Objective:To investigate the possible interaction of Lp(a), and Lp(a) circulating immune complexes (CIC) 〔Lp(a)-CIC〕 level with triglyceride (TG). Methods:Plasma Lp(a), Lp(a)-CIC and LDL-CIC levels were determined by ELISAs in 232 patients with various dyslipidaemias, respectively. Results:Hypertriglyceridaemic patients exhibited the lowest plasma Lp(a) levels, while hypercholesterolaemic patients exhibited the highest. Patients with mixed hyperlipidaemia had intermediate serum Lp(a) concentrations, which were significantly lower than those in the controls. Interestingly, we also found that hypertriglyceridaemic patients exhibited the lowest plasma Lp(a)-CIC and LDL-CIC levels, while hypercholesterolaemic patients exhibited the highest. TG levels were negatively correlated with Lp(a) (r=-0.15, P

Objective To investigate alterations of balance function in patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) and with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI),and the possibility of using posturography to differentiate aMCI,mild-moderate AD and normal subjects. Methods The balance function of 20 patients with mild-moderate AD and 20 patients with aMCI were evaluated by posturography,and 20 healthy subjects of the same age range were recruited as controls.Results All posturography measures were significantly altered in mild-moderate AD patients compared with normal controls,with limits of stability( ( 15 398 ± 926 ) mm2 vs ( 31 654 ± 2132 ) mm2 ),open-eyed Mean X ( ( 10. 2 ± 4. 1 ) mm vs (5.8 ± 1. 4)mm) ,Mean Y(( -29.8 ± 10.2)mm vs ( -14.9 ±4.4) mm),Max X((30.5 ±9.5)mm vs (18.3 ±4. 1)mm ),Max Y((42.7 ± 11.4)mm vs (23.3 ±6.8)mm),LSKG((528.4 ± 105.4)mm vs (390. 3 ± 68.4 ) mm ),SSKG ( ( 252. 5 ± 89. 7 ) mm2 vs ( 178.8 ± 40. 9 ) mm2 ),close-eyed Mean X ((13. 1 ±4. 5) mm vs (7.9 ± 1.5)mm) ,Mean Y (( -58.2 ± 16. 9) mm vs ( -25.6 ±5.4) mm) ,Max X ((37.7±10.5)mm vs (24.7 ±7.3) mm ),Max Y ((78.5±18.7)mm vs (39.9 ±9.9) mm),LSKG ((816.6±171.3) mm vs (533.5 ±97.4) mm),SSKG((649.0 ± 129.7) mm2 vs (290.5 ±73.3) mm2),respectively ( t = 8.57; open-eyed F = 17.41,38. 10,60. 46,102. 10,29. 31,27. 85; close-eyed F = 37.20,541.79,34. 51,185.56,122. 83,384. 27 ;all P ＜0. 05) ;limits of stability ( (23 921 ± 1637 )mm2 vs (31 654 ±2132 ) mm2 ) and mean Y ( Antero-posterior sway,( - 39. 8 ± 8. 6 ) mm vs ( - 25.6±5.4 ) mm) were the only parameters which discriminated between aMCI and normal controls,respectively ( t = 6. 50,P = 0. 038; t =- 15.34,P = 0. 012). Conclusions Impairment in balance is a feature not only of mild-moderate AD,but also of aMCI,and posturography may be used as a possible test in differentiating between normal subjects,patients with aMCI and patients with mild-moderate AD whose motor performance and balance features are otherwise clinically normal,limits of stability and mean Y are the most sensitive parameters.

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of monomorphic epitheliotropic intestinal T-cell lymphoma (MEITL). Methods: A total of 12 specimens were collected, which were surgically resected and verified as MEITL by postoperative pathology, immumohistochemical staining and gene rearrangement at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from 2012 to 2018, and all of these had complete clinical and pathological data. The MEITL cases were reviewed to compare the clinicopathological characteristics, including morphologic and immunophenotypic features and followed up by telephone and clinic visit. Results: All the cases were diagnosed with MEITL. There were 8 males and 4 females. Male to female ratio was 2∶1, at a median age of 54 years. The sites of involvement included jejunum (4 cases), ileum (5 cases), duodenum (1 case), ileocecal junction (1 case) and rectum (1 case). The neoplastic cells were monotonous of small to intermediate cells in size with round to slightly irregular nuclei in 11 cases. The immunophenotyping showed that CD3 (12/12), CD8 (11/12), CD43 (11/12), CD56 (11/12), TIA-1 (12/12) were positive; CD5 (12/12), Gran B (9/12), and perforin (7/12) were negative. Two cases aberrantly expressed the B-cell marker CD20. A high proliferation index was demonstrated by Ki-67 immunostaining. In situ hybridization for EBER was all negative(12/12). The whole exome sequencing(WES) mutational landscape of MEITL was remarkably homogeneous, showing significantly enriched clusters among histone modifier genes, JAK-STAT and MAPK-signal pathways. Histonelysine N-methytransferase SETD2 gene was mutated in 2/4 tumors. All the patients analyzed harbored at least one mutation in the JAK-STAT signal pathway, including STAT5B (2/4), JAK3 (3/4) and STAT5A (2/4). Furthermore, frequent alterations (TP53) were observed in the MAPK pathway in 3/4 of MEITL cases. The CNV analysis derived from WES data identified multiple regions of frequent gains and losses. In particular, gains in 1q, 7q and 9q, and recurrent losses involving 7p and 8p were observed. Conclusions MEITL is a rare and aggressive type of extranodal T-cell lymphoma. The differential diagnosis of MEITL includes EATL, extranodal NT/T-cell lymphoma and other types of PTCL. Diagnosis should be correlated to clinical symptoms while the final diagnosis is mainly based on the pathological features, immunophenotypes and genetic testing.

Objective: To investigate the levels of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p in children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) and its clinical value as a non-invasive auxiliary diagnostic marker. Methods: Urine samples were collected from 101 INS children and 98 sex- and age-matched healthy children, and the levels of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The clinical value of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p in the diagnosis of children′s INS was evaluated by the ROC curve and correlation analysis. Results: The levels of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p in INS children (2.420 [0.650,9.515] fmol/L) were significantly higher than that in healthy controls (0.360 [0.220,0.653] fmol/L, U=1 552, P＜0.01). Compared with the INS children before treatment, the levels of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p in clinical remission period decreased significantly (0.320 [0.145,0.523] fmol/L vs 0.975 [0.375,4.358] fmol/L, W=708, P＜0.01). Moreover, the levels of miR-194-5p in INS children with heavy urine protein (8.430 [7.225,13.070] fmol/L) were significantly higher than that with light urine protein (2.130 [1.180,3.090] fmol/L, U=0, P＜0.01). The area under the ROC curve (AUC ROC ) of miR-194-5p was 0.843 (95%CI: 0.789-0.897) for the diagnosis of INS children. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the levels of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p in INS children were negatively correlated with serum albumin levels (r=-0.300), and were positively correlated with serum total cholesterol levels (r=0.278) and 24-hour urine protein content (r=0.296, all P＜0.01). Conclusion The levels of urinary exosomal miR-194-5p in INS children increase obviously, and are closely associated with 24-hour urine protein, serum albumin and total cholesterol levels, indicating that urinary exosomal miR-194-5p may be serve as a new non-invasive fluid biopsy molecular marker for the auxiliary diagnosis of INS in children.