Is it necessary for all patients with suspicious lesions undergo systematic biopsy in the era of MRI-TRUS fusion targeted biopsy?

ABSTRACT Purpose Targeted biopsy (TB) combined with systematic biopsy (SB) is an optimized mode of prostate biopsy but can often lead to oversampling and overdiagnosis accompanied by potential biopsy-related complications and patient discomfort. Here, we attempted to reasonably stratify the patient population based on multi-parameter indicators with the aim of avoiding unnecessary SB. Methods In total, 340 biopsy-naïve men with suspected lesions, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) < 20 ng/mL and prostate imaging-reporting and data system (PI-RADS) ≥ 3 enrolled for study underwent both TB and SB. The primary outcome was to determine independent predictors for a valid diagnosis, assuming that only TB was performed and SB omitted (defined as mono-TB), taking TB + SB as the reference standard. The secondary outcomes were exploration of the predictive factors of mono-TB and TB + SB in detection of prostate cancer (PCa) and clinically significant PCa (csPCa). Results The mean PSA density (PSAD) of patient group was 0.27 ng/mL/mL. Multiparametric MRI PI-RADS scores were 3-5 in 146 (42.94%), 105 (30.88%), and 89 (26.18%) cases, respectively. PCa and csPCa were detected in 178/340 (52.35%) and 162/340 (47.65%) patients, respectively. Overall, 116/178 (65.17%) patients diagnosed with PCa displayed pathological consistencies between mono-TB and TB + SB modes. PSAD and PI-RADS were independent predictors of valid diagnosis using mono-TB. Conclusions PSAD combined with PI-RADS showed utility in guiding optimization of the prostate biopsy mode. Higher PSAD and PI-RADS values were associated with greater confidence in implementing mono-TB and safely omitting SB, thus effectively balancing the benefits and risks.

Expression of TRAP1 in colon cancer tissues and its relationship with clinicopathological features and patient prognosis and the possible molecular mechanisms / 中国肿瘤生物治疗杂志

@#[摘 要] 目的：探讨肿瘤坏死因子受体相关蛋白1（TRAP1）在结肠癌组织和细胞中的表达及其与临床病理特征和患者预后的关系和相关分子机制。方法：通过TCGA和GEO数据全面分析TRAP1在结肠癌中的表达及其与临床病理特征和患者预后的关系，选取2020年10月至2021年03月间在山西医科大学第一医院手术切除的10例结肠癌组织及相应癌旁组织标本，用IHC染色法检测中国人结肠癌组织中TRAP1的表达进行验证，运行R包（survival和survminer）进行Kaplan-Meier生存分析；在线分析TRAP1蛋白的信号肽及穿膜结构域，通过基因富集分析软件进行GO分析和KEGG分析。培养结肠癌SW480和SW620细胞，将si-NC和si-TRAP1转染结肠癌细胞，实验分为空白对照组、si-NC组和si-TRAP1组，采用qPCR法检测转染后各组结肠癌细胞中TRAP1的表达，FCM检测转染后各组细胞的细胞周期和凋亡情况。结果：与癌旁组织比较，TRAP1在结肠癌组织中呈高表达（P<0.01），TRAP1表达水平与淋巴结转移有关联（P<0.05），TRAP1高表达组结肠癌患者5年OS率较低（P<0.05）。TRAP1蛋白属于细胞质蛋白，功能富集结果显示TRAP1及其相关分子与细胞周期、核糖体生物发生等信号通路有关（均P<0.01），TRAP1高表达组的结肠癌代谢重编程基因簇和线粒体蛋白输入基因簇水平升高（均P<0.01）。敲减TRAP1后，结肠癌细胞周期阻滞于G1期，细胞凋亡水平显著升高（均P<0.01）。结论：TRAP1在结肠癌组织中呈高表达，且与患者淋巴结转移和低OS率相关联，敲减TRAP1可阻滞结肠癌细胞周期并促进其凋亡。

Protective effects of Baicalin injection on severe acute pancreatitis through regulating follistatin-like-1 signaling pathway by down-regulating miR-429 expression in mice

