Cyclooxygenase-2 promoter polymorphism -899G/C is associated with hepatitis B-related liver cancer in a Chinese population of Gansu province / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Hepatitis B virus infection is closely related to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in HCC and considered to play a role in hepatic carcinogenesis. In this study, we analyzed the polymorphism of COX-2 promoter -899G/C in healthy controls, chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, liver cirrhosis patients, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, to investigate the relationship between COX-2 -899G/C polymorphism and the risk for hepatitis B-related liver cancer in a Chinese population from Gansu province.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients were divided into four groups: 300 patients with CHB, 300 patients with liver cirrhosis, 300 patients with HCC, and 300 healthy controls. The polymorphism of COX-2 -899G/C was detected by PCR-TaqMan probes. The results were analyzed by SPSS 17.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The COX-2 -899G/C genotypes were GG, GC, and CC. Frequencies in CHB were 87.00%, 12.67%, 0.33%; in liver cirrhosis were 85.33%, 14.00%, 0.67%; in HCC were 77.00%, 21.67%, 1.33%; and in healthy controls were 90.67%, 9.00%, 0.33%, respectively. COX-2 -899C carriers may have an increased risk for hepatitis B-related liver cancer. Compared with the frequency of GG genotype, there were significant differences in the frequency of GC genotype between HCC and healthy control groups (OR = 2.835, 95%CI: 1.751 - 4.589); HCC and CHB groups (OR = 1.933, 95%CI: 1.248 - 2.994); and HCC and liver cirrhosis groups (OR = 1.175, 95%CI: 1.119 - 2.628). Stratification analyses showed that COX-2 -899C allele carriers with a drinking history are more susceptible to develop HCC.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>COX-2 -899C genotype may increase the susceptibility of individuals to hepatitis B-related liver cancer in Gansu province, China.</p>

Therapeutic effects of endoscopic therapy combined with enteral nutrition on acute severe biliary pancreatitis / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Acute severe biliary pancreatitis (ASBP) is a severe and fatal disease, and the expenditure is huge and therapeutic effects are still not satisfactory. This study aimed to improve the therapeutic effects and reduce the expenditure of ASBP treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and five patients diagnosed with ASBP were referred to our department from January 2004 to July 2009. Diagnosis was based on the 2007 criteria of the Chinese Society of Surgery. Patients were divided into two groups; the E group: 50 patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde choledochopancreatography (ERCP) + endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) + endoscopic lithotripsy basket (ESR) + endoscopic retrograde biliary drainage (ERBD) and enteral nutrition (EN), and the R group: 55 patients who underwent traditional treatment without ERCP. Subsequently, subjective symptoms, signs, biochemical analysis, serum endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor a, grades by computed tomography (CT), cost of hospitalization and length of stay were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All enrolled patients complied well with all therapeutic regimens. Endoscopic therapy that combined EN could significantly improve symptoms, clinical signs, laboratory values, tumor necrosis factor a and endotoxin while significantly reducing hospital expenditure and length of hospital stay. The experimental findings revealed that there were obvious advantages in the E group compared with the R group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Endoscopic therapy combined with EN is an effective, safe and economic therapeutic regimen of ASBP.</p>