Value of alpha-foetoprotein for screening of recurrence in hepatocellular carcinoma post resection.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to establish the value of alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) for the screening of recurrences in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients who have undergone curative hepatic resection. METHODS: 72 HCC patients who had curative resection/liver transplant in 2000-2006 were monitored for recurrence by evaluating the three- or six-monthly AFP and computed tomography images. Patients without recurrence were followed up for a mean duration of 7.27 years. RESULTS: Out of the 72 patients, 34 (47.2%) suffered from HCC recurrence. 65.4% of recurrent cases had AFP values showing an upward trend. Patients with recurrence had higher AFP values than those without at last follow-up (119.45 µg/L vs. 3.1 µg/L, p < 0.001). AFP at recurrence was independent of gender, race, history of alcohol consumption and hepatitis C or cirrhosis status. Patient with hepatitis B or those with tumours larger than 5 cm had higher AFP values. The best cut-off AFP indicative of HCC recurrence was 5.45 µg/L (sensitivity 84.4%; specificity 77.1%). High preoperative AFP was associated with high AFP at recurrence (correlation coefficient 0.553, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: AFP alone is an inadequate screening test for HCC recurrence since only about two-thirds of patients showed upward AFP trend on recurrence. Our study found a relatively low cut-off point for detection of recurrence (5.54 µg/L). Patients with high preoperative AFP tended to have high AFP on recurrence. Imaging is recommended for patients with AFP levels > 5.45 µg/L, especially when AFP shows a rising trend.

Mimicry of acute cholecystitis from Wilson's disease.

We present a 33-year-old Chinese woman with Wilson's disease in whom ultrasonography and computed tomography showed gallbladder features suggestive of acute cholecystitis. Incongruence in liver function prompted further investigations with the final diagnosis of Wilson's disease, complicated by oedema of the gallbladder mimicking acute cholecystitis. The patient was subsequently treated nonoperatively, and is well on follow-up.

Fluorescence spectral study of interaction of water-soluble metal complexes of Schiff-base and DNA.

The fluorescence spectral characteristics and the interaction of several water-soluble metal complexes of Schiff-base with DNA are described. Among the complexes tested, Mn-Schiff-base bound to DNA showed a marked decrease in the fluorescence intensity with a blue shift of the excitation and emission peaks. Some hypochromism in the UV absorption spectra was also observed. KI quenching and competitive binding to DNA between Mn-Schiff-base and ethidium bromide (EB) were studied in connection with other experimental observations to show that the interactive model between Mn-Schiff-base and DNA is an intercalative one. The pH and salt effect on the fluorescence properties was also investigated. The linear relationship between F/F0 and the concentration of calf thymus DNA covers 3.0 x 10(-6)-2 x 10(-4) mol L-1, which can be utilized for determining traces of calf thymus DNA with a detection limit of 8.0 x 10(-7) mol L-1 in base pairs.

Renewable amperometric immunosensor for complement 3 assay based on the sol-gel technique.

A renewable amperometric immunosensor based on the sol-gel technique has been constructed by dispersing graphite, complement 3 (C3) antiserum, and sol-gel at low temperature. The prepared immunosensor is rigid, porous, and has a renewable external surface. A competitive binding assay has been used to determine C3 in human serum with the aid of C3 labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The enzyme-labeled antigen can readily diffuse toward the encapsulated antibody, which retains its binding properties. The experimental conditions for the assay with the biocomposite, including the loading of C3 antiserum in the biocomposite, the amount of labeled C3 in incubation solution, incubation time, and temperature, have been optimized. Using C3 labeled with horseradish peroxidase, and o-AP as the substrate, amperometric detection at -150 mV (relative to the SCE) results in a linear detection range of 1.17-35.1 microg mL(-1), with a detection limit of 0.56 microg mL(-1). Serum samples have been assayed and the results demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed immunosensor for clinical analysis. The surface of the immunosensor can be renewed simply by polishing to obtain a fresh immunocomposite ready to use in a new competitive assay.

Renewable amperometric immunosensor for Schistosoma japonium antibody assay.

A renewable amperometric immunosensor has been proposed for the determination of Schistosoma japonium antibody (SjAb) in rabbit serum. A paraffin-graphite-Schistosoma japonium antigen (SjAg) biocomposite, which needs no additional curing, was directly used to construct the immunosensors. The analytical sample containing the desired SjAb was mixed with SjAb labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to form the incubation solution for the competitive binding assay. Amperometry was used to determine the amount of HRP fixed on the sensor surface, which was related to the content of desired SjAb. Assay conditions were optimized, including the selection of substrate, the loading of SjAg in the biocomposite, the amount of labeled SjAb in the incubation solution, the incubation time, and the temperature. Using o-aminophenol (o-AP) as a substrate, amperometric detection at -200 mV (vs SCE) resulted in a pseudolinear detection range of about 0.36 to 14 microg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.36 microg/mL. Rabbit serum samples with varying infection degrees were analyzed, and the results demonstrated that the concentration that is detectable in this system meets the demands of clinical analyses. A new surface on the immunosensor for use in another competitive assay can be obtained by removing the original one and polishing the surface.

