[Sensitization characteristics of Juniperus chinensis pollen in Beijing area].

Objective: To investigate the sensitization characteristics of Juniperus chinensis pollen in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma in Beijing area, and to explore the characteristics of Juniper chinensis pollen sensitized population. Methods: Patients with suspected allergic rhinitis and/or asthma from January 2017 to December 2019 in the outpatient department of Allergy Department of Beijing Shijitan Hospital were selected in this study. Skin prick test (SPT) was performed with Juniper chinensis pollen allergen reagent to compare different age and disease allergen distribution, and to observe the sensitization characteristics of its population. All of the analyses were performed using SAS software version 9.4. Results: A total of 8 380 patients were enrolled in the end. The total positive rate of Juniper chinensis pollen SPT reached 49.92% (4 183/8 380). The positive rate of Juniper chinensis pollen SPT was highest in the 10-14 age group, reaching 60.99% (283/464). Compared with other age groups, there was a statistical difference (χ²=266.77, P<0.01). The SPT positive rate of patients aged less than 10 years increased with the increase of age, while the SPT positive rate of patients aged over 40 years decreased with the increase of age. Single Juniper chinensis pollen was less allergenic, accounting for about 25.05% (1 048/4 183), and the patients' age was (35.21±12.39) years. Regardless of single Juniper chinensis pollen or other pollen allergies, allergic rhinitis was the main disease. Among the patients with SPT positive Juniper chinensis pollen combined with other inhaled pollen allergens, willow pollen accounted for the first (74.99%). The positive rate of Juniper chinensis pollen was the highest in patients with single allergic rhinitis, accounting for 52.05% (3 797/7 295), and the rate in patients with single allergic asthma was the lowest, accounting for 17.49% (53/303), with statistically difference (χ²=138.99, P<0.01). Conclusions: Juniper chinensis pollen is highly sensitized in patients with allergic rhinitis and/or allergic asthma in Beijing . The positive rate of SPT is highest among 10-14 age group, most of which showed strong positive reaction, and allergic rhinitis is more common in Juniper chinensis pollen sensitization diseases.

[Endocervical adenocarcinomas classified by International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification: a clinicopathological and prognostic analysis of 286 cases].

Objectives: To investigate the clinicopathological and prognostic significance of International Endocervical Adenocarcinoma Criteria and Classification (IECC) in classifying endocervical adenocarcinomas among Chinese women. Methods: A total of 286 endocervical adenocarcinomas diagnosed from January 2013 to December 2019 at the Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine were identified and included. The cases were reviewed and reclassified based on IECC. The histological types were correlated with p16 immunostaining, human papilloma virus (HPV) mRNA status, the clinicopathological parameters including the International Federation of Gynecologic Oncology (FIGO) stage, and clinical follow-up data. Results: The patients aged from 19 to 77 (median 47) years. There were 223 patients at FIGO stage Ⅰ, 22 at stage Ⅱ, 38 at stage Ⅲ and 3 at stage Ⅳ. The IECC types included 213 (74.5%) HPV-related adenocarcinomas (HPVA), 60 (21%) non-HPV-related adenocarcinomas (NHPVA), and 13 (4.5%) adenocarcinomas, no other specified (NOS). The major histological subtypes in HPVA and NHPVA were common type (n=156, 54.5%) and gastric type (GAC, n=46, 15.9%), respectively. The p16 positive rates in HPVA, NHPVA and adenocarcinoma, NOS were 92% (173/188), 26.6% (17/64) and 61.5% (8/13), respectively, and those of HPV mRNA hybridization in situ were 89.4% (144/161), 0/18 and 7/13, respectively. Compared to HPVA, NHPVA was more frequently associated with older age, FIGO stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ, neural involvement, lymphovascular invasion and aberrant p53 expression (P<0.05). Univariate survival analysis showed that age (>47 years), NHPVA, GAC, FIGO stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ, neural involvement, lymphovascular invasion and aberrant p53 expression were indicators for a poorer overall survival and tumor recurrence (P<0.05). Mucinous HPVA showed worse clinical outcomes compared to usual-type HPVA (P<0.01). Multivariate survival analysis demonstrated that FIGO stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ, NHPVA and aberrant p53 expression were independent indicators for poor overall survival while FIGO stage Ⅱ-Ⅳ and GAC were independently associated with tumor recurrence (P<0.05). Conclusions: The two broad IECC categories, HPVA and NHPVA, not only provide morphological links to the etiology (HPV infection), but also have significant clinicopathological and prognostic relevance.

The new-generation proteasome inhibitor oprozomib increases the sensitivity of cervical cancer cells to cisplatin-induced apoptosis.

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of a new generation of protease inhibitor, oprozomib (OPZ), used alone and in combination with cisplatin, also called CDDP, on cervical cancer. Five different types of cervical cancer cell lines - HeLa, Caski, HeLa-CDDP, C33a, and SiHa - and one nontransformed cervical cell line - HaCaT -were treated with OPZ alone or in combination with cisplatin. The inhibitory effects of OPZ and cisplatin on the proliferation of cervical cancer cells were then analyzed using cytotoxicity tests, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. It was found that OPZ alone or in combination with cisplatin can reduce the proliferation of the five types of cancer cells by enhancing the lysis of caspase-3 and PARP and inducing cancer cell apoptosis. In the combined treatment, OPZ was found to inhibit the degradation of inhibitory factor κB alpha induced by cisplatin, thereby inhibiting the activation of NF-κB, which causes cisplatin resistance, and enhancing the sensitivity of the tumor cells to cisplatin. Moreover, OPZ promoted the phosphorylation of the apoptosis signaling pathway JNK that was activated by cisplatin, thereby inducing tumor cell apoptosis. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of OPZ alone and in combination with cisplatin in the treatment of cervical cancer.

[Analysis of characteristics of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced seasonal allergic rhinitis in the Inner Mongolian grassland region of China].

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) as well as the distribution and sensitization characteristics of Chenopodiaceae pollen in Inner Mongolia grassland of northern China. Methods: From May 2015 to August 2015, using stratified, cluster and random sampling, a field interviewer-administered survey study and skin prick test (SPT) were conducted in six areas of Inner Mongolia grassland (Xilinhot, Erenhot, Duolun, Tongliao, Jarud, Kailu), and pollen monitoring was carried out in the above six areas from January 1 to December 31 of 2015. The clinical characteristics of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR, distribution and sensitization characteristics of Chenopodiaceae pollen in these regions were observed. SAS software 9.4 was used for data processing. Results: A total of 6 043 subjects completed the study. The prevalence of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR was 13.2% (795/6 043). The highest prevalence was found in the 18-39 age group. Subjects from urban areas showed higher prevalence of SAR than rural areas (61.2% vs 37.9%, P<0.001). There was significant regional difference in the prevalence rate of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR among the above six areas (Xilinhot 21.5%, Erenhot 17.8%, Duolun 8.9%, Tongliao 6.9%, Jarud 15.3%, Kailu 9.7%, P<0.001). The main clinical symptoms of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR were sneezing (96.5%) and nasal itching (92.2%). Eye itching was more obvious among the ocular symptoms (69.1%), while fatigue (32.1%) and drowsiness (31.5%) were more prominent among other related symptoms. Among comorbidities of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR, allergic conjunctivitis accounted for 71.4% (568/795), food allergy accounted for 86.7% (689/795) and asthma accounted for 16.7% (133/795). The peak of Chenopodiaceae pollen spread was in August. The prevalence of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR was positively correlated with the concentration of Chenopodiaceae pollen (R2=0.78, P=0.043). The SPT positive rate of Chenopodiaceae pollen was 21.2% (1 282/6 043), and Xilinhot had the highest rate in six regions (28.0%, 236/842). Conclusions: The prevalence of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR in Inner Mongolia grassland stays at a high level. Sneezing is the most obvious symptom of SAR. The peak of Chenopodiaceae pollen spread is in August and the prevalence of Chenopodiaceae pollen induced SAR is positively correlated with the pollen concentration.

Insurance status and risk of suicide mortality among patients with cancer: a retrospective study based on the SEER database.

