Objective:To investigate the correlation of serum hepatitis B virus large protein (HBV-LP), HBV-DNA, and Pre S1 antigen (Pre S1-Ag) with HBV replication.Methods:Serum samples were collected from 650 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) who were treated in Beijing Friendship Hospital from March 2017 to March 2019. Serum HBV-LP and Pre S1-Ag were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). HBV markers (HBV-M) were measured using chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect HBV-DNA. The positive detection rates of HBV-DNA, HBV-LP and Pre S1-Ag were calculated and compared, and the correlation of HBV-LP (S/CO value) and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg, log 10 IU/ml) with HBV-DNA(log 10 IU/ml)was analyzed. Results:In the 650 CHB patients, the positive rates of HBV-DNA, HBV-LP and Pre S1-Ag were 65.4% (425/650), 79.2% (515/650) and 43.1% (280/650), respectively ( P<0.01). The positive rates of HBV-DNA and HBV-LP in 243 HBeAg-positive patients were 93.0% (226/243) and 94.6% (230/243), and no significant difference was found between them ( P=0.45). However, there was significant difference between the positive rates of HBV-DNA and HBV-LP in 407 patients negative for HBeAg [48.9% (199/407) vs 70.0% (285/407), P<0.01]. The positive rates of HBV-DNA and HBV-LP in HBsAg-, HBeAg- and HBcAb-positive groups were 92.8% (206/222) and 94.1% (209/222), which showed no significant difference ( P=0.56). In HBsAg-, HBeAb- and HBcAb-positive groups, the positive rates of HBV-DNA and HBV-LP were 45.4% (124/273) and 69.9% (191/273) ( P<0.01). The detection rate of HBeAg was lower than that of HBV-LP significantly in both HBV-DNA-positive and HBV-DNA-negative groups ( P<0.01). With the increasing of HBV-DNA load, the S/CO value and the positive rate of HBV-LP increased significantly ( P<0.05). Conclusions:HBV-LP had a good correlation with HBV-DNA load as compared with Pre S1-Ag, HBeAg and HBsAg. HBV-LP in combination with HBV-M might be used as predictive markers that could efficiently reflect the status of HBV replication.

Objective:To explore the possible correlation between serum detection of IL-7, IL-21, HBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs), HBV DNA, and the expression of CD127 on the T lymphocytes, and discuss the effect of IL-7 to cellular immune response in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).Methods:Five hundred and sixty serum samples were collected from patients with CHB in Beijing Friendship Hospital from September 2017 to March 2020. The serum IL-7 and IL-21 were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and HBV-specific CTLs and the expression of CD127 on the T lymphocytes were determined by flow cytometry. While HBV DNA were tested using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Subjects were divided into groups A, B, and C, according to the IL-7 levels (low: IL-7<20 pg/ml, medium: 20 pg/ml≤IL-7<30 pg/ml, and high: IL-7≥30 pg/ml).Results:The average concentration of serum IL-7 in patients with CHB was significantly lower than that of healthy controls ( P<0.01), and the difference among three groups was statistically significant ( P<0.01). Meanwhile, levels of IL-21, percentages of HBV-specific CTL, and the expression of CD127 on the CD8 + T lymphocytes showed an upward trend among groups, and there were significant differences among three groups ( P<0.01) with a positive correlation between each two variables ( P<0.01). However, HBV DNA showed a downward trend in group A, B and C, and the difference of the three groups were statistically significant ( P<0.01), which were negatively correlated with other variables ( P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that HBV-specific CTL was an independent influencing factor for HBV DNA ( P<0.01), and IL-7, the expression of CD127 on the CD8 + T lymphocytes and IL-21 had an independent effect on HBV-specific CTL ( P<0.05). Conclusions:IL-7 could regulate HBV-specific immune response, and might be used as an effective cellular immune indicator to evaluate the cellular immune status of patients with chronic hepatitis B.

