Objective To describe the development of nodules of altered hepatocytes (NAH) in chronic hepatitis B and to reveal progression of the nodules to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods HCC, NAH and ordinary regenerative nodules (ORN) were identified and compared histologically. Expression levels of hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigens, mitoactivity and p53 accumulation in these lesions were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Results Multiple foci of altered hepatocytes (FAH) and NAH were identified in the liver parenchyma surrounding HCC in all of the samples examined. Sequential architectural and cellular changes were observed during the progression of FAH to NAH and HCC. Expression levels of HBV surface and core antigens were found to be significantly decreased in ORN, NAH and HCC, with their positive rates being 70 % (35/50), 50 % (25/50), 10 % (5/50) and 60 % (30/50), 40 % (20/50), 6 % (3/50), respectively (P ＜0.05). Ki-67-1abelling indices were determined to be (0.58±0.49) %, (2.46±1.05) % and (40.36±26.27) %in these lesions, respectively (P ＜0.05). Nuclear p53 accumulation was found only in HCC. Its occurrence was associated to a high histological grade, with its frequencies being 13 % (1/8), 41% (11/27) and 73 % (11/15)in grade 1, 2 and 3 lesions, respectively. Conclusion NAH lesions, identified by their morphologic features and mitoactivity elevation, are detectable in resected liver samples with chronic hepatitis B and cirrhosis. They represent a common HCC precursor and can be used as a surrogate marker for the surveillance of high-risk individuals.

Objective Focal nodular hyperplasia(FNH) is composed of multiple hyperplastic liver cell nodules,but its pathogenesis has not been elucidated. Foci (FAH) or nodules of altered hepatocytes (NAH) are precursors of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) and carcinoma.This study aimed at identifying FAH and NAH from FNH and evaluating their role in FNH development.Methods 6 FNH lesions from 5 patients and 10 HCA from 9 patients were examined histologically,and expression levels of CD_(34) cytokeratin 19(CKl9) and Ki-67 antigen were demonstrated immunohistochemicailly.Proliferative activity was evaluated by Ki-67 antigen-labeling indices(Ki-67 LI).Results Multiple FAH and NAH were identified in all of the 6 FNH lesions. Whiie micmvasculatures were demonstrated by CD_(34) immunoreactivity in both HCA and FNH,their density and distribution were different in these two lesions,being diffuse in HCA and focal or nodular,mainly within NAH.CKl9 expression Was found in FNH,localized in ductal and ductular cells,but not within NAH and HCA.Average Ki.67 LI of 73 NAH(2.8%) was shown to be higher than that of the whole FNH lesions (0.6%),and had no statistieal difference comparable to that of HCA(1.8%).Conclusion Muhiple NAH are present in all classical FNH lesions.Unlike the surrounding parenchyma,NAH lesions are more proliferative and equipped with CD_(34)-positive microvasculatures as in HCA.

ObjectiveTo retrospectively analyse the data of patients with suspected primary aldosteronism (PA) during the last five years.The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the value of aldosterone to renin ratio (ARR) in screening primary aldosteronism.MethodsThe clinical data of ARR in supine and upright positions were collected in 590 patients with suspected during January 2006 to August 2010.There were 357 patients diagnosed as primary aldosteronism and 233 patients as essential hypertension among these patients.100 patients with suspected primary aldosteronism took the upright and random ARR during September 2010 to April 2011 ; Among these patients,29 patients were diagnosed as primary aldosteronism and 71 as cases of essential hypertension.ROC curve was made to retrospectively define the method and the cut-off value of the supine,upright or random ARR.ResultsThe area under the curve(AUC) of the supine ARR in the 590 patients who took the supine and upright ARR during January 2006 to August 2010 was 0.838 (0.805-0.867 ) and the AUC of the upright ARR was 0.873 (0.843-0.899 ).There was significant difference between these two AUC readings (P＜0.01 ).The AUC in the upright ARR of the 100 patients who took the upright and random ARR during Septeuder 2010 to April 2011 was 0.962 (0.928 -0.995 ) and the AUC of the random ARR was 0.944 (0.893-0.994 ).There was no significant difference between these two AUC readings (P＞0.05).The upright ARR cutoff value with 400 ( pg · ml-1 )/( ng· ml-1 · h 1 ) yielded a sensitivity of 91.9％ and a specificity of 64.2％ to diagnosis of PA.ConclusionUpright ARR value was more suitable in the screening test than supine ARR value.Random ARR showed similar effect as the upright ARR.In our research,under strict control of the drug,position and detection time,ARR value with 400 ( pg · ml-1 )/( ng· ml-1 · h-1 ) can be the cutoff point in screening the suspcctcd PA patients.

