Dear Editor,The occurrence of concentrated pneumonia cases in Wuhan city,Hubei province of China was first reported on December 30,2019 by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission(WHO,2020).The pneumonia cases were found...Dear Editor,The occurrence of concentrated pneumonia cases in Wuhan city,Hubei province of China was first reported on December 30,2019 by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission(WHO,2020).The pneumonia cases were found to be linked to a large seafood and animal market in Wuhan,and measures for sanitation and disinfection were taken swiftly by the local government agency.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)and Chinese health authorities later determined and announced that a novel coronavirus(CoV),denoted as 2019-nCoV,had caused the pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan city(CDC,2020).Scientists from multiple groups had obtained the virus samples from hospitalized patients(Normile,2020).The isolated viruses were morphologically identical when observed under electron microscopy.展开更多
Echinococcosis or hydatid disease （HD） is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes belong- ing to the genus Echinococcus. Hepatic echinococcosis is a life-threatening disease, mainly differentiated...Echinococcosis or hydatid disease （HD） is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes belong- ing to the genus Echinococcus. Hepatic echinococcosis is a life-threatening disease, mainly differentiated into alveolar and cystic forms, associated with Echinoc- cus multilocularis （E. multi/ocular/s） and Echinococcus granulosus （E. granulosus） infection, respectively. Cys- tic echinococcosis （CE） has a worldwide distribution, while hepatic alveolar echinococcosis （AE） is endemic in the Northern hemisphere, including North America and several Asian and European countries, like France, Germany and Austria. E. granulosus young cysts are spherical, unilocular vesicles, consisting of an internal germinal layer and an outer acellular layer. Cyst expansion is associated with a host immune reaction and the subsequent development of a fibrous layer, called the per/cyst; old cysts typically present internal septa- tions and daughter cysts. E. multilocularis has a tumor-like, infiltrative behavior, which is responsible for tissue destruction and finally for liver failure. The liver is the main site of HD involvement, for both alveolar and cystic hydatidosis. HD is usually asymptomatic for a long period of time, because cyst growth is commonly slow; the most frequent symptoms are fatigue and abdominal pain. Patients may also present jaundice, hepatomegaly or anaphylaxis, due to cyst leakage or rupture. HD diagnosis is usually accomplished with the combined use of ultrasonography and immunodiagnosis; furthermore, the improvement of surgical techniques, the introduction of minimally invasive treatments [such as puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration （PAIR）] and more effective drugs （such as benzoimidazoles） have deeply changed life expectancy and quality of life of patients with HD. The aim of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of biological, diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatic echinococcosis.展开更多
AIM: To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of nm23 mRNA, CD44s, and CD44v6,and oncogenesis, development and metastasis of human gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma,intraductal car...AIM: To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of nm23 mRNA, CD44s, and CD44v6,and oncogenesis, development and metastasis of human gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma,intraductal carcinoma of breast, and lung cancer.METHODS: Using tissue microarray by immuhistochemical (IHC) staining and in situ hybri-dization (ISH), we examined the expression levels of nm23mRNA, CD44s, and CD44v6 in 62 specimens of human gastric adenocarcinoma and 62 specimens of colorectal adenocarcinoma; the expression of CD44s and CD44v6in 120 specimens of intraductal carcinoma of breast and 20 specimens of normal breast tissue; the expression of nm23 mRNA in 72 specimens of human lung cancer and 23 specimens of normal tissue adjacent to cancer.RESULTS: The expression of nm23 mRNA in the tissues of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma was not significantly different from that in the normal tissues adjacent to cancer (P＞0.05), and was not associated with the invasion of tumor and the pathology grade of adenocarcinoma (P＞0.05). However, the expression of nm23 mRNA was correlated negatively to the lymph node metastasis of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma (r = -0.49, P＜0.01; r = -4.93, P＜0.01). The expression of CD44s in the tissues of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma was significantly different from that in the normal tissues adjacent to cancer (P＜0.05;P＜0.01). CD44v6 was expressed in the tissues of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma only, the expression of CD44v6 was significantly associated with the lymph node metastasis, invasion and pathological grade of the tumor (r = 0.47, P＜0.01; r = 5.04, P＜0.01). CD44sand CD44v6 were expressed in intraductal carcinoma of breast, the expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was significantly associated with lymph node metastases and invasion (P＜0.01). However, neither of them was expressed in the normal breast tissue. In addition, the expression of CD44v6 was closely related to the degree of cell differentiation of intraductal carcinoma of breast (展开更多
Aim： Sperm chromatin/DNA integrity is essential for the accurate transmission of paternal genetic information, and normal sperm chromatin structure is important for sperm fertilizing ability. The routine examination ...Aim： Sperm chromatin/DNA integrity is essential for the accurate transmission of paternal genetic information, and normal sperm chromatin structure is important for sperm fertilizing ability. The routine examination of semen, which includes sperm concentration, motility and morphology, does not identify defects in sperm chromatin structure. The origin of sperm DNA damage and a variety of methods for its assessment are described. Evaluation of sperm DNA damage appears to be a useful tool for assessing male fertility potential both in vivo and in vitro. The possible impact of sperm DNA defects on the offspring is also discussed. （Asian J Androl 2006 Jan; 8： 11-29）展开更多
Background Although the first leading cause of death in China was malignant neoplasms （mortality, 374.1 per 100 000 person-years）, the full impact of primary brain tumors （PBT） on the healthcare system is not comp...Background Although the first leading cause of death in China was malignant neoplasms （mortality, 374.1 per 100 000 person-years）, the full impact of primary brain tumors （PBT） on the healthcare system is not completely described because there are a few well documented reports about the epidemiologic features of brain tumors. This study aimed to report a comprehensive assessment on the prevalence of PBT. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study on brain tumor （MCSBT） in China was initiated in five regional centers： Daqing （northeast）, Puyang （north of China）, Shiyan （center of China）, Ma＇anshan （center of China） and Shanghai （southeast）. Prevalence rate was calculated by counting the number of people living with a PBT between October 1,2005 and September 30, 2006 and dividing by the total population of the five communities at January 1, 2006. Estimates of prevalence were expressed as percentages and grouped according to gender and to age in fifteen-year categories. Within these strata, the rates were estimated with 95% confidence intervals （C/） using the accurate calculation of CI for Poisson distribution. A chi-square test was used to compare the various frequencies with a 〈0.05. Age-standardized prevalence with the direct method was calculated with the ten-year age-specific prevalence and the age distribution of population prospects： the 2008 revision. Results We estimated that the overall prevalence of PBT was 24.56 per 100 000 （95% CI, 14.85 to 34.27）, and the overall prevalence of PBT in female population （30.57 per 100 000 and its 95% Cl ranged from 19.73 to 41.41） was higher than that in male population （18.84 per 100 000 and its 95% Cl ranged from 10.33 to 27.35）. However, the discrepancy between genders was not statistically significant because the 95% Cl overlapped. Of 272 cases of newly diagnosed PBT, the proportion of histological subtypes by age groups, gender was statistically different （X2=52.6510, P 〈0.0001）. More than half of all re展开更多
AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese traditional medicines Da Cheng Qi Decoction (Timely-Purging and Yin-Preserving Decoction) and Glauber's salt combined with conservative measures on...AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese traditional medicines Da Cheng Qi Decoction (Timely-Purging and Yin-Preserving Decoction) and Glauber's salt combined with conservative measures on abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. METHODS: Eighty consecutive SAP patients, admitted for routine non-operative conservative treatment, were randomly divided into study group and control group (40 patients in each group). Patients in the study group received Da Cheng Qi Decoction enema for 2 h and external use of Glauber's salt, once a day for 7 d. Patients in the control group received normal saline (NS) enema. Routine non-operative conservative treatments included non-per os nutrition (NPON), gastrointestinal decompression, life support, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), continuous peripancreatic vascular pharmaceutical infusion and drug therapy. Intra-cystic pressure (ICP) of the two groups was measured during treatment. The effectiveness and outcomes of treatment were observed and APACHE Ⅱ scores were applied in analysis. RESULTS: On days 4 and 5 of treatment, the ICP was lower in the study group than in the control group(P < 0.05). On days 3-5 of treatment, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores for the study and control groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). Both the effectiveness and outcome of the treatment with Da Cheng Qi Decoction on abdominalgia, burbulence relief time, ascites quantity, cyst formation rate and hospitalization time were quite different between the two groups (P < 0.05). The mortality rate for the two groups had no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Da Cheng Qi Decoction enema and external use of Glauber's salt combined with routine non-operative conservative treatment can decrease the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) of SAP patients and have preventive and therapeutic effects on abdominal compartment syndrome of SAP.展开更多
Accumulating evidence shows that cellular and acellular components in tumor microenvironment(TME)can reprogram tumor initiation,growth,invasion,metastasis,and response to therapies.Cancer research and treatment have s...Accumulating evidence shows that cellular and acellular components in tumor microenvironment(TME)can reprogram tumor initiation,growth,invasion,metastasis,and response to therapies.Cancer research and treatment have switched from a cancercentric model to a TME-centric one,considering the increasing significance of TME in cancer biology.Nonetheless,the clinical efficacy of therapeutic strategies targeting TME,especially the specific cells or pathways of TME,remains unsatisfactory.Classifying the chemopathological characteristics of TME and crosstalk among one another can greatly benefit further studies exploring effective treating methods.Herein,we present an updated image of TME with emphasis on hypoxic niche,immune microenvironment,metabolism microenvironment,acidic niche,innervated niche,and mechanical microenvironment.We then summarize conventional drugs including aspirin,celecoxib,β-adrenergic antagonist,metformin,and statin in new antitumor application.These drugs are considered as viable candidates for combination therapy due to their antitumor activity and extensive use in clinical practice.We also provide our outlook on directions and potential applications of TME theory.This review depicts a comprehensive and vivid landscape of TME from biology to treatment.展开更多
Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) is the commonest cause of cirrhosis in many Western countries and it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis is characterized by complex interactions between metabolic...Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) is the commonest cause of cirrhosis in many Western countries and it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis is characterized by complex interactions between metabolic intermediates of alcohol. Bacterial intestinal flora is itself responsible for production of endogenous ethanol through the fermentation of carbohydrates. The intestinal metabolism of alcohol produces a high concentration of toxic acetaldehyde that modifies gut permeability and microbiota equilibrium. Furthermore it causes direct hepatocyte damage. In patients who consume alcohol over a long period, there is a modification of gut microbiota and, in particular, an increment of Gram negative bacteria. This causes endotoxemia and hyperactivation of the immune system. Endotoxin is a constituent of Gram negative bacteria cell walls. Two types of receptors, cluster of differentiation 14 and Toll-like receptors-4, present on Kupffer cells, recognize endotoxins. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of gut-liver axis and new treatments have been studied in recent years to reduce progression of ALD modifying gut microbiota. It has focused attention on antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the effect of enalapril on plasma homocysteine(Hcy) levels and the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with the changes of Hcy levels in response to en...Objective:To investigate the effect of enalapril on plasma homocysteine(Hcy) levels and the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with the changes of Hcy levels in response to enalapril among patients with essential hypertension.Methods:A total of 130 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension were enrolled and enalapril was orally administered at a dose of 10 mg/d for eight weeks.Plasma Hcy levels were measured by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) at baseline and after eight weeks of treatment.Genotyping of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was performed by TaqMan probe technique.Results:Compared with baseline,plasma Hcy levels did not change significantly after eight weeks(P=0.81).Stratified by baseline Hcy levels,a significant increase in plasma Hcy levels(P=0.02) among those with Hcy <10 μmol/L was observed,in contrast to no significant changes in plasma Hcy levels(P=0.54) among those with Hcy ≥10 μmol/L.No significant association was observed between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and changes in Hcy levels in response to enalapril.Conclusions:Enalapril may cause an increase in plasma Hcy levels among the hypertensives with low baseline Hcy levels.There was no significant association between MTHFR C677T genotypes and changes in Hcy levels in response to enalapril among subjects with essential hypertension.展开更多
Acute hepatic failure (AHF) is a severe liver injury accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy which causes multiorgan failure with an extremely high mortality rate, even if intensive care is provided. Management of sever...Acute hepatic failure (AHF) is a severe liver injury accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy which causes multiorgan failure with an extremely high mortality rate, even if intensive care is provided. Management of severe AHF continues to be one of the most challenging problems in clinical medicine. Liver transplantation has been shown to be the most effective therapy, but the procedure is limited by shortage of donor organs. Although a number of clinical trials testing different liver assist devices are under way, these systems alone have no significant effect on patient survival and are only regarded as a useful approach to bridge patients with AHF to liver transplantation. As a result, reproducible experimental animal models resembling the clinical conditions are still needed. The three main approaches used to create an animal model for AHF are: surgical procedures, toxic liver injury and infective procedures. Most common models are based on surgical techniques (total/partial hepatectomy, complete/transient devascularization) or the use of hepatotoxic drugs (acetaminophen, galactosamine, thioacetamide, and others), and very few satisfactory viral models are available. We have recently developed a viral model of AHF by means of the inoculation of rabbits with the virus of rabbit hemorrhagic disease. This model displays biochemical and histological characteristics, and clinical features that resemble those in human AHF. In the present article an overview is given of the most widely used animal models of AHF, and their main advantages and disadvantages are reviewed.展开更多
