Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancer with a high incidence and mortality,representing a main type of primary liver cancer.However,the molecular and cellular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis are still poorly understood.Traditionally,the development of hepatocellular carcinoma has been viewed as a process of transforming of normal cells into malignant driven by the genetic alterations in tumor-suppressor gene deactivation and pro-oncogene activation.In recent years,with the deeper understanding of tumor,it has been found that epigenetic alterations are closely related to the occurrence and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.DNA methylation is one of the most common epigenetic events occurring in human genome,as well as the best studied of the epigenetic changes.This review focuses on the state-of-the-art advancements of DNA methylation in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Objective To investigate the efficacy and safety of anti CD25 Ab (Zenapax;Daclizumab) induction therapy in 62 patients following renal transplantation. Methods Sixty-two renal transplant recipients treated with Daclizumab induction therapy were analyzed retrospectively from Sep. 1999 to May 2004. Main immunosuppressive therapy regimen consisted of steroids cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil in all recipients after operation. According to Daclizumab dosage, these recipients were divided into 1-dose group, 2-dose group and over 2-dose group. All patients received Daclizumab 1 h before operation.Results The patients subject to Daclizumab were followed up from 3 months to 57 months. Seven of them had acute rejection ( 11.3 %) at intervals for 10.3 months, from 2 months to 14 months. Patient who had acute rejection at 10th month after operation lost his graft at 13th month after transplantation for graft dysfunction. The incidence of acute rejection was 15.6 % among 45 patients followed up over 12 months. Conclusions Induction therapy of Daclizumab could decrease the incidence of acure rejection, delay the time of acute rejection and relieve the severity of rejection. More graft can be long-survival. We can lower the dosage of CsA effectively and safely after induction of Daclizumab.

Objective To find out the risk factors of early pulmonary infections after renal transplantatioa Methods The data were collected from 96 patients receiving renal transplantation between Oct. 2006 and Oct 2010, including 48 cases of early lung infection after renal transplantation as infection group, and 48 patients receiving immunosuppressive regimen at the same period as-control group. Taking the factors of lung infecition as variables, t test or chi-square test was used in univariate analyses whereas logistic regression was used in multivariate analyses. Results Single factor analysis showed that induction therapy, albumin levels, dose of steroid in 1 month after operation,family income and prophylactic SMZ treatment were related to lung infectioa Analysis of multiple variables logistic regression revealed that induction therapy, albumin levels, dose of steroid in 1 month after operation and prophylactic SMZ treatment were related to lung infection. Conclusion The correlation analysis indicated that induction therapy and dose of steroid in 1 month after operation have positive correlations with pulmonary infection, while albumin levels and prophylactic SMZ treatment have negative correlations with pulmonary infection.

Objective To investigate the diagnostic value of the quantitative analysis parameters of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) for prostate cancer.Methods MR examination were performed in 26 patients and correlations were made with surgical pathology following radical prostatectomy.According to the localization of pathologic specimens,ROI were drawn on areas of cancerous regions,noncancerous regions in peripheral zone and central gland to measure the values of Ktrans,kep and Ve.The values of the three parameters in different tissue were compared with Kruskal-Wallis H and Mann-Whitney U.Results Twenty six patients had prostate cancer confirmed by pathology.Data from 468 assessable regions of prostate were acquired,including 115 cancerous regions and 142 noncancerous regions in central gland,68 cancerous regions and 143 noncancerous regions in peripheral zone.Prostate cancer showed a multifocal distribution.The K,kep and Ve values were (1.04 ± 0.26)/min,(1.43 ± 0.46)/min,(0.76 ±0.12) respectively for cancerous regions in central gland,and (0.82 ±0.19)/min,(1.12 ±0.26)/min,(0.75 ± 0.14) respectively for noncancerous regions in central gland,(0.95 ±0.31)/min,(1.31 ±0.51)/min,(0.76 ± 0.13) respectively for cancerous regions in peripheral zone and (0.32 ± 0.07)/min,(0.52 ± 0.13)/min,(0.64 ± 0.14) respectively for noncancerous regions in peripheral zone.The differences among the three parameters were statistically significant (x2 =316.008,297.985,63.681,P ＜0.01).The Ktrans,kep values of cancerous regions were significantly higher than the corresponding values of noncancerous regions,respectively.Conclusion Quantitative analysis parameters of DCE-MRI contribute to the diagnosis of prostate cancer,including cancer located in central gland.

