Effects of Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 on gut microbial imbalance and liver function in patients with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B cirrhosis (HBC) is a chronic disease characterized by irreversible diffuse liver damage and aggravated by intestinal microbial imbalance and metabolic dysfunction. Although the relationship between certain single probiotics and HBC has been explored, the impact of the complex ready-to-eat Lactobacillus paracasei N1115 (LP N1115) supplement on patients with HBC has not been determined.

AIM

To compare the changes in the microbiota, inflammatory factor levels, and liver function before and after probiotic treatment in HBC patients.

METHODS

This study included 160 HBC patients diagnosed at the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University between October 2018 and December 2020. Patients were randomly divided into an intervention group that received LP N1115 supplementation and routine treatment and a control group that received routine treatment only. Fecal samples were collected at the onset and conclusion of the 12-wk intervention period. The structure of the intestinal microbiota and the levels of serological indicators, such as liver function and inflammatory factors, were assessed.

RESULTS

Following LP N1115 intervention, the intestinal microbial diversity significantly increased in the intervention group (P < 0.05), and the structure of the intestinal microbiota was characterized by an increase in the proportions of probiotic microbes and a reduction in harmful bacteria. Additionally, the intervention group demonstrated notable improvements in liver function indices and significantly lower levels of inflammatory factors (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

LP N1115 is a promising treatment for ameliorating intestinal microbial imbalance in HBC patients by modulating the structure of the intestinal microbiota, improving liver function, and reducing inflammatory factor levels.

[Analysis of the prognosis and survival of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure]

Objective: To explore the influencing factors and the impact of artificial liver treatment on the prognosis and survival of patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). Methods: Clinical data from 201 cases with ACLF from January 2016 to December 2019 was retrospectively analyzed. The survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, the log-rank test of univariate analysis, and the multivariate analysis of the stepwise Cox regression forward method. Results: The median survival time of patients was 6 months, and the survival rates at 6, 9, and 12 months were 51.2%, 38.3%, and 29.9%, respectively. In univariate analysis, age, presence or absence of hypertension and upper gastrointestinal bleeding, treatment method, model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) score, and cholinesterase were associated with prognosis (P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analysis results showed that MELD score was the main factor affecting the 1-year prognosis of ACLF patients (P = 0.002). Artificial liver treatment was beneficial for the 1-year prognosis of ACLF patients aged < 50 years or with a MELD score of ≥20 (P < 0.05 ). The relative risk ratio (RR) of mortality was 2.55 times higher in patients with advanced age (≥50 years old) than that of younger patients (P < 0.001). Regression analysis was performed using age as a stratification factor, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding was related to the prognosis of younger patients, while choline esterase was related to the prognosis of advanced age. Regression analysis after stratified MELD score showed that age and hypertension were related to the prognosis of patients with MELD score < 20, and treatment method and age were related to the prognosis of patients with MELD score≥20. Conclusion: Artificial liver treatment is beneficial for the 1-year prognosis of ACLF patients. Age, MELD score, hypertension, and upper gastrointestinal bleeding are independent risk factors affecting the prognosis of ACLF patients.

[An analysis of insomnia and its influencing factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Objective: To investigate the current situation of insomnia in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and analyze the influencing factors of insomnia in the ACS patients, so as to provide information on the development of new strategies for the treatment of insomnia in ACS patients. Methods: This is a multicenter and prospective observational study. A total of 771 ACS patients who met the criteria were selected from March 2013 to June 2015. The baseline social demographic information, sleep quality questionnaire, general anxiety disorder scale-7(GAD-7),patient health questionnaire-9(PHQ-9), short-form 12 health survey questionnaire(SF-12), and enhancing recovery in coronary heart disease patients social inventory(ESSI) were completed within 7 days after admission. Logistic regression analyses were used to analyze the influencing factors of insomnia in ACS patients. Results: A total of 741 subjects with valid questionnaires were collected, including 510 males (68.8%) and 231 females (31.2%). Among them, 487 (65.7%) subjects had at least one insomnia symptom: 308 (41.6%) subjects had difficulty in falling asleep, 369 (49.8%) subjects were easy to wake at night, 116 (15.7%) subjects woke up earlier than they expected, 74 (10.0%) subjects experienced both woke up earlier and difficulty in falling asleep, and 53 (7.2%) subjects woke up earlier, woke up at night and had difficulty in falling asleep at the same time. Logistic regression analyses showed that before admission physical activity (OR =0.636, 95%CI 0.411-0.984), depression (OR=1.908, 95%CI 1.101-3.305) and low social support (OR=0.278, 95%CI 1.198-3.301) were independent factors of insomnia in ACS patients. Conclusions: Nearly 2/3 ACS patients have symptoms of insomnia. Difficulty in falling asleep and easy to wake up at night are the most common manifestations. Physical activity, depression and social support independently are associated with insomnia.

