This report presents microscopic observation on morphological and immuno- cytochemical characteristics of the trophoblast cells of the human decidua at the implantation site in the first trimester pregnancy .The infiltration of a unique type of large cells different from cytotrophoblast (CT) and syncytotrophoblast (ST) was found in the decidua at the implantation site. These unique cells are termed inter- mediate trophoblast (IT). They are typically mononucleate, but may be binucleate or multinucleate. The mononucleate cells vary in shape from round, polyhedral spindle shaped. Their cytoplasm is typically abundant and eosinophilic or amphophilic. The nuclei may vary in size and shape. These cells usually distribute around the spiral arterioles, differse blood vessel wall, penetrate into the lumen, and even replace the blood vessel wall totally. Immunocytochemically, both these cells and ST are stained positive for HCG and HPL. However, the HCG-stained Cell population of IT.is much lower than that of ST,while the of HPL stained cell population of IT is significantly higher than that of ST.On the other hand,neither HCG nor HPL are positive in CT. The results of SP-1 ?-HCG usually go with those of HCG.in CT, ST and IT.The PAPP-A gives non specific staining result. It is believed that IT,with its distinct morphological and immunocytochemical feats,is regarded as a transitional form in the shift from CT to ST.

The diagnosis and treatment of spontaneous rupture and massive hemorrhage of tuberous sclerosis-related renal hamartoma in a woman in the third trimester are reported. The patient was admitted at 39 weeks of gestation, with threatened labor and a history of bilateral renal hamartoma, which had been hidden. Placental abruption was considered due to persistent lumbago, abdominal pain, abdominal muscle tension, uterine tension and fetal heart rate dropping to 90 bpm, and an emergency cesarean section was performed at 39 +1 weeks. About 200 ml of bloody ascites was found in the peritoneal cavity. A live boy was delivered and no blood clot was seen in the maternal face of the placenta. After the uterine incision was closed, a huge bluish purple mass was detected on the right-side retroperitoneum and the renal angiography showed rupture and hemorrhage of a right renal hamartoma. A selective right renal artery embolization was performed. The patient recovered after the operation and was discharged seven days later required by the family. The patient was in good condition except for hematuria during a 30-day postpartum follow-up, and oral everolimus treatment and regular follow-up were continued. The newborn with a birth weight of 2 355 g was transferred to the neonatology department after birth due to severe asphyxia, and postnatal echocardiography suspected heart rhabdomyoma. The baby had one seizure but was otherwise well, and was discharged after eight days. The seizure did not recur to the neonate after discharge. Clinicians should pay attention to pregnant women with renal hamartoma. If abnormal abdominal distension, hematuria or lumbago occur during pregnancy, rupture of renal hamartoma and possible massive hemorrhage should be considered.

Objective To explore the cooperative mechanism of hospital research management and ethics review.Methods Through the analysis of current ethical conditions,as well as the relationship between hospital research management and ethical review,study on how to integrate them during the management of scientific research project.Results Research management and ethical review have different emphasis from different perspectives,however,both of them serve for research projects which makes inseparable connections.Conclusions Hospital research management and ethical review can be synergistic,according to which the management of scientific research projects will be more reasonable and scientific.

Objective: To investigate the association between plasma selenium exposure and the risk of impaired glucose regulation (IGR). Methods: A case-control study was conducted to select IGR patients who were admitted to the outpatient clinic of the Department of Endocrinology to perform oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT) at the Tongji Hospital affiliated to the Tongji Medical College from September 2004 to 2016 as a case group. Participants with normal glucose tolerance recruited from an unselected group of population undergoing routine health examinations in the same hospital were selected as a control group. The control group was matched according to the age (±5 years old) and sex of the case group. The inclusion criteria for subjects recruited were as follows: age ≥30 years, body mass index (BMI) <40 kg/m², no history of a diagnosis of IGR or type 2 diabetes, and no history of receiving pharmacological treatment for hyperlipidemia or hypertension. Patients with any clinically systemic disease such as neurological or endocrine disease, acute illness, chronic inflammatory disease or infectious disease were excluded from the study. A total of 1 957 subjects, 897 in the case group and 1 060 in the control group, were included. Questionnaires were used to collect information of all subjects, and peripheral venous blood was collected after fasting and OGTT, respectively. Plasma selenium, fasting blood glucose, blood lipid (total cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low density lipoprotein cholesterol) and 2 h OGTT plasma glucose concentration were detected, respectively. The subjects were divided into low, medium and high concentration groups according to the tertiles of plasma selenium concentration in the control group. The multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between plasma selenium exposure and IGR. Results: The age (mean±SD) of the case and control group was (53.71±11.38) and (53.95±12.17) years old. The plasma selenium concentration [M (P₂₅, P₇₅)] in the case group was 92.81(77.07, 107.05) μg/L, which was significantly higher than the control group [88.73 (77.13, 100.88) μg/L] (P<0.05). The results of multivariate unconditional logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, family history of diabetes and hypertension, the risk of IGR was higher in the high-concentration group and the low-concentration group compared with the middle-concentration group, the values of OR (95%CI) were 1.22 (95%CI: 0.94-1.59) and 1.81 (95%CI: 1.42-2.30), respectively. Conclusion The study suggested a U-shaped association between plasma selenium and IGR.

In order to develop clinical diagnostic tools for rapid detection of the SARS-CoV (severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus) and to identify candidate proteins for vaccine development, the C-terminal portion of the nucleocapsid (NC) gene was amplified using RT-PCR from the SARS-CoV genome, cloned into a yeast expression vector (pEGH), and expressed as a glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Hisx6 double-tagged fusion protein under the control of an inducible promoter. Western analysis on the purified protein confirmed the expression and purification of the NC fusion proteins from yeast. To determine its antigenicity, the fusion protein was challenged with serum samples from SARS patients and normal controls. The NC fusion protein demonstrated high antigenicity with high specificity, and therefore, it should have great potential in designing clinical diagnostic tools and provide useful information for vaccine development.
Antigens, Viral ; immunology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Genetic Vectors ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Nucleocapsid Proteins ; genetics ; immunology ; Recombinant Fusion Proteins ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; SARS Virus ; genetics ; immunology ; Yeasts ; genetics

Nanoparticles (NPs) have shown potential in cancer therapy, while a single administration conferring a satisfactory outcome is still unavailable. To address this issue, the dissolving microneedles (DMNs) were developed to locally deliver functionalized NPs with combined chemotherapy and photothermal therapy (PTT).

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic β-cells elevate insulin production and secretion through a compensatory mechanism to override insulin resistance under metabolic stress conditions. Deficits in β-cell compensatory capacity result in hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the mechanism in the regulation of β-cell compensative capacity remains elusive. Nuclear factor-Y (NF-Y) is critical for pancreatic islets' homeostasis under physiological conditions, but its role in β-cell compensatory response to insulin resistance in obesity is unclear. METHODS: In this study, using obese ( ob/ob ) mice with an absence of NF-Y subunit A (NF-YA) in β-cells ( ob , Nf-ya βKO) as well as rat insulinoma cell line (INS1)-based models, we determined whether NF-Y-mediated apoptosis makes an essential contribution to β-cell compensation upon metabolic stress. RESULTS: Obese animals had markedly augmented NF-Y expression in pancreatic islets. Deletion of β-cell Nf-ya in obese mice worsened glucose intolerance and resulted in β-cell dysfunction, which was attributable to augmented β-cell apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, primary pancreatic islets from Nf-ya βKO mice were sensitive to palmitate-induced β-cell apoptosis due to mitochondrial impairment and the attenuated antioxidant response, which resulted in the aggravation of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and cleaved caspase-3. These detrimental effects were completely relieved by ROS scavenger. Ultimately, forced overexpression of NF-Y in INS1 β-cell line could rescue palmitate-induced β-cell apoptosis, dysfunction, and mitochondrial impairment. CONCLUSION Pancreatic NF-Y might be an essential regulator of β-cell compensation under metabolic stress.
Rats ; Mice ; Animals ; Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism* ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/metabolism* ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin ; Insulin-Secreting Cells/metabolism* ; Apoptosis ; Stress, Physiological ; Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Palmitates/pharmacology* ; Obesity/metabolism*

Although the mTOR-4E-BP1 signaling pathway is implicated in aging and aging-related disorders, the role of 4E-BP1 in regulating human stem cell homeostasis remains largely unknown. Here, we report that the expression of 4E-BP1 decreases along with the senescence of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Genetic inactivation of 4E-BP1 in hMSCs compromises mitochondrial respiration, increases mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and accelerates cellular senescence. Mechanistically, the absence of 4E-BP1 destabilizes proteins in mitochondrial respiration complexes, especially several key subunits of complex III including UQCRC2. Ectopic expression of 4E-BP1 attenuates mitochondrial abnormalities and alleviates cellular senescence in 4E-BP1-deficient hMSCs as well as in physiologically aged hMSCs. These f indings together demonstrate that 4E-BP1 functions as a geroprotector to mitigate human stem cell senescence and maintain mitochondrial homeostasis, particularly for the mitochondrial respiration complex III, thus providing a new potential target to counteract human stem cell senescence.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells/physiology* ; Cellular Senescence ; Homeostasis ; Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism* ; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/metabolism* ; Mitochondria/metabolism* ; Electron Transport Complex III/metabolism* ; Humans ; Cells, Cultured