[Effect of resection of adenoids and/or tonsil on the immune indexes in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

Objective: To study the effect on immune indexes in children with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after resection of adenoid and/or tonsil. Methods: A total of 100 children with OSAHS due to adenoid hypertrophy were enrolled in Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, the Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University from December 2016 to December 2018. Some cases were complicated with tonsil hypertrophy or chronic tonsillitis. 6 ml of fasting peripheral venous blood were collected from all subjects at the 1st day before surgery, 4th day, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months after surgery to detect lymphoid subsets percentage (CD3(+), CD4(+),CD8(+), CD4/CD8, CD19, NK) and level of immunoglobulin (IgG, IgA, IgM). Grouping: group A was a total of 51 cases with adenoid hypertrophy after Adenoid plasma ablation; group B was a total of 27 cases with adenoid hypertrophy and chronic tonsillitis after plasma ablation of adenoid and tonsil; and group C was a total of 22 cases hypertrophy of adenoid and tonsil after plasma ablation of adenoid and tonsil.In the baseline data, age, gender and other variables were analyzed by anova and chi-square test, repeated measurement anova was used for intra-group and inter-group comparison of observation indicators at different time points after operation, and independent sample t-test was used for comparison between the two groups at observation points 3 months after operation. Results: (1) In group A, the percentage of CD19 lymphocytes before surgery was higher than that at 4th day after surgery, and the difference was statistically significant (21.85±6.20 vs.19.18±5.91, P<0.05). The other immune indexes were not statistically different before and after surgery (P>0.05). (2) In group B, the percentage of CD19 lymphocytes, CD3(+)T lymphocytes, CD8(+)T lymphocytes and the level of IgG at 4th day after surgery were significantly different between those before surgery (all P<0.05). At the 1st month after surgery, the percentage of CD3(+)T lymphocytes, CD8(+)T lymphocytes, CD19 lymphocytes and the level of IgG were significantly different between those before surgery (all P<0.05). The other immune indexes were not statistically different before and after operation (P>0.05). (3) In group C, the percentage of CD19 lymphocytes and the CD3(+)T lymphocytes at 4th day after surgery were significantly different between those before surgery (all P<0.05).In the 1st month after surgery, the percentage of CD8(+)T lymphocytes and CD19 lymphocytes were significantly different between those before surgery (all P<0.05). The other immune indexes were not statistically different before and after operation (P>0.05). (4) Among three groups, the percentage of CD4(+)T lymphocytes, the levels of IgG and IgA before surgery between group A and Group B were statistically significant (all P<0.05). At 4th day after surgery, the percentage of CD4(+)T lymphocytes in group B and C were lower than those in group A, and the differences were statistically significant (32.22±6.14, 32.36±6.87 vs. 36.36±5.19, all P<0.05); the other immune indexes were not statistically different among each group before and after surgery (P>0.05). Conclusions: Resection of adenoid has no significant effect on the immune indexes in children with OSAHS. The children with OSAHS complicated with tonsil problems have immune index disorder before surgery. Surgery has a certain effect on the immune indexes of children with OSAHS in a short period of time, and tends to normal level after one month.

Fetal cardiac tumor: echocardiography, clinical outcome and genetic analysis in 53 cases

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the imaging and clinical features of fetal cardiac tumors, and to explore the relationship between tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and cardiac rhabdomyoma in the fetus.

METHODS

Fifty-three women pregnant with a fetus affected by cardiac tumor(s) were examined by standardized fetal echocardiography (FE), and fetuses, mothers and fathers, including other relevant family members if necessary, underwent familial TSC genetic testing. Relevant pathological features, including pathological findings at clinical examination of liveborn infants and autopsy findings in terminated cases, were noted.

