Clinical significance of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein U1 subunit 70 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein U1 subunit 70 (SNRNP70) as one of the components of the U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) is rarely reported in cancers. This study aims to estimate the application potential of SNRNP70 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) clinical practice. Methods: Based on the TCGA database and cohort of HCC patients, we investigated the expression patterns and prognostic value of SNRNP70 in HCC. Then, the combination of SNRNP70 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) in 278 HCC cases was analyzed. Next, western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of SNRNP70 in nucleus and cytoplasm. Finally, Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and scratch wound healing assays were used to detect the effect of SNRNP70 on the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. Results: SNRNP70 was highly expressed in HCC. Its expression was increasingly high during the progression of HCC and was positively related to immune infiltration cells. Higher SNRNP70 expression indicated a poor outcome of HCC patients. In addition, nuclear SNRNP70/AFP combination could be a prognostic biomarker for overall survival and recurrence. Cell experiments confirmed that knockdown of SNRNP70 inhibited the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. Conclusion: SNRNP70 may be a new biomarker for HCC progression and HCC diagnosis as well as prognosis. SNRNP70 combined with serum AFP may indicate the prognosis and recurrence status of HCC patients after operation.

Preoperative prediction of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma using ultrasound features including elasticity.

BACKGROUND: Microvascular invasion (MVI) is an important predictor of poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Accurate preoperative prediction of MVI in HCC would provide useful information to guide the choice of therapeutic strategy. Shear wave elastography (SWE) plays an important role in hepatic imaging, but its value in the preoperative prediction of MVI in HCC has not yet been proven. AIM: To explore the value of conventional ultrasound features and SWE in the preoperative prediction of MVI in HCC. METHODS: Patients with a postoperative pathological diagnosis of HCC and a definite diagnosis of MVI were enrolled in this study. Conventional ultrasound features and SWE features such as maximal elasticity (Emax) of HCCs and Emax of the periphery of HCCs were acquired before surgery. These features were compared between MVI-positive HCCs and MVI-negative HCCs and between mild MVI HCCs and severe MVI HCCs. RESULTS: This study included 86 MVI-negative HCCs and 102 MVI-positive HCCs, including 54 with mild MVI and 48 with severe MVI. Maximal tumor diameters, surrounding liver tissue, color Doppler flow, Emax of HCCs, and Emax of the periphery of HCCs were significantly different between MVI-positive HCCs and MVI-negative HCCs. In addition, Emax of the periphery of HCCs was significantly different between mild MVI HCCs and severe MVI HCCs. Higher Emax of the periphery of HCCs and larger maximal diameters were independent risk factors for MVI, with odds ratios of 2.820 and 1.021, respectively. CONCLUSION: HCC size and stiffness of the periphery of HCC are useful ultrasound criteria for predicting positive MVI. Preoperative ultrasound and SWE can provide useful information for the prediction of MVI in HCCs.

Analysis of status quo and influencing factors for health-promoting lifestyle in the rural populace with high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the status quo and influencing factors for health-promoting lifestyle in the rural populace with high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, and to provide reference for developing primary prevention strategies for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. METHOD: Questionnaire-based survey of 585 cases of high-risk cardiovascular and cerebrovascular population in 11 administrative villages in Fuling of Lishui city was conducted using the Health Promoting Lifestyle Profile-II (HPLP II), Perceived Social Support from Family Scale (PSS-Fa), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and other questionnaire tools. RESULTS: The total score of the health-promoting lifestyle in the rural populace with high risk of cardiovascular disease is 125.55 ± 20.50, which is at an average level, and the mean scores of each dimension in descending order are-nutrition, interpersonal support, self-actualization, stress management, health responsibility, and exercise. Monofactor analysis revealed that age, education level, marriage, monthly per capita household income, physical activity based on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), family support function, carotid intima-media thickness, and blood pressure were influencing factors for the health-promoting lifestyle in the rural populace with high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (P < 0.05). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that monthly per capita household income, family support function, physical activity based on the IPAQ, and education level were positively correlated with the level of the health-promoting lifestyle. CONCLUSION: The health-promoting lifestyle level of the rural populace with high risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases needs to be improved. When assisting patients to improve their health-promoting lifestyle level, it is imperative to pay attention to improving patients' physical activity level, emphasizing the influence of the family environment on patients, and focusing on patients with economic difficulties and low education level.