Moyamoya syndrome may result from psoriasis: Four case reports.

BACKGROUND: Moyamoya syndrome (MMS) is a group of diseases that involves more than one underlying disease and is accompanied by moyamoya vascular phenomena. Psoriasis is a chronic immune skin disease closely linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. However, psoriasis-related MMS has not been reported. CASE SUMMARY: We collected data on patients with stroke due to MMS between January 2017 and December 2019 and identified four cases of psoriasis. Case histories, imaging, and hematological data were collected. The average age of the initial stroke onset was 58.25 ± 11.52 years; three cases of hemorrhagic and one case of ischemic stroke were included. The average duration from psoriasis confirmation to the initial MMS-mediated stroke onset was 17 ± 3.56 years. All MMS-related stenoses involved the bilateral cerebral arteries: Suzuki grade III in one case, grade IV in two cases, and grade V in one case. Abnormally elevated plasma interleukin-6 levels were observed in four patients. Two patients had abnormally elevated immunoglobulin E levels, and two had thrombocytosis. All four patients received medication instead of surgery. With an average follow-up time of 2 years, two causing transient ischemic attacks occurred in two patients, and no hemorrhagic events occurred. CONCLUSION: Psoriasis may be a potential risk factor for MMS. Patients with psoriasis should be screened for MMS when they present with neurological symptoms.

Recent advance of ATP citrate lyase inhibitors for the treatment of cancer and related diseases.

ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), a strategic metabolic enzyme that catalyzes the glycolytic to lipidic metabolism, has gained increasing attention as an attractive therapeutic target for hyperlipidemia, cancers and other human diseases. Despite of continual research efforts, targeting ACLY has been very challenging. In this field, most reported ACLY inhibitors are "substrate-like" analogues, which occupied with the same active pockets. Besides, some ACLY inhibitors have been disclosed through biochemical screening or high throughput virtual screening. In this review, we briefly summarized the cancer-related functions and the recent advance of ACLY inhibitors with a particular focus on the SAR studies and their modes of action. We hope to provide a timely and updated overview of ACLY and the discovery of new ACLY inhibitors.

Polyacetylene Isomers Isolated from Bidens pilosa L. Suppress the Metastasis of Gastric Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Wnt/ß-Catenin and Hippo/YAP Signaling Pathways.

(E)-7-Phenyl-2-hepten-4,6-diyn-1-ol (1) and (Z)-7-Phenyl-2-hepten-4,6-diyn-1-ol (2) are isomeric natural polyacetylenes isolated from the Chinese medicinal plant Bidens pilosa L. This study first revealed the excellent anti-metastasis potential of these two polyacetylenes on human gastric cancer HGC-27 cells and the distinctive molecular mechanisms underlying their activities. Polyacetylenes 1 and 2 significantly inhibited the migration, invasion, and adhesion of HGC-27 cells at their non-toxic concentrations in a dose-dependent manner. The results of a further mechanism investigation showed that polyacetylene 1 inhibited the expressions of Vimentin, Snail, ß-catenin, GSK3ß, MST1, YAP, YAP/TAZ, and their phosphorylation, and upregulated the expression of E-cadherin and p-LATS1. In addition, the expressions of various downstream metastasis-related proteins, such as MMP2/7/9/14, c-Myc, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, MAPK, p-MAPK, Sox2, Cox2, and Cyr61, were also suppressed in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggested that polyacetylene 1 exhibited its anti-metastasis activities on HGC-27 cells through the reversal of the EMT process and the suppression of the Wnt/ß-catenin and Hippo/YAP signaling pathways.

Damaged male germ cells induce epididymitis in mice.

