BACKGROUND: The imaging technique of CT and MRI has lower diagnostic accuracy in analyzing lymph node location due to the nonspecific diagnostic criteria. However, this situation can be improved with Gadolinium diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA), especially the use of lymphatic targeting contrast agent. OBJECTIVE: To prepare DTPA-coupled human serum albumin (HSA) labeled with gadoliniumion, and to investigate the enhancement for the lymph node in animal experiment, in further, to explore the potential value of its application. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The randomized grouping, controlled animal experiment was performed at the laboratory of Medical Imaging Center, Nanfang Hospital from December 2008 to April 2009. MATERIALS: GdCI3 was prepared with Gd2O3 reacted with 0.1mol/L HCI for 10 minutes. Then, DTPA cyclic anhydride and HAS solution were mixed together at the ratio of 200:1 or 100:1. The product was divided into 4 equal portions, which was reacted with 5.0, 6.0, 7.0, 8.0 pH values at room temperature for 30 minutes. At last, GdCI3 was added. The complexation reaction was completed within 1 minute. The Gd-DTPA-HAS was dried and prepared for Gd-DTPA-HAS solution with concentration of 0.50 mmol Gd/L.METHODS: Six New Zealand rabbits were undergone the MRI examination, followed by subcutaneous injection of 0.2 mL with Gd 0.50 mmol/L HSA-Gd-DTPA solution. And contrast scanning was performed at minutes 30, 60 and 180 after injection. The signal intensity of popliteal lymph node was measured and the enhancement rate was obtained. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The number of combined Gd-DTPA per HSA at different reaction conditions was measured, and coupling efficiency of HSA-DTPA was calculated. The enhancement rates of lymph node, as well as dynamic changes were observed. RESULTS: ①The number and coupling efficiency of HSA-coupled of gadolinium ions were increased with the pH value of the reaction system at the same DTPA-to-HSA molar ratio. ②At the same pH value of the reaction system, the number of HSA-coupled of gadolinium ions increased with the DTPA-to-HSA molar ratios while the coupling efficiency of HSA-coupled of gadolinium ions decreased.③After subcutaneous injection, HSA-Gd-DTPA entered the lymphatic vessel, which resulted in obvious homogeneous enhancement of the lymphatic vessels and popliteal lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: The number and coupling efficiency of HSA-coupled of gadolinium ions can be increased in pH=8.0, 0.1 mol/L NaHCO_3 reaction system. HSA-Gd-DTPA is an effective contrast agent targeted for lymph node after subcutaneous administration.

Objective To explore the correlation between human cytomegalovirus(HCMV) infection with infantile hepatitis syn‐drome(IHS) and hepatic function damage .Methods The real‐time fluorescent quantitative polymerase chain reaction(PCR) was a‐dopted to test the urine HCMV DNA in 236 infants with IHS and 236 healthy infants ,respectively .The hepatic functions in 254 in‐fants with HCMV infection were analyzed retrospectively .Results Among these 236 cases of IHS ,the positive rates of HCMV DNA in urine sample was 62 .7% (148/236) .The positive rates of HCMV DNA and HCMV IgM in the IHS group were significant‐ly higher than those in the control group with statistical difference(P< 0 .01) .The liver function indexes in 254 infants with HCMV infection showed that the serum concentrations of total bilirubin (TBIL ) ,gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT ) ,total bile acid (TBA) ,aspartate aminotransferase(AST ) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT ) were higher than the normal reference ranges ,and the differences were statistically significant(P < 0 .01) .Conclusion The detection rate of HCMV infection is high among the in‐fants with IHS in Guangxi area and HCMV is an important pathogen of IHS .HCMV may lead to hepatic function damage .

Objective To investigate the expression of microRNA-152 in hepatocellular carcinoma, and analyze the correlation of miR-152 expression with the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. Methods Real-time PCR was used to detect the expression of miR-152 in tissue specimens from HCC and the adjacent non-cancerous hepatic tissues collected from 56 patients who underwent surgical treatment for primary HCC. The association between the expression of miR-152 and the clinical pathological characteristics and prognosis of HCC patients was analyzed. Results The relative expression of miR-152 in hepatocellular carcinoma and corresponding adjacent non-carcinoma tissues were 0.616±0.041 and 0.768±0.042 (P=0.011). The expression of miR-152 was significantly associated with TNM stages (P=0.042), tumor differentiation (P=0.035), metastasis (P=0.048) and venous invasion (P=0.042). There was no significant association between the miR-152 expression and gender, age, AFP level, tumor number or tumor grade. The OS (P=0.035) and PFS (P=0.012) in the low miR-152 expression group were obviously shorter than those in the high miR-152 expression group. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the low expression of miR-152, tumor recurrence and pathological classification were significant independent prognostic factors for the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Conclusion The expression of miR-152 is decreased in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues, and the low expression of miR-152 is significantly associated with TNM stages, tumor differentiation, metastasis, venous invasion and the prognosis of HCC patients.

