[Cadmium Accumulation Characteristics and Impacting Factors of Different Rice Varieties Under Paddy Soils with High Geological Backgrounds].

The cadmium (Cd) accumulation characteristics of seven rice varieties (Ningliangyou 1, Y Liangyou 1, Shenliangyou, Tailiangyou, Yuejingsimiao, Youzhanbahao, and Huang Huazhan) were studied by pot-culture experiments in two paddy soils (Maling, Yunbiao) with different high geological backgrounds, and the possible impacting factors were explored. The results indicated that:① The grain Cd contents of the seven rice varieties grown in the two soils did not exceed the national food safety standard (GB 2762-2017), and the grain Cd content of Shengliangyou was the lowest; ② The grain Cd content of the seven rice varieties planted in the soil of Maling was higher than those of Yunbiao; ③ The redundancy analysis revealed that the accumulation of Cd in grains was influenced by the plant height, surface area of root, total cadmium in the soil, and EC and Eh of the soil during the heading stage. The correlation analysis indicated that the leading impacting factor of the grain Cd accumulation varied. In the Maling soil, the grain Cd content was primarily related to the rice root length, while it was related to the aboveground rice biomass in the Yunbiao soil.

FcRγ deficiency improves survival in experimental sepsis by down-regulating TLR4 signaling pathway.

Fc receptor common γ signaling chain (FcRγ), a common subunit shared by Fc receptors (FcγRI, III, IV, FcαRI, and FcεRI), is an important immune regulator both in innate and adaptive immunity. Previous studies have shown that FcRγ was a potential target of inflammatory diseases, whereas the role of FcRγ in sepsis has been poorly understood. In this study, we found that deficiency of FcRγ resulted in increased survival in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-galactosamine and E. coli-induced sepsis in mice. This protective effect was characterized by decreased TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Further experiments in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) in vitro also showed that FcRγ deficiency resulted in decreased production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 upon LPS stimulation. The mechanism study showed that FcRγ was physiologically associated with toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and tyrosine phosphorylation of FcRγ mediated TLR4 signaling pathway, followed by increased ERK phosphorylation upon LPS stimulation. Our results suggest that FcRγ might be a potential therapeutic target of sepsis.

Primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma: an analysis of clinical characteristics and outcome patterns.

BACKGROUND: Primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma is an extremely rare entity. There is no accumulated knowledge about the clinical characteristics and therapeutic strategies for this tumor. This study aimed to systematically review the available literature to investigate the clinicoradiologic and clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and outcomes in patients with primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma. METHODS: We identified 79 instances derived from 72 unique reports and carefully analyzed all clinical presentations, imaging, pathology, treatments, and outcomes. RESULTS: The mean age at onset was 48 years. A symptom of obstruction was the most frequent complaint at diagnosis. Routine imaging methods such as echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging had high sensitivity in diagnosis. The tumor has a poorer life expectancy than its counterparts in other sites. The 5-year overall survival and recurrence-free survival rates were 25.4% and 14.7%, respectively. Overall survival was affected by age, surgery, and adjunctive chemotherapy or radiotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that primary cardiac leiomyosarcomas tend to be biologically more aggressive compared to their counterparts in other sites. However, complete resection and adjunctive chemotherapy or radiotherapy may help to increase the life expectancy.

Soft tissue perineurioma with peripheral lymphoid cuff of the tongue: a case report and literature review.

Perineurioma are rare tumors, derived from nerve sheath perineurial cells. Soft tissue perineurioma are extraordinarily rare in the tongue, with only one previous report in a child to our knowledge. Herein, we describe the first case of an adult patient who had a soft tissue perineurioma localized to the tongue, with emphasis on the clinic pathologic and immunohistochemical features of this tumor, and review the previously reported soft tissue cases. Besides, we first describe the histologic feature of peripheral lymphoid cuff in perineurioma.

Resveratrol attenuates left ventricular remodeling in old rats with COPD induced by cigarette smoke exposure and LPS instillation.

The objective of this study was to investigate left cardiac damage and the cardioprotective effects of resveratrol in old rats with COPD. Rats 22 months old were divided into three groups: control (CTL), smoking and lipopolysaccharides (SM/LPS), and SM/LPS plus resveratrol (SM/LPS-Res). Cardiac function, pathology, oxidative stress, and apoptosis index were measured. Expression of myocardial SIRT1 was studied by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blot detection. The heart weight-body weight ratio (LVW/BW) increased in the SM/LPS group compared with the CTL group. Both the LVW/BW and the area of fibrosis in the SM/LPS-Res group decreased compared with those in the SM/LPS group. 8-OHdG expression increased in cardiac tissue of rats in the SM/LPS group, which could be inhibited by resveratrol. Resveratrol significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced the cardiac malonyldialdehyde (MDA) level in the SM/LPS-Res group. There was a significant decrease in the extent of cardiomyocyte apoptosis in the SM/LPS-Res group compared with the SM/LPS group. SIRT1 mRNA increased in the SM/LPS-Res group compared with the SM/LPS group. In conclusion, resveratrol attenuated cardiac oxidative damage and left ventricular remodeling and enhanced the decreased expression of SIRT1 in hearts of old rats with emphysema and thus might be a therapeutic modality for cardiac injury complicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

[Study of growth pattern of cranialfacial complex based on skeletal age in children with normal occlusion in Shandong province].