[A preliminary study of serum marker alpha-enolase in the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma]

Objective: To investigate the diagnostic value of serum α-enolase (ENO1) in the primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: From May 2012 to March 2017, 163 cases with liver diseases who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were admitted to the Infectious Diseases Department of the General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University. Among them, 28 cases were of chronic hepatitis B (CHB), 31 cases with liver cirrhosis (LC), 104 cases with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and 18 healthy volunteers (NC). Patient data and serum samples were collected and liver disease related indicators were measured to detect ENO1 levels with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The measured indicators were expressed in median. Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test was used to analyze the differences between the data. A Spearman's correlation analysis was used for bivariate correlation analysis. The sensitivity and specificity of ENO1 and alpha-fetoprotein in the diagnosis of liver cancer were analyzed by ROC curve. Results: Serum level of ENO1 in CHB group, LC group and HCC group was significantly higher than normal group. Serum level of ENO1 in HCC group was higher than CHB group (P = 0.001) and LC group (P < 0.01). Area under the curve (AUC) for serum ENO1 and alpha-fetoprotein were 0.782 (cut-off value 75.96, P = 0.000 1) and 0.800 (cut-off value 27.02, P = 0.000 1), respectively. There was a positive correlation between ENO1 and AFP (P = 0.001). The combined detection had significantly improved the detection efficiency (AUC = 0.835). Serum ENO1 was statistically significant (P < 0.05) in HCC tumor size (AUC = 0.663), tumor metastasis (AUC = 0.681), TNM stage (AUC = 0.710, stage I vs. II), and Edmondson grade (AUC = 0.685) (P < 0.05) and the elevated levels of ENO1 had significantly reduced (P < 0.05) the survival time. Conclusion: ENO1 can be a new candidate marker for the diagnosis of early stage HCC and its progression.

[Changes of sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin levels in male adults with hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug treatment]

Objective: To observe the changes of sex hormone and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels in young male patients with hyperthyroidism before and after antithyroid drug (ATD) treatment. Methods: Between January 2015 and July 2016, forty male patients with hyperthyroidism aged 19-52 years (with an median age of 33.1 years) were enrolled in the Department of Endocrinology of Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Blood samples were taken before treatment and at 1 month, 2 months, 3 months and 5 months after treatment to evaluate thyroid function, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone(T), free testosterone(FT), estradiol(E2), prolactin and SHBG. Results: A total of 40 patients were enrolled but only 35 patients completed the follow-up. The patients had high levels of thyroid function, SHBG and sex hormones before treatment. Before treatment, free thyroxine (FT(4)), free triiodothyronine (FT(3)), SHBG, LH, estradiol, testosterone and free testosterone was (0.30±0.12) pmol/L, (9.68±4.73) pmol/L, (146±111) nmol/L, (8.41±3.61) U/L, (19.9±7.7) pmol/L, (29.9±9.5) nmol/L and (0.24±0.08) nmol/L, respectively. After treatment, the level of triiodothyronine, thyroxine, FT(3) and FT(4) gradually decreased to normal (all P<0.001). Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) gradually increased to normal (P<0.001). LH and estradiol levels gradually decreased (all P<0.001). FSH decreased but the difference was not statistically significant. Prolactin did not change significantly. Testosterone and SHBG levels decreased significantly while the levels of free testosterone, free testosterone percentage (FT%), bio-available testosterone (BAT), bio-available testosterone percentage (BAT%), free androgen index (FAI) gradually increased and stabilized (all P<0.001). The difference was not statistically significant between T/LH and E2/LH before and after treatment (all P>0.05). However FT/LH gradually increased and its difference was statistically significant (P<0.001). Conclusion: The levels of LH, estradiol, testosterone and SHBG in male patients with hyperthyroidism significantly increased, while the free testosterone level decreased, but they all gradually returned to normal with the lowering of thyroid hormone levels during ATD treatment.

