[Clinical features and lymphocyte subtypes in patients with IgG4-related diseases]

Objective: To deepen understanding of IgG4-related diseases (RDs), we analyzed the associated lymphocyte subtypes, and explored the pathogenesis and potential immunotherapeutic targets. Methods: Eighty-six patients with IgG4-RDs were enrolled, and their clinical characteristics, peripheral lymphocyte subtypes, and disease course were analyzed. Results: The mean age of the participants was 36-87(62±11) years; 51 were male (59.3%) and 35 were women (40.7%); and 34.9% had a history of allergy. Follow-up lasted 4.8 (0.4, 14.1) months. The most common symptoms were abdominal pain, and submandibular gland and lacrimal gland swelling (each 20.9%). Sixty-five (75.6%) participants had multiple organ involvement, and the most frequently affected organs were the pancreas (52.3%), submandibular gland (51.2%), and lacrimal gland (34.9%). A high eosinophil count; high IgE, IgG, IgG1, and IgG4 concentrations; and low complement C3 and C4 concentrations were present in 18.8% (16/85), 30.0% (24/80), 72.9% (62/85), 58.3% (28/48), 89.5% (77/86), 61.2% (52/85), and 50.0% (42/84), respectively, of the participants. In addition, 64.7% (55/85) were positive for autoantibodies, and the most frequent was anti-nuclear antibody (63.5%). The proportion of CD4+T lymphocytes increased in 25.7% (9/35) of the participants, which was accompanied by an increase in the ratio of CD4+/CD8+T lymphocytes (22.9%, 8/35). Importantly, most participants (90.0%, 18/20) had a high proportion of regulatory T (Treg) cells. High interleukin (IL)-2, IL-6, and IL-10 concentrations were present in 50.0% (11/22), 33.3% (10/30), and 16.7% (5/30), respectively, of the participants. Substantial lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, fibrosis, IgG4-positive plasma cell infiltration, and lymphoid follicle hyperplasia or ectopic formation were present in 79.2% (42/53), 67.9%(36/53), 35.8%(19/53) and 30.2% (16/53), respectively, of the participants. Fifty-three participants with detailed pathologic data were also further evaluated, of whom 24.5% (13/53), 3.8% (2/53), and 67.9% (36/53) had definite, probable, and possible diagnoses; and 3.8% (2/53) could not be diagnosed. Compared with baseline, the percentage of eosinophils and the IgE, IgG, and IgG4 concentrations decreased significantly; and the complement C3 and C4 concentrations had increased significantly after 6 months of treatment (all P<0.05). The IgG4 concentration after 6 months of treatment negatively correlated with that of C4, and positively correlated with the baseline concentration of IgE and the IgG4/IgG ratio. Conclusion: IgG4-RDs are a group of diseases characterized by male predisposition; multiple organ involvement; a high eosinophil count; high IgE, IgG, IgG1, and IgG4 concentrations; and a low C3 concentration. Peripheral CD4+T cells and Treg cells are also more abundant. The diseases can be controlled with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs in the majority of instances. The IgG4 concentration after 6 months of treatment negatively correlates with the baseline complement C4 concentration and positively correlates with the IgE concentration and IgG4/IgG ratio, which suggests that IgG4/IgG, IgE, and complement should be closely monitored to evaluate disease activity and the efficacy of treatment in such patients.

[Determination of 22 phospholipids in serum by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry]

Objective: To establish ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for the determination of 22 phospholipids in serum. Methods: In September 2022, Using synthetic non endogenous phospholipids as internal standard, phospholipids in serum were extracted by methanol-dichloromethane (2∶1, V/V) protein precipitation method. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH shield RP18 column, and the mobile phase was methanol/water (5∶95, V/V) containing 10 mM ammonium formate and methanol. Detection was performed in multiple reaction monitoring mode with ion mode switching. And the method was applied by analyzing phospholipids in the serum of coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients. Results: The 22 phospholipids showed good linear relationships in their respective concentration ranges and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.990. The spiked recoveries of the 22 phospholipids were 81.03%-121.63% at the three spiked levels. The intra-assay were less than 14.52%, and the inter-assay were less than 15.00%. Conclusion: The method with the advantages of simplicity, stability and high sensitivity, and it can be used for the analysis of phospholipids in serum.

[Epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Ejina banner, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, October 2021]

Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 epidemic in Ejina banner, Inner Mongolia, in October 2021 and provide evidence for the improvement of COVID-19 prevention and control. Methods: The information about the time, area and population distributions of COVID-19 cases in Ejina before November 13, 2021 and the gene sequencing result of the isolates were collected for a statistical descriptive analysis. Results: The first COVID-19 case in Ejina occurred on 7 October, 2021. A total of 164 COVID-19 cases were reported from October 19 to November 12. Most cases were distributed in 6 communities in Darahub (156 cases, 95.12%). The result of full gene sequencing of the isolates indicted that the pathogen was Delta variant (B.1.617.2). The male to female ratio of the cases was 1.3∶1. The age of cases ranged from 1 to 85 years, and the cases aged 20-59 years accounted for 78.66%. The main clinical symptoms were sore throat (91 cases, 91.92%), cough (49 cases, 49.49%) and fever (23 cases, 23.23%). Most cases were ordinary ones (81 cases, 49.39%) and mild ones (68 cases, 41.46%). The cases were mainly detected at the isolation points (84 cases, 51.22%) and through population based nucleic acid testing (62 cases, 37.80%). The basic reproduction number (R₀) of COVID-19 was 5.3, the average incubation period was 3.9 days. The local government rapidly started Ⅳ level emergency response and conducted 10 rounds of nucleic acid tests. The transferring of travelers reduced the risk for the further spread of COVID-19 in Ejina. Conclusions: The epidemic of COVID-19 in Ejina characterized by strong transmission, short incubation period, herd susceptibility and case clustering. Delta variant (B.1.617.2) was the pathogen, which might be imported from Zeke port. Comprehensive prevention and control measures, such as closed-loop management and vaccination, should be continued. The successful transferring of the patients and travelers provided evidence for the effective and precise prevention and control of COVID-19 in a routine manner.

[Effect of microRNA-27a-3p on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of hepatoma cells]

Objective: To investigate the effect of miR-27a-3p on proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle of hepatoma cells. Methods: A quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect differential expression of miR-27a-3p in normal hepatic epithelial cells (L02) and hepatoma cells (HepG2 and PLC). Cell experiment was divided into four groups: HepG2 overexpression cells, Mi-27a-3p overexpression group (Mi-27a) and negative control group (Mi-Con); PLC knockdown cells, Mi-27a-3p knockdown group (Mi-inhibitor-27a) and negative control group (Mi-inhibitor-Con). The expression of microRNA-27a-3p in each group after transfection was detected by qPCR analysis. MTT assay was used to detect the cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptosis and cell cycle. One-way ANOVA was used for multiple comparisons, and t-test was used to compare two groups. Results: qPCR results showed that the expression levels of miR-27a-3p in L02, HepG2 and PLC increased sequentially, and the relative expression levels were 1.07 ± 0.04, 4.81 ± 0.64 and 11.31 ± 0.92, respectively (P < 0.05). MTT assay showed that the cell viability of HepG2 cells transfected with miR-27a-3p overexpression plasmid was significantly decreased compared with the negative control group (P < 0.05). The apoptosis assay showed that the apoptosis rate of miR-27a-3p overexpression group was higher than the negative control group (P < 0.05). The cell cycle results showed that the proportion of S phase cells in the miR-27a-3p overexpression cell group was significantly lower than the negative control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, microRNA-27a-3p knockdown validation in PLC cells showed that MTT, apoptosis and cell cycle tests results were opposite to the results of HepG2 overexpression cells, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusion: miR-27a-3p can significantly inhibit the proliferation of hepatoma cells, promote cell apoptosis, alter the cell cycle distribution, and may become a potential target in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy.

[Clinical trial of simplified drilling method for dental implant site preparation]

Objective: To investigate the clinical effect of simplified drilling method and conventional drilling method in implants. Methods: A total of 46 patients (62 implants) were enrolled in this study that with dentition defect from May 2015 to May 2016 in the Implant department of Xi'an Jiao Tong University. The experimental group and the control group were randomly assigned according to the random number method, 23 cases in each group. The experimental group used the simplified drilling method (guided drill+ final drill), the control group using the conventional drilling method (step by step drill). The operation time, implant stability, marginal bone resorption rate and implant retention rate were compared between the two drilling methods. Results: The retention of the experiment group was 97% (31/32), the the control group was 100% (30/30). The operative time in the experiment group [(4.9±0.5) min] was significantly lower from the control group [(8.9±2.0) min] (P=0.000). There was no significant difference between the two methods in bone resorption (P=0.197), implant stability (P>0.05) and implant survival rate (P=0.492). Conclusions: The simplified drilling method can significantly reduce the operation time without compromising the clinical outcomes, and the osseointegration is well. The simplified drilling method should be used when sufficient bone mass, careful use in class II bone, forbidden in class I bone.

Effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, angiotensin II type I receptor blocker and their combination on postinfarcted ventricular remodeling in rats

BACKGROUND

Transforming growth factor (TGF) beta(1)-Smads signal plays an important role in cardiac remodeling following myocardial infarction (MI). In addition, both angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II type I receptor blocker (ARB) can effectively prevent left ventricular remodeling. The current study focused on whether the combination of ACEI and ARB is more beneficial for preventing ventricular remodeling and whether Smad proteins mediate this beneficial effect.

METHODS

MI was induced by ligating the left anterior descending coronary artery in rats. Twenty-four hours after ligation, the survived rats were randomly divided into five groups and treated for 8 weeks: placebo group, ACEI group (benazepril 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)), ARB group (irbesartan 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)), ACEI + ARB group (benazepril 10 mg.kg(-1).d(-1) + irbesartan 50 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) and control group (sham-operated rats). After 8 weeks, we examined the following indexes: the ratio of ventricular weight to body weight (VW/BW), left ventricular end diastolic dimension (LVDd), ejection fraction (EF), fractional shortening (FS), ratio of E-wave to A-wave velocity, collagen of noninfarcted zone, the mRNA expression of TGFbeta(1), Smad 2, and Smad 3 by RT-PCR in noninfarcted zone, the protein expression of Smad 2 and Smad 3 in noninfarcted zone by Western blot.

RESULTS

VW/BW significantly increased in the placebo groups compared with that in the control group (P < 0.01). This increase was limited in ACEI, ARB, and combined groups (P < 0.01 compared with placebo group). There was no significant difference among the three actively treated groups. Collagen was increased in placebo group (5.68 +/- 0.5)% compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment attenuated this increase of collagen [(4.3 +/- 0.5)%, (3.5 +/- 0.5)%, (3.2 +/- 0.4)%] in comparison with that in placebo group (P < 0.01 respectively). Combined treatment showed more significant effect on collagen deposition. EF and FS significantly decreased, LVDd and E/A significantly increased in placebo group compared with that in control group (P < 0.01 respectively). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment ameliorated these indexes (P < 0.01 compared with placebo group). The mRNA expression of TGFbeta(1), Smad 2, and Smad 3 (0.700 +/- 0.045, 0.959 +/- 0.037 and 0.850 +/- 0.051) increased in placebo group compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment normalized the increase (P < 0.01). Furthermore, ARB and combined treatment proved to be more effective in decreasing TGF beta(1) and Smad mRNA expression than ACEI treatment (P < 0.01). The expression of Smad 2 and Smad 3 protein increased in placebo group compared with that in control group (P < 0.01). ACEI, ARB and combined treatment normalized the increase (P < 0.01). Furthermore, ARB and combined treatment proved to be more effective than ACEI alone (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

TGFbeta(1)-Smads signal activation is correlated with ventricular remodeling following MI. ACEI and ARB treatment prevents ventricular remodeling by inhibiting expression of Smad 2 and Smad 3. ARB and combined treatment are more effective than ACEI alone.

[Expression of retinoic acid receptor-beta mRNA and p16, p53, Ki67 proteins in esophageal carcinoma and its precursor lesions]

OBJECTIVE

To study the expression of retinoic acid receptor-beta (RAR-beta) mRNA and p16, p53, Ki67 proteins in squamous-cell carcinoma of the esophagus and its precursor lesions in a high risk population.

