1.Association of serum KLF5 and actinin-4 levels with prognosis of TACE treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma
Shunle LI ; Rong LI ; Yaya TIAN ; Xiaoli RAN ; Yanpei ZHAO ; Meng XU
Basic & Clinical Medicine 2024;44(9):1284-1289
Objective To explore the relationship between serum Krüppel-like factor 5(KLF5)and actinin-4 with prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)treated with transcatheter arterial chemoembolization(TACE).Methods From March 2015 to March 2020,130 HCC patients admitted into the Second Affiliated Hospital were collected as study subjects and divided into HCC group and 86 patients with liver cirrhosis were collected as control group.After 3 years of postoperative follow-up,HCC patients were sub-divided into survival group(n=38)and mortality group(n=92)based on their survival outcomes.ELISA was applied to detect the level of serum KLF5 and actinin-4 in each group and analyzed the correlation between serum KLF5 and actinin-4 levels.Cox regression was applied to analyze the risk factors affecting the prognostic mortality of HCC patients;Receiver operating char-acteristic curve(ROC)was plotted to evaluate the predictive value of serum KLF5 and actinin-4 levels for the prognostic mortality of HCC patients.Results The serum level of KLF5 and actinin-4 in the mortality group was significantly higher than those in the survival group(P<0.05);There was a positive correlation between serum level of KLF5 and actinin-4 in HCC patients(P<0.001);Low differentiation,staging(CNLC)stage IIIa of China liver cancer staging(CNLC),vascular invasion and elevated level of KLF5 and actinin-4 were risk factors for prognostic mortality in HCC patients(P<0.05);The area under the curve(AUC)of serum KLF5 and acti-nin-4 alone and in combination for predicting mortality in HCC patients was 0.835,0.866,and 0.936,respec-tively,showing a high level of combined predicting function(Zcombination-KLF5=2.792,P=0.005,Zcombi-nation-actinin-4=2.014,P=0.044).Conclusions Serum level of KLF5 and actinin-4 l found in HCC patients has a high predictive value for prognosis.
2.Effect of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma Before and After Steaming with Wine on Intestinal Flora and Immune Environment in Constipation Model Mice
Yaya BAI ; Rui TIAN ; Yajun SHI ; Chongbo ZHAO ; Jing SUN ; Li ZHANG ; Yonggang YAN ; Yuping TANG ; Qiao ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Experimental Traditional Medical Formulae 2025;31(2):192-199
ObjectiveTo study on the different therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma(RH) before and after steaming with wine on constipation model mice. MethodsFifty-four male ICR mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, lactulose group(1.5 mg·kg-1), high, medium and low dose groups of RH and RH steaming with wine(PRH)(8, 4, 1 g·kg-1). Except for the control group, the constipation model was replicated by gavage of loperamide hydrochloride(6 mg·kg-1) in the other groups. After 2 weeks of modeling, each administration group was gavaged with the corresponding dose of drug solution, and the control and model groups were given an equal volume of normal saline, 1 time/d for 2 consecutive weeks. After administration, the feces were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing, the levels of gastrin(GAS), motilin(MTL), interleukin-6(IL-6), γ-interferon(IFN-γ) in the colonic tissue were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA), the histopathological changes of colon were observed by hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining, flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion changes of CD4+, CD8+ and regulatory T cell(Treg) in peripheral blood. ResultsCompared with the control group, the model group showed significantly decrease in fecal number in 24 h, fecal quality and fecal water rate(P<0.01), the colon was seen to have necrotic shedding of mucosal epithelium, localized intestinal glands in the lamina propria were degenerated, necrotic and atrophied, a few lymphocytes were seen to infiltrate in the necrotic area in a scattered manner, the contents of GAS and MTL, the proportions of CD4+, CD8+ and Treg were significantly reduced(P<0.01), the contents of IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly elevated(P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the fecal number in 24 h, fecal quality and fecal water rate of high-dose groups of RH and PRH were significantly increased(P<0.05, P<0.01), the pathological damage of the colon was alleviated to varying degrees, the contents of GAS, MTL, IL-6 and IFN-γ were significantly regressed(P<0.05, P<0.01), and the proportions of CD4+ and CD8+ were significantly increased(P<0.01), although the proportion of Treg showed an upward trend, there was no significant difference. In addition, the results of intestinal flora showed that the number of amplicon sequence variant(ASV) and Alpha diversity were decreased in the model group compared with the control group, and there was a significant difference in Beta diversity, with a decrease in the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and an increase in the relative abundances of Bacillus and Helicobacter. Compared with the model group, the ASV number and Alpha diversity were increased in the high-dose groups of RH and PRH, and there was a trend of regression of Beta diversity to the control group, the relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased, and the relative abundances of Bacillus and Helicobacter decreased. ConclusionRH and PRH can improve dysbacteriosis, promote immune system activation, inhibit the release of inflammatory factors for enhancing the gastrointestinal function, which may be one of the potential mechanisms of their therapeutic effect on constipation.