Anti-P-selectin lectin-EGF domain monoclonal antibody inhibits the maturation of human immature dendritic cells

Dendritic cells(DCs) are professinal antigen-presenting cells with the ability to initiate primary Tcell responses. While it iswell known that inflammatory stimuli induce the functional maturation of immature DCs, whether adhesion molecule selectins regulate DCmaturation is poorly understood. Using anti-P-selectin lectin-EGF domain monoclonal antibody (PsL-EGFmAb) that blocks the adhesionof P-, E-, and L-selectin, we demonstrate herein that selectins play important role in stimulating functional maturation of immature DCs.Immature DCs are generated from human cord blood CD34+hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells that were cultured in the presence of stemcell factor, Fms-like tyrosine-kinase-3 ligand, granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, and transform growth factor-β1. Whenstimulated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-α), immature DCs differentiated into mature DCs, producing increased levels of costim-ulatory molecules and interleukin (IL)-12 and obtaining the ability to potently activate naive Tcells. Interestingly, in contrast to matureDCs derived from TNF-α-induced immature DC cultures without PsL-EGFmAb, immature DCs treated with PsL-EGFmAb for7 days werecompletely blocked their maturation, as evidenced by decreased expression of costimulatory molecules CD80, CD86, and CD83, inhibi-ted production of IL-12, and inability to activate naive Tcellsin vitro. Thus, blockade of selectins using PsL-EGFmAb will prove to bea valuable tool for the study of the molecuar mechanisms of DC maturation, as well as for the prevention and treatment of DC-mediated au-toimmunity.

A fundamental theorem for eco-environmental surface modelling and its applications

We propose a fundamental theorem for eco-environmental surface modelling(FTEEM) in order to apply it into the fields of ecology and environmental science more easily after the fundamental theorem for Earth’s surface system modeling(FTESM). The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei(BTH) region is taken as a case area to conduct empirical studies of algorithms for spatial upscaling, spatial downscaling, spatial interpolation, data fusion and model-data assimilation, which are based on high accuracy surface modelling(HASM), corresponding with corollaries of FTEEM. The case studies demonstrate how eco-environmental surface modelling is substantially improved when both extrinsic and intrinsic information are used along with an appropriate method of HASM. Compared with classic algorithms, the HASM-based algorithm for spatial upscaling reduced the root-meansquare error of the BTH elevation surface by 9 m. The HASM-based algorithm for spatial downscaling reduced the relative error of future scenarios of annual mean temperature by 16%. The HASM-based algorithm for spatial interpolation reduced the relative error of change trend of annual mean precipitation by 0.2%. The HASM-based algorithm for data fusion reduced the relative error of change trend of annual mean temperature by 70%. The HASM-based algorithm for model-data assimilation reduced the relative error of carbon stocks by 40%. We propose five theoretical challenges and three application problems of HASM that need to be addressed to improve FTEEM.

新型冠状病毒肺炎在不同国家的基本传染数动态

本文对新型冠状病毒(简称新冠病毒)肺炎基本传染数算法进行了改进,并运用改进算法对累计确诊人数较多的6个国家(美国、印度、巴西、俄罗斯、秘鲁和哥伦比亚)新冠病毒肺炎疫情动态进行了比较分析.研究结果表明,诸如封城、检疫隔离、关闭学校、限制旅行和扩大社交距离等防控措施对各国遏制冠状病毒传播发挥了至关重要的作用.然而,由于各国新冠病毒防控措施的执行力度大相径庭,效果差异很大.截至2020年9月11日,累计确诊人数在秘鲁、巴西、美国和哥伦比亚分别占总人口的2.23%、2.06%、2.00%和1.43%,新冠病毒传播仍在继续.

Repairing skull defects in children with nano-hap/collagen composites: A clinical report of thirteen cases

Objective:To evaluate the clinical results of repairing skull defects with biomimetic bone(nano-hap/collagen composites,NHACs)in children.Methods:Thirteen children with skull defects were treated with NHACs in our hospital.The NHACs molded with the help of a 3D printer were used in the operations.Results:All 13 operations were successful,and patients recovered without infection.Only one patient suffered from subcutaneous hydrops post-operation.The implanted NHACs remained fixed well after 1 year,and their CT HU values raised gradually.Skull shapes of children developed normally.Recovery of neurological and cognitive function was significant.Conclusions:NHAC,chosen to repair skull defects in children,can coexist with normal skull and reduce the negative effects on growth and development.NHAC could be a good choice for children with skull defects.

Malignant transformation and treatment of cystic mixed germ cell tumor

Objective:The authors report an extremely unusual presentation and management of a children pineal mixed germ cell tumor mainly composed of immature teratoma,aiming to summarize main theraptic points by literature review.Methods:A cystic lesion located in the rear of third ventricle in a child was detected3 years ago with no other therapy performed except for a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt.During the following 3 years,intermitted regular brain MRI demonstrated no evidence of lesion aggrandizement.However from 20 days before admission to our institute the patient began to present acutely with exacerbating clinical symptoms meanwhile brain MRI showed signs of abrupt revulsions of initial lesion without any incentive cause.Neurological examination revealed a significant rising of serum tumor marker level.Then surgical resection was performed immediately after admission which was followed by correlative two-course chemotherapy.Results:Postoperative brain MRI demonstrated totally removing of the lesion in rear of third ventricle.Serum tumor marker level decreased remarkably after surgery and declined to normal level after two-course chemotherapy.No obvious neurological deficit occurred except for short-term memory difficulty which gradually recovered within two weeks.Soon after the second course chemotherapy the patient was currently asymptomatic and returned to school.Conclusions:(1)To ensure definitive diagnosis and proper therapecutic protocols benefit from grasping clinical features of mixed germ cell tumor.(2)Overall preoperative investigation including serum tumor marker level is as critical as neurological imaging examination.(3)Surgical excision is confirmed to be the key modality of treatment.With the regarding of mixed germ cell tumor,never highlight total resection too much.(4)Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is recommended as further intensive treatment to improve the prognosis of mix germ cell tumor.