Curative effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation in treating hepatic cell carcinoma and its effect on serum markers.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC) is more common in clinical practice, and has high malignant degree. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to analyze the curative effect of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treating hepatic cell carcinoma (HCC) and its effect on serum markers. METHODS: A total of 106 cases of patients with hepatic cell carcinoma treated in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups: observation group and control group. Patients in the observation group (53 cases) received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation therapy, while subjects in the control group (53 cases) received transcatheter arterial chemoembolization therapy. Differences in the overall effect, indicators of inflammation and oxidative stress, tumor activity-related indicators and tumor recurrence-related indicators between these two groups were compared. RESULTS: At one and two weeks after treatment, the number of cases of CR and PR in the observation group was higher than that in the control group, the number of cases of SD was not different from that in the control group, and the number of cases of PD was lower than that in the control group. At two weeks after treatment, differences in serum MDA, SOD, GSH, CRP, TNF-α and ESR between the two groups were significant. However, serum EC, VEGF, MMP, AFP, CA199 and GGT content was significantly lower in the observation group than that in the control group. CONCLUTIONS: Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization combined with radiofrequency ablation therapy can effectively control the growth of liver cancer lesions, reduce the levels of tumor-related serum markers, and inhibit the activity of tumor cells.

Comparison of efficacy between TACE combined with apatinib and TACE alone in the treatment of intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: A single-center randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare the clinical efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with apatinib and TACE alone in the treatment of intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: From March 2015 to August 2015, a total of 44 patients with moderate and advanced HCC, who were admitted in the Navy General Hospital of China, were included into this study. These patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: group A and group B. Patients in group A underwent TACE alone, while patients in group B underwent the combined treatment of TACE with apatinib. Differences in preoperative general data between these 2 groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). All patients were followed up for 12-18 months. Changes in α-fetal protein (AFP) at 3 months after treatment and the objective response rate (ORR) at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment were compared between these 2 groups. Furthermore, progression-free survival (PFS) and the incidence of adverse reactions were also compared between these 2 groups. RESULTS: AFP levels in groups A and B significantly decreased after 3 months of treatment, compared with the levels before treatment, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). However, at 3 months after treatment, the difference between these 2 groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). ORR at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment was 36.36%, 27.27%, 13.64% and 9.09%, respectively, in group A; and 60%, 50%, 45% and 35%, respectively, in group B. At 3 and 6 months after treatment, the differences between these 2 groups were not statistically significant (P > 0.05); while at 9 and 12 months after treatment, the differences between these 2 groups were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The median PFS was 6.0 months in group A and 12.5 months in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The incidences of complications were related to oral apatinib, such as hypertension, hand-foot syndrome and proteinuria, were higher in group B than in group A, and the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). These symptoms all alleviated after symptomatic treatments. CONCLUSIONS: For intermediate and advanced HCC, the long-term curative effect of TACE combined with apatinib is better than that of TACE alone. The former can obviously prolong the PFS of patients and has a confirmed safety.

Unloading Characteristics of Sand-drift in Wind-shallow Areas along Railway and the Effect of Sand Removal by Force of Wind.

Wind-shield walls decrease the velocity of wind-drift sand flow in transit. This results in sand accumulating in the wind-shadow zone of both windshield wall and track line, causing severe sand sediment hazard. This study reveals the characteristics of sand accumulation and the laws of wind-blown sand removal in the wind-shadow areas of three different types of windshield walls, utilizing three-dimensional numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiments and on-site sand sediment tests. The results revealed the formation of apparent vortex and acceleration zones on the leeward side of solid windshield walls. For uniform openings, the vortex area moved back and narrowed. When bottom-opening windshield walls were adopted, the track-supporting layer at the step became a conflux acceleration zone, forming a low velocity vortex zone near the track line. At high wind speeds, windshield walls with bottom-openings achieved improved sand dredging. Considering hydrodynamic mechanisms, the flow field structure on the leeward side of different types of windshield structures is a result of convergence and diffusion of fluids caused by an obstacle. This convergence and diffusion effect of air fluid is more apparent at high wind velocities, but not obvious at low wind velocities.

Chemical constituents of Swertia yunnanensis and their anti-hepatitis B virus activity.

Four new triterpenoids, sweriyunnangenin A (1), sweriyunnanosides A (2), B (3) and C (4), along with nineteen known compounds (5-23) were isolated from Swertia yunnanensis. Based on extensive spectroscopic analyses (1D- and 2D-NMR, HRESIMS, UV, IR, [α]D), the structures of sweriyunnangenin A (1), sweriyunnanosides A (2), B (3) and C (4) were elucidated as taraxer-14-ene-3α,6ß-diol, oleanolic acid 28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, 2α,3ß-di-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl (1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside and hederagenin 28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl(1→6)-ß-D-glucopyranosyl(1→2)-ß-D-glucopyranoside, respectively. Twenty-two compounds were evaluated for their anti-HBV activities on the HepG 2.2.15 cell line in vitro, of which nine compounds showed potent anti-HBV activities. Compounds 1, 5-6, 14-16 and 19 showed activities against the secretion of HBsAg (IC50 values from 0.10 to 1.76 mM) and HBeAg (IC50 values from 0.04 to 1.41 mM), and compounds 11 and 13-16 exhibited significant inhibition on HBV DNA replication (IC50 values from 0.01 to 0.09 mM).

Seven new secoiridoids with anti-hepatitis B virus activity from Swertia angustifolia.

Seven new secoiridoids, swertianglide (1) and swertianosides A-F (2-7), together with fifteen known compounds, were isolated from the whole plants of Swertia angustifolia. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses ([α](D), UV, IR, MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR). Fourteen compounds were evaluated for their anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activities on the Hep G 2.2.15 cell line in vitro. Compound 2, an unusual secoiridoid glycoside dimer, showed significant activities inhibiting the secretion of HBsAg (IC50 0.18 mM, SI 3.11) and HBeAg (IC50 0.12 mM, SI 4.67).