Treatment of primary hepatic carcinoma through ultrasound-guided microwave ablation

Objective

To study the clinical effect of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation on primary hepatic carcinoma.

Method

The subjects comprised 94 patients with primary hepatic carcinoma who were admitted to our hospital between August 2014 and November 2016. They were divided into two groups in accordance with a random-number table. The control (n = 47) and study (n = 47) groups received conventional surgical excision and ultrasound-guided microwave ablation, respectively. The operation duration, clinical effect, complication occurrence rates, and hepatic functions of the two groups were compared.

Results

The control group exhibited longer duration of operation and length of stay but significantly lower quantities of intraoperative bleeding and blood transfusion (P < 0.05) than the study group. The study group demonstrated significantly higher (P < 0.05) effective rate of treatment but significantly lower (P < 0.05) occurrence rate of complications than the control group. The study group exhibited significantly higher (P < 0.05) albumin and total bilirubin levels but significantly lower alanine aminotransferase and aspartate transaminase levels than the control group. No difference was observed in prothrombin time between the two groups (P > 0.05).

Conclusion

Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation treatment offers the advantages of minor injury and low complication occurrence rates. Moreover, it is associated with faster postoperative recovery and improved hepatic function. Thus, it is worthy as a clinical option and must be promoted and applied.

Lead and cadmium adsorption by electrospun PVA/PAA nanofibers: Batch, spectroscopic, and modeling study

Water-stable PVA/PAA nanofibers were fabricated through electrospinning and evaluated for their performance in lead (Pb(II)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) removal from water in a batch experiment. The adsorption mechanism of Pb(II) was explored using the extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopic analysis. The PVA/PAA nanofibers showed a pH-dependent behavior for heavy metal removal, and its adsorption capacities for Pb(II) and Cd(II) could reach as high as 159 and 102 mg/g, respectively. The calcium ion (Ca(II)) had no effect on Pb(II) removal at pH 5.0 whereas it significantly reduced Cd(II) removal at pH 7.0. The adsorption of Pb(II) and Cd(II) was spontaneous and exothermic in nature with a decrease in randomness. The saturated PVA/PAA nanofibers could be regenerated using acidic solutions for reuse. The Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis indicated the formation of surface complexes between adsorbed Pb(II) and Cd(II) and carboxyl groups on PVA/PAA nanofibers. Moreover, EXAFS analysis suggested that a Pb(II) cation was chelated with three carboxyl groups on the nanofibers. This molecular-level adsorption structure was successfully implemented into a surface complexation model for the prediction of the macroscopic Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption behaviors. The results gained from this study provided complementary information on heavy metal removal by a new generation of adsorbents and improved the fundamental understanding for the removal process.

P5399microRNA-486 mediates exercise-induced cardiac growth and prevents cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury

Background

Molecules mediating exercise-induced physiological cardiac growth may be beneficial to prevent cardiac injury and remodeling. MicroRNA-486 (miR-486) is a muscle-enriched microRNA which was found to be increased in exercised heart. However, the role of miR-486 in exercise-induced cardiac growth is largely unknown.

Purpose

We aimed to study the function of miR-486 in exercise-induced cardiac growth, and to investigate its potential role in protection against cardiac ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury.

Methods

Male C57BL/6 adult mice were subjected to 3-week swimming exercise to induce physiological cardiac growth. Knockdown of miR-486 was performed by intramyocardial injection of miR-486 sponge to evaluate the role of miR-486 in exercise-induced cardiac growth. Moreover, intramyocardial injection of miR-486 overexpression lentivirus was performed to investigate whether miR-486 could reduce infarct size in mice suffered from acute I/R injury (30 min ligation and 24 hr reperfusion of left anterior descending coronary artery). Meanwhile, the functional role of miR-486 was evaluated in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRCMs) treated with oxygen glucose deprivation/reperfusion (OGDR) using Tunel staining. Finally, function-rescue assays were performed to identify target genes of miR-486.

