Staphylococcus hsinchuensis sp. nov., Isolated from Soymilk.

A novel coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strain (H164T) was isolated from soymilk in Taiwan. Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the H164T strain is a member of the genus Staphylococcus. We used multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and phylogenomic analyses to demonstrate that the novel strain was closely related to Staphylococcus gallinarum, Staphylococcus nepalensis, Staphylococcus cohnii, and Staphylococcus urealyuticus. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between H164T and its closest relatives were <95% and <70%, respectively. The H164T strain could also be distinguished from its closest relatives by the fermentation of d-fructose, d-maltose, d-trehalose, and d-mannitol, as well as by the activities of α-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase. The major cellular fatty acids were C15:0 iso and C15:0 anteiso, and the predominant menaquinones were MK-7 and MK-8, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids and predominant menaquinones were C15:0 iso and C15:0 anteiso and MK-7 and MK-8, respectively. In conclusion, this strain represents a novel species, named Staphylococcus hsinchuensis sp. nov., with the type strain H164T (=BCRC 81404T = NBRC 116174T).

Methanooceanicella nereidis gen. nov., sp. nov., the first oceanic Methanocellaceae methanogen, isolated from potential methane hydrate bearing area offshore southwestern Taiwan.

A novel mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen, strain CWC-04T, was obtained from a sediment sample extracted from a gravity core retrieved at station 22 within the KP-9 area off the southwestern coast of Taiwan during the ORIII-1368 cruise in 2009. Cells of strain CWC-04T were rod-shaped, 1.4-2.9 µm long by 0.5-0.6 µm wide, and occurred singly. Strain CWC-04Tutilized formate, H2/CO2, 2-propanol/CO2 or 2-butanol/CO2 as catabolic substrates. The optimal growth conditions were 42 °C, 0.17 M NaCl and pH 5.35. The genomic DNA G+C content calculated from the genome sequence of strain CWC-04T was 46.19 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene revealed that strain CWC-04T is affiliated with the genus Methanocella. The 16S rRNA gene sequences similarities within strains Methanocella arvoryzae MRE50T, Methanocella paludicola SANAET and Methanocella conradii HZ254T were 93.7, 93.0 and 91.3 %, respectively. In addition, the optical density of CWC-04T culture dropped abruptly upon entering the late-log growth phase, with virus-like particles (150 nm in diameter) being observed on and around the cells. This observation suggests that strain CWC-04T harbours a lytic virus. Based on these phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic results, we propose that strain CWC-04T represents a novel species of a novel genus in the family Methanocellaceae, for which the name Methanooceanicella nereidis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CWC-04T (=BCRC AR10050T=NBRC 113165T).

Characteristics of patients with recurrent retinoblastoma: a survival analysis.

BACKGROUND: Management guidelines and corresponding survival data for patients with recurrent retinoblastoma (RB) are lacking. This study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics of patients with recurrent RB and analyze their survival outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 68 patients with recurrent RB who underwent treatment in our institution from January 2016 to December 2020. Patients were grouped according to location of recurrence: intraocular, orbital, and distant metastasis. RESULTS: The male:female ratio was 1.3:1 and the median age at recurrence was 37.5 months (range, 30.3-62.8). The number of patients in the intraocular recurrence, orbital recurrence, and metastasis groups was 13 (19.1%), 23 (33.8%), and 32 (47.1%), respectively. Thirty patients died, 36 were alive at last follow-up, and two were lost to follow-up. Eye enucleation was performed in 94.1% of patients. Five-year overall survival in patients with intraocular recurrence, orbital recurrence, and metastasis was 84.6%, 69.6%, and 31.3%, respectively (P = 0.001). Most deaths occurred within 2 years of recurrence. Presence of high-risk pathological factors, central nervous system invasion, and absence of combination therapy were independent predictors of worse 5-year overall survival. CONCLUSION: The rate of eye preservation in survivors of recurrent RB was very low. Although 5-year overall survival in patients who underwent treatment for intraocular and orbital recurrence was high, it was low in those with metastasis. RB patients may need lifelong follow-up for recurrence and secondary malignancy.

Prognostic factors for intermediate- or high-risk neuroblastomas in children in China.

