AIM: To study the influences of P1 promoter activity of furin gene on the functions of hepatocytes in patients with liver cirrhosis.METHODS: The patients with liver cirrhosis of 180 cases were recruited.The single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP-229 C/T) in P1 promoter of furin gene was genotyped using competitively differentiated polymerase chain reaction.The relationships between the promoter activity based on genotyping and the serum levels of liver enzymes,total bilirubin,albumin and prothrombin were observed.RESULTS: The distribution frequencies of allele C and T were 75.3%(271/360) and 24.7%(89/360).Those of genotypes CC,CT and TT were 62.2%(112/180),26.1%(47/180) and 11.7%(21/180),respectively.The distribution frequencies of the genotypes were not related to the serum levels of major liver enzymes,albumin,total bilirubin and prothrombin,except for alkaline phosphatase and ?-glutamyl transferase.CONCLUSION: The activity of furin promoter exerts no effects on the main functions of hepatocytes,suggesting that furin may be a new therapeutic target for HBV infection.

Objective To investigate the morphological characteristics and proliferation ability of diabetes mellitus-derived adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) by comparing with normal-derived ADSCs.Methods The ADSCs could be achieved from diabetes mellitus' adipose tissue by the similar method of normal ADSCs isolation and culture,and then the differnce was compared between the two groups about their morphologies under microscope,and the proliferation ability of two groups was determined by CCK-8.Results ADSCs in patients with diabetes were obvious hypertrophy and irregular in morphology.A values of ADSCs in diabetes and non-diabetes were 0.210+0.002 and 0.390+0.006 in 1st day;0.250+0.015 and 0.443+0.023 in 2nd day;0.368+0.014 and 0.726+0.033 in 3rd day;0.368+0.014 and 0.726+0.033 in 4th day;1.767+0.072 and 3.153+0.067 in 5th day and 1.810+0.072and 3.170+0.021 in 6th day,respectively.The difference was statstically significant at the beginning from 4th day (P＜0.05).Conclusions There is obvious difference of the microscopic morphology between the diabetes mellitus-derived ADSCs and normal-derived ADSCs.The proliferation ability of the diabetes mellitus-derived ADSCs is lower than normal-derived ADSCs.These difference could be closely related to ulcerous non-healing wounds in patients with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the feasibility of no nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding at will after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer.

METHODSBetween January 2013 and January 2014, the feasibility of no nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding at postoperative day(POD) 1 after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy was prospectively investigated in 156 patients (trial group) with esophageal cancer in the Henan Cancer Hospital. One hundred and sixty patients previously managed in the same unit who were treated routinely after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy were served as control group.

RESULTSOf 156 patients of trial group, 6(3.8%) patients could not take food early as planned because of postoperative complications. The overall complication rate in trial group was 19.2%(30/156), which was 25.0%(30/160) in control group (P=0.217). The anastomotic leakage in trial group and control group was 2.6%(4/156) and 4.3%(7/160) respectively (P=0.380). Compared with control group, time to first flatus [(2.1±0.9) d vs. (3.3±1.1) d, P<0.001], bowel movement [(4.4±1.3) d vs. (6.6±1.0) d, P<0.001] and postoperative hospital stay [(8.3±3.2) d vs. (10.4±3.6) d, P<0.001] were significantly shorter in trial group.

CONCLUSIONSNo nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding postoperatively in patients with thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy is feasible and safe. This management can shorten postoperative hospital stay and fasten postoperative bowel function recovery.

Eating ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; surgery ; Esophagectomy ; Fasting ; Feasibility Studies ; Humans ; Intubation, Gastrointestinal ; Postoperative Complications ; Postoperative Period

