Mucosal chemokine CXCL17: What is known and not known

CXCL17, the last described chemokine, has recently been found to be abundantly and specifically expressed in mucosal sites, while its receptor is still not well determined. Accumulative studies indicate that CXCL17 could potentially exhibit chemotactic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial activities under multiple biological conditions. However, the mechanism by which it contributes to the physiological and pathological processes within specific mucosal tissues is still far from being fully elucidated. In this present review, we therefore summarize the current available evidence of CXCL17 with specific emphasis on its biological role and pathophysiological significance, in order to aid in the advancement of CXCL17-related studies.

Gene polymorphisms (rs324957, rs324981) in NPSR1 are associated with increased risk of primary insomnia: A cross-sectional study

Neuropeptide S and neuropeptide S receptor (NPSR1) are associated with sleep regulation. Herein, the possible contribution of 6 polymorphisms in NPSR1 on the chromosome to primary insomnia (PI) and objective sleep phenotypes was investigated.The study included 157 patients with PI and 133 age- and sex-matched controls. All subjects were investigated by polysomnography for 3 consecutive nights. The genotyping of 6 polymorphisms was carried out by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method.A significant difference was detected for rs324957 and rs324981 between PI and controls. The PI patients had a higher frequency of AA than controls in rs324957 (P = .02) and rs324981 (P = .04). However, for other single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs323922, rs324377, rs324396, and rs324987), no significant differences were observed between PI patients and controls. There were 2 different allelic combinations that were associated with PI susceptibility (CATGTC, GCCAAT) and its risk factor. A significant difference in sleep latency was observed among 3 genotype carriers of NPSR1 gene polymorphism rs324957 in PI group (P = .04), with carriers of the A/A genotype having the longest sleep latency (mean ± SD: 114.80 ± 58.27), followed by the A/G genotype (112.77 ± 46.54) and the G/G genotype (92.12 ± 42.72).This study provided the evidence that the NPSR1 gene polymorphisms (rs324957, rs324981) might be susceptibility loci for PI. Further studies are needed to explore the role of NPSR1 gene polymorphisms in molecular mechanisms of PI in a larger sample size.

Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) upregulation contributes to gastric cancer progression and indicates poor survival outcome

Background

Proline levels are significantly increased in tumor specimens and urine samples from gastric cancer (GC) patients, and we previously showed that intracellular proline levels significantly differ between human GC cell lines and normal gastric epithelial cells. Pyrroline-5-carboxylate reductase 1 (PYCR1) is the key enzyme in intracellular proline synthesis, but its role in GC remains largely unknown.

Methods

Bioinformatic analysis and immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with a tissue microarray were conducted to assess the association between PYCR1 expression and clinical parameters. PYCR1 downregulation and overexpression were then established in two GC cell lines (AGS and MKN28 cells) to determine whether PYCR1 promotes malignant behavior in GC. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was further performed to investigate the pathway regulating PYCR1 in GC.

Results

PYCR1 expression was up-regulated in different GC cohorts. High PYCR1 protein expression was correlated with advanced tumor stage, aggressive histological type and high Ki-67 index. High PYCR1 expression in GC tissues was an indicator of poor outcome in GC patients. In vitro, PYCR1 knockdown markedly attenuated GC cells growth and promoted apoptosis, while overexpression produced the opposite effects. GSEA analysis indicated PI3K/Akt axis was strongly correlated with PYCR1 expression and that PIK3CB and AKT1 mRNA expression was positively associated with PYCR1 in GC tissues. PI3K inhibition further significantly reduced PYCR1 mRNA and protein expression. Moreover, as PYCR1 is a mitochondrial endomembrane protein, nutrient stress induced by glucose deprivation also regulated PYCR1 expression.

Conclusions

PYCR1 is highly expressed in GC and acts as a mitochondrial oncogene to induce cancer progression by enhancing tumor proliferation and responding to metabolic stress. PYCR1 is a novel prognostic marker and a potential therapeutic target in GC.

Role of serum matrix metalloproteinase in the diagnosis of gastric cancer

Objective

To determine the clinical value of a matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) antibody array in diagnosing gastric cancer (GC).

Methods

In this prospective study, serum samples of patients with GC (n=66) and non-neoplastic gastric disease (NGD; n=34) were collected between November 2017 and July 2018. The quantitative measurement of 10 MMP-related proteins was done using MMP arrays and compared between the two groups.

