Fucosyltransferase 5 Promotes the Proliferative and Migratory Properties of Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma Cells via Regulating Protein Glycosylation Profiles.

Background: The incidence of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is increasing globally, and its prognosis has not improved substantially in recent years. Understanding the pathogenesis of ICC may provide a theoretical basis for its treatment. In this study, we investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of fucosyltransferase 5 (FUT5) on the malignant progression of ICC. Methods: FUT5 expression in ICC samples and adjacent nontumor tissues was compared using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemical assays. We performed cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and migration assays to determine whether FUT5 influenced the proliferation and mobility of ICC cells. Finally, mass spectrometry was performed to identify the glycoproteins regulated by FUT5. Results: FUT5 mRNA was significantly upregulated in most ICC samples compared with corresponding adjacent nontumor tissues. The ectopic expression of FUT5 promoted the proliferation and migration of ICC cells, whereas FUT5 knockdown significantly suppressed these cellular properties. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that FUT5 is essential for the synthesis and glycosylation of several proteins, including versican, ß3 integrin, and cystatin 7, which may serve key roles in the precancer effects of FUT5. Conclusions: FUT5 is upregulated in ICC and promotes ICC development by promoting glycosylation of several proteins. Therefore, FUT5 may serve as a therapeutic target for the treatment of ICC.

Fatigue of red blood cells under periodic squeezes in ECMO.

Hemolysis usually happens instantly when red blood cells (RBCs) rupture under a high shear stress. However, it is also found to happen gradually in the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) under low but periodic squeezes. In particular, the gradual hemolysis is accompanied by a progressive change in morphology of RBCs. In this work, the gradual hemolysis is studied in a microfluidic device with arrays of narrow gaps the same as the constructions in ECMO. RBCs are seen to deform periodically when they flow through the narrow gaps, which causes the release of adenosine-triphosphate (ATP) from RBCs. The reduced ATP level in the cells leads to the fatigue of RBCs with the progressive changes in morphology and the gradual loss of deformability. An empirical model for the fatigue of RBCs is established under the periodic squeezes with controlled deformation, and it reveals a different way of the hemolysis that is dominated by the squeeze frequency. This finding brings a new insight into the mechanism of hemolysis, and it helps to improve the design of circulatory support devices.

Hierarchical Ti-MOF Microflowers for Synchronous Removal and Fluorescent Detection of Aluminum Ions.

Bifunctional luminescence metal-organic frameworks with unique nanostructures have drawn ongoing attention for simultaneous determination and elimination of metal ions in the aqueous environment, but still remain a great challenge. In this work, three-dimensional hierarchical titanium metal-organic framework (Ti-MOF) microflowers were developed by a secondary hydrothermal method for not only highly sensitive and selective detection of Al(III), but also simultaneously efficient decontamination. The resulting Ti-MOF microflowers with a diameter of 5-6 µm consisted of nanorods with a diameter of ∼200 nm and a length of 1-2 µm, which provide abundant, surface active sites for determination and elimination of Al(III) ions. Because of their substantial specific surface area and superior fluorescence characteristics, Ti-MOF microflowers are used as fluorescence probes for quantitative determination of Al(III) in the aqueous environment. Importantly, the specific FL enhancement by Al(III) via a chelation-enhanced fluorescence mechanism can be utilized for selective and quantitative determination of Al(III). The Al(III) detection has a linear range of 0.4-15 µM and a detection limit as low as 75 nM. By introducing ascorbic acid, interference of Fe(III) can be avoided to achieve selective detection of Al(III) under various co-existing cations. It is noteworthy that the Ti-MOF microflowers exhibit excellent adsorption capacity for Al(III) with a high adsorption capacity of 25.85 mg g-1. The rapid adsorption rate is consistent with a pseudo-second order kinetic model. Ti-MOF is a promising contender as an adsorbent and a fluorescent chemical sensor for simultaneous determination and elimination of Al(III) due to its exceptional water stability, high porosity, and intense luminescence.

Compressive Strength of Steel Fiber-Reinforced Concrete Employing Supervised Machine Learning Techniques.

