7,8-dihydroxyflavone displayed antioxidant effect through activating HO-1 expression and inhibiting caspase-3/PARP activation in RAW264.7 cells.

Flavonoids, which contain a benzo-γ-pyrone (C6-C3-C6) skeleton, have been reported to exhibit effective antioxidant ability. This study aimed to compare the antioxidant activities of 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (7,8-DHF) and 7-hydroxyflavone (7-HF) in H2 O2 , lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced RAW264.7 cells, respectively. The antioxidant capacities of 7,8-DHF and 7-HF were firstly evaluated by 2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Then, reactive oxygen species (ROS), super oxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) productions in H2 O2 , LPS, or t-BHP-induced RAW264.7 cells were tested and compared, respectively. Finally, the antioxidant mechanisms of 7-HF and 7,8-DHF were initially investigated by western blot. Our results showed that 7,8-DHF possessed stronger free-radical scavenging capacity than 7-HF. Both 7,8-DHF and 7-HF suppressed MDA production and ROS accumulation, improved the activity of SOD in H2 O2 , LPS, or t-BHP-induced RAW264.7 cells, respectively. And 7,8-DHF exerted a better antioxidant effect than 7-HF, especially in t-BHP-induced oxidative stress. Mechanically, 7,8-DHF prevented the activation of poly ADP-ribosepolymerase and caspase-3, meanwhile markedly upregulated the expression of HO-1 protein in t-BHP-induced oxidative stress. These results suggested that 7,8-DHF might serve as a potential pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress injury.

Antibacterial metabolites from the beetle-associated fungus Penicillium chrysogenum.

The antibacterial secondary metabolites of the fungus Penicillium chrysogenum associated with the beetle Aspongopus chinensis were investigated through chromatographic fractionation methods of ethyl acetate extracts of the fungal cultures. Five compounds were isolated, and their structures were determined as emodin, 4-(methoxymethyl)benzoic acid, isoochracinic acid, secalonic acid D, and dicerandrol A using mass spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic analyses. Emodin exhibited strong antimicrobial activity, especially against Staphylococcus aureus even when growing on cooked pork, with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.3 µg/mL. Dimeric tetrahydroxanthones, such as secalonic acid D and dicerandrol A, also exhibited potent activity, with MIC values ranging from 9.5 to 28.5 µg/mL. In summary, P. chrysogenum was isolated as a symbiotic fungus of the beetle A. chinensis for the first time and this strain could generate antibacterial secondary metabolites, which could potently inhibit gram-positive bacteria growth in vitro.

Typical and atypical pelvic MRI characteristics of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome: a comprehensive analysis of 201 patients.

OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively evaluate the pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser (MRKH) syndrome and summarize the typical and atypical characteristics. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 201 consecutive MRKH patients was carried out. Pelvic MRI was reviewed by two experienced gynecological radiologists in consensus. Characteristics including the morphology, signal pattern and volumes of the uterine rudiments, location and volume of the ovaries, and the degree of vaginal dysgenesis were evaluated. Other noted abnormalities were also recorded. RESULTS: Morphologically, the majority (95%) of patients displayed bilateral uterine rudiments combined with a fibrous band. The minority of patients showed no (3.5%) or unilateral (1.5%) uterine rudiments. A total of 385 uterine rudiments were detected which showed four types of signal patterns: one-layer differentiation (325, 84.4%), two-layer differentiation (27, 7%), three-layer differentiation without subsequent alteration (23, 6.0%), and three-layer differentiation with hematometra and/or ipsilateral hematosalpinx (10, 2.6%). The median volumes of these four types of uterine rudiments were 2.6 ml (1.69-3.81 ml), 3.19 ml (2.67-4.51 ml), 6.05 ml (3.37-12.44 ml), and 31.97 ml (19.2-38.7 ml), respectively. The mean ovarian volume was 6.49 ± 3.91 ml. Abnormally located ovaries were detected in 63 (31.3%) patients. The distal vagina was discernable in 25.1% of patients. CONCLUSION: MRKH patients typically display bilateral uterine rudiments combined with a fibrous band and normally located ovaries. The uterine rudiments are generally small with only one-layer differentiation, a subset of which might be large and exhibited other atypical presentations, including two- or three-layer differentiation or even hematometra. Abnormally located ovaries are not rare. KEY POINTS: • Morphologically, MRKH patients typically displayed bilateral uterine rudiments combined with a fibrous band. • Typically, the uterine rudiments (84.4%) were small and displayed only one-layer differentiation. • About 15.6% of rudiments showed atypical characteristics including two- or three-layer differentiation, even complicated with hematometra or hematosalpinx.

Potential value of CT radiomics in the distinction of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinomas.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of CT radiomics for the preoperative distinction of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 187 consecutive patients with preoperative contrast CT examination and pathologically proven gastric adenocarcinoma were retrospectively collected. Patients were divided into a training set (n = 150) and a test set (n = 37). Arterial phase (AP), portal phase (PP), and delay phase (DP) images were retrieved for analysis. A dedicated postprocessing software was used to segment the lesions and extract radiomics features. Random forest (RF) algorithm was applied to construct the classifier models. A nomogram was developed by incorporating multiphase radiomics scores. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the performance of the radiomics model and nomogram in both sets. RESULTS: The radiomics model showed a favorable capability in the distinction of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinomas. The areas under curves (AUCs) of the AP, PP, and DP radiomics models were 0.754 (95% CI: 0.676, 0.820), 0.815 (95% CI: 0.744, 0.874), and 0.764 (95% CI: 0.688, 0.829) in the training set, respectively, which were confirmed in the test set with AUCs of 0.742 (95% CI: 0.572, 0.872), 0.775 (95% CI: 0.608, 0.895), and 0.857 (95% CI: 0.703, 0.950), respectively. The nomogram yielded excellent performance for distinguishing intestinal-type adenocarcinomas in both sets, with AUCs of 0.928 (95%: 0.875, 0.964) and 0.904 (95% CI: 0.761, 0.976). CONCLUSIONS: The multiphase CT radiomics nomogram holds promise for the individual preoperative discrimination of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinoma. KEY POINTS: • CT radiomics has a potential role in the distinction of intestinal-type gastric adenocarcinomas. • Single-phase enhanced CT-based radiomics showed favorable capability in distinguishing intestinal-type tumors. • The nomogram which incorporates the multiphase radiomics scores could facilitate the individual prediction of intestinal-type lesions.

CT radiomics nomogram for the preoperative prediction of lymph node metastasis in gastric cancer.

PURPOSE: To investigate the role of computed tomography (CT) radiomics for the preoperative prediction of lymph node (LN) metastasis in gastric cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective study included 247 consecutive patients (training cohort, 197 patients; test cohort, 50 patients) with surgically proven gastric cancer. Dedicated radiomics prototype software was used to segment lesions on preoperative arterial phase (AP) CT images and extract features. A radiomics model was constructed to predict the LN metastasis by using a random forest (RF) algorithm. Finally, a nomogram was built incorporating the radiomics scores and selected clinical predictors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to validate the capability of the radiomics model and nomogram on both the training and test cohorts. RESULTS: The radiomics model showed a favorable discriminatory ability in the training cohort with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.844 (95% CI, 0.759 to 0.909), which was confirmed in the test cohort with an AUC of 0.837 (95% CI, 0.705 to 0.926). The nomogram consisted of radiomics scores and the CT-reported LN status showed excellent discrimination in the training and test cohorts with AUCs of 0.886 (95% CI, 0.808 to 0.941) and 0.881 (95% CI, 0.759 to 0.956), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The CT-based radiomics nomogram holds promise for use as a noninvasive tool in the individual prediction of LN metastasis in gastric cancer. KEY POINTS: • CT radiomics showed a favorable performance for the prediction of LN metastasis in gastric cancer. • Radiomics model outperformed the routine CT in predicting LN metastasis in gastric cancer. • The radiomics nomogram holds potential in the individualized prediction of LN metastasis in gastric cancer.

