Reduced serum miR-98 predicts unfavorable clinical outcome of colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are considered to be promising biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis prediction of cancers. However, the potential clinical significance of the serum miR-98 in colorectal cancer (CRC) remained unclear. This study aimed to examine the serum miR-98 levels in CRC patients and explore its potential value for CRC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 115 CRC cases and 50 healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. Quantitative reverse-transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) was performed to detect serum miR-98 expression in all the participants. RESULTS: The results revealed that serum miR-98 levels were frequently downregulated in CRC patients compared with controls. In addition, low serum miR-98 levels were closely associated with aggressive clinical features and shorter survival. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis demonstrated that serum miR-98 could well differentiate CRC patients from healthy controls with relatively high accuracy. Multivariate analysis further demonstrated that serum miR-98 was an independent prognostic factor for both overall survival and disease-free survival. Mechanistically, MYC, IL-6, and HIST1H2BH were identified as direct downstream targets of miR-98 in CRC cells. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, serum miR-98 might be useful as an indicator for predicting the clinical outcome of CRC patients.

[Expressions and prognostic significance of PTEN and PD-1 protein in patients with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma].

Objective: To elucidate the expression levels of key immune biomarkers, phosphate and tension homology deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) and programmed cell death protein1(PD-1),of different immune tolerance pathway in classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (CHL) to further determine their clinical role and prognostic significance. Methods: The clinical features and prognostic factors of 56 CHL patients, who were admitted to the TianJin Medical University Cancer Institute from February 2003 to August 2013, were retrospectively analyzed. PTEN and PD-1 protein expression levels were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) was performed by in situ hybridization assay. Correlations between the expression of biomarkers and clinicopathologic parameters were examined and survival analyses were performed. Results: This cohort of 56 CHL patients included 34 males and 22 females with a median age of 25 years (ranged from 7 to 71 years). In a univariate analysis, age≥45, IPS score >2, EBER positive, high expression of PTEN protein conferred inferior 5-year OS and 5-year PFS; In a multivariate model, age≥45, IPS score >2, EBER positive, high expression of PTEN protein were identified as the independent adverse prognostic factors for CHL. Conclusions: This study suggested for the first time that PTEN was independent prognostic immune biomarkers in CHL, which provided the novel therapeutic strategy of immune therapy for CHL.

Lath formation mechanisms and twinning as lath martensite substructures in an ultra low-carbon iron alloy.

Lath martensite is the dominant microstructural feature in quenched low-carbon Fe-C alloys. Its formation mechanism is not clear, despite extensive research. The microstructure of an Fe-0.05 C (wt.%) alloy water-quenched at various austenitizing temperatures has been investigated using transmission electron microscopy and a novel lath formation mechanism has been proposed. Body-centered cubic {112}〈111〉-type twin can be retained inside laths in the samples quenched at temperatures from 1050 °C to 1200 °C. The formation mechanism of laths with a twin substructure has been explained based on the twin structure as an initial product of martensitic transformation. A detailed detwinning mechanism in the auto-tempering process has also been discussed, because auto-tempering is inevitable during the quenching of low-carbon Fe-C alloys. The driving force for the detwinning is the instability of ω-Fe(C) particles, which are located only at the twinning boundary region. The twin boundary can move through the ω ↔ bcc transition in which the ω phase region represents the twin boundary.

[Operative treatment of delayed acetabular fractures through combined anterior and Kocher-Langenbeck approaches].

