Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic etiology of a child with Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC2).Methods:From April 2024 to June 2024, a child with jaundice, hepatomegaly and abnormal liver function who was repeatedly admitted to the First Department of Pediatrics of Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child were collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Genomic DNA was extracted for trio-whole exome sequencing, the candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis using REVEL, BLAST/BLAT, Swiss-Model and Swiss-Pdb Viewer software. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No.: L20240116).Results:The child was a 1.5-month-old female. Her main clinical manifestations included jaundice, hepatomegaly, brownish urine and earth-like stool. Laboratory examination showed increased levels of bilirubin, mainly direct bilirubin, increased aminotransferase, especially glutamic oxalacetic aminotransferase, accompanied by increased bile acid. Genetic testing revealed that the she has harbored a homozygous c. 3410T>G (p.V1137G) variant of the ABCB11 gene, for which both of her parents were heterozygous carriers. The variant was unreported previously, and was predicted to be pathogenic based on REVEL. Prediction with BLAST/BLAT software showed that the amino acids were highly conserved among different species. Swiss-Pdb Viewer software predicted that the variant has resulted in changes in hydrogen bonds between amino acids. According to the guidelines from the American Collage for Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was determined to be likely pathogenic (PM1+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3_Supporting+ PP3_Moderate). Conclusion:The homozygous variant of the ABCB11 gene may be the genetic cause of this child. Genetic testing is helpful for confirming the diagnosis and enrich the mutational spectrum of the ABCB11 gene.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic etiology of a child with Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC2). METHODS: From April 2024 to June 2024, a child with jaundice, hepatomegaly and abnormal liver function who was repeatedly admitted to the First Department of Pediatrics of Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child were collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Genomic DNA was extracted for trio-whole exome sequencing, the candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis using REVEL, BLAST/BLAT, Swiss-Model and Swiss-Pdb Viewer software. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No.: L20240116). RESULTS: The child was a 1.5-month-old female. Her main clinical manifestations included jaundice, hepatomegaly, brownish urine and earth-like stool. Laboratory examination showed increased levels of bilirubin, mainly direct bilirubin, increased aminotransferase, especially glutamic oxalacetic aminotransferase, accompanied by increased bile acid. Genetic testing revealed that the she has harbored a homozygous c.3410T>G (p.V1137G) variant of the ABCB11 gene, for which both of her parents were heterozygous carriers. The variant was unreported previously, and was predicted to be pathogenic based on REVEL. Prediction with BLAST/BLAT software showed that the amino acids were highly conserved among different species. Swiss-Pdb Viewer software predicted that the variant has resulted in changes in hydrogen bonds between amino acids. According to the guidelines from the American Collage for Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was determined to be likely pathogenic (PM1+PM2_Supporting+PM3_Supporting+PP3_Moderate). CONCLUSION The homozygous variant of the ABCB11 gene may be the genetic cause of this child. Genetic testing is helpful for confirming the diagnosis and enrich the mutational spectrum of the ABCB11 gene.
Humans ; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic/genetics* ; Female ; Infant ; ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 11/genetics* ; Homozygote ; Mutation

Objective To investigate the application value of conventional MRI combined with diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in evaluating the correlation between the texture composition of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS).Methods Seventy patients with BPH confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed and all patients underwent conventional MRI,DTI and IPSS before surgery.Evaluation metrics included:the mean signal intensity of T2WI(mean-SI-T2WI),apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)and fractional anisotropy(FA)values.Independent samples t-test,partial correlation analysis,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to assess the correlation between the texture parameters of the prostate transition zone and IPSS.Results The mean-SI-T2WI was significantly negatively correlated with IPSS(r=-0.683,P<0.001);the average ADC value was slightly negatively correlated with IPSS(r=-0.467,P<0.001);and the average FA value was slightly positively correlated with IPSS(r=0.419,P<0.001).The predictive value of MRI texture parameters for IPSS in BPH patients,ranked from high to low,mean-SI-T2WI[area under the curve(AUC)=0.734],average ADC value(AUC=0.673),and average FA value(AUC=0.635);However,the combination of mean-SI-T2WI+ADC+FA(AUC=0.791)did not significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy by DeLong's test(P>0.05).Conclusion Mean-SI-T2WI,DWI and DTI can be used to evaluate the composition of the prostate,among which mean-SI-T2WI is the best,and the com-bination of them can not improve the diagnostic efficacy.

