AIM:To investigate the biological role of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and its clinical signif icance in carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:Clinical analysis of HCC patients and im-munohistochemical e...AIM:To investigate the biological role of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and its clinical signif icance in carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:Clinical analysis of HCC patients and im-munohistochemical examination were conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum AFP level and patient mortality. Confocal microscopy,Western blotting, dimethylthiahzolyl-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide,Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and flow cytometry were performed to explore the possible mechanism.RESULTS: Among the 160 HCC patients enrolled in this study,130 patients survived 2 years (81.25%),with a survival rate of 86.8% in AFP < 2 0 μg/L group,88.9% in AFP 20-250 μg/L group,and 69.6% in AFP > 250 μg/L group, demonstrating a higher mortality rate in HCC patients with higher AFP levels. Surgical treatment was benef icial only in patients with low AFP levels.The mortality rate of HCC patients with high AFP levels who were treated surgically was apparently higher than those treated with conservative management.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that AFP and AFP receptor were merely expressed in tissues of HCC patients with positive serum AFP.Consistently,in vitro analysis showed that AFP and AFPS were expressed in HepG2 but not in HLE cells. AFP showed a capability to promote cell growth,and this was more apparent in HepG2 cells,in which the proliferation was increased by 3.5 folds. Cell cycle analysis showed that the percent-age of HepG2 cells in S phase after exposure to AFP was modestly increased.CONCLUSION:HCC patients with higher AFP levels show a higher mortality rate,which appears to be attributable to the growth promoting properties of AFP.展开更多
AIM:To evaluate the durability in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B patients who discontinued antiviral treatment. METHODS:A total of 48 HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients who were ad...AIM:To evaluate the durability in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B patients who discontinued antiviral treatment. METHODS:A total of 48 HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients who were administered nucleoside analogues and maintained virological response for ≥ 6 mo [hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA < 300 copies/mL and HBeAg seroconversion] before cessation of treatment were enrolled between February 2007 and January 2010. The criteria for the cessation of the antiviral treatment were defined as follows:(1) achievement of virological response; and (2) duration of consolidation therapy (≥ 6 mo). After treatment cessation, the patients were followed up at 3-6 mo intervals. The primary endpoint was serologic and virologic recurrence rates after withdrawal of antiviral treatment. Serologic recurrence was defined as reappearance of HBeAg positivity after HBeAg seroconversion. Virologic recurrence was defined as an increase in HBV-DNA level > 104 copies/mL after HBeAg seroconversion with previously undetectable HBV-DNA level. RESULTS:During the median follow-up period of 18.2 mo (range:5.1-47.5 mo) after cessation of antiviral treatment, the cumulative serological recurrence rate was 15 % at 12 mo. The median duration between the cessation of antiviral treatment and serologic recurrence was 7.2 mo (range:1.2-10.9 mo). Of the 48 patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis, 20 (41.6%) showed virological recurrence. The cumulative virologic recurrence rates at 12 mo after discontinuing the antiviral agent were 41%. The median duration between off-treatment and virologic recurrence was 7.6 mo (range:4.3-27.1 mo). The mean age of the virological recurrence group was older than that of the non-recurrence group (46.7 ± 12.1 years vs 38.8 ± 12.7 years, respectively; P = 0.022). Age (> 40 years) and the duration of consolidation treatment (≥ 15 mo) were significant predictive factors for offtreatment durability in the multivariate analysis [P = 0.049, relative risk (RR) 0.31, 95% CI (0.096-0.998) and P = 0.005, RR 11.29, 95% CI (2.054-65.12), respectively]. Patients with age (≤ 40 years) who received consolidation treatment (≥ 15 mo) significantly showed durability in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients (P = 0.014). These results suggest that additional treatment for more than 15 mo after HBeAg seroconversion in patients who are ≤ 40 years old may be beneficial in providing a sustained virological response. CONCLUSION:Our data suggest that HBeAg seroconversion is an imperfect end point in antiviral treatment. Long-term consolidation treatment (≥ 15 mo) in younger patients is important for producing better prognosis in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B.展开更多
