OBJECTIVETo detect the expression of miRNA in de novo and complete response SAA patients and predict the targets of the miRNAs.

METHODSThe expression profiles of miRNA from bone marrow mononuclear cells of the SAA patients with de novo and CR were detected by miRNA microarray.

RESULTSTotally 35 up-regulated and 37 down-regulated miRNA were identified in CR SAA patients in comparison with de novo SAA patients. Furthermore, by predicting the targets of the differentlly expressed miRNA, it was found that some targets associated with T cell receptor signaling pathway and cell adhesion molecules.

CONCLUSIONSome miRNA may be involved in the pathogenesis of SAA.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effectiveness and side effects of decitabine combined with or without cytarabine-based low dose regimen for acute myeloid leukemia in geratic patients.

METHODSClinical data of 8 geratic patients (aged over 70 years) suffered from acute myeloid leukemia from September 2009 to March 2012 were analyzed retrospectively, including age, sex, peripheral blood and bone marrow characteristics and so on. These patients were treated by an 1-hour intravenous infusion of decitabine 20 mg/mper day for 5 consecutive days every 4 weeks combined with or without low dose regimen dominantly consisting of cytarabine 20 mg per day as subcutaneous injection for seven consecutive days. The therapeutic effectiveness and side-effects were evaluated.

RESULTSAmong 8 patients, incinding 3 males and 5 females aged between 71-84 years old, their median white blood cell count was 31.2(1.38-179)× 10/L, and median bone marrow blast cell ratio was 42.7(23-94)% at the initial diagnosis.The median treatment courses was 2.5 (1-20).After treatment by this protocol,2 patients achieved complete remission(CR) (25%), 2 patients achieved partial remission (PR)(25%), 3 were not relieved, and 1 died, thus the overall response rate reached to 50% (4/8). The median overall survival time was 9.5 (2-36) months, and the overall survival time of 3 patients reached 1 year or more. The main side-effects of treatment were grade III-IV of myelosuppression (87.5%) and pneumonia (50%).

CONCLUSIONDecitabine combined with or without cytarabine-based low dose regimen is promising for the treatment of geriatric acute myeloid leukemia, thus improving the overall response rate, and prolonging overall survival time.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between tissue distributions of modified Wuzi Yanzong prescription (, MWP) in rats and meridian tropism theory.

METHODSA high-performance liquid chromatography with Fourier transform-mass spectrometry (HPLC-FT) method was used to identify the metabolites of MWP in different tissues of rats after continued oral administration of MWP for 7 days. The relationship between MWP and meridian tropism theory was studied according to the tissue distributions of the metabolites of MWP in rats and the relevant literature.

RESULTSNineteen metabolites, mainly flavanoid compounds, were detected in the different rat tissues and classified to each herb in MWP. Further, it was able to establish that the tissue distributions of the metabolites of MWP were consistent with the descriptions of meridian tropism of MWP available in literature, this result might be useful in clarifying the mechanism of MWP on meridian tropism. In the long run, these data might provide scientific evidence of the meridian tropism theory to further promote the reasonable, effective utilization, and modernization of Chinese medicine.

CONCLUSIONThe tissue distributions of MWP in vivo were consistent with the descriptions of meridian tropism of MWP.

BackgroundEndometriosis is a challenging disease with symptoms such as dysmenorrhea and infertility. However, its etiology is still vague and there is still no effective markers or treatment. This study aimed to profile the circular RNAs (circRNAs) expressed in eutopic endometrium from patients with ovarian endometriosis and explore potential clues to the pathogenesis of endometriosis, providing an evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

MethodsA total of 63 clinical samples, including control endometrium (n = 22) and eutopic endometrium (n = 41), were collected from Peking Union Medical College Hospital between May 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016. Of them, four samples in each group were used for circRNA microarray. Then, four upregulated circRNAs were screened out for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation. After that, bioinformatics analysis was performed to predict miRNAs targeted by validated circRNAs and investigate the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions.

