经会阴盆底超声联合血清雌二醇对女性压力性尿失禁的诊断价值研究

摘要 目的：研究经会阴盆底超声联合血清雌二醇对女性压力性尿失禁（SUI）的诊断价值。方法：选取川北医学院附属医院2018年1月～2022年12月收治的女性SUI患者81例,记作观察组。另选取同期体检正常女性80例作为对照组。比较两组盆底超声参数以及血清雌二醇水平。采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析上述各项指标单独和联合检测的诊断效能。结果：观察组静息状态下近段尿道和人体纵轴间夹角（UIA）、最大Valsalva动作下近段尿道和膀胱后壁的夹角（PUVA）以及尿道旋转角（URA）相较于对照组较高（均P＜0.05）。观察组血清雌二醇水平相较于对照组明显更低（P＜0.05）。经ROC曲线分析发现：各项盆底超声参数联合血清雌二醇诊断女性SUI的效能优于各项指标单独诊断。结论：经会阴盆底超声可诊断女性SUI,在联合血清雌二醇时诊断女性SUI的价值更高。     

子宫颈机能不全孕妇血清松弛素、弹性蛋白表达意义及对妊娠结局的评估价值研究

摘要 目的：分析子宫颈机能不全孕妇血清松弛素、弹性蛋白表达意义及对妊娠结局的评估价值。方法：选择我院于2020年5月至2022年5月接诊的120例子宫颈机能不全孕妇作为观察组，另选同期的120例正常妊娠孕妇作为对照组。分析血清松弛素、弹性蛋白表达水平，及其与子宫颈机能不全孕妇宫口扩张宽度、宫颈长度的关系，观察血清松弛素、弹性蛋白在早产者与非早产者间的差异性，使用受试者工作特征曲线(ROC)下面积(AUC)评价血清松弛素联合弹性蛋白对早产及围产儿死亡的预测效能。结果：观察组血清松弛素水平较对照组高，弹性蛋白水平较对照组低（P＜0.05）；经Pearson相关性分析，子宫颈机能不全孕妇宫口扩张宽度与血清松弛素水平呈正相关，与弹性蛋白水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）；宫颈长度与血清松弛素水平呈负相关，与弹性蛋白水平呈正相关（P＜0.05）；在120例子宫颈机能不全孕妇中，早产42例、非早产78例；早产组血清松弛素水平高于非早产组，弹性蛋白水平低于非早产组（P＜0.05）；经ROC曲线分析，血清松弛素联合弹性蛋白预测子宫颈机能不全孕妇发生早产的AUC为0.910，预测围产儿死亡的AUC为0.943。结论：血清松弛素水平升高和弹性蛋白水平降低均与子宫颈机能不全有关，两者联合预测早产及围产儿死亡的效能较好，值得进一步研究应用。     

子宫动脉血流参数联合血清PLGF、 PAPP-A预测早孕期不明原因复发性流产孕妇妊娠结局的临床研究

摘要 目的：探讨子宫动脉血流参数联合血清胎盘生长因子（PLGF）、妊娠相关血浆蛋白-A（PAPP-A）对早孕期不明原因复发性流产（URSA）孕妇妊娠结局的预测价值。方法：选取2021年10月-2022年10月我院收治的103例有URSA史的妊娠期孕妇。追踪其妊娠28周的妊娠结局,根据不同妊娠结局将其分为正常妊娠组（n=26）与流产组（n=77）。比较两组子宫动脉血流参数[阻力指数（RI）、搏动指数（PI）、收缩期峰值流速/舒张末期流速（S/D）]及血清PLGF、PAPP-A水平。多因素Logistic回归模型分析早孕期URSA孕妇妊娠结局的影响因素。受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析子宫动脉血流参数联合血清PLGF、PAPP-A对早孕期URSA孕妇妊娠结局的预测价值。结果：流产组PI、RI、S/D显著高于正常妊娠组（P＜0.05）,血清PLGF、PAPP-A水平显著低于正常妊娠组（P＜0.05）。Logistic回归模型显示,PI、RI、S/D升高为早孕期URSA孕妇妊娠结局的危险因素（P＜0.05）,血清PLGF、PAPP-A水平升高则为保护性因素（P＜0.05）。ROC分析结果发现,PI、RI、S/D、PLGF、PAPP-A联合预测早孕期URSA孕妇妊娠结局的效能最高,联合诊断的曲线下面积（AUC）为0.913,显著优于各项指标单独诊断。结论：子宫动脉血流参数联合血清PLGF、PAPP-A预测早孕期URSA孕妇妊娠结局的价值较高。     