PURPOSE: To establish the normal values of cephalometric items for children with normal occlusion in Shandong province, and study the growth tendency of them and analyze the characteristics in different skeletal stages and sexes. METHODS: Lateral cephalograph was taken in 172 children of Han nationality with normal occlusion in Shandong province. The pictures were processed by WinCeph7.0, and statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS18.0 software Package. The results between sexes and 4 skeletal stages were compared. RESULTS: Facial contour in males were larger than in females. With growth of children, counter-clockwise rotation happened in mandibular plane, and males rotated more than females. Maxillary anterior tooth tilted more forword in males than in females, while mandibular anterior tooth positioned more upright in males than in females, and the protrution of maxillary and mandibular anterior tooth in males decreased along with growth. The lower lip in males was thicker than in females. CONCLUSIONS: The normal values and standard deviations of measuring items in different gender and bone-age group were established. Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province (ZR2009CM109) and Natural Science Foundation of Science and Technology Bureau of Shandong Province(2006GG3208004).

Stable gene-silence of Kif2a synergistic with 5-fluorouracil suppresses oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma growth in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue (SCCOT) is one of the most common malignant carcinomas in the head and neck. Recurrence and/or metastasis often results in failure of treatment and decreases the survival of the patients. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of gene-silence of Kif2a on SCCOT in viro and in vivo. STUDY DESIGN: Plasmid-mediated expression of Kif2a-siRNA (pGPU6/GFP/Kif2a) was employed to silence the expression of Kif2a in Tca8113 cells at both mRNA and protein levels. Tca8113 cell proliferation was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and growth of Tca8113 tumors was determined by intra-tumor injection of pGPU6/GFP/Kif2a in nude mice. RESULTS: Gene-silence of Kif2a suppressed Tca8113 cell proliferation. pGPU6/GFP/Kif2a synergized the tumor suppression effect of 5-Fluorouracil (5-Fu) on Tca8113 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our data support that Kif2a is a potential molecular target for the therapeutics of recurrent and metastatic SCCOT.

[Clinical predictive value of hemoglobin level in mortality of hospitalized COPD patients].

OBJECTIVE: To further investigate an effect of hemoglobin level on organs and functions of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) patients with anemia, in order to provide clinical data on intervention for COPD patients with anemia. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the predictive value of hemoglobin (Hb) level on the survival of inpatients, collected from 4960 COPD cases of three level of first-class hospitals. RESULTS: (1) In 4960 COPD cases, there were 1009 cases with Hb < 110 g/L (males/females was 1009/4960, 20.34%); (2) The prevalence rate of pulmonary embolism (PE), congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic renal failure (CRF) were significantly increased in the Hb level < 110 g/L and > or = 110 g/L group (P < 0.05); (3) Age, smoking, respiratory failure (RF), ischemic heart disease (IHD), pulmonary heart disease (PHD), CHF, atrial fibrillation (AF), PE, ARF, CRF, PaCO2, PaO2, and Hb levels were significantly different between survival and death group (P < 0.01); (4) Using stepwise regression analysis, age, smoking, Hb level, PaO2, RF, CRF, ACF, PHD, CHF and IHD had significantly association with death (P < 0.05); (5) Hb levels was significantly associated with death (95% CI 1.2975-2.8512 , P = 0.0014 ). CONCLUSION: Low hemoglobin level (< 110 g/L) was significantly associated with death, and thus may be a valuable predictive marker for mortality of hospitalized COPD patients.

Overexpression of catalytic subunit M2 in patients with ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: The formation and growth of tumors are related to the synthesis of the DNA. The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is an enzyme that regulates the total rate of DNA synthesis and thus plays a pivotal role in cell growth. Catalytic subunit M2 (RRM2) is the main unit modulating the ribonucleotide reductase enzymatic activity. This study aimed to investigate the expression of RRM2 mRNA and protein in patients with ovarian cancer and its relevance to diagnosis and clinical outcome of the patients. METHODS: RRM2 mRNA levels and protein expression were detected in 98 ovarian specimens with immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of the RRM2 protein and correlation of the RRM2 gene expression with clinical pathological features were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier test was used for evaluating RRM2 expression and time to progression and survival. The Cox proportional model was used to analyze the risk factors in prognosis of patients. RESULTS: Positive RRM2 immunostaining was found in 43 of 62 (69.4%) patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 10 of 15 (66.7%) patients with borderline neoplasm, 4 of 15 (26.7%) patients with benign growths, and none of the normal group. The RRM2 mRNA levels were significantly over expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (1.722 ± 0.639) and borderline ovarian neoplasms (1.365 ± 0.615), compared to the normal group (0.678 ± 0.446) and benign group (0.828 ± 0.545). Patients with ovarian caner in clinical FIGO-stages III-IV presented higher RRM2 gene expression than those in clinical FIGO-stages I-II. Furthermore, the survival of patients with low RRM2 mRNA level was significantly better than patients with high levels (P < 0.05). By Cox proportional risk model analysis, the risk of mortality of patients with high level expression of RRM2 mRNA was 2.553 times greater than those with low expression. CONCLUSION: RRM2 expression closely correlates with the development of ovarian tumor and may serve as a novel predictive marker for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.

Prevalence of cardiovascular disease in subjects hospitalized due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Beijing from 2000 to 2010.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the overall prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in subjects hospitalized for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and explore the prevalence of the major CVD complications and trends in patients with COPD over a 10-year period. METHODS: Medical records in the PLA General Hospital, Beijing Union Medical College Hospital, and Beijing Hospital from 2000/01/01 to 2010/03/03 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 4960 patients with COPD were reviewed in the study (3570 males, mean age, 72.2 ± 10.5 years; 1390 females, mean age, 72.0 ± 10.4 years). RESULTS: The prevalence of CVD in COPD patients was 51.7%. The three most prevalent CVDs were ischemic heart disease (28.9%), heart failure (19.6%), and arrhythmia (12.6%). During the 10-year study period, the prevalence of various CVDs in COPD patients showed a gradual increasing trend with increasing age. There was higher morbidity due to ischemic heart disease (P < 0.01) in male COPD patients than in the female counterparts. However, heart failure (P < 0.01) and hypertension (P < 0.01) occurred less frequently in male COPD patients than in female COPD patients. Furthermore, the prevalence of ischemic heart disease decreased year by year. In addition to heart failure, various types of CVD complications in COPD patients tended to occur in younger subjects. The prevalence of all major types of CVD in women tended to increase year by year. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CVD in patients hospitalized for COPD in Beijing was high. Age, sex and CVD trends, as well as life style changes, should be considered when prevention and control strategies are formulated.

[Prevalence of hypertension and glucose/lipid metabolism disorders in 4960 inpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease during 2000-2010].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of hypertension and glucose/lipid metabolism induced by chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in hospitalized patients and their correlations to age and gender. METHODS: A retrospectively prevalence survey was conducted among the in-patients with COPD treated in General Hospital of PLA, Peking Union Medical College Hospital and Beijing Hospital between January 1st, 2000 and March 20th, 2010. RESULTS: A total of 4960 COPD patients were selected, including 3570 male and 1390 female patients with a mean age of 72.2∓10.4 years. Among these patients, hypertension had the highest prevalence (40.3%), followed by diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance (18.8%) and then by hyperlipidemia/fat protein metabolism (6.9%). The prevalence of hyperlipidemia/lipoprotein metabolism in the COPD patients over 80 years old decreased significantly with age. The prevalence of hypertension increased with age. In patients over 50 years old, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher in female than in male patients (P<0.05). The prevalence of diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance increased with age in male patients but decreased in female patients aged :80 years (P<0.05). Female patients in 60-69.9 and 70-79.9 years groups had significantly higher incidence of diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance than male patients (P<0.05), but not at older ages. The incidence of hyperlipidemia/lipoprotein metabolism disorder increased with age in both male and female patients aged below 80 years (P<0.05), but in 60-69.9 and 70-79.9 year groups, female patients had a significantly higher incidence than male patients (P<0.05); at the ages :80 years, the incidences was lowered in both women and men without a gender-specific differences (P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The data we obtained concerning the prevalence of hypertension and glucose/lipid metabolism disorder, age distribution, and gender characteristics of the COPD patients provide a clear target for secondary prevention of COPD.

[Retrospective study on the prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities in 4960 inpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Beijing].

