OBJECTIVETo study the variations of protein concentration in saliva stimulated and its effect on clinical diagnosis.

METHODSThe saliva from 33 normal controls and 73 patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS) who were stimulated with acid and not were collected. The concentration of beta 2 microglobulin (beta 2-mG), secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA), and pH were measured by Radioimmunoassay, Rate Nephelometry and pH Detection Paper, respectively. SPSS 10.0 was used to determine the mean statistical differences among these groups.

RESULTSIn patients with SS, the concentration of beta 2-mG in saliva stimulated with Vc was significantly lower compared with that in saliva not stimulated (P < 0.01); In saliva stimulated with Vc, the concentration of beta 2-mG in patients with SS was higher than that in normal controls (P < 0.05). In normal controls, compared with that in saliva not stimulated, flow rate in saliva stimulated with 3% acetic acid and Vc was significantly higher (P < 0.01) and pH, concentration of beta 2-mG and SIgA were significantly lower (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05 respectively); there was a significant difference of flow rate, beta 2-mG, SIgA and pH in saliva between the subjects stimulated with 3% acetic acid and with Vc (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSThe reason for the decrease of protein concentration in saliva stimulated may be the increase of flow rate caused by the decrease of pH or the decrease of pH itself. Protein detection of saliva stimulated in patients with SS is helpful in diagnosis, but the criterion is different between the saliva stimulated and not stimulated.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory ; metabolism ; Male ; Saliva ; metabolism ; secretion ; Salivary Proteins and Peptides ; metabolism ; Sjogren's Syndrome ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; beta 2-Microglobulin ; metabolism

Adolescent ; Bacteria ; isolation & purification ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; microbiology

AIM: To investigate the effect of tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) on proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of retinoblastoma Y79 cells. METHODS: The Y79 cells were divided into three groups:blank control group, negative control group and TRAF6 siRNA group. After TRAF6 siRNA transfection, the levels of TRAF6 mRNA and protein in Y79 cells were examined by RT-PCR and Western blotting. MTT assay was used to detect cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was employed to detect changes in cell cycle and apoptosis. Cell invasiveness was detected by the Transwell method. RESULTS: Expression of TRAF6 mRNA and protein in the TRAF6 siRNA group significantly decreased compared with the negative and blank control groups. Following the silencing of TRAF6,cell proliferation was inhibited and the apoptosis rate increased; the cell cycle was arrested at G0/G1 phase; the number of cells in S phase was reduced, while the invasion ability of cancer cells decreased. CONCLUSION: Silencing TRAF6 may inhibit the proliferation of Y79 cells, promote cell apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase and decrease the invasive ability. Thus,TRAF6 may be a potential target in therapy for retinoblastoma.

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenfu Injection (SFI) for attenuating the toxicity of chemotherapy in treating non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), by the regimens of combined Cisplatin (DDP) with new chemotherapeutic agents, Taxol (TXT), Vinorelbine (NVB) and Gemcitabine (GEM), respectively.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-three patients with NSCLC, who were scheduled to be treated by at least 2 cycles of chemotherapy, with regimen TP (45 cases), NP (42 cases) and GP (46 cases), were enrolled. They were randomized into 2 groups: 67 cases in the SFI pre-treated group and 66 cases in the SFI post-treated group, on them SFI was administered for 10 successive days on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd day of the 1st and the 2nd cycle, respectively. The effects of SFI on toxicity of the three regimens were observed through a self-controlled crossover design.