超声E成像在非酒精性脂肪性肝病中的诊断价值研究

摘要 目的：研究超声E成像在非酒精性脂肪性肝病中的诊断价值。方法：选取2018年1月-2020年2月我院诊断的非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者120例作为观察组,另外,选取同期健康体检的志愿者101例作为对照组,分别对两组受试者进行超声E成像、MR mDixon序列检查,比较两组受试者以及不同病情严重程度患者的谷丙转氨酶（ALT）、谷草转氨酶（AST）、总胆红素（TBIL）、碱性磷酸酶（ALP）、杨氏模量值（ElastPQ）以及脂肪含量之间的差异,分析患者的病情严重程度与ElastPQ以及脂肪含量的相关性。结果：观察组的ALT、AST、TBIL、ALP、ElastPQ以及脂肪含量显著高于对照组（P＜0.05）;不同病情严重程度患者的ALT、AST、TBIL、ALP、ElastPQ以及脂肪含量之间的差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,ALT、AST、TBIL、ALP、ElastPQ以及脂肪含量从高到低依次为重度组、中度组以及轻度组,患者的病情严重程度与ElastPQ以及脂肪含量呈正相关（P＜0.05）,ElastPQ与脂肪含量呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：超声E成像对于非酒精性脂肪性肝病患者肝脏组织的受损程度具有较高的诊断价值,建议临床推广应用。     

急诊超声心动图联合血清NT-proBNP、cTnI、CK-MB诊断急性心肌梗死的临床价值分析

摘要 目的：研究急诊超声心动图联合血清氨基末端脑钠肽前体（NT-proBNP）、肌钙蛋白（cTnI）和肌酸激酶同工酶（CK-MB）诊断急性心肌梗死（AMI）的临床价值。方法：将2019年12月至2020年6月期间我院收治的82例AMI患者纳入研究,记作病变组。另取同期于我院进行体检的健康者80例作为对照组。比较两组各项超声心动图指标水平,血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB水平。分析超声心动图指标与血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB的相关性。以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析超声心动图联合血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB水平诊断AMI的效能。结果：病变组左心室射血分数（LVEF）低于对照组,而左室舒张末期内径（LVEDD）高于对照组（P＜0.05）。病变组血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB水平均高于对照组（P＜0.05）。Pearson检验显示LVEF与血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB均呈负相关（r=-0.514、-0.578、-0.532,均P＜0.05）,LVEDD与血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB均呈正相关（r=0.625、0.594、0.575,均P＜0.05）。超声心动图联合血清三项诊断AMI的曲线下面积、灵敏度以及特异度均高于超声心动图、血清三项单独诊断。结论：超声心动图联合血清NT-proBNP、cTnI和CK-MB诊断AMI的价值较高,具有一定的临床应用价值。     

