Nab-paclitaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for advanced biliary tract cancers: An open-label, non-randomized, phase II clinical trial.

Background: Biliary tract cancers (BTCs) are a heterogeneous group of tumors with high malignancy, poor prognosis, and limited treatment options.

Aim: To explore the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus capecitabine as first-line treatment for advanced and metastatic BTCs.

Methods: This open-label, non-randomized, double-center, phase II clinical trial recruited systemic therapy-naive patients with unresectable or metastatic BTCs between April 2019 and June 2022 at Beijing Cancer Hospital and the First Hospital of China Medical University.

Explore the optimal timing for administering the second dose of the varicella vaccine in China.

The prevalence of varicella in China has been increasing annually, with a relatively high incidence rate of breakthrough cases. Administering two doses of the varicella vaccine (Varv) proves to be the most effective measure. The objective of this study is to assess the immunogenicity of two doses of the Varv at varying intervals and explore the optimal timing for administering the second dose of the Varv.

Clinical characteristics of moderate or severe COVID-19 infection in patients with rheumatic diseases and analysis of risk factors leading to severe disease.

Objective: To explore the clinical characteristics of rheumatic disease (RD) patients who suffered from moderate or severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and to evaluate risk factors of COVID-19 infection in RD patients.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 148 moderate or severe COVID-19 patients admitted to the First People's Hospital of Suqian Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, including 74 RD patients and 74 non-RD patients. Clinical data were collected including clinical characteristics and laboratory tests.

Combined detection of serum UL16-binding protein 2 and macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 improves early diagnosis and prognostic prediction of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. There is no effective serum biomarker for the early diagnosis of PC at present. Although serum UL16-binding protein 2 (ULBP2) and macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) levels are reported to be elevated in PC patients, the diagnostic and prognostic value of ULBP2 and MIC-1 alone or in combination remains unknown.

Fractalkine as a marker for assessment of severe acute pancreatitis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to study the role of fractalkine (FKN) in the development of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) in animal model.

Methods: Serum FKN levels in rat model (control, SAP6 h, 16 h, 24 h and 48 h) were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. FKN mRNA and protein levels in the pancreas tissue were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry.

[Effects of zuogui pill on the gene expressions of Type- II collagen and proteoglycan during the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells towards chondrocytes].

Objective: To study the effects of zuogui pill (ZP) contained serum on the gene expressions of type-II collagen and proteoglycan during the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) towards chondrocytes.

Methods: MSCs isolated from rat bone marrow were in vitro induced differentiation towards chondrocytes and stimulated with high- (57 g/kg), middle- (28.5 g/kg), and low-dose (9.

Fractalkine upregulates inflammation through CX3CR1 and the Jak-Stat pathway in severe acute pancreatitis rat model.

Based on the function of chemokine fractalkine (FKN), acting as both adhesion and chemoattractant, FKN plays a role in acute inflammatory response. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of FKN mediated upregulation inflammation in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) rat models. Western blot, reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescence demonstrated that FKN and its receptor CX3CR1 were overexpressed in cerulein-stimulated AR42J cells.