RESULTSThe hemato-toxicity (the toxicity on leukocyte, neutrophil, hemoglobin and platelet) and the digestive toxicity (represented as vomiting, constipation or diarrhea) of chemotherapy revealed in the treated stage (the cycle treated with SFI) were all less than those in the control stage (the cycle untreated with SFI), no matter when SFI was applied, all showed statistical significance (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Besides, SFI showed a better toxicity attenuating effect on patients of qi-deficiency and phlegm-dampness type (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFI can relieve the hemato-toxicity and the digestive toxicity of chemotherapy by regimen of combining DDP with TXT, NVB or GEM, and the effect is more significant on patients of qi-deficiency and phlegm-dampness type.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy

Purpose To investigate the value of MRI multi-sequence-based radiomic nomogram in identifying clear cell renal cell carcinoma from fat-poor renal angiomyolipoma in small renal masses(≤4 cm).Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 78 renal masses in 75 patients with pathologically confirmed cases in the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from July 2017 to December 2022,including 56 cases of renal clear cell carcinoma and 22 cases of fat-deficient angiomyolipoma,and all participants were divided into a training set(n=55)and a validation set(n=23)in a ratio of 7∶3.Radiomics features were extracted from T2WI and diffusion-weighted imaging sequences,and the t-test and minimum absolute shrinkage and selection algorithm were used for feature selection,the radiomics model was constructed,and the radiomics score was calculated.The clinical characteristics and subjective characteristics of MRI were evaluated to establish a clinical model,and the radiomics nomogram was constructed based on the radiomics score and clinical features,and the calibration,discrimination and clinical practicability of the nomogram were evaluated.Results A total of2 632 radiomics features were extracted from each patient,and 4 features were used to construct a radiomics model.The radiomics model had good discrimination ability in the training set[area under the curve(AUC)=0.979,95％CI 0.937-1.000)]and the validation set(AUC=0.833,95％CI 0.626-1.000).The radiomics nomogram had good calibration and discrimination ability in the training set(AUC=0.988,95％CI 0.963-1.000)and validation set(AUC=0.867,95％CI 0.698-1.000),which was better than the clinical model(AUC=0.725,95％CI 0.478-0.972)and radiomics model(AUC=0.833,95％CI 0.626-1.000)in the test set.Decision curve analysis showed that the clinical utility of nomogram was better than that of clinical factor model and radiomics features.Conclusion MRI-based radiomics nomogram combined with radiomics scores and clinical factors can be used to non-invasively distinguish clear cell renal cell carcinoma from alipid-deficient angiomyolipoma before surgery.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the influence of Shenfu Injection (SHF) on the quality of life of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving chemotherapy.

METHODSA total of 133 patients with NSCLC receiving at least two cycles of chemotherapy with taxol plus cisplatin (TP)/vinorelbine plus cisplatin (NP) or gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) were randomized into SHF pre-treatment group (with SHF given only in the first cycle) and SHF post-treatment group (with SHF given only in the second cycle). The Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) and the Functional Living Index-Cancer (FLIC) were used to evaluate the quality of life of the patients after the treatments.

RESULTSBoth of the groups showed improved quality of life after the treatments (P<0.01), but the improvements were more obvious in SHF pre-treatment group (P<0.05). SHF showed favorable effects in relieving such adverse effects as fatigue, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea associated with the chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONSHF can improve the quality of life in NSCLC patients receiving chemotherapies.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nausea ; prevention & control ; Paclitaxel ; administration & dosage ; Phytotherapy ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vinblastine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; Vomiting ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of Shenfu injection (SFI) in treating non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients on quality of life with gemcitabine (GEM) plus cisplatin (GP) regimen.

METHODSThirty-four patients were ready to receive GP regimen chemotherapy for treating NSCLC disease, according to lot-drawing, they were divided into SFI pre-treatment group (18 cases) and SFI post-treatment group (16 cases). SFI pre-treatment group: During the first treatment course, chemotherapy was begun with SFI 60 ml, intravenous dripping on the 3rd day, once daily, consecutively for 10 days; on the 1st day, GP regimen (GEM 1250 mg/m(2), intravenous dripping, on the 1st and 8th day; cisplatin 70 mg/m(2) on the 2nd day; 21 days as one cycle) was carried out; in the second treatment course GP regimen was merely given to serve as the self-control. SFI post-treatment group: the medicament sequence order was reversed from that of pre-treatment group. Using dual international quality of life (QOL) scores, the effect of SFI on the patients' QOL was observed through randomized self pre- and post-crossover control.

