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Background@#There is no standard cut-off value of serum IgG4 concentration and serum IgG4/total IgG ratio for the diagnosis of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) or as a marker of treatment responses. We aimed to explore this issue through a retrospective cohort analysis of adults in southwest China. @*Methods@#The diagnostic performance of serum IgG4 concentration and IgG4/IgG ratio for IgG4-RD was evaluated in a retrospective analysis of 177 adults newly diagnosed as having IgG4-RD and 877 adults without IgG4-RD. Dynamic analysis was performed to evaluate the significance of serum IgG4 concentration on IgG4-RD treatment responses. @*Results@#The serum IgG4 concentration differed according to sex. The optimal cut-off values of serum IgG4 concentration and IgG4/IgG ratio for IgG4-RD diagnosis were 1.92 g/L and 0.12 in males and 1.83 g/L and 0.11 in females, respectively. For patients with serum IgG4 concentration >2.01 g/L, the cut-off values in the total population were >3.00 g/L and 0.19, respectively. The median serum IgG4 concentration decreased over time, and the decrease rate increased over time. The serum IgG4 concentration significantly decreased at >1 week post-treatment (P=0.004), and the median decrease rate was close to 50% at >4 weeks post-treatment. @*Conclusions@#Serum IgG4 can be a good indicator for IgG4-RD diagnosis; however, different diagnostic cut-off values should be determined according to sex. The decreasing rate is more conducive than the serum IgG4 concentration to monitor treatment efficacy. The IgG4/IgG ratio did not improve the diagnostic efficacy for IgG4-RD.
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Objective To investigate the expression of ITGBL1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its role in promoting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cell lines. Methods RT-qPCR and immunohistochemistry were used in investigating ITGBL1 expression in 12 pairs of fresh HCC and adjacent normal liver tissue samples and 160 paraffin HCC specimens. The relationships of ITGBL1 expression level with clinicopathological parameters and prognosis were analyzed. HUH7 cell line with the stable overexpression of ITGBL1 and LM3 cell line with stable downregulated expression of ITGBL1 were constructed. The effects of ITGBL1 on the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells were examined by CCK8 assay, wound-healing assay, and Transwell invasion assay. Results The expression levels of ITGBL1 gene and protein in tumor tissues were higher than those in surrounding liver tissues. The high expression of ITGBL1 was correlated with serum AFP level, tumor capsular invasion, vascular invasion, tumor differentiation, and clinical stage (P < 0.05). The results of Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients with high expression of ITGBL1 had shorter DFS. In vitro, increased ITGBL1 expression promoted HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas ITGBL1 knockdown inhibited these processes. Conclusion ITGBL1 expression is highly expressed in HCC tissues, and ITGBL1 can increase the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. However, the mechanism needs further study.
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Objective To evaluate the analytical performance of four lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2(Lp-PLA2)activity reagents on Beckman AU5800 automatic biochemical analyzer. Methods The remaining serum samples of 214 patients and 140 apparently healthy individuals were collected from March to July 2017 in Peking Union Medical College Hospital.These samples were used for method comparison and reference interval evaluation.According to the guidelines of EP15-A,EP6-A,EP-17 and EP7-P from Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute(CLSI)standards,the precision, linearity, sensitivity and common interferences(e.g free bilirubin, conjunct bilirubin, hemoglobin and chyle)were assessed.According to EP9-A2,method comparisons of differents regents(Evermed,DiaSys,Hengxiao and Zhongyuan were labeled as A,B,C and D,respectively)were conducted and the differences were estimated at medical decision levels(328U/L,391U/L and 485U/L).Results The precision of four reagents were acceptable.The repeatability(CV%)of A to D were 0.5%-1.7%, 0.7%-3.0%, 0.9%-2.0% and 0.5%-3.3%,respectively.The reproducibility(CV%)were 0.7%-2.9%, 1.4%-3.2%, 1.3%-1.9%and 0.8%-4.1%,respectively.Both of those achievedlaboratory defined quality objective(<5%).The linearity of A to D were 44 -1 992 U/L,39 -1 798 U/L,13 -540 U/L and 75-1 717U/L,respectively.The regression coefficient R2 was between 0.997 and 1.000, and the correlation coefficient(r)was between 0.998 and 1.000.The interference of chyle were acceptable among these four reagents andmet the manufacturer′s requirementsor clinical needs.In a low level of Lp-PLA2,bilirubin had an obvious interferenceonreagent C;B and C were negatively affected when the hemoglobin was 4.5 g/L; and D was positively affected when the hemoglobin was 2.45 g/L.The regression coefficients R2 of A,C,D compared with B were between 0.978 and 0.995,and the correlation coefficients(r)were between 0.989 and 0.998. The expected differences at medical decision levels ranged from -240 U/L to 113 U/L.For A to D,the Lp-PLA2 activity results of 131(93.6%), 140(100%), 82(58.6%), and 128(91.4%)cases were analysed within the manufacturer′s claimed reference intervals.Conclusion The precision and linearity of the four Lp-PLA2 activity detection reagents used in automatic biochemical analyzer are good, but the anti-interference ability needs to be improved.
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Cancer-testis antigen (CTA) is a kind of tumor-associated antigen, which expresses in various types of human tumor tissues but only express in a few of normal tissues. The CTA has numerous functions that not yet are fully understood. The CTA possesses immunogenicity that may induce cellular and humoral responses in vivo, which can provide a new approach for cancer immunotherapy.
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@#Objective To observe the changes of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in spinal tissues of rats with acute spinal cord injury after electroacupuncture (EA) treatment, and its association with inflammatory reaction and apoptosis after spinal cord injury. Methods The spinal cord injury of all the rats was induced by a 10 g × 2.5 cm impact with the reformative Allen equipment. The IL-1β and caspase-3 in spinal nerves of rats were detected with immunohistochemistry, while the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in spinal tissues with the Colourimetry, neuron apoptosis with the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuredine triphosphate-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL). Results At the end of EA therapy, the expression of IL-1β and caspase-3, the level of MDA, and the number of TUNEL positive cells in EA group were all significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), and the activity of SOD was obviously higher (P<0.01). Conclusion The EA therapy can decrease the expression of IL-1β and caspase-3 in rats of acute spinal cord injury, and alleviate the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis after spinal cord injury.
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Objective:To investigate the effect of activation of proteinase activated receptor(PAR)2 on mediator release from mast cells.Methods:P815 cells(a mast cell line) were challenged with various concentrations of PAR-2 agonist peptide,trypsin,tryptase or elasetase with or without PAR-2 antagonist peptide.The supernatants were collected and analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) to detect the quantity of released IL-4,IL-6 and histamine.Results:PAR-2 agonist peptide,trypsin or tryptase induced a concentration-dependent IL-4,but not histamine release from P815 mast cells.Trypsin and tryptase induced IL-4 release from the mast cells was blocked by addition of PAR-2 antagonist peptide.No IL-4,IL-6 and histamine release was observed when P815 cells were incubated with elasetase.Conclusion:Induction of IL-4 release from mast cells by trypsin and tryptase through activation of PAR-2 added some novel information on the hypothesis of self-amplification mechanism of mast cell activation.