BACKGROUND Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise in the detection and quantification of hepatic fibrosis. In addition, the liver has numerous endogenous micro-RNAs(miRs) that play important r...BACKGROUND Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise in the detection and quantification of hepatic fibrosis. In addition, the liver has numerous endogenous micro-RNAs(miRs) that play important roles in the regulation of biological processes such as cell proliferation and hepatic fibrosis.AIM To assess diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and miRs in diagnosing and staging hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.METHODS This prospective study included 208 patients and 82 age-and sex-matched controls who underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen, miR profiling, and liver biopsy. Pathological scoring was classified according to the METAVIR scoring system. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and miR were calculated and correlated with pathological scoring.RESULTS The ADC value decreased significantly with the progression of fibrosis, from controls(F0) to patients with early fibrosis(F1 and F2) to those with late fibrosis(F3 and F4)(median 1.92, 1.53, and 1.25 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s, respectively)(P = 0.001).The cut-off ADC value used to differentiate patients from controls was 1.83 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s with an area under the curve(AUC) of 0.992. Combining ADC and miR-200 b revealed the highest AUC(0.995) for differentiating patients from controls with an accuracy of 96.9%. The cut-off ADC used to differentiate early fibrosis from late fibrosis was 1.54 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s with an AUC of 0.866. The combination of ADC and miR-200 b revealed the best AUC(0.925) for differentiating early fibrosis from late fibrosis with an accuracy of 80.2%. The ADC correlated with miR-200 b(r =-0.61, P = 0.001), miR-21(r =-0.62, P = 0.001), and miR-29(r = 0.52,P = 0.001).CONCLUSION Combining ADC and miRs offers an alternative surrogate non-invasive diagnostic tool for diagnosing and staging hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.展开更多
The feasibility of using two types of biochars to reduce steroid hormone pollution from poultry and swine manure application on agricultural land was evaluated. The sorption affinity and desorption resistance of softw...The feasibility of using two types of biochars to reduce steroid hormone pollution from poultry and swine manure application on agricultural land was evaluated. The sorption affinity and desorption resistance of softwood and hardwood biochars were also determined for two estrogen hormones, 17β-estradiol （E2） and its primary metabolite estrone （E1）. The softwood and hardwood biochars demonstrated high retention capacity for both estrogens. The effective distribution coefficient （Kedff） of soil-softwood-derived biochar （SBS450） was significantly higher than soil-hardwood-derived biochar （SBH750）, indicating the stronger sorption affinity of SBS450 for estrogens. To validate the laboratory results, a field lysimeter experiment was conducted to study the fate and transport of E2 and E1 in soil and leachate in the presence of 1% softwood-biochar （BS450） in topsoil and to compare it with soil without any amendments. The spatio-temporal distribution of both estrogens was monitored at four depths over a 46-day period. The lysimeters, in which the surface layer of soil was amended with biochar, retained significantly higher concentrations of both estrogen hormones. Although they leached through the soil and were detected in leachates, collected at 1.0 m depth, the concentrations were significantly lower in the leachate collected from biochar-amended lysimeters. The result confirmed the efficacy of biochar amendment as a remediation technique to alleviate the manure-borne hormonal pollution of groundwater.展开更多
Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the effect of percutaneous atrial septal defect(ASD)closure in children using right heart indices and serum galectin-3(Gal-3),as potential biomarkers of right heart remodeling.Methods:T...Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the effect of percutaneous atrial septal defect(ASD)closure in children using right heart indices and serum galectin-3(Gal-3),as potential biomarkers of right heart remodeling.Methods:This case–control prospective study included 40 children with ASD and 25 control subjects.An echocardiographic evaluation was performed before the procedure,as well as 24 h,1 month,and 6 months after intervention.Serum Gal-3 was measured before,and 1 month after the procedure.Results:Serum Gal-3 concentration,right atrial(RA)dimensions,right ventricular(RV)dimensions,indexed RA area,and right index of myocardial performance(RIMP)were significantly increased in children with ASD compared with control subjects while tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)was significantly decreased.Six months after closure,RA,and RV dimensions significantly decreased and RVfunction improved(RIMP decreased and TAPSE increased).Gal-3 oncentration significantly decreased 1 month after ASD closure,but it did not reach normal range compared with control subjects.A positive correlation between Gal-3 and age at closure,RA area,RV dimensions,and RIMP was observed.A positive correlation was observed between the decrease in Gal-3 concentration and the decrease in RA area and RV dimensions 1 month after ASD closure.A significant negative correlation was observed between TAPSE and Gal-3 concentration before and after intervention.Conclusions:Percutaneous ASD closure can improve right-sided indices and decrease serum Gal-3 concentration.Gal-3 can be used as a sensitive biomarker of right heart remodeling,with a decrease in Gal-3 concentration suggesting reversal of maladaptive remodeling.展开更多
The current standard of treatment for HCV is the combination of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Response to therapy is influenced by different factors related to virus or host characteristics. In t...The current standard of treatment for HCV is the combination of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Response to therapy is influenced by different factors related to virus or host characteristics. In this study we detected HCV genotype in some patients with chronic HCV infection—who received interferon plus ribavirin therapy and evaluating some risk factors in early resistance to treatment. These risk factors included age, gender, ALT& AST levels, HCV viral load & genotype. This study included 60 patients with chronic HCV infection and subjected to PEG-INF plus RBV therapy. 40 (gp I) had developed resistance after 12 weeks;while group II are the responders. on comparing patients in group I n = 40 (who developed resistance) to patients in group 2, no = 20 (responders), it has been found that the most important risk factors for developing resistance are the increased viral load of HCV-RNA, and AST.HCV-genotype as a risk factor was significantly higher among cases with genotype 1 and 4 and P value was 0.004. This was followed by ALT and AFP as risk factors with P value 0.004 for each and age with P value 0.026. However, regarding sex of the patients there was no significant difference between group I and II. In conclusion: the most frequent HCV genotype in resistant group were genotype I and IV, while in responder patient were genotype 2 & 3. The most important risk factor in this study is viral load and HCV genotype.展开更多
基金Science and Technology Development Foundation(STDF),Project NO.3457(TC/4/Health/2010/hep-1.6)
文摘BACKGROUND Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging has shown promise in the detection and quantification of hepatic fibrosis. In addition, the liver has numerous endogenous micro-RNAs(miRs) that play important roles in the regulation of biological processes such as cell proliferation and hepatic fibrosis.AIM To assess diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging and miRs in diagnosing and staging hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.METHODS This prospective study included 208 patients and 82 age-and sex-matched controls who underwent diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen, miR profiling, and liver biopsy. Pathological scoring was classified according to the METAVIR scoring system. The apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and miR were calculated and correlated with pathological scoring.RESULTS The ADC value decreased significantly with the progression of fibrosis, from controls(F0) to patients with early fibrosis(F1 and F2) to those with late fibrosis(F3 and F4)(median 1.92, 1.53, and 1.25 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s, respectively)(P = 0.001).The cut-off ADC value used to differentiate patients from controls was 1.83 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s with an area under the curve(AUC) of 0.992. Combining ADC and miR-200 b revealed the highest AUC(0.995) for differentiating patients from controls with an accuracy of 96.9%. The cut-off ADC used to differentiate early fibrosis from late fibrosis was 1.54 × 10^(-3) mm^2/s with an AUC of 0.866. The combination of ADC and miR-200 b revealed the best AUC(0.925) for differentiating early fibrosis from late fibrosis with an accuracy of 80.2%. The ADC correlated with miR-200 b(r =-0.61, P = 0.001), miR-21(r =-0.62, P = 0.001), and miR-29(r = 0.52,P = 0.001).CONCLUSION Combining ADC and miRs offers an alternative surrogate non-invasive diagnostic tool for diagnosing and staging hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
