The (rs1330344) CC Genotype Contributes to Susceptibility to Kawasaki Disease in Southern Chinese Children.

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vascular disease complicated by coronary artery injury. Although polymorphisms in prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 () are being increasingly explored in cardiovascular diseases, little is known regarding the connection between polymorphisms and KD risk. We evaluated 834 KD patients and 1474 healthy controls to explore the relationship between polymorphisms (rs1330344 and rs5788) and KD risk.

Myeloid signature reveals immune contexture and predicts the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUNDDespite an increasing appreciation of the roles that myeloid cells play in tumor progression and therapy, challenges remain in interpreting the tumor-associated myeloid response balance and its translational value. We aimed to construct a simple and reliable myeloid signature for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODSUsing in situ immunohistochemistry, we assessed the distribution of major myeloid subtypes in both peri- and intratumoral regions of HCC.

The anti-parasitic drug suramin potently inhibits formation of seminal amyloid fibrils and their interaction with HIV-1.

Seminal amyloid fibrils are made up of naturally occurring peptide fragments and are key targets for the development of combination microbicides or antiviral drugs. Previously, we reported that the polysulfonic compound ADS-J1 is a potential candidate microbicide that not only inhibits HIV-1 entry, but also seminal fibrils. However, the carcinogenic azo moieties in ADS-J1 preclude its clinical application.

Identification of molecular biomarkers for the diagnosis of gastric cancer and lymph-node metastasis.

Background And Objective: Biomarkers are important tools for prompt diagnosis of cancer. This study aimed to identify reliable biomarkers for clinical applications in the diagnosis of gastric cancer and lymph-node (LN) metastasis.

Methods: Between 1 December 2014 and 31 December 2015, we prospectively collected samples of gastric-cancer tissues, corresponding matched-pair normal gastric mucosa, and their peri-gastric metastatic and non-metastatic LNs to identify quantitatively reliable genes using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

[Lactic acid inhibits the formation of semen-derived amyloid fibrils].

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effect of lactic acid on semen-derived amyloid (SEVI) fibril formation.

Methods: PAP248-286 (2 mg/mL) was incubated with 4.0, 2.

Distinct patterns and prognostic values of tumor-infiltrating macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma and gastric cancer.

Background: Macrophages (Mφs) constitute a major component of the leukocyte infiltrate and perform distinct roles in different tumor microenvironments. This study aimed to characterize the distribution, composition and prognostic value of Mφs in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and gastric cancer (GC).

Methods: Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to identify Mφ subsets in HCC and GC tissues.

CD169 identifies an activated CD8(+) T cell subset in regional lymph nodes that predicts favorable prognosis in colorectal cancer patients.

Purpose: CD169 was first identified on macrophages (Mϕ) and linked to antigen presentation. Here, we showed CD169 expression on some CD8(+) T lymphocytes in regional lymph nodes (LNs) and investigated the function and clinical relevance of CD169(+)CD8(+) T cells in tumor-draining LNs of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Experimental Design: Fresh tumor-draining LN tissues from 39 randomly enrolled patients were assessed by flow cytometry for activation and differentiation of CD169(+)CD8(+) T cells and T cell-mediated killing of tumor cells.

CD169 identifies an anti-tumour macrophage subpopulation in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

Macrophages are a major component of most solid tumours and can exert both anti- and pro-tumourigenic functions. Although the immunosuppressive/pro-tumour roles of macrophages have been widely examined, significantly less is known about macrophage subpopulations that have potential anti-tumour properties in humans. In the present study, a population of CD169(+) macrophages with relatively high expression levels of HLA-DR and CD86 was identified in human hepatocellular carcinoma tissues.

[A Set of Infrared Cells for the Determination of Titanium Oxychloride in Refined Titanium Tetrachloride].

The content control of the impurities in refined TiCl₄ becomes the key part for the quality control of titanium material. Refined TiCl₄ is the key procedure in producing titanium sponge. Besides, the content of the impurities in titanium sponge and that of the impurities in refined TiCl₄ presents the 4-times enrichment relationship.

Determination of Carbon Dioxide in Refined Titanium Tetrachloride by Infrared Spectroscopy.

Refined TiCl4 is the key procedure in producing titanium sponge. Besides, the content of carbon and oxygen (C and O) impurities in titanium sponge and that of C and O impurities in refined TiCl4 presents the 4-times enrichment relationship. Therefore, the content control of the C and O impurities in refined TiCl4 becomes the key part for the quality control of titanium material.

c-Met identifies a population of matrix metalloproteinase 9-producing monocytes in peritumoural stroma of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Macrophages (Mϕ) are prominent components of solid tumours and exhibit distinct phenotypes in different microenvironments. Previously, we found that tumours could alter the normal developmental process of Mϕ to trigger transient activation of monocytes in the peritumoural stroma of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, we showed that a fraction of monocytes in the peritumoural stroma, but not in HCC cancer nests, expressed surface c-Met molecules.

Genistein sensitizes bladder cancer cells to HCPT treatment in vitro and in vivo via ATM/NF-κB/IKK pathway-induced apoptosis.