Results

Exercise significantly upregulated miR-486 in the heart, which was reduced by intramyocardial injection of miR-486 sponge. Exercise induced-cardiac growth was abolished in mice with intramyocardial injection of miR-486 sponge, as evidenced by reduced heart weight/body weight ratio and heart weight/tibia length ratio compared to control exercised-mice, suggesting a potential role of miR-486 in mediating exercise-induced cardiac growth. Meanwhile, we found that intramyocardial injection of miR-486 overexpression lentivirus was able to reduce the infarct size as determined by TTC staining. Moreover, in OGDR-induced apoptosis of NRCMs, miR-486 mimics was able to reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis, while miR-486 inhibitor performed the opposite. Finally, PTEN and FoxO1 were identified as target genes of miR-486 in the control of cardiomyocyte apoptosis.

Conclusions

miR-486 mediates exercise-induced cardiac growth and protects against cardiac I/R injury. Increasing miR-486 might serve as a potential target to reduce myocardial apoptosis upon I/R injury.

Acknowledgement/Funding

This work was supported by the grants from National Natural Science Foundation of China 81722008, 91639101 and 81570362 to JJ Xiao, 81770401 to Y Bei

Litter quality and microtopography as key drivers to topsoil properties and understorey plant diversity in ancient broadleaved forests on decalcified marl

In forest ecosystems, litter quality is a major driver for soil and understorey characteristics, but elevation, microtopography and subsoil properties may also be important. We tested the importance of each factor in two ancient mixed forests on decalcified marl, dominated by trees with different litter quality such as European hornbeam, with high-palatable litter, and beech, with low-palatable litter. We mapped elevation, differences in local height (microtopography), tree distribution and understorey cover on slopes ranging from crest to bottom, and sampled 200 7 × 7 m grid cells for characteristics of litter input, understorey, topsoil and subsoil. In both forests, elevation decreased gradually, but microtopography showed irregular patterns of depressions and mounds of a few cm below or above average local height. Tree distribution was not affected by elevation or subsoil properties, but clearly by microtopography. Adult beech was abundant on local mounds, while hornbeam was more common in local depressions. Topsoil and understorey characteristics were mainly affected by litter quality (tree species dominance) and microtopography. Litter quality had separate effects from microtopography, but could reinforce this. High litter quality (hornbeam) and low local height both led to high earthworm activity, low litter mass, high erosion, impermeable clay layers close to the surface, high pH, high soil moisture and high diversity of the understorey. Low litter quality (beech) and high local height both led to low earthworm activity, high litter mass, low erosion, low pH, low soil moisture and low plant diversity. Beech and hornbeam may act as ecosystem engineers, which change habitat conditions and local hydrology, and make habitats more suitable to themselves, and/or unsuitable to the other. However, they also increased spatial complexity of the forest and length of the habitat gradient. This may increase forest biodiversity as a whole, but also resilience to prolonged wet or dry periods.

Release and transport of Pb(II) adsorbed on graphene oxide under alkaline conditions in a saturated sand column

The use of graphene oxide (GO) adsorbents to remove Pb(II) from wastewater has attracted lots of attention, but the release of Pb(II) from Pb-laden GO in alkaline groundwater requires further investigation. The current research demonstrated that oxidative debris (OD) could be stripped gradually from the surfaces of GO in 0.01-1.0 M NaHCO₃ solutions although the stripping kinetic process was very slow. Accompanied with OD detachment from GO, 5.47%-23.45% adsorbed Pb(II) on spent GO (i.e. GO-Pb(II)) was released in the form of an OD-Pb(II) complex under 0.01-1.0 M NaHCO₃ conditions. OD-Pb(II) could disperse steadily in water even at pH > 7.0. The deposition and detachment of the OD in the quartz sand media were markedly affected by the ion strength of the solution, and the greater mobility of OD than GO improved the transport of OD-Pb(II) through a saturated sand column. Our results provide valuable information about the characteristics and mechanism of transport of adsorbed heavy metals on GO nanomaterials in the aqueous environment and the possible environmental risks when spent GO-based heavy mental adsorbents are discharged into natural groundwater systems.

