[Control study of chest CT imaging features of aluminosis and silicosis patients]

Objective: To understand the chest CT features of aluminosis caused by alumina and to improve the understanding of the imaging findings of alumina pneumoconiosis. Methods: The chest CT findings of 17 cases of alumina-induced pneumoconiosis and 30 cases of silicosis (the control group) diagnosed in Zibo Occupational Disease Prevention Hospital from April 2015 to July 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. The characteristics of fibrosis of the two kinds of pneumoconiosis and the incidence of size, density, distribution, tractive bronchiectasis, pleural thickening and interlobular septal thickening of pneumoconiosis nodules were compared. Results: Alumina pneumoconiosis showed nodules with thickened interlobular septal of 66.67% (12/18) , honeycomb lung of 22.22% (4/18) , ground glass shadow of 61.11% (11/18) , simple nodules of 11.11% (2/18) , and no fusion mass. In the control group, the long-line fibrosis of nodules with thickened interlobular septal were 16.67% (5/30) , 6.67% (2/30) with honeycomb lung and ground glass density shadow, 23.33% (7/30) with fusion mass and 53.33% (16/30) with simple nodule. There were significant differences in CT findings of nodules with thickened interlobular septal, ground glass density shadow, fused mass and simple nodules between the two groups (P<0.05) . The interstitial beaded nodules were seen in 18 cases of alumina pneumoconiosis, 50.00% (9/18) of them were beaded nodules, 61.33% (46/75) of low density nodules and 38.89% (7/18) of central lobular nodules were seen in alumina pneumoconiosis. The average width of nodules was (1.29±0.38) mm. Central lobular nodules were seen in all 30 cases of silicosis, 10.00% (3/30) were mainly beaded nodules, low density nodules were 36.29% (90/248) , and the average width diameter of nodules was (1.85±0.58) mm. There were significant differences between the two groups (P<0.05) . Alumina pneumoconiosis was often accompanied by traction bronchiectasis, pleural thickening and interlobular septal thickening (11, 18, 17 cases, 61.11%, 100.00%, 94.44%) , compared with the control group (9, 18, 18 cases, 30.00%, 60.00%, 60.00%) . The differences were statistically significant (P<0.05) . The maximum CT value of noncalcified mediastinal lymphnodes in alumina pneumoconiosis was (103.43±26.33) HU, which was higher than that of the control group[ (75.22±16.70) HU], and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) . Conclusion: Alumina pneumoconiosis chest CT shows slightly low-density beaded nodules, thickened interlobular septal, and pulmonary interstitial fibrosis of ground-glass shadows, mostly combines with stretched bronchiectasis, thickened pleura, and mediastinum increased lymph node density.

[Safety and immunogenicity analysis of recombinant （hansenula polymorpha) hepatitis B vaccine （CpG ODN adjuvant) among adults: the preliminary results of phase I clinical trial]

Objective: To evaluate the safety and immune effect of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine （CpG ODN adjuvant). Methods: On Oct. 26, 2016, we launched volunteer recruitment in Kaihua county, Quzhou city, Zhejiang Province. In the randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, a total of 48 subjects with negative HBV screening tests and normal hepatorenal function among 18 and 60 years old were selected and divided into two groups randomly, 24 cases each. The experimental group was given 250 μg of CpG ODN recombinant （Hansenula polymorpha) Hepatitis B vaccine and the control group was given 10 μg of commercial Hepatitis B vaccine with timed at 0, 1and 6 months. The inoculation reactions were compared the difference between the two groups after observed and recorded in time periods. We also collected serum before and after immunization to compare the two groups of anti-HBs positive rate, geometric mean concentration（GMC). Results: During the study period, the incidence of adverse events was 66.67%（16/24) in the experimental group and 54.17%（13/24) in the control group, with no significant difference（P=0.556). The severities of adverse events were level 1 or level 2, and no level 3 or above adverse reactions occurred. After full-course immunization, in the FAS data set, the anti-HBs GMC in the experimental group [2 598.56（1 127.90-5 986.90) mIU/ml] was higher than that in the control group[371.97（164.54-840.91) mIU/ml] In the PPS set, the GMC of test group was 7 808.21（3 377.00-18 052.00) mIU/ml, which was higher than that of the control group [843.22（213.80-3 325.90) mIU/ml]. The anti-HBs positive rate of FAS（PPS) was 95.83%（100.00%) in the experimental group and the control group; The anti-HBs strongly positive rate of FAS（PPS) was 79.17%（90.00%) in the experimental group and 33.33%（50.00%) in the control group, with statistically significant differences among the FAS set（P=0.003) and no statistically significance differences among the PPS set（P=0.074). Conclusion: CpG Hepatitis B Vaccine is safe and shows better immunogenicity than the control vaccine.

