Increased expression of HMGB3: a novel independent prognostic marker of worse outcome in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

HMGB3, an X-linked member of the high-mobility group (HMG) superfamily of HMG proteins, has been shown to affect numerous tumorigenic progression. However, the expression and the prognostic role of HMGB3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remained unknown. In this study, we examined the HMGB3 expression in ESCC tissues and adjacent nontumorous tissues by qRT-PCR and immuohistochemistry. Statistical analyses were applied to test for prognostic and diagnostic associations. The mRNA levels of HMGB3 were found to be significantly higher in tumorous tissues than in the adjacent normal tissues. We found that the HMGB3 expression was higher in tumorous tissues than in the adjacent non-tumorous tissues by immunohistochemical analysis of paired tissue specimens (P < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significant correlation between HMGB3 expression and gender (P = 0.037), clinical stage (P = 0.038), T classification (P = 0.013) and N classification (P = 0.017). Patients with higher HMGB3 expression had shorter overall survival than those with lower HMGB3 expression. Multivariate Cox analysis indicated that HMGB3 expression is an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR = 0.591, 95% CI = 0.379-0.793, P = 0.039). In summary, these findings demonstrate that HMBG3 may be a potential molecular marker for predicting the prognosis of ESCC patients.     

FRZB up-regulation is correlated with hepatic metastasis and poor prognosis in colon carcinoma patients with hepatic metastasis

Frizzled-related protein (FRZB) was up-regulated in hepatic metastasis samples compared with primary colon cancer samples in our previous work. However, the clinical relevance of FRZB in colon cancer hepatic metastasis remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic value of FRZB in patients with colon carcinoma hepatic metastasis after hepatic resection. FRZB expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) primary colon carcinoma and paired hepatic metastasis tissues from 136 patients with liver metastasis from colon carcinoma that underwent hepatic resection. The relation between FRZB expression and clinicopathologic factors and long-term prognosis in these 136 patients was retrospectively examined. The prognostic significance of negative or positive FRZB exspression in colon carcinoma hepatic metastasis was assessed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests. Positive expression of FRZB was correlated with liver metastasis of colon cancer. Univariate analysis indicated significantly worse overall survival (OS) for patients with a positive FRZB expression in colon carcinoma hepatic metastasis than for patients with a negative FRZB expression. Multivariate analysis showed positive-FRZB in colon carcinoma hepatic metastasis to be an independent prognostic factor for OS after hepatic resection (P = 0.001). Positive expression of FRZB was statistically significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with colon carcinoma hepatic metastasis. FRZB could be a novel predictor for poor prognosis of patients with colon carcinoma hepatic metastasis after hepatic resection.     

Mesenchymal stem cells suppress lung inflammation and airway remodeling in chronic asthma rat model via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

Background: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) came out to attract wide attention and had become one of the hotspots of most diseases’ research in decades. But at present, the mechanisms of how MSCs work on chronic asthma remain undefined. Our study aims at verifying whether MSCs play a role in preventing inflammation and airway remodeling via PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the chronic asthma rats model. Methods: First, an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma model was built. MSCs were administered to ovalbumin-induced asthma rats. The total cells in a bronchial alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and inflammatory mediators in BALF and serum were measured. Histological examination of lung tissue was performed to estimate the pathological changes. Additionally, the expression of phosphorylated-Akt (p-Akt) in all groups was measured by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: Compared to normal control group, the degree of airway inflammation and airway remodeling was significantly increased in asthma group. On the contrary, they were obviously inhibited in MSCs transplantation group. Moreover, the expression of p-Akt was increased in lung tissues of asthmatic rats, and suppressed by MSCs transplantation. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that MSCs transplantation could suppress lung inflammation and airway remodeling via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in rat asthma model.     

健康成人下颌切牙管的锥形束CT测量分析

目的 利用锥形束CT测量下颌切牙管(mandibular incisive canal,MIC),了解其形态和特点,为临床提供参考.方法 观察2011年1月至2013年1月50名成人健康志愿者的锥形束CT图像,测量分析MIC的检出率、管径、长度及其与颌骨的关系.结果 在50例(100侧)锥形束CT图像中:MIC的检出率为100％(100/100),清晰率为71％(71/100);MIC的管径面积(唇舌径×垂直径)从起点至终点逐渐变小(左侧起点2.17 mm× 2.22 mm,终点0.82 mm× 0.92 mm;右侧起点2.14 mm×2.08 mm,终点0.87 mm×0.86 mm);MIC左右侧平均长度分别为17.84和17.73 mm;MIC在下颌骨唇舌向偏唇侧;在垂直方向MIC距下颌骨下缘较近,MIC到根尖的距离在尖牙最小.结论 锥形束CT对MIC有良好的检出率和清晰率;MIC在下颌骨的走行中偏向唇侧和下颌骨下缘.     

Predicting One-Year Mortality in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: An Analysis of the China Peritoneal Dialysis Registry

This study aims to investigate basic clinical features of peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, their prognostic risk factors, and to establish a prognostic model for predicting their one-year mortality. A national multi-center cohort study was performed. A total of 5,405 new PD cases from China Peritoneal Dialysis Registry in 2012 were enrolled in model group. All these patients had complete baseline data and were followed for one year. Demographic and clinical features of these patients were collected. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to analyze prognostic risk factors and establish prognostic model. A validation group was established using 1,764 new PD cases between January 1, 2013 and July 1, 2013, and to verify accuracy of prognostic model. Results indicated that model group included 4,453 live PD cases and 371 dead cases. Multivariate survival analysis showed that diabetes mellitus (DM), residual glomerular filtration rate (rGFR), , SBP, Kt/V, high PET type and Alb were independently associated with one-year mortality. Model was statistically significant in both within-group verification and outside-group verification. In conclusion, DM, rGFR, SBP, Kt/V, high PET type and Alb were independent risk factors for short-term mortality in PD patients. Prognostic model established in this study accurately predicted risk of short-term death in PD patients.     

胸腹腔镜联合Ivor-Lewis食管癌根治术的临床应用

目的：探讨胸腹腔镜联合Ivor-Lewis食管癌根治术的可行性、安全性及近期临床效果。方法回顾性分析2011年10月—2013年6月安徽医科大学附属省立医院胸外科行胸腹腔镜联合Ivor-Lewis食管癌根治术146例（腔镜组)以及开放右胸上腹两切口食管癌根治术168例（开放组)患者的临床资料。比较两组手术时间、术中出血量、淋巴结清扫数目、术后住院时间及术后并发症的发生情况。结果与开放组相比,腔镜组的出血量少[（181．8±60．7)mL vs （205．7 ± 105．9)mL, t=－2．396],术后住院时间短[（11．5±5．5) d vs （13．0±7．4)d, t=－2．023],术后呼吸系统并发症发生率较低[8．2%（12/146) vs 22．0%（37/168),χ2=11．303],差异均有统计学意义（P值均<0．05);而手术时间、淋巴结清扫数目、循环和消化系统并发症发生率、二次手术率、近期总复发率及总生存率的差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0．05)。结论胸腹腔镜联合Ivor-Lewis食管癌根治术在技术上是安全可行的,且具有术中出血量少、术后肺部感染发生率低和住院时间短等优势;但其远期疗效需进一步随访观察。     

Reversal of B-cell hyperactivation and functional impairment is associated with HBsAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients

B cells play an important role in the clearance of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and protection against reinfection. However, the functional characteristics of these cells that are associated with the outcome of chronic HBV infection remain unknown. We comprehensively investigated the frequency, phenotype, and function of peripheral B-cell subsets from CHB patients in different phases: immune tolerance (IT), immune activation (IA), immune clearance (IC), responders with HBsAg seroconversion (resolved patients, RP), and healthy controls (HC). IA patients displayed lower percentages of peripheral blood memory B cells compared with the other groups. Overall polyclonal activation of B cells, indicated by higher levels of activation markers and secretion of IgG and IgM, was observed in IA patients. This B-cell hyperactivation could be induced by increased IFN-α and soluble CD40 ligands in IA patients. Notably, the expression of the co-stimulator molecule CD80 and serum HBsAb and the frequency of HBsAg-specific B cells were significantly decreased in IT, IA, and IC patients compared with HC subjects. More importantly, the B-cell hyperactivation, co-stimulatory molecule downregulation and HBsAg-specific B-cell impairment were reversed in RP patients. The reversal of B-cell hyperactivation and functional impairment is associated with HBsAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients.     