A Meta-analysis of the Value of vWF in the Diagnosis of Liver Cirrhosis with Portal Hypertension

Background and Aims: Studies have indicated that serum von Willebrand factor (vWF) has a positive correlation with hepatic venous pressure gradient. However, information on the value of vWF in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension has been lacking. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to assess the value of vWF in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. Methods: Studies that analyzed the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio combined with likelihood ratios and test for heterogeneity of vWF in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension were found in the Cochrane Library, Ovid, VOS-SCI, CNKI, PubMed, Medline, EMBASE, CMB and Wanfang databases. In the end, the data was used to draw the summary receiver operating characteristic curve and to calculate the area under the curve. Results: Four studies involving 662 patients were analyzed. The results showed that serum vWF in liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension were significantly higher than in those without portal hypertension. Sensitivity combined was 0.823 (95% CI: 0.788, 0.855). Specificity combined was 0.782 (95% CI: 0.708, 0.845). +LR combined was 3.777 (95% CI: 2.794, 5.107). -LR combined was 0.221 (95% CI: 0.180, 0.272). Diagnostic odds ratio combined was 18.347 (95% CI: 11.725, 28.708). The area under the curve was 0.8896. Conclusions: Serum vWF can be used as an effective and feasible method for noninvasive diagnosis of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension. However, further studies are still needed to evaluate the severity of liver cirrhosis with portal hypertension.

[Clinical features of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation/TFE3 gene fusions-single-center study]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment methods and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocation/TFE3 gene fusions (Xp11.2 tRCC). Methods: From January 2007 to February 2018, 48 patients were diagnosed with Xp11.2 tRCC at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital. The epidemiological features, treatment methods and long-term follow-up results were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of the 48 patients, 20 cases were female and 28 cases were male, aged from 2 to 72 years. Gross hematuria and flank pain were the most frequent symptoms, which occurred on 14 cases and 8 cases respectively. The mean tumor size of 48 cases was (5.3±2.5)cm. Among the 34 cases who were classified as stageⅠ/Ⅱ, 14 cases received laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery(NSS)and 20 cases received radical nephrectomy(RN). The other 14 cases who were classified as stage Ⅲ/Ⅳ received RN but one case received target therapy. On univariate analysis, tumor diameter, adjuvant treatment, AJCC stage, lymph node metastasis and vein tumor thrombosis showed association with progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that AJCC stage (P=0.023, 95% CI: 0.048-0.081)and vein tumor thrombosis (P=0.046, 95% CI: 1.004-1.590)were independent prognostic factors of PFS. Conclusions: Xp11.2 tRCC mainly occurs in females. RN was the major method for Xp11.2 tRCC. However, NSS can also receive satisficed results for stage T1a case. High AJCC stage and the occurrence of vein tumor thrombosis indicated poor prognosis.

[Comparison of long-term dental treatment effects of children treated under general anesthesia and passive restraint]

Objective: To compare the long-term dental treatment effects, oral health habits and oral-health-related qualities of life of children treated under general anesthesia (GA) and passive restraint (PR), respectively. Methods: Twenty seven 2 to 4-year-old children treated under GA and thirty four children treated under PR were recruited in the Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology. Up to 2 years after the treatment, a follow up assessment was conducted. The data of general information, dental plaque level and the unplanned treatments were recorded and analyzed. The questionnaire of oral health habits and early childhood oral health impact scale (ECOHIS) for each child was also completed and analyzed. The survival rate and median survival time of the deciduous teeth were calculated. Multivariate analysis was performed by using Cox proportional hazard model. Results: Twenty-five children under GA and 32 under PR were finally included, with a total of 1 098 deciduous teeth. The postoperative dental plaque indicesin both GA and PR groups had significantly improved than that of before the treatments (P=0.019, P<0.001). The oral health habits had also improved, and the improvement in PR group was more obvious than that in GA group. Totally 128 teeth (27.0%) appeared unplanned treatments in GA group and 232 teeth (37.2%) in PR group during the follow-ups. The new caries and recurrent caries in PR group were significantly more than that in GA group (P<0.001, P=0.012). No significant differences were found between the two groups in restoration failure, secondary caries and endodontic diseases (P=0.129, P=0.822, P=0.642). However, the time of occurrence of endodontic disease and secondary caries in GA group were significantly longer than that in PR group (P<0.01, P<0.001). The median survival time of teeth in GA group was 1 018 days comparing to 944 days in PR group. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The survival rate was associated with such factors as decayed-missing-filled tooth (dmft), anterior or posterior teeth, feeding frequency, brushing habits and behavior management techniques. Conclusions: The long-term dental treatment effects of children treated under GA was significantly better than that of PR group. Continuous reinforcement of proper dietary and oral hygiene habits might help in maintaining the long-term treatment effect.