NUCKS1 promotes gastric cancer cell aggressiveness by upregulating IGF-1R and subsequently activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

The effects of nuclear ubiquitous casein and cyclin-dependent kinase substrate 1 (NUCKS1) on tumor cells and the relevant mechanisms are less well defined. This study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of action of NUCKS1 in gastric cancer (GC) progression. The expression dynamics of NUCKS1 were examined using microarray-based immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a group of carcinomatous and adjacent non-tumor specimens. Various in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to clarify the function of NUCKS1 in GC and its underlying mechanisms. In our research, NUCKS1 overexpression was identified by IHC in 86/200 (43%) GC patients, was significantly related to the invasive phenotype of GC and was an indisputable predictor of shortened survival. Depleting NUCKS1 in GC cells significantly induced apoptosis and reduced cell proliferation and invasiveness in vitro and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, ectopic overexpression of NUCKS1 in GC cells enhanced proliferation and invasion in vitro and promoted tumor growth in vivo. Importantly, PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway activity was inhibited upon downregulation of NUCKS1 expression and enhanced by ectopic overexpression of NUCKS1. Subsequently, the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) gene was found to be a potential downstream target of NUCKS1 in GC cells, and knockdown of IGF-1R eliminated the augmentation of GC cell migration, invasion and proliferation as well as PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway activity by ectopic NUCKS1. The data suggested that NUCKS1 enhanced GC aggressiveness via the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in an IGF-1R-dependent manner. NUCKS1 or its respective signaling pathways could hold immense promise as potent anticancer targets for GC treatment.

[Predictive Factors of Early Weight Loss after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy].

Objective To explore the clinical factors that can be used to predict the early weight loss after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy(LSG).Methods The clinical data of 64 obese patients undergoing LSG in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2015 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.We analyzed the relationship between different clinical factors and early weight loss,determined the independent predictors based on Logistic models,and estimated their test power by using the receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves.Results Correlation analysis indicated that preoperative body mass index(P=0.000,P=0.000,P=0.000),waist circumference(WC)(P=0.000,P=0.000,P=0.000),whole body fat volume(P=0.000,P=0.006,P=0.003),homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance(HOMA-IR)(P=0.000,P=0.000,P=0.002),and hypersensitive C-reactive protein(hsCRP)(P=0.004,P=0.002,P=0.025)were negatively correlated with excess weight loss percentage(EWL %) after 3,6 and 12 months.Also,hsCRP after 6 months showed negative correlation with EWL % after 1 year(P=0.029).Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that WC was an independent predictor of early weight loss(P=0.018).ROC analysis showed that when the optimal cutoff value is 142.5 cm for WC,Youden index was highest,with a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 87%.Patients were further divided into low WC group and high WC group based on this optimal cutoff value.The low WC group had significantly higher EWL% than the high WC group 3 months(t=6.677,P=0.000),6 months(t=6.157,P=0.000),and 1 year(t=4.006,P=0.000)after surgery.The low WC group also had significantly lower hsCRP than high WC group 6 months after surgery(z=-3.510,P=0.000).HOMA-IR showed no significant difference between these two groups(z=-0.821,P=0.412).Conclusions WC is an independent predictor of weight loss early after LSG.The patients with low WC have better weight loss effectiveness.

[Multidisciplinary Team and Nutrition Management for Bariatric Surgery].

Bariatric surgery remains the most successful treatment for morbid obesity. Multiple departments may be involved due to the presence of various co-morbidities and the complex procedure. Thus,the establishment of a multidisciplinary team based on endocrinology,gastrointestinal surgery,nutrition,and psychology is important to ensure a successful bariatric surgery. Although the bariatric surgery has definite effectiveness in decreasing body weight and improving comorbidities,patients may still face the risks including protein and/or micronutrient malnutrition and other complications after the bariatric surgery. The medium-and long-term follow-up and nutrition management after bariatric surgery mainly focus on the following two aspects: weight loss and improvement of obesity-related complications; and assessment and treatment of possible nutritional deficiencies and eating disorders.

[Perioperative Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Bariatric Surgery Population].