封闭负压治疗对猪深Ⅱ度烧伤创面的影响

目的观察封闭负压治疗对猪深Ⅱ度烧伤创面的影响。方法采用控温控压电烫仪在3只普通家猪背部对称制造深Ⅱ度热力烧伤模型,每只猪背6个创面(共18个),左右对称创面视为一对,共9对创面随机分为持续负压组、间歇负压组、常规换药组。造模24 h后两负压组分别给予持续及间歇封闭负压治疗,压力值均为-125 mm Hg(1 mm Hg=0.133 k Pa),常规换药组给予常规换药治疗。于治疗后当天、第3、6、9、14天,分别测量创面面积并计算愈合率;取创面组织进行常规苏木精-伊红(HE)染色,光学显微镜下观察病理学变化,采用免疫组织化学染色法计算细胞增殖指数(PI)及血管内皮细胞计数;记录最终创面愈合时间。数据行单因素方差分析及LSD-t检验。结果 (1)治疗后第3天,持续负压组、间歇负压组创面愈合率分别为(18.51±4.38)%、(14.26±5.98)%,均高于常规换药组(3.86±2.35)%,差异有统计学意义(t=56.552、40.139,P﹤0.05、=0.001),治疗后第6天,两负压组分别达(24.74±3.25)%、(20.55±3.43)%,仍高于常规换药组(13.41±4.08)%,差异有统计学意义(t=5.473、3.432,P﹤0.05、=0.004),治疗后第9天,其愈合率分别达(49.81±3.88)%、(46.96±3.16)%,均高于常规换药组(34.29±6.69)%,差异有统计学意义(t=5.563、4.541,均P﹤0.05)。(2)持续负压组、间歇负压组愈合时间分别为(11.67±0.52)d、(11.50±1.05)d,均短于常规换药组(13.00±0.89)d,差异有统计学意义(t=2.715、3.055,P=0.016、0.008),两负压组间比较,差异无统计学意义(t=0.340,P=0.739)。(3)治疗后第3天,常规换药组创面炎症细胞浸润较两负压组重,其高峰持续到第9天,第14天逐渐消退。(4)治疗后第3天,持续负压组和间歇负压组细胞PI明显升高,高于常规换药组,差异有统计学意义(t=10.413、9.080,均P﹤0.05),治疗后第6天分别达高峰,仍高于常规换药组,差异有统计学意义(t=4.549、5.557,均P﹤0.05),治疗后第9、14天,3组细胞PI无明显差异。(5)治疗后第3、6天,持续负压组、间歇负压组血管内皮细胞计数均高于常规换药组,差异有统计学意义(均P﹤0.05)。治疗后第9、14天,3组血管内皮细胞计数差异无统计学意义(F=1.639、1.711,P=0.218、0.205)。结论与常规换药相比,封闭负压引流治疗能加快创面坏死组织清除,促进创面炎症反应消退,加速深Ⅱ度烧伤创面愈合。     

Role of p19ink4d in the pathogenesis of hearing loss

This study aimed to investigate the p19 expression in cisplatin-treated rats and the role of p19 in the degeneration of inner ear cells. It also searched for p19 gene alterations in patients with profound sensorineural deafness. P19ink4d is essential for the postmitotic maintenance of hair cells. It is presumed that a mutation in the functional homolog of p19 or a disturbance in its regulated expression can be the underlying cause of hearing loss. Experiments were conducted on male and female Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 6-7 weeks, 280-320 g) with thresholds of auditory brainstem responses <30 dB in the sound pressure level, and signs of middle ear infection were used for the experiment. For clinical evaluation, 400 children (age less than 13 years) from unrelated families with severe or profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were recruited at the second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between 2005 and 2013, and genomic DNA for deafness gene analysis was obtained from peripheral blood samples of the patients and their lineal relatives. It was found that the p19 expression increased over time in the inner ear cells after cisplatin administration, but the p19 mRNA and protein levels significantly decreased in rats with manifested hearing loss induced by cisplatin. However, no mutation existed within the coding exons of p19 in the patients with profound sensorineural deafness. To conclude, the results support the concept that p19 may play an important role in the ototoxic effects of cisplatin and is probably involved in the pathogenesis of hearing loss.