[Bioinformatics analysis of microRNA comprehensive regulatory network in B- cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia]

目的

通过生物信息分析途径，从系统水平揭示参与急性B淋巴细胞白血病（B-ALL）发病的分子机制，为研究提供新的思路。

方法

从公共数据库GEO中下载B-ALL的microRNA (miRNA）芯片数据，利用Qlucore Omics Explorer 3. 0软件筛选差异表达miRNA，再分析得到差异miRNA与靶基因、长链非编码RNA和转录因子各自的调控数据，然后构建以差异miRNA为中心的综合调控网络。另外，功能富集分析有功能的靶基因。

结果

共筛选出15个差异miRNA，其中7个miRNA表达上调，8个miRNA表达下调。通过差异miRNA为中心的综合调控网络可知，hsa-miR-126和hsa-miR-486-3p调控大量的靶基因，其中hsa-miR-126的靶基因包括MYC基因。hsa-miR-29a、hsa-miR-130a和hsa-miR-181c调控大量的长链非编码RNA，包括XIST。hsa-miR-181a-2、hsa-miR-181b-2和hsa-miR-663调控大量的转录因子，包括CDX2、YY1等。hsa-miR-126靶基因的通路分析显示富集到Wnt通路。

结论

通过生物信息学方法分析得出，hsa-miR-29a、hsa-miR-126和hsa-miR-181家族是B-ALL的核心差异miRNA，及其转录因子CDX2、长链非编码RNA XIST和靶基因MYC基因在B-ALL的发生发展中起重要作用，可能为潜在的治疗靶点。

Risk of postoperative deep venous thrombosis in patients with colorectal cancer treated with open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Whether the incidence rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery the same or not were under the debated without conclusion. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery by meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The open published articles comparing the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer were collected in the data bases of Medline, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and CNKI. The relative risk (RR) was pooled by using random or fixed effect mode to evaluate the incidence of DVT between laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery.

RESULTS

After searching the databases, 9 randomized clinical studies with 2606 colorectal cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. The mean operation time was 201.8 ± 17.28 min with its range of 180.0-224.4 min in the laparoscopic surgery group and 148.1 ± 18.8 min with its range of 135.0-184.0 min in the open surgery group. The operation time for laparoscopic surgery group were significant lower than in the open surgery group (P < 0.05). The RR of DVT between the laparoscopy and open surgery groups was 0.71 with its 95% confidence interval of 0.35-1.45 (P = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

The operation time in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was statistical longer than in the open colorectal cancer surgery, but the DVT risk of the two surgery approach was not different according to this meta-analysis.

Effect of transplantation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells transfected with insulin-like growth factor-1 gene on fracture healing of rats with diabetes

OBJECTIVE

To observe the effect of transplantation of marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) transfected with insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) on fracture healing of rats with diabetes and discuss the gene therapy for diabetic fracture.

METHODS

60 8-week-old male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g were divided into the control group and experimental group at random. All of them suffered from right tibia fracture following the model of diabetes induced by streptozotocin. BMSCs were transfected with Ad- IGF-1 and BMSCs of the appropriate group were transplanted to part of the fracture area. 6 rats were selected from each group at 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 weeks after the surgery. Local bone callus was stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) and IGF-1 in the bone callus and serum was tested.

