Medical expenditure for liver cancer in urban China: A 10-year multicenter retrospective survey (2002-2011).

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand the medical expenditure for liver cancer during 2002-2011 in urban areas of China. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study. Based on a stratified cluster sampling method, a medical expenditure survey collected basic personal information from related medical records. Two-tailed independent sample t-test, variance analysis, and Student-Newman-Keuls Tests were used in cost analysis for the corresponding data types. RESULTS: A total of 12,342 liver cancer patients were included in the analysis. Overall average medical expenditure per case for liver cancer diagnosis and treatment in China has increased from ¥21, 950 to ¥40, 386 over the study period. For each liver cancer patient diagnosed between 2009 and 2011, the average expenditures were 29,332 CNY for stage I, 35,754 CNY for stage II, 34,288 CNY for stage III, and 30,275 CNY for stage IV diseases (P < 0.001). Pharmaceuticals accounted for the biggest part of the medical expenditure and it rose from 48.01% to 52.96% during these ten years, and the share of nursing fee expenses was the lowest (around 1%). Over the entire 10-year data period, the per capita expenditure of the east region (32,983 CNY) was higher than that of the west region (26,219 CNY) and slightly higher than the central region (31,018 CNY, P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: As a major cancer in China, liver cancer accounts for a large portion of health economic burden and its medical expenditure is heavy for families. Early diagnosis and treatment for liver cancer will save medical expenditure. CONCLUSION: The economic burden of liver cancer is high in China and related medical expenditure has increased.

Effects of shRNA-Mediated Silencing of PKM2 Gene on Aerobic Glycolysis, Cell Migration, Cell Invasion, and Apoptosis in Colorectal Cancer Cells.

This study aims to explore the effects of shRNA-mediated silencing on Pyruvate kinase type M2 (PKM2) gene during aerobic glycolysis in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. CRC tissues and adjacent normal tissues were obtained from 136 patients diagnosed with qRT-PCR, Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to detect mRNA and protein expressions of PKM2. CRC cells were divided into a blank, vector, and PKM2-shRNA groups. Hexokinase (HK) and PKM2 activity were both determined by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) coupled colorimetric assay and enzyme coupling rate method. The extracellular lactate concentration was measured by ultraviolet spectrophotometer and caspase activity was measured using spectrophotometry. The proliferation, cell cycle, apoptosis, invasion, and migration of CRC cells were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, transwell assay, and scratch test. Three groups of nude mice were injected with 0.2 mL single-cell suspension from the blank, vector, and PKM2-shRNA groups, respectively. PKM2 protein content in CRC tissues was higher than that in adjacent normal tissues. Results showed that the PKM2-shRNA group exhibited significantly lower mRNA and protein expressions of PKM2, decreased PKM2 activity, reduced lactate metabolism level, increased cell apoptosis rate, elevated caspase-3 and caspase-9 activity, weakened proliferation, and a reduction in cell invasion and migration ability compared to the vector and blank groups. The optical density (OD) value was lower in the PKM2-shRNA group than in the blank and vector groups. These findings indicate that shRNA-mediated silencing of PKM2 gene promotes apoptosis and inhibits aerobic glycolysis, proliferation, migration, and invasion in CRC cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 4792-4803, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

miR-10a controls glioma migration and invasion through regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition via EphA8.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in the development of cancers. However, the role of miRNAs in glioma is still poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrate that microRNA-10a (miR-10a) promotes cell migration and invasion by negatively regulating the expression of Eph tyrosine kinase receptor A8 (EphA8). Ectopic expression of EphA8 counteracts the promotion of migration and invasion induced by miR-10a. We further demonstrate that miR-10a and EphA8 regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to affect cell migration and invasion. Collectively, we unveil a branch of the miR-10a/EphA8 pathway that regulates the progression of glioma.