Abstract In China, Scutellaria is used for treating inflammatory-related diseases. Baicalin is the main active component of Scutellaria and has protective effects on acute pancreatitis. However, the mechanism of Baicalin is still unclear. In this study, the protective effects of baicalin on acute pancreatitis induced by taurocholate and its mechanism are investigated. In this study, mice were randomly divided into three groups: sham operation, model, and treatment groups. Acute pancreatitis in mice was induced by intraperitoneal injection of taurocholate (35 mg/kg). The treatment group was given baicalin (100 mg/kg) 2 h before acute pancreatitis induction. The mRNA expression levels of miR-429, nuclear factor kappa B65(NF-kB65), toll-like receptor 4(TLR4), TNF receptor associated factor6 (TRAF6), NF-kappa-B inhibitor(IkB), Follistatin-like 1 (FSTL1), and interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK) in the liver tissues 24 h after intraperitoneal injection were detected by RT-PCR. Then, the expression levels of NF-kB65, p-NF-κB65, TLR4, TRAF6, IkB, FSTL1, IRAK, p- IRAK, and p- IkB-а proteins were detected by Western blot. IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1 ß in plasma were measured by ELISA, and histopathological changes in the pancreases of the mice were observed. The results showed that after baicalin treatment, miR-429 expression in the pancreatic tissues and the expression levels of NF-kB65, TLR4, TRAF6, p-IkB-а, FSTL1, and p-IRAK decreased. Similarly, pancreatic myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and the plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-а, IL-12, IL-1ß1, endotoxin, serum amylase, and lipase were reduced. Thus, the pancreatic injury induced by taurocholate was alleviated. The present study indicates that pretreatment with Baicalin can alleviate acute pancreatic injury induced by taurocholate in mice. The mechanism may be associated with the decreased miR-429 expression, reduced FSTL1 signaling pathway activity, TLR4 and TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway inhibition, and reduced pancreatic inflammation. FSTL1 is the regulatory target for miR-429

Magnetic resonance-guided ablation of liver tumors: A systematic review and pooled analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the clinical outcomes of different types of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided ablation for the treatment of liver tumors by performing a systematic review and pooled analysis. Materials and Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed for clinical trials published from January 1997 to October 2019 in PubMed, the Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. Pooled analyses were performed to obtain the complete ablation (CA), complication, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) rates. Results: Thirty studies were eligible, including four studies on MR-guided microwave ablation (MWA); 14 studies on MR-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA); one study on both MR-guided MWA and RFA; eight studies on MR-guided, laser-induced thermotherapy (LITT); two studies on MR-guided percutaneous cryoablation (PC); and one study on MR-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI). The CA rates in patients who underwent RFA, MWA, LITT, PC, and PEI were 95.60%, 98.86%, 77.78%, 47.92%, and 85.71%, respectively. The most frequent complications were pain (27.66%, 13/47) and postablation syndrome (27.66%, 13/47) in the PC group; pleural effusion (8.11%, 119/1,468) and subcapsular hematoma (2.25%, 33/1,468) in the LITT group; pleural effusion (2.67%, 2/75) in the MWA group; and subcapsular hematoma (4.18%, 20/478) and post-ablation syndrome (2.93%, 14/478) in the RFA group. There were few studies reporting PFS and OS. Conclusions: MR-guided ablation is a practicable alternative treatment for liver tumors, especially MR-guided RFA and MWA, which have high rates of CA and low occurrences of complications

Risk factors of acute kidney injury induced by hemorrhagic shock / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To explore the risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) complicating hemorrhagic shock (HS). Methods Clinical data of 1589 patients admitted to Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Second People's Hospital of Shenzhen from January 1st, 2010 to December 31th, 2015 were analyzed retrospectively. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used to analyze the independent risk factors of AKI induced by HS. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AU-ROC) and Youde's index were used to determine the optimal cut-off value of nadir platelet count in AKI induced by HS. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to draw the 28-day survival curve and log-rank test was done to evaluate it in AKI and non-AKI groups. Results Of 1589 patients screened, 84 (mean age 37.1 years) were included in the primary analysis in whom 30 suffered AKI. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed platelet count, lactic acid, carbon dioxide partial pressure, alanine aminotransferase, APACHE Ⅱ score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, and mechanical ventilation were the independent factors for HS complicated by AKI, the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The nadir platelet count in the first 48h was an independent risk factor for AKI induced by HS (OR=0.71, P=0.0128). The optimal cut-off value was 75×109/L, and the AU-ROC was 0.838 (P<0.01, 95% CI: 0.731-0.929; P0.01), and the sensitivity and specificity were 0.815 and 0.767, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier curve showed that 28-day all-cause mortality was significantly higher in HS patients with AKI than non-AKI (P<0.001). Conclusions Nadir platelet count in the first 48 hour is a dependent risk factor for occurence of AKI after HS and more than 75×109/L for platelet count may reduce its occurrence.

