Serum adenosine deaminase activity and coronary artery disease: a retrospective case-control study based on 9929 participants.

BACKGROUND: Adenosine deaminase (ADA) regulates purine metabolism through the conversion of adenosine to uric acid (UA). Adenosine and UA are closely associated with cardiovascular events, but the correlation between serum ADA activity and coronary artery disease (CAD) has not been defined. METHODS: We performed a hospital-based retrospective case-control study that included a total of 5212 patients with CAD and 4717 sex- and age-matched controls. The serum activity of ADA was determined by peroxidase assays in an automatic biochemistry analyzer. RESULTS: Serum ADA activity in the CAD group (10.08 ± 3.57 U/l) was significantly lower than that of the control group (11.71 ± 4.20 U/l, p < 0.001). After adjusting for conventional factors, serum ADA activity negatively correlated with the presence of CAD (odds ratio = 0.852, 95% confidence interval: 0.839-0.865, p < 0.001). Among the patients with CAD, serum ADA activity was lowest in patients with myocardial infarction (MI; 9.77 ± 3.80 U/l). Diabetes mellitus and hypertension increased the serum ADA activity in CAD patients. CONCLUSIONS: Serum ADA activity is significantly attenuated in patients with CAD, particularly in MI. We propose a mechanism by which the body maintains adenosine levels to protect the cardiovascular system in the event of CAD.

Altered miR-143 and miR-150 expressions in peripheral blood mononuclear cells for diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Sensitive and specific biomarkers for identifying early stage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are urgently needed to improve the therapeutic outcome and reduce the mortality. Small non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) are key components of cancer development and are considered as potential biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and for monitoring treatment. The aim of this study was to determine whether aberrant miRNA expression can be used as a marker in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) for the diagnosis of NSCLC. METHODS: The levels of two mature miRNAs (miR-143 and miR-150) were detected by probe-based stem-loop quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (RT-qPCR) in PBMC of 64 patients with NSCLC and 26 healthy individuals, and the relationship between miR-143 and miR-150 levels and clinical and pathological factors was explored. RESULTS: All endogenous miRNAs were present in peripheral blood in a remarkably stable form and detected by RT-qPCR. MiR-143 expression in the PBMC specimens was significantly lower in NSCLC patients than in healthy individuals (P < 0.0001). MiR-150 expression in the PBMC specimens was not significantly different between NSCLC patients and healthy individuals (P = 0.260). MiR-150 expression was significantly higher in lung adenocarcinoma patients than in healthy individuals (P = 0.001). There was a very strong difference in the expression level of miR-150 between lung adenocarcinoma patients and lung squamous cell carcinoma patients (P < 0.0001). In receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, low expression of miR-143 showed the area under the ROC (AUC) of 0.885 for distinguishing cancer patients from healthy subjects. High expression of miR-150 had an AUC of 0.834 for distinguishing lung adenocarcinoma patients from healthy subjects. High expression of miR-150 had an AUC of 0.951 for distinguishing lung adenocarcinoma from lung squamous cell carcinoma. The miR-150 level was significantly associated with distant metastasis (P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: It is indicated that there is a potential for using miR-143 as a novel diagnostic biomarker for NSCLC. Moreover, miR-150 can be a highly accurate marker for differentiating adenocarcinoma from squamous cell carcinoma.

Overexpression of catalytic subunit M2 in patients with ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: The formation and growth of tumors are related to the synthesis of the DNA. The enzyme ribonucleotide reductase (RR) is an enzyme that regulates the total rate of DNA synthesis and thus plays a pivotal role in cell growth. Catalytic subunit M2 (RRM2) is the main unit modulating the ribonucleotide reductase enzymatic activity. This study aimed to investigate the expression of RRM2 mRNA and protein in patients with ovarian cancer and its relevance to diagnosis and clinical outcome of the patients. METHODS: RRM2 mRNA levels and protein expression were detected in 98 ovarian specimens with immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Expression of the RRM2 protein and correlation of the RRM2 gene expression with clinical pathological features were analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier test was used for evaluating RRM2 expression and time to progression and survival. The Cox proportional model was used to analyze the risk factors in prognosis of patients. RESULTS: Positive RRM2 immunostaining was found in 43 of 62 (69.4%) patients with epithelial ovarian cancer, 10 of 15 (66.7%) patients with borderline neoplasm, 4 of 15 (26.7%) patients with benign growths, and none of the normal group. The RRM2 mRNA levels were significantly over expressed in epithelial ovarian cancer (1.722 ± 0.639) and borderline ovarian neoplasms (1.365 ± 0.615), compared to the normal group (0.678 ± 0.446) and benign group (0.828 ± 0.545). Patients with ovarian caner in clinical FIGO-stages III-IV presented higher RRM2 gene expression than those in clinical FIGO-stages I-II. Furthermore, the survival of patients with low RRM2 mRNA level was significantly better than patients with high levels (P < 0.05). By Cox proportional risk model analysis, the risk of mortality of patients with high level expression of RRM2 mRNA was 2.553 times greater than those with low expression. CONCLUSION: RRM2 expression closely correlates with the development of ovarian tumor and may serve as a novel predictive marker for diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.

Genomic sequencing and analysis of Chilli ringspot virus, a novel potyvirus.