Epididymitis can be caused by infectious and noninfectious etiological factors. While microbial infections are responsible for infectious epididymitis, the etiological factors contributing to noninfectious epididymitis remain to be defined. The present study demonstrated that damaged male germ cells (DMGCs) induce epididymitis in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of the alkylating agent busulfan damaged murine male germ cells. Epididymitis was observed in mice 4 weeks after the injection of busulfan and was characterized by massive macrophage infiltration. Epididymitis was coincident with an accumulation of DMGCs in the epididymis. In contrast, busulfan injection into mice lacking male germ cells did not induce epididymitis. DMGCs induced innate immune responses in epididymal epithelial cells (EECs), thereby upregulating the pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), as well as the chemokines such as monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-5 (MCP-5), and chemokine ligand-10 (CXCL10). These results suggest that male germ cell damage may induce noninfectious epididymitis through the induction of innate immune responses in EECs. These findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying noninfectious epididymitis, which might aid in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

[Screening of the Optimum Medium for Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of three different cell culture mediums, DMEM-LG, α-MEM and DMEM/F12, on the growth of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) in vitro, and so that to screen out the most suitable medium for in vitro culturing the rat BMSCs. METHODS: BMSCS were isolated from the femur and tibia of SD rats by whole bone marrow differential adherence method. The isolated cells were then cultured with three culture mediums, DMEM-LG, α-MEM and DMEM/F12. The rat BMSCs morphology, adhesion, proliferation, the time of passage and the number the colony at day 14 in three mediums respectively were observed with inverted phase contrast microscopy and compared. Flow cytometry was used to identify and observe the effects of different mediums on the surface antigen expression of rats BMSCs. RESULTS: Compared with the other two groups of media, BMSCs cultured in DMEM-LG had shorter colony formation time, shorter first passage time, more clone formation (14±2) and showed uniform morphology and the highest attachment efficiency (47.0±2.8)%. Meanwhile, BMSCs cultured with DMEM-LG entered logarithmic growth phase after only 4 days of culturing and showed the highest average specific growth rate and the largest average number of propagations per unit time. The total number of cells reached about (2.2-2.7)×105 mL-1 within three days. The cells cultured with 3 mediums were all identified as rat BMSCs, and the expression of surface antigen in BMSCs was not significantly affected by different media. CONCLUSION: DMEM-LG is more suitable for proliferation of rat BMSCs in vitro.

Efficacy of orthodontic and orthognathic treatment for oral and maxillofacial deformities.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of orthodontic and orthognathic treatment (OOT) for patients with oral and maxillofacial deformities (OMDF) systematically. METHODS: This study will comprehensively search Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Allied and Complementary Medicine Database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure from their inceptions to the July 1, 2019. Grey literature will be explored via searching dissertations, Google scholar and conference abstracts. Two team members will independently perform all citations, data extraction, and methodological quality. We will also utilize RevMan 5.3 Software for statistical analysis. RESULTS: This study will provide high quality evidence of OOT for OMDF. The primary outcomes consist of number of patients cured; proportion of patients healed; and time to complete healing within trial period. Secondary outcomes include quality of life (often assessed as any relevant scales, such as 36-Item Short Form Survey), costs, and complications. CONCLUSION: This study will provide evidence for judging whether OOT is effective treatment for OMDF. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: CRD42019144610.

Transglycosylation Improved Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Water Solubility by Leuconostoc mesenteroides Dextransucrase.

Bioglycosylation is an efficient strategy to improve the biological activity and physicochemical properties of natural compounds for therapeutic drug development. In this study, two caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) glucosides (G-CAPE and 2G-CAPE) were synthesized by transglycosylation with dextransucrase from Leuconostoc mesenteroides 0326 with CAPE as an acceptor and sucrose as a donor. The products were purified and the structures were characterized. The physicochemical properties, anti-inflammatory activity, and cytotoxicity of the two CAPE glucosides were measured. The water solubility of G-CAPE and 2G-CAPE is 35 and 90 times higher, respectively, than that of CAPE. Compared to CAPE, the monoglycoside product showed superior anti-inflammatory effects, and its inhibition rate of NO, IF-6, and TNF-α is 93.4%, 76.81%, and 56.58% in RAW 264.7 macrophages, respectively, at 20 µM. Also, the cytotoxicity of both products was significantly improved. These glycosylation-modified CAPEs circumvent some of the flaws in CAPE application in anti-inflammatory drugs.

Predicting hepatocellular carcinoma development for cirrhosis patients via methylation detection of heparocarcinogenesis-related genes.

