Association Between Serum C-Reactive Protein Concentration and Nutritional Status of Malignant Tumor Patients

Background: The level of the systemic inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) is elevated in many patients with malignant disease and may be related to nutritional status.

Objective: To analyze the association between serum CRP levels in patients with malignant tumors and their nutritional status.

Method: A total of 3,692 cases were analyzed and the serum CRP levels were determined using an immunometric assay. Nutritional status was assessed by using patient-generated subjective global assessment (PG-SGA). The biochemical evaluation of prealbumin (PA), albumin (ALB), cholesterol (CHOL), and triglycerides (TG) were assayed within 48?h admission to the hospital. The association between serum CRP concentration and the nutritional status, the stage of the tumor and other factors was analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Result: Elevated serum CRP was observed in 47.6% (1,548/3,269) of patients compared with the reference value, and the median CRP concentration was 18.29?mg/l. Patient serum CRP concentrations in the malnourished group (PG-SGA B?+?C) were higher than in the well-nourished (PG-SGA A) patients (P?<?0.05). The serum CRP level was related to the patients' age, gender, tumor stage, and was affected by hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, diabetes, but it has no effect on hypertension. The CRP high patients had lower PA and ALB levels, lower Karnofsky performance status scores, and higher PG-SGA scores (P?<?0.05), and there was no relationship with CHOL and TG levels. Weight loss in the previous 1?mo was seen with CRP positive patients (P?<?0.05).

Conclusion: Almost 50% of malignant tumor patients had elevated serum CRP levels indicating a systemic inflammatory state. The nutritional status was worse in cancer patients with higher concentrations of serum CRP. The level of CRP was associated with the tumor stage, and, as stage is a prognostic factor, so can CRP be used as a prognostic maker in malignant tumors patients.     

Impact of Weight Loss During Chemotherapy in Chinese Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

Background: Weight loss is frequently observed in pancreatic cancer patients. We aimed to study the prognostic impacts of weight loss early during chemotherapy.

Methods: A total of 72 patients of Chinese ethnicity with unresectable pancreatic cancer who underwent chemotherapy were reviewed. Critical weight loss (CWL) was defined as weight loss ≥ 5% within one month after treatment. The prognostic impact of weight loss and CWL were analyzed.

Results: 47 patients (65.3%) had weight loss after one month of treatment, with 14 (19.4%) suffering from CWL. Baseline characteristics were similar between patients with and without CWL. The median OS and Time-to-treatment-failure (TTF) of patients with CWL were shorter than those without CWL (OS: 4.8?months [CWL] versus [vs.] OS 7.1?months [No CWL]; TTF 1.6?months [CWL] vs. 3.2?months [No CWL]; both P?<?0.01). CWL was an independent adverse prognosticator for OS (Hazard Ratio [HR]?=?2.50; P?=?0.01) and TTF (HR = 2.71; P?<?0.01). Other independent prognosticators for OS were serum albumin <35?mg/dl and CA19-9?≥?1000?IU/ml, while CWL was the only independent prognosticator for TTF (HR 2.71 [95% CI 1.33–5.52]; P?<?0.01).

Conclusions: Development of CWL in early course of chemotherapy was associated with worse prognosis in Chinese patients with unresectable pancreatic cancers.     

灰毡毛忍冬LmC3H1基因的克隆及表达模式与绿原酸含量相关性分析

目的:以灰毡毛忍冬为材料,克隆对-香豆酸3-羟化酶(LmC3H1)基因,进行生物信息学和表达模式分析,结合绿原酸含量,研究推测灰毡毛忍冬LmC3H1基因的功能。方法:通过逆转录聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和RACE技术克隆LmC3H1基因的全长c DNA序列,对该序列进行生物信息学分析,并利用实时荧光定量PCR(Real-time PCR)和HPLC分别测定灰毡毛忍冬茎、叶及不同花期花中LmC3H1的相对表达量及绿原酸含量。结果:克隆得LmC3H1(Gen Bank:MN177695)基因,开放阅读框(ORF)长度为1 533 bp,编码510个氨基酸,推测其分子式为C_(2618)H_(4134)N_(718)O_(727)S_(22),相对分子质量为58 005.32,等电点8.92,为亲水性蛋白,定位于叶绿体中,具有跨膜区域LLLIPAVLFLISLVYPLI,含有细胞色素P450的保守结构域CYTOCHROME_P450(422-433 aa);Real-time PCR结果显示,LmC3H1在灰毡毛忍冬茎、叶及不同花期花有不同程度的表达,其中在花发育阶段,白色花蕾期相对表达量最高,花蕾初期及白色开花期次之;白色花蕾期花与茎、叶比,花的相对表达量最高,叶的最低;HPLC结果显示,从绿白色花蕾期到金黄色开花期绿原酸含量呈上升趋势,金黄色开花期含量最高,不同器官中,花中绿原酸最高,茎最低。结论:克隆得到灰毡毛忍冬LmC3H1基因,推测LmC3H1可能参与灰毡毛忍冬花绿原酸的生物合成。该研究为进一步研究该基因的功能及探究灰毡毛忍冬绿原酸生物合成和调节机制提供了依据,同时为遗传改良灰毡毛忍冬品质奠定了基础。     

