OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of DNA mismatch repair (MMR) genes (MLH1, MSH2, MSH6 and PMS2) in endometrial adenocarcinoma (EC) of patients under 50 years and to explore the relationship between MMR expression and clinicopathological features including body mass index (BMI), histological grade and pathological stage of EC.

METHODSMMR gene expression was investigated by immunohistochemical S-P method in endometrial adenocarcinomas of patients under age of 50. The control groups included complexity atypical hyperplasia endometrium (CAHE), simple hyperplasia endometrium (SHE), normal endometrium (NE) of patients under age of 50 and EC of patients older than 65 years.

RESULTSTwenty seven of 40 EC (67.5%) lost at least one MMR protein expression. Loss of at least one MMR protein expression was seen in 5/15 cases of CAHE, 1/13 SHE and 1/11 NE, respectively (P < 0.01). The rates of loss of expression of MLH1, MSH2, MSH and PMS2 proteins in EC were 52.5%, 12.5%, 35.0%, and 30.0%, respectively. The difference between MLH1 and MSH6 expression among the four groups were significant (P < 0.05), but the expression of MSH2 showed no significant difference among the groups (P = 0.295). The expression of MMR protein had no relationship with histological grade and pathological stage, although loss of MSH6 was more frequently seen in patients of higher BMI.

CONCLUSIONSAbnormal expression of MMR proteins is correlated with the development of EC from complex atypical hyperplasia. With the exception of the correlation of MSH6 expression with higher BMI, the expression of MMR proteins in EC has no significant relationship with histological grade and pathological stage.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adenosine Triphosphatases ; metabolism ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; DNA Repair Enzymes ; metabolism ; DNA-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Middle Aged ; Mismatch Repair Endonuclease PMS2 ; MutL Protein Homolog 1 ; MutS Homolog 2 Protein ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Grading ; Neoplasm Staging ; Nuclear Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To establish high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detector(HPLC-ECD) method for the determination for metanephrine and normetanephrine in 24 h urine, and provide a superior test for the diagnostic of pheochromocytomas over plasma/urine catecholamine.Methods MCX solid-phase cartridge was used for extraction of metanephrine and normetanephrine,HPLC-ECD was used for their measurements.The intra-assay CVs,interassay CVs and recoveries of metanephrine and normetanephrine were also calculated.104 hypertensive patients without pheochromocytomas and 5 pheochromocytomas patients were selected in this study.The concentrations of metanephrine and normetanephrine were compared with the plasma and 24h urinary catecholamines concentrations.Results The intra-assay CV,inter-assay CV and recovery of metanephrine were 5.9%, 7.5%,91.1% respectively;the intra-assay CV,inter-assay CV and recovery of normetanephrine were 6.3%,6.6%,88.5%,respectively.The MN,NMN,plasma CA and urine CA of all pheochromocytomas patients were positive.MN and NMN were negative in controls,while plasma CA and urine CA are false positive in 15 patients and 14 patients in controls,respectively.Conclusions The study establish a fast and accurate method for quantification of metanephrine and normetanephrine in 24 h urine by HPLC-ECD.These findings also prove that it is the best biochemical assays for pheochromocytomas at present.

Objective To investigate the relationship between the phenotypes and the patterns of genetic mutations in the corresponding resistance genes (rpoB, katG, inhA, ahpC, rrs, rpsL, embB and gyrA) in resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates. Methods Rifampicin-resistant gene (rpoB), isoniazid-resistant genes (katG, inhA, ahpC), streptomycin-resistant genes (rrs, rpsL), ethambutol-resistant gene (embB) and quinolinone-resistant gene (gyrA) were amplified by PCR with sequence-specific primers, then mutants screened by single-stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) were sequenced. Results rpoB mutation with predominant Ser450Trp pattern was 94. 9% (56/59) in 59 rifampicin-resistant isolates;katG mutation rate was 38. 9% (35/90) and the main pattern was Ser315Thr, but only 3 inhA mutants and no ahpC mutation were determined in 90 isoniazid-resistant isolates;gyrA mutation with main Asp94Gly then Ala90Val pattern was 82.4% (28/34) in 34 quinolinone-resistant isolates;the total mutation rate was 77.4% in 31 streptomycin-resistant isolates, of which 15 isolates mutated in rrs with main pattern A514C or A1041G, 10 isolates mutated in rpsL Lys88Arg;and embB mutation with main Met306Val accounted for 19.4% (6/31) in 31 ethambutol-resistant isolates. Conclusions The results showed that resistance of resistant MTB may be complicated, and DNA sequencing-based mutation analysis could efficiently detect the molecular makers such as rpoB, katG, gyrA, rrs, rpsL and embB in resistant MTB isolates. Meanwhile, it is notable that the rpoB mutation pattern in our isolates is different from previous report, further effort are needed to confirm the characteristics. The spectrum of potential resistance-related mutations in MTB clinical isolates may lay substantial foundation for the rapid molecular diagnosis and rational use of drug to MTB patients.

BACKGROUNDPercutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) feeding is widely used in stroke patients suffering from persistent dysphagia; however, predicting the risks and benefits of PEG insertion in the individual patient is difficult. The aim of our study was to investigate if candidate risk factors could predict short-term mortality risk in poststroke patients who had PEG tube insertion for persistent dysphagia.

METHODSThis was a retrospective study of 3504 consecutive stroke patients admitted to two metropolitan hospitals during the period January 2005 to December 2013 and who also underwent PEG insertion for feeding due to persistent dysphagia.

RESULTSA total of 102 patients were included in the study. There were 22 deaths in 6 months after insertion of PEG tubes and 20 deaths of those occurred within 3 months post PEG. Those who survived beyond 6 months showed significantly lower mean age (75.9 ± 9.0 years vs. 83.0 ± 4.9 years, P < 0.001), a lower mean American Society of Anesthesia (ASA) score (3.04 ± 0.63 vs. 3.64 ± 0.58, P < 0.001) compared to nonsurvivors. In multiple Logistic, age (P = 0.004, odds ratio [OR] = 1.144; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.044-1.255); ASA (P = 0.002, OR = 5.065; 95% CI: 1.815-14.133) and albumin level pre-PEG insertion (P = 0.033, OR = 0.869; 95% CI: 0.764-0.988) were the independent determinants of mortality respectively.

CONCLUSIONSWe propose that age, ASA score and albumin level pre-PEG insertion to be included as factors to assist in the selection of patients who are likely to survive more than 3 months post PEG insertion.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Deglutition Disorders ; mortality ; surgery ; Female ; Gastrostomy ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Stroke ; mortality ; surgery

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression and correlation of Skp2 and p27kipl in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

METHODSThe expression of Skp2, p27(kip1) and Ki-67 (the proliferation index)were detected in sections of 92 cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 14 cases of reactive lymph nodes by immunohistochemistry and histopathology. The expression of Skp2 and p27(kip1) in 4 NHL cell lines were detected by Western blot.

RESULTSThe expression of Skp2 in NHL cases were significantly higher than that in reactive lymph nodes (except the germinal centers), positively correlated with proliferation activity, and an increasing tumor aggressiveness was associated with the increased expression of Skp2. The expression of p27(kip1) protein in NHL cases were significantly lower than that in reactive lymph nodes (except the germinal centers), negatively correlated with proliferation activity, and an increasing tumor aggressiveness was associated with decreased expression of p27(kip1). The statistical analysis indicated that there was no obvious correlation between Skp2 and p27(kip1) expression in NHL tissues.

CONCLUSIONThe higher expression of Skp2 and lower expression of p27(kip1) in NHL tissues may play a role in the tumorigenesis and development of NHL.

Blotting, Western ; Castleman Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Nucleus ; metabolism ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 ; Cytoplasm ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; metabolism ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lymph Nodes ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin ; metabolism ; pathology ; S-Phase Kinase-Associated Proteins ; metabolism

Objective To investigate the clinical features, laboratory findings, chest CT findings and treatment of patients with COVID-19, and to analyze their relationship with prognosis. Methods From January to February 2020, the clinical data on the 42 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the Wenzhou Sixth People′s Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results The clinical symptoms of the 42 cases included fever (35 cases), cough (26 cases), fatigue (14 cases), aspiration (9 cases), sore throat (4 cases), muscle ache (5 cases), headache (2 cases), nausea (4 cases), diarrhea (6 cases) and abdominal pain (1 case).The absolute number of blood lymphocyte decreased to different degrees in 22 cases.Fourteen cases had lactate dehydrogenase obviously, with no obvious change in procalcitonin.The imaging manifestations were cloud-like and ground-glass-like high density shadows scattered outside the lungs, small flaky consolidation and bronchus inflating sign were seen locally.A few images showed diffuse high density, most of the lesions showed consolidation or striate change, and local fibrosis was formed in the lower lobes of both lungs. Conclusion Fever and cough are the first symptoms of COVID-19, and a few cases are associated with shortness of breath and diarrhea, accompanied by different degrees of systemic symptoms, but most of the patients improve their conditions after active antivirus, anti-infection, systematic symptoms improvement and supportive treatment.The disease is highly infectious and its condition changes rapidly.Therefore, early detection, early diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of the whole body as soon as possible are the keys to treatment.

