Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of T-SPOT.TB for tuberculous lymphadenitis. Methods Suspected tuberculous lymphadenitis patients between September 2010 and September 2018 who had both peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB test and lymph node biopsy were retrospectively enrolled in this study. The cutoff value of T-SPOT.TB test for peripheral blood was set as 24 spot forming cell (SFC)/10 ⁶ periphreral blood monocyte cell (PBMC) according to the instruction of testing kits. The gold standard for diagnosis of TBL was the combination of microbiology results, histopathology results and patient's response to anti-TB treatment. Diagnostic efficacy of T-SPOT.TB was evaluated, including sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, predictive values, and likelihood ratio. Results Among 91 patients who met the inclusion criteria, we excluded 8 cases with incomplete clinical information and 6 cases who lost to follow-up. According to the gold standard, there were 37 cases of true TBL (9 confirmed TBL and 28 probable TBL), 30 cases of non-TBL, and 10 cases of clinically indeterminate diagnosis who were excluded from the final analyses. The T-SPOT.TB tests yielded 43 cases of positive response and 24 cases of negative response. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) of peripheral blood T-SPOT.TB for diagnosing TBL were 89.2%, 66.7%, 79.1%, 76.7%, 83.3%, 2.68 and 0.16, respectively. The number of SFCs of T-SPOT.TB in TBL patients [432(134-1264)/10 ⁶ PBMCs] was higher than that in non-TBL patients [0 (0-30) /10 ⁶PBMCs] with a significant difference (Z=-5.306, P <0.001). Conclusion T-SPOT.TB is a rapid and simple diagnostic test for TBL with a high sensitivity and negative predictive value.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon-gamma Release Tests ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis/physiology* ; T-Lymphocytes/immunology* ; Tuberculosis, Lymph Node/diagnosis* ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEThe aim of this study was to investigate the ability of Pref-1+ adipocyte progenitor cells to mobilize into mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) and the dynamic expression of related chemokines during the development of rat MLNs.

METHODSImmunohistochemical analyses were used to detect the expression of Pref-1 and related chemokines. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to observe the changes in ultrastructure of MLNs.

RESULTSCells containing lipid droplets were found in all rat MLNs at embryonic day (E) 18.5, 2 and 6 weeks (w) after birth, and they were similar to fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) or follicular dendritic cells (FDCs) under TEM. Pref-1+ adipocyte progenitor cells were found in all MLNs. The expression level of Pref-1 was significantly increased at 2 w after birth and decreased at 6 w after birth. The tendency of Cxcl12 expression was consistent with that of Pref-1 and was positively correlated with the expression of Pref-1 (P < 0.01; r = 0.897). At E18.5, Cxcl13, and Ccr7 were significantly expressed in the MLN anlage, but the expression level of Ccl21 was low. The expression level of Cxcl13, Ccr7, and Ccl21 in MLN were significantly increased at 2 w after birth (P < 0.05), while the expression of Ccr7 and Ccl21 were significantly decreased at 6 w after birth (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONAdipocyte progenitor cells are involved in the rat MLNs development through differentiation into FRC and FDC. The expression of the relevant chemokines during the development of MLNs is dynamic and may be related to the maintenance of lymph nodes self-balance state.

Animals ; Chemokines ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; physiology ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; embryology ; metabolism ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Mesentery ; embryology ; Pregnancy ; Rats

PURPOSE: To correlate tumor stiffness and lymphangiogenesis in breast cancer and to find its clinical implications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 140 breast cancer patients were evaluated. Tumor stiffness was quantitatively measured by shear-wave elastography in preoperative ultrasound examination, calculated as mean elasticity value (kPa). Slides of resected breast cancer specimens were reviewed for most fibrotic area associated with tumor. D2-40 immunohistochemical staining was applied for fibrotic areas to detect the lymphatic spaces. Microlymphatic density, tumor stiffness, and clinicopathologic data were analyzed. RESULTS: Higher elasticity value was associated with invasive size of tumor, microlymphatic density, histologic grade 3, absence of extensive intraductal component, presence of axillary lymph node metastasis, and Ki-67 labeling index (LI) in univariate regression analysis, and associated with Ki-67 LI and axillary lymph node metastasis in multivariate regression analysis. Microlymphatic density was associated histologic grade 3, mean elasticity value, and Ki-67 LI in univariate regression analysis. In multivariate regression analysis, microlymphatic density was correlated with mean elasticity value. CONCLUSION: In breast cancer, tumor stiffness correlates with lymphangiogenesis and poor prognostic factors.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast/pathology ; Breast Neoplasms/*diagnostic imaging/*pathology ; Elasticity Imaging Techniques/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes/pathology ; Lymphangiogenesis/*physiology ; Lymphatic Metastasis/*pathology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Staging ; Regression Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate renal artery injury caused by Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODSForty-three children with KD were enrolled in the study. According to the blood pressure in the acute stage, these children were classified into normal blood pressure subgroup and increased blood pressure subgroup. Eighteen children with fever caused by acute upper respiratory tract infection were enrolled as the control group. The diameter of the origin of the main renal artery, hemodynamic parameters of the main renal artery and the renal interlobar artery, rennin activity, and levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone were compared between groups.

