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BackgroundChildren with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) often present with symptoms similar to those of other liver diseases. This study consists of a comparison between the clinical and histological characteristics of AIH and those of other four AIH-like liver diseases [i.e., drug-induced liver injury (DILI), gene deficiency, infectious liver disease and other etiology of liver disease], as well as an evaluation of the AIH scoring system's diagnostic performance.MethodsAll children with AIH-like liver disease at our center from January 2013 to December 2022 were included. The clinical and histological characteristics of the AIH group were retrospectively analyzed and compared with those of the other four groups.ResultsA total of 208 children were included and divided into AIH group (18 patients), DILI group (38 patients), gene deficiency group (44 patients), infectious liver disease group (74 patients), and other etiology group (34 patients). The antinuclear antibodies (ANA) ≥ 1:320 rate was significantly higher in the AIH compared to the other four groups after multiple testing correction (p 0.73) and the revised systems (AUC > 0.93) for AIH have good diagnostic performance, with the latter being superior (p

Background and aimsCognitive impairment is on the rise around the world, with profound economic and social consequences. Serum globulin, a marker of liver function, may also play a role in cognitive function. Unfortunately, no consistent conclusion exists regarding the association between serum globulin and cognitive function.MethodsData from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to assess the association between serum globulin and cognitive impairment. Cognitive function was assessed by three tests: Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency (AF), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Furthermore, the breakthrough point of cognitive impairment correlated with CERAD 0.05).ConclusionThe association between serum globulin levels and cognitive impairment is non-linear. A threshold effect exists between serum globulin and cognitive impairment. Large-scale prospective clinical trials are needed to validate our findings.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to analyze the relationship between serum globulin levels and immune restoration and HIV reservoir size during long‐term antiretroviral therapy (ART). Methods: We enrolled 13 patients living with HIV who had been receiving ART for 5 years. We measured levels of serum globulin, cell‐associated (CA) HIV DNA and RNA, and p24 antibody at 0, 1, 3, and 5 years of ART. CD38 and human leukocyte antigen – DR isotype (HLA‐DR) were used as activation markers for T‐cell activation. Serum concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines interferon gamma‐inducible protein (IP)‐10 and soluble CD163 (sCD163) were detected by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. We analyzed the relationship between serum globulin levels, HIV reservoir size, immune restoration, T‐cell immune activation, and inflammatory levels during long‐term ART. Results: Our data showed that serum globulin levels in people living with HIV were higher than in healthy controls and significantly decreased during the first year of ART. Serum globulin levels during long‐term ART were positively correlated with CA HIV DNA, CA HIV RNA, p24 antibody levels, and CD8+ T‐cell counts and negatively correlated with CD4+ T‐cell counts and CD4/CD8 ratios. Moreover, serum globulin levels were positively correlated with CD4+ and CD8+ T‐cell activation and the concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers IP‐10 and sCD163 during long‐term ART. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that serum globulin levels may be associated with HIV reservoir size and immune restoration during long‐term ART. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

He Liu,&ast; Yan Qin,&ast; Jie Yang, Guoxiu Huang, Xiaoying Wei, Lulu Wang, Wei Li Department of Health Management, The People’s Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Research Center of Health Management, Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Wei Li; Lulu Wang, Email lw6666gx@aliyun.com; pariswangll@163.comBackground: Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection is considered as a risk factor for nutritional and metabolic abnormalities, and serum protein is an important marker of the nutritional and immune status. It is still unknown whether HP infection affects serum protein levels.Methods: The participants who underwent health screening from July 2020 to August 2021 were included, among whom, 1485 subjects with 14C-urea breath test (14C-UBT) values ≥ 100 disintegrations per minute (dpm) were defined as HP-positive cases, and 4864 cases with 14C-UBT values < 100 dpm were defined as HP-negative cases. Anthropometric measurements were taken, and biochemical parameters of the blood were analyzed for all subjects. Categorical variables were compared using the χ 2 test and continuous variables using Student’s t test. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the effect of HP infection on serum proteins.Results: Age, the proportion of female, globulin levels, total cholesterol levels, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly higher in the HP infected group than in the non-infected group (P < 0.05). Height, weight, body mass index, hip circumference, albumin levels, albumin to globulin ratio, triglycerides levels, and uric acid levels were significantly higher in the non-infected group than in the infected group (P < 0.05). Multifactorial analysis revealed that HP infection was significantly associated with the risk of decreased serum albumin levels (odds ratio [OR] = 0.809, P = 3.51× 10− 4); HP infection was significantly associated with the risk of increased serum globulin levels (model 1: OR = 1.257, P = 1.39× 10− 4); and HP infection was significantly associated with the risk of decreased albumin/globulin ratio (OR= 0.775, P = 2.30× 10− 5).Conclusion: HP infection was significantly associated with lower serum albumin levels, elevated globulin levels, and lower albumin/globulin ratio. Thus, it is an important factor affecting nutritional metabolism.Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, nutrition, serum albumin, serum globulin, albumin/globulin ratio

Objective: This study aimed to develop a nomogram to predict the neck occult metastasis in early (T1‐T2 cN0) oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Materials and Methods: The nomogram was developed in a training cohort of 336 early OSCC patients and was validated in a validation cohort including 88 patients. Independent predictors were calculated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Results: In univariate logistical regression analysis, gender, perineural invasion (PNI), blood vessel invasion, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase, prealbumin, globulin (GLO), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), serum sodium (NA), and serum chloride were significant associated with neck occult metastasis. Multivariate logistical regression analysis identified PNI (p <.001), LDH (p =.003), GLO (p =.019), and NA (p =.020) as independent predictors of neck occult metastasis. Cut‐off values for LDH, GLO, and NA obtained from AUC were 142.5, 26.35, and 139.5, respectively. The nomogram based on PNI and categorical GLO, LDH, and NA exhibited a strong discrimination, with a C‐indexes of 0.748 (95%CI = 0.688 to 0.810) in the training cohort and 0.751 (95%CI = 0.639 to 0.863) in the validation cohort. Conclusions: A nomogram based on PNI, LDH, GLO, and NA for predicting the risk of neck lymph nodes occult metastasis in OSCC could help surgeons with therapy decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) often present with symptoms similar to those of other liver diseases. This study consists of a comparison between the clinical and histological characteristics of AIH and those of other four AIH-like liver diseases [i.e . , drug-induced liver injury (DILI), gene deficiency, infectious liver disease and other etiology of liver disease], as well as an evaluation of the AIH scoring system's diagnostic performance., Methods: All children with AIH-like liver disease at our center from January 2013 to December 2022 were included. The clinical and histological characteristics of the AIH group were retrospectively analyzed and compared with those of the other four groups., Results: A total of 208 children were included and divided into AIH group (18 patients), DILI group (38 patients), gene deficiency group (44 patients), infectious liver disease group (74 patients), and other etiology group (34 patients). The antinuclear antibodies (ANA) ≥ 1:320 rate was significantly higher in the AIH compared to the other four groups after multiple testing correction ( p  < 0.0125), while patients with positive antibodies to liver-kidney microsomal-1 (anti-LKM1, n  = 3) and smooth muscle antibodies (SMA, n  = 2) were only observed in the AIH group. The positive rates of antibodies to liver cytosol type1 (anti-LC1) and Ro52 were higher than those in the other four groups. The serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and globulin levels, as well as the proportions of portal lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, lobular hepatitis with more than moderate interface hepatitis, and lobular hepatitis with lymphoplasmacytic infiltration, were significantly higher in the AIH group than in the other four groups after multiple testing correction ( p  < 0.0125). The cirrhosis rate in the AIH group was higher than that in the DILI and infectious liver disease groups ( p  < 0.0125). Both the simplified (AUC > 0.73) and the revised systems (AUC > 0.93) for AIH have good diagnostic performance, with the latter being superior ( p  < 0.05)., Conclusion: Positive autoantibodies (ANA ≥ 1:320 or anti-LKM1 positive, or accompanied by SMA, anti-LC1 or Ro-52 positive) and elevated serum IgG or globulin levels contribute to early recognition of AIH. The presence of lobular hepatitis with more than moderate interface hepatitis and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration contribute to the diagnosis of AIH., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (© 2024 Ma, Liu, Ai, Pan, Liu, Huang, Liao, Lu, Zhang, Zhou, Huang, Hao, Shu and Fang.)

