OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), p16 and vascular endothclial growth factor (VEGF) proteins and their relationship with clinicopathological features in cervical cancer.

METHODSTissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of MIF, p16 and VEGF proteins in specimens of 10 normal cervical epithelial tissues, 18 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II, III) and 31 cervical squamous cell carcinomas. Western blotting was used to detect the expression of MIF, p16 and VEGF proteins in fresh samples of 3 normal cervical epithelial tissues, 3 CIN (III) and 6 cervical squamous cell carcinomas (3 Ib and 3 IIb).

RESULTSPositive expression rates of MIF were 0, 72.2% and 93.5% in the normal, CIN and carcinoma samples, 20.0%, 33.3% and 71.0% for p16, and 10.0%, 44.4% and 74.2% for VEGF, respectively. The expression rates and levels of the three genes were significantly higher in cervical carcinomas than those in CIN. MIF expression was significantly higher in the cases with lower differentiation (17 cases, P = 0.021), and was positively correlated with VEGF expression (P = 0.0045). VEGF expression rate was significantly higher in both cases of poorly differentiated carcinomas and those with stage II b carcinoma or beyond (P = 0.004, P = 0.008). p16 expression was not found to be correlated with tumor differentiation or clinical stage. It was showed by Western blotting that the expression levels of MIF, VEGF and p16 were significantly higher in the carcinomas than those in CIN or normal tissues.

CONCLUSIONExpression of MIF, VEGF and p16 are probably involved in the process of cervical carcinogenesis. MIF expression is correlated with tumor differentiation. VEGF expression is correlated with both tumor differentiation and clinical stage.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cervix Uteri ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Humans ; Intramolecular Oxidoreductases ; metabolism ; Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Proteins ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Staging ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Background/Aims: Low educational attainment is a well-established risk factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in developed areas. However, the association between educational attainment and the risk of NAFLD is less clear in China. Methods: A cross-sectional study including over 200,000 Chinese adults across mainland China was conducted. Information on education level and lifestyle factors were obtained through standard questionnaires, while NAFLD and advanced fibrosis were diagnosed using validated formulas. Outcomes included the risk of NAFLD in the general population and high probability of fibrosis among patients with NAFLD. Logistic regression analysis was employed to estimate the risk of NAFLD and fibrosis across education levels. A causal mediation model was used to explore the potential mediators. Results: Comparing with those receiving primary school education, the multi-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for NAFLD were 1.28 (1.16 to 1.41) for men and 0.94 (0.89 to 0.99) for women with college education after accounting for body mass index. When considering waist circumference, the odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.94 (0.86 to 1.04) for men and 0.88 (0.80 to 0.97) for women, respectively. The proportions mediated by general and central obesity were 51.00% and 68.04% for men, while for women the proportions were 48.58% and 32.58%, respectively. Furthermore, NAFLD patients with lower educational attainment showed an incremental increased risk of advanced fibrosis in both genders. Conclusions In China, a low education level was associated with a higher risk of prevalent NAFLD in women, as well as high probability of fibrosis in both genders.

Objective: To retrospectively analyze the data of Chinese patients with newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) to preliminarily discuss the clinical and cytogenetic characteristics. Methods: From February 2004 to June 2020, patients with newly diagnosed APL aged ≥ 15 years who were admitted to the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College were chosen. Clinical and laboratory features were retrospectively analyzed. Results: A total of 790 cases were included, with a male to female ratio of 1.22. The median age of the patients was 41 (15-76) years. Patients aged between 20 and 59 predominated, with 632 patients (80%) of 790 patients classified as low and intermediate risk and 158 patients (20%) of 790 patients classified as high risk. The white blood cell, platelet, and hemoglobin levels at diagnosis were 2.3 (0.1-176.1) ×10(9)/L, 29.5 (2.0-1220.8) ×10(9)/L, and 89 (15-169) g/L, respectively, and 4.8% of patients were complicated with psoriasis. The long-form type of PML-RARα was most commonly seen in APL, accounting for 58%. Both APTT extension (10.3%) and creatinine>14 mg/L (1%) are rarely seen in patients at diagnosis. Cytogenetics was performed in 715 patients with newly diagnosed APL. t (15;17) with additional chromosomal abnormalities were found in 155 patients, accounting for 21.7%; among which, +8 was most frequently seen. A complex karyotype was found in 64 (9.0%) patients. Next-generation sequencing was performed in 178 patients, and 113 mutated genes were discovered; 75 genes had an incidence rate>1%. FLT3 was the most frequently seen, which accounted for 44.9%, and 20.8% of the 178 patients present with FLT3-ITD. Conclusions: Patients aged 20-59 years are the most common group with newly diagnosed APL. No obvious difference was found in the ratio of males to females. In terms of risk stratification, patients divided into low and intermediate risk predominate. t (15;17) with additional chromosomal abnormalities accounted for 21% of 715 patients, in which +8 was most commonly seen. The long-form subtype was most frequently seen in PML-RARα-positive patients, and FLT3 was most commonly seen in the mutation spectrum of APL.
Adult ; Aged ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cytogenetics ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Promyelocytic, Acute/genetics* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion/genetics* ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult