Background:Of the diagnostic modalities of gastroesophageal reflux disease( GERD),radioisotopic examination is more physiological and non-invasive as compared with upper gastrointestinal endoscopy,24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and esophageal manometry. Aims:To examine the diagnostic value of 99m Tc-labeled single-photon emission-computed tomography(SPECT)for GERD. Methods:Ten erosive esophagitis(EE),10 nonerosive reflux disease(NERD)and 10 noncardiac chest pain patients were enrolled in this study. All of them had a high reflux disease questionnaire( RDQ)score (>12)and were positive for proton pump inhibitor(PPI)test. Ten volunteers without reflux symptoms served as controls. After the taking of 99mTc-labeled acidic drinks,SPECT scan was performed in esophageal region for indentifying the radioactivity at gastroesophageal junction. Through region-of-interest,the stomach and esophagus were outlined and the GERindex was calculated. Results:Radioactivity was observed in lower esophagus in 8 patients of EE group,including 6 spontaneous reflux and 2 induced reflux;in NERD group and noncardiac chest pain group,the corresponding data were 5,3, 2 and 6,2,4,respectively. No reflux was observed in control group. Positivity rates of reflux identified by SPECT in EE, NERD and noncardiac chest pain groups were all significantly higher than that in control group(80. 0%,50. 0% and 60. 0%vs. 0%,P<0. 05). Conclusions:99m Tc-labeled SPECT has clinical value for diagnosis of GERD and is potential for being used as a method of GERD examination in clinical practice.

[Objective]To study the association between the polymorphisms in the promoter region of Osteopontin(OPN)with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related HCC.[Methods]A total of 225 cases diagnosed with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related HCC and 200 age-matched patients with HBV infection without HCC were collected. Three polymorphisms(-156delG/G,-443T/C and-616T/G)in the Osteopontin promoter were genotyped using direct sequencing.[Results]The frequency of-156delG/delG genotype in the HCC group was higher than that of in the control group (P = 0.003). There was a significantly increased frequency of the allele-156delG(P<0.001)in HCC patients. Logistic regression analysis was performed to show an increase HCC risk associated with the delG variant genotype(OR1.64;95%CI 1.25~2.16). There were no differences between the groups in the genotype distributions and allele frequencies of SNP-443T/C and-616T/G.[Conclusion]Our findings suggest that allele-156delG in the Osteopontin promoter may be a marker for risk of HCC with HBV infection in Chinese Han population.

Objective To survey the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with HBV-related cirrhosis receiving nucleos(t)ide analogues treatment and to assess its risk factors.Methods A total of 141 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis receiving nucleos(t) ide therapy from April 2008 to June 2011 were enrolled.The clinical data including virological and biochemical tests were retrospectively analyzed.Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify the risk factors of HCC occurrence.Results Patients were followed up for 6.4 to 87.6 months with a median followup time of 32.5 months.During the follow-up period,15 out of 141 patients developed HCC with an average annual incidence rate of 3.8％.HCC incidence was higher in HBeAg positive cirrhosis and in those with family history of liver cancer ( RR =4.524 and 3.858,P ＜ 0.05 ).Conclusions Patients with HBV-related cirrhosis have a high incidence rate of HCC even they recieve nucleos (t) ide analogues treatment.HBeAg positive cirrhosis and family history of liver cancer are independent risk factors for HCC.

Objective To evaluate the imaging characteristics of atypical teratoid/rhab doid tumor (AT/RT) of central nervous system(CNS), and to improve the diagnostic ability of the disease. Methods The clinical and imaging findings of 9 patients were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 male and 4 female, ages 7 months to 5 years,median age was 1.4 years. MR enhancement studies were obtained in all the cases. One case had CT enhancement examination. Results The lesions were seen in brain in 8 cases and in lumbosacral spinal cord in one case. The tumors size varied from 4.8—7.8 cm, Necrosis was seen in nine cases, cystic change in eight cases and hemorrhage in five cases. The tumors had high signal on DWI, and low signal on ADC map. Dura matter invasion(2 cases), cerebrospinal fluid spread(2 cases)and intracerebral metastasis were seen. Conclusion There are some relatively specific imaging findings of primary CNS AT/RT that could assist their diagnosis.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the efficacy and safety of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) after failure of nucleoside-analogues (NAs).