超声造影定量参数联合血清TSH、Tg、外周血NLR在甲状腺结节良恶性诊断中的应用价值

摘要 目的：探讨超声造影定量参数联合血清促甲状腺激素（TSH）、甲状腺球蛋白（Tg）、外周血中性粒细胞与淋巴细胞比值（NLR）在甲状腺结节良恶性诊断中的应用价值。方法：选取2020年7月到2022年5月我院收治的80例甲状腺结节患者,根据病理学检查结果将其分为良性组(53例）和恶性组（27例）。所有甲状腺结节患者均行甲状腺超声造影并记录定量参数,检测血清TSH、Tg水平,计算NLR。以术后病理结果为准,采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析超声造影定量参数、血清TSH、Tg及NLR鉴别诊断甲状腺良恶性结节的价值。结果：经组织病理学确诊恶性甲状腺结节27例,良性甲状腺结节53例。恶性组超声造影定量参数平均渡越时间(mTT)、曲线下面积（AUCceus）低于良性组（P＜0.05）,血清TSH、Tg水平及NLR均高于良性组（P＜0.05）。超声造影定量参数mTT、AUCceus联合血清TSH、Tg及NLR鉴别诊断良恶性甲状腺结节的曲线下面积高于以上五项指标单独诊断。结论：恶性甲状腺结节患者超声造影定量参数mTT、AUCceus降低,且血清TSH、Tg水平及NLR增高,超声造影定量参数mTT、AUCceus联合血清TSH、Tg及NLR可提高鉴别诊断良恶性甲状腺结节的效能。     

超声检查参数联合血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1对甲状腺癌的诊断价值及其与淋巴结转移的关系

摘要 目的：探讨超声检查参数联合血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、甲状腺球蛋白（Tg）、半乳糖血凝素-1（Gal-1）对于甲状腺癌的临床诊断价值及其与淋巴结转移的关系。方法：回顾性分析2017年6月至2020年6月入我院就诊的158例甲状腺肿瘤患者的临床资料。77例甲状腺癌患者纳入恶性组,81例甲状腺腺瘤患者纳入良性组,比较两组的超声检查参数及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平;此外,恶性组患者亚分组为淋巴结转移组（n=51）和无淋巴结转移组（n=26）,比较两组超声检查参数及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平。以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析超声检查参数联合血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1对甲状腺癌的诊断效能。采用Sprearman相关系数分析各指标水平变化与甲状腺癌患者发生淋巴结转移的相关性。结果：恶性组患者的血管化指数（VI）、血流指数（FI）及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平均高于良性组患者（P＜0.05）;淋巴转移组患者的VI、FI及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平均高于无淋巴结转移组患者（P＜0.05）;超声检查参数VI、FI联合血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1诊断甲状腺癌的曲线下面积为0.933、敏感度为85.50%、特异度为80.00%,均明显高于五项指标单独检测。Spearman相关性分析结果显示,超声检查参数VI、FI以及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1与甲状腺癌患者淋巴结转移均呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：联合检测超声检查参数VI、FI及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1对甲状腺癌有较高的早期诊断价值,且上述指标均与患者淋巴结转移密切相关。     

彩色多普勒超声结合血清CA153、MUC1、GDF3对早期乳腺癌的诊断价值研究

摘要 目的：分析彩色多普勒超声结合血清糖类抗原153（CA153）、黏蛋白1（MUC1）、人生长分化因子3（GDF3）对早期乳腺癌的诊断价值。方法：选取2019年1月至2022年10月我院收治的105例乳腺癌患者（乳腺癌组）。另选取我院同期收治的乳腺良性疾病患者94例（良性组）及体检健康女性91例（对照组）。三组均进行彩色多普勒超声和CA153、MUC1、GDF3水平检查,并以临床病理诊断为金标准,分析彩色多普勒超声、血清CA153、MUC1、GDF3单独及联合对早期乳腺癌的诊断价值。结果：对照组超声双侧乳腺的轮廓清晰,未见明显的增厚,腺体结构未见明显异常改变,回声均匀。乳腺癌组纵横比≥1、血流分级II-III级、肿瘤形态不规则、后方回声衰减、边界模糊、有微小钙化、有毛刺征所占比例高于良性组（P＜0.05）。乳腺癌组血清CA153、MUC1、GDF3水平均高于对照组和良性组（P<0.05）,且良性组高于对照组（P<0.05）。乳腺癌组血清CA153、MUC1、GDF3和彩色多普勒超声及4项联合检测阳性率明显高于良性组和对照组（P＜0.05）,良性组和对照组CA153、MUC1、GDF3及4项联合检测阳性率比较差异无统计学意义（P＞0.05）,而良性组彩色多普勒超声检出阳性率高于对照组（P＜0.05）。3项血清标志物中CA153的灵敏度、特异度、准确度最高为52.38%、89.73%、76.21%,彩色多普勒超声的灵敏度、特异度、准确度分别为84.76%、83.24%、83.79%,4项联合的灵敏度、准确度最高为94.28%,88.27%,特异度为84.86%。结论：CA153、MUC1、GDF3在乳腺癌患者中均呈现高水平状态,彩色多普勒超声联合上述3类指标检测可提高对早期乳腺癌的诊断效能。     

