Research Progress of Immunoscore in Prediction of Tumor Prognosis and Efficacy to Treatment / 肿瘤防治研究

The occurrence and development of the tumor are closely associated with the tumor microenvironment (TME) and host immune status. Traditional TNM staging has gradually been insufficient in the assessment of patients' outcomes, as the TNM system solely evaluated tumor cell characteristics and failed to predict clinical outcomes based on immune factors. Therefore, immunoscore (IS), derived from the concept of immune contexture, was proposed to establish a more comprehensive and accurate TNM-I staging above the TNM staging. Recently, increasing studies have shown that IS can predict the survival outcome and treatment efficacy more accurately than TNM staging. Moreover, IS possess characteristics such as feasibility, convenience, robustness and reproducibility, which make it possible for IS to be used as a biomarker for clinical application, to classify patients better and contribute to developing individualized treatment strategies, ultimately, to improve the overall survival of patients with cancer. This article reviews of the progress of immunoscore in predicting patients' prognosis and response to therapy among different tumors.

A preliminary study on evaluation the performance of hospital academic papers by Hirsch index / 中华医院管理杂志

Objective:To explore the feasibility of using Hirsch index(H index) to evaluate the performance of academic papers published by medical talents.Methods:67 medical talents of Wuxi People′s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University were enrolled in the study. The numbers of papers published and citations of these talents which have been included by PubMed, Chinese Citation Database, CNKI, Wanfang, and Baidu Scholar. The H value of these talents was calculated according to the list method proposed by Rousseau R. The H index was compared with the traditional evaluation indexes of scientific research performance, such as the number of papers published, the total number of citations and the average number of citations. Pearson test was used to explore the correlation between H index and traditional evaluation index.Results:The H value of 67 talents ranged from 1 to 14. Pearson test showed that the H index was significantly correlated with the total number of papers, the total number of citations and the average number of citations at the level of 0.01, and their Pearson value was 0.746, 0.932, and 0.648 respectively.Conclusions:As a new scientific research performance evaluation system, the H index is recommended in the evaluation of medical personnel, but it needs further and sustained optimization in terms of database inclusion timespan, research work timespan, and authors ranking limit among others.

Rapid detection of the metformin illegally added of in TCM and health food by TLC-IR.

Based on TLC-IR, the study established an effective method for rapid detection of metformin illegally added in hypoglycemic traditional Chinese medicine and health food products. 12 batches of hypoglycemic traditional Chinese medicine and health products were purchased in the pharmacy, which were produced by different manufacturers. TLC was used to separate metformin and phenformin for preliminary identification from. IR was applied to further identification and HPLC method was used to verify the experimental results of TLC-IR. TLC developing solvents was petroleum ether-methanol-glacial acetic acid (5:12:0.5) and the stationary phase was silica gel prefabricated GF254 plate. IR used KBr pellet pressing method with a resolution of 4cm-1 and scanned 64 times. The column for HPLC analysis was SinoChrom ODS-BP 5 µm (4.6mm *250mm) and the injection volume was 20µL. The detection wavelength was 234nm. The flow rate was 1ml•min-1. Metformin and phenformin were significantly separated under the TLC condition. Joint identification by TLC-IR, none of metformin and phenformin were identified in the hypoglycemic traditional Chinese medicine. Phenformin was detected in two kinds of health products while metformin was identified in one kind of health food. The result of HPLC was consist with TLC-IR. The established TLC-IR method was simple, rapid and selective, which was suit to apply in the identification of metformin illegally added in hypoglycemic traditional Chinese medicine and health food products.

Double Lock of a Potent Human Monoclonal Antibody against SARS-CoV-2

Receptor recognition and subsequent membrane fusion are essential for the establishment of successful infection by SARS-CoV-2. Halting these steps can cure COVID-19. Here we have identified and characterized a potent human monoclonal antibody, HB27, that blocks SARS-CoV-2 attachment to its cellular receptor at sub-nM concentrations. Remarkably, HB27 can also prevent SARS-CoV-2 membrane fusion. Consequently, a single dose of HB27 conferred effective protection against SARS-CoV-2 in two established mouse models. Rhesus macaques showed no obvious adverse events when administrated with 10-fold of effective dose of HB27. Cryo-EM studies on complex of SARS-CoV-2 trimeric S with HB27 Fab reveal that three Fab fragments work synergistically to occlude SARS-CoV-2 from binding to ACE2 receptor. Binding of the antibody also restrains any further conformational changes of the RBD, possibly interfering with progression from the prefusion to the postfusion stage. These results suggest that HB27 is a promising candidate for immuno-therapies against COVID-19. HighlightsO_LISARS-CoV-2 specific antibody, HB27, blocks viral receptor binding and membrane fusion C_LIO_LIHB27 confers prophylactic and therapeutic protection against SARS-CoV-2 in mice models C_LIO_LIRhesus macaques showed no adverse side effects when administered with HB27 C_LIO_LICryo-EM studies suggest that HB27 sterically occludes SARS-CoV-2 from its receptor C_LI

