1.The path, dilemma, and countermeasures for patients to inform their families of the breaking bad news
Fengxing ZHONG ; Xiuping YIN ; Tiantian BAI
Chinese Medical Ethics 2025;38(1):116-122
Clinically, the occurrence of the breaking bad news is inevitable. For patients, they not only need to accept and cope with bad news, but also need to inform the bad news to their families with clear thinking and appropriate language, seeking their support and cooperation. This paper analysed the connotation and informing dilemma of bad news, investigated patients’ informing tendencies, as well as evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of three disclosure methods, including concealment, immediate informing, and staged informing. On these bases, a detailed response strategy for patients to inform their families was proposed in three parts, including pre-preparation, mid-articulation, and post-summary. In the initial phase, thorough preparation is essential. During the middle stage, when delivering bad news, use plain language and help family members adjust their emotions. In the final phase, ensure that all information and viewpoints have been fully communicated. In addition, the roles and analysis steps that doctors should play were analysed from their perspective and combined with the degree of doctor-patient trust. Effective informing of bad news is not only about communication skills, but also involves a deep understanding and respect for the psychological needs of patients and their families. Through meticulous preparation, appropriate expression, emotional support, and clear confirmation, communication and trust are promoted to face and overcome difficulties together.
2.Buyang Huanwu Decoction promotes angiogenesis after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury of bEnd.3 cells by regulating YAP1/HIF-1α signaling pathway via caveolin-1.
Bo-Wei CHEN ; Yin OUYANG ; Fan-Zuo ZENG ; Ying-Fei LIU ; Feng-Ming TIAN ; Ya-Qian XU ; Jian YI ; Bai-Yan LIU
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica 2025;50(14):3847-3856
This study aims to explore the mechanism of Buyang Huanwu Decoction(BHD) in promoting angiogenesis after oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation(OGD/R) of mouse brain microvascular endothelial cell line(brain-derived Endothelial cells.3, bEnd.3) based on the caveolin-1(Cav1)/Yes-associated protein 1(YAP1)/hypoxia-inducible factor-1α(HIF-1α) signaling pathway. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to analyze the blood components of BHD. The cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method was used to detect the optimal intervention concentration of drug-containing serum of BHD after OGD/R injury of bEnd.3. The lentiviral transfection method was used to construct a Cav1 silent stable strain, and Western blot and polymerase chain reaction(PCR) methods were used to verify the silencing efficiency. The control bEnd.3 cells were divided into a normal group(sh-NC control group), an OGD/R model + blank serum group(sh-NC OGD/R group), and an OGD/R model + drug-containing serum group(sh-NC BHD group). Cav1 silent cells were divided into an OGD/R model + blank serum group(sh-Cav1 OGD/R group) and an OGD/R model + drug-containing serum group(sh-Cav1 BHD group). The cell survival rate was detected by the CCK-8 method. The cell migration ability was detected by a cell migration assay. The lumen formation ability was detected by an angiogenesis assay. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of YAP1/HIF-1α signaling pathway-related proteins in each group was detected by Western blot. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation was used to verify the interaction between YAP1 and HIF-1α. The results showed astragaloside Ⅳ, formononetin, ferulic acid, and albiflorin in BHD can all enter the blood. The drug-containing serum of BHD at a mass fraction of 10% may be the optimal intervention concentration for OGD/R-induced injury of bEnd.3 cells. Compared with the sh-NC control group, the sh-NC OGD/R group showed significantly decreased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, significantly increased cell apoptotic rate, significantly lowered phosphorylation level of YAP1 at S127 site, and significantly elevated nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2(VEGFR2). Compared with the same type of OGD/R group, the sh-NC BHD group and sh-Cav1 BHD group had significantly increased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, a significantly decreased cell apoptotic rate, a further decreased phosphorylation level of YAP1 at S127 site, and significantly increased nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and VEGFR2. Compared with the sh-NC OGD/R group, the sh-Cav1 OGD/R group exhibited significantly decreased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, a significantly increased cell apoptotic rate, a significantly increased phosphorylation level of YAP1 at S127 site, and significantly decreased nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and VEGFR2. Compared with the sh-NC BHD group, the sh-Cav1 BHD group showed significantly decreased cell survival rate, cell migration rate, mesh number, node number, and lumen length, a significantly increased cell apoptotic rate, a significantly increased phosphorylation level of YAP1 at the S127 site, and significantly decreased nuclear displacement level of YAP1 and protein expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, and VEGFR2. YAP1 protein was present in the protein complex precipitated by the HIF-1α antibody, and HIF-1α protein was also present in the protein complex precipitated by the YAP1 antibody. The results confirmed that the drug-containing serum of BHD can increase the activity of YAP1/HIF-1α pathway in bEnd.3 cells damaged by OGD/R through Cav1 and promote angiogenesis in vitro.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*
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Animals
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Mice
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Signal Transduction/drug effects*
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Glucose/metabolism*
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Caveolin 1/genetics*
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Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/genetics*
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YAP-Signaling Proteins
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Oxygen/metabolism*
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Endothelial Cells/metabolism*
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Cell Line
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Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing/genetics*
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Neovascularization, Physiologic/drug effects*
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Cell Hypoxia/drug effects*
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Angiogenesis
3.Stir-fried Semen Armeniacae Amarum Suppresses Aristolochic Acid I-Induced Nephrotoxicity and DNA Adducts.
Cheng-Xian LI ; Xiao-He XIAO ; Xin-Yu LI ; Da-Ke XIAO ; Yin-Kang WANG ; Xian-Ling WANG ; Ping ZHANG ; Yu-Rong LI ; Ming NIU ; Zhao-Fang BAI
Chinese journal of integrative medicine 2025;31(2):142-152
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the protective effects of stir-fried Semen Armeniacae Amarum (SAA) against aristolochic acid I (AAI)-induced nephrotoxicity and DNA adducts and elucidate the underlying mechanism involved for ensuring the safe use of Asari Radix et Rhizoma.
METHODS:
In vitro, HEK293T cells overexpressing Flag-tagged multidrug resistance-associated protein 3 (MRP3) were constructed by Lentiviral transduction, and inhibitory effect of top 10 common pairs of medicinal herbs with Asari Radix et Rhizoma in clinic on MRP3 activity was verified using a self-constructed fluorescence screening system. The mRNA, protein expressions, and enzyme activity levels of NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) were measured in differentiated HepaRG cells. Hepatocyte toxicity after inhibition of AAI metabolite transport was detected using cell counting kit-8 assay. In vivo, C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 5 groups according to a random number table, including: control (1% sodium bicarbonate), AAI (10 mg/kg), stir-fried SAA (1.75 g/kg) and AAI + stir-fried SAA (1.75 and 8.75 g/kg) groups, 6 mice in each group. After 7 days of continuous gavage administration, liver and kidney damages were assessed, and the protein expressions and enzyme activity of liver metabolic enzymes NQO1 and CYP1A2 were determined simultaneously.
RESULTS:
In vivo, combination of 1.75 g/kg SAA and 10 mg/kg AAI suppressed AAI-induced nephrotoxicity and reduced dA-ALI formation by 26.7%, and these detoxification effects in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Mechanistically, SAA inhibited MRP3 transport in vitro, downregulated NQO1 expression in vivo, increased CYP1A2 expression and enzymatic activity in vitro and in vivo, respectively (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Notably, SAA also reduced AAI-induced hepatotoxicity throughout the detoxification process, as indicated by a 41.3% reduction in the number of liver adducts (P<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Stir-fried SAA is a novel drug candidate for the suppression of AAI-induced liver and kidney damages. The protective mechanism may be closely related to the regulation of transporters and metabolic enzymes.
Aristolochic Acids/toxicity*
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Animals
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Humans
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NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)/genetics*
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HEK293 Cells
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Kidney/pathology*
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Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2/genetics*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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DNA Adducts/drug effects*
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Male
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Kidney Diseases/drug therapy*
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Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*
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Mice
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Prunus armeniaca
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Plant Extracts
4.Effect of midazolam on neuronal damage in ischemic stroke rats by regulating the PINK1/PARKIN signaling pathway
Junli ZHANG ; Yuanyuan LI ; Jing YIN ; Hongyuan YANG ; Yaowu BAI
Journal of Pharmaceutical Practice and Service 2025;43(6):288-292
Objective To investigate the effect of midazolam on neuronal damage in ischemic stroke (IS) rats and its regulatory effect on PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1)/E3 ubiquitin ligase (PARKIN) signaling pathway. Methods An IS rat model was established using arterial occlusion method. The rats with successful model were randomly divided into IS group, drug-low, medium, high-dose (drug-L, M, H, 30, 60, 90 mg/kg midazolam) groups, drug-H+autophagy inhibitor 3-MA group (90 mg/kg midazolam+30 mg/kg 3-MA), and rats with only isolated blood vessels were used as sham surgery groups. Each group received corresponding doses of drugs or physiological saline intervention, and the neurological function scoring, brain histopathology, neuronal apoptosis, ultrastructure, and expression of PINK1, PARKIN, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), and P62 protein in mitochondria were detected. Results Compared with the IS group, the pathological damage of the drug-L group, drug-M group, and drug-H group was improved, and autophagosomes showed an increasing trend, the expression of PINK1, PARKIN, and LC3 proteins increased, the neurological function score, neuronal apoptosis rate, and P62 protein obviously decreased in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01 or P<0.001); compared with the drug-H group, the pathological damage in the drug-H+3-MA group increased and autophagosomes decreased, the expression of PINK1, PARKIN, and LC3 proteins decreased, the neurological function score, neuronal apoptosis rate, and P62 protein obviously increased (P<0.001). Conclusion Midazolam induced mitochondrial autophagy in IS rats by activating the PINK1/PARKIN signaling pathway, neuronal apoptosis was reduced and neuronal damage were improved in IS rats.
5.Health risk assessment of heavy metals and metalloids in atmospheric PM2.5 from Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 2023
Jiake ZHU ; Shengmei YANG ; Yuhan QIN ; Nana WEI ; Wenqian ZHANG ; Xinrui JIA ; Wenyu ZHANG ; Xuanhao BAI ; Minghui YIN ; Li ZHANG ; Huan LI ; Duoduo WU ; Xuanzhi YUE ; Yaochun FAN
Journal of Environmental and Occupational Medicine 2025;42(10):1201-1208
Background The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is a vast area with a wide array of ecological environments, resulting in considerable regional variations in air pollution characteristics. Current research is limited by a scarcity of systematic, region-wide studies and risk assessments. Objective To assess the health risks associated with inhalation exposure to nine heavy metal and metalloid elements in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5) for the population of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Methods From the 10th to the 16th of each month throughout 2023, atmospheric PM2.5 samples were collected at designated monitoring sites in 12 leagues (cities) across the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to analyze the characteristics and trends in concentration. The health risk assessment model developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency was employed to evaluate both the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks associated with the heavy metal elements beryllium (Be), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), hydrargyrum (Hg), plumbum (Pb), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni) and the metalloid elements stibium (Sb) and arsenic (As). Results In 2023, a total of
6.Arsenic trioxide preconditioning attenuates hepatic ischemia- reperfusion injury in mice: Role of ERK/AKT and autophagy.
Chaoqun WANG ; Hongjun YU ; Shounan LU ; Shanjia KE ; Yanan XU ; Zhigang FENG ; Baolin QIAN ; Miaoyu BAI ; Bing YIN ; Xinglong LI ; Yongliang HUA ; Zhongyu LI ; Dong CHEN ; Bangliang CHEN ; Yongzhi ZHOU ; Shangha PAN ; Yao FU ; Hongchi JIANG ; Dawei WANG ; Yong MA
Chinese Medical Journal 2025;138(22):2993-3003
BACKGROUND:
Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is indicated as a broad-spectrum medicine for a variety of diseases, including cancer and cardiac disease. While the role of ATO in hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (HIRI) has not been reported. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ATO on HIRI.
METHODS:
In the present study, we established a 70% hepatic warm I/R injury and partial hepatectomy (30% resection) animal models in vivo and hepatocytes anoxia/reoxygenation (A/R) models in vitro with ATO pretreatment and further assessed liver function by histopathologic changes, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, cell counting kit-8, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) for extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 was transfected to evaluate the role of ERK1/2 pathway during HIRI, followed by ATO pretreatment. The dynamic process of autophagic flux and numbers of autophagosomes were detected by green fluorescent protein-monomeric red fluorescent protein-LC3 (GFP-mRFP-LC3) staining and transmission electron microscopy.
RESULTS:
A low dose of ATO (0.75 μmol/L in vitro and 1 mg/kg in vivo ) significantly reduced tissue necrosis, inflammatory infiltration, and hepatocyte apoptosis during the process of hepatic I/R. Meanwhile, ATO obviously promoted the ability of cell proliferation and liver regeneration. Mechanistically, in vitro studies have shown that nontoxic concentrations of ATO can activate both ERK and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinase (PI3K-AKT) pathways and further induce autophagy. The hepatoprotective mechanism of ATO, at least in part, relies on the effects of ATO on the activation of autophagy, which is ERK-dependent.
CONCLUSION
Low, non-toxic doses of ATO can activate ERK/PI3K-AKT pathways and induce ERK-dependent autophagy in hepatocytes, protecting liver against I/R injury and accelerating hepatocyte regeneration after partial hepatectomy.
Animals
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Arsenic Trioxide
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Autophagy/physiology*
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Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control*
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Mice
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Male
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/physiology*
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Arsenicals/therapeutic use*
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Oxides/therapeutic use*
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Liver/metabolism*
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Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases/metabolism*
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
7.Expert consensus on orthodontic treatment of patients with periodontal disease.
Wenjie ZHONG ; Chenchen ZHOU ; Yuanyuan YIN ; Ge FENG ; Zhihe ZHAO ; Yaping PAN ; Yuxing BAI ; Zuolin JIN ; Yan XU ; Bing FANG ; Yi LIU ; Hong HE ; Faming CHEN ; Weiran LI ; Shaohua GE ; Ang LI ; Yi DING ; Lili CHEN ; Fuhua YAN ; Jinlin SONG
International Journal of Oral Science 2025;17(1):27-27
Patients with periodontal disease often require combined periodontal-orthodontic interventions to restore periodontal health, function, and aesthetics, ensuring both patient satisfaction and long-term stability. Managing these patients involving orthodontic tooth movement can be particularly challenging due to compromised periodontal soft and hard tissues, especially in severe cases. Therefore, close collaboration between orthodontists and periodontists for comprehensive diagnosis and sequential treatment, along with diligent patient compliance throughout the entire process, is crucial for achieving favorable treatment outcomes. Moreover, long-term orthodontic retention and periodontal follow-up are essential to sustain treatment success. This expert consensus, informed by the latest clinical research and practical experience, addresses clinical considerations for orthodontic treatment of periodontal patients, delineating indications, objectives, procedures, and principles with the aim of providing clear and practical guidance for clinical practitioners.
Humans
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Consensus
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Orthodontics, Corrective/standards*
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Periodontal Diseases/complications*
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Tooth Movement Techniques/methods*
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
8.Premature mortality projection for diabetes to 2030: a subnational evaluation towards the Healthy China 2030 Goals.
Hongrui ZHAO ; Zhenping ZHAO ; Xuan YANG ; Yuchang ZHOU ; Ainan JIA ; Jiangmei LIU ; Peng YIN ; Yamin BAI ; Zhenxing YANG ; Maigeng ZHOU ; Xiujuan ZHANG
Frontiers of Medicine 2025;19(4):626-635
The Healthy China 2030 Plan set the goal of reducing premature deaths from diabetes by 30% by 2030. However, there has been a lack of assessment of premature mortality for diabetes since the action plan was issued. This study used data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021, calculated the premature deaths for diabetes by sex, provinces, and subtypes from 1990 to 2021. We explored the temporal trend of premature mortality using the average annual percent change (AAPC) for different sexes, provinces, and subtypes from 1990 to 2021. Furthermore, we predicted premature mortality for diabetes through 2030 for China and its provinces according to the average annual change rate from 2010 to 2021. There was a first slow upward trend in premature mortality for diabetes from 0.5% in 1990 to 0.6% in 2004, and then a decline until 2021 with premature mortality of 0.4%. By 2030, only Fujian (30.3%) will achieve the desired level of reduction, with only seven provinces meeting the target for females and none for males. There is a large range in the degree of decline between inland and coastal regions, showing obvious geographic differences, and there should be a focus on balancing medical resources.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
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Female
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Male
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Mortality, Premature/trends*
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Diabetes Mellitus/mortality*
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Goals
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Middle Aged
;
Adult
9.Expression of enolase and laminin in the vagina of bacterial vaginosis of mice
Rui Zhang ; Yiqing Wu ; Haixu Yin ; Chang Li ; Aixin Ma ; Junzhu Wang ; Huihui Bai ; Zhaohui Liu ; Qinping Liao
Acta Universitatis Medicinalis Anhui 2024;59(11):1939-1943
Objective:
To investigate the differences in enolase and laminin levels in vaginal epithelial tissues between mice successfully infected withGardnerellaand mice not infected with Gardnerella, providing information for further exploration of the correlation between enolase and laminin levels and the incidence of bacterial vaginosis.