We investigated the association between serum globulin levels upon hospital admission and in-hospital short-term outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. A total of 3,127 AIS patients enrolled from December 2013 to May 2014 across 22 hospitals in Suzhou city were included in the present study. We divided patients into 4 groups according to their level of admission serum globulin: Q1 (<23.5 g/L), Q2 (23.5-26.4 g/L), Q3 (26.4-29.9 g/L), and Q4 (≥29.9 g/L). Logistic regression models were used to estimate the effect of serum globulin on the short-term outcomes, including all cause in-hospital mortality, poor outcome upon discharge (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3) and in-hospital pneumonia in AIS patients. The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 4.0 (IQR, 2.0-7.0). The risk of in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in patients with highest serum globulin level (Q4) compared to those with lowest (Q1) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12-4.70; P -trend =0.026). The highest serum globulin level (Q4) was associated with a 1.32-fold and 1.62-fold increase in the risk of poor outcome upon discharge (adjusted OR 1.32; 95% CI, 1.00-1.75; P -trend = 0.070) and in-hospital pneumonia (adjusted OR 1.62; 95% CI, 1.18-2.23; P -trend = 0.001) in comparison to Q1 after adjustment for potential covariates. A high level of serum globulin upon hospital admission was independently associated with all cause in-hospital mortality, poor outcome upon discharge and in-hospital pneumonia in relative mild AIS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies have indicated that phototherapy may be associated with childhood immune disorders in later life. The present study aimed to assess the effects of phototherapy as a risk factor in the decrease in serum globulin (GLB) levels during neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. A total of 430 full-term infants aged between 1 and 28 days, diagnosed with neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, were enrolled in the present study. Neonates with intrauterine infection, genetic abnormalities and congenital diseases were excluded from the cohort. All neonates received single-side phototherapy (halogen lamps for 12 h per day, for 3 days) and/or intravenous albumin (IVALB; 1 g/kg/day, for 2 days) and/or intravenous immunoglobulin (1 g/kg/day, for 2 days). Total serum bilirubin (TSB), albumin (ALB) and GLB levels were examined twice, on the first and fourth days of hospitalization. Neonatal TSB concentrations decreased from 299.6±83.9 to 163.6±57.6 µmol/l following 3 days of intensive treatment (P<0.001). Pearson correlative analysis indicated that TSB was significantly correlated to the GLB level (r=0.249; P<0.01), but not with ALB level. There was a significant decrease in GLB levels following phototherapy+IVALB (P<0.001). The GLB levels decreased to 2–4 g/l (10–20% compared with their baseline levels) and were markedly decreased in infants >16 days old compared with those in patients aged <16 days (P<0.001). The decreases in GLB levels observed were 21.3±4.1 to 18.5±4.2 g/l in the phototherapy group, and 23.0±3.9 to 16.6±4.5 g/l in the phototherapy+IVALB (P<0.001). The decrease in GLB levels was associated with age (95% confidence interval; −0.152, −0.016). The results demonstrated that phototherapy decreased serum GLB levels, particularly in infants aged >16 days, while additional IVALB treatment promoted the decrease, along with increased age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate in Holstein cows the genetic basis of blood serum metabolites [i.e., total protein, albumin, globulin, albumin: globulin ratio (A:G), and blood β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB)], a set of milk phenotypes related to udder health, milk quality technological characteristics, and genetic relationships among them. Samples of milk were collected from 498 Holstein cows belonging to 28 herds. All animal welfare and milk phenotypes were assessed using standard analytical methodology. A set of Bayesian univariate and bivariate animal models was implemented via Gibbs sampling, and statistical inference was based on the marginal posterior distributions of parameters of concern. We observed a small additive genetic influence for serum albumin concentrations, moderate heritability (≥0.20) for total proteins, globulins, and A:G, and high heritability (0.37) for blood BHB. Udder health traits (somatic cell score, milk lactose, and milk pH) showed low or moderate heritabilities (0.15-0.20), whereas variations in milk protein fraction concentrations were confirmed as mostly under genetic control (heritability: 0.21-0.71). The moderate and high heritabilities observed for milk coagulation properties and curd firming modeling parameters provided confirmation that genetic background exerts a strong influence on the cheese-making ability of milk, largely due to genetic polymorphisms in