Air ; analysis ; Alcohols ; analysis ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; Workplace

OBJECTIVETo establish the median of serum markers for second trimester screening in Qingdao region and to assess the influence of median correction on the performance of screening.

METHODSMaternal serum alpha-fetoproteins (AFP), human chorionic gonadotrophin, free beta subunit (β -HCG) and unconjugated oestriol (uE3) were assayed for prenatal screening of 18 188 singleton pregnancies at 15-20(+ 6) weeks gestation from January 2009 to July 2010. The median of serum markers was calculated based on above results and applied for risk estimation in screening for fetal aneuploidy from August 2010 to March 2011. The screening performance, specified in terms of detection rates (DRs), false positive rates (FPRs) and odds of being affected given a positive result (OAPR) were compared between the two groups. The risks of 45 affected pregnancies detected during the study were estimated with both Caucasian and corrected medians.

RESULTSThe average level of AFP in local pregnancies was similar to that of the Caucasian population, whilst β -HCG and uE3 were respectively 11% and 33% higher than those of Caucasians. The multiple of median (MoM) value was between 0.94 and 1.02 for the dataset based on the corrected median. At a cut-off of l in 270, FPR has decreased from 5.2% to 4.9%, and DR of Down syndrome has increased from 60% to 69.2%, and OAPR has increased from 1:79 to 1:59 when evaluating risk based on the corrected median. For the 45 affected pregnancies, three Down syndrome pregnancies could be missed because their risk estimates were lower than the cut-off level based on Caucasian median.

CONCLUSIONIt is useful to establish and apply population and laboratory-specific medians in order to improve the performance of prenatal screening and diagnosis.

Adult ; Biomarkers ; blood ; Estriol ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lindane ; blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; methods ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo provide basis for selecting the suitable method of Down's syndrome biochemical screening in the second trimester pregnancy.

METHODSA total of 30 547 singleton pregnancies between 14 and 20(+ 6) weeks of pregnancy were collected and analyzed for maternal serum alpha-fetoproteins (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotrophin, free beta subunit (beta-HCG) with or without unconjugated estriol (uE3). The screening risks were calculated using the software Lifecycle. The detection rates and the cost of per Down's syndrome detected were calculated and compared. And four different methods were compared in a series of 64 serum samples from Down's syndrome pregnancies.

RESULTS(1) Among the 64 affected cases, the detection rate of Down's syndrome was improved no matter in the double test (DT) or in the triple test (TT) if software Lifecycle (LC) was used to evaluate risks. And it was not suitable to evaluate risks with software 2T-Risks in the triple tests. (2) In the cohort of 30 547 singleton pregnancies, the detection rate of Down's syndrome with project DT-LC, which was double test using AFP and free beta-HCG together with software Lifecycle, and project TT-LC, which was triple test using AFP, free beta-HCG and uE3 together with software Lifecycle, was 56.25% and 57.14%, respectively. The former project was better because it decreased the false positive rate at a lower running cost.

CONCLUSIONThe DT-LC is an effective screening strategy for second trimester detection of fetal Down's syndrome in mainland China.

Adult ; Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human ; blood ; Down Syndrome ; blood ; diagnosis ; Estriol ; blood ; Female ; Genetic Testing ; methods ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; blood ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; economics ; methods ; Young Adult ; alpha-Fetoproteins ; metabolism

AIM To optimize the aqueous extraction for polysaccharides from Astragali Radix and to evaluate the in vitro antitumor activity.METHODS With extraction temperature,extraction time and solid-liquid ratio as influencing factors,extraction rate of polysaccharides as an evaluation index,the extraction was optimized by uniform design.The effect of polysaccharides on the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells,the apoptosis rate and cell cycle of NCI-H460 cells,and the expressions of Caspase-3,Bax and Bcl-2 were detected by MTT assay,flow cytometry and Western blot,respectively.RESULTS The optimal conditions were determined to be 100 ℃ for extraction temperature,1 h for extraction time,and 1 ∶ 35 for solid-liquid ratio,the extraction rate of polysaccharides was 3.62％.Compared with the control group,the proliferation of NCI-H460 cells was significandy inhibited in a dose-dependent manner (P ＜ 0.01),the S phase ratio,early apoptosis rate,late apoptosis rate and total apoptosis rate were markedly increased (P ＜ 0.01),and the Caspase-3 expression and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were also obviously increased (P ＜ 0.01) in the polysaccharides group.CONCLUSION This fast,stable and reliable method can be used for the aqueous extraction for polysaccharides from Astragali Radix,which can significantly inhibit the proliferation of NCI-H460 cells and induce apoptosis of NCI-H460 cells.

Objective:To evaluate the clinical value of 5.0 T ultra-high filed MRI system in assessing intracranial arteries segments and vessel branchers.Methods:This study was a prospective study. Totally 40 consecutive healthy volunteers were recruited from Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University from September 1, 2021 to November 30, and all participants who underwent either 3.0 T or 5.0 T time-of-flight MR angiography (TOF-MRA) in random order were divided into 3.0 T MR group and 5.0 T MR group with 20 volunteers for each group. Image quality was assessed by Likert 5 scoring systems and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR),and score in visualization of intracranial arteries [middle cerebral artery (MCA) and its segments, anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and its segments, posterior cerebral artery (PCA) and its segments, lenticulostriate arteries (LA) and pontine artery (PA)] were assessed from 0 to 3 (≥2: good depiction of vessel segment). Quantitative indicators were compared between 2 groups using independent t test or Mann-Whitney U test. Results:Among the 40 subjects, there were 29 males and 11 females, aged 20-69 (50±12) years. SNR and CNR were both significantly higher in 5.0 T MR group than those in 3.0 T MR group (SNR: 187±9 vs 91±4, t=31.59, P<0.001; CNR: 156±7 vs 70±4, t=31.45, P<0.001), but there was no significant difference in subjective scores of image quality between the 5.0 T MR and 3.0 T MR groups [5.0 (4.0, 5.0), 5.0 (5.0, 5.0) points, respectively, Z=-1.23, P=0.218]. In the evaluation of cerebral arteries, the visualizations of the proximal and middle segments of MCA, ACA and PCA was better than those in the 3.0 T MR group, and there was no significant difference in the scores ( P>0.05), while the visualizations of proximal arteries in the 5.0 T MR group were significantly better than those in the 3.0 T MR group ( P<0.05). Furthermore, small vessel branches such as LA and PA in 5.0 T MR group were visualized better than those in 3.0 T MR group ( P<0.001). Conclusion:TOF-MRA by ultra-high filed 5.0-T provides an optimal choice in visualization of distal large arteries and small vessel branches, which could be useful for the diagnosis on cerebral vascular disease.

Objective:To analyze the clinical and pathological features and gene mutations of pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma (PACC).Methods:Clinical data of 34 patients with PACC admitted to the Department of Pancreatic Surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University from December 2009 to July 2018 were retrospectively analyzed to summarize its clinical characteristics, and the expressions of α1-ACT, CaM5.2, Syn and CgA in pancreatic tumor tissues were detected by immunohistochemistry. Next-generation gene sequencing technology was used to detect gene mutations in tumor specimens.Results:Among the 34 PACC patients, 23(68%) were males and 11(32%) were females; the age ranged from 25 to 75 years, with an average age of 54 years. The first symptom was abdominal pain or distension in 21 cases (62%), skin or scleral yellow staining in 4 cases(12%), and 9 cases(26%) were found in routine physical examination. BMI was 17.6-34.0 kg/m 2, of which 3 cases (9%) were <18.5 kg/m 2, 23 cases (68%) were 18.5-24.0 kg/m 2, and 8 cases (23%) were >24.0 kg/m 2. Preoperative examination showed elevated CA19-9 in 7 cases (20.6%), elevated CEA in 3 cases (8.8%), and elevated AFP in 7 cases (20.6%). Blood amylase was 16-247 U/L, with an average of 80 U/L. Enhanced CT showed that the lesion was irregular in shape, showing inhomogeneity and slightly low density, with areas of cystic degeneration and necrosis. The tumor was located in the head of the pancreas in 14 cases (41%), the body and tail of the pancreas in 19 cases (56%), and the neck of the pancreas in 1 case (3%). The largest tumor diameter was 1.5-15.5 cm, with an average of 5.4 cm. Postoperative pathologic stage I was confirmed in 4 cases (12%), stage Ⅱ in 14 cases (41%), stage Ⅲ in 14 cases (41%) and stage Ⅳ in 2 cases (6%). Immunohistochemical results showed that both α1-ACT and CaM5.2 were positively expressed (100%). Syn was positive in 8 cases (23.5%) and CgA was positive in 6 cases (17.6%). Ki-67 index was from 9% to 70%, with an average of 41%. Gene sequencing of pancreatic tumor tissue from 6 patients showed BRCA2 mutation in 2 patients (7155C>G), K-ras mutation in 1 patient (35G>T), RET mutation in 1 patient (200G>A), and LKB1 mutation (234G>T) in 1 patient, and one double mutation of K-ras and RET (35G>A, 1 798C>T). 30 patients were followed up, and the median survival was 38.3 months. Conclusions:PACC was a rare pancreatic tumor with no specific clinical manifestations. The positive expression rates of α1-ACT and CAM5.2 in tumor tissues were 100%. BRCA2, K-ras, RET and LKB1 were common gene mutations.

Presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging is a useful method for the diagnosis of parkinsonism. Based on the expert consensus on operation and clinical application of dopamine transporter brain PET imaging technology published in 2020, this paper further recommends the relevant elements of result interpretation of presynaptic dopaminergic PET imaging.

Objective: As an important food therapy product with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) applications, donkey-hide gelatin (Asini Corii Colla, ACC) has been used for thousands of years. However, till now few effective strategy had been proposed to distinguish ACC from other animal hide gelatins, especially closely related horse- and mule-hide gelatins, which was an embarrassment of ACC quality control. Methods: Combined mass spectrometry and bioinformatic methods have been applied to identify and verify two ACC-specific peptides (Pep-1 and Pep-2) capable of distinguishing ACC from other closely related animal gelatins with high selectivity. Results: It confirmed that these two peptides could be not only used for distinguishing ACC from highly homologous horse-hide and mule-hide gelatins as well as other animal hide gelatins. Conclusion: The present study provides a simple method for species-specific peptides discovery, which can be used for assessing the quality of animal gelatin products, and ensure they are authenticable and traceable.

There are two source plants for the traditional Chinese medicine Murrayae Folium et Cacumen (MFC) in Chinese Pharmacopoeia, i.e. Murraya exotica L. and M. paniculata (L.) Jack. Herein, a chemical comparison of M. exotica and M. paniculata by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprint analysis coupled with chemometrics and network pharmacology was performed. The main peaks in the fingerprints were identified by liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-IT-TOF-MS) and authenticated by references. The chemometrics results showed that the HPLC fingerprints of these two species were clearly divided into two categories using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA), and a total of 13 significantly differentiated markers were screened out by orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). However, the following network pharmacology analysis showed that these discriminated markers were found to act via many common targets and metabolic pathways, indicating the possibly similar pharmacological effects and mechanisms for M. exotica and M. paniculata. The above results provide valuable evidence for the equivalent use of these two plants in clinical settings. Moreover, the chromatographic fingerprint analysis coupled with chemometrics and network pharmacology supplies an efficient approach for the comparative analysis of multi-source TCMs like MFC.

Splenic lymphoma with villous lymphocytes (SLVL) or splenic marginal zone lymphoma with circulating villous lymphocytes is rare, and prolymphocytic transformation of SLVL is rarer. At present, only one case of SLVL with t(8;14)(q24;q32) translocation has been reported. In this study, we report a case of B-lymphoproliferative disorder with villous lymphocytes harboring t(8;14)(q24;q32) chromosome translocation that we inclined to SLVL with a prolymphocytic transformation. A 73-year-old female showed marked hepatosplenomegaly and high lymphocytosis (lymphocytes > 200 × 10/L). The abnormal lymphocytes had short coarse villi and round nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The immunophenotypes showed CD19, CD20, HLA-DR, CD22, CD5, Kappa, CD25, CD71, Lambda, CD7, CD10, CD23, CD34, CD33, CD13, CD14, CD117, CD64, CD103, and CD11c. The karyotype showed complex abnormality: 46XX,+ 3,-10, t(8;14)(q24; q32)[11]/46XX[9]. The cytoplasmic projection, immunological characteristics, and trisomy 3 chromosome abnormality supported the diagnosis of SLVL. However, the presence of prominent nucleoli and high lymphocytosis suggested prolymphocytic transformation, probably as a result of t(8,14) chromosome translocation. In this report, we described an unusual case of B-lymphoproliferative disorder with villous lymphocytes harboring t(8;14)(q24;q32) translocation, which could provide help in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of B-lymphocytic proliferative diseases.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphoproliferative Disorders ; genetics ; pathology ; Translocation, Genetic