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the characteristics and prognosis of neuroblastoma (NBL) in China is limited. We aimed to investigate the characteristics and prognosis of intermediate- or high-risk NBL in children in China. METHODS: We included 147 patients with intermediate- or high-risk NBL evaluated from January 2006 to March 2015. The patients were aged 1 month to 15.5 years, 66% of them were boys, and 117 (79.6%) were diagnosed with high-risk NBL. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 32.5 months, 80 (45.6%) patients survived, with a median survival time of 48 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 36.41-59.59). High-risk patients (hazard ratio [HR]: 12.467; 95% CI: 11.029-12.951), partial response (PR) (HR: 1.200; 95% CI: 1.475-2.509) or progression disease (PD) (HR: 1.924; 95% CI: 1.623-3.012) after induction chemotherapy, and intracranial metastasis (HR: 3.057; 95% CI: 0.941-4.892) were independent risk factors for survival (p < 0.05) and postrelapse survival (p < 0.05). NBL relapse, male sex, and PR or PD after induction chemotherapy were risk factors for event-free survival (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to previously established independent risk factors, such as age, risk group, and relapse, efficacy of induction chemotherapy and intracranial metastasis play significant roles in the prognosis of NBL.

A multicenter prospective study on the management of hepatoblastoma in children: a report from the Chinese Children's Cancer Group.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify survival risk factors in Chinese children with hepatoblastoma (HB) and assess the effectiveness of the new treatment protocol proposed by the Chinese Children's Cancer Group (CCCG) in 2016. METHODS: A multicenter, prospective study that included 399 patients with HB from January 2015 to June 2020 was conducted. Patient demographics, treatment protocols, and other related information were collected. Cox regression models and Kaplan-Meier curve methods were used. RESULTS: The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 76.9 and 93.5%, respectively. The 4-year EFS rates for the very-low-risk, low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups were 100%, 91.6%, 81.7%, and 51.0%, respectively. The 4-year OS was 100%, 97.3%, 94.4%, and 86.8%, respectively. Cox regression analysis found that age, tumor rupture (R +), and extrahepatic tumor extension (E +) were independent prognostic factors. A total of 299 patients had complete remission, and 19 relapsed. Patients with declining alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had a better EFS and OS than those ≤ 75%. CONCLUSIONS: The survival outcome of HB children has dramatically improved since the implementation of CCCG-HB-2016 therapy. Age ≥ 8 years, R + , and E + were independent risk factors for prognosis. Patients with a declining AFP > 75% after the first two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy had better EFS and OS.

Clinical analysis of 2790 children with retinoblastoma: a single-center experience in China.

BACKGROUND: In this study, we aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of children with retinoblastoma (RB) in a single center in China with a large sample collection spanning 17 years. METHODS: The clinical data of 2790 children with RB treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2005 to 2021 were collected, and a retrospective analysis was conducted. RESULTS: The median age of the participants was 28.3 months. There were 3624 affected eyes, 12.4% of which were in groups A-C, 67.1% in groups D-E and 16.2% were not specified. The primary symptom observed in most cases was a white pupil, accounting for 66.5%, followed by strabismus (12.8%). The median follow-up time was 59.7 months. The enucleation rate was 71.3% (703/986) in a single left eye and 72.5% (702/968) in a single right eye. The overall survival (OS) rate was 95.8% (2444/2552) because 237 patients dropped out, and 109 died. Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis showed that the median survival time (MST) was 125.92 months [95% confidence interval (CI) = 124.83-127.01]. Cox multivariate survival analysis showed that trilateral RB (P = 0.017), metastasis site (P = 0.001), and combined distant tissue metastasis (P = 0.001) were independent prognostic factors for RB. The OS of 44 cases of familial RB was 93.2% (41/44), with an MST of 80.62 months (95% CI = 67.70-93.54). CONCLUSIONS: The timing of eye protection treatment and enucleation should be comprehensively judged to avoid worsening prognosis due to operation time delay. More importantly, the promotion and popularization of diagnosis and treatment technologies are necessary to further improve RB prognosis.

Clinical Analysis of 16 Distant Metastatic Retinoblastoma Cases with Event-Free Survival.

