Changes and significance of Treg and Th17 in adult patients with primary membranous nephropathy.

Objective: To investigate the changes in Treg and Th17 cells and explore the significance of Treg/Th17 balance in adult primary membranous nephropathy (PMN) patients.

Materials And Methods: A total of 60 PMN patients and 50 healthy adults from June 2013 to October 2016 were enrolled in this study. The levels of Treg, Th17, and related cytokines were assessed.

Polymer optical fiber twisted macro-bend coupling system for liquid level detection.

The liquid level detection principle of cladding mode frustrated total internal reflection (CMFTIR) effect is proposed. The significant enhancement of CMFTIR effect is realized through macro-bend coupling system in which the dark-field coupling phenomenon between two multimode polymer optic fibers is observed through experiment. Especially twisted macro-bend coupling structure (TMBCS) is adopted to achieve stable coupling of two naked POF.

[Comparison of the short-term outcomes of patients with esophageal cancer after subtotal esophagectomy via thoracoscopy in left lateral position and in prone position].

Objective: To compare the short-term outcomes in patients with esophageal cancer after subtotal esophagectomy via thoracoscopy in prone position and in left lateral position.

Methods: Between September 2008 and September 2010, thoraco-laparoscopic esophagectomy (TLE) with thoracoscopic mobilization of the esophagus and mediastinal esophagectomy was performed in 41 patients in prone position (group A) and other 41 patients (group B) performed by the same surgeon in left lateral position.

Results: Preoperatively, the endoscopic location of the tumor was in the upper third in 5 cases (2 vs.