Objective To review the research progress of C terminal propeptide of collagen type II (CTX-II), a osteoarthritis (OA) biomarker. Methods Domestic and international l iterature about CTX-II was reviewed extensively and summarized. Results CTX-II is investigated broadly and has the best performance of all currently available biomarkers. CTX-II is a truly useful biomarker for early diagnosis, prognosis, and measurement of treatment response in OA. Conclusion Single CTX-II may be not sufficient for early diagnosis and prognosis of OA, so a combination of CTX-II and other biomarkers or diagnosis methods is needed.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the value of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), ferritin, D-dimer, fibrinogen degradation product (FDP), white blood cell (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in diagnosis and prognosis of severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP).MethodsThis was a prospective observational study. One hundred and seventy-seven candidates were divided into 3 groups: SCAP group including 61 SCAP patients, CAP group including 56 patients with normal community-acquired pneumonia group and HP group including 60 healthy people. Initial level of above biomarkers was compared and analyzed in the three groups. Then the efficiency of diagnosing and predicting the outcome of SCAP by single and combined index were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Meanwhile the patients in SCAP group were divided into two groups according to the CEA level named CEA increasing group and normal group, between which the differences in prognosis and biomarker level were compared.ResultsThe initial level of all biomarkers increased in two pneumonia groups and exceeded the HP group (P< 0.01) while between SCAP and CAP groups, all indexes in SCAP group were higher than the CAP group (P< 0.001). The areas under the ROC of CEA, ferritin, D-dimer, CRP, WBC and united respectively were 0.800, 0.834, 0.769, 0.898, 0.756 and 0.956. The sensitivity of united index was 91.8% while specificity was 90.5%. Among SCAP group, only CEA level made sense to predict the prognosis (P< 0.01). There were significant differences in intubation rate, mortality, length of RICU stay and FDP, D-dimer between CEA increasing group and normal group (P< 0.05).ConclusionsHigh level CEA, ferritin, D-dimer, CRP and WBC have significant value in diagnosis of SCAP. And the combined index has higher diagnostic value than single one. SCAP with increased CEA level indicates more serious condition and poor prognosis.
Objective To summarize the research progress of microRNA （miRNA） as a tumor marker in peripheral blood. Methods The domestic and international published literatures about circulating miRNA as a tumor marker in recent years were reviewed. Results The miRNA expression has universality，stability and specificity，and it is related to the occurrence and development of viarous diseases. Conclusion Circulating miRNA shows a broad application prospect in clinical diagnosis， treatment， and prognosis of tumor and other diseases.
Increasing evidence suggests that many types of cancers contain a population of cells that display stem cell properties. These cells are called cancer stem cells （CSCs），which are closely related to tumor initiation，growth，metastasis and chemoresistance. CSCs are also found in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC）. These cells are characterized by potential of self-renewal and differentiation，tumor formation in nude mice and chemotherapy resistance，and thus may play an important role in targeted cancer therapies. Current methods for culturing and sorting CSCs in ESCC mainly include fluorescence activated cell sorting （FACS），magnetic activated cell sorting （MACS），suspension culture，and side population （SP） cell sorting. In this review，we focus on current research methods for CSCs in ESCC，their biological characteristics and areas for improvement. We believe that a combination of multiple cell-surface makers is needed for research of CSCs in ESCC.
Objective To explore the clinical and inflammatory characteristics and risk factors of severe asthma to improve clinicians' awareness of the disease. Methods The general information of patients with asthma who visited the Department of Respiratory Medicine, the First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University from May 2018 to May 2021, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of asthma, personal history, comorbidities, auxiliary examination, asthma control test (ACT) score were collected. A total of 127 patients were included, including 40 in the severe asthma group and 87 in the mild-to-moderate asthma group. Chi-square test, independent sample t test and logistic regression were used to analyze the clinical characteristics, inflammatory markers and risk factors of severe asthma. Results Compared with the patients with mild to moderate asthma, the patients with severe asthma were more older (51.0±12.0 years vs 40.7±12.8 years, P<0.05), had more smokers (32.5% vs. 14.9%, P<0.05), and more males (67.5% vs. 40.2%, P<0.05). The patients with severe asthma got poor FEV1%pred [(56.1±23.8)% vs. (93.2±18.0)%, P<0.05] and FEV1/FVC [(56.7±13.2)% vs. (75.8±9.0)%, P<0.05)], and more exacerbations in the previous year (2.7±3.1 vs. 0.1±0.4, P<0.05), lower ACT score (14.4±3.7 vs. 18.0±5.0, P<0.05), and higher blood and induced sputum eosinophil counts [(0.54±0.44)×109/L vs. (0.27±0.32)×109/L, P<0.05; (25.9±24.2)% vs. (9.8±17.5)%, P<0.05]. There was no significant difference in the proportion of neutrophils in the induced sputum or FeNO between the two groups (P>0.05). Analysis of related risk factors showed that smoking (OR=2.740, 95%CI 1.053 - 7.130), combined with allergic rhinitis (OR=14.388, 95%CI 1.486 - 139.296) and gastroesophageal reflux (OR=2.514, 95%CI 1.105 - 5.724) were risk factors for severe asthma. Conclusions Compared with patients with mild to moderate asthma, patients with severe asthma are characterized by poor lung function, more exacerbations, and a dominant eosinophil inflammatory phenotype, which is still poorly controlled even with higher level of treatment. Risk factors include smoking, allergic rhinitis, and gastroesophageal reflux, etc.