AIM: This study aimed to summarize the clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of distant metastatic retinoblastoma with event-free survival. DESIGN: Retrospective interventional case series. METHODS: We screened patients with retinoblastoma who survived without events after the comprehensive treatment of distant metastases from June 2015 to February 2021 and collected information regarding their basic characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment. All patients received systemic intravenous chemotherapy. Other treatments included surgical treatment, radiotherapy, intrathecal chemotherapy, and autologous stem cell transplantation. RESULTS: Among 780 hospitalized patients with retinoblastoma in the pediatric ward, a total of 94 patients with retinoblastoma were diagnosed with distant metastases, and 16 patients with distant metastatic retinoblastoma who survived more than 6 months without events were screened, including eight male and eight female patients. The median age of onset was 29 (range, 11-120) months. Among the 16 patients, central nervous system metastasis (8/16), bone metastasis (8/16), bone marrow infiltration (4/16), lymph node metastasis (4/16), and parotid gland metastasis (3/16) were presented. All patients received treatment for more than 6 months, completed their regimen by February 2021, and survived without events. The median survival time after the onset of retinoblastoma was 50.5 (range, 23-102) months, the median survival time after metastasis was 43.5 (range, 16-71) months, and the median event-free survival was 29.0 (range, 6-59) months. CONCLUSION: Metastatic retinoblastoma may benefit from comprehensive treatments including systemic intravenous chemotherapy and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. However, recurrence after treatment still needs attention, and patients in complete remission still need long-term follow-up.

Clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of hepatoblastoma in 316 children aged under 3 years - a 14-year retrospective single-center study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to summarize the clinical characteristics of in children aged under 3 years and analyze the related factors affecting the prognosis. METHODS: The clinical data of 316 children aged under 3 years (192 males and 124 females) who were admitted to Beijing Tongren Hospital with a pathological diagnosis of HB between May 2005 and May 2019 were analyzed retrospectively. The factors influencing the therapeutic effects on and survival of HB in children with HB were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The median age of the enrolled patients was 1.45 years. The most common initial symptom was an abdominal mass (69.0%). The average serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level and platelet count at the initial visit were (97,406.5 ± 5022.8) ng/mL and (418 ± 206) × 109/L, respectively. The epithelial type was the main pathological type (51.9%). According to the PRETEXT preoperative typing system, the most common stage was stage III (57.0%), whereas according to the postoperative Evans staging system, the most common stage was stage IV (41.8%). At the initial visit, 62 cases (19.6%) had vascular invasion, 52 cases (16.5%) had extrahepatic tumor extension, and 20 cases (6.3%) had tumor rupture. Distant metastasis occurred in 132 cases, and the most common metastatic site was the lung (80.3%). The incidence in East China was relatively high (35.4%). (2) The children were followed up until May 2020 (the median follow-up duration was 62 months). It was found that 194 patients had complete remission and 62 had partial remission. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the overall survival was 95.3, 88.2, and 79.8% at 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years, respectively, and the event-free survival was 91.1, 83.2, and 75.1%, respectively. The Cox regression analysis showed that AFP level, platelet count, PRETEXT IV, vascular invasion, and distant metastasis at the initial visit were independent risk factors for the prognosis of children with HB (p < 0.05 in all). CONCLUSION: The prognosis of HB was correlated with the AFP level, platelet count, PRETEXT staging, vascular invasion, and distant metastasis at initial diagnosis.

A new risk-stratification system for hepatoblastoma in children under six years old and the significance for prognosis evaluation-a 14-year retrospective study from a single center.

BACKGROUND: This study explores and analyzes the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors of hepatoblastoma (HB) in children under 6 years old and establishes a new risk-stratification system for individualized therapy. METHODS: The clinical data of 382 pediatric patients under 6 years old (231 males and 151 females) who had been diagnosed with HB by pathology between May 2005 and May 2019 were collected. By analyzing the risk factors influencing the survival rate of patients with HB, a new risk-stratification system was established, and it was compared with previous risk-stratification systems by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. RESULTS: (1) According to a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the one-year, three-year, and five-year overall survival (OS) was 93.7, 84.0, and 73.9%, respectively, and the event-free survival (EFS) was 90.5, 79.2, and 67.5%, respectively. (2) The independent risk factors influencing prognosis in pediatric patients with HB were alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) < 100 ng/ml or > 1000 ng/ml (HR = 3.341, P = 0.005); platelet count > 400 × 109/L (pooled hazard ratio [HR] = 2.123, P = 0.026); PRETEXT stage IV (HR = 4.026, P = 0.001); vascular involvement (HR = 2.178, P = 0.019); distant metastasis (HR = 2.634, P = 0.010);and multifocality (HR = 2.215, P = 0.012). (3) A new risk-stratification system was established and divided into three groups: low risk, moderate risk, and high risk. There were statistical differences among the three groups (P = 0.002). Compared with the previous risk-staging systems, there was no significant difference in the survival rate. Although the effect in the guiding therapy was the same, the area under the curve for the ROC curve was 0.835 (95% CI: 0.784-0.885) for the new stratification system. CONCLUSION: This new risk-stratification system had a better predictive value for the prognosis of pediatric patients with HB than other stratification systems.

Prevalence, clinical features and prognosis of malignant solid tumors in infants: a 14-year study.

The onset of malignant solid tumors in infants is insidious and difficult to diagnose on time. The purpose of our study is to provide a theoretical basis for clinical diagnosis by retrospective analysis of the data in the past 14 years. Here, we retrospectively collected the clinical data of infants aged 0-12 months with malignant solid tumors in Beijing Tongren Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University from May 2005 to May 2019. The epidemiology, clinical characteristics, treatments and prognosis were statistically analyzed. A total of 496 infants (294 males and 202 females) with malignant solid tumors were analyzed. The main period of onset was 1-11 months. The most common tumor was retinoblastoma (RB, 51.8%), followed by hepatoblastoma (HB, 26.6%), neuroblastoma (NB, 10.5%), rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS, 3.4%), malignant renal tumors (3.2%), infantile fibrosarcoma (IFS, 1.6%), malignant teratoma (1.2%), Ewing's sarcoma (ES, 0.8%), medulloblastoma (MB, 0.4%) and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT, 0.4%). The median follow-up time was 32 months (range 2-162 months). The 1-year, 3-year, and 5-year overall survival of all patients were 97.3%, 89.2%, and 81.1%, respectively, and event-free survival was 94.7%, 84.8%, and 75.8%, respectively. In conclusion, as a special group, malignant solid tumors in infants are complex, heterogeneous, and relatively rare. The prognosis of RB, HB, NB, RMS, malignant renal tumors, IFS, malignant teratoma, ES, MB, and IMT, were excellent duo to timely diagnosis and rational treatment.

Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with intracranial infiltration and Epstein-Barr virus infection: A case report.

BACKGROUND: Because of atypical clinical symptoms, lymphoma is easily confused with infectious diseases. Extranodal nasal-type natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTL) is more common, and there are few cases of eyelid site onset and intracranial infiltration, which increases the difficulty of diagnosis. This disease usually has a very poor prognosis and there are few reports of recovery. CASE SUMMARY: A 3-year-old boy was admitted to our hospital due to an initial misdiagnosis of "eyelid cellulitis" and failed antibiotic treatment. He was characterized by fever, right eyeball bulging, convulsions, and abnormal liver function. His blood Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA was positive (8.798 × 104 copies/mL), and remained positive for about half a year. The cranial imaging examination suggested a space-occupying lesion in the right eyelid, with the right temporal lobe and meninges involved. The boy underwent ocular mass resection. The pathological diagnosis was NKTL. He was diagnosed as having NKTL with intracranial infiltration, combined with chronic active EBV infection (CAEBV). Then he underwent systemic chemotherapy and intrathecal injection. The boy suffered from abnormal blood coagulation, oral mucositis, diarrhea, liver damage, and severe bone marrow suppression but survived. Finally, the tumor was completely relieved and his blood EBV-DNA level turned negative. The current follow-up has been more than 2 years and his condition is stable. CONCLUSION: This case suggests that chemotherapy combined with intrathecal injection may have a good effect on intracranial infiltrating lymphoma and CAEBV, which deserves further study and discussion.

Prognostic factors in children with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma: A 12-year retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: To identify possible prognostic factors in children with head and neck rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). METHODS: A total of 98 patients with head and neck RMS were enrolled in this retrospective study from February 2005 to September 2017. Prognostic factors were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analysis using Cox's proportional hazards model. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: At the study closing date, there were 60 patients alive, 37 patients died, one patient was lost to follow-up, and 47 patients relapsed. The median disease-specific survival was 60.00 ± 25.36 months, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 61.9%. Complete remission was associated with a longer disease-specific survival (86.6%) compared with partial remission (6.7%). In addition, patients with age >3 years had better OS rate (69.0%) compared with age ≤3 years (42.3%). Univariate and multivariate analysis showed that chemotherapy efficacy and age were prognostic factors of disease-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS: Improvement in outcome was obtained with comprehensive treatment for head and neck RMS. Both chemotherapy efficacy and age of patients were prognostic factors for children with head and neck RMS, which provide some valuable information for further treatment.

[Acupuncture combined with cranial electrotherapy stimulation on generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the therapeutic effect of acupuncture combined with cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) on generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). METHODS: A total of 200 patients with GAD were randomized into an acupuncture+CES group, an acupuncture group, a CES group and a medication group, 50 cases in each one. In the medication group, patients were treated with tandospirone citrate tablet orally, 10 mg after breakfast, lunch and dinner respectively. In the CES group, CES was adopted by SCS brain electromedical instrument, 60 min each time, once a day. In the acupuncture group, acupuncture was applied to Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Yintang (GV 29), Shenting (GV 24), etc., 30 min each time, once a day. In the acupuncture+CES group, CES was adopted before acupuncture. Treatment of sixty days was required in the 4 groups. Before and after treatment, the scores of Hamilton anxiety scale (HAMA), World Health Organization's quality of life questionnaire-brief version (WHOQOL-BREF) and treatment emergent symptom scale (TESS) were observed, the clinical effect was evaluated, and the relapse of anxiety during follow-up of 1 year after treatment was recorded in the 4 groups. RESULTS: Compared before treatment, the scores of HAMA after treatment were decreased (P<0.05), the scores of WHOQOL- BREF after treatment were increased in the 4 groups (P<0.05), and the improvements of above scores in the acupuncture+CES group were greater than the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The score of TESS after treatment and the relapse rate of 1-year follow-up in the medication group were higher than those in the other 3 groups (P<0.05). The total effective rate in the acupuncture+CES group were superior to the other 3 groups (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Acupuncture combined with CES can effectively relieve the symptoms in patients with GAD, improve the quality of life, reduce the occurrence of adverse reactions and the relapse rate, and its clinical effect is obviously superior to the western medication, the simple application of acupuncture or CES.

Treatment outcomes for hepatoblastoma children with pulmonary metastasis and extrapulmonary involvement: experience of 36 cases at a single institution.

BACKGROUND: Hepatoblastoma (HB) was the most common primary liver malignant tumor in children. In this study, we aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and outcome in HB children with pulmonary metastasis and extrapulmonary involvement. METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 36 HB children with pulmonary metastasis and extrapulmonary involvement from January 2010 to December 2017. Clinical characteristics, treatment and outcomes were collected and analyzed. Survival curves were calculated by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Thirty-six patients (10 females and 26 males) were recruited, with a mean onset age of 2.13 years (range, 0.33-7.83). Four (11.11%) patients presented with single metastatic pulmonary nodules, 32 (88.89%) patients presented with multiple metastatic nodules in both lungs. There were 10 (27.78%) patients with extrahepatic abdomen involvement, 13 (36.11%) patients with brain metastasis, and 16 (44.44%) patients with vascular metastasis. All patients underwent liver tumorectomy and chemotherapy. The median chemotherapy cycle was 17 (range, 3-39). In addition, 19 (54.29%) patients underwent lung metastasectomy. The patients were followed up to December 2018, with a median follow-up of 32.5 months. At the study closing date, 9 patients were alive, 24 patients had died, and 3 patients were censored. Alpha fetoprotein (AFP) level, PRETEXT stage and distant metastases had significant impact on survival time (all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The common sites of extrapulmonary metastasis of HB were blood vessels, brain and extrahepatic abdominal organs. The overall prognosis of HB patients with lung metastasis and extrapulmonary involvement was poor, especially those with PRETEXT stage IV, high AFP level or distant metastases.

Detection of Subclinical Anthracyclines' Cardiotoxicity in Children with Solid Tumor.

BACKGROUND: Cardiotoxicity is one of the most serious chronic complications of anthracyclines therapy. Assessment of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) fails to detect subtle cardiac dysfunction of left ventricular (LV). This study aimed to detect and evaluate new parameters of subclinical anthracyclines' cardiotoxicity in children with solid tumor. METHODS: A detailed echocardiographic examination was performed in 36 children with hepatoblastoma or rhabdomyosarcoma after receiving anthracyclines' chemotherapy and 36 healthy controls from January 2015 to December 2016. The LVEF, ratio of early diastolic peak velocity of transmitral flow (E) and septal diastolic e' mitral annular peak velocity (e'), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) were evaluated using M-mode, tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE), respectively. Echocardiographic parameters were compared between patient group and healthy controls. All patients were divided into two subgroups based on their anthracyclines' cumulative dosage (<300 mg/m2 subgroup and ≥300 mg/m2 subgroup). RESULTS: All patients had no presentation of heart failure and LVEF within normal range (65.7 ± 5.1%). Compared with healthy controls, the mean E/e' increased significantly (7.9 ± 0.7 vs. 10.2 ± 3.5, t = 3.72, P < 0.01), mean TAPSE decreased significantly (17.2 ± 1.3 mm vs. 14.2 ± 3.0 mm, t = -4.03, P < 0.01), and mean LV GLS decreased significantly (-22.2% ± 1.9% vs. -17.9% ± 2.9%, t = -5.58, P < 0.01) in patient group. Compared with subgroup with anthracyclines' cumulative dosage < 300 mg/m2, mean LV GLS decreased significantly (-18.7 ± 2.7% vs. -16.5 ± 2.1%, t = 2.15, P = 0.04), the mean E/e' increased significantly (9.1 ± 1.5 vs. 11.5 ± 4.9, t = -2.17, P = 0.04), and mean TAPSE decreased significantly (14.2 ± 2.1 mm vs. 12.5 ± 2.2 mm, t = -2.82, P = 0.02) in subgroup with anthracyclines' cumulative dosage ≥300 mg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: LV GLS is helpful in the early detection of subclinical LV dysfunction using 2D-STE. E/e' and TAPSE are other sensitive parameters in detecting subclinical cardiac dysfunction of both ventricles by TDI. These parameters show significant change with different anthracyclines' cumulative dosage, so cumulative dosage should be controlled in clinical treatment.

Role of autophagy in modulating post-maturation aging of mouse oocytes.

Mechanisms for post-maturation oocyte aging (PMOA) are not fully understood, and whether autophagy plays any role in PMOA is unknown. To explore the role of autophagy in PMOA, expression of autophagosomes and effects of the autophagy (macro-autophagy) activity on PMOA were observed in mouse oocytes. Oocyte activation rates and active caspase-3 levels increased continuously from 0 to 18 h of in vitro aging. While levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II increased up to 12 h and decreased thereafter, contents of p62 decreased from 0 to 12 h and then elevated to basal level by 18 h. However, the LC3-II/I ratio remained unchanged following aging in different media or for different times. During in vitro aging up to 12 h, upregulating autophagy with rapamycin or lithium chloride decreased activation susceptibility, cytoplasmic calcium, p62 contents, oxidative stress, caspase-3 activation and cytoplasmic fragmentation while increasing developmental competence, LC3-II contents, LC3-II/I ratio, mitochondrial membrane potential, spindle/chromosome integrity and normal cortical granule distribution. Downregulating autophagy with 3-methyladenine (3-MA) produced opposite effects on all these parameters except cytoplasmic fragmentation. After 12 h of aging culture, however, regulating autophagy with either rapamycin/lithium chloride or 3-MA had no impact on oocyte activation susceptibility. It is concluded that autophagy plays an important role in regulating PMOA. Thus, during the early stage of PMOA, autophagy increases as an adaptive response to prevent further apoptosis, but by the late stage of PMOA, the activation of more caspases blocks the autophagic process leading to severer apoptosis.

Meiotic arrest with roscovitine and follicular fluid improves cytoplasmic maturation of porcine oocytes by promoting chromatin de-condensation and gene transcription.

The developmental capacity of in vitro matured oocytes is inferior to that of the in vivo matured ones due to insufficient cytoplasmic maturation. Although great efforts were made to accomplish better cytoplasmic maturation by meiotic arrest maintenance (MAM) before in vitro maturation (IVM), limited progress has been achieved in various species. This study showed that MAM of porcine oocytes was better achieved with roscovitine than with dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (db-cAMP) or 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine. Oocyte developmental competence after IVM was significantly improved following MAM in 199 + FF medium (TCM-199 containing 10% porcine follicular fluid and 25 µM roscovitine) to a level even higher than that in control oocytes matured without pre-MAM. Observations on other markers further confirmed the positive effects of MAM in 199 + FF on oocyte cytoplasmic maturation. During MAM culture in 199 + FF, re-decondensation (RDC) of condensed chromatin occurred, and transcription of genes beneficial to cytoplasmic maturation was evident in some of the oocytes with surrounded nucleoli (SN). However, MAM with db-cAMP neither induced RDC nor improved oocyte developmental potential. Together, the results suggest that MAM in the presence of FF and roscovitine improved the developmental competence of porcine oocytes by promoting a pre-GVBD chromatin de-condensation and expression of beneficial genes.