METHODS

A total of 397 tissue specimens were collected from individuals with normal mucosa (NM, n = 25), mild dysplasia (MiD, n = 69), moderate dysplasia (MoD, n = 106), severe dysplasia (SD, n = 51), carcinoma in situ (CIS, n = 78), and squamous-cell carcinoma (SC, n = 68). Expression of RAR-beta mRNA was detected by in situ hybridization, and that of p16, p53 and Ki67 proteins by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The frequencies of RAR-beta mRNA expression in NM, MiD, MoD, SD, CIS and SC were 96.0%, 89.9%, 67.9%, 68.6%, 62.8%, and 63.2%, respectively. The frequencies of p16 expression were 88.0%, 71.0%, 64.2%, 51.0%, 53.8% and 52.9%; those of p53 expression were 4.0%, 39.1%, 57.5%, 52.9%, 67.9% and 69.1%; those of Ki67 expression were 0, 40.6%, 61.3%, 58.8%, 59.0% and 75.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

There are no significant differences in four biomarkers expression between carcinoma of the esophagus and its precursor lesions.

Application of the dual-beam FIB/SEM to metals research

The dual-beam microscope is a combination of a focused ion beam with an electron beam. The instrument used in this work is also equipped with an energy-dispersive X-ray system for local elemental analysis. This powerful tool gives access to specific features inside a material. Two different applications are presented in this paper: (1) cross-sections and transmission electron microscope specimens cut in order to investigate the interface between an aluminium substrate and its epoxy coating; and (2) a grain boundary in a Cu(3)Au alloy. In both cases, the dual beam succeeded where other methods failed.

[Differential expression of BRI gene in human non-small cell lung cancer cells]

BACKGROUND

To investigate the correlation between BRI gene expression and the metastatic potential in human non small cell lung cancer cell lines.

METHODS

BRI gene differential expression was detected between human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines AGZY83-a and Anip973 by RT-PCR and Northern blot. Anip973 was isolated from AGZY83-a with a higher metastatic potential than its parent line. Other 6 human non small cell lung cancer cell lines, A549, TKB-18, SPC-A-1, GLC-82, 95D and PAa, were also detected for the relationship between BRI expression and metastatic potential.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference in BRI gene expression between AGZY83-a and Anip973 cell lines. BRI was overexpressed in Anip973 cells comparing to AGZY83-a cells. Up regulation of BRI gene was also observed in other 6 lung cancer cell lines, and partly correlated with their metastatic potential. Furthermore, there were two mRNA transcripts in the lung cancer cells, in which the 1.6 kb transcript was the major one.

CONCLUSIONS

The up-regulated expression of BRI 1.6 kb mRNA transcript may indicate the formation of metastatic potential of NSCLC. BRI is possibly a metastasis related gene.

[Diversity of invasiveness and matrix metalloproteinases expression profile of human gastric carcinoma xenografted in different tissue environments]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effect of tissue environment on the invasiveness of carcinoma cells and the implication of expression of matrix metalloproteinases.

METHODS

Tissue from a human gastric carcinoma was transplanted and passaged subcutaneously in nude mice. After the 3rd passage, the xenografts were also transplanted into the abdominal cavity of nude mice. The invasiveness of xenografts at the two locations were observed morphologically and the expressions of MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, MMP-13, TM1-MMP, TM2-MMP and TM3-MMP were monitored by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

The subcutaneous xenografts of human gastric carcinoma in nude mice presented as expanding outgrowths with limited invasion. Except for MMP-7, the other 6 MMPs (MMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-13, TM1-MMP, TM2-MMP, TM3-MMP) were not expressed in the neoplastic cells nor in the tumor stroma. In contrast, the intra-peritoneal xenografts displayed an invasive growth pattern accompanied by more fibrous stroma. All MMPs examined were expressed in the tumor cells at the invasive fronts and in the adjacent stroma.

CONCLUSIONS

Invasiveness and expression of MMPs were obviously diverse in human gastric carcinoma cells when grafted at different anatomic locations in nude mice, thus indicating: (1) There exists a close interaction between tumor cells and surrounding stromal cells. The tissue environment may play a definitive role in the tumor phenotype. (2) The expression of MMPs is closely related to the growth pattern and the invasiveness of tumor cells. MMPs produced by the stroma cells at the invasion front may be linked to the invasiveness of neoplastic cells.

[Correlative study between expression of BRI gene and metastatic potential in human non-small cell lung cancer]

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential relationship between BRI gene expression and metastatic potential in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODS

Using semi-quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blot hybridization techniques, differential expression of the BRI gene in human lung adenocarcinoma cell lines AGZY-83-a and Anip-973 was investigated. Having a much higher metastatic potential, Anip-973 was isolated from AGZY-83-a parental cell line. In addition, the other 6 non-small cell lung cancer cell lines (SPC-A-1, A549, 95D, TKB-18, GLC-82, PAa) and 30 samples of lung cancer tissues with matched corresponding adjacent normal tissues were also analyzed.

