[Bioinformatics screening and analysis of key differentially expressed genes characteristics in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease]

Objective: To screen and analyze the key differentially expressed genes characteristics in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with bioinformatics method. Methods: NAFLD-related expression matrix GSE89632 was downloaded from the GEO database. Limma package was used to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in healthy, steatosis (SS), and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) samples. WGCNA was used to analyze the output gene module. The intersection of module genes and differential genes was used to determine the differential genes characteristic, and then GO function and KEGG signaling pathway enrichment analysis were performed. The protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed using the online website STRING and Cytoscape software, and the key (Hub) genes were screened. Finally, R software was used to analyze the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) of the Hub gene. Results: 92 differentially expressed genes characteristic were obtained through screening, which were mainly enriched in inflammatory response-related functions of "lipopolysaccharide response and molecular response of bacterial origin", as well as cancer signaling pathways of "proteoglycan in cancer" and "T-cell leukemia virus infection-related". 10 hub genes (FOS, CXCL8, SERPINE1, CYR61, THBS1, FOSL1, CCL2, MYC, SOCS3 and ATF3) had good diagnostic value. Conclusion: The differentially expressed hub genes among the 10 NAFLD disease-related characteristics obtained with bioinformatics analysis may become a diagnostic and prognostic marker and potential therapeutic target for NAFLD. However, further basic and clinical studies are needed to validate.

[Oncologic outcomes of early stage cervical cancer performed operation by different laparoscopic surgical procedures: analysis of clinical data from mutiple centers]

Objective: To evaluate the oncologic outcomes of different laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2014, the laparoscopic operation cases of cervical cancer at stage Ⅰb1, Ⅰb2, Ⅱa1 and Ⅱa2, including the histologic subtypes of squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma, were collected in five clinical centers. The data were divided into two groups according to the surgical procedures, that is, modified laparoscopic-vaginal radical hysterectomy (mLVRH) and total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (TLRH). The overall survival rate (OS), disease-free survival rate (DFS) at 5 years were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Results: There were 674 cases in total, including 377 cases of mLVRH, 297 cases of TLRH. (1) The OS at 5 years: the mLVRH was 96.1% and the TLRH was 92.0%, and the mLVRH was higher than that of TLRH （P=0.010）. Stratify analysis， including stage of disease （Ⅰb1 and Ⅱa1）， histologic subtypes （squamous-cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma）， lymph node metastasis， revealed that, ① Stage of disease: in stage Ⅰb1, the OS at five years of mLVRH was higher than that in TLRH group （98.6% vs 93.6%, P=0.012）. In stage Ⅱa1, there was significant difference between the two groups, the OS at five years of mLVRH and TLRH were 93.6% and 77.6% （P=0.007）. ② Histologic subtypes: for the OS at five years of squamous-cell carcinoma, mLVRH and TLRH were 96.1% and 92.3%, and there was significant difference （P=0.046）； for adenocarcinoma, the OS at five years were 91.0% and 88.6%， and there was no difference between two groups （P=0.230）. ③ Lymph node metastasis： the mLVRH and TLRH with lymph node metastasis, the OS at five years were 98.6% and 96.4%; the mLVRH and TLRH without lymph node metastasis, the OS at five years were 89.3% and 80.8%. There were no significant differences between the two groups,respectively (P=0.156， P=0.093）. (2) The DFS at 5 years: there was no significant difference between mLVRH and TLRH (94.1% vs 90.9%, P=0.220). Stratify analysis for stage of disease, the mLVRH group was higher than that in the TLRH group in stage Ⅰb1 (97.0% vs 92.8%, P=0.039). However, for stage Ⅱa1, there was no significant difference between mLVRH and TLRH group （88.2% vs 75.8%, P=0.074）. Conclusions: The results of this retrospective study indicated that different laparoscopy surgical procedures had diverse oncologic outcomes. The OS at 5 years of the mLVRH is superior to the TLRH. The DFS at 5 years in Ⅰb1 stage, the mLVRH is higher than the TLRH. Therefore, the modified laparoscopy is still an alternative surgery for early cervical cancer patients when following the principle of no-tumor-exposure.

Measurement of Ti-6Al-4V alloy ignition temperature by reflectivity detection

Fires resulting from titanium combustion are complex and violent processes which can instantly burn a titanium alloy once ignited. The occurrence of titanium combustion is a disaster for aircraft. Accurate measurement of the ignition temperature of titanium alloys is of significance in preventing such fires and in investigating combustion-resistance properties. In this study, monochromatic temperature and emissivity measurement methods based on reflectivity detection were used to determine the ignition temperature of a titanium alloy. Experiments were carried out using a titanium burning apparatus. The temperatures of titanium in the oxidation stage before ignition and in the combustion stage during the ignition process were measured using wavelengths of 1050 nm and 940 nm, respectively. Experimental results showed that the ignition temperature of the titanium alloy could be measured by reflectivity detection and that measurement precision during thermal oxidation (500-900 °C) was ±1 °C. The temperature of the ignition process ranged between 1653 and 1857 °C, and the ignition temperature was around 1680 °C.

[Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies-associated vasculitis with lung hemorrhage in the patient on maintenance haemodialysis: a case report]

Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is usually a multisystem disorder, and pulmonary renal syndrome is a common presentation. Patients with AAV are less likely to experience relapse when they progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). We report a rare case of diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) in relapsing AAV after eight years of haemodialysis. A 58-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with the chief complaints of dyspnea and hemoptysis accompanied by anemia, fever, fatigue, and weight loss. She had elevated anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) titer. The computer tomoghraphy showed diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. After the recurrent episode of AAV was diagnosed, she underwent the following therapy: Plasmapheresis was initiated within 24 h after admission, 3 000 mL of plasma was removed per session, and the anticoagulation of citrate was applied during plasmapheresis. Five plasmapheresis treatments were performed, and after three apheresis sessions, the pulmonary hemorrhage ceased. Other treatments included a methylprednisolone bolus, tapered to oral prednisone and cyclophosphamide. Regular hemodialysis was scheduled. These treatments resulted in resolution of the inflammatory symptoms, DAH improved. Her anti-MPO level decreased. The patient was discharged in good condition. AAV with DAH is usually acute at the onset and is generally a condition with high morbidity and substantial mortality. Therefore, prompt diagnosis and aggressive treatment are needed to improve survival.

Study of the estrogenic-like mechanism of glycosides of cistanche using metabolomics

Cistanche deserticola, known as Rou Cong-Rong in China, has been used as a tonic for more than 1800 years, with previous studies demonstrating that glycosides of cistanche (GCs) are a main active component.

Heat shock protein 27: a potential biomarker of peritoneal metastasis in epithelial ovarian cancer?

Ovarian cancer is the major gynaecologic malignancy and the leading cause of death in gynaecological cancer. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly expressed in many malignant cancers and involved in metastasis including ovarian cancer. The early detection of peritoneal metastases in epithelial ovarian cancer may be more important in clinical care. HSP27, a small heat shock protein, is correlated with peritoneal metastases in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues. In this study, we investigated whether the levels of total HSP27 were detectable in serum and whether it could be a predictive biomarker for peritoneal metastases in epithelial ovarian cancer. Serum samples from 48 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 35 patients with benign ovarian tumours and 24 healthy women were included in this study. The serum levels of total HSP27 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There was no difference in the serum levels of total HSP27 between women with benign ovarian tumours and healthy women. However, the serum levels of total HSP27 were significantly increased in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. The increased serum levels of total HSP27 were only seen in patients with peritoneal metastases. Furthermore, increased serum levels of total HSP27 were significantly reduced after the combination chemotherapies in patients with peritoneal metastases. These data suggest that circulating HSP27 levels were increased in epithelial ovarian cancer and correlated with peritoneal metastases. The measurement of serum HSP27 levels may be used as a potential additional indicator for peritoneal metastases in epithelial ovarian cancer and response to treatment.

Spreading endothelial cell dysfunction in response to necrotic trophoblasts. Soluble factors released from endothelial cells that have phagocytosed necrotic shed trophoblasts reduce the proliferation of additional endothelial cells

The pathogenesis of preeclampsia is not clear but the disease is characterised by systemic endothelial cell dysfunction that is considered to be triggered by a placental factor. Necrotic trophoblastic debris that is deported in the maternal blood is one possible placental trigger for preeclampsia. Syncytial knots were first associated with preeclampsia over 100 years ago. However, syncytial knots are very large and most are trapped in the pulmonary capillaries making it difficult to envisage how they could lead to widespread systemic endothelial cell dysfunction. This study was undertaken to examine whether conditioned medium from endothelial cells that have phagocytosed necrotic trophoblastic debris could adversely affect the proliferation or survival of fresh endothelial cells. Trophoblastic cellular debris, harvested from placental explants was added to endothelial cell monolayers directly or after induction of necrosis by freeze-thawing. Conditioned medium from the endothelial cell cultures was exposed to fresh endothelial cells and their proliferation measured by Alamar Blue, and CyQUANTNF cell proliferation assays. Endothelial cell death was examined by a fluorogenic caspase-3 activity assay and LDH release. Conditioned medium from endothelial cells that had phagocytosed necrotic but not apoptotic trophoblastic debris significantly inhibited the proliferation of fresh endothelial cells but did not induce their death. The conditioned medium also reduced cell-surface endoglin expression by fresh endothelial cells. These results confirm that phagocytosis of necrotic trophoblastic debris by endothelial cells results in the secretion of soluble factors that might explain how necrotic trophoblastic debris trapped in the pulmonary capillaries could induce systemic endothelial cell dysfunction.

[Study of protective effect of leech, radix Salviae miltiorrhizae and its composite recipe on vascular endothelial cells in rats with blood stasis syndrome]

OBJECTIVE

To study the protective effect for Chinese medicine of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis (PBCRBS) on vascular endothelial cells (VEC) in rats, aiming at further research on the mechanism of blood stasis syndrome and PBCRBS.

METHOD

Establishing a model of blood stasis with endothelial damage by means of giving rats an injection of adrenalin and making it swim in ice-cold water, then measuring the number of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) in whole blood and rheology. Moreover observing the change of the above indexes after the rats have taken Leech, Radix salviae miltrorrhizae (RSM) and its composite recipe for 5 days or 10 days.

RESULT

It could increase the number of CEC accompanied by whole blood viscosity, fibrinogen and hematocrit in rats with blood stasis. But for groups taking Chinese medicine, the number of CEC was decreased distinctively and blood rheology was improved.

CONCLUSION

The rat with blood stasis syndrome suffered from obvious injury of VEC. The Leech, RSM and its composite recipe could protect VEC.

[Comparison among 5 different extracting methods of Whitmania pigra whitman]

Whitmania pigra whitman is one of the traditional Chinese drugs commonly used in clinical practice for Blood circulation promoting and Stasis relieving, its active principle was unknown yet. In this report, five extracting methods have been studied based on its extract's anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity in vitro. The results have revealed that the extracts using different extracting methods showed different anticoagulant and anti-thrombotic activity. Among them, the extracts produced by water-boiling and alcohol-prepitating have shown the strongest anticoagulant activity and good antithrombotic effect.