ResultsAmong 88 differentially expressed circRNAs, 11 were upregulated and 77 were downregulated in eutopic endometrium of patients with endometriosis. qRT-PCR validation results for two upregulated circRNAs (circ_0004712 and circ_0002198) matched the microarray results. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of circ_0002198 for distinguishing ovarian endometriosis was 0.846 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.752-0.939; P < 0.001) while that of circ_0004712 was 0.704 (95% CI: 0.571-0.837; P = 0.008). On the basis of target prediction, we depicted the molecular interactions between the identified circRNAs and their dominant target miRNAs, as well as constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network.

ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that circRNAs are differentially expressed between eutopic and normal endometrium, which suggests that circRNAs are candidate factors in the activation of endometriosis. circ_0002198 and circ_0004712 may be potential novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis.

BACKGROUND: Income is a major socioeconomic index, and low household income is known to negatively affect health. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research on the health status and health behavior of middle-aged and older women with low-income. This study aims to provide basic information on the health status and health behavior of low-income women, using data representative of South Koreans. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among the total of 8,018 respondents, 2,713 women aged 35 years or older were enrolled in the study. The subjects were classified by income status based on standard household income quartiles. RESULTS: The low-income group showed the lowest education levels and the highest unemployment rate (P<0.001). The percentage of smokers was the highest, while the frequency of exercise was the lowest in this group (P<0.001). The incidence of hyperlipidemia was highest (P=0.028), and they showed the highest body mass index, waist circumference (P<0.001), blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (P=0.018), and triglyceride level (P=0.03), as well as the lowest high density lipoprotein level (P=0.039), and the highest risk of cardiovascular diseases (P=0.002). Additionally, perceived health status was negative and quality of life was lowest among the groups (P<0.001). Although the enrollment rate for free health check-up services was highest (P=0.007), subscription to private health insurance, adult health check-ups, cancer screening rate were all lowest of the groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed a health gap among middle-aged and elderly women of low income, compared to higher income groups.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Education ; Family Characteristics* ; Fasting ; Female ; Health Behavior* ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias ; Incidence ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Lipoproteins ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Triglycerides ; Unemployment ; Waist Circumference

Brentuximab vedotin (BV), a potent antibody-drug conjugate, targets the CD30 antigen. Owing to the remarkable efficacy shown in CD30-positive lymphomas, such as Hodgkin's lymphoma and systemic anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, BV was granted accelerated approval in 2011 by the US Food and Drug Administration. Thereafter, many large-scale trials in various situations have been performed, which led to extensions of the original indication. The aim of this review was to describe the latest updates on clinical trials of BV and the in-practice guidance for the use of BV.
Antigens, CD30 ; Financing, Organized ; Hodgkin Disease ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic ; United States Food and Drug Administration

OBJECTIVE: Tamoxifen is an estrogen receptor antagonist used to prevent recurrence of breast cancer, which may provoke depression and anxiety and increase follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) to patients. We compared anxiety and depression symptoms and FSH levels who received conventional tamoxifen alone and combination treatment of goserelin, a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue, with tamoxifen. METHODS: Sixty-four premenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive early-stage breast cancer were included and were assigned randomly to receive either tamoxifen and goserelin combination or tamoxifen alone for 12 months. The participants were evaluated blindly using the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scale, the Beck Depression Rating Scale, and the Albany Panic and Phobia Questionnaire (APPQ). Blood FSH levels were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. RESULTS: A significant time×group difference was detected in the agoraphobia trends subscale of the APPQ and in FSH levels. The combination group showed significantly less increases in agoraphobia subscale of APPQ and greater decreases in FSH level than those in the tamoxifen-alone group from baseline to 12 months of treatment. No significant differences for age, tumor grade, body mass index, or family history were found at baseline between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the combination treatment of tamoxifen and goserelin resulted in less agoraphobia than tamoxifen alone in premenopausal women with breast cancer, which may associated with FSH suppression of goserelin.
Agoraphobia* ; Anxiety ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Depression ; Estrogens ; Female ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone* ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Goserelin* ; Humans ; Panic ; Phobic Disorders ; Prospective Studies* ; Recurrence ; Tamoxifen*