文摘The feasibility of using two types of biochars to reduce steroid hormone pollution from poultry and swine manure application on agricultural land was evaluated. The sorption affinity and desorption resistance of softwood and hardwood biochars were also determined for two estrogen hormones, 17β-estradiol （E2） and its primary metabolite estrone （E1）. The softwood and hardwood biochars demonstrated high retention capacity for both estrogens. The effective distribution coefficient （Kedff） of soil-softwood-derived biochar （SBS450） was significantly higher than soil-hardwood-derived biochar （SBH750）, indicating the stronger sorption affinity of SBS450 for estrogens. To validate the laboratory results, a field lysimeter experiment was conducted to study the fate and transport of E2 and E1 in soil and leachate in the presence of 1% softwood-biochar （BS450） in topsoil and to compare it with soil without any amendments. The spatio-temporal distribution of both estrogens was monitored at four depths over a 46-day period. The lysimeters, in which the surface layer of soil was amended with biochar, retained significantly higher concentrations of both estrogen hormones. Although they leached through the soil and were detected in leachates, collected at 1.0 m depth, the concentrations were significantly lower in the leachate collected from biochar-amended lysimeters. The result confirmed the efficacy of biochar amendment as a remediation technique to alleviate the manure-borne hormonal pollution of groundwater.
文摘Objectives:We aimed to evaluate the effect of percutaneous atrial septal defect(ASD)closure in children using right heart indices and serum galectin-3(Gal-3),as potential biomarkers of right heart remodeling.Methods:This case–control prospective study included 40 children with ASD and 25 control subjects.An echocardiographic evaluation was performed before the procedure,as well as 24 h,1 month,and 6 months after intervention.Serum Gal-3 was measured before,and 1 month after the procedure.Results:Serum Gal-3 concentration,right atrial(RA)dimensions,right ventricular(RV)dimensions,indexed RA area,and right index of myocardial performance(RIMP)were significantly increased in children with ASD compared with control subjects while tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion(TAPSE)was significantly decreased.Six months after closure,RA,and RV dimensions significantly decreased and RVfunction improved(RIMP decreased and TAPSE increased).Gal-3 oncentration significantly decreased 1 month after ASD closure,but it did not reach normal range compared with control subjects.A positive correlation between Gal-3 and age at closure,RA area,RV dimensions,and RIMP was observed.A positive correlation was observed between the decrease in Gal-3 concentration and the decrease in RA area and RV dimensions 1 month after ASD closure.A significant negative correlation was observed between TAPSE and Gal-3 concentration before and after intervention.Conclusions:Percutaneous ASD closure can improve right-sided indices and decrease serum Gal-3 concentration.Gal-3 can be used as a sensitive biomarker of right heart remodeling,with a decrease in Gal-3 concentration suggesting reversal of maladaptive remodeling.
文摘The current standard of treatment for HCV is the combination of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV). Response to therapy is influenced by different factors related to virus or host characteristics. In this study we detected HCV genotype in some patients with chronic HCV infection—who received interferon plus ribavirin therapy and evaluating some risk factors in early resistance to treatment. These risk factors included age, gender, ALT& AST levels, HCV viral load & genotype. This study included 60 patients with chronic HCV infection and subjected to PEG-INF plus RBV therapy. 40 (gp I) had developed resistance after 12 weeks;while group II are the responders. on comparing patients in group I n = 40 (who developed resistance) to patients in group 2, no = 20 (responders), it has been found that the most important risk factors for developing resistance are the increased viral load of HCV-RNA, and AST.HCV-genotype as a risk factor was significantly higher among cases with genotype 1 and 4 and P value was 0.004. This was followed by ALT and AFP as risk factors with P value 0.004 for each and age with P value 0.026. However, regarding sex of the patients there was no significant difference between group I and II. In conclusion: the most frequent HCV genotype in resistant group were genotype I and IV, while in responder patient were genotype 2 & 3. The most important risk factor in this study is viral load and HCV genotype.