ObjectiveTo investigate the trends in diabetes mortality and potential years of life lost (PYLL) among residents of Huangpu District, Shanghai from 1993 to 2021, to analyze the long-term trends of diabetic patients with different characteristics and to provide a reference for scientific prevention and control of diabetes in aging urban areas. MethodsDiabetes mortality data were obtained from the Huangpu District cause of death registration records in the Shanghai death cause registration system. Indicators such as crude mortality rate, standardized mortality rate, potential years of life lost (PYLL), average years of life lost (AYLL), annual percentage change (APC), and average annual percentage change (AAPC) were used to analyze diabetes-related mortality and life loss. Statistical analyses were performed using software SPSS 21.0 and Joinpoint 5.0.2. ResultsFrom 1993 to 2021, the average annual crude mortality rate of diabetes in Huangpu District was 46.56/100 000, and the average annual standardized mortality rate was 20.44/100 000. The crude mortality rate and standardized mortality rate of diabetes for female residents were higher than those for males. The crude mortality rate showed an overall increasing trend [AAPC=2.81% (95%CI: 0.20%‒5.49%), P<0.05], while the increase in standardized mortality rate significantly slowed [AAPC=0.15% (95%CI: -2.27%‒2.63%)], P<0.05]. The mortality rate rose rapidly in the 70‒74 years age group and peaked in the 85‒ years age group (607.69/100 000). Diabetes accounted for a cumulative PYLL of22 741 person-years, with an average annual AYLL of 1.88 years and an average annual potential years of life lost rate (PYLLR) of 0.82‰. Male residents had higher PYLL, AYLL, and PYLLR than females. ConclusionDiabetes mortality rates in Huangpu District have increased year by year, resulting in significant life loss. However, the age-standardized mortality rate increase has markedly slowed. Efforts should focus on elderly diabetic patients aged ≥70 years, by leveraging platforms such as community-based chronic disease health support centers, efforts should be made to enhance diabetes screening service for middle-aged and elderly residents. Consequently, elderly diabetic patients’ awareness of diabetes and responce to related complications is improved, which would be conducive to controling the progression of complications and reducing the mortolity risk of diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To explore two transcript variants expression of long noncoding RNA C6orf176 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the clinical pathological significance. 
 METHODS: The expressions of transcript variant 1 (TV1) and transcript variant 2 (TV2) of long noncoding RNA C6orf176 in 57 NSCLC and adjacent cancerous tissues were examined by qPCR with β-actin as internal control.
 RESULTS: Based on the results of qPCR, for C6orf176-TV1, 42 cases were down-regulated and 15 cases were up-regulated. The C6orf176-TV1 level was correlated to the grade of differentiation (P<0.05) but it was not correlated with gender, age, smoking history, tumor type and TNM stage. The expression of C6orf176-TV1 had a potential value in diagnosis of NSCLC by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve. Area under curve (AUC) of ROC curve was 0.708 (95% CI 0.615 to 0. 802). The sensitivity and specificity were 51% and 88%, respectively. For C6orf176-TV2, 39 cases were down-regulated and 18 cases were up-regulated. The C6orf176-TV2 level was correlated with the grade of differentiation (P<0.05) but it was not correlated with gender, age, tumor size, smoking history and TNM stage. C6orf176-TV2 level had value in diagnosis of NSCLC by ROC curve. AUC of ROC curve was 0.64 (95% CI 0.531 to 0.749). The sensitivity and specificity were 49% and 75%, respectively. Of the 57 specimens, 53 cases were simultaneous up or down-regulation of C6orf176-TV1 and C6orf176-TV2. The correlation coefficient was 0.99.
 CONCLUSION The expression of C6orf176-TV1 or C6orf176-TV2 is down-regulated in NSCLC and it is correlated with the grade of differentiation. It may act as a diagnosis indicator for NSCLC patients.
