Evaluation of the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for intermediate and advanced breast cancer by 3.0T MR and ultrasound combined with tumour markers

Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemotherapy before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for intermediate and advanced breast cancer using 3.0T MR and ultrasound in combination with tumour markers(CEA,CA-153,CA125),and to provide therapeutic references for the clinicians,so as to better satisfy the needs of treatment for intermediate and advanced breast cancer patients.Methods:The team collected 30 patients who were diagnosed with intermediate and advanced breast cancer by biopsy and received neoadjuvant chemotherapy,and divided them into sensitive and insensitive groups according to the MP grading of postoperative pathological results.The team retrospectively analysed the changes in the values of serum CEA,CA-153,and CA 125 before and after the neoadjuvant chemotherapy,the changes in the average ADC of the lesions before and after the observation by MRI,and the changes in the volume and size of lesions before and after the observation by ultrasonography to assess the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy individually,and the results of neoadjuvant chemotherapy were evaluated individually.The effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy was assessed independently.Each of the above was evaluated independently,and the accuracy of each item was calculated by comparing the evaluation results with the pathological examination results,and the accuracy of the single item was compared with the accuracy of the three combined tests to determine whether the combined evaluation was more consistent.Results:All three examination and testing methods can achieve high accuracy,and the combined evaluation of the three is more accurate than the evaluation of the single way,and the difference is statistically significant(P<0.05).Conclusion:In neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer patients,the combined assessment of MR,CDFI and tumour markers can more comprehensively and accurately assess the effect of ADC,and more accurately guide the clinical treatment and determine the prognosis.

Hyperhomocysteinemia and Associated Biological Markers in a Congolese Population of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Brazzaville

The search for new biomarkers predictive of type 2 diabetes currently constitutes a research avenue in Bioclinical. Total homocysteine remains a preferred target due to its involvement in the occurrence of degenerative complications in type 2 diabetics. The aim of this work was to study hyperhomocysteinemia and other biochemical markers associated with T2D in the Congolese population. This was an analytical case-control study carried out between October 2022 and October 2023. The study population consisted of 150 subjects including 100 T2D patients and 50 control subjects. The main clinical data were collected on a pre-established form. Homocysteine determination was carried out by the sandwich ELISA method. The other biochemical markers were measured by colorimetric enzymatic methods. Hyperhomocysteinemia was present in 27.3% (41/150) of the entire study population. Type 2 diabetics had a frequency of hyperhomocysteinemia of 36% (36/100) and control 10% (5/50) (p = 0.001). The mean hyperhomocysteinemia concentration was 31.9 μmol/l with extremes ranging from 18 to 103 μmol/l. Means of biological markers between diabetics and controls showed a statistically significant difference (p = 0.01). The risk factors associated with this HHcy were: sex (OR = 3.5), age (OR = 9.4), sedentary lifestyle (OR = 3.4) and glycosylated hemoglobin (OR = 12) with a p-value <0.05 respectively. Our results suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia can be considered as a predictive biomarker in the bioclinic of Congolese type 2 diabetic patients.

Use of thyroglobulin as a tumour marker

It is worthwhile to measure serum thyroglobulin(TG) level in thyroid cancer before subjecting patients to surgery for two reasons. Firstly, if the level is high, it may give a clue to the local and metastatic tumour burden at presentation; secondly, if the level is normal,it identifies the patients who are unlikely to show rising TG levels in the presence of thyroid cancer. Those who have high serum TG before surgery will show up recurrence as rising serum TG during the postoperative period. Those who do not have high serum TG before surgery will not show up rising serum TG in the presence of recurrent disease. In the latter situation, normal TG level gives only a false reassurance regarding recurrence of disease. Nevertheless, rising serum TG during the postoperative period must be interpreted cautiously because this could be due to the enlargement of noncancerous residual thyroid tissue inadvertently left behind during surgery.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Biological Markers in Pituitary Adenomas with Invasion of the Cavernous Sinus Space

