The expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor in thin endometrial tissue and their significance.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to investigate the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) in thin endometrium. METHODS: Patients who received treatment in our hospital between January 2018 and September 2020 were enrolled. Endometrial thickness was measured using transvaginal ultrasound; in patients with a midluteal phase endometrial thickness of <7 mm, a sample of endometrial tissue was obtained using a hysteroscope, and the MMP-9, ER, and PR expressions were detected using immunohistochemistry. In addition, the number of endometrial glands was calculated in a complete field of view under a low-power (100×) microscope, and the serum estrogen and progesterone levels were determined. Following hormone therapy, the midluteal phase endometrial thickness was measured again using transvaginal ultrasound, and the patients were divided into two groups: the thin endometrium group and the normal endometrium group (n = 50, each). Patients in the thin endometrium group had an endometrial thickness of <7 mm, while patients in the normal endometrium group had an endometrial thickness of 7-10 mm. RESULTS: The number of endometrial glands as well as the ER and MMP-9 expressions were lower in the thin endometrium group than in the normal endometrium group; the differences were statistically significant (p < .05). The receiver operator characteristic curve revealed that ER and MMP-9 had a high prediction accuracy in patients with refractory thin endometrium, while the number of endometrial glands was moderately predictive. CONCLUSION: Compared with other patients with thin endometrium, patients with refractory thin endometrium had a reduced the number of endometrial glands and significantly lower ER and MMP-9 expressions.

WITHDRAWN: Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects of apigetrin on LPS-induced acute lung injury by regulating Nrf2 and AMPK pathways.

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Bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate angiogenesis and renal damage via promoting PI3k-Akt signaling pathway activation in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of the intravenous transplantation of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSCs) on the repair of glomerular endothelia and angiogenesis in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF). Furthermore, the mechanism of BM-MSCs promoting angiogenesis was explored by detection of Akt and P-Akt protein expression in rat kidney tissue. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A rat model with CRF was established by adenine. Immature male Wistar rats were randomly divided into control group, model group and treatment group. Model group rats were injected with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) via tail vein 24 h after the successful modeling, whereas the treatment group rats were injected with BM-MSCs. Eight weeks later, urine and blood were collected to assess 24-h proteinuria, serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). We identified glomerular capillaries density using JG12 immunostaining. Levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). We used Western blot to determine protein expression of p-Akt and Akt in renal tissues. RESULTS: Adenine induced chronic renal damage, as indicated by the mass proteinuria, deterioration of renal function and the histopathologic injury in tubules and interstitium. BM-MSCs signficantly increased capillary density and improved renal function and serum VEGF. Additionally, activation of Akt (i.e., P-Akt significantly increased) in the treatment group was increased obviously. CONCLUSION: BM-MSCs could alleviate the renal damages of adenine-induced CRF, reduce the excretion of proteinuria, increase the glomerular capillaries density, promote the secretion of VEGF and finally contribute to improve renal function. VEGF-induced angiogenesis is mediated through activating PI3k-Akt signaling pathway.

Genetic polymorphisms in XPG could predict clinical outcome of platinum-based chemotherapy for advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

We conducted a prospective study to investigate the role of four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of XPG on the clinical outcome of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treated with platinum-based doublets chemotherapy. In total, 277 patients with histologically confirmed NSCLC were mainly from December 2007 and December 2008. The genotypes of rs2296147T>C, rs1047768C>T, rs873601G>A, and rs17655G>C were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. By univariate analysis, a shorter survival was associated with older age, sex, and higher disease stage. By multivariate Cox regression analysis, patients carrying rs2296147 TT genotype and T allele were prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Similarly, patients carrying rs873601 GG genotype and G allele were marginally significantly associated with favorable outcome for PFS and OS. We found that individuals carrying both rs2296147 T allele and rs873601 G allele were associated with better PFS and OS. However, rs1047768C>T and rs17655G>C polymorphisms did not influence the PFS and OS of advanced NSCLC. In summary, our study provided statistical evidence that XPG rs2296147T>C and rs873601G>A polymorphisms may be used as surrogate markers toward individualizing NSCLC treatment strategies.

Ultrasmall catechol-PEG-anchored ferrite nanoparticles for highly sensitive magnetic resonance angiography.

