[Retrospectively analysis of characteristics and risk factors of immune treatment-related hepatic adverse events in malignant tumor]

Objective: To explore the clinical features and risk factors of hepatic injury due to immune checkpoint inhibitors (CPI) therapy in malignant tumor. Methods: Data of 112 patients (64 men and 48 women) who received CPI between January 2016 and March 2019 in Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College Shenzhen Hospital, and Huazhong University of Science and Techology Union Shenzhen Hospital were retrospectively collected. The median age of these patients was 60 years. Results: Hepatic adverse events were observed in 30 patients out of 112 patients (26.8%). Among them, the incidence of grade 3-5 hepatic adverse events were 7.14% (8/112). The median time of hepatic adverse event occurrence was 3 weeks (2-30) after undergoing therapy. The results of univariate and multivariate analyses showed that liver cancer was attributed to the CPI induced hepatitis (P<0.05). Patients with severe hepatic injury got almost complete resolution after receiving methlprednisolone for 4 to 6 weeks. Conclusion: Live cancer is the risk factor of CPI-related hepatic adverse events.

Nearly Normal Congenital Cervical Fragmentation: A Hard-To-Diagnose and Successful End-To-End Anastomosis

BACKGROUND

Congenital cervical fragmentation is a very rare genital tract malformation that usually presents in adolescence with primary amenorrhea and cyclic, monthly, lower abdominal pain. We report a nearly normal case of congenital cervical fragmentation and successful end-to-end anastomosis.

CASE

A 15-year-old girl presented with primary amenorrhea with cyclic, monthly lower abdominal pain lasting for 15 months without any abnormal imaging findings (pelvic CT scan, ultrasonography, and hysteroscopy). Misdiagnosis and appendectomy was performed at the time of the initial lower abdominal pain. Diagnostic combined hysteroscopy and laparoscopy were performed in our hospital, and cervical fragmentation was diagnosed. A converted laparotomy end-to-end anastomosis was performed successfully, and regular menstruation was restored after the operation.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The malformation of nearly normal congenital cervical fragmentation is existent and hard to diagnose. As long as the patient has persistent primary amenorrhea with cyclic, monthly lower abdominal pain, even if no abnormal findings on imaging, obstructive malformation of the reproductive duct should be the primary suspicion. Diagnosis and treatment should occur as early as possible to preserve the patient's fertility. End-to-end anastomosis is the best method for this type of patient.

Alterations of immune functions induced by 12C6+ ion irradiation in mice

PURPOSE

To estimate the biological risks to the immune system of the type of space radiation, 12C6+, encountered by cosmonauts during long-term travel in space.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Kun-Ming strain mice were whole-body irradiated by 12C6+ ion with 0, 0.01, 0.05, 0.075, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5, 0.75, 1 or 2 Gy, at a dose rate of 1 Gy/min. At 35 days after irradiation, the thymus and spleen weights were measured, the natural killer (NK) cells activity of spleen was determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT), and the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) levels in serum and thymus were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).

RESULTS

The results showed that the thymus weight, IFN-gamma levels in serum and the activity of splenic NK-cells had significantly increased at a dose of 0.05 Gy. With further dose increase, the weight of spleen continued to increase but the weight of thymus, IFN-gamma level and NK-cells activity declined.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the dose of 0.05 Gy irradiation has a stimulatory effect on mouse immunity; this effect declined with increasing dose.

Elevated CA125 in primary peritoneal serous psammocarcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Psammocarcinoma is a rare form of serous carcinoma of the ovary or peritoneum, and it is characterised by extensive psammoma body formation and invasion of surrounding structures. This report describes the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with large ascites and raised CA125 level. Following a full staging laparotomy, she was made stable in stage IIIC. Despite the limited number of cases reported, the clinical prognosis of carcinomas resembling the serous borderline lesions seems much more favourable than the common serous carcinomas. A summary of all the reported cases is provided to highlight the clinical and prognostic features of this scarce tumour.

Survey of helminths in adult sheep in Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China

The prevalence of helminths in adult sheep was investigated in Heilongjiang Province, People's Republic of China between January 1999 and September 2003. A total of 326 adult sheep representing local breeds (Xingjiang Fine Wool Sheep, Dongbei Fine Wool Sheep) as well as introduced breeds (Merino and Charollais) from representative geographical locations in Heilongjiang Province were slaughtered and examined for the presence of helminths. The worms were examined, counted and identified to species according to existing keys and descriptions. A total of 26 helminth species were found representing 2 phyla, 3 classes, 13 families and 20 genera. All sheep were infected by more than one helminth species. Oesophagostomum columbianum, Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis were the most common nematode species, and Paramphistomum cervi, Orientobilharzia turkestanica and Fasciola hepatica were the most common trematode species, whereas the infection of adult sheep with cestodes was uncommon. The results of the present investigation provide relevant "base-line" data for Heilongjiang Province, China, for assessing the effectiveness of future control strategies against helminth infections in sheep.