Objective: To compare the expression profiles of serum glycomics between hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients and normal adults, in an attempt to search for new biomarkers for HCC. Methods: Serum samples were obtained from HCC patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV) infection (n = 100) and normal adults(n = 130). Profiles of serum N-glycome were determined by capillary electrophoresis (CE) based on DNA sequencing equipment. Results: Each sample had a profile with 11 peaks; the peaks were adjusted and quantified. Peaks 1, 2, 9, and 11 in HCC group were higher than those in the control group; peaks 6, 8 and 10 were lower in HCC group than those in control group (P<0.05). The changes of peak values of several peaks were correlated with tumor markers such as alpha-fetoprotein(AFP), HBV DNA copies, albumin and prothrombin time. Conclusion: N-glycome profiles in serum are significantly different between HCC patients and normal adults, which may provide evidence for clinical diagnosis of HCC.

Objective: To investigate the association between polymorphisms in α1 (I) collagen (COL1A1) gene promoter region and hepatic cirrhotic/fibrotic patients with hepatitis B infection. Methods: Three polymorphisms within COL1A1 promoter region were genotyped in 111 Chinese liver cirrhotic patients with chronic HBV infection and 95 healthy controls by direct DNA sequencing. Allelic and genotypic associations of these polymorphisms with liver cirrhosis were examined. The association between haplotype distribution, haplotype frequency and liver cirrhosis was analyzed by haplotype software. Results: No polymorphisms at position - 1662del/insT of COL1A1 gene were observed in subjects of both groups. There was no statistical difference in the genotype frequencies at position - 1997T>G or - 1363C>G in both groups. The frequency of haplotype - 1997T/-1363C in the diseased group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Polymorphisms in the promoter region of COL1A1 gene at position - 1997T>G, - 1363C>G might be correlated with liver cirrhosis.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the routine clinical laboratory parameters for hepatocellular carcinoma, in an attempt to search for parameters for diagnosis of HCC. Methods: The pre-operation clinical laboratory data, such as tumor makers, and serological biochemical indices, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers, and HBV DNA titers, were collected from 828 patients who were pathologically diagnosed as having HCC; then the correlation between these data with tumor size and the pathological grades of HCC was analyzed. Results: It was found that 97.9% of the 828 patients were infected with HBV and 70.9% of them were accompanied by liver fibrosis. We also found that the tumor size was correlated with albumin (Alb), globulin (GLB), A/ G, spartate aminotransferase (AST), ratio of aspartate to alanine aminotransferase (AST/ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alpha-L-fucosidase (AFU), alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and tumor grades; meanwhile, the pathological grades of tumor was correlated to PALB, GGT and tumor size(all P<0.05). Conclusion: The progress of HCC is correlated with several clinical laboratory biochemistry indices and virus indices. The combined application of these indices is worth studying for auxiliary diagnosis of HCC.

With the completion of human genome, we are entering the functional genomic age. To further reveal the nature of life, glycomics comes into being and becomes a research focus. This review gives a deep insight on the current research progress of glycomics, including the research target, the structural classification and metabolism of sugar chain, the biological significance, research approaches, and the correlation between glycomics and liver diseases.

Objective: To investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on the physical stamina in mice. Methods: Sixty Kunming mice were randomly assigned into 3 groups: HBO group, high pressure air (HPA) group, and normal pressure air (NPA) group. After 5 days' exposure, 30 mice (10 in each group) were subjected to forced swimming test (FST) to measure the exhaustive swimming time. Blood lactate (LA), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in another 10 mice after 90 min swimming. Results: Compared to HPA group, HBO group had obviously longer exhaustive swimming time (P<0.05). The blood LA in HBO group was lower than that in HPA group and NPA group after 90 min swimming (P<0.05); there was no significant difference in SOD activity and MDA content between 3 groups. Conclusion: HBO can markedly improve the physical stamina in mice, which may not be related with the activity of anti-oxidation enzyme and metabolism of oxygen free radical.

