Alveolar echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection, is a highly deadly zoonotic parasitic disease. As a benzimidazole compound, albendazole has a strong and broad-spectrum anti-parasitic action. For alveolar echinococcosis patients that are unwilling to receive surgical treatment, lose the timing for surgery, or are intolerant to surgery due to poor physical status, administration of albendazole may delay disease progression. Recently, a large number of advances have been achieved in experimental studies on alveolar echinococcosis. In order to increase the understanding of the therapeutic efficacy of albendazole for alveolar echinococcosis, this review summarizes the advances in albendazole treatment for alveolar echinococcosis, so as to provide insights into the clinical treatment of alveolar echinococcosis with albendazole.

Objective To identify genes associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as candidate diagnostic markers in a genome-wide scale. Methods The gene expression profiles of 40 pairs of HCC tumor tissue and peripheral non-tumorous liver tissue were analyzed by using gene chip technology.The gene chips were fabricated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Each gene chip contained 9 180 genes. The fluorescent targets were prepared by a direct labeling approach using two kinds of fluorescences as following: 100 ?g of total RNA from non-cancerous liver tissue was labeled with Cy3-dUTP and 200 ?g of total RNA from HCC was labeled with Cy5-dUTP. The targets were mixed together and hybridized with genes on the gene chips. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis was done by CLUSTER and TREEVIEW software using median centered correlation and complete linkage. Results A total of 10 genes were found up-regulated in over 80% of primary tumors comparing with that of their corresponding non-tumorous liver tissues at a two-fold filter with an unsupervised hierarchical clustering algorithm, including protocadherin-alpha 9, ESTs, Homo sapiens cDNA FLJ, KPNA2, RPS20, SNRPE, CDKN2A, UBD, MDK and ANXA2. Conclusion These genes are supposed to be candidates for the diagnosis of HCC. Further investigation of these genes in a large scale of patients with HCC and patients with non-malignant hepatic diseases will be needed to disclose whether they could be used clinically as novel diagnostic tumor markers for HCC.

Objective: To investigate the association of the abnormal length of human Y chromosome with semen quality and the outcome of assisted reproductive technology (ART). METHODS: Based on the karyotype, we assigned the patients undergoing ART to a normal control, a long Y chromosome (Y>18), and a short Y chromosome group (Y<22). We compared the semen parameters and numbers of embryos and high-quality embryos among the three groups of patients and performed statistical analysis of the obtained data using Chi-square distribution and t-test. RESULTS: Compared with the control, the Y>18 group showed a significantly lower incidence rate of asthenozoospermia (31.03% vs 8.33%, P <0.05) and a larger number of high-quality embryos (5.46 ± 4.54 vs 7.40 ± 5.49, P<0.05). Both the incidence rate of azoospermia and number of total embryos were remarkably lower in the control than in the Y<22 group (1.87% vs 16.47%, P <0.05; 8.60 ± 7.03 vs 10.00 ± 6.58, P<0.05). No statistically significant differences were found in the pregnancy rate between the Y>18 and Y<22 groups (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS Short Y chromosome may affect spermatogenesis, but the length of Y chromosome does not negatively influence the outcome of ART.
Asthenozoospermia ; genetics ; Azoospermia ; genetics ; Chi-Square Distribution ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Female ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Rate ; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; standards ; Sex Chromosome Aberrations ; Spermatogenesis ; Treatment Outcome

Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH) is characterized by hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (H P V) and hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling(HPVR). Previous studies have shown that intracellular Ca

Objective To study the characteristics of hepatitis B before and after hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program in Haidong area, and to provide basis for the prevention and control strategy of hepatitis B. Methods The annual incidence of hepatitis B before (2000 -2002) and after (2018 -2020) hepatitis B vaccine was analyzed by descriptive epidemiological method from the hepatitis B cases reported by the notifiable infectious diseases reporting system and hepatitis B surveillance system in Haidong region. After the hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, the experimental group was used to analyze the characteristics of hepatitis B disease before and after the hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, including age, sex, region, occupation and season of onset. A certain number of people were randomly selected to compare the vaccination rate of hepatitis B vaccine before and after inclusion in the immunization program. Results The incidence of hepatitis B increased year by year before hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, but decreased year by year after hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05). Before and after the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine into the immunization program, the incidence of hepatitis B mainly concentrated in 20 to 60 years old, 0 to 19 years old, the lowest incidence, there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of hepatitis B vaccine in males was higher than that in females before and after hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, and there was no statistical significance between the two groups (P>0.05). The incidence of hepatitis B in urban areas was higher than that in rural areas before hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, and the incidence of hepatitis B in rural areas was higher than that in urban areas after hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, with statistical significance (P<0.05). Before the introduction of hepatitis B vaccine into the immunization program, the incidence of hepatitis B mainly concentrated in farmers, the proportion of farmers increased from 50.99% to 53.31%, the proportion of students decreased from 5.38% to 2.56%, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). After hepatitis B vaccine was included in the immunization program, the vaccination rate of hepatitis B vaccine increased from (93.61%) to (98.18%), and the difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusion The hepatitis B vaccine in Haidong area has achieved remarkable effect and effectively controlled the incidence of hepatitis B.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical significance of interleukin-17 (IL-17) level in patients with extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma(ENKTL).