Esophageal cancer(EC)is one of the most lethal cancers in the world,and its morbidity and mortality rates rank among the top ten in China.Currently,surgical resection,radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the primary clin...Esophageal cancer(EC)is one of the most lethal cancers in the world,and its morbidity and mortality rates rank among the top ten in China.Currently,surgical resection,radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the primary clinical treatments for esophageal cancer.However,outcomes are still unsatisfactory due to the limited efficacy and severe adverse effects of conventional treatments.As a new type of approach,targeted therapies have been confirmed to play an important role in the treatment of esophageal cancer;these include cetuximab and bevacizumab,which target epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),respectively.In addition,other drugs targeting surface antigens and signaling pathways or acting on immune checkpoints have been continuously developed.For example,trastuzumab,a monoclonal antibody targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2),has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA)as a first-line treatment of HER-2-positive cancer.Moreover,the PD-L1 inhibitor pembrolizumab has been approved as a highly efficient drug for patients with PD-L1-positive or advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).These novel drugs can be used alone or in combination with other treatment strategies to further improve the treatment efficacy and prognosis of cancer patients.Nevertheless,adverse events,optimal dosages and effective combinations still need further investigation.In this review,we expound an outline of the latest advances in targeted therapies of esophageal cancer and the mechanisms of relevant drugs,discuss their efficacy and safety,and provide a clinical rationale for precision medicine in esophageal cancer.展开更多
Many epidemiological studies demonstrate that treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） reduce the incidence and mortality of certain malignancies, especially gastrointestinal cancer. The cycloox...Many epidemiological studies demonstrate that treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） reduce the incidence and mortality of certain malignancies, especially gastrointestinal cancer. The cyclooxygenase （COX） enzymes are well-known targets of NSAIDs. However, conventional NSAIDs nonselectively inhibit both the constitutive form COX-1, and the inducible form COX-2. Recent evidence indicates that COX-2 is an important molecular target for anticancer therapies. Its expression is undetectable in most normal tissues, and is highly induced by proinflammatory cytokines, mitogens, tumor promoters and growth factors. It is now well-established that COX-2 is chronically overexpressed in many premalignant, malignant, and metastastic cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Overexpression of COX-2 in patients with HCC is generally higher in welldifferentiated HCCs compared with less-differentiated HCCs or histologically normal liver, suggesting that COX-2 may be involved in the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis, and increased expression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver tissue has been significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival in patients with HCC. In tumors, overexpression of COX-2 leads to an increase in prostaglandin （PG） levels, which affect many mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis, such as angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis, stimulation of cell growth as well as the invasiveness and metastatic potential of tumor cells. The availability of novel agents that selectively inhibit COX-2 （COXIB）, has contributed to shedding light on the role of this molecule. Experimental studies on animal models of liver cancer have shown that NSAIDs, including both selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors, exert chemopreventive as well as therapeutic effects. However, the key mechanism by which COX-2 inhibitors affect HCC cell growth is as yet not fully understood. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of molecular targets other than COX-2 in the antiprol展开更多
Dear Editor： The demonstration that four transcription factors, Oct4/Sox2/Myc/Klf4, can reprogram fibroblasts into ES-like cells or induced pluripotent stem cells （iPS cells） has generated tremendous interests not...Dear Editor： The demonstration that four transcription factors, Oct4/Sox2/Myc/Klf4, can reprogram fibroblasts into ES-like cells or induced pluripotent stem cells （iPS cells） has generated tremendous interests not only in the field of stem cell biology, but also those related fields such as developmental biology and regenerative medicine [1-5]. The advance has greatly improved the prospects of generating patient specific pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic purposes without therapeutic cloning, an approach with formidable technical as well as ethical challenges. The conceptual breakthrough of the iPS strategy is quite obvious, demonstrating for the first time that the reprogramming of somatic nuclei can be achieved through a rational combination of transcription factors with defined regulatory activities, in contrast to the ill defined reprogramming power of unfertilized eggs. However, the application of the iPS strategy is so far limited to mouse fibroblasts carrying engineered selection markers [3, 4]. The need for selection using drug resistance or marker driven by Nanog-or Oct4-promoters would hamper not only its application in human therapy, but also any at- tempts to popularize this exciting experimental approach to other species such as primates. We reason that cells reprogrammed by Oct4/Sox2/Myc/Klf4 can be identified morphologically among the parental fibroblasts and the acquired pluripotent property should offer a growth advantage over their parental fibroblasts.展开更多
AIM:To study whether selected bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)gene phylotypes are capable of disting- uishing irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). METHODS:The faecal microbiota of twenty volunteers with IBS,subdivided into...AIM:To study whether selected bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)gene phylotypes are capable of disting- uishing irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). METHODS:The faecal microbiota of twenty volunteers with IBS,subdivided into eight diarrhoea-predominant (IBS-D),eight constipation-predominant(IBS-C)and four mixed symptom-subtype(IBS-M)IBS patients,and fifteen control subjects,were analysed at three time-points with a set of fourteen quantitative real-timepolymerase chain reaction assays.All assays targeted 16S rRNA gene phylotypes putatively associated with IBS,based on 16S rRNA gene library sequence analysis. The target phylotypes were affiliated with Actinobac-teria,Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes.Eight of the target phylotypes had less than 95%similarity to cultured bacterial species according to their 16S rRNA gene sequence.The data analyses were made with repeated-measures ANCOVA-type modelling of the data and principle component analysis(PCA)with linear mixed-effects models applied to the principal component scores. RESULTS:Bacterial phylotypes Clostridium cocleatum 88%,Clostridium thermosuccinogenes 85%,Coprobacillus catenaformis 91%,Ruminococcus bromii-like, Ruminococcus torques 91%,and R.torques 93%were detected from all samples analysed.A multivariate analysis of the relative quantities of all 14 bacterial 16S rRNA gene phylotypes suggested that the intestinal microbiota of the IBS-D patients differed from other sample groups.The PCA on the first principal component(PC1),explaining 30.36%of the observed variation in the IBS-D patient group,was significantly altered from all other sample groups(IBS-D vs control, P=0.01;IBS-D vs IBS-M,P=0.00;IBS-D vs IBS-C, P=0.05).Significant differences were also observed in the levels of distinct phylotypes using relative values in proportion to the total amount of bacteria.A phy- lotype with 85%similarity to C.thermosuccinogenes was quantified in significantly different quantities among the IBS-D and control subjects(-4.08±0.90 vs -3.33±1.16,P=0.04)and IBS-D and IBS-M subjects 展开更多