RESULTS

Osteoid tissues formed at 3 weeks in the experimental group; mature lamellar bone formed at 7 weeks in the experimental group; fibrous bone callus was observed in the control group. IGF-1 in bone callus of the experimental group is increasing and significantly different from that of the control group (p < 0.05). Concentrations of IGF-1 in the serum of the two groups were increasing gradually from the first week. The control group reached its peak in the 5th week. The experimental group reached a high concentration in the 5th week and maintained a high concentration in the 7th week. The differences at various times between the two groups have statistical significance (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Transplantation of BMSCs transfected with IGF-1 gene can promote fracture healing of rats with diabetes (Tab. 4, Fig. 1, Ref. 20).

Efficiency enhancement in low-bandgap polymer solar cells by processing with alkane dithiols

High charge-separation efficiency combined with the reduced fabrication costs associated with solution processing and the potential for implementation on flexible substrates make 'plastic' solar cells a compelling option for tomorrow's photovoltaics. Attempts to control the donor/acceptor morphology in bulk heterojunction materials as required for achieving high power-conversion efficiency have, however, met with limited success. By incorporating a few volume per cent of alkanedithiols in the solution used to spin-cast films comprising a low-bandgap polymer and a fullerene derivative, the power-conversion efficiency of photovoltaic cells (air-mass 1.5 global conditions) is increased from 2.8% to 5.5% through altering the bulk heterojunction morphology. This discovery can potentially enable morphological control in bulk heterojunction materials where thermal annealing is either undesirable or ineffective.

High prevalence of human papillomavirus type 58 in Chinese women with cervical cancer and precancerous lesions

The prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) among 332 Hong Kong Chinese women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The overall HPV positive rate was 44.3% with 18.6% (16/86) for normal/inflamed cervices, 36.4% (32/88) for condyloma, 64.7% (33/51) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 1 (CIN 1), 37.9% (11/29) for CIN 2, 68.3 (41/60) for CIN 3, and 77.8% (14/18) for carcinoma. Double HPV infection was detected in 17 of the 147 positive samples, with a significantly higher proportion in patients with normal or inflamed cervices than those with CIN or carcinoma (31.3% vs 10.5%, P =.029). The six most commonly identified genotypes were HPV 16 (33.3%), HPV 58 (23.8%), HPV 11, 18, 31 (8.8% each), and HPV 33 (6.8%). The worldwide uncommon genotype HPV 58 was found to be the second most common genotype detected in patients with cervical carcinoma (6 of 18 patients). HPV 58 infection showed a significant association with CIN/carcinoma (odds ratio [OR] = 3.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.22-14.35) and a significant trend of increase in prevalence with increasing severity of cervical lesion (chi(2) = 5.84; P =.016). Among Hong Kong Chinese women with abnormal cervical cytology, the detection of HPV 58 carried a positive predictive value of 68.6% for a cervical lesion of CIN 1 or higher severity. The high prevalence of HPV 58 among Chinese women, particularly in patients with carcinoma, has an implication on the design of HPV detection methods and the development of vaccines.

