The Role of von Willebrand Factor Antigen in Predicting Survival of Patients with HBV-Related Cirrhosis.

Objective: The model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) scoring system cannot be used to assess the deterioration of patients with liver cirrhosis caused by infection and portal hypertension. Elevated von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF-Ag) in plasma is associated with portal pressure and complications in patients with liver cirrhosis. We aimed to evaluate whether the addition of vWF-Ag can improve the risk prediction ability of the MELD scoring system.

Association between transforming growth factor-beta 1 polymorphisms and risk of pre-eclampsia: a meta-analysis.

Purpose: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is a common pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. Previous studies have generated conflicting results regarding the association of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) gene polymorphisms (+869 T/C, -509 C/T, +915 G/C, and -800 G/A) with PE risk. Therefore, we conducted this meta-analysis to more precisely assess the role of TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms in PE.

Contribution of to Vaginal Health and Diseases: A Systematic Review.

, first described in 1999, is a prevalent bacterial species of the vaginal microbiome. As does not easily grow on de Man-Rogosa-Sharpe agar, but can grow anaerobically on blood agar, it has been initially overlooked by traditional culture methods. It was not until the wide application of molecular biology techniques that the function of in the vaginal microbiome was carefully explored.

Association of Plasma Fibrinogen Levels on Postoperative Day 1 with 2-Year Survival of Orthotopic Liver Transplantation for HBV-Related HCC.

Objective: To clarify the prognostic values of hemostatic parameters to predict the survival of patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods: The data of 182 consecutive adult patients who underwent OLT for HBV-related HCC were subjected to univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: Ascites and fibrinogen levels on postoperative day (POD) 1 were independent predictors of postoperative 2-year mortality (both P <.

Plasma Level of ADAMTS13 or IL-12 as an Indicator of HBeAg Seroconversion in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Undergoing m-ETV Treatment.

The ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin motif repeats 13) is a key factor involved in coagulation process and plays a vital role in the progression and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with antiviral treatment. However, there are few reports about the profile of plasma ADAMTS13 in CHB patients during entecavir maleate (m-ETV) treatment. One hundred two HBV e antigen (HBeAg)-positive CHB patients on continuous m-ETV naive for at least 96 weeks were recruited.

Is Associated with Vaginal Dysbiosis in Healthy Pregnant Women: A Preliminary Study.

Vaginal dysbiosis has been identified to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm delivery and premature rupture of membranes. However, the overall structure and composition of vaginal microbiota in different trimesters of the pregnant women has not been fully elucidated. In this study, the physiological changes of the vaginal microbiota in healthy pregnant women were investigated.

Increasing plasma ADAMTS13 activity is associated with HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients during 5 years of entecavir treatment.

The relationship between hemostatic system and HBeAg seroconversion (SC) of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is ill-defined. We therefore evaluate the predictive value of plasma ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin motif repeats 13) and VWF (von Willebrand factor) for CHB patients during 5-year entecavir (ETV) treatment. One hundred and fourteen HBeAg positive CHB patients on continuous ETV treatment were recruited.

D-dimer level in liver transplant recipients on the first day after surgery is correlated with postoperative thrombosis recurrence.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between plasma D-dimer level, preoperative complications, and thrombosis in liver transplant recipients.

Methods: The clinical data of 525 liver transplant recipients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University from October 2012 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were grouped based on thrombosis before and after surgery to determine the risk factors for postoperative thrombosis recurrence.

Association of ABO blood groups with von Willebrand factor, factor VIII and ADAMTS-13 in patients with lung cancer.

Coagulative and fibrinolytic disorders appear to be associated with the development of lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif 13 (ADAMTS-13), and factor VIII (FVIII) activity, in association with O and non-O blood groups in patients with lung cancer. Plasma levels of VWF and ADAMTS-13, and FVIII activity were measured in 115 patients with lung cancer and 98 healthy subjects.

Increased von Willebrand factor over decreased ADAMTS-13 activity is associated with poor prognosis in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Background: Hypercoagulability induced by the imbalance between von Willebrand factor (VWF) secretion and its cleaving protease (ADAMTS-13) has been correlated with cancer metastasis. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic significance of the VWF/ADAMTS-13 ratio in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: Pre-treatment sera/plasma levels of VWF, ADAMTS-13, VWF/ADAMTS-13 ratio, factor (F) VIII, and other clinical/laboratory parameters were measured in 119 patients with advanced NSCLC and 102 healthy controls.

Comparison of the prognostic values of inflammation markers in patients with acute pancreatitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: Inflammation-based prognostic markers (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), prognostic nutritional index (PNI), red cell distribution width (RDW) and lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR)) are associated with overall survival in some diseases. This study assessed their prognostic value in mortality and severity in acute pancreatitis (AP).

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Predictive value of serum ALT and T-cell receptor beta variable chain for HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients during tenofovir treatment.

Effective antiviral therapy plays a key role in slowing the progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Identification of serum indices, including hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) expression and seroconversion, will facilitate evaluation of the efficacy of antiviral therapy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients. The biochemical, serological, virological parameters, and the frequency of circulating CD4CD25 regulatory T cell (Treg) in 32 patients were measured at baseline and every 12 weeks during 96 weeks of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) treatment.

Slow reduction of IP-10 Levels predicts HBeAg seroconversion in chronic hepatitis B patients with 5 years of entecavir treatment.

The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between dynamic changes in serum cytokine/chemokine expression levels in response to entecavir (ETV) treatment and HBV e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). Four cytokines (interleukin [IL]-4, IL-6, IL-8, and interferon-γ) and five chemokines (macro-phage inflammatory protein [MIP]-1α, MIP-1β, platelet derived growth factor-BB, and interferon-inducible protein 10 [IP-10]) before ETV therapy and at 3, 6, 12, 24, 36 and 60 months during therapy in 105 CHB patients were analyzed. The results showed that the low decrease rate of IP-10 levels after 1 year of ETV treatment was an independent predictor of HBeAg seroconversion at year 5 (Hazard ratio = 0.

