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Options for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria beyond antihistamines are limited. This multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial from 3 teaching hospitals in China compared acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and waitlist control for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria. Visual Abstract. Efficacy of Acupuncture for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria: Options for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria beyond antihistamines are limited. This multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial from 3 teaching hospitals in China compared acupuncture, sham acupuncture, and waitlist control for treatment of chronic spontaneous urticaria. Background: The effectiveness of acupuncture for patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), reported in a few small-scale studies, is not convincing. Objective: To investigate whether acupuncture leads to better effects on CSU than sham acupuncture or waitlist control. Design: A multicenter, randomized, sham-controlled trial. (Chinese Clinical Trial Registry: ChiCTR1900022994) Setting: Three teaching hospitals in China from 27 May 2019 to 30 July 2022. Participants: 330 participants diagnosed with CSU. Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1:1 ratio to receive acupuncture, sham acupuncture, or waitlist control over an 8-week study period (4 weeks for treatment and another 4 weeks for follow-up). Measurements: The primary outcome was the mean change from baseline in the Weekly Urticaria Activity Score (UAS7) at week 4. Secondary outcomes included itch severity scores, self-rated improvement, and Dermatology Life Quality Index scores. Results: The mean change in UAS7 (range, 0 to 42) for acupuncture from baseline (mean score, 23.5 [95% CI, 21.8 to 25.2]) to week 4 (mean score, 15.3 [CI, 13.6 to 16.9]) was −8.2 (CI, −9.9 to −6.6). The mean changes in UAS7 for sham acupuncture and waitlist control from baseline (mean scores, 21.9 [CI, 20.2 to 23.6] and 22.1 [CI, 20.4 to 23.8], respectively) to week 4 (mean scores, 17.8 [CI, 16.1 to 19.5] and 20.0 [CI, 18.3 to 21.6], respectively) were −4.1 (CI, −5.8 to −2.4) and −2.2 (CI, −3.8 to −0.5), respectively. The mean differences between acupuncture and sham acupuncture and waitlist control were −4.1 (CI, −6.5 to −1.8) and −6.1 (CI, −8.4 to −3.7), respectively, which did not meet the threshold for minimal clinically important difference. Fifteen participants (13.6%) in the acupuncture group and none in the other groups reported adverse events. Adverse events were mild or transient. Limitation: Lack of complete blinding, self-reported outcomes, limited generalizability because antihistamine use was disallowed, and short follow-up period. Conclusion: Compared with sham acupuncture and waitlist control, acupuncture produced a greater improvement in UAS7, although the difference from control was not clinically significant. Increased adverse events were mild or transient. Primary Funding Source: The National Key R&D Program of China and the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background An orally aerosolized adenovirus type-5 vector-based coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine (Ad5-nCoV) has recently been authorized for boosting immunization in China. Our study aims to assess the environmental impact of the use of aerosolized Ad5-nCoV. Methods We collected air samples from rooms, swabs from the desks on which the vaccine nebulizer was set, mask samples from participants, and blood samples of nurses who administered the inoculation in the clinical trials. The viral load of adenovirus type-5 vector in the samples and the antibody levels against the wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) strain in serum were detected. Results Only one (4.00%) air sample collected before initiation of vaccination was positive and most air samples collected during and after vaccination were positive (97.96%, 100%, respectively). All nurses in trial A showed at least 4-fold increase of the neutralizing antibody against SARS-CoV-2 after initiation of the study. In trial B, the proportion of positive mask samples was 72.97% at 30 minutes after vaccination, 8.11% at day 1, and 0% at days 3, 5, and 7. Conclusions Vaccination with the orally aerosolized Ad5-nCoV could result in some spillage of the vaccine vector viral particles in the environment and cause human exposure. Clinical Trials Registration. NCT04840992 and NCT05303584. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerosolised Ad5-nCoV is the first approved mucosal respiratory COVID-19 vaccine to be used as a booster after the primary immunisation with COVID-19 vaccines. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV, intramuscular Ad5-nCoV, or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac given as the second booster. This is an open-label, parallel-controlled, phase 4 randomised trial enrolling healthy adult participants (≥18 years) who had completed a two-dose primary immunisation and a booster immunisation with inactivated COVID-19 vaccines (CoronaVac only) at least 6 months before, in Lianshui and Donghai counties, Jiangsu Province, China. We recruited eligible participants from previous trials in China (NCT04892459 , NCT04952727 , and NCT05043259) as cohort 1 (with the serum before and after the first booster dose available), and from eligible volunteers in Lianshui and Donghai counties, Jiangsu Province, as cohort 2. Participants were randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1:1, using a web-based interactive response randomisation system, to receive the fourth dose (second booster) of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV (0·1 mL of 1·0 × 1011 viral particles per mL), intramuscular Ad5-nCoV (0·5 mL of 1·0 × 1011 viral particles per mL), or inactivated COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac (0·5 mL), respectively. The co-primary outcomes were safety and immunogenicity of geometric mean titres (GMTs) of serum neutralising antibodies against prototype live SARS-CoV-2 virus 28 days after the vaccination, assessed on a per-protocol basis. Non-inferiority or superiority was achieved when the lower limit of the 95% CI of the GMT ratio (heterologous group vs homologous group) exceeded 0·67 or 1·0, respectively. This study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT05303584 and is ongoing. Between April 23 and May 23, 2022, from 367 volunteers screened for eligibility, 356 participants met eligibility criteria and received a dose of aerosolised Ad5-nCoV (n=117), intramuscular Ad5-nCoV (n=120), or CoronaVac (n=119). Within 28 days of booster vaccination, participants in the intramuscular Ad5-nCoV group reported a significantly higher frequency of adverse reactions than those in the aerosolised Ad5-nCoV and intramuscular CoronaVac groups (30% vs 9% and 14%, respectively; p<0·0001). No serious adverse events related to the vaccination were reported. The heterologous boosting with aerosolised Ad5-nCoV triggered a GMT of 672·4 (95% CI 539·7–837·7) and intramuscular Ad5-nCoV triggered a serum neutralising antibody GMT of 582·6 (505·0–672·2) 28 days after the booster dose, both of which were significantly higher than the GMT in the CoronaVac group (58·5 [48·0–71·4]; p<0·0001). A heterologous fourth dose (second booster) with either aerosolised Ad5-nCoV or intramuscular Ad5-nCoV was safe and highly immunogenic in healthy adults who had been immunised with three doses of CoronaVac. National Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Provincial Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, and Jiangsu Provincial Key Project of Science and Technology Plan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a huge threat to the modern pig industry, and current vaccine prevention strategies could not provide full protection against it. Therefore, exploring new anti-PRRSV strategies is urgently needed. Ginsenoside Rg1, derived from ginseng and notoginseng, is shown to exert anti-inflammatory, neuronal apoptosis-suppressing and anti-oxidant effects. Here we demonstrate Rg1-inhibited PRRSV infection both in Marc-145 cells and porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in a dose-dependent manner. Rg1 treatment affected multiple steps of the PRRSV lifecycle, including virus attachment, replication and release at concentrations of 10 or 50 µM. Meanwhile, Rg1 exhibited broad inhibitory activities against Type 2 PRRSV, including highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) XH-GD and JXA1, NADC-30-like strain HNLY and classical strain VR2332. Mechanistically, Rg1 reduced mRNA levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-8, IL-6 and TNF-α, and decreased NF-κB signaling activation triggered by PRRSV infection. Furthermore, 4-week old piglets intramuscularly treated with Rg1 after being challenged with the HP-PRRSV JXA1 strain display moderate lung injury, decreased viral load in serum and tissues, and an improved survival rate. Collectively, our study provides research basis and supportive clinical data for using Ginsenoside Rg1 in PRRSV therapies in swine.