METHODSA total of 30 CHB patients who had been previously treated with NAs and had subsequently completed a 48-week course of TDF were retrospectively investigated. Patients' data of HBV DNA level (log10 copies/ml) and rate of undetectable HBV DNA at treatment weeks 0 (baseline), 4, 12, 24, 36 and 48 were collected for evaluation. The lower limit of HBV DNA detection was 100 IU/ml. The serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) normalization rate, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion rate, viral breakthrough (VBT) rate, viral response (VR) rate, and adverse events were determined upon treatment completion. Statistical analyses were carried out using the Student's t-test, the x² test or the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTSOver the 48-week treatment period, HBV DNA levels declined significantly from baseline (week 4:(2.11 ± 0.38) log10 IU/ml, t =5.582; week 12:(0.93 ± 0.31) log10 IU/ ml, t =9.303; week 24:(0.75 ± 0.20) log10 IU/ml, t =3.123; week 36:(0.16 ± 0.19) log10 IU/ml, t =10.759; week 48:(0.14 ± 0.25) log10 IU/ml, t =12.202) (all P less than 0.01). However, the rates of HBV DNA reduction and of cumulative reduction were comparable at weeks 24, 36 and 48 (all P more than 0.05). The most robust decline in HBV DNA levels was observed at week 4 ((2.11 ± 0.38) log10 IU/ml) and the highest cumulative HBV DNA reduction was observed at week 24 ((3.79 ± 0.37) log10 IU/ml). The rate of undetectable HBV DNA at week 4 (26.7%) was significantly lower than that at weeks 24 (87.5%, P less than 0.01), 36 (80.0%, P=0.007), and 48 (88.9%, P=0.001). The median time to achieving undetectable HBV DNA was 10.4 weeks (range:3.43-34.0 weeks). At week 48, the rates of VR, HBeAg seroconversion, and VBT were 88.9% ,6.7%, and 0% respectively. During treatment, the levels of creatine kinase were more than two times the upper limit normal in 9.2% of the patients, and were comparable at each time point examined (all P more than 0.05). All patients showed a normal level of serum creatinine throughout the treatment period.

CONCLUSIONFor CHB patients with non-response to NAs, TDF can suppress HBV DNA replication very quickly and achieve a high rate of ALT normalization with a low rate of adverse events.

Adenine ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use ; Adult ; Antiviral Agents ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; DNA, Viral ; blood ; Female ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; blood ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Organophosphonates ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Retrospective Studies ; Tenofovir ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to establish a standard protocol for detection of EGFR mutations in cytologic specimens.

METHODS287 cytologic samples were collected from the patients who were suspected of having lung cancer at six hospitals in Beijing. A detection protocol for EGFR mutations was designed. Two comparative experiments were carried out for the coincidence in EGFR mutation rates between direct sequencing (Seq) and amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) methods, and between 40 matched cytologic samples with formaldehyde-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) cytologic blocks and cytospin slides.