Actins ; Area Under Curve ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Cell Differentiation ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; RNA, Long Noncoding ; ROC Curve ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Smoking ; Transcription, Genetic ; Up-Regulation

Objective: The traditional Chinese medicine Anluohuaxianwan (ALHXW) has been used to treat liver fibrosis induced by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. However, the anti-fibrosis mechanisms of ALHXW remain to be investigated. This study used a rat model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver fibrosis to explore the potential antifibrogenic mechanisms of ALHXW. Methods: Twenty-seven male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to control group, model group, and treatment group (n = 9 per group). Rats in the model and treatment group were injected intraperitoneally with 40% CCl₄(2 ml/kg), and rats in the control group were administered saline twice a week for 6 weeks. Starting at week 4 following model construction, rats in the treatment group received daily gavages with ALHXW solution (concentration 0.15 g/ml) daily, while rats in the control and model groups were given saline for a total of 6 weeks. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured from blood samples collected at the end of weeks 3, 6 and 9. Histopathological examination of liver tissue was performed to evaluate liver fibrosis at week 9. At the same time, the mRNA expression of TGF-β1 and Smads in liver tissues was quantified by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and TGF-β1 protein level in the liver was measured by Western blot. Inter-group comparison was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) when the continuous data were normally distributed and satisfied the homogeneity of variance; otherwise, nonparametric tests were used. Categorical data were compared between groups using nonparametric tests. Results: ALHXW markedly alleviated liver injury in the treatment group after 3 weeks of therapy as indicated by a significantly reduced level of ALT compared with the model group [(162.98 ± 73.14)U/L vs (322.52 ± 131.76)U/L, P = 0.047], and a 39.8% reduction in AST level compared with the model group[ (537.56 ± 306.06)U/L vs (892.98 ± 358.19)U/L, P = 0.053]. Moreover, at the end of the 6-week therapy, histopathological diagnosis showed that liver fibrosis was significantly reduced in the ALHXW-treated group compared with that in the model group (P = 0.002). The relative expression of TGF-β1 mRNA and protein in the liver were significantly lower in ALHXW-treated rats than that in model rats (1.34 ± 0.31 vs 1.78 ± 0.45, P = 0.025; 0.39 ± 0.02 vs 0.57 ± 0.04, P = 0.003). Conclusion ALHXW treatment can reverse CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Its mechanisms of anti-fibrosis may occur through the inhibition of TGF-β1 synthesis and TGF-β1/Smads signaling pathway, which in turn suppress the activation of hepatic stellate cells and thereby reverses fibrosis.

We conducted a prospective study to assess the non-inferiority of adjuvant chemotherapy alone versus adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) as an alternative strategy for patients with early-stage (FIGO 2009 stage IB-IIA) cervical cancer having risk factors after surgery. The condition was assessed in terms of prognosis, adverse effects, and quality of life. This randomized trial involved nine centers across China. Eligible patients were randomized to receive adjuvant chemotherapy or CCRT after surgery. The primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS). From December 2012 to December 2014, 337 patients were subjected to randomization. Final analysis included 329 patients, including 165 in the adjuvant chemotherapy group and 164 in the adjuvant CCRT group. The median follow-up was 72.1 months. The three-year PFS rates were both 91.9%, and the five-year OS was 90.6% versus 90.0% in adjuvant chemotherapy and CCRT groups, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the PFS or OS between groups. The adjusted HR for PFS was 0.854 (95% confidence interval 0.415-1.757; P = 0.667) favoring adjuvant chemotherapy, excluding the predefined non-inferiority boundary of 1.9. The chemotherapy group showed a tendency toward good quality of life. In comparison with post-operative adjuvant CCRT, adjuvant chemotherapy treatment showed non-inferior efficacy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer having pathological risk factors. Adjuvant chemotherapy alone is a favorable alternative post-operative treatment.
Female ; Humans ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Neoplasm Staging ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant/adverse effects* ; Adjuvants, Immunologic ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use* ; Retrospective Studies