Objective: To investigate the predictability of MRI and the possiblebiological markers of cavernous sinus invasion of pituitary adenomas associated with fourphenomenas: angiogenesis, cell proliferation, apoptosis and matrix metalloproteinase. Methods: Weevaluated 45 patients with pituitary adenoma according to the MRI, surgical findings and theimmunohistochemistry staining of tumor tissues. Results: The results have shown that the sensitivityof MRI for predicting cavernous sinus invasion in this prospective study was 60%, its specificity85%, its positive predictive value 83.33%, negative predictive value 62.96%. 45 specimens ofpituitary adenomas were analyzed for expression of F8, VEGF, Ki-67, c-myc, Bcl-2, nm23 and MMP-9immunoreactivity using immunoperoxidase staining. MVD was assessed using F8-related antigen. Theresults have shown that MVD of invasive pituitary adenomas was significantly higher than that ofnoninvasive (P 【 0.001). There was an association between the invasion of pituitary adenomas andKi-67 LI (P = 0.039) or the expression of VEGF (P 【 0.001) and MMP-9 (P 【 0.001). But c-myc LI andBcl-2 expression have no association with invasiveness of pituitary adenomas (P = 0.061 versus P =0.201). On the other hand, there is an inverse relationship between nm23 expression and tumorinvasion (P 【 0.001). Conclusion: Parasellar extension of pituitary adenomas through the medial wallof the cavernous sinus is diagnosed at surgery, and with sensitive gadolinium-enhanced MRI, itsextent can be partly determined by radiology. Although our study has shown that MVD and theexpression of VEGF, Ki-67, nm23 and MMP-9 have associations with invasiveness of pituitary adenomas,they are lack of specificity. These markers can only provide some useful information.

International scientific communications in the field of colorectal tumour markers

AIM To analyze scientometrically the dynamic science internationalization on colorectal tumour markers as reflected in five information portals and to outline the significant journals, scientists and institutions.METHODS A retrospective problem-oriented search was performed in Web of Science Core Collection(Wo S), MEDLINE, BIOSIS Citation Index(BIOSIS) and Scopus for 1986-2015 as well as in Dervent Innovations Index(Derwent) for 1995-2015. Several specific scientometric parameters of the publication output and citation activity were comparatively analyzed. The following scientometric parameters were analyzed:(1) annual dynamics of publications;(2) scientific institutions;(3) journals;(4) authors;(5) scientific forums;(6) patents-number of patents, names and countries of inventors, and(7) citations(number of citations to publications by single authors received in WoS, BIOSIS Citation Index and Scopus).RESULTS There is a trend towards increasing publication output on colorectal tumour markers worldwide along with high citation rates. Authors from 70 countries have published their research results in journals and conference proceedings in 21 languages. There is considerable country stratification similar to that in most systematic investigations. The information provided to end users and scientometricians varies between these data-bases in terms of most parameters due to different journal coverage, indexing systems and editorial policy. The lists of the so-called "core" journals and most productive authors in Wo S, BIOSIS, MEDLINE and Scopus along with the list of the most productive authors-inventors in Derwent present a particular interest to the beginners in the field, the institutional and national science managers and the journal editorial board members. The role of the purposeful assessment of scientific forums and patents is emphasized. CONCLUSION Our results along with this problem-oriented collection containing the researchers' names, addresses and publications could contribute to a more effective international collaboration of the coloproctologists from smaller countries and thus improve their visibility on the world information market.

An Overview on Biological Markers in Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology: Concepts, Definitions and Use in Risk Assessment

Reproduction and development are complex couple-dependent processes. Risk assessment for these health outcomes requires the use of biomarkers to link exposures to disease. Biological markers of susceptability, external dose, internal dose, biologically effective dose, early or late biological responses, altered reproductive or developmental function, and reproductive or developmental disease are introduced. Using these biomarkers it is possible to define a biologically based risk assessment methodology for reproductive and developmental toxicity. Risk assessment for reproductive toxicity requires definition of male and female fecundity, couple-specific factors, spontaneous abortion, rate, and other factors. Using using sperm count as a biomarker for male fecundity, an example of a reproductive risk assessment using biomarkers is performed.

