Identification of potential prognostic biomarkers for hepatocellular carcinoma

BackgroundThe incidence of liver cancer is increasing every year. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for nearly 90% of liver cancer, and the overall 5-year survival rate of become of Hepatocellular carcinoma patients less than 20%. However, the molecular mechanism of HCC progression and prognosis still requires further exploration.MethodsIn this study, we downloaded the gene expression data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Genomic Data and the official website of GEO database. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were utilized to detect the gene modules. The shared differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were screened out by a Venn diagram, and the hub genes were identified through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were constructed for these hub genes. Overall survival (OS) and correlation analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between the hub genes and clinical features.ResultsWe screened out 27 shared DEGs, and the mainly enriched GO terms were mitotic nuclear division, chromosomal region, and tubulin binding. Furthermore, the top three enriched KEGG pathways were “cell cycle”, “oocyte meiosis”, and “p53 signaling pathway”. According to the Maximal Clique Centrality (MCC) algorithm, the top 10 candidate hub genes were MYC, MCM3, CDC20, CCNB1, BIRC5, UBE2C, TOP2A, RRM2, TK1, and PTTG1, among which BIRC5, CDC20, and UBE2C showed a strong correlation with the OS.ConclusionsThree hub genes (BIRC5, CDC20, and UBE2C) were identified and found to be correlated to the progression and prognosis of HCC. These may become potential targets for HCC therapy.     

DWI和GRE-T2^＊WI序列在弥漫性轴索损伤中的应用价值

目的：探讨扩散加权成像（DWI）和梯度回波T2^＊加权成像（GRE-T2^＊WI）序列在弥漫性轴索损伤中的应用价值。方法回顾性分析35例经临床确诊的弥漫性轴索损伤患者的MRI影像资料,对全部患者均进行T1WI、T2WI、FLAIR （Fluid attenuated inversion recovery）、GRE-T2^＊WI及DWI序列扫描。对比各序列对病灶的检出数,并分析其分布情况及信号特点。结果 DWI和GRE-T2^＊WI序列检出的病灶数目显著多于其他序列,病灶主要分布在深部脑白质、皮髓交界区、胼胝体、基底节区、脑干、小脑等部位,表现为散在的、多灶性的、大小不一的点状、索条状、斑片状、串珠样异常信号影。结论 DWI及GRE-T2^＊WI序列比其他序列敏感,在DAI的早期诊断中有更高的应用价值。     

探讨磁敏感加权成像在弥漫性轴索损伤中出血灶的应用价值

目的：探讨磁敏感加权成像在弥漫性轴索损伤患者出血灶的检出的应用价值。方法：对29例临床诊断弥漫性轴索损伤的成人患者进行头部SWI扫描,将脑分为九区,按分区的不同统计检出的出血灶数目,分析应用SWI所检出的出血灶数目与GCS分组间以及昏迷时间的相关性。结果：应用SWI所检出的DAI患者的出血灶的数目,对成人DAI患者研究结果示,除小脑外,其他脑分区出血灶数与GCS有相关性;除小脑及丘脑外,其他脑分区出血灶数与昏迷时间有相关性。结论：SWI对弥漫性轴索损伤中出血灶检出与GCS及昏迷时间相关性,可为临床诊疗及预后判断提供强有力的依据。     

磁敏感加权成像对脑星形细胞瘤术前分级的诊断价值

目的探讨磁敏感加权成像对脑星形细胞瘤术前分级诊断的价值。方法分析39例经手术病理证实为脑星形细胞瘤患者的磁敏感加权成像（SWI）的影像表现,对瘤内磁敏感信号（ITSS）级别进行分级并判断肿瘤的高、低级别,与病理结果进行对照。结果 11例低级别组星形细胞瘤中,ITSS评分0级6例,1级5例。28例高级别组星形细胞瘤中,ITSS评分1级2例,2级7例,3级19例。高低级别组星形细胞瘤的ITSS级别有统计学差异（Z=-4.986,P〈0.01）,ITSS级别与星形细胞瘤的病理级别呈正相关（r=0.958,P〈0.01）。结论不同级别脑星形细胞瘤内ITSS级别有明显差异,ITSS级别对星形细胞瘤术前分级有重要价值。     

