A Pilot Study of Prognostic Value of Metastatic Lymph Node Count and Size in Patients with Different Stages of Gastric Carcinoma.

Background: The correlation between the preoperative lymph node count (LNC) on multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and the prognosis of gastric carcinoma (GC) remains to be defined. This research aims to evaluate the prognostic value of LNC on MDCT in GC patients based on tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging, using different size criteria for counting. Methods: The clinical data of 126 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma undergoing gastrectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Lymph nodes greater than 8mm and 5mm on MDCT were counted and recorded. The prognostic implications of LNC on MDCT for patient survival were analyzed according to different size criteria for counting and tumor TNM staging. Results: When 8mm was used as the counting criterion, LNC on MDCT had no significant effect on the overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort. In addition, the OS of T1-T2 GC patients with LNC on MDCT ≥1 was significantly worse than that of patients with LNC on MDCT <1. When 5mm was used as the counting criterion, LNC on MDCT was found to be significantly associated with the OS of the entire cohort. In the subgroup analysis, patients with relatively advanced (T3-T4, N+ and III) GC with LNC on MDCT >7 showed a significantly worse OS than those with LNC on MDCT ≤7. LNC on MDCT >7 with 5mm as the counting criterion and Stage III were independent risk factors for adverse prognosis. Conclusion: The prognostic value of LNC on MDCT based on different size criteria varies in patients with different stages of GC. LNC of a smaller size (5mm) on MDCT may be a prognostic factor for patients with relatively advanced GC.

[Diagnostic Significance of BAT in Anaphylaxis to Non-ionic Contrast Media].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnostic significance of basophil activation test (BAT) in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media through testing the content of CD63, mast cell-carboxypeptidase A3 (MC-CPA3), and terminal complement complex SC5b-9 of the individuals by testing their levels in the normal immune group and the anaphylaxis groups to ß-lactam drugs and non -ionic contrast media. METHODS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood was detected by flow cytometry. The levels of MC-CPA3 in blood serum and SC5b-9 in blood plasma were detected by ELISA. RESULTS: The CD63 expression of basophilic granulocyte in blood, the levels of MC-CPA3 and SC5b-9 of anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media and ß-lactam drugs were significantly higher than that in normal immune group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is activation of basophilic granulocytes, mast cells and complement system in anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media. BAT can be used to diagnose the anaphylaxis to non-ionic contrast media.

[Application of microcolumn gel immunoassay in screening the platelet antibody].

The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical value of the platelet antibody screening and typing in platelets transfusion by using microcolumn gel immunoassay (MGIA). The platelets antigen-antibody reactions including the antibody screen and blood crossmatch were detected by MGIA. The results indicated that the detection of platelet antibody showed positive in 30 cases of aplastic anemia (AA), 11 cases of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), 24 out of 25 cases of leukemia and 1 out of cases of other diseases, while detection of platelet antibody showed negative in 20 normal volunteer donors. The number of platelet antibody crossmatch coincidence in 112 specimens of AA, 42 specimens of MDS and 95 specimens of leukemia were 45, 20 and 40, the coincidence rates were 40.18%, 47.62% and 42.11%. The mean corrected count increment (CCI) in 20 patients received platelet transfusion many times was 18.2 after crossmatch and 4.7 before crossmatch. It is concluded that the positive rate of platelet antibody screening is very high in patients with hematologic malignancies, the coincidence rate of platelet antibody crossmatch in 249 blood samples is between 40% and 48%, and the efficiency of using crossmatched platelets in clinic is enhanced significantly.