Background: Most hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients have undergone a progression from chronic hepatitis, then liver cirrhosis (LC), and finally to carcinoma. The objective of this study was to elucidate risk factors to predict HCC development for cirrhosis patients. Methods: Multiple methylated specific PCR (MSP) was applied to determine methylation status of heparocarcinogenesis-related genes in 396 tissue and plasma specimens and multivariate cox model was used to analyze the relationship between risk variables and HCC development among cirrhosis patients, followed up in a median period of 30 months. Results: Among 105 LC cases, HCC incidence rate at 30 months was 30.48% (32/105), which were statistically associated with patients' age and aberrant methylation of p16, SFRP, and LINE1 (p<0.05). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed the overall predictive accuracy reached the highest (90.7%) if the four risk variables were concurrent to predict HCC development. Moreover, along with the growth of age from 0-40, 40-55, to 55-70 years or the increased number of aberrantly-methylated gene from 0-1 to 2-3, the HCC incidence rate of cirrhosis patients rised from 10.00%, 12.28% to 82.14% and 17.44% to 89.47%, separately. Thus, based on combined analysis with diverse age and number of aberrantly-methylated gene, 105 cases were divided into five groups and computed their respective HCC incidecne rate to categorize them into different risk groups. Of note, A significant lifting of HCC incidence rate in the high-risk group (40-55 years coupled with 2-3 aberrantly-methylated genes, 55-70 years coupled with 0-1 aberrantly-methylated gene, 55-70 years coupled with 2-3 aberrantly-methylated genes; n=33) was observed compared with the low-risk group (0-40 years coupled with 0-1 aberrantly-methylated gene, 40-55 years coupled with 0-1 aberrantly-methylated gene; (n=72) (p<0.01). Conclusions: Ultimately, high-risk cirrhosis patients with 55-over years or 2-3 aberrantly-methylated genes should be paid more attention to be regularly screened with HCC development.

[BORIS Regulates SOCS3 Expression Through Epigenetic Mechanisms in Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the regulation of suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) expression bythe brother of the regulator of the imprinted site (BORIS) in hepatocellular carcinoma cell. METHODS: The expression of SOCS3 mRNA in HCC cell lines was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). The expression of SOCS3 protein in knockdown and overexpression BORIS of HCC cell lines was tested by Western blot. The SOCS3 gene promoter methylation statusin the knockdown and overexpression BORIS of hepatocarcinoma cell lines was detected by using methylation specific PCR (MSP-PCR) method.The potential BORIS binding site of SOCS3promoter region was found by UCSC database analysis.The enrichment of BORIS in SOCS3 promoter region in endogenous high expression BORIS of HCC cells was evaluated by using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-qPCR (ChIP-qPCR).The SOCS3 promoter region histone methylation status in the knockdown and overexpression BORIS of HCC was detected by ChIP-qPCR. RESULTS: The expression of SOCS3 mRNA in hepatocellular carcinoma cells was higher and SOCS3 protein expression was down-regulated or up-regulated in the knockdown or overexpression of BORIS mRNA hepatocarcinoma cells,so BORIS has a positive regulatory effect on SOCS3 protein expression in hepatocarcinoma cells. MSP-PCR experiments showed that the SOCS3 promoter in SMMC-7721 and HepG2 cells was unmethylated and knockdown of BORIS did not change the methylation status; the SOCS3 promoter region of Huh7 cells was methylated; after overexpression of BORIS,the SOCS3 promoter region was changed to an unmethylated state; the SOCS3 promoter was unmethylated in HCCLM3,overexpression of BORIS did not alter the methylation status. The ChIP-qPCR assay demonstrated that BORIS specifically binds to the SOCS3 promoter region in HCC cells with high expression of BORIS. Histone methylation assay indicated that knockdown of BORIS reduced BORIS enrichment in the SOCS3 promoter region, with decreasing H3K4 me2 and increasing H3K27 me3 in the region of histone,whereas the overexpress BORIS in HCC cells showed the opposite situation. CONCLUSION: BORIS plays a role of epigenetic regulationon SOCS3 gene promoter methylation and histone methylation,modulating the expression of SOCS3,and then involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Application of multiplex methylated-specific PCR with capillary electrophoresis to explore prognostic value of TSGs hypermethylation for hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor that severely threatens human health. To date, early detection for HCC patients is particularly significant due to their poor survival rates even after liver resection. METHODS: Therefore, an efficient and sensitive detection method for monitoring liver cancer, multiplex methylation-specific PCR (MSP) coupled with capillary electrophoresis, is developed. RESULTS: Simulations demonstrated that the methylation status of RASSF1A, p16, SFRP1, and ELF could be detected even when DNA equaled or exceeded 12.5 ng simultaneously. Also, its accuracy for methylation detection outweighed polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (87.5%) and agarose electrophoresis (84.3%), reaching 92.1%. Subsequently, we implemented multiplex MSP with capillary electrophoresis to investigate methylation status of the four tumor suppressor genes in tissue specimens and explore the prognostic value for HCC patients. As the data suggested, multivariate cox regression analysis revealed that the recurrence-free survival of 46 patients was greatly associated with portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) and p16 methylation and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves demonstrated that the predictive range of portal vein tumor thrombus (PVTT) combined with p16 hypermethylation was more sensitive than that of either PVTT or p16 hypermethylation alone with regard to disease recurrence in patients with HCC, which could be testified as a valuable biomarker in Clinical application. CONCLUSION: Multiplex MSP coupled with capillary electrophoresis has an excellent prospect of clinical application for monitoring early liver cancer and screening valuable biomarkers for prognosis of HCC patients.