Objective To summarize the domestic and abroad articles related to the research on the relation between microRNA （miRNA） and pancreatic cancer，and explore the important effects of miRNA expression patterns in diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Methods “microRNA and pancreatic cancer” were searched as key words by PubMed and CNKI series full-text database retrieval systems from 2000 to 2012. Totally 60 English papers and 15 Chinese papers were obtained. Choice criteria：the basic research of miRNA and pancreatic cancer，the clinical research of miRNA and pancreatic cancer， and the prospect of miRNA in pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment. According to the choice criteria，31 papers were finally analyzed. Results The miRNA expression spectrum and specific miRNA expression such as miR-21，miR-34，miR-217，miR-196a，miR-10a，miR-155，miR-221，miR-222，miR-181a，miR-181b，miR-181d， and the family members of miR-200 and let-7 might be used as tumor markers to differentiate pancreatic cancer from normal pancreas，chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic endocrine tumors，and might be used as prognostic factor to predict the outcome. Conclusions miRNA expression spectrum are not only related to diagnosis of pancreatic cancer， but also have provided a new research direction and method for gene therapy of pancreatic cancer．
ObjectiveTo summarize the research progress of mucinous breast cancer (MBC). MethodsLiteratures about the recent studies of MBC were reviewed. ResultsMBC was one of special subtype of infiltrating breast cancer. According to the mucus ingredient in the ratio of the mass, MBC was divided into pure mucinous breast cancer (PMBC) and mixed mucinous breast cancer (MMBC). Compared to infiltrating ductal cancer-not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS), MBC showed higher positive expression rates of estrogen receptor (ER) and progestrogen receptor (PR), with reduced lymph node metastasis rate and better prognosis. PMBC had lower lymph node metastasis rate and better outcome than MMBC. ConclusionsThere is significant difference about clinical and pathological characteristics between MBC and IDC-NOS. Researches are generally believed that MBC is an uncommon breast neoplasm which is associated with a good prognosis.
Objective To compare the diagnostic accuracy of different combination regimens of myocardial infarction markers in diagnosing acute myocardial infarction; and to estimate the effect of heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (H-FABP) in improving the diagnostic accuracy of the combinations. Methods Patients with acute onset of chest pain were included randomly. Serum concentrations of H-FABP and other biochemical markers for myocardial infarction (cTnI, Myo) were determined immediately, and then acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients were defined according to the WHO criteria. ROC curves for three biochemical markers were established respectively, and the cutoff values of the three markers were determined accordingly. Three combination regimens of myocardial infarction markers for AMI diagnosis were designed: cTnI+Myo, cTnI+H-FABP, cTnI+H-FABP+Myo. Diagnostic accuracy of the three regimens were then calculated and compared. Results The AUCs for the three biochemical markers were AUCcTnI 0.938 (95%CI: 0.888-0.988), AUCMyo 0.743 (95%CI: 0.651-0.836), and AUCH-FABP 0.919 (95%CI: 0.873-0.964), respectively. AUCH-FABP was significantly larger than AUCMyo (Plt;0.01). The cutoff values of the three biochemical markers for diagnosing AMI were defined as CutoffcTnI 0.5 ng/mL, CutoffMyo 90 ng/mL, and CutoffH-FABP 5.7 ng/mL, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy of these markers and their combination regimens were calculated and presented as follows (cTnI, Myo, H-FABP, cTnI+Myo, cTnI+H-FABP, cTnI+Myo+H-FABP): sensitivity: 0.804, 0.674, 0.783, 0.957, 0.957 and 0.957; specificity: 0.966, 0.747, 0.954, 0.724, 0.92 and 0.724; diagnostic efficacy: 0.910, 0.722, 0.895, 0.805, 0.932 and 0.805, respectively. Compared with the combination of cTnI+H-FABP, the sensitivities of cTnI (Z=2.261, P=0.024), Myo (Z=3.497, Plt;0.001) and H-FABP (Z=2.478, P=0.013) were significantly lower; the specificities of Myo (Z=3.062, P=0.002), cTnI+Myo (Z=3.378, Plt;0.001) and cTnI+Myo+H-FABP (Z=3.378, Plt;0.001) were significantly lower; and the diagnostic efficacies of Myo (Z=4.528, Plt;0.001), cTnI+Myo (Z=3.064, P=0.002) and cTnI+Myo+H-FABP (Z=3.064, P=0.002) were significantly lower. Conclusion The combination regimen of cTnI+H-FABP which includes H-FABP as the sensitive marker seems to be more effective than the currently used combinations in diagnosing AMI in patients with acute onset of chest pain.
Objective The article introduces the present status of the application of comparative proteomics in study of tumor marker. Methods This essay review the present status and advances of the application of comparative proteomics in study of tumor marker through refer considerable literatures about proteome, proteomics and tumor marker. Results Follow the study of human genome deepening; the paradox between the finiteness of genes’ number and stability of genes’ structure and the variety of the life phenomena is more conspicuous. Then, the study of proteomics was pushed to the advancing front of life science research. The application of comparative proteomics to tumor research becomes a hot spot nowadays. Conclusion Screening tumor marker via comparative proteomics is an extremely promising research.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a multi-effect endocrine factor, mainly secreted in liver and adipose tissue, with the properties of lipid-lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-atherosclerosis. Recent studies found that FGF21 can induce protective effect in cardiovascular disease, and plasma FGF21 levels in patients with disease cardiovascular are elevated. These studies have suggested the use of FGF21 as a biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis and its potential role in the treatment of established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. This article will review the recent advances in the anti-atherosclerosis effect of FGF21.