RESULTSTumor cells were found in 236 out of 287 cases (82.2%, 236/287) . Among them, there were 31 cases (13.1%, 31/236) of low tumor cell content samples and 205 cases (86.9%, 205/236) of high tumor cell content samples. 180 cases in the high tumor cell content samples (87.8%, 180/205) were diagnosed to be consistent with NSCLC. 25 out of 194 cases were ruled out or indefinite to be diagnosed as NSCLC by immunohistochemistry. By direct sequencing, the mutation rate of EGFR was 27.8% (50/180) in NSCLC samples and 28.2% (50/177) in adenocarcinoma samples (high tumor content samples) . By ARMS, the mutation rate of EGFR was 45.6% (82/180) in NSCLC samples and 46.3% (82/177) in adenocarcinoma samples (high tumor content samples). The EGFR mutation rate in low tumor content samples was 38.7% (12/31) , there was no significant difference in EGFR mutation rates between the groups of low tumor cell content samples and high tumor cell content samples (P = 0.12). The concordance rate of EGFR mutation rates was 100% between scraping tumor cells from slides samples and from FFEP blocks in the 40 matched samples. Forty-eight out of 180 definitive NSCLC patients received Gefitinib therapy. The FPS was 12 months in the gefitinib-treated ARMS⁺ group and 2 months in the ARMS⁻ group (P < 0.001), and the OS was 19 months in the gefitinib-treated ARMS⁺ group and 7 months in the ARMS⁻ group (P = 0.003), but no significant differences were found in the efficacy (PFS and OS) of Gefitinib between Seq⁺ and Seq⁻ groups (P = 0.227, P = 0.510, respectively), and Seq⁺/ARMS⁺ and Seq⁻/ARMS⁺ groups (P = 0.354, P = 0.334, respectively).

CONCLUSIONSThe detection protocol for EGFR mutations in cytological specimens introduced in this study is tested to be reliable and feasible. Pathological evaluation and immunohistochemistry are important in the detection procedure of EGFR mutations in cytologic specimens. High sensitivity methods should be selected for detection of EGFR mutations in cytologic samples.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Mutation ; Mutation Rate ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism

Objective The aim of this study was to establish a standardized protocol for detection of ALK protein expression and gene fusion in cytologic specimens. Methods Lung adenocarcinoma cytologic specimens were collected from seven hospitals in Beijing city. A detection protocol for ALK protein expression and gene fusion was designed according to the results of comparative experiment. Ventana immunohistochemical ( IHC) ALK( D5F3) detecting ALK protein expression was performed in 203 prepared
formalin?fixed paraffin?embedded ( FFPE) cell blocks. ALK gene fusion in 98 EGFR gene wild type cytologic specimens and in 4 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BL ) samples was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT?PCR). ALK gene fusion in the Ventana IHC ALK (D5F3) positive samples was further tested by fluorescence in situ hybridization ( FISH) . Six patients with ALK IHC?positive result were followed up to analyze the responses of crizotinib therapy. Comparative experiments:( 1) Comparison of the results of 4% neutral buffered formalin fixed for different time ( 24 h, 48 h, 72 h) on the Ventana IHC ALK (D5F3) staining was conducted in two cases of IHC ALK positive FFPE cell blocks;(2) Comparing qRT?PCR results for ALK fusion in samples from FFPE cell blocks and cytospin prepared slides in 10 cases of lung adenocarcinoma cytologic specimens. Results Among the specimens examined using the standardized protocol recommended by this study, 229 cases of cytologic specimens met the diagnostic criteria of lung adenocarcinoma. Among them, 207 cases obtained ALK gene test results ( by at least one method), with an ALK test ratio of 90.4% (207/229).FFPE cell blocks were successfully prepared in 203 cases, Ventana IHC ALK ( D5F3) were successfully performed in all the 203 FFPE cell blocks ( 100%) , and the ALK protein positive detection rate was 10.3% (21/203). ALK fusion was tested in 98 FFPE cytologic samples of EGFR wild types by qRT?PCR, and 96 out of 98 ( 97. 96%) cytologic samples were successfully performed.18 out of 19 IHC ALK?positive cases were verified to be of ALK fusion status by qRT?PCR. The concordance rate was 94.7% ( Kappa=0.967, P<0.001) between Ventana IHC ALK( D5F3) and qRT?PCR, and the sensitivity of the Ventana IHC ALK ( D5F3) assay compared with qRT?PCR was 100%and the specificity was 98. 7%. FISH assay was used to verify the positive cases detected by Ventana IHC ALK(D5F3) staining. Two cases of low tumor cell content FFPE samples obtained indefinite results by FISH test. The six patients with positive ALK protein expression received crizotinib therapy, and 5 paitents got treated effectively. For two ALK IHC positive cases, which were 4% neutral buffered formalin fixed for 72 h, the result of Ventana IHC ALK(D5F3) staining became weakened obviously and uneven. In 10 cases of samples, total RNA was extracted from FFPE cytologic sections and cytospin prepared slides, and the results of qRT?PCR test and ALK gene fusion showed good concordance. Conclusions The standardized protocol recommended in this study expands the detection types and quantity of cytologic specimens for ALK protein expression and gene fusion and increased the detection rate. Ventana IHC ALK( D5F3) is a reliable method for detecting ALK protein expression in FFPE cell blocks. The pathologic quality control procedure prior to Ventana IHC ALK( D5F3) is crucial for the accuracy of testing the ALK gene status. When FFPE cell blocks could not be prepared or prepared unsuccessfully from the cytologic specimens, qRT?PCR may be an alternative option for the detection of ALK gene fusion.