妊娠早期流产的阴道超声影像表现及与血清瘦素、ADAM12、CA-125水平的相关性研究

摘要 目的：探讨妊娠早期流产的阴道超声影像表现及与血清瘦素、融合素 -α（ADAM12）、糖类抗原 -125（CA-125）的相关性。方法：选取 2017年 7月 -2020年 9月于我院就诊的 419例具有早期先兆流产征象的孕妇患者,按妊娠结局分为妊娠早期流产组（流产组,61例）和正常早期妊娠组（正常组,358例）。所有患者均进行阴道超声检查,观察卵黄囊的大小和形态。测定胎儿冠臀长（CRL）、胎囊直径（GSD）、卵黄囊直径（YSD）和胎心率（FHR）。同时检测患者血清瘦素、ADAM12、CA-125水平。采用 Spearman秩相关分析评价阴道超声影像学表现与血清瘦素、ADAM12、CA-125水平的相关性。结果：正常组孕妇超声影像表现可见孕囊形态饱满,孕周和胎芽大小相符,可清晰显示原始心管、卵黄囊和胎心波动。流产组孕妇部分超声影像表现可见卵黄囊过大、过小或未见显示,胎芽略小,卵囊位置位于宫腔中下段,孕囊外形稍欠规则,同时可见原始心管或胎心波动。流产组孕妇平均 CRL、GSD、FHR均显著低于正常组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;流产组患者平均 YSD稍低于常组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。流产组孕妇各孕周 CRL、GSD、FHR均显著低于正常组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）;流产组患者第 6-7周 YSD高于正常组、第8-9周和第 10-11周 YSD低于正常组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。流产组患者血清瘦素、ADAM12水平明显低于正常妊娠组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）,流产组患者血清 CA-125水平明显高于正常妊娠组,差异有统计学意义（P＜0.05）。妊娠早期流产患者阴道超声参数 CRL、GSD、FHR与血清瘦素、ADAM12呈正相关（P＜0.05）,与 CA-125水平呈负相关（P＜0.05）。结论：妊娠早期阴道超声及血清瘦素、ADAM12、CA-125可作为早期流产的有效预测因素,阴道超声参数 CRL、GSD、FHR与血清瘦素、ADAM12、CA-125水平具有相关性,临床可通过测定这些指标以提高妊娠早期流产预测的准确性。     

彩色多普勒超声联合血清P53、midkine、S-TK1鉴别甲状腺结节良恶性的临床价值研究

摘要 目的：研究彩色多普勒超声联合血清P53、midkine及胸苷激酶1（S-TK1）鉴别甲状腺结节良恶性的临床价值。方法：将2015年1月～2020年1月我院收治的420例甲状腺结节患者纳入研究。将其按照术后病理学检查结果的不同分成恶性结节组150例与良性结节组270例。比较两组各项超声图像特征,血清P53、midkine及S-TK1水平。以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析彩色多普勒超声联合血清P53、midkine、S-TK1或以上方式单独检测诊断甲状腺恶性结节的能效。结果：恶性结节组超声图像特征中形态不规则,边界不清晰,无包膜,内部钙化以及血流分级为2～3级人数占比均高于良性结节组（P＜0.05）。恶性结节组血清P53、midkine及S-TK1水平均高于良性结节组（P＜0.05）。经ROC曲线分析可得：彩色多普勒超声联合血清P53、midkine、S-TK1诊断甲状腺恶性结节的曲线下面积为0.895、灵敏度为0.92以及特异度为0.88均高于上述方式单独检测。结论：彩色多普勒超声联合血清P53、midkine及S-TK1鉴别甲状腺结节良恶性的临床价值较高。     

