Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Merkel Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Small Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; metabolism ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of multislice spiral CT (MSCT) for breast carcinoma.Methods One hundred and twenty consecutive suspicious cases of breast carcinoma diagnosed clinically and/or by imaging modalities were studied with MSCT prospectively. The dynamic contrast-enhanced serial scanning was done as follows:Scanning was triggered 35 s (early arterial phase) after beginning of contrast agent infusion at a speed of 3 mL/s by high pressure automatic injector, and would be repeated at the time point of 60 s and 150 s. Eventually, the CT diagnostic results were compared with the pathological consequences to calculate the diagnostic accuracy of MSCT for breast carcinoma. Results Eighty-nine patients with 100 foci of breast cancer from 120 suspicious cases were confirmed pathologically and their imaging data were analyzed. Among the 89 cases, 61 cases were invasive ductal carcinomas,12 ductal carcinomas in situ, 8 invasive lobular carcinomas, 6 medullary carcinomas and 2 inflammatory carcinomas. According to lesion morphologic appearance, lesion enhancement mode, time-density curve of lesion, and combination of all the above three parameters, the diagnostic accuracies were 78%, 82%, 84% and 92%, respectively. Conclusion MSCT has a great clinical value in diagnosing breast carcinoma.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the coping strategies of the community-based population in Shenzhen.

METHODSTotally 5,940 subjects from the communities in Shenzhen were sampled and tested with the Simplified Coping Style questionnaire.

RESULTSThe most common coping strategies adopted by the community residents in Shenzhen were "consoling themselves" (33.1%) and "looking at the bright side of things" (31.4%), and the least adopted coping strategy was "relieving distress by smoking, drinking, taking medicine and eating" (57.8%); the strategies left out from their choices were mostly negative strategies. The scores for positive coping strategy factors of community residents in Shenzhen were greater than those of negative ones, with a mean difference of 0.43. The scores of both positive and negative coping strategy factors of these residents were significantly lower than those of general population in other mainland cities (P<0.001), with mean differences of 0.12 and 0.36, respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe community residents in Shenzhen adopt mostly positive strategies for coping with frustration, which benefit their status of self-rated health.

Adaptation, Psychological ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; China ; Emotions ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Residence Characteristics ; Self Care ; methods ; psychology ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) on pneumocyte apoptosis after lung ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

METHODSAdult male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups based upon the intervention (n = 8): control group (C), lung ischemic reperfusion group (LIR), LIR+ IPostC group (IPostC). At the end of the experiment, blood specimens drawn from the arteria carotis were tested for the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and myeloperoxidase (MPO); the pneumocyte apoptosis index (AI) was achieved by tennrminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP nick end abeling (TUNEL); the expression of Bcl-2, Bax protein in lung tissue was accessed by quantitative immunohistochemistry (MHC) and Bcl-2, Bax mRNA by RT-PCR.

RESULTSIPostC could significantly attenuate the MDA level, MPO activity and improve SOD activity in blood serum which was comparable to I/R and significantly reduced the number of TUNEL-positive cells compared with I/R group, expressed as Al (% total nuclei) from (39.0 +/- 3.46) to (8.0 +/- 0.88) (P < 0.01). The protein and mRNA expression of Bcl-2 and Bax showed that IPO significantly attenuated the ischemia/reperfusion-upregulated expression of Bax protein but improved the expression of Bcl-2 that improved the Bcl-2/Bax ratio (P < 0.01) .

CONCLUSIONIPostC may attenuate pneumocyte apoptosis in LIRI by up-regulating expression of Bcl-2/Bax ratio and by inhibiting oxidant generation and neutrophils filtration.

