ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the significance of apolipoprotein (Apo)-A1 in urine as a biomarker for early diagnosis and classification of bladder urothelial carcinoma (BUC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Urine samples were divided into four groups: normal control group, benign bladder disease group, low-grade malignant BUC group, and high-grade malignant BUC group. Apo-A1, which showed significantly different expression among the four groups, was selected according to the two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) images of the four groups, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to quantify Apo-A1 in the four groups. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was generated, and the optimal operating points on the ROC curve were found to determine the critical concentrations of Apo-A1 for early diagnosis of BUC and differentiation of low-grade and high-grade malignant BUC. The results were verified clinically, and the specificity and sensitivity were calculated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 2-DE images showed that that the level of Apo-A1 increased from the normal control grouP to high-grade malignant BUC group. The ELISA showed that there was no significant difference in Apo-A1 level between the normal control grouP and benign bladder disease group, but the Apo-A1 level was significantly higher in the BUC groups than in the normal control grouP and benign bladder disease grouP (P < 0.01); the high-grade BUC grouP had a significantly higher Apo-A1 level than the low-grade BUC grouP (P < 0.01). The BUC patients and those without BUC could be differentiated with an Apo-A1 concentration of 18.22 ng/ml, while the low-grade and high-grade malignant BUC could be differentiated with an Apo-A1 concentration of 29.86 ng/ml. When used as a biomarker, Apo-A1 had a sensitivity of 91.6% (98/107) and a specificity of 85.7% (42/49) for diagnosis of BUC and had a sensitivity of 83.7% (41/49) and a specificity of 89.7% (52/58) for BUC classification.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Apo-A1 may be a biomarker for early diagnosis and classification of BUC and shows promise for clinical application.</p>
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Apolipoprotein A-I , Urine , Early Detection of Cancer , Urinary Bladder Neoplasms , Diagnosis , UrineABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate psychosocial factors and patterns on suicidal ideation of the undergraduates in Shanxi province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four thousand eight hundred and eighty-two undergraduates in Shanxi province were investigated with multistage stratified random clustered samples. Factors associated with suicidal ideation were analyzed with logistic regression and Path analysis by scores of Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSSI), Suicide Attitude Questionnaire (QSA), Adolescent Self-Rate Life Events Check List (ASLEC), DSQ, Social Support Rating Scale, SCL-90, Simple Coping Modes Questionnaire and EPQ.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Tendency of psychological disorder was the major factor. Negative life events did not directly affect suicidal ideation, but personality did directly or indirectly affect suicidal ideation through coping and defensive response.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Personality played a stabilized fundamental role while life events were minor but "triggering" agents. Mental disturbance disposition seemed to be the principal factor related to suicidal ideation. Above three factors were intergraded and resulted in suicidal ideation in chorus.</p>