the major milk protein genes. Blood BHB showed strong negative genetic correlations with globulins (-0.619) but positive correlations with serum albumin (0.629) and A:G (0.717), which suggests that alterations in the serum protein pattern and BHB blood levels are likely to be genetically related. Strong relationships were found between albumin and fat percentages (-0.894), between globulin and αS2-CN (-0.610), and, to a lesser extent, between serum protein pattern and milk technological characteristics. Genetic relationships between blood BHB and traits related to udder health and milk quality and technological characteristics were mostly weak. This study provides evidence that there is exploitable additive genetic variation for traits related to animal health and welfare and throws light on the shared genetic basis of these traits and the phenotypes related to the quality and cheese-making ability of milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Cognitive impairment is on the rise around the world, with profound economic and social consequences. Serum globulin, a marker of liver function, may also play a role in cognitive function. Unfortunately, no consistent conclusion exists regarding the association between serum globulin and cognitive function., Methods: Data from the 2011 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used to assess the association between serum globulin and cognitive impairment. Cognitive function was assessed by three tests: Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD), Animal Fluency (AF), and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). Furthermore, the breakthrough point of cognitive impairment correlated with CERAD < 5, AF < 14, and DSST < 34. A weighted multiple logistics regression model was used to verify the association between serum globulin and cognitive impairment. Generalized additive models (GAMs) and a smooth curve fit (penalty spline method) were used to determine a non-linear relationship between serum globulin and cognitive impairment. Finally, subgroup analysis and interaction tests were conducted to further verify the association between serum globulin and cognitive impairment., Results: Data from 2,768 participants aged ≥60 (in accordance with the study design) were collected for the final analysis. Data suggested that serum globulin levels were associated with an elevated cognitive impairment based on the AF [full adjustment, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01-1.08] and DSST [full adjustment, OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02-1.10] tests. Eventually, the GAM and smooth curve fit model was conducted to confirm that the association between serum globulin and cognitive impairment was non-linear. Moreover, the inflection point was 27 g/L serum globulin based on the CERAD test and 35 g/L serum globulin based on the AF test. Finally, the interaction term between serum globulin and cognitive impairment based on the AF test indicated no significant interactions among all variables (all p for interaction >0.05)., Conclusion: The association between serum globulin levels and cognitive impairment is non-linear. A threshold effect exists between serum globulin and cognitive impairment. Large-scale prospective clinical trials are needed to validate our findings., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Huang, Li, Zhu, Huang, Li, Wang and Liu.)

Aim: To study the effect of supplementation of different levels of selenium as nanoparticles/sodium selenite on blood biochemical profile and humoral immunity in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: The experimental research was conducted at Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. 63 male Wistar rats were divided into 9 equal groups on the basis of their mean body weight (BW) (124.3±3.1 g BW) following completely randomized design. Experimental feeding was similar in all the groups except for the source and level of selenium (Se) in the diet. While Group 1 (control) was fed a basal diet with no Se supplementation, in Groups 2 and 3, 150 ppb Se was supplemented either as sodium selenite or Se nanoparticles, respectively. In Groups 4, 5, 6 and 7, Se was supplemented as its nanoparticles at 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% levels respectively i.e. at 75 ppb, 37.5 ppb, 18.75 ppb and 9.375 ppb levels respectively. In Groups 8 and 9, 300 ppb Se was supplemented either as Se nanoparticles or sodium selenite, respectively. Experimental feeding was conducted for a period of 91 days. At the end of the experimental trial, blood samples were collected to analyze the blood serum biochemical profile (serum glucose, serum total protein (TP), serum albumin, serum globulin, serum albumin: globulin ratio [A:G ratio], serum total cholesterol) and humoral immunity. Results: The levels of serum glucose, serum TP and serum albumin were comparable (p>0.05) among the nine groups of male Wistar rats. The mean serum total cholesterol was significantly (p

