Serum REG4 protein in pancreatic cancer as a tumor marker: A prospective study

15063 Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) shows the worst mortality rate in common malignancies, with 5-year survival rate of 4%. The only way to cure the disease is surgical resection of early stage PC. Establishment of a screening strategy to detect early stage PC is eagerly expected. REG4, a member of the regenerating islet-derived (REG) family, are secreted proteins that play a role in tissue regeneration and inflammation in digestive organs. We reported overexpression of REG4 in PC cells and serum, and preliminary data of the serum REG4 level of pancreatic disease patients including PC patients. We conducted a prospective study to evaluate the role of serum REG4 in PC. Methods: The series included 57 patients diagnosed pathologically as PC between November 2004 and December 2005. Serum REG4 was quantified by standard sandwich ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) using original kit (MBL116: provided by Medical and Biological Laboratories Co., LTD, Japan) before treatment. The upper limit of the test was set at 3.52ng/ml and was based on studies of serum from 48 healthy control subjects. Results: With a specificity of 100%, the diagnostic sensitivity and accuracy were 63.2% and 80.0%, respectively. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) analysis showed that area under the curve was 0.91. REG4 levels were a significant differences between PC and control (p<0.001), between each T stage and control (T1,T2, T3 or T4 v control), and between each TMN stage and control (stage 1, stage 2, stage 3 or stage 4 v control), but were not a statistical significance with T stage (T1 v T2 v T3 v T4), M stage (M0 v M1) or TNM stage (stage 1 v stage 2 v stage 3 v stage 4) in PC patients. The diagnostic sensitivity of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA>5.0ng/ml) and carbohydrate antigen19–9 (CA19–9>50U/ml) was 56.5% and 68.4%, respectively. No significant correlation was demonstrated between REG4 and CA19–9 (coefficient of correlation [rs]=0.45). Conclusions: This study shows the potential of serum REG4 as a screening test for PC, especially for early PC. REG4 is considered to be a more useful marker in combination with CA19- 9. No significant financial relationships to disclose.

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Alterations in the number of motoneurons containing immunoreactive calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP)& choline acetyltransferase(ChAT) in the cervical spinal cord of the wobbler mouse during the development of the motoneuron disease

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100141226 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. 970-971

Author(s):

L. Vacca-Galloway ◽

Y.Q. Zhang ◽

P. Bose ◽

S.H. Zhang

Keyword(s):

Spinal Cord ◽

Early Stage ◽

Cervical Spinal Cord ◽

Wild Type Mouse ◽

Reflex Response ◽

Mouse Strains ◽

Behavioral Tests ◽

Wobbler Mouse ◽

Stage 4 ◽

Stage 1

The Wobbler mouse (wr) has been studied as a model for inherited human motoneuron diseases (MNDs). Using behavioral tests for forelimb power, walking, climbing, and the “clasp-like reflex” response, the progress of the MND can be categorized into early (Stage 1, age 21 days) and late (Stage 4, age 3 months) stages. Age-and sex-matched normal phenotype littermates (NFR/wr) were used as controls (Stage 0), as well as mice from two related wild-type mouse strains: NFR/N and a C57BI/6N. Using behavioral tests, we also detected pre-symptomatic Wobblers at postnatal ages 7 and 14 days. The mice were anesthetized and perfusion-fixed for immunocytochemical (ICC) of CGRP and ChAT in the spinal cord (C3 to C5).Using computerized morphomety (Vidas, Zeiss), the numbers of IR-CGRP labelled motoneurons were significantly lower in 14 day old Wobbler specimens compared with the controls (Fig. 1). The same trend was observed at 21 days (Stage 1) and 3 months (Stage 4). The IR-CGRP-containing motoneurons in the Wobbler specimens declined progressively with age.

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Temporal changes of quantitative CT findings from 102 patients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: A longitudinal study

Technology and Health Care ◽

10.3233/thc-218027 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 ◽

pp. 297-309

Author(s):

Xiaohui Chen ◽

Wenbo Sun ◽

Dan Xu ◽

Jiaojiao Ma ◽

Feng Xiao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lung Diseases ◽

Early Stage ◽

Temporal Changes ◽

Time Interval ◽

Lesion Area ◽

Quantitative Ct ◽

Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽

Ct Findings ◽

Stage 4 ◽

Stage 1

BACKGROUND: Computed tomography (CT) imaging combined with artificial intelligence is important in the diagnosis and prognosis of lung diseases. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate temporal changes of quantitative CT findings in patients with COVID-19 in three clinic types, including moderate, severe, and non-survivors, and to predict severe cases in the early stage from the results. METHODS: One hundred and two patients with confirmed COVID-19 were included in this study. Based on the time interval between onset of symptoms and the CT scan, four stages were defined in this study: Stage-1 (0 ∼7 days); Stage-2 (8 ∼ 14 days); Stage-3 (15 ∼ 21days); Stage-4 (> 21 days). Eight parameters, the infection volume and percentage of the whole lung in four different Hounsfield (HU) ranges, ((-, -750), [-750, -300), [-300, 50) and [50, +)), were calculated and compared between different groups. RESULTS: The infection volume and percentage of four HU ranges peaked in Stage-2. The highest proportion of HU [-750, 50) was found in the infected regions in non-survivors among three groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate rapid deterioration in the first week since the onset of symptoms in non-survivors. Higher proportion of HU [-750, 50) in the lesion area might be a potential bio-marker for poor prognosis in patients with COVID-19.

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Neuropathic Pain in Children with Sickle Cell Disease: The Hidden Side of the Vaso-Occlusive Crisis

Children ◽

10.3390/children8020084 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Jeanne Sigalla ◽

Nathalie Duparc Alegria ◽

Enora Le Roux ◽

Artemis Toumazi ◽

Anne-Françoise Thiollier ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Neuropathic Pain ◽

Sickle Cell Disease ◽

Sex Ratio ◽

Prospective Study ◽

Sickle Cell ◽

Clinical Presentation ◽

Early Stage ◽

Cell Disease ◽

A Prospective Study

The majority of hospitalizations of patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are related to painful vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs). Although the pain of VOC is classically nociceptive, neuropathic pain (NP) has also been demonstrated in SCD patients. The aim of our study is to specify the prevalence of NP during VOCs in SCD children using a dedicated scale and to measure its characteristics. We performed a prospective study that included SCD children hospitalized for an acute VOC. The presence of NP was sought with the DN4 scale on the second and fourth days of hospitalization. A total of 54 SCD children were included in the study. Overall, 41% of the patients (n = 22) experienced neuropathic pain during the VOC, mostly at an early stage (Day 2). The median age, the sex ratio, the location of the pain, and the morphine consumption were similar for patients with and without NP. Our study shows that neuropathic pain is very common during VOCs in SCD children. The absence of identified risk factors should prompt us to be vigilant regardless of the patient’s age, sex, and clinical presentation.

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