[Preliminary clinical efficacy of percutaneous transcystic papilla balloon dilation for removing common bile duct stones].

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of percutaneous transcystic papilla balloon dilation for the common bile duct stones. Methods: A total of 11 patients with the common bile duct stones without dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts treated with percutaneous transcystic papilla balloon dilation in multiple center from April 2013 to May 2015 were analyzed retrospectively.In these 11 patients, there were 3 males and 8 females.And the average age was 68(52-91) years old.All patients had no obviously dilated intrahepatic bile duct, 6 patients were not suitable for endoscopic treatment or surgery, 4 patients refused endoscopic or surgical treatment and 1 patient had a history of failed endoscopic treatment.The white blood cell count, CA19-9, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, AST, ALT and serum amylase level were recorded before the procedure, 1 week, and 1 month later.Early complications, such as cholangitis, pancreatitis, hemorrhage, and perforation were evaluated. Results: Technical success was achieved in all the 11 cases.The level of CA19-9, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin decreased significantly 1 week and 1 month after the procedure.One patient suffered from biliary tract infection.No severe complications, such as perforation of biliary or gastrointestinal tract, occurred during the follow up.Common bile duct stone recurred in 1 patient 2 years after the procedure. Conclusions: For cases who are not suitable for endoscopic treatment, surgery, or percutaneous transhepatic approach to treat the common bile duct stones, percutaneous transcystic papilla dilation is technically feasible and safe, and seems to be an appropriate alternative strategy.

Potential role of high-mobility group box 1 protein in the pathogenesis of influenza H5N1 virus infection.

During influenza A virus (IAV) (H5N1) infection, the levels of inflammatory cytokines are markedly elevated in the lungs of infected hosts. One of them, high-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) functions in regulation of cellular transcription and activation of proinflammatory responses, but little is known about its role in viral infection. In this study, we attempted to address this question. Using an IAV (H5N1) - mouse model, lung tissues were analyzed for virus titer, expression of HMGB1 and other inflammatory cytokines and histopathological changes. Moreover, the effect of administration of HMGB1-specific antibody to the infected mice on these parameters was investigated. The results showed that the HMGB1 expression was induced on days 3-7 post infection (p.i.) and primarily localized to epithelial cells of alveoli and bronchioles. The HMGB1-specific antibody reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and the survival rate, but did not influence the virus titer. Summing up, these data suggest that HMGB1 contributes to the pathogenesis of IAV (H5N1) infection in mice by inducing extensive inflammatory responses and severe pneumonia.

Role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in influenza H5N1 virus pneumonia.

The severe and often fatal disease in humans and birds caused by H5N1 influenza viruses has been attributed to aberrant pulmonary inflammatory responses. We investigated the role of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a proinflammatory cytokine and a pivotal regulator of innate immunity, in H5N1 influenza virus pneumonia in murine model. We found increased MIF mRNA levels in the lungs and MIF protein levels in the serum of infected mice. Although the inhibition of MIF action by isoxazolone-1 (ISO-1) did not render mice more resistant to the lethality of infection, it caused a significant reduction in pulmonary inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta), IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alphalfa) and chemokine interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10). These results indicate the involvement of MIF in inflammatory responses to H5N1 influenza virus infections by induction of pulmonary inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, and suggest that pharmacotherapeutic approaches targeting MIF may hold promise for the treatment of H5N1 influenza virus pneumonia.

The predictive value of joint detection of serum amyloid protein A, PCT, and Hs-CRP in the diagnosis and efficacy of neonatal septicemia.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the predictive value of joint detection of serum amyloid A (SAA), plasma procalcitonin (PCT), and whole blood hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in the diagnosis and efficacy of neonatal septicemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 195 cases of neonatal septicemia patients admitted to our hospital from March 2013 to May 2017 were selected as observation group, and 100 healthy newborns in the same period were selected as control group. Before treatment, all newborns were detected with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serum SAA, PCT, and hs-CRP three indicators respectively, and differences between expressions of PCT, HS-CRP, SAA in the serum of children (effective group) who improved after treatment and patients in ineffective group were observed. RESULTS: Three indexes of SAA, PCT, and hs-CRP in study group were significantly higher than those in control group before treatment, while three indexes of SAA, PCT, and hs-CRP in effective group were significantly lower than those in ineffective group after treatment, with statistical significance (p<0.05). By drawing the ROC curve, it was found that the AUC area, specificity, and sensitivity of joint detection were better than those of the single item detection. CONCLUSIONS: Joint detection of SAA, PCT, and hs-CRP has high diagnostic value in neonatal septicemia and is worthy of clinical application.

Suppression of connexin 43 expression by miR-106a promotes melanoma cell proliferation.

OBJECTIVE: Connexin 43 (Cx43), a vital gap junction protein is reported to be involved in melanoma progression. The aim of the study is to investigate the regulatory role of Cx43 in melanoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression of Cx43 in melanoma cells and the human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn). MTT cell proliferation and cell colony formation assays were used to assess cell proliferation. Bioinformatics prediction, luciferase reporter assay, Western blot and qRT-PCR assays were applied to demonstrate that Cx43 was a direct target of miR-106a in melanoma cells. RESULTS: Connexin 43 (Cx43) was lower expressed in melanoma cells compared with human epidermal melanocytes (HEMn). Cx43 overexpression significantly inhibited melanoma cell proliferation and colony formation ability in vitro. However, knockdown of Cx43 had opposite effects on cell proliferation and colony formation. Bioinformatics prediction and luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that miR-106a targeted the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of Cx43 and regulated its mRNA and protein expression levels in melanoma cells. MiR-106a was upregulated in melanoma cells, and its overexpression attenuated the effects caused by upregulating Cx43 expression. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, our results indicated that Cx43 was downregulated in melanoma cells and may be a potential target of melanoma treatment.

[A control study of personality characteristics and variation of plasma peptide in pilots with neurosis].

Objective. To study the relationship between personality type and variation of plasma peptides in pilots with neurosis. Method. A case-control study was used. 124 male pilots were evaluated with Eysenck's personality checklist, and then level of certain plasma peptides, such as vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), beta-endorphin (beta-EP) and angiotensin-II (A-II) were determined. Result. There were significant difference in personality characteristics and personality types between pilots with neuroses and the control. The contents of VIP and beta-EP in plasma showed visible difference between disease group and control. Content of beta-EP in those with inner-unstable type personality was lowest among all the various types. Conclusion. Personality characteristics were different between pilots with neurosis and controls. Levels of VIP and beta-EP in disease group were lower than those in the control. Different personality types had different levels of beta-EP in pilots with neurosis.