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OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the effects of CLEC5A expression level on cell proliferation, migration and invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and explore the role of CLEC5A in the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC.@*METHODS@#The expression level of CLEC5A was detected in 50 pairs of HCC and adjacent tissues using immunohistochemical staining, and its association with clinicopathological parameters of HCC patients was analyzed. Cultured HCC cell line SK-HEP-1 was transfected with a lentiviral vector overexpressing CLEC5A, and the transfection efficiency was verified using real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR and Western blotting. The changes in proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of the transfected cells were analyzed using CCK-8, 5-ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) and Transwell assays, and EMT of the cells was determined using Western blotting.@*RESULTS@#The protein expression level of CLEC5A was significantly lower in HCC tissues than in the adjacent tissues (P < 0.001). The expression level of CLEC5A was significantly correlated with tumor size (P=0.008), tumor number (P=0.010), histological differentiation (P=0.016), microvascular invasion (P=0.024) and BCLC stage (P=0.040). In SK-HEP-1 cells, overexpression of CLEC5A obviously inhibited the cell proliferation, migration and invasion and reversed EMT phenotype of the cells.@*CONCLUSION@#CLEC5A is a potential HCC suppressor gene and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for HCC.
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Cell Proliferation , Cell Differentiation , Receptors, Cell Surface/genetics , Lectins, C-Type/geneticsABSTRACT
Objective:To investigate the effect of interventional therapy via hepatic artery on serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13) levels in patients undergoing microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods:A prospective study was conducted in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated by microwave ablation in our hospital from December 2014 to January 2019. 140 patients were divided into two groups according to random number method. The control group ( n=70) received microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma. The observation group ( n=70) received hepatic artery perfusion chemotherapy before microwave ablation for hepatocellular carcinoma. The clinical effects of the two groups and the changes of serum TK1 and CXCL13 levels before and after treatment were analyzed. Results:The total effective rate in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (92.9% vs 81.4%; χ 2=2.854, P<0.05). The levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) [(40.4±6.69)U/L vs (52.3±8.33)U/L], alanine aminotransferase (ALT) [(40.1±6.96)U/L vs (49.9±6.97)U/L] and total bilirubin (TBIL) [(24.5±3.96)mmol/L vs (35.2±6.31)mmol/L] in the two groups were significantly decreased after treatment ( P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of TK1 [(10.5±3.69)μg/L vs (15.4±4.28)μg/L] and Survivin [(12.6±2.54)μg/L vs (19.2±4.15)μg/L] in the serum were significantly decreased ( P<0.05), while the levels of gene of phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromsome ten (PTEN) [(46.9±5.33)μg/L vs (30.2±4.77)μg/L] were significantly increased ( P<0.05); the levels of CXCL13 [(20.3±4.58)μg/L vs (32.5±5.11)μg/L], CXCL16 [(23.3±4.77)μg/L vs (31.2±5.24)μg/L] and CXC chemokine receptor 5 (CXCR5) [(10.1±2.77)μg/L vs (14.6±2.96)μg/L] were significantly decreased ( P<0.05). After treatment, the changes of the above indexes in the observation group were more obvious than those in the control group ( P<0.05). Conclusions:Interventional therapy via hepatic artery perfusion is more effective for microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma, and can effectively reduce the serum TK1 and CXCL13 levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Objective To analyze the clinical manifestations and gene mutations of rare causes of primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) in childhood.Methods The clinical features,laboratory tests and gene mutation of 13 patients with PAI in our hospital from September 2010 to August 2017 were analyzed retrospectively.Patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia,X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy with neurological onset or a clear family history,and autoimmune adrenal insufficiency were excluded.Results The median age of 13 cases (12 males,1 female) was 3 years and 10 months.Medical history or clinical manifestations on the first visit included hyperpigmentation,electrolyte imbalance/salt-wasting crisis,gastrointestinal symptoms,and fatigue,etc.All developments of external genitalia were normal.All cases presented with decreased serum cortisol and increased ACTH levels.Some of the cases showed decreased aldosterone level and plasma renin activity,while 17α-hydroxyprogesterone,testosterone,and androstenedione were in the normal range.Part of cases revealed delayed bone age and adrenal atrophy.Three gene mutations were detected in 13 patients,including NR0B 1 gene (9/13),ABCD 1 gene (3/13),and CYP 11A 1 gene (1/13).NR0B1,and ABCD1 gene mutations were pathogenic mutations,consistent with clinical characteristics.CYP11A1 gene mutation was heterozygote,which cannot fully explain the clinical features.Conclusion PAI in childhood presents common clinical manifestations of adrenal insufficiency,e.g.hyperpigmentation and electrolyte imbalance/sah-wasting crisis,but without specificity.Gene mutational analysis is necessary for precise diagnosis and prognosis estimation.NR0B1 and ABCD1 gene mutations were common in childhood with rare causes of PAI.