RESULTSDuring the acute stage of KD, both subgroups had a significantly smaller diameter of the origin of the main renal artery, a significantly higher resistance index (RI) of the main renal artery, and a significantly lower end-diastolic velocity (EDV) than the control group (P<0.05).The increased blood pressure subgroup had a significantly lower EDV of the interlobar artery than the normal blood pressure subgroup, a significantly higher RI than the normal blood pressure subgroup and the control group, as well as a significantly higher rennin activity and significantly higher levels of angiotensin II and aldosterone than the normal blood pressure subgroup (P<0.05). A significantly increased EDV and a significantly reduced RI of the renal interlobar artery were observed in the increased blood pressure subgroup in the subacute stage compared with the acute stage (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSKD may cause renal artery injury and early hemodynamic changes, resulting in a transient increase in blood pressure in some patients.

Blood Flow Velocity ; Blood Pressure ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; physiopathology ; Renal Artery ; physiopathology ; Renin-Angiotensin System ; physiology ; Vascular Resistance

OBJECTIVETo study the role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1(TREM-1) in the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD).

METHODSBased on color Doppler examination results, 45 children with KD were classified into two groups: coronary artery lesions (CAL group) and no coronary artery lesions (NCAL group). Fifteen children with fever caused by respiratory infection (fever control group) and fifteen healthy children (normal control group) served as controls. Real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression of TREM-1 mRNA and DNAX-activating protein 12 (DAP12) mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). ELISA was used to detect the expression of soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), DAP12, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1(MCP-1), interleukin-8 (IL-8) proteins levels.

RESULTSThe mean serum protein concentrations of sTREM-1 and DAP12 and the expression levels of TREM-1 mRNA and DAP12 mRNA in PBMC in 45 children with KD (KD group) were significantly higher than in the two control groups (P<0.05). The levels of sTREM-1 protein and TREM-1 mRNA in the CAL subgroup were significantly higher than in the NCAL subgroup (P<0.05). The serum protein concentrations of MCP-1 and IL-8 in the KD group were significantly higher than in the two control groups (P<0.05). The MCP-1 protein level in the CAL subgroup was significantly higher than in the NCAL subgroup (P<0.05). In children with KD, there was a positive correlation between serum sTREM-1 and MCP-1 levels (r=0.523, P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTREM-1 activation may be involved in the development of KD.

Chemokine CCL2 ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-8 ; blood ; Male ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; blood ; genetics ; physiology ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; etiology ; immunology ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Receptors, Immunologic ; blood ; genetics ; physiology ; Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells-1

Vitamin D is an important steroid hormone, which has a wide biological effect and is the protective factor against cardiovascular disease and other diseases. At present, the etiology and pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease (KD) remain unknown, but recent studies have shown that vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency is associated with KD. Vitamin D insufficiency or deficiency may affect KD via its influence on inflammatory response, adipokine, endothelial function, platelet function, and DNA methylation and increase the risk of coronary artery lesions. This article reviews the research advances in the association between vitamin D and KD and possible mechanisms of action.
Adipokines ; physiology ; Animals ; Blood Platelets ; physiology ; DNA Methylation ; Epithelial Cells ; physiology ; Humans ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; etiology ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; complications

To explore the role of the special AT rich sequence binding protein-1 (SATB1) and ribonucleotide reductase M2 (RRM2) in enhancing malignant progression of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). 
 Methods: A total of 42 NHL and 42 chronic lymphadenitis patients were recruited. The protein expressions of SATB1 and RRM2 in cervical lymph nodes were determined by Western blot. After overexpression of SATB1, siSATB1 or siRRM2, the mRNA levels of SATB1 and RRM2 in cells were analyzed via RT-PCR, the cell proliferation was evaluated via MTT and EdU assays, while the migration and invasion of cells were assessed by transwell assays.
 Results: Compared with chronic lymphadenitis, the expressions of SATB1 and RRM2 in NHL patients were up-regulated. There was positive correlation between SATB1 and RRM2 in NHL patients. RRM2 mRNA level was up-regulated after transfection of SATB1 and down-regulated after transfection of siSATB1. Overexpression of SATB1 increased tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, while knockdown of RRM2 reversed those phenomena.
 Conclusion: SATB1 functions as an oncogene and promotes tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion by up-regulation of RRM2 in NHL.
Cell Cycle Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Movement ; genetics ; Cell Proliferation ; genetics ; Down-Regulation ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; genetics ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; chemistry ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; Matrix Attachment Region Binding Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; genetics ; Oncogenes ; genetics ; physiology ; RNA, Messenger ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Ribonucleoside Diphosphate Reductase ; Ribonucleotide Reductases ; genetics ; physiology ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factors ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Up-Regulation

