ObjectiveTo study the clinical value of changes of serumα-fetoprotein(AFP) and soluble cell adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1) levels before and after surgical treatment of primary hepatocellular carcinoma(PHC) as predictors of patient survival. MethodsThe clinical data and followed-up results of 86 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma received hepatectomy or radiofrequency ablation(RFA) in Xijing Hospital and the 451st Hospital of PLA were retrospectivly analyzed. The changes of peripheral blood AFP and sICAM-1 levels in patients before and in 1 month after treatment were observed and all patients were divided into different groups according to the changes in both two markers. Then survival rates of each group were analyzed. ResultsThe patients with AFP < 20μg/L or sICAM-1 < 1 000 U/L before treatment had lower tumor recurrence rate and higher survival rate than patients with elevated serum levels of the both markers(AFP:P=0.018, P < 0.001;sICAM-1:P=0.027, P < 0.001). The larger tumor, late TNM stage, and higher rate of recurrence were associated with elevated serum levels of the both markers(AFP:P=0.016, P=0.026 and P=0.025;sICAM-1:P < 0.001, P=0.024 and P=0.032). The better survival situation was closely related with these cases treated with hepatectomy and their levels of both markers were lower than the above cutoff values both before and after treatment, or leves of both markers above the cut-off values returned to within the normal range after treatment (AFP:P=0.006, P=0.001;sICAM-1:P=0.001, P=0.002). The patients who had simultaneous increase of AFP and sICAM-1 after operation showed the worst tumor-free and overall survivals(P=0.007, P < 0.001). ConclusionTo test the changes of serum AFP and sICAM-1 levels in early stage after treatment for patients who received radical resection of hepatocellular carcinoma has good clinical value for monitoring of tumor recurrence and predict prognosis.
ObjectiveTo construct the human small interfering RNA (siRNA) lentiviral vector who targeting inhibitor of differentiation-1 (Id1) gene, and to detect its efficiency of gene silence for the HepG2 cells. MethodsThe most effective RNA interference sequences was screened from 4 kinds of siRNA vectors targeting Id1 gene (included pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-1, pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-2, pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-3, and pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-4), who was transfected to 293T cells. The selected siRNA vector was used to build lentiviral vector (Id1-RNAi-LV) and then infected human HepG2 cells. Then the expression levels of Id1 mRNA and its protein were detected by the real time PCR and Western blot method respectively. ResultsExpression level of Id1 protein in pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-4 group was lower than those of pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-1 group, pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-2 group, and pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-3 group (P < 0.05), who had the best efficiency of gene silence. The Id1-siRNA lentiviral vector (Id1-RNAi-LV) was successfully constructed by using pCGSIL-GFP-Id1-4. The titer of lentiviral was 2.0×109 TU/mL.results of real time-PCR and Western blot showed that, the expression levels of Id1 mRNA and its protein in HepG2 cells of Id1-RNAi-LV group were lower than those of blank control group and negative control group (P < 0.05). ConclusionsThe specific lentiviral can constantly down-regulate the expression of Id1 gene.
ObjectiveTo comprehensively analyze the recent advancements in the field of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived exosomes (MSCs-exosomes) in tissue repair. MethodsThe literature about MSCs-exosomes in tissue repair was reviewed and analyzed. ResultsExosomes are biologically active microvesicles released from MSCs which are loaded with functional proteins, RNA, and microRNA. Exosomes can inhibit apoptosis, stimulate proliferation, alter cell phenotype in tissue repair of several diseases through cell-to-cell communication. ConclusionMSCs-exosomes is a novel source for the treatment of tissue repair. Further research of MSCs-exosomes biofunction, paracellular transport, and treatment mechanism will help the transform to clinical application.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the efficacy and safety of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) combined with partial splenic embolization (PSE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with hypersplenism. MethodWe searched The Cochrane Library (Issue 11, 2015), PubMed, EMbase, CBM, VIP, CNKI and WanFang Data databases from inception to November 1st 2015, to collect randomized controlled trials (RCTs) about TACE combined with PSE in treating HCC with hypersplenism. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data, and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software. ResultsA total of 11 RCTs involving 708 patients were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: Compared with TACE alone, TACE combined with PSE could significantly improve postoperative CD4 count (MD=6.99, 95%CI 4.60 to 9.38, P<0.00001), CD4/CD8 ratio (MD=0.64, 95% 0.45 to 0.84, P<0.00001), and the rate of half year survival (RR=1.16, 95%CI 1.02 to 1.32, P=0.02), decrease the incidences of spontaneous peritonitis (RR=0.20, 95%CI 0.05 to 0.48, P=0.03) and varices bleeding (RR=0.17, 95%CI 0.04 to 0.68, P=0.01). The two groups had similar incidence of post-embolization syndrome (RR=1.17, 95%CI 0.79 to 1.75, P=0.44). ConclusionTACE combined with PSE is more safe and effective than TACE alone in unresectable HCC with hypersplenism. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusion should be further verified by conducting more high quality, large scale RCTs.
