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Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors, and its incidence has been increasing worldwide. Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels and abdominal ultrasound have been widely used for diagnosis as well as surveillance of HCC. However, the sensitivity and specificity of both AFP levels and ultrasound for HCC surveillance have some shortcomings, particularly in the early stages of the disease. Golgi protein-73 (GP73) is a type II Golgi-localized integral membrane protein that is normally expressed in epithelial cells of many human tissues. It is essential for human survival, and might have multiple roles for GP73 in epithelial cell function such as in the kidney and liver. However, details of its biochemical function and regulation of GP73 expression are unknown at present. GP73 expression is upregulated in serum samples from patients with liver disease, with expression being highest in HCC. Therefore, it may be useful as a new serum marker for detection of HCC in at high-risk population. But, this hypothesis needs to be proven in large cohorts.

Objective: To evaluated the safety and efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal perfusion chemotherapy(HIPC) in the prevention and treatment of pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) recurrence after cytoreductive surgery(CRS)., Methods: Studies published in English before 2010 on HIPC after CRS for PMP were searched in PubMed database. Each study was carefully evaluated based on pre-determined criteria. Study results were comprehensively displayed in a form. A descriptive systematic review was performed., Results: A total of 11 studies were included. The median survival time of patients in these studies ranged from 25.6 months to 156 months. The ranges of 1-year, 2-year, 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year survival rates were 72%-100%, 55%-96%, 59%-96%, 52%-96%, and 55%-96%, respectively. The overall complication rate ranged from 2%-15%, and the total perioperative mortality were from 0 to 7%., Conclusion: HIPC after CRS is effective and safe for patients with PMP.

Aim: To explore expressions of PIK3CA in the progression of gastric cancer from primary to metastasis and its effects on activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway., Methods: mRNA and protein levels of PIK3CA were assessed, respectively, by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry in specimens of normal gastric mucosa, primary foci and lymph node and distant metastasis of gastric cancer. Akt and phosphorylated Akt protein were also examined by Western blotting in these tissues, in order to analyze the effect of PIK3CA expression level changes on the activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway., Results: PIK3CA mRNA in lymph node metastasis were approximately 5 and 2 folds higher, respectively, than that in the corresponding normal gastric mucosa and primary gastric cancer tissues (P < 0.05), while no statistical significance was found compared with distant metastasis. Immunohistochemically, PIK3CA protein expression was discovered in 7 (35%) specimens of 20 primary foci vs 10 (67%) of 15 of lymph node metastasis or 11 (61%) of 18 of distant metastasis (35% vs 67%, P = 0.015; 35% vs 61%, P = 0.044). With the increased level of PIK3CA expression, the total Akt protein expression remained almost unchanged, but p-Akt protein was upregulated markedly., Conclusion: Increased expression of PIK3CA is expected to be a promising indicator of metastasis in gastric cancer. Up-regulation of PIK3CA may promote the metastasis of gastric cancer through aberrant activation of PI3K/Akt signaling.

Objective: To investigate the effect of the regimen of lamivudine (LAM) combined with hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) in prevention and treatment of re-infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and recurrence of hepatitis B after orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for HBV related end stage liver disease., Methods: The clinical data of 183 adult liver transplantation patients who lived more than 6 months and were followed up for 14.6 months with complete data were studied retrospectively. According to the HBV prevention strategy, these recipients were divided into two groups: group of pure LAM (n = 106) and group of LAM plus intramuscular injection of low dose HBIG (n = 77)., Results: The rate of HBsAg negative conversion 1 week after OLT of the LAM group was 82.10% (87/106), significantly lower than that of the LAM + HBIG group [94.81% (73/77), P = 0.010]. The rates of HBV reinfection, HB recurrence, and YMDD mutation of the lamivudine group were 16.98% (18/106), 11.32% (12/106), and 8.49% (9/106) respectively, all significantly higher than those of the LAM + HBIG group [6.49% (5/77), 2.60% (2/77), and 1.30% (1/77) respectively, P = 0.035, 0.028, and 0.035 respectively]. All the patients with YMDD mutation were treated with adefovir (ADF) with improvement. Analysis showed no obvious difference in the effect of LAM given intramuscularly or intravenously., Conclusion: The protocol of combination of LAM and HBIG is highly effective, safe, and cost-effective in preventing the recurrence of HBV after OLT. YMDD mutation can be treated by ADF with satisfactory results.

Objective: To evaluate the inhibitory of profrin II nanoparticles photodynamic therapy on Lovo human colon cancer xenografts in athymic mice., Methods: Profrin II nanoparticles were obtained from hypersound emulsification method. LOVO human colon cancer xenograft were established in athymic mice. Athymic mice were divided into four groups:normal control group, profrin II nanoparticles control group, profrin II PDT group and profrin II nanoparticles PDT group. The animals bearing xenografts were treated 30 mg/kg body weight profrin II nanoparticles and 3 h later were irradiated with 9 J/cm(2) light from a diode laser. After Profrin II nanoparticles PDT, the anti-tumor effect was assessed by measuring tumor volume over a 3-4 weeks period, the morphologic changes were observed by microscopy and microscopy via the histological examination., Results: Compared with the control groups, profrin II nanoparticles control group, profrin II PDT group and profrin II nanoparticles-PDT treated tumors had regressed significantly in earlier period with the inhibiting rate being 87.9% (P<0.05), 87.5% (P<0.05) and 56.0% respectively (P<0.05). In the later period post-PDT, tumors growth resumed with a slower rate. Profrin II nanoparticles-PDT prolonged the survival time in the treated group with (38.0+/-6.0) days (P<0.05). Extensive damage to tumor tissue was found in the earlier period (7d) post-PDT, whereas in the later period (21d) post-PDT, islands of vital-looking tumor cells were observed around the damaged tissue., Conclusion: Profrin II nanoparticles-PDT results in inhibition Lovo colon carcinoma growth in post-PDT earlier period in vivo, and can prolong the survival time of nude mice bearing xenografts significantly, whereas profrin II-PDT could not inhibit the growth of colon tumor completely.

Objective: To investigate the effect of retrorsine on the proliferation of SD rat immortalized hepatocytes after intrasplenic transplantation., Methods: Immortalized hepatocytes from SD rats was prepared by transfecting the primary hepatocytes with a retroviral vector SSR69 expressing the genes encoding Simian virus 40 T large antigen. Twenty-four adult SD rats were randomly assigned to 3 equal groups designated respectively as A, B, and C groups. Intraperitoneal retrorsine injections at the dose of 26 mg/kg.b.w. were performed twice in groups A and B at the interval of two weeks before hepatocyte transplantation. After 20% hepatic lobe resection were completed in all the groups, groups A and C received intraplenic transplant with immortalized hepatocytes, while group B received normal hepatocyte transplant. Post-mortem examinations were performed on the spleen samples with HE staining. Albumin expression in the transplanted hepatocytes was examined by immunohistochemical staining, and the ultrastructure of the transplanted cells was observed under transmission electron microscope., Results: Histological examination demonstrated that the rat spleens in all the 3 groups contained cluster of transplanted hepatocytes from 1 week to 3 weeks after the transplantation, and the proliferation of the transplanted cells were comparable between groups A and B, but both of which showed significant difference from group C. Albumin excretion by the immortalized hepatocyte was identified in all the groups, and the transplanted immortalized cells preserved normal cell ultrastructure., Conclusion: Immortalized hepatocytes of SD rat have the normal cell ultrastructure and albumin-excretion function, and retrorsine can promote the proliferation of the transplanted hepatocytes.