Chilli ringspot virus (ChiRSV), a novel potyvirus, was recently found in Hainan, China with high prevalence. The genomic sequence of the ChiRSV-HN/14 isolate was determined by sequencing overlapping cDNA segments generated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction with degenerate and/or specific primers. ChiRSV genome (GenBank Acc. no. JN008909) comprised of 9,571 nucleotides (nt) excluding the 3'-terminal poly (A) tail and contained a large open reading frame of 9,240 nt encoding a large polyprotein of 3,079 amino acids with predicted Mr of 349.1 kDa. A small, overlapping PIPO coding region was also found to span from nt 2,913 to 3,095, with a capacity to encode a peptide of 60 amino acids. ChiRSV shares sequence identities of only 48.5-65.4 and 42.9-68.7% with closely related potyviruses at the nucleotide and the amino acid levels, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the genomic sequences provided further evidence that ChiRSV is a distinct species of the Potyvirus genus. ChiRSV-HN/14 is most closely related to Tobacco vein banding mosaic virus and two other pepper-infecting potyviruses.

The E-cadherin repressor slug and progression of human extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the expression and function of Slug in human extrahepatic hilar cholangiocarcinoma (EHC) to identify its role in tumor progression. METHODS: The expression of Snail and Slug mRNA in 52 human tissue samples of EHC was investigated. The mRNA of Snail and Slug were quantified using reverse transcriptase-PCR, and correlations with E-cadherin expression and clinicopathological factors were investigated. We then investigated transfection of Slug cDNA in endogenous E-cadherin-positive human EHC FRH0201 cells, selectively induced the loss of E-cadherin protein expression, and then small interfering RNA (siRNA) for inhibition of Slug expression in endogenous Slug-positive human EHC QBC939 cells, selectively induced the loss of Slug protein expression. A Boyden chamber transwell assay was used for invasion. RESULTS: Slug mRNA was overexpressed in 18 cases (34.6%) of EHC compared with adjacent noncancerous tissue. E-Cadherin protein expression determined in the same 52 cases by immunohistochemistry was significantly down-regulated in those cases with Slug mRNA overexpression (P = 0.0001). The tumor and nontumor ratio of Slug mRNA was correlated with nodal metastasis(p = 0.0102), distant metastasis (p = 0.0001)and Survival time(p = 0.0443). However, Snail mRNA correlated with neither E-cadherin expression nor tumor invasiveness. By inhibiting Slug expression by RNA interference, we found that reduced Slug levels upregulated E-cadherin and decreased invasion in QBC939 cell. When the QBC939 cells was infected with Slug cDNA,, significant E-cadherin was downregulated and increased invasion in QBC939 cell. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that Slug expression plays an important role in both the regulation of E-cadherin expression and in the acquisition of invasive potential in human EHC. Slug is possibly a potential target for an antitumor therapy blocking the functions of invasion and metastasis in human EHCs.

Fistulectomy as a surgical option for pulmonary arteriovenous malformation.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection remains the treatment of choice for pulmonary arteriovenous malformation but removes some normal lung parenchyma. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and safety of the lung-saving procedure of fistulectomy as an alternative to lung resection. METHODS: From July 2003 to July 2008, 6 selected patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformations underwent fistulectomies. Among them, 1 patient underwent emergency operation and 2 underwent bilateral operations. One patient received postoperative embolotherapy. RESULTS: No hospital deaths or postoperative morbidity occurred. PaO2 increased significantly after operation. All patients were free of symptoms and hypoxia during a follow-up for 9 months to 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Fistulectomy is a safe and effective procedure for patients with pulmonary arteriovenous malformation and may be an alternative to lung resection.

[Experience in lung resection synchronous with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with lung tumor and coronary disease].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the experience in lung resection synchronous with off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCABG) in patients with lung tumor and coronary disease. METHODS: The clinical data of ten patients with coronary artery disease and lung tumor, 8 with peripheral malignant tumors and 2 with central benign tumors, all males, aged 56.2 (41 - 782), who underwent lung resection and OPCABG synchronously, were analyzed. RESULTS: There was no hospital death in this series. All patients regained their ideal cardiorespiratory function postoperatively. CONCLUSION: With experienced management, it is feasible and safe to perform lung resection and OPCABG synchronously for strictly selected patients.

[Surgical treatment of diffused osteoradionecrosis of temporal bone in cases with nasopharyngeal carcinoma after radiotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effective treatment method of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of temporal bone in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) after radiotherapy. METHODS: Eight NPC patients (8 ears) with ORN of temporal bone accepted surgical treatment, 2 ears undergoing radical mastoidectomy, 2 ears undergoing extensive radical mastoidectomy, 5 ears undergoing radical mastoidectomy and obliteration with transferring local vascularized fascia flaps. RESULTS: Five of the 8 ears (62.5%) achieved dry ear, including 4 ears undergoing radical mastoidectomy and obliteration with vascularized fascia flaps, and 1 ear undergoing radical mastoidectomy. Two of the 8 ears (25%) still had infection and were not fully epithelized, but without sequestration, including 1 ear undergoing mastoidectomy and obliteration with vascularized fascia flaps, and 1 ear undergoing extensive radical mastoidectomy. One of the 8 ears (12.5%) which had received radical mastoidectomy needed revision surgery because of re-sequestration. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment for diffused ORN of temporal bone by radical mastoidectomy and obliteration with local vascularized flaps is effective. The main objective of the surgery is get excellent drainage and prevention of complications.