Objective: To discuss the clinical outcomes of treating delayed acetabular fractures by combined anterior and posterior approach. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 31 delayed acetabular fractures from February 2012 to February 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, including 18 males and 13 females with age of 48.5 years(23 to 67 years) .The injury to the operation time was 35.9 days(22 to 183 days). Of these 31 cases, there were 6 cases of transverse and posterior wall fracture, 8 cases with anterior column+ posterior half transverse fracture, 12 cases with double column fracture and 5 cases of "T" type fracture according to Letournel-Judet classification.All fractures were treated combined anterior and Kocher-Langenbeck approaches, including 13 cases of ilioinguinal approach+ Kocher-Langenbeck(K-L approach), 4 cases of extensile acetabular approach, 7 cases of stoppa approach + K-L approach and 7 cases of side rectus femoris approach.Correlation was analyzed by Pearson correlation regression testing. Results: Follow up to August 2017, all patients were followed up with 36.0 months(from 6 to 55 months). As calculated, the restorational effect was positively with result of the X-ray film and the clinical effect(r=0.823, 0.856; both P<0.05). The evaluation was conducted with Matta's reduction criteria: there were 11 cases classified as anatomic reduction(35.5%), 13 cases as satisfactory reduction(41.9%), and 7 cases as unsatisfactory reduction(22.6%). Excellent and good rate was 77.4%. Functional reductions were categorized by the standard of Matta hip score: 8 excellent cases(25.8%), 11 good cases(35.5%), 8 fail cases(25.8%), and 4 poor cases(12.9%). Conclusion: The treatment of delayed acetabular fracture by combined anterior and posterior approach can fully exposure the anterior and posterior acetabular fcloumns, which is beneficial to the release and fixation of the old acetabular fractures.

STMN1 in colon cancer: expression and prognosis in Chinese patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the stathmin (STMN1) expression in colorectal cancer and tumor-adjacent normal tissue and discuss its prognostic significance in colon cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: STMN1 was tested with qRT-PCR in 30 samples of fresh colon cancer tissue and tumor-adjacent issue, and with immunohistochemical SP method in 105 samples of fresh colon cancer tissue and tumor-adjacent issue to analyze the association between its expression and clinical pathological parameters. Clinical data was combined to study the relationship between STMN1 expression and 5-year survival rate. Univariate analysis and Cox multivariate regression were performed to study the correlation between STMN1 expression and prognosis. RESULTS: The mRNA and protein level of STMN1 were significantly higher in colon cancer samples than tumor-adjacent normal tissues (p<0.05). STMN1 expression was independent of patient age, gender or location, but significantly related to lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (p<0.05). Survival analysis by Kaplan-Meier method showed that STMN1 expression was significantly related with the survival of colon cancer patients. The median survival time of STMN1-positive patients (37.5 months) was significantly shorter than STMN1-negative patients (57.1 months, p<0.05). Cox multivariate regression indicated that STMN1 is independent prognostic factors predicting the development, invasion and metastasis of colon cancer (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: STMN1 overexpression in colon cancer is independently associated with improved survival and significantly related to the development of the disease. Our findings suggest that presence of a STMN1-prognosis interaction that potentially determines clinical outcome.

The false thyroid capsule: new findings.

PURPOSE: The false thyroid capsule is an important anatomical structure involved in thyroidectomy, yet it is rarely studied. This study aimed to define the anatomy of the false thyroid capsule, and its clinical significance. METHODS: A prospective study was performed involving 151 patients with goitre who underwent thyroid lobectomy. The anatomy of the false thyroid capsule was carefully documented intra-operatively. RESULTS: The false thyroid capsule enclosed the inferior and middle thyroid veins and the superior thyroid vessels, forming a mesentery-like structure by attaching to the gland. Once the unilateral lobe had been removed, the thyroid mesentery could be seen to have a C-shaped edge. The recurrent laryngeal nerve, inferior thyroid artery and parathyroid glands were located beneath the C-shaped edge of the thyroid mesentery. CONCLUSION: The thyroid mesentery is a distinctive structure that can be used as a guide for surgical dissection.

Immunological study of allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells during bone formation.

Autologous mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are limited in their clinical application because tissue-engineered bone cannot be pre-fabricated. Allogeneic MSCs are readily available but carry the risk of transplant rejection. It is not yet clear whether allogeneic MSCs can induce a rejection response during bone formation. In this study, two strains of genetically unmatched mini-pigs were used as experimental animals to study the immunological changes in MSCs in vitro and in vivo when generating bone. Mini-pig MSCs showed low immunogenicity during osteogenesis both in vitro and in vivo, indicating that allogeneic MSCs had little or no immunogenicity in osteosis. In conclusion, allogeneic MSCs are an important source of seed cells for the tissue engineering of bone. This favours the clinical application of pre-constructed tissue-engineered bone.

Giant solitary synovial chondromatosis.

