Biology and significance of alpha‐fetoprotein in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer‐related deaths globally due, in part, to the majority of patients being diagnosed with intermediate or advanced stage disease. Our increased understanding of the heterogeneous molecular pathogenesis of HCC has led to significant developments in novel targeted therapies. Despite these advances, there remains a high unmet need for new treatment options. HCC is a complex disease with multiple pathogenic mechanisms caused by a variety of risk factors, making it difficult to characterize with a single biomarker. In fact, numerous biomarkers have been studied in HCC, but alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) remains the most widely used and accepted serum marker since its discovery over 60 years ago. This review summarizes the most relevant studies associated with the regulation of AFP at the gene and protein levels; the pathophysiology of AFP as a pro‐proliferative protein; and the correlation of AFP with molecular HCC subclasses, the vascular endothelial growth factor pathway and angiogenesis. Also described are the historical and current uses of AFP for screening and surveillance, diagnosis, its utility as a prognostic and predictive biomarker and its role as a tumour antigen in HCC. Taken together, these data demonstrate the relevance of AFP for patients with HCC and identify several remaining questions that will benefit from future research.     

Dual Symptomatic and Exudative Nasal Responses are not Characteristics of Perennial Allergic Rhinitis

Acute and late phase (dual) symptomatic responses after allergen challenge commonly occur in allergic asthma. The aim of the present study was to explore the occurrence of allergen challenge-induced biphasic responses in patients with chronic perennial allergic rhinitis living in an area with high house dust mite (HDM) exposure. Fifteen patients with perennial rhinitis and evident allergy to HDM participated. Nasal challenges with HDM and sham were performed on separate days in a crossover design. Nasal symptoms, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV₁     

Immunolocalization of endomucin-reactive blood vessels and α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in murine nasal conchae

ObjectivesRecently, the biological functions of endomucin-positive blood vessels and closely associated αSMA-positive cells in long bones have been highlighted. The surrounding tissues of the flat bones, such as nasal bones covered with mucosa and lamina propria, are different from those of the long bones, indicating the different distributions of endomucin-positive blood vessels and αSMA-reactive cells in nasal bones. This study demonstrates the immunolocalization of endomucin-reactive blood vessels and αSMA-positive cells in the nasal conchae of 3- and 7-week-old mice.MethodsThe nasal conchae of 3-week-old and 7-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were used for immunoreaction of endomucin, CD34, PDGFbb, TRAP, and c-kit.ResultsWhile we identified abundant endomucin-reactive blood vessels in the lamina propria neighboring the bone, not all were positive for endomucin. More CD34-reactive cells and small blood vessels were observed in the nasal conchae of 3-week-old mice than in those of 7-week-old mice. Some αSMA-positive cells in the nasal conchae surrounded the blood vessels, indicating vascular smooth muscle cells, while other αSMA-immunopositive fibroblastic cells were detected throughout the lamina propria. αSMA-positive cells did not co-localize with c-kit-immunoreactivity, thereby indicating that the αSMA-positive cells may be myofibroblasts rather than undifferentiated mesenchymal cells.ConclusionsUnlike long bones, nasal conchae contain endomucin-positive as well as endomucin-negative blood vessels and exhibit numerous αSMA-positive fibroblastic cells throughout the lamina propria neighboring the bone. Apparently, the distribution patterns of endomucin-positive blood vessels and αSMA-positive cells in nasal conchae are different from those in long bones.     

AFP、CEA、CA199联合检测在原发性肝癌中的诊断价值

目的探讨联合甲胎蛋白(AFP)、癌胚抗原(CEA)及糖类抗原199(CA199)三项指标检测在原发性肝癌诊断中的应用价值。方法选择就诊于该院的82例疑似原发性肝癌者为研究对象,采用电化学发光法进行AFP、CEA及CA199检测,并进行病理学确诊。以病理学检查结果为标准,对单项和联合检测AFP、CEA及CA199的特异度、准确度、漏诊率等进行分析。结果 82例患者中共有51例经病理检查确诊为原发性肝癌。而联合AFP、CEA与CA199检测对原发性肝癌的特异度及准确度均明显高于其他检测,且漏诊率明显低于其他检测。结论在原发性肝癌的临床诊断过程中,以AFP、CEA及CA199三项联合检测的诊断价值最高。