OBJECTIVE: Given that the presence of insurance may affect the risk of suicide mortality in cancer patients, we aimed to examine the association in a population-based study using the Surveillance, Epidemiologic, and End Results (SEER) database. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of data from the SEER database. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study using the SEER database. Hazard ratios (HRs), adjusted HRs (aHRs), and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of suicide death were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models to evaluate the risk of suicide mortality among the cohorts. RESULTS: Multivariable analysis revealed that cancer patients without insurance had an increased risk of suicide death compared with patients with private insurance (aHR, 1.37; 95% CI, 1.01-1.72), whereas no significant result was observed in patients with any Medicaid (aHR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.93-1.30; P = 0.27). In addition, the stratified analysis indicated that the risk of suicide death in patients in the uninsured and Medicaid groups presented with localized stage of disease (aHR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02, 1.69), White (aHR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.05, 1.71), and American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian/Pacific Islander (aHR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.08, 3.30) were greater than insured patients. CONCLUSION: Overall, our results indicated that insurance status was a statistically significant predictor of suicide death in patients with cancer. Healthcare providers should identify those patients at high risk of suicide and provide appropriate mental health and psychosocial oncology services in time.

[Pathological diagnosis of lung cancer based on deep transfer learning].

Objective: To establish an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostic system for lung cancer via deep transfer learning. Methods: The researchers collected 519 lung pathologic slides from 2016 to 2019, covering various lung tissues, including normal tissues, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma, from the Beijing Chest Hospital, the Capital Medical University. The slides were digitized by scanner, and 316 slides were used as training set and 203 as the internal test set. The researchers labeled all the training slides by pathologists and establish a semantic segmentation model based on DeepLab v3 with ResNet-50 to detect lung cancers at the pixel level. To perform transfer learning, the researchers utilized the gastric cancer detection model to initialize the deep neural network parameters. The lung cancer detection convolutional neural network was further trained by fine-tuning of the labeled data. The deep learning model was tested by 203 slides in the internal test set and 1 081 slides obtained from TCIA database, named as the external test set. Results: The model trained with transfer learning showed substantial accuracy advantage against the one trained from scratch for the internal test set [area under curve (AUC) 0.988 vs. 0.971, Kappa 0.852 vs. 0.832]. For the external test set, the transferred model achieved an AUC of 0.968 and Kappa of 0.828, indicating superior generalization ability. By studying the predictions made by the model, the researchers obtained deeper understandings of the deep learning model. Conclusions: The lung cancer histopathological diagnostic system achieves higher accuracy and superior generalization ability. With the development of histopathological AI, the transfer learning can effectively train diagnosis models and shorten the learning period, and improve the model performance.

Long non-coding RNA DLX6-AS1 acts as an oncogene by targeting miR-613 in ovarian cancer.

Since this article has been suspected of research misconduct and the corresponding authors did not respond to our request to prove originality of data and figures, "Long non-coding RNA DLX6-AS1 acts as an oncogene by targeting miR-613 in ovarian cancer, by Q. You, H.-Y. Shi, C.-F. Gong, X.-Y. Tian, S. Li, published in Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2019;23 (15): 6429-6435-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201908_18524-PMID: 31378881" has been withdrawn. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/18524.

[Analysis of clinicopathological features of clear cell tumor of the lung].

Objective: To analyze the clinicopathological features of clear cell tumor of the lung (CCTL). Methods: A total of 9 cases were collected from August 2008 to August 2019 in the Department of Pathology of the First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital and Hainan Hospital of PLA General Hospital. Their clinical data, pathological characteristics, immunohistochemical staining and special staining results were summarized and analyzed. Results: There were 3 males and 6 females, aged from 28 to 70 years (average 52.2 years). All tumors were located in the peripheral part of the lung, and were solitary in 8 cases, and multiple (24 nodules) in 1 case. The lesion was round or oval, with clear boundary. The diameter of the nodule was 0.5-5.5 cm. Histologically, the tumor cells were oval, short fusiform or polygonal, with obvious nucleoli. The tumor cells were mostly distributed in sheet around thin-walled vessels, and there was hyaline degeneration around the blood vessels. Neither necrosis nor mitosis could be seen. Immunohistochemical staining showed tumor cells were diffusely positive for Vimentin, and CD34, Melan-A, specific monoclonal antibody against melanoma (HMB45) and S-100 were positive with different degrees. Broad spectrum cytokeratin (CK), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), smooth muscle actin (SMA), desmin, CD10, paired box gene 8 (PAX-8) or myomodulatory protein (Myo-D1) were all negative. The positive index of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Ki-67) was low. Schiff dyeing with periodate (PAS) staining was positive, PAS staining of glycogen digested by amylase (d-PAS) staining was negative. All the tumors in the nine cases were resected and patients were followed up for 5-137 months. Except 1 case was lost for follow-up, the other 8 cases survived without recurrence or metastasis of the disease. Conclusions: CCTL is a rare benign tumor, most of which are single, few of which can be multiple; histopathological characteristics and immunohistochemical staining are helpful for diagnosis and differentiated diagnosis. After complete resection, the prognosis was good. However, when histological features indicating malignancy, intense follow-up should be considered.

[Long-term outcome of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy post percutaneous transluminal septal ablation].

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy(HOCM) after percutaneous transluminal septal ablation(PTSMA). Methods: HOCM patients who underwent PTSMA and surgical myectomy at the Chest Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University from April 2001 to February 2019 were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were divided into PTSMA group and surgical myectomy group. In addition, patients undergoing PTSMA were further divided into HOCM-PTSMA non-survivor group and HOCM-PTSMA survivor group. The general clinical information, procedural/surgical information and complications during hospitalization were compared between groups. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors for all-cause death in HOCM patients after PTSMA. Results: A total of 104 patients with HOCM who underwent PTSMA were enrolled. Mean age of the patients was (54±15) years old, including 41 females (38.7%). The follow-up time was 37.5(14.3, 76.8) months. At the last follow-up, 12 patients died (HOCM-PTSMA non-survivor group) and 92 were alive(HOCM-PTSMA survivor group). The proportion of patients with NYHA function class Ⅲ/Ⅳ was higher(P=0.036), and the posterior wall of the left ventricle was thicker(P=0.006) in the HOCM-PTSMA non-survivor group than in the HOCM-PTSMA survivor group. The immediate success rate of PTSMA in this cohort was 66%(70/104). The amount of absolute alcohol during the operation in the HOCM-PTSMA non-survivor group was (2.9±0.8) ml, which tended to be higher as compared to that in the HOCM-PTSMA survivor group((2.4±1.0)ml, P=0.056). Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that patients with HOCM who underwent PTSMA had an all-cause mortality-free survival rate of 90.1%, 78.3%, and 56.9% at 5, 10 and 15 years, and a HOCM-free survival rate of 91.3%, 79.4% and 57.7% at 5, 10 and 15 years, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that age≥ 65 years was an independent risk factor for all-cause death after PTSMA in patients with HOCM (HR=2.697, 95%CI 1.292-18.977, P=0.020). There were 32 patients in the surgical myectomy group. The proportion of patients with NYHA function class Ⅲ/Ⅳ was higher than that in the PTSMA group(P<0.001), while age, gender, and major comorbidities(atrial fibrillation, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes) as well as the left atrium dimension were all similar between the two groups(all P>0.05). Patients in the surgical myectomy group were followed up for 38.0(17.6, 64.2)months, and no deaths occurred during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis showed that there were no statistically significant differences in all-cause-free and HOCM-free survival rates between patients in PTSMA group and surgical myectomy group(P=0.089 and 0.110, respectively). Conclusion: PTSMA is safe and effective for the treatment of patients with HOCM, and the long-term survival rate of patients after PTSMA is similar as patients undergoing classical surgical myectomy surgery.

[The predictive value of epicardial adipose tissue and inflammatory factors for in-stent restenosis].