The purpose of this report is to describe giant solitary synovial chondromatosis, a previously unrecognized feature of synovial chondromatosis that may histologically and radiographically mimic a malignant neoplasm. Giant solitary synovial chondroma is an intra- and/or extraarticular lesion measuring over 1 cm in size and sometimes as large as 20 cm. The radiographic appearance is that of a large, well-marginated mass either of irregular feathery calcification from coalescence of multiple small synovial chondromas, or a rounded calcified mass from the growth of a single synovial chondroma. Radiographically, giant solitary synovial chondromatosis may appear similar to chondrosarcoma and parosteal osteosarcoma.

MRI of extraskeletal osteosarcoma.

We report four cases of extraskeletal osteosarcoma of the thigh to illustrate MRI findings of this rare neoplasm. Calcifications or osteoid material were not discernible in these tumors on MRI or conventional radiography. Three tumors were well demarcated on MRI and corresponded to pseudoencapsulation on radiologic-pathologic correlation. These three tumors were heterogeneous in appearance and were hyperintense to muscle on T1-weighted imaging and demonstrated high signal intensity on T2-weighted imaging. In the fourth tumor, which occupied almost the entire thigh, MRI before and after intravenous gadopentetate dimeglumine administration revealed cystic, hemorrhagic, and solid components. Pathological examination revealed a cystic hemorrhagic cavity containing necrotic and viable tumor and a large solid tumor component. The MRI findings in extraskeletal osteosarcoma are non-specific. However, in the appropriate age group the differential diagnosis of a soft-tissue mass in the thigh should include extraskeletal osteosarcoma, even in the absence of radiographically discernible calcifications or osteoid material within the soft-tissue mass.

Diagnosis of eosinophilic granuloma of bone by fine-needle aspiration with concurrent institution of therapy: a cytologic, histologic, clinical, and radiologic study of 27 cases.

Twenty-seven patients with eosinophilic granuloma (EG) of bone seen at our institution between 1979 and 1991 underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) with or without concurrent Tru-Cut biopsy. The 16 males and 11 females ranged in age from 2 1/2 to 61 years (median, 10 yr). Twenty-four patients had monostotic lesions. The clinicoradiologic differential diagnosis included osteomyelitis and Ewing's sarcoma (young patients) and primary and metastatic malignancies (older patients). Twenty-four of 28 FNAs (one patient had two FNAs) were diagnostic of EG, and 10 cases were diagnosed by FNA alone. Smears in these cases showed histiocytes, often with grooved or infolded nuclei, and abundant eosinophils. Multinucleated giant cells, foamy histiocytes, neutrophils, lymphocytes, and plasma cells were present in variable numbers. Four FNAs were misdiagnosed: two as osteomyelitis where smears contained abundant neutrophils, sparse eosinophils, and histiocytes misinterpreted as foamy histiocytes, and two as metastatic carcinoma (in adults) where histiocytes in a scant specimen (one case) and skin appendiceal structures without lesional tissue (one case) were misinterpreted. These cases were correctly diagnosed on repeat FNA (one case), Tru-Cut (two cases), or excisional biopsy (one case); however, three cases diagnosed by FNA had nondiagnostic concurrent Tru-Cut biopsies. Treatment consisted of intralesional injection of 125 mg of methylprednisolone (22 cases). Progressive or complete healing of all lesions occurred. FNA is a rapid and useful technique for the immediate diagnosis of EG that allows concurrent institution of therapy.

Chondrosarcoma: MR imaging with pathologic correlation.

Magnetic resonance (MR) images of 21 surgically confirmed chondrosarcomas were retrospectively reviewed in conjunction with plain radiographs and computed tomographic scans and correlated with pathologic findings. The tumors appeared lobulated, and signal intensity, as analyzed visually (intermediate on T1-weighted, high on T2-weighted images), was similar for all lesions, regardless of pathologic type. Size of lesion was not an indicator of grade. The appearances of mesenchymal and dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas mimicked that of conventional chondrosarcoma. Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma was visualized as a lobulated soft-tissue mass. In all cases, MR imaging accurately depicted intraosseous and soft-tissue extent of tumor noted at surgery and pathologic examination. Histologic type or grade of chondrosarcoma generally cannot be characterized on the basis of visual analysis of signal intensity noted on routine MR images. However, MR imaging is excellent for exact delineation of tumor extent.

Nasal-oropharyngoscopy: a simple test to evaluate lacrimal duct function in children.

Obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system is a common problem in pediatric ophthalmology. We describe a simple office test which allows the patency of the lacrimal drainage system to be visualized.