Results

The serum levels of MMPs 3, 8, 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) 1 and 2 were significantly higher in the GC group than in the NGD group (p<0.05). The area under curve (AUC) of the 10 MMP proteins for the diagnosis of GC varied between 0.500 and 0.658. The total AUC of all MMPs was 0.897 (95% CI: 0.837-0.957). The total AUC of the five MMPs (MMPs 3, 8, 9, and TIMPs 1 and 2) was 0.821 (95% CI: 0.733-0.909) for diagnosing GC. Also, the 10-factor and 5-factor predictive models had good diagnostic ability for early GC with an AUC of 0.865 (95% CI: 0.753-0.977) and 0.749 (95% CI: 0.600-0.898), respectively.

Conclusions

The detection of multiple serum MMPs with protein biochip technology is promising to be used as a novel non-invasive tool for facilitating early diagnosis or screening of GC.

Consensus on eradication of Helicobacter pylori and prevention and control of gastric cancer in China (2019, Shanghai)

BACKGROUND AND AIM

China is a country with high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, which in turn is closely related to the occurrence of gastric cancer. Therefore, the risks of H. pylori infection and gastric cancer are highly overlapping, and the prevention and treatment of H. pylori infection are necessary to prevent gastric cancer.

METHODS

Based on evidence-based medicine and the Delphi method, the National Clinical Medical Research Center for Digestive Disease along with the National Early Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention and Treatment Center Alliance organized dozens of experts in the fields of digestive diseases, H. pylori research, gastric cancer surgery, epidemiology, health economics, and health management to discuss the relationship between H. pylori eradication and prevention and the treatment of gastric cancer.

RESULTS

A preliminary consensus on the relationship between H. pylori infection and gastric cancer, H. pylori eradication and gastric cancer prevention, and H. pylori screening and eradication strategy was reached. The consensus further clarified the relationship between H. pylori and gastric cancer and how to formulate future prevention and control strategies for gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

This consensus could provide guidance on early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of H. pylori to reduce the occurrence of gastric cancer in China.

Safety and Feasibility of Low-Dose Apatinib Combined with S-1 as the Second-Line Therapy or Beyond in Chinese Patients with Pulmonary and Hepatic Metastasis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to analyze the safety and feasibility of low-dose apatinib combined with S-1 as a second-line therapy or beyond in Chinese patients with pulmonary and/or hepatic metastases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

Forty-one Chinese NPC patients with pulmonary and hepatic metastases were treated with low-dose apatinib plus S-1. The S-1 dose was determined according to each patient’s body surface area (BSA): 40 mg twice a day for BSA <1.25 m²; 50 mg twice a day for 1.25 m²≤BSA <1.5 m²; and 60 mg twice a day for BSA ≥1.5 m². S-1 was received for 14 days, after stopping for 7 days, given 3 weeks apart. Apatinib, 125 mg was orally administered daily on days 1 through 28 of each 4-week cycle. If the toxicity was not tolerable, the dose of apatinib was reduced to 125 mg every other day.

Results

Treatment efficacy was evaluated in all 41 patients after four courses of chemotherapy. The objective response rate was 34.1%, and the disease control rate was 80.4%. The median progression-free survival was 9.7 months (95% confidence interval, 6.2–13.8 months), and the median overall survival was 22.1 months (95% confidence interval, 15.1–28.9 months). The 2-year survival rate was 41.5%. The most common toxicities included loss of appetite in 39.0% of patients, dyslipidemia in 34.1%, hypertension in 31.7%, myelosuppression in 24.4%, fatigue in 21.9%, and hand-foot syndrome in 17.1%. Seven patients received dose adjustment of apatinib due to side effects.

Conclusion

In patients with pulmonary and/or hepatic metastases of NPC, low-dose apatinib plus S-1 yielded an excellent survival benefit, and the toxicities were mild and tolerable.

Facile synthesis of covalent organic framework derived Fe-COFs composites as a peroxidase-mimicking artificial enzyme

An artificial catalyst (Fe-COFs) with peroxidase-like activity was successfully synthesized at room temperature and applied to catalyze the reaction between TMB and H₂O₂. This catalytic system can be used not only to detect residual hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in milk efficiently, but also to degrade rhodamine B (RhB) in waste water.

Determination of Menbutone Residues in Edible Swine Tissues Based on Solid-Phase Extraction and RP-HPLC

Background:

Menbutone is widely used as a veterinary choleretic drug in many countries. There was no publicly available analysis method for the determination of menbutone residues in swine tissues. It is necessary to establish a method to control the maximum residue limit and ensure food safety of the public.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to establish an analytical method for the simultaneous determination of menbutone in muscle, fat, liver and kidney tissues from swine.

Methods:

MBT residue was extracted by acetonitrile from the tissues then purified by using a C18 solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and an alkaline alumina (ALA) SPE cartridge. MBT was detected by RP-HPLC and separation was achieved on a Shim-pack VP-ODS C18 HPLC column using phosphoric acid solution (0.5%, v/v) and acetonitrile (45/55, v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The effluent was monitored at 235 nm, and the column temperature was set to 30°C.

Results:

MBT eluted at 6.3 min and no interfering peak nearby was observed. This linearity within the concentration range of 0.02 (LOQ) and 12 µg/mL (r2>0.9999, n=6). The accuracy ranged from 74.07 to 110.83% of the actual values. Intra and inter-day precision were within 15.11%. In the application study, MBT was detectable in continuously dosing MBT 10 µg/g/day to healthy swine for 7 days.

Conclusion:

The proposed method has specificity, accuracy, and sensitivity, with an excellent linear relationship that successfully applied to swine tissues.

Synthesis of bismuth nanoparticle-loaded cobalt ferrite for electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions

As an efficient modified electrode material for the detection of heavy metal ions, bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) were loaded on cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄), a unique magnetic photocatalytic material, to fabricate a highly sensitive sensor. The obtained BiNPs@CoFe₂O₄ nanocomposites showed excellent adsorption and electrical conductivity using a Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV) detection method. Under optimized conditions, the BiNPs@CoFe₂O₄/GCE sensor could simultaneously determine Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, with detection limits of 7.3 and 8.2 nM, respectively. In addition, the BiNPs@CoFe₂O₄ exhibited acceptable reproducibility and good stability, which indicated great potential for the detection of heavy metal ions in reality.

As an efficient modified electrode material for the detection of heavy metal ions, bismuth nanoparticles (BiNPs) were loaded on cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄), a unique magnetic photocatalytic material, to fabricate a highly sensitive sensor.

Simple Purification and Immobilization of His-Tagged Organophosphohydrolase from Cell Culture Supernatant by Metal Organic Frameworks for Degradation of Organophosphorus Pesticides

Coordinating unsaturated metal sites (CUS) on the surface of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) could be used to adsorb His-tagged proteins. The specific adsorption between CUS and His-tagged proteins could reduce preparation steps, shorten preparation time, and could also avoid the binding between the metal ion of metalloenzyme active center and the chelating agent to ensure the enzyme activity. In this study, MIL-88A was synthesized by hydrothermal method and used to purify and immobilize His-tagged organophosphohydrolase (OpdA) in one step for organophosphate bioremediation. Under optimized conditions, OpdA@MIL-88A had a maximal activity of 1554 U/g_protein, which was nearly 5 times higher than free OpdA. Compared with free OpdA, OpdA@MIL-88A exhibited improved organic solvent tolerance, SDS tolerance, thermal stability, and storage stability. OpdA@MIL-88A was used to degrade organophosphorus pesticides on grapes and cucumbers. After reuse 6 times, OpdA@MIL-88A retained more than 66% and 61% of the initial activity, respectively. Therefore, this proposed strategy provided a facile and effective method for degradation of organophosphorus pesticides.

[Survey of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in hilly transmission-controlled areas of Jiangxi Province]

OBJECTIVE

To understand the situation of Schistosoma japonicum infections in wild animals in transmission-controlled schistosomiasis-endemic areas in Jiangxi Province, so as to provide scientific evidence for implementing precision control interventions and achieving the goal of transmission interruption and elimination of schistosomiasis.

METHODS

Five endemic villages from Ruichang City and Pengze County that were heavily endemic for schistosomiasis in Jiangxi Province, were selected as the study villages. Wild animals like wild mice were captured, and the livers of wild animals were purchased from the snail habitats in the study villages for detection of S. japonicum infections. In the study villages, S. japonicum human infections were screened using indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) followed by parasitological examinations with miracidial hatching test and Kato-Katz method, and the S. japonicum infection in livestock was tested using a miracidial hatching test with a plastic tube. In addition, snail survey was conducted in the study villages by means of systematic sampling combined with environmental sampling, and the S. japonicum infection in snails was detected using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay.