Objective To investigate the application value of conventional MRI combined with diffusion tensor imaging(DTI)in evaluating the correlation between the texture composition of benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH)and the International Prostate Symptom Score(IPSS).Methods Seventy patients with BPH confirmed by pathology were retrospectively analyzed and all patients underwent conventional MRI,DTI and IPSS before surgery.Evaluation metrics included:the mean signal intensity of T2WI(mean-SI-T2WI),apparent diffusion coefficient(ADC)and fractional anisotropy(FA)values.Independent samples t-test,partial correlation analysis,and receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve were used to assess the correlation between the texture parameters of the prostate transition zone and IPSS.Results The mean-SI-T2WI was significantly negatively correlated with IPSS(r=-0.683,P<0.001);the average ADC value was slightly negatively correlated with IPSS(r=-0.467,P<0.001);and the average FA value was slightly positively correlated with IPSS(r=0.419,P<0.001).The predictive value of MRI texture parameters for IPSS in BPH patients,ranked from high to low,mean-SI-T2WI[area under the curve(AUC)=0.734],average ADC value(AUC=0.673),and average FA value(AUC=0.635);However,the combination of mean-SI-T2WI+ADC+FA(AUC=0.791)did not significantly improve the diagnostic efficacy by DeLong's test(P>0.05).Conclusion Mean-SI-T2WI,DWI and DTI can be used to evaluate the composition of the prostate,among which mean-SI-T2WI is the best,and the com-bination of them can not improve the diagnostic efficacy.

Objective:To explore the clinical manifestations and genetic etiology of a child with Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC2).Methods:From April 2024 to June 2024, a child with jaundice, hepatomegaly and abnormal liver function who was repeatedly admitted to the First Department of Pediatrics of Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital was selected as the study subject. Clinical data of the child were collected. Peripheral blood samples were collected from the child and her parents. Genomic DNA was extracted for trio-whole exome sequencing, the candidate variant was verified by Sanger sequencing and bioinformatic analysis using REVEL, BLAST/BLAT, Swiss-Model and Swiss-Pdb Viewer software. This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of the Qinzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital (Ethics No.: L20240116).Results:The child was a 1.5-month-old female. Her main clinical manifestations included jaundice, hepatomegaly, brownish urine and earth-like stool. Laboratory examination showed increased levels of bilirubin, mainly direct bilirubin, increased aminotransferase, especially glutamic oxalacetic aminotransferase, accompanied by increased bile acid. Genetic testing revealed that the she has harbored a homozygous c. 3410T>G (p.V1137G) variant of the ABCB11 gene, for which both of her parents were heterozygous carriers. The variant was unreported previously, and was predicted to be pathogenic based on REVEL. Prediction with BLAST/BLAT software showed that the amino acids were highly conserved among different species. Swiss-Pdb Viewer software predicted that the variant has resulted in changes in hydrogen bonds between amino acids. According to the guidelines from the American Collage for Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG), the variant was determined to be likely pathogenic (PM1+ PM2_Supporting+ PM3_Supporting+ PP3_Moderate). Conclusion:The homozygous variant of the ABCB11 gene may be the genetic cause of this child. Genetic testing is helpful for confirming the diagnosis and enrich the mutational spectrum of the ABCB11 gene.