Objective: To investigate the predictive value of epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) and inflammatory factors on in-stent restenosis (ISR) after percutaneous coronary implantation (PCI) in patients with coronary heart disease (CAD). Methods: A total of 407 patients with CAD who were treated with drug-eluting stents in TEDA international cardiovascular disease hospital were enrolled from November 2016 to October 2017. Levels of inflammatory cytokines such as high sensitive c-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were detected. EATV was measured preoperatively by multi-sliced CT. Patients were divided into ISR group (n=52) and N-ISR group (n=355) according to ISR occurred within 1 year after procedure. The relationship between EATV and inflammatory factors and ISR after PCI was analyzed. Results: The differences between ISR group (n=52) and N-ISR group (n=355) were statistically significant in terms of diabetes history, IL-6, TNF-α, EATV ((150±36) cm(3)vs(120±40) cm(3),P=0.001)), bifurcation lesions, stent length and Gensini score (P<0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis results showed that diabetes history,bifurcation lesions, TNF-α, EATV, and Gensini score were risk factors for in-stent restenosis.The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of EATV, TNF-α, and IL-6 in patients with CAD after PCI was 0.712, 0.752 and 0.675 (95%CI 0.648-0.776, 0.686-0.819, 0.584-0.766, respectively, all P<0.001), with a sensitivity of 86.5%, 67.3% and 69.2%, a specificity of 53.8%, 74.4% and 70.1% and a cut-off value of 116.61 cm(3),138.40 µg/L and 126.4 µg/L, respectively. Conclusion: EATV, TNF-α, and IL-6 have certain predictive values for in-stent restenosis, and can be used as clinical indicators to predict in-stent restenosis.

Long non-coding RNA DLX6-AS1 acts as an oncogene by targeting miR-613 in ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been extensively studied for their role in tumor progression. This work explored the role of lncRNA DLX6-AS1 in mediating the development of ovarian cancer (OC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: DLX6-AS1 expression was detected by Real Time-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) in OC tissues. Moreover, wound healing assay and transwell assay were performed to detect the effect of DLX6-AS1 on the metastasis of OC. Furthermore, the underlying mechanism of DLX6-AS1 in mediating the progression of OC was explored through the Dual-Luciferase reporter gene assay and RNA immunoprecipitation assay (RIP). RESULTS: DLX6-AS1 expression was higher in OC samples than that in the adjacent ones. Moreover, cell migration and invasion were suppressed after DLX6-AS1 knockdown in vitro. Conversely, cell migration and invasion were promoted by overexpressed DLX6-AS1. Moreover, the expression of microRNA-613 (miR-613) was upregulated via knockdown of DLX6-AS1, but was downregulated after overexpression of DLX6-AS1. Furthermore, the Luciferase reporter gene assay and RIP assay showed that miR-613 was a direct target of MIAT in DLX6-AS1 in OC tissues. CONCLUSIONS: DLX6-AS1 could enhance migration and invasion of OC cells via targeting miR-613, which might serve as a potential therapeutic target in OC.

[Epidemiology of allergic rhinitis in children in grassland of Inner mongolia].

Objective: To investigate the self-reported prevalence, clinical characteristics, complications of allergic rhinitis (AR) and the sensitization of outdoor air pollen allergens in children in the Inner mongolia grassland region. Methods: A multistage, stratified and random clustered sampling with a face-to-face interview survey study in children from 0 to 17 years old was performed together with 10 common allergen skin prick tests (SPT) and measurements of the daily pollen count in 6 regions in the Inner mongolia grassland region from May to August of 2015. SAS 9.4 software was used for data analysis. Results: A total of 2 443 subjects completed the study. The self-reported prevalence of AR was 26.6%. The prevalence of boys was higher than that of girls (28.8% vs 24.3%, χ(2)=6.157, P<0.05). Subjects from urban areas showed higher prevalence than rural areas (34.7% vs 18.8%, χ(2)=79.107, P<0.05). There was significant regional difference in the prevalence of AR among the six areas investigated (χ(2)=221.416, P<0.05). The main clinical symptoms of AR were sneezing (88.2%) and nasal congestion (78.6%). Among combined diseases, asthma accounted for 16.5% (107/650), rhinoconjunctivitis accounted for 47.9% (311/650). The peak season of AR was April and July, with the top SPT positive allergens of Artemisia species and chenopodium in this area. Conclusions: The prevalence AR in children in the Inner mongolia grassland region is extremely high. Sneezing is the main clinical symptom. Rhinoconjunctivitis is the most common combined disease. High summer and autumn pollen exposure is the main cause of AR.

[Atypical epithelioid trophoblastic lesions after a cesarean section with cyst and fistula formation:a clinicopathological analysis of 4 cases].

Objective: To elucidate the clinicopathologic characteristics of atypical epithelioid trophoblastic lesions with cyst and fistula formation after cesarean section. Methods: The clinical and pathological data of 4 cases of post-cesarean atypical epithelioid trophoblastic lesions with cyst and fistula formation diagnosed at Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University during April 2007 to June 2018 were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin stain and EnVision two-step immunohistochemical staining technique. Results: The age of the 4 patients ranged from 32 to 41 years, with a mean age of 36.5 years. Three patients recieved cystectomy and one underwent subtotal hysterectomy. Histologically, the lesions were well circumscribed and consisted of uniform cells of medium size, irregularly enlarged with hyperchromatic nuclei and 1 to 2 inconspicuous nucleoli embedded in abundant hyalinized matrix with fibrinoid material in the center. The cells exhibited immunohistochemical feature of chorionic-type intermediate trophoblastic cells (CK18+, p63+ and CD146-). All patients were alive without recurrence during follow-up of 1 to 40 months (mean=22 months). Conclusion: Atypical epithelioid trophoblastic lesion with cyst and fistula formation after cesarean section has unique histological features, and its biological behavior and prognosis are still unclear, which need further exploration.

[Clinical analysis of hemorrhagic cystitis in children and adolescents with hematological diseases post haplo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation].

Objective: To investigate the incidence and clinical features to probe the risk factors of hemorrhagic cystitis (HC) in children and adolescents with hematological diseases post haplo-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (haplo-HSCT) . Methods: Medical records of 62 children and 27 adolescents with hematological diseases treated with haplo-HSCT between 2015 and 2016 were analyzed. Results: Of 89 cases (56 boys and 33 girls) , 44 patients were diagnosed with ALL, 33 AML, 3 AHL and 9 MDS. HC occurred in 32 of the 89 patients with an incidence of 36%, including 6 with grade Ⅰ, 16 with grade Ⅱ, 8 with grade Ⅲ, 2 with grade Ⅳ HC, respectively. The median time of HC onset was 25 days (range 2-55 days) after haplo-HSCT with the median duration as 19 days (range 3-95 days) , all of them were cured. The incidence of HC was lower in the group of children than that in the group of adolescents (27.4% vs 55.6%, χ(2)=6.466, P<0.05) , and the incidence of HC was higher in the group of patients who were ≥5 years old than that in the group of patients who were <5 years old (0 vs 34%, χ(2)=4.043, P<0.05) . Conclusion: HC is one of common complications in children and adolescents with hematological diseases post haplo-HSCT, older age was associated with increased mortality.

[Clinicopathologic features and prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma of external auditory meatus].

Objective: To investigate clinicopathologic features and prognosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) involving external auditory meatus. Methods: The clinical presentation and follow-up data of 63 patients with ACC of external auditory canal were collected from January 2006 to February 2017 at PLA General Hospital and Hainan Branch of PLA General Hospital. The clinicopathologic features and prognostic factors of external auditory canal ACC were analyzed. Results: (1) There were 28 males and 35 females and the average age of the first diagnosis was 48.9 years (22-81 years). The tumors showed cribriform pattern in 35 cases (15 cases of late stage), tubular pattern in 14 cases (8 cases of late stage), and solid pattern in 14 cases (9 cases of late stage). Cases with solid pattern was relatively more frequent than that of cribriform pattern and tubular pattern, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). (2) The average follow-up time was 62.4 months (2-228 months) in the 57 available cases. Among the 33 cases with recurrence, 18 cases had local recurrence and 15 cases had distant metastasis. The mean recurrence time was 40.6 months (2-204 months). Nine patients died of ACC: 2 cases in early stage (died at 48 and 102 months after the first treatment), 7 cases in late stage and 57 with (died at 9, 30, 32, 60, 72, 94 and 228 months). (3) Among the 37 patients with perineural invasion, there were 21 cases of cribriform pattern, 4 cases of tubular pattern and 12 cases of solid pattern; the number of cases in early stage and late stage were 15 and 22, respectively; and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). In addition, 31 cases had otalgia among the 37 patients with perineural invasion, where differences were not significant (P>0.05). (4) Thirty of 45 cases with tumor resection or partial resection of temporal bone had recurrence, whereas 3 of 12 cases of tumor combined with superficial lobectomy of parotid gland had recurrence. The difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was given in 19 cases, including 7 cases of early stage (2 cases of recurrence), and 12 cases of late stage (8 cases of recurrence), among which there was no significant difference (P>0.05). Conclusions: ACC occurring in external auditory canal frequently recurs. Superficial parotid lobectomy at the first operation is necessary to prevent tumor recurrence. Postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy has certain curative effect on patients with early stage tumor, but it does not affect the recurrence rate. Patients at late stage are more prone to perineural invasion than those in early stage. In addition, cribriform and solid patterns are more common that tubular pattern, and there is no significant correlation between perineural invasion and otalgia.

Vitamin A pretreatment protects NO-induced bovine mammary epithelial cells from oxidative stress by modulating Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

It is known that physiological overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) contributes to oxidative stress and inflammation. Our published studies indicated that vitamin A (VA) reduces NO-induced oxidative stress in bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities. However, the precise mechanism is unclear. The present study was conducted to examine the protective effects of VA on NO-induced damage to BMECs in vitro using diethylenetriamine nitric oxide (DETA-NO) as the NO donor and to explore the intracellular signaling mechanisms of VA that involve nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Subconfluent BMECs were divided into 10 treatment groups with 6 replicates per treatment and were cultured with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, vehicle negative control) or 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, or 4 µg/mL of VA for 24 h and then incubated in the absence or presence of DETA-NO (1,000 µmol/liter) and VA for an additional 6 h. The results showed that exposure to DETA alone decreased cell proliferation compared with the negative control. Pretreatment with VA promoted the proliferation of BMECs, increased the activities of antioxidative enzymes including selenoprotein glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and their gene and protein expression but decreased NO and interleukin 1 (IL-1) contents in a quadratic manner (P < 0.05). In addition, the expression of mRNA and protein of factors that are related to NF-κB or Nrf2 signaling pathways in BMECs were regulated by VA in a quadratic dose-dependent manner; VA at a concentration of 1 µg/mL exhibited the strongest effect. Together, these results suggest that VA promotes antioxidant functions of BMECs by regulating the synthesis of selenoproteins including GPx and TrxR and by reducing concentrations of IL-1 and NO in vitro by modulating Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling pathways.

[Relationship between epicardial adipose tissue and clinical prognosis of patients with coronary heart disease after percutaneous coronary intervention].

Objective: To further evaluate the clinical value of epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) in predicting the prognosis of coronary heart disease (CHD) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: From July 2013 to July 2016 in TEDA International Cardiovascular Disease Hospital, a total of 474 patients diagnosed with CHD were included in this study.According to the result of EATV, patients were divided into three groups, group A (EATV≤75 ml), group B (75 ml120.39 ml can be used as an independent risk factor for predicting the occurrence of MACE. Conclusion: The level of EATV is closely related to the occurrence of MACE events, and EATV>120.39 ml is an independent risk factor for MACE in patients with CHD after PCI.

Histochemical distribution of four types of enzymes and mucous cells in the gastrointestinal tract of reared half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis.

The histochemical distribution of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), non-specific esterase (NSE), peroxidase (POD) and mucous-cell types was evaluated in the gastrointestinal tract of the half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis. The enzymes were detected in the entire stretch of the gastrointestinal tract. ACP activity was found in the supranuclear region of enterocytes and the lamina propria of the intestine, as well as the cytoplasm of epithelial cells of the stomach. The staining intensity of ACP in the anterior and posterior intestines was stronger than in the stomach. ALP activity was detected in the striated border of enterocytes and muscularis of the whole intestine, lamina propria and supranuclear cytoplasm of the enterocytes in the anterior intestine, as well as in the blood vessels of the stomach. The staining intensity for ALP in the anterior intestine was stronger than in the posterior segment and the latter was stronger than in the stomach. NSE activity was detected in the cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the entire gastrointestinal tract, with the anterior intestine showing stronger intensity than the stomach. POD activity was located in the blood cells of the lamina propria of the gastrointestinal tract and the levels in the stomach were similar to the anterior and posterior intestines. Alcian blue (pH 2·5) periodic acid Schiff (AB-PAS) histochemical results revealed three types of mucous cells in the gastrointestinal tract. Type I cells (PAS+AB-) were observed among the gastric mucosa columnar cells in the stomach and enterocytes in the basal region of the villi and in the middle and top regions of the intestinal villi. Type II cells (PAS-AB+) and type III cells (PAS+AB+) were not detected in the stomach but were distributed ubiquitously among enterocytes in the middle and top regions of the intestinal villi.