Polymorphisms in the nuclear factor kappa B gene association with recurrent embryo implantation failure

Despite more than a century of intensive study, the mechanisms of successful pregnancy remain unclear. Recent research suggests that NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) plays an important role in embryo implantation. In the current study, we aimed to identify SNPs that contribute to genetic susceptibility for recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Thus, we examined the potential associations between RIF and ten SNPs (rs28362491, rs3774932, rs1598856, rs230528, rs230521, rs3774956, rs4648055, rs3774964, rs4648068, and rs3774968) of the NF-κB gene. Participants included 209 patients with RIF and 395 controls. Our results revealed that there were statistically significant differences observed in the allelic and genotypic frequencies of the rs28362491 promoter in the NF-κB gene. The frequency of the del/ del genotype was significantly higher in RIF patients than in healthy controls (P = 0.004). Compared with healthy controls, the RIF patients carried a higher frequency of the rs28362491 del allele (P = 0.010). Furthermore, strong linkage disequilibrium was observed in the three identified haplotype blocks (D' > 0.9). Particularly, in block 1 (rs230528-rs230521), the A-C haplotype occurred significantly more frequently (P = 0.029) in subjects with RIF (P = 0.0003). In contrast, the A-G haplotype occurred significantly less frequently (P = 0.008) in RIF subjects. These findings support an important role for G-712A polymorphisms of NF-κB in RIF, and may guide future studies that aim to characterize genetic risk factors for RIF.

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 expression and early spontaneous abortion

OBJECTIVES

To compare tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) protein expression in women with unexplained early spontaneous abortion (UESA) and normal pregnancy.

METHODS

In a prospective study, 62 women with UESA and 60 with normal pregnancy were studied. Decidual membrane TNFR1 was detected by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, and serum soluble TNFR1 were by ELISA. Statistical analyses of resulting data employed the student's t test, the Fisher's Exact, and the nonparametric Wilcoxon test

RESULTS

The percentage of membrane tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (mTNFR1) positive decidual cells was 16.42+/-7.1 for women with UESA and 12.47+/-5.3 for women with normal pregnancy (p<0.05). The number of mTNFR1 positive cells was more in decidual stromal and vessel endothelial cells in women with UESA, and serum soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) concentration was significantly higher than in women with normal pregnancy (554.56+/-126.7 pg/ml vs. 175.3+/-52.4 pg/ml; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

The overexpression of TNFR1 may contribute to the development of ESA.

Performance of an in-vivo, continuous blood-gas monitor with disposable probe

A fluorescence-based fiber optic measurement system has been developed for monitoring pH, pCO2, and pO2 through a 20-gauge radial artery catheter without compromising capabilities for monitoring arterial pressure or for blood withdrawal. The measuring probe consists of three optical fibers to which the sensing chemistries are attached, and a thermocouple that measures temperature. The probe is designed to meet in-vivo biocompatibility requirements for a one-time use of up to 72 h. The components that are in contact with the patient's blood are nontoxic, nonhemolytic, nonthrombogenic, and sterilizable. Blood compatibility is enhanced by including covalently bound heparin. The in-vitro accuracy of the system has been tested against commercial blood-gas measurement instruments; comparison with tonometry and blood gas values gave r greater than or equal to 0.98 for all three sensors. The standard error for all sensors was within the College of American Pathologists' accuracy guidelines for measuring blood gas. Instrumental drift was minimal, indicating that system performance characteristics should not be the limiting factor in obtaining clinically useful information for up to 72 h. The response times of the sensors in animal and in-vitro studies were less than 2 min, suitable for monitoring physiological changes in blood gas values.

Performance of an in-vivo, continuous blood-gas monitor with disposable probe

A fluorescence-based fiber optic measurement system has been developed for monitoring pH, pCO2, and pO2 through a 20-gauge radial artery catheter without compromising capabilities for monitoring arterial pressure or for blood withdrawal. The measuring probe consists of three optical fibers to which the sensing chemistries are attached, and a thermocouple that measures temperature. The probe is designed to meet in-vivo biocompatibility requirements for a one-time use of up to 72 h. The components that are in contact with the patient's blood are nontoxic, nonhemolytic, nonthrombogenic, and sterilizable. Blood compatibility is enhanced by including covalently bound heparin. The in-vitro accuracy of the system has been tested against commercial blood-gas measurement instruments; comparison with tonometry and blood gas values gave r greater than or equal to 0.98 for all three sensors. The standard error for all sensors was within the College of American Pathologists' accuracy guidelines for measuring blood gas. Instrumental drift was minimal, indicating that system performance characteristics should not be the limiting factor in obtaining clinically useful information for up to 72 h. The response times of the sensors in animal and in-vitro studies were less than 2 min, suitable for monitoring physiological changes in blood gas values.