OBJECTIVETo analyze the imaging characteristics of hepatic epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (EHE) and their correlation with histopathological findings.

METHODSCT and MRI imaging and histopathological characteristics of five patients with hepatic EHE were retrospectively reviewed and the correlation of their imaging characteristics with pathological findings was analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 92 lesions were found in the 5 patients, all presenting with multiple nodules. All the 92 lesions were located within a 2-cm zone heneath the hepatic capsule, i.e., the shortest distance from the horder of lesions to the hepatic capsule. 28 of the 92 lesions showed the "capsular retraction" sign. 36 lesions were found in three patients receiving MRI. 77.8% of the 36 lesions demonstrated the "halo" sign on a fat-suppression T2- weighted image, while 91.7% after contrast enhancement. A peripheral dark rim was found in 91.7% of the lesions on a fat-suppression T2-weighted image. In addition, 36.1% of the lesions showed slight internal or edge enhancement at the hepatohiliary phase. In the two patients receiving CT examination, 7 of 56 lesions demonstrated the "halo" sign.

CONCLUSIONSHepatic EHE may manifest as nodular lesions with predilection of peripheral subcapsular growth and nodular confluence, together with "halo" sign and " capsular retraction". The peripheral dark rim on a fat-suppression T2-weighted image and slight enhancement at the hepatobiliary phase can help to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and differential diagnosis of this hepatic tumor. MRI is superior to CT imaging to denict their intra-lesional characteristics.

Hemangioendothelioma, Epithelioid ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Physical Examination ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; genetics ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Electroporation ; methods ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; genetics ; RNA Interference ; RNA, Small Interfering ; genetics ; Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 ; Transfection

Objective To investigate the metabolism and function of the intestinal microbiota from liver cirrhosis patients.Methods Sixteen cases of liver cirrhosis and twenty normal individuals were selected , whose intestinal microbiota metagenomic DNA was extracted , followed by high-throughput Solexa sequencing and the bioinformatics analysis of metabo-lism and function annotation to compare the differences between the patients and normal subjects and find out about the cir -rhosis-related functions .Results The functional diversity was significantly reduced in the intestinal microbiota of cirrhotic patients.At the module or pathway level , the intestinal microbiota of patients showed an enrichment in metabolisms of drugs, essential amino acid , propanoate metabolism and inflammatory reaction , whereas an opposite tendency was observed in the metabolic ability of butyrate , bile acid and cell cycle .Conclusion Under the influence of liver cirrhosis , the growth environment in the intestine is destroyed , causing, the intestinal microbiota the exhibit some compensation to adapt to the changed intestinal micro-environment .

Objective To research a simple and sensitive K-ras gene mutations detection method in order to be suitable for the routine mutation detection.Methods The corresponding detection locus oligonucleotide probe was designed.By the connection,amplification,labeling and ELISA reaction in probe,the mutation locus genotype was determined by the ELISA reaction detection value.With the six point mutations of G12S,G12R,G12C,G12D,G12A and G12V in 12 codons of K-ras gene as the detection objects,the plasma circulation DNA sample in 72 cases of lung cancer was detected,then the results were compared with those obtained by the direct sequencing.Results Three samples were identified as the G12S,G12R and G12A mutatins by the established method.But no K-ras mutations were detected in the samples by using the direct sequencing,indicating that the direct sequencing had lower sensitivity and was not suitable for the mutation detection of heterogeneous samples such as circulating DNA.Conclusion The simple and sensitive K-ras gene mutation detection method is established and can conduct the routine mutation detection for the heterogeneous samples.

