"The Expert Group on Tumor Ablation Therapy of Chinese Medical Doctor Association, The Tumor Ablation Committee of Chinese College of Interventionalists, The Society of Tumor Ablation Therapy of Chinese Anti-Cancer Association and The Ablation Expert Committee of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology" have organized multidisciplinary experts to formulate the consensus for thermal ablation of pulmonary subsolid nodules or ground-glass nodule (GGN). The expert consensus reviews current literatures and provides clinical practices for thermal ablation of GGN. The main contents include: (1) clinical evaluation of GGN, (2) procedures, indications, contraindications, outcomes evaluation and related complications of thermal ablation for GGN and (3) future development directions.
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A case of Gilbert syndrome (GS) with a heterozygous mutation in the gene is reported. The patient had no symptoms except for recurrent sclera icterus since childhood. Laboratory examinations revealed an elevated unconjugated bilirubin. Biliary obstruction, hemolysis and other diseases that might cause jaundice were excluded. *28 and c.211G>A heterozygous mutations in gene were found, which may be another type of mutation causing GS in Chinese population.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bilirubin ; Gilbert Disease ; genetics ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; genetics ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Mutation

The circadian clock is a generator of self-sustaining physiological and behavioral rhythms, which can be guided by external environmental factors, so as to synchronize biological behaviors with external environmental changes. The modern lifestyles make the human body incapable of synchronization to the external time with the circadian rhythm, and thus form a social jet lag. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a disorder closely related to metabolic abnormalities. The circadian clock is closely related to metabolic abnormalities and NAFLD and changes among them may be involved with feeding mode and ingredients, sleeping time, and intestinal flora. Molecules associated with the circadian clock are expected to become potential drugs for the treatment of NAFLD. This article mainly reviews the latest research progress of circadian clock and NAFLD.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between interleukin-6 (IL-6) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and the occurrence and prognosis of hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF). Methods: Patients with chronic hepatic diseases diagnosed as HBV infection in the Hepatology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from July 2012 to March 2018 were divided into HBV-ACLF and non-ACLF group. SNP genotyping of eight loci in IL-6 gene (rs1524107, rs1800795, rs1800797, rs2069827, rs2069830, rs2069837, rs2069840 and rs2069845) was determined by the improved multi-temperature ligase detection reaction (imLDRTM) technique. Simultaneously, case data were reviewed with the 3-months followed up survival condition of the ACLF group. Normally distributed data were expressed as arithmetic means and SDs, and t-test was adopted. Data with skewed distribution were expressed as medians with interquartile range, and were measured by non-parametric test. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relative risk of genetic polymorphism and HBV-ACLF as well as the relationship between IL-6 SNPs with the occurrence and prognosis of HBV-ACLF. Results: Four hundred patients were included in the study, with 122 (30.5%) in the HBV-ACLF and 278 (69.5%) in the non-ACLF group. There were significant differences in total bilirubin, albumin, and white blood cell count, percentage of neutrophils, platelet count, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, prothrombin time and international standardized ratio, creatinine and the model for end-stage liver disease score between the two groups (P < 0.001). The genotype of IL-6 genes (rs1800795, rs1800797, rs2069827, and rs2069830) of all subjects showed no mutation or the mutation rate under 1%. There was no significant difference in the genotype of IL-6 (rs1524107, rs2069837, rs2069840 and rs2069845) between the two groups (P > 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the SNPs in the above four loci of IL-6 gene was not associated with HBV-ACLF risk, nor had significant correlation with the 3-months prognosis. Conclusion The SNP genotyping of eight loci in IL-6 gene (rs1524107, rs1800795, rs1800797, rs2069827, rs2069830, rs2069837, rs2069840 and rs2069845) is unrelated to the occurrence and short-term prognosis of HBV-ACLF.