Effect of dual versus mono antiplatelet therapy on recurrent stroke modulated by activated partial thromboplastin time

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The efficacy of dual antiplatelet treatment may be modified by many factors. The aim was to assess whether the effect of clopidogrel plus aspirin versus aspirin alone on recurrent stroke would be affected by admission activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT).

METHODS

Data were derived from the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients with Acute Nondisabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial. A total of 5074 patients were categorized into three groups based on the aPTT distribution according to the 15th and 85th percentile. The primary outcome was any stroke within 90 days. The interaction of aPTT with antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk was assessed with a Cox proportional hazards model with adjustment for covariates.

RESULTS

In the high aPTT group (defined as ≥35.9 s), stroke occurred in 6.7% of patients in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm and 11.9% in the aspirin arm [adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.50; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29-0.85]. In the medium aPTT group (24.6-35.8 s), stroke occurred in 7.7% of patients in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm and 11.8% in the aspirin arm (adjusted HR 0.62; 95% CI 0.50-0.75). Furthermore, in the low aPTT group (≤24.5 s), stroke occurred in 11.2% of patients in the clopidogrel-aspirin arm and 9.9% in the aspirin arm (adjusted HR 1.07; 95% CI 0.65-1.62). The interaction P value of antiplatelet therapy with aPTT level at the cut-point of approximately 25 s or below was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dual antiplatelet therapy was superior to single antiplatelet therapy in the high or medium aPTT group but not in the low aPTT group.

Knockdown of Tripartite Motif Containing 28 suppresses the migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ovarian carcinoma cells through down-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Tripartite motif containing 28 (TRIM28) is a transcriptional corepressor of Kruppel-associated box zinc finger protein, which has been reported to participate in carcinogenesis. Nonetheless, whether TRIM28 plays a role in the metastasis of ovarian carcinoma (OC) is unclear and requires further investigation. In this study, two OC cell lines (A2780 and OVCAR-3) with stable low expression of TRIM28 were established via RNA interference. We found that the migratory and invasive ability of TRIM28-silenced OC cells significantly decreased. The expression and activity of matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in these OC cells were inhibited. The TRIM28 shRNA also suppressed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of OC cells as evidenced by the up-regulated E-cadherin and the downregulated Vimentin and N-cadherin. Additionally, the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was suppressed in TRIM28-silenced OC cells: the activity of β-catenin was inhibited, the expression of total and nuclear β-catenin, Axin 2, T-cell factor 1 (TCF1) and lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) were decreased, whereas the phosphorylation of β-catenin at Ser33/37 was enhanced. Further, re-expression of active β-catenin in TRIM28-silenced OC cells partly restored their metastasis in vitro. Taken together, our study demonstrates a contributory role of TRIM28 in OC metastasis in vitro, suggesting TRIM28 as a novel therapeutic target for this malignant tumor.

Abortion in donkeys associated with Salmonella abortus equi infection

BACKGROUND

Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar abortus equi (S. abortus equi) is well known as the aetiological agent of equine abortion. However, abortion caused by S. abortus equi has not been previously described in donkeys.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether S. abortus equi was correlated with an abortion outbreak consisting of 61 abortions.

STUDY DESIGN

Investigation of the clinical cases using pathoanatomical, bacteriological, serological and molecular approaches.

METHODS

Autopsies on nine aborted foetuses were performed. Tissue specimens from seven aborted foetuses and two mares were cultured and subjected to detection of equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1), equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV-4) and equine arteritis virus (EAV) by polymerase chain reaction. The isolates were serotyped according to the Kaufmann-White scheme and analysed by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Detection of EHV and EAV antibodies was performed in all pregnant mares.

RESULTS

No obvious gross lesions were observed in the foetuses. Nine Gram-negative isolates were obtained from all nine tissue samples and were identified as Salmonella spp. All of the isolates belonged to the B group, the O antigen epitope was 4, 12 and H antigen was not obtained. The isolates of Salmonella were characterised as sequence type (ST) 251. Detection of EHV-1, EHV-4 and EAV was negative.

MAIN LIMITATIONS

The mechanism that causes abortion in donkeys needs further study and the lack of histological examination.

CONCLUSION

Salmonella abortus equi was isolated as the single agent and was responsible for the abortions. Equine practitioners should be aware of S. abortus equi infection as a cause of abortion in donkeys.

Fate of adsorbed Pb(II) on graphene oxide under variable redox potential controlled by electrochemical method

Lead removal using graphene oxide (GO) and GO based adsorbents has attracted increasing attention worldwide, whereas the potential release of previously adsorbed Pb(II) from GO surfaces induced by exposure to variable redox conditions is presently underappreciated. The current study revealed that reduction of GO to r-GO (the reduced form) was coupled with a decrease of oxygen-containing groups (OCGs) under reductive potential, and the maximum adsorption capacity of GO for Pb(II) decreased from 931.66 to 714.78 mg g^-1 after electrochemical reduction. The release of adsorbed Pb(II) from GO-Pb(II) increased gradually when the potential dropped from 0 to -600 mV. The content of released Pb(II) decreased when the potential reached -700 mV because of the reduction of Pb(II) to insoluble Pb(0). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) analysis demonstrated that there are three reductive potentials, e.g. -760, -400, and -120 mV, related to the reduction of OCGs. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicated that the reducing sequence of three OCGs, namely C-O, CO and OCO groups, depended on the applied potential. This application of an electrochemical method to investigate adsorbed Pb(II) from spent GO absorbent provides valuable information about heavy metal transportation in environments containing GO under varying redox conditions.

Implication of lymph node staging in migration and different treatment strategies for stage T2N0M0 and T1N1M0 resected gastric cancer: a SEER population analysis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to explore the differences between stage T2N0M0 and stage T1N1M0 gastric cancer (GC) and to identify the necessity of adjuvant treatment (AT) for these stages.

METHODS

Between years 2004 and 2015, 1971 stage IB GC patients who underwent radical surgery were recruited using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. We conducted univariate/multivariate analyses, the propensity score matching and evaluated gastric cancer-specific survival (GCSS) and overall survival (OS) with the log-rank test.

RESULTS

T1N1M0 had a significantly worse survival than T2N0M0 in both GCSS and OS before and after the propensity score matching. Examined lymph nodes (ELN) ≤ 15 and T1N1M0 were independent risk factors for worse GCSS and OS in stage IB GC. The absence of adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) was an independent risk factor for worse GCSS and OS in T1N1M0 but not in T2N0M0. AT demonstrated similar GCSS and OS with surgery alone (SA) for T2N0M0 but better survival for T1N1M0. Compared to CT and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy (CRT) group, SA demonstrated significantly worse GCSS and OS for T1N1M0. There was no significant difference between CT and CRT in both T2N0M0 and T1N1M0 stages. T2N0M0 had a better survival than T1N1M0 in ELN ≤ 15 subgroup. However, similar survival was demonstrated in ELN > 15 subgroup.

CONCLUSIONS

T2N0M0 GC has a better survival rate than T1N1M0 GC when ELN are ≤ 15. Moreover, T2N0M0 GC may not benefit from AT. T1N1M0 GC requires CT but not adjuvant radiotherapy.