[Klf10 silencing inhibited mechanical force induced osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells].

PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of Klf10 silence on human periodontal ligament cells (HPDLCs) under mechanical force. METHODS: HPDLCs were isolated and transfected with Klf10 siRNA, and then exposed to centrifugal force for 6 h at 631 r/min. Purmorphamine, an hedgehog signaling pathway agonist, was used for intervention. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was detected by ELISA. RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to detect the mRNA and protein expression of Klf10, Runt related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN). The protein expression of glioma associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1) and patched-1 (PTCH1) was detected by Western blot. SPSS 20.0 software package was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Mechanical force increased mRNA and protein level of Klf10, Runx2, OPN and OCN, and elevated ALP activity significantly (P<0.05). Mechanical force also upregulated the protein expression of GLI1 and Ptch1 significantly (P<0.05). Compared with the control group, Klf10 siRNA transfection significantly decreased mRNA and protein level of Klf10 (P<0.05). Klf10 siRNA significantly inhibited the activity of ALP, and downregulated mRNA and protein expression of Runx2, OPN and OCN (P<0.05). Moreover, Klf10 siRNA significantly inhibited protein expression of GLI1 and Ptch1 (P<0.05), and purmorphamine obviously inhibited the effect of Klf10 siRNA (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Klf10 silencing could inhibit bone differentiation of human periodontal ligament cells under mechanical force, which may be through regulation of hedgehog signaling pathway.

[Research on Chemical Constituents and Anti-tumor Activity of Eupatorium chinense].

Objective: To study the chemical constituents and their anti-tumor activity of Eupatorium chinense. Methods: The chemical constituents were separated and purified by the normal phase silica gel column chromatography,preparative thin-layer chromatography,and preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by various spectral data,their antitumor activity in vitro was determined by MTT assay. Results: Six compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Eupatorium chinense,and the structures were identified as eupalinilide G( 1),8ß-( 4'-hydroxytigloyloxy)-5-desoxy-8-desacyleuparotin( 2),3-( hydroxymethyl)-1,13,14,15-tetrahydroxy-7,11,15-trimethyl-2,6,10-hexadecatriene( 3),3-( hydroxymethyl)-1,13,15-trihydroxy-7,11,15-trimethyl-2,6,10-hexadecatrien-14-yl acetate( 4),eupafolin( 5) and hiyodorilactone B( 6). Compound 2 showed cytotoxicity against HGC-27 and B16 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 4. 29 µg/m L and 5. 53 µg/m L,respectively. Methods: The chemical constituents were separated and purified by the normal phase silica gel column chromatography,preparative thin-layer chromatography,and preparative HPLC. Their structures were determined by various spectral data,their antitumor activity in vitro was determined by MTT assay. Results: Six compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Eupatorium chinense,and the structures were identified as eupalinilide G( 1),8ß-( 4'-hydroxytigloyloxy)-5-desoxy-8-desacyleuparotin( 2),3-( hydroxymethyl)-1,13,14,15-tetrahydroxy-7,11,15-trimethyl-2,6,10-hexadecatriene( 3),3-( hydroxymethyl)-1,13,15-trihydroxy-7,11,15-trimethyl-2,6,10-hexadecatrien-14-yl acetate( 4),eupafolin( 5) and hiyodorilactone B( 6). Compound 2 showed cytotoxicity against HGC-27 and B16 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 4. 29 µg/m L and 5. 53 µg/m L,respectively. Conclusion: Compounds 2 ~ 5 are isolated from the Eupatorium chinense for the first time,and compound 2 has significant cytotoxic activity against HGC-27 cell line.