Objective To investigate the relationship between Toxoplasma gondii (T.gondii) infection and metabolic syndrome (MS).Methods A total of 20 577 patients who received serum test of anti-T.gondii IgG antibody in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( NHANES) of the United States from 2009 to 2014 were collected to analyze the clinical features of anti-T.gondii IgG antibody positive patients , and to compare metabolic related indicators in the antibody IgG positive and negative groups .The independent sample t-test, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were used to explore the risk factors of MS . Results A total of 2 746 participants were positive for the T.gondii antibody (13.34%), with a higher prevalence of male (14.44%vs 12.27%, χ2 ＝15.99, P＜0.01).Meanwhile, the prevalence of T.gondii increased with age and body mass index (BMI) (χ2 ＝979.98 and 50.85,respectively, both P＜0.01).Among the 2 191 patients with MS, 449 (20.49%) patients were positive for T.gondii.While 2 297 (12.49%) patients were anti-T.gondii positive in 18 386 non-MS patients.The difference was statistically significant (χ2 ＝78.504, P＜0.01).Age (t＝-37.37), BMI (t＝-4.28), glycosylated hemoglobin (t＝-11.81), fasting blood glucose (t＝-9.38), triacylglycerol (t＝-6.32), cholesterol (t＝-7.16), serum uric acid (t＝-5.25) and serum creatinine (t＝-7.69) in the seropositive group were all higher than those in the seronegative group (all P＜0.01).After adjusting for age and gender , the prevalence of T.gondii was an independent risk factor for MS (odds ratio [OR]＝1.147,P＝0.023).Conclusions BMI, blood lipids, blood uric acid and blood glucose are significantly increased in patients with T.gondii infection.T.gondii infection is an independent risk factor for MS.

Objective To investigate the correlation between interleukin-6(IL-6)single nucleotide polymorphism(SNP)and the occurrence and prognosis of hepatitis B virus-associated acute-on-chronic liver failure(HBV-ACLF).Methods Patients with chronic hepatic diseases diagnosed as HBV infection in the Hepatology Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from July 2012 to March 2018 were divided into HBV-ACLF and non-ACLF group.SNP genotyping of eight loci in IL-6 gene(rs1524107,rsl800795,rsl 800797,rs2069827,rs2069830,rs2069837,rs2069840 and rs2069845)was determined by the improved multi-temperature ligase detection reaction(imLDRTM)technique.Simultaneously,case data were reviewed with the 3-months followed up survival condition of the ACLF group.Normally distributed data were expressed as arithmetic means and SDs,and t-test was adopted.Data with skewed distribution were expressed as medians with interquartile range,and were measured by non-parametric test.Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relative risk of genetic polymorphism and HBV-ACLF as well as the relationship between IL-6 SNPs with the occurrence and prognosis of HBV-ACLF.Results Four hundred patients were included in the study,with 122(30.5%)in the HBV-ACLF and 278(69.5%)in the non-ACLF group.There were significant differences in total bilirubin,albumin,and white blood cell count,percentage of neutrophils,platelet count,alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase,prothrombin time and international standardized ratio,creatinine and the model for end-stage liver disease score between the two groups(P<0.001).The genotype of IL-6 genes(rsl800795,rsl800797,rs2069827,and rs2069830)of all subjects showed no mutation or the mutation rate under 1%.There was no significant difference in the genotype of IL-6(rs 1524107,rs2069837,rs2069840 and rs2069845)between the two groups(P > 0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the SNPs in the above four loci of IL-6 gene was not associated with HBV-ACLF risk,nor had significant correlation with the 3-months prognosis.Conclusion The SNP genotyping of eight loci in IL-6 gene(rs 1524107,rs1800795,rs1800797,rs2069827,rs2069830,rs2069837,rs2069840 and rs2069845)is unrelated to the occurrence and short-term prognosis of HBV-ACLF.

Objective To investigate the association between interleukin-22 (IL-22) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the prognosis of hepatitis B virus related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF).Methods The patients with HBV-ACLF from the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University were retrospectively studied.Seven SNP genotypes of IL-22 gene,including rs2227478,rs2227491,rs1179251,rs1179249,rs2227473,rs2227484,and rs11611206,were detected using imLDRTM multiple SNP typing kit and the distribution features of SNP genotypes were described.The relationship between the distribution of SNP genotypes and alleles and the prognosis of ACLF was analyzed.Comparison of genotypes and allele frequencies between groups were performed by chi-square test of R × C table or Fisher's exact tests.Binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze whether IL-22 gene polymorphisms was an independent prognostic factor for patients with ACLF.Results A total of 122 patients with HBV-ACLF were included in this study.Ninety-two (75.1％) were male and 30 (24.59 ％) were female.Patients were stratified as survival group (90 cases) and non-survival group (32cases) according to the Results of three months follow-up.The genotype distribution of rs2227484 of IL-22 gene was significantly different between the two groups (x2=6.128,P=0.033).The A allele frequency in the non-survival group (15.6％) was significantly higher than that in the survival group (5.6％) with statistically significance (OR=0.318,95％ CI=0.126-0.804,P=0.012).There was no significant difference in the other six SNP genotypes of IL-22 gene between the two groups (all P＞0.05).However,binary logistic regression showed that rs2227484 of IL-22 gene was not an independent risk factor for the short-term mortality in HBV-ACLF patients (adjusted OR=3.102,95％ CI:0.939-10.250,P=0.063).Conclusions The A allele and AA genotype of rs2227484 of IL-22 gene may be associated with a short-term prognosis in patients with HBV-ACLF.