Alveolar Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Ischemic Postconditioning ; Lung ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lung Injury ; physiopathology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism

Objective To elucidate the important functions of microRNAs (miRNAs) in regulating synaptic assembly and function, we performed a computational analysis for the genetic loci required for the synaptic structure and function and their corresponding miRNAs in C. elegans. Methods Total 198 genetic loci required for the synaptic structure and function were selected. Sequence alignment was combined with E value evaluation to investigate and identify the possible corresponding miRNAs. Results Total 163 genes among the 198 genetic loci selected have their possibly corresponding regulatory miRNA (s), which covered most of the important genetic loci required for the synaptic structure and function. Moreover, only 22 genes among the analyzed 38 genetic loci encoding synaptic proteins have more possibility to under the control of non-coding RNA genes. In addition, the distribution of miRNAs along the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of these 22 genes exhibits different patterns. Conclusion Here we provide the computational screen and analysis results for the genetic loci required for synaptic structure and function and their possible corresponding miRNAs. These data will be useful for the further attempt to systematically determine the roles of miRNAs in synaptic assembly and function regulation in worms.

OBJECTIVETo perform a genome-wide alternative polyadenylation (APA) profiling in both mouse female germline stem cells (FGSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and explore the role of germline-specific APA in the biological behaviors of FGSCs.

METHODSWe used a high-throughput sequencing-based method 3T-Seq to profile the genome-wide 3' termini of the transcripts and delineate all the APA sites in mouse FGSCs and ESCs. The genes with altered APA sites in FGSCs compared with ESCs were analyzed with DAVID Gene Ontology tool for their biological roles.

RESULTSWe identified a total of 50243 APA sites in 16973 genes. In FGSCs, 1148 genes were shown to have alterations in 3'UTR length, among which 795 ( 66%) genes had shortened and 353 (34%) had lengthened 3'UTR. Some of the genes with shortened 3'UTR were involved in germ cell development.

CONCLUSIONSOur genome-wide APA profiling analysis reveals a cell type-specific APA alternation in FGSCs, and APA-mediated 3'UTR alteration contributes to germline-related biological process. This study provides a framework for understanding the post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms in FGSCs.

3' Untranslated Regions ; Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Embryonic Germ Cells ; metabolism ; Embryonic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genome ; Mice ; Polyadenylation

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between colorectal adenocarcinoma with invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) component, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis.

METHODSOne hundred and thirty one cases of colorectal adenocarcinoma with invasive micropapillary carcinoma component were evaluated by H&E and immunohistochemical staining. The main pathological features, percentage of IMPC component, lymphovascular invasion, and lymph node metastasis were assessed and compared to 296 cases of conventional colorectal adenocarcinoma.

RESULTSThe maximum diameter of the tumors of the IMPC group was significantly lower than the conventional group. The degree of differentiation, the lymph node metastatic rate, the average number of metastatic lymph nodes, the number of cases with lymphovascular tumor emboli were significantly higher in the IMPC group (P = 0.000). The rate of distant metastasis at operation was higher in the IMPC group (14.5%) compared to the conventional group (10.8%) even though statistical significance was not achieved (P = 0.278) . In IMPC group, as the IMPC component increased, the rate of lymph node metastasis also showed an increasing trend. The rate of lymph node metastasis were 53.0% (157/296) , 67.7% (42/62) and 85.5% (59/69) " respectively" for conventional adenocarcinoma, adenocarcinoma with ≤ 10% IMPC component and adenocarcinoma with > 10% IMPC component; the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.000).

CONCLUSIONSCompared to conventional colorectal adenocarcinomas, the colorectal carcinomas with IMPC component show a significantly higher rate of lymphovascular invasion, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. The percentage of IMPC component in colorectal adenocarcinoma is significantly correlated to the rate of lymph node metastasis. Therefore, presence of IMPC component and degree of tumor differentiation are predicting factors of lymph node metastasis.

Adenocarcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cadherins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; metabolism ; pathology ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Tumor Burden ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo determine ATPase inhibitory factor 1 (IF1) expression in normal and pathological tissue of female reproductive system to better understand the physiological role of IF1 in malignancies of the female reproductive system.

