Monotropein Induced Apoptosis and Suppressed Cell Cycle Progression in Colorectal Cancer Cells / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To determine whether monotropein has an anticancer effect and explore its potential mechanisms against colorectal cancer (CRC) through network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with experimental verification.@*METHODS@#Network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to predict potential targets of monotropein against CRC. Cell counting kit assay, plate monoclonal assay and microscopic observation were used to investigate the antiproliferative effects of monotropein on CRC cells HCT116, HT29 and LoVo. Flow cytometry and scratch assay were used to analyze apoptosis and cell cycle, as well as cell migration, respectively in HCT116, HT29, and LoVo cells. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of proteins related to apoptosis, cell cycle, and cell migration, and the expression of proteins key to the Akt pathway.@*RESULTS@#The Gene Ontology and Reactome enrichment analyses indicated that the anticancer potential of monotropein against CRC might be involved in multiple cancer-related signaling pathways. Among these pathways, RAC-beta serine/threonine-protein kinase (Akt1, Akt2), cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), cell division control protein 42 homolog (CDC42) were shown as the potential anticancer targets of monotropein against CRC. Molecular docking suggested that monotropein may interact with the 6 targets (Akt1, Akt2, CDK6, MMP9, EGFR, CDC42). Subsequently, cell activity of HCT116, HT29 and LoVo cell lines were significantly suppressed by monotropein (P<0.05). Furthermore, our research revealed that monotropein induced cell apoptosis by inhibiting Bcl-2 and increasing Bax, induced G1-S cycle arrest in colorectal cancer by decreasing the expressions of CyclinD1, CDK4 and CDK6, inhibited cell migration by suppressing the expressions of CDC42 and MMP9 (P<0.05), and might play an anticancer role through Akt signaling pathway.@*CONCLUSION@#Monotropein exerts its antitumor effects primarily by arresting the cell cycle, causing cell apoptosis, and inhibiting cell migration. This indicates a high potential for developing novel medication for treating CRC.

Kinetics-controlled regulation for homogeneous nucleation and growth of colloidal polymer and carbon nanospheres.

Size regulation of uniform polymer nanospheres (PNSs) and carbon nanospheres (CNSs) below 100 nm has been difficult and is limited by multiple factors, such as ongoing nucleation, Ostwald ripening, minimization of surface energy, and high viscosity during the nucleation and growth process. In this study, a kinetics-controlled regulation is reported for the synthesis of monodispersed PNSs and corresponding CNSs with adjustable size below 100 nm. During the synthesis of PNSs, three distinct stages including surface energy control, surface tension control and viscosity control have been observed, where the concentration of block copolymer F127 (CF127) plays a vital role in affecting the nucleation rate of PNSs and tunes the diffusion rate of monomers and migration of particles during the nucleation and growth process. As a consequence, the size of monodisperse CNSs can be customized from 100 nm down to 41 nm with PDI below 5%.

Outside-in catalytic graphitization method for synthesis of dispersible and uniform graphitic porous carbon nanospheres.

Common strategies to synthesize graphitic porous carbon nanospheres suffer from energy consumption, exorbitant cost and harsh condition, and lead to closed pore and polydisperse particles. The successful manipulation of adjustable graphitic skeleton, developed porosity, good monodispersity and dispersity of carbon nanospheres is essential to meet their structural varieties and practical applications. Herein, an outside-in catalytic graphitization method is reported to synthesize carbon nanospheres with abovementioned properties, which involves interfacial assembly between layered double hydroxides nanosheets and polymer nanospheres, in-situ generation of nickel nanoparticles, and outside-in catalytic graphitization. The unusual phenomenon is that the in-situ generated nickel nanoparticles are preferentially oriented to the carbon side rather than to the free open space. The interface reactions between nickel nanoparticles and amorphous carbons drive continuous etching of carbon species to form graphitic structure in the interior of spheres. The graphitic structure can be tuned by changing effective charge ratio and pyrolysis conditions and obtained carbon nanospheres possessed good dispersibility in water and ethanol. Moreover, such carbon nanospheres exhibited good performance when used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. These findings may pave new ways for synthesizing multifarious carbon nanomaterials with adjustable graphitic skeleton, developed porosity, good monodispersity and dispersibility for various applications.

Baicalin induces ferroptosis in bladder cancer cells by downregulating FTH1

Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic regulated cell death caused by iron accumulation and subsequent lipid peroxidation. Currently, the therapeutic role of ferroptosis on cancer is gaining increasing interest. Baicalin an active component in

Effect of N-cadherin on Proliferation，Migration and Invasion of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

@#【Objective】To clarify the role of neuro-cadherin（N-cadherin）in epithelial-mesenchymal transition of diabetic retinopathy，and to investigate the effect of N-cadherin on proliferation ，migration and invasion of retinal pigment epithelial cells.【Methods】Cells were turned into over-expressed or silenced N-cadherin by using Ad-N-cadherin （Ad-N-cad）and Ad-si N-cadherin（si N-cad）. Glucose（25 mmol/L）was used to simulate high glucose（HG）condi⁃ tions. Cell Counting Kit-8（CCK-8）kit was used to detect cell proliferation. Transwell chamber was used to detect the vertical migration and invasion of cells.【Results】Transwell assay showed N-cadherin over-expression increased the num⁃ ber of cells migrated to the transwell subventricular chamber. The difference was statistically significant（P < 0.05）. The number of ARPE19 cells that migrated to or invaded the transwell subventricular chamber increased after high glucose treatment. N-cadherin knockdown suppressed high glucose-induced migration and invasion（P < 0.05）. CCK8 results showed N-cadherin knockdown could inhibit cell proliferation induced by high glucose（P < 0.05）.【Conclusion】N-cad⁃ herin may promote cell migration，and down-regulation of N-cadherin can inhibit cell proliferation，migration and inva⁃ sion induced by high glucose.

The Mediating Effect of Body Dissatisfaction in Association between Obesity and Dietary Behavior Changes for Weight Loss in Chinese Children / 生物医学与环境科学（英文）

OBJECTIVE@#The aim of this study was to analyze the mediating effect of body dissatisfaction in correlation between obesity and dietary behavior changes for weight loss (DBCWL).@*METHODS@#A total of 680 primary and middle school students were included in this study. Their body height, weight, and waistline were effectively measured, and they were also evaluated to assess their body dissatisfaction, perception of dietary behaviors, and DBCWL. The correlation among these factors was analyzed using mediating effect models.@*RESULTS@#The prevalence of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). Overweight/obesity, abdominal obesity, and body dissatisfaction significantly increased the risk for DBCWL (OR = 2.57, 2.77, and 1.95, respectively). Overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity significantly increased the risk for body dissatisfaction (OR = 6.00 and 4.70, respectively). Significant mediating effects of body dissatisfaction were observed in correlation between overweight/obesity and DBCWL and between abdominal obesity and DBCWL (OR = 2.20 and 1.92, respectively; P < 0.05), and the proportions of mediating effects among the total effects were 48.89% and 46.60%, respectively.@*CONCLUSION@#Body dissatisfaction might play an important mediating effect in association between DBCWL and obesity, which indicates that guiding children to correctly recognize their body might be more conducive than promoting obese children toward weight loss through dietary behavior changes.

Thermoregulated Phase-Transition Synthesis of Two-Dimensional Carbon Nanoplates Rich in sp2 Carbon and Unimodal Ultramicropores for Kinetic Gas Separation.

The development of highly selective, chemically stable and moisture-resistant adsorbents is a key milestone for gas separation. Porous carbons featured with random orientation and cross-linking of turbostratic nanodomains usually have a wide distribution of micropores. Here we have developed a thermoregulated phase-transition-assisted synthesis of carbon nanoplates with more than 80 % sp2 carbon, unimodal ultramicropore and a controllable thickness. The thin structure allows oriented growth of carbon crystallites, and stacking of crystallites in nearly parallel orientation are responsible for the single size of the micropores. When used for gas separation from CH4 , carbon nanoplates exhibit high uptakes (5.2, 5.3 and 5.1 mmol g-1 ) and selectivities (7, 71 and 386) for CO2 , C2 H6 and C3 H8 under ambient conditions. The dynamic adsorption capacities are close to equilibrium uptakes of single components, further demonstrating superiority of carbon nanoplates in terms of selectivity and sorption kinetics.

[Association between IL-10-1082G/A gene polymorphism and susceptibility of recurrent oral ulcer: meta analysis].

PURPOSE: To systematically review the association between interleukin-10 (IL-10) -1082G/A gene polymorphism and susceptibility of recurrent oral ulcer (ROU) by meta analysis. METHODS: Databases of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, CBM, WanFang, and VIP were electronically searched to collect studies published up to August 2017 about the association between IL-10-1082G/A gene polymorphism and ROU susceptibility. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, two reviewers independently screened literature and extracted data, the methodological quality assessment and heterogeneity test of included studies were performed. Meta analysis was performed with RevMan5.3 software. RESULTS: A total of 6 case-control studies were included, which involved 668 ROU patients in case group and 769 healthy individuals in control group. In the general population, the results of meta analysis showed that, under 3 genetic models including allele model (G vs A), recessive model (GG+GA vs AA) and heterozygous model (GA vs AA), there was significant association between IL-10-1082G/A gene polymorphism and ROU susceptibility (G vs A: OR=1.31, 95%CI 1.03 to 1.66, P=0.03; GG+GA vs AA: OR=1.45, 95%CI 1.16 to 1.82, P=0.001; GA vs AA: OR= 1.33, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.70, P=0.02). In the Asian population, meta analysis result was consistent with the general population. CONCLUSIONS: IL-10-1082G/A gene polymorphism is associated with ROU susceptibility. Individuals with G allele and GA genotype have a higher risk of ROU. Future more well-designed, large sample and multicenter studies are greatly needed to verify our conclusion.

An Investigation and Suggestions for the Improvement of Brain Death Determination in China / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

Background@#Brain death is the irreversible cessation of the function of the brain including the brainstem. In 2013, the Brain Injury Evaluation Quality Control Centre (BQCC) of the National Health and Family Planning Commission issued criteria and practical guidelines for the determination of brain death. This study aimed to evaluate whether the institutions have adopted these guidelines and to make suggestions for the improvement of the current criteria and practical guidelines for brain death determination in China.@*Methods@#Consecutive brain death cases from 44 hospitals were evaluated for summary statistics for the following data: the performance of BQCC criteria and practical guidelines, clinical examination, apnea testing, ancillary testing, and the number of examinations as well as the waiting periods between examinations and details of who determined brain death. Data analysis was conducted from January 2013 to December 2017.@*Results@#A total of 550 cases were obtained. All patients were determined to have deep coma and met the prerequisites for clinical testing. The performance rates of four brainstem reflex examinations (except cough reflex) ranged from 97.5% to 98.0%, and the completion rate as well as the coincidence rate were both 100.0%. The 238 cases (50.7%) completed apnea testing, and 231 cases (42.0%) had to stop apnea testing during the examination because of instability. The performance rates of the three ancillary tests, including electroencephalogram, short-latency somatosensory evoked potential, and transcranial Doppler, were 89.5%, 67.5%, and 79.5%, respectively; furthermore, the coincidence rates were 98.6%, 96.5%, and 99.5%, respectively. The combination of two ancillary tests was more accurate than one single ancillary test. A total of 401 (72.9%) cases successfully underwent two separate examinations to determine brain death with at least a 12-h waiting period. All brain death cases were determined by at least two qualified physicians.@*Conclusion@#This study might provide suggestions for brain death determination in China.

Study of Simplified Coma Scales: Acute Stroke Patients with Tracheal Intubation / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>Background</b>Whether the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) can assess intubated patients is still a topic of controversy. We compared the test performance of the GCS motor component (GCS-M)/Simplified Motor Score (SMS) to the total of the GCS in predicting the outcomes of intubated acute severe cerebral vascular disease patients.</p><p><b>Methods</b>A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected observational data was performed. Between January 2012 and October 2015, 106 consecutive acute severe cerebral vascular disease patients with intubation were included in the study. GCS, GCS-M, GCS eye-opening component, and SMS were documented on admission and at 24, 48, and 72 h after admission to Neurointensive Care Unit (NCU). Outcomes were death and unfavorable prognosis (modified Rankin Scale: 5-6) at NCU discharge. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was obtained to determine the prognostic performance and best cutoff value for each scoring system. Comparison of the area under the ROC curves (AUCs) was performed using the Z- test.</p><p><b>Results</b>Of 106 patients included in the study, 41 (38.7%) patients died, and 69 (65.1%) patients had poor prognosis when discharged from NCU. The four time points within 72 h of admission to the NCU were equivalent for each scale's predictive power, except that 0 h was the best for each scale in predicting outcomes of patients with right-hemisphere lesions. Nonsignificant difference was found between GCS-M AUCs and GCS AUCs in predicting death at 0 h (0.721 vs. 0.717, Z = 0.135, P = 0.893) and 72 h (0.730 vs. 0.765, Z = 1.887, P = 0.060), in predicting poor prognosis at 0 h (0.827 vs. 0.819, Z = 0.395, P = 0.693), 24 h (0.771 vs. 0.760, Z = 0.944, P = 0.345), 48 h (0.732 vs. 0.741, Z = 0.593, P = 0.590), and 72 h (0.775 vs. 0.780, Z = 0.302, P = 0.763). AUCs in predicting death for patients with left-hemisphere lesions ranged from 0.700 to 0.804 for GCS-M and from 0.700 to 0.824 for GCS, in predicting poor prognosis ranged from 0.841 to 0.969 for GCS-M and from 0.875 to 0.969 for GCS, with no significant difference between GCS-M AUCs and GCS AUCs within 72 h (P > 0.05). No significant difference between GCS-M AUCs and GCS AUCs was found in predicting death (0.964 vs. 0.964, P = 1.000) and poor prognosis (1.000 vs. 1.000, P = 1.000) for patients with right-hemisphere lesions at 0 h. AUCs in predicting death for patients with brainstem or cerebella were poor for GCS-M (<0.700), in predicting poor prognosis ranged from 0.727 to 0.801 for GCS-M and from 0.704 to 0.820 for GCS, with no significant difference between GCS-M AUCs and GCS AUCs within 72 h (P > 0.05). The SMS AUCs (<0.700) in predicting outcomes were poor.</p><p><b>Conclusions</b>The GCS-M approaches the same test performance as the GCS in assessing the prognosis of intubated acute severe cerebral vascular disease patients. The GCS-M could be accurately and reliably applied in patients with hemisphere lesions, but caution must be taken for patients with brainstem or cerebella lesions.</p>

Prognostic Value of Morphology and Hans Classification in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma / 中国实验血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prognostic value of morphology and Hans classification in diffuse large B cell lymphoma（DLBCL）.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinical data of 249 patients diagnosed with DLBCL in our hospital and Hangzhou Xixi hospital during Jan 2006 to Dec 2016 were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were classified into 3 groups: immunoblastic variant（IB） group, centroblastic variant（CB） group and others group according to the cell morphology. And DLBCL was also divided into GCB（germinal center B-cell-like）or non-GCB（non-germinal center B-cell-like） group by analyzing the expression of CD10, BCL6 and MUM1 (GCB: CD10 ,BCL6,MUM1/CD10,BCL6,MUM1；non-GCB：CD10,BCL6,MUM1/CD10,BCL6,MUM1).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The univariate analysis displayed that the age，LDH level，IPI，IB，non-GCB，B-symptoms and rituximab all could influence the OS and EFS, the CR rate of CB subtype patients was significantly higher than that of the patients with IB subtype （68.3% vs 38.9%)(P=0.02）. IB subtype was the in dependent prognostic factor for both EFS and OS in the whole study. In multivariate analysis, IPI and IB were the independent prognostic factors for OS and EFS. IB subtype was also an independent prognostic factor in EFS and OS with or without rituximab. The expression of BCL2 and BCL6 was related with prognosis in R-CHOP, but not in CHOP treated patients. Other markers (CD5, CD10, IRF4/MUM1, HLA-DR and Ki-67 proliferation index) were not of the significant prognostic value for DLBCL. When accepted rituximab, the GCB and non-GCB were not different significantly for prognosis. However, the non-GCB group showed a poor prognosis without using rituximab （EFS P=0.020；OS P=0.020）. Multivariate Cox models showed that OS and EFS were not significantly different between GCB and non-GCB group, however, the IB subtype had a very significantly poor prognosis in OS and EFS (P=0.001, P=0.002). When the analysis was restricted to DLBCL with CB morphology only, no prognostic value was observed in Hans classification.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The subtype of immunoblast is a major risk factor in patients treated with CHOP or R-CHOP. There is a significant association between the Hans classification and the morphologic subclassification. Results of this study have supplemented the data for the prognostic factor of DLBCL and demonstrated that the cytomorphologic diagnosis can be reproducible.</p>

Detecting tin in human blood by microwave digestion-atomic fluorescence spectrometry / 中国职业医学

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for detecting tin in human blood by microwave digestion-atomic fluorescence spectrometry. METHODS: The microwave digestion instrument was used to digest 1. 00 mL blood sample with 4. 00 mL concentrated nitric acid( mass fraction 65. 00%) and 1. 00 mL perchloric acid( mass fraction 68. 00%). After 1. 00 mL of thiocarbamide-ascorbic acid( mass fraction 10. 00%) was added,hydrochloric acid( concentration 1. 5 mol / L) was added to a total constant volume of 10. 00 mL. Then 5. 00 mL of the sample was collected and detected by atomic fluorescence spectrophotometry. RESULTS: The good linear relationship was shown in the range of 0. 00-60. 00 μg / L,and the correlation coefficient was 0. 999 5. The limit of detection was 0. 01 μg / L. The average recovery rate was 98. 80%-103. 30%. The relative standard deviation( RSD) of within-run precision was 3. 74%-5. 26%,and the RSD of betweenrun precision was 1. 23%-4. 45%. The samples can be stored for at least 7 days under the temperature of 4 ℃.CONCLUSION: This method has the advantages of low detection limit,good precision and high sensitivity,which is suitable for the determination of tin in human blood.

Subcutaneous suture can accelerate wound healing of lower midline incision: a randomized controlled trial.

Poor wound healing is one of the most common complications after laparotomy, especially in lower abdominal midline incisions. The aims of this trial are to assess the value of subcutaneous suture and identify risk factors to prevent poor wound healing. From October 2010 to October 2011, a total of 180 patients were randomized to the subcutaneous suture group (n = 89) or control group (n = 91) after laparotomy with a lower midline incision. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the predictive significance of variables of poor wound healing. Patients' demographics, preoperative laboratory values, and operative details were comparable between the two groups. The overall rate of poor wound healing was 16.7 per cent (30 of 180). Patients randomized to subcutaneous suture group (n = 89) had poor healing in 10.1 per cent (nine of 89) and those without suture (n = 91) in 23.1 per cent (21 of 91) (P = 0.020). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (3 to 4) (odds ratio [OR], 2.933), subcutaneous suture (OR, 0.323), and blood loss (greater than 200 mL) (OR, 5.995) were independent risk factors for poor wound healing. Subcutaneous suture can effectively accelerate wound healing. Nonsubcutaneous suture, ASA score (3 to 4), and blood loss (greater than 200 mL) are independent risk factors for poor would healing.

An overview of neurocritical care in China: a nationwide survey / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Little quantitative evidence was available regarding the development of NICUs in China. The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the current situation of neurointensive care units (NICUs) across China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The directors of NICUs from 100 tertiary care hospitals across China were contacted and asked to complete a closed response questionnaire regarding their NICUs. Basic information, equipment, and technology information available in the units, as well as staffing information were investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Seventy-six questionnaires were returned (a 68% response rate). Of 76 NICUs, 43 units constituted the majority. The number of each NICU bed varied from 4 to 45, occupying 2%-30% of the total department beds. Over 70% of NICUs were equipped with many emergency treatment equipments as well as physiological and biochemical monitoring equipments, while 34%-70% of NICUs still lacked some kinds of equipments such as defibrillators. Some specialist equipments were still partially lacking in 62%-95% of NICUs. A vast majority of the NICUs were equipped with neurocritical care directors, full-time attending physicians, and head nurses, but full-time NICU residents and neurocritical care nurses were still lacking in nearly half (53%) and one-third (33%-37%) of NICUs, respectively. In 76 NICUs, full-time neurointensivists and nurses added up to 359 and 852, respectively. In addition, 78%-97% of all the surveyed NICUs were severely short of non-neurological professional staffs.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>In China, neurocritical care has developed rapidly, but there is still a shortage of well-equipped and well-staffed NICUs across the nation currently.</p>