Objective To investigate the relationship of c erbB2 with endocrine therapy and prognosis, to investigate the rapid and effective method to detect c erbB2 alteration in breast carcinoma(BC).Metheds Semi quantitative PCR was used to detect the amplification of c erbB2, and immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of protein of c erbB2. 58 cases of BC were followed up .Results There was significant relationship between c erbB2 protein overexpression and gene amplification(P

Background: Hypoalbuminemia adversely affects the clinical outcomes of various cancers. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prognostic value of hypoalbuminemia 3–5 weeks after treatment in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) who received sorafenib or sunitinib as first-line treatment. Methods: In this single-center, retrospective study, we assessed the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall sur-vival (OS) of 184 mRCC patients who received first-line sorafenib or sunitinib treatment. PFS and OS were compared between patients with post-treatment hypoalbuminemia (post-treatment albumin level <36.4 g/L) and those with normal post-treatment albumin level (albumin level ≥36.4 g/L). The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)risk model stratified mRCC patients into three risk categories. Prognostic values of all patient characteristics including MSKCC risk category were determined by using univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. Prognostic value was further determined using the Harrell concordance index and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Results: The median PFS and OS of the 184 patients were 11 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 9–12 months) and 23 months (95% CI 19–33 months), respectively. Patients with post-treatment hypoalbuminemia had significantly shorter median PFS (6 months [95% CI 5–7 months]) and OS (11 months [95% CI 9–15 months]) than patients who had normal post-treatment albumin levels (PFS: 12 months [95% CI 11–16 months], P < 0.001; OS: 31 months [95% CI 24–42 months], P < 0.001), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that post-treatment hypoalbuminemia was an independent predictor of PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.113; 95% CI 1.390–3.212; P < 0.001) and OS (HR, 2.388; 95% CI 1.591–3.585; P < 0.001). Post-treatment hypoalbuminemia could also be combined with the MSKCC risk category for better prediction about OS. The model that included post-treatment hypoalbuminemia and MSKCC risk category improved the predictive accuracy for PFS and OS (c-index: 0.68 and 0.73, respectively) compared with the basic MSKCC risk model (c-index: 0.67 and 0.70, respectively). The prognostic values for PFS and OS of the integrated MSKCC risk model involving post-treatment hypoalbuminemia were significantly more accurate than the basic MSKCC risk model using likelihood ratio analysis (both P < 0.001). Conclusions: Post-treatment hypoalbuminemia can be considered an independent prognostic factor for patients with mRCC who undergo first-line treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Additionally, integrating post-treatment serum albumin level into the basic MSKCC risk model can improve the accuracy of this model in predicting patient overall survival and progression-free survival.

Objective To evaluate the values of bilateral inferior petrosal sinus sampling ( BIPSS),high dosage dexamethasone suppression test (HDDST) and pituitary image in the differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome. Methods Totally 87 patients with confirmed pathological diagnosis were recruited in the study.All received the procedure of BLPSS,HDDST,and pituitary MRI with dynamic enhancement.The diagnostic performances of three differential diagnosis methods in ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome were evaluated.Results Seventy-eight patients were diagnosed as cases of pituitary ACTH adenoma,and the remaining 9 were confirmed cases of ectopic ACTH syndrome due to the thymic carcinoid.The sensitivity and specificity of HDDST,pituitary MRI,and BIPSS for the diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome were 82.1％ and 100％,79.5％ and 44.4％,92.3％ and 100％,respectively.In Cushing's disease,the diagnostic accuracy was 83.9％ with HDDST,77.0％with pituitary MRI,and93.1％ with BIPSS.In those patients with Cushing's disease,the coincidence of lateralization was 83.9％ with BIPSS and 64.5％ with MRII.Conclusion BIPSS was better than the other two methods in differential diagnosis of ACTH-dependent Cushing's syndrome.Compared with the pituitary MRI,the concordant rate of BIPSS in lateralization of the tumor is higher,and it is more reliable.

eiving Solifenacin 5.8% compared to those recei-ving Tolterodine 10.4%(P<0.05). Conclusion Solifenacin could be the safer and effective drug in the treatment of OAB patients with main complaints of urinary urgency and urgy incontinence.