Recently, research has centered on developing new approaches, such as supervised machine learning techniques, that can compute the mechanical characteristics of materials without investing much effort, time, or money in experimentation. To predict the 28-day compressive strength of steel fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC), machine learning techniques, i.e., individual and ensemble models, were considered. For this study, two ensemble approaches (SVR AdaBoost and SVR bagging) and one individual technique (support vector regression (SVR)) were used. Coefficient of determination (R2), statistical assessment, and k-fold cross validation were carried out to scrutinize the efficiency of each approach used. In addition, a sensitivity technique was used to assess the influence of parameters on the prediction results. It was discovered that all of the approaches used performed better in terms of forecasting the outcomes. The SVR AdaBoost method was the most precise, with R2 = 0.96, as opposed to SVR bagging and support vector regression, which had R2 values of 0.87 and 0.81, respectively. Furthermore, based on the lowered error values (MAE = 4.4 MPa, RMSE = 8 MPa), statistical and k-fold cross validation tests verified the optimum performance of SVR AdaBoost. The forecast performance of the SVR bagging models, on the other hand, was equally satisfactory. In order to predict the mechanical characteristics of other construction materials, these ensemble machine learning approaches can be applied.

WWP1 upregulation predicts poor prognosis and promotes tumor progression by regulating ubiquitination of NDFIP1 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.

WW domain-containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase1 (WWP1) is reported to be upregulated in many types of human cancers; however, its expression and function in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) remain unknown. Here, in this study we investigated the expression pattern, clinical prognosis, tumor biological functions, and molecular mechanisms of WWP1 in ICC. The expression of WWP1 in patient tissues was detected by western blotting, immunohistochemistry (IHC), and immunofluorescence. CCK-8, colony formation, EdU, transwell, and xenograft models were used to explore the role of WWP1 in the proliferation and metastasis of ICC. Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence were performed to detect the potential mechanisms. Our study revealed that WWP1 was highly expressed in ICC, and high levels of WWP1 were associated with poor prognosis. Functionally, WWP1 overexpression enhanced the proliferation and metastasis of ICC cells and vice versa. Mechanistically, MYC could be enriched in the promoter region of WWP1 to facilitate its expression. Then, WWP1 targets Nedd4 family interacting protein1 (NDFIP1) and reduces NDFIP1 protein levels via ubiquitination. Downregulation of NDFIP1 in ICC cells rescued the effects of silenced WWP1 expression. WWP1 expression was also negatively correlated with the protein level of NDFIP1 in patient tissues. In conclusion, WWP1 upregulated by MYC promotes the progression of ICC via ubiquitination of NDFIP1, which reveals that WWP1 might be a potential therapeutic target for ICC.

Upregulation of circ-0000745 in acute lymphoblastic leukemia enhanced cell proliferation by activating ERK pathway.

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a common hematologic malignancy. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been reported as an important factor in regulating cellular process expressed in all hematopoietic compartment. But the molecular mechanism of circRNAs in ALL remain unclear. In this study, we observed circ-0000745 upregulated in leukemia cells (Kasumi-1 and KG-1). Upregulated the expression of circ-0000745 significantly enhanced the proliferation of Kasumi-1 and KG-1 cells, and reduced the ratio of apoptosis cells. Knock down the endogenous expression of circ-0000745 suppressed the cell proliferation and increased the ratio of apoptosis cells. Furthermore, western blot assay showed that overexpression of circ-0000745 increased the activity of ERK1/2. Altogether, these results revealed that upregulated circ-0000745 in leukemia cells could promoter cell viability by increasing the activation of ERK pathway. This study supported the important of circRNAs in the process of acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and provided a new biomarker on ALL diagnosis and therapy.

Phase-field-based lattice Boltzmann model for liquid-gas-solid flow.

