Increased Serum Levels of Trypsin Inhibitor Kazal1 in Patients with HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma Predict a Poor Prognosis.

Background: Trypsin Inhibitor Kazal1 (SPINK1) is overexpressed in various tumors, but its role in hepatitis B virus (HBV) related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate SPINK1 levels during the chronic progression of HBV infection and their association with the prognosis of HBV-related HCC.

Methods: This study enrolled 102 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 95 patients with HBV-related liver cirrhosis (LC), 104 patients with HBV-related HCC, 25 patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), and 98 healthy controls (HCs).

B7-H3-Induced Signaling in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines with Divergent Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutation Patterns.

The cosignal molecule B7-H3 is gaining attention due to its abnormal expression and abundant signal transduction in many types of malignancies. B7-H3-induced signaling includes at least three cascades: PI3K/AKT, JAK2/STAT3, and Raf/MEK/ERK1/2, which are also involved in epidermal growth factor receptor- (EGFR-) triggered signaling in lung adenocarcinoma cells. However, the correlation between B7-H3-induced signaling and EGFR signaling, and between B7-H3-targeted immunotherapy and EGFR-targeted therapy in lung adenocarcinoma, remains to be elucidated.

Hematological parameters in patients with bloodstream infection: A retrospective observational study.

Introduction: To date, the relationship between the causative pathogens and the changes of hematological parameters was rarely referred and deserves further investigation.

Methodology: A total of 825 adult patients, including 134 negative blood cultures patients and 691 bloodstream infection (BSI) patients, were screened for eligibility in this study. Receiver operating characteristic curves and binary logistic regression models were used to assess the power of hematological parameters to distinguish patients with BSI caused by different pathogens.

Genomic Features and Virulence Characteristics of a Community-Acquired Bloodstream Infection-Causing Hypervirulent ST86 Strain Harboring KPC-2-Encoding IncX6 Plasmid.

The emergence and spread of carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent (CR-hvKP) is causing worldwide concern. Sequence type (ST) 86 , a major hvKP clone, is rarely resistant to carbapenem. In this study, we report the genomic features and virulence characteristics of a community-acquired bloodstream infection (CA-BSI)-causing CR-hvKP ST86 strain (KPN55602).

Comparison and evaluation of non-invasive models in predicting liver inflammation and fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients with high hepatitis B virus DNA and normal or mildly elevated alanine transaminase levels.

Few studies have paid attention to the performances of non-invasive models in diagnosing stages of liver fibrosis and inflammation, which are critical for early and accurate assessment of prognostication and decisions on antiviral treatment in chronic hepatitis B infection patients with high hepatitis B virus DNA and normal or mildly elevated alanine transaminase levels (≤2 times upper limit of normal (ULN)). This study aimed to investigate the value of routine serum markers in evaluation of liver inflammation and fibrosis in these patients.A total of 370 consecutive chronic hepatitis B virus-infected patients who underwent liver biopsy were retrospectively analyzed.

Changes in immune indicators and bacteriologic profile were associated with patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia.

The aim of this study is to explore and identify ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)-related prognostic immune factors and further detect the drug-resistant pathogens to establish the theoretical guidance for clinical prevention and treatment strategies of VAP. A total of 478 patients using ventilator who were hospitalized in July 2014 to November 2016 in our hospital were enrolled in this study. About 103 patients with VAP (21.

Soluble mannose receptor as a predictor of prognosis of hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure.

Background: Hepatitis B virus-related acute-on-chronic liver failure (HBV-ACLF) is a syndrome with a high short-term mortality rate, and it is crucial to identify those patients at a high mortality risk clinically.

Aim: To investigate the clinical value of soluble mannose receptor (sMR) in predicting the 90-day mortality of HBV-ACLF patients.

Methods: A total of 43 patients were diagnosed with HBV-ACLF between October 2017 and October 2018 at the Second Hospital of Anhui Medical University, and all of them were enrolled in this retrospective study.

CSF sAPPα and sAPPβ levels in Alzheimer's Disease and Multiple Other Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Network Meta-Analysis.

The soluble amyloid protein procurer α (sAPPα) and β (sAPPβ) have been postulated as promising new cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and multiple other neurodegenerative diseases, but have failed to meet expectations with their often discordant and even contradictory findings to date. The aim of the study was to systematically explore this issue. Cochrane Library, PubMed, and CNKI were systematically searched without language or date restrictions.

TNFAIP3 genetic polymorphisms reduce ankylosing spondylitis risk in Eastern Chinese Han population.

This study was conducted to clarify the associations of tumor necrosis factor-α induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) and TNFAIP3-interacting protein 1 (TNIP1) genetic polymorphisms with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) susceptibility. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNFAIP3 gene and four in TNIP1 gene were genotyped in 667 AS patients and 667 matched healthy controls. Genotypes and haplotype analysis were conducted by using SPSS 23.

Alterations in the Iron Homeostasis Network of Hepatocytes Caused by Hepatitis B Virus.

Background: It is unclear whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) itself causes iron metabolism disorder in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). In this study, we investigated the effect of HBV on iron metabolism at the clinical and cellular levels to determine the pathogenesis of CHB.

Materials: We enrolled 41 CHB patients and 20 healthy controls (HCs) in a retrospective study.

Clinical Value of Serum HE4, CA125, CA72-4, and ROMA Index for Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer and Prediction of Postoperative Recurrence.

Background: Ovarian cancer is one of the most common cancers among women. With cancer, early detection is paramount to saving lives. However, early detection of ovarian cancer has been fraught with difficulty.

Serum Sclerostin and Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 Levels in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Meta-Analysis.

Various studies have investigated the serum sclerostin and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2) levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but the results were inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis was to synthetically assess the associations of serum levels of sclerostin and BMP-2 with AS. Multiple electronic databases were searched to locate relevant articles published before November 2018.