Evaluation of neuro-intensive care unit performance in China: predicting outcomes of Simplified Acute Physiology Score II or Glasgow Coma Scale / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Severity scoring systems are useful tools for measuring the severity of the disease and its outcome. This pilot study was to verify and compare the prognostic performance of the Simplified Acute Physiology Score II (SAPS II) and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) in neuro-intensive care unit (N-ICU) patients.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 1684 patients consecutively admitted to the N-ICU at Xuanwu Hospital between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2011 were enrolled in this study. The data-base included admission data, at 24-, 48-, and 72-hour SAPS II and GCS. Repeated measure data analysis of variance, Logistic regression analysis, the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit statistic, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic were used to evaluate the performance.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There was a significant difference between the SAPS II or GCS score at four time points (F = 16.110, P = 0.000 or F = 8.108, P = 0.000). The SAPS II scores or GCS score at four time points interacted with the outcomes with significant difference (F = 116.771, P = 0.000 or F = 65.316, P = 0.000). Calibration of the SAPS II or GCS score at each time point on all patients was good. The percentage of a risk estimate prediction corresponding to observed mortality was also good. The 72-hour score have the greatest consistency. Discriminations of the SAPS II or GCS score at each time were all satisfactory. The 72-hour score had the greatest discriminative power. The cut-off value was 33 (sensitivity of 85.2% and specificity of 74.3%) and 6 (sensitivity of 70.6% and specificity of 65.0%). The SAPS II at each time point on all patients showed better calibration, consistency and discrimination than GCS. The binary Logistic regression analysis identified physiological variables, GCS, age, and disease category as significant independent risk factors of death. After the two variables including underlying disease and type of admission were excluded, we built the simplified SAPS II model. A correlation was suggested between the simplified SAPS II score at each time point and outcome, regardless of the diagnosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The GCS scoring system tends to be a little weaker in the predictive power than the SAPS II scoring system in this Chinese cohort of N-ICU patients. The advantage of SAPS II scoring system still exists that it dose not need to take into account the diagnosis or diseases categories, even in the special N-ICU. The simplified SAPS II scoring system is considered a new idea for the estimation of effectiveness.</p>

Prognostic significance of serum anti-Epstein-Barr virus antibodies in nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was aimed to investigate the association between serum against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) antibodies levels and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients' prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Blood samples from 140 primary NPC patients without metastasis were collected before and after treatment. The titers of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA were detected by immunoenzyme assay, and the levels of NA1/IgA and Rta/IgG were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All patients received consequent follow-up and long-term efficacy and survival assessment.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Post-treatment serum levels of VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, NA1/IgA and Rta/IgG in NPC patients significantly decreased than those before treatment, while had significantly higher than those in control individuals (P < 0.05). Patients in remission had significantly lower pre-treatment serum levels of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA than patients with progression (P < 0.05). None of serum levels of VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, NA1/IgA and Rta/IgG was associated with the 3-year overall survival (P > 0.05). The progression-free survivals were significantly lower in patients with higher pre-treatment VCA/IgA (> or = 1 : 320) and EA/IgA (> or = 1:80) levels than in those with lower VCA/IgA ( < 1 : 320) and EA/IgA (< 1 : 80) levels, respectively (61.8% vs. 86.5% , 61.3% vs. 86.5%, P < 0.001). Cox regression model analysis demonstrated that pre-treatment serum VCA/IgA level was an independent risk factor for progression-free survival (HR = 3.80, P = 0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Anti-EBV VCA/IgA and EA/IgA might provide information regarding the prognosis of NPC patients.</p>

