[Expression and clinical significance of plasma methylated SEPT 9 gene in patients with primary liver cancer]

Objective: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of plasma methylated SEPT9 (mSEPT9) gene in patients with primary liver cancer. Methods: 393 cases who visited our hospital from May 2016 to October 2018 were selected. Among them, 75 cases were in the primary liver cancer (PLC) group, 50 cases were in the liver cirrhosis (LC) group, and 268 cases were in the healthy control group (HC). The three groups' positive rates of mSEPT9 expression in the peripheral plasma were detected by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fluorescent probe method. The correlational clinical features of liver cancer were analyzed. At the same time, the electrochemiluminescence detection method was used to compare the AFP positive rate. Statistical analysis was conducted using chi-square tests or continuity-corrected chi-square tests. Results: 367 cases actually had valid samples. There were 64, 42, and 64 cases in the liver cancer group, cirrhosis group, and healthy control group, respectively. Among them, 34 cases of liver cancer were verified from pathological tissues. The positive rate of plasma mSEPT9 was significantly higher in the liver cancer group than that in the liver cirrhosis and healthy control groups [76.6% (49/64), 35.7% (15/42), and 3.8% (10/261), respectively], and the differences were statistically significant (χ (2) = 176.017, P < 0.001). The sensitivity of plasma mSEPT9 detection (76.6%) was significantly better in liver cancer (76.6%) than that of AFP patients (54.7%), and the difference was statistically significant (χ (2) = 6.788, P < 0.01). Compared with the single detection, the sensitivity and specificity of plasma mSEPT9 combined with AFP were significantly improved (89.7% vs. 96.3%, respectively). Patients with liver cancer aged≥50 years, with clinical stage II or above, and those with pathological signs of moderate to low differentiation had higher levels of plasma mSEPT9 positive expression, and the differences were statistically significant (χ (2) = 6.41, 9.279, 6.332, P < 0.05). During the follow-up period, the survival time of liver cancer patients with positive plasma mSEPT9 expression was significantly shorter than that of those with negative expression (310 ± 26 days vs. 487 ± 59 days, respectively), with statistically significant differences (Log Rank P = 0.039). Conclusion: In China, the positive rate of plasma mSEPT9 detection in liver cancer patients is higher than that of AFP in relation to age, clinical stage, and degree of tissue differentiation; additionally, it has certain survival predictive values. As a result, detecting this gene has important clinical significance and potential clinical application value in the non-invasive diagnosis and prognosis assessment of patients with primary liver cancer.

The cap epitranscriptome: Early directions to a complex life as mRNA

Animal, protist and viral messenger RNAs (mRNAs) are most prominently modified at the beginning by methylation of cap-adjacent nucleotides at the 2'-O-position of the ribose (cOMe) by dedicated cap methyltransferases (CMTrs). If the first nucleotide of an mRNA is an adenosine, PCIF1 can methylate at the N⁶ -position (m⁶ A), while internally the Mettl3/14 writer complex can methylate. These modifications are introduced co-transcriptionally to affect many aspects of gene expression including localisation to synapses and local translation. Of particular interest, transcription start sites of many genes are heterogeneous leading to sequence diversity at the beginning of mRNAs, which together with cOMe and m⁶ Am could constitute an extensive novel layer of gene expression control. Given the role of cOMe and m⁶ A in local gene expression at synapses and higher brain functions including learning and memory, such code could be implemented at the transcriptional level for lasting memories through local gene expression at synapses.

[Observation on the efficacy of modified Appleby operation for carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the security, feasibility and therapeutic efficacy of modified Appleby operation for carcinoma of the body and tail of pancreas.

METHODS

From March 2010 to February 2015 modified Appleby operation was performed in 17 patients with carcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. The biochemical indices of fasting plasma blood (FPB), body weight (BW), visual analogue pain intensity scale (VAS score) and the quality of life index were evaluated before and 1 day , 1, 2, 6weeks after surgery. Survival time, tumor recurrence time, hospitalization time and treatment-related complications were analyzed.

RESULTS

There was no hospital mortality in this study. Pancreatic fistula and diarrhea were the major complications. The overall complication rate was 47.1%. The liver function index of ALT and AST were increased on postoperative day 1, and they were restored to normal after one week. Blood glucose has no obvious abnormal increase and abdominal pain was completely relieved. The VAS score decreased after surgery comparing with before (1.9±3.6 vs 83.2±8.5, P<0.05). Life quality assessment was significantly higher. The body weight of patients after surgery has a mean increment of (4.1±1.3)kg than that before surgery (68.1±4.3 vs 64.0±6.7, P<0.05). A significant rise of the overall quality of life index was observed after surgery (93.8±9.7 vs 68.6±6.7, P<0.05). The recurrence rates of 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were 22.9%, 58.9%, 72.6% and 72.6%, respectively. Median recurrence time was (20.0±3.8 m) (95%CI: 12.6-27.4 m). The survival rates of 1, 2, 3 and 5 years were 80.4%, 54.2%, 32.5% and 16.3%, respectively. The median survival time was (26.0±6.0)m (95%CI: 14.2-37.8 m).

