Objective:To investigate the expression of tissue factor pathway inhibitor-2 (TFPI-2) and synuclein gamma (SNCG) in esophageal cancer and their correlation with local invasion, lymph node metastasis and apoptosis. Methods:The expression of TFPI-2, SNCG, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was detected by immunohistochemical SP methods in 82 cases of esophageal cancer tissues, 20 cases of atypical hyperplasia tissues, and 54 cases of para-cancerous tissues. The apoptosis of esophageal cancer cells was detected by TUNEL staining and apoptosis index (AI) was calculated. Results:The positive rates were 30.4%, 60.0%, and 87.0% for TFPI-2 protein and 63.4%, 30.0%, and 3.7% for SNCG protein in the tumor tissues, atypical hyperplasia tissues,and tumor-adjacent normal tissues, respectively. There was a significant difference between the three groups(P<0.01). The positive expression of TFPI-2 and SNCG correlated with the lymph node metastasis, invasion depth, TNM staging, and differentiation degree of esophageal cancer (P<0.01), but did not correlate with age at surgery, gender, tumor location, and pathologic classification(P>0.05). The expression of TFPI-2 and MMP-9 was negatively correlated (r=-0.636, P=0.000). The expression of SNCG and MMP-9 was positively correlated(r=0.393,P=0.000). AI was related with TFPI-2 and SNCG expression (P<0.05). Conclusion:TFPI-2 not only inhibited the expression of MMP-9 but also induces apoptosis of esophageal cancer to prevent tumor invasion and metastasis, however, SNCG plays a contradictory role in cancer development. TFPI-2 and SNCG might serve as new tumor markers and the new targets for tumor gene therapy.

To compare the early-phase secretion between islet α cells and β cells in subjects with normal glucose tolerance and to explore the influencing genetic factors on the function of islet cells.40 subjects with normal glucose tolerance and family history of diabetes ( FH+ ) and 55 healthy volunteers without family diabetes history ( FH ) were collected.Fasting and L-arginine stimulating insulin,glucagon,and tasting free fatty acid,as well as other indicators were determined in all subjects.Insulin resistance was evaluated by homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance.After adjnsting for sex,age,and body mass index,the insulin secretion peak of the two groups reached both at two min,and began to decline at four min,the peak multiple of FH+group was significantly less than that of FH-group (7.29 vs 8.88,P＜0.05) ; glucagon secretion peak of both groups reached at two min and began to decline by four min.Fasting glucagon and peak multiple were not significantly different (P＞0.05) ; The ratio of fasting insulin to fasting glucagon of the two groups was without significantly difference ( P＞0.05 ).Under diabetes genetic background,the function of β cells decreases even in subjects with normal glucose tolerance.

OBJECTIVETo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules versus diammonium glycyrrihizinate in patients with chronic viral hepatitis.

METHODSThe Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM on CD-ROM) and the China Academic Journals Full-Text Database (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, CNKI) were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that compared the efficacy and safety of diammonium glycyrrhizinate entetic-coated capsules versus diammonium glycyrrihizinate in treatment (less than 2 months) of chronic viral hepatitis published between 2005 and 2012. A meta-analysis was performed on the selected RCTs to determine the effects on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization, serum levels of ALT, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBil) and albumin, as well as rates of adverse reactions.

RESULTSNine RCTs, involving 687 patients, were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to the patients treated with diammonium glycyrrihizinate, the patient treated with diammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules had a significantly better recovery rate of ALT (relative risk (RR) =4.15, 95% confidence interval (CI):1.55 to 11.15, P less than 0.01) and significantly more robust decreases in ALT (weighted mean difference (WMD) = -32.75, 95% CI:-46.67 to-18.83, P less than 0.01) and AST (WMD = -12.70, 95% CI:-21.13 to-4.27, P less than 0.01). In contrast, the patients treated with diammonium glycyrrihizinate showed more robust improvements in the TBil level (WMD = -0.74, 95% CI:3.98 to 2.49, P =0.653) and albumin (WMD =1.03, 95% CI:-1.03 to 3.09, P =0.326), but the differences did not reach the threshold for statistical significance (P less than 0.05). Only four adverse reactions were reported, all of which were related to the lipid complex nature of the diammonium glycyrrhizin enteric-coated capsules and were mild, including dry mouth, dizziness and mild gastrointestinal discomfort and reactions.

CONCLUSIONDiammonium glycyrrhizinate enteric-coated capsules elicited superior anti-inflammatory and liver protection effects than diammonium glycyrrihizinate, and produced only mild side effects that are tolerable to the patients.

Capsules ; Glycyrrhizic Acid ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Hepatitis, Viral, Human ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Objective To establish a thin layer chromatography-surface-enhanced Raman scattering(TLC-SERS) method for the detection of dyed Croci Stigma.Method The dyed Croci Stigma was wetted by ethanol and pressed on TLC plate sprayed with Silver sol.The pressed zone was immediately detected by a portable Raman spectrometer.Factors including the concentration of ethanol, spraying time and amount of silver sol were investigated and optimized.Results The dyed Croci Stigma, stained by auramine O, new fuchsin, tartrazine and brilliant ponceau were successfully detected using the established method.Conclusion The combination of TLC and SERS technology provides a rapid, simple and sensitive detection method which is suitable for quick field tests.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and blood flow reserve fraction (FFR) in guiding the treatment of critical disease of coronary artery.Methods Forty nine patients with coronary artery disease who underwent coronary angiography were divided into IVUS group (n=43) and FFR group (n=51).In IVUS group,such as MLA ＜4 mm2 or coronary artery stenosis was insufficient,but IVUS showed unstable plaque,and we went the PCI treatment;in the FFR group,FFR＜0.75 was regarded as coronary stenting sign.The patients were followed up for 6 months.The incidence of cardiovascular adverse events was compared between the two groups.Results (1)There was no significant difference in general information and coronary angiography between the two groups (P＞ 0.05).(2)The proportion of interventional therapy in IVUS group was higher than that in FFR group (P＜0.01).(3)The incidence of adverse events between the two groups was not statistically significant (P＞0.05).Conclusion IVUS and FFR examination can be used to guide the interventional treatment of critical disease of coronary artery.However,the accuracy of IVUS can not replace the status of blood flow reserve.