Objective: To observe the curative effect of acupuncture combining with double moxibustion on yŏng quán (KI 1) treating 40 cases of insomnia of menopausal syndrome. Methods: The research selected 80 cases of insomnia of menopausal syndrome patients treated in this hospital. All of the patients should randomly divide into acupuncture plus moxibustion group and routine acupuncture group with 40 cases in each group. Patients in the routine acupuncture group should give routine acupuncture treatment with selecting guān yuán (RN 4), bilateral z gōng (EX-CA 1), bilateral zú sān l (ST 36), bilateral sān yīn jiāo (SP 6), băi huì (DU 20), ān mián (belonging to the experienced acupoint, locating in the midpoint of line between yì fēng (SJ 17) and fēng chí (GB 20)), and bilateral yŏng quán (KI 1). It should give manipulation method with even supplementation and drainage. It should retain needles for 30 min after there was sensation of qi arrival. The acupuncture treatment should give 3 times a week, and consecutive 8 weeks in all. Patients in the acupuncture plus moxibustion group should add moxibustion therapy based on the acupuncture treatment of routine acupuncture group. The moxibustion therapy should select bilateral yŏng quán (KI 1). It should give the moxibustion therapy with two moxa sticks together for double moxibustion. Each time of treatment should sustain for 10 min. The treatment should give twice a week, and consecutive 8 weeks in all. Results: After the treatment, total effective rate of the routine acupuncture group was 90.0% (36/40), and the acupuncture plus moxibustion group was 97.5% (39/40). Comparison of the total effective rate between two groups indicated that the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). After the treatment, the modified Kupperman score and score of Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) of two groups compared with that before the treatment, and the result indicated that the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Moreover, comparison of the scores mentioned above between two groups after the treatment indicated that the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Both acupuncture and acupuncture combining with double moxibustion on yŏng quán (KI 1) could improve the symptoms of patients with insomnia of menopausal syndrome. Moreover, the improvement effect of acupuncture plus moxibustion treatment was more obvious. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abnormal expression of protein kinase membrane associated tyrosine/threonine 1 (PKMYT1) is closely associated with multiple types of cancers. In the present study, we examined the roles of PKMYT1 in gastric cancer (GC) progression. Methods: We examined the expression status of PKMYT1 in GC tissues and cell lines. Meanwhile, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was used to inhibit the endogenous expression of PKMYT1 in GC cells. Then we analyzed the effect of PKMYT1 on the malignant biological behavior of GC cells by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Results: The findings showed high PKMYT1 expressions in GC tissues as well as a positive correlation between PKMYT1 expression and prognosis of patients with GC. Additional findings also revealed that PKMYT1 silencing significantly enhanced apoptosis and inhibited GC cell proliferation. In vivo, the silence of PKMYT1 inhibits tumor growth. Further analysis showed that the increase in PKMYT1 expressions led to malignant biological behavior through activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusion: Our data suggested that PKMYT1 promotes cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance in GC cells by activating the MAPK signaling pathway, making it a potential therapeutic target for GC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of DIPEA (diisopropylethylamine), a formal [3+2] cycloaddition reaction between diazooxindoles and oxazol-5-(4H)-ones takes place easily to give new 3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)indolin-2-ones in 61-98% yield. The structure of the target molecules was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have demonstrated that resveratrol can reduce blood sugar, improve insulin resistance, regulate abnormalities in lipid metabolism, and lower the secretion and expression of inflammatory factors. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of resveratrol in animal models of acute pharyngitis, and its possible mechanisms. Commercial ELISA kits were used to measure tumor necrosis factor-a, interleukin (IL)-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-2, cyclooxygenase-2 levels and caspase-3/9 activity. Toll-like receptor (TLR)-4, myeloid differentiation primary response protein MyD88, phosphorylated (p)-nuclear factor (NF)-κB and p-IκB were analyzed using western blotting. In a rabbit model of acute pharyngitis, it was demonstrated that resveratrol inhibited tumor necrosis factor-a and interleukin-6 serum levels, macrophage inflammatory protein-2 and cyclooxygenase-2 activity levels, reactive oxygen species production and caspase-3/9 activity. Resveratrol suppressed NACHT, LRR and PYD domains-containing protein 3 and caspase-1 protein expression, and reduced IL-1β and IL-18 protein expression in animal models of acute pharyngitis. Additionally, resveratrol suppressed TLR4 and myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 protein expression, and reduced p-NF-κB and increased p-IκB protein expression in animal models of acute pharyngitis. In conclusion, these findings indicated that the anti-inflammatory activity of resveratrol prevents acute pharyngitis-induced inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB in animal models. Therefore, these data suggested an important clinical application of resveratrol in preventing acute pharyngitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ｔｈｅ ａｃｈｅｎｅ ｏｆ Ｅｌａｔｏｓｔｅｍａ ｏｗｎｓ ｈｉｇｈ ｍｏｒｐｈｏｌｏｇｉｃａｌ ｄｉｖｅｒｓｉｔｙ ｉｎｄｉｃａｔｅｓ ｉｔｓ ｕｓｅｆｕｌｎｅｓｓ ｉｎ ｄｅｌｉｍｉｔａｔｉｏｎ． Ｈｏｗｅｖｅｒ， ｏｖｅｒ ｈａｌｆ ｏｆ Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ ａｒｅ ｌａｃｋｉｎｇ ｏｆ ａｃｈｅｎｅ ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ． Ｉｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｐａｐｅｒ， ｂａｓｅｄ ｏｎ ｏｕｒ ｆｉｅｌｄ ｃｏｌｌｅｃｔｉｏｎ ａｎｄ ｓｐｅｃｉｍｅｎ ｃｈｅｃｋｉｎｇ ｂｙ ｌｉｇｈｔ ｍｉｃｒｏｓｃｏｐｅ （ＬＭ） ａｎｄ ｓｃａｎｎｉｎｇ ｅｌｅｃｔｒｏｎ ｍｉｃｒｏｓｃｏｐｅ （ＳＥＭ）， ｗｅ ｓｕｐｐｌｅｍｅｎｔ ｔｈｅ ｄｅｓｃｒｉｐｔｉｏｎ， ｉｌｌｕｓｔｒａｔｉｏｎ ａｎｄ ｐｈｏｔｏｓ ｏｆ ａｃｈｅｎｅ ｏｆ ｓｅｖｅｎ ｓｐｅｃｉｅｓ ｔｈａｔ ｗｏｕｌｄ ｐｒｏｖｉｄｅ ｖａｌｕａｂｌｅ ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ ｆｏｒ ｆｕｒｔｈｅｒ ｔａｘｏｎｏｍｉｃ ｒｅｖｉｓｉｏｎ ｉｎ ｔｈｉｓ ｇｅｎｕｓ． [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of Na2CO3, the [3+2] cycloaddition of azaoxyallyl cations, in situ formed from α-halohydroxamates by reaction with isothiocyanides, proceeded smoothly and furnished ( Z)-2-iminothiazolidin-4-ones in 25-99 % chemical yields. The chemical structure of the title compounds was confirmed by X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalyzed by 10 mol-% PhCO2H, the [3+2] cycloaddition between 3-isothiocyanato oxindoles and nitroso compounds proceeded readily to deliver 1,2,4-oxadiazolidine-3-thione-fused spirooxindoles in 40-82 % yield. The structures of the title compounds were firmly confirmed by X-ray single-crystal structure analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalyzed by a Cinchona-based thiourea, the [3+2] cycloadditions of barbiturate-based olefins with 3-isothiocyanatooxindoles proceeded readily, and furnished dispirobarbiturates in excellent chemical yields with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. The absolute configuration of dispirobarbiturates was firmly confirmed by an X-ray single crystal structure analysis. A reaction mechanism was proposed to account for the enantioselective formation of dispirobarbiturates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of sodium carbonate, the [4+3] cycloadditions of α-halogeno hydrazones with nitrones were performed efficiently, and affording 2,3,4,7-tetrahydro-1,2,4,5-oxatriazepines in moderate to high yields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of (μ-edt)Fe2(CO)6(edt = SCH2CH2S) (1) with the monophosphine ligands Ph2PCH2Ph, Ph2PC6H11, Ph2PCH2CH2CH3, or P(2-C4H3O)3in the presence of Me3NO∙2H2O afforded (μ-edt)Fe2(CO)5L [L = Ph2PCH2Ph,2; Ph2PC6H11,3; Ph2PCH2CH2CH3,4; P(2-C4H3O)3,5] in 70–88% yields. Complexes2–5were characterized by spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The phosphorus of2–5is in an apical position of the distorted octahedral geometry of iron. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a inhibiting inflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in immune suppressive microenvironment in multiple myeloma (MM). Whether the level of serum IL-10 could predict treatment response and survival outcomes or not needs to be investigated in MM patients. Methods: The level of IL-10 in serum was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 188 patients with newly diagnosed MM. Results: The best cutoff value for IL-10 in predicting survival is 169.69 pg ml(-1) with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.747 (P<0.001). In all, 92 patients (48.9%) were classified as high-IL-10 group (>169.96 pg ml(-1)) and 96 patients (51.1%) as low-IL-10 group (⩽169.96 pg ml(-1)). The overall response rate (ORR) was 79.2% in low-IL-10 group, significantly higher than that in high-IL-10 group (53.3%, P<0.001). Patients in low-IL-10 group had significantly better survival compared with those in high-IL-10 group (3-year PFS rate: 69.3% vs 13.3%, P<0.001; 3-year OS rate: 93.6% vs 51.9%, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that serum IL-10 level >169.96 pg ml(-1) at diagnosis and certain cytogenetic abnormalities were two adverse factors for PFS and OS. Conclusions: Our data suggest that serum IL-10 at diagnosis is a novel, powerful predictor of prognosis for MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The cytogenetic background of Selinexor sensitive MM patients was not limited to specific cytogenetic subtypes. • ABCC4 was identified as the biomarker to predict the therapeutic response and prognosis of Selinexor. • ABCC4 expression had a significantly positive correlation with NK infiltration and TIM-3 expression. The treatment of relapse or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) is still a big challenge in clinic. Recently, several clinical trials indicated that the XPO1 inhibitor, selinexor could significantly improve the remission rate in MM patients. However, the heterogeneous genetic background greatly influenced the efficiency of selinexor among MM. Here, we tried to characterized the biomarkers associated with selinexor sensitivity by analyzing gene expression data in MM patients. We found the cytogenetic background of selinexor sensitive MM patients was not limited to specific cytogenetic subtypes. In addition, by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), we obtained 10 key genes which showed a strong correlation with the selinexor sensitivity in MM patients. Notably, ABCC4 (MRP4) was the only gene which was both differentially expressed and proved to be clinical prognostic valuable (both for event-free survival and overall survival) in MM patients. We further validated the heterogenous expression of ABCC4 in MM cell lines and its value as a novel indicator for selinexor sensitivity. Moreover, immune infiltration analysis showed that ABCC4 expression had a significantly positive correlation with NK infiltration as well as immunotherapy target TIM-3 (HAVCR2) expression. Collectively, our findings indicated that ABCC4 might be a predictive biomarker of selinexor sensitivity in MM patients, which could be enhanced if combined with immunotherapy drugs such as TIM-3 inhibitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of a Cinchona alkaloid-based squaramide organocatalyst, the [3+2] cycloaddition of isatin-derived azomethine ylides with maleimides proceeded readily, thus delivering the desired pyrrolidine-fused spirooxindoles in 61-89% yields with >20:1 dr and 12 to >99 % ee. The absolute configuration of 5-chloro-1,5′-dimethyl-3′-phenyl-3′,3a′-dihydro-2′ H-spiro[indoline-3,1′-pyrrolo[3,4- c]pyrrole]-2,4′,6′(5′ H,6a′ H)-trione was unambiguously determined by means of X-ray single crystal structure analysis. The reaction mechanism was hypothesized to account for the enantioselective formation of 5-chloro-1,5′-dimethyl-3′-phenyl-3′,3a′-dihydro-2′ H-spiro[indoline-3,1′-pyrrolo[3,4- c]pyrrole]-2,4′,6′(5′ H,6a′ H)-trione. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the presence of cinchona-thiourea organocatalyst C1, the developed organocatalytic three-component cascade reaction of isatins, malononitrile, and 2-hydroxynaphthalene-1,4-diones readily proceeded to furnish chiral pyranonaphthoquinone-fused spirooxindoles in excellent chemical yields and high enantioselectivities (up to 99 % yield and 97 % ee). The absolute configurations of the spirooxindoles were assigned on the basis of an X-ray single crystal structure. Moreover, a reaction mechanism is proposed that accounts for the stereocontrolled formation of the chiral spirooxindoles,. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have shown that hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection may play an important role in the lymphomagenesis of lymphoma, but no studies regarding the relationship between HBV infection and extranodal natural killer/T cell lymphoma (ENKTL) have been reported previously. One hundred and seven patients diagnosed with ENKTL were retrospectively reviewed. The hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive rate was 13.1%, and no significant correlation existed between HBV infection and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). No significant difference existed in complete remission rate between HBsAg-positive and -negative groups (42.9% vs. 44.1%, p = 1.000). In a multivariate Cox regression model that included international prognostic index (IPI) score, induction chemotherapy regimen and HBsAg status, all these variables were independent prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the HBsAg-positive rate in ENKTL was similar to that of the normal population in a high HBV endemic area, and HBsAg-positive status was an independent prognostic factor for OS and PFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interleukin-9 (IL-9) is more functionally diverse than previously expected, especially with regards to lymphomagenesis. However, the relationship between IL-9 and the clinicopathological features of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma is less well established. Patients with this lymphoma in Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between January 2003 and March 2013 were systematically reviewed in an intention-to-treat analysis. Baseline serum IL-9 levels were determined using sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. A total of seventy-four patients were enrolled in this study. The mean concentration of serum IL-9 for all patients was 6.48 pg/mL (range: 1.38–51.87 pg/mL). Age, B symptoms and local lymph node involvement were found to be related to high serum IL-9 levels. Patients with low IL-9 levels tended to have higher rates of complete remission. Notably, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were longer in the low IL-9 level group than in the high IL-9 level group (PFS: 68.7 months vs. 28.3 months, P<0.001; OS: 86 months vs. 42.8 months, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed independent prognostic factors for PFS. Similarly, high IL-9 levels (P = 0.003) and old age (P = 0.007) were independently predictive of shorter OS. Serum IL-9 is closely related to several clinical features, such as age, B symptoms and local lymph node involvement. It can also be a significant independent prognostic factor for extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, which suggests a role for IL-9 in the pathogenesis of this disease and offers new insight into potential therapeutic strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the physical and mental development of children of assisted reproductive techniques(ART) at 1-3 years, in the limited samples and the limited age range. Methods: A total of 266 ART children, including 106 twins, at 1-3 years were follow-up visited from February 2008 to February 2011. The control group comprised 129 children, including 84 twins, who were naturally bred. The neonatal outcomes, physical and mental development were evaluated. Results: Parent age in the ART children group was elder than that in control group. There were no significant differences in BMI, MDI and PDI between two groups of ART children and control, and between two twins' groups. A multivariate regression analysis indicated that the conception mode did not affect MDI and PDI. Conclusions: There are no significantly differences in the physical and psychomotor development between ART children and normal conception children in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]