Objective To investigate the relationship between hepatic steatosis and virological markers in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB ) during immune clearance (IC ) phase.Methods Pathology proven CHB patients in IC phase were collected from the Liver Center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from January 2009 to October 2016 .Patients were divided into non-to mild fatty liver (F0 －F1) group and moderate to severe fatty liver (F2 －F4) group according to the liver steatosis degree .The relationship between liver steatosis and virological markers in serum was compared .The measurement data were analyzed using independent sample t test ,and the count data were analyzed by chi-square test .Results A total of 298 patients were included ,including 237 males (79 .5%) and 61(20 .5%) females ,and the average age was (32 .4 ± 10 .3) years old .The 23 .5%(70／298) of these patients had liver steatosis .A total of 273 (91 .6%) cases were in F0－F1 group ,and the remaining 25 (8 .4%) cases were in F2 －F4 group.The patients in F2 － F4 group had higher body mass index ([25.90 ± 2.70] vs [21 .68 ± 2.90] kg／m2) ,serum triglyceride ([1.52 ± 0.77] vs [1.11 ± 0.55] mmol／L) and cholesterol ([4 .88 ± 1 .15] vs [4 .33 ± 0 .92] mmol／L) than F0－F1 group ,and the differences were all statistically significant (t＝ －7 .007 ,－2 .667 ,and －2 .751 ,respectively ,all P＜0 .05).In addition , the serum levels of HBsAg and HBV DNA in F2 －F4 group were also significantly higher than F0 －F1 group (t＝ －3 .291 and －2 .831 ,respectivelt ,both P＜0 .01).According to the grading of inflammation and fibrosis ,the differences of HBsAg and HBV DNA levels between F0 －F1 group and F2 －F4 group were statistically significant only in patients with more severe inflammation (t＝ －2 .738 and －2 .135 , respectively ,both P＜0 .05) or less severe fibrosis (t＝ －2 .258 and －2 .333 ,respectively ,both P＜0 .05).Conclusion Among CHB patients experiencing immune clearance ,serum HBsAg and HBV DNA levels are positively correlated with the severity of hepatic steatosis ,and this phenomenon is closely related to the degree of liver inflammation.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is one of the most important methods for the treatment of liver cancer and has the advantages of small trauma,simple operation,and repeatability.However,for tumors in high-risk locations within 5 mm of the first and second branches of the hepatic portal vein,near the hepatic vein,the inferior vena cava,or the gallbladder,within 5 mm of the intestinal tract,under the Glisson's capsule,and in the diaphragm,RFA has the issues of a low complete ablation rate,a high local recurrence rate,and serious complications.This article introduces the complications of RFA for liver cancer in high-risk locations and their prevention and points out that with the promotion of individualized and standardized RFA,liver cancer in these high-risk locations is no longer a contradiction for RFA.

Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are a series of intracellular molecules with immunoregulatory activity which are released by the damaged or activated cells and can induce autoimmunity or immune tolerance via pattern recognition receptors.At present,the DAMPs which have been discovered include extracellular histone,high-mobility group box-1,chromosomal deoxyribonucleic acid,interleukin-18,interleukin-32,uric acid,and mitochondrial transcription factors.The discovery of DAMPs and clarification of their mechanisms of action help to know the pathophysiological process of liver failure and provide new thoughts for the diagnosis,prevention,and treatment of liver failure.This article briefly summarizes the concept of DAMPs and their mechanisms of action in the development and progression of liver failure.