[Evaluation of the intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography for the aortic valve reconstruction]

Objective: To explore the value of the intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography during the aortic valve reconstruction. Methods: The echocardiographic features were retrospectively summarized in 19 patients (male: 15 cases; female: 4 cases; age ranged from 12 to 65 years, mean age: 37.7 years) with aortic valve reconstruction at Beijing Anzhen Hospital between October 2014 and October 2016. Results: The findings of the neo-aortic valve on the transesophageal echocardiography included the slightly thickened and hyperechogenicity of the commission, especially the central coaptation point of the neo-valve. Trace aortic regurgitation was noted in 9 cases after operation, mild aortic regurgitation in 1 case and no aortic regurgitation in 9 cases. The velocity of the aortic valve increased significantly in 2 cases. Compared with pre-operation, the diameter of ascending aorta[(32.7±6.1) mm vs (36.4±6.3) mm, P<0.001]and the inner diameter of left ventricle[(48.3±6.1) mm vs (59.1±7.3) mm, P<0.001]decreased significantly after operation, the coaptation length of aortic valve[(6.6±1.3) mm vs (2.2±0.7) mm, P<0.001]significantly increased than that of pre-operation. The mean immediate velocity after operation (175 cm/s) was slightly higher than that (165 cm/s) of 3-month follow-up after surgery, but with no significant difference (P=0.367). Severe aortic regurgitation was found 15 days after operation in 1 case and 12 months after operation in 2 cases. Conclusion: Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography is a useful tool to evaluate the result of the aortic valve reconstruction.

Oxidative lipoprotein markers predict poor functional outcome in patients with minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Oxidative stress plays an important role in acute ischaemic stroke. However, the association of oxidative lipoprotein markers, including oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), oxLDL:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and oxLDL:low-density lipoprotein (LDL), with functional outcome of minor stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between oxidative lipoprotein markers and poor functional outcome in patients with minor stroke or TIA.

METHODS

All patients with minor stroke or TIA were recruited from the Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Acute Non-Disabling Cerebrovascular Events (CHANCE) trial. The poor functional outcome included modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 2-6 and 3-6 at 90-day and 12-month follow-up. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate the associations of oxLDL, oxLDL:HDL and oxLDL:LDL with poor functional outcome.

RESULTS

Among 3019 patients included in this study, the median (interquartile range) oxLDL, oxLDL:HDL and oxLDL:LDL were 13.96 (6.65-28.81), 4.52 (2.08-9.32) and 11.73 (5.27-24.85) μg/dL, respectively. After adjusted for confounding factors, patients in the highest oxLDL quartile had a higher proportion of mRS score 2-6 at 90 days [hazard ratio (HR), 1.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.26-2.52] and 12 months (HR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.01-1.99), and mRS score 3-6 at 90 days (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.29-3.04) and 12 months (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.09-2.89) when compared with the lowest oxLDL quartile (P < 0.05). Similar results were found for oxLDL:HDL and oxLDL:LDL.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher levels of oxidative lipoprotein markers are independent predictors of poor functional outcome in patients with minor stroke or TIA at 90 days and 12 months.

[Influence of Saccharomyces boulardii Sachets combined with bismuth quadruple therapy for initial Helicobacter pylori eradication]

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Saccharomyces boulardii Sachets combined with bismuth quadruple therapy for initial Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) eradication. Methods: From March 2014 to March 2015, 240 participants from the third hospital of Hebei medical university with H. pylori infection were recruited and randomized into three groups: Quadruple therapy group received bismuth potassium citrate 220 mg bid + Rabeprazole 10 mg bid + amoxicillin 1 000 mg bid+ furazolidone 100 mg bid for 10 days. Short-term group and long-term group received the same quadruple therapy for 10 days as above, as well as Saccharomyces boulardii Sachets 500 mg bid for 14 days and 28 days, respectively. H. pylori eradication was confirmed by (13)C/(14)C-UBT at least 4 weeks after completion of therapy. And side effects were investigated during the therapy. Results: The H. pylori eradication rates in quadruple therapy, short-term and long-term group were 80%, 87.5% and 87.5% by ITT analysis (P=0.321) and 92.8%, 94.6% and 95.9% by PP analysis (P=0.717), respectively. The overall side effect rate and occurrence of diarrhea and abdominal distension were significantly lower in short-term or long-term group as compared with quadruple therapy group(P=0.007, 0.003, 0.004), but there was no significant difference between the two probiotics groups. Conclusions: Both short and long-term Saccharomyces boulardii Sachets reduced the overall side effect rate and occurrence of diarrhea or abdominal distension when combined with bismuth quadruple therapy for initial H. pylori eradication and no difference was observed in efficacy or safety between the two groups.

Mutation update and long-term outcome after treatment with active vitamin D3 in Chinese patients with pseudovitamin D-deficiency rickets (PDDR)

Pseudovitamin D-deficiency rickets is a rare disease which is caused by CYP27B1. In this study, we identified 9 mutations in 7 PDDR patients. In addition, we observed the response to long-term treatment of calcitriol in 15 Chinese patients with PDDR, which showed that the biochemical abnormalities had been corrected satisfactorily after 1-year treatment.

INTRODUCTION

Pseudovitamin D-deficiency rickets is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting from a defect in 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1α-hydroxylase, which is encoded by CYP27B1. The purpose of this study was to identify the CYP27B1 mutations and investigate the response to long-term treatment of calcitriol in Chinese patients with PDDR.

METHODS

We investigated CYP27B1 mutations in seven individuals from six separate families. To investigate the response to long-term (13 years) treatment with calcitriol in PDDR patients, we additionally collected clinical data of eight families from our previous report and analyzed their biochemical parameter and radiographic changes during the treatment.

RESULTS

Nine different mutations were identified: two novel missense mutations (G194R, R259L), three novel and one reported deletion mutations (c1442delA, c1504delA, c311-321del, and c. 48-60del), two novel nonsense mutations (c.85G>T, c.580G>T), and a reported insertion mutation (c1325-1332insCCCACCC). The statistical analysis revealed that parathyroid hormone (PTH) and ALP significantly decreased after 6-month and 1-year treatment with calcitriol respectively. Urine calcium was measured in all the patients without kidney stones being documented. After 6-year treatment, the radiographic abnormalities had also been improved. Two patients who had reached their final height are both with short stature (height Z-score below - 2.0).

CONCLUSIONS

We identified seven novel mutations of CYP27B1 gene in seven Chinese PDDR families. Our findings revealed after 1-year treatment of active vitamin D₃, PTH and ALP significantly decreased. The correction of the biochemical abnormalities had not improved the final height satisfactorily.

Evaluation of metal oxides and activated carbon for lead removal: Kinetics, isotherms, column tests, and the role of co-existing ions

Activated carbon (AC) is commonly used in faucet and pitcher filters for lead (Pb(II)) removal in homes. This study evaluated the Pb(II) removal performance of AC and metal oxides (e.g. Fe(OH)₃ and TiO₂), as well as the co-existing ions' effect on Pb(II) removal. Results showed that metal oxides had higher adsorption capacity (28.9-51.5 mg/g) than AC (21.2 mg/g). Pb(II) was inner-spherically adsorbed onto both AC and metal oxides surfaces. Among various metal ions, calcium (Ca(II)) demonstrated dramatic effects on Pb(II) removal ability of AC, while it had no effect on Pb(II) adsorption by metal oxides. This difference resulted from the inner- and outer-sphere adsorption of Ca(II) on AC and metal oxides, respectively. The presence of orthophosphate (orth-P) and sulfate enhanced Pb(II) removal by those three adsorbents, whereas carbonate and silicate had negligible effect on Pb(II) adsorption. Interestingly, while the orth-P was usually used as corrosion inhibitor because of the formation of lead-phosphate coprecipitate, we found that the enhanced effect of orth-P on Pb(II) removal was mainly due to the synergistic adsorption. This study provides valuable information for the selection of effective adsorbents for Pb(II) removal and is helpful for understanding the roles of co-existing ions on it.