RESULTS

A total of 240 liver specimens were sampled or purchased from 5 species of wild animals in the study villages, including wild mice, weasels, pigs, deer and rabbits. A total of 172 wild mice were captured, with a 2.91% rate of S. japonicum infection, and there was no S. japonicum infection detected in other wild animals. The prevalence of Capillaria hepatica infection was 12.21%, 1.96% and 12.50% in wild mice, deer and pigs, respectively. In addition, there was no S. japonicum infection found in either humans or livestock in the study villages, and the mean snail density varied from 0.13 to 0.80 snails/0.1 m² in the study villages. LAMP assay detected S. japonicum infection in 2 tubes in a study village.

CONCLUSIONS

The role of wild animals in schistosomiasis transmission and their potential risks can not be neglected in hilly schistosomiasis-endemic areas of Jiangsu Province after transmission control. Intensified surveillance and targeted control measures should be implemented to consolidate schistosomiasis control achievements.

[Serum vitamin D expression in advanced schistosomiasis patients with hepatic fibrosis and its association with disease progression]

OBJECTIVE

To compare the expression of serum vitamin D in advanced schistosomiasis patients with grade I and II hepatic fibrosis, and to preliminarily examine its associations with the internal diameter of the main portal vein and progression of hepatic fibrosis.

METHODS

The medical records of 126 advanced schistosomiasis patients with grade I and II hepatic fibrosis referred to Jiaxing First Hospital from March 2012 to September 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The internal diameter of the main portal vein and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 [25(OH)D3] level were measured. The progression of hepatic fibrosis was followed up, and the serum vitamin D level was compared between patient with disease progression and stable disease.

RESULTS

The 126 advanced schistosomiasis patients included 72 men and 54 women, and had ages of 62 to 80 years. There were 58 cases with grade I hepatic fibrosis and 68 cases with grade II hepatic fibrosis. There were significant differences between patients with grade I and II hepatic fibrosis in terms of hemoglobin, white blood cell count, prothrombin time, international normalized ratio, activated partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen or 25(OH)D3 level (all P > 0.05), and significant differences were seen in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood calcium, blood phosphorus levels and the internal diameter of the main portal vein (all P values < 0.05). In addition, a lower serum 25(OH)D3 level was detected in patients with broadened internal diameter of the main portal vein than in those with normal internal diameter of the main portal vein [(19.08 ± 1.36) nmol/L vs. (25.61 ± 6.69) nmol/L, P < 0.05]. Following 3-year follow-up, there were 73 cases with progression of hepatic fibrosis, and a significantly lower serum vitamin D level was found in patients with disease progression than in those with stable disease [(20.00 ± 0.81) nmol/L vs. (25.47 ± 5.91) nmol/L, P < 0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

Vitamin D deficiency is common in advanced schistosomiasis patients with hepatic fibrosis, and it may be associated with the internal diameter of the main portal vein and the progression of hepatic fibrosis disease.

Protective role of astragalus injection in spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Objectives:

To investigate the neuroprotective effect of Astragalus injection in a spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury model.

Methods:

A total of 27 Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group (n=3), I/R group (n=12), and Astragalus injection group (Ast group, n=12). Spinal cord ischemia was induced by occlusion of the abdominal aorta above the right renal artery for 32 min. Animals in the Ast group were administered Astragalus injection (6.42 mL/kg) at 30 min before the induction of ischemia. After reperfusion for 8, 12, 24, or 48 hours, the serum neuron-specific enolase (NSE) concentration was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the aquaporin-4 (AQP4) protein level was detected by western blotting.

Results:

The pathological changes, as assessed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, were milder in the spinal cords of the Ast group compared to the I/R group. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated that the NSE concentration of the Ast group was significantly lower than that of the I/R group (p<0.05). However, the NSE concentrations of the I/R and Ast groups were significantly higher than that of the control group (p=0.05). Additionally, the expression of AQP4 in the Ast group was lower than that of the I/R group at each time point.

Conclusion:

These findings indicate that Astragalus injection has a neuroprotective effect in spinal cord I/R injury by decreasing the AQP4 expression.

[Current status of international discourse of China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar]

Since the Eighteenth National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has constantly innovated and developed its diplomatic concept, and proposed the important idea of the Community of Shared Future for Mankind (CSFM), which contributes a discourse system with Chinese characteristics to the world. It is indicated that discourse builds its subject and governs the subject's discourse practices, and the discourse subject strengthens and reiterates discourse rules in discourse practices. China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar is a discourse subject of the CSFM discourse system. This paper analyzes the discourse status, discourse practices and the reiteration of discourse rules of China aid project of schistosomiasis control in Zanzibar.