The incidence of gastric cancer(GC) fell dramatically over the last 50 years, but according to IARC-Globocan 2008, it is the third most frequent cause of cancerrelated deaths with a case fatality GC ratio higher than ...The incidence of gastric cancer(GC) fell dramatically over the last 50 years, but according to IARC-Globocan 2008, it is the third most frequent cause of cancerrelated deaths with a case fatality GC ratio higher than other common malignancies. Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for GC though the overall 5-year survival rate remains poor(approximately 20%-25%). To improve the outcome of resectable gastric cancer, different treatment strategies have been evaluated such as adjuvant or perioperative chemotherapy. In resected gastric cancer, the addition of radiotherapy to chemotherapy does not appear to provide any additional benefit. Moreover, in metastatic patients, chemotherapy is the mainstay of palliative therapy with a median overall survival of 8-10 mo and objective response rates of merely 20%-40%. Therefore, the potential for making key beneficial progress is to investigate the GC molecular biology to realize innovative therapeutic strategies, such as specific immunotherapy. In this review, we provide a panoramic view of the different immune-based strategies used for gastric cancer treatment and the results obtained in the most significant clinical trials. In detail, firstly we describe the therapeutic approaches that utilize the monoclonal antibodies while in the second part we analyze the cell-based immunotherapies.展开更多
The recent novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19)outbreak,caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),is seeing a rapid increase in infected patients worldwide.The host immune response to SARS-C...The recent novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19)outbreak,caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),is seeing a rapid increase in infected patients worldwide.The host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 appears to play a critical role in disease pathogenesis and clinical manifestations.SARS-CoV-2 not only activates antiviral immune responses,but can also cause uncontrolled inflammatory responses characterized by marked pro-inflammatory cytokine release in patients with severe COVID-19,leading to lymphopenia,lymphocyte dysfunction,and granulocyte and monocyte abnormalities.These SARS-CoV-2-induced immune abnormalities may lead to infections by microorganisms,septic shock,and severe multiple organ dysfunction.Therefore,mechanisms underlying immune abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 must be elucidated to guide clinical management of the disease.Moreover,rational management of the immune responses to SARSCoV-2,which includes enhancing anti-viral immunity while inhibiting systemic inflammation,may be key to successful treatment.In this review,we discuss the immunopathology of COVID-19,its potential mechanisms,and clinical implications to aid the development of new therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.展开更多
AIM： To investigate the association of cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） expression with angiogenesis and the number and type of inflammatory cells （macrophages/Kupffer cells; mast cells） within primary hepatocellular car...AIM： To investigate the association of cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） expression with angiogenesis and the number and type of inflammatory cells （macrophages/Kupffer cells; mast cells） within primary hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） tissues and adjacent non-tumorous （NT） tissues. METHODS： Immunohistochemistry for COX-2, CD34, CD68 and mast cell tryptase （MCT） was performed on 14 well-characterized series of liver-cirrhosis-associated HCC patients. COX-2 expression and the number of inflammatory cells in tumor lesions and surrounding liver tissues of each specimen were compared. Moreover, COX-2, CD34 staining and the number of inflammatory cells in areas with different histological degrees within each tumor sample were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS： The percentage of COX-2 positive cells was significantly higher in NT tissues than in tumors. COX-2 expression was higher in well-differentiated HCC than in poorly-differentiated tissues. Few mast cells were observed within the tumor mass, whereas a higher number was observed in the surrounding tissue, especially in peri-portal spaces of NT tissues. Abundant macrophages/ Kupffer cells were observed in NT tissues, whereas the number of cells was significantly lower in the tumor mass. However, a higher cell number was observed in the welldifferentiated tumor and progressively decreased in relation to the differentiation grade. Within the tumor, a positive correlation was found between COX-2 expression and the number of macrophages/Kupffer cells and mastcells. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between CD34 and COX-2 expression in tumor tissues. Comparison between well- and poorly-differentiated HCC showed that the number of CD34-positive cells decreased with dedifferentiation. However, COX-2 was the only independent variable showing a positive correlation with CD34 in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION： The presence of inflammatory cells and COX-2 expression in liver tumor suggests a possible relationship with tumor angiogenesis. COX-2 expr展开更多
Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by impaired perception, delusions, thought disorder, abnormal emotion regulation, altered motor function, and impaired drive. The default mode network （DMN）, s...Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by impaired perception, delusions, thought disorder, abnormal emotion regulation, altered motor function, and impaired drive. The default mode network （DMN）, since it was first proposed in 2001, has become a central research theme in neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. In this review, first we define the DMN and describe its functional activity, functional and anatomical connectivity, heritability, and inverse correlation with the task positive network. Second, we review empirical studies of the anatomical and functional DMN, and anti-correlation between DMN and the task positive network in schizophrenia. Finally, we review preliminary evidence about the relationship between antipsychotic medications and regulation of the DMN, review the role of DMN as a treatment biomarker for this disease, and consider the DMN effects of individualized therapies for schizophrenia.展开更多
Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a common clinical label for medically unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms,recently described as a disturbance of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.Despite decades of research,the pathophy...Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a common clinical label for medically unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms,recently described as a disturbance of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.Despite decades of research,the pathophysiology of this highly heterogeneous disorder remains elusive.However,a dramatic change in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms surfaced when the importance of gut microbiota protruded the scientific picture.Are we getting any closer to understanding IBS’etiology,or are we drowning in unspecific,conflicting data because we possess limited tools to unravel the cluster of secrets our gut microbiota is concealing?In this comprehensive review we are discussing some of the major important features of IBS and their interaction with gut microbiota,clinical microbiota-altering treatment such as the low FODMAP diet and fecal microbiota transplantation,neuroimaging and methods in microbiota analyses,and current and future challenges with big data analysis in IBS.展开更多
基金This work was supported in part by grants from the National Science and Technology Major Projects for“Major New Drugs Innovation and Development”(directed by Dr.Song Li)(2018ZX09711003)of Chinathe National Key R&D Program(2018YFC0310600)of China+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31771412)Special Fund for strategic bio-resources from Chinese Academy of Sciences(ZSYS-014).
