OBJECTIVEGastric cancer cells are insensitive to tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL). To sensitize gastric cancer cells to TRAIL, we treated gastric cancer MGC803 cells with TRAIL and cisplatin.

METHODSCell proliferation was measured using MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry. Expression of proteins was analyzed by Western blot. The distribution of lipid rafts and death receptors was analyzed by immunofluorescence microscopy. MGC803 cells were pretreated with 50 mg/L nystatin for 1 h, and followed by the treatment of cisplatin and TRAIL.

RESULTS100 µg/L TRAIL resulted in (8.51 ± 3.45)% inhibition of cell proliferation and caused (3.26 ± 0.89)% cell apoptosis in MGC803 cells. Compared with the treatment with cisplatin alone, treatment with TRAIL (100 µg/L) and cisplatin (8.49 mg/L, IC(50) dose of 24 h) led to a dramatic increase in both inhibition of cell proliferation [(52.58 ± 4.57)% vs. (76.43 ± 5.35)%, P < 0.05] and cell apoptosis [(23.10 ± 3.41)% vs. (42.56 ± 4.11)%, P < 0.05]. Moreover, cleavage of caspase-8 and caspase-3 was detected. TRAIL (100 µg/L) did not induce obvious lipid rafts aggregation and death receptor 4 (DR4) clustering, while cisplatin (8.49 mg/L) significantly promoted the localization of DR4 in aggregated lipid rafts. Pretreatment with 50 mg/L nystatin, a cholesterol-sequestering agent, triggered (3.66 ± 0.52)% cell apoptosis after 24 h. Pretreatment with nystatin for 1 h before the addition of 8.49 mg/L cisplatin for 24 h caused a decreased tendency to cell apoptosis [(25.74 ± 3.28)% vs. (22.76 ± 2.97)%]. While, pretreatment with nystatin before the addition of cisplatin and TRAIL, the proportion of apoptotic cells decreased from (43.16 ± 4.26)% to (31.52 ± 3.99)% (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCisplatin enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis in gastric cancer MGC803 cells through clustering death receptors into lipid rafts.

Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Caspase 8 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cisplatin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Humans ; Membrane Microdomains ; metabolism ; Nystatin ; pharmacology ; Receptors, TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; metabolism ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; TNF-Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand ; pharmacology

The present study was performed to investigate the seroprevalence and risk factors for Dirofilaria immitis infection in cats from Liaoning province, northeastern China. From October 2014 to September 2016, sera of 651 cats, including 364 domestic cats and 287 feral cats (332 females and 319 males) were assessed. They were tested for the presence of D. immitis antigen using SNAP Heartworm RT test kit. In this population, the average prevalence was 4.5%. Age and rearing conditions (feral or domestic) were found to be associated with the prevalence of D. immitis. The prevalence was significantly higher in feral cats compared with domestic cats (8.4% vs 1.4%, P < 0.01). There was no significant difference between males and females (4.7% vs 4.2%, P>0.05), but older cats (≥3 years old) showed a statistically higher prevalence compared with younger cats ( < 3 years old) in feral populations (16.8 vs 2.4%, P < 0.01), while the difference between the age groups was not statistically significant in domestic cats (2.4% vs 0.51%, P>0.05), all these results suggest that outdoor exposure time may be one of the most important factors for D. immitis prevalence in cats. Results reveal that D. immitis are prevalence in domestic and feral cats in northeastern China, which indicates that appropriate preventive measures should be taken to decrease the incidence of feline heartworm disease in Liaoning province, northeastern China.
Animals ; Cats* ; China* ; Dirofilaria immitis* ; Dirofilaria* ; Dirofilariasis ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Seroepidemiologic Studies*

OBJECTIVETo analyze factors influencing prognosis and to develop a prognosis predicting model for patients with chronic severe hepatitis.

METHODSClinical data from 408 patients suffering from chronic severe hepatitis were divided into improved group and deteriorated group. The main clinical and laboratory variables were analyzed as predictive factors of prognosis with logistic regression analysis.

RESULTSIt was shown that age, sex, TBil, DBil, [Cl-], [Na+], WBC, MCV, PT, NH3, PTA, and BUN were different between the two groups with statistical significance (P < 0.05). The prognosis predicting model was P = 1/(1 + e(-y)), Y = -4.636 + 0.022X1 + 0.034X2 + 0.096X3 + 0.047X4 - 0.042X5, (X1-age, X2-TBil, X3-BUN, X4-MCV, X5-PTA).