Urinary nucleosides as biological markers for patients with colorectal cancer

AIM: Fourteen urinary nucleosides, primary degradation products of tRNA, were evaluated to know the potential as biological markers for patients with colorectal cancer. METHODS: The concentrations of 14 kinds of urinary nucleosides from 52 patients with colorectal cancer, 10 patients with intestinal villous adenoma and 60 healthy adults were determined by column switching high performance liquid chromatography method. RESULTS: The mean levels of 12 kinds of urinary nucleosides (except uridine and guanosine) in the patients with colorectal cancer were significantly higher than those in patients with intestinal villous adenoma or the healthy adults. Using the levels of 14 kinds of urinary nucleosides as the data vectors for principal component analysis, 71% (37/52) patients with colorectal cancer were correctly classified from healthy adults, in which the identification rate was much higher than that of CEA method (29%). Only 10% (1/10) of patients with intestinal villous adenoma were indistinguishable from patients with colorectal cancer. The levels of m1G, Pseu and m1A were positively related with tumor size and Duke's stages of colorectal cancer. When monitoring the changes in urinary nucieoside concentrations of patients with colorectal cancer associated with surgery, it was found that the overall correlations with clinical assessment were 84% (27/32) and 91% (10/11) in response group and progressive group, respectively. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that urinary nucleosides determined by column switching high performance liquid chromatography method may be useful as biological markers for colorectal cancer.

Recovery and Biological Properties of Nitrate Non-utilizing Mutants of Rice Blast,Magnaporthe grisea

Eleven nitrate non-utilizing (nit) mutants were recovered from six isolates of Magnaporthe grisea cultured on MM media -amended with 60 g/L potassium chlorate, with a frequency of 1.42 %. Some biological properties, such as growth rate, growth biomass, cultural characters, conidial production, sexual reproduction ability, and pathogenicity were compared between nit mutants and their parent isolates. Results showed that all the nit mutants were resistant to chlorate. Some important biological properties such as the growth rate on YPSA, conidial production ability on TPSA, pathogenicity, had no significant differences between nit mutants and their parent isolates. Mating type didn't change, but perithecia production ability of fertile isolates changed significantly as compared with that of their parent isolates. Therefore, the nit can be used as a genetic marker to study the genetics such as pathogenicity, fungicide resistance in Magnaporthe grisea.

INDUCTION OF CYTOCHROME P450 ISOZYMES IN FL CELLS AND ITS USE IN BIOLOGICAL DETECTING SYSTEMS FOR MUTAGENS

Using arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH),ethoxyre-sorufin-O-deethylase,ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase andaminopyrine-N-demethylase as marker enzymes and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC),-naphthof1avon,norepine-phrine (NE) and phenobarbita1 as inducers,it is con-firmed that there are inducib1e Cyt P450 IA and

Review of the potential value of serum interleukin levels as prognostic biomarkers of liver failure

Liver failure(LF)is prevalent in China and is characterized by complex path-ogenesis,challenging clinical management,poor prognosis,and rising incidence and mortality rates.The immune status is an important factor affecting LF prognosis.Interleukins(Ils)are a type of cytokine that act and interact with multiple cells,including immune cells.These signaling molecules play important roles in intercellular information transmission,including the regulation of immune cells;mediation of the activation,proliferation,and differentiation of T and B cells;and orchestration of the inflammatory response.To date,many studies have explored the correlation between IL expression and liver disease prognosis,but few studies have evaluated Ils as the prognostic biomarkers of LF.This article reviews the potential use of Ils as the prognostic biomarkers of LF.Particularly,it evaluates the predictive values of IL-21,IL-22,and IL-31,the three often overlooked yet promising prognostic biomarkers,in predicting suscept-ibility to LF.Harnessing biomarkers for early prognostic insights can facilitate tailored treatment strategies and enhance patient survival.Thus,this article focuses on the identification of IL-21,IL-22,and IL-33 as biomarkers in preclinical and clinical studies on LF and reviews their role as biomarkers in the pathogenesis and diagnosis of LF.

Study of biological markers in skin quality treatment by subcutaneous injection of a stabilized composition of 26 mg/mL of high molecular weight HA

Aim:Hyaluronic acid(HA)injectables have gained rapid acceptance for the treatment of skin rejuvenation.A novel HA/sorbitol composition intended for skin quality improvement containing 2.6%of high molecular weight HA stabilized by sorbitol was recently designed to be injected subcutaneously.The aim of this study was to assess the expression of biological markers of skin quality after administration of the composition.Methods:The HA/sorbitol composition was evaluated after injection into the superficial adipose tissue with ex vivo cultured human skin explants versus a product comparator to study the general morphology of the skin tissues and the expression of HA,elastin,collagen type Ⅰ,collagen type Ⅲ,and fibrillin-1 in the dermal layer.Results:The results demonstrate that the HA/sorbitol composition is able to boost the production of HA,elastin,collagen type Ⅰ,collagen type Ⅲ,and fibrillin-1 in the dermis while providing a proper quality of skin morphology.Conclusion:The HA/sorbitol composition improved biological markers of skin quality in the dermis after product injection into the superficial adipose tissue.This novel composition can be considered as an attractive solution to treat skin aging by injecting a specific HA/sorbitol formulation to strategically target the subcutaneous tissue to improve the quality of the different layers of the skin.

Impact of hepatectomy and postoperative adjuvant transarterial chemoembolization on serum tumor markers and prognosis in intermediate-stage hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND Primary hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is a common malignant tumour,and its early symptoms are often not obvious,resulting in many patients experiencing middle-to late-stage disease at the time of diagnosis.The optimal time for surgery is often missed for these patients,and those who do undergo surgery have unsatisfactory long-term outcomes and a high recurrence rate within five years.Therefore,postoperative follow-up treatments,such as transhepatic arterial chemoembolization(TACE),have become critical to improving survival and reducing recurrence rates.AIM To validate the prophylactic role of TACE after hepatic resection and to assess its impact on patient prognosis.METHODS This study investigated the efficacy of TACE in patients with intermediate-stage HCC after hepatectomy.When the post-treatment results of the observation group and the control group were compared,it was found that the inclusion of TACE significantly improved the clinical efficacy,reduced the levels of tumour markers and did not aggravate the damage to liver function.Thus,this may be an effective and comprehensive treatment strategy for patients with intermediate-stage HCC that helps to improve their quality of life and survival time.RESULTS When the baseline data were analysed,no statistical differences were found between the two groups in terms of gender,age,hepatitis B virus,cirrhosis,Child-Pugh grading,number of tumours,maximum tumour diameter and degree of tumour differentiation.The assessment of clinical efficacy showed that the post-treatment overall remission rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group.In terms of changes in tumour markers,the alpha-fetoprotein and carcinoembryonic antigen levels in the patients in the observation group decreased more significantly after treatment compared with those in the control group.When post-treatment changes in liver function indicators were analysed,no statistical differences were found in the total bilirubin,alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase levels between the two groups.CONCLUSION In patients with intermediate-stage HCC,post-hepatectomy TACE significantly improved clinical outcomes,reduced tumour-marker levels and may have improved the prognosis by removing residual lesions.Thus,this may be an effective and comprehensive treatment strategy for patients with intermediate-stage HCC.

BIOLOGICAL MARKER OF MIDDLE JURASSIC OIL SHALE SEQUENCE FROM SHUANGHUI AREA,NORTHERN TIBETAN PLATEAU

The oil shale with marine origin was first reported in 1987 from Shuanghui of the Qiangtang region. Its depositional sequence consists of brown\|black oil shale interbedded massive to thin limestone. Eleven oil shale beds occur and aggregated thickness is up to 47 38m. It deposit age is confined in middle Jurassic by fossils identification. Nine samples selected from horizons with high\|organic contents have been examined by organic geochemistry approach. The oil\|shale range widely in organic carbon content (Toc), average in 8 34%, maximum values reaching 26.12%. Toc are markedly varied in vertical section. The Upper and lower members are slightly low and increase in the middle. The oil\|shale sediments are characterized by high concentration in chloroform bitumen“A”(608～18707)×10 -6 )and total hydrocarbon ((311～5272)×10 -6 ).The Rock\|Eval T \|max data (434～440℃) and vitrinite reflectance values (0.88%～1.26%) indicate that oil\|shale sequence are mature in all samples. The organic matter is predominantly made up of typeⅡ kerogen.

