Predictors of efficacy of corticosteroid switching from abiraterone plus prednisone to dexamethasone in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Corticosteroid switching can reverse abiraterone resistance in some patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Here, we investigated the potential biomarkers for predicting the efficacy of corticosteroid switching during treatment with abiraterone acetate (AA). We retrospectively analyzed 101 mCRPC patients receiving corticosteroid switching from West China Hospital and Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center between January 2016 and December 2018. All cases received AA plus prednisone as first-line therapy during mCRPC. Primary end points were biochemical progression-free survival (bPFS) and overall survival (OS). The risk groups were defined based on multivariate analysis. A total of 42 (41.6%) and 25 (24.8%) patients achieved 30% and 50% decline in prostate-specific antigen (PSA), respectively, after corticosteroid switching. The median bPFS and median OS on AA plus dexamethasone were 4.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.7-6.0) months and 18.8 (95% CI: 16.2-30.2) months, respectively. Aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) expression (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.15, 95% Cl: 1.22-3.80, P = 0.008) and baseline serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP; HR: 4.95, 95% Cl: 2.40-10.19, P < 0.001) were independent predictors of efficacy before corticosteroid switching in the multivariate analysis of bPFS. Only baseline serum ALP >160 IU l-1 (HR: 3.41, 95% Cl: 1.57-7.38, P = 0.002) together with PSA level at switch ≥50 ng ml-1 (HR: 2.59, 95% Cl: 1.22-5.47, P = 0.013) independently predicted poorer OS. Based on the predictive factors in multivariate analysis, we developed two risk stratification tools to select candidates for corticosteroid switching. Detection of serum ALP level, PSA level, and tissue AKR1C3 expression in mCRPC patients could help make clinical decisions for corticosteroid switching.

Expression levels of serum nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase intheUy-ghur and Han nationality patients with anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury in Xinjiang / 中国感染控制杂志

Objective To explore the expression levels of serum nitric oxide(NO)and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) between Han and Uyghur nationality patients with anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury(ATDLI). Methods Patients with confirmed ATDLI in Chest Hospital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and First Affiliated Hos-pital of the Medical College of Shihezi University between January 2015 and May 2016 were chosen and divided into Han group and Uyghur group.By detecting the expression levels of NO and NOS in serum of ATDLI patients,ex-pression levels of serum NO and NOS in ATDLI patients of different gender,body mass index(BMI),and liver function injury were compared.Results 100 ATDLI patients in Han group and 135 in Uyghur group were recruited in study. Expression levels of NO and TNOS in Han group were(134.24±27.60)μmol/L and(33.01 ±4.23)U/mL respectively,in Uyghur groups were(97.10±17.41)μmol/L and(27.41 ±3.95)U/mL respectively,serum levels of NO,TNOS,iNOS,and eNOS in Han patients were all higher than Uyghur patients,difference was statistically significant(P<0.01). In Han ATDLI group,serum levels of NO and TNOS in male patients were both higher than female patients(P<0.05);in Uyghur ATDLI group,serum levels of NO,TNOS,and iNOS in male patients were all higher than female patients(P<0.01). The expression levels of serum NO,TNOS,and iNOS of Han group were all higher than the same gender in Uyghur group(P<0.001),difference in levels of NO and TNOS among different body mass index(BMI)groups in Han and Uyghur patients were both statistically significant(P<0.01). In both group,levels of NO and TNOS in obese patients were both higher than lean patients and normal weight patients(P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that NO levels of Han and Uyghur groups were both positively correlated with BMI(r=0.444,0.677,respectively,P<0.01). There were significant differences in serum NO and NOS levels between Han and Uyghur patients with different degrees of liver injury(P<0.05);NO and NOS levels in both groups with mild liver injury were both lower than those with moderate and severe injury (P<0.001).Conclusion Serum NO and NOS levels between ATDLI Han group and Uyghur group are different,serum NO level is related to BMI,and it can increase with the degree of liver injury.

Effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor and angiotensin-converting enzyme gene silencing on nuclear factor-kappaB activity in hepatic stellate cells / 南方医科大学学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of angiotensin II (AngII) type 1 (AT-1) receptor and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene silencing on nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>pSilencer/AT-1 alpha receptor siRNA and pSilencer/ACE siRNA plasmids were transfected into cultured HSC-T6 cells, which were subsequently stimulated by 10(-6) mol/L AngII or ACE inhibitor (ACEI). The DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB in the transfected cells was analyzed using electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>s Gel shift studies showed that stimulation of the HSCs by AngII markedly increased the DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB, which was inhibited by the transfection with pSilencer/ AT-1 alpha receptor siRNA plasmid or pSilencer/ACE siRNA plasmid.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>AT-1 alpha receptor and ACE gene silencing result in inhibition of NF-kappaB activity in HSCs in vitro.</p>

The level of transgelin related to the function of dendritic cells pulsed with liver cancer / 中华肝脏病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationships between the expression of transgelin in dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with hepatocellular carcinoma lysates and the functions of the DCs.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>DCs derived from healthy human white blood cells were divided into 3 groups: one was pulsed with high metastatic potential hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (MHCC97H) lysates, one with lysates of a low metastatic potential cell line (MHCC97L), and one un-pulsed DCs served as the control. The morphology of the DCs was observed by confocal microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The phenotypes of the DCs were detected by flowcytometric analysis. The mixed leucocyte reaction (MLR) test and IL-12 secretion of DCs in the supernatants of MLR were employed to determine the functions of the DCs; the expression of transgelin was detected by Western blot.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no morphological changes in the different DCs, but the levels of HLA-DR, CD80, CD83, CD86, MLR and IL-12 and transgelin were significantly higher in the two pulsed groups than those in the control group (P less than 0.01). In MHCC97H pulsed DCs, their CD80, CD83, CD86, and the expression of transgelin were also higher than those in the control group (P less than 0.05). The expression of transgelin was significantly higher in the MHCC97H pulsed group than in the MHCC97L loaded group, but CD80, CD83, CD86 and the level of IL-12 were all lower in the MHCC97H loaded DC group in comparison with those in the MHCC97 pulsed group (P less than 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The expression of transgelin in DCs pulsed with HCC lysates is related to the functions of the DCs.</p>

