OBJECTIVE To investigate the induction of apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells by polyphyllin 9 （PP9） through the regulation of the Fas/Fas ligand （FasL） signaling pathway， and its inhibitory effect on the growth of transplanted tumor in nude mice. METHODS Based on the screening of cell lines and intervention conditions， HepG2 cells were selected as the experimental subject to investigate the effects of 2 μmol/L and 4 μmol/L PP9 treatment on cell colony formation activity， apoptosis rate， as well as the protein expressions of Fas， FasL， cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3. Additionally， Fas inhibitor KR- 33493 was introduced to investigate the underlying mechanism of PP9’s anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity. Using HepG2 cell tumor-bearing nude mice model as the object， and 5-fluorouracil （20 mg/kg） as the positive control， the effects of 10 mg/kg PP9 on tumor volume， tumor mass， and the protein expressions of the nuclear proliferation-associated antigen Ki-67 and cleaved caspase-3 in tumor-bearing nude mice were investigated. RESULTS Compared with the control group， 2， 4 μmol/L PP9 significantly decreased the number of clones and the clone formation rate of cells， but significantly increased the apoptosis rate， the protein expressions of Fas， FasL， cleaved caspase-8 and cleaved caspase-3 （P＜0.05 or P＜0.01）. However， the combination of Fas inhibitor KR-33493 could significantly reverse the effect of PP9 on the up-regulation of proteins related to the Fas/FasL signaling pathway （P＜0.01）. Compared with the control group， the tumor volume （on day 27）， mass and protein expression of Ki- 67 in nude mice of the PP9 group were significantly decreased， while the protein expression of cleaved caspase-3 was significantly increased （P＜0.01）. CONCLUSIONS PP9 can induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells by activating the Fas/FasL signaling pathway. Meanwhile， PP9 can also effectively inhibit the growth of transplanted tumors in nude mice.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of different critical care scoring systems in 28-day survival rate of patients with heat stroke.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 71 patients with heat stroke admitted to the department of emergency medicine of Beijing Luhe Hospital. Capital Medical University from July 2015 to September 2018. The general information and the worst values of vital signs and related pathophysiological indicators within 24 hours were collected and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) , multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) , simplified acute physiological scoreⅡ (SAPS Ⅱ) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHE Ⅱ) were calculated. The patients were divided into the survival group ( n=45) and the non-survival group ( n=26) according to 28-day prognosis, and the clinical data and scores of the two groups were compared.The ROC curve was drawn to analyze the evaluation value of each scoring system on the survival rate of patients at 28-day. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve of patients. Results:There were no significant differences in age, sex, vital signs and laboratory parameters between two groups ( P>0.05) . In non-survival patients, SOFA, SAPS Ⅱ, APACHE Ⅱ scores were significantly elevated in the survival group ( P<0.05) . ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of SOFA score for predicting 28-day survival rate was the highest, which was significantly higher than the APACHE Ⅱ, SAPS Ⅱ, MODS score. When the best cut-off value of SOFA score was 9.0, the sensitivity was 84.6%, and the specificity was 71.1%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that 28-day survival rate after hospital discharge in patients with SOFA score<9 ( n=27) was significantly higher than that in patients with SOFA score ≥9.0 (χ 2=1.0, P<0.01) . Conclusion:SOFA, APACHE Ⅱ, SAPS Ⅱ on admission have been proved to have good prognostic ability to predict 28-day prognosis in heat stroke patients. Among them, SOFA score system has more accurate prediction value.

Objective:To evaluate the prognostic value of different critical care scoring systems in 28-day survival rate of patients with heat stroke.Methods:A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 71 patients with heat stroke admitted to the department of emergency medicine of Beijing Luhe Hospital. Capital Medical University from July 2015 to September 2018. The general information and the worst values of vital signs and related pathophysiological indicators within 24 hours were collected and the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) , multiple organ dysfunction (MODS) , simplified acute physiological scoreⅡ (SAPS Ⅱ) and acute physiology and chronic health evaluationⅡ (APACHE Ⅱ) were calculated. The patients were divided into the survival group ( n=45) and the non-survival group ( n=26) according to 28-day prognosis, and the clinical data and scores of the two groups were compared.The ROC curve was drawn to analyze the evaluation value of each scoring system on the survival rate of patients at 28-day. Kaplan-Meier method was used to plot the survival curve of patients. Results:There were no significant differences in age, sex, vital signs and laboratory parameters between two groups ( P>0.05) . In non-survival patients, SOFA, SAPS Ⅱ, APACHE Ⅱ scores were significantly elevated in the survival group ( P<0.05) . ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve (AUC) of SOFA score for predicting 28-day survival rate was the highest, which was significantly higher than the APACHE Ⅱ, SAPS Ⅱ, MODS score. When the best cut-off value of SOFA score was 9.0, the sensitivity was 84.6%, and the specificity was 71.1%. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that 28-day survival rate after hospital discharge in patients with SOFA score<9 ( n=27) was significantly higher than that in patients with SOFA score ≥9.0 (χ 2=1.0, P<0.01) . Conclusion:SOFA, APACHE Ⅱ, SAPS Ⅱ on admission have been proved to have good prognostic ability to predict 28-day prognosis in heat stroke patients. Among them, SOFA score system has more accurate prediction value.

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of arterial blood lactate for patients with cardiogenic shock receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO). Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted. Twenty-three patients diagnosed with cardiogenic shock receiving veno-arterial(V-A) ECMO admitted to department of Emergency Intensive Care Unit(EICU) of Beijing Luhe Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from January 2017 to December 2018 were enrolled. Results: There were 10 cases in the survival group and 13 cases in the death group. Compared with survival group, APACHE-Ⅱ score was higher, CRRT applied higher percentage, PH and oxygenation index was worse in the death group(P<0.05). The lactate of the death group was significantly higher than that of the survival group at initial time at EICU, 1 h before ECMO and 0h before ECMO(P<0.05). During the ECMO operation, lactate levels in the death group at 8 h and 12 h were significantly higher than those in the survival group(P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in lactate clearance rate between the two groups before and after ECMO operation in each observation period(P>0.05). On the 2nd day of ECMO operation, CRRT usage time was shorter and daily liquid balance was more negative in the survival group(P<0.05). APACHE-Ⅱscore, initial lactate at EICU, lactate at ECMO 8 h and lactate at ECMO 12 h had predictive value for 30-day death of patients. The area under ROC curve(AUC) of initial lactate at EICU was 0.845, and 95% confidence interval(95%CI)=0.653-1.000. The AUC of ECMO 8 h lactate was 0.836, 95%CI: 0.634-1.000. The AUC of ECMO 12 h lactate was 0.873, 95%CI: 0.697-1.000. The AUC of APACHE-Ⅱscore was 0.891, 95%CI: 0.717-1.000. The sensitivity and specificity of prognosis prediction were 72.7% and 100% when lactate was more than 7.3 mmol/L at the time of admission into EICU as the optimal critical value. Conclusion Arterial blood lactate could be used as an important marker for evaluating the prognosis of cardiogenic shock patients on ECMO. The value of lactate clearance rate may be affected by combined CRRT.

Objective To compare the pregnancy and obstetric outcomes in elective single versus two cleavage-stage embryo transfer. Methods Fresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles between January, 2014 and October, 2015 were reviewed, including 39 single embryo transfer (eSET) cycles and 200 double embryo transfer (DET) cycles. The clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates, multiple pregnancy rates, live birth rate, and obstetric outcomes (gestational age, preterm delivery rate and mean birth weight) were compared between the two groups. Results The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The estradiol level on the day of trigger and the oocyte number were significantly higher in eSET group than in DET group (10654.4 pmol/L vs 8284.2 pmol/L and 8.4 vs 7.0, respectively). No significant difference was found in the pregnancy rate (56.4% vs 66.0%) or live birth rate (48.7% vs 51.5%) between the two groups, and their implantation rates differed significantly (56.4% vs 37.8%). No multiple pregnancies occurred in eSET group while the rate of multiple pregnancies was 22.7% in DET group. The gestational age and mean birth weight were significantly higher in eSET group (P<0.05), and the preterm delivery rate after DET was nearly three times of that after eSET, although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Elective single embryo transfer can be performed without compromising the live birth rates. Multiple pregnancy rates can be significantly reduced with eSET, which also results in a higher chance of delivering a term singleton live birth compared with DET.

Objective To compare the pregnancy and obstetric outcomes in elective single versus two cleavage-stage embryo transfer. Methods Fresh cleavage-stage embryo transfer cycles between January, 2014 and October, 2015 were reviewed, including 39 single embryo transfer (eSET) cycles and 200 double embryo transfer (DET) cycles. The clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates, multiple pregnancy rates, live birth rate, and obstetric outcomes (gestational age, preterm delivery rate and mean birth weight) were compared between the two groups. Results The baseline characteristics were comparable between the two groups. The estradiol level on the day of trigger and the oocyte number were significantly higher in eSET group than in DET group (10654.4 pmol/L vs 8284.2 pmol/L and 8.4 vs 7.0, respectively). No significant difference was found in the pregnancy rate (56.4% vs 66.0%) or live birth rate (48.7% vs 51.5%) between the two groups, and their implantation rates differed significantly (56.4% vs 37.8%). No multiple pregnancies occurred in eSET group while the rate of multiple pregnancies was 22.7% in DET group. The gestational age and mean birth weight were significantly higher in eSET group (P<0.05), and the preterm delivery rate after DET was nearly three times of that after eSET, although this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Elective single embryo transfer can be performed without compromising the live birth rates. Multiple pregnancy rates can be significantly reduced with eSET, which also results in a higher chance of delivering a term singleton live birth compared with DET.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) levels in the follicular fluid and serum with the outcomes of in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) cycles in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).

METHODSSerum and follicular fluid samples were obtained from 30 patients with PCOS and 34 healthy women (control) undergoing IVF/ICSI-ET in our center between October, 2007 and January, 2008. All the subjects received treatment with long luteal-phase down-regulation and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol in IVF cycles, and their clinical characteristics were analyzed. The AMH levels in the serum and follicles fluid samples collected on the day of oocyte retrieval were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit.

RESULTSThe two groups showed no significant differences in the mean age, baseline levels of sex hormones, rate of high-quality embryos, implantation rate, pregnancy rate, abortion rate or ongoing pregnancy rate (P>0.05). Despite a significantly lower total gonadotropin dose, PCOS group had a significantly greater number of antral follicles than the control group (P<0.05). The recovery rates of oocytes in PCOS group were significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.05). AMH levels in the serum and follicle fluid was significantly higher in PCOS group than in the control group (P<0.05), and in both groups, AMH levels in the follicular fluid were significantly higher in pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (P<0.05). AMH level in the follicular fluid was significantly correlated with the implantation rate in both PCOS and control groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONAMH level in the serum and follicle fluid on the day of oocyte retrieval is predictive of the treatment outcome of controlled ovarian hyperstimulation in POCS patients but not of pregnancy outcomes after IVF-ET.

Adult ; Anti-Mullerian Hormone ; blood ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro ; methods ; Follicular Fluid ; metabolism ; Humans ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; metabolism ; therapy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome