Objective:To investigate the value of quantitative CT (QCT) body component parameters before and after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) as prognostic indicator for patients with hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC).Methods:Retrospective analysis was performed on 40 patients with advanced HCC who received TACE treatment in Anhui Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University from November 2013 to May 2017, all of them received QCT scanning before and after treatment. The information were recorded, including gender, age, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), TNM stage, liver function Child-Pugh grade, portal venous thromboembolism, cirrhosis, maximum tumor diameter, tumor type, and frequency of interventional therapy. QCT parameters were measured before and after treatment, including L1, L2 bone mineral density (BMD), L3-level paravertebral muscle area (MA), subcutaneous fat area (SFA) and visceral fat area (VFA), and the change rate of QCT parameters (ΔBMD, ΔMA, ΔSFA, ΔVFA) before and after TACE were calculated after the QCT scan interval was standardized. The cut-off values of ΔBMD, ΔMA, ΔSFA and ΔVFA to diagnose the prognosis of HCC patients after TACE were obtained by drawing the ROC curves. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival rate, the Log-rank method was used for univariate analysis, and the Cox regression analysis model was used for multivariate analysis to screen out independent factors affecting the prognosis of HCC patients after TACE.Results:ROC curve analysis showed that the cut-off values of ΔBMD, ΔMA, ΔSFA and ΔVFA to diagnose the prognosis of HCC patients after TACE were -8.64%, -6.84%, -9.84% and 5.70%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that AFP, TNM stage, liver function Child-Pugh grade, portal venous thrombosis, tumor type and ΔMA, ΔSFA, ΔVFA had statistically significant effects on prognosis ( P<0.1). Multivariate analysis showed that ΔMA, ΔVFA and portal venous thromboembolism were independent influencing factors for the prognosis of HCC patients after TACE treatment ( P<0.05). Conclusions:ΔMA, ΔVFA and portal venous thromboembolism have reference value for prognosis assessment of TACE treatment for HCC patients, and QCT body composition analysis is helpful to evaluate the prognosis of HCC patients.

Objective: To observe serum levels of periostin, ECP, IgE in the antibiotic enterprise workers, and study the role of periostin, ECP, IgE in the development of allergic inflammation. Methods: 90 cases with asthma or rhinitis were enrolled as disease group, another 117 workers exposed to 7-ACA、6-APA dust without suffering from allergic illness, are chosen as group of dust exposed, and 192 healthy workers who didn’t contact dust were chosen as control group. Questionnaires were used to learn their basic information.Lung function was determined with a portable spirometer.The expression levels of periostin、ECP and IgE in serum were measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay. Results: The exposure group and disease group had significantly lower forced vital capacity (FVC) , forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV_l.0) , and FEV_l.0/FVC ratio than the control group (P<0.05) . The disease group had significantly higher eosinophil than the control group (P<0.05) . Compared with the control group, the exposure group, the disease group, asthma subgroup, rhinitis subgroup of serum periostin and IgE increased, the differences are statistically significant (P<0.05) . Serum levels of ECP in the workers of asthma subgroup were significantly higher than that in control group (P<0.05) . Serum expression levels of periostin were positively correlated with IgE, ECP in workers (P<0.001) , serum levels of periostin were negatively correlated with FEV_1.0 in workers (P<0.05) . Multiple logistics regression analysis found that exposure to 7-ACA or 6-APA (OR=3.09, 95%CI: 1.83-5.21) , age>47years (OR=2.53, 95%CI: 1.22-5.26) , higher ECP (OR=1.04, 95%CI: 1.01-1.06) were risk factors for increased serum periostin level. Conclusion Occupational exposure to 7-ACA or 6-APA can result in higher serum periostin level, exposure to 7-ACA or 6-APA, age>47 years, higher ECP are risk factors for increased serum periostin level.

Hepatic stellate cells(HSCs)are essential drivers of fibrogenesis.Inducing activated-HSC apoptosis is a promising strategy for treating hepatic fibrosis.18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid(18β-GA)is a natural com-pound that exists widely in herbal medicines,such as Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch,which is used for treating multiple liver diseases,especially in Asia.In the present study,we demonstrated that 18β-GA decreased hepatic fibrosis by inducing the apoptosis in activated HSCs.18β-GA inhibited the expression of α-smooth muscle actin and collagen type Ⅰ alpha-1.Using a chemoproteomic approach derived from activity-based protein profiling,together with cellular thermal shift assay and surface plasmon reso-nance,we found that 18β-GA covalently targeted peroxiredoxin 1(PRDX1)and peroxiredoxin 2(PRDX2)proteins via binding to active cysteine residues and thereby inhibited their enzymatic activities.18β-GA induced the elevation of reactive oxygen species(ROS),resulting in the apoptosis of activated HSCs.PRDX1 knockdown also led to ROS-mediated apoptosis in activated HSCs.Collectively,our findings revealed the target proteins and molecular mechanisms of 18β-GA in ameliorating hepatic fibrosis,highlighting the future development of 18β-GA as a novel therapeutic drug for hepatic fibrosis.

Objective:To summarize and evaluate the target and dose design of 125I seed brachytherapy treatment plan of pediatric borderline tumor in head neck region. Methods:Eleven patients underwent definitive 125I brachytherapy or combined with surgery in Peking University Hospital of Stomatology from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospective analyzed. The target region was set by extending the tumor gross region by 0.5 to 1.0 cm. The prescription dose and activity ranged from 80 to 120 Gy and 18.5 MBq, respectively. The treatments were performed according to the plan under general anesthesia. Response and toxic reaction were recorded during follow-up. The preoperative and postoperative dosimetric results were compared; and the local control rate, objective response rate, complete response rate and acute toxic reaction rate were calculated. Results:There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative dosimetric results ( P>0.05). The follow-up time ranged from 33 to 131 months, with a median of 48 months. The local control rate, objective response rate, complete response rate and acute toxic reaction rate were 100%, 100%, 71.4% and 81.8%, respectively. Conclusions:Under well-designed target and dose, 125I brachytherapy for treatment of pediatric borderline tumor in head neck region would bring ideal therapeutic and toxic outcomes, and could be regarded as a feasible therapy.

Membrane-disruptive peptides/peptidomimetics (MDPs) are antimicrobials or anticarcinogens that present a general killing mechanism through the physical disruption of cell membranes, in contrast to conventional chemotherapeutic drugs, which act on precise targets such as DNA or specific enzymes. Owing to their rapid action, broad-spectrum activity, and mechanisms of action that potentially hinder the development of resistance, MDPs have been increasingly considered as future therapeutics in the drug-resistant era. Recently, growing experimental evidence has demonstrated that MDPs can also be utilized as adjuvants to enhance the therapeutic effects of other agents. In this review, we evaluate the literature around the broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties and anticancer activity of MDPs, and summarize the current development and mechanisms of MDPs alone or in combination with other agents. Notably, this review highlights recent advances in the design of various MDP-based drug delivery systems that can improve the therapeutic effect of MDPs, minimize side effects, and promote the co-delivery of multiple chemotherapeutics, for more efficient antimicrobial and anticancer therapy.