Neutrophil lymphocyte ratio in patients with ankylosing spondylitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association of neutrophil lymphocyte ratio (NLR) with AS (ankylosing spondylitis) patients. PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Elsevier Science Direct and Google Scholar databases (up to 30 September 2018) were searched to collect all pertinent articles. The pooled standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated by the random effects model.

Induction of interleukin 6 impairs the anti-HBV efficiency of IFN-α in human hepatocytes through upregulation of SOCS3.

Interleukin 6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine with pivotal functions in the regulation of the biological responses of several target cells, including hepatocytes. Previous studies have shown that serum IL-6 levels are increased in hepatitis B patients. However, the role of IL-6 in modulating the anti-hepatitis B virus (HBV) activity of interferon-α (IFN-α) remains unclear.

Identification and Characterization of NDM-1-producing Hypervirulent (Hypermucoviscous) in China.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant hypervirulent (hypermucoviscous) (CR-HMKP) poses a significant public health challenge. We investigated its epidemiology and molecular characteristics in a tertiary care hospital in eastern China.

Methods: CR-HMKP were identified among 106 non-duplicated carbapenem-resistant isolates (from June 2013 to September 2017) using the string test.

Changes in Red Blood Cell Distribution Width is Associated with Liver Function Parameters and Prognosis in Patients with Chronic HBV Liver Disease.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection represents a major threat to global public health, especially in China. The clear pathogenesis of chronic HBV infection (CHB) has not been fully elucidated, but inflammation is widely accepted to play an important role. Emerging evidence suggests that red blood cell distribution (RDW) is a novel potential marker of inflammatory responses.

Differential Expression of CD52, CD14 and HLA-DR on CD4+ Monocytes in Three Types of Acquired Bone Marrow Failure Syndromes.

Background: Aplastic anemia (AA), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) are the common spectrums of acquired bone marrow failure syndromes (BMFs). Accurate and timely diagnosis is a significant clinical challenge because of the overlapping features. The pathogenesis is not fully understood, but several studies have suggested that defective monocyte functions play an important role.

The Study of Immune Response in PBMC of CHB Patients treated with IFN-α and 3-TC in vitro.

Background: The primary aim of this study is to measure the JAK-STAT signaling in HBV infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated by IFN-α and 3-TC and explore the influence of HBV to the JAKSTAT signaling pathways.

Methods: PBMCs were separated from healthy volunteers and patients who had not received any treatment with chronic hepatitis B. PBMCs were divided into the control group, IFN-α stimulation group, Lamivudine stimulation group, and combined treatment group.

Upregulation of soluble B7-H3 in NSCLC-derived malignant pleural effusion: A potential diagnostic biomarker correlated with NSCLC staging.

Background: The B7 family member B7-H3 (CD276) is involved in tumor immunity including Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We have previously demonstrated an elevated circulating level of the soluble form of B7-H3 (sB7-H3) in NSCLC patients. However, the expression of sB7-H3 in NSCLC-derived malignant pleural effusions (MPEs) and its clinical significance remain elusive.

Identification of Suitable Candidate Reference Genes for Gene Expression Analysis by RT-qPCR in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of CHB Patients.

Background: Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis is a precise and effective method for the study of mRNA expression throughout the field of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) research. However, the use of suitable reference genes for data normalization is critical to obtain meaningful and reproducible results. The present study aimed to identify the greatest reference genes for further research in PBMC of Chronic Hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

[The frequency of peripheral blood CD14(+)HLA-DR(-/low) MDSCs is negatively correlated with the inflammation in patients with chronic hepatitis B].

Objective: To study the frequency of CD14⁺HLA-DR(-/low) myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) in the peripheral blood of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and the relationship with biochemical characteristics, viral load and liver pathology.

Methods: The frequency of CD14⁺HLA-DR(-/low) MDSCs in the peripheral blood of 96 patients with CHB and 20 healthy control cases were detected by flow cytometry. Ultrasound-guided liver biopsies as well as HBV-related serological tests were performed in HBV-infected individuals to analyze the biochemical characteristics, viral load and pathology.

Continuous expression of CD83 on activated human CD4⁺ T cells is correlated with their differentiation into induced regulatory T cells.

CD83 is a widely recognized surface marker for mature dendritic cells, which are essential for priming naïve CD4+ T cells into effector cells. However, CD83 is also expressed on activated CD4+ T cells, which remains an enigma in T‑cell mediated immunity. Therefore, the identification of the biological features and regulation of the expression of CD83 on activated CD4+ T cells is important in understanding the function of CD83 in the adaptive immune response.

[Expression of CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) in the serum and pleural effusion of non-small-cell lung cancer patients and its regulatory effect on the differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells].

Objective: To compare the CC-chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) expression in the serum and malignant pleural effusion (MPE) of NSCLC patients and explore its regulatory effect on differentiation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DC).

Methods: CCL18 levels in the serum and MPE from 62 NSCLC patients were quantitated by immunoassay. CCL18 in sera from 26 healthy individuals, 28 exudative pleural effusions from inflammatory pulmonary diseases and 17 transudative pleural effusions from non-inflammatory diseases were used as control.

Enhanced levels of interleukin-8 are associated with hepatitis B virus infection and resistance to interferon-alpha therapy.

The objective of this study was to analyze the expression levels of IL-8 in serum and liver tissues from patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection and to investigate whether IL-8 may antagonize interferon-alpha (IFN-α) antiviral activity against HBV. IL-8 expression in serum was determined by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and fluorescence-based quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to measure IL-8 mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with CHB. IL-8 protein expression was detected in liver biopsy tissues by immunohistochemistry.