RESULTS

There were significant differences in BRI gene expression between the two cell lines. BRI was preferentially expressed in Anip-973 cells compared to its parental cell line AGZY-83-a, and was also up-regulated in the other 6 lung cancer cell lines, correlating possibly with their metastatic potentials. BRI gene over-expression was observed in 30 lung cancer tissues compared with its corresponding adjacent normal tissues. A relative over-expression of BRI mRNA (tumor/normal >or= 2) was observed in 6 of 8 cancer samples with lymph node metastasis and 10 of 22(45.5%) samples without lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, two mRNA transcripts of BRI gene were observed: a 2.0 kb transcript which was mainly observed in normal lung tissues and a 1.6 kb transcript which was present as a dominant species in cancer tissues.

CONCLUSION

BRI mRNA expression is significantly up-regulated in NSCLC cell lines and clinical tumor samples. An alternatively spliced 1.6 kb mRNA is a major transcript of the gene in NSCLCs, suggesting that differential RNA processing and expression of BRI gene may play a role in the tumorigenesis and/or be related to the metastatic potential of human lung cancer.

[The design of a practical instant ECG pocket recorder]

The Holter is no doubt very useful in clinic to help doctor to capture and understand the seizure from the ECG. But the device is not convenient to be use at home and is still very expensive now. This paper introduces a practical instant ECG recorder which a patient can take with at any time. It's cheap and easy of use.

Thyroid and liver trophic changes in rats secondary to liver microsomal enzyme induction caused by an experimental leukotriene antagonist (L-649,923)

Thyroid hyperplasia and/or hepatomegaly were observed in a 14-week oral toxicity study with L-649,923, a leukotriene antagonist, at doses of 50 and 150 mg/kg/day. In a 16-day study, L-649,923 caused an increase in plasma TSH and hepatic enzyme induction, but did not affect plasma T3 and T4 levels. Light microscopy and ultrastructural examination of the liver and thyroid showed changes indicative of hepatic enzyme induction and increased stimulation of the thyroid by TSH. Because other hepatic enzyme inducers cause thyroid hyperplasia by increasing the turnover of plasma T3 and T4 it was hypothesized that L-649,923-induced thyroid hyperplasia might be occurring by the same mechanism. To examine this theory, rats were treated po with 300 mg/kg/day of L-649,923 for 17 days. On Day 15, all rats were dosed iv with [125I]thyroxine (33 microCi/rat). At various times after dosing, blood was collected and plasma levels of 125I were determined. The clearance and elimination rate constant were significantly larger in treated animals than in the control group (p less than 0.01). This work demonstrates that L-649,923 increases the plasma turnover of thyroxine which is associated with a stimulation of TSH and thyroid hyperplasia.

[Isolation of a metastatic ascitic subpopulation from a human lung adenocarcinoma cell line in nude mice and studies on its biological properties]

An ascitic subpopulation (Anip) was isolated from human lung adenocarcinoma cell line AGZY-83-a through serial intraperitoneal passages in nude mice. Anip manifested a much higher metastatic potential than the parent line. Spontaneous lung metastases occurred in 95% of the mice xenografted intraperitoneally, and the diffuse pattern of the metastases in the lung was very impressive. Anip also differed more or less from the parent line in morphology, growth, rate, electrophoretic mobility, platelet aggregating activity and noticeably in the chromosome histogram. The present model may be used in the study of tumor invasion and metastasis, as large amounts of well dispersed metastatic human carcinoma cells could be reproduced by ascites and much information about the biology of invasion and metastasis of human tumor cells in nude mice could be obtained.

Human colorectal tumor xenografts in nude mice: expression of malignancy

Factors associated with the growth and progression of (human) tumor xenografts have been briefly reviewed. Intrinsic properties of tumor cells, most of them yet to be recognized, may interfere with multiple rejection processes and/or growth regulatory signals developed in various immunodeficient recipients. Using alternative hosts or new experimental conditions, it is hoped that the system can provide valuable information on the tumor invasive and metastasizing processes.