Recent progress in research on positional asphyxia of restraint / 法医学杂志

Positional asphyxia of restraint means that when an individual was limited in an abnormal body position, asphyxia would take place owing to the disorder of spontaneous respiratory function, and finally it lead to die. So, it belongs to a special type of the mechanical asphyxia. From the cases reported, we could found that it would take place in several conditions. Because the cases were not caused enough recognition, the study has been researched carefully only in recent years. Following the more cases reported, many experts of forensic medicine had investigated it on the mechanism of death and the standard of identification, but they could not reach to agreements. So, they have changed the directions of the researches, began to value the factors of risk and research how to avoid it. In the following text, the mechanism of death, factors of risk, preventive methods, standard of identification and prospecting of positional asphyxia of restraint were reviewed.

The role of diaphgram fatigue in the death from hanging with bound upper limbs of rabbits / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To explore the role of diaphgram fatigue in the death from hanging with bound upper limbs of rabbits.@*METHODS@#Rabbits were hanged with upper limbs bound, then the data of EMGdi were gathered@*RESULTS@#By analyzing power spectral of EMGdi in experiment, we compare the ratio change of H/L between pre-experiment and post-experiment. There is a significance decrease of the ratio of H/L, so it indicates that diaphgram fatigue does exist.@*CONCLUSION@#Diaphgram fatigue plays an important role in the death from hanging with limbs of rabbits bound.

Fibronectin immunohistochemical staining for diagnosing sudden death caused by viral myocarditis / 法医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To study the value of Fibronectin(Fn) immunohistochemical staining for diagnosing slight viral myocarditis.@*METHODS@#The heart samples of human with myocarditis were studied by using LSAB immunohistochemical staining with anti-fibronectin antibody.@*RESULTS@#Dense deposition was found in the myocardium of human with myocarditis. Some Fn-positive cardiomyocytes were observed.@*CONCLUSION@#Slight degeneration of cardiomyocytes could be identified by Fn-LSAB immunohistochemical staining and Fn-deposition is one of the reliable marks for inflammation in the myocardium.

Effects of MIP-1β and TGF-β antibody on the expansion of CD34+ cells from cord blood in stroma-contact culture system / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To study the effects of MIP-1β and TGF-β antibody on CD34+ cells from cord blood in stroma-contact culture system. Methods　Immunomagnetic selected CD34+ cells were inoculated onto the pre-established irradiated human stroma layer. MIP-1β, TGF-β antibody (20 μg/ml) and MIP-1β+anti-TGF-β (5 μg/ml) were added on day 0 and day 5. On day 5 and day 10, cell counting, hematopoietic progenitor cells count were made by semi-solid culture and CD34+ cells were assayed by FACS. Results　On day 5, no significant difference of total cell number was observed as compared with the control group (P>0.05), but the number of CD34+cells, CFC, and HPP-CFC in TGF-β antibody and MIP-1β+ TGF-β antibody groups was significantly higher than that in the control (P<0.05). On day 10, the number of total cell, CD34+ cells, CFC, and HPP-CFC in TGF-β antibody and MIP-1β+ TGF-β antibody groups was significantly higher than that in the control (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between groups MIP-1β and control either on day 5 or day 10 (P>0.05). Conclusion　MIP-1β has no significant effect on the CD34+ cells as compared with the control while the CD34+ cells can be expanded 1-3 folds with TGF-β antibody (20 μg/ml) or MIP-1β+ TGF-β antibody (5 μg/ml) in 10 days. There are synergic interactions between MIP-1β and TGF-β antibody.

Effects of MIP-1β and TGF-β antibody on the expansion of CD34+ cells from cord blood in stroma-contact culture system / 第三军医大学学报

Objective　To study the effects of MIP-1β and TGF-β antibody on CD34+ cells from cord blood in stroma-contact culture system. Methods　Immunomagnetic selected CD34+ cells were inoculated onto the pre-established irradiated human stroma layer. MIP-1β, TGF-β antibody (20 μg/ml) and MIP-1β+anti-TGF-β (5 μg/ml) were added on day 0 and day 5. On day 5 and day 10, cell counting, hematopoietic progenitor cells count were made by semi-solid culture and CD34+ cells were assayed by FACS. Results　On day 5, no significant difference of total cell number was observed as compared with the control group (P>0.05), but the number of CD34+cells, CFC, and HPP-CFC in TGF-β antibody and MIP-1β+ TGF-β antibody groups was significantly higher than that in the control (P<0.05). On day 10, the number of total cell, CD34+ cells, CFC, and HPP-CFC in TGF-β antibody and MIP-1β+ TGF-β antibody groups was significantly higher than that in the control (P<0.05). No significant difference was observed between groups MIP-1β and control either on day 5 or day 10 (P>0.05). Conclusion　MIP-1β has no significant effect on the CD34+ cells as compared with the control while the CD34+ cells can be expanded 1-3 folds with TGF-β antibody (20 μg/ml) or MIP-1β+ TGF-β antibody (5 μg/ml) in 10 days. There are synergic interactions between MIP-1β and TGF-β antibody.