Simple new test for rapid differentiation ofPrototheca stagnora fromP. wickerhamii andP. zopfii

A simple new test to differentiatePrototheca wickerhamii andP. zopfii fromP. stagnora by determining susceptibility to neomycin is described. Susceptibility determined using a 30 µg neomycin disk provides a rapid and reliable means of distinguishingP. wickerhamii andP. zopfii fromP. stagnora.     

A five-minute DNA extraction method for expedited detection of Phytophthora ramorum following prescreening using Phytophthora spp. lateral flow devices

In a direct comparison with established methods for Phytophthora ramorum detection (isolation followed by morphological identification, or conventional DNA extraction followed by TaqMan real-time PCR) a rapid, simplified detection method in which membranes of lateral flow devices (LFDs) are added directly to TaqMan real-time PCR reactions was used to test 202 plant samples collected by plant health inspectors in the field. P. ramorum prevalence within the 202 samples was approximately 40% according to routine testing by isolation or TaqMan real-time PCR. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the rapid detection method were 96.3% and 91.2%, respectively. This method can be used in conjunction with Phytophthora spp. lateral flow devices to reduce the number of samples requiring testing using more laborious conventional methods. The effect of combining prescreening for Phytophthora spp. with P. ramorum-specific tests is discussed in terms of the positive and negative predictive values of species-specific detection when testing samples collected in different inspection scenarios.     

国产人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV-1/2)抗体酶标诊断试剂盒特异性评价

对国内６个厂家生产的人类免疫缺陷病毒（ＨＩＶ－１／２）抗体酶标诊断试剂盒以不同人群标本进行特异性评价。经过筛查显示,我国抗ＨＩＶ诊断试剂特异性检出约在８‰以内,阴性参比品特异性检测各试剂厂家约控制在５％以内。同时对国内外生产的试剂进行了比较     

血清铜蓝蛋白联合透明质酸检测在肝纤维化患者诊断中的应用

目的探讨血清铜蓝蛋白(CP)联合透明质酸(HA)检测在肝纤维化患者诊断中的应用前景。方法选取2015年1月至2018年12月本院收治的疑似肝纤维化患者226例为研究对象,对患者的CP、HA水平进行联合检测,根据各项指标检测水平对患者做出诊断,并与金标准诊断方法肝穿刺活检结果进行对比。对CP、HA单独检测和联合检测的诊断结果进行统计对比,并对各组检查方法的灵敏度、特异度、假阳性率、假阴性率、准确度等进行统计对比,比较不同检查方法在不同肝纤维化分级患者中的诊断正确率。结果 226例患者中金标准诊断201例(88.94%)为肝纤维化,CP单独检测检出154例(68.14%),HA单独检测检出143例(63.27%),CP+HA联合检测检出195例(86.28%)。经Kappa一致性检验分析CP+HA联合检测与金标准结果有高度一致性,CP、HA单独检测与金标准结果为中等一致性。CP+HA联合检测的灵敏度、特异度、准确度均高于CP、HA单独检测,方法间比较差异有统计学意义(χ~2=11.602、55.959、78.047,P=0.003、0.039、0.002)。在不同分级肝纤维化患者中,CP+HA联合检测在Ⅰ级、Ⅱ级纤维化检出率高于CP、HA单独检测,方法间比较差异有统计学意义(χ~2=9.432、8.324,P=0.007、0.010)。结论 CP联合HA检测在肝纤维化患者诊断中应用情况良好,有较高的诊断正确率,且对症状程度较轻的肝纤维化患者有较高的检出率,可作为肝纤维化诊断检查的主要手段加以推广应用。     

