Evaluation of the stiffness of normal cervix and its change with different factors using transvaginal two-dimensional shear wave elastography under strict quality control.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of transvaginal two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE) for cervical lesions is still uncertain. This study was to explore the value of transvaginal 2D SWE in the evaluation of the stiffness of normal cervix and its change with different factors under strict quality control (QC). METHODS: Two hundred patients with normal cervix were included in this study and were examined using quantitative 2D SWE to evaluate cervical stiffness and its change with different factors under strict QC. RESULTS: Intra-observer concordance of transvaginal 2D SWE parameters in midsagittal planes were acceptable with intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.5. Transvaginal 2D SWE parameters were significantly higher than the corresponding transabdominal parameters. 2D SWE parameters of internal cervical os were significantly higher than the corresponding parameters of external cervical os in a transvaginal midsagittal plane. 2D SWE parameters of external cervical os increased significantly over 50 years old, while these parameters of internal cervical os didn't change significantly with increasing age. 2D SWE parameters of internal cervical os of horizontal position cervix were significantly higher than those of vertical position cervix. SWE parameters of normal cervix did not change according to different menstrual cycles, parities and human papilloma virus test results. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal 2D SWE under strict QC could provide quantitative, repeatable and reliable cervical stiffness information. Internal cervical os was stiffer than external cervical os. Menstrual cycles, parities and human papilloma virus test results wouldn't affect cervical stiffness. However, age and cervical positions should be taken into condition while interpreting 2D SWE results of cervical stiffness.

Interleukin 10 gene -1082A/G polymorphism is associated with osteosarcoma risk and poor outcomes in the Chinese population.

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a multifunctional cytokine that participates in the development and progression of various malignant tumors. However, data regarding the role of IL-10 polymorphisms in osteosarcoma development are not available. A case-control study was conducted in 260 patients with osteosarcoma and 260 healthy controls to investigate the possible association between IL-10 polymorphisms and the risk of osteosarcoma. Our results indicate the IL-10 -1082A/G (rs1800896) polymorphism is significantly associated with an increased risk of osteosarcoma in all genetic models (AG vs. AA, odds ratio (OR) = 1.56; 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 1.28-2.32, P = 0.017; GG vs. AA, OR = 1.62, 95 % CI 1.24-2.61, P = 0.013; AG + GG vs. CC, OR = 1.76, 95 % CI = 1.31-3.01, P = 0.019). However, the genotype and allele frequencies of IL-10 -819C/T (rs1800871) and -592A/C (rs1800872) polymorphisms in osteosarcoma patients did not significantly differ from controls. Further analyses revealed that the IL-10 -1082A/G (rs1800896) genotypes were associated with advanced tumor stages and metastasis in osteosarcoma patients. Additionally, a statistically significant association between the IL-10 -1082A/G (rs1800896) genotype and poor survival in osteosarcoma patients was observed. Our results demonstrate that the IL-10 -1082A/G (rs1800896) genotype is associated with an increased susceptibility and worse outcome for osteosarcoma patients in the Chinese Han population.

Genetic polymorphisms in MMP 2, 3 and 9 genes and the susceptibility of osteosarcoma in a Chinese Han population.

BACKGROUND: There are no data about the role of MMPs polymorphism in development of osteosarcoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two-hundred fifty-one patients with osteosarcoma and 251 healthy controls were included to investigate the association between the MMP2, 3, 9 polymorphisms and the risk of osteosarcoma. RESULTS: Compared with the MMP2 SNP rs243865 homozygote CC, The heterozygous CT genotype was associated with significantly increased risk for osteosarcoma (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.18-4.22, p = 0.014); the TT genotype was associated with increased risk for osteosarcoma (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.21-3.52, p = 0.028). However, the genotype and allele frequencies of MMP3 rs3025058 and MMP9 rs3918242 polymorphisms were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: MMP2 rs243865 genotype was associated with increased risk for development of osteosarcoma in Chinese Han population.

Macrophage-derived microvesicles promote proliferation and migration of Schwann cell on peripheral nerve repair.

BACKGROUND: Macrophages have been implicated in peripheral nerve regeneration. However, whether macrophages-derived microvesicles (MVs) are involved in this process remains unknown. In the present study, the effects of macrophages-derived MVs on proliferation and migration of Schwann cells (SCs) were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: Human monocytic leukaemia cell line (THP-1) was successfully driven to M1 and M2 phenotypes by delivery of either IFN-γ or IL-4, respectively. SCs incubated with M1 or M2 macrophages-derived MVs, the cell migration and proliferation were assessed, and expression levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and Laminin were measured. A rat model of sciatic nerve was established and the effects of macrophages-derived MVs on nerve regeneration were investigated. RESULTS: M2-derived MVs elevated migration, proliferation, NFG and Laminin protein levels of SCs compared with M1-or M0-derived MVs. The relative expression levels of miR-223 were also increased in M2 macrophages and M2-derived MVs. Transfected M2 macrophages with miR-223 inhibitor then co-incubated with SCs, an inhibition of cell migration and proliferation and a down-regulated levels of NFG and Laminin protein expression were observed. In vivo, M2-derived MVs significantly increased the infiltration and axon number of SCs. CONCLUSION: M2-derived MVs promoted proliferation and migration of SCs in vitro and in vivo, which provided a therapeutic strategy for nerve regeneration.