CONCLUSIONS

Modified Appleby operation for pancreatic cancer is safe and feasible. It can relieve abdominal pain, improve the quality of life, improve the survival rate and prolong the survival time.

The oval-shaped cell as a candidate for a liver stem cell in embryonic, neonatal and precancerous liver: identification based on morphology and immunohistochemical staining for albumin and pyruvate kinase isoenzyme expression

Oval cells observed in some experimental models of hepatocarcinogenesis can function as stem cells capable of differentiating into hepatocytes and bile ductular cells. Using markers which characterise embryonic hepatocytes, we showed that oval cells display different patterns of gene expression, suggesting some are more mature than others. In this study we looked for oval cells in developing liver, predicting that they are abundant in embryonic liver and decline in number during development. Albumin (ALB) serves as a liver-specific marker, and the isoenzymes of pyruvate kinase, M2-PK and L-PK, are used to identify immature and mature hepatocytes, respectively. Small oval-shaped cells expressing ALB, M2-PK and L-PK are found near the vascular spaces and portal areas in 20-day gestation (E20), E21, newborn, 3-day and 1-week-old rat liver. Similar cells expressing ALB and M2-PK, but not L-PK are seen only periportally in adult liver. These are abundant in early embryonic liver and decrease in number during development until only a few, located periportally, persist in the adult. Oval cells, located periportally a few days after commencing a choline-deficient, ethionine-supplemented diet, co-express ALB and M2-PK. Their similarity with respect to markers, morphology and location suggests that oval-shaped cells may be the progenitors of oval cells.

Assessment of autopsic samples of carotid atherosclerosis in the aged by intravascular ultrasound

To assess the value of intravascular ultrasound in detecting carotid atherosclerosis, we compared the ultrasound images of 48 carotid artery segments from autopsies with their histological findings. The results showed that by intravascular ultrasonography one could distinguish between elastic and muscular tissues of arteries, determine the lesions of fibroelastosis and calcified plaques on arterial wall, and precisely measure the wall thickness, inner and outer diameter, luminal area and cross-sectional area of arteries with a high correlation between the data measured from ultrasonography and histological study (r values were 0.98, 0.97, 0.97, 0.96 and 0.96, respectively). This study suggests that intravascular ultrasound might be effectively used for morphological study and detection of atherosclerotic lesions in vivo.

Genetic polymorphisms of HLA class III and GLO1 in Chinese Yao nationality

Yao is one of the minority nationalities located mainly in the South of China (Guang Xi province). The purpose of this study was to examine HLA class III and GLO1 in Yao nationality to identify the difference between Yao and Han. Han is the major nationality in China. Yao has the lowest C2*C frequency (0.9336) in the world. Before this study the lowest C2*C frequency known was that of the Japanese (0.9386). Gene frequencies in Yao are the following: C2*C = 0.9336, C2*B = 0.0664; BF*S = 0.9071, BF*F = 0.0929; C4A*4 = 0.0253, C4A*3 = 0.6061, C4A*2 = 0.2121, C4A*1 = 0.0152, C4A*Q0 = 0.1414; C4B*3 = 0.0051, C4B*2 = 0.0657, C4B*1 = 0.7071, C4B*92 = 0.0455, C4B*95 = 0.0253, C4B*96 = 0.0253, C4B*12 = 0.0051, C4B*Q0 = 0.1212; GLO1*1 = 0.1161, GLO1*2 = 0.8839. We have compared these data with those reported for Han.

Genetic polymorphism of MHC class III and GLO in Chinese Yao nationality

Yao nationality is one of the minority nationalities living mainly in South China (Guangxi Province). The purpose of this study was to provide data of MHC class III and GLO in Chinese Yao nationality and the different genetic background of Yao and Han nationality, the latter representing the major nationality in China. The genetic polymorphism of MHC class III and GLO in Chinese Yao nationality was determined. Previously the Japanese were considered to have the lowest C2*C frequencies (0.9386), but now we ascertained that the Yao have the lowest C2*C frequencies (0.9336). The data concerning gene frequencies of Yao are presented. They were also compared with the available data of Han.