METHODSEighty patients with nasal ENKTL who received radiotherapy, chemotherapy or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy from January 2011 to January 2012 were enrolled in the study. Eighty healthy volunteers were selected as the controls (control group). About 5 ml of peripheral blood was collected from all patients and controls. IL-17 level was determined by ELISA. The age, sex, ECOG score, B symptoms, LDH level, lymph node involvment, Ann Arbor stage, IPI, KPI, peripheral blood lymphocyte and lymph node metastasis, number of lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood were recorded. All patients were followed up for 3 year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

RESULTSThe average IL-17 level in patients with ENKTL was 6.48 pg/ml and the average concentration of IL-17 in control group was 0.56 pg/ml (P<0.01). The level of IL-17 in patients with B-symptoms and lymph node involvement was significantly higher than that in the control group. The differences in IL-17 level were not statistically significant among patients with different age, sex, ECOG, LDH, Ann Arbor stage, IPI, KPI, lymphocyte count and monocyte cell count. The sensitivity and specificity of IL-17 were 74.5% and 73.7% respectively, and the optimal threshold was 3.49 pg/ml and AUC was 0.799 (95% CI: 0.688-0.909) (P<0.01). The PFS and OS were longer in the patients with IL-17≤3.49 pg/ml and longer in the patients without lymph node involvement and Ann Arbor I. Multivariate analysis showed that independent predictors of PFS and OS in patients with ENKTL were plasma IL-17 levels and age (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONENKTL patients with different clinical characteristics have different levels of IL-17, the different level of IL-17 has different effects on prognosis of patients with ENKTL.

Objective To summarize the techniques of anatomical liver resection for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).Methods The clinical data of 125 patients with solitary HCC who underwent anatomical liver resection at the Zhongshan Hospital from January 2005 to December 2006 were retrospectively analysed.The inflow and outflow of hepatic segments to be resected were selectively clamped,then the main branches of portal vein and hepatic artery were ligated,and the ischemic hepatic segments were resected en bloc.Kelly forceps were used to crash and clamp the liver cut surface.The stumps of left and right hepatic ducts were continuously sutured with Prolene sutures.For tumors with the size above 10 cm in diameter,hepatectomy with anterior approach and liver hanging maneuver were adopted.Bile leakage was checked by injecting methylene blue or covering a gauze on the liver cut surface.Results The mean blood loss of all patients was 250 ml(100-6000 ml),and 32 of them needed blood transfusion.The morbidity was 23%(29/125).No patient died within 30 days after the operation,and 6%(5/83)of patients were found with residual tumor by postoperative arteriography.Conclusion Anatomical liver resection may improve the safety of operation,prevent the injury of great vessels and thus improve the efficacy.

HBV infection is highly prevalent in China, and patients with a high HBV-DNA load for a long time may progress to liver cirrhosis, which may lead to liver cancer. At present, surgery is still the main method for the treatment of hepatitis B-related liver cancer. Many studies have shown that HBV DNA load is an important influencing factor for the recovery of liver function after surgery, postoperative complications, recurrence of liver cancer, and the success of liver transplantation in patients with hepatitis B-related liver cancer. Its mechanism may be associated with high HBV DNA load and HBV reactivation. Maintaining a low HBV DNA load by antiviral therapy can improve the prognosis of patients with hepatitis B-related liver cancer. This article reviews the influence of HBV DNA load before and after surgery on the surgical outcome of hepatitis B-related liver cancer, in order to provide a reference for research on the treatment of patients with liver cancer.

Indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an important immunoregulatory enzyme, which can degrade the level of the mammalian essential amino acid tryptophan (TRP), catalyze the initiation and rate-limiting steps through the kynurenine pathway, and produce a variety of metabolites to participate in the immune response. On the one hand, IDO plays an immunosuppressive role in microenvironment and thus leads to infection and immune escape of tumor cells; on the other hand, IDO also exerts an inhibitory effect on the pathogens such as bacteria and parasites and thus protects the body from the harm of pathogens to a certain extent. Therefore, IDO is considered an important medium with the role of a double-edged sword in the development and progression of various liver diseases. This article reviews the latest research advances in IDO in viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, liver cancer, and hepatic echinococcosis.

Objective To investigate the postoperative complications of ex vivo liver resection combined with autologous liver transplantation in the treatment of end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis at high altitude and related prevention and treatment strategies. Methods Surgical data and follow-up data were collected from 11 patients with end-stage hepatic alveolar echinococcosis who underwent autologous liver transplantation in Qinghai People's Hospital from January 2013 to March 2019, and intraoperative and postoperative conditions were analyzed. Results All 11 patients underwent autologous liver transplantation successfully, without intraoperative death, among whom 2(18.18%) underwent hemi-extracorporeal hepatectomy and 9 (81.82%) underwent total extracorporeal hepatectomy. For the reconstruction of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava, 2 patients (18.18%) underwent reconstruction with the autologous great saphenous vein, 4 patients (36.36%) underwent reconstruction with artificial vessels, and the autologous retrohepatic inferior vena cava was preserved in 5 patients (45.45%). For biliary reconstruction, 8 patients (72.73%) underwent choledochoenterostomy and 3 (27.27%) underwent choledochocholedochostomy. The main postoperative complications of the 11 patients included bleeding in 2 patients (18.18%), bile leakage and abdominal infection in 4 patients (36.36%), bilioenteric anastomotic stenosis in 1 patient (9.09%), thrombus in 2 patients (18.18%), pulmonary infection and pleural effusion in 2 patients (18.18%), and echinococcosis recurrence in 1 patient (9.09%). Of all 11 patients, 2 (18.18%) died during the perioperative period, and the other 9 patients (81.82%) were improved and discharged. Conclusion Bleeding, biliary complications, and infection are the main causes of death in patients undergoing autologous liver transplantation at high altitude. An accurate understanding of surgical indication, careful multidisciplinary evaluation before surgery, superb operation during surgery, standardized surgical procedures, and fine perioperative management are the key to reducing perioperative mortality, avoiding and reducing postoperative complications, and achieving good long-term survival in patients undergoing autologous liver transplantation.