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The metabolic properties of leukemia-initiating cells (LICs) in distinct bone marrow niches and their relationships to cellfate determinations remain largely unknown. Using a metabolic imaging system with a highly responsive genetically encoded metabolic sensor, SoNar, we reveal that SoNar-high cells are more glycolytic, enriched for higher LIC frequency, and develop leukemia much faster than SoNar-low counterparts in an MLL-AF9-induced murine acute myeloid leukemia model. SoNar-high cells mainly home to and locate in the hypoxic endosteal niche and maintain their activities through efficient symmetric division. SoNar can indicate the dynamics of metabolic changes of LICs in the endosteal niche. SoNar-high human leukemia cells or primary samples have enhanced clonogenic capacities in vitro or leukemogenesis in vivo. PDK2 fine-tunes glycolysis, homing, and symmetric division of LICs. These findings provide a unique angle for the study of metabolisms in stem cells, and may lead to development of novel strategies for cancer treatment.
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The maternal components are constantly changing with gestational weight gains during pregnancy. Body composition analysis is a method for evaluating the maternal body composition accurately during pregnancy, models of which consist of fat mass, extracellular water, intracellular water, inorganic salts and protein basically. Among various methods to execute body composition analysis, bioelectrical impedance analysis is an important method for pregnant women. Many studies have reported about clinical applications based on correlations between maternal individual components and gestational diseases. This article reviews the researches on clinical applications of body composition analysis to pregnant women.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the expression of Wnt5b in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues and its correlation with the clinicopathological parameters.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and immunohistochemical staining were employed to measure Wnt5b mRNA and protein expressions in two groups of HBV-related HCC patients (100 cases in each) selected from a cohort of 289 cases with HBV-related HCC using simple random sampling method. The correlation of Wnt5b expression with the clinicopathological parameters and the prognosis of HCC patients was analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Wnt5b mRNA expression was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues in 65.0% (65/100) of the cases, and the positivity rate of Wnt5b protein was significantly higher in HCC tissues than that of adjacent noncancerous tissues (58.0% vs 22.0%, P<0.05). Wnt5b expression was significantly correlated with the tumor size (P<0.05), tumor number (P<0.01, only at the protein level), tumor differentiation (P<0.01, only at the protein level), TNM stage (P<0.05), BCLC stage (P<0.05), metastasis (P<0.05) and recurrence (P<0.01). The patients with up-regulated Wnt5b mRNA and protein had a shorter relapse-free survival (P<0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>s Up-regulated Wnt5b might contribute to the progression of HBV-related HCC and predicts a poor prognosis.</p>
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Objective@#This study aimed at determining the characteristics of the glucose homeostasis and its relationship with iron overload of the patients with β-thalassemia major (β-TM).@*Method@#From Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital between January 2014 and December 2015, a total of 57 transfusion-dependent β-TM patients with 5-18 years old were enrolled in this study and fasting blood glucose(FBG) and insulin level, serum ferritin (SF), serum iron, transferrin, total iron binding capacity, unsaturated iron binding capacity were determined.Insulin resistance index (IRI), insulin sensitivity index and β-cell function index (BFI) were also estimated. Besides, in 36 patients cardiac T2* and liver T2* were estimated.@*Result@#(1) Four patients(7%) with β-TM were diagnosed diabetes mellitus, and 14(24%) had impaired fasting glucose. (2) The incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism was significantly different according to levels of SF and degrees of the cardiac iron overload(χ2=9.737, P<0.05; χ2=17.027, P<0.05). It rose while the level of SF increased and the degree of cardiac iron overload aggravated. (3) The incidence of abnormal glucose level was not significantly different in cases with different degree of liver iron overload.The severe group of liver iron overload had significantly higher levels of INS, HOMA-βFI, HOMA-ISI, HOMA-βFI than the non-severe group (Z=-2.434, -2.515, F=8.658, all P<0.05), while no differences were found in the level of FBG, HOMA-βFI between two groups. (4) The result of logistic regression analysis indicated that the cardiac T2* was a significant predictor for the incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism in TM patients (P=0.035, OR=1.182%, 95%CI=1.048 to 1.332).@*Conclusion@#The high prevalence of abnormal glucose metabolism in β-TM patients was mainly closely related with the internal iron overload, especially in organs.The cardiac T2* was an independent risk factor for the incidence of abnormal glucose metabolism in TM patients.