Bronchial Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; etiology ; Child ; Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; diagnostic imaging ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Male ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; methods

With the completion of human genome,we are entering the functional genomic age.To further reveal the nature of life,glycomics comes into being and becomes a research focus.This review gives a deep insight on the current research progress of glycomics,including the research target,the structural classification and metabolism of sugar chain,the biological significance,research approaches,and the correlation between glycomics and liver diseases.

Objective: To assess the relative contributions of postharvest processing and geographical source to phytochemical variation of Corydalis Rhizoma, and rhizome of Corydalis yanhusuo, and to examine what phytochemical components are the most sensitive to the differences of each factor and how they change. Methods: HPLC fingerprinting and LC-MS coupled with chemometric approaches were applied. Results: The results of principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) explicitly demonstrated the postharvest processing could produce a greater impact on the phytochemical profiles of Corydalis Rhizoma than geographical source. The contents of most compounds increased after water boiling while decreased after sulphur-fumigation. Protopine, coptisine, and palmatine were the most variable components in processing. Geographical sources also led to a remarkable phytochemical differentiation, in which the environmental variation of the three regions might play a role. Dehydrocorybulbine, coptisine, dehydrocorydaline, and protopine varied most among the three production regions and decreased sequentially in Zhejiang, Shaanxi, and Jiangsu provinces, China. Conclusion: Both postharvest processing and geographical source should be enhanced with the priority for the former in the quality control of Corydalis Rhizoma. The application of boiling is supported but the consistency should be improved in practice. Sulphur-fumigation is strongly suggested to be abandoned. © 2013 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Objective The aim of our study was to study the CT findings of cryptococcosis in immunocompetent children.Methods CT scan and clinical data of 21 immunocompetent children with proven pulmonary cryptococcosis were retrospectively collected and analyzed.Results The CT scans demonstrated 1 mm subpleural nodule in the lingula of left lung in 1 patient and multiple nodules in 20 patients.Of 20 patients with multiple nodules,peripheral or subpleural distribution was found in 12 patients,and diffuse distribution in 8 patients.Of 20 patients with multiple nodules,Nodules of ＜ 10 mm was found in 18 patients,＜3 mm in 14 patients,and ＞ 10 mm in 2 patients.Round nodular with smooth margin was detected in 15 of 20 patients with multiple nodules.Lymphadenopathy was found in 17 patients including 3 patients with mild contrast enhancement and 2 patients with circular enhancement.Extrapulmonary lesions distributing in liver,spleen,kidney,and the nervous system were found in 14 patients.In follow-up,1 patient died and 20 patients fully recovered.ConclusionsPulmonary multiple nodules with lymphadenopathy is the characteristic CT findings in immunocompetent children with pulmonary crytococcosis which is prone to involve multiple extra-pulmonary organs.

Objective To observe the protective effect of asiatic acid on hyperlipidemia golden hamsters induced by high fat diet and explore its mechanism.Methods Hyperlipidemic golden hamsters fed with high-fat diet were administered orally with asiatic acid (8,16,32 mg/kg)for 4 weeks.Levels of serum lipid content,liver histology,hepatic GSH-PX and SOD levels,serum ALT and AST activities were evaluated in golden hamsters,fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)is using to examine the liver lecithin cholesterol fatty acyl transferase(LCAT) and class B typeⅠscavenger receptor(SR-BⅠ)mRNA expression. Results Compared with model group,the levels of TC,TG,LDL-C,TC/HDL,ALT and AST in low and mediate asiatic acid groups were all significantly decreased but the levels of SOD and GSH-PX were significantly increased(P<0.01).HE staining results showed that fat deposition in the liver were improved by administration of asiatic acid,and the expression of LCAT and SR-BⅠmRNA were increased.Conclusion Asiatic acid can effectively reduce blood lipid levels,and alleviate liver damage of the hyperlipidemia golden hamsters by lipid regulation and antioxidative ability augmentation.The increased levels of LCAT and SR-BⅠmRNA expression maybe involved in the mechanism of hypolipidaemic effect of asiatic acid.