Objective To evaluate the efficacy of Budesonide/formoterol to control asthma under real-life conditions.Methods A muhi-center, open label, non-interventional study was conducted.Asthma control after 12 week therapy with Budesonide/formoterol was assessed by Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) and modified Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ5).Results A total of 360 asthma patients were recruited,including 228 adult patients and 132 child patients.After 12 weeks' therapy,all the patients' medium value of ACQ was decreased significantly from 2.03 (adults 2.20, children 1.74) at baseline to 0.60 (adults 0.78, children 0.29) (P < 0.0001), and the medium value of ACQ5 was also decreased significantly from 2.4 (adults 2.24, children 1.76) at baseline to 0.47 (adults 0.62, children 0.20) (P < 0.0001).Conclusion Budesonide/formoterol is effective in asthma treatment, by which most asthma patients obtain and maintain clineal control.

BACKGROUNDThe use of doxorubicin (DOX) is limited by its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Reactive oxygen species (ROSs) play an important role in the pathological process of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of chrysoeriol, a flavone compound, against DOX-induced apoptosis and death in H9c2 cells and to find out its preliminary mechanism.

METHODSWe used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, Hoechst33258 staining and measurement of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release to evaluate the protective effect of chrysoeriol against DOX-induced apoptosis and death in H9c2 cells. To find out the mechanism of this protective effect, we observed the immunofluorescence of intracellular ROS and measured the activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Furthermore, we evaluated the effect of chrysoeriol on the antitumor activity of DOX in HeLa cells with MTT assay.

RESULTSThe results of MTT assay, Hoechst 33258 staining and measurement of LDH release showed that chrysoeriol significantly reduced doxorubicin-induced apoptosis and cell death. Chrysoeriol at a dose of 20 microg/ml notably reduced intracellular ROS, decreased the concentration of MDA in the supernatant of DOX-treated H9c2 cells and increased SOD and GPx activities to their normal levels. Further study showed that the addition of chrysoeriol did not affect the antitumor activity of DOX.

CONCLUSIONChrysoeriol could potentially serve as a novel cardioprotective agent against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity without affecting the antitumor activity of DOX.

Animals ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; pharmacology ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Doxorubicin ; pharmacology ; Flavones ; Flavonoids ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; HeLa Cells ; Heart ; drug effects ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Molecular Structure ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) on liver injury induced by periodontitis in rats. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and periodontitis group, twelve per group. In periodontitis group, the periodontitis models were established for the maxillary first molars in rats by means of "wire ligation+vaccinationwith RESULTS: The probing depth, tooth mobility and sulcus bleeding index in periodontitis group were significantly higher than that in control group. HE staining showed in periodontitis group, hepatic cords ranged disorderly and there were vacuoles in cells and inflammatory cells infiltrated in liver tissues of rats, and there was no obvious abnormality in control group. The qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of CONCLUSIONS PGC-1α may be involved in the process of periodontitis-induced liver injury in rats.
Animals ; Liver/injuries* ; Male ; PPAR gamma ; Periodontitis/pathology* ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

Aim To explore the effect of androgen receptor AR on the proliferation and lipid synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts under high-glucose conditions and the possible molecular mechanism.Methods The hearts of neonatal rats were dissected for primary culture of cardiac fibroblasts. Then the growth status of CFs was observed under the inverted microscope, and the identification of CFs was performed by immunofluorescence staining using anti-vimentin. After cell adherence, the cells were divided into blank control group, high glucose model group, negative control group, and overexpressed AR group. The glucose concentration was 33.0 mmol·L-1 except that the blank control group was 5.5 mmol·L-1. After 24 hours of CFs culture, Western blot and RT-qPCR were used to detect the expression of AR, FASN, PCNA, cyclin D1, α-SMA, and collagen . Oil red O and CCK-8 were used to detect the changes in lipid synthesis and cell proliferation ability, respectively.Results Compared with the blank control group, the lipid synthesis and proliferation of CFs in the high glucose model group were enhanced. Western blot and RT-qPCR results showed that the expression of AR decreased, while the expression of fat lipid synthase(FASN), proliferation marker PCNA, cyclin D1 and fibrosis marker α-SMA and collagen increased. After AR overexpressed plasmid was transfected into the CFs treated by high glucose, AR overexpression markedly decreased the expression of FASN, PCNA, cyclin D1, α-SMA and collagen compared with the empty plasmid‐transfected group. Meanwhile, oil red O staining and CCK-8 results showed that the lipid synthesis and proliferation ability of the overexpressed AR group decreased compared with the empty vector group, respectively. Conclusions High glucose promotes the proliferation and lipid synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts. Besides, the mechanism may be related to the regulation of lipid synthesis regulated by AR.