kdgREcc negatively regulates genes for pectinases, cellulase, protease, HarpinEcc, and a global RNA regulator in Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora produces extracellular pectate lyase (Pel), polygalacturonase (Peh), cellulase (Cel), and protease (Prt). The concerted actions of these enzymes largely determine the virulence of this plant-pathogenic bacterium. E. carotovora subsp. carotovora also produces HarpinEcc, the elicitor of the hypersensitive reaction. We document here that KdgREcc (Kdg, 2-keto-3-deoxygluconate; KdgR, general repressor of genes involved in pectin and galacturonate catabolism), a homolog of the E. chrysanthemi repressor, KdgREch and the Escherichia coli repressor, KdgREco, negatively controls not only the pectinases, Pel and Peh, but also Cel, Prt, and HarpinEcc production in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora. The levels of pel-1, peh-1, celV, and hrpNEcc transcripts are markedly affected by KdgREcc. The KdgREcc- mutant is more virulent than the KdgREcc+ parent. Thus, our data for the first time establish a global regulatory role for KdgREcc in E. carotovora subsp. carotovora. Another novel observation is the negative effect of KdgREcc on the transcription of rsmB (previously aepH), which specifies an RNA regulator controlling exoenzyme and HarpinEcc production. The levels of rsmB RNA are higher in the KdgREcc- mutant than in the KdgREcc+ parent. Moreover, by DNase I protection assays we determined that purified KdgREcc protected three 25-bp regions within the transcriptional unit of rsmB. Alignment of the protected sequences revealed the 21-mer consensus sequence of the KdgREcc-binding site as 5'-G/AA/TA/TGAAA[N6]TTTCAG/TG/TA-3'. Two such KdgREcc-binding sites occur in rsmB DNA in a close proximity to each other within nucleotides +79 and +139 and the third KdgREcc-binding site within nucleotides +207 and +231. Analysis of lacZ transcriptional fusions shows that the KdgR-binding sites negatively affect the expression of rsmB. KdgREcc also binds the operator DNAs of pel-1 and peh-1 genes and represses expression of a pel1-lacZ and a peh1-lacZ transcriptional fusions. We conclude that KdgREcc affects extracellular enzyme production by two ways: (i) directly, by inhibiting the transcription of exoenzyme genes; and (ii) indirectly, by preventing the production of a global RNA regulator. Our findings support the idea that KdgREcc affects transcription by promoter occlusion, i.e., preventing the initiation of transcription, and by a roadblock mechanism, i.e., by affecting the elongation of transcription.

Detection of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients with the 38-kilodalton antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a rapid membrane-based assay

A rapid membrane-based serologic assay using the 38-kDa antigen from Mycobacterium tuberculosis for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) was evaluated with 201 patients with pulmonary TB, 67 patients with extrapulmonary TB, 79 Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated healthy controls, and 77 non-TB respiratory patients. The overall sensitivities, specificities, and positive and negative predictive values were, respectively, 92, 92, 84, and 96% for sputum-positive TB patients; 70, 92, 87, and 79% for sputum-negative TB patients; and 76, 92, 80, and 90% for extrapulmonary-TB patients. Only 2% (1 of 44) of the healthy control BCG-vaccinated subjects gave weak positive signals in the assay, indicating that this rapid serological assay is a valuable aid in clinical diagnosis for both pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB.

[The study of the relationships between the processes of denucleation and vimentin, lamin]

By employing K-RRneo cells which were cybridized between rabbit reticulocytes and the K562 cells, the relationships between the denucleation and vimentin/lamin were studied. It was demonstrated that, accompanying with the differentiation and denucleation of K-RRneo cells, the expression of vimentin mRNA and lamin proteins were significantly reduced. These results testified our earlier conclusion drawn from the whole mount and Western blot studies, and would provide a basis for further elucidation of the mechanism of erythroblast denucleation.

[Nuclear matrix-intermediate filament scaffold of cybrid cells crossed between rabbit reticulocytes and K562 cells]

To elucidate the role of the mammalian erythroid cytoplasmic factor on erythroid cell denucleation, cybridization of neo gene transferred rabbit reticulocytes with human K562 erythroleukemia cells was performed, the structure and composition of the nuclear matrix-intermediate filaments (NM-IF) system of the reticulocytes, K562 cells and the cybrids between them, the K-RRneo Cells, were studied by employing the techniques of selective extraction and whole mount electron microscopy. It was shown that regional condensation of nuclear matrix with a thinned nuclear lamina were seen in the cybrids, while the intermediate filaments exhibited a network pattern reorganization comparatively similar with those of reticulocytes but different from the radiation pattern of the K562 cells. SDS-PAGE and western blot analysis also revealed that the proteins affinity to vimentin antibody in the cybrids migrate in a pattern similar with that of the rabbit reticulocytes, both of them with only residual depolymerized vimentin complex but not the polymerized vimentin band of 55 kd. These results suggested that the factors in the cytoplasm of the rabbit reticulocytes might function through a mechanism of vimentin depolymerization or blockage of gene expression, which finally resulted in destruction of intermediate filaments that facilitates the expellation of nucleus from cytoplasm.

