[Treatment and prognosis of primary ocular adnexal extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma: a report from a single center].

Objective: This study aimed to see how different initial treatment regimens affected the long-term prognosis of patients with extranodal marginal zone mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma confining to the ocular adnexal (OAML) . Methods: Between April 2008 and April 2019, 109 patients with initial mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue confining to ocular adnexal were evaluated and followed-up, and the prognosis of various initial treatment regimens were examined. Results: A total of 36 patients underwent complete surgical resection of the lesions, and 73 patients had residual lesions after surgery, of which 37 patients chose watchful waiting, and 36 patients chose treatment. The treatment regimen included local radiotherapy and systemic treatment (chemotherapy, immunochemotherapy, the combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy, etc.) , and no serious toxic and side effects were observed in patients receiving systemic treatment. The median follow-up time was 61 (10-142) months. The 5-year and 10-year progression-free survival (PFS) of monocular involvement patients were 78.2% and 76.0% . The 5-year and 10-year PFS rates of patients with binocular involvement were 64.4% and 23.5%. There was significant diference in PFS between patients with monocular and binocular involvement (P=0.010) . Patients who received additional treatment had higher PFS than those patients in the watchful waiting group (P=0.046) . The 5-year PFS was 71.4% and 90.1% among patients in the watchful waiting group and those who received additional treatment, whereas the 10-year PFS was 63.5% and 75.1% , respectively. Patients with OAML were still a risk of disease progression after 5 years. Conclusions: Patients with binocular involvement OAML at the start of the disease had a poor prognosis, but treatment could reduce the risk of recurrence/progression. Systemic therapy is one of the first-line treatment options for patients with OAML, who require long-term monitoring.

[Application of urethral pressure profilometry in artificial urinary sphincter implantation].

Objective: To investigate the changes of maximum urethral pressure (MUP) and maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) after artificial urethral sphincter (AUS) implantation and their prognostic value. Methods: The clinical data of patients who had undergone AUS implantation in multiple medical centers between March and July 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. Data of urethral pressure profilometry, pad usage, related scores and complications related to surgery were collected and compared. The primary endpoint was social continence (defined as 0-1 pad/d) 1 month after activation of the pump. Results: A total of five male patients were included in this study. Two underwent transurethral resection of the prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia, two underwent radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer, and one underwent urethral reunion, urethral stricture dilatation and cystostomy due to trauma from traffic accident. All patients had different degrees of urinary incontinence. The results of preoperative urethral profilometry test showed that the MUP of five patients were 52, 53, 88, 32, and 66 cmH(2)O(1 cmH(2)O=0.098 kPa), respectively, and the MUCP were 17, 52, 62, 27, and 40 cmH(2)O, respectively. AUS implantation was performed. The intraoperative urethral pressure profilometry showed that the MUP were 53, 113, 50, 77, and 89 cmH(2)O in the inactivated state, and the MUCP were 50, 97, 31, 71, and 51 cmH(2)O, respectively. In the activated state, the MUP were 112, 174, 193, 121, and 120 cmH(2)O, and the MUCP were 109, 160, 175, 114, and 92 cmH(2)O, respectively. All patients met the social continence (0-1 pad/d) criterion. No complications were reported during the follow-up. Conclusions: The relationship between the range of intraoperative urethral pressure and the effect of urinary control can be gained by measuring the specific values of MUP and MUCP during AUS implantation and the post-operative effects, which provides as a data basis for standardizing AUS implantation.

Relationship between male sterility and ß-1,3-glucanase activity and callose deposition-related gene expression in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

In previous studies, we first isolated one different protein ß-1,3-glucanase using two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry from normal wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and chemical hybridization agent-induced male sterility (CIMS) wheat. In this experiment, ß-1,3-glucanase activity and the expression of a callose deposition-related gene, UDP-glucose phosphorylase (UGPase), were determinate in normal, CIMS, and genetic male sterility (GS) wheat. ß-1,3-glucanase activity was significantly different between the fertile and sterile lines during callose synthesis and degradation, but there was no difference between CIMS and GS wheat. The UGPase gene of callose deposition was highly expressed in the meiophase and sharply decreased in the tetrad stage. However, the expression of the UGPase gene was significantly different between the fertile and sterile lines. These data indicated that ß-1,3-glucanase activity and the expression of the UGPase gene play important roles in the male sterility of wheat. Consequently, pollen mother cells (PMCs) might degenerate at the early meiosis stage, and differences in UGPase gene expression and ß-1,3-glucanase activity might eventually result in complete pollen collapse. In addition, the critical period of anther abortion might be the meiosis stage to the tetrad stage rather than what we previously thought, the mononuclear period.

Icariin may benefit the mesenchymal stem cells of patients with steroid-associated osteonecrosis by ABCB1-promoter demethylation: a preliminary study.

UNLABELLED: In this study, we found out a previously undefined function of icariin which restored the dynamic balance between osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in patients with osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) via ABCB1-promoter demethylation. These findings provided important information regarding potential implication of icariin targeting epigenetic changes for the treatment of steroid -associated ONFH. INTRODUCTION: Here, we investigated whether icariin can also exert a beneficial role in the reactivation of MSCs in the patients with steroid-associated ONFH via ABCB1-promoter demethylation. METHODS: Bone marrow was collected from the proximal femur in patients with steroid-associated ONFH (n = 20) and patients with new femoral neck fractures (n = 22), and then MSCs were isolated. We investigated cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity, the transcript levels of ABCB1 and oxidative stress-related genes, methylation extent at CpG islands of ABCB1 promoter, and osteogenic and adipogenic differentiation ability of MSCs from the femoral neck fractures group and from the steroid-associated ONFH group treated with or without icariin. RESULTS: We observed that MSCs from the steroid-associated ONFH group showed reduced proliferation ability, elevated ROS level, depressed MMP, weakened osteogenesis, and enhanced adipogenesis while low P-gp activity, transcription level of ABCB1, and oxidative stress-related genes as well as aberrant CpG islands hypermethylation of ABCB1 were also noted in steroid-associated ONFH group. Treatment with icariin obviously induced de novo P-gp expression, decreased oxidative stress, and promoted osteogenesis. CONCLUSION: Icariin may be a potential drug targeting epigenetic changes for the treatment of steroid-associated ONFH.

A Medicago truncatula H+-pyrophosphatase gene, MtVP1, improves sucrose accumulation and anthocyanin biosynthesis in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.).

We recently cloned MtVP1, a type I vacuolar-type H(+)-translocating inorganic pyrophosphatase from Medicago truncatula. In the present study, we investigated the cellular location and the function of this H(+)-PPase in Arabidopsis and potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). An MtVP1::enhanced green fluorescent protein fusion was constructed, which localized to the plasma membrane of onion epidermal cells. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana overexpressing MtVP1 had more robust root systems and redder shoots than wild-type (WT) plants under conditions of cold stress. Furthermore, overexpression of MtVP1 in potato accelerated the formation and growth of vegetative organs. The tuber buds and stem base of transgenic potatoes became redder than those of WT plants, but flowering was delayed by approximately half a month. Interestingly, anthocyanin biosynthesis was promoted in transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings and potato tuber buds. The sucrose concentration of transgenic potato tubers and tuber buds was enhanced compared with that of WT plants. Furthermore, sucrose concentration in tubers was higher than that in tuber buds. Although there was no direct evidence to support Fuglsang's hypothetical model regarding the effects of H(+)-PPase on sucrose phloem loading, we speculated that sucrose concentration was increased in tuber buds owing to the increased concentration in tubers. Therefore, overexpressed MtVP1 enhanced sucrose accumulation of source organs, which might enhance sucrose transport to sink organs, thus affecting anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Effects of cold stress on the messenger ribonucleic acid levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone and thyrotropin-releasing hormone in hypothalami of broilers.