The inflow angle of tropical cyclones （TC） is generally neglected in numerical studies of ocean surface waves induced by TC. In this study, the impacts of TC inflow angle on ocean surface waves were investigated usi...The inflow angle of tropical cyclones （TC） is generally neglected in numerical studies of ocean surface waves induced by TC. In this study, the impacts of TC inflow angle on ocean surface waves were investigated using a high-resolution wave model. Six numerical experiments were conducted to examine, in detail, thc effects of inflow angle on mean wave parameters and the spectrum of wave directions. A comparison of the waves simulated in these experiments shows that inflow angle significantly modifies TC-induced ocean surface waves. As the inflow angle increases, the asymmetric axis of the significant wave height （SWH） field shifts 30° clockwise, and the maximum SWH moves from the front-right to the rear-right quadrant. Inflow angle also affects other mean wave parameters, especially in the rear-left quadrant, such as the mean wave direction, the mean wavelength, and the peak direction. Inflow angle is a key factor in wave models for the reproduction of double-peak or multi-peak patterns in the spectrum of wave directions. Sensitivity experiments also show that the simulation with a 40° inflow angle is the closest to that of the NOAA statistical SLOSH inflow angle. This suggests that 40° can be used as the inflow angle in future TC-induced ocean surface wave simulations when SLOSH or observed inflow angles are not available.展开更多
Objective： Invasion and metastasis are the most significant and intrinsic biological characteristics of cancers, also which are main factors of malignant tumor causing treatment failure and death. Recent studies have...Objective： Invasion and metastasis are the most significant and intrinsic biological characteristics of cancers, also which are main factors of malignant tumor causing treatment failure and death. Recent studies have found that Fra-1 plays an important role on cell migration, invasion, and maintaining malignant phenotype of transformed cells. But there are few stud- ies about the expression and location of Fra-1 in breast tissues and cells being reported .This study just aims to discuss the expression and location of transcription factor Fra-1 in benign and malignant human breast tissues. Methods： The expression of Fra-1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry in neoplastic breast diseases ranging from benign fibroadenoma to very aggressive undifferentiated carcinoma. The correlations of Fra-1 expression with other indicators of breast carcinoma prog- nosis （ER, PR and ErbB2 receptors） were analyzed. Results： All neoplastic breast tissues, either benign or malignant breast tissues, were nuclear immunoreactive for Fra-l-recognizing antibody. In 85% of benign tumors （17/20）, the immunoreactive for Fra-l-recognizing antibody as exclusively restricted to the nuclei. In three cases （3/20, 15%）, focal unequivocal cytoplas- mic staining was also exhibited. Strong positive nuclear staining for Fra-1 was easily seen in all types of breast carcinomas. However the nucleaflcytoplasmic concomitant immunoreactivity was observed in all types of breast carcinomas. A clear shift in Fra-1 immunoreactivity, from an exclusively nuclear to a simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic localization was noticed in 90.2% （37/41） of breast carcinomas. No inverse relationship between Fra-1 and ER and PR protein levels was noticed in malignant tumors. The relative expression level of Fra-1 was not correlated with the expression of ErbB2. Conclusion： The overall expression, pattern and intensity of Fra-1 proteins were correlated with breast oncogenesis. Overexpression of Fra-1, leading to a persistent high cytoplasmic accumulation, may play a role in the process of breast carcinogenesis.展开更多
TI（I） in water even at a trace level is fatal to human beings and the ecosystem. Here we fabricated a new polymer-supported nanocomposite （HMO-001） for efficient TI（I） removal by encapsulating nanosized hydrous ...TI（I） in water even at a trace level is fatal to human beings and the ecosystem. Here we fabricated a new polymer-supported nanocomposite （HMO-001） for efficient TI（I） removal by encapsulating nanosized hydrous manganese dioxide （HMO） within a polystyrene cation exchanger （D-001）. The resultant HMO-001 exhibited more preferable removal of TI（I） than D-001 and IRC-748, an iminodiacetic chelating polymer, particularly in the presence of competing Ca（II） ions at greater levels in solution. Such preference was ascribed to the Donnan membrane effect caused by D-001 as well as the specific interaction between TI（I） and HMO. The adsorbed TI（I） was partially oxidized into insoluble TI（III） by HMO at acidic pH, while negligible oxidation was observed at circumneutral pH. The exhausted HMO-001 was amenable to efficient regeneration by binary NaOH-NaC10 solution for at least 10-cycle batch runs without any significant capacity loss. Fixed-bed column test of Tl（I）-contained indus- trial effluent and natural water further validated that TI（I） retention on HMO-001 resulted in a conspicuous concentration drop from 1.3 mg/L to a value lower than 0.14 mg/L （maximum concentration level for industrial effluent regulated by US EPA） and from 1-4 μg/L to a value lower than 0.1 μg/L （drinking water standard regulated by China Health Ministry）, respectively.展开更多
基金Supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.30671856,30772536 and 81072710Beijing Natural Science Foundation,No.7101006+2 种基金the state key project for infectious diseases,2008ZX10002-015,2008ZX10002-005-3Beijing Science and Technology Commission,Z111107058811067High-Level Talent Academic Leader Training Program,(2011-2-09)