[Influence of serum storage on the laboratory results of prostate-specific antigen].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of serum storage on the laboratory results of serum T-PSA, F-PSA and FPSA%. METHODS: Using automated chemiluminescence, we detected and compared the values of serum T-PSA, F-PSA and F-PSA% in the serum stored in different conditions. RESULTS: When the serum was stored at 4 degrees C or at the room temperature (22 - 26 degrees C), FPSA was unstable as compared with T-PSA. Compared with the initial value, after 4 hours at the room temperature, F-PSA was decreased to (0.392 +/- 0.246) microg/L (P < 0.01), while T-PSA and F-PSA% to (1.522 +/- 1.085) microg/L and (25.03 +/- 5.94)%, respectively, with no significant difference; after 8 hours at the room temperature, T-PSA and F-PSA were reduced to (1.513 +/- 1.083) and (0.389 +/- 0.247) microg/L (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). At 4 degrees C, T-PSA, F-PSA and F-PSA% were decreased to (9.418 +/- 7.965) microg/L, (2.168 +/- 1.558) micro/L and (26.6 +/- 6.63)%, respectively, after 2 days (P < 0.05), and to (9.203 +/- 7.736) microg/L, (2.047 +/- 1.478) microg/L and (25.64 +/- 6.56)% after 1 week (P < 0.01). At -40 degrees C, T-PSA, F-PSA and F-PSA% were (4.532 +/- 4.393) microg/L, (1.178 +/- 1.034) microg/L and (24.45 +/- 8.81)% after 4 weeks. When the serum was stored at -40 degrees C and after 3 freeze-thaws, F-PSA and T-PSA were (5.982 +/- 5.314) and (1.341 +/- 1.029) microg/L, respectively, with no significant difference from the initial values. CONCLUSION: Different conditions of serum storage have different influences on the laboratory results of serum TPSA, F-PSA and F-PSA%, more on F-PSA than on T-PSA, while F-PSA% is relatively stable. At -40 degrees C, T-PSA and F-PSA may remain stable for a month at least. Repeated freeze-thaws of the serum do not affect the laboratory results of F-PSA and T-PSA.

[Preparation of ASODN-protamine-HSA-PLGA nanoparticles and initial evaluation of their nucleus targeting property in vitro].

OBJECTIVES: To develop a novel non-viral gene delivery system-SODN-Protamine-HSA-PLGA (ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP) and investigate its nucleus targeting potential in vitro. METHODS: ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP was prepared by mixing the protamine sulfate and HSA. Then the PLGA nanoparticles were prepared using double-emulsion evaporation technique, followed by addition of ASODN to the prepared P/H complex. The morphology of ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP was observed by transmission electron microscopy. The diameter, PDI, and surface charge of ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP were measured by photo correlation spectroscopy (PCS). The encapsulation efficiency of ASODN was determined by double step method. The cytotoxicity of ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP was investigated by MTT assays. The ability to enter the squamouse carcinoma: Hep-2 cell line and its nucleus targeting property were observed by confocal laser scanning microscope. RESULTS: The average diameter, PDI, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency of ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP were 128 nm, 0.234, -23.3 mV, and 78.45%, respectively. ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP could protect the ASODN from the shear force in the ultrasound process during preparation. ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP couldenter Hep-2 cells and have certain level of nucleus targeting property. CONCLUSION: ASODN-P/H-PLGA-NP can be prepared easily with small particle sizes and low cytotoxicity, which might be employed as a good non-viral vector for applications in ASODN delivery to nucleus.

[Detection of hearing threshold and polymorphic molecular marker analysis of guinea pigs of mimetic aging].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the establishment of the mimetic aging effect in guinea pigs induced by D-galactose, and to detect the biological indicatrix associated with hearing loss and provide a new tool for molecular pathogenesis of hearing loss. METHODS: Total of 51 guinea pigs were randomly divided into three groups: group A (model aging group, n = 25), which were injected with D-galactose (200 mgxkg(-1)xd(-1)) by intra peritoneum for 6 weeks, group B (model control group, n = 18), which were given the same amount of saline only, and group C (vacant group, n = 15) were not treated. Then, The guinea pigs in group A and B were exposed in noise for 8 days, 8 hours once a day. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) was used to test the hearing threshold of guinea pigs thrice, first before the drug administered, then after 6 weeks the drug used, third after noise exposure. And colorimetry was used to analyze the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malon dialdehyde (MDA) in brain and liver tissue. The DNA of inner ear tissue was harvested and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) was used to detect the differential polymorphic markers. RESULTS: After injection, there was no significant difference in elevation of ABR threshold between the group A and group B (t = 1.14, P > 0.05). However, exposure of noise later, elevation in ABR threshold of (22.97 +/- 10.56) dB peSPL was observed in group A, and (14.16 +/- 7.36) dB peSPL in group B. The was significant difference in variation of hearing threshold between group A and group B (t = 2.78, P < 0.05). The activity of SOD in brain and liver tissue in group A was lower than that in group B. the level of MDA was opposite between group A and group B. The difference between group A and group B was significant (P < 0.01). A differential polymorphic marker was observed by AFLP. CONCLUSIONS: The mimetic aging effect of the guinea pigs can be induced by D-galactose, and this model can not directly induce the hearing loss. The differential polymorphic marker possibly act as a predisposing factor which can greatly enhance the sensitivity of the ear to the noise.