Objective To study interleukin-23 (IL-23) levels in serum and dendritic cells of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and to explore its relationship with the prognosis.Methods Peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum were collected from 40 ACLF patients with CHB (including survival group 27 cases and non-survival group 13 cases) and 26 healthy controls.Monocytes were induced to immature dendritic cell in vitro and TNF-α was added to induce dendritic cell maturation.IL-23 mRNA of dendritic cells was detected by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and serum IL-23 level was measured by enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA).Differences among the parameters with normal distribution were compared using t test, those with non-normal distribution were compared using non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test, and the relationship between two variables was assessed by Spearman′s rank correlation.Results International normalized rate (INR) and model for end-stage liver disense (MELD) scores in non-survival group of ACLF were higher than those in survival group (INR: 2.32 vs 1.64, U=69.00, P=0.002 2;MELD:36 vs 30, U=64.50, P=0.001 4).However, there were no significant differences between two groups at gender, age, alanin aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotrans ferase (AST), bilirubin, creatinine, hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and serum IL-23.IL-23 mRNA level in dendritic cells at baseline in non-survival group of ACLF was significantly higher than that in survival group (76 vs 43, U=71.50, P=0.002 8).After treatment, serum IL-23 was significantly declined in survival group ([160±75] ng/L vs [91±49] ng/L, t=4.012, P=0.000 2), but not in non-survival group.Significant positive correlation was observed between IL-23 mRNA level in dendritic cells and MELD score at baseline (r=0.7198,P<0.01).Conclusions Persistent high serum IL-23 level suggests poor prognosis in ACLF patients with CHB.IL-23 mRNA expression in dendritic cells has good consistency with MELD score and the patients with high IL-23 mRNA expression has poor outcome.

Objective To explore the value of mammogram texture analysis in prediction of metastasis of axillary lymph nodes for breast carcinoma.Methods Mammograms and clinical data of 171 patients with breast carcinoma confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed,and all patients underwent axillary lymph node dissection (ALND).Then the patients were divided into axillary lymph node metastasis group and non-metastasis group according to the result of ALND.The texture features of these lesions were statistically analyzed,including gray-level histogram texture parameters (mean value,standard deviation,skewness,kurtosis and variance) and gray-level co-occurrence matrix texture parameters (energy,entropy,correlation,inertia,inverse difference moment and contrast).Results In all of 171 breast cancer patients,96patients had axillary lymph node metastasis,while 75 patients had no metastasis.Mammograms showed negative axillary lymph nodes in 119 patients and positive axillary lymph nodes in 52 patients,and the sensitivity and specificity of mammograms in the diagnosis of positive axillary lymph nodes was 48.96％ (47/96) and 93.33％ (70/75),respectively.Mammogram texture analysis showed the values of energy,entropy,inverse difference moment and correlation in axillary lymph node metastasis group were higher than those in non-metastasis group,while the values of inertia and contrast in the axillary lymph node metastasis group were lower than those in non-metastasis group (all P＜0.05).The rest texture parameters had no significant differences between two groups (all P＞0.05).Area under curve (AUC) for texture parameters of energy,entropy,inertia,inverse difference moment,correlation and contrast was 0.610,0.610,0.374,0.599,0.612 and 0.421 (all P＜0.05),respectively.AUC of mammography,mammogram texture features,and the combination of mammography and texture features was 0.711,0.676 and 0.787 (all P＜0.05),respectively.The sensitivity and specificity of mammogram texture features,the combination of mammography and texture features in diagnosis of axillary lymph nodes metastasis was 62.5％ and 64.6％,66.7％ and 82.7％,respectively.Conclusion Mammogram texture parameters are helpful for predicting axillary lymph node metastasis,and the combination of mammography and texture features can improve diagnostic efficiency of axillary lymph node metastasis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the common malignant tumors in China, which seriously threatens the life and health of the nation. Hepatic vein tumor thrombosis (HVTT) is one of the common clinical manifestations. The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with HVTT is extremely poor, and there is no unanimous opinion on its treatment in China and abroad. Currently, Asian guidelines recommend multidisciplinary treatment for patients with vascular invasion. This article reviewed the current progress in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma combined with HVTT.

Acylcarnitines are metabolic intermediates of fatty acids and branched-chain amino acids having vital biofunctions and pathophysiological significances.Here,we developed a high-throughput method for quantifying hundreds of acylcarnitines in one run using ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).This enabled simultaneous quantification of 1136 acyl-carnitines(C0-C26)within 10-min with good sensitivity(limit of detection＜0.7 fmol),linearity(cor-relation coefficient＞0.992),accuracy(relative error＜20％),precision(coefficient of variation(CV),CV＜15％),stability(CV＜15％),and inter-technician consistency(CV＜20％,n=6).We also established a quantitative structure-retention relationship(goodness of fit＞0.998)for predicting retention time(tR)of acylcarnitines with no standards and built a database of their multiple reaction monitoring parameters(tR,ion-pairs,and collision energy).Furthermore,we quantified 514 acylcarnitines in human plasma and urine,mouse kidney,liver,heart,lung,and muscle.This provides a rapid method for quantifying acyl-carnitines in multiple biological matrices.