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease with unknown etiology, with an epidermal turnover time of

Aim: To study the effect of supplementation of different levels of selenium as nanoparticles/sodium selenite on blood biochemical profile and humoral immunity in male Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: The experimental research was conducted at Division of Animal Nutrition, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar. 63 male Wistar rats were divided into 9 equal groups on the basis of their mean body weight (BW) (124.3±3.1 g BW) following completely randomized design. Experimental feeding was similar in all the groups except for the source and level of selenium (Se) in the diet. While Group 1 (control) was fed a basal diet with no Se supplementation, in Groups 2 and 3, 150 ppb Se was supplemented either as sodium selenite or Se nanoparticles, respectively. In Groups 4, 5, 6 and 7, Se was supplemented as its nanoparticles at 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25% levels respectively i.e. at 75 ppb, 37.5 ppb, 18.75 ppb and 9.375 ppb levels respectively. In Groups 8 and 9, 300 ppb Se was supplemented either as Se nanoparticles or sodium selenite, respectively. Experimental feeding was conducted for a period of 91 days. At the end of the experimental trial, blood samples were collected to analyze the blood serum biochemical profile (serum glucose, serum total protein (TP), serum albumin, serum globulin, serum albumin: globulin ratio [A:G ratio], serum total cholesterol) and humoral immunity. Results: The levels of serum glucose, serum TP and serum albumin were comparable (p>0.05) among the nine groups of male Wistar rats. The mean serum total cholesterol was significantly (p<0.001) lowered in all the Se supplemented Wistar rats compared to the control group. The mean serum globulin level was significantly (p<0.05) higher and A:G ratio was significantly (p<0.05) lowered in Group 3 (supplemented with 150 ppb selenium nanoparticles) followed by Groups 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 as compared to the control group. The mean serum antibody titer was significantly (p<0.001) higher in all the Se supplemented groups with the highest value in Group 3 (supplemented with 150 ppb selenium nanoparticles) followed by Groups 4, 5, 8 and 9 compared to the control group. Conclusion: Supplementation of selenium nanoparticles at the level of 150 ppb gave the best performance in terms of increased serum globulin level, reduced A:G ratio, and improved humoral immune status in male Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A feeding trial was conducted for 60 days to delineate the effect of dietary carbohydrate on the haematology, respiratory burst activity and histology in Labeo rohita juveniles. One hundred and forty four fish (av. wt. 10±0.15g) were randomly distributed into 12 treatment groups with each of two replicates. Twelve semi-purified diets with either 35% or 28% of crude protein were prepared with different amylase concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150mgkg−1) and starch type (gelatinised, G/non-gelatinised, NG) designated as T1 (NG, 35% CP, 0mgkg−1 amylase), T2 (G, 35% CP, 0mgkg−1 amylase), T3 (NG, 28% CP, 50mgkg−1 amylase), T4 (NG, 35% CP, 50mgkg−1 amylase), T5 (G, 28% CP, 50mgkg−1 amylase), T6 (G, 35% CP, 50mgkg−1 amylase), T7 (NG, 28% CP, 100mgkg−1 amylase), T8 (NG, 35% CP, 100mgkg−1 amylase), T9 (G, 28% CP, 100mgkg−1 amylase), T10 (G, 35% CP, 100mgkg−1 amylase), T11 (NG, 28% CP, 150mgkg−1 amylase) and T12 (NG, 35% CP, 150mgkg−1 amylase). The fish were acclimatised to the experimental conditions for 15 days during which time the control diet was fed. The blood haemoglobin percentage and RBC count was not significantly different (P >0.05) among the various treatments. Highest WBC count, total plasma protein, serum globulin and respiratory burst activity was found at 50mgkg−1 dietary amylase supplementation, whereas no variation (P >0.05) was found at 0, 100 and 150mgkg−1 dietary amylase supplementation. There was no difference (P >0.05) in the serum albumin and AG ratio among the experimental groups. Feeding either gelatinised or non-gelatinised carbohydrate did not affect the histological structure of the liver, kidney and intestine except in the T4 and T7 groups. The T4 group showed hyperplasia of the intestine and moderate vacuolation in hepatic cells, whereas the T7 group showed hyperplasia of the intestine. Non-gelatinised carbohydrates (46%) along with supplementation with 50mgkg−1 amylase stimulated the immune system in L. rohita juveniles. But supplementation of amylase to the gelatinised carbohydrate had no immunostimulating effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated skin disease with unknown etiology, with an epidermal turnover time of <10 days compared to a normal turnover time of 4-8 weeks. This epidermal hyperproliferation accounts for many of the metabolic