Prognostic Value of C-met Expression in Cholangiocarcinoma.

AIM: To explore the relationship of clinicopathological features and the proteins of C-met expression in the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Clinical data and the completed follow-up information of patients with cholangiocarcinoma who underwent cholangiocarcinoma operation from January 2004 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship of clinicopathological features and C-met in the prognosis of the patients was analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with high expression of C-met had significantly shorter overall survival than those with low expression of C-met, the difference being statistically significant (P = .003). Patients with high C-met expression had significantly shorter disease-free survival time than those with low expression of C-met, the difference being statistically significant (P = .009). By COX multivariate analysis, high C-met expression in tumor tissues was an independent risk factor in predicting overall survival and disease-free survival for patients with cholangiocarcinoma (P = .038, .048, relative risk = 1.390, 1.427). CONCLUSION: Patients with high C-met expression in cancer tissues had shorter disease-free survival and overall survival. High expression of C-met is an independent risk factor for overall survival and disease-free survival.

Prognostic value of neutrophil distribution in cholangiocarcinoma.

AIM: To explore the relationship of clinicopathological features and the distribution of neutrophils in the tumor microenvironment with the prognosis of cholangiocarcinoma. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty-four formalin-fixed and paraffin embedded tissue blocks were analyzed, including tissues from cholangiocarcinoma (n = 254), and tumor adjacent tissues (n = 238). Tissue sections were stained for CD15 using immunohistochemical staining. CD15 expression was detected to identify the distribution of neutrophils in the local tumor microenvironment. The neutrophil density of the tumor tissues and the adjacent tumor tissues was detected to reflect their inflammatory status. Clinical data and follow-up information of cholangiocarcinoma patients who underwent surgery from January 2004 to December 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. The relationship between clinicopathological features and the distribution of neutrophils with prognosis of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: The positive expression level of CD15 was only significantly related to the TNM stage. CD15 expression was higher in tumor tissues than in adjacent tissues (73.6% vs 54.6%), with significant differences. Patients with high expression of CD15 had significantly shorter overall survival (OS) than those with low expression of CD15 (median overall survival time 39.77 mo vs 16.87 mo, P = 0.008). Patients with high CD15 expression had significantly shorter disease free survival time (DFS) than those with low expression of CD15 (median DFS 38.27 mo vs 16.83 mo, P = 0.029). COX multivariate analysis indicated that high CD15 expression in tumor tissues was an independent risk factor for predicting OS for patients with cholangiocarcinoma [P = 0.012, relative risk (RR) = 1.601], but it was not an independent risk factor for predicting DFS (P = 0.073, RR = 1.462). CONCLUSION: Patients with high CD15 expression in cancer tissues had shorter DFS and OS. High expression of CD15 is an independent risk factor for OS.

Transplantation of endothelial progenitor cells in treating rats with IgA nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Therapeutic options in IgAN are still limited. The aim of this study is to explore the feasibility of using endothelial progenitor cell to treat IgAN in rat model. METHODS: Rat bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) obtained with density gradient centrifugation were cultured in vitro, and induced into endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs). EPCs were identified by surface marker CD34, CD133 and VEGFR2 (FLK-1) and by Dil-Ac-LDL/FITC-UEA-1 double staining. EPCs were labeled with PKH26 prior to transplantation. Rat model of IgAN was established by oral administration of bovine serum albumin together with lipopolysaccharide via the caudal vein and subcutaneous injection of CCL4. Kidney paraffin sections were stained by H&E and PAS. Immunofluorescence was used to assess IgA deposition in the glomeruli. Peritubular capillary (PTC) density was determined by CD31 staining. Monocyte chemoattrant protein-1 (MCP-1), hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and CD105 were also measured by immunohistochemistry, western blotting and real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The transplanted BM-EPCs were successfully located in IgAN rat kidney. After transplantation, Urinary red blood cell, urine protein, BUN, Scr and IgA serum level were significantly decreased, so were the areas of glomerular extracellular matrix and the IgA deposition in the glomeruli. In addition, PTC density was elevated. And the expression levels of HIF-1α and MCP-1 were significantly down-regulated, while the expression of CD105 was up-regulated. All these changes were not observed in control groups. CONCLUSION: The BM-EPCs transplantation significantly decreases the expansion of glomerular extracellular matrix and the deposition of IgA in the glomeruli; lowers the expression of inflammatory factors; increases PTC density; improves ischemic-induced renal tissue hypoxia, all of which improves the renal function and slows the progress of IgA nephropathy.

[The prevalence of snoring in male pilots].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analysis the prevalence and risk factors of snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness among male pilots. METHODS: 1108 subjects were derived from a random sample of pilots. They were asked to answer the questions from a questionnaire concerning their snoring and daytime sleepiness, etc. 1054 questionnaire were available for evaluation. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of snoring among male pilots was 51.04% (538/1054), while moderate and severe snorers accounted for 26.28% (227/1054). The prevalence of snoring among male pilots aged over 30 yr was 63.68% (426/669). The prevalence and severity of snoring increase with age and BMI. Age, overweight and obesity, alcohol ingestion and family history of snoring were associated with the prevalence and severity of snoring. There was significant difference in Epworth sleepiness scale scores among without snoring group and various severity of snoring groups (chi2 = 16.948, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of snoring is high in male pilots. The Epworth sleepiness scale score increase with increasing degree of snoring. Doctors should pay more attention to snoring in male pilot.

[Value of oxygen saturation combined airflow in diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic value of oxygen saturation combined with airflow (OF) monitoring for diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Sixty-two subjects including suspected OSAHS and non-snorers underwent overnight polysomnography (PSG) and OF monitoring simultaneously in sleep laboratory. The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO(2)), and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) recorded by OF were compared with those recorded by PSG. The AHI and ODI data that showed skew distribution underwent square root transformation to approximate to normal distribution. Pair t test was used for difference hypothesis test. The agreement between the two measures was analyzed using Bland-Altman plot. RESULTS: Forty-five of the 62 subjects were diagnosed as with OSAHS based on PSG with the mean AHI value of (40 +/- 27) events per hour. The mean AHI values derived from OF (OF-AHI) and PSG (PSG-AHI) according to total sleep time were (28 +/- 26) and (29 +/- 28) times per hour respectively, and those after square root transformation were (4.6 +/- 2.7) and (4.7 +/- 2.7) times per hour respectively (P = 0.08). The mean LSaO(2) derived from OF (OF-LSaO(2)) was (82 +/- 11)%, not significantly different from that derived from PSG (PSG-LSaO(2)) [(82 +/- 10)%, P = 0.65]. The ODI derived from OF (OF-ODI) after square root transformation was (3.0 +/- 2.4) times/h, significantly lower than that derived from PSG (PSG-ODI) after square root transformation [(4.0 +/- 2.9) times/h, P = 0.00]. The Bland-Altman plot revealed a good agreement between the OF-AHI and PSG-AHI in non-OSAHS people and patients with mild OSAHS (P = 0.28), however, the OF-AHI was lower than PSG-AHI (P = 0.00) in the patients with moderate to severe OSAHS. There was no significant difference between OF-LSaO(2) and PSG-LSaO2 (P = 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: There is a good agreement between OF and PSG for AHI and LSaO(2). OF can be used to screen patients with suspected OSAHS in high risk population. However, OF tends to underestimate the AHI in moderate to severe OSAHS so additional manual analysis is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.