognate ligand cluster of differentiation 47 (CD47) on tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment. On the basis of a recently discovered programmed death protein 1 (PD-1) in TAMs, we discuss the potential inhibitory receptors that possess new functions beyond T cell exhaustion in this review. As more and more immune receptors are found to be expressed on TAMs, the corresponding therapies may also stimulate macrophages for phagocytosis and thereby provide extra anti-tumor benefits in cancer therapy. Therefore, identification of biomarkers and combinatorial therapeutic strategies, have the potential to improve the efficacy and safety profiles of current immunotherapies.

The Prevalence and Severity of Myopia among Suburban Schoolchildren in Taiwan

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>We aimed to determine the prevalence and severity of myopia in suburban schoolchildren. The refractive error, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and other ocular indices of 6069 schoolchildren (aged 6 to 15 years) from elementary and junior high schools in Chiayi County, Taiwan were examined in 2013-2015.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>Spherical equivalent (SE) was stratified into 4 categories: emmetropia, mild myopia, moderate myopia, and high myopia for underlying analysis. Chi-squared (χ2) tests were used to determine significant associations between myopia and BCVA and age levels. To compare statistical significance among different age levels, values of Bonferroni tests were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and correlation coefficient were calculated to assess the correlation between myopia and each ocular index.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The youngest subject diagnosed with myopia was a 7-year-old. Myopia had significant associations with both BCVA and age levels (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 2.553, 2.713 and -0.284, -0.248, respectively), under <0.05. Among the calculated ROC values, BCVA had the highest area of 0.676 with myopia. This further confirmed that BCVA was highly correlated with myopia in schoolchildren. Other ocular indices like intraocular pressure (IOP), pupil distance, ocular alignments, or ocular height had ROC curves below 0.5 to myopia.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study concluded that the onset of myopia started earlier and progressively worsened with years of investigation among the suburban schoolchildren. Myopia had significant associations with BCVA and age levels. To effectively reduce the prevalence and severity of myopia, it is time to take actions on eye care education for suburban schoolchildren.</p>

Yaotu Granules regulate the Fas/FasL expression in a rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Yaotu Granules have been proved to protect human nucleus pulposus cells and delay their degeneration. Notably, Yaotu Granules for lumbar disc herniation has achieved good clinical results.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of the herbal compound formula Yaotu Granules on the Fas/FasL expression in a rabbit model of lumbar disc degeneration, and further elucidate the underling mechanism of preventing and treating lumbar disc degeneration.METHODS: Twenty New Zealand white rabbits were enrolled and the models of lumbar disc degeneration were established by minimally invasive puncture and rotation cutting, followed by randomized into normal saline, low-, middle-,and high-dose groups (n=5 per group). 10 mL of normal saline, 10, 20, and 40 mL of water decoction of Yaotu Granules were administered intragastrically into the normal saline, low-, middle-, and high-dose drug groups for 21 days, twice daily, respectively. Subsequently, the expression level of Fas/FasL in the rabbit nucleus pulposus cells in each group was detected.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The signal intensity of the rabbit lumbar disc on MRI was decreased, and ruptured annulus and posterior herniated disc were visible at 12 weeks after modeling. Masson staining showed that the nucleus pulposus cells arranged in disorder, and even ruptured. Additionally, safranin O staining found that the number of nucleus pulposus cells was decreased obviously. The order of the relative expression levels of Fas and FasL mRNA in the nucleus pulposus cells was as follows: normal saline group > low-dose drug group > middle-dose drug group > high-dose drug group (P < 0.05). These results suggest that Yaotu Granules delay the rabbit lumbar disc degeneration by downregulating the expression level of Fas/FasL.

Effect of the dynamic stabilization using Bioflex System on the intervertebral height in young patient with single-level lumbar disc herniation / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: The age of patients with lumbar disc herniation tends to younger, and choosing which surgical method for young patients is a difficult in clinic. . OBJECTIVE: To investigate the curative efficacy and imaging characteristics of the dynamic stabilization using Bioflex System for young patients with single-level lumbar disc herniation. METHODS: Eighty patients diagnosed for single level lumbar disc herniation in Shenzhen Hospital of Chinese Medicine from October 2013 to November 2015 were randomly divided into experimental and control groups (n=40 per group). The patients in the experimental group underwent dynamic stabilization using Bioflex System, and the controls received percutaneous transthoracic discectomy. The Visual Analogue Scale and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores and Oswestry Disability Index were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy. The ventral and dorsal intervertebral disc height, distance between spinous processes, and the maximum height between intervertebral foramens were measured through digital radiography, CT and MRI examinations at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months of follow-up. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss and complications were compared between groups. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) At 12 months postoperatively, the restoration of the ventral and dorsal intervertebral disc height, distance between spinous processes, and the maximum height between intervertebral foramens in the experimental group were significantly superior to those in the control group (P < 0.05). (2) The Visual Analogue Scale and Japanese Orthopedic Association scores and Oswestry Disability Index scores were significantly improved in both groups (P < 0.05); all above scores did not differ significantly between two groups at 3 and 6 months postoperatively (P >0.05); and all above scores in the experimental group were significantly superior to those in the control group at 12 months postoperatively (P < 0.05). (3) The operation time and intraoperative blood loss in the experimental group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.05). (4) There were no significant differences in the incidence of complications between two groups (P > 0.05). (5) These results show that although percutaneous transthoracic discectomy has advantages on the operation time and intraoperative blood loss; the two surgical methods show no significant differences in the early curative efficacy and complications. Besides, in terms of long-term efficacy, Bioflex System can significantly alleviate pain, restore intervertebral height, and prevent degeneration of the intervertebral disc and adjacent vertebrae.

Clinicopathological implications of positive CK7 expression in colorectal carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological significance of positive CK7 expression in human colorectal carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Immunohistochemistry was used to detect CK7 and CK20 protein expressions in 68 cases of HCC, 20 cases of canalicular adenoma (CA), 5 cases of serrated adenoma (SA) and 20 cases of hyperplastic polyps (HP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The positivity rate of CK20 expression was 89.7% in HCC, and 100% in CA, SA and HP. In HCC, the expression rate of CK7 (39.7%) was not correlated with Dukes' classification, differentiation and tumor location. CK7 positivity rate in colon cancer was 35.7% (15/52) and 42.3% (11/26) in rectal cancer. CK7 expression was negative in CA. CK7 positivity rate in SA was 49% and 30% in HP.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CK7 is a possible marker for colorectal carcinogenesis from HP to SA, and ultimately to HCC, and examination of the colorectal polypoid lesions for CK7 expression can be significant for estimating the colorectal polypous cancerization.</p>