[Cardioprotective Effect and Its Mechanism of Total Saponins of Panacis Majoris Rhizoma in Myocardial Infarction Rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the cardioprotective effect and its mechanism of total saponins of Panacis Majoris Rhizoma in myocardial infarction (MI) rats. METHODS: The MI model rats induced by ligating anterior descending branch of coronary artery were randomly divided into four group:model group, total saponins of Panacis Majoris Rhizoma (100 and 200 mg/kg) groups and compound Danshen dripping pills group. The rats were orally administrated with drugs once a day for four weeks. Another rats were selected as sham operation group. After four weeks intervention, cardiac function was examined, the serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by using ELISA, respectively. The myocardial hypertrophy index was investigated, the myocardial infarct size, degree of ventricular dilatation, myocardial interstitial collagen volume fraction and tissue morphology were investigated by HE, Masson, picric acid-sirius red staining and observing with alight microscope and electron microscope. Protein expressions of phosphorylation IκB-α( pIκB-α) and NF-κB p65 in heart tissue were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: Total saponins of Panacis Majoris Rhizoma might significantly decrease the levels of serum TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8; decrease myocardial hypertrophy indexes, myocardial infarct size, degree of ventricular dilatation and myocardial interstitial collagen volume fraction; improve heart tissue morphology and cardiac function; downregulate protein expression of pIκB-α and NF-κBp65; and upregulate protein expression of SIRT1. The aforementioned action effects of total saponins of Panacis Majoris Rhizoma (200 mg/kg) were similar with compound Danshen dripping pills. CONCLUSION: Total saponins of Panacis Majoris Rhizoma possesses cardioprotective effect against ligating left anterior descending branch induced MI in rats. The mechanism may be related to strengthening SIRT1 expression, inhibiting the phosphorylation of IκB-α, and finally inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and proinflammatory production.

[Effects of CTCF on human liver cancer stem cells and cell proliferation].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) on human liver cancer stem cells (HepG2) and cell proliferation of HepG2 and Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line (CNE1). METHODS: The pEGFP-N1/CTCF, CTCF-shRNA and GFP-shRNA plasmids were constructed and transfected into HepG2 and CNE1 cells, and RT-PCR or Western blot were performed to detect the mRNA or protein levels of CTCF. The subpopulation of CD90+ cancer stem cells in HepG2 cells transfected with CTCF-shRNA plasmid or GFP-shRNA plasmid (as transfection control) were assayed by flow cytometry with the wild type HepG2 cells as control. Proliferation of cells transfected with CTCF-overexpression or CTCF-shRNA plasmid was evaluated by MTT assay. RESULTS: The levels of both mRNA and protein of CTCF were increased in pEGFP-N1/CTCF transfected HepG2 and CNE1 cells compared to that in pEGFP-N1 transfected cells (P < 0.05), and decreased in CTCF-shRNA transfected cells compared to that in cells transfected with GFP-shRNA (P < 0.05). The results of flow cytometry demonstrated that, detection rate of CD90+ cells in cells transfected with CTCF-shRNA plasmid [(1.7330 +/- 0.4177)%] was obviously higher than that of wild-type HepG2 cells [(0.5750 +/- 0.0629)%] and cells transfected with GFP-shRNA plasmid [(0.3500 +/- 0.0866)%] (P < 0.05). The results of MTT analysis showed that, alteration of CTCF had no effect on cancer cell proliferation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: CTCF inhibits human liver cancer stem cells but no effect on cell proliferation.