Based on phase-field theory, we develop a lattice Boltzmann (LB) model for liquid-gas-solid flow from multiphase and particle dynamics algorithms. A modified bounce-back method is developed for the velocity-based LB approach. A curved boundary treatment with second-order accuracy based on velocity interpolation is developed. We propose a predictor-corrector scheme algorithm for specifying the three-phase contact angle on curved boundaries within the framework of structured Cartesian grids. In order to make the algorithm more stable, we combine the implicit particle velocity update scheme and the Galilean invariant momentum exchange method. The proposed method is validated through several single- and multicomponent fluid test cases. It was found the surface tension force associated with the interface acting on the solid structures can be captured. We simulate the sinking of a circular cylinder due to gravity, the numerical results agree well with the experimental data. Finally, we apply the method to the self-assembly process of multiple floating cylinders on water surface.

Chinese Herbal Medicine Combined With EGFR-TKI in EGFR Mutation-Positive Advanced Pulmonary Adenocarcinoma (CATLA): A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: To determine the clinical activity and safety of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) combined with epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKI) in patients with advanced pulmonary adenocarcinoma (ADC) and the ability of CHM combined with EGFR-TKI to activate EGFR mutations. Methods: Three hundred and fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to EGFR-TKI (erlotinib 150 mg/d, gefitinib 250 mg/d, or icotinib 125 mg tid/d) plus CHM (TKI+CHM, N = 185) or EGFR-TKI plus placebo (TKI+placebo, N = 169). Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary end point; the secondary end points were overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), quality of life [Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lung (FACT-L) and Lung Cancer Symptom Scale (LCSS)], and safety. Results: The median PFS was significantly longer for the TKI+CHM group (13.50 months; 95% CI, 11.20-16.46 months) than with the EGFR-TKI group (10.94 months; 95% CI, 8.97-12.45 months; hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.51-0.90; P = 0.0064). The subgroup analyses favored TKI+CHM as a first-line treatment (15.97 vs. 10.97 months, P = 0.0447) rather than as a second-line treatment (11.43 vs. 9.23 months, P = 0.0530). Patients with exon 19 deletion had a significantly longer PFS than with 21 L858R. The addition of CHM to TKI significantly improved the ORR (64.32% vs. 52.66%, P = 0.026) and QoL. Drug-related grade 1-2 adverse events were less common with TKI+CHM. Conclusions: TKI+CHM improved PFS when compared with TKI alone in patients with EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT01745302.

Safety and efficacy of bone marrow-derived cells therapy on cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Controversial results still existed on the clinical utility of bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) for cardiomyopathy (CMP). This study aims to reveal the true power of this promising approach by synthesizing all the available data on this subject matter. METHODS: Twenty studies including 1418 patients were identified from systematic search. Weighted mean differences for changes in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), 6-min walk distance, and NYHA functional class were estimated with a random-effects model. Major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE), rehospitalization, all-cause mortality, and patients' quality of life were also calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, BMC therapy resulted in greater LVEF (3.72%, 95% CI 2.31 to 5.13, P < 0.0001), 6-min walk distance (53.16, 95% CI 25.17 to 81.10, P = 0.0002), NYHA functional class (- 0.48, 95% CI - 0.65 to - 0.31, P < 0.0001), and smaller LVESV (- 16.79, 95% CI - 27.21 to - 6.38, P = 0.002). BMC treatment significantly reduced the mortality rate and improved patients' quality of life. No significant difference was found between the BMCs and control group in LVEDV, MACE, and rehospitalization rate. However, the outcomes showed a clear trend in favor of the BMC group. Subgroup analysis showed that LVEF improved greater in a subgroup of intracoronary infusion, BMSC, or higher cell dose. CONCLUSION: The results of the current meta-analysis suggest that BMC treatment for CMP is safe and feasible. This therapy was associated with persistent improvements in LV function, LV remodeling, functional class, patients' survival, and quality of life. Intracoronary infusion of high-dose (> 108) BMSC might be a better therapeutic option for CMP patients. Further evidences are needed to verify our results.