Estimating the capacity for improvement in risk prediction with a marker

Consider a set of baseline predictors X to predict a binaryoutcome D and let Y be a novel marker or predictor. This paperis concerned with evaluating the performance of the augmentedrisk model P(D = 1|Y,X) compared with the baseline model P(D= 1|X). The diagnostic likelihood ratio, DLR_X(y), quantifiesthe change in risk obtained with knowledge of Y = y for a subjectwith baseline risk factors X. The notion is commonly used inclinical medicine to quantify the increment in risk predictiondue to Y. It is contrasted here with the notion of covariate-adjustedeffect of Y in the augmented risk model. We also propose methodsfor making inference about DLR_X(y). Case–control studydesigns are accommodated. The methods provide a mechanism toinvestigate if the predictive information in Y varies with baselinecovariates. In addition, we show that when combined with a baselinerisk model and information about the population distributionof Y given X, covariate-specific predictiveness curves can beestimated. These curves are useful to an individual in decidingif ascertainment of Y is likely to be informative or not forhim. We illustrate with data from 2 studies: one is a studyof the performance of hearing screening tests for infants, andthe other concerns the value of serum creatinine in diagnosingrenal artery stenosis.     

内蒙古典型草原禾本科植硅体形态

运用地层中植硅体组合解释过去草原植被及气候变化的关键之一,是要了解研究区现代植硅体形态及表土植硅体组合与现代植被的关系。文中研究内蒙古典型草原禾本科植物根、茎、叶、芒以及种子等不同部位的植硅体,对其中的12种主要禾本科植物叶表皮短细胞硅酸体进行分类及统计。研究表明：内蒙古典型草原禾本科叶表皮短细胞硅酸体可分为8种特殊形态类型。C3植物早熟禾亚科的叶表皮短细胞硅酸体形态多样。几乎所有早熟禾亚科都能产生圆型硅酸体,以贝加尔针茅(85．5％)、大针茅(89．7％)、克氏针茅(90％)以及芨芨草(96．6％)中的圆型硅酸体含量最丰富。针茅哑铃型主要见于针茅植物叶表皮短细胞中,克氏针茅的针茅哑铃型含量相对较高。羊草中未见针茅哑铃型硅酸体。浴草、披缄草叶表皮短细胞硅酸体以齿型为主,分别含87．3％和57．2％,齿型在硬质早熟禾中也占一定比例。沙生冰草中的脊圆型占优势,含74．4％。C3植物早熟禾亚科的叶表皮短细胞产生的截锥型硅酸体含量较少。C4植物虎尾草亚科中的糙隐子草叶表皮短细胞硅酸体以黍哑铃型、简单哑铃型、鞍型为主;黍亚科狗尾草则以黍哑铃型占优势(82．9％)。     

Bombyx mori used as a fast detection model of liver melanization after a clinical drug – Acetaminophen exposure

Acetaminophen (APAP) is an effective and widely used analgesic. However, APAP overdose is the principal cause of acute liver failure (ALF) in many countries. Here, we report the phenomenon of liver melanization which occurred before APAP-induced ALF in mice. A melanic surface induced by APAP which was time- and dose-dependent in the silkworm invertebrate model was observed. In addition, an APAP-induced acute tissue failure model (ATF) was established using a metabolic detoxification tissue fat body which simulated mouse liver. An investigation of the anabolic mechanism of melanin in experimental animals showed that dopaquinone and dopamine which were synthesized from tyrosine via dopa in silkworms were further metabolized to melanin, while in mice, epinephrine was synthesized via the dopamine branch and melanin was only synthesized via the dopaquinone branch. On this basis, it is proposed that melanin-metabolic levels in plasma could be used as an early diagnostic marker of APAP overdose and the black spots on insect epidermis could be used as a fast detection model of toxicity.     

