Peripheral whole blood FOXP3 TSDR methylation: a potential marker in severity assessment of autoimmune diseases and chronic infections

Immune dysregulation is a cardinal feature of autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections. In particular, regulatory T cells are downregulated in autoimmune diseases while upregulated in chronic microbial infections. FOXP3 is the master regulator of Treg development. Treg-specific demethylated region (TSDR) is a highly conserved locus on the FOXP3 gene that is fully demethylated in natural Tregs but methylated in effector T cells. In our study, we used high resolution melt-polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR) to determine the FOXP3 TSDR methylation status in autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections. We found that FOXP3 TSDR to have the highest mean melting temperature (highly methylated) in active SLE patients compared to all the other groups (p?<?0.001). The psoriasis group also had a significantly high mean melting temperature (78.62?±?0.20) when compared with the inactive SLE group (78.49?±?0.29, p?<?0.05) and control group (78.44?±?0.25, p?<?0.01). There was no significant difference in melting temperature between inactive SLE and healthy controls. Disease activity in SLE was directly associated with methylation of the FOXP3 TSDR. On the other hand, patients with chronic microbial infections had significantly lower FOXP3 TSDR mean melting temperature (demethylated) when compared with healthy controls (78.28?±?0.21 vs 78.44?±?0.25, p?<?0.05). Our results suggest that the use of HRM-PCR to detect FOXP3 TSDR methylation status is a reliable and easy method to predict natural regulatory T cell levels in peripheral blood in different disease conditions. Determining FOXP3 TSDR methylation status can be a useful tool in diagnosis, and monitoring the severity of autoimmune diseases and chronic microbial infections.     

Comparison of the practicability of ultrasound and spiral computed tomography in the diagnosis of colon cancer: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

Background:Colon cancer is a common malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, a clear diagnosis is particularly important for the treatment of colon cancer. Ultrasound and spiral computed tomography (CT) can both be used in the diagnosis, but each has its own advantages and disadvantages, which could cause confusion in clinical choice. The purpose of this study was to systematically evaluate the practicability of spiral CT and ultrasound in the diagnosis of colon cancer.Methods:A systematic search was performed by retrieving on English databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library) and Chinese databases (CNKI, Wanfang, Weipu [VIP], CBM). Besides, manually search for Google and Baidu academic of diagnostic experimental study of ultrasound and spiral CT in the diagnosis of Colon Cancer. The retrieval time limit was from the establishment of the database to October 2020. Two researchers independently extracted and evaluated the quality of the data in the included study. A meta-analysis was performed using Meta Disc1.4 and RevMan5.3 software.Results:Sensitivity, specificity, positive Likelihood ratio, negative likelihood ratio, and diagnostic odds ratio were used to determine the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography and helical CT in colorectal cancer.Conclusions:This study will compare the practicability of CT and ultrasound in the diagnosis of colon cancer and provide reliable evidence-based basis for clinicians to choose the appropriate or best evidence-based basis.Ethics and dissemination:The private information from individuals will not be published. This systematic review also will not involve endangering participant rights. Ethical approval is not required. The results may be published in a peer-reviewed journal or disseminated in relevant conferences.OSF Registration number:DOI 10.17605/OSF.IO/WAJHQ     

基于“证治代谢组学”假说探讨中药（单体/复方）药效物质基础的研究思路与实践＊

中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究是中医药现代研究的关键问题之一。然而,目前运用的生化和分子生物学方法很难诠释其多靶点、整体性和动态性的整合调节作用。课题组提出的"证治代谢组学"假说理论指出,不同的证候存在"证相关代谢谱群"和"证相关生物标志物",这可能是中药药效物质基础所在,辨证论治后偏离的代谢网络功能呈现回归趋势。基于"证治代谢组学"假说开展中药(单体/复方)药效物质基础研究,这将为阐释中药(单体/复方)防病治病和养生保健的科学内涵及其对疾病个体的整合调节作用提供新的思路。本文以冠心病为研究载体、气阴虚血瘀证为切入点、活血保心丸为干预措施,就该研究思路的内涵与总体模式、提出的背景与依据、实践的方式与可行性、创新与特色及其研究意义等进行了简要介绍。     

食管癌根治性放疗剂量研究进展

同步放化疗是不可手术局部晚期食管癌的标准治疗模式,国际推荐根治性放疗剂量为50.0~50.4Gy,但中国食管癌与西方国家在病理类型、生物学行为等方面大有不同,行根治性放疗剂量仍倾向于60Gy。增加放疗剂量能否带来生存获益成为临床亟待解决的问题。有研究认为高剂量放疗可提高局控率、改善生存,但也有研究认为提高剂量未能带来生存获益,且可增加不良反应事件发生率。因此,本文就食管癌根治性放疗剂量对预后的影响进行探讨,并通过放化疗后疗效评估对放疗剂量做出适当调整,以期达个体化放疗。     

Research progress on accelerator-based stereotactic body radiotherapy

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) has become an important radiotherapy technology. In recent years, with the continuous improvement of the mechanical properties of the linear accelerator (LINAC), LINAC-based SBRT is gradually emerging. In this article, the history, technological progress, radiation physics, clinical application of LINAC-based SBRT were elaborated, aiming to promote the development of LINAC-based SBRT.     

结核病患者心理状态分析及治疗

目的了解结核病患者的心理状态,并给予相应治疗,以观察其疗效。方法采用医院焦虑抑郁情绪调查表,对2004年1月—2005年1月收治的130名结核病患者进行心理测评,对心理治疗前后患者心态的变化进行u检验。结果回收有效问卷123份,调查发现心理状态变异者占90.2%(111/123),其中焦虑型患者占56.1%(69/123),抑郁型患者占21.1%(26/123),无所用心型患者占13.0%(16/123),心理状态稳定者仅占9.8%(12/123)。给予相应心理治疗后患者心态较治疗前显著改善(P<0.01),心理状态变异者由治疗前的90.2%减少为治疗后的11.4%(14/123),心理状态稳定者由治疗前的9.8%提高到治疗后的88.6%(109/123)。结论结核病患者存在严重的心理问题,在治疗过程中开展心理治疗是十分必要的。     

施他宁联合奥美拉唑治疗肝硬化并上消化道大出血的疗效观察

目的探讨施他宁(生长抑素)联合奥美拉唑治疗肝硬化合并上消化道大出血的疗效。方法将确诊的83例患者随机分为三组。治疗组采用施他宁联合奥美拉唑的治疗方案,对照1组采用奥曲肽联合奥美拉唑的方案,对照2组采用垂体后叶素联合奥美拉唑的方案,观察时间为72 h。结果治疗组、对照1组、对照2组的止血有效率分别为93.3%、68.0%、57.1%,治疗组的止血有效率明显高于两个对照组(P<0.05);治疗组、对照1组、对照2组的有效止血时间分别为(29.71±6.35)h,(38.24±7.04)h,(40.88±9.98)h,治疗组的有效止血时间明显短于两个对照组(P<0.01)。结论施他宁联合奥美拉唑治疗肝硬化合并上消化道大出血疗效满意。