Impact of bone marrow mononuclear cells therapy on left ventricular function in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) therapy has been used as an adjunctive treatment in patients with ST-elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the therapeutic efficacy of this approach remains controversial. The present meta-analysis is aimed to evaluate the impact of cell therapy on left ventricular function after STEMI. METHODS: We searched through PubMed and EMBASE databases till 2017 for all relevant publications using certain search terms. Randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of BMMNC therapy in patients with STEMI who underwent percutaneous coronary intervention were selected. Wall motion score index (WMSI), infarct size, wall thickening, and myocardial perfusion were our endpoints. RESULTS: A total of 24 trials with 1536 patients were included in our study. Overall, as observed in our data, cell therapy reduced infarct size by -2.32 (95% confidence interval [CI] -4.03, -0.62; P = .007; I = 24%) and improved myocardial perfusion by -3.04 (95% CI -3.94, -2.15; P < .001; I = 0%). However, there was no significant difference between treatment group and control group in WMSI or wall thickening. CONCLUSION: Intracoronary BMMNC infusion is safe for patients with STEMI. It is also associated with improvement of infarct size and myocardial perfusion. Further multicenter randomized trials should be conducted to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this treatment.

MiR-150 regulates human keratinocyte proliferation in hypoxic conditions through targeting HIF-1α and VEGFA: Implications for psoriasis treatment.

Psoriasis is a common and chronic autoimmune skin disease which affects 2 to 3% of the world population. Abnormal proliferation of human keratinocytes is an important feature of psoriasis, along with local hypoxia and vascular abnormal growth. To leverage recent molecular findings into the personalized treatment of psoriasis, we need a strategy that integrates clinical stratification with molecular phenotyping. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a large family of small non-coding RNA which regulates diverse biological process, including cell proliferation, by modulating gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. In the present study, we indicated that miR-150 specifically down-regulated expressed in psoriatic skin lesions, and could inhibit HaCaT cells and primary adult human keratinocytes (HKCs)' proliferation in either normal or hypoxia conditions; by direct targeting, miR-150 could also regulate the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). In addition, we found that HIF-1α and VEGFA were highly expressed in the lesional psoriatic skin compared with the non-lesional psoriatic skin, and negatively correlated with miR-150 expression. Taken together, we indicated miR-150 regulates human keratinocytes' proliferation in hypoxic conditions through targeting HIF-1α and VEGFA in psoriasis for the first time, and provide diagnostic markers and a novel target for psoriasis treatment.

Impact of old age on clinical and angiographic characteristics of coronary artery spasm as assessed by acetylcholine provocation test.

BACKGROUND: Smoking and other risk factors have been well known as important factors of variant angina or coronary artery spasm (CAS). However, clinical features related to age on coronary artery spasm have been rarely evaluated. METHODS: We evaluated 3155 consecutive patients with insignificant coronary artery lesion. Patients underwent Acetylcholine (Ach) provocation test for induction of CAS. CAS was defined as > 70% luminal narrowing of coronary arteries during Ach provocation test. The results of Ach provocation test were compared among age groups; < 45 years (Group 1), 45-54 years (Group 2), 55-64 years (Group 3), and ≥ 65 years (Group 4). RESULTS: Older patients had higher incidence of hypertension, diabetes, but lower incidence rate of current smoking, male sex compared with younger patients. Positive Ach provocation test finding was frequently showed with aging (47.36% vs. 58.3% vs. 62.6% vs. 61.5%; P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that age, male, and myocardial bridge were independent predictors of CAS induced by Ach provocation test. CONCLUSION: Our present study showed that old age was independent predictor for Ach-induced significant coronary artery spasm.

[Effects of Compound Aconitum Polysaccharide on Glycosylation of Tumor Cells].

Objective To observe inducing or inhibiting effects of Chinese medicine (CM) poly- saccharides on glycoprotein chain synthetized different glycosyltransferases, thus disclosing targets of CM polysaccharides and its mechanisms. Methods In vivo anti-tumor effects of CM polysaccharides were observed using the inhibiting rate of tumor growth by dividing different Aconitum containing groups. Effects of CM polysaccharides on liver cancer cell SK-HEP-1 glycosyltransferase and tumor related gene expressions were observed. Meanwhile, changes of polylactosamine expression were detected using flow cytometry (FCM) with polylactosamine specific biotin labeling lectin. Results Compared with the model group, the average tumor weight was significantly lower in each medication group (P <0. 01). Compared with the adriamycin group, no significant difference in average tumor weight of the three compound groups (P>0. 05). The expression level of polylactosamine was reduced after adding Aconitum polysac- charide; and CM compound polysaccharides respectively. Conclusions Polysaccharide compound showed similar anti-tumor effect as that of adriamycin. Besides, polylactosamine expression level was reduced in the three compound groups along with increased prepared Aconitum polysaccharide, with more obvious anti-tumor effects shown.