Design of a polytopic construct of LACK,TSA and GP63 proteins for the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis: An in silico strategy

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), which is caused by different species of the genus Leishmania, including L. major, is a significant parasitic disease worldwide. Commercial leishmaniasis diagnostic kits frequently target the entire parasite antigen, although this approach can reduce the specificity of the tests. The present study sought to increase the specificity of antigen detection tests by identifying the B-cell epitopes on the surface of the protozoa and developing an antigenic multiepitope construct to react with the system of B-cell epitopes unique to L. major. More specifically, the linear and conformational B-cell epitopes for three L. major proteins, namely, GP63, LACK, and TSA, were predicted using the ABCprd, IEDB, LBtope, CBTOPE, and DiscoTope servers. The three-dimensional structures of these proteins, as well as of the complete multiepitope, were predicted using the I-TASSER server. The multiepitope structure models were validated by means of Ramachandran plots and the Prosa and Verify3D servers. The multiepitope construct was evaluated using the ProtParam and SOLpro servers. The synthesized multiepitope was then successfully expressed into a pET28a plasmid. The expression was confirmed using SDS-PAGE and dot blot techniques. Moreover, the expressed protein was evaluated by means of Western blotting. A band of approximately 39 kDa was observed by SDS-PAGE. The rGLT-pET-28a showed a high response with the 1:1000 dilution of the anti-His-tag monoclonal antibody by Western blot. The results of this study indicated that the integrated GP63, LACK, and TSA multiepitope antigens of L. major represent a potential target for a novel diagnostic kit for CL.     

Establishing the European diagnostic reference levels for interventional cardiology

Interventional cardiac procedures may be associated with high patient doses and therefore require special attention to protect the patients from radiation injuries such as skin erythema, cardiovascular tissue reactions or radiation-induced cancer. In this study, patient exposure data is collected from 13 countries (37 clinics and nearly 50 interventional rooms) and for 10 different procedures. Dose data was collected from a total of 14,922 interventional cardiology procedures. Based on these data European diagnostic reference levels (DRL) for air kerma-area product are suggested for coronary angiography (CA, DRL = 35 Gy cm²), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI, 85 Gy cm²), transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI, 130 Gy cm²), electrophysiological procedures (12 Gy cm²) and pacemaker implantations. Pacemaker implantations were further divided into single-chamber (2.5 Gy cm²) and dual chamber (3.5 Gy cm²) procedures and implantations of cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemaker (18 Gy cm²). Results show that relatively new techniques such as TAVI and treatment of chronic total occlusion (CTO) often produce relatively high doses, and thus emphasises the need for use of an optimization tool such as DRL to assist in reducing patient exposure. The generic DRL presented here facilitate comparison of patient exposure in interventional cardiology.     

Metabolic genes in cancer: Their roles in tumor progression and clinical implications

Re-programming of metabolic pathways is a hallmark of physiological changes in cancer cells. The expression of certain genes that directly control the rate of key metabolic pathways including glycolysis, lipogenesis and nucleotide synthesis are drastically altered at different stages of tumor progression. These alterations are generally considered as an adaptation of tumor cells; however, they also contribute to the progression of tumor cells to become more aggressive phenotypes. This review summarizes the recent information about the mechanistic link of these genes to oncogenesis and their potential utility as diagnostic markers as well as for therapeutic targets. We particularly focus on three groups of genes; GLUT1, G6PD, TKTL1 and PGI/AMF in glycolytic pathway, ACLY, ACC1 and FAS in lipogenesis and RRM2, p53R2 and TYMS for nucleotide synthesis. All these genes are highly up-regulated in a variety of tumor cells in cancer patients, and they play active roles in tumor progression rather than expressing merely as a consequence of phenotypic change of the cancer cells. Molecular dissection of their orchestrated networks and understanding the exact mechanism of their expression will provide a window of opportunity to target these genes for specific cancer therapy. We also reviewed existing database of gene microarray to validate the utility of these genes for cancer diagnosis.