Malignant liver tumors have a high incidence and mortality rate. Therefore, it is of great significance to promptly learn about tumor advancement status through relevant examinations for patients' follow-up, diagnosis, and therapy as well as the improvement of the five-year survival rate. The primary lesions and intrahepatic metastases of malignant liver tumors have been better demonstrated in the clinical study with the use of various isotope-labeled fibroblast activating protein inhibitors because of their low uptake in liver tissues and high tumor/background ratio, which provides a new method for early diagnosis, precise staging, and radionuclide therapy. In light of this context, a review of the research progress of fibroblast-activating protein inhibitors for the diagnosis of liver malignant tumors is presented.
Humans ; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Liver Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Jianpi Jieyu Decoction (JJD) for treating patients with mild-to-moderate depression of Xin (Heart)-Pi (Spleen) deficiency (XPD) syndrome. METHODS: In this multi-center, randomized, controlled study, 140 patients with mild-to-moderate depression of XPD syndrome were included from Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences and Botou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine from December 2017 to December 2019. They were randomly divided into JJD group and paroxetine group by using a random number table, with 70 cases in each group. The patients in the JJD group were given JJD one dose per day (twice daily at morning and evening, 100 mL each time), and the patients in the paroxetine group were given paroxetine (10 mg/d in week 1; 20 mg/d in weeks 2-6), both orally administration for a total of 6 weeks. The primary outcome was the change of 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17) score at week 6 from baseline. The secondary outcomes included the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) score, Traditional Chinese Medicine Symptom Scale (TCMSS), and Clinlcal Global Impression (CGI) scores at the 2nd, 4th, and 6th weekends of treatment, HAMD-17 response (defined as a reduction in score of >50%) and HAMD-17 remission (defined as a score of ⩽7) at the end of the 6th week of treatment. Adverse events (AEs) were also recorded. RESULTS: From baseline to week 6, the HAMD-17 scores decreased 10.2 ± 4.0 and 9.1 ± 4.9 points in the JJD and paroxetine groups, respectively (P=0.689). The HAMD-17 response occurred in 60% of patients in the JJD group and in 50% of those in the paroxetine group (P=0.292); HAMD-17 remission occurred in 45.7% and 30% of patients, respectively (P=0.128). The differences of CGI scores at the 6th week were not statistically significant (P>0.05). There were significant differences in HAMD-17 scores between the two groups at 2nd and 4th week (P=0.001 and P=0.014). The HAMA scores declined 8.1 ± 3.0 and 6.9 ± 4.3 points from baseline to week 6 in the JJD and paroxetine groups, respectively (P=0.905 between groups). At 4th week of treatment, there was a significant difference in HAMA between the two groups (P=0.037). TCMSS decreased 11.4 ± 5.1, and 10.1 ± 6.8 points in the JJD and paroxetine groups, respectively (P=0.080 between groups). At the 6th week, the incidence of AEs in the JJD group was significantly lower than that in the paroxetine group (7.14% vs. 22.86%, P<0.05). CONCLUSION Compared with paroxetine, JJD was associated with a significantly lower incidence of AEs in patients with mild-to-moderate depression of XPD syndrome, with no difference in efficacy at 6 weeks. (Trial registration No. ChiCTR2000040922).
Humans ; Paroxetine/adverse effects* ; Spleen ; Anxiety ; Syndrome ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Treatment Outcome ; Double-Blind Method