Abstract: Objective　To understand the distribution and drug resistance of bacteria in clinical blood culture specimens in Ningxia in recent years, and to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of bloodstream infection diseases. 　　　Methods　The blood culture isolation bacteria and drug resistance of Ningxia bacterial resistance monitoring network hospitals from 2018 to 2020 were statistically analyzed by WHONET5.6 software. Results　In the past three years, a total of 6 757 strains of bacteria were isolated from blood samples, including 3 697 strains (54.7%) of gram-negative bacteria and 3 060 (45.3%) of gram-positive bacteria. Among the gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli (2 074 strains,30.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (696 strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (139 strains), and Acinetobacter baumannii (121 strains). Among the gram-positive bacteria, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (1 691 strains,25.0%), Staphylococcus aureus (442 strains), Streptococcus spp. (431 strains), Enterococcus spp. (379 strains). Resistance to Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae was 56.6% and 22.6% against third-generation cephalosporins, and resistance to carbapenems was 1.0% and 3.7%, respectively. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii were resistant to carbapenems at 9.0%（12/139） and 80.7%（71/121）. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected at 26.8%, methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was detected at 70%, and no Staphylococcus bacteria resistant to vancomycin and linezolid were found. For three years, only 1 strain of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis was detected, and no linezolid-resistant Staphylococcus and Enterococcus were detected. Conclusions　Ningxia clinical blood specimen isolates of Escherichia coli, coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are more common. Among them, the resistance rate of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae to the third generation of cephalosporins is relatively stable, and the resistance rate to carbapenems is low. Acinetobacter baumannii is highly resistant to carbapenems, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus detection rates are on the rise and should be closely monitored.

Aim To study the apoptosis effect of cucurbitacin Ⅱa on non-small cell lung cancer cell lines NCI-H460 and A549 and its underlying mechanism.Methods Cell viability was assessed by CCK-8 assay.The apoptosis effect and cell cycle arrest were detected by Flow cytometry.Western blot was employed to detect the related protein.Results The proliferation of lung cancer cell lines NCI-H460 and A549 was inhibited by CuⅡa, which showed cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 224.9 nmol·L-1 and 108.3 nmol·L-1 against NCI-H460 and A549 respectively.CuⅡa induced the cells apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase.The results of Western blot showed CuⅡa inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT3 and Cofilin in a dose-dependent manner.Further, CuⅡa inhibited the phosphorylation of Aurora A, in line with the important characteristics of anti-tumor effect of Aurora A kinase inhibitor with blocking cells in the G2/M phase.Conclusion CuⅡa has obvious anti-tumor effect against non-small cell lung cancer, which suggests its value as a lead compound for lung cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo research the principle of match-pair of huanglian-rougui.

METHODA rat intestinal model in vitro had been applied to investigate the absorption and transport characteristics of total huanglian alkali across intestinal mucosa, as well as the influence of match-pair of huanglian-rougui on its intestinal absorption. The identification of alkalis in primitive solution, serosal solution and intestinal homogenate were analyzed by TLC.

RESULTThe transport and uptake characteristic of total alkali in huanglian solution was similar to berberine. The uptake and transport of total alkali across intestinal mucosa was concentration-and time-dependent. Transport directions had strong effects on the transport of total alkali. The amount of total alkali transport from serosal side to mucosal side was much more than that from mucosal side to serosal side. After matching with rougui as some ration, the intestinal absorption of total alkali increased significantly comparing with huanglian alone, and there was an optimal ration among match-pair of huanglian-rougui.

CONCLUSIONChemical reaction in vitro and intestinal absorption were the key factors of match-pair of huanglian-rougui.

Alkaloids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Biological Transport ; drug effects ; Cinnamomum ; chemistry ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Intestinal Absorption ; drug effects ; Intestinal Mucosa ; metabolism ; Male ; Matched-Pair Analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo assess a multi-center study effectiveness of clinical pathways based on integrative medicine (IM) for chronic heart failure (CHF) patients.

METHODSA combined method of historical control study and clinical study on concurrent control was used. After the standard management for clinical pathways was carried out in four hospitals at home, the effects on hospitalization days, medical expenses, clinical efficacy, patient satisfaction, and quality of life were assessed.