In this study, seventy 1-d-old male broiler chicks were randomly allocated to 10 groups to investigate the effect of cold stress on the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) in hypothalami. The chicks were maintained at 30 +/- 2 degrees C temperature and given free access to standard chow and water. Until 15 d old, the 6 treatment groups were maintained at 12 +/- 1 degrees C. Hypothalami were collected for the assessment of the mRNA levels by semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR after stress termination. Cold stress significantly decreased the mRNA levels of CRH in 6 and 12 h treatment groups and significantly increased the mRNA levels of TRH in 1, 6, and 12 h treatment groups during acute cold stress. There were no significant differences in the mRNA levels of CRH and TRH among different control groups during chronic cold stress. However, chronic cold stress resulted in a significant increase of the mRNA levels of CRH and a significant decrease of the mRNA levels of TRH compared with the corresponding control groups. The results indicate that the 2 genes show different response to cold stress at the mRNA levels, and on the other hand, the different degree of cold stress also produces different effects on the identical gene.

Prognostic factors for ovarian metastases from primary gastric cancer.

The purpose of this study was to analyze prognostic factors for ovarian metastases from primary gastric cancer, helping establish optimal strategy in ameliorating survival for this entity. Clinical data of 68 consecutive patients histologically diagnosed with ovarian metastases from primary gastric cancer were accrued from 1096 cases with female gastric cancer. Metachronous surgery was performed on 36 patients and 32 received synchronous surgery. There were 14 patients treated with surgery alone and 54 with combined modality therapy. After the median follow-up time of 9.1 months, the median survival time (MST) of 12.4 months was observed for all patients. Patients treated with synchronous surgery tended to have an inferior survival compared with those treated with metachronous surgery (MST: 10.9 vs 14.3 months; P = 0.100). Combined modality showed a significantly better MST compared with surgery alone (13.6 vs 7.9 months; P = 0.004). Chemotherapy cycles (more than four or less than or equal to four) were found to have an impact on survival (MST: 14.3 vs 9.4 months; P = 0.031). Peritoneal metastases, lymphovascular involvement, and unilateral ovarian metastasectomy were independent unfavorable prognostic factors. Combined modality therapy as primary therapy resulted in good outcome, and more aggressive chemotherapy (more than four cycles) was accompanied by an improvement in survival. Innovative systemic treatments need to be explored in treatment of peritoneal metastases and lymphovascular involvement. Bilateral oophorectomy was considered when ovarian metastases were histologically diagnosed.

Locally applied simvastatin promotes fracture healing in ovariectomized rat.

UNLABELLED: Simvastatin solution was injected subcutaneously to the site of fractured tibiae of ovariectomized rats. Afterwards healing quality was evaluated by morphologic, radiographic, biomechanical, histological and histomorphometric methods at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after fracture. Results showed that locally applied simvastatin improved fracture healing. INTRODUCTION: Many studies have documented an anabolic effect of hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, statins, on undisturbed bone. Reports of their effects, however, on fractured skeletal systems have been limited. A study was, therefore, conducted to check the effects of statins on fracture healing. METHODS: Simvastatin (10 mg/kg/day) was injected subcutaneously to tissue overlying the site of fractured tibiae of ovariectomized rats for a treatment period of 5 days. Vehicle reagent was used as a control. Healing quality was evaluated at 1, 2 and 4 weeks after fracture. RESULTS: Compared with that in the vehicle group, the callus cross-section area in simvastatin-treated rats was significantly enlarged by 21.3% (p < 0.05) at 1 week and by 21.5% (p < 0.05) at 2 weeks; new woven bone was relatively substantive and arranged more tightly and regularly at 2 and 4 weeks; and maximal load was increased by 57.5% (p < 0.05) at 2 weeks and by 31.4% (p < 0.05) at 4 weeks. Histomorphometrically, simvastatin was associated with a significant (p < 0.05) increase of mineralization width (MLW), mineralization volume (MLV) and mineral apposition rate (MAR). CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that local application of simvastatin could promote fracture healing in ovariectomized rats.