Role of red blood cell distribution in predicting drug-eluting stent restenosis in patients with stable angina pectoris after coronary stenting.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that increased red blood cell distribution width (RDW) predicts adverse events in cardiovascular disease and in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. However, the role of serum RDW levels in drug-eluting stent (DES) restenosis remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum RDW levels and in-stent restenosis (ISR) after coronary stenting with DES in stable angina pectoris (SAP) patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 293 consecutive chronic SAP patients with coronary DES implantation were enrolled in this study. The ISR was analyzed by coronary angiography analysis at a mean follow-up of 8 months. According to whether ISR was detected, patients were divided into two groups: the ISR group (n=45) and the non-ISR group (n=247). Serum RDW was assessed both at admission and at the 8-month follow-up in all patients. Standard medication was continued throughout the investigation period. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of the two groups were similar. Patients in the ISR group had significantly higher RDW levels compared with patients in the non-ISR group both at admission and at follow-up (P<0.01, respectively). Furthermore, the ISR group had significantly longer stent length and lower stent diameter compared with the non-ISR group (P<0.01, respectively). In a multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, RDW levels, C-reactive protein levels, stent length, and stent diameter were associated independently with ISR. CONCLUSION: Serum RDW level may independently predict ISR at both admission and follow-up in SAP patients with coronary DES implantation, which indicates that a chronic inflammatory response might be involved in the pathogenesis of ISR.

Diosgenin induces G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Diosgenin is a major compound of Dioscoreaceae plants such as yam, which is used as a drug in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and a common vegetable worldwide. The anticancer effect of diosgenin has been reported in various tumor cells, including leukemia, gastric, colorectal, and breast cancer. However, the activity of diosgenin on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanism have not been completely investigated. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy and associated mechanisms of diosgenin in HCC cells. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to determine the presence of cell cycle arrest and apopotic cells. Diosgenin significantly inhibited the growth of Bel-7402, SMMC-7721 and HepG2 HCC cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Diosgenin treatment for 24 h induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of hepatoma cells. Diosgenin inhibited Akt phosphorylation and upregulated p21 and p27 expression, but did not alter the expression of p53, suggesting diosgenin-induced upregulation of p21 and p57 is p53-independent in HCC cells. Diosgenin induced HCC cell apoptosis by activating caspase cascades -3, -8 and -9. However, diosgenin did not affect Bcl-2 and Bax levels. In conclusion, results of the present study suggest that diosgenin may be an active anti-HCC agent obtained from natural plants and provide new insights in understanding the mechanisms of diosgenin.

Efficacy of short-term cordyceps sinensis for prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention.

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is one of the major causes of hospital-acquired acute renal failure. The pathophysiological mechanism of CIN remains unknown. There has been little evidence regarding the effects of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) on CIN. Cordyceps sinensis (CS), a traditional Chinese herb, has been widely used clinically for the prevention of the progression of renal failure. We performed a prospective, randomized controlled trial to investigate the role of CS in the prevention of CIN in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing elective percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The 150 ACS patients were randomly assigned to three groups, basic treatment group (n=51), standard CS therapy group (n=49, corbrin capsule 2 g, 3 times/d were used 3 days before and after angiography), and intensive CS therapy group (n=50, corbrin capsule 3 g, 3 times/d were used 3 days before and after angiography). Renal function was assessed at the time of hospital admission and on days 1, 2, and 3 after PCI. CIN occurred in 13 of 150 patients (8.67%). The incidence of CIN was lower in the CS treatment groups than in the basic treatment group (P<0.05), and a significant decrease in the incidence of CIN in the intensive CS therapy group was shown (P<0.01). In conclusion, prophylactic treatment with CS during the peri-procedural stage in ACS patients undergoing elective PCI has a preventive role against CIN, and intensive CS therapy could be more effective.

The impact of high sensitivity C-reactive protein level on coronary artery spasm as assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine provocation test.

