Immunogenicity of next-generation HPV vaccines in non-human primates: Measles-vectored HPV vaccine versus Pichia pastoris recombinant protein vaccine

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide. HPVs are oncogenic small double-stranded DNA viruses that are the primary causal agent of cervical cancer and other types of cancers, including in the anus, oropharynx, vagina, vulva, and penis. Prophylactic vaccination against HPV is an attractive strategy for preventing cervical cancer and some other types of cancers. However, there are few safe and effective vaccines against HPV infections. Current first-generation commercial HPV vaccines are expensive to produce and deliver.The goal of this study was to develop an alternate potent HPV recombinant L1-based vaccines by producing HPV virus-like particles into a vaccine that is currently used worldwide. Live attenuated measles virus (MV) vaccines have a well-established safety and efficacy record, and recombinant MV (rMV) produced by reverse genetics may be useful for generating candidate HPV vaccines to meet the needs of the developing world.We studied in non-human primate rMV-vectored HPV vaccine in parallel with a classical alum adjuvant recombinant HPV16L1 and 18L1 protein vaccine produced in Pichia pastoris. A combined prime-boost approach using both vaccines was evaluated, as well as immune interference due to pre-existing immunity against the MV.The humoral immune response induced by the MV, Pichia-expressed vaccine, and their combination as priming and boosting approaches was found to elicit HPV16L1 and 18L1 specific total IgG and neutralizing antibody titres. Pre-existing antibodies against measles did not prevent the immune response against HPV16L1 and 18L1.     

石斛合剂对高脂高糖糖尿病大鼠心肌细胞Ca^2+代谢的影响

目的以糖尿病心肌病大鼠为研究对象,探讨石斛合剂对糖尿病心肌病心肌细胞Ca^2+代谢的影响。方法 Wistar大鼠24只,取5只作为正常组,余19只采用高脂高糖饮食联合链脲佐菌素腹腔注射进行糖尿病心肌病造模。成模后,随机分为模型组、二甲双胍组、石斛合剂组。二甲双胍组、石斛合剂组分别予二甲双胍、石斛合剂灌胃,正常组、模型组予生理盐水灌胃。4周后,测空腹血糖,取左心室心肌组织进行组织病理学观察和心肌细胞内游离钙(MyoCa^2+)浓度测定,Western blot法检测肌浆网Ca^2+-ATP酶(SERCA2a)、L型钙通道α1C亚单位蛋白(CACNA1C)蛋白表达,RT-PCR法测定SERCA2a mRNA表达。结果石斛合剂组心肌纤维较模型组、二甲双胍组排列整齐,断裂较少。与正常组比较,模型组血糖、心肌细胞MyoCa^2+含量和CACNA1C蛋白表达明显升高(P<0.01,P<0.05),SERCA2a mRNA和蛋白表达明显降低(P<0.01)。与模型组比较,石斛合剂组血糖、心肌细胞MyoCa^2+含量和CACNA1C蛋白表达明显降低(P<0.01,P<0.05),SERCA2a mRNA和蛋白表达明显升高(P<0.01,P<0.05);二甲双胍组血糖明显降低(P<0.01)。与二甲双胍组比较,石斛合剂组心肌细胞MyoCa^2+含量明显降低(P<0.01,P<0.05),血糖、SERCA2a mRNA和蛋白表达明显升高(P<0.05)。结论石斛合剂通过提高SERCA2a mRNA和蛋白表达,加快摄取Ca^2+的速率,降低细胞质Ca^2+负荷,缓解钙超载,最终达到维持糖尿病心肌病钙稳态的作用,有效维持心肌细胞的正常收缩舒张功能;其降糖作用不是预防糖尿病心肌病的主要机理,而在于抑制CACNA1C蛋白表达,抑制钙诱导钙释放过程。     

Insulin-like growth factor-1 as predictive factor of difficult laryngoscopy in patients with GH-producing pituitary adenoma: A pilot study

BackgroundGrowth hormone (GH)-producing pituitary tumors account for 10 to 15% of pituitary tumors. The hypersecretion of GH may induce changes in the airway anatomy through the activation of Insulin-like Growth factor 1(IGF-1) pathway. We sought investigate the role IGF-1 as a potential predictive factor of difficult laryngoscopy in patients with GH-producing pituitary adenoma.MethodsThis study was a single center retrospective study. We included 33 patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of GH-producing pituitary. We recorded demographic data, el-Ganzouri risk index (EGRI) and modified Look-Evaluate-Mallampati-Obstruction-Neck mobility (mLEMON) score, and pituitary hormone plasma levels. We performed ordinal logistic regression to analyze the relationship between IGF-1 and EGRI, mLEMON, and Cormack-Lehane Grade score and a multiple logistic regression to test the capability of EGRI, mLEMON and IGF-1 levels to predict Cormack-Lehane score. Receiver operating curve (ROC), area under the curve (AUC), and cut-off value of IGF-1 were calculated.ResultsOnly 14 (42.8%) and 12 (36.36%) patients showed predictive factors of difficult intubation according to EGRI and mLEMON score, respectively. IGF-1 significantly correlated with Cormack-Lehane (p = 0.005879) but not with mLEMON and EGRI (p = 0.3080 and 0.4146, respectively). In multiple regression model IGF-1 correlated only with Cormack-Lehane grade (p = 0.0089). Area under ROC was 0.8571 and cut-off value of IGF-1 was 186.15 ng/ml.ConclusionHigher IGF-1 levels correlate with the probability of having a higher Cormack-Lehane score; classical bedside scores, such as mLEMON and EGRI, were not able to predict difficult laryngoscopy in our population.     