SARS pandemic exposure impaired early childhood development: A lesson for COVID-19

Social and mental stressors associated with the COVID-19 pandemic may promote long-term effects on child development. However, reports aimed at identifying the relationship between pandemics and child health are limited. We conducted a retrospective study to evaluate the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) pandemic in 2003 and its relationship to child development indicators using a representative sample across China. Our study involved longitudinal measurements of 14,647 children, 36% of whom (n = 5216) were born before or during the SARS pandemic. Cox models were utilized to examine the effects of SARS on preterm birth and four milestones of development: age to (1) walk independently, (2) say a complete sentence, (3) count from 0 to 10, and (4) undress him/herself for urination. Mixed effect models were utilized to associate SARS with birthweight, body weight and height. Our results show that experiencing SARS during early childhood was significantly associated with delayed milestones, with adjusted hazard ratios of 3.17 [95% confidence intervals (CI): 2.71, 3.70], 3.98 (3.50, 4.53), 4.96 (4.48, 5.49), or 5.57 (5.00, 6.20) for walking independently, saying a complete sentence, counting from 0 to 10, and undressing him/herself for urination, respectively. Experiencing SARS was also associated with reduced body weight. This effect was strongest for preschool children [a weight reduction of 4.86 (0.36, 9.35) kg, 5.48 (-0.56, 11.53) kg or 5.09 (-2.12, 12.30) kg for 2, 3, 4 year-olds, respectively]. We did not identify a significant effect of maternal SARS exposure on birthweight or gestational length. Collectively, our results showed that the SARS pandemic was associated with delayed child development and provided epidemiological evidence to support the association between infectious disease epidemics and impaired child health. These results provide a useful framework to investigate and mitigate relevant impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Identification and Molecular Analysis of Ixodid Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) Infesting Domestic Animals and Tick-Borne Pathogens at the Tarim Basin of Southern Xinjiang, China

Livestock husbandry is vital to economy of the Tarim Basin, Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. However, there have been few surveys of the distribution of ixodid ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) and tick-borne pathogens affecting domestic animals at these locations. In this study, 3,916 adult ixodid ticks infesting domestic animals were collected from 23 sampling sites during 2012-2016. Ticks were identified to species based on morphology, and the identification was confirmed based on mitochondrial 16S and 12S rRNA sequences. Ten tick species belonging to 4 genera were identified, including Rhipicephalus turanicus, Hyalomma anatolicum, Rh. bursa, H. asiaticum asiaticum, and Rh. sanguineus. DNA sequences of Rickettsia spp. (spotted fever group) and Anaplasma spp. were detected in these ticks. Phylogenetic analyses revealed possible existence of undescribed Babesia spp. and Borrelia spp. This study illustrates potential threat to domestic animals and humans from tick-borne pathogens.

Practice and optimization of pharmaceutical English teaching strategies / 中华医学教育探索杂志

Traditionally, pharmaceutical English teaching is conducted in accordance to the needs of students. However, the corresponding teaching effects were still not satisfactory enough because of the non-practicality of teaching content and the unitary teaching mode. In the current study, a new teaching mode of pharmaceutical English was put into practice in the school of pharmacy in Qiqihar Medical University. The new strategy was performed via the integration of pharmaceutical English teaching and corresponding experiments in which their own specialized characteristics were highlighted. During this program, teaching materials, contents, vocabulary training and scene training were optimized, and the executing processes, methods and contents were presented in details. Besides, evaluation system was also optimized, building a more systematic pharmaceutical English teaching strategy with the specialized characteristics. This strategy was believed to improve the practicability of pharmaceutical English , increase students' interest and enthusiasm for learning, meet the needs of specialized course and follow-up education.

Effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of liver cancer / 中国基层医药

Objective To investigate the effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE)combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of liver cancer,and its influence on the serum markers.Methods 108 patients with primary liver cancer were selected as the subjects of this study.According to the random number table method,the patients were divided into two groups.The control group (54 cases) received TACE treatment,and the observation group (54 cases) received TACE combined with RFA treatment.The treatment effects,the changes of tumor recurrence related indicators and the levels of tumor related indicators were compared and analyzed.Results The effective rate of the observation group was 79.7 ％ (43/54),which was significantly higher than 50.0％ (27/54) of the control group (x2 =10.391,P =0.001).After treatment,the E-calcium protein (EC),vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF),matrix metalloproteinase (MMP),tumor recurrence index alpha fetoprotein (AFP),CA199,glutamate transferase (GGT) levels in the observation group were (1 738.8 ± 114.8) μg/L,(207.9 ± 37.2) ng/L,(34.9 ± 4.6) ng/L,(72.2 ± 19.5) μg/L,(34.2 ± 5.1) U/L,(88.9 ± 9.4) U/L,respectively,which were significantly lower than those in the control group [(2 382.4 ± 159.4) μg/L,(367.3 ± 49.3) ng/L,(72.1 ± 7.4) ng/L,(135.2 ± 21.8) μg/L,(66.9 ± 8.2) U/L,(124.6 ± 12.5) U/L],the differences were statistically significant(t =24.076,18.967,31.373,15.828,24.884,16.774,all P ＜0.05).Conclusion TACE combined with RFA is effective in the treatment of liver cancer,which can effectively kill tumor cells and reduce the contents of serum tumor markers,and it is worthy of popularizing in clinic.

