Administration of a single chain variable fragments chimeric protein (SD) of ovalbumin epitopes internalizing receptor DEC-205 antibody inhibits food allergy in mice / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Objective To investigate the preventive therapeutic effect and possible mechanism of single chain variable fragments chimeric protein (SD) of ovalbumin epitopes internalizing receptor DEC-205 antibody on food allergy in mice. Methods Mice were randomly divided to five groups (control, PBS, scFv DEC 100 μg, SD 50 μg, SD 100 μg) and treated for 24 hours before OVA administration. After challenge, the serum level of OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2a and IL-4 were detected by ELISA. Infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells in the jejunum was observed by HE staining and toluidine blue staining respectively. The bone marrow of tibia and femur was isolated and cultured to obtain immature dendritic cells(BMDCs), which were further treated with LPS (10 ng/mL), TSLP (50 ng/mL), scFv DEC protein (1000 ng/mL) and SD protein (10,100,1000)ng/mL for 24 hours, and the IL-10 level of supernatant was assayed by ELISA. Results Compared with PBS group, the number of SD-treated mice with diarrhea was markedly reduced. The difference in rectal temperature and the levels of serum OVA-specific IgE, IgG1, IgG2a and IL-4 decreased significantly after prophylactic administration of SD; The number of eosinophils and mast cells in jejunum also decreased significantly while the IL-10 level in the supernatant of BMDCs increased significantly after SD intervention. Conclusion SD mitigates experimental FA response by fosters the immune tolerance property of dendritic cells.

Effect of surgical treatment for anorectal melanoma: a propensity score-matched analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results programme data.

OBJECTIVE: Anorectal melanoma (AM) is a rare but aggressive tumour with limited information in the existing literature. This study aimed to assess the effect of surgical treatment for AM and predict the prognosis of affected patients. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Data of patients diagnosed with AM between 1975 and 2016 in the USA were collected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. PARTICIPANTS: This study enrolled a total of 795 patients with AM from the SEER database and the validation cohort comprised 40 patients with AM enrolled from Chinese institutes. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Overall survival (OS) and AM-specific survival (AM-SS). RESULTS: A total of 795 patients with AM diagnosed between 1975 and 2016 were enrolled in this study. Data over the past four decades showed a trend of increase in incidence rate. A nomogram based on a multivariate Cox regression model was generated to predict AM-SS. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.74 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.77) on internal verification. In the validation cohort, the C-index of the nomogram was 0.72 (95% CI 0.68 to 0.76). The results of propensity score matching (PSM) analysis showed that patients who underwent surgical treatment achieved significant survival (OS: log-rank=17.41, p<0.001; AM-SS: log-rank=14.55, p<0.001). Patients who underwent surgery were stratified into local and extended surgery subgroups. AM-SS and OS were also compared after PSM, but the results were not significantly different between the two surgery subgroups (all p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The nomogram based on the analysis of SEER data showed good performance in predicting OS and AM-SS. Patients with AM can benefit from surgery; however, extensive surgery and appendectomy may not improve AM-SS or OS.

Safety of Breastfeeding in Mothers with SARS-CoV-2 Infection

BackgroundThe outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is threatening a surging number of populations worldwide, including women in breastfeeding period. Limited evidence is available concerning breastfeeding in women with COVID-19. MethodsTwenty-three pregnant women and puerperae were enrolled in the study. To evaluate the effect of breastfeeding on SARS-CoV-2 transmission, the presence of SARS-CoV-2, IgG and IgM in breast milk, maternal blood and infant blood were assessed. Feeding patterns were also recorded in follow-up. ResultsNo positive detection for SARS-CoV-2 of neonates was found. All breast milk samples were negative for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The presence of IgM of SARS-CoV-2 in breast milk was correlated with maternal blood. The results of IgG detection for SARS-CoV-2 were negative in all breast milk samples. All the infants were in healthy condition while six of them were fed with whole or partial breast milk. Eight infants received antibody test for SARS-CoV-2 in one month after birth and the results were all negative. ConclusionFindings from this small number of cases suggest that there is currently no evidence for mother-to-child transmission via breast feeding in women with COVID-19 in the third trimester and puerperium.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection During Pregnancy In China: A Retrospective Cohort Study

