Identification of immune-related prognostic signature for colon adenocarcinoma based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis / 细胞与分子免疫学杂志

Objective To identify immune-related molecular markers in an attempt to predict prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD). Methods Immune related genes (IREGs) was analyzed based on the TCGA database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Cox regression analysis were used to establish risk models. According to the median risk score, COAD patients were divided into high risk and low risk groups. The prognostic difference were compared between the two groups. The function of the model was validated using GEO. Results A total of 1015 IREGs was obtained. The established model consisted of three genes: RAR related orphan receptor C (RORC), leucine-rich repeat Fli-I-interacting protein 2 (LRRFIP2) and lectin galactoside-binding soluble galectin 4 (LGALS4). The high-risk group had significantly poorer prognosis than low-risk group in the GEO database, and it was validated using a GEO database. Further analysis via univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that risk model could function as independent prognostic factor for COAD patients. Conclusion The risk model based on IREGs can predict the prognosis of patients with COAD.

Effects of Clostridium Butyricum Combined with Antibiotics on Postoperative Inflammatory Factors and Gastrointestinal Function of Patients with Acute Appendicitis after Laparoscopic Surgery / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of clostridium butyricum combined with antibiotics on inflammatory factors and gastrointestinal function of patients with acute appendicitis after laparoscopic surgery. METHODS:A total of 102 patients with acute appendicitis undergoing laparoscopic surgery in our hospital during Jan. 2014-Jan. 2015 were divided into observation group and control group according to odd-even admission number,with 51 cases in each group. Control group was given Cefuroxime sodi-um for injection,Metronidazole injection and Cefixime dispersible tablets for anti-infective therapy after surgery. Observation group was additionally given Clostridium butyricum capsule 1260 mg,tid,for consecutive 3 d,on the basis of control group. The levels of serum inflammatory factors(TNF-α,IL-6),gastrin(GAS)and motilin(MTL)were compared between 2 groups before surgery and 3 d after surgery. The time of gastrointestinal function recovery(the time of bowel sounds,the time of first flatus,the time of postoperative first defecation)and the occurrence of compliance were recorded in 2 groups. RESULTS:Before surgery,there was no statistical significance in the levels of serum inflammatory and GAS,MTL factors between 2 groups (P>0.05). 3 d after sur-gery,the levels of TNF-α,IL-6 and CRP in 2 groups were decreased significantly,while the levels of GAS and MTL were in-creased significantly;above indexes of observation group were significantly better than those of control group,with statistical sig-nificance(P<0.05). The time of bowel sounds,the time of first flatus and the time of postoperative first defecation in observation group were significantly shorter than control group,with statistical significance(P<0.05). The incidence of complications in obser-vation group was 3.92％,which was significantly lower than 15.69％of control group(P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS:Clostridium bu-tyricum combined with antibiotics can effectively relieve inflammatory state of patients with acute appendicitis after laparoscopic sur-gery,promote gastrointestinal function recovery,and reduce the occurrence of complications.

Construction of In Vivo Fluorescent Imaging of Echinococcus granulosus in a Mouse Model

Human hydatid disease (cystic echinococcosis, CE) is a chronic parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. As the disease mainly affects the liver, approximately 70% of all identified CE cases are detected in this organ. Optical molecular imaging (OMI), a noninvasive imaging technique, has never been used in vivo with the specific molecular markers of CE. Thus, we aimed to construct an in vivo fluorescent imaging mouse model of CE to locate and quantify the presence of the parasites within the liver noninvasively. Drug-treated protoscolices were monitored after marking by JC-1 dye in in vitro and in vivo studies. This work describes for the first time the successful construction of an in vivo model of E. granulosus in a small living experimental animal to achieve dynamic monitoring and observation of multiple time points of the infection course. Using this model, we quantified and analyzed labeled protoscolices based on the intensities of their red and green fluorescence. Interestingly, the ratio of red to green fluorescence intensity not only revealed the location of protoscolices but also determined the viability of the parasites in vivo and in vivo tests. The noninvasive imaging model proposed in this work will be further studied for long-term detection and observation and may potentially be widely utilized in susceptibility testing and therapeutic effect evaluation.

A Rapid and Convenient Method for in Vivo Fluorescent Imaging of Protoscolices of Echinococcus multilocularis

Human and animal alveolar echinococcosis (AE) are important helminth infections endemic in wide areas of the Northern hemisphere. Monitoring Echinococcus multilocularis viability and spread using real-time fluorescent imaging in vivo provides a fast method to evaluate the load of parasite. Here, we generated a kind of fluorescent protoscolices in vivo imaging model and utilized this model to assess the activity against E. multilocularis protoscolices of metformin (Met). Results indicated that JC-1 tagged E. multilocularis can be reliably and confidently used to monitor protoscolices in vitro and in vivo. The availability of this transient in vivo fluorescent imaging of E. multilocularis protoscolices constitutes an important step toward the long term bio-imaging research of the AE-infected mouse models. In addition, this will be of great interest for further research on infection strategies and development of drugs and vaccines against E. multilocularis and other cestodes.