RESULTS

Of the 53 fetuses, 37 had multiple cardiac tumors and 16 had a single cardiac tumor detected by FE. In all 53 fetuses and their families, TSC genetic testing was successful, showing that 37 of the fetuses had a TSC1 (n = 6) or TSC2 (n = 31) pathogenic or suspected pathogenic mutation, of which 25 were spontaneous and 12 were familial mutations. The proportion of single and multiple cardiac tumors at FE was significantly different between the group of fetuses with positive genetic test results and that with negative results for TSC (31% and 86%, respectively), although the presence of multiple or single tumors was not associated with the type of TSC mutation. The decision to terminate the pregnancy was made by 45 women and their families, and eight fetuses were liveborn. Autopsy was performed in 38 fetuses, which revealed 36 cases with pathologically confirmed cardiac rhabdomyoma, one case of hemangioma and one case of fibroma. 93% of fetuses with multiple rhabdomyomas at autopsy and 71% of those with a single cardiac rhabdomyoma harbored a TSC1 or TSC2 mutation.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac rhabdomyoma is the most common cardiac tumor in the fetus. The correlation between cardiac rhabdomyoma and TSC is strong regardless of the presence of single or multiple tumors. For fetuses with suspected cardiac rhabdomyoma identified by FE, prenatal genetic testing for TSC of both fetus and family members is recommended. A positive genetic diagnosis can help in counseling and planning for neonatal treatment. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Experimental Observation of Single Skyrmion Signatures in a Magnetic Tunnel Junction

We have deterministically created a stable topological spin texture in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) by using pulsed or microwave currents. The spin texture is characterized by a field-dependent intermediate resistance state and a new magnetic resonance. Micromagnetic simulations show that the observations are consistent with the nucleation of a single skyrmion, facilitated by a spatially nonuniform stray field. The unique resonance spectrum is identified as the skyrmion breathing mode and a skyrmion diameter of 75 nm is estimated. This work shows the possibility to create skyrmions in MTJs without the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and could lead to noninvasive, on-chip skyrmion measurement.

Evaluation of Diffusional Kurtosis Imaging in Sub-acute Ischemic Stroke: Comparison with Rehabilitation Treatment Effect

Stroke is a serious worldwide medical condition that causes neurological function disability. Diffusional kurtosis imaging, which measures the non-Gaussianity of water diffusion, has been demonstrated to be a sensitive biomarker in many neuro-pathologies. This study explores the relationship between neural function recovery and transformation of the ischemic lesion and/or corticospinal tract during the sub-acute phase after stroke by using diffusional kurtosis imaging. We performed a prospective study of function recovery and K metrics of 43 patients with sub-acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory. The effect of rehabilitation treatment was evaluated using both the Fugl-Meyer motor function score and modified Barthel index score at post-treatment compared with admission, and patients were allocated to two groups: good and poor rehabilitation effect (GRE and PRE). Metrics of diffusional kurtosis imaging within ischemic lesion and along the corticospinal tract were acquired, respectively. All three relative axial diffusional kurtoses (rKas) along the corticospinal tract in the GRE group ( n = 21) were significantly larger than those of the PRE group ( n = 22), including rKa in the posterior limb of internal capsule, rKa in the cerebral peduncle, and rKa in the basal part of the pons ( p = 0.014, 0.005, and 0.021, respectively). This multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging study showed that diffusional kurtosis imaging has the potential to complement existing stroke imaging techniques and revealed its own advantages in elucidating the possible biophysical mechanism of functional restoration underlying ischemic stroke.

Long non-coding RNA in osteogenesis: A new world to be explored

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts longer than 200 nucleotides with limited coding potential, which have emerged as novel regulators in many biological and pathological processes, including growth, development, and oncogenesis. Accumulating evidence suggests that lncRNAs have a special role in the osteogenic differentiation of various types of cell, including stem cells from different sources such as embryo, bone marrow, adipose tissue and periodontal ligaments, and induced pluripotent stem cells. Involved in complex mechanisms, lncRNAs regulate osteogenic markers and key regulators and pathways in osteogenic differentiation. In this review, we provide insights into the functions and molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in osteogenesis and highlight their emerging roles and clinical value in regenerative medicine and osteogenesis-related diseases.

