Establishment of a simple model for hepatitis B virus infection status based on trait marker from quantitative measurement of serum markers.

The objectives of this study were to establish a simple model based on quantitative serum markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection to understand the complex immune response to HBV. Patients samples were obtained from individuals with active HBV infection (alanine transaminase [ALT]-positive, aspartate aminotransferase [AST]-positive and HBsAg-positive), or patients who had recovered from infection (ALT-negative, AST-negative, anti-HBs-positive and either HBsAg, HBeAg, anti-HBe or anti-HBc positive). HBV quantitative markers, including HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, and anti-HBc, were measured using a chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Based on cut-off values, anti-HBs levels were converted to a ratio (sample value/cut-off value, RV). Anti-HBe and anti-HBc levels were determined using a competition method, resulting in the use of a ratio (cut-off value/sample value, RV) for determination of anti-HBe and anti-HBc values. The greater RV value in a patient was considered as a trait marker for HBV infection (TMHB) of this patient. Patients with TMHB including HBsAg or HBeAg were defined as TMHB-Ag; and patients with TMHB including anti-HBs, anti-HBe, or anti-HBc TMHB were defined as TMHB-Ab. The percentage of patients determined to be TMHB-Ag was 96.3% in the HBV group. The percentage of patients determined to be TMHB-Ab was 94.7% in recovery group. TMHBs could be used to analyze different status of HBV infection.

The significance of monitoring procalcitonin when applying antibiotics to trichlorethylene dermatitis / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the significance of monitoring procalcitonin (PCT) when applying antibiotics to trichlorethylene (TCE)-induced dermatitis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>One hundred and two patients who were hospitalized and recovered from TCE-induced dermatitis in our hospital from 2006 to 2013 were enrolled as subjects. Based on whether the PCT level was monitored or not, we divided patients into regular group and PCT group. For the regular group, we applied antibiotic treatment and determined the course of treatment based on clinical symptoms, laboratory test results, medical imaging results, and bacterial culture. For the PCT group, in addition to the above treatments, antibiotic treatment was applied when the PCT level was not lower than 0.25 ng/ml and stopped when the PCT level was lower than 0.25 ng/ml. The distribution of bacterial infection sites, type of bacteria, type of antibiotics, average period of hospitalization, and course of antibiotic treatment were compared between the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were no significant differences in the distribution of bacterial infection sites, type of bacteria, type of antibiotics, and average period of hospitalization between the two groups (P > 0.05). The course of antibiotic treatment for the PCT group was significantly shorter than that for the regular group (25.37 ± 11.66 vs 20.58 ± 7.53 d, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Under similar conditions of bacterial infection, antibiotic treatment of TCE-induced dermatitis based on the serum PCT level can significantly shorten the course of treatment and avoid the abuse of antibiotics.</p>

Detection of miRNA gene sequence variations in multiple myeloma and its significance / 白血病·淋巴瘤

Objective To investigate sequence variations of 12 miRNA genes in multiple myeloma(MM) in order to find whether sequence variations in miRNA genes are associated with tumorigenesis and discuss the clinical significance of MM associated with miRNA genes mutations. Methods The miRNA gene mutations in 20 cases of MM, 4 MM-derived cell lines and 20 controls were detected by the methods of polymerase chain reaction single stranded conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and silver staining technique. Both clinical features and laboratory results were analyzed simultaneously. Results The electrophoretic patterns showed a total of three variations in miR-19a, miR-19b and miRNA-335,which were observed in 3 MM cells (15 %, 3/20). We also found variations of miRNA-335 in MM-derived cell lines KM-3and RPMI8226. However, no sequence alteration in the miRNA genes was observed in our set of controls. One of the three MM patients died, and two of them were detected mutations at the terminal stage of the disease.Conclusion A relative high frequency of miRNA gene mutation was found in MM and MM derived cell lines, which suggests possibility of a main mechanism underlying tumorigenesis. And, detecting miRNA gene mutations in MM might be benefit to evaluate the progression and prognosis of disease.