BACKGROUND: Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) is a promising biomarker for non-invasive epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (EGFRm) detection in lung cancer patients, but existing methods have limitations in sensitivity and availability. In this study, we used the ΔCt value (mutant cycle threshold [Ct] value-internal control Ct value) generated during the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to convert super-amplification-refractory mutation system (superARMS) from a qualitative method to a semi-quantitative method named reformed-superARMS (R-superARMS), and evaluated its performance in detecting EGFRm in plasma ctDNA in patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma. METHODS: A total of 41 pairs of tissues and plasma samples were obtained from lung adenocarcinoma patients who had known EGFRm in tumor tissue and were previously untreated. EGFRm in ctDNA was identified by using superARMS. Through making use of ΔCt value generated during the detection process of superARMS, we indirectly transform this qualitative detection method into a semi-quantitative PCR detection method, named R-superARMS. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of the data were performed. Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Fisher exact test was used for categorical variables. RESULTS: The concordance rate of EGFRm in tumor tissues and matched plasma samples was 68.3% (28/41). At baseline, EGFRm-positive patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off ΔCt value of EGFRm set at 8.11. A significant difference in the median OS (mOS) between the two groups was observed (EGFRm ΔCt ≤8.11 vs. >8.11: not reached vs. 11.0 months; log-rank P = 0.024). Patients were divided into mutation clearance (MC) group and mutation incomplete clearance (MIC) group according to whether the ΔCt value of EGFRm test turned negative after 1 month of treatment. We found that there was also a significant difference in mOS (not reached vs. 10.4 months; log-rank P = 0.021) between MC group and MIC group. Although there was no significant difference in PFS between the two groups, the two curves were separated and the PFS of MC group tended to be higher than the MIC group (not reached vs. 27.5 months; log-rank P = 0.088). Furthermore, EGFRm-positive patients were divided into two groups according to the cut-off of the changes in ΔCt value of EGFRm after 1 month of treatment, which was set at 4.89. A significant difference in the mOS between the two groups was observed (change value of ΔCt >4.89 vs. ≤4.89: not reached vs. 11.0 months; log-rank P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS Detecting EGFRm in ctDNA using R-superARMS can identify patients who are more likely sensitive to targeted therapy, reflect the molecular load of patients, and predict the therapeutic efficacy and clinical outcomes of patients.
Adenocarcinoma of Lung/genetics* ; Circulating Tumor DNA/genetics* ; ErbB Receptors/genetics* ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/genetics* ; Mutation/genetics* ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors

[Objective]To analyze the expression profile variation of circle RNA(circRNA)in tongue squamous cell carcinoma(TSCC)tissue and para-carcinoma tissue.[Methods]CircRNA microarray technology was performed to in-spect the difference of circRNA expression in 4 cases of TSCC tissues and 4 cases of para-carcinoma tissues,and then make analysis after the quality control and homogenization of raw data,to identify which have more than 2 times variation and significant difference(P<0.05)by statistical analysis as circRNA with differential expression. To perform functional analysis on circRNA with differential expression.[Results]Compared with para-carcinoma tissue,there were 17171 circRNA differentially expressed in TSCC tissue,while 9982 increase more than 2 times and 7189 reduce more than 2 times.[Conclusion]circRNA expression profile in TSCC changes significantly comparing with the para-carcinoma tis-sue,some differentially expressed circRNA may regulate the occurrence and progression of TSCC through a competitive combination of miRNA.

Central Nervous System Diseases ; etiology ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Lymphohistiocytosis, Hemophagocytic ; complications ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Mutation ; Perforin ; genetics

The aim of this paper was to study the curative effect of Huotan Jiedu Tongluo (HTJDTL) decoction on a rabbit model with early atherosclerosis (AS),and furtherly to explore whether it could inhibit the BH4/eNOS uncoupling ROS or not. Twenty-four Japanese white rabbits were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, HTJDTL decoction group and atorvastatin group. Rabbit models with early atherosclerosis were established by high fat diet, nitrogen drying and carotid artery balloon injury. The rabbits were sacrificed at 7th days after balloon injury and several parameters were measured. The pathological morphology of the common carotid artery was observed by HE staining. The blood lipids were detected by peroxidase method. The ratio of vascular eNOS dimer and monomer was measured by Western blot. The ELISA and biochemical technology were respectively used for testing BH4 and ROS levels in serum. The results showed that compared with the sham operation group, the model group had mild stenosis of the common carotid artery lumen, uneven intimal hyperplasia, lipid deposition in the intima and media, and obvious hyperplasia of the adventitia with inflammatory cell infiltration. The HTJDTL decoction could significantly inhibit the intimal hyperplasia compared with the model group, meanwhile, reduce the lipid deposition of the media and the infiltration of the adventitial cells. Compared with the sham operation group, the blood lipids and ROS of the model animals significantly increased, but BH4 and the ratio of eNOS dimer/monomer decreased. Compared with the model group, HTJDTL decoction significantly reduced the TC, ox-LDL and ROS levels, and also up-regulated eNOS dimer/monomer ratio, but it increased BH4 trend without statistical difference. According to the results, it was found that HTJDTL decoction couldsignificantly prevent and improve the vascular remodeling of rabbits model with early atherosclerosis. The mechanism of decoction may largely be related to the inhibition of BH4/eNOS uncoupling and the reduction of oxidative stress.
Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; drug therapy ; Carotid Arteries ; pathology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Rabbits ; Random Allocation ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