Molecular profile of the T cell receptor beta variable in peripheral blood lymphocytes from chronic asymptomatic HBV carriers.

T cell receptor beta variable (TCRBV) repertoire could imply the composition and function status of T cells in subjects with HBV infection. The gene melting spectral pattern (GMSP) can be used to determine the profile of TCRBV gene family. The molecular profile of TCRBV in peripheral lymphocytes from asymptomatic HBV carriers (AsC) remains ill-defined.

Association of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-1beta gene polymorphisms with polycystic ovary syndrome: a meta-analysis.

Background: Several studies on the association of TNF-alpha (-308 G/A), IL-6 (-174 G/C) and IL-1beta (-511 C/T) polymorphisms with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) risk have reported conflicting results. The aim of the present study was to assess these associations by meta-analysis.

Results: A total of 14 eligible articles (1665 cases/1687 controls) were included in this meta-analysis.

Associations between estrogen receptor-beta polymorphisms and endometriosis risk: a meta-analysis.

Background: Many epidemiological studies have suggested an association between estrogen receptor-beta (ER-β) polymorphisms with endometriosis risk. However, the results of these studies have been inconsistent. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to clarify the associations between the ER-β rs4986938 and rs1256049 polymorphisms and endometriosis risk.

Increased diversity of fungal flora in the vagina of patients with recurrent vaginal candidiasis and allergic rhinitis.

Recurrent vaginal candidiasis (RVC) is considered to be a hypersensitivity disorder that is associated with allergic rhinitis (AR) in immune deficiencies; however, whether or not the composition of the vaginal fungal flora in patients with AR and RVC is altered and if such alterations in patients with AR are associated with the development of RVC remain unclear. In the present study, a cultivation-independent method with the 18S rRNA gene clone library was used to analyze the diversity and composition of the vaginal fungal flora in patients with AR and RVC and to explore the association. Three fungal phyla (Ascomycotae, 22 out of 28; Basidiomycetes, 5 out of 28; and Oomycetes, 1 out of 28) were identified from groups of healthy volunteers, patients with AR, patients with RVC, and patients with RVC complicated by AR, including 28 phylotypes of fungal flora (10, 15, 17, and 21 phylotypes for each group, respectively).

The transcription levels of ABCA1, ABCG1 and SR-BI are negatively associated with plasma CRP in Chinese populations with various risk factors for atherosclerosis.

ATP binding cassette transporters (ABCA1, ABCG1) and scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) are the three most important cellular cholesterol transporters that may prevent atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate whether they were altered in Chinese populations with various risk factors for atherosclerosis and their potential associations with C-reactive protein (CRP). Healthy female controls (n = 30) and populations with various risk factors for atherosclerosis, such as type 2 diabetes (n = 17), hypertension (n = 12), overweight/obesity (n = 10), incipient nephropathy (n = 10), postmenopausal women (n = 9), male (n = 19), ageing male (n = 22), or smoking (n = 16), were recruited.

Quantitative assessment of the associations between CYP1A1 polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk.

A great number of studies regarding the association between MspI and Ile462Val polymorphisms in the CYP1A1 gene and gastric cancer have been published. However, the results have been inconsistent. In this study, a meta-analysis was performed to investigate the associations.

Correlation between gastrointestinal fungi and varying degrees of chronic hepatitis B virus infection.

This study aims to compare the diversity of intestinal fungal microbiota in patients with different degrees of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Culture-independent and culture-dependent methods were performed on 38 patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis, 35 patients with chronic hepatitis B, 33 HBV carriers, and 55 healthy volunteers. An overall fungal biodiversity of 37 different operational taxonomic units was found in the clone libraries; only Candida spp.

A novel RGD-toxin protein, Lj-RGD3, from the buccal gland secretion of Lampetra japonica impacts diverse biological activities.

RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp) motif toxin proteins from snake venoms, saliva glands secretion of leech or tick have typical characteristics of inhibiting platelet aggregation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth. Here we report cloning and characterization of a novel RGD-toxin protein from the buccal gland of Lampetra japonica. In an attempt to study the activities of anticoagulant in the buccal gland secretion of L.

New serum biomarkers for detection of esophageal carcinoma using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Purpose: To screen for the potential protein biomarkers in serum for the diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma (EC) using proteomic fingerprint technology.

Methods: Proteomic fingerprint technology combining magnetic beads with MALDI-TOF-MS was used to profile and compare the serum proteins from 78 patients with EC and 95 healthy blood donors. Proteomic patterns associated with EC were identified by Biomarker Patterns Software.

ABCG1 mediated oxidized LDL-derived oxysterol efflux from macrophages.

Objectives: The uptake of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) by macrophages is a key initial event in atherogenesis, and the removal of oxidized lipids from artery wall via reverse cholesterol transport is considered antiatherogenic. The aims of this study were to investigate the pathways mediating the removal of oxysterols from oxLDL-loaded macrophages, and the subsequent uptake of the oxysterols by hepatocytes.

Methods: LDL was labeled with [3H]cholesterol, and LDL-[3H]cholesterol was oxidized by copper using a standard method.

Static floor field and exit choice for pedestrian evacuation in rooms with internal obstacles and multiple exits.

A modified floor field model is proposed to simulate pedestrian evacuation in rooms with internal obstacles and multiple exits. The modifications lie in developing a method to calculate the static floor field for every lattice site, which is determined by the most feasible distance to an exit, and employing a logit-based discrete choice principle to govern the exit selection. Simulation results show that the evacuation time is sensitive to the exit position and some model parameters.