Biological Markers on Human Pregnancy

This article reviews a selected set of recently described pregnancy-associated proteins which possess potential for both signaling pregnancy onset and monitoring its course. These molecules are compared and contrasted with human chorionic gonadotropin, the first pregnancy-associated protein to be discovered, and the standard biomarker of pregnancy to which all others must still be referenced. Recent advances in hCG research have focused on the structural determination and diagnostic significance of the subunits and fragments of the hCG molecule, particularly in urine. An outline of the potential utility of this approach is also presented.

miR-93-5p/FOXJ2轴介导胃癌细胞的生物学功能

目的:评估miR-93-5p对胃癌细胞的调节和功能。方法:采用qPCR检测miR-93-5p在胃癌组织、胃癌细胞系中表达,MTT、克隆形成、Transwell实验检测miR-93-5p对胃癌细胞增殖、侵袭的影响,双荧光素酶报告基因实验检测miR-93-5p与FOXJ2的靶向关系。结果:miR-93-5p在胃癌细胞系和胃癌组织中表达升高,抑制miR-93-5p表达后胃癌细胞增殖和侵袭能力受抑。双荧光素酶报告基因检测显示,miR-93-5p mimic显著降低MKN28和MKN45细胞Wt-FOXJ2相对荧光素酶活性,FOXJ2为胃癌细胞中miR-93-5p的直接靶基因。结论:miR-93-5p靶向FOXJ2促进胃癌细胞的增殖和侵袭,miR-93-5p/FOXJ2轴可能是判断胃癌预后的生物标志物和治疗靶点。

血清miR-497-5p、FGF-2在阿尔茨海默病患者中的表达及相关性分析

目的探讨miR-497-5p、人成纤维细胞生长因子-2(fibroblast growth factor-2,FGF-2)在阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer′s disease,AD)患者中的表达水平、诊断价值及两者的相关性。方法收集50例首诊AD患者和37例正常受试者(对照组)的临床资料,其中将AD患者分为轻度AD组18例、中度AD组18例和重度AD组14例,采用实时荧光定量聚合酶链反应(real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction,RT-qPCR)检测miR-497-5p的表达水平,酶联免疫吸附试验(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)检测FGF-2水平,采用简易精神状态量表(mini-mental state examination,MMSE)评估AD患者的认知功能,分析miR-497-5p与MMSE、FGF-2水平的相关性。采用受试者工作特征(receiver operator characteristic,ROC)曲线评价miR-497-5p,FGF-2水平对AD的诊断效能。结果与对照组和轻度AD组比较,中度、重度AD组患者miR-497-5p表达水平明显升高(P<0.01),FGF-2水平明显下降(P<0.01);AD组miR-497-5p与MMSE评分、FGF-2水平呈负相关(r分别为-0.724、-0.748,P<0.01);ROC曲线分析结果显示,miR-497-5p、FGF-2及两者联合指标诊断中度、重度AD及鉴别轻度和中度,轻度和重度AD时,均有较高的曲线下面积、敏感度和特异性,两者联合指标诊断及鉴别效能最优。结论中重度AD患者血清miR-497-5p上调,FGF-2水平下调,两者联合检测对中重度AD有一定的诊断价值,并提供一定的参考。

Genetic Study on JS399-19 Resistance in Hyphal Fusion of Fusarium graminearum by Using Nitrate Nonutilizing Mutants as Genetic Markers

Twenty-two nitrate nonutilizing （nit） mutants were recovered from five wild-type isolates of Fusarium graminearum and fifty nit mutants were recovered from three JS399-19-resistant mutants of F. graminearum cultured on MMC medium. Some biological properties were compared between nit mutants and their parental isolates. The results showed that there were no significant differences in growth rate, cultural characters or pathogenicity between JS399-19-resistant nit mutants and their parental isolates. But the conidial production and the sexual reproduction ability changed to some extent. There was no cross resistance toward chlorate and JS399-19 in F. graminearum and the resistance could be stable through 20-time subcultures. Therefore, the nit could be used as a genetic marker for studying the genetics of JS399-19 resistance in E graminearum, which was used to study JS399-19 resistance transferability in hyphal fusion. Resistance in JS399-19 could not be transferred by hyphal fusion or could be transferred with low chance between two compatible isolates, which would delay the development of JS399-19 resistance in the field.