文摘AIM:To investigate the biological role of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and its clinical signif icance in carcinogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).METHODS:Clinical analysis of HCC patients and im-munohistochemical examination were conducted to evaluate the relationship between serum AFP level and patient mortality. Confocal microscopy,Western blotting, dimethylthiahzolyl-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide,Cell Counting Kit-8 assays and flow cytometry were performed to explore the possible mechanism.RESULTS: Among the 160 HCC patients enrolled in this study,130 patients survived 2 years (81.25%),with a survival rate of 86.8% in AFP < 2 0 μg/L group,88.9% in AFP 20-250 μg/L group,and 69.6% in AFP > 250 μg/L group, demonstrating a higher mortality rate in HCC patients with higher AFP levels. Surgical treatment was benef icial only in patients with low AFP levels.The mortality rate of HCC patients with high AFP levels who were treated surgically was apparently higher than those treated with conservative management.The results of immunohistochemistry showed that AFP and AFP receptor were merely expressed in tissues of HCC patients with positive serum AFP.Consistently,in vitro analysis showed that AFP and AFPS were expressed in HepG2 but not in HLE cells. AFP showed a capability to promote cell growth,and this was more apparent in HepG2 cells,in which the proliferation was increased by 3.5 folds. Cell cycle analysis showed that the percent-age of HepG2 cells in S phase after exposure to AFP was modestly increased.CONCLUSION:HCC patients with higher AFP levels show a higher mortality rate,which appears to be attributable to the growth promoting properties of AFP.
文摘AIM:To evaluate the durability in hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) positive chronic hepatitis B patients who discontinued antiviral treatment. METHODS:A total of 48 HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients who were administered nucleoside analogues and maintained virological response for ≥ 6 mo [hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA < 300 copies/mL and HBeAg seroconversion] before cessation of treatment were enrolled between February 2007 and January 2010. The criteria for the cessation of the antiviral treatment were defined as follows:(1) achievement of virological response; and (2) duration of consolidation therapy (≥ 6 mo). After treatment cessation, the patients were followed up at 3-6 mo intervals. The primary endpoint was serologic and virologic recurrence rates after withdrawal of antiviral treatment. Serologic recurrence was defined as reappearance of HBeAg positivity after HBeAg seroconversion. Virologic recurrence was defined as an increase in HBV-DNA level > 104 copies/mL after HBeAg seroconversion with previously undetectable HBV-DNA level. RESULTS:During the median follow-up period of 18.2 mo (range:5.1-47.5 mo) after cessation of antiviral treatment, the cumulative serological recurrence rate was 15 % at 12 mo. The median duration between the cessation of antiviral treatment and serologic recurrence was 7.2 mo (range:1.2-10.9 mo). Of the 48 patients with HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis, 20 (41.6%) showed virological recurrence. The cumulative virologic recurrence rates at 12 mo after discontinuing the antiviral agent were 41%. The median duration between off-treatment and virologic recurrence was 7.6 mo (range:4.3-27.1 mo). The mean age of the virological recurrence group was older than that of the non-recurrence group (46.7 ± 12.1 years vs 38.8 ± 12.7 years, respectively; P = 0.022). Age (> 40 years) and the duration of consolidation treatment (≥ 15 mo) were significant predictive factors for offtreatment durability in the multivariate analysis [P = 0.049, relative risk (RR) 0.31, 95% CI (0.096-0.998) and P = 0.005, RR 11.29, 95% CI (2.054-65.12), respectively]. Patients with age (≤ 40 years) who received consolidation treatment (≥ 15 mo) significantly showed durability in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B patients (P = 0.014). These results suggest that additional treatment for more than 15 mo after HBeAg seroconversion in patients who are ≤ 40 years old may be beneficial in providing a sustained virological response. CONCLUSION:Our data suggest that HBeAg seroconversion is an imperfect end point in antiviral treatment. Long-term consolidation treatment (≥ 15 mo) in younger patients is important for producing better prognosis in HBeAg positive chronic hepatitis B.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No. 40706008)the Open Research Program of the Chinese Academy Sciences Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Environmental Dynamics (No. LED0606)+1 种基金the Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation (No. Z2008E02)the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program) (No.2008AA09A402)
文摘The inflow angle of tropical cyclones （TC） is generally neglected in numerical studies of ocean surface waves induced by TC. In this study, the impacts of TC inflow angle on ocean surface waves were investigated using a high-resolution wave model. Six numerical experiments were conducted to examine, in detail, thc effects of inflow angle on mean wave parameters and the spectrum of wave directions. A comparison of the waves simulated in these experiments shows that inflow angle significantly modifies TC-induced ocean surface waves. As the inflow angle increases, the asymmetric axis of the significant wave height （SWH） field shifts 30° clockwise, and the maximum SWH moves from the front-right to the rear-right quadrant. Inflow angle also affects other mean wave parameters, especially in the rear-left quadrant, such as the mean wave direction, the mean wavelength, and the peak direction. Inflow angle is a key factor in wave models for the reproduction of double-peak or multi-peak patterns in the spectrum of wave directions. Sensitivity experiments also show that the simulation with a 40° inflow angle is the closest to that of the NOAA statistical SLOSH inflow angle. This suggests that 40° can be used as the inflow angle in future TC-induced ocean surface wave simulations when SLOSH or observed inflow angles are not available.