Objective To investigate the feasibility of no nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding at will after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer. Methods Between January 2013 and January 2014, the feasibility of no nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding at postoperative day (POD) 1 after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy was prospectively investigated in 156 patients (trial group) with esophageal cancer in the Henan Cancer Hospital. One hundred and sixty patients previously managed in the same unit who were treated routinely after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy were served as control group. Results Of 156 patients of trial group, 6 (3.8%) patients could not take food early as planned because of postoperative complications. The overall complication rate in trial group was 19.2%(30/156), which was 25.0%(30/160) in control group (P=0.217). The anastomotic leakage in trial group and control group was 2.6%(4/156) and 4.3%(7/160) respectively (P=0.380). Compared with control group, time to first flatus [(2.1±0.9) d vs. (3.3±1.1) d, P<0.001], bowel movement[(4.4±1.3) d vs. (6.6±1.0) d, P<0.001] and postoperative hospital stay [(8.3 ±3.2) d vs. (10.4 ±3.6) d, P<0.001] were significantly shorter in trial group. Conclusions No nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding postoperatively in patients with thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy is feasible and safe. This management can shorten postoperative hospital stay and fasten postoperative bowel function recovery.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of no nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding at will after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer. Methods Between January 2013 and January 2014, the feasibility of no nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding at postoperative day (POD) 1 after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy was prospectively investigated in 156 patients (trial group) with esophageal cancer in the Henan Cancer Hospital. One hundred and sixty patients previously managed in the same unit who were treated routinely after thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy were served as control group. Results Of 156 patients of trial group, 6 (3.8%) patients could not take food early as planned because of postoperative complications. The overall complication rate in trial group was 19.2%(30/156), which was 25.0%(30/160) in control group (P=0.217). The anastomotic leakage in trial group and control group was 2.6%(4/156) and 4.3%(7/160) respectively (P=0.380). Compared with control group, time to first flatus [(2.1±0.9) d vs. (3.3±1.1) d, P<0.001], bowel movement[(4.4±1.3) d vs. (6.6±1.0) d, P<0.001] and postoperative hospital stay [(8.3 ±3.2) d vs. (10.4 ±3.6) d, P<0.001] were significantly shorter in trial group. Conclusions No nasogastric intubation and early oral feeding postoperatively in patients with thoracolaparoscopic esophagectomy is feasible and safe. This management can shorten postoperative hospital stay and fasten postoperative bowel function recovery.

Objective:To explore the prognostic value of lymphocyte subsets in adult hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS).Methods:A total of 172 adult HPS patients diagnosed in 8 medical centers from January 2013 to August 2020 were selected for the study, of whom 87 were male (50.6%, 87/172), and 85 were female (49.4%, 85/172), with 68 survivors and 104 deaths. The clinical data were summarized, and variables such as lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulin characteristics and fibrinogen were retrospectively analyzed, and the correlation between the mentioned variables and patient prognosis was analyzed. The optimal cut-off values of continuous variables were calculated by MaxStat, and the prognostic factors of HPS patients were screened based on the Cox proportional hazard regression model.Results:The median age of HPS patients was 56 (42, 66) years old, and the 5-year cumulative survival rate was 37.4% (37.4/100). The median age, platelet and albumin were 48 (27, 63) years, 84×10 9/L and 32.3 g/L in the survival group, and 59 years, 45.5×10 9/L, and 27.3 g/L in the death group, respectively. The differences between the two groups was statistically significant ( Z=?3.368, P=0.001; Z=?3.156, P=0.002; Z=?3.431, P=0.001). Patients with differentiated cluster 8+(CD8+)<11.1%, CD3+<64.9%, CD4+>51%, and CD4/CD8 ratio>2.18 had poor prognosis (χ 2=7.498, P=0.023; χ 2=4.169, P=0.041; χ 2=4.316, P=0.038; χ 2=9.372, P=0.002). Multivariable analysis showed that CD4/CD8 ratio, age, fibrinogen and hemoglobin were independent prognostic factors in HPS patients ( HR=2.435, P=0.027; HR=5.790, P<0.001; HR=0.432, P=0.018; HR=0.427, P=0.018). Conclusion:Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets can be used to evaluate the prognosis of patients with HPS; CD4/CD8 ratio, age, fibrinogen, and hemoglobin are independent prognostic factors in HPS patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the different outcomes by dexamethasone in adults immune thrombocytopenia purpura (ITP) with different types of platelet specific-autoantibodies.

