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Abstract Objective The aim is to evaluate the diagnostic value of Activin A levels in serum and pleural fluid on Parapneumonic Pleural Effusion (PPE). Methods The authors collected serum and pleural fluid from 86 PPE and 37 Non-PPE (NPPE) patients. Including Activin A, levels of biomarkers such as Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH), Procalcitonin (PCT), and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) were measured. All factors were calculated for association with days after admission. The diagnostic potential of biomarkers on PPE was considered by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Results Levels of Activin A in serum and pleural fluid of PPE patients were significantly higher than those of the NPPE patients. Moreover, concentrations of Activin A in pleural fluid showed a more obvious relevant days after admission. ROC curve analysis found that Activin A in pleural fluid had AUCs of 0.899 with 93% sensitivity and 84% specificity for PPE diagnosis. Conclusion Activin A in pleural fluid correlated with disease severity could act to diagnose PPE.
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@#[Abstract] Objective: To construct recombinant plasmid Egr1-XPO4 and evaluate its synergic inhibition with 5-FU against hepatocarcinoma SK-Hep1 cells. Methods: The XPO4 gene was inserted into vector carrying promoter Egr1 to construct a new recombinant vector, Egr1-XPO4, which was then transfected into human hepatocarcinoma cell line SK-Hep1 and sensitized with chemotherapeutic drug 5-FU. Western blotting was adopted to examine the protein expression of XPO4; CCK assay was used to detect SK-Hep1 cell proliferation after transfection, and Flow Cytometry with Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was used to detect the apoptosis of SK-Hep1 cells. SKHep1 cell xenograft model was constructed on nude mice, and the effect of Egr1-XPO4 in combination with 5-FU on the growth of xenograft was observed. Results: The recombinant plasmid Egr1-XPO4 was successfully constructed.With the sensitization of 5-FU, the expression of XPO4 protein in SK-Hep1 cells was significantly elevated after Egr1-XPO4 transfection, and the evlevation was in a 5FU dose-depend manner.The combined treatment of Egr1-XPO4 and 5-FU produced a significantly stronger inhibition against SKHep1 cell proliferation and greatly promoted apoptosis of SK-Hep1cells compared with 5-FU or pEgr-XPO4 mono-treatment group (all P<0.05). And in vivo antitumor experiment showed that the tumor volume in Egr1-XPO4+5-FU treatment group was significantly smaller than that of Egr1-XPO4 or 5-FU mono-treatment group (P<0.05). Conclusion: The recombinant plasmid Egr1-XPO4 in combination with 5-FU could exertsynergic inhibitionagainst hepatocarcinomaSK-Hep1 cells.
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Background: Heart failure constitutes a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the United States and its incidence and prevalence continue to grow, increasing its burden on the health care system. Renal dysfunction in patients with heart failure is common and has been associated with adverse clinical outcomes. This interaction, termed the cardiorenal syndrome, is a complex phenomenon characterized by a pathophysiological disequilibrium between the heart and the kidney, in which malfunction of one organ subsequently promotes the impairment of the other. Multiple neuro-humoral mechanisms are involved in this cardiorenal interaction, including the deficiency of and/or resistance to compensatory natriuretic peptides, leading to sodium retention, volume overload and organ remodeling. Management of patients with the cardiorenal syndrome can be challenging and should be individualized. Emerging therapies must address the function of both organs in order to secure better clinical outcomes. To this end, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended to achieve optimal results.