Correlation between K-ras gene mutation and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with different primary sites / 肿瘤研究与临床

Objective To analyze the correlation between K-ras gene mutation and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with different primary sites.Methods The clinical and pathological records of 69 patients who were pathologically confirmed as colorectal cancer and tested K-ras gene status at Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University between May 2007 and August 2017 were adopted.The correlation between clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of colorectal cancer patients with different primary sites and K-ras gene mutation status were retrospectively analyzed.And the patients were visited to adopt the prognosis data and perform the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis.Results The K-ras mutation rate was 50.7％(35/69),including 40.0％(12/30)in left-side colon cancer,73.3％(11/15)in right-side colon cancer and 50.0％(12/24)in rectal cancer.The mutation rate of K-ras gene in patients ≥ 60 years old [61.5％(24/39)vs.36.7％(11/30),χ2= 4.197,P = 0.041] or serum CA19-9 raising up abnormally was conspicuously high [65.6％(19/29)vs.37.5％(15/40),χ 2= 5.486,P =0.019].Other clinicopathological characteristics,such as gender,lesion location,histological classification,TNM stage,serum CEA expression,clinical features had no correlation with K-ras gene mutation status(all P＞ 0.05).And no relationship was found between prognosis and overall survival of colorectal cancer patients with different primary sites and K-ras gene mutation status(χ 2= 0.001,P = 0.997; χ 2= 0.583,P =0.445).In general,the 5-year survival rate of left-side colon cancer patients was highest(76.9％),followed by rectal cancer(69.7％),and right-side colon cancer was lowest(31.3％).The primary site of colorectal cancer was related to the overall survival of patients(χ2=11.004,P =0.004).Conclusions K-ras gene mutation in colorectal cancer is closely related to age and serum CA19-9 levels of the patients.The prognosis of left-side colon cancer is best,rectal cancer second,and right-side colon cancer poorest.Whether K-ras gene mutation is the prognostic factor of colorectal cancer is not clear.Testing the K-ras gene status and serum tumor index expression,distinguish the primary site and age group will provide the theory basis and promote the clinical targeted therapy and improve the survival of colorectal cancer patients.

Clinical analysis of lung transplantation in eight patients with obstructive bronchiolitis syndrome after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation / 中华血液学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the efficacy and prognosis of lung transplantation (LT) for end-stage bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) .@*Methods@#The clinical data of eight cases with end-stage BOS after allo-HSCT who were treated by LT in our hospital were retrospectively analyzed.@*Results@#Eight patients with hematological malignancy underwent allo-HSCT, and the median age was 23 (12-40) years. The donors are parents or siblings. Severe BOS occurred in 8 patients after allo-HSCT, the median age for LT was 27.5 (13-47) years. The median interval between allo-HSCT and LT was 69 (21-132) months. The median follow-up time for 8 patients after LT was 15 (6-63) months, 7 patients survived, 1 patient died of pulmonary hemorrhage 15 months after LT treatment. Of the survivors, three had BOS again, and one of them received reduplicated lung transplantation.@*Conclusion@#LT is an effective treatment for patients with severe BOS after HSCT.