生物标志物在结核病诊断中的研究进展

结核病是全球性的公共卫生问题,结核分枝杆菌生物标志物可以用于结核病的早期诊断和治疗监测。但现有结核病诊断方法存在不足,亟需寻找新的易获取的快速诊断结核病的生物标志物,以探索快速诊断结核病的新方法。本综述介绍了来源于血液、尿液、唾液及其他样本的结核病生物标志物最新研究进展,为开发新型结核病诊断方法提供线索。

结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染者外周血单个核细胞转录组学研究

目的:通过对比分析结核分枝杆菌潜伏感染(latent tuberculosis infection,LTBI)者和健康人的外周血单个核细胞(peripheral blood mononuclear cells,PBMC)经结核特异性抗原刺激后的转录组,寻找LTBI人群中结核抗原特异的免疫应答重要基因及可能发挥功能的信号通路,绘制LTBI基因表达谱。方法:应用微阵列芯片检测2009年12月在首都医科大学附属北京胸科医院招募的4例LTBI者(LTBI组)和4名健康人(健康对照组)经结核抗原刺激后的PBMC转录组,并对部分差异基因进行qPCR检测以验证芯片数据。应用加权基因共表达网络分析(weighted gene co-expression network analysis,WGCNA)筛选与LTBI最相关模块,并对模块中的基因分别进行基因本体论(geneontology,GO)分析、京都基因与基因组百科全书(Kyoto encylopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)通路分析。通过基因集富集分析(gene set enrichment analysis,GSEA)从全转录组水平筛选信号通路。通过免疫浸润分析寻找与LTBI相关的免疫细胞。通过STRING数据库蛋白相互作用(protein-protein interaction,PPI)网络分析绘制两模块中差异基因相互作用网络图。结果:LTBI组与健康对照组间共发现393个差异表达基因(差异倍数>2或<0.5,P<0.05),LTBI中112个表达下调,281个表达上调。针对10个差异基因的实时荧光定量PCR(quantitative real-time PCR,qPCR)检测证实基因表达趋势与芯片数据一致,即CAMK1G、IL2、SPINK1、SUCNR1、HCAR3、IL18BP、CHI3L1、TNF均上调;RASGRP2、TPM2均下调。通过WGCNA分析确定与LTBI最相关的正相关蓝色模块(cor=0.88,P=0.004)和负相关蓝绿色模块(cor=―0.93,P=0.001)。对上述模块内基因进行KEGG富集分析,并行基于全转录组的GSEA分析,发现趋化因子信号通路(P<0.001)和凋亡信号通路(P=0.003)在两种分析中均明显富集。对两模块中的差异基因通过STRING数据库构建PPI网络图,通过内置插件计算得到每个模块中的前10个关键基因,即蓝色模块中的PTPRC、CD40、IL10、IRF8、CCR1、CD80、TLR8、CLEC7A、CD83和CD274;蓝绿色模块中的TNF、ICAM1、TNFRSF4、HAVCR2、CD276、CCL4、CD33、IL1RN、NCF1和FGR。免疫浸润分析发现,M1型巨噬细胞(P=0.029)和M2型巨噬细胞(P=0.001)等固有免疫细胞的比例在LTBI组和健康对照组间存在明显差异。结论:经结核特异性抗原刺激后的PBMC转录组在LTBI人群和健康人群间存在明显差异,这些差异基因主要聚集于凋亡信号通路和趋化因子信号通路,其中巨噬细胞介导的免疫应答在其中发挥了重要作用,揭示了固有免疫应答在LTBI中的重要作用。