Targeting an RNA-Binding Protein Network in Acute Myeloid Leukemia

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Analysis of early mortality and related risk factors in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Objective To analyze the early mortality and related risk factors of new hemodialysis patients in Zhejiang province, and provide basis for reducing the death risk of hemodialysis patients. Methods The early mortality and related factors of new hemodialysis patients from January 1, 2010 to June 30, 2018 were retrospectively analyzed using the database of Zhejiang province hemodialysis registration. The early mortality was defined as death within 90 days of dialysis. Cox regression model was used to analyze the related risk factors of the early mortality in hemodialysis patients. Results The mortality was the highest in the first month after dialysis (46.40/100 person year), and gradually stabilized after three months. The early mortality was 25.33/100 person year. The mortality within 120 days and 360 days were 21.40/100 person year and 11.37/100 person year, respectively. The elderly (≥65 years old, HR=1.981, 95%CI 1.319-2.977, P＜0.001), primary tumor (HR=3.308, 95%CI 1.137-5.624, P=0.028), combined with tumors (not including the primary tumor, HR=2.327, 95%CI 1.200-4.513, P=0.012), temporary catheter (the initial dialysis pathway, HR=3.632, 95%CI 1.806-7.307, P＜0.001), lower albumin (＜30 g/L, HR=2.181, 95%CI 1.459-3.260, P＜0.001), lower hemoglobin (every 0.01 g/L increase, HR=0.861, 95%CI 0.793-0.935, P=0.001), lower high density lipoprotein (＜0.7 mmol/L, HR=1.796, 95%CI 1.068-3.019, P=0.027) and higher C reactive protein (≥40 mg/L, HR=1.889, 95%CI 1.185-3.012, P=0.008) were the risk factors of early death for hemodialysis patients. Conclusions The early mortality of hemodialysis patients is high after dialysis, and gradually stable after 3 months. The elderly, primary tumor, combined with tumors, the initial dialysis pathway, lower albumin, lower hemoglobin, lower high density lipoprotein and higher C reactive protein are the risk factors of early death for hemodialysis patients.     

血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药治疗高血压颈动脉硬化的临床观察

目的:观察血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药治疗高血压颈动脉硬化的效果。方法:选取2017年6月至2018年6月聊城市中医院收治的高血压颈动脉硬化患者92例作为研究对象,按照随机数字表法随机分为对照组与观察组,每组46例。对照组患者给予左旋氨氯地平+阿托伐他汀口服,观察组在对照组基础上加用血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减口服。观察患者血压、血脂控制情况,测定颈动脉内膜中层厚度(IMT)、斑块面积、血管皮内皮功能、血清蛋白酶分子水平。结果:与对照组比较,观察组治疗后的血压SBP、DBP及血脂TG、TC、LDL-C等指标更低(P<0.05);颈动脉粥样硬化斑块IMT厚度、斑块面积明显缩小(P<0.05),血管内皮功能指标ET-1、AngⅡ、TXB2水平明显降低,NO水平明显升高(P<0.05);血清CatK、MMP-9水平明显降低(P<0.05);观察组不良反应发生率8.70%明显低于对照组不良反应发生率21.74%(P<0.05)。结论:血府逐瘀汤合温胆汤加减联合西药更利于控制高血压颈动脉硬化患者的血压,调节脂质代谢,改善血管内皮功能,降低血清蛋白酶分子的含量,用药安全。     

"双固一通"艾灸法对糖尿病及糖尿病周围神经病变大鼠海马BDNF和NT-3蛋白的影响

目的观察“双固一通”艾灸法对糖尿病DM 及糖尿病周围神经病变(DPN)大鼠血糖及海马中神经营养因子(BDNF)和神经营养素-3(NT-3)蛋白的影响。方法75只雄性SD大鼠随机分为A组、B组、C组、D组和E组,每组15只。A组为正常对照组,不进行任何干预,B组为DM模型组,造模后不行艾灸干预;C组为DM艾灸治疗组,采用艾条悬灸;D组为DPN模型组,造模后不行艾灸干预;E组为DPN艾灸治疗组,采用艾条悬灸。于造模后72 h、4周治疗结束后和8周治疗结束后空腹尾静脉采血测血糖,于4周治疗结束后和8周治疗结束后,用免疫组化试验方法检测各组大鼠海马中BDNF和NT-3蛋白表达情况。结果B组、D组与A组血糖水平比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),C组与B组比较,大鼠血糖水平降低(P<0.05);E组与D组比较,大鼠血糖水平降低(P<0.05)。B组、D组大鼠海马BDNF及NT-3免疫阳性神经元平均光密度值较A组明显减少(P<0.05);与B组比较,C组大鼠BDNF及NT-3免疫阳性神经元平均光密度值明显增加(P<0.05);与D组比较,E组大鼠BDNF及NT-3免疫阳性神经元平均光密度值明显增加(P<0.05)。结论“双固一通”艾灸法不仅可以起到明显的降糖效果,还可通过影响BDNF和NT-3蛋白的产生,保护糖尿病大鼠的感觉神经元,并对糖尿病及并发症周围神经病变起到治疗作用。