Association of CTLA4 gene polymorphism (rs5742909) with cervical cancer: a meta-analysis.

Previous studies suggested that CTLA4 polymorphism (rs5742909) is associated with susceptibility to cervical cancer. In the present study, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically summarize the possible association between rs5742909 and the risk for cervical cancer. We conducted a search of case­control studies on the associations of rs5742909 with susceptibility to cervical cancer in PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Wanfang database in China, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases. We extracted the data from eligible studies for meta-analysis. The association of cervical cancer risk with rs5742909 was estimated by pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CIs). There were four studies on rs5742909 and cervical cancer in our meta-analysis. Our results suggested that both T allele frequency (OR = 1.63, 95 % CI 1.06-2.50; P = 0.03) and (TT + CT) genotype distribution (OR = 1.72, 95 % CI 1.07-2.77; P = 0.03) of the rs5742909 were associated with risk for cervical cancer. This meta-analysis suggests that rs5742909 is associated with the risk of cervical cancer. Well-designed studies with larger sample size and more ethnic groups are required to further validate the results.

SIRT5 desuccinylates and activates SOD1 to eliminate ROS.

Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1) is a key antioxidant enzyme. Deficiency of SOD1 is associated with various human diseases, including cancer. Here, we report that SOD1 is succinylated and that succinylation decreases its activity. SIRT5 binds to, desuccinylates and activates SOD1. SOD1-mediated ROS reduction is increased when SIRT5 is co-expressed. Furthermore, mutation of the SOD1 succinylation site inhibits the growth of lung tumor cells. These results reveal a novel post-translational regulation of SOD1 by means of succinylation and SIRT5-dependent desuccinylation, which is important for the growth of lung tumor cells.

Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP2) regulates the proliferation and invasion of trophoblast cells by modulating mitochondrial functions.

INTRODUCTION: Stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP2) is highly expressed in human first trimester trophoblast cells, but its functions in placental morpho-physiology remain unknown. This study aimed to determine the role of SLP2 in the proliferation and invasion of human first trimester trophoblast cells. METHODS: Immunofluorescence was used to determine the expression and localization of SLP2 in normal and miscarriage human first trimester placenta. Western blot was used to determine the expression of SLP2, PCNA, Cyclin D3, N-cadherin, Vimentin, PGC1α and PPARα in HTR-8/SVneo cells. SLP2 was knocked down in the HTR-8/SVneo cells by using si-Slp2. Wound healing and migration assays were used to determine the effect of SLP2 knockdown on the migration and invasion in the HTR-8/SVneo cells. Mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS), ATP production and biogenesis were measured to assess the effects of SLP2 knockdown on mitochondrial functions. RESULT: SLP2 was strongly expressed in the cytotrophoblasts (CTB), syncytiotrophoblast (STB) and extravillous trophoblasts (EVT) of normal pregnancy placenta as compared to miscarriage placenta. SLP2 was highly expressed in the invasive EVT cell lines, HTR-8/SVneo and HPT-8 compared to the CTB cell line JAR. Knockdown of SLP2 significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells and placental villous explants, and repressed mitochondrial biogenesis and functions in HTR-8/SVneo cells. DISCUSSION: Silencing of SLP2 inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of HTR-8/SVneo cells via the impairment of mitochondrial functions. This indicates that the downregulation of SLP2 in miscarriage placenta could be part of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the disease.

Establishing a Nomogram for Stage IA-IIB Cervical Cancer Patients after Complete Resection.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to establish a nomogram by combining clinicopathologic factors with overall survival of stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients after complete resection with pelvic lymphadenectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This nomogram was based on a retrospective study on 1,563 stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients who underwent complete resection and lymphadenectomy from 2002 to 2008. The nomogram was constructed based on multivariate analysis using Cox proportional hazard regression. The accuracy and discriminative ability of the nomogram were measured by concordance index (C-index) and calibration curve. RESULTS: Multivariate analysis identified lymph node metastasis (LNM), lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), stromal invasion, parametrial invasion, tumor diameter and histology as independent prognostic factors associated with cervical cancer survival. These factors were selected for construction of the nomogram. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.71 (95% CI, 0.65 to 0.77), and calibration of the nomogram showed good agreement between the 5-year predicted survival and the actual observation. CONCLUSIONS: We developed a nomogram predicting 5-year overall survival of surgically treated stage IA-IIB cervical cancer patients. More comprehensive information that is provided by this nomogram could provide further insight into personalized therapy selection.

Combined laparoscopic and endoscopic treatment for bile duct diseases.

BACKGROUND: Clinical application of laparoscopy, duodenoscopy and choledochoscopy has been accepted as a mini-invasive surgical therapy for bile duct diseases; but either endoscopic or laparoscopic therapy alone is disadvantageous in its narrow indications and in failure to give full play to the individual superiority. The present study was to evaluate the procedures and therapeutic results of combined laparoscopic and endoscopic treatment for bile duct diseases. METHODS: Clinical data of 1990 patients with bile duct diseases treated by combination of laparoscopy, duodenoscopy and choledochoscopy in two hospitals were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with cholecystolithiasis and choledocholithiasis were treated with combined laparoscopy and duodenoscopy (n=1350) in a single operation with a cure rate of 93.6%. Those with choledocholithiasis (n=332) were treated with combined laparoscopy and choledochoscopy with a cure rate of 100%. Combined laparoscopy, duodenoscopy and choledochoscopy was used in 258 patients with choledocholithiasis (29 of them complicated with pancreatitis) and 24 patients with Mirizzi's syndrome, with a cure rate of 100%. Laparoscopic choledochoenterostomy and preoperative endoscopic nasobiliary drainage were done in 26 patients with a cure rate of 100%. There were no serious operative complications. A follow-up study of 1051 patients for 3 months to 12 years (mean 7.8 years) showed that 10 patients had recurrence of stones but no stenosis of the bile duct. CONCLUSION: Combined laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures are mini-invasive and cause less pain and minimal operative complications.

Suppression of zero-crossing distortion for single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic inverters with unipolar modulation.

For single-phase grid-connected photovoltaic inverters, current-control with unipolar modulation can reduce the losses of power tubes and improve the efficiency compared with using the bipolar modulation. However, it suffers inherent zero-crossing distortion which is related to the grid current and voltage. In this paper, the reason for zero-crossing distortion is analyzed and simulated, also a novel current-control approach with commutating in advance is proposed to resolve this problem. This approach obtains a leading angle of the grid current by using the feedback of proportional-integral controller of the unipolar inverter, and then set the working mode of power tubes according to this angle through commutation.

Pancreatic tumor: DSA diagnosis and treatment.

AIM:To study the clinical significance of the diagnosis and catheterized interventional treatment of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) for pancreatic tumors.METHODS: Ninety-two patients with pancreatic tumor, 69 males and 23 females, aged from 41 to 70 years (mean 57.1 years) were diagnosed with DSA. Sixty-one patients with pancreatic cancer were treated with transcatheter celiac and superior mesenteric arterial anticancer agents (MMC 20mg, EADM 40mg and 5-FU 2.0g) infusion (TCSAI).RESULTS: The DSA diagnoses were confirmed by operations and pathological examinations, with a coincidence 82.6% rate of, and a therapeutic effective rate of 42.6%.CONCLUSION: DSA is of diagnostic value for pancreatic tumors, and helpful in understanding the course of the disease, judging the prognosis and selecting the therapeutic regimen, and could improve the chemotherapeutic effect as well.