CONCLUSIONAge, TBil, BUN, MCV and PTA are the independent risk factors related to prognosis of chronic severe hepatitis.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis, Chronic ; diagnosis ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship of liver enzymes with hyperglycemia in a large population in Shanghai and identify the association between liver enzymes and insulin resistance.

METHODSA total of 3 756 participants were enrolled. Each participant underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and completed a questionnaire. Anthropometric indices were recorded and serum samples were collected for measurement.

RESULTSLiver enzymes concentrations were independently associated with i-IGT, IFG+IGT, and diabetes. With the increase of ALT and GGT concentrations, ORs for i-IGT, IFG+IGT, and diabetes increased gradually. By comparing patients in the highest quartile of GGT concentrations or ALT concentrations with those in the lowest quartile (Q1), ORs for i-IGT, IFG+IGT, or diabetes was significant after adjustment. Both ALT and GGT concentrations were linearly correlated with HOMA-IR and independently associated with HOMA-IR [ALT OR (95% CI): 2.56 (1.51-4.34) P=0.00; GGT OR (95% CI): 2.66 (1.53-4.65) P=0.00].

CONCLUSIONSerum ALT and GGT concentrations were closely related to pre-diabetes and diabetes in the Shanghai population and positively associated with insulin resistance.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Anthropometry ; China ; Female ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism ; Liver ; enzymology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prediabetic State ; blood ; enzymology ; Young Adult ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the sensitivity of bi-loop probe and specific primer quantitative PCR (BPSP-qPCR) in the detection of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

METHODSBPSP-qPCR was employed to examine the presence of mutations of EFGR exon 19 through 21. Correlation of the mutations with clinicopathological characteristics and types of tumor samples were performed.

RESULTSIn the cohort of 265 specimens, 30.2% (80/265) mutations were found to be 19-del and/or L858R. Females (39.7%, 31/78), non-smokers (41.0%, 43/105) and adenocarcinoma patients (37.8%, 51/135) had a higher mutation rate (P<0.05) among 184 patients whose profiles were available. T790M combined with 19-del and/or L858R accounted for 3.3% (6/184) of the mutations. Male metastatic tumors (29.6%, 8/27), pleural fluids of females (42.9%, 9/21) and non-smokers (40.7%, 11/27) were found to have higher percentage of 19-del and/or L858R mutations, in contrast, no mutations were found in the metastatic lesions of non-adenocarcinoma patients (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBPSP-qPCR is a robust method in detection of EGFR mutations with high consistency and sensitivity. The difference of EGFR mutations in primary tumors, metastatic lesions and pleural fluids suggests that EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) treatment may have variable treatment effects depending on the tumor sites.

Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Exons ; Female ; Gene Deletion ; Genes, erbB-1 ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Mutation Rate ; Pleural Effusion, Malignant ; genetics ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sex Factors ; Smoking

Objective::To systematically review the evolution of Biejia Jianwan in Medical Treasures of the Golden Chamber and its clinical application in ancient and modern times, in order to analyze its application and transformation in modern times. For one thing, it provided ideas for the secondary development of Biejia Jianwan, for another, it provided reference for the transformation and application of classical famous prescriptions. Method::Ancient and modern literature of Biejia Jianwan were collected and summarized to study the ancient and modern clinical application of Biejia Jianwan, and its origin, evolution of prescription meanings and changes of main indications. Based on market research, the market transformation of Biejia Jianwan, and its research and development process and market application were analyzed. Result::Biejia Jianwan has been applied in past dynasties since the Medical Treasures of the Golden Chamber, but with insignificant changes and simple indications. In fact, Biejia Jianwan was specially developed for the treatment of malaria with abdominal mass. According to the drug dosage ratio, Trinycis Carapax and Chixiao are the main drugs in Biejia Jianwan, and insect drugs are also used. Modern literature analysis shows that Biejia Jianwan is mainly used to treat liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer, whether in clinical or experimental studies. It was found that when Biejia Jianwan was transformed from a classical prescription into a Chinese patent medicine mainly based on its composition, dosage and preparation of the original prescription recorded in the Medical Treasures of the Golden Chamber. Chinese patent medicine preparations have been included in many diseases diagnosis and treatment, medication guidelines and expert consensus. Compared with other traditional Chinese medicines, Biejia Jianwan is more widely used in clinic with lower costs. Conclusion::Biejia Jianwan is used to treat malaria with abdominal mass in ancient times, but in modern times it is mostly used to treat liver diseases, such as liver fibrosis, with a definite efficacy. In addition, Biejia Jianwan have been successfully transformed into a modern Chinese patent medicine preparation, and achieved a better response in the market, providing a reference for the transformation and application of other classical prescriptions.