文摘Dear Editor,The occurrence of concentrated pneumonia cases in Wuhan city,Hubei province of China was first reported on December 30,2019 by the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission(WHO,2020).The pneumonia cases were found to be linked to a large seafood and animal market in Wuhan,and measures for sanitation and disinfection were taken swiftly by the local government agency.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC)and Chinese health authorities later determined and announced that a novel coronavirus(CoV),denoted as 2019-nCoV,had caused the pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan city(CDC,2020).Scientists from multiple groups had obtained the virus samples from hospitalized patients(Normile,2020).The isolated viruses were morphologically identical when observed under electron microscopy.
文摘Echinococcosis or hydatid disease （HD） is a zoonosis caused by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes belong- ing to the genus Echinococcus. Hepatic echinococcosis is a life-threatening disease, mainly differentiated into alveolar and cystic forms, associated with Echinoc- cus multilocularis （E. multi/ocular/s） and Echinococcus granulosus （E. granulosus） infection, respectively. Cys- tic echinococcosis （CE） has a worldwide distribution, while hepatic alveolar echinococcosis （AE） is endemic in the Northern hemisphere, including North America and several Asian and European countries, like France, Germany and Austria. E. granulosus young cysts are spherical, unilocular vesicles, consisting of an internal germinal layer and an outer acellular layer. Cyst expansion is associated with a host immune reaction and the subsequent development of a fibrous layer, called the per/cyst; old cysts typically present internal septa- tions and daughter cysts. E. multilocularis has a tumor-like, infiltrative behavior, which is responsible for tissue destruction and finally for liver failure. The liver is the main site of HD involvement, for both alveolar and cystic hydatidosis. HD is usually asymptomatic for a long period of time, because cyst growth is commonly slow; the most frequent symptoms are fatigue and abdominal pain. Patients may also present jaundice, hepatomegaly or anaphylaxis, due to cyst leakage or rupture. HD diagnosis is usually accomplished with the combined use of ultrasonography and immunodiagnosis; furthermore, the improvement of surgical techniques, the introduction of minimally invasive treatments [such as puncture, aspiration, injection, re-aspiration （PAIR）] and more effective drugs （such as benzoimidazoles） have deeply changed life expectancy and quality of life of patients with HD. The aim of this article is to provide an up-to-date review of biological, diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic aspects of hepatic echinococcosis.
基金Supported by the National Key Development Programs of West China during the 10th Five-Year Plan Period, No. 2001BA901A44
文摘AIM: To investigate the relationship between the expression levels of nm23 mRNA, CD44s, and CD44v6,and oncogenesis, development and metastasis of human gastric adenocarcinoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma,intraductal carcinoma of breast, and lung cancer.METHODS: Using tissue microarray by immuhistochemical (IHC) staining and in situ hybri-dization (ISH), we examined the expression levels of nm23mRNA, CD44s, and CD44v6 in 62 specimens of human gastric adenocarcinoma and 62 specimens of colorectal adenocarcinoma; the expression of CD44s and CD44v6in 120 specimens of intraductal carcinoma of breast and 20 specimens of normal breast tissue; the expression of nm23 mRNA in 72 specimens of human lung cancer and 23 specimens of normal tissue adjacent to cancer.RESULTS: The expression of nm23 mRNA in the tissues of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma was not significantly different from that in the normal tissues adjacent to cancer (P＞0.05), and was not associated with the invasion of tumor and the pathology grade of adenocarcinoma (P＞0.05). However, the expression of nm23 mRNA was correlated negatively to the lymph node metastasis of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma (r = -0.49, P＜0.01; r = -4.93, P＜0.01). The expression of CD44s in the tissues of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma was significantly different from that in the normal tissues adjacent to cancer (P＜0.05;P＜0.01). CD44v6 was expressed in the tissues of gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma only, the expression of CD44v6 was significantly associated with the lymph node metastasis, invasion and pathological grade of the tumor (r = 0.47, P＜0.01; r = 5.04, P＜0.01). CD44sand CD44v6 were expressed in intraductal carcinoma of breast, the expression of CD44s and CD44v6 was significantly associated with lymph node metastases and invasion (P＜0.01). However, neither of them was expressed in the normal breast tissue. In addition, the expression of CD44v6 was closely related to the degree of cell differentiation of intraductal carcinoma of breast (
文摘Aim： Sperm chromatin/DNA integrity is essential for the accurate transmission of paternal genetic information, and normal sperm chromatin structure is important for sperm fertilizing ability. The routine examination of semen, which includes sperm concentration, motility and morphology, does not identify defects in sperm chromatin structure. The origin of sperm DNA damage and a variety of methods for its assessment are described. Evaluation of sperm DNA damage appears to be a useful tool for assessing male fertility potential both in vivo and in vitro. The possible impact of sperm DNA defects on the offspring is also discussed. （Asian J Androl 2006 Jan; 8： 11-29）
文摘Background Although the first leading cause of death in China was malignant neoplasms （mortality, 374.1 per 100 000 person-years）, the full impact of primary brain tumors （PBT） on the healthcare system is not completely described because there are a few well documented reports about the epidemiologic features of brain tumors. This study aimed to report a comprehensive assessment on the prevalence of PBT. Methods A multicenter cross-sectional study on brain tumor （MCSBT） in China was initiated in five regional centers： Daqing （northeast）, Puyang （north of China）, Shiyan （center of China）, Ma＇anshan （center of China） and Shanghai （southeast）. Prevalence rate was calculated by counting the number of people living with a PBT between October 1,2005 and September 30, 2006 and dividing by the total population of the five communities at January 1, 2006. Estimates of prevalence were expressed as percentages and grouped according to gender and to age in fifteen-year categories. Within these strata, the rates were estimated with 95% confidence intervals （C/） using the accurate calculation of CI for Poisson distribution. A chi-square test was used to compare the various frequencies with a 〈0.05. Age-standardized prevalence with the direct method was calculated with the ten-year age-specific prevalence and the age distribution of population prospects： the 2008 revision. Results We estimated that the overall prevalence of PBT was 24.56 per 100 000 （95% CI, 14.85 to 34.27）, and the overall prevalence of PBT in female population （30.57 per 100 000 and its 95% Cl ranged from 19.73 to 41.41） was higher than that in male population （18.84 per 100 000 and its 95% Cl ranged from 10.33 to 27.35）. However, the discrepancy between genders was not statistically significant because the 95% Cl overlapped. Of 272 cases of newly diagnosed PBT, the proportion of histological subtypes by age groups, gender was statistically different （X2=52.6510, P 〈0.0001）. More than half of all re
文摘AIM: To investigate the therapeutic effect of traditional Chinese traditional medicines Da Cheng Qi Decoction (Timely-Purging and Yin-Preserving Decoction) and Glauber's salt combined with conservative measures on abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) in severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) patients. METHODS: Eighty consecutive SAP patients, admitted for routine non-operative conservative treatment, were randomly divided into study group and control group (40 patients in each group). Patients in the study group received Da Cheng Qi Decoction enema for 2 h and external use of Glauber's salt, once a day for 7 d. Patients in the control group received normal saline (NS) enema. Routine non-operative conservative treatments included non-per os nutrition (NPON), gastrointestinal decompression, life support, total parenteral nutrition (TPN), continuous peripancreatic vascular pharmaceutical infusion and drug therapy. Intra-cystic pressure (ICP) of the two groups was measured during treatment. The effectiveness and outcomes of treatment were observed and APACHE Ⅱ scores were applied in analysis. RESULTS: On days 4 and 5 of treatment, the ICP was lower in the study group than in the control group(P < 0.05). On days 3-5 of treatment, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation Ⅱ (APACHE Ⅱ) scores for the study and control groups were significantly different (P < 0.05). Both the effectiveness and outcome of the treatment with Da Cheng Qi Decoction on abdominalgia, burbulence relief time, ascites quantity, cyst formation rate and hospitalization time were quite different between the two groups (P < 0.05). The mortality rate for the two groups had no significant difference. CONCLUSION: Da Cheng Qi Decoction enema and external use of Glauber's salt combined with routine non-operative conservative treatment can decrease the intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) of SAP patients and have preventive and therapeutic effects on abdominal compartment syndrome of SAP.
基金supported by funding from the Project Nn10 of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital(Grant Number Nn102017-02)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Number 81602323,81872149)+3 种基金Outstanding Youth Project of Heilongjiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Grant Number YQ2019H027)Distinguished Young Scholars of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital(Grant Number JCQN2018-03)Yong Elite Training Foundation Grant of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital(Grant Number JY2016-02)Haiyan Fund Project of Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital(Grant Number JJQN 2018-10).
文摘Accumulating evidence shows that cellular and acellular components in tumor microenvironment(TME)can reprogram tumor initiation,growth,invasion,metastasis,and response to therapies.Cancer research and treatment have switched from a cancercentric model to a TME-centric one,considering the increasing significance of TME in cancer biology.Nonetheless,the clinical efficacy of therapeutic strategies targeting TME,especially the specific cells or pathways of TME,remains unsatisfactory.Classifying the chemopathological characteristics of TME and crosstalk among one another can greatly benefit further studies exploring effective treating methods.Herein,we present an updated image of TME with emphasis on hypoxic niche,immune microenvironment,metabolism microenvironment,acidic niche,innervated niche,and mechanical microenvironment.We then summarize conventional drugs including aspirin,celecoxib,β-adrenergic antagonist,metformin,and statin in new antitumor application.These drugs are considered as viable candidates for combination therapy due to their antitumor activity and extensive use in clinical practice.We also provide our outlook on directions and potential applications of TME theory.This review depicts a comprehensive and vivid landscape of TME from biology to treatment.
文摘Alcoholic liver disease(ALD) is the commonest cause of cirrhosis in many Western countries and it has a high rate of morbidity and mortality. The pathogenesis is characterized by complex interactions between metabolic intermediates of alcohol. Bacterial intestinal flora is itself responsible for production of endogenous ethanol through the fermentation of carbohydrates. The intestinal metabolism of alcohol produces a high concentration of toxic acetaldehyde that modifies gut permeability and microbiota equilibrium. Furthermore it causes direct hepatocyte damage. In patients who consume alcohol over a long period, there is a modification of gut microbiota and, in particular, an increment of Gram negative bacteria. This causes endotoxemia and hyperactivation of the immune system. Endotoxin is a constituent of Gram negative bacteria cell walls. Two types of receptors, cluster of differentiation 14 and Toll-like receptors-4, present on Kupffer cells, recognize endotoxins. Several studies have demonstrated the importance of gut-liver axis and new treatments have been studied in recent years to reduce progression of ALD modifying gut microbiota. It has focused attention on antibiotics, prebiotics, probiotics and synbiotics.
文摘Objective:To investigate the effect of enalapril on plasma homocysteine(Hcy) levels and the association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase(MTHFR) C677T polymorphism with the changes of Hcy levels in response to enalapril among patients with essential hypertension.Methods:A total of 130 patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension were enrolled and enalapril was orally administered at a dose of 10 mg/d for eight weeks.Plasma Hcy levels were measured by denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography(DHPLC) at baseline and after eight weeks of treatment.Genotyping of MTHFR C677T polymorphism was performed by TaqMan probe technique.Results:Compared with baseline,plasma Hcy levels did not change significantly after eight weeks(P=0.81).Stratified by baseline Hcy levels,a significant increase in plasma Hcy levels(P=0.02) among those with Hcy <10 μmol/L was observed,in contrast to no significant changes in plasma Hcy levels(P=0.54) among those with Hcy ≥10 μmol/L.No significant association was observed between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and changes in Hcy levels in response to enalapril.Conclusions:Enalapril may cause an increase in plasma Hcy levels among the hypertensives with low baseline Hcy levels.There was no significant association between MTHFR C677T genotypes and changes in Hcy levels in response to enalapril among subjects with essential hypertension.
基金Supported by Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria,Spain (Grant PI070788)CIBERehd is funded by Instituto de la Salud Carlos Ⅲ,Spain
文摘Acute hepatic failure (AHF) is a severe liver injury accompanied by hepatic encephalopathy which causes multiorgan failure with an extremely high mortality rate, even if intensive care is provided. Management of severe AHF continues to be one of the most challenging problems in clinical medicine. Liver transplantation has been shown to be the most effective therapy, but the procedure is limited by shortage of donor organs. Although a number of clinical trials testing different liver assist devices are under way, these systems alone have no significant effect on patient survival and are only regarded as a useful approach to bridge patients with AHF to liver transplantation. As a result, reproducible experimental animal models resembling the clinical conditions are still needed. The three main approaches used to create an animal model for AHF are: surgical procedures, toxic liver injury and infective procedures. Most common models are based on surgical techniques (total/partial hepatectomy, complete/transient devascularization) or the use of hepatotoxic drugs (acetaminophen, galactosamine, thioacetamide, and others), and very few satisfactory viral models are available. We have recently developed a viral model of AHF by means of the inoculation of rabbits with the virus of rabbit hemorrhagic disease. This model displays biochemical and histological characteristics, and clinical features that resemble those in human AHF. In the present article an overview is given of the most widely used animal models of AHF, and their main advantages and disadvantages are reviewed.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2017YFA0505100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81973339,31961160727,81803551,31770888,81773085,81672953,31570828)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(21620429).
文摘Esophageal cancer(EC)is one of the most lethal cancers in the world,and its morbidity and mortality rates rank among the top ten in China.Currently,surgical resection,radiotherapy and chemotherapy are the primary clinical treatments for esophageal cancer.However,outcomes are still unsatisfactory due to the limited efficacy and severe adverse effects of conventional treatments.As a new type of approach,targeted therapies have been confirmed to play an important role in the treatment of esophageal cancer;these include cetuximab and bevacizumab,which target epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR)and vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),respectively.In addition,other drugs targeting surface antigens and signaling pathways or acting on immune checkpoints have been continuously developed.For example,trastuzumab,a monoclonal antibody targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER-2),has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration(FDA)as a first-line treatment of HER-2-positive cancer.Moreover,the PD-L1 inhibitor pembrolizumab has been approved as a highly efficient drug for patients with PD-L1-positive or advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC).These novel drugs can be used alone or in combination with other treatment strategies to further improve the treatment efficacy and prognosis of cancer patients.Nevertheless,adverse events,optimal dosages and effective combinations still need further investigation.In this review,we expound an outline of the latest advances in targeted therapies of esophageal cancer and the mechanisms of relevant drugs,discuss their efficacy and safety,and provide a clinical rationale for precision medicine in esophageal cancer.
基金Supported by a grant from the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro and from the Italian Ministero dell'Universitàedella Ricerca Scientifica (ex 60%, year 2003)
文摘Many epidemiological studies demonstrate that treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） reduce the incidence and mortality of certain malignancies, especially gastrointestinal cancer. The cyclooxygenase （COX） enzymes are well-known targets of NSAIDs. However, conventional NSAIDs nonselectively inhibit both the constitutive form COX-1, and the inducible form COX-2. Recent evidence indicates that COX-2 is an important molecular target for anticancer therapies. Its expression is undetectable in most normal tissues, and is highly induced by proinflammatory cytokines, mitogens, tumor promoters and growth factors. It is now well-established that COX-2 is chronically overexpressed in many premalignant, malignant, and metastastic cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. Overexpression of COX-2 in patients with HCC is generally higher in welldifferentiated HCCs compared with less-differentiated HCCs or histologically normal liver, suggesting that COX-2 may be involved in the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis, and increased expression of COX-2 in noncancerous liver tissue has been significantly associated with shorter disease-free survival in patients with HCC. In tumors, overexpression of COX-2 leads to an increase in prostaglandin （PG） levels, which affect many mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis, such as angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis, stimulation of cell growth as well as the invasiveness and metastatic potential of tumor cells. The availability of novel agents that selectively inhibit COX-2 （COXIB）, has contributed to shedding light on the role of this molecule. Experimental studies on animal models of liver cancer have shown that NSAIDs, including both selective and non-selective COX-2 inhibitors, exert chemopreventive as well as therapeutic effects. However, the key mechanism by which COX-2 inhibitors affect HCC cell growth is as yet not fully understood. Increasing evidence suggests the involvement of molecular targets other than COX-2 in the antiprol
文摘Dear Editor： The demonstration that four transcription factors, Oct4/Sox2/Myc/Klf4, can reprogram fibroblasts into ES-like cells or induced pluripotent stem cells （iPS cells） has generated tremendous interests not only in the field of stem cell biology, but also those related fields such as developmental biology and regenerative medicine [1-5]. The advance has greatly improved the prospects of generating patient specific pluripotent stem cells for therapeutic purposes without therapeutic cloning, an approach with formidable technical as well as ethical challenges. The conceptual breakthrough of the iPS strategy is quite obvious, demonstrating for the first time that the reprogramming of somatic nuclei can be achieved through a rational combination of transcription factors with defined regulatory activities, in contrast to the ill defined reprogramming power of unfertilized eggs. However, the application of the iPS strategy is so far limited to mouse fibroblasts carrying engineered selection markers [3, 4]. The need for selection using drug resistance or marker driven by Nanog-or Oct4-promoters would hamper not only its application in human therapy, but also any at- tempts to popularize this exciting experimental approach to other species such as primates. We reason that cells reprogrammed by Oct4/Sox2/Myc/Klf4 can be identified morphologically among the parental fibroblasts and the acquired pluripotent property should offer a growth advantage over their parental fibroblasts.
基金Supported by The Finnish Funding Agency for Technologyand Innovation,Tekes,grants No.945/401/00 and 40160/05the Finnish Graduate School of Applied Biosciences,the Academy of Finland,Grant No.214 157the Centre of Excellence on Microbial Food Safety Research,Academy of Finland
文摘AIM:To study whether selected bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA)gene phylotypes are capable of disting- uishing irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). METHODS:The faecal microbiota of twenty volunteers with IBS,subdivided into eight diarrhoea-predominant (IBS-D),eight constipation-predominant(IBS-C)and four mixed symptom-subtype(IBS-M)IBS patients,and fifteen control subjects,were analysed at three time-points with a set of fourteen quantitative real-timepolymerase chain reaction assays.All assays targeted 16S rRNA gene phylotypes putatively associated with IBS,based on 16S rRNA gene library sequence analysis. The target phylotypes were affiliated with Actinobac-teria,Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes.Eight of the target phylotypes had less than 95%similarity to cultured bacterial species according to their 16S rRNA gene sequence.The data analyses were made with repeated-measures ANCOVA-type modelling of the data and principle component analysis(PCA)with linear mixed-effects models applied to the principal component scores. RESULTS:Bacterial phylotypes Clostridium cocleatum 88%,Clostridium thermosuccinogenes 85%,Coprobacillus catenaformis 91%,Ruminococcus bromii-like, Ruminococcus torques 91%,and R.torques 93%were detected from all samples analysed.A multivariate analysis of the relative quantities of all 14 bacterial 16S rRNA gene phylotypes suggested that the intestinal microbiota of the IBS-D patients differed from other sample groups.The PCA on the first principal component(PC1),explaining 30.36%of the observed variation in the IBS-D patient group,was significantly altered from all other sample groups(IBS-D vs control, P=0.01;IBS-D vs IBS-M,P=0.00;IBS-D vs IBS-C, P=0.05).Significant differences were also observed in the levels of distinct phylotypes using relative values in proportion to the total amount of bacteria.A phy- lotype with 85%similarity to C.thermosuccinogenes was quantified in significantly different quantities among the IBS-D and control subjects(-4.08±0.90 vs -3.33±1.16,P=0.04)and IBS-D and IBS-M subjects
基金Supported by grant from the Italian Ministry of University and Research,No.Prin 2009FZZ4XM_002
文摘The incidence of gastric cancer(GC) fell dramatically over the last 50 years, but according to IARC-Globocan 2008, it is the third most frequent cause of cancerrelated deaths with a case fatality GC ratio higher than other common malignancies. Surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for GC though the overall 5-year survival rate remains poor(approximately 20%-25%). To improve the outcome of resectable gastric cancer, different treatment strategies have been evaluated such as adjuvant or perioperative chemotherapy. In resected gastric cancer, the addition of radiotherapy to chemotherapy does not appear to provide any additional benefit. Moreover, in metastatic patients, chemotherapy is the mainstay of palliative therapy with a median overall survival of 8-10 mo and objective response rates of merely 20%-40%. Therefore, the potential for making key beneficial progress is to investigate the GC molecular biology to realize innovative therapeutic strategies, such as specific immunotherapy. In this review, we provide a panoramic view of the different immune-based strategies used for gastric cancer treatment and the results obtained in the most significant clinical trials. In detail, firstly we describe the therapeutic approaches that utilize the monoclonal antibodies while in the second part we analyze the cell-based immunotherapies.