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively explore the prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in inpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Beijing. METHODS: The COPD patients who were discharged from the General Hospital of the Liberation Army, Peking Union medical college Hospital and Beijing Hospital between January 1st, 2000 to March 20th, 2010, were investigated. The prevalence of CVD were calculated. The tendency of the prevalence of CVD by age or discharge year and the difference of the prevalence of CVD between male and female were estimated by using chi-square analysis. RESULTS: There were 4960 COPD patients who were in accordance with the inclusion criteria with 3570 males and 1390 females. The mean age was 72.2 ± 10.4 years. Of the COPD patients, 48.8% were diagnosed as cardiovascular diseases. The age-adjusted over-all prevalence of CVD was 26.4%. Chronic pulmonary heart disease and other disease of pulmonary artery (15.8%) was the most frequent diseases, followed by heart failure (13.6%), ischemic heart disease (10.6%). In COPD patients, male was more likely to have angina, pulmonary heart disease and other disease of pulmonary artery and acute kidney failure (P < 0.05), while less likely to get arrhythmia (atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter), heart failure, pulmonary embolism, hypertension and diabetes mellitus (P < 0.05). The prevalence of arrhythmia increased with age, however, the ischemic heart disease and heart failure decreased. The proportion of CVD decreased in male patients while increased in females. CONCLUSION: The overall prevalence of CVD comorbidities was 48.8% in 4960 patients with COPD who were older than 40 years in Beijing. There were differences among the groups of various age and sex in the distribution of CVD comorbidities frequencies year by year.

Primary pleomorphic liposarcoma of pericardium.

We report a case of a 42-year-old man, who presented with a three-weeks' history of dyspnea and chest oppression induced by light activity, who had a large mass in the pericardium. Computed tomography showed a non-homogeneous density lobulated mass in the pericardial sac. The tumor underwent completely resection and histopathological analysis revealed the tumor to be a pleomorphic liposarcoma, which was composed predominantly of epithelioid cells. The patient is still alive 18 months after the diagnosis was made. The rare incidence of the liposarcoma of the pericardium can easily lead to a misdiagnosis clinically, and the final diagnosis here was made histopathologically.

[Study of the dento-facial features in children of Han nationality with normal occlusion in Shandong district].

PURPOSE: To establish the standard values of roentgengraphic cephalometry in children with normal occlusion in Shandong district and to make the facial model. METHODS: 156 children were selected to take lateral cephalograph, and were divided into two groups: mixed dentition and early permanent dentition. Cephalograms were analyzed for all subjects with WinCeph7.0. Data were obtained for student's t test between the two groups and between males and females. RESULTS: The norms with derivation for all measurement of X ray cephalometrical analysis on hard tissues were established. Meanwhile, the difference between males and females was compared and the facial model of children with normal occlusion was made. CONCLUSION: Gender difference was shown in linear measurements, with greater growth in males in general. The growing tendency of children from mixed dentition to early permanent dentition was that the maxilla of the male grows faster while the mandible of the female grows faster.

Beta-catenin up-regulates the expression of cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7 in human pancreatic cancer: relationships with carcinogenesis and metastasis.

AIM: To investigate whether abnormal expression of beta-catenin in conjunction with overexpression of cyclinD1, c-myc and matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) correlated with the carcinogenesis, metastasis and prognosis of pancreatic cancer, and to analyze the relationship of beta-catenin expression with cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7 expression. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry, we examined the expression of beta-catenin, cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7 in 47 pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues, 12 pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) and 10 normal pancreases, respectively. Proliferation cell nuclear antigen was also tested as the index of proliferative activity of pancreatic cancer cells. RESULTS: In 10 cases of normal pancreatic tissues, epithelial cells showed equally strong membranous expression of beta-catenin protein at the cell-cell boundaries, but the expression of cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7 was negative. The expression of beta-catenin, cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7 in PanIN and pancreatic adenocarcinoma tissues had no significant difference [6/12 and 32/47 (68.1%), 6/12 and 35/47 (74.5%), 5/12 and 33/47 (70.2%), 7/12 and 30/47 (63.8%), respectively]. The abnormal expression of beta-catenin was significantly correlated to metastasis and one-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer, but had no relation with size, differentiation and cell proliferation. The expression of cyclinD1 was correlated with cell proliferation and extent of differentiation, but not with size, metastasis and one-year survival rate of the pancreatic cancer. The expression of c-myc was not correlated with size, extent of differentiation, metastasis and 1-year survival rate, but closely with cell proliferation of pancreatic cancer. The overexpression of MMP-7 was significantly associated with metastasis and 1-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer, but not with size, extent of differentiation and cell proliferation. There was a highly significant positive association between abnormal expression of beta-catenin and overexpression of cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7 not only in PanIN (r = 1.000, 0.845, 0.845), but also in pancreatic cancer (r = 0.437, 0.452, 0.435). CONCLUSION: The abnormal expression of beta-catenin plays a key role in the carcinogenesis and progression of human pancreatic carcinoma by up-regulating the expression of cyclinD1, c-myc and MMP-7, resulting in the degradation of extracellular matrix and uncontrolled cell proliferation and differentiation. beta-catenin abnormal expression and MMP-7 overexpression may be considered as two useful markers for determining metastasis and prognosis of human pancreatic cancer.