Picric acid sensitive optode based on a fluorescence carrier covalently bound to membrane.

An acryloyl group was attached to fluorescein through the phenol hydroxyl group to make it photopolymerizable with 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate and covalently immobilized on an optode glass surface modified with gamma-(methacryloxy)propyltrimethoxysilane. The optode system with a plastic-clad fused silica bifurcated fiber optic bundle shows satisfactory analytical performance characteristics for determining picric acid in terms of selectivity and reproducibility with a linear range from 8.0 x 10(-7) to 4.0 x 10(-3) mol L-1. The quenching mechanism was investigated. The optode membrane can be applied to the indirect determination of cinchonine drug and the results obtained were satisfactory.

Synthesis of glycosylated porphyrins as neutral ionophores for a berberine-sensitive electrode.

For preparing a berberine-sensitive electrode, 5,10,15,20-tetrakis[2-(2,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-1-O- phenyl]porphyrin (T(o-glu)PPH2) was synthesized from the reaction of pyrrole with ortho-acetylglycosylated benzaldehyde by Lindsay's method. The electrode based on T(o-glu)PPH2 with an optimized membrane composition exhibits Nernstian response to berberine in the concentration range 2.4 x 10(-7)-5.0 x 10(-3) mol L-1, with a pH range from 3.9 to 10.2, and a fast response time of 30 s. The electrode shows fair selectivity towards berberine with respect to common co-existing species. T(o-glu)PPH2 shows better potentiometric response characteristics comparing to chloro[5,10,15,20-tetrakis[2-(2,3,4,6-tetraacetyl-beta-D- glucopyranosyl)-1-O-phenyl]-porphinato]-manganese (MnT(o-glu)PPCl) and better selectivity towards berberine than tetraphenylporphyrin (TPPH2). The effect of the composition of the electrode membrane has been studied and the experimental conditions optimized. The contents of berberine in pharmaceutical tablets were determined by direct potentiometry and the results agreed with values obtained by the pharmacopoeia method.

Renewable amperometric immunosensor based on paraffin-graphite-transferrin antiserum biocomposite for transferrin assay.

A renewable electrochemical immunosensor was developed for the determination of transferrin in human serum. It is based on a paraffin-graphite-transferrin antiserum biocomposite, which needs no additional curing. A competitive binding assay was used to determine transferrin in human serum with the aid of transferrin labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The assay conditions were optimized, including the loading of transferrin antiserum in the biocomposite, the amount of labeled transferrin in the incubation solution, incubation time and temperature. Serum samples were analyzed and the results demonstrate that the concentration range of determination with this system meets the demands of clinical analysis. The surface of the immunosensor can be regenerated by simply polishing to obtain a fresh immunocomposite ready to be used in a new competitive assay.

A novel ethacrynic acid sensor based on a lanthanide porphyrin complex in a PVC matrix.

Lanthanide porphyrin complexes synthesized by a solid state method were used to prepare a novel ethacrynic acid (EA) sensor. The sensor, based on pentane-2,4-dionato(meso-tetraphenylporphinato)terbium [TbTPP(acac)] with an optimized membrane composition, exhibits a Nernstian response to EA- ion in the concentration range 7.4 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-1) mol l-1 with a pH range from 3.2 to 6.8 and a fast response time of 30 s. The electrode shows improved selectivity towards EA- ion with respect to common co-existing ions compared with the previously reported EA sensor. As electroactive materials, lanthanide porphyrin complexes show better potentiometric response characteristics than copper porphyrin complexes. The effect of solvent mediators and lipophilic ion additives was studied and the experimental conditions were optimized. The electrode was applied to the determination of EA in human urine samples with satisfactory results.

Bismetalloporphyrin-based ISE sensitive to fluoroborate.

