ABSTRACT
Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for cancer recurrence and metastasis and are related to poor prognosis in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). CD133 is one of the most commonly used CSC markers. In this study, expression and the biological significance of CSC marker CD133 was evaluated in HCC, at mRNA and protein levels. We demonstrate that both mRNA and protein levels of CD133 are significantly elevated in HCC relative to that in adjacent non-cancerous tissue based on bioinformatics and immunohistochemical analysis, respectively (P < 0.01). Intriguingly, we detected nuclear distribution of CD133 and found that nuclear CD133 expression was indicative of poor patient prognosis (median survival 12 months versus 34.5 months) (Log-Rank, P = 0.0258). Meanwhile, our findings suggest that nuclear CD133 expression is positively correlated with tumor size and serves as an independent prognostic factor for HCC after surgical resection (HR = 0.564, 95% CI 0.313-1.018, P = 0.057). Nuclear CD133 expression can potentially serve as a biomarker for clinical diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.
ABSTRACT
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is currently one of the most common causes of cancer-related death and one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers. MYH9 is thought to play a critical role in cancer progression. However, the expression and prognostic value of MYH9 in HCC are still unknown. In this study, the expression and biological significance of MYH9 were evaluated in HCC, at mRNA and protein levels. We showed that both mRNA and protein levels of MYH9 were significantly upregulated in HCC relative to the levels in adjacent non-tumor tissues based on the TCGA database and immunohistochemical analysis, respectively (P < 0.001). Additionally, we found that high MYH9 protein levels correlated with poor patient prognosis (median survival 19 months versus 49 months) (Log-Rank, P = 0.0292). Meanwhile, our data suggested that MYH9 expression is an independent prognostic factor for HCC after surgical resection (HR = 0.675, 95% CI 0.452-1.008, P = 0.054) and can potentially serve as a biomarker for the clinical diagnosis and prognosis of HCC.
ABSTRACT
An analysis method has been established to test 27 elements (Li, Be, B, Mg, Al, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, La, Hg, Pb, Bi) in Maca nationality's medicine with microwave digestion-ICP-MS. Sample solutions were analyzed by ICP-MS after microwave digestion, and the contents of elements were calculated according to their calibration curves, and internal standard method was adopted to reduce matrix effect and other interference effects. The experimental results showed that the linear relations of all the elements were very good; the correlation coefficient (r) was 0.9994-1.0000 (Hg was 0.9982) ; the limits of detection were 0.003-2.662 microg x L(-1); the relative standard deviations for all elements of reproducibility were lower than 5% (except the individual elements); the recovery rate were 78.5%-123.7% with RSD lower than 5% ( except the individual elements). The analytical results of standard material showed acceptable agreement with the certified values. This method was applicable to determinate the contents of multi-elements in Maca which had a high sensitivity, good specificity and good repeatability, and provide basis for the quality control of Maca.
Subject(s)
Lepidium/chemistry , Mass Spectrometry/methods , Trace Elements/chemistry , Microwaves , Reproducibility of Results , Trace Elements/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Endothelium-derived molecules may be predictive to organ injury. Heat shock protein (HSP) A12B is mainly located in endothelial cells, which can be detected in the plasma of septic patients. Whether it is correlated with prognosis of sepsis remains unclear. METHODS: Extracellular HSPA12B (eHSPA12B) was determined in plasma of septic mice at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h and 48 h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). It was also detected in plasma of patients with severe sepsis, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and healthy volunteers. The predictive value for prognosis of severe sepsis was assessed by receiver operating curve (ROC) and Cox regression analyses. RESULTS: eHSPA12B was elevated in plasma of CLP mice at 6 h and peaked at 24 h after surgery. A total of 118 subjects were included in the clinical section, including 66 patients with severe sepsis, 21 patients with sepsis, 16 patients with SIRS and 15 volunteers. Plasma eHSPA12B was significantly higher in patients with severe sepsis than in patients with sepsis, SIRS and volunteers. The level of eHSPA12B was also higher in non-survivals than survivals with severe sepsis. The area under the curve (AUC) of eHSPA12B in predicting death among patients with severe sepsis was 0.782 (0.654-0.909) in ROC analysis, much higher than that of IL-6 and IL-10. Cox regression analysis showed that cardiovascular diseases, IL-6 and eHSPA12B were risk factors for mortality in patients with severe sepsis. Survival curve demonstrated a strikingly significant difference between 28-day survival rates of patients with an eHSPA12B lower or not lower than 1.466 ng/ml. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma eHSPA12B is elevated in both septic mice and patients. It may be a good predictor for poor outcome in patients with severe sepsis.