The repellent activity of α-pinene, β-pinene, and twenty four terpenoids derived from α-pinene or β-pinene against Germen cockroaches, Blattella germanica, were tested with dipped filter paper.Twenty of the tested compounds showed positive repellent activity at the concentration of 20 mg/mL.Menthol held the most powerful activity with the repellent rate of 68.9%, demonstrating its promising prospect in cockroach control.Three-dimensional structure of twenty-six terpenoid compounds were built and optimized by GAUSSIAN software.Descriptors for those structures were calculated from AMPAC and CODESSA software.Descriptors screening and the quantitative structure-activity relationship ( QSAR) building were carried out by applying heuristic approach in CODESSA software.The optimal model with correlation coefficient R2 of 0.7923 was obtained.The model, i.e.Repellent rate (%) Y=269.13+15.36X1 -77.16X2 +0.83X3+1.38X4 +0.83X5 +2.58X6, shows that six principal activity-affecting parameters X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and X6 were Max atomic state energy for a H atom, FPSA-3 Fractional PPSA (PPSA-3/TMSA), Tot hybridization comp.of the molecular dipole, Max atomic state energy for a C atom, ESP-FNSA-2 Fractional PNSA ( PNSA-2/TMSA) and Image of the Onsager-Kirkwood solvation energy respectively.

Objective To evaluate the effects of nerve growth factor (NGF)polybutylcyanoacrylate (PBCA)- nanoparticles (NP) on PC12 cells induced by Aβ1-40 Methods The emulsion polymerization method was used to prepare the NGF-PBCA-NP. Morphology of the NGF-PBCA-NP was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The entrapment efficiency and loading efficiency of NGF-PBCA-NP were measured by means of ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The effects of NGF-PBCA-NP on proliferation and cell apoptosis of β1-40-PC12 cells were observed by MTT and FCM methods. Results The NGF-PBCA-NPs were uniform spheres with drug entrapment efficiency of 80.87％ and loading efficiency of 19.88％.Compared with the cells in the NGF group,cells in the NGF-PBCA-NP group exhibited a significantly better proliferation rate and a significantly lower apoptosis rate (P＜0.05). Conclusion NGF-PBCA-NPs obtained by emulsion polymerization method are uniform in morphology and possess a high drug entrapment efficiency and a high loading efficiency.They can restrain significantly the in vitro growth of Aβ1-40-PC12.

Prophenoloxidase, a melanin-synthesizing enzyme, is considered to be an important arthropod immune protein. In order to clone the prophenoloxidase gene of Anopheles sinensis, degenerative primers were designed according to the conserved protein fragments of prophenoloxidase gene from sibling species deposited on GenBank. RNA sequence of adult An. sinensis was reverse-transcripted into cDNA strand which was amplified by PCR to get the 600 bp target fragment, the partial prophenoloxidase cDNA sequence. The target fragment was cloned into PMD18-T vector and sequenced. The partial cDNA sequences of prophenoloxidase of An. sinensis was identified and named ASPPO1, ASPPO2 respectively. The homology blasted with An. gambiae ranged from 57.58% to 100%. The two sequences were submitted to NCBI with the accessing number: JX295575, JX295576. The rooted phylogenetic tree showed the homology with PPO2 of An. gambiae. The putative amino acid fragments were submitted to Swiss-model blasting with An. gambiae to simulate the 3D spatial structure. The QMEAN score of the model showed a further study was needed to ensure whether the two PPO genes were from the midgut and hemolymph against plasmodium or not.

OBJECTIVETo establish a serum protein fingerprint model for prediction of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer by SELDI-TOF-MS analysis, and to determine the differentiatial proteins associated with the metastatic liver cancers.

METHODSData were collected from the Department of General Surgery in Zhongshan Hospital. A group of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) without liver metastasis (n = 36) and another group with liver metastasis (n = 36) were included in this study. Serum samples were collected from peripheral venous blood before operation. Special serum protein or peptide fingerprint was determined by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). The obtained data were analyzed by Biomarker Wizard software to screen the serum protein markers discriminating colorectal cancer patients with and without liver metastasis. A serum protein fingerprint model was established. This model was blindly verified in of CRC patients with and 44 cases without liver metastasis.

RESULTSComparing the characteristic proteins in those two groups of patients, 10 specific protein peaks were identified with statistical significance (P < 0.05). According to m/z growing from small to large, they were: 2398, 2814, 4084, 4289, 4465, 6422, 6619, 11 482, 11 649 and 13 714. The predictive model had a sensitivity of 91.7% and a specificity of 97.2%. The validation showed a sensitivity of 75.0% and a specificity of 81.8%.

CONCLUSIONA predictive model based on differentiatial serum protein fingerprint with high sensitivity and specificity has been successfully established. It should be a very useful tool in detection and diagnosis of liver metastasis in colorectal cancer patients.

Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; blood ; Blood Proteins ; analysis ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood ; diagnosis ; secondary ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; blood ; Peptide Mapping ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization ; methods