Objective:To explore the operational accuracy and operative time of oral surgery robot-assisted endodontic microsurgery on a head-simulator for clinical reference.Methods:Three pairs of surgical simulation models were set up on head-simulator. Each model included 10 positions anteriorly and posteriorly, 20 teeth for each technique, for a total of 60 teeth. An attending physician with more than 3 years clinical experience in endodontic microsurgery completed fixed-point osteotomy and apicoectomy in three groups of endodontic microsurgery under freehand (FH), static navigation (SN), and surgery robot (SR). The duration of each operation was recorded. Cone-beam CT was taken before the operation and the surgical path was planned in the software; after surgery, a plug gauge (precision gauge for measuring hole dimensions) was inserted into the surgical path for intraoral scanning. Surgical accuracy (starting point, end point, and angular deviation) was assessed in all 3 groups, and surgery time was compared.Results:The deviation at the starting point and the end point, and angular deviation was (0.37±0.11), (0.37±0.10) mm, and 0.71°±0.17°in the SR group. The deviations in the SR group were significantly lower than those in the SN group [(0.59±0.14), (0.65±0.18) mm, and 2.64°±0.75°] ( P<0.05), and both groups were significantly lower than the FH group [(1.37±0.31), (1.10±0.21) mm, and 9.84°±3.15°] ( P<0.05). The operative time in the SN group [(1.20±0.03) min] was significantly less than that in the SR group [(2.18±0.03) min] ( P<0.05), and both groups were significantly less than that in the FH group [(8.70±3.15) min] ( P<0.05). Starting point deviation, end point deviation, and angular deviation [(1.09±0.10), (0.90±0.07) mm, 7.22°±1.13°] in anterior teeth using the FH was significantly lower than the starting deviation, endpoint deviation, and angular deviation [(1.65±0.14), (1.30±0.06) mm, 12.46°±2.10°] in the posterior teeth using FH ( P<0.05), and the operative time in the anterior teeth using the FH [(5.75±0.57) min] was significantly less than that in the posterior teeth using [(11.65±1.14) min] ( P<0.05). The difference in accuracy and operative time between using SN and SR on anterior and posterior teeth was not statistically significant ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Oral surgery robot-assisted endodontic microsurgery helps improving the accuracy of clinicians′ operations and shorten the operation time.

To apply electrical impedance tomography (EIT) technology to assess the lung regional ventilation distribution in patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after a cardiac surgery, and to analyze its value of predicting patients' short-term prognosis.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the mechanism of Chinese medicine Jiangzhuo mixture regulating glucose and lipid metabolism in obese rats. METHODS: Thirty healthy male SD rats were randomly divided into normal control group, model control group, and Jiangzhuo mixture treatment group, with 10 rats in each group. The rats in the normal control group were fed with normal diet, the obesity model was induced by feeding high-fat diet in the model control group and the Jiangzhuo mixture treatment group, the rats in the treatment group were given with Jiangzhuo mixture 50 g/kg by gavage. After 8 weeks of intervention, the blood glucose (GLU), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were measured in the three groups. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR were used to detect the expression levels of PR domain containing 16 (PRDM16) and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) in white and brown adipose tissues of the rats in each group; Western blotting was used to detect the expression of PRDM16 in the white and brown adipose tissue of rats, and Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inhibitor of NF-κB alpha (IκBα) in the white adipose tissue; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of UCP1 protein in white and brown adipose tissues. RESULTS: Compared with the normal control group, the white fat weight (P<0.01), white fat coefficient (P<0.05) and Lee's coefficient (P<0.01) were significantly increased in the model control group; the contents of GLU, TC, TG and LDL-C were all increased, and the content of TG was significantly increased (P<0.05) in the model control group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of PRDM16 and UCP1 in white fat and brown fat were significantly decreased (P<0.05) in the model control group. Compared with the model control group, the white fat weight and white fat coefficient and Lee's coefficient were significantly reduced in the Jiangzhuo mixture treatment group (all P<0.01), the levels of GLU, TC, TG, and LDL-C in the the treatment group were all reduced, and the content of TG was reduced more obviously (P<0.01); expression levels of PRDM16 and UCP1 mRNA and protein were increased in brown and white adipose tissue. Compared with the normal control group, the expression levels of TLR4, phospho-IκBα and NF-κB-p65 proteins in white adipose tissue of the model control group were significantly increased (all P<0.01), while the expression levels of these proteins in the treatment group were significantly lower than those in the model control group (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Jiangzhuo mixture can alleviate high-fat diet-induced increase in body fat, abnormal expression of biochemical indexes and promote the expression of key proteins including UCP1 and PRDM16 in white and brown adipose tissues by regulating TLR4/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway.
Rats ; Male ; Animals ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Glucose ; Lipid Metabolism ; Toll-Like Receptor 4 ; Cholesterol, LDL/metabolism* ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha/metabolism* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Signal Transduction ; Triglycerides ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Obesity ; RNA, Messenger

Objective:To investigate the influence of glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78) on prognosis and tumor cell proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:The experimental study and retrospective cohort study were conducted. Based on hepatocellular carcinoma tissue chip, in vitro culture of Huh7 and Hep3B hepatoma cells and LO2 normal hepatic cell, and combined with immunohistochemical staining, cell transfection, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot detection, cell proliferation experiments, cell clone formation experiments and high-throughput transcription histological analysis, the GRP78 expression in hepatoma cells was analyzed. Huh7 and Hep3B hepatoma cells being transfected with the GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses or the negative control shRNA lentivirus were set as the GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentivirus group and the negative control shRNA lentivirus group respectively. Observation indicators: (1) GRP78 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissue and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma patients; (2) analysis of factors affecting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients; (3) effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the proliferation of hepatoma cells; (4) effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells; (5) effects of HA15 on the proliferation and the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells. Measurement data of the normal distribution were expressed as Mean± SD, and comparison of groups was conducted using the t test or ANOVA. Repeated measurement data were analyzed using repeated ANOVA. Count data were expressed as absolute numbers, and comparisons between groups was conducted using the chi-square test. COX proportional hazards regression model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate the survival time and draw survival curve, and the Log-rank test was used for generative analysis. Results:(1) GRP78 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tissue and adjacent tissue and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: results of immunohistochemical staining of hepatocellular carcinoma tissue chip showed that GRP78 was low-expressed in 53 cases and high-expressed in 37 cases of the 90 hepatocellular carcinoma tissues. GRP78 was low-expressed in 84 cases and high-expressed in 6 cases of the 90 paracancerous tissues. There was a significant difference in GRP78 expression between hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues ( P<0.05). (2) Analysis of factors affecting the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma patients: all 90 patients were followed up for 5 to 56 months, with a median follow-up time of 49 months. The median overall survival time and median disease progression-free survival time were 56 months and 53 months in the 53 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with GRP78 as low-expressed, versus 32 months and 19 months in the 37 hepatocellular carcinoma patients with GRP78 as high-expressed, respec-tively, showing significant differences ( χ2=17.482, 12.097, P<0.05). Results of univariate analysis showed that alanine aminotransferase (ALT), tumor pathological grading and GRP78 expression were related factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate and disease progression-free survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma patients ( hazard ratio=2.317, 2.039, 3.740 and 2.194, 2.177, 2.927, 95% confidence interval as 1.150?4.671, 1.201?3.462, 2.116?6.612 and 1.048?4.593, 1.093?4.336, 1.492?5.742, P<0.05). Results of multivariate analysis showed that ALT >40 U/L, tumor pathological grading as Ⅲ-Ⅳ grade and GRP78 as high-expressed were independent risk factors affecting the 3-year overall survival rate and disease progression-free survival rate of hepatocellular carcinoma patients ( hazard ratio=2.438, 2.245, 3.223 and 3.046, 2.473, 3.307, 95% confidence interval as 1.114?5.334, 1.047?4.814, 1.396?7.440 and 1.337?6.940, 1.141?5.360, 1.399?7.819, P<0.05). (3) Effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the proliferation of hepatoma cells: ①results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of GRP78 messenger RNA (mRNA) in Huh7, Hep3B, and LO2 cells were 3.06±0.33, 4.42±0.60 and 1.00±0.02. There were significant differences in GRP78 mRNA expression between Huh7 and LO2 cells or Hep3B and LO2 cells ( t=6.19, 5.42, P<0.05). ②Results of Western Blot detection showed that the relative expression of GRP78 protein in Huh7, Hep3B, and LO2 cells were 1.65±0.01, 1.77±0.01 and 0.99±0.02. There were significant differences in GRP78 protein expression between Huh7 and LO2 cells or Hep3B and LO2 cells ( t=75.09, 108.10, P<0.05). ③Results of cell proliferation experiments showed that the growth rates in Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 111.51%±0.35%, 144.85%±0.68%, 188.71%±3.62%, 282.51%±5.25% and 190.08%±0.58%, 285.76%±2.69%, 459.51%±4.29%, 597.88%±12.25%, showing signifi-cant differences ( Fgroups=1 360.000, Ftime=668.500, Finteraction=197.600, P<0.05). The growth rates in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours were 124.47%±0.25%, 153.25%±1.25%, 195.45%±3.19%, 282.51%±10.76% and 179.69%±0.33%, 322.67%±2.46%, 486.27%±5.82%, 622.35%±12.58%, showing significant differences ( Fgroups=1 222.000, Ftime=706.200, Finteraction=179.600, P<0.05). ④Results of the cell clone formation experiments showed that the number of cells in Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells were 125±3 and 435±17, showing a significant difference ( t=17.86, P<0.05). The number of cells in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells and Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells were 138±3 and 388±7, showing a significant difference ( t=32.29, P<0.05). (4) Effects of inhibiting of GRP78 expression on the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells: results of high-throughput transcription histological analysis showed that the relative expression rates of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 were 19%, 334%, 398%, 41% and 49% in the Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells comparing to the Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells. ①Results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.17±0.03, 4.05±0.71, 3.73±0.47, 0.49±0.09, 0.48±0.06, 0.36±0.07 in the Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.00±0.05, 1.03±0.17, 1.00±0.07, 1.01±0.09, 1.02±0.14, 1.00±0.03 in the Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=14.62, 4.17, 5.72, 4.26, 3.49, 8.82, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.11±0.01, 4.28±0.43, 4.19±0.22, 0.44±0.01, 0.25±0.03, 0.68±0.04 in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.01±0.09, 1.02±0.15, 1.00±0.06, 1.01±0.09, 1.01±0.08, 1.15±0.02 in Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=10.19, 7.14, 13.79, 6.37, 9.42, 9.61, P<0.05). ②Results of Western Blot detection showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.45±0.01, 1.98±0.05, 2.31±0.12, 0.75±0.03, 0.69±0.04, 0.82±0.03 in the Hu7 GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.01±0.05, 1.03±0.01, 1.00±0.02, 1.00±0.01, 1.01±0.02, 1.00±0.03 in the Hu7 negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=11.07, 14.56, 11.30, 11.29, 10.55, 11.37, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.61±0.03, 1.98±0.16, 2.55±0.12, 0.85±0.03, 0.78±0.01, 0.54±0.02 in Hep3B GRP78 gene-specific shRNA lentiviruses group cells, versus 1.00±0.03, 1.05±0.02, 1.05±0.01, 1.05±0.02, 1.00±0.02, 1.00±0.02 in Hep3B negative control shRNA lentivirus group cells, showing significant differences ( t=10.97, 13.40, 