Highly sensitive iron oxide nanoparticles with stable, safe and efficient surface functionalization, as potential substitutes for gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) with increasing biosafety concerns, exhibit great potential for high-performance magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). Herein, we developed ultrasmall catechol-PEG-anchored ferrite nanoparticles (PEG-UMFNPs) for highly sensitive MRA. The obtained nanoprobe has a high T1 relaxivity value (7.2 mM-1 s-1) due to its ultrasmall size and Mn doping. It has a suitable hydrodynamic size of 20 nm, which prevents rapid vascular extravasation and renal clearance and prolongs its blood circulation time. In vivo MRA at 3.0 T using the nanoprobe shows that the arteries and veins of rats, even blood vessels as small as 0.32 mm, are distinctly visible, and the contrast enhancement can last for at least 1 h. In addition, due to the outstanding contrast enhancement and long circulation time, the stenosis and recanalization process of the rat's carotid artery can be continuously monitored with a single injection of the nanoprobe. Our study indicates that PEG-UMFNPs are outstanding MR imaging nanoprobes that can be used to diagnose vascular diseases without the biosafety issues of GBCAs.

Treatment of scarring central airway stenosis with pirfenidone: Case report.

INTRODUCTION: Benign scarring central airway stenosis can be managed by high-pressure balloon dilatation, laser, surgery and stent implantation. The stenosis may have a high recurrence rate that necessitates repeated treatment. Pirfenidone (PFD) has anti-fibrosis effects and has been used in a variety of fibrosis diseases. Animal experiments suggested that PFD can prevent tracheal stenosis. PATIENT CONCERNS: Patients with scarring central airway stenosis usually have chest tightness, cough and dyspnea. DIAGNOSIS: Computed tomography scanning showed stenosis of the trachea and/or bronchus. Bronchoscopy revealed occlusion or stenosis of the trachea or bronchus. INTERVENTIONS: The use of PFD in combination with other interventional management was reported to treat 2 cases of tracheobronchial stenosis after injury in this study. In the combined use of PFD and interventional management, PFD could help to alleviate tracheobronchial stenosis, prolong the time interval of bronchoscopic interventional treatment, and reduce medical costs. OUTCOMES: The stenosis in the trachea and/or bronchus is relieved and the patients do not have any relevant symptoms.

Diagnosis of diffuse parenchymal lung diseases using transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by endobronchial ultrasound compared to clinicoradiological diagnosis.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effect of transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by radial probe endobronchial ultrasound (RP-EBUS) compared with clinicoradiological diagnoses in diffuse parenchymal lung diseases (DPLDs). METHODS: A total of 60 patients with DPLDs confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT) who underwent transbronchial lung cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS were enrolled. The ultrasound images were obtained and identified together with corresponding chest CT characteristics. The cryobiopsy samples were evaluated histopathologically and compared with CT imaging, and the complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The multidisciplinary diagnosis was clear in 51 (85%) participants but unclear in the remaining 9 (15%) participants. In transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS, 36 (60%) participants had the biopsy in 1 lobe while 24 (40%) had a biopsy in 2 different lobes, with a mean biopsy specimen size of 43.17±15.25 mm2. The histopathologic diagnosis based on biopsy confirmed the preprocedural clinicoradiological diagnosis in 51 (85%) patients and clarified the diagnosis in the other 9 patients with unclear clinicoradiological diagnosis, including alveolated lung parenchyma with interstitial chronic inflammation in 4 (6.7%) cases and chronic bronchiolitis and interstitial lymphocytic infiltrates in the other 5 (8.3%). Intraprocedural complications occurred in 57 (95%) patients, including pneumothorax in 9 (15%), bleeding in 47 (78.3%), and hypoxemia in 1 (1.7%). The ultrasound images of DPLDs were normal, mesh (n=24), nodular (n=9), and alveolar type (n=27). CONCLUSIONS: Transbronchial cryobiopsy guided by RP-EBUS is safe and effective and can supply additional information to the clinicoradiological approach for correct diagnosis of DPLDs.

Correlation between EGFR mutations and serum tumor markers in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Mutations affecting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are good predictors of clinical efficacy of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels are also regarded as predictive for the efficacy of EGFR-TKI and EGFR gene mutations. This study analyzed the association between EGFR gene mutations and clinical features, including serum tumor marker levels in lung adenocarcinomas patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 70 lung adenocarcinoma patients with complete clinical data and pathological specimens were investigated. EGFR gene mutations at exons 19 and 21 were assessed. Serum tumor markers were detected by protein chip- chemiluminescence at the corresponding time, and correlations were analyzed. RESULTS: Mutations of the EGFR gene were detected in 27 of the 70 patients and the serum CEA and CA242 concentrations were found to be significantly associated with the incidence of EGFR gene mutations (P<0.05). The AUCs for CEA and CA242 were 0.724 (95% CI: 0.598~0.850, P<0.05) and 0.769 (95% CI: 0.523~0.800, P<0.05) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum CEA and CA242 levels are associated with mutations of the EGFR gene in patients with lung adenocarcinomas.