Levels, sources, and health risk assessment of phthalate acid esters in indoor dust of various microenvironments in university.

Phthalate acid esters (PAEs), as a common group of plasticizers, are widely present in indoor environments and pose a risk to human health. Indoor dust samples collected from dormitory, classroom, laboratory, and office in several universities in China, were analyzed for seven types of PAEs. The total concentrations of seven PAEs (Σ7PAEs) ranged from 4.87 to 360 µg/g, with a median concentration of 51 µg/g, which is lower than that reported by other studies. Using the median concentration of Σ7PAEs as a metric, we assessed the levels of contamination in different microenvironments, resulting in the following ranking: dormitory > classroom > laboratory > office. There are significant differences in the levels of individual PAEs in different microenvironments. Radiation from sunlight, ventilation rates, cleaning frequency, and sprays were influential factors for the concentrations of individual PAEs in indoor dust. The indoor environmental conditions and consumption patterns profoundly affect PAEs levels. The sources of PAEs in classroom and office were more complex than in dormitory and laboratory. Daily intakes of PAEs were used to calculate carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic human risk for males and females, indicating a low health risk to humans. This is the first study to assess the risk of PAEs in university microenvironments and provides a valuable reference for further research.

USP19 Enhances MMP2/MMP9-Mediated Tumorigenesis in Gastric Cancer.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the clinical significance of ubiquitin-specific peptidase 19 (USP19) expression in gastric cancer (GC) compared with that in normal tissues and gastric cell lines. METHODS: USP19 protein expression was analyzed in 212 paired GC samples using immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blotting were used to detect the level of USP19 in gastric cell lines. The biological functions of USP19 were investigated by MTT assay, colony-forming assay, wound healing assay and gelatin zymography, and apoptotic cells were detected by immunohistochemistry assays in SGC7901 xenograft models. RESULTS: USP19 expression was significantly increased in GC cells and tissues, and the high level of USP19 expression was positively correlated with the Lauren's classification and poor prognosis. Moreover, USP19 was identified as a novel independent prognostic biomarker in GC patients. Enhanced USP19 expression promoted GC cell proliferation and metastasis through reduced cleaved caspase-3 and increased MMP2/MMP9 expression and promoted enzyme activity in the study, and verified the results through The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and bioinformatic websites from the Kaplan-Meier plotter (http://kmplot.com) and GEPIA (http://gepia2.cancer-pku.cn.). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that USP19 promoted tumor progression by inducing MMP2/MMP9 expression and related enzyme activity. Hence, USP19 may be a valuable prognostic predictor for GC, and the USP19-MMP2/MMP9 axis could serve as a therapeutic target.

G59S mutation in the GJB2 gene in a Chinese family with classic Vohwinkel syndrome.

Vohwinkel syndrome (VS) is a rare autosomal dominant condition, also known as mutilating palmoplantar keratoderma accompanied by sensorineural deafness. The LOR and GJB2 genes are reported to be responsible for VS. The GJB2 gene encodes connexin 26, a component of intercellular gap junctions expressed in various tissues. We report the case of a 31-year-old Chinese woman with classic VS characterized by sensorineural deafness and mutilating palmoplantar keratoderma. Further genetic studies demonstrated a nucleotide change (c.175G>A) in the GJB2 gene, leading to an amino acid alteration (G59S). This identical missense mutation (G59S) has also been reported in a patient with Bart-Pumphrey syndrome. Together with our findings and previous studies, we conclude that the identical mutation (G59S) in the GJB2 gene contributes to various manifestations.

The value of endoscopic ultrasonography in defining longitudinal gross target volumes for esophageal squamous carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the differences between endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-based longitudinal gross target volumes (GTV) (GTV(EUS)) and computed tomography (CT)-based longitudinal GTV (GTV(CT)) in diagnosing esophageal squamous carcinoma. METHODS: Thirty-six patients underwent EUS to define the superior and inferior extents of the tumor by using hemoclips. CT-planning scan was performed with the patient in the supine position during the treatment. GTV(CT) and GTV(EUS) were contoured respectively. The respective lengths (L(CT) and L(EUS)) and spatial locations of longitudinal GTV(CT) and longitudinal GTV(EUS) were compared. RESULTS: The mean LCT was 7.8 ± 3.2 cm and the mean L(EUS) was 7.4 ± 2.7 cm. No statistical difference was found between L(CT) and L(EUS) (P > 0.05) with a correlation coefficient of 0.61 (P<0.05). The mean conformal index was 0.79 ± 0.18 with spatial variations found in 71% (24/34) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: EUS can provide additional information to CT in defining longitudinal GTV in thoracic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, especially superficial and submucosal carcinomas, which may contribute to the development of better individual treatment regimens.