Bladder cancer is the most common malignant urological disease in China. Hydroxycamptothecin (HCPT) is a DNA topoisomerase I inhibitor, which has been utilized in chemotherapy for bladder cancer for nearly 40 years. Previous research has demonstrated that the isoflavone, genistein, can sensitize multiple cancer cell lines to HCPT treatment, such as prostate and cervical cancer.

25(OH)D(3) affects the maturation and function of mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells stimulated by Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

It has been shown that vitamin D deficiency increases an individual's susceptibility to tuberculosis (TB). However, very little is known about the effect of vitamin D on the immune response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) in dendritic cells (DCs).

Role of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: experience of a cancer center in China.

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has become an important treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The good candidates for RFA are patients with HCC at an early stage (solitary tumor ≤ 5 cm in diameter or ≤ 3 nodules ≤ 3 cm in diameter). Several clinical trials have shown that RFA is effective in resection for the treatment of small HCC.

MRI findings for frozen shoulder evaluation: is the thickness of the coracohumeral ligament a valuable diagnostic tool?

Background: Recent studies have demonstrated that the coracohumeral ligament (CHL) is shortened and thickened in a frozen shoulder. We analyzed the rate in CHL visualization between patients with frozen shoulder and normal volunteers using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to determine the CHL thickness in the patients with a frozen shoulder.

Methods And Findings: There were 72 shoulder joints in 72 patients (50 femles and 22 males with a mean age of 53.

Glenohumeral joint tuberculosis that mimics frozen shoulder: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Although the incidence of osteoarticular tuberculosis is increasing, glenohumeral joint tuberculosis is rare and often misdiagnosed in its early stages. Our objective was to study the incidence of the initial misdiagnosis as frozen shoulder and the duration of the prediagnostic period among patients with glenohumeral joint tuberculosis.

Methods: The clinical records of 21 patients with tuberculosis of the shoulder joint were retrospectively analyzed.

Preoperative levels of serum interleukin-6 in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: A high prevalence of serum IL-6 has been associated with the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in both animals and humans. However, it is not clear how the levels of serum IL-6 influence the prognosis of HCC patients. This study was carried out in order to attempt to answer this question.

Blood neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predicts survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma undergoing transarterial chemoembolization.

Purpose: To evaluate whether the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) predicts survival in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) before and after transarterial chemoembolization treatment.

Materials And Methods: Clinical and laboratory data for 145 consecutive patients undergoing transarterial chemoembolization for unresectable HCC during 2001-2004 were analyzed retrospectively. The NLR was recorded before and 3 days after treatment.

[Near-infrared fluorescence and energy transfer in Sr2SiO4 : Eu2+, Nd3+].

Sr2 SiO4 : Eu2+ , Nd3+ was synthesized by solid state synthesis method, and the sensitization of Nd3+ near-infrared luminescence by Eu2+ was investigated. The characteristic near-infrared luminescence of Nd2+ in Sr2 SiO4 matrix was greatly enhanced by co-doping of Eu2+. The mechanism of energy transfer from Eu2+ to Nd3+ was analyzed through investigation of fluorescence excitation and emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetime.

Hepatic resection versus transarterial lipiodol chemoembolization as the initial treatment for large, multiple, and resectable hepatocellular carcinomas: a prospective nonrandomized analysis.

Purpose: To compare the survival outcomes between hepatic resection and transarterial lipiodol chemoembolization (TACE) used as the initial treatment in patients with large (≥5 cm), multiple, and resectable hepatocellular carcinomas.

Materials And Methods: This study had local ethical committee approval; all patients gave written informed consent. Between January 2004 and December 2006, 168 consecutive patients were prospectively studied.

Electrical injury alters ion channel expression levels and electrophysiological properties in rabbit dorsal root ganglia neurons.

The electrophysiological and morphological changes of nerve fibers induced by electrical injury have been widely addressed. However, the changes of ion channels in neurons after electrical shocks have not been systematically investigated yet. In this study, the sciatic nerves of rabbit were injured by 50 V 50 Hz, 110 V 50 Hz, and 220 V 50 Hz alternating current, respectively.

Angiogenesis: multiple masks in hepatocellular carcinoma and liver regeneration.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is naturally resistant to radiotherapy and cytotoxic chemotherapy, leaving surgery as the mainstream therapeutic approach. However, the 5-year recurrence rate after curative resection is as high as 61.5%.

[Risk factors of survival for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma treated by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation].

Objective: To explore the efficacy and determine the risk factors of survival for recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) treated by percutaneous radiofrequency ablation (PRFA).

Methods: From January 1999 to December 2008, 82 patients with recurrent HCC, with the diameter less than 7 cm for solitary tumor, or the largest tumor less than 5 cm for multiple tumors(the number of tumors less than 3), were treated by PRFA. The significance of 12 clinical or pathological variables in the risk factors of overall survival were assessed.

Efficacy of combining temperature- and power-controlled radiofrequency ablation for malignant liver tumors.

Background And Objective: Single mode of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) often leads to limited ablation in the zone of necrosis. This study clarifies the efficacy of combining temperature- and power-controlled RFA for malignant liver tumors.

Methods: Between April 2008 and August 2008, 58 patients with malignant liver tumors received RFA at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center.