Several mu-oxo-bismetalloporphyrin complexes were synthesized for preparing fluoroborate sensors. The electrode based on mu-oxo-bis[tetra(p-chlorophenyl)porphinatomanganese(III)] with an optimized membrane composition shows a potentiometric response towards fluoroborate ion over the concentration range from 4.3 x 10(-7) to 1.0 x 10(-1) mol l-1 with a Nernstian slope, a wide working pH range from 5.5 to 12.0 and a fast response time of 30 s. The electrode shows anti-Hofmeister selectivity towards BF4- with respect to common co-existing ions, which is an improvement over methods reported so far. As electroactive materials, several mu-oxo-bismetalloporphyrins with different substituents on the benzene rings were compared for potentiometric response characteristics. The interaction between BF4- and bismetalloporphyrin was investigated using UV/VIS spectrophotometry. The electrode was applied to the determination of fluoroborate in electroplating solutions.

A PARAFAC algorithm using penalty diagonalization error (PDE) for three-way data array resolution.

A modified parallel factors analysis (PARAFAC) algorithm with the penalty diagnolization error (PDE) was developed. This algorithm can overcome the slow convergence problem of the traditional PARAFAC method and is insensitive to the number of components, i.e., it is much faster than PARAFAC and insensitive to overestimation of the dimensionality of the model. The characteristic performance was demonstrated by treating simulated and real excitation-emission fluorescence data for samples of naphthalene, 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol with satisfactory results.

DNA binding studies of a solvatochromic fluorescence probe 3-methoxybenzanthrone.

A fluorescence probe of 3-methoxybenzanthrone (MBA) exhibits significant solvatochromic characteristics correlated with the polarity of solvents. The interaction of the solvatochromic fluorescence probe with calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) has been investigated. In the presence of ct-DNA the fluorescence of MBA is strongly quenched with a blue-shift of emission peak and a hypochromism in absorption spectra. The absorption spectra, fluorescence quenching and fluorescence polarization experiments show that the MBA molecule as an intercalator is inserted into the base-stacking domain of the ct-DNA double helix, and the interaction of the nucleobases with the MBA molecule causes quenching of fluorescence and hypochromism in the absorption spectra. The intrinsic binding constant and the binding site number were determined to be 1.70 x 10(5) mol l-1 in base pairs and six, respectively. The I0/I versus [ct-DNA] plot shows linear relationship in the range covering 4.3 x 10(-7)-1.02 x 10(-4) mol l-1 in base pairs which can be used for ct-DNA determination. The limit of detection was found to be 4.3 x 10(-7) mol l-1 in base pairs (0.5 microgram ml-1).

Design of Schiff base complexes of Co(II) for the preparation of iodide-selective polymeric membrane electrodes.

The response characteristics of some iodide-selective solvent polymeric membrane electrodes based on with N,N'-bis(salicylaldehyde-n-octyl) diimine cobalt(II) (Co(II)SAODI) which is a more lipophilic substitute for a previously reported iodide-carrier are described. The electrode doped with Co(II)SAODI into a plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membrane exhibits an anti-Hofmeister selectivity pattern with high selectivity toward iodide, long lifetime and small interference from H(+). Quartz crystal microgravimetric measurements and ac impedance experiments show that the excellent selectivity for iodide is related to the unique interaction between the carriers and iodide and steric effect associated with the structure of the Schiff base ligands.

Coupled vectors resolution method for chemometric calibration with three-way data.

A new second-order calibration procedure, the coupled vectors resolution (COVER) method, has been developed. The objective of the method is to seek a couple of vectors that minimize a least-squares criterion. With the knowledge indispensable for quantitation, the method yields direct solutions to various cases of second-order calibration. Moreover, it allows a statistically plausible way to make use of multisample information. In the case of multiple calibration samples, the method uses the calibration samples to resolve the profiles of the analytes in each order, and then calculates the concentrations of the analytes. This offers the advantage that unknown mixtures newly collected can be predicted in a direct manner. In the case of one calibration sample, the method provides an effective way to utilize the information of spectral profiles of the analytes. Results of simulated experiments and a real analytical example show that the proposed method produces acceptable performance in profile resolution and concentration estimation.

Organic solvent induced quenching of porous silicon photoluminescence.

A comparison has been made for the quenching effect of three classes of organic solvents on the porous silicon photoluminescence, including hydrocarbons, solvents containing oxygen and nitrogen. Among them organoamines possess the strongest quenching effect. The experiments show that the solvent molecules interact synergistically with porous silicon and the main pathways include the surface hydrophobic interaction, dipole-dipole interaction and hole trapping, the later being the dominant pathway in quenching of porous silicon photoluminescence.

An optical fiber sensor for berberine based on immobilized 1,4-bis(naphth[2,1-d]oxazole-2-yl)benzene in a new copolymer.