Derlin1 functions as an oncogene in cervical cancer via AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks third in the morbidity and mortality of female cancer around the world. Derlin1 has been found to be overexpressed in several human cancers. However, it is still unclear about its roles in CC. The research aims to explore the relationship between Derlin1 and CC. METHODS: We purchased a human CC tissues microarray, which contained CC tissues and corresponding para-cancerous tissues from 93 patients with primary cervical squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining was used to confirm the expression of Derlin1 in these tissues. And we detected the differential expression of Derlin1 in cervical cancer cell lines and normal cervical epithelial cells (H8). Further, the cervical cancer cell lines SiHa and C33A were used as an in vitro model, which was down-regulated the expression of Derlin1 using siRNA interference technology. The effects of Derlin1 down-regulating in CC cell lines on cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK8 assay and transwell assay, respectively. The effect of Derlin1 down-regulating on apoptosis was analyzed by flow cytometry, and apoptosis-related proteins were detected using western blotting. In-depth mechanisms were studied using western blotting. In addition, the effects of Derlin1 up-regulating in normal cervical epithelial cells also were exposed. RESULTS: Derlin1 was significantly elevated in CC tissues (81.7%, 76/93), and the expression of Derlin 1 was positively correlated with the tumor size, pathological grade, and lymph node metastasis in CC patients. And Derlin 1 was high expressed in cervical cancer cell lines compared to H8 cells. Knockdown of Derlin 1 in cervical cancer cell lines inhibited cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, knockdown of Derlin 1 induced apoptosis and affected the expression of apoptosis-related proteins, including Bcl-2, Bax, Bim, caspase3 and caspase9. Further experiments showed that AKT/mTOR signal pathway might be involve in this processes that knockdown of Derlin 1 inhibited the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. Over-expression of Derlin 1 in H8 cells promoted cell proliferation and migration via up-regulated the expression of p-AKT and p-mTOR. CONCLUSION: Derlin 1 is an oncogene in CC via AKT/mTOR pathway. It might be a potential therapeutic target for CC.

Clinical and laboratory features distinguishing between Deinagkistrodon acutus and Daboia siamensis envenomation

There are 6 species of venomous snakes in Taiwan. Two of them, Deinagkistrodon acutus (D. acutus) and Daboia siamensis (D. siamensis), can cause significant coagulopathy. However, a significant proportion of patients with snakebites cannot identify the correct snake species after envenomation, which hampers the application of antivenom. Hence, the differential diagnosis between the two snakebites by clinical presentations is important. This study aims to compare their clinical and laboratory features for the purpose of differential diagnosis between the two snakebites. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who arrived at the emergency department due to D. acutus or D. siamensis envenomation, between 2003 and 2016, in one medical center in eastern Taiwan. Since these snakebites are rare, we also included 3 cases reported from another hospital in central Taiwan. Results: In total, 15 patients bitten by D. acutus and 12 patients by D. siamensis were analyzed. Hemorrhagic bulla formation and the need for surgical intervention only presented for D. acutus envenomation cases (Both 53.3% vs. 0.0%, P= 0.003). As to laboratory features, lower platelet counts (20.0 × 103/µL [interquartile range, 14-66 × 103/µL] vs. 149.0 × 103/µL [102.3-274.3 × 103/µL], P = 0.001), lower D-dimer level (1423.4 µg/L [713.4-4212.3 µg/L] vs. 12,500.0 µg/L [2351.4-200,000 µg/L], P = 0.008), higher proportion of patients with moderate-to-severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 × 103/µL) (80% vs. 16.7%, odds ratio (OR) = 20.0, 95% CI, 2.77-144.31; P = 0.002), and lower proportion of patients with extremely high D-dimer (> 5000 ng/mL) (16.7% vs. 66.7%, adjusted OR = 0.1 (95% CI, 0.01-0.69; P = 0.036) were found among cases of D. acutus envenomation compared to D. siamensis envenomation. The combination of hemorrhagic bulla, thrombocytopenia, and a lack of extremely high D-dimer had good discriminatory power (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.965; 95% CI, 0.904-1.00) for distinguishing D. acutus from D. siamensis envenomation. Conclusions: The presentation of moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count < 100 × 103/µL) and hemorrhagic bulla formation may indicate D. acutus envenomation. However, the envenomed patient with extremely high D-dimer levels may indicate a D. siamensis envenomation. These findings may help diagnose and select the right antivenom in patients with unknown snakebites who present significant coagulopathy.(AU)

