The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique has been widely used in fields of molecular biology and diagnosis. PCR biochip/microdevice is increasingly of great interest as a result of its small volume of sample and reaction mixture, short reaction period and portability. The applications of PCR biochip/microdevice are specially introduced in the clinical diagnosis. Finally, the applications and development of PCR biochip/microdevice are also predicted.
Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Infection ; diagnosis ; Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; instrumentation ; methods

Objective:To analyze the correlation between serum lipid levels and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 di-abetic mellitus.Methods:A total of 240 patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus from Jun 2011 to Jul 2013 were enrolled.There were 100 patients with diabetic nephropathy and 140 patients without any complication.Gender,age,duration of diabetes, baseline fasting glucose,glycosylated hemoglobin and serum lipid were compared between the two groups.The odds ratio(OR) and 95% confidence interval(CI)of correlation between these factors and diabetic nephropathy were calculated and analyzed with Logistic regression model.Results:The differences of age,duration of diabetes,systolic pressure between the two groups were statistically significant(P <0.01).Adjusted Logistic regression model showed that age> 70(OR= 2.92,95% CI:1.31-6.51),duration of diabetes>10 years(OR=3.33,95%CI:1.79-6.16),diastolic pressure>90 mmHg(OR=2.23,95%CI:1.06-4.69),and low density lipoprotein>3.64 mmol/L(OR=2.85,95%CI:1.16-7.03)were independent risk factors for type 2 Dia-betic Mellitus complicated by diabetic nephropathy(P <0.01 and 0.05).Conclusions:Low density lipoprotein has the potential to be a predictive,prophylactic and therapeutic target for diabetic nephropathy.

One group of Bcl-2 protein family, which shares only the BH3 domain (BH3-only), is critically involved in the regulation of programmed cell death. Herein we demonstrated a novel human BH3-only protein (designated as Bop) which could induce apoptosis in a BH3 domain-dependent manner. Further analysis indicated that Bop mainly localized to mitochondria and used its BH3 domain to contact the loop regions of voltage dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) in the outer mitochondrial membrane. In addition, purified Bop protein induced the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm) and the release of cytochrome c. Furthermore, Bop used its BH3 domain to contact pro-survival Bcl-2 family members (Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), Mcl-1, A1 and Bcl-w), which could inhibit Bop-induced apoptosis. Bop would be constrained by pro-survival Bcl-2 proteins in resting cells, because Bop became released from phosphorylated Bcl-2 induced by microtubule-interfering agent like vincristine (VCR). Indeed, knockdown experiments indicated that Bop was partially required for VCR induced cell death. Finally, Bop might need to function through Bak and Bax, likely by releasing Bak from Bcl-X(L) sequestration. In conclusion, Bop may be a novel BH3-only factor that can engage with the regulatory network of Bcl-2 family members to process intrinsic apoptotic signaling.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Humans ; Mice ; Mitochondria ; metabolism ; Mitochondrial Membranes ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Protein Structure, Tertiary ; Protein Transport ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Time Factors ; Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel 1 ; metabolism ; bcl-2 Homologous Antagonist-Killer Protein ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective:To analyze the survival of pancreatic cancer cases in Qidong County, Jiangsu Province from 1972 to 2016, and provide a basis for the prognosis evaluation and prevention of pancreatic cancer.Methods:Data from a total of 4 341 registered pancreatic cancer patients in Tumor Registry of Qidong from January 1972 to December 2016 were selected, and all the patients were followed up until December 31, 2021. 1-, 3- and 5-year observed survival rate (OSR) and relative survival rate (RSR) were calculated and tested by Hakulinen likelihood ratio test method using SURV (3.01) software. Age-standardized relative survival rate (ARSR) was calculated according to the International Cancer Survival Standard (ICSS). Joinpoint (4.7.0.0) software was used to conduct the annual percentage change (APC) of pancreas cancer survival rate.Results:1-, 3- and 5-year OSR of pancreatic cancer were 13.82%, 5.87% and 4.70%, and 1-, 3- and 5-year RSR were 14.50%, 6.80% and 6.02%, respectively. 1-, 3- and 5-year RSR increased from 11.76%, 4.84% and 3.29% in 1972—1976 to 18.80%, 7.39% and 6.49% in 2012—2016. The uptrends of RSR were statistically significant (χ 2=59.84, P<0.001). 1-, 3- and 5-year RSR for male were 14.31%, 6.40% and 5.82%, and 1-, 3- and 5-year RSR for female were 14.74%, 7.28% and 6.26%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference on RSR between male and female (χ 2=6.68, P=0.463). The 5-year RSR for the age group of 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years old were 8.14%, 6.74%, 4.69% and 5.24%, respectively, and the survival rate was decreased with age. There was a statistically significant difference on RSR among different age groups (χ 2=19.52, P=0.012). 1-, 3- and 5-year ARSR of pancreas cancer were 14.67%, 6.84% and 6.04%. For male, 1-, 3- and 5-year ARSR were 14.36%, 6.42% and 5.79%, and for female were 15.25%, 7.55% and 6.47%, respectively. Period trend analysis showed that the APC of 1-, 3- and 5-year ARSR was 0.91% ( t=1.94, P=0.094), -0.22% ( t=-0.30, P=0.774) and -0.77% ( t=-0.95, P=0.374) from 1972 to 2016 in Qidong. The APC of 5-year ARSR in male and female were -1.50% ( t=-1.31, P=0.232) and 1.11% ( t=0.37, P=0.722); there were no statistically significant increase or decrease for both male and female among ARSR in nine periods (5 years as a period). The APC of 5-year RSR among 45-54, 55-64, 65-74 and ≥75 years old were 2.46% ( t=0.57, P=0.588), 3.16% ( t=0.87, P=0.413), 0.95% ( t=0.26, P=0.805) and -2.56% ( t=-2.61, P=0.035), respectively. Except for ≥75 years old age group who had a statistically significant downward trend, there were no statistically significant upward trend in the other age groups. Conclusions:The overall survival rate of pancreatic cancer in Qidong from 1972 to 2016 has been at a low level, and it is necessary to introduce a standardized multi-disciplinary treatment mode to improve treatment efficacy and survival rate.

ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors for liver cancer in patients with chronic hepatitis B （CHB） in the Qidong Chronic Hepatitis B cohort， and to construct a nomogram model for predicting the risk of liver cancer in CHB patients. MethodsA structured questionnaire survey was conducted among the CHB patients， aged ≥18 years， who attended the outpatient service of Qidong Third People’s Hospital from January 1 to December 31， 2016. The onset of liver cancer was defined as the primary outcome， and the outcomes of the cohort were obtained from Qidong Cancer Registry. Baseline clinical features were compared ；between the liver cancer group and the non-liver cancer group. The independent-samples t test or the Mann-Whitney U test was used for comparison of continuous data between two groups， and the chi-square test or the Fisher’s exact test was used for comparison of categorical data between groups. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors for liver cancer in CHB patients and calculate their hazard ratio （HR） and 95% confidence interval （CI）； the variables with statistical significance in the univariate Cox regression analysis were included in the LASSO regression analysis， and then the variables obtained were included in the multivariate Cox regression analysis to establish a predictive model. The nomogram was used to visualize the complex model. The receiver operating characteristic （ROC） curve， index of concordance （C-index）， and the calibration curve were used to assess the predictive efficacy of the model， and the decision curve was used to evaluate the clinical practicability of the nomogram. ResultsA total of 1 479 CHB patients were selected， among whom 58 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of liver cancer， 15 with missing data on testing indicators， and 164 with missing data on important information in the questionnaire were excluded， and finally 1 242 subjects were included in the study. Up to December 31， 2023， there were 67 new cases of liver cancer after a median follow-up time of 7.71 years， and the incidence density of liver cancer was 729.78/100，000 person-years. There were significant differences between the liver cancer group and the non-liver cancer group in age， sex， educational level， liver cirrhosis， duration of liver cirrhosis， history of diabetes mellitus， albumin， total bilirubin （TBil）， direct bilirubin， aspartate aminotransferase， aspartate aminotransferase， gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase （GGT）， and alkaline phosphatase （all P<0.05）. The multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the increase in age （HR=1.07， 95%CI： 1.05‍ ‍—‍ ‍1.10， P<0.001）， a relatively high level of TBil （HR=1.98， 95%CI： 1.15‍ ‍—‍ ‍3.42， P=0.014）， a relatively high level of GGT （HR=2.41， 95%CI： 1.43‍ ‍—‍ ‍4.08， P=0.001）， and a long duration of liver cirrhosis （HR=1.09， 95%CI： 1.02‍ ‍—‍ ‍1.15， P=0.009） were independent risk factors for liver cancer in CHB patients. A nomogram prediction model was constructed based on the above four indicators， with an area under the ROC curve of 0.790， 0.845， and 0.829， respectively， in predicting the risk of liver cancer in CHB patients at 1， 3， and 5 years， and the bootstrap resampling method was used for internal validation and showed a C-index of 0. 778. The calibration curve showed that the prediction model had good stability， and the decision curve showed that it had certain clinical practicability. ConclusionThe increase in age， relatively high levels of TBil and GGT， and a long duration of liver cirrhosis are independent risk factors for liver cancer in CHB patients， and the nomogram model constructed based on these factors has a good predictive value and can be used in clinical practice to help develop strategies for the long-term monitoring of liver cancer.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the long-term protection efficacy of neonatal hepatitis B vaccination on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in adults.

METHODSFrom January to October, 2013, a cross-sectional study was conducted among the participants from Qidong Hepatitis B Intervention Study (QHBIS), who were selected through stratified random sampling. The detections of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg, and anti-HBe were conducted and ultrasonography on liver, gallbladder and spleen was performed for them. The positive rates of each serologic markers, the prevalence of active CHB and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were calculated, the gender specific differences between vaccination group and control group were compared with Chi-square test.

RESULTSA total of 4 421 participants aged (25.59±1.84) years in vaccination group and 3 880 participants aged (26.61±2.24) years in control group were surveyed. The positive rates of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe were 2.38%, 37.73%, 3.78%, 0.57% and 2.15% in vaccination group, and 9.02%, 29.41%, 16.83%, 2.73% and 8.87% in control group, respectively, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (all P<0.05). The prevalence of active CHB and liver fibrosis and cirrhosis were 0.45% and 0.16% in vaccination group, 1.29% and 0.39% in control group, the differences between two groups were statistically significant (P<0.05). The active CHB prevalence was lower in females than in males in both vaccination group and control group (P<0.05). The liver fibrosis and cirrhosis prevalence was lower in females than in males in control group (P<0.05); whereas, no statistical significant difference in liver fibrosis & cirrhosis prevalence between males and females was found in vaccination group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSProtection conferred by neonatal hepatitis B vaccination could last to marrying age. The gender specific difference in protection efficacy needs further study.

Adult ; China ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Hepatitis B Antibodies ; blood ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B Vaccines ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis B virus ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; Male ; Prevalence ; Vaccination ; statistics & numerical data