ObjectiveTo comprehensively collect quality assessment tools of systematic review/meta-analysis (SR/MA) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and compare the differences of numbers and contents of items, in order to provide references for optimizing and using these quality assessment tools. MethodsWe searched PubMed and EMbase databases up to December 31th, 2013 for quality assessment tools of SR/MA of RCTs. EndNote X3 software was used for screening literature and Excel 2010 software was used for data extraction. A descriptive analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 61 studies including 32 quality assessment tools were included. Among them, 30 tools were for methodological quality and 2 tools for reporting quality. These tools were developed by different medical universities or colleges, research institutes, national health institutes, and some famous epidemiologists and methodologists from 1984 to 2007. Among the 32 tools, 4 tools were scales, while 28 were checklists. The numbers of items of these tools ranged from 5 to 101, among them, 9 tools had more than 20 items. ConclusionThere are many quality assessment tools for SR/MA, but none of them is generally acknowledged. The quality, contents of items, and applicability of these tools are different, and some of them are too long to use. In practice and decision-making, most of the tools have the problems of low relevance and applicability. How to regularly use these tools to guide the research, practice and decision-making of SR/MA is still needed to be further researched.
ObjectiveTo assess the safety and efficacy of a new surgical strategy, perventricular device closure, for the treatment of subarterial ventricular septal defect (VSD). MethodsThirty-nine patients younger than 10 years with subarterial VSD who received surgical repair in West China Hospital from November 2010 to May 2012 were included in this study. There were 18 male and 21 female patients with their age of 5.9±3.2 years. Perventricular device closure was performed with eccentric device under the guidance of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Residual shunt, valvular regurgitation (including aortic regurgitation)and arrhythmias during perioperative period and follow-up were analyzed. ResultsThirty-three patients successfully received perventricular device closure, and 6 patients received conversion to open surgical repair. Postoperative ICU stay was 2.2±0.8 days, and length of hospital stay was 4.8±1.8 days. Major postoperative complications included residual shunt and mild or less aortic regurgitation. Mean follow-up duration was 7±2 months. No obvious arrhythmia, moderate or severe valvular regurgitation was observed during follow-up. ConclusionPerventricular device closure is safe, efficacious and minimally invasive for the treatment of subarterial VSD in pediatric patients with suitable anatomic characteristics with good mid-term results.
ObjectiveTo compare the cost-effectiveness between endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) treatment and laparotomy treatment for simple common bile duct stone or common bile duct stone combined with gallbladder benign lesions. MethodsA total of 596 patients with common bile stone received ERCP (ERCP group) and 173 received open choledocholithotomy (surgical group) in our hospital between January 2009 and December 2012. Their clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. The curing rate, postoperative complications, hospital stay, preoperational preparation and total cost were compared between the two groups of patients. Meanwhile, for common bile stone combined with gallbladder benign lesion, 29 patients received ERCP combined with laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) (ERCP+LC group), 38 received pure laparoscopy treatment (laparoscopy group) and 129 received open choledocholithotomy combined with cholecystectomy (surgery group). ResultsFor simple common bile stone patients, no significant difference was found in cure rate and post-operative complication between endoscopic and surgical treatment groups (P>0.05). However, total hospitalization expenses[(13.1±6.3) thousand yuan, (20.6±7.5) thousand yuan)], hospital stay[(8.91±4.95), (12.14±5.15) days] and preoperative preparation time[(3.77±3.09), (5.13±3.99) days] were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.05). For patients with common bile stone combined with gallbladder benign lesion, no significant discrepancy was detected among the three groups in curing rate and post-operative complications (P>0.05). Significant differences were detected between ERCP+LC group and surgical group in terms of total hospitalization expense[(18.9±4.6) thousand yuan, (23.2±8.9) thousand yuan] hospital stay[(9.00±3.74), (12.47±4.50) days] and preoperative preparation time[(3.24±1.83), (5.15±2.98) days]. No significant difference was found in total hospitalization expense and hospital stay, while significant difference was detected in preoperative preparation time between ERCP+LC group and simple LC group. ConclusionFor patients with simple common bile stone, ERCP is equivalent to surgery in the curing rate, and has more advantages such as less cost, shorter length of hospital stay, and lower preoperative preparation time. For the treatment of common bile duct stone with gallbladder benign disease, ERCP combined with LC also has more advantages than traditional surgery.