Restoration of E-cadherin by compound 8J protects against cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury by attenuating inflammation and programmed cell death / 中国药理学与毒理学杂志

OBJECTIVE E-cadherin is a major component of tubular adherent proteins which maintain intercellular contacts and cell polarity in epithelial tissue, it is involved in the pathological process of renal cell carcinoma and fibrotic diseases via epithelial- mesenchymal transition. Although we and others found that expression of E-cadherin was significantly down-regulated in kidney suffered acute kidney injury (AKI), its function in AKI was still unknown, which was explored in the current study. METHODS We disrupted E-cadherin or restored E-cadherin with compound 8J in cisplatin-stimulated tubular epithelial cell lines, the cell damage and inflammation were evaluated, additionally, the thera?peutic potential of E-cadherin restoration was also determined in vivo. RESULTS We found that cisplatin reduced E-cadherin expression both in mouse kidney and tubular epithelial cell lines (mTECs). Adminis?tration of compound 8J restored the level of E-cadherin, thereby increased cell viability while attenuating programmed cell death, which may be mediated by deactivation of RIPK/MLKL axis, reduced membrane translocation of phosphor-MLKL and decreased cleavage of caspase 3. Compound 8J also suppressed inflammatory response in cisplatin- treated mTECs, which was correlated with suppressed NF- κB phorsphorylation and promoter activity. In contrast, disruption of E-cadherin enhanced cell damage and inflammation. Treatment of compound 8J failed to further attenuate kidney damage in E- cadherin knockdown cells, indicating compound 8J protected against mTECs mainly through restoring E-cadherin. We also found that peritoneal injection of compound 8J protected against renal function and tubular damage by preventing NF-κB-driven renal inflammation and RIPK/MLKL-regulated programmed cell death, which was led by restoration of E-cadherin in cisplatin nephropathy. CONCLUSION More than a victim degraded after kidney injury, E-cadherin also has functional role in controlling tubule integrity, programmed cell death and renal inflammation. In this regard, restoration of E-cadherin by compound 8J should be considered as a novel therapeutic strategy for acute kidney injury.

Analysis of parenchymal-sparing hepatectomy in surgical treatment of colorectal liver metastases / 中国肿瘤临床

Objective:To analyze the role of parenchymal-sparing hepatectomy (PSH) in surgical treatment of colorectal liver metasta-ses (CRLM). Methods:All CRLM patients registered in our database who underwent liver resection were assigned into two groups:the PSH group and the major hepatectomy (MH) group. Clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed. Surgical outcomes, survival time, and recurrence were compared between the two groups. Results:A total of 377 patients were enrolled. Except for tumor num-bers, no significant difference was found in patient demographics and tumor characteristics between the 2 groups. The rate of PSH in-creased over the study period. Short-term surgical outcomes were better in the PSH group than in the MH group. Surgery time was sig-nificantly shorter (177.5 min vs. 220 min, P=0.000), blood loss was significantly reduced (150 mL vs. 300 mL, P=0.000), and morbidity was significantly reduced (47.4%vs. 64.8%, P=0.008). No significant difference was found in overall survival (OS) time (43 m vs. 41 m, P=0.750) between the 2 groups. Hepatic recurrence-free survival time (21 m vs. 13 m, P=0.344) was similar between the 2 groups. However, local treatment was more frequently performed in the PSH group (42.8%vs. 25.6%, P=0.040) when disease recurred. The 5-year OS was significantly better in patients undergoing local treatment than in those without undergoing local treatment (58 m vs. 24 m, P=0.000), for hepatic recurrence. Conclusion:PSH did not increase hepatic recurrence but improve salvage ability in case of recur-rence with a better short-term surgical outcome. PSH should be the recommended approach at initial hepatectomy.

