The Diagnostic Performance of lncRNAs from Blood Specimens in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are widely involved in the carcinogenesis and development of cancers. We conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the diagnostic performance of lncRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: After the inclusion and exclusion process, relevant information was extracted. Heterogeneity between studies was evaluated, and data synthesis was conducted by employing a bivariate random-effects model. RESULTS: In total, 20 eligible studies were enrolled. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80-0.90) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.92), respectively. The pooled positive likelihood ratio, pooled negative likelihood ratio, and pooled diagnostic odds ratio were 7.1 (95% CI, 4.9-10.2), 0.16 (95% CI, 0.11-0.23), and 44 (95% CI, 25-79), respectively. The results of the linear regression method and visual inspection of the Deeks funnel plot did not indicate significant publication bias. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggested that lncRNAs have high diagnostic performance for HCC and have the potential for clinical application.

Association between age at arrival, duration of migration, and overweight/obesity in Chinese rural-to-urban migrants: the Yi migrant study.

BACKGROUND: Urbanization in China is rapidly proceeding, but rural-to-urban migration and its association with overweight and obesity is not well studied. This study aimed to explore the age at arrival, duration of migration, and the corresponding association with overweight/obesity in Yi migrants in China. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas in 2015 in Sichuan province, China. Demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and anthropometry were collected. General linear regression models were used to assess the effect of duration of migration (1-10, 11-20, 21-30, and >30 years) on body mass index (BMI). Multi-variable logistic regression was used to examine the association between duration of migration and overweight/obesity (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2). RESULTS: A total of 3056 Yi people (1894 Yi farmers and 1162 Yi migrants) aged 20 to 80 years were enrolled. After adjusting for age, sex, and other potential confounders, Yi migrants had 1.71 kg/m2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.36-2.06) higher BMI and a 2.13-fold (95% CI: 1.71-2.65) higher risk of overweight/obesity than Yi farmers. In Yi migrants, stratified by age at arrival, no significant association between duration of migration and overweight/obesity was observed in those who were 0 to 20 years old at arrival. In comparison, in migrants >20 years old at arrival, compared with the reference group (1-10 years), long-term migration (>30 years) was found to be associated with overweight/obesity after adjustment (odds ratio: 1.85, 95% CI: 1.04-3.29). CONCLUSIONS: Yi migrants were observed to have greater risk of overweight/obesity than Yi farmers. In Yi migrants, the risk of overweight/obesity increased according to the duration of migration, especially in those who were older upon their arrival.

Comparison of electrolyte and glucose levels measured by a blood gas analyzer and an automated biochemistry analyzer among hospitalized patients.

BACKGROUND: Blood gas analyzers are capable of delivering results on electrolytes and metabolites within a few minutes and facilitate clinical decision-making. However, whether the results can be used interchangeably with values measured by chemistry analyzers remains controversial. Blood gas analyzers are capable of delivering results on electrolytes and metabolites within a few minutes and facilitate clinical decision-making. However, whether the results can be used interchangeably with values measured by chemistry analyzers remains controversial. METHODS: In total, arterial and matched venous blood samples were collected from 200 hospitalized patients. Arterial blood samples were evaluated using a RAPIDPOINT 500 to test electrolyte and glucose levels, then the samples were centrifuged and the same parameters were measured with an AU5800. Venous blood samples were processed and tested in accordance with standard operation procedures. Data were compared by using a paired t test, the agreement between the two analyzers was evaluated by using the Bland-Altman test, and sensitivity and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: Paired t tests showed that all parameters tested were significantly different between the two analyzers except chloride. The biases calculated indicated that blood gas analyzers tend to underestimate the parameters, and the linear regression showed a strong correlation between the two analyzers. The sensitivity, specificity and kappa values demonstrated that the diagnostic performance of blood gas analyzers is not satisfactory. CONCLUSION: The significant reduction in parameter estimation and diagnostic performance we observed suggested that clinicians should interpret results from blood gas analyzers more cautiously. The reference interval of blood gas analyzers should be adjusted accordingly, given that values are underestimated.

Expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase, mammalian target of rapamycin, 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase, and interferon-α in umbilical cord blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells in parturients in the immune tolerance stage of hepatitis B virus infection versus normal parturients / 临床肝胆病杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the expression of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), 70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), and interferon-α (IFNα) in umbilical cord blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in parturients in the immune tolerance stage of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection versus normal parturients. MethodsA total of 20 parturients in the immune tolerance stage of HBV infection and 10 normal parturients who were hospitalized in Inpatient Department of Obstetrics in The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine from October 2017 to January 2020 were enrolled as hepatitis B group and normal group, respectively. Umbilical cord blood pDCs were isolated and cultured, and CpG-A was added on day 7. The cells and the supernatant were collected after 24 hours; real-time PCR was used to measure the mRNA expression of PI3K, mTOR, and p70S6K, Western Blot was used to measure the protein expression of PI3K, mTOR, and p70S6K, and ELISA was used to measure the level of IFNα in the supernatant of pDCs. The two-independent-samples t-test was used for comparison of continuous data between the two groups. ResultsCompared with the normal group, the hepatitis B group had significantly lower mRNA and protein expression of PI3K, mTOR, and p70S6K in umbilical cord blood pDCs (mRNA expression: t=-81.04, -63.07, and -34.55, all P＜0.001; protein expression: t=-8.13, -7.75, and -6.71, all P＜0.001). The hepatitis B group had significantly lower expression of IFNα in the supernatant of umbilical cord blood pDCs than the normal group (t=-15.88, P＜0.05). ConclusionParturients in the immune tolerance stage of HBV infection have reductions in the mRNA and protein expression of PI3K, mTOR, and p70S6K and the level of IFNα in umbilical cord blood pDCs, suggesting that pDC function is inhibited.