Effect of a Device-Free Compressed Shell Fixation Method on Hepatic Respiratory Movement: Analysis for Respiratory Amplitude of the Liver and Internal Motions of a Fiducial Marker

Purpose

Suppression of respiratory movement of the liver would be desirable for high-precision radiation therapy for liver tumors. We aimed to investigate the effect of our original device-free compressed shell fixation method and breathing instruction on suppression of respiratory movement. The characteristics of liver motion based on the movement of a fiducial marker were also analyzed.

Treatment strategies for hypertension in patients with type 1 diabetes

ABSTRACT

Introduction

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic, autoimmune disease that is characterized by total absence of insulin production. Hypertension is a common comorbidity in T1DM with complex pathophysiology, while it is also a well-recognized risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), as well as other microvascular diabetic complications.     

层面递进法激光腔内剜除高危前列腺增生的治疗体会

目的探讨1 470 nm激光剜除治疗高危前列腺增生的手术技巧及临床效果。 方法回顾分析2018年6月至2018年9月中山大学附属第三医院泌尿外科采用1 470 nm激光治疗共89例高危前列腺增生患者的临床资料，年龄平均（68±3）岁，前列腺体积（57.4±2.6）ml。所有患者均采用"寻找层面，先易后难，剜切结合"的层面递进法思路行激光腔内前列腺剜除术，比较患者术中及术后情况。 结果89例均顺利完成手术，与术前相比，术后3个月患者最大尿流率明显增加，[（6.9±2.1） ml/s vs（19.8±3.6） ml/s]。国际前列腺症状评分显著好转，[（24.6±1.7） vs（8.0±1.2）]。术中无输血、无电切综合征、无直肠和膀胱穿孔病例，无输尿管损伤、大出血、心脑血管意外等严重并发症发生。 结论层面递进法激光剜除技术构想对于高危前列腺增生外科包膜层面的寻找、减少术后并发症有独到优势，且易于掌握，或可为业界同行提供一个新的思路。     

PD-L1高表达晚期非小细胞肺癌患者单纯免疫治疗与免疫联合化疗疗效比较

背景与目的以免疫检查点抑制剂（immune checkpoint inhibitors, ICIs）为代表的免疫治疗越来越广泛地应用于肺癌治疗。然而，对于程序性死亡受体配体1（programmed cell death-ligand 1, PD-L1）高表达，即肿瘤比例评分（tumor proportion score, TPS）≥50%的晚期非小细胞肺癌（non-small cell lung cancer, NSCLC）患者，采用单纯免疫治疗还是免疫联合化疗在临床上仍存争议。本研究旨在评估PD-L1高表达的晚期NSCLC患者接受单纯免疫治疗与免疫联合化疗的疗效。方法本研究回顾性分析了49例PD-L1高表达晚期NSCLC患者的临床资料。PD-L1表达采用22C3抗体行免疫组化染色，按TPS判读PD-L1表达水平。比较不同临床特征分组患者的客观缓解率（objective response rate，ORR）和无进展生存时间（progression free survival, PFS）。结果免疫单药与免疫联合化疗组的ORR分别为47.1%（8/17）和43.8%（14/32），差异无统计学意义（P=0.825）。免疫单药与免疫联合化疗组的中位PFS分别为8.0个月和6.8个月，差异无统计学意义（P=0.502）。并对本组PD-L1高表达患者免疫治疗的预测因素进行了分析，结果显示，一线免疫治疗ORR（12/19, 63.2%）显著优于二线及以上免疫治疗（10/30, 33.3%），差异有统计学意义（P=0.041），二者间PFS无差异。年龄、性别、吸烟史、功能状态评分（performance status, PS）、病理类型、肿瘤大小、肿瘤淋巴结转移（tumor node metastasis, TNM）分期与ORR和PFS不相关。结论PD-L1高表达的晚期NSCLC患者接受免疫单药和免疫联合化疗的疗效相近。PD-L1高表达患者一线免疫治疗的ORR更佳。对此类人群的最佳治疗方案有待于前瞻性临床研究进一步探索。     

A modality-specific somatosensory evoked potential test protocol for clinical evaluation: A feasibility study

ObjectiveWe aimed to establish an objective neurophysiological test protocol that can be used to assess the somatosensory nervous system.MethodsIn order to assess most fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system, repetitive stimuli of seven different modalities (touch, vibration, pinprick, cold, contact heat, laser, and warmth) were synchronized with the electroencephalogram (EEG) and applied on the cheek and dorsum of the hand and dorsum of the foot in 21 healthy subjects and three polyneuropathy (PNP) patients. Latencies and amplitudes of the modalities were assessed and compared. Patients received quantitative sensory testing (QST) as reference.ResultsWe found reproducible evoked potentials recordings for touch, vibration, pinprick, contact-heat, and laser stimuli. The recording of warm-evoked potentials was challenging in young healthy subjects and not applicable in patients. Latencies were shortest within Aβ-fiber-mediated signals and longest within C-fibers. The test protocol detected function loss within the Aβ-fiber and Aδ-fiber-range in PNP patients. This function loss corresponded with QST findings.ConclusionIn this pilot study, we developed a neurophysiological test protocol that can specifically assess most of the somatosensory modalities. Despite technical challenges, initial patient data appear promising regarding a possible future clinical application.SignificanceEstablished and custom-made stimulators were combined to assess different fiber subtypes of the somatosensory nervous system using modality-specific evoked potentials.