Objective:To explore the features and application value of MRI in the spectrum of fetal cloaca malformation.Methods:The clinical, MRI and ultrasound data of 6 fetuses with spectrum of cloaca malformation were retrospectively analyzed in Guangzhou Women and Children′s Medical Center Affiliated to Guangzhou Medical University from January 2017 to February 2021, and the MRI features of each subtype were analyzed.Results:Among the 6 fetuses of spectrum of the cloaca malformation, 5 were confirmed by postnatal imaging and surgery, and 1 was confirmed by induced labor autopsy, including 3 persistent cloaca, 1 posterior cloaca, 1 cloaca variant, and 1 urogenital sinus. The high signal on T 1WI of the rectal meconium disappeared or became weaker, and the signal on T 2WI of meconium of the dilated colon increased in the 3 cases of persistent cloaca and 1 case of posterior cloaca. All 6 cases showed colonic dilatation. All cases except 1 persistent cloaca showed vaginal and/or uterine effusion. Two cases of persistent cloaca, 1 case of posterior cloaca and 1 case of cloaca variant showed duplicated genital tract. Two cases of persistent cloaca showed only 1 perineal opening, which opened at the urethral orifice. One case of cloaca variant showed 2 openings, which opened at the urethral orifice and in front of the normal anus, respectively. Conclusion:Prenatal MRI can help to clarify the diagnosis of cloacal malformation spectrum and to determine its specific classification.

