Associations of content and gene polymorphism of macrophage inhibitory factor-1 and chronic hepatitis C virus infection.

BACKGROUND: The expression of macrophage inhibitory factor-1 (MIC-1) is increased in peripheral blood of patients with chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. However, whether MIC-1 gene polymorphism is correlated with relevant diseases is not yet reported. AIM: To explore the correlation between gene polymorphism in MIC-1 exon region and chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. METHODS: This case-control study enrolled 178 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in the case group, and 82 healthy subjects from the same region who had passed the screening examination comprised the control group. The genotypes of rs1059369 and rs1059519 loci in the MIC-1 gene exon were detected by DNA sequencing. Also, the MIC-1 level, liver function metrics, liver fibrosis metrics, and HCV RNA load were determined. Univariate analysis was used to compare the differences and correlations between the two groups with respect to these parameters. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the independent relevant factors of CHC. RESULTS: The plasma MIC-1 level in the CHC group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05), and it was significantly positively correlated with alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), type III procollagen N-terminal peptide (known as PIIINP), type IV collagen, and HCV RNA (P < 0.05), whereas negatively correlated with total protein and albumin (P < 0.05). The genotype and allele frequency distribution at the rs1059519 locus differed between the two groups (P < 0.05). The allele frequency maintained significant difference after Bonferroni correction (Pc < 0.05). Logistic multiple regression showed that AST, PIIINP, MIC-1, and genotype GG at the rs1059519 locus were independent relevant factors of CHC (P < 0.05). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) was found between rs1059369 and rs1059519 loci, and significant difference was detected in the distribution of haplotype A-C between the CHC and control groups (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, we found the MIC-1 level trend to increase among rs1059519 genotypes (P = 0.006) and the level of MIC-1 in GG genotype to be significantly higher than CC genotype (P = 0.009, after Bonferroni correction). CONCLUSION: Plasma MIC-1 level was increased in CHC patients and correlated with liver cell damage, liver fibrosis metrics, and viral load. The polymorphism at the MIC-1 gene rs1059519 locus was correlated with HCV infection, and associated with the plasma MIC-1 level. G allele and GG genotype may be an important susceptible factor for CHC.

Predictive and prognostic values of preoperative platelet parameters in patients with gynecological tumors.

BACKGROUND: Platelets play a role in tumor cell growth, metastasis, and angiogenesis, and the present study aimed to evaluate diagnostic and prognostic values of platelet parameters in patients with gynecological tumors. METHODS: A total of 1062 women were included. Differences of platelet parameters (platelet count [PLT], plateletcrit [PCT], mean platelet volume [MPV], platelet-large cell rate [P-LCR], and platelet distribution width [PDW]) between different categories were analyzed by nonparametric test. The optimal cutoff value was calculated with receiver operating characteristic analysis. Overall survivals were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank tests for univariate analysis. RESULTS: Platelet count and PCT were significantly increased, and MPV and P-LCR were significantly reduced in malign and benign gynecological tumor groups compared with the controls (P < .001); PDW had no significant differences. There were no significant differences in PLT, PCT, MPV, P-LCR, and PDW between different tumor locations and pathologic types. The optimal cutoff values of PLT, PCT, MPV and P-LCR were 274, 0.26, 10.08, and 24.8 (AUC: 0.661, 0.643, 0.593, 0.562), and PCT had preferable sensibility and specificity (50.84% and 70.42%) in predicting the presence of gynecological tumors. According to survival analysis, increased PLT (≥274 × 109 /L) and PCT (≥0.26), and induced MPV (<10.08 fL) and P-LCR (<24.8%) were associated with shorter overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet count, PCT, MPV, and P-LCR can be used as preferable auxiliary parameters for predicting the presence of gynecological tumors. Increased PLT and PCT, or decreased MPV and P-LCR indicated a heavier tumor burden and shorter overall survival.

Efficacy of amlodipine besylate and Valsartan for the treatment of mild to moderate hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Clinical researchers found that Amlodipine besylate and Valsartan (ABVS) can effectively treat mild to moderate hypertension (MMH). However, no study has systematically investigated its efficacy and safety for patients with MMH. Thus, present study will systematically assess the efficacy and safety of ABVS for patients with MMH. METHODS: MEDICINE, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Ovid, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure will be searched for literatures related to the topic from inception to the present without language limitations. All randomized controlled trials that assess the efficacy and safety of ABVS for patients with MMH will be considered for inclusion. Two researchers will independently select study, extract data, and assess risk of bias for all eligible studies. RESULTS: The primary outcome includes the change of seated diastolic blood pressure. The secondary outcomes consist of the change of seated systolic blood pressure, health-related quality of life, and the tolerability. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will summarize the latest evidence on ABVS for the treatment of MMH. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study does not need ethical approval, because it will not use individual data. The results of this study are expected to be published at peer-reviewed journals. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: PROSPERO CRD42019133123.

[Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Its Clinical Significance].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP3) in acute myeloid leukemia and its clinical significance. METHODS: Using GAPDH as internal reference, IGFBP3 gene expression was detected in the bone marrow mononuclear cells of 43 de novo AML patients, 36 patients with complete remission (CR) and 28 cases of controls by using SYBR-Green I real-time quantitative PCR, the differences of gene expression between the three groups were compared. RESULTS: IGFBP3 gene expression level in the de novo group were lower than that in CR group and control group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference of IGFBP3 expression level in CR group and control group (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The IGFBP3 as a tumor suppressor gene may play a role in the pathogenesis of acute myeloid leukemia, its expression level is recovered after complete remission, therefore, IGFBP3 can be used as an indicator of evaluating clinical curative effect.

Application of classical models of chirality to optical rectification.

Classical models of chirality are used to investigate the optical rectification effect in chiral molecular media. Calculation of the zero frequency first hyperpolarizabilities of chiral molecules with different structures is performed and applied to the derivation of a dc electric-dipole polarization. The expression of second-order nonlinear static-electric-dipole susceptibilities is obtained by theoretical derivation in the isotropic chiral thin films. The microscopic mechanism producing optical rectification is analyzed in view of this calculation. We find that optical rectification is derived from interaction between the electric field gradient (spatial dispersion) and chiral molecules in optically active liquids and solution by our calculation, which is consistent with the result given by Wozniak and Wagniere [Opt. Commun. 114, 131 (1995)]: The optical rectification depends on the fourth-order electric-dipole susceptibilities.

Optical rectification at isotropic chiral film composed of tripod-like molecules.

In the paper, the three-coupled-oscillator model presented by us is used to study the optical rectification in isotropic chiral films. The zero frequency hyperpolarizabilities of chiral molecules with a tripod-like structure are calculated. The expressions of the static-electric polarization and the relations between the optical rectification and the microscopic parameters of chiral medium are obtained by theoretical derivation. Furthermore, the relations of the dc electric-dipole polarization with the wavelength of incident light and microscopic parameters of chiral molecules have been simulated numerically.