Intratumoral and peritumoral expression of CD68 and CD206 in hepatocellular carcinoma and their prognostic value.

The aims of the present study were to determine whether the changes in density and location of CD68-positive and CD206-positive macrophages contribute to progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to evaluate prognostic values of these cells in post-surgical patients. A retrospective study involving 268 HCC patients was conducted. CD68-positive and CD206-positive macrophage infiltration in HCC tissues and adjacent tissues was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and the relationship between the clinicopathological features and prognosis was analyzed.

A facile ultrasonication assisted method for Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag nanospheres with excellent antibacterial activity.

To increase the monodispersity of magnetic hybrid nanocomposites, a novel ultrasonic method was introduced to synthesize uniform Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag nanospheres. The immobilized Ag nanocrystals were tunable by varying the experimental conditions. An antibacterial assay indicated that the Fe3O4@SiO2-Ag nanospheres exhibited excellent antibacterial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, in which the minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) were 40 μg mL(-1) and 20 μg mL(-1), respectively.

Talin1, a valuable marker for diagnosis and prognostic assessment of human hepatocelluar carcinomas.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most lethal and prevalent cancers in the human population. Despite its significance, there is only limited understanding of pathological mechanisms and therapeutic options. Talin1, a focal adhesion complex protein that is required for cell adhesion and motility, regulates integrin interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM).

Promoter methylation and mRNA expression of DKK-3 and WIF-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Aim: To investigate the promoter methylation status and mRNA expression of DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: DKK-3 and WIF-1 acted as Wnt-antagonists and tumor suppressors, but hypermethylation of the gene promoter and low mRNA expression activated Wnt signaling aberrantly and induced the development of HCC. Methylation status of the DKK-3 and WIF-1 gene promoter was investigated using methylation specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in tumor and adjacent non-cancerous tissues from 33 HCC patients and 20 normal liver tissues served as control.

[Clinicopathological significance of aberrant methylation of the fragile histidine triad gene in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma].

Objective: To investigate the aberrant methylation of fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene and to explore possible relationship between the aberrant methylation of FHIT and clinicopathological features in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The hypermethylation of FHIT was detected by the methylation specific PCR (MSP) method in 45 patients with HCC (tumoral and nontumoral tissue), 14 cases of normal livers and 4 HCC cell lines (SK-Hep-1, Hep-G2, Hep-3B and Huh7). The correlation of FHIT methylation and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

[Stability of patient bile and study on its influential factors].

The patient bile and its centrifugate were studied by FTIR spectra, UV-Vis spectra, particle size analysis, and zeta potential determination. The result showed that the patient bile was in a heterogenetic and unstable state, and some of the ultramicrons in the patient bile assembled to form precipitate after centrifugalized at different speeds. According to FTIR and UV-Vis spectra, the authors found that the composition of the precipitates was mainly cholesterol, bilirubin, calcium bilirubinate, protein, phospholipid and so on, which was much close to that of the core of patient gallstone.