Skewed B cell receptor repertoire and reduced antibody avidity in patients with DOCK8 deficiency

DOCK8 immunodeficiency syndrome (DIDS) is a combined immunodeficiency characterized by recurrent viral infections, severe atopy and early onset malignancy. Immunological abnormalities include lymphopenia, CD8⁺ T‐cell cytoskeleton dysfunction, defective B cell memory and variable serum immunoglobulin levels. Here, we analyse the B cell receptor repertoire (BCR) characteristics and antibody avidity of four DIDS patients, attempt to understand the dysregulated humoral immunity in DIDS patients with a normal antibody titre and suggest a scientific basis for intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement therapy for these patients. We analysed BCR characteristics, including somatic hypermutation (SHM) frequency, using deep sequencing of multiplex PCR products derived from BCR heavy chain CDR3 regions from DIDS patients and controls. The antibody avidity of human tetanus and hemophilus influenza B antibodies was determined by ELISA using thiocyanate elution. IVIG replacement treatment and infection conditions were investigated retrospectively. We found skewing of the BCR repertoire and decreased antibody avidity in patients with DIDS. DIDS patients had fewer negatively charged amino acids than healthy controls. The SHM frequency of the IGHV3 gene was lower in patients with DIDS. Patients received regular IVIG therapy, resulting in fewer and less severe infections. We conclude that although IgG levels are normal in most DIDS patients, IVIG replacement therapy is still necessary.     

轴向载荷分担比指导外固定器动力化的临床应用

目的:探讨轴向载荷分担比用于胫腓骨骨干骨折术后指导外固定器轴向动力化促进骨折愈合的有效性。方法:选取外固定器治疗的胫腓骨骨干骨折患者100例,随机分为观察组50例,对照组50例。观察组在轴向载荷分担比指导下行外固定器轴向动力化治疗,对照组未行动力化,随访比较两组的治疗效果。结果:所有患者均获随访,随访时间4～12个月,平均6.5个月,治疗期间所有患者均未出现外固定针断裂、松动及再骨折等并发症,观察组1例骨搬移患者轴向载荷分担比5%,X线片显示骨折断端有连续性骨痂通过,拆除外固定器连接杆后发生移位,恢复原数值行轴向加压再动力化,现已愈合。观察组除外1例骨搬移患者,其余49例患者外固定器固定时间为[(24.4±4.7)周],骨折临床愈合时间为[(22.4±4.7)周],与对照组50例患者外固定器固定时间[(29.3±5.6)周],骨折临床愈合时间[(27.3±5.6)周]比较,显著减少(P0.05)。结论:外固定器轴向载荷分担比指导胫腓骨骨干骨折外固定术后轴向动力化可以加速骨折愈合,但不适合骨搬移截骨端已硬化患者。     

主动脉窦瘤破裂的外科治疗体会

目的：总结主动脉窦瘤破裂的手术适应症、手术方法和预后。方法：回顾性分析2011年1月至2017年12月因主动脉窦瘤破裂于我院行外科手术治疗的130名患者资料。其中男性58例(44.62%)，女性72例(55.38%)，年龄32～75（52.72±13.87）岁。合并室间隔缺损55例(42.31%)，合并主动脉瓣关闭不全39例(30%)，合并房间隔缺损12例(9.23%)，合并三尖瓣关闭不全8例(6.15%)，合并二尖瓣关闭不全6例(4.62%)，合并主动脉夹层1例(0.77%)，合并其他心脏疾病9例(6.92%)；破裂开口起源于右冠窦119例，起源于无冠窦11例。所有患者均在中低温体外循环下行手术治疗。结果：所有患者中，2例患者围术期死亡，余128例患者随访5个月至5年，术后心功能恢复至I-II级。结论：一旦发现主动脉窦瘤破裂，应积极予以治疗。     

监测数据统计分析模型在生态学研究中的应用

近年来，环境监测、疾病监测等各种监测网络不断健全，监测系统成为开展生态学研究的重要数据来源。监测数据类型包括了横断面数据、时间序列数据和面板数据，涉及暴露、结局和混杂3个维度。针对该数据的信息属性和结构特点，相关统计学方法逐渐发展完善，出现了一些新的方法、模型。基于数据的时空属性，本文对监测数据在生态学研究中常用模型的原理、适用条件及优劣进行了综述。     

Increased expression of GAB1 promotes inflammation and fibrosis in systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease mainly characterized by persistent inflammation and fibrosis. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signal pathway plays an important role in the process of SSc, and Grb2‐associated binding protein (GAB) is crucial in activating RTK signalling. A previous study found elevated levels of GAB1 in bleomycin (BLM)‐induced fibrotic lungs, but the effects of GAB1 in SSc remain unclear. Our aim was to investigate whether GAB1 was dysregulated and its potential role in SSc. Compared with healthy donors, we found GAB1 expression was 1.6‐fold higher in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), 2.5‐fold higher in CD4 + T cells, and 2‐fold higher in skin from of SSc patients (P < .01). At the same time, the levels of type one collagen (COLI) were also significantly increased (1.8‐fold higher) in SSc skin. Additionally, BLM‐induced SSc mice showed mRNA levels of Gab1 2‐fold higher than saline‐treated controls, and Gab1 expression correlated positively with collagen content. A further in vitro study showed silencing of GAB1 suppressed inflammatory gene expression in TNF‐α induced fibroblasts. Additionally, GAB1 deficiency prominently inhibited cell proliferation and reduced COLI protein levels in TGF‐β induced fibroblasts. Taken together, these data suggest that GAB1 has a relatively high expression rate in SSc, and knockdown of GAB1 may attenuate SSc by stimulating inflammatory and fibrotic processes.     

Anthocyanin Consumption and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

This meta-analysis aimed to summarize the association between anthocyanin consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer.

All relative articles were located on online databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library as of June 11, 2018. Risk ratios (RRs) or odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated through the STATA 12.0 software package.

A total of seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. A significant inverse association was found between total anthocyanin consumption and colorectal cancer risk (RR?=?0.78; 95% CI, 0.64–0.95). Likewise, there was significant evidence of a relationship between anthocyanin intake and colorectal cancer in the colon site (RR?=?0.81; 95% CI, 0.71–0.92); men (RR?=?0.88; 95% CI, 0.81–0.95), and case-control studies (RR?=?0.69; 95% CI, 0.60–0.78). A dose–response relationship was not found in this meta-analysis. The Grades of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation quality in our study was very low.

This meta-analysis indicates that anthocyanin consumption is inversely associated with the risk of colorectal cancer. Anthocyanins may play an active role in the prevention of colorectal cancer.

Key teaching points:

• Some epidemiological studies found an inverse correlation between the high consumption of anthocyanins and low risk of colorectal cancer.

• Because of this structure, anthocyanins/anthocyanidins have a powerful capability of donating electrons, which can be characterized as antioxidant properties.

• Anthocyanins can also inhibit colon cancer by interfering in the cell cycle and inducing the effect of anti-proliferation and apoptosis. The formation of cytoplasmic vacuoles in cells also indicates that anthocyanins may induce autophagy.

• From the findings of nonrandomized controlled trials, anthocyanins may play an active role in the prevention of colorectal cancer.