Cefuroxime, levofloxacin, esomeprazole, and bismuth as first-line therapy for eradicating Helicobacter pylori in patients allergic to penicillin

Background

Eradicating Helicobacter pylori infection is clinically challenging, notably in cases with penicillin allergy. Cephalosporin could be used in lieu of amoxicillin to eradicate Helicobacter pylori. The current work aimed to assess therapeutic efficacy and safety of a cefuroxime-based quadruple regimen in treatment-naïve individuals with penicillin allergy, as well as patient compliance.

Methods

In the present prospective single-center cohort study, 152 Helicobacter pylori infected individuals with penicillin allergy received eradication therapy with cefuroxime (500 mg twice/day), levofloxacin (500 mg once/day), esomeprazole (20 mg twice/day) and bismuth potassium citrate (220 mg twice/day; 14 days). Safety and compliance were evaluated 1 to 3 days upon eradication. The urea breath test was carried out 8 to 12 weeks upon eradication for efficacy assessment.

Results

This quadruple antimicrobial regimen eradicated the pathogen at 85.5% (95% confidence interval (CI) 79.6–90.8%), 88.4% (95% CI 83.0–93.2%) and 90.1% (95% CI 85.2–94.4%) in intention-to-treat, modified intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses, respectively, with resistance rates of 4.6 and 40.0% in the background of cefuroxime and levofloxacin, respectively. Meanwhile, 21.3% of patients had adverse reactions, but none was serious. A total of 95.3% of patients showed good compliance. Poor compliance and cefuroxime resistance were detected by uni- or multivariate analyses as independent factors predicting therapeutic failure. Eradication rates in patients with dual levofloxacin and cefuroxime susceptibility, isolated levofloxacin resistance, isolated cefuroxime resistance and dual resistance were 97.2, 84.0, 50.0, and 0%, respectively (P = 0.002).

Conclusions

Cefuroxime, levofloxacin, esomeprazole, and bismuth achieved decent efficacy, safety and compliance as first-line antimicrobial regimen in patients with Helicobacter pylori and penicillin allergy.

MOF-Based Nanotubes to Hollow Nanospheres through Protein-Induced Soft-Templating Pathways

A controllable and facile strategy is established for constructing metal-organic frameworks-based (MOF-based) hollow composites via a protein-induced soft-templating pathway. Using metal-sodium deoxycholate hydrogel as soft-template, nanotubes are gained while the protein is absent. With the presence of protein, hollow nanospheres structure are prepared by changing the amount of protein. To verify the universality of the proposed pathway, two kinds of proteins (Burkholderia cepacia lipase and penicillin G acylase) and three kinds of MOF (ZIF-8, ZIF-67, and Fe-MOF) are adopted as model proteins and materials, and the obtained protein-containing composites (named protein@H-MOF) possess high bioactivity and stability. This proposed strategy provides a facile method for preparing MOF-based composites under mild conditions, facilitating the applications of MOF in the fields of biocatalyst construction, biomolecule encapsulation, and drug delivery.

[Study of iron overload assessment by T2* magnetic resonance imaging in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes]

Objectives: To analyze the cardiac T2* value, liver iron concentration (LIC) , and related laboratory parameters in myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with iron overload and evaluate the changes of organ functions after iron chelation therapy. To explore the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2* in making early diagnosis and assessing organs iron overload. Methods: Retrospective investigation was used to observe the cardiac T2* value, LIC, iron metabolism parameters and related laboratory parameters of 85 MDS patients from Nov 2014 to Jan 2018. Among them, 7 MDS patients with Low/Int-1 have received iron chelation therapy for 6 months during two MRI examinations. The above parameters were collected before and after iron chelation therapy for comparison. Results: Correlations were found between heart T2* value and age (rs=-0.290, P=0.007) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (rs=0.265, P=0.009) . There was a significant negative correlation between heart T2* value and blood transfusion units (rs=-0.701, P<0.001) . There was a significant positive correlation between LIC and serum ferritin (SF) (rs=0.577, P<0.001) . There was also a correlation between LIC and ALT (rs=0.268, P=0.014) and blood transfusion units (rs=0.244, P=0.034) . There was no correlation between heart T2* and pro-BNP, SF (all P>0.05) , and no correlation between LIC and age (P>0.05) . The increase of heart T2* between the normal and abnormal groups was statistically significant (P=0.005) , but the iron overload ratio of the heart T2*<20 ms was not significant between the two groups. There was statistical significance in the proportion of severe liver iron overload (LIC>15 mg/g DW) (P=0.045) . After iron chelation therapy, the values of SF, transferrin saturation, ALT, AST, pro-BNP and LIC of 7 patients were decreased compared with values before iron chelation therapy, and the peripheral blood cell level was increased. However, the changes of LVEF and T2* values after iron chelation were not obvious. Conclusion: MRI T2* may be a predictor of iron overload in patients with MDS in early stage, and may be more valuable compare with LVEF, SF and other laboratory indicators. The safety and repeatability of MRI cardiac T2* examination are recognized, and it can be used as an ideal detection for patients with iron overload.