Different generations of biomedical materials are analyzed in this paper. The current clinical uses of plates made of metals, polymers or composite materials are evaluated, and nano hydroxyapatite/polylactic acid composites and carbon/carbon composite plates are introduced as emphasis. It is pointed out that the carbon/carbon composites are of great feasibility and advantage as a new generation of biomedical materials, especially in the field of bone plate. Compared to other biomaterials, carbon/carbon composites have a good biocompatibility and mechanical compatibility because they have similar elastic modulus, porosity and density to that of human bones. With the development of the technology in knitting and material preparation, carbon/carbon composite plates have a good application prospect.
ObjectivesTo investigate the utilization of essential medicines and antibiotics in primary healthcare system of Xinjin county of Chengdu city from 2009 to 2011. MethodsThe data of utilization of all the medicines, essential medicines and antibiotics was collected from 17 hospitals of Xinjin primary healthcare system. Microsoft Excel 2003 was used to analyze the data. ResultsCompared with 2009, the total costs of medicines and essential medicines increased by 72.27% and 135.4% respectively in 2010. After the implementation of essential medicine policy in 2010, the proportion of essential medicines accounted for more than 90% in community healthcare centers (CHCs) and township hospitals (THs) and over 50% in county-level hospitals in 2011. In 2010, the average cost per prescription among outpatients increased by 3.51% in total, but deceased by 16.23% in CHCs/THs (RMB 15.09 yuan per prescription). In July of 2011, the policy to control the use of antibiotics was implemented in Xinjin county. The use of antibiotics decreased, but still accounted for over 30% in 9 out of 13 CHCs/THs. The use of bigeminy antibiotics and trigeminy antibiotics accounted for 0.42 to 5.56% and 0 to 0.44%, respectively. ConclusionsThe use of essential medicines increases in Xinjin county and met the national requirements. The average cost per prescription among outpatient decreases in THs and CHCs. After controlling the use of antibiotics, the proportion and cost of antibiotics is still very high, and irrational use of antibiotics probably still exists. The training and guide for evidence-based rational use of medicine should be enhanced in future.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the current status of primary healthcare system reform in Xinjin county, in order to provide baseline data for improving the healthcare service system and population health in Chengdu. MethodsPrimary health care services and population health in Xinjin county were quantitatively described and compared. Resultsa) Eleven township hospitals (100%) and 89 village clinics (66.42%) were upgraded according to the national standards. The management of 60 village clinics were integrated with township hospitals. And 417 and 76 essential healthcare services were provided by township hospitals and village clinics, respectively. b) In 2010, the number of outpatients and inpatients in Xinjin county were increased by 24.2% and 46.3% respectively compared to those of 2009, while the costs per outpatient visit and inpatient discharge were reduced by 21.5% and 18.6% respectively. c) In 2010, health records of 98.2% of population in Xinjin county have been established; 96.3% of pregnant women were managed systematically; 98.8% of children immunization programs were implemented; 100% patients with severe mental disorders and about 78% with hypertension and diabetes were in follow-up and treatment; and 28.8% of total population got the free physical exams in 2010. d) The essential medicine accounted for 96.7% of total types of medicines and 97.8% of total expenditure of medicines in primarily healthcare institutions in Xinjin. The cost of medicine management was reduced from 8.5% to 4.2% while the medicine turnover rate was increased by 50%. e) Average life expectancy in Xinjin county was 77.97 years, infant mortality rate was 6.82‰ in 2010; and there was no maternal death in recent 8 years. f) The regional healthcare information system was established covering three-tier rural health care network spanning the county, township and village. Conclusiona) The primary healthcare system reform in Xinjin county improves the infrastructure of primary care system, the utilization of essential medical care, essential public health service, and essential medicines. b) Life expectancy, infant mortality rate and maternal mortality of Xinjin county are better than the average levels in Sichuan province and China. Xinjin county is a representative pilot county for healthcare service system reform in Chengdu city and a nice model to successfully promote healthcare system reform based on regional healthcare information system.