Objective To evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in bariatric surgery population.Methods Consecutive patients undergoing preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery and referred for sleep monitoring in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from January 2009 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed. Age,gender,symptoms of snoring,fatigue,apnea and somnolence,apnea hyponea index (AHI),arterial blood gas,pulmonary function,sleep respiratory monitoring,positive airway therapy of OSA,and postoperative complications were recorded. The clinical characteristics of OSA groups at different severity were compared using AHI≥5 events/hour and AHI≥15 events/hour as cut-off values. Correlation analysis was applied to identify the clinical factors associated with AHI.Results Of 42 patients with complete sleeping monitoring data before bariatric surgery,30(71.4%) were diagnosed as OSA,14 (33.3%) were moderate or severe and 11 (26.2%) were severe. Also,OSA was not detected before the bariatric surgery in 25 cases (83.3%). Compared with patients with AHI<5 events/hour,patients with AHI≥5 events/hour had significantly older age (t=2.869,P=0.007),higher proportion of observed apnea (P=0.035),higher AHI (z=-4.592,P=0.000),higher proportion of night pulse oxygen saturation(SpO2) below 90% (z=-2.746,P=0.006),lower mean SpO2 (t=-2.071,P=0.046) and lower lowest SpO2 (t=-3.914,P=0.000). Compared with AHI<15 events/hour group,the AHI≥15 events/hour group had significantly higher BMI (t=2.281,P=0.043),male ratio (P=0.005),incidence of hypertension (P=0.011),proportion of observed apnea (P=0.001),percentage of smoking history (P=0.017),partial pressure of carbon dioxide(PaCO2)(t=3.478,P=0.002),AHI (z=-4.592,P=0.000),and proportion of night SpO2 below 90% (z=-4.530,P=0.000); in addition,the forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1)% predicted (t=-3.377,P=0.002),forced vital capacity(FVC)% predicted (t=-2.342,P=0.026),night time mean SpO2 (t=-3.392,P=0.007),lowest SpO2 (t=-5.535,P=0.000) were significantly decreased. Correlation analysis showed that,in populations with normal PaCO2 (n=36),AHI was positively correlated with age (r=0.450,P=0.006) and BMI (r=0.384,P=0.021) and negatively correlated with FEV1% predicted (r=-0.457,P=0.008) and FVC% predicted (r=-0.432,P=0.013). Partial correlation analysis showed that,after age and BMI were adjusted,AHI was not correlated with FEV1% predicted(r=-0.287,P=0.125)and FVC%predicted(r=-0.241,P=0.200).Conclusion The incidence and underdiagnosis rate of OSA are high in bariatric surgery population. OSA should be routinely screened in bariatric population to reduce the postoperative complication.

[Relationship between Depression and Quality of Life in Patients with Severe Obesity].

Objective To investigate the depression status and quality of life (QoL) of patients with severe obesity who have undergone bariatric surgery and to evaluate their potential correlation.Methods A total of 50 patients with severe obesity who had undergone elective bariatric surgery in the general surgical ward of Peking Union Medical College from January 2013 to December 2017 were enrolled in this study. The general data were collected. The patient's depression status and QoL were assessed by the Zung's Depression Self-Assessment Scale and the SF-36 Quality of Life Scale,respectively.Results The depression score was (44.85±9.07) scores in these 50 patients,including 38 patients (76%) without depression and 12 (24%) with mild depression. The scores of the mental-emotional,physical,psychomotor,and psychological barrier dimensions of patients with severe obesity were (3.70±1.25),(18.65±4.10),(4.25±1.35),and (18.75±5.46)scores,respectively. The physiological function score of patients with mild depression was (95.83±10.21)scores,which was significantly higher than those without depression (68.42±38.95) scores(F=6.209,P=0.011). The vitality and mental health scores were (46.67±14.72) and (57.33±14.68) scores in patients with mild depression,which were significantly lower than those [(65.79±21.94) (F=4.867,P=0.030) and (75.16±17.21) scores (F=0.212,P=0.032)] in patients without depression. Correlation analysis showed that the mental-emotional score was positively correlated with physical score in patients with severe obesity (r=0.503,P=0.015),whereas the depression score was negatively correlated with the general health status (r=-0.430,P=0.032),vitality (r=-0.594,P=0.002),social functioning (r=-0.455,P=0.022),mental health (r=-0.562,P=0.003),and QoL score (r=-0.439,P=0.028).Conclusions The QoL is remarkably affected by depression in patients with severe obesity before surgery. Assessment of the mental status of patients with severe obesity may help to identify this problem and thus improve the QoL.

[Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy in Treating Obesity and Its Co-morbidities].

Objective To analyze the effectiveness and safety of laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) in treating obesity and its co-morbidities.Methods The clinical data of obese patients undergoing LSG in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from August 2012 to August 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. Medium-term outcome measures included excess weight loss (%EWL),co-morbidity improvement,and complications.Results Seventy-five obese patients comprising 28 men[ body mass index(BMI):(47.3±7.5)kg/m 2) ] and 47 women [BMI (41.1±7.0) kg/m 2] were enrolled in this analysis. The common co-morbidities were liver dysfunction (53.3%),dyslipidemia (52.0%),obstructive sleep apnea (45.3%),type 2 diabetes mellitus (38.7%),and arterial hypertension (37.3%),which were improved by 75.0%,58.3%,83.3%,75.0% and 58.3% three years after surgery. The mean %EWL at 1,2,and 3 years after surgery was 81.6±34.7,80.9±30.2 and 79.7±30.8,respectively. The proportions of patients achieving successful weight loss were 81.7% (n=49),81.0% (n=34),and 79.3% (n=23) at 1,2,and 3 years (%EWL>50%). Early severe complications (Clavien-Dindo classification>2) occurred in 2.6% of patients,and the most common late complications was gastroesophageal reflux disease,which could be relieved by acid suppressants.Conclusion LSG is effective and safe in treating obesity and its co-morbidities.

Scrotal heat stress causes sperm chromatin damage and cysteinyl aspartate-spicific proteinases 3 changes in fertile men.

PURPOSE: To observe changes in semen parameters, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and cysteinyl aspartate-spicific proteinases (Caspase-3) in adult healthy men after scrotal heat stress (SHS). METHODS: The scrotums of 19 healthy male volunteers were exposed to the condition of 40-43 °C SHS belt warming 40 min each day for successive 2 days per week. The course of SHS was continuously 3 months. Routine semen analysis, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test, eosin Y (EY) staining sperm HOS and chromatin dispersion (HOS/SCD) test, HOS and aniline blue (HOS/AB) staining test were carried out before, during and after SHS. The activated Caspase 3 levels of spermatozoa were determined with a microtiter plate reader. RESULTS: The mean parameters of sperm concentration, motility and normal morphological sperm were significantly decreased in groups with sperm being collected during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months when compared with those in groups of pre-SHS (P < 0.01). Statistically significant differences of sperm DNA fragmentation, normal sperm membrane and vitality, and Caspase-3 activity were observed between the groups of before SHS and after SHS 3 months and the groups of during SHS 1, 2 and 3 months (P < 0.001). Three months the SHS stopped, various parameters recovered to the level before SHS. Abnormal sperm with HOS/AB and HOS/SCD showed a negatively significant correlation with normal sperm by HOS/EY test, and WBC in semen showed a positively significant correlation with Caspase-3 activity. The percentage of abnormal sperm by using the test of HOS/SCD showed a positively significant correlation with that of HOS/AB. CONCLUSIONS: The continuously constant SHS can impact the semen quality, sperm DNA integrity, chromatin condensation and Caspase-3, and the combination of HOS plus AB test may simultaneously determine the integrity of membrane and chromatin condensation at the same spermatozoon.

Effect of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy Treatment on Prognosis of Patients with Advanced Gastric Cancer: a Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with local advanced gastric cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed prognosis in 191 patients with advanced gastric cancer, of whom 71 were treated with NAC and 120 received surgery only between February 2007 and July 2013. Postoperative complication rate was recorded. Survival by clinicopathological features, pathological T and N stages, and histopathological tumor regression was retrospectively compared between the two groups. RESULTS: According to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, none of the 71 patients in the NAC followed by surgery group showed complete response, 36 showed partial response, 25 had stable disease, and 10 had progressive disease. The chemotherapy response rate was 50.7%; the disease control rate was 85.9%. Grade 3/4 adverse events were seen in less than 20% patients, with acceptable toxicities. No difference was found in the overall postoperative complication rates between the two groups (7 versus 22 cases, P=0.18). Median survival time was significantly different, at 54 months in the NAC combined with surgery group and 25 months in the surgery-only group (P=0.025). CONCLUSION: In patients with operable gastric adenocarcinomas, NAC can significantly improve overall survival without increasing surgical complications.