Effect of the Preoperative Use of High-dose Simvastatin on the Preoperative Pulmorary Artery Pressure in Congenital Heart Disease with Left-to-right Shunt / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of preoperative use of high-dose simvastatin on the pulmonary artery pres-sure in congenital heart disease with left-to-right shunt. METHODS:86 patients with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease who were planned to implement interventional occlusion therapy were randomly divided into control group(43 cases)and observa-tion group(43 cases). Patients in both groups were given digitalis,diuretics,anticoagulants and other basic treatments;On this basis, control group received Sildenafil citrate tablet,25 mg,3 times a day,orally given 1 h before a meal;observation group received Simvastatin tablet 80 mg,once every evening,orally. The treatment course for both groups was 7 d. Mean pulmonary hypertension (mPAP),N terminal prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP),arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2),arterial oxygen ten-sion(PaO2),pulmonary blood circulation ratio(Qq/Qs),pulmonary pressure variation(Rp/Rs),pulmonary vascular resistance in-dex(PVRi)before and after treatment in 2 groups were observed,and related indicators of liver functions [alanine aminotransfer-ase (ALT),aspartate aminotransferase(AST)] and myocardial enzymes [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH),creatine kinase MB(CK-MB)] were detected. The incidence of adverse reactions were deteted. RESULTS:Before treatment,there were no significant differ-ences in mPAP,NT-proBNP,SaO2,PaO2,Qq/Qs,Rp/Rs,PVRi,ALT,AST,LDH and CKMB levels in 2 groups(P>0.05). Af-ter treatment,mPAP,NT-proBNP,Rp/Rs and PVRi levels were significantly lower than before,SaO2,PaO2,and Qq/Qs levels were significantly higher than before and Qq/Qs level in observation group was higher than these in control group.The difference was statistically significant(P<0.05). There was 1 patient showed severe liver injury in observation group and exited the test;the other 85 patients showed no obvious adverse reactions,with successful surgery and good prognosis. CONCLUSIONS:The preoper-ative use of high-dose simvastatin shows obvious effect on controlling mean pulmonary hypertension,reducing mPAP,NT-proB-NP,Rp/Rs and PVRi levels and increasing SaO2,PaO2,and Qq/Qs levels before operation,with good safety.

Interaction between traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine in rats——In-Chen-How and acetaminophen / 药学学报

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the interaction effects of In-Chen-How (Artemisia capillaries Thunb.) on the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen and on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme activity in rats. The rats were divided into control group (n=8) without In-Chen-How and the pretreated group (n=8) administered with In-Chen-How (approximately 1.0 mL·kg-1, according to weight) for 5 consecutive days. Rats in the control group received water simultaneously. Each rat was then given acetaminophen. The pharmacokinetic parameters of acetaminophen of the two groups were significantly different. In the In-Chen-How pretreated group, the maximum concentration of acetaminophen and the area under the plasma concentration-time curve were reduced about 58.4%, 56.7% and 55.4%. To further explain the results, liver microsomal suspensions were obtained from rats that were randomly divided into control and In-Chen-How pretreated group. The levels of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 in hepatic microsomal protein from pretreated group were increased as compared to that from the control group. It indicated that In-Chen-How can stimulate the activity of CYP isozymes. The changes in the pharmacokinetics of acetaminophen resulting from the administration of In-Chen-How are related to an increase in metabolic activity of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1.

Effects of Sodium Sulfite on Expression of Inflammatory Factor Genes in Human Embryo Kidney 293 Cells / 环境与健康杂志

Objective To investigate the expression of inflammtory factor genes change induced by sodium sulfite.Methods MTS assay was used to detect the cell toxicity to human embryonic kidney cell line 293(HEK293) of 0,0.0025,0.01,0.039,0.156,0.625,2.5,10 mmol/L sodium sulfite,morphological changes were observed with inversion microscope and RT-PCR was used to study the expression of mRNA changes of TNF-?,MCP-1 and IL-8.Results Cytotoxicity analysis showed that treatment of cells with 0.625,2.5,10 mmol/L Na2SO3 could significantly decrease the OD value,with the OD value of(0.354 75 ?0.021 24),(0.600 50?0.012 77),(0.784 75?0.009 85) respectively,compared with control group(2.514 5?0.202 265).When treated with ≤0.156 mmol/L Na2SO3,it sould not significantly affect cell viability,with the OD value of(2.473 75?0.069 99)-(2.625 00? 0.120 29).Morphological observation showed that exposure of ≥0.625 mmol/L Na2SO3 could decrease cell numbers significantly and living cells seemed narrower and longer than the usual way with fewer evection.But lower concentrations of Na2SO3(≤0.156 mmol/L) did not change cell numbers and cell morphology.RT-PCR result showed that treatment of 0.039-10 mmol/L Na2SO3 could not induce the expression of TNF-?,MCP-1 and IL-8.Conclusion Na2SO3 can cause significant inhibition and injury in HEK293,but can not up regulate the expression of mRNA of TNF-?,MCP-1 and IL-8,and there is no obvious relation between them.

Study of glutamate transporter function of hippocampus in seizures rats induced by KA / 临床神经病学杂志

Objective To study the change of glutamate transporter (GluTs) function of hippocampus in seizures rats induced by KA, and explore the role of GluTs in the mechanism of epilepsy.Methods 60 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: KA group(Ⅰ group) and control group(Ⅱ group). Each group was randomly divided into five subgroups according to different time after kindling, including 4 h, 24 h, 48 h, 5 d,and 7 d after injection. GluTs function was studied by means of assay of 3H-L-glutamate uptake in synaptosomes and tissue sections of hippocampus.Results The function of GluTs in synaptosomes was singnificently decreased at any time (all P