Beta-catenin knockdown impairs the viability of ovarian cancer cells by modulating YAP-dependent glycolysis.

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian cancer (OC) ranks fifth among the main causes of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. PCLAF/KIAA0101 and Yes-associated protein (YAP) have been linked to several human malignant cancers, including OC. However, the roles of KIAA0101 and YAP in glycolysis-dependent OC cell proliferation remain unknown. METHODS: qRT-PCR and western blot were performed to analyze the KIAA0101 expression. Short hairpin RNA transfection was performed to silence KIAA0101 expression in cells. Cell viability and apoptosis were assayed by colony formation and flow cytometry, respectively. Glucose uptake, lactate production, and glycolytic enzyme expression were assessed to determine the level of cellular glycolysis. Phosphorylation and the nuclear localization of YAP were assessed to determine YAP activation. RESULTS: OC tissue and cell lines exhibited higher KIAA0101 expression than the non-cancerous tissues and cells. KIAA0101 silencing reduced the proliferation and increased the apoptosis of both A2780 and ES-2 OC cell lines. Furthermore, KIAA0101 depletion suppressed glycolysis and YAP activation, as evidenced by increased YAP phosphorylation and decreased nuclear localization. Reactivation of YAP was performed by administration of mitochonic acid 5 in both OC cell lines with KIAA0101 knockdown. Glucose uptake, lactate production, phosphofructokinase, pyruvate dehydrogenase beta, pyruvate kinase M2, triosephosphate isomerase 1, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, enolase 1, and lactate dehydrogenase expression levels in cells recovered after the reactivation of YAP. Additionally, YAP reactivation increased cell proliferation and inhibited apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that KIAA0101 could promote glycolysis during nasopharyngeal carcinoma development through YAP signaling activation, suggesting that KIAA0101 could serve as a target for OC treatment.

[Spontaneous clearance of high risk human papillomavirus infection].

OBJECTIVE: To study the clearance of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection among the women with normal cervical pathologic diagnosis. METHODS: One hundred and seventy-two HPV-positive cases with normal cervical pathologic diagnosis were enrolled in the study. The infection status of HPV was monitored during follow-up from Aug 2006 to Aug 2008. The time of HPV infection spontaneous clearance, as well as effect factors, were analyzed. RESULTS: During follow-up, there were 62.2% (107 cases, 107/172) of the HPV infection cleared. The medium clearance time was 11.3 months (95%CI: 10.6 - 16.6 months). The medium clearance time of aged < 30 years, 30 - 39 years, 40 - 49 years and > 49 years were 11.3, 12.0, 10.9 and 8.5 months, respectively. There were not significant difference among aged intervals (P = 0.384). The virus copies of HPV-clearance cases and persistent-infection were 22.6 and 95.0, respectively. There was not significant difference between groups (P = 0.061). CONCLUSIONS: Most of the high risk HPV infection with normal cervical pathologic diagnosis would spontaneously cleared. Age and HPV copies may play little role in the HPV clearance.

Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the vertebral body: A case report.

RATIONAL: The occurrence of Ewing's sarcoma in the vertebral body of elderly women is extremely rare, and the case of Ewing's sarcoma in the spine with secondary surgical repair after wrong diagnosis and treatment has not been reported. We report a case involving primary Ewing's sarcoma of the vertebral body in an elderly female. Owing to its rarity and controversial issues, we report a case report to discuss its clinical features, treatments, radiological, and histological characteristics. PATIENT CONCERNS: The elderly female patient came to see us with the manifestation of total paralysis of both lower limbs. The patient with a vertebral compression fracture as the primary manifestation was misdiagnosed in another hospital. The patient underwent inappropriate surgical treatment and was transferred to our hospital for diagnosis and second-stage surgery. DIAGNOSES: The postoperative pathological examination and immunohistochemical examination in our hospital confirmed: Ewing's sarcoma; Surgical history at other hospitals suggests: after Bone cement injection. INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent a T6 and T8 laminectomy and T5/6-T9 pedicle screw fixation. OUTCOMES: Reexamination 1 month after the surgery showed that the tumor had been partially resected, the spinal cord compression was relieved, the tumor did not grow further, and the patient's lower limb physical ability, tactile sense, algesia and temperature sense recovered slightly. LESSONS: For patients with ewing's tumor in the spinal canal with symptoms of spinal cord compression, even if the patients with poor results after a unadvisable operation, it is still necessary to be actively in spinal cord compression by surgery. The differential diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma and compression fractures is very important. For patients with vertebral tumors, special attention should be taken during vertebroplasty for bone cement leakage caused by excessive bone cement injection and increased local pressure. And some experience with imaging and laboratory findings.