Elimination of malignant clonogenic cells from human bone marrow using multiple myeloid cell-specific monoclonal antibodies and complement

Single or combined monoclonal antibodies (McAbs) Zh53, Zh820, and Zh2-1 have been used to eliminate malignant clonogenic cells from human bone marrow. The test of cytotoxicity showed that all of these McAbs could express high specific cytotoxic action against HL-60 cells and were selectively complement-dependent cytotoxic to various types of fresh leukemic cells. Clonogenic assay detected that single treatment with antibody and rabbit complement (RC) could reduce clonogenic units of HL-60 cells by more than 2 logs and two treatments reduced clonogenic units by more than 4 logs. However, combination of 2 McAbs could reduce clonogenic units by 4-5 logs. The data suggest that multiple treatments with McAbs and RC or a combination of 2 McAbs are more effective than a single treatment in eliminating clonogenic tumor cells. Treatment of normal human bone marrow with Zh53, Zh2-1 and RC did not produce a loss of normal CFU-GM, but treatment with Zh820 reduced the clonic units of normal CFU-GM by 24%.

[Diagnostic significance of carcinoembryonic antigen measurement in bronchial lavage fluids in bronchial carcinoma]

Using monoclonal antibody against CEA, we have measured carcino-embryonic antigen in bronchial lavage fluids and sera in 36 pts with bronchial carcinoma. Simultaneously, 28 pts and 36 pts were performed with bronchial brush biopsy and cytological examination respectively. There were 25 cases with other pulmonary diseases such as TB and pneumonia as control. CEA levels of lavage fluids, sera in malignant group and control were 42.2 +/- 44.9; 12.8 +/- 23.6; and 8 +/- 11.6; 1.6 +/- 2.4 (ng/ml) respectively. CEA lavage was adjusted with albumin concentration in each case. The results showed: (1) 83.3% of malignant patients were greater than 10 ng/ml in lavage fluids and 16% in non-malignant group. Positive rate was higher than controls (P less than 0.01). (2) CEA level of lavage fluids was higher than that of sera in malignancy (P less than 0.01). (3) There were 16 patients with negative bronchial brush biopsy in malignant group but they were 93.7% positive for CEA measurement of lavage fluids. It is reasonable to consider that CEA measurement in bronchial lavage fluid is an important technique for the supplementary of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Studies on response characteristics of drug ISE's (VII)--performance and theoretical treatment of microcells connected in series

A new type of MCCS (microcells connected in series) has been constructed and its performances investigated. It has been applied to the determination of streptomycin. The sensitivity and accuracy have been increased significantly. A theoretical model for the error of determination using the MCCS has been suggested and proved experimentally using the Monte Carlo method, and the error model proposed in Ref. [1] revised.

Uptake of oleate from albumin solutions by rat liver. Failure to detect catalysis of the dissociation of oleate from albumin by an albumin receptor

The hepatic removal of albumin-bound substances from plasma requires that they dissociate from albumin. Using indirect methods, we and others have proposed that dissociation may be catalyzed by interaction of albumin with the liver cell surface. This study looked for direct evidence of catalysis by comparing the rate of dissociation of oleate from albumin in vitro with the rate observed within the sinusoids of perfused rat liver. No evidence for catalysis was found. The rate of hepatic oleate removal from dilute albumin solutions did not exceed but instead closely paralleled the rate predicted from the in vitro dissociation rate constant (0.14s-1). These results suggest that under some conditions the liver can remove unbound material from the sinusoids faster than it can be replenished by dissociation from albumin, resulting in dissociation-limited removal. However, dissociation of oleate does not appear to be catalyzed by the liver.

Characterization of non-transferrin-bound iron clearance by rat liver

Recent evidence suggests that the hepatic iron-loading characteristic of hemochromatosis may result in part from efficient hepatic clearance of non-transferrin-bound iron, which is increased in this disorder. However, this hypothesis assumes that hepatic clearance remains highly efficient despite excess iron stores. We therefore studied hepatic uptake of non-transferrin-bound iron in the single-pass perfused rat liver under varying conditions. Animals were iron loaded or depleted by dietary manipulation, but no changes in the efficiency of ferrous iron uptake or the kinetic parameters were seen (single-pass extraction, 59-74%; Km, 16-19 microM; Vmax, 30-32 nmol X min-1 X g liver-1). Added divalent zinc, cobalt, and manganese ions reversibly inhibited ferrous iron uptake and the inhibition by zinc was shown to be competitive. Uptake required calcium, was markedly temperature-sensitive (delta E = 14.3 Kcal/mol), and was relatively insensitive to inhibition of cellular energy metabolism. Particles consistent with ferritin cores were seen in lysosomes of hepatic parenchymal cells within 30 min of perfusion with ferrous iron. These results suggest that ferrous iron is cleared from plasma by a passive, saturable transport process that is not regulated by the iron content of the liver and that may be shared with other transition metal ions. Because clearance is highly efficient, increased levels of non-transferrin-bound iron in plasma may present the liver with an obligatory iron load resulting in progressive accumulation and toxicity.