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic performance of multi ? b value DWI to differentiate pancreatic adenocarcinoma from healthy pancreas using the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and parameters derived from the intravoxel incoherent motion (IVIM) theory. Methods Forty?eight patients with histopathologically proven pancreatic adenocarcinoma and fifty patients with healthy pancreas were examined at 3.0 Tesla using a single?shot echo?planar imaging DWI pulse sequence. Eight b?values ranging from 0 to 1 000 s/mm2 were used. ADC, diffusion coefficient (D), perfusion?related diffusion (D*) and perfusion fraction (f) were compared between pancreatic adenocarcinoma and healthy pancreas, t test or Mann?Whitney U test was used to compare the MRI parameters, ROC was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency. Results In comparison to healthy pancreatic tissue, a significant reduction of the ADC, D*and f was found in pancreatic adenocarcinoma [healthy pancreatic tissue:(1.68±0.31)×10-3mm2/s, 27.10×10-3mm2/s, (36.92±12.47)%;pancreatic adenocarcinoma:(1.51±0.37)×10-3mm2/s, 13.90×10-3mm2/s, (30.06±19.84)%] (P<0.05). No significant difference in the diffusion coefficient D was observed between the two groups (1.06× 10-3 and 1.26 × 10-3mm2/s; P>0.05). In the ROC?analyses, the area under curve for D* was the largest (0.727), followed by f and ADC in order (0.680 and 0.669). Conclusion Using the IVIM DWI approach, the D*, f and ADC value are useful for differentiating pancreatic adenocarcinoma from healthy pancreatic tissue.

Objective To evaluate the differences of serum RANTES(regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein), and SDF-1β (stromal cell-derived factor-1β) in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and healthy people.Methods 38 AIDS patients who were admitted to a hospital between January 2010 and January 2015 were as AIDS groups, 38 healthy persons were as a healthy group, serum levels of RANTES, MCP-1, and SDF-1β in two groups were detected, and the subgroup analysis was carried out according to the viral load.Results Serum levels of RANTES, MCP-1, and SDF-1β in AIDS group were (1 392.55±227.69)pg/mL,(450.91±103.04)pg/mL, and(104.82±22.52)pg/mL respectively,all were significantly higher than those in healthy group([120.58±55.87] pg/mL, [74.25±33.62] pg/mL, and [39.04±11.43]pg/mL respectively)(all P<0.05).Among AIDS patients with HIV viral load 4≤Log(VL)<5 and Log(VL)≥5, serum RANTES were (1 470.34±155.01)pg/mL and (1 408.29±181.54)pg/mL respectively,which were both significantly higher than patients with HIV viral load Log(VL)<4([1 183.12±174.54]pg/mL);serum MCP-1 and SDF-1β levels in AIDS patients with HIV viral load 4≤Log (VL)<5 were (537.93±89.32)and(149.31±18.05)pg/mL respectively,which were significantly higher than patients with HIV viral load Log(VL)≥5([410.26±80.57] pg/mL, [81.53±20.31]pg/mL respectively) and HIV viral load Log(VL)<4([381.71±77.26] pg/mL, [72.90±21.62]pg/mL respectively), differences were both statistically significant(both P<0.05).Conclusion Serum levels of RANTES, MCP-1, and SDF-1β are significantly increased in AIDS patients, which are related to the level of viral load.

Objective To investigate the effect of integrin-linked kinase (ILK) on inducing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to neuron stem-like cell in vitro. Methods MSCs isolated from umbilical cord were transfected with plasmid DNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) and GFP-fusion ILK, wild and mutant, respectively; and cultured in serum-free media with basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor and B27. It was assessed with the proliferative activity and the efficiency of differentiation into neural stem-like cell. Results MSCs transfected with GFP-fusion wild ILK expressed ILK and kinase-dead mutant ILK stably. The activity of proliferation increased and more of them differentiated into neural stem-like cell, which express CD133 and Nestin validated by PCR and Western blotting, and more of wild than of mutant. Conclusion Integrin-linked kinase may play a positive role in MSC differentiation into neural stem-like cell, which may associate with the activity of kinase.

BACKGROUND: Three kinds of donor meniscus are commonly used at present, namely cryopreserved, fresh and deep-frozen meniscus, which,however, almost invariably give rise to degenerative changes of various degrees after transplantation.OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of transplantation of allograft deep-frozen meniscus and meniscal acellular matrix to determine the most preferable means of allograft meniscus preservation.DESIGN: Randomized controlled experiment with rabbits.SETTING: Department of Orthopedics, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University.MATERIALS: Sixty-four male Japanese white rabbits with body mass of 3.0 - 3.5 kg.METHODS: This experiment was carried out in the Animal Experimental Center, Second Hospital Affiliated to Harbin Medical University between September 2002 and September 2003. Totally 64 adult rabbits were assigned into 32 pairs according to the body weight to served as the donor and the recipient animals, respectively. The medial menisci was obtained from the bilateral knees of the donor animals with the right one cryopreserved at -80 ℃ and the left prepared into acellular matrix for deep-frozen preservation. The donor menisci were respectively transplanted into the corresponding knee joints of the recipient animal's hindlimbs, with the left side taken as the experimental side and right as control. Gross observation,X-ray examination, and histological examination of the tissues were carried out at postoperative 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks, respectively.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Findings in X-ray, gross observation and histological observation of the grafted meniscus with meniscal measurement and findings in abdominal aorta perfusion.RFSULTS: All the 64 rabbits were observed for result analysis. X-ray examination of the grafted meniscus revealed no obvious changes in either the experimental and control side at 4 and 8 weeks postoperatively, but mild changes occurred on the control side at 12 weeks, which became obvious at 16 weeks, presented by joint space narrowing, hyperostosis and osteosclerosis below the cartilage of varied severities (with scores of 1.3 and 0.6, respectively, P ＜ 0.05). By gross observation, meniscal atrophy on the experimental side was milder and slower than the control side, with al so lower atrophy rate [(15.14±4.62) % vs (20.97±4.72) % at week 4, P ＜ 0.001, and (19.23±11.27) % vs (32.74±10.43) % at week 16, P ＜ 0.05].Perfusion of the abdominal aorta revealed no revascularization in the surrounding tissues of the meniscus by gross observation in either groups, but histologically, the experimental side showed more favorable structure than the control side at postoperative weeks 4, 8, 12 and 16.CONCLUSION: Meniscal acellular matrix may produce better outcome than deep-frozen meniscus after transplantation and can be a more practical means for preservation of the meniscus.

Objective To investigate the effects of acitretin on T helper cell (Th) 1/Th2 balance and Th17 cells in psoriasis vulgaris (PV) patients. Methods A total of 13 men and 17 women with PV were investigated. 10 mg of acitretin was administered twice a day for 8 weeks for intervention therapy. Serum levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-17 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. T, Th1, Th2 and Th17 cells in skin biopsies were counted with double-labeled immunofluorescence. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score was calculated before and 8 weeks after treatment. Results Before treatment PV patients had higher serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17, and increased T, Th1 and Th17 cells in skin biopsies. After treatment, both serum levels of IFN-γ and IL-17, and T, Th1 and Th17 cells infiltrating in PV skin decreased significantly. Th1/Th2 balance was restored to normal. However, their IL-4 and Th2 cells showed no significant change throughout the therapy. Conclusion Acitretin exerts influence on dermal Th1/Th2 balance and Th17 cell infiltration, so does it on production of systematic inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and IL-17 in PV patients. However, Th2 cells and its derivative cytokine-IL-4 are not affected.

ABSTRACT:Objective To investigate the distributional characteristics of anaphylactogens in prurigo nodularis (PN)patients so as to provide clinical basis for selecting the method of allergy test.Methods We divided 262 PN patients into four groups and then used skin-prick (5 4 patients ),skin-patch (5 0 patients ),serum IgE allergen detection (56 patients)and serum IgG allergen detection (102 patients)to analyze anaphylactogen positive rate and their distribution differences in PN.Results For skin-prick test in 54 PN patients,the detection rates of platanus orientalis,artemisia argyi,poplar,dust mite,dirt mite,cod,peanut and tomato were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05 ).For skin-patch test in 50 PN patients,the detection rates of nickel sulfate,flavor compounds,black rubber,and carba mix were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05).For serum IgE test in 5 6 PN patients,the detection rates of house dust,scandent hop,cat/dog hair,bug,penicillium/neurospora and mutton were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05).For serum IgG test in 102 PN ones,the detection rates of crab,shrimp,beef and cod were higher than those in the control group (P<0.05).Conclusion Skin-prick test and serum IgE detection have high application values in PN patients.Serum IgG detection is of certain importance in adjusting PN patients’diet structure while skin-patch test applied in PN needs further exploration.