PURPOSE: High sensitive C-reactive protein (hs CRP) is well known as a strong risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of elevated hs CRP on coronary artery spasm (CAS) as assessed by intracoronary acetylcholine (ACh) provocation test. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1729 consecutive patients without significant CVD who underwent coronary angiography and intracoronary ACh test between November 2004 and August 2010 were analyzed. The patients were divided into five groups according to quintiles of hs CRP levels. RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of elderly, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, current smoking, and lipid levels were higher in patients with higher hs CRP. During ACh test, the incidences of significant CAS, ischemic electrocardiography (EKG) change, multivessel, and diffuse CAS were higher in patients with higher hs CRP. Multivariate analysis showed that the old age (OR=1.01, CI; 1.0-1.02, p=0.0226), myocardial bridge (OR=3.34, CI; 2.16-5.17, p<0.001), and highest quintile hs CRP (OR=1.54, CI; 1.12-2.18, p=0.008) were independent predictors of ACh induced CAS. However, there was no difference in clinical outcomes up to 12 months. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, higher hs CRP was associated with higher incidence of CAS, worse angiographic characteristics and ischemic EKG change, but was not associated with clinical outcomes.

Role of dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) in prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with stable angina pectoris.

OBJECTIVE: To study the preventative effects of Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) on contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with stable angina pectoris (SAP). METHODS: One-hundred and three SAP inpatients were divided randomly into two groups: basic treatment (n = 51) and Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) treatment (n = 52); corbrin capsules (3 g; t.d.s.) were used 3 days before angioplasty and 3 days after angioplasty). Serum creatinine (Scr) was assessed at the time of hospital admission and 1, 2, and 3 days after angioplasty. Values of kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and interleukin (IL) 18 in the kidney were detected before angioplasty and 1 day after angioplasty in the patients of both groups. The prevalence of CIN between the two groups was then compared. RESULTS: CIN occurred in 9 of 103 patients (8.74%). The prevalence of CIN in the Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) treatment group was lower than that of the basic treatment group (5.77% vs 11.76%) but the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). The post-procedure mean peak of Scr, post-procedure increase in Scr levels from baseline, and urine levels of KIM-1, NGAL and IL18 after the procedure in the Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) treatment group were significantly lower than those in the basic treatment group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic treatment with Dongchongxiacao (Cordyceps) in SAP patients who undergo coronary angiography or coronary intervention could prevent contrast-induced renal impairment.

Genetic variations in MDM2 and P53 genes confer risk for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a Chinese population.

The tumor suppressor P53 and its negative regulator mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) play crucial roles in carcinogenesis. Previous case-control studies also revealed that P53 72Arg>Pro and MDM2 309T>G polymorphisms contribute to the risk of common cancers. However, the relationship between these two functional polymorphisms and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) susceptibility has not been explored. In this study, we performed a case-control study to explore the association between MDM2 and P53 gene polymorphisms and ALL risk in a Chinese population. We found an increased adult ALL risk associated with the MDM2 GG (odds ratio [OR]=2.79, 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.67-4.68) and TG (OR=1.49, 95% CI=0.95-2.53) genotypes. An increased risk associated with the P53 Pro/Pro genotype (OR=2.22, 95% CI=1.30-3.79) compared with the Arg/Arg genotype was also observed. Furthermore, the gene-gene interaction of MDM2 and P53 polymorphisms increased the adult ALL risk in a super-multiplicative manner (OR for the presence of both MDM2 GG and P53 Pro/Pro genotypes=8.05, 95% CI=2.53-25.58). These findings suggest that polymorphisms of MDM2 and P53 genes may be genetic modifiers for developing adult ALL.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and family survey: a case report.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a rare inherited autosomal dominant disease characterized by mucocutaneous pigmentation and multiple polyps in the gastrointestinal tract. We report on an 18-year-old Chinese male who complained with pigmentation on face and extremities for over 10 years. Colonoscopy revealed more than ten polyps from transverse colon to rectum. The family survey included 15 family members from three generations, and 6 PJSs (4 males and 2 females) were found. This case is reported because of its rarity of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and the survey of family history.