Efficient clearance of non-transferrin-bound iron by rat liver. Implications for hepatic iron loading in iron overload states

In hemochromatosis and other disorders associated with iron overload, a significant fraction of the total iron in plasma circulates in the form of low molecular weight complexes not bound to transferrin. Efficient and unregulated clearance of this form of iron by the liver may account for the hepatic iron loading and toxicity that characterize these diseases. We tested this possibility by examining the hepatic removal process for representative iron complexes in the single-pass perfused rat liver. Hepatic uptake of both ferrous and ferric 55Fe from ultrafiltered human serum was found to be highly efficient and effectively irreversible (single-pass extraction of 1 microM iron, 58-75%). Similar high efficiencies were seen for iron complexed to specific physiologic and nonphysiologic coordinators, including histidine, citrate, fructose, oxalate and glutamate, and tricine. Because of lower plasma flow rates, single-pass extraction of these iron complexes in vivo should be even greater. Autoradiography confirmed that most iron had been removed by parenchymal cells. Hepatic removal from Krebs-tricine buffer was saturable with similar kinetic parameters for ferrous and ferric iron (apparent Km, 14-22 microM; V max, 24-38 nmol min-1 g liver-1). These findings suggest that high levels of non-transferrin-bound iron in plasma may be an important cause of hepatic iron loading in iron overload states.

Sex differences in hepatic uptake of long chain fatty acids in single-pass perfused rat liver

The primary determinants of hepatic uptake of long chain fatty acids have been considered to be the plasma concentrations of fatty acid and albumin, with little or no intrinsic control by the hepatocyte itself. However, recent studies of liver cell suspensions have shown that in immature, adult, castrated, and hormone-treated rats, sex steroids exert striking effects on [(14)C]oleate uptake and utilization (which were significantly increased by estradiol and diminished by testosterone). To determine whether these observed sex differences in fatty acid uptake also were present in the intact liver, single-pass [(14)C]oleate uptake was measured in isolated perfused livers. Livers from sexually mature female and male rats were perfused single-pass with albumin-bound [(14)C]oleate in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer. Net uptake, calculated as the product of the transhepatic difference in (14)C-labeled fatty acid concentration and perfusate flow rate, reached a steady-state within 1 min and remained constant throughout the 10-min perfusion period. At 0.17 mM [(14)C]oleate and 0.15 mM albumin, extraction fraction and net uptake of [(14)C]oleate per gram liver were more than twice as great in females as in male livers (0.33 +/- 0.03 versus 0.15 +/- 0.02, P < 0.001; and 218 +/- 22 versus 101 +/- 15 nmol/g liver, P < 0.01, with parallel differences in [(14)C]oleate total utilization and incorporation into triglycerides. Significant differences in uptake also were observed at higher [(14)C]oleate concentrations (0.34 and 0.68 mM). Under all conditions, oxidation of [(14)C]oleate in female liver equaled or exceeded that in male liver, indicating that the increased incorporation into triglycerides and other glycerolipids was not simply the result of differences in the distribution of [(14)C]oleate among cellular metabolic pathways. These studies demonstrate that in the intact liver, as in isolated hepatocytes, there are profound sex differences in the uptake of long chain fatty acids. This difference may account in part for the observed sex steroid effects on hepatic triglyceride biosynthesis and VLDL production. The mechanism of these uptake differences remains to be determined.-Kushlan, M. C., J. L. Gollan, W-L. Ma, and R. K. Ockner. Sex differences in hepatic uptake of long chain fatty acids in single-pass perfused rat liver.