[Surgical Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Hyperthyroidism Complicated with Occult Thyroid Carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the surgical diagnosis and treatment of primary hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma. METHOD: Data of 51 cases of primary hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma admitted during January 2004 to November 2014 were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: The incidence of occult thyroid carcinoma was 5.03% in hyperthyroidism,and 47 cases (92.16%) were female. The preoperative diagnosis of all these 51 cases was primary hyperthyroidism and 11 cases were diagnosed thyroid carcinoma at the same time;25 cases were diagnosed thyroid carcinoma by frozen section and the remaining 26 cases were diagnosed by postoperative pathology. Finally,26 cases underwent subtotal thyroidectomy,4 cases underwent total thyroidectomy, and 21 cases underwent total thyroidectomy with lymphadenectomy. The tumor size ranged from 0.1 to 1.0 cm [mean:(0.63 ± 0.35) cm]. The lesions were less than or equal to 0.5 cm in 28 cases (54.9%). The follow-up lasted from 1 to 121 months [mean:(28.6 ± 22.7)months] in 43 patients,and all of them survived. CONCLUSIONS: Primary hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma is commonly found in female patients. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult. Ultrasound is the major examining method. Frozen section can increase the detection rate. The postoperative prognosis of hyperthyroidism complicated with occult thyroid carcinoma is satisfactory.

Values of iodine metabolism biomarkers in assessing the iodine nutrition status in surgically treated patients with thyroid disease.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the clinical application value of iodine metabolism biomarkers in assessing iodine nutrition status in surgically treated patients with thyroid disease. METHODS: Blood,morning urine and 24-hour urine samples were collected in 31 healthy volunteers and in 30 surgically treated patients with thyroid disease before and after surgery. Iodine concentration was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The iodine metabolism biomarkers including serum iodine (SI), morning urine iodine(UI), morning urine iodine/urine creatinine ratio (UI/UCr), 24-hour urine iodine (24 h UI), and 24-hour urine iodine excretion (24 h UIE) were evaluated in these two groups. In addition, the validation coincidence rate of iodine metabolism biomarkers in healthy volunteers to different reference ranges including World Health Organization, Mayo Clinic, and Quest Diagnostics were calculated. RESULTS: The UI/UCr ratio of pre-operative thyroid disease patients was significantly lower than that of healthy volunteers (P<0.05), while the other biomarkers showed no significant differences (all P>0.05) between these two groups. The SI, UI ,and 24 h UI in postoperative thyroid disease patients were significantly higher than those of the pre-operative patients (all P<0.05). Though the medians of all biomarkers in healthy volunteers were within the reference ranges,only the validation coincidence rates of SI, UI, and UI/UCr in the 41-70-year populations were over than 90% according to Mayo Clinic; furthermore, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve about UI/UCr ratio (0.737) was the biggest within the iodine metabolism biomarkers. CONCLUSION: The UI/UCr ratio may be used for iodine nutrition evaluation in surgically treated patients with thyroid disease.

[Effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on gut microbiota and endotoxin levels in portal vein of rats fed with high-fat diet].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3PUFAs) on gut microbiota and endotoxin levels in portal vein of rats fed with a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Thirty-six male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups and fed with normal control diet (CD), HFD, CD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, and HFD supplemented with n-3PUFAs, respectively. Fresh fecal samples were collected to analyze the gut microbiota 10 weeks after feeding. DNA was exacted from the fresh fecal samples. Quantitative PCR was used to detect the composition of the gut microbiota. The endotoxin levels were detected through modified azo chromogenic substrate limulus amebocyte lysate assay. RESULTS: The differences in body weight before breeding in each group were not statistically significant among these four groups (P=0.613). The increase in the body weight was significantly larger in the HFD group than in the CD group (P=0.0002), CD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.0001), and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.022). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.002) and enterobacteriales (P=0.022) and significantly less bacteroidetes (P=0.026) and bifidobactera (P=0.034) in the gut of rats from HFD group than those from the CD group. There were significantly more bacteroidetes in the fecal samples of the rats from the CD+n-3PUFAs group compared to those from the CD group (P=0.043). There were significantly more firmicutes (P=0.044)and enterobacteriales (P=0.012) and less bacteroidetes (P=0.042) in the fecal samples of the rats from HFD group compared to those from the HFD+n-3PUFAs group. The endotoxin in plasma form portal vein of rats in HFD group were significantly higher than in CD group (P=0.007) and HFD+n-3PUFAs group (P=0.042) but showed no significant difference between CD+n-3PUFAs and CD group (P=0.210). CONCLUSIONS: HFD can increase body weight and change gut microbiota. Supplementation of n-3PUFAs can partially counteract such gut dysbiosis, lower endotoxin level in portal vein blood, and improve the body weight.