Objective The aim of this study was to establish a standardized protocol for detection of ALK protein expression and gene fusion in cytologic specimens. Methods Lung adenocarcinoma cytologic specimens were collected from seven hospitals in Beijing city. A detection protocol for ALK protein expression and gene fusion was designed according to the results of comparative experiment. Ventana immunohistochemical ( IHC) ALK( D5F3) detecting ALK protein expression was performed in 203 prepared
formalin?fixed paraffin?embedded ( FFPE) cell blocks. ALK gene fusion in 98 EGFR gene wild type cytologic specimens and in 4 bronchoalveolar lavage fluid ( BL ) samples was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT?PCR). ALK gene fusion in the Ventana IHC ALK (D5F3) positive samples was further tested by fluorescence in situ hybridization ( FISH) . Six patients with ALK IHC?positive result were followed up to analyze the responses of crizotinib therapy. Comparative experiments:( 1) Comparison of the results of 4% neutral buffered formalin fixed for different time ( 24 h, 48 h, 72 h) on the Ventana IHC ALK (D5F3) staining was conducted in two cases of IHC ALK positive FFPE cell blocks;(2) Comparing qRT?PCR results for ALK fusion in samples from FFPE cell blocks and cytospin prepared slides in 10 cases of lung adenocarcinoma cytologic specimens. Results Among the specimens examined using the standardized protocol recommended by this study, 229 cases of cytologic specimens met the diagnostic criteria of lung adenocarcinoma. Among them, 207 cases obtained ALK gene test results ( by at least one method), with an ALK test ratio of 90.4% (207/229).FFPE cell blocks were successfully prepared in 203 cases, Ventana IHC ALK ( D5F3) were successfully performed in all the 203 FFPE cell blocks ( 100%) , and the ALK protein positive detection rate was 10.3% (21/203). ALK fusion was tested in 98 FFPE cytologic samples of EGFR wild types by qRT?PCR, and 96 out of 98 ( 97. 96%) cytologic samples were successfully performed.18 out of 19 IHC ALK?positive cases were verified to be of ALK fusion status by qRT?PCR. The concordance rate was 94.7% ( Kappa=0.967, P<0.001) between Ventana IHC ALK( D5F3) and qRT?PCR, and the sensitivity of the Ventana IHC ALK ( D5F3) assay compared with qRT?PCR was 100%and the specificity was 98. 7%. FISH assay was used to verify the positive cases detected by Ventana IHC ALK(D5F3) staining. Two cases of low tumor cell content FFPE samples obtained indefinite results by FISH test. The six patients with positive ALK protein expression received crizotinib therapy, and 5 paitents got treated effectively. For two ALK IHC positive cases, which were 4% neutral buffered formalin fixed for 72 h, the result of Ventana IHC ALK(D5F3) staining became weakened obviously and uneven. In 10 cases of samples, total RNA was extracted from FFPE cytologic sections and cytospin prepared slides, and the results of qRT?PCR test and ALK gene fusion showed good concordance. Conclusions The standardized protocol recommended in this study expands the detection types and quantity of cytologic specimens for ALK protein expression and gene fusion and increased the detection rate. Ventana IHC ALK( D5F3) is a reliable method for detecting ALK protein expression in FFPE cell blocks. The pathologic quality control procedure prior to Ventana IHC ALK( D5F3) is crucial for the accuracy of testing the ALK gene status. When FFPE cell blocks could not be prepared or prepared unsuccessfully from the cytologic specimens, qRT?PCR may be an alternative option for the detection of ALK gene fusion.

Backgrounds::GALLIUM is a global phase III study that demonstrated significant improvements in progression-free survival (PFS) for obinutuzumab plus chemotherapy (G-chemo) vs. rituximab plus chemotherapy (R-chemo) in previously untreated patients with follicular lymphoma (FL). This study aimed to report the results of a subgroup of patients in China. Methods::Patients were randomized to G-chemo or R-chemo. Responders received maintenance therapy for 2 years or until disease progression. The primary endpoint was investigator (INV)-assessed PFS. Secondary endpoints included the overall response rate (ORR) and complete response rate (CRR) at the end of induction chemotherapy, overall survival (OS), and safety.Results::Overall, 58 patients with FL were randomized to the G-chemo ( n = 25) and R-chemo arms ( n = 33). The INV-assessed PFS rate at 3 years was 81.8% in the G-chemo arm, vs. 70.2% in the R-chemo arm (hazard ratio 0.35; 95% confidence interval: 0.09-1.34; P = 0.1120). The INV-assessed CRRs (without positron emission tomography [PET]) in these arms were 24.0% and 21.2%, respectively, whereas the ORRs were 80.0% and 90.9%, respectively. INV-assessed CRR-PET was 52.6% in the G-chemo, vs. 60.9% in the R-chemo. Median OS was not reached in either arm. Grade 3 to 5 adverse events were more frequent in the R-chemo arm (97.0% vs. 88.0%). Conclusions::The results of this subgroup analysis were consistent with those of the global population, and they suggest that G-chemo has a positive benefit-risk profile in patients from China with FL.Trial registration::ClinicalTrials.gov, No. NCT01332968.