电针缓解吗啡戒断大鼠的心动过速

目的：建立吗啡戒断大鼠心动过速模型，观察不同频率电针对其心率的影响。方法：给大鼠连续注射递增量吗啡８天，造成其对吗啡依赖。停药后１８～２４ｈ给于强度为１ｍＡ，频率为２Ｈｚ、１５Ｈｚ、１００Ｈｚ的电针刺激，记录清醒状态下吗啡戒断大鼠的心率和血压。结果：与正常大鼠比较吗啡戒断大鼠心率显著增快（Ｐ〈０．０１），但平均动脉压无显著性差异。１５Ｈｚ和１００Ｈｚ电针对吗啡戒断大鼠的心动过速均有显著抑制作用（使     

缺血性卒中患者二级预防相关脑微出血形成的危险因素分析

目的 探讨缺血性卒中患者二级预防时脑微出血(CMBs)形成的危险因素,为脑血管病的防治提供依据和指导.方法 收集明确诊断为急性缺血性卒中的患者,且在应用抗血小板聚集药物治疗4 d内完成磁敏感加权成像(SWI)检查,对纳入的患者随访12个月,12个月后复查SWI,记录随访前后CMBs的数量和部位.结果 共纳入了94例患者,其中发现伴CMBs患者50(53.2%)例,经二分类Logistics回归分析发现:高血压病史(OR=1.2,95%CI=1.07~1.61,P=0.004)、年龄(OR=2.2,95%CI=1.25~3.92,P=0.006)是CMBs形成的独立危险因素,且年龄每增加10岁,CMBs患病率增加2.2倍,经ROC曲线分析发现:年龄曲线下面积为0.695(95%CI=0.588~0.802),年龄预测CMBs的最佳cutoff值为62岁,当患者年龄≥62岁时,发生CMBs的风险明显增高.在12个月的随访中有22例患者复查SWI检查,发现新增CMBs病灶33个,经Wilcoxon非参数配对秩和检验结果显示随访后CMBs数量的中位数是2.5个,基线时是1个(Z=-3.1,P=0.002),随访前后CMBs数量差异有统计学意义.结论 对于年龄≥62岁、高血压病史、规律应用抗血小板聚集药物的缺血性卒中患者,应定期监测CMBs的数量和部位,以指导二级预防治疗方案.     

Intracranial Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in Beta-Thalassemia

Extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) represents tumor-like proliferation of hemopoietic tissue which complicates chronic hemoglobinopathy. Intracranial EMH is an extremely rare occurrence. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offers a precise diagnosis. It is essential to distinguish EMH from other extradural central nervous system tumors, because treatment and prognosis are totally different. Herein, we report the imaging findings of beta-thalassemia in a 13-year-old boy complaining of weakness of left side of the body and gait disturbance; CT and MRI revealed an extradural mass in the right temporoparietal region.     

Randomized,double-blind,placebo-controlled,safety and immunogenicity study of 4 formulations of Anthrax Vaccine Adsorbed plus CPG 7909 (AV7909) in healthy adult volunteers

A new anthrax vaccine that could accelerate the immune response and possibly reduce the number of injections needed for protection would be desirable in a post-exposure setting.     

Mutation Spectrum of β-Thalassemia and Other Hemoglobinopathies in Chittagong,Southeast Bangladesh

Abstract

Thalassemia is one of the most common autosomal recessive blood disorders in the world. It shows a variety of clinical expression, starting from asymptomatic to severe blood transfusion dependence. More than 500 alleles have been characterized in or around the β-globin region. Moreover, most geographical regions have their own characteristics, frequency and availability of these alleles, predominantly circulating within the communities present in that particular region. In this study, we explored the spectrum of β-thalassemia (β-thal) alleles present in Chittagong, Southeast Bangladesh. This study comprises β-thal and Hb E (HBB: c.79?G?>?A) patients from in and around the area of Chittagong. Not only exploring the complete β-globin mutation spectrum of the area, but we also tried to look at the origin of the mutated alleles. The β-thal mutations of Bangladesh show a relatively wide spectrum of alleles, which further demonstrates the heterogeneity of the disease in this country. Although our study showed that the majority of the mutations have their origin in neighboring countries such as India, countries of Southeast Asia, Pakistan, etc., some unusual alleles do not originate in neighboring countries and put a little more diversity in the overall spectrum of β-thal-specific alleles. Overall, this study demonstrates the mutation spectrum related to β-thal in Chittagong, Southeast Bangladesh.