The relationship between hepatitis B virus serum DNA, RNA and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen, and the predictive value for mother-to-child transmission: an observational cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationships between hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, HBV RNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and to evaluate their predictive value for mother-to-child transmission of HBV. DESIGN: An observational cohort study. SETTING: First Hospital of Jilin University. POPULATION: HBsAg-positive and hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) -positive pregnant women were recruited. METHODS: Blood samples were collected from mothers before delivery, and HBV infection of infants was evaluated at 7 months of age. RESULTS: Overall, 268 mothers and 271 infants were enrolled. HBV DNA and HBsAg levels were correlated (rs = 0.699; P < 0.001), and HBV DNA (rs = 0.500; P < 0.001) and HBsAg (rs = 0.372; P < 0.001) were both correlated with HBV RNA. The areas under the curve for HBV DNA, HBsAg and HBV RNA for prediction of infection were 0.69 (95% CI 0.57-0.82), 0.63 (95% CI 0.51-0.76) and 0.65 (95% CI 0.52-0.78), respectively. Higher HBV DNA (odds ratio [OR] 4.77, 95% CI 1.44-15.86), higher HBsAg (OR 4.13, 95% CI 1.12-15.25) and higher HBV RNA (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.09-9.32) were risk factors for HBV infection. Analysis of the HBV DNA-RNA-HBsAg Score revealed that it was an independent predictive factor for mother-to-child transmission (the OR of Score 3 was 8.81, 95% CI 2.79-27.82). CONCLUSION: HBV DNA, HBV RNA and HBsAg were correlated in HBeAg-positive pregnant women. HBsAg could be considered as a substitute marker of HBV DNA for HBeAg-positive pregnant women in low-income regions. We should pay special attention to pregnant women with high levels of all three markers. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: HBsAg could be considered as a substitute marker of HBV DNA for HBeAg-positive pregnant women in low-income regions. Special attention should be given to pregnant women with high levels of all three markers (HBV DNA, HBV RNA and HBsAg).

[Correlation analysis of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and central cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) and central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Methods: The clinicopathological data of PTMC patients confirmed by surgery and pathology in the 81st Military Hospital of People's Liberation Army from 2016 to 2019 were collected, and the relationship between preoperative NLR, PLR levels and postoperative PTMC CLNM were analyzed. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate analysis. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to determine the cutoff value of NLR and PLR. The interaction relative excess risk was used to analyze the relationship between NLR, PLR and CLNM. Results: Among 220 patients with cN0 stage PTMC, 92 were CLNM. The ROC curve showed that when the cutoff value of NLR was 2.5 and the cutoff value of PLR was 175, the highest Youden index was 0.318 and 0.264, respectively. NLR and PLR were both related to CLNM (P<0.05). The tumor long diameter, multifocality, NLR≥2.5 and PLR≥175 were independent impact factors of CLNM (P<0.05). The results of the interaction showed that the relative excess risk of the interaction was 5.531 (95%CI: 0.160, 10.901, P=0.016), the attribution ratio was 0.512 (95%CI: 0.230, 0.794, P=0.009), and the synergy index was 2.294 (95%CI: 1.492, 4.579, P=0.022), suggested that NLR and PLR had an interactive effect, and these two synergistically promoted CLNM. Conclusions: NLR and PLR are independent risk factors for cN0 stage PTMC CLNM. When NLR≥2.5 and PLR≥175, preventive central lymph node dissection should be routinely performed.

Suppression of EGFR expression by antisense or small interference RNA inhibits U251 glioma cell growth in vitro and in vivo.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) had been reported as one of the major responsible genes for malignant progression and phenotype reversion of gliomas, and has been used as one of the most important therapeutic targets. In the present study, small interference RNA (siRNA) and antisense EGFR expression constructs, which target sequences of human EGFR catalytic domain (2400-2420) and the 3'-coding region, respectively, were used to examine the growth inhibition effects on U251 glioma cells. Cell growth was significantly inhibited and G2/M arrest was observed in antisense- and siRNA-treated groups. Matrigel matrix demonstrated spotted cell clustering pattern in antisense- and siRNA-transfected U251 cells, indicating poor cell growth activities. In addition, the tumor volumes in U251 subcutaneous mice model treated with antisense and siRNA were significantly smaller than those treated with control siRNA and phosphate-buffered saline. Also, glial fibrillary acidic protein expression was upregulated in antisense- and siRNA-treated groups than the control groups. Our results demonstrated that antisense- or siRNA-targeting intracellular region of EGFR can inhibit EGFR expression, exerted growth inhibition effect on U251 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, siRNA expression plasmid-mediated gene therapy would be a new strategy in treatment of gliomas.