A cavernous angioma (CA) and a developmental venous anomaly may consist a mixed vascular malformation (MVM). Two bleeding foci were observed in a MVM of a man with epilepsy. The hemodynamic association between the two foci was not clear. An advance of neuroimaging may enhance the susceptibility of detection of MVMs. We should consider a MVM when a daughter bleeding focus occurs near the main bleeding focus associated with a CA.
Brain* ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Epilepsy ; Hemangioma, Cavernous ; Hemodynamics ; Hemorrhage* ; Neuroimaging ; Nuclear Family ; Vascular Malformations*

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the real-time cardiovascular response to the progressive overload exercise in different levels of spinal cord injury (SCI), and to find out whether regular exercise has effect on these cardiovascular responses. METHODS: The study enrolled 8 able-bodied individuals in the control group plus 15 SCI subjects who were divided into two groups by their neurological level of injury: high-level SCI group (T6 or above) and low-level SCI group (T7 or below). Also, subjects were divided into exercise group and non-exercise group by usual exercise habits. We instructed the subjects to perform exercises using arm ergometer according to the protocol and checked plethysmograph for the real time assessment of blood pressure, heart rate, and cardiac output. RESULTS: Six subjects were included in high-level SCI group (3 cervical, 3 thoracic injuries), 9 subjects in low-level SCI group (9 thoracic injuries), and 8 able-bodied individuals in control group. During arm ergometer-graded exercise, mean arterial pressure (MAP) was significantly lower in high-level SCI subjects of non-exercise group, compared with high-level SCI subjects of exercise group. In addition, HR was significantly higher in low-level SCI group compared with control group. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences in mean arterial pressure of high-level SCI group according to usual exercise habits. We discovered that even in non-athlete high-level SCI, regular exercise can bring cardiac modulation through blood pressure control.
Arm ; Arterial Pressure ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiac Output ; Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena ; Exercise ; Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Hemodynamics* ; Spinal Cord Injuries* ; Spinal Cord*

OBJECTIVE: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as glucose intolerance first detected during pregnancy. It can result in pregnancy complications such as birth injury, stillbirth. Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), found in adipose tissue, is associated with insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether FABP4 in the placenta and decidua of pregnant women with GDM is higher than that in normal pregnant women, and whether serum from pregnant women with GDM may cause adipocytes to secrete more FABP4 than does serum from a normal pregnant group. METHODS: We obtained placentas, deciduas, and serum from 12 pregnant women with GDM and 12 normal pregnant women and performed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction. We cultured human pre-adipocytes for 17 days with GDM and non-GDM serum and performed western blot, real time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction, and oil red O staining. RESULTS: Expression of FABP4 in serum, placenta and decidua of pregnant women with GDM was significantly higher than that in normal pregnant women. Serum from pregnant women with GDM increased the expression of FABP4 mRNA and decreased the expression of adiponectin mRNA in human pre-adipocytes significantly. Adipocyte cultured in GDM serum showed significantly greater lipid accumulation than those cultured in normal serum. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that FABP4 is higher in placenta and decidua from pregnant women with GDM. Increased circulating FABP4 in maternal serum from pregnant women with GDM may originate from adipocytes and the placenta. Circulating FABP4 can induce increased insulin resistance and decreased insulin sensitivity.
Adipocytes ; Adiponectin ; Adipose Tissue ; Birth Injuries ; Blotting, Western ; Decidua ; Diabetes, Gestational* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Humans* ; Insulin Resistance ; Placenta ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; Pregnancy in Diabetics ; Pregnant Women* ; RNA, Messenger* ; Stillbirth