METHODSSurgical specimens of normal tissues and primary malignant tumors were obtained during the past 2 years, including 38 normal endometrium tissues, 33 endometriosis tissues, 30 endometrial adenocarcinoma tissues, 24 uterine myoideum tissues, 30 uterine fibroid tissues, 18 normal cervical tissues, 30 cervical squamous carcinoma tissues, 11 fallopian tube tissues, 19 fallopian tube adenocarcinoma tissues, 15 ovarian tissues, 21 ovarian endometrial adenocarinoma tissues, 30 decidua tissues, and 30 villus tissues. The expressions of IF1 protein and mRNA were assessed by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe expressions of IF1 were significantly increased in endometrial adenocarcinoma (P<0.01), cervical squamous carcinoma (P<0.01), fallopian tube adenocarcinoma (P<0.01) and ovarian endometrial adenocarinoma (P<0.01) as compared with those in normal tissues. In normal endometrium, IF1 expression was significantly reduced in the secretory phase as compared with the proliferation phase (P<0.01). In patients with endometriosis, IF1 protein expression increased obviously in endometriotic tissues as compared with eutopic and normal endometrial, but the expression IF1 mRNA was similar among the 3 tissues.

CONCLUSIONIF1 expression, increases abnormally in malignant tumors of the female reproductive system and may serve as a marker for malignancies of the female reproductive system as well as a promising pharmacological target for cancer treatment.

OBJECTIVETo determine the effects of hypobaric hypoxia pretreatment on surgically induced endometriosis in rats.

METHODSSix rats were randomized into 2 groups and exposed to hypoxia (8% O) and normoxia (21% O) for 8 h. The uterine endometrium was intraperitoneally implanted into estrogen-treated ovariectomized Lewis rat, and the growth and quality of the implants were measured. The changes in apoptosis, protein and gene expressions in the serum, abdominis effusion fluids and implants were tested by ELISA, immunohistochemical staining, TUNNEL assay, Western blotting and RT-PCR.

RESULTSThe volume of the implants in the hypoxic pretreatment group was significantly increased compared with the normoxia group. High expressions of Ki67, CD31, VEGF, and HIF-1α and lowered cell apoptosis were found in the hypoxia-pretreated implants compared with the normoxic group. VEGF level in the serum and peritoneal fluid were increased in hypoxia-pretreated group, but TNFα level was comparable between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONHypoxia play an important role in the occurrence and progression of endometriosis by increasing cell proliferation and angiogenesis and decreasing cell apoptosis in the implants in the rat model.

Allografts ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; Ascitic Fluid ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Endometriosis ; therapy ; Endometrium ; transplantation ; Female ; Hypoxia ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; metabolism ; Ischemic Preconditioning ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Rats ; Rats, Inbred Lew ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; blood

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between polymorphism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) gene in G1661A and the level of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene among coke oven workers.

METHODS295 male subjects were studied, including 214 workers working in coke oven plant and 81 controls working in raw material plant who were not generally exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons occupationally. General in-formation of subjects were collected in a specific questionnaire including age, smoking and drinking habits, the history of occupation and so on. The AhR genotypes were detected by allele specific amplification (ASA), and the levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene were measured by high performance liquid chromatography with a fluorescence detector.

RESULTSThe frequencies of G/G, G/A and A/A genotype were 52.8% (113/214), 27.6% (59/214) and 19.6% (42/214) in exposed group and 67.9% (55/81), 19.8% (16/81) and 12.3% (10/81) in control group, respectively. No significant difference was found in three genotypes between the exposed and control group. Allele frequencies of G and A were 66.6% (285/428) and 33.4% (143/428) in exposed group and 77.8% (126/162) and 22.2% (36/162) in control group, and no statistical differences were found in allele frequency between exposed and control group. After the length of service and external exposure orders in general linear model were adjusted, results of covariance analysis showed that logarithmic transformed urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were (3.62 +/- 0.12), (3.43 +/- 0.12) and (3.44 +/- 0.08) micromol/mol Cr in individuals with A/A, G/A and G/G, respectively. The logarithmic transformed urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were (3.24 +/- 0.09) and (3.43 +/- 0.10) micromol/mol Cr in individuals with allele of G and A. No statistical differences were found in level of 1-hydroxypyrene among A/A, G/A and G/G genotype individuals, and between allele G and allele A after external exposure orders and length of service were adjusted.

CONCLUSIONThe polymorphism of aryl hydrocarbon receptor G1661A has no significant impact on levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene.

Adult ; Coke ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Pyrenes ; pharmacokinetics ; Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon ; genetics ; Urine ; chemistry