RESULTSResults of non-concurrent historical control study showed that: the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the pathways group than in the retrospective group (12.59 days vs 18.44 days), and the total cost of hospitalization was significantly reduced in the pathways group (yen 9 051.90 vs yen 11 978.40), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Moreover, the effect on the heart function was better in the pathways group than in the retrospective group (the markedly effective rate: 45.60% vs 21.90%; the total effective rate: 96.80% vs 86.10%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). Results of clinical study on concurrent control showed that the hospital stay was significantly shorter in the pathways group than in the control group (11.19 days vs 13.21 days), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The average total cost of hospitalization was significantly lower in the pathways group than in the control group (yen 8 656.80 vs yen 11 609.70), showing statistical difference (P < 0.01). As for clinical efficacy of Chinese medical syndrome, the total effective rate was higher in the pathways group than in the control group (97.10% vs 93.62%), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The markedly effective rate of heart function was better in the pathways group than in the control group, showing statistical difference (49.30% vs 38.30%, P < 0.05). The overall satisfaction was higher in the pathways group than in the conventional group (P < 0.01). There was no statistical difference in the mortality within 3 months after discharge from hospital, and the readmission rate due to heart failure between the two groups (P > 0.05). But there was statistical difference in the quality of life (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe pathway could shorten the hospitalization time, decrease the cost of hospitalization, improve the clinical efficacy, improve patients' quality of life and satisfaction, therefore, it could be spread nationwide.

Chronic Disease ; Critical Pathways ; Heart Failure ; nursing ; therapy ; Hospitalization ; economics ; Humans ; Integrative Medicine ; Length of Stay ; Patient Satisfaction ; Quality of Life ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

The phylogenetic relationships of the genus Atractylodes DC. was analyzed using the nuclear ribosomal ITS and three chloroplast fragments, including atpB-rbcL, psbB-psbF and trnL-trnF intergenic spacer (IGS) sequences. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that A. lancea subsp. luotianensis and A. lancea, A. chinensis var. liaotungensis and A. coreana form monophyletic terminal clade, separately. The trees, within each the pairwise genetic distances, did not support Hu's classification. Authors suggested that A. lancea Subsp. luotianensis should be included in A. lancea rather than be treated as a separate subspecies. A. carlinoides was placed in the basal position of Atractylodes, which had a distant relationship with the others of the genus. The results lead us to suggest that A. chinensis var. liaotungensis be put into A. coreana, A. chinensis as a subspecies of A. lancea.
Atractylodes ; classification ; genetics ; DNA, Intergenic ; genetics ; DNA, Plant ; genetics ; Genes, Plant ; Phylogeny

BACKGROUNDHuman epididymis secretory protein 4 (HE4) has been proved to be a promising novel biomarker for the detection of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Compared with CA125, HE4 assay demonstrated an improved ability to discriminate between pelvic mass with malignant and benign disease. Though it is well known that HE4 is overexpressed in ovarian cancer, however, the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer remains unkown.

METHODSIn this study, we explored the role of HE4 in the carcinogenesis and progression of ovarian cancer. We screened nine ovarian cancer cell lines for HE4 expression, and using RNA interference (RNAi), we silenced HE4 gene expression in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 ovarian cancer cell lines. We assessed the effect of HE4 gene silencing on the transformed phenotype by examining the cell cycle, apoptosis, proliferation and transwell migration/invasion in vitro.

RESULTSHE4 gene silencing induces G0/G1 arrest and blocks the progression from the G1 to S phase in CaoV3 and SKOV3.ip1 cells. HE4 knockdown also inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in SKOV3.ip1 cells in vitro.

CONCLUSIONHE4 may be involved in the regulation of the cell cycle and promote ovarian cancer migration and invasion.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Disease Progression ; Epididymal Secretory Proteins ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology ; Female ; Gene Silencing ; physiology ; Humans ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; pathology ; RNA Interference