Cell Imaging Using Two-Photon Excited CdS Fluorescent Quantum Dots Working within the Biological Window

In recent years, two-photon excited semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have been the subject of intense investigation due to their long excitation wavelength which helps to achieve deeper penetration and higher image resolution in optical bioimaging. In this paper, water-soluble CdS QDs were synthesized using a hydrothermal method and applied to human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The first-principles calculation suggested that the S-rich defected structure contributes to a narrower band gap compared to the pristine structure. The resulting fluorescence wavelength was significantly red shifted, which was attributed to the deep defect states emission. The large Stokes shifts (> 200 nm) of the QDs can eliminate the possible cross-talk between the excitation light and the emission light. Two-photon induced red fluorescence emission can avoid overlapping with the autofluorescence emission of biological samples. The uptake and cell viability measurements of the HepG2 cells showed a good biocompatibility and a low toxicity of CdS QDs. Two-photon excited scanning microscopy images revealed that the HepG2 cells incubated with CdS QDs emitted bright red upconversion fluorescence and the fluorescence brightness was 38.2 times of that of the control group. These results support CdS QDs as a good candidate for application in cellular imaging.

The efficacy of oral Zhizhu Kuanzhong, a traditional Chinese medicine, in patients with postprandial distress syndrome

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia (FD) remains unsatisfactory. We assessed the efficacy of Zhizhu Kuanzhong (ZZKZ) capsule, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, in patients with postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) of FD.

METHODS

The study was designed as a multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial. Three-hundred ninety-two patients with PDS defined by Rome III criteria from 16 centers in China were randomly assigned to receive either ZZKZ or placebo. The proportion of the responders at 4 weeks after randomization was considered primary endpoint. Secondary endpoint was the symptom score reduction of each dyspeptic symptom relative to the baseline at 4 weeks after randomization in all subjects.

RESULTS

In terms of the primary endpoint, the proportion of the responders concerning the composite PDS symptom score was 38.8% and 54.7% in placebo group and ZZKZ group, respectively (P = 0.003), in per protocol analysis at 4 weeks after randomization. Concerning the individual evaluated upper gastrointestinal symptoms, only postprandial fullness and early satiety showed significant difference in symptom score reduction at 4 weeks after randomization between placebo and ZZKZ groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Zhizhu Kuanzhong is superior to placebo in the treatment of PDS with FD. The exact mechanisms by which ZZKZ improves symptoms remain to be established (http://www.chictr.org.cn/ChinCTR-TRC-14004714).

Helicobacter pylori status and risks of metachronous recurrence after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The impact of different Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) status (H. pylori negative, H. pylori eradication and H. pylori persistence) on the development of metachronous gastric lesions after endoscopic resection of early gastric cancer is not well defined. Thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis was performed to investigate this relationship. Two authors independently searched the electronic databases (Pubmed, Embase, the Cochrane Library and Web of Science) through March 2018, without language restriction. Pooled risk ratio for metachronous gastric lesions with regard to H. pylori status was calculated using fixed- or random-effects models, and heterogeneity and publication bias were also measured. 20 eligible studies were finally identified in systematic review, and 17 out of 20 studies were further included in meta-analysis. H. pylori eradication was associated with overall 50% lower odds of metachronous events (RR = 0.50; 95 % CI 0.41-0.61). Pooled risk ratios for metachronous gastric neoplasm were 0.85 (95 % CI 0.43-1.68) between H. pylori-eradicated and -negative patients, and 0.63 (95 % CI 0.35-1.12) between H. pylori-negative and -persistent patients, respectively. In conclusion, based on the best available evidence, eradication of H. pylori can provide protection against secondary gastric neoplasm, and this quantitative benefit seemed greater than among asymptomatic individuals. Metachronous risk seems comparable between H. pylori-eradicated and -negative population, or between H. pylori-negative and -persistent patients.