A new copolymer made of 8-quinolyl methacrylate, methyl methacrylate and n-butyl acrylate(PQMB) has been used as a solid substrate for the preparation of an optical fiber berberine sensor. The sensing is based on the fluorescence of 1,4-bis(naphth[2,1-d]oxazole-2-yl)benzene(BNOB) immobilized in the copolymer quenched by berberine with the formation of 1:1 complex between them. The membrane composition was optimized using the orthogonal experimental design. Using the sensor described above, berberine in a sample solution from 4.02x10(-7) mol l(-1) to 2.82x10(-4) mol l(-1) can be detected. The sensor has satisfactory reversibility and a short response time of less than 30 s. The relative standard deviations for repeated measurements (n=15) of 8.05x10(-6) mol l(-1) and 4.02x10(-5) mol l(-1) beberine are 0.43% and 0.33%, respectively. The sensor shows good selectivity over alkali and alkali-earth metal salts and some common pharmaceutical species and can be used for the determination of berberine in pharmaceutical preparations.

Fluorescence optical fiber sensor for tetracycline.

A new optical fiber sensor for monitoring tetracycline has been described, based on the fluorescence quenching of 1,4-bis(5,5'-dimethylbenzoxazole-1',3'-yl-2')benzene incorporated into a thin plasticized polymer film by tetracycline extracted from aqueous phase into film phase. The sensor is fully reversible and highly reproducible. Furthermore, the sensor exhibits a linear response to tetracycline in the range 6.98x10(-7)-8.73x10(-5) mol l(-1) with a detection limit of 1.06x10(-7) mol l(-1), and with the response time <30 s. The response is also selective to tetracycline, with some common pharmaceutical species, alkali and alkali-earth metal salts being highly discriminated, suggesting that the sensor can be used to monitor tetracycline in three pharmaceutical preparations. The recovery of tetracycline from commercial formulations is 95.3-98.3%.

A selective optical chemical sensor for o-nitrophenol based on fluorescence quenching of curcumin.

An optical chemical sensor has been prepared for the selective determination of o-nitrophenol in aqueous solutions based on the fluorescence quenching of curcumin in PVC membrane. The sensing mechanism of the proposed sensor for o-nitrophenol has been discussed in detail. The fluorescence changes of sensing membrane resulted from an associated complex formation between curcumin and o-nitrophenol. In pH 4.8 buffer solution, the sensor responds linearly in the measuring range from 1.0 x 10(-2) mol 1(-1) to 1.5 x 10(-4) mol 1(-1), and the experimental detection limit is evaluated to be 8.0 x 10(-5) mol 1(-1). A stable signal was obtained within less than 1.5 min. Under the optimum conditions, the sequence of selective response to the sensing membrane is o-nitrophenol > 2,4-dinitrophenol > m-nitrophenol > p-nitrophenol > 2,4,6-trinitrophenol. Phenol, aniline as well as other ions have less effect on the fluorescence of the sensor. The reproducibility for the determination of o-nitrophenol is better than 1%, and the response is reversible. The sensor can be used for the determination of o-nitrophenol in water samples.

A case of acute eosinophilic granulocytic leukemia with PML-RAR alpha fusion gene expression and response to all-trans retinoic acid.

A typical case of eosinophilic granulocytic leukemia with PML-RAR alpha fusion gene expression is reported. The patient achieved complete remission after oral administration of all-trans retinoic acid without any exposure to cytotoxic agents. The facts strongly suggest that the genetic event occurred at the level of pluripotent stem cells.

[Clinical and experimental study on treatment of chronic hepatitis B with yanggan aoping mixture].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of Yanggan Aoping Mixture (YGAPM) in treating hepatitis B. METHODS: Patients suffered from chronic hepatitis B were treated with YGAPM. Observe their short- and long-term efficacy and the change of serum hepatitis B virus marker. In experiment, the effect of YGAPM in treating rat's liver injury as well as HBV-infected tree shrew and duck HBV-infected ducks was observed. RESULTS: In 79 cases of chronic persistant hepatitis, the markedly effective rate was 60.76%, and follow-up studies on 40 cases, the further rasied to 70.00%. In 73 cases of chronic active hepatitis, the markedly effective rate was 60.27%, and further raised to 62.50% in 32 follow-up cases. In the treatment group, 85 (71.43%) of the 119 cases with HBeAg-positive turned to negative. Whereas in the control group, only 40 (44.94%) of 89 HBeAg-positive cases turned to negative, P < 0.01. Results of experimental study showed that negative conversion rate of tree shrew infected with HBV marker was raised, while infected duck blood with duck HBV DNA was inhibited. Those compared with the control group separately, the difference was remarkably significant. CONCLUSIONS: YGAPM is an effective drug in treating chronic hepatitis B, and it could effectively negative convert the HBV marker.