METHODSA total of 185 ITP were enrolled, 61 males and 124 females, with a median age of 42 (18-83) years, including 117 newly diagnosed, 35 persistent, and 33 chronic cases. All the patients received the dexamethasone at an initial dose of 40 mg per day for 4 days and a low dose of 5-10 mg for 3-4 weeks. The platelet specific-autoantibodies were identified by the modified monoclonal antibody-specific immobilization of platelet antigen (MAIPA) assay.

RESULTSAmong the IgG positive patients, the response rates in anti-GPIIb/IIIa antibody, anti-GPIbα antibody, both antibody positive, and both antibody negative were 87.5%, 50.0%, 68.0%, and 72.3% (χ²=11.489, P<0.05), respectively. Among the IgM positive patients, the response rates in the four groups were 82.1%, 71.4%, 61.9%, and 68.9% (χ²=2.719, P=0.437), respectively. Among the GPIbα antibody positive patients, the response rates in IgG alone, IgM alone, both positive, and both negative were 52.4%, 59.1%, 76.1%, and 77.9% (χ²=10.811, P<0.05), respectively. Among the GPIIb/IIIa antibody positive patients, the response rates in the four groups were 73.3%, 71.0%, 78.6%, and 66.3% (χ²=1.374, P=0.719), respectively.

CONCLUSIONITP patients with GPIbα-IgG antibody have worse response to dexamethasone treatment.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Autoantibodies ; Blood Platelets ; Dexamethasone ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Platelet Glycoprotein GPIIb-IIIa Complex ; Purpura, Thrombocytopenic, Idiopathic ; Young Adult

Chemotherapy outcomes for the treatment of glioma remains unsatisfactory due to the inefficient drug transport across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and insufficient drug accumulation in the tumor region. Although many approaches, including various nanosystems, have been developed to promote the distribution of chemotherapeutics in the brain tumor, the delivery efficiency and the possible damage to the normal brain function still greatly restrict the clinical application of the nanocarriers. Therefore, it is urgent and necessary to discover more safe and effective BBB penetration and glioma-targeting strategies. In the present study, menthol, one of the strongest BBB penetration enhancers screened from traditional Chinese medicine, was conjugated to casein, a natural food protein with brain targeting capability. Then the conjugate self-assembled into the nanoparticles to load anti-cancer drugs. The nanoparticles were characterized to have appropriate size, spheroid shape and high loading drug capacity. Tumor spheroid penetration experiments demonstrated that penetration ability of menthol-modified casein nanoparticles (M-CA-NP) into the tumor were much deeper than that of unmodified nanoparticles. imaging further verified that M-CA-NPs exhibited higher brain tumor distribution than unmodified nanoparticles. The median survival time of glioma-bearing mice treated with HCPT-M-CA-NPs was significantly prolonged than those treated with free HCPT or HCPT-CA-NPs. HE staining of the organs indicated the safety of the nanoparticles. Therefore, the study combined the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine strategy with modern delivery technology for brain targeting, and provide a safe and effective approach for glioma therapy.

HuR (human antigen R), an mRNA-binding protein responsible for poor prognosis in nearly all kinds of malignancies, is a potential anti-tumor target for drug development. While screening HuR inhibitors with a fluorescence polarization (FP) based high-throughput screening (HTS) system, the clinically used drug eltrombopag was identified. Activity of eltrombopag on molecular level was verified with FP, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), simulation docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Further, we showed that eltrombopag inhibited cell proliferation of multiple cancer cell lines and macrophages, and the anti-tumor activity was also demonstrated in a 4T1 tumor-bearing mouse model. The data showed that eltrombopag was efficient in reducing microvessels in tumor tissues. We then confirmed the HuR-dependent anti-angiogenesis effect of eltrombopag in 4T1 cells and RAW264.7 macrophages with qRT-PCR, HuR-overexpression and HuR-silencing assays, RNA stability assays, RNA immunoprecipitation and luciferase assays. Finally, we analyzed the anti-angiogenesis effect of eltrombopag on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) mediated by macrophages with cell scratch assay and Matrigel angiogenesis assay. With these data, we revealed the HuR-dependent anti-angiogenesis effect of eltrombopag in breast tumor, suggesting that the existing drug eltrombopag may be used as an anti-cancer drug.