RESULTSThe QOL in the 34 patients after being treated by SFI in combination with GP chemotherapy regimen in one group, and GP chemotherapy regimen alone in the other, was improved in different degrees, with significant difference (P < 0.01); comparison of SFI combined with GP chemotherapy regimen with GP chemotherapy alone showed that QOL in patients was significantly different (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSFI could improve QOL in patients with NSCLC who were treated with GP regimen.

Adult ; Aged ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; Cross-Over Studies ; Deoxycytidine ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; analogs & derivatives ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quality of Life

OBJECTIVETo examine vibrio cholera (V.C) in aquatic products of littoral area, Zhejiang Province and to provide scientific evidence for administration of aquatic products and cholera epidemic control.

METHODSAll 990 samples of aquatic products collected from local markets, eateries and aquafarms in three chosen areas. Samples were proliferated in alkaline liquid medium, and purified in NO: 4 medium, the isolations were identified biochemically, and phenotype of strains were defined by phagocyte and coagulation with V.C. diagnostic serum. Three virulence genes (ctx, ace, zct) of the isolated strains were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

RESULTSThere were 1.41% samples caught by V.C., having a carrying rate highest in turtles of 8.9%. 14 strains were defined as three serogroups, and the numbers of Inaba, Ogawa, and Hikojima types were 2, 2, 10 respectively. Virulence genes had detected in 9 of 12 stains. All genes were detected in 5 strains, only ZOT genes in 3 strains, and both CTX and ACE genes in 1 strain.

CONCLUSIONSAquatic products from inshore in Zhejiang Province caught with V.C. strains might be divided into three serogroups. Most of them should be virulence genes. Cholera epidemic outbreak might be caused by those contaminated products.

China ; Food Microbiology ; Genes, Bacterial ; Seafood ; microbiology ; Vibrio cholerae ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Virulence Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical application value of perioperative comprehensive management of precise hepatectomy in hepatectomy for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 62 patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis who underwent hemihepatectomy from January 2017 to December 2018 were collected and divided into anatomical hepatectomy group(35 cases)and non-anatomical hepatectomy group(27 cases) according to the method of hepatectomy. The differences of preoperative basic data,intraoperative situation and postoperative clinical indexes between the two groups were compared respectively. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age,sex,hydatid number,hydatid size and preoperative liver function index between the two groups(P>0.05). However,there were significant differences between the two groups in liver function indexes(ALT,AST,DBIL and TBIL),postoperative complication(medicine) incidence rate and postoperative hospital stay(P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Accurate hepatectomy is also suitable for surgical treatment of patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis,and has the advantages of less liver function damage,low incidence of complication(medicine) and short hospitalization time after operation.

Objective To investigate the correlation between preoperative MR imaging features and the incidence of tumor metastasis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.Methods The clinical and preoperative MR imaging data of 64 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively.According to the occurrence of metastasis,the patients were divided into non-metastasis group(n=42)and metastasis group(n=22).The clinical and imaging features of the two groups were analyzed with univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression.Results The results of the univariate analysis showed that among the clinical and preoperative MR imaging data,there was no significant difference between the two groups in gender,tumor location and intra-tumoral cystic changes(P>0.05),but the patient's ages,clinical symptoms,tumor sizes,necrosis,capsule breakthrough,low signal nodules in T2WI,venous thrombosis,TNM stages,and Fuhrman grades were significantly different between two groups(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low signal nodules in T2WI was an independent predictor of metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma(P=0.028).Combined with diffusion weighted imaging(DWI)sequence,the average apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)in related areas was measured.The ADC value of low signal nodules area was(0.541±0.101)×10-3 mm2/s in the metastasis group,and the ADC value of non-low signal nodules area was(0.972±0.113)×10-3 mm2/s(P<0.001).Conclusion The metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma is often accompanied by low signal nodules in T2WI in tumors.Combined with the lower ADC value,they can be used as the characteristic imaging features to effectively evaluate the risk of metastasis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.