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Objective To investigate the changes of thyroid autoantibody(TAA)in children with Turner syndrome(TS),and its association between TAA and thyroid dysfunction,age,karyotype and dyslipidaemia.Methods Thirty-two patients with TS diagnosed by chromosome analysis hospitalized at Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hospital,Sun Yat-Sen University from July 2007 to July 2015 were divided into 2 groups based on TAA-positive or TAA-negative,then the thyroid dysfunction,the age,the karyotype and the lipid metabolism were compared between 2 groups.Results Of the 23 cases of TAA-positive girls(23/32 cases,71.88％),9 girls(39.13％)suffered from thyroid dysfunction;of the 9 cases of TAA-negative girls(9/32 cases,28.12％),3 girls(33.33％)had thyroid dysfunction.As compared with the girls in TAA-negative group,the age in TAA-positive group was significantly higher[(12.08±2.90)years old vs.(8.89±4.17)years old],and the difference was significant(t=101.500,P=0.047).The patients were divided into 4 age groups:0-5 years old,>5-10 years old,>10-15 years old and >15 years old;the rates with TAA-positive were 25.00％(1/4 cases),75.00％(6/8 cases),82.35％(14/17 cases)and 66.67％(2/3 cases)respectively.Twenty patients received the lipid metabolism test,and 11 cases(11/20 cases,55.00％)of them suffered from dyslipidaemia,9 cases of them were TAA-positive(9/11 cases,81.82％),and 2 cases were TAA-negative(2/11 cases,18.18％).The differences in the prevalence of dyslipidaemia between the 2 groups were significant(x2=4.848,P=0.028).There was no significant difference in the numbers of TAA-positive cases among different karyotypes(x2 =4.246,P=0.120).Conclusions Patients with TS are prone to suffer from thyroid dysfunction and dyslipidaemia.Timely detection of TAA and thyroid function is recommended,as well as the lipid metabolism if necessary.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the in vitro effects of different culture systems on hematopoietic differentiation ability of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Two culture systems including E8 and mTESR(freeder-free medium), and the classical ES culture medium were chosen for culture of iPS cells. The iPS cells maintaining in above mentioning culcure systems were co-cultured with OP9 cells(murine bone marrow stromal cells) in vitro to be induced to differentiate into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Flow cytometry and real-time quantitative PCR were used to detect the expression of specific hematopoietic markers and the effects of different culture systems on the differentiation of iPS in vitro.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>iPS cultured in the 3 selected medium could be differentiated into hematopoietic stem cells. Efficiency of hematopoietic differentiation was up to 28.4% in classical ES culture system, which was significantly higher than that in E8 and mTESR system.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Under the co-culture with OP9, iPS can differentiate into hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, which shows higher efficiency when iPS maintained in the ES medium.</p>
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To assess the value of detecting peripheral blood circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in the diagnosis and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 296 patients diagnosed with HCC admitted in our department from July 2013 to January 2015 were analyzed, with 39 patients with benign liver disease serving as the control group. The distribution of CTCs in the peripheral blood of HCC patients were detected by CanPatrol(TM) CTCs, and its relationship with the clinical features and prognosis of the patients were analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>s CTCs were detected in 64.5% (191/296) of the HCC patients but in none of the control group (P<0.05). Positive CTCs in peripheral blood of HCC patients were significantly correlated with serum AFP level, tumor number, TNM stage, BCLC stage, portal vein tumor thrombus and metastasis (P<0.05). In 127 HCC patients receiving radical surgery, the patients positive for CTCs showed significantly shorter relapse-free survival time (P<0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Positive CTCs in the peripheral blood may indicate a poor prognosis in HCC patients. CTCs may serve as a indicator for monitoring the prognosis of HCC.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Blood , Diagnosis , Case-Control Studies , Liver Neoplasms , Blood , Diagnosis , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local , Neoplasm Staging , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating , Portal Vein , Pathology , PrognosisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:Silver sulfadiazine water gel dressings are a combination of two antibacterial drugs, which can play a local broad-spectrum, potent, long-lasting antibacterial effect to effectively control and prevent wound infection. OBJECTIVE:To observe the clinical efficacy of silver sulfadiazine water gel dressings on skin defects with wound infection and to explore its biocompatibility. METHODS:Thirty patients with skin defects combined with wound infection were randomized into observation and control groups. Folowing conventional debridement and dressing, the observation group was subject to wound rinse with normal saline, silver sulfadiazine water gel dressings and gauze bandage; in the control group, Vaseline gauze was used folowed by gauze bandage. Visual analog scale scores, dressing adhesion to wound, wound healing rate, and healing time were observed in the two groups at 0, 1, 2 weeks after dressing. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The visual analog scale scores in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group at 1 and 2 weeks after dressing (P < 0.01), and the wound healing rate was also higher in the observation group than the control group (P < 0.05); wound adhesions were milder in the observation group than the control group when dressing; the healing time was significantly shorter in the observation group than the control group (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that the silver sulfadiazine water gel dressing has good effects on the treatment of skin defects with wound infection, which can reduce pain, effectively control wound infections and promote wound healing.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To define cut-off values of plasma amino-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) for the diagnosis of congenital heart failure (CHF) and evaluate the importance of plasma NT-ProBNP measurement in the assessment of cardiac function prior to heart surgery in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Plasma levels of NT-proBNP were measured in 120 infants with CHD before heart surgery and in 100 age-matched healthy infants between June 2010 and June 2013. The data were stratified based on the presence or absence of CHF in the whole group of CHD infants and on age (i.e., <1 year and ≥1 year) and time (i.e., before surgery) within the subgroup of CHF infants.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 120 infants with CHD, 41 met the criteria for CHF defined in the Ross Classification for Heart Failure in Infants.The cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP were ≥498 ng/L for infants of all ages, 557 ng/L for <1 year age group and 452 ng/L for ≥1 year age group, respectively, in the 41 CHF patients. In CHF infants, plasma NT-proBNP was significantly decreased after protecting of cardiac function (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The cut-off values of plasma NT-ProBNP for CHF differ between infants <1 year and infants ≥1 year. Moreover, plasma NT-ProBNP can be used as an additional parameter in the preoperative assessment of cardiac function in CHD infants.</p>
Subject(s)
Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Heart Defects, Congenital , Blood , Heart Failure , Blood , Natriuretic Peptide, Brain , Blood , Peptide Fragments , BloodABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the relationship between abnormal karyotypes and clinical phenotypes among children in genetic counseling in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We studied 601 children who visited Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Women and Children Care Hospital for genetic counseling between January 2009 and July 2012. Blood samples were cultured routinely for karyotype analysis with G banding as well as clinical analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Out of 601 patients, 329 (54.7%) had chromosomal abnormalities, and 8 new abnormal human karyotypes were found. Among 329 children with abnormal karyotypes, 317 (96.4%) had an abnormal number of chromosomes, and 12 (3.6%) had abnormal chromosomal structure. Abnormal karyotypes were clinically manifested by Down's syndrome (74.5%), growth retardation (10.9%), and mental retardation (3.0%).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Eight rare abnormal karyotypes were found in the study, providing new resources for the genetic studies and etiological analysis of growth retardation, mental retardation, gonadal dysgenesis, and multiple congenital anomalies in children.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Abnormalities, Multiple , Genetics , Chromosome Aberrations , Genetic Counseling , Intellectual Disability , Genetics , KaryotypeABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE@#To study the sleeping time and its correlative factors in 2k12 year-old children in Changsha.@*METHODS@#A cluster sample with 3 756 children was randomly selected from Changsha, whose parents or care persons were interviewed with questionnaires about children's sleeping status from June 2006 to April 2007 by trained medical staff. One person was responsible for a questionnaire for one child.@*RESULTS@#Two to twelve year-old children slept 10.60 hours a day. The average sleeping time every day was 12.26, 11.57, 11.33, 11.26, 10.95, 10.64, 10.62, 10.45, 10.28, 9.83, and 9.61 hours from 2 to 12 year-old children. The sleeping time in one day in each age group was different obviously but the same for boys and girls. The main factors that affected the sleeping time of children were: child's age, having pets or not, child's fixed pattern of sleeping time, methods of falling asleep, diet regulation, asthma, the mother's age, number of child delivery of mother, and mother's sleeping time.@*CONCLUSION@#Sleeping time in a day decreases with the age increase in 2k12 year-old children. Many factors affected sleeping time of children, including the child's age, habits and environmental factors, diets, diseases, and mothers' conditions.