Bulectomia bilateral por cirurgia torácica vídeo-assistida uniportal combinada com acesso contralateral ao mediastino anterior / Bilateral bullectomy through uniportal video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery combined with contralateral access to the anterior mediastinum

OBJETIVO: A cirurgia torácica vídeo-assistida (CTVA) tem sido uma intervenção de escolha para o tratamento de pneumotórax espontâneo (PS) com bolha pulmonar. Nosso objetivo foi apresentar uma abordagem de CTVA uniportal unilateral para bulectomia bilateral e avaliar sua eficácia terapêutica. MÉTODOS: Entre maio de 2011 e janeiro de 2012, cinco pacientes foram submetidos a bulectomia bilateral por essa abordagem. Todos apresentavam PS bilateral. A TCAR pré-operatória mostrou que todos os pacientes tinham bolhas bilaterais no pulmão apical. As indicações cirúrgicas, os procedimentos de operação e os desfechos foram revisados. RESULTADOS: Todos os pacientes foram submetidos com sucesso a essa abordagem para bulectomia bilateral, sem complicações intraoperatórias. A mediana de tempo para a retirada do dreno torácico foi de 4,2 dias, e a mediana do tempo de hospitalização no pós-operatório foi de 5,2 dias. A mediana de seguimento pós-operatório foi de 11,2 meses. Um paciente teve recidiva de PE do lado esquerdo três semanas após a cirurgia e foi submetido a abrasão pleural. CONCLUSÕES: A bulectomia bilateral utilizando CTVA uniportal combinada com acesso contralateral ao mediastino anterior é tecnicamente confiável e promove desfechos favoráveis para pacientes com PS que desenvolvem bolhas bilaterais no pulmão apical. Entretanto, para a realização desse procedimento cirúrgico, são necessários cirurgiões com experiência em CTVA, instrumentos toracoscópicos longos, entre outras exigências.

OBJECTIVE: Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) has been a surgical intervention of choice for the treatment of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) with lung bulla. Our objective was to introduce a uniportal VATS approach for simultaneous bilateral bullectomy and to evaluate its therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: Between May of 2011 and January of 2012, five patients underwent bilateral bullectomy conducted using this approach. All of the patients presented with bilateral SP. Preoperative HRCT revealed that all of the patients had bilateral apical bullae. We reviewed the surgical indications, surgical procedures, and outcomes. RESULTS: All of the patients were successfully submitted to this approach for bilateral bullectomy, and there were no intraoperative complications. The median time to chest tube removal was 4.2 days, and the median length of the postoperative hospital stay was 5.2 days. The median postoperative follow-up period was 11.2 months. One patient experienced recurrence of left SP three weeks after the surgery and underwent pleural abrasion. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral bullectomy through uniportal VATS combined with contralateral access to the anterior mediastinum is technically reliable and provides favorable surgical outcomes for patients with bilateral SP who develop bilateral apical bullae. However, among other requirements, this surgical procedure demands that surgeons be experienced in VATS and that the appropriate thoracoscopic instruments are available.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for improving function after stroke

BACKGROUND: It had been assumed that suppressing the undamaged contralesional motor cortex by repetitive low-frequency transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) or increasing the excitability of the damaged hemisphere cortex by high-frequency rTMS will promote function recovery after stroke. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and safety of rTMS for improving function in people with stroke. METHODS: AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Current evidence does not support the routine use of rTMS for the treatment of stroke. Further trials with larger sample sizes are needed to determine a suitable rTMS protocol and the long-term functional outcome. .

Results of requesting a second consecutive sperm ejaculate on the day of oocyte pick-up in assisted reproductive technology / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate the results of requesting a second consecutive sperm ejaculate in order to reduce ICSI cycles by PESA or TESE on the day of oocyte pick-up in assisted reproductive technology (ART).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We collected 68 semen samples as a second consecutive ejaculate from 34 men, compared the semen volume and sperm concentration, motility and total count between the first and the second ejaculation, and analyzed the laboratory results and clinical outcomes of fertilization with the mixed sperm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The 34 males ejaculated twice within 4 hours by masturbation, with an interval of 26-183 (94.9 +/- 39.8) minutes between the first and second ejaculation. The volume of the first ejaculate was (2.0 +/- 1.4) ml, significantly higher than that of the second ([1.5 +/- 0.9] ml) (P = 0.007), although the numbers of motile sperm and grade a + b sperm of the first ([40.8 +/- 25.3]% and [30.9 +/- 22.4]%) were significantly lower than those of the second ([52.2 +/- 21.1]% and [39.9 +/- 17.5]%) (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the sperm concentration or total sperm count between the two ejaculates (P > 0.05). The ICSI, IVF + ICSI, and IVF cycles were 3, 3 and 28 respectively among the 34 couples undergoing ART. The number of retrieved oocytes, normal fertilization rate, high quality embryo rate and frozen cycles/fresh transfer cycles ratio were 15.5 +/- 8.7, 57.0% (247/433), 58.7% (145/247) and 20/24 for the IVF cycle, 21.7 +/- 8.3, 61.5% (40/65), 67.5% (27/40) and 3/2 for the ICSI cycle, and 10.0 +/- 2.6, 72.4% (21/29), 66.7% (14/21) and 3/3 for the IVF + ICSI cycle. Fourteen live births were achieved out of the 18 pregnancies, including 6 healthy boys and 9 healthy girls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A clinical pregnancy rate of >30% can be achieved by requesting a second consecutive sperm ejaculate on the day of oocyte pick-up in order to collect more sperm and/or increase the total number of motile sperm for ART. And this method can avoid other invasive sperm processing techniques and the need of unnecessary micromanipulative fertilization.</p>

Clinical effects of qianggan capsule on the liver tissue pathology and PDGF-BB, TGF-beta1, TIMP-1, and MMP-1 factors in patients with chronic hepatitis B / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the therapeutic efficacy of Qianggan Capsule (QC) in treating patients Seventy pa-with chronic hepatitis B fibrosis from the pathological aspect and serum fibrosis markers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>patients with chronic hepatitis B were randomly assigned to two groups, the treated group (45 cases) and the control group (25 cases). QC was given to patients in the treated group, while glucurone and compound vitamin B were given to those in the control group. The therapeutic course for both groups was 6 months. The therapeutic effect was assessed by determination of fibrosis markers including serum levels of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta1), matrix metalloproteinases-1 (MMP-1), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) and serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT), total bilirubin (TBIL), albumin (ALB), and prothrombin time (PT) were completed 1 month before treatment and at the end of the trial respectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) Serum levels of ALT, TBIL, PT decreased obviously and the serum ALB level obviously increased in both groups (all P<0.05), showing no significant difference between the two groups (P>0.05). (2) Hepatic fibrosis markers: Serum levels of PDGF-BB, TGF-1P3, and TIMP-1 significantly decreased, and serum MMP-1 level markedly increased in the treated group more than before treatment (all P<0.05). No significant difference was shown between before and after treatment in each index of the control group (P>0.05). Serum levels of PDGF-BB, TGF-beta1, and TIMP-1 were obviously lower and the serum MMP-1 level was obviously higher in the treated group than in the control group after treatment (all P<0.05). (3) Hepatic histopathological results: The hepatic inflammatory necrosis activity and the hepatic fibrosis degree in the treated group were significantly improved (P<0.05), with the total effective rate of the hepatic necrosis activity improvement being 40.00% and that of the hepatic fibrosis degree being 57.78%. But there was no obvious improvement in the hepatic inflammatory necrosis activity or the hepatic fibrosis degree in the control group (P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>QC could effectively improve serological indices and pathological indices of chronic hepatitis B fibrosis patients, showing better therapeutic effect in reversing hepatic fibrosis and alleviating hepatic inflammatory necrosis.</p>