Suppressed Expression of CXCL14 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tissues and Its Reduction in the Advanced Stage of Chronic HBV Infection.

INTRODUCTION: CXCL14 was a significantly under-expressed mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues according to our microarray analysis, as well as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and cervical squamous cell carcinoma. CXCL14 was considered a tumor suppressor in some studies; however, its role in HBV infection has not been identified. METHODS: CXCL14 mRNA expression was quantified from 20 male HCC patients, and the fold change in cancer tissues was calculated by comparisons with normal adjacent tissues. Overall, 212 patients with chronic HBV infection and 180 HBV-free controls were recruited to investigate the association between CXCL14 polymorphisms and HBV progression as well as liver function parameters. Serum CXCL14 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and comparisons were made between different HBV status and different CXCL14 genotypes. RESULTS: The mRNA expression of CXCL14 was 0.33-fold in HCC tissues when compared with adjacent tissues. The frequencies of rs2237062 and rs2547, but not rs2237061, were significantly different between patients with mild hepatitis and moderate-to-severe hepatitis. Moreover, rs2237062 and rs2547 polymorphisms correlated with impaired liver function parameters. ELISA results suggested that HBV-free controls had the highest level of CXCL14, while mild hepatitis patients had low levels, and patients with moderate-to-severe hepatitis had the lowest level. GA+AA genotypes of rs2547 were associated with reduced levels of serum CXCL14 because it introduced a stop codon at residue 109. CONCLUSION: CXCL14 was significantly suppressed in HBV-related HCC tissues, and its polymorphisms were linked with advanced stage chronic HBV infection and impaired liver function.

Clinical effectiveness of double-shaft classification and sequential diagnosis and treatment method of food impaction / 华西口腔医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#This study aimed to determine the clinical effectiveness of double-shaft classification and sequential diagnosis and treatment of food impaction.@*METHODS@#A total of 227 patients with food impactionwere subjected to double-shaft classification and subsequently treated by sequential diagnosis and treatment method. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated according to the subjective feelings of patientsat five time points (immediately after treatment and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment).@*RESULTS@#The average scores of patient's subjective perception were 2.00, 1.93, 1.59, 1.20, and 0.98 immediately and at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after treatment, with treatment-efficiency values of 87.17%, 81.70%, 73.21%, 55.80%, and 44.59%, respectively. There were differences in scores of patient's subjective perception at each time point (P<
0.05).@*CONCLUSIONS@#Double-shaft classification and sequential diagnosis and treatment can effectively guide the treatment of food impaction.

Overexpression of DEK gene is correlated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.

The oncogene DEK was originally identified as one of the parts of the DEK­CAN fusion gene, arising from the translocation (6;9) in a subtype of acute myeloid leukemia. Since then, DEK has been shown to promote tumorigenesis in a variety of cancer cell types through its roles in inhibiting cell differentiation, senescence and apoptosis. Certain studies have established that DEK is dysregulated in several types of cancer, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, its clinical significance in human HCC remains unknown. In this study, the expression of DEK mRNA and protein was examined in 55 surgical HCC specimens and matched non­tumorous tissues. In addition, the correlation between DEK expression and clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis was analyzed. mRNA and protein levels of DEK were found to be significantly overexpressed in the majority of HCC tumors when compared with matched normal hepatic tissues (P<0.05). In addition, the expression pattern of DEK was closely correlated with differentiation status, portal venous invasion and tumor size (P<0.05). Kaplan­Meier curves demonstrated that patients with higher DEK expression levels had significantly poorer survival than those with lower DEK expression levels (P=0.003). In addition, Cox regression analysis demonstrated that the level of DEK expression may be a valuable prognostic factor (P<0.05). These results suggested that DEK may play a significant role in hepatocyte differentiation and may serve as a useful prognostic marker and biomarker for the staging of HCC.

Policy recommendations based on SWOT analysis for agricultural industrialization of traditional Chinese medicinal materials--a case study of uncariae ramulus cum uncis from Jianhe county in Guizhou province / 中国中药杂志

This thesis reviews the historical background of agricultural industrialization, and analyzes the major theories of agricultural industrialization. It also utilizes SWOT analysis method to discuss the industrialization of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in Jianhe county, and finally it puts forward the recommendations for its further development.