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Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Male , China , Habits , Mother-Child Relations , Sleep , Surveys and Questionnaires , TimeABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of ursolic acid on proliferation and apoptosis of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) in vitro and explore the mechanisms of apoptosis of HSC induced by ursolic acid by studying the expressions of apoptosis-regulating proteins Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase 3 in HSC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Hepatic stellate cells HSC-T6 and hepatocytes L02 were incubated with different concentrations of ursolic acid (25, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150 micromol/L) for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h. The effect of ursolic acid on the cell proliferation was studied by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay. The rate of HSC-T6 apoptosis was identified by flow cytometry (FCM) and the morphological change of apoptosis was observed with light microscopy. The expressions of apoptosis-regulating protein Bcl-2, Bax and Caspase 3 in HSC-T6 after apoptosis induced by ursolic acid were examined by immunocytochemical staining assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>MTT analysis indicated administration of 25-150 micromol/L ursolic acid incubated with HSC-T6 for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h significantly inhibited HSC-T6 proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner compared with the control group. Promotive effect of ursolic acid on proliferation of hepatocyte L02 was observed in the 25, 50, 75 micromol/L concentration groups. Ursolic acid inhibited L02 proliferation when its concentration was higher than 100 micromol/L and for 72 hours or longer. HE stained histological slides demonstrated morphologic changes of HSC-T6, including karyorrhexis and cytoplasm vacuolization, when they were treated with ursolic acid at 75 micromol/L concentrations for 48 h. FCM showed the apoptosis ratios of HSC-T6 were 10.30%+/-3.85%, 21.87%+/-4.46% and 31.33%+/-6.18% after treating HSC-T6 with ursolic acid at concentrations of 25, 50 and 75 micromol/L for 48 h. They were significantly higher than that of the control group 2.93%+/-1.60%. Immunocytochemistry also indicated the expressions of Bax and caspase 3 protein in HSC-T6 cells were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner, but expressions of Bcl-2 protein were not significantly different from that of the blank control group (P more than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Ursolic acid could significantly inhibit HSC proliferation and induce apoptosis in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Ursolic acid in low concentration promotes proliferation of L02 cells, but in high concentrations (more than 100 micromol/L) it inhibits the growth of hepatocytes. Expressions of Bax and Caspase 3 in apoptotic HSC were increased; expressions of Bcl-2 protein were not significantly different from that of the control group, while Bcl-2/Bax ratio was reduced. Our results suggest that HSC-T6 cell apoptosis induced by ursolic acid occurs through mechanisms involving mitochondrial pathways and Bcl-2 family proteins.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , Apoptosis , Caspase 3 , Metabolism , Cell Line , Cell Proliferation , Hepatic Stellate Cells , Cell Biology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 , Metabolism , Triterpenes , Pharmacology , bcl-2-Associated X Protein , MetabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the function of c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 (JNK3) in the process of ischemic/reperfused heart injury and the mechanism underlying the protective action of magnesium lithospermate B (MTB), a bioactive compound isolated from Danshen.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>By in situ hybridization, JNK3 mRNA was detected in the ventricular preparations of the Langendorff ischemic/reperfused rat heart. The inhibitory effect of MTB on the expression of JNK3 mRNA was also investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The purple and blue hybridization signals were located in the cytoplasm of the cardiomyocytes, which were weaker in the non-perfused hearts and stronger in the hearts encountered 30 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion. Image analysis showed that the expression of JNK3 mRNA in the cardiomyocytes increased after 30 min of ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion, which showed significant difference compared with that in the cardiomyocytes of the non-perfused heart and the control heart (P < 0.05). Treatment with of 0.1, 1 and 10 mumol.L-1 MTB abolished the elevation of JNK3 mRNA expression in the ischemic/reperfused heart (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>JNK3 may be another component in the signal transduction pathway of ischemia/reperfusion induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis. MTB may protect the heart from ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing apoptosis through inhibition of the JNK3 activity.</p>