BackgroundSevere acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been identified as the cause of the ongoing worldwide epidemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China and worldwide. However, there were few studies about the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant women. MethodsIn this retrospective cohort study, we enrolled 31 pregnant women and 35 non-pregnant women from Jan 28 to Feb 28, 2020 to evaluate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Inflammatory indices were used to assess the severity of COVID-19. Evidence of vertical transmission was determined by laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 in amniotic fluid, placenta, neonatal throat and anal swab and breastmilk samples. FindingsCompared with non-pregnant women, pregnant women had a significantly lower proportion of fever (54{middle dot}8% vs. 87{middle dot}5%, p= 0.006), a shorter average interval from onset to hospitalization (7{middle dot}80 {+/-}7{middle dot}0d vs. 13{middle dot}2 {+/-} 8{middle dot}2d, p= 0.005), and a higher proportion of severe or critical COVID-19 (32{middle dot}3% vs. 11{middle dot}4%, p=0.039). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systematic immune-inflammation-based prognostic index (SII) were significantly higher on admission in severe/critical pneumonia group than moderate pneumonia group. We could not detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in amniotic fluid, placenta, neonatal throat and anal swab and breastmilk samples. InterpretationThe clinical symptoms of COVID-19 in pregnant women were insidious and atypical, compared with those in non-pregnant patients. SII and NLR could be a useful marker to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. There was no evidence of vertical transmission during pregnancy with SARS-CoV-2 infection. FundingNational Natural Science Foundation of China and Research Funds for the Central Universities. Research in contextO_ST_ABSEvidence before this studyC_ST_ABSWe searched PubMed, Embase and Web of science for articles published up to March 1st, 2020, using the keywords ("novel coronavirus" OR "2019 novel coronavirus" OR "2019-nCoV" OR COVID-19 OR SARS-CoV-2) AND (pregnancy OR "maternal infection" OR "fetal infection") AND "Cohort studies". We identified no published cohort studies on pregnant women with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection. Added value of this studyFor this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed clinical records, laboratory findings, and chest CT scans from 31 pregnant women and 35 non-pregnant women from Jan 28 to Feb 28, 2020 to evaluate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Inflammatory indices were used to assess the severity of COVID-19. Evidence of vertical transmission was determined by laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 in amniotic fluid, placenta, neonatal throat and anal swab and breastmilk samples. Compared with non-pregnant women, pregnant women had a significantly lower proportion of fever (54{middle dot}8% vs. 87{middle dot}5%, p= 0.006), a shorter average interval from onset to hospitalization (7{middle dot}80 {+/-}7{middle dot}0d vs. 13{middle dot}2 {+/-} 8{middle dot}2d, p= 0.005), and a higher proportion of severe or critical COVID-19 (32{middle dot}3% vs. 11{middle dot}4%, p=0.039). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systematic immune-inflammation-based prognostic index (SII) were significantly higher on admission in severe/critical pneumonia group than moderate pneumonia group. Amniotic fluid, placenta, neonatal throat and anal swab and breastmilk samples were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR and all results were negative. Implications of all the available evidenceThe clinical symptoms of COVID-19 in pregnant women were insidious and atypical, compared with those in non-pregnant patients. SII and NLR could be a useful marker to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. There was no evidence of vertical transmission during pregnancy with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Vagal Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 Mediates Stress-exacerbated Visceral Mechanonociception After Antral Cold Exposure

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Abdominal pain can be evoked or exacerbated after gastrointestinal cold stimulation in some patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D), indicating a low temperature-induced sensitization of visceral perception. We investigated the role of vagal transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1, a cold-sensing ion channel) in cold-aggravated visceral mechanonociception in a stress-induced IBS animal model. METHODS: TRPA1 expression was examined in antral biopsies of healthy controls and IBS-D patients. Abdominal symptoms were assessed before and after warm or cold water intake. The visceromotor response (VMR) to colorectal distention (CRD) following intra-antral infusion of cold saline was measured in animals undergoing sham or chronic water avoidance stress. TRPA1 expression, extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, and neuronal calcium influx in vagal afferents were assessed. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, IBS-D patients displayed elevated antral TRPA1 expression, which was associated with symptom scores after cold (4°C) water intake. Intra-antral infusion of cold saline increased VMR to CRD in naive rats, an effect dependent on vagal afferents. In stressed rats, this effect was greatly enhanced. Functional blockade and gene deletion of TRPA1 abolished the cold effect on visceral nociception. TRPA1 expression in vagal (but not spinal) afferents increased after stress. Moreover, the cold-induced, TRPA1-dependent ERK1/2 activation and calcium influx in nodose neurons were more robust in stressed rats. CONCLUSIONS: Stress-exaggerated visceral mechanonociception after antral cold exposure may involve up-regulation of TRPA1 expression and function on vagal afferents. Our findings reveal a novel mechanism for abnormal gastrointestinal cold sensing in IBS.

IgG4-related Disease in Digestive System / 胃肠病学

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immune-mediated fibroinflammatory disorder which can occur in different organs.It is characterized by massive IgG4 + lymphocytes and plasma cells infiltration,which leads to visceral enlargement,thickening or tubercle formation,and tends to form mass lesions.Most of the patients with IgG4-RD are associated with elevated levels of serum and tissue IgG4.This article reviewed the pathogenesis,clinical manifestations,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of IgG4-RD in digestive system.

Protection of ovarian function for female breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy / 中华内分泌外科杂志

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in females.Recent years,surgery,chemotherapy as well as other systemic therapy had greatly improved the prognosis of the patients.However,damage of ovarian function by chemotherapy lowered life quality,especially for young females.At present,there are several methods to protect the ovarian function of female patients undergoing chemotherapy,such as administration of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogs,ovarian cryopreservation,unfertilized ova cryopreservation,embryo cryopreservation,inhibitors of apoptosis,etc.Each method has its advantage,disadvantage and indications.Issues related to ovarian protection are reviewed here.

Effect of Dll4 at different concentrations on the biological functions of extravillous trophoblasts / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Extravil ous trophoblasts exert a crucial effect on early pregnancy. When extravil ous trophoblasts function abnormal y, many pregnancy diseases can develop, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and placental implantation. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effect of Dl 4, a ligand of Notch signaling family, on biological functions of extravil ous trophoblasts. METHODS:Human extravil ous trophoblast cel lines, HTR-8/SVneo, were cultured with human recombined protein Dl 4 of different concentrations (0, 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 mg/L). Cel viability was tested by cel counting kit-8 assay. Transwel assay was applied to examine the changes in cel migration and invasion ability. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Dl 4 could significantly improve migration and invasion abilities of extravil ous trophoblasts, but had no effect on cel viability. In addition, Dl 4 regulated the invasion ability of extravil ous trophoblast in a dose-dependent manner. Above al , Dl 4 can play an important role in normal pregnancy by regulating the biological functions of extravil ous trophoblasts.