Background Elevation of soluble major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (sMICA) products in serum has been linked to tissue/organ transplantation, autoimmune diseases and some malignant disorders. Cells infected by microbiological pathogens may release sMICA, whereas less is known whether and to what extent serum sMICA levels may change in infectious diseases. Methods The present study determined serum sMICA levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in a southern China population, including patients (n = 1041) suffering from several types of malignant and infectious diseases and healthy controls (n = 141). Results Relative to controls, serum sMICA elevation was significant in patients of hepatic cancer, and was approaching statistical significance in patients with lung, gastric and nasopharyngeal cancers. sMICA elevation was also associated with some bacterial (Enterobacteriaceae, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive cocci), viral (hepatitis B and C) and the Microspironema pallidum infections. Conclusion Serum sMICA levels may be informative for the diagnosis of some malignant and infectious diseases. The results also indicate that microbiological infections should be considered as a potential confounding clinical condition causing serum sMICA elevation while using this test to evaluate the status of other disorders, such as cancers, host-graft response and autoimmune diseases.

Objective: To investigate the antagonist effect of ghrelin on ox-LDLinduced HUVECs apoptosis. Methods: Hoechst33258 fluorescein stain, Western-blot and nitrate reductase assay were used in this study. Results: Hoechst 33258 staining assay showed the number of cells with nuclear condensation increased significantly in ox-LDL group as compared with that in the control group. Pre-treatment with different concentrations (1, 10 or 100 ng/ml) of ghrelin caused a decreased apoptotic proportion. As shown in Western-blot, compared with the control group, expression of Caspase-3 induced by ox-LDL (50 mg/L) increased significantly. The expression levels with different concentrations (1, 10 or 100 μg/L) of ghrelin was decreased. As shown in nitrate reductase assay, compared with the control group, the NO production induced by ox-LDL (50 mg/L) increased significantly (P < 0.01). Pre-treatment with different concentrations (1, 10 or 100 μg/L) of ghrelin caused an increased NO production. Conclusion: Ghrelin has antagonist effect on ox-LDL induced HUVECs apoptosis, which contributes to inhibition of Caspase-3 expression and increasing of NO content.

Objective: To detect the level change of soluble B7-H4 in molecule serum of lung cancer patients and to discuss its clinical significance.Methods: ELISA sandwich method was used to detect the level of soluble B7-H4 in serum of 37 cases of lung cancer,and microparticle chemiluminescence method was used to detect the change of CA125 levels in patients before and after treatment.Then correlation of soluble B7-H4 to CA125 levels,pathological types and diagnosis were analyzed.The serum samples of 30 healthy women were selected as control.Results: Compared with the healthy group,the serum level of soluble B7-H4 in lung cancer patients before treatment was obviously higher than that after treatment([1.53±0.22] μg/L vs.[0.96±0.17] μg/L),with statistically significant difference(P0.01).Also it were found that B7-H4 levels in serum of adenocarcinoma patients was(2.05 ± 0.33) μg/L,much higher than that in small cell carcinoma,large cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma patients,and the difference was statistically significant(P0.05).The sensitivity of B7-H4 molecules was 62.2%,lower than that of the CA125 molecule which was 75.7%;while the sensitivity became up to 91.9% when the two were used in combination.The serum level of sB7-H4 was positively correlated with that of CA125(P0.01)in lung cancer patients.Conclusion: Serum levels of B7-H4 in patients with lung cancer is closely related to the pathological types.B7-H4 molecule can be used as an important reference index in diagnosis of adenocarcinoma,but was not recommended as an indicators in the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma.