Better performance of PIVKA-II for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic liver disease with normal total bilirubin.

Background: Serum protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) is a promising biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) surveillance.

Aim: To identify the contributing factors related to the abnormal elevation of PIVKA-II level and assess their potential influence on the performance of PIVKA-II in detecting HCC.

Methods: This study retrospectively enrolled in 784 chronic liver disease (CLD) patients and 267 HCC patients in Mengchao Hepatobiliary Hospital of Fujian Medical University from April 2016 to December 2019.

Inhibition of the PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway in T lymphocytes in patients with active tuberculosis.

Objectives: To investigate PI3K-Akt-mTOR signaling pathway changes and the proliferation of FoxP3T cells in patients with active tuberculosis.

Methods: We isolated PBMCs and CD4CD25FoxP3T cells from peripheral blood collected from patients with active tuberculosis and healthy controls. We compared the proportion and MFI of PI3K-Akt-mTOR pathway components and PTEN by flow cytometry using specific cell-surface and intracellular markers.

Effective expansion of forkhead box P3⁺ regulatory T cells via early secreted antigenic target 6 and antigen 85 complex B from Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The expansion of CD4+ CD25+ forkhead box (FOX)P3+ regulatory T (Treg) cells has been observed in patients with Mycobacterium (M.) tuberculosis; however, the mechanism of expansion remains to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to examine the role of the early secreted antigenic target 6(ESAT‑6) and antigen 85 complex B (Ag85B) from M.

Decrease in CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells after pulmonary resection in the treatment of cavity multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

Objectives: Immune regulatory mechanisms may limit the immunopathologic condition of infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis and suppress cellular immune responses in the host. We investigated the CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) circulating regulatory T cells (T(reg)) in patients with cavity multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) before and after surgery.

Methods: We compared the proportion of T(reg) cells in 13 patients with cavity MDR-TB pre- and postoperatively and in 10 healthy control subjects by flow cytometry using three specific markers in peripheral blood lymphocytes: cell-surface CD4 and CD25 expression and intracellular FoxP3 expression.