CTCF-mediated reduction of vigilin binding affects the binding of HP1α to the satellite 2 locus.

CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF) has been implicated in numerous aspects of chromosome biology, and vigilin, a multi-KH-domain protein, participates in heterochromatin formation and chromosome segregation. We previously showed that CTCF interacts with vigilin. Here, we show that human vigilin, but not CTCF, colocalizes with HP1α on heterochromatic satellite 2 and ß-satellite repeats. CTCF up-regulates the transcription of satellite 2, while vigilin down-regulates it. Vigilin depletion or CTCF overexpression reduces the binding of HP1α on the satellite 2 locus. Furthermore, overexpression of CTCF resists the loading of vigilin onto the satellite 2 locus. Thus CTCF may regulate vigilin behavior and thus indirectly influence the binding of HP1α to the satellite 2 locus.

[Value of BI-RADS ultrasonic scores of direct and indirect ultrasonographic signs in diagnosis of solid breast lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the value of BI-RADS ultrasonic scores of direct and indirect ultrasonographic signs in diagnosis of solid breast lesions. METHODS: Reference to the standard BI-RADS score, ultrasonic scores of direct and indirect ultrasonographic signs of 132 solid breast lesions were assigned, and were compared with pathological results. RESULTS: By the direct signs of breast lesions (aspect ratio, shape, border, internal echo, posterior echo, flow grade, sand-like calcification) and indirect signs (changes in local skin thickness, Cooper ligament changes, axillary lymph nodes, depth of reinforcement membrane changes, mass changes in the surrounding burr), the integral from the total scores in benign and malignant breast masses showed a statistically significant difference. The total score of malignant lesions (8.94 ± 2.85) was significantly higher than that of benign tumors (3.09 ± 1.97, P < 0.05). Except skin thickness, all the remaining scores of the signs of benign and malignant breast tumors showed a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). By receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, the best critical value of the total score of direct signs was ≥ 4, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.84 and 0.93, respectively, in distinguishing breast carcinoma from benign lesions. The best critical value of the total score of indirect signs was ≥ 1, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.82 and 0.74, respectively. The critical value of the combination of the direct and indirect signs was ≥ 5 in differential diagnosis of malignant and benign lesions, with a sensitivity and specificity value of 0.88 and 0.90, respectively. CONCLUSION: The assignment score to the ultrasound characteristics of the direct and indirect signs of solid breast lesions can make a more objective diagnosis, yet it is a simple, effective, comprehensive and semi-quantitative analysis method.

[Diagnosis of mycobacterial lymphadenitis by fine needle aspiration cytology and fluorescence quantization-polymerase chain reaction].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the application of fine needle aspiration cytology and fluorescence quantization-polymerase chain reaction (FQ-PCR) in the diagnosis of mycobacterial lymphadenitis. METHODS: Samples obtained by fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), which showed granulomatous lesions, from patients with lymph node tuberculosis also confirmed by response to antituberculosis therapy, was subjected to FQ-PCR to test M. tuberculosis DNA (TB-DNA), and the acid-fast bacillus stain. The positivity of TB-DNA and the acid-fast bacillus stain results were analyzed in different types of cases classified by cytology. Wilcoxon test was used to compare different cytology results, the positive rates of acid fast stain and the copy numbers of TB-DNA. RESULTS: Among the 72 cases, 46 were TB-DNA positive (46/72, 64%). By cytology examination, 7 cases were classified as type I, while 34 as type II and 31 as type III, in which the TB-DNA positive rates were 0% (0/7), 21/34 (61%) and 25/31 (81%) respectively. Sixty-four cases were subjected to the acid-fast bacillus stain and 14 were positive 14/ 64(22%). These 14 cases were all TB-DNA positive. The copy number of TB-DNA was significantly different between type II and type III cases (z = -2. 514,P < 0.05), and between acid fast stain positive and negative cases (z = -4.778, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: FQ-PCR is a useful method for the diagnosis of mycobacterial lymphadenitis and could be used with FNAC, with a higher sensitivity than acid-fast bacillus stain.