Objective To investigate the relationship between quality of life and liver function in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B.Methods Psychological condition was investigated in 536 patients of chronic viral hepatitis B and 200 normal volunteers with self-administered 36-item short-form health survey questionnaire.These patients were divided into four groups based on their liver fuction normal,mild, moderate and severe damage,based on their serum activity of alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and serum level of bilirubin at the time of investigation.The patients with abnormal liver function at the beginning of the study would be retested when liver function recovered to normal level.Before and after comparison was made for those with abnormal liver function by Wilcoxon signed rank test.Trend test for the changes in liver function was performed by Jonckheere-Terpstra test.Results There was significant difference in physical functioning,role limitation due to physical health,bodily pain,general health perception,vitality,social functioning,role limitation due to emotional problems and mental health between patient with chronic viral hepatitis B and healthy volunteers.It was positively correlated with the degree of liver function damage. Scores of general health perception,role limitation due to physical health,role limitation due to emotional problems and vitality were relatively low in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B.Conclusions Quality of life in patients with chronic viral hepatitis B was far worse than that in healthy normal people,which related with their liver function.The more damage to liver function,the worse quality of life.Additional psychological treatment will be helpful for the patients with chronic viral hepatitis B other than drug treatment.

BACKGROUNDSeveral genetic polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene are associated with the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The objective of the present study was to investigate whether the two SNPs (T-786C and G894T) of the eNOS gene are associated with rheumatoid arthritis risk in a northern Chinese population.

METHODSIn this study, the eNOS genes T-786C and G894T were studied in 196 cases with rheumatoid arthritis and 201 healthy controls with gender, age and ethnicity matched. The two SNPs were genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The analyses of association were statistically compared using the chi-square test with SPSS software for Windows.

RESULTSThe frequency of the -786C allele was significantly higher in the rheumatoid arthritis patients than in the healthy controls (19.64% vs. 14.18%, P < 0.05). However, the 894T allele of the eNOS gene was not increased in the rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to the healthy controls.

CONCLUSIONSIndividuals with the -786CC genotype have an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis. Further study with an increased sample size is necessary for the study of the role of this SNP in rheumatoid arthritis.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; genetics ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; genetics ; Female ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; genetics ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk

Objective To discuss the efficacy of surgery combined with intra-operative I125 particles implantation in treatment of intracranial tumor.Methods The data of 25 cases diagnosed with intracranial tumors in general hospital of Shenyang Military Region from January 2015 to November 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.All patients received the combination of surgery and I125 particles intra-operative implantation.The therapeutic effect was observed and evaluated.Results All the patients were followed up for 6 to 18 months and there was no signs of recurrence or adverse reactions in the short term.Conclusion The combination of surgery and I125 particles intra-operative implantation could avoid the pain of postoperative radiotherapy and inhibit the short-term recurrence of multiple intracranial tumors.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerance of bosentan, a dual endothelin receptor antagonist, in Chinese patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH).

METHODSTotally 79 IPAH patients (hemodynamic criteria confirmed by right heart catheterization) were included in this open-label, prospective multicenter study. Patients received 62.5 mg of bosentan twice daily for the first 4 weeks, and then up-titrated to 125 mg twice daily for another 12 weeks. The primary end point was the change in exercise capacity showed by six-minute walk distance (6MWD) from baseline to 16 weeks. Secondary end points included the change in World Health Organization (WHO) functional class, Borg dyspnoea scale and systolic pulmonary artery pressure measured by echocardiography.

RESULTSThe 6MWD increased from (343.7 ± 93.7) meters at baseline to (397.5 ± 104.4) meters after 16 weeks (P < 0.01), WHO functional class and Borg dyspnoea scale were also significantly improved after 16 weeks therapy compared to baseline levels (all P < 0.01). Furthermore, the systolic pulmonary artery pressure was significantly decreased from (97.8 ± 25.2) mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) to (92.8 ± 29.5) mm Hg (P < 0.05) after 16 weeks bosentan treatment. There was no patient withdrawal from this study for safety consideration.

CONCLUSIONBosentan therapy is well tolerated and can improve the exercise capacity and WHO functional class in Chinese IPAH patients.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Antihypertensive Agents ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Familial Primary Pulmonary Hypertension ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary ; drug therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prospective Studies ; Sulfonamides ; adverse effects ; therapeutic use ; Young Adult

Fragments encoding amino acids 76-130 in the linear conserved region (LCR) of A/Hubei/1/2010 (H5N1) HA2 was fused to hepatitis B core antigen (HBc) to generate a LCR-HBe virus-like particle (VLP). Results showed that the fusion protein of LCR-HBc was highly expressed in this prokaryotic expression system. The purified LCR-HBc particle stimulated high levels of IgG production in mice with a titer of > 1:12 800, and provided 50% cross-protection against lethal challenge by H1N1 viruses.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Female ; Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus ; immunology ; Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Interferon-gamma ; biosynthesis ; Lung ; pathology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Molecular Sequence Data

OBJECTIVETo analyze the CT/MRI features of Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis.

METHODSCT/MRI images of 6 cases of pathologically confirmed Castleman's disease of the abdomen and pelvis were retrospectively reviewed. All the patients received plain CT scan and dynamic enhanced scan, and one had an additional MR scan.