Objective: To establish a solvent desorption gas chromatographic method for determination of Sevoflurane, Isoflurane and Enflurane in the air of the Workplace. Methods: Sevoflurane, Isoflurane and Enflurane were collected with activated carbon tube and desorbed with dichloromethane, separated with DB-1 capillary columns, and then detected with flame ionization detector. Results: The linearity ranges were 1.9-304.8 μg/ml for Sevoflurane, 2.1-300.4 μg/ml for Isoflurane and 1.7-305.2 μg/ml for Enflurane, The correlation coefficient was both >0.999. Their limits of detection were 0.6 μg/ml, 0.6 μg/ml and 0.5 μg/ml, and Their limits of quatification were 1.9 μg/ml, 2.1 μg/ml and 1.7 μg/ml, and their minimum detectable concentrations were 0.1、0.2 and 0.1 mg/m³ per 4.5 L of air. Their relative standard deviations (RSD) were 2.5%-3.0%, 2.3%-3.1% and 2.2%-3.0%. The average desorption efficiencies were 101.1%-103.3%, 100.7%-102.7% and 101.0%-102.9%. The sampling efficiency was both 100%. The breakthrough volume of 100 mg actived carbon was 3.7 mg, 3.4 mg and 3.4 mg. Sevoflurane, Isoflurane and Enflurane in activated carbon tube could be kept at least 10 days at room temperature without significant losses. Conclusion The method shows lower detection limit, high accuracy and precision. It is feasible for determination of Sevoflurane, Isoflurane and Enflurane in the air of workplace.

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) ,also known as neuronal nicotinic receptors ,are widely expressed throughout the central and peripheral nervous system .nAChRs play crucial roles in pain signaling .Recently ,agonists that tar-get specific nAChR subtypes have shown substantial efficacy in a wide range of acute and chronic pain models ,contributing to developing novel analgesic drugs with low drug dependence .Positive allosteric modulators offer new approaches for increasing the potency and therapeutic window of these drugs .This review summarizes the advances in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors as analgesic targets and anticipate the future directions in this field .

Background: Sorafenib and sunitinib are widely used as first-line targeted therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) in China. This study aimed to compare the efficacy, safety, and quality of life (QoL) in Chinese mRCC patients treated with sorafenib and sunitinib as first-line therapy. Methods: Clinical data of patients with mRCC who received sorafenib (400 mg twice daily; 4 weeks) or sunitinib (50 mg twice daily; on a schedule of 4 weeks on treatment followed by 2 weeks off) were retrieved. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), adverse events (AEs), and QoL (SF-36 scores), and secondary outcomes were associations of clinical characteristics with QoL. Results: Medical records of 184 patients (110 in the sorafenib group and 74 in the sunitinib group) were reviewed. PFS and OS were comparable between the sorafenib and sunitinib groups (bothP > 0.05). The occurrence rates of leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and hypothyroidism were higher in the sunitinib group (36.5％ vs. 10.9％, P < 0.001; 40.5％ vs. 10.9％,P < 0.001; 17.6％ vs. 3.6％,P= 0.001), and that of diarrhea was higher in the sorafenib group (62.7％ vs. 35.2％,P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in SF-36 scores between the two groups. Multivariate analysis indicated that role-physical and bodily pain scores were associated with the occurrence rate of grade 3 or 4 AEs (P= 0.017 and 0.005). Conclusions: Sorafenib has comparable efficacy and lower toxicity profile than sunitinib as first-line therapy for mRCC. Both agents showed no significant impact on QoL of patients.