[MicroRNA and gastric cancer].

Gastric cancer is caused by the interaction of genetic and environmental factors. MicroRNA (miRNA) is involved in many cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis and plays an important role in pathogenesis of gastric cancer, as demonstrated in many recent studies from perspectives including miRNA profiling, reciprocal modulation between epigenetic and miRNA, and Helicobacter pylori infection. MiRNA is highly stabe in blood, and therefore non-invasive diagnosis of gastric cancer using circulating miRNA may be promising.

[Effects of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2 down-regulation by small interfering RNA on aggressiveness of MKN28 human].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A2 (EIF5A2) down-regulation by small interfering RNA (siRNA) on aggressiveness of human gastric cancer cell and its potential mechanisms. METHODS: The expressions of EIF5A2 in human gastric cancer cell lines (MKN28 and HGC27) and immortalized gastric mucosal epithelial cells (GES-1) were measured by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting. EIF5A2 gene in MKN28 cells was silenced by RNA interference and the inhibitory effect was evaluated by both qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay. Cell migration and invasion were assessed by Transwell assay. The possible downstream targets of EIF5A2, such as CyclinD1, CyclinD3, matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9), E-cadherin, vimintin, C-myc, and metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) expression levels, were examined by Western blotting. RESULTS: High expressions of EIF5A2 were found in MKN28 cells and human gastric adenocarcinoma tissues. Both EIF5A2 mRNA and protein expression in MKN28 cells were significantly down-regulated by siRNA#1 and siRNA#2, especially siRNA#1. Knockdown of EIF5A2 caused an apparent suppression of MKN28 cell proliferation (all P<0.01), migration (P<0.001), and invasion (P<0.001). After the knockdown of EIF5A2 in MKN28 cells, E-cadherin levels were upregulated, whereas vimentin, Cyclin D1, Cyclin D3, C-myc and MTA1 levels were downregulated. CONCLUSION: Knockdown of EIF5A2 may inhibit MKN28 cell proliferation by downregulating the CyclinD1 and CyclinD3 and suppressing the cell migration and invasion by inhibiting MTA1, C-myc and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

[Iodine nutrition and thyroid diseases].

Iodine, an essential component of the hormones produced by the thyroid gland, is widely but unevenly distributed in the earth's environment. Great difference exists in the iodine nutritional status of populations residing in different region. Both iodine deficiency and iodine excess can injure the thyroid gland. Iodine deficiency tigers endemic goiter, cretinism, and hyperthyroidism, while iodine excess can result in high iodine goiter, chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis, iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, and hypothyroidism; also, iodine deficiency or excess may affect the histological type of thyroid cancer. In 1996, China began to implement the universal salt iodization policy, which has basically eliminated the iodine deficiency disorders nationwide; however, it also caused the changes in the spectra of other thyroid diseases including iodine-induced hyperthyroidism, autoimmune thyroid disease, and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Individualized iodine nutritional status assessment for the populations, particularly those with thyroid diseases, will be beneficial.

[Surgical therapy of thyroid cancer].

The prevalence of thyroid cancer has shown an upward trend in China in recent years. Advances in thyroid ultrasound and fine needle puncture cytology have improved the accuracy of the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Also,the application of endoscopy-assisted techniques and intraoperative nerve monitoring technology and the further understanding of thyroid lymph node metastasis have made the thyroid surgeries safer and less invasive. This article summarizes the recent advances in the surgical therapy of thyroid cancer.