RESULTSOne case was identified as the disseminated type with multicentric enlarged lymph nodes and hepatosplenomegaly, and 5 cases were found to have localized type, of which 3 had retroperitoneal, 1 had mesentery and 1 had pelvic lesions. On CT scan, all the 5 cases with localized lesions showed single, round or ellipse soft tissue masses, with intra-tumoral calcification in 2 cases, fascial thickening around the mass in 3 cases, and satellite nodules in 4 cases. Enhanced scanning revealed obvious enhancement in the arterial phase and continuous enhancement in the portal vein and delayed phase in all the lesions, with an attenuation pattern similar to that of large vessels; enlarged blood vessels within or around the mass were displayed in each case. In 4 cases, the intra-tumoral radial or fissured non-enhanced areas in early stage of enhancement were gradually filled up as the scan time was delayed. The patient receiving MRI showed hypo-intensity on T(1)WI and hyper-intensity on T(2)WI, presenting with an enhancement feature similar to that of CT.

CONCLUSIONCastleman's disease in the abdomen and pelvis is rare and liable to misdiagnosis, but its characteristic imaging features can help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis.

Abdomen ; pathology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Castleman Disease ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pelvis ; pathology ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the efficacy of 2-month course of sleeping position correction in the treatment of positional plagiocephaly in infants aged <8 months.

METHODSA total of 73 infants with positional plagiocephaly between January 2015 and June 2016 were divided into treatment group (n=46) and control group (n=27) according to parents' wishes. The treatment group received sleeping position correction, while the control group received sleep curve mattress. The oblique diameters A and B in the two groups were measured and the cranial vault asymmetry (CVA) was calculated before and after treatment. The severity of positional plagiocephaly based on CVA was compared between the two groups before and after treatment. The Gesell Developmental Scale was used to determine the developmental quotients (DQs) in the motor, adaptive, language, and social domains in the two groups before and after treatment.

RESULTSBefore treatment, there were no significant differences in oblique diameters A and B, CVA, and DQs in the four specific domains between the two groups (P>0.05). After 2 months of treatment, the treatment group had a significantly greater oblique diameter B and a significantly smaller CVA than the control group (P<0.05); there were no significant differences in DQs in the four specific domains between the two groups (P>0.05). After treatment, both groups had significant improvements in oblique diameters A and B, CVA, and DQs in the motor and adaptive domains (P<0.01); moreover, the treatment group showed a significant improvement in the DQs in the social domain (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in the severity of positional plagiocephaly between the two groups before and after treatment (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor infants with positional plagiocephaly, sleeping position correction has better efficacy and is more convenient and economical than the sleep curve mattress, so it holds promise for clinical application.

Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Plagiocephaly, Nonsynostotic ; etiology ; therapy ; Posture ; Severity of Illness Index ; Sleep

OBJECTIVETo explore the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of desmoid-type fibromatosis, and improve the diagnostic accuracy and understanding of the disease.

METHODSThe CT and MRI features of 18 cases of surgically and pathologically confirmed desmoid-type fibromatosis were reviewed retrospectively. Among the patients, 10 received CT pre- and post-contrast scanning, and 8 patients had MRI pre- and post-contrast scanning. The CT and MRI features were analyzed in comparison with the pathological findings.

RESULTSIn the extra abdominal cases, the tumors occurred in the head and neck in 3, in the dorsal part of the chest in 2, in the abdominal wall and groin area in 9, and in the peritoneal cavity in 4; concomitant Gardner syndrome was found in 1 case. In 4 cases the tumor occurred within 1 to 3 years after abdominal surgeries. Pathologically, the lesion was hard and composed of fusiform fibroblasts and myofibroblast. The cells showed no obvious heteromorphism with few karyokinesis, growing invasively and recurrent locally but without distant metastasis. Immunohistochemically, the fibroblasts and myofibroblasts expressed vimentin, and the myofibroblasts were positive for SMA. On CT and MRI, the lesion appeared benign with malignant growth pattern, and caused compression of the adjacent organs and vessels or encasement of the vessels; the border was unclear without encapsulation, and necrosis and calcification was scarce. The density and signal of the tumor were well distributed. Twelve patients displayed obvious enhancement and 5 showed uneven enhancement.

CONCLUSIONThe CT and MRI features of desmoid-type fibromatosis are characteristic, and CT and MRI are valuable modalities for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the tumor.

Adult ; Female ; Fibromatosis, Aggressive ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of melanoma differentiation associated gene-7/interleukin 24 (MDA/IL-24) on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B and normal liver cell line L02 with a different p53 state.

METHODSThe MDA-7/IL-24 gene was transfected into human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B and hepatocyte line L02 with a replication-incompetent adenovirus vector. The mRNA expression of MDA7/IL-24 in HepG2, MHCC97L, Hep3B and L02 cells was confirmed using RT-PCR. Protein expression was confirmed using ELISA assay. MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to study tumor cell proliferation and cell cycle in vitro. Hoechst and flow cytometry assay after annexin-V and PI staining were performed to indicate the apoptosis effect.

RESULTSExogenous MDA-7/IL-24 gene was expressed in HepG2, MHCC97L, Hep3B and L02 cells. The protein product of MDA-7/IL-24 was confirmed in the supernatant. MTT assay and apoptosis test indicated MDA-7/IL-24 could induce growth suppression and apoptosis of HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B but could not in L02. Cell cycle test revealed MDA-7/IL-24 could block those cancer cells in G2/M but not in the normal cell L02.

CONCLUSIONMDA-7/IL-24 selectively induces growth suppression and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma lines HepG2, MHCC97L and Hep3B in vitro independent of the state of p53 gene but not in normal liver cell L02. This indicates MDA-7/IL-24 can be a perfect gene for gene therapy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Adenoviruses, Human ; genetics ; Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genetic Therapy ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Interleukins ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53