MRI diagnosis of cavernous transformation of the portal vein / 中国医师进修杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of MRI in the diagnosis of cavernous transformation of the portal vein (CTPV).MethodsPlain MRI,dynamic enhanced and (or) dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography(DCE-MRA) findings in 30 patients of clinical-proved CTPV were retrospectively analyzed.ResultsAmong 30 CTPV patients on plain MRI,obliteration of main and (or) branched portal vein were found,and mass-like or reticular abnormal soft-tissue signals were around the vein,which were produced by collateral vessels.On dynamic enhanced MRI,abnormal hepatic perfusion during arterial phase and abnormal enhanced collateral veins during portal phase could be seen.The above signs became more obvious on DCE-MRA.ConclusionsMRI and DCE-MRA can clearly visualize the anatomical features of CTPV.It is important and can provide the reliable evidence for planning properly therapeutic protocol to recognize and directly evaluate the CTPV.

Combined detection of Epstein-Barr virus antibodies for serodiagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the value of combined detection of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) VCA/IgA, EA/IgA, Rta/IgG and EBNA1/IgA in serodiagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum samples obtained from 211 untreated patients with NPC and 203 non-NPC ENT patients were examined for the presence of VCA/IgA and EA/IgA by immunoenzymatic assay and for Rta/IgG and EBNA1/IgA by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated to confirm the cutoff values of different antibodies. The evaluation indexes of combined detection of multiple antibodies used for serodiagnosis of NPC were calculated with compounded positive judgment method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared to a single antibody, combined detection achieved a higher sensitivity and specificity. The sensitivity of VCA/IgA + Rta/IgG + EBNA1/IgA (98.1%) was higher than the other 3 combinations with a specificity, accuracy, Youden index and positive predictive value (PPV) of 88.7%, 93.5%, 0.868 and 90.0%, respectively. The combination of EA/IgA+Rta/IgG+EBNA1/IgA had the highest specificity (95.1%), accuracy (94.9%), Youden index (0.899) and PPV (95.2%), with a sensitivity of 94.8%, suggesting its higher accuracy in the serodiagnosis of NPC. Combined detection of the 4 antibodies had the highest sensitivity (98.6%) with a specificity, accuracy, Youden index and PPV of 88.2%, 93.5%, 0.868 and 89.7%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combined detection of Rta/IgG against immediate early antigens, EA/IgA against early antigens, VCA/IgA against late antigens, and EBNA1/IgA against latent antigens provides better understanding of the expression profiles of EBV lytic and latent antigens with excellent complementarity, and may serve as an optimal combination for NPC serodiagnosis.</p>

Evaluation of detection of Epstein-Barr virus Rta/IgG in nasopharyngeal carcinoma / 中华实验和临床病毒学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study was aimed to investigate the clinical value of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Rta/IgG in the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Serum samples derived from 211 untreated patients with NPC, 413 subjects including 203 non-NPC ENT patients and 210 healthy volunteers as control were examined for the presence of antibodies directed against Rta/IgG by using enzyme-linked immnunosorbent assay (ELISA). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to perform methodical evaluation of this tumor marker.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The rA value median of Rta/IgG in NPC group was significantly higher than one in control group (P < 0.001). The area under ROC was 0.933. The sensitivity and specificity of this marker were 90.5% and 90.1%, respectively, when the best cutoff value was defined.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Rta/IgG detected with ELISA method is a new target of EBV, and may be one of important marker for NPC diagnosis.</p>

Expression and activity of membrane surface tissue factor in peripheral blood cells of patients with cerebral infarction / 中国实验血液学杂志

This study was aimed to investigate the expression and activity of membrane surface tissue factor (TF) of monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood cells from patients with cerebral infarction and their clinical significance. The TF expressions in monocytes and platelets from 25 patients with cerebral infarction were detected by flow cytometry, the TF activity was detected by chromogenic reaction method, and compared with 24 normal people used as control. The results showed that the TF expressions of monocytes and platelets in peripheral blood cells from patients with cerebral infarction were significantly higher than that in normal controls (p<0.01), and TF activity was also higher in patients than that in controls (p<0.01). In conclusion, the expression and activity of membrane surface in patients with cerebral infarction were enhanced, the hematocyte-derived tissue factor as a trigger in coagulation pathway is involved in pathological thrombosis in patients with cerebral infarction.