Objective To establish a reference intervals(RIs)of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen(SCC-Ag)in healthy population in Nanning region and provide clinical evidence to support diagnosis and prognosis of squamous cell carcinoma.Methods A total of 10 197 reference individuals who joined a routine physical examina-tion in the Health Management Center of Guangxi International Zhuang Medical Hospital from March 2019 to De-cember 2021 were collected.The level of serum SCC-Ag was detected by chemiluminescence microparticle immuno-assay.The Mann-Whitney U test was applied to compare the differences in serum SCC level between genders or ad-jacent age groups.The unilateral 95th percentile determined the upper limit of the RIs by the nonparametric method.Another 1 035 healthy subjects with the same conditions as the reference population were selected for refer-ence validation.Results The serum SCC-Ag level showed a skewed distribution(Z＝0.08,P＜0.05).The ser-um SCC-Ag level of males was considerably higher than that of females.There was significant difference in serum SCC-Ag level between males aged 18－30 and 31－40,51－60 and 61－90(P＜0.05).There was significant difference in serum SCC-Ag level between females aged 18－30 and 31－40,31－40 and 41－50,51－60 and 61－ 90(P＜0.05).The reference intervals of serum SCC-Ag was as follows:0－1.64 ng/mL for males and females aged 18－30 years;0－1.57 ng/mL and 0－1.70 ng/mL for males aged 31－60 years and 61－90 years,respec-tively;0－1.50 ng/mL,0－1.52 ng/mL and 0－1.42 ng/mL for females aged 31－40 years,41－60 years and 61－90 years,respectively.Conclusions The RIs of serum SCC-Ag in healthy population in the Nanning region are successfully established according to different genders and ages.

Objective To establish the reference intervals for test indicators of thyroid function,namely thyroid stimulating hormone(TSH),free thyroxine(FT4),and free triiodothyronine(FT3),in the children aged 0 to 15 years old in Nanning,China.Methods A total of 1 289 healthy children aged 0 to 15 years old who attended the Guangxi International Zhuang Medicine Hospital Affiliated with Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine from October 2018 to August 2023 were selected.The concentrations in serum TSH,FT4,and FT3 were measured by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay(CMIA).According to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)EP28-A3c guideline,the nonparametric percentile method was used to establish the reference intervals for TSH,FT4,and FT3 in the children aged 0 to 15 years old in Nanning area.Results The established reference intervals were as follows:TSH(male):0 to＜1 month:0.88-7.81 μIU/mL,1 month to 15 years:0.59-5.06 μIU/mL;TSH(female):0 to＜1 month:0.93-8.42μIU/mL,1 month to 15 years:0.60-4.30 μIU/mL.FT4(male):0 to＜1 month:0.99-1.92 pg/mL,1 month to 15 years:0.86-1.33 pg/mL;FT4(female):0 to＜1 month:1.05-2.06 pg/mL,1 month to 15 years:0.85-1.37 pg/mL;FT3:0 to＜1 month:2.16-4.24 pmol/L,1 month to＜11 years:2.75-4.49 pmol/L,11 to 15 years:2.45-4.34 pmol/L.Significant differences were observed among different gender and age groups for TSH,FT4,and FT3 levels(P＜0.05).Conclusion This study successfully established the refer-ence intervals of TSH,FT4,and FT3 in the children aged 0 to 15 years old in Nanning area,which were significantly different among various gender and age groups.

Objective:To observe the G protein-coupled receptor 48 (GPCR48) expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines with different metastatic potential and its characteristics effect on the invasion and metastasis of Huh7 hepatoma cells via epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT).Methods:Western blot was used to detect the protein expression level of GPCR48 in HCC cells with different metastatic potential. The lentivirus vector expressing GPCR48 gene was constructed. GPCR48 was overexpressed in Huh7 hepatoma cells. The GPCR48 overexpression level was detected by real-time PCR and Western blot. Transwell invasion and migration assay was used to detect the Huh7 hepatoma cells invasion and migration ability in the Control, Mock and GPCR48 overexpression group. Real-time PCR and Western blot were used to detect Huh7 hepatoma cells mRNA and protein expression levels of the EMT related markers (E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, and γ catenin) in the Control, Mock and GPCR48 overexpression groups, respectively. Analysis of variance was used to compare the differences between data sets.Results:GPCR48 protein expression level in metastatic HCC cell lines was significantly higher than non-metastatic HCC cell lines ( P < 0.05). The lentivirus vector expressing the GPCR48 gene had effectively transfected the Huh7 hepatoma cells and stably expressed the GPCR48mRNA and protein. Compared with the Mock and the Control group, Huh7 hepatoma cells invasion and migration ability in the GPCR48 overexpression group was significantly enhanced ( F≥5.54, P < 0.05), and the mRNA and protein expression levels of epithelial phenotypic markers E-cadherin and γ-catenin were decreased ( P < 0.05). The mRNA and protein expression levels of the mesenchymal phenotypic markers N-cadherin and Vimentin were increased ( P < 0.05), indicating that EMT changes occurred in Huh7 hepatoma cells had overexpressed GPCR48. Conclusion:GPCR48 expression level is positively correlated with the metastatic potential of HCC cells. GPCR48 overexpression can down-regulate the expression of epithelial phenotypic markers and up-regulate the expression of mesenchymal phenotypic markers, and induce EMT changes in HCC cells, thus promoting HCC cells invasion and migration.