abnormalities including alteration in the serum levels of proteins and some trace elements. Aim: The aim was to detect any statistically significant difference in the serum levels of zinc, copper, albumin, globulin and alkaline phosphatase between psoriasis patients and healthy controls. Materials and Methods: Hundred cases of psoriasis and 100 age and sex matched controls were enrolled in a hospital based case-control study. The serum levels of zinc, copper, albumin, globulin and alkaline phosphatase were calculated and compared among the cases and controls and evaluated statistically. Results: Serum zinc levels were significantly low in the psoriasis group as compared with controls (mean 80.028 µg/dl vs. 109.179 µg/dl, P < 0.0001). Serum copper levels were significantly raised among cases as compared with controls (mean 167.317 µg/dl vs. 133.884 µg/dl P < 0.0001). Serum albumin levels were significantly decreased (3.762 g/dl vs. 4.103 g/dl, P < 0.001), whereas serum globulin levels were raised (3.296 g/dl vs. 2.596 g/dl, P = 0.0014) among cases as compared with controls, respectively. Serum alkaline phosphatase levels were comparable between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study show significant alterations in the serum levels of copper, zinc, albumin, and globulin in psoriatic patients. This paper aims at highlighting the possible role of trace metals copper and zinc in the aetiopathogenesis of psoriasis and also provides a proposed interplay of factors involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The optimal treatment for early-stage nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remains controversial. Identification of prognostic factors for metastasis and tumor progression is urgently required to improve clinical decision-making for patients with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 2009 stage II NPC from the endemic area., Methods: Consecutive newly-diagnosed patients (n=296) with non-disseminated, biopsy-proven stage II NPC were retrospectively reviewed; all patients received intensity-modulated radiotherapy and MRI follow-up. Plasma EBV DNA level, serum lactate dehydrogenase, serum albumin, serum globulin and leukocyte counts were measured before therapy. Survival rates were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and log-rank test and multivariate Cox proportional hazards model., Results: Median follow-up was 50.2 months (range, 8-69.5 months). Multivariate analysis demonstrated a plasma Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA level ≥ 4000 copies/mL, maximal axial diameter (MAD) of the cervical lymph nodes ≥ 30 mm and serum globulin level < 29.5 g/L were independent predictors of poor DMFS (P = 0.018; P = 0.019; P = 0.006, respectively). On the basis of these parameters, a prognostic model was developed as follows: 1) patients with no risk factors; 2) one risk factor; and 3) two or three risk factors. The 3-year distant metastasis-free survival rates for groups 1, 2 and 3 were 100%, 94.6% and 84.3%, respectively (P = 0.001)., Conclusion: The prognostic model based on EBV DNA, serum globulin and nodal size may facilitate individualized treatment of patients with stage II NPC at high risk of distant metastasis.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor which plays a role in the development of multiple tissues and is activated by a large number of ligands, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In order to examine the roles of the AHR in both normal biological development and response to environmental chemicals, an AHR knockout (AHR-KO) rat model was created and compared with an existing AHR-KO mouse. AHR-KO rats harboring either 2-bp or 29-bp deletion mutation in exon 2 of the AHR were created on the Sprague-Dawley genetic background using zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. Rats harboring either mutation type lacked expression of AHR protein in the liver. AHR-KO rats were also insensitive to thymic involution, increased hepatic weight and the induction of AHR-responsive genes (Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, Cyp1b1, Ahrr) following acute exposure to 25 μg/kg TCDD. AHR-KO rats had lower basal expression of transcripts for these genes and also accumulated ~30-45-fold less TCDD in the liver at 7 days post-exposure. In untreated animals, AHR-KO mice, but not AHR-KO rats, had alterations in serum analytes indicative of compromised hepatic function, patent ductus venosus of the liver and persistent hyaloid arteries in the eye. AHR-KO rats, but not AHR-KO mice, displayed pathological alterations to the urinary tract: bilateral renal dilation (hydronephrosis), secondary medullary tubular and uroepithelial degenerative changes and bilateral ureter dilation (hydroureter). The present data indicate that the AHR may play significantly different roles in tissue development and homeostasis and toxicity across rodent species., (© 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)