12.35, 11.06, 12.45, 13.78, P<0.05). (5) Effects of HA15 on the proliferation and the gene and protein expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 in hepatoma cells: results of 50% inhibiting concentration (IC50) test of HA15 showed that the IC50 of HA15 for Huh7 and Hep3B cells at 48 hours were 9.98 μmol/L and 13.70 μmol/L. ①Huh7 and Hep3B cells were treated with 9.98 μmol/L and 13.70 μmol/L of HA15. Results of cell proliferation experiments showed that the growth rates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours were 112.81%±0.27%, 154.71%±1.45%, 237.66%±16.77%, 294.40%±14.92% in the HA15-Huh7 cells, versus 133.67%±0.49%, 352.93%±2.31%, 557.17%±4.89%, 662.60%±13.31% in the normal Huh7 cells, showing a significant difference ( Fgroups=766.800, Ftime=518.200, Finteraction=133.300, P<0.05). The growth rates at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours were 121.27%±2.32%, 203.85%±3.18%, 240.80%±3.02%, 286.50%±7.10% in the HA15-Hep3B cells, versus 239.14%±1.02%, 362.00%±5.44%, 539.37%±10.80%, 694.79%±17.13% in the normal Hep3B cells, showing a signifi-cant difference ( Fgroups=594.300, Ftime=317.900, Finteraction=78.600, P<0.05). ②Results of qRT-PCR showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.27±0.05, 3.64±0.28, 4.13±0.41, 0.51±0.07, 0.39±0.03, 0.17±0.02 in the HA15-Huh7 cells, versus 1.02±0.14, 1.00±0.03, 1.00±0.05, 1.01±0.08, 1.01±0.09, 1.03±0.17 in the normal Huh7 cells, showing significant differences ( t=5.00, 9.25, 7.63, 4.73, 6.82, 5.01, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA were 0.28±0.03, 3.49±0.78, 4.31±0.53, 0.38±0.05, 0.36±0.04, 0.24±0.03 in the HA15-Hep3B cells, versus 1.01±0.11, 1.03±0.18, 1.01±0.08, 1.00±0.06, 1.02±0.15, 1.00±0.06 in the normal Hep3B cells, showing significant differences ( t=6.26, 3.08, 6.21, 7.97, 4.26, 11.08, P<0.05). ③Results of Western Blot detection showed that the relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.52±0.05, 1.94±0.08, 1.58±0.02, 0.89±0.00, 0.86±0.02, 0.74±0.01 in the HA15-Huh7 cells, versus 1.02±0.03, 1.00±0.03, 1.02±0.02, 1.04±0.03, 1.00±0.01, 1.01±0.02 in the normal Huh7 cells, showing significant differences ( t=11.54, 10.28, 11.03, 12.81, 13.67, 10.09, P<0.05). The relative expression of GRP78, p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 protein were 0.57±0.02, 1.67±0.04, 1.41±0.04, 0.82±0.03, 0.70±0.02, 0.74±0.01 in the HA15-Hep3B cells, versus 1.03±0.01, 0.98±0.03, 1.00±0.03, 1.03±0.03, 1.01±0.01, 1.04±0.01 in the normal Huh7 cells, showing significant differences ( t=10.81, 11.54, 12.26, 13.62, 14.23, 10.17, P<0.05). Conclusions:High expression of GRP78 is an independent risk factor affecting the overall survival and disease progression-free survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. Inhibiting of GRP78 expression can reduce cell proliferation and the expression of p53, p21, CDK2, CDK4, and CDK6 mRNA and proteins in hepatoma cells.

This study aims to investigate the effect of substances secreted or metabolized by vascular endothelial cells on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of hepatocellular carcinoma cells under indirect co-culture condition. Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703 was cultured , and then was co-cultured with conditioned medium of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The morphological changes of QGY-7703 cells were observed by inverted phase contrast microscopy. The migration ability of QGY-7703 cells was analyzed by scratch-wound assays. The effect of conditioned medium on the expression and distribution of EMT related proteins was detected by Western blot and immunofluorescence assays, respectively. The results showed that the QGY-7703 cells gradually changed from polygonal to spindle shape, the migration ability promoted significantly, and both the expression and distribution of EMT related marker changed in a time-dependent manner after co-culturing. The results confirm that vascular endothelial cells can induce EMT in hepatocellular carcinoma cells under indirect co-culture condition.