Methods:
Gardnerella strains isolated, purified, and identified from vaginal secretions of patients with bacterial vaginosis were used to infect the vagina of mice and establish a mouse model of bacterial vaginosis. Successful and failed mice was defined as successful and failed groups, respectively. Differential expression of enolase and laminin in the vaginal epithelial tissue of two groups of mice was detected by Western blot. Modeling success rate was statistically analyzed, and the expression differences of enolase and laminin was compared between two groups.
Results:
One strain of Gardnerella vaginalis infected 10 SPF grade KM mice, 7 mice met the diagnostic criteria for bacterial vaginosis, and 3 mice failed to model, with a success rate of 70%. Western blot was used to detect protein expression levels, and the levels of laminin and enolase in the successfully modeled mouse vaginal epithelial tissue were significantly higher than those in the failed modeling group, with statistical differences between the two groups(P<0.05).
Conclusion
Enolase and laminin may be involved in the occurrence of bacterial vaginosis, however, further research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which they trigger the occurrence and development of the disease.
10.SRF-rearranged cellular perivascular myoid tumor: a clinicopathological analysis of two cases
Tangchen YIN ; Mengyuan SHAO ; Meng SUN ; Lu ZHAO ; Weng I LAO ; Qianlan YAO ; Qianming BAI ; Lin YU ; Xiaoyan ZHOU ; Jian WANG
Chinese Journal of Pathology 2024;53(1):64-70
Objective:To investigate the clinicopathological features, immunophenotype, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SRF-rearranged cellular perivascular myoid tumor.Methods:Two cases of SRF-rearranged cellular perivascular myoid tumor diagnosed in the Department of Pathology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center from October 2021 to March 2022 were collected. Immunohistochemical staining, fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were performed, and the literature was reviewed.Results:Case 1, a 3-month-old boy presented with a painless tumor of the scalp, measuring about 2 cm in diameter. Case 2, a 3-year-old girl complained with a painless tumor of the knee, measuring approximately 1.5 cm in diameter. Microscopically, the tumor had a clear boundary and showed multinodular growth. The tumor was mainly composed of spindle cells arranged in long intersecting fascicles associated with thin, slit-like or branching ectatic vessels, focally forming hemangiopericytoma-like appearance. The tumor cells were abundant, but there was no obvious atypia. Mitotic figures (3-4/10 HPF) were noted. H-caldesmon and SMA were positive in both cases. Case 1 showed diffuse and strong positivity for Desmin, and focally for CKpan. Ki-67 proliferation index was 20% and 30%, respectively. FISH displayed NCOA2 gene translocation in case 1 and the RELA gene translocation in case 2. NGS detected the SRF-NCOA2 gene fusion in case 1 and the SRF-RELA gene fusion in case 2. Both patients underwent local excisions. During the follow-up of 5-14 months, case 1 had no local recurrence, while case 2 developed local recurrence 1 year post operatively.Conclusions:SRF-rearranged cellular perivascular myoid tumor is a novel variant of perivascular cell tumor, which tends to occur in children and adolescents. The tumor forms a broad morphologic spectrum ranging from a pericytic pattern to a myoid pattern, and include hybrid tumors with a mixture of pericytic and myoid patterns. Due to its diffuse hypercellularity and increased mitotic figures and smooth muscle-like immunophenotype, the tumor is easy to be misdiagnosed as myogenic sarcomas. The tumor usually pursues a benign clinical course and rare cases may locally recur.


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