Total cyst excision with ultrasonic scalpel under the laparoscope for choledochal cyst / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the technique and its advantage on application of ultrasonic scalpel in laproscopic cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepatoenterostomy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Forty-five cases were undergone laparoscopic cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepatoenterostomy by ultrasonic scalpel. After intraoperative cholangiogram, the gallbladder and the dilated bile duct were completely excised by ultrasonic scalpel. Roux-en-Y hepatoenterostomy was performed extracorporeally through umbilical incision, then an end-to-side anastomosis was carried out intracorporeally.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All 45 cases were completely accomplished under laparoscope combined with ultrasonic scalpel. Median duration of operation was 4.2 h (3.5-6.0 h). Intraoperative bleeding was between 10-50 ml (median 15 ml). No complication were found during operation. All children were discharged in 3-9 d (median 5.5 d) after operation. Thirty-eight cases were followed up 1-18 months. No stenosis or ileus occurred. Liver functions were in normal level.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Total cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepatoenterostomy by ultrasonic scalpel under the laparoscope was effective and safe for choledochal cyst. The most excellence was that clearly viewing during operation, less bleeding and injury, free of pain postoperation, microincision and scar.</p>

Increased circulating CCR3+ type 2 helper T cells in house dust mite-sensitive Chinese patients with allergic diseases.

Chemokine receptor expression has been shown to be associated with the differentiation of T helper cells. The CCR3, CXCR4 and CCR5 expression on circulating T cells were studied in 30 house dust mite sensitive-patients with allergic diseases and in another 30 healthy controls. The expression was analyzed in CD4, CD8 and double negative (DN) T cells by triple fluorescence staining. In addition, intracellular cytokine staining was performed in the CCR3+ CD4+ T cells. Increased circulating portions of CCR3+ CD4+ T cells and CCR3+ DN T cells were found in these patients (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the expression of CXCR4 and CCR5 on T cells. The follow-up data of the patients did not show a statistically significant change in the CCR3 expression. IL-4 was expressed within CCR3+ CD4+ T cells upon activation. The IL-4 secreting CCR3+ type 2 T helper cells may play a pathogenetic role in immune responses of house dust mite-sensitive Chinese patients with allergic diseases.

Relationship between the genotypes of hepatitis B virus and the severity of liver diseases / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between different genotypes of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the severity of liver diseases.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The S nucleotide sequences of HBV strains isolated from plasma samples of 284 patients were detected and compared. Among them, 87 patients were HBV asymptomatic carriers (ASC), 157 chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 22 liver cirrhosis (LC), and 18 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Genotypes B and C were predominant, with a 26.1% proportion and a 63.2% proportion respectively. The percentage of genotypes B and C in patients with ASC, CHB, LC, and HCC were significantly different (x(2)=15.09, P<0.001). Compared with genotype B, genotype C was more common in patients with CHB and HCC (59.6% vs 43.2%, chi(2)=10.87, P<0.001; 7.7% vs 1.4%, x(2)=7.41, P<0.001), but in patients with LC there was no different (7.7% vs 8.1%, chi(2)=1.29, P>0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This study suggests that genotype B and C are predominant. And genotype C may induce more severe the liver inflammation than genotype B may do.</p>

Correlation between the renal C1q deposition and serum anti-C1q antibody: a potential role of anti-C1q antibody in lupus nephritis.

The anti-C1q antibody has been shown to be associated with lupus patients with renal involvement. We conducted a study to determine the relationship between the serum anti-C1q titer and the renal deposition of C1q. The serum anti-C1q was measured in 26 healthy controls and 47 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who were divided into 2 groups as non-nephritis and nephritis SLE. We analyzed the relationship between the anti-C1q titers and SLE, renal C1q staining and the WHO classification for lupus nephritis. The result revealed that the serum anti-C1q was present in 50.8% of the SLE patients, that its levels in those with renal involvement were significantly higher than in the normal control group (61.540 +/- 87.720 U/ml vs 15.750 +/- 2.530 U/ml, p = 0.005). Besides, the serum anti-C1q levels were higher in the patients with lupus nephritis with C1q deposition in the kidney tissue (66.038 +/- 91.141 U/ml vs 16.652 +/- 3.097 U/ml, p < 0.01). There seems to be evidence supporting that the autoantibody anti-C1q might play a pathogenic role in lupus nephritis.