文摘Objective： Invasion and metastasis are the most significant and intrinsic biological characteristics of cancers, also which are main factors of malignant tumor causing treatment failure and death. Recent studies have found that Fra-1 plays an important role on cell migration, invasion, and maintaining malignant phenotype of transformed cells. But there are few stud- ies about the expression and location of Fra-1 in breast tissues and cells being reported .This study just aims to discuss the expression and location of transcription factor Fra-1 in benign and malignant human breast tissues. Methods： The expression of Fra-1 was investigated by immunohistochemistry in neoplastic breast diseases ranging from benign fibroadenoma to very aggressive undifferentiated carcinoma. The correlations of Fra-1 expression with other indicators of breast carcinoma prog- nosis （ER, PR and ErbB2 receptors） were analyzed. Results： All neoplastic breast tissues, either benign or malignant breast tissues, were nuclear immunoreactive for Fra-l-recognizing antibody. In 85% of benign tumors （17/20）, the immunoreactive for Fra-l-recognizing antibody as exclusively restricted to the nuclei. In three cases （3/20, 15%）, focal unequivocal cytoplas- mic staining was also exhibited. Strong positive nuclear staining for Fra-1 was easily seen in all types of breast carcinomas. However the nucleaflcytoplasmic concomitant immunoreactivity was observed in all types of breast carcinomas. A clear shift in Fra-1 immunoreactivity, from an exclusively nuclear to a simultaneous nuclear and cytoplasmic localization was noticed in 90.2% （37/41） of breast carcinomas. No inverse relationship between Fra-1 and ER and PR protein levels was noticed in malignant tumors. The relative expression level of Fra-1 was not correlated with the expression of ErbB2. Conclusion： The overall expression, pattern and intensity of Fra-1 proteins were correlated with breast oncogenesis. Overexpression of Fra-1, leading to a persistent high cytoplasmic accumulation, may play a role in the process of breast carcinogenesis.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(51078179)Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province(BK2012017/2011016)+1 种基金State Key Scientific Project for Water Pollution Control and Treatment(2012ZX07206003)Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University of China(NCET10-0490)
文摘TI（I） in water even at a trace level is fatal to human beings and the ecosystem. Here we fabricated a new polymer-supported nanocomposite （HMO-001） for efficient TI（I） removal by encapsulating nanosized hydrous manganese dioxide （HMO） within a polystyrene cation exchanger （D-001）. The resultant HMO-001 exhibited more preferable removal of TI（I） than D-001 and IRC-748, an iminodiacetic chelating polymer, particularly in the presence of competing Ca（II） ions at greater levels in solution. Such preference was ascribed to the Donnan membrane effect caused by D-001 as well as the specific interaction between TI（I） and HMO. The adsorbed TI（I） was partially oxidized into insoluble TI（III） by HMO at acidic pH, while negligible oxidation was observed at circumneutral pH. The exhausted HMO-001 was amenable to efficient regeneration by binary NaOH-NaC10 solution for at least 10-cycle batch runs without any significant capacity loss. Fixed-bed column test of Tl（I）-contained indus- trial effluent and natural water further validated that TI（I） retention on HMO-001 resulted in a conspicuous concentration drop from 1.3 mg/L to a value lower than 0.14 mg/L （maximum concentration level for industrial effluent regulated by US EPA） and from 1-4 μg/L to a value lower than 0.1 μg/L （drinking water standard regulated by China Health Ministry）, respectively.