基金supported by grants from the Emergency Prevention and Control of COVID-19 Project of Henan Province(grant no.201100310900)the 2020 Science and Technology Project of Henan Province(grant no.202102310039)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(grant nos.91942314,U1804281,81602024)the State’s Key Project of Research and Development Plan(grant nos.2018YFC1313400,2016YFC1303500)。
文摘The recent novel coronavirus disease(COVID-19)outbreak,caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2),is seeing a rapid increase in infected patients worldwide.The host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 appears to play a critical role in disease pathogenesis and clinical manifestations.SARS-CoV-2 not only activates antiviral immune responses,but can also cause uncontrolled inflammatory responses characterized by marked pro-inflammatory cytokine release in patients with severe COVID-19,leading to lymphopenia,lymphocyte dysfunction,and granulocyte and monocyte abnormalities.These SARS-CoV-2-induced immune abnormalities may lead to infections by microorganisms,septic shock,and severe multiple organ dysfunction.Therefore,mechanisms underlying immune abnormalities in patients with COVID-19 must be elucidated to guide clinical management of the disease.Moreover,rational management of the immune responses to SARSCoV-2,which includes enhancing anti-viral immunity while inhibiting systemic inflammation,may be key to successful treatment.In this review,we discuss the immunopathology of COVID-19,its potential mechanisms,and clinical implications to aid the development of new therapeutic strategies against COVID-19.
基金Supported by the MIUR and Progetto Strategico Oncologia "Terapia Preclinica Moleculare Oncologia" MIUR-CNR
文摘AIM： To investigate the association of cyclooxygenase-2 （COX-2） expression with angiogenesis and the number and type of inflammatory cells （macrophages/Kupffer cells; mast cells） within primary hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） tissues and adjacent non-tumorous （NT） tissues. METHODS： Immunohistochemistry for COX-2, CD34, CD68 and mast cell tryptase （MCT） was performed on 14 well-characterized series of liver-cirrhosis-associated HCC patients. COX-2 expression and the number of inflammatory cells in tumor lesions and surrounding liver tissues of each specimen were compared. Moreover, COX-2, CD34 staining and the number of inflammatory cells in areas with different histological degrees within each tumor sample were comparatively analyzed. RESULTS： The percentage of COX-2 positive cells was significantly higher in NT tissues than in tumors. COX-2 expression was higher in well-differentiated HCC than in poorly-differentiated tissues. Few mast cells were observed within the tumor mass, whereas a higher number was observed in the surrounding tissue, especially in peri-portal spaces of NT tissues. Abundant macrophages/ Kupffer cells were observed in NT tissues, whereas the number of cells was significantly lower in the tumor mass. However, a higher cell number was observed in the welldifferentiated tumor and progressively decreased in relation to the differentiation grade. Within the tumor, a positive correlation was found between COX-2 expression and the number of macrophages/Kupffer cells and mastcells. Moreover, there was a positive correlation between CD34 and COX-2 expression in tumor tissues. Comparison between well- and poorly-differentiated HCC showed that the number of CD34-positive cells decreased with dedifferentiation. However, COX-2 was the only independent variable showing a positive correlation with CD34 in a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION： The presence of inflammatory cells and COX-2 expression in liver tumor suggests a possible relationship with tumor angiogenesis. COX-2 expr
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(81271484,81471361,30900486,and 81371480)the National Basic Research Development Program(973 Program)of China(2012CB517904)the Nation Sponsored Study Abroad Program from China Scholarship Council(201506370095)
文摘Schizophrenia is a severe mental disorder characterized by impaired perception, delusions, thought disorder, abnormal emotion regulation, altered motor function, and impaired drive. The default mode network （DMN）, since it was first proposed in 2001, has become a central research theme in neuropsychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. In this review, first we define the DMN and describe its functional activity, functional and anatomical connectivity, heritability, and inverse correlation with the task positive network. Second, we review empirical studies of the anatomical and functional DMN, and anti-correlation between DMN and the task positive network in schizophrenia. Finally, we review preliminary evidence about the relationship between antipsychotic medications and regulation of the DMN, review the role of DMN as a treatment biomarker for this disease, and consider the DMN effects of individualized therapies for schizophrenia.
基金Supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation(MICINN,Spain),No.AGL2017-88801-P(to Sanz Y)the Miguel Server grant from the Spanish"Carlos III"Health Institute(ISCIII),No.CP19/00132(to Benitez-Paez A)+2 种基金The Norwegian Research Council(Funding Postdoc Position for Bharath Halandur Nagaraja),No.FRIMEDBIO276010and Helse Vest’s Research Funding,No.HV912243and ERC H2020-MSCA-IF-2019,No.895219(to Haleem N).
文摘Irritable bowel syndrome(IBS)is a common clinical label for medically unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms,recently described as a disturbance of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.Despite decades of research,the pathophysiology of this highly heterogeneous disorder remains elusive.However,a dramatic change in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms surfaced when the importance of gut microbiota protruded the scientific picture.Are we getting any closer to understanding IBS’etiology,or are we drowning in unspecific,conflicting data because we possess limited tools to unravel the cluster of secrets our gut microbiota is concealing?In this comprehensive review we are discussing some of the major important features of IBS and their interaction with gut microbiota,clinical microbiota-altering treatment such as the low FODMAP diet and fecal microbiota transplantation,neuroimaging and methods in microbiota analyses,and current and future challenges with big data analysis in IBS.