Laccase production by Monotospora sp., an endophytic fungus in Cynodon dactylon.

The effects of the carbon and nitrogen sources, initial pH and incubation temperature on laccase production by the endophytic fungus Monotospora sp. were evaluated. The optimal temperature and initial pH for laccase production by Monotospora sp. in submerged culture were found to be 30 degrees C and 8.5, respectively. Maltose (2 g l(-1)) and ammonium tartrate (10 g l(-1)) were the most suitable carbon and nitrogen source for laccase production. Under optimal culture medium, the maximum laccase activity was determined to be 13.55 U ml(-1), which was approximately four times higher than that in basal medium. This is the first report on laccase production by an endophytic fungus.

Estimation of internal radiation dose to the adult Asian population from the dietary intakes of two long-lived radionuclides.

Daily dietary intakes of two naturally occurring long-lived radionuclides, 232Th and 238U, were estimated for the adult population living in a number of Asian countries, using highly sensitive analytical methods such as instrumental and radiochemical neutron activation analysis (INAA and RNAA), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The Asian countries that participated in the study were Bangladesh (BGD), China (CPR), India (IND), Japan (JPN), Pakistan (PAK), Philippines (PHI), Republic of Korea (ROK) and Vietnam (VIE). Altogether, these countries represent more than 50% of the world population. The median daily intakes of 232Th ranged between 0.6 and 14.4 mBq, the lowest being for Philippines and the highest for Bangladesh, and daily intakes of 238U ranged between 6.7 and 62.5 mBq, lowest and the highest being for India and China, respectively. The Asian median intakes were obtained as 4.2 mBq for 232Th and 12.7 mBq for 238U. Although the Asian intakes were lower than intakes of 12.3 mBq (3.0 ug) 232Th and 23.6 mBq (1.9 ug) 238U proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) for the ICRP Reference Man, they were comparable to the global intake values of 4.6 mBq 232Th and 15.6 mBq 238U proposed by the United Nation Scientific Commission on Effects of Radiation (UNSCEAR). The annual committed effective doses to Asian population from the dietary intake of 232Th and 238U were calculated to be 0.34 and 0.20 microSv, respectively, which are three orders of magnitude lower than the global average annual radiation dose of 2400 microSv to man from the natural radiation sources as proposed by UNSCEAR.

Contents of cesium, iodine, strontium, thorium, and uranium in selected human organs of adult asian population.

Contents of cesium, iodine, strontium, thorium, and uranium in some selected human organs were estimated for adult Asian population using data obtained in four Asian countries: China, India, Philippines, and Republic of Korea, as part of a Coordinated Research Program of the International Atomic Energy Agency on "Ingestion and Organ contents of elements of importance in radiation protection." These countries together represent more than 40% of the world population. Highly sensitive analytical techniques were employed to measure cesium in skeletal muscle, iodine in thyroid, strontium in skeleton, thorium and uranium in skeleton, liver, kidneys, and lungs where, in comparison to other organs, these elements are present in higher concentrations. The organ contents for adult Asian population, when compared with the corresponding data proposed for Reference Man by International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP), showed about 40 times lower kidneys content and about 10 times lower skeleton content of uranium. The content of thorium in skeleton for Asian population was also half of the ICRP Reference Man value. Interestingly, organ contents for the other elements such as iodine in thyroid, cesium in skeletal muscle, and strontium in skeleton were comparable for Asian and the Caucasian population (represented by ICRP Reference Man). Organ contents for these elements were also calculated by applying the new ICRP models of these elements to their daily intakes. The comparison of the calculated and measured organ contents showed that despite uncertainties in the organ content values arising due to the inter-country variations in daily dietary intakes, the contents were within a factor of two to three. This observation is significant since human data both on organ contents and ingestion were obtained at environmental level of intakes. The study suggests that currently available ICRP models for these elements are quite realistic.

