ABSTRACT
Objectives: We sought to determine whether the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and interleukin (IL)-22 may be involved in the pathogenesis of the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in allergic asthmatic patients and whether their expression may be related to the severity of the disease. Methods: Blood samples were obtained from each subject with allergic asthma (n =18), controlled asthma (n =17) and healthy controls (n =12) respectively. The PBMCs were collected for AhR mRNA detection by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The plasma was collected for IL-22 protein detection by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Results: The expression of AhR mRNA in PBMCs and IL-22 protein in plasma of patients with allergic asthma were higher than those in controlled asthma cases and healthy controls. The plasma concentrations of IL-22 had negative correlation with the predicted percentage of forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1%) and the percentage of FEV1 and forced vital capacity (FEV1/FVC%) and it was positively correlated with the asthma severity score (ASS) of the asthmatics. Conclusion: Our results suggested that both AhR and IL-22 might be involved in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma in human and the level of IL-22 might have some relationship with the severity of the disease.
ABSTRACT
Liver resection is the most effective treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system is commonly accepted as a guideline for HCC treatment,but it only recommends liver resection for the patients with HCC at stage 0 to A1.The surgical indications of the BCLC staging system need to be re-evaluated.120 HCC patients undergoing curative liver resection were retrospectively stratified to the BCLC staging system,and the survival of the patients at stages A,B and C was analyzed.The justification of the BCLC staging system was re-evaluated.Fifty-two patients were classified at stage A,51 at stage B and 17 at stage C respectively.The hospital mortality of this cohort was zero and the morbidity was 24.1％.The 1-,2-,3-year overall survival rate of this cohort was 81.6％,68.3％,and 57.5％ respectively.There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the patients at stage A and B (P＞0.05).If the treatment guidelines of BCLC staging system were followed,the majority of the patients at stages A and B (77.7％,80/103) would not have been treated surgically.Our data suggest that the surgical indications of the BCLC staging system are not justified for HCC treatment.More studies may be needed as for how to further broaden the surgical indications of the BCLC staging system in the future.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the effect of P85 (a pluronic block copolymer) and microbubble (MB)ultrasound contrast agents under ultrasound irradiation on gene transfection and expression.The pEGFP plasmids that can encode enhanced green fluorescent protein (pEGFP) served as a report gene and were mixed with different concentrations of MB/0.05％ (w/v) P85.Then the plasmids were transfected into human hepatoma G2 (HepG2) cells.The HepG2 cells treated with MB/P85 or without treatment were exposed to ultrasound (US parameters:1 MHz,1.0 W/cm2,20 s,20％ duty cycle).Twenty-four hours later,the transfection efficiency was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis.The cell viability was evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion test.The results showed that the gene transfection efficiency in HepG2 cells under ultrasound irradiation was significantly higher than that without ultrasound irradiation.HepG2 cells in the MB or P85group in the absence of ultrasound expressed less amount of green fluorescent protein.The expression efficiency reached (22.14±3.06)％ and the survival rate was as high as (55.73±3.32)％ in the 30％ MB plus P85 group.It was concluded that MB and P85 in the presence of ultrasound can enhance gene transfection and expression.
ABSTRACT
The value of color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) for assessing the transplanted liver and early diagnosing complications by examining hemodynamic changes was discussed. Seventy-five patients with orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) underwent CDFI. The following parameters were measured: peak systolic velocity (PS), resistance index (RI) and Doppler perfusion index (DPI) of the hepatic artery (HA), time average velocity (TAV) of portal vein (PV) and velocity of hepatic vein (HV) in different stages post-operation. And 11 patients of them received CEUS. Thirty healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. The results showed that: (1) In 23 patients without obvious complications, TAV of PV within 15 days post-operation was significantly higher than in controls (P<0.05), PS and DPI of HA within 7 days postoperation were lower, but RI was higher than in controls (P<0.05); (2) When the hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred, PS and DPI of HA were obviously decreased, but TAV of PV significantly increased like a high saw-tooth wave; (3) While rejection occurred, both TAV of PV and PS of HA were decreased with the increase in RI of HA, and the triphasic wave of HV disappeared and displayed as saw-tooth wave; (4) The incidence of biliary complications in liver transplantation was in-creased when DPI was reduced; (5) Seven cases of hepatic carcinoma relapse after OLT demonstrated hyperecho in the arterial phase and hypoecho in the portal and later phase on CEUS; (6) In 2 cases of HA thrombus, there was no visualized enhancement in arterial phase of CEUS, but enhancement during the portal vein and parenchymal phase. It was concluded that the hemodynamic changes of PV, HA and HV in the transplanted liver are valuable for assessing the transplanted liver and early diagnosing complications on CDFI and CEUS.