To investigate the expression of metastasis tumor-associated protein 2 (MTA2) in cervical squamous carcinoma and its relationship with prognosis.
 Methods: Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR were performed to determine the expression and distribution of MTA2 mRNA and protein in normal cervical tissue, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical squamous carcinomas tissues, then its relationship with clinical pathological factors and prognosis was analyzed.
 Results: The positive rate of MTA2 protein in normal cervical tissue, CIN and cervical squamous cell carcinomas tissues were 0, 30.0%, 73.4%, respectively. The positive rate was associated with international federation of gynecology and obstetrics (FIGO) stage and lymph node metastasis, whereas there was no correlation with the age of patients or the degree of tumor differentiation. The expression of MTA2 mRNA in normal cervical tissue, CIN and cervical squamous carcinomas tissues was 0.437±0.028, 0.737±0.102 and 1.172±0.068, respectively. The positive rate was associated with FIGO stage and lymph node metastasis, whereas there was no correlation with the age of patients or the degree of tumor differentiation. The result of survival analysis showed poor overall survival time in the patients with high expression of MTA2. Multivariate COX proportional hazards model showed that the positive expression of MTA2 protein, FIGO stage and the metastasis of lymph node were independent prognostic factors for unfavorable clinical outcome of cervical cancer.
 Conclusion: The positive expression of MTA2 was closely related to the development, invasion and metastasis of cervical squamous cell carcinomas. The positive expression of MTA2 protein, FIGO stage and the metastasis of lymph node were independent prognostic factors for unfavorable clinical outcome of cervical cancer. The expression of MTA2 could be used as a potential molecular marker in evaluating the prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinomas.
Biomarkers, Tumor ; genetics ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; mortality ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; genetics ; Female ; Gene Expression ; physiology ; Histone Deacetylases ; physiology ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Repressor Proteins ; physiology ; Survival Analysis ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; genetics ; mortality

This paper makes persuasive demonstrations on some problems about the human ear sound transmission principle in existing physiological textbooks and reference books, and puts forward the authors' view to make up for its literature. Exerting the knowledge of lever in physics and the acoustics theory, we come up with an equivalent simplified model of manubrium mallei which is to meet the requirements as the long arm of the lever. We also set up an equivalent simplified model of ossicular chain--a combination of levers of ossicular chain. We disassemble the model into two simple levers, and make full analysis and demonstration on them. Through the calculation and comparison of displacement amplitudes in both external auditory canal air and internal ear lymph, we may draw a conclusion that the key reason, which the sound displacement amplitude is to be decreased to adapt to the endurance limit of the basement membrane, is that the density and sound speed in lymph is much higher than those in the air.
Acoustics ; Ear Canal ; Ear Ossicles ; physiology ; Ear, Inner ; physiology ; Humans ; Lymph ; Models, Anatomic ; Sound

OBJECTIVETo explore the correlation of heart rate variability (HRV) indices with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and their prognostic value.

METHODSA total of 130 children with KD were assigned into coronary artery lesion (CAL) group (n=47) and non-coronary artery lesion (NCAL) group (n=83). Meanwhile, 110 healthy children and 29 children in the recovery stage of non-cardiovascular diseases were selected as control and non-KD groups, respectively. Patients in the four groups received 24-hour HRV monitoring. Levels of serum cTnI and NT-proBNP were measured in the KD and the non-KD group.

RESULTSCompared with the controls of the same sex and age, the KD patients had significantly reduced standard deviation of all normal sinus RR intervals (SDNN), mean of SDNN (SDNN index), percentage of successive normal sinus RR intervals>50 ms (pNN50), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF) but a significantly increased LF/HF ratio (P<0.05). The HRV indices including SDNN, standard deviation of all mean 5-minute RR intervals (SDANN), SDNN index, root mean squared successive difference, pNN50, VLF, LF, and HF in the CAL group all significantly decreased compared with those in the control and non-KD groups, while the LF/HF ratio was higher in the CAL group than in the control group (P<0.05). The serum levels of cTnI and NT-proBNP in the CAL and NCAL groups were significantly higher than those in the non-KD group (P<0.05). In children with KD, serum cTnI level was negatively correlated with SDNN and HF but positively correlated with the LF/HF ratio (P<0.05); serum NT-proBNP level was negatively correlated with SDNN, SDANN, and HF (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHRV indices have certain clinical significance in assessing CAL of children with KD.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Coronary Vessels ; pathology ; Female ; Heart Rate ; physiology ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; blood ; physiopathology ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; blood ; Peptide Fragments ; blood ; Troponin I ; blood