Identification of rapid turnover transcripts overexpressed in thyroid tumors and thyroid cancer cell lines: use of a targeted differential RNA display method to select for mRNA subsets.

The mRNAs of transiently expressed proteins such as cytokines and proto-oncogenes are commonly subject to rapid transcriptional activation and degradation. Transcript turnover is determined in part by association of certain proteins with consensus AU-rich motifs (AUUUA) in the 3'-untranslated region of the transcripts. Here we report a modification of differential RNA display (DRD) to detect differentially expressed rapid turnover mRNAs containing AU-rich motifs from thyroid cancer tissues and cell lines. RNA of normal and thyroid cancer tissues was differentially displayed using a 3'anchor primer to the poly(A) tail and an arbitrary 5'primer incorporating an AUUUA sequence. The appropriateness of the strategy was established by its ability to display known early response genes, such as c- fos, using partially degenerate primers. To test whether the novel cDNAs isolated coded for transcripts subject to rapid turnover, they were used as probes for Northern blots of RNA from clonal human thyroid carcinoma cell lines treated for varying periods with either cycloheximide or actinomycin D. A number of novel differentially expressed cDNA fragments were isolated from human papillary thyroid carcinoma tissues, among them a cDNA with zinc finger motifs and homology to other zinc finger proteins. Using this fragment to probe a cDNA library, a full-length cDNA (ZnF20) was isolated that was 4333 bp in length and contained an open reading frame of 1029 amino acids. The ZnF20 cDNA hybridized to multiple transcripts in a thyroid cancer cell line (8.0, 4.5 and 2 kb) that increased after cycloheximide treatment and decayed <2 h after addition of actinomycin D. The ZnF20 mRNA was overexpressed in three of six thyroid papillary carcinomas as compared with paired normal thyroid tissue controls. The data presented here support the use of a targeted DRD approach for the isolation of rapid turnover mRNAs, many of which may be interesting candidate oncogenes.

Evaluation of HemoQuant test and enteroclysis in estimating the sites of obscure gastrointestinal bleeding.

The HemoQuant test includes the measurement of total fecal hemoglobin (Hb) or porphyrin derived from heme, and of intestinal converted fraction (ICF) which is the performed porphyrin probably by bacteria during enterocolic transit. The mean +/- SD of HemoQuant in 31 healthy subjects was 0.57 +/- 0.49 mg Hb/g stool, values above 2 mg Hb/g stool are considered to be positive. In patients with upper GI bleeding (n = 44), small bowel bleeding (n = 11) and large bowel bleeding (n = 16), the ICF ranged 0.03-23%, 0.09-20.20% and 0.35-11.0%, respectively. There was major overlap in individual ICF due to some influencing factors such as the quantity of fecal blood and the enterocolic transit. We conclude that HemoQuant is a sensitive assay for detection of fecal occult blood, but ICF is not helpful in estimating the anatomic site of bleeding. Seventy-one patients with GI bleeding of obscure origin underwent enteroclysis. The results showed 77.5% had definite lesions in the small bowel, but 22.5% still were undefined. It is suggested that enteroclysis should be performed without delay if upper and lower GI endoscopic studies are negative.

Neonatal lupus erythematosus: report of a case.

We present the first report of neonatal lupus erythematosus from Taiwan. A female baby, born to a mother with documented systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), developed cutaneous lupus lesions after phototherapy for hyperbilirubinemia. She had additional clinical features of hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia. Detailed serological and immunogenetic studies were performed. Transplacental passage of both anti-SSA/Ro and anti-SSB/La antibodies were demonstrated and their disappearance at the age of 6 months correlated with regression of clinical symptoms. This patient inherited human leukocyte antigen (HLA) A11, Bw60 Cw3, DR2 and Aw33, Bw57, Cw7, DRw6 from her father and mother, respectively. A long-term follow-up is required for observing whether she will develop SLE in the future.