Cite this article: J. Zhang, X. Hao, M. Yin, T. Xu, F. Guo. Long non-coding RNA in osteogenesis: A new world to be explored. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:73–80. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.82.BJR-2018-0074.R1.

Increased oestradiol in hepatitis E virus-infected pregnant women promotes viral replication

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection causes subclinical diseases, leading to high mortality (>25%) in pregnant women. HEV replication is aggressively escalated in pregnant women, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. Oestrogen plays an important role in pregnancy. However, the pathogenesis of HEV in pregnant women or immunosuppressive pregnant women (such as HIV-infected or organ-transplanted pregnant women) remains unclear. We investigated the role of oestradiol in HEV infection in a cell culture system. HEV-infected pregnant women had significantly higher oestradiol levels compared with uninfected individuals. HEV infection was significantly increased in cells treated with analogues of oestradiol, diethylstilbestrol (DES) or 17β-oestradiol in a dose-dependent way. However, tamoxifen, an antagonist oestrogen, inhibited HEV replication. HEV infection inhibits oestrogen receptor (ER-α) expression. Immunofluorescence and co-immunoprecipitation assays indicated that ER-α interacted with the helicase of HEV ORF1 indirectly. More importantly, HEV infection was exacerbated in immunosuppressive cells treated with an inhibitor of PI3K-AKT-mTOR signal pathway (LY296004) and supplemented with pregnant women serum with high oestradiol simultaneously. These results strongly suggest that pregnant women with high oestradiol and/or immunosuppression will be vulnerable to HEV infection.

Timing Recollision in Nonsequential Double Ionization by Intense Elliptically Polarized Laser Pulses

We examine correlated electron and doubly charged ion momentum spectra from strong field double ionization of neon employing intense elliptically polarized laser pulses. An ellipticity-dependent asymmetry of correlated electron and ion momentum distributions has been observed. Using a 3D semiclassical model, we demonstrate that our observations reflect the subcycle dynamics of the recollision process. Our Letter reveals a general physical picture for recollision impact double ionization with elliptical polarization and demonstrates the possibility of ultrafast control of the recollision dynamics.

Blind system identification of two-thermocouple sensor based on cross-relation method

In dynamic temperature measurement, the dynamic characteristics of the sensor affect the accuracy of the measurement results. Thermocouples are widely used for temperature measurement in harsh conditions due to their low cost, robustness, and reliability, but because of the presence of the thermal inertia, there is a dynamic error in the dynamic temperature measurement. In order to eliminate the dynamic error, two-thermocouple sensor was used to measure dynamic gas temperature in constant velocity flow environments in this paper. Blind system identification of two-thermocouple sensor based on a cross-relation method was carried out. Particle swarm optimization algorithm was used to estimate time constants of two thermocouples and compared with the grid based search method. The method was validated on the experimental equipment built by using high temperature furnace, and the input dynamic temperature was reconstructed by using the output data of the thermocouple with small time constant.

Selection of different reaction channels in 6Li induced fusion reaction by a powerful combination of a charged particle array and a high-resolution gamma spectrometer

Investigation of the breakup and transfer effect of weakly bound nuclei on the fusion process has been an interesting research topic in the past several years. In comparison with radioactive ion beam (RIB), the beam intensities of stable weakly bound nuclei such as 6,7Li and 9Be, which have significant breakup probability, are orders of magnitude higher. Precise fusion measurements induced by these nuclei have already been performed. However, the conclusion of reaction dynamics was not clear and has contradiction. In order to have a proper understanding of the influence of breakup and transfer of weakly bound projectiles on the fusion process, the 6Li+89Y experiment with incident energies of 22 MeV and 34 MeV was performed on Galileo array in combination with Si-ball EUCLIDES at Legnaro National Laboratory (LNL) in Italy. Using the coincidence by the charged particles and γ-rays, the different reaction channels can be clearly identified.