[Significance of TSLC1 gene methylation and TSLC1 protein expression in the progression of cervical lesions].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression and significance of tumor suppressor in lung cancer 1 (TSLC1) gene methylation, the expression of TSLC1 protein in cervix cancer and precancerous lesions as well as their relationship with HR-HPV DNA infection. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 92 cases of different cervical lesions during March 2011 to August 2012 treated in our hospital were collected. There were pathologically confirmed 10 cases of normal cervix, 26 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, 20 cases of CIN II, 15 cases of CIN III, and 21 cases of cervical cancer. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP) was used to detect the TSLC1 gene methylation status in cervical lesions, immunohistochemistry (SP) was used to detect the expressions of TSLC1 protein in cervical lesions, and the second generation hybrid capture (HC2) method was used to detect the high-risk HPV in cervical lesions. RESULTS: The expression rate of TSLC1 gene methylation in normal cervical tissue, CIN I, CIN II, CIN III and SCC were 10.0%, 30.8%, 55.0%, 60.0%, 66.7%, respectively, showing a statistically significant difference (P = 0.004). The positive expression rate of TSLC1 protein in normal cervical tissue, CIN I, CIN II, CIN III and SCC were 100.0%, 80.8%, 65.0%, 33.3%, and 23.8%, respectively, with a significant difference (P = 0.004). In the progression from CIN to invasive cervical cancer, there was no significant correlation between TSLC1 gene methylation and HR-HPV DNA infection (P = 0.919), TSLC1 protein expression and HR-HPV DNA infection (P = 0.664). The correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between TSLC1 gene methylation and TSLC1 protein expression (r = -0.674, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: TSLC1 gene promoter methylation may be an early event in the cervical carcinogenesis, become an early sensitive marker, and serve the early prevention and prognostic prediction for cervical cancer.

[Comparative study of HR HPV E6/E7 mRNA and HR-HPV DNA in cervical cancer screening].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the performance of HR-HPV E6/E7 massager RNA (mRNA) test for detecting high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in cervical cancer screening and compare the clinical performance of HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA test with HC-2 and Cervista HPV DNA tests for cross-sectional positivity in women with and without cervical neoplasia. METHODS: A total of 172 women underwent cytology, HR-HPV DNA test, HR-HPV E6/7 mRNA test, colposcopy and biopsy. We compared the clinical performance of HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA test with Hybrid Capture 2 DNA test (HC-2) and Cervista HR-HPV DNA test on the cervical brush specimens during colposcopy and routine screening. The samples were histologically confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN II) or worse (CIN II+) as an endpoint. RESULTS: HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA positive rate was 37.9% in NILM, 67.9% in ASCUS and LSIL, 88.5% in ASC-H+. HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA positive rate was 38.6% in CIN I, 77.4% in CIN II-3 and 92.5% in SCC. HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA test showed a higher specificity than HC-2 and Cervista HPV DNA tests for high-grade lesions (61.4%, 54.3%, 55.7%, respectively, P < 0.05) and also a higher positive predictive value (75.9%, 74.8%, 74.6% respectively). Among three tests, HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA had the largest area of ROC curve and the best diagnostic value. CONCLUSION: HR-HPV E6/E7 mRNA test has a performance more specific for detecting CIN II+ with the same sensitivity as HC-2 and Cervista HPV DNA tests. And it may serve as a more specific test for predicting the risk of progression and offer a viable tool for triage during cervical cancer screening.

Association of High apoB/apoA1 Ratio with Increased Erythrocytes, Platelet/Lymphocyte Ratio, D-dimer, Uric Acid and Cardiac Remodeling in Elderly Heart Failure Patients: A Retrospective Study.

Background: Previous studies have confirmed that high apolipoprotein B/apolipoprotein A1 (apoB/apoA1) ratio was associated with increased mortality from heart failure (HF). Furthermore, the association of plasma apoB/apoA1 ratio with clinical characteristics and adverse cardiac remodeling is still limited in chronic HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF) elderly patients. Therefore, this study investigated the association of apoB/apoA1 ratio with clinical characteristics and adverse cardiac remodeling in chronic HFmrEF elderly patients. Methods: A total of 587 Chinese elderly (≥65 years) with coronary heart disease (CHD), HFmrEF (EF 40-50%) and related blood biochemical data were collected retrospectively. The cross-sectional data of echocardiographic and blood parameters were compared between binary apoB/apoA1 groups. Results: In the elderly CHD patients with chronic HFmrEF, the univariate correlation analysis showed that apoB/apoA1 was correlated with younger age, increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes, erythrocytes, platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR), D-dimer, fibrinogen, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and uric acid, and adverse cardiac remodeling (All P < 0.05). However, multivariate logistic binary regression analysis found that high apoB/apoA1 ratio (≥0.62) was independently correlated with younger age, increased erythrocytes, PLR, D-dimer and uric acid, and adverse cardiac remodeling (All P < 0.05). Conclusion: In this retrospective study, the high apoB/apoA1 ratio is found to be associated with younger age, increased erythrocytes, PLR, D-dimer and uric acid, and adverse cardiac remodeling in Chinese CHD elderly with chronic HFmrEF.

Higher LDL-C/HDL-C Ratio Is Associated with Elevated HbA1c and Decreased eGFR Levels and Cardiac Remodeling in Elderly with Hypercholesterolemia.

Background: This study aims to explore the relationship of the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) ratio with glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), renal dysfunction, coronary heart disease (CHD) and cardiac structure and function in elderly patients with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: A total of 1129 hospitalized Chinese elderly (aged ≥ 65 years) with hypercholesterolemia were collected retrospectively. The patients were divided into low (<2.63), moderate (≥2.63 to <3.33) and high (≥3.33) LDL-C/HDL-C ratio groups according to the tertiles of LDL-C/HDL-C. Results: Regression analysis of the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio with metabolic and echocardiographic parameters revealed that a high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (≥3.33) was associated independently with male gender, elevated HbA1c, decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), prevalent CHD and left ventricular dilatation (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: A high LDL-C/HDL-C ratio was associated with male gender, increased HbA1c, decreased eGFR, CHD and enlarged left ventricle in elderly with hypercholesterolemia.

Decreased expression and DNA hypermethylation of syncytin-1 in human villus tissues with unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) affects approximately 5 % of women of reproductive age worldwide. The etiology and pathogenesis of approximately 50 % of RSA cases currently remain unclear, which known as unexplained RSA (URSA). Syncytin-1, an envelope protein encoded by HERV-W gene, is essential for human embryonic development. The purpose of this study was to explore the correlation between syncytin-1 expression and URSA occurrence. The villi tissues of URSA patients and patients with voluntary termination of pregnancy for non-medical reasons in early pregnancy (Control group) were collected. Compared with the Control group, syncytin-1 was abnormally low expressed in URSA villus tissues, and the HERV-W gene promoter was hypermethylated. Compared with the control group, the global DNA methylation level and the expression level of DNA methylases in the villus tissues of the URSA group had no significant difference. In addition, compared with the Control group, URSA villus tissue showed obviously abnormal apoptosis. Overexpression of syncytin-1 promoted the proliferation of HTR-8 cells and inhibited their apoptosis; while knockdown of syncytin-1 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis. URSA villus tissue exhibited hypermethylation of the HERV-W gene and down-regulation of syncytin-1 expression. Syncytin-1 has the potential to be a predictive and diagnostic biomarker for URSA.

Higher neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio is associated with renal dysfunction and cardiac adverse remodeling in elderly with metabolic syndrome.

Background: Previous studies have shown that metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with increased systemic inflammation and cardiac mortality in elderly subjects. However, information on the association of inflammation markers with cardiac adverse remodeling is limited in the elderly with MetS. Therefore, we investigated whether the inflammatory marker neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with the cardiac adverse remodeling in Chinese elderly with MetS. Methods: A total of 1,087 hospitalized Chinese elderly (aged ≥ 65 years) with MetS were collected retrospectively. The cross-sectional data of echocardiography and clinical parameters were compared among quartile NLR groups. Results: In the elderly with MetS, higher quartile NLR (≥3.83) was found to be associated with male gender, older age, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and cardiac left ventricular (LV) dilatation (all p <0.05). Conclusion: Higher NLR is associated with male gender, older age, renal dysfunction, and cardiac adverse remodeling in Chinese elderly with MetS.