Neuroblastoma with superficial soft tissue mass as the first symptom: case reports with atypical ultrasonic image and literature review.

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common tumors in children. Cases where an isolated soft-tissue metastasis mass is the initial symptom are rare, with only four such cases reported to date. We describe the imaging findings of ten cases of neuroblastoma patients in our hospital with superficial soft tissue mass (SSTM) as the primary symptom. The main ultrasound finding of SSTM was hypoechoic masses or scattered speck-like hyperechoic masses. However, when this type of SSTM is caused by soft tissue metastasis, the location is often atypical, and ultrasound findings are difficult to distinguish from other benign diseases. Therefore, this research should remind clinicians to recognize atypical presentations of this common childhood malignant tumor. Radiologists should also consider the possibility of neuroblastoma when finding this type of SSTM with atypical ultrasound features.

Neuroblastoma with superficial soft tissue mass as the first symptom: case reports with atypical ultrasonic image and literature review

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common tumors in children. Cases where an isolated soft-tissue metastasis mass is the initial symptom are rare, with only four such cases reported to date. We describe the imaging findings of ten cases of neuroblastoma patients in our hospital with superficial soft tissue mass (SSTM) as the primary symptom. The main ultrasound finding of SSTM was hypoechoic masses or scattered speck-like hyperechoic masses. However, when this type of SSTM is caused by soft tissue metastasis, the location is often atypical, and ultrasound findings are difficult to distinguish from other benign diseases. Therefore, this research should remind clinicians to recognize atypical presentations of this common childhood malignant tumor. Radiologists should also consider the possibility of neuroblastoma when finding this type of SSTM with atypical ultrasound features.

Status of Gene Methylation and Polymorphism in Different Courses of Ulcerative Colitis and Their Comparison with Sporadic Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to explore the common genetic and epigenetic mechanism of ulcerative colitis (UC) and sporadic colorectal cancer (SCRC) by observing genes methylation level and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of different disease courses in UC and SCRC. METHODS: Two hundred subjects were enrolled, including 40 in the healthy control (HC) group, 50 in the short disease course UC group (SUC), 52 in the long disease course UC group (LUC), and 58 in the SCRC group. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the methylation of MINT1 and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) gene. Single nucleotide polymorphisms of interleukin (IL)-23R rs10889677 and IL-1ß rs1143627 were detected by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Compared with HCs (32.5%), methylation level of MINT1 was significantly increased in SCRC (67.2%; P = 0.001) and was a risk factor for CRC (odds ratio, [OR] 4.26). The methylation ratios of COX-2 were 95.0%, 58.0%, 23.1%, and 24.1% in HC, SUC, LUC, and SCRC, respectively, which were negatively correlated with the disease course of UC (r = -0.290). Hypermethylation of COX-2 was a protective factor for SUC (OR, 0.11), LUC (OR, 0.02), and SCRC (OR, 0.03; P < 0.05). Compared with HCs, rs10889677 allele A was a risk factor for SUC and LUC, and rs1143627 allele T was a protective factor for SUC and LUC. Genotype TT was a protective factor for SUC. CONCLUSION: The hypomethylation of COX-2 gene was a common risk factor and epigenetic modification for UC and SCRC, which might be one of the mechanisms through which UC patients were susceptible to CRC. The hypermethylation of MINT1 was a risk factor for SCRC but not for UC; alleles of IL-23Rrs10889677 and IL-1ßrs1143627 were related to UC but not to SCRC.

miR-9, miR-21, miR-27b, and miR-34a Expression in HPV16/58/52-Infected Cervical Cancer.

The aim of this study was to observe the expression of miR-9, miR-21, miR-27b, and miR-34a related with E6/E7 in HPV16-, HPV52-, and HPV58-infected cervical cancer patients and explore their possible role in cervical cancer with HPV infection. The expression levels of 4 miRNAs were detected in cervical exfoliated cells using qRT-PCR. In the current study, miR-34a expression was significantly upregulated in HPV-positive cervical cancer compared with the HPV-negative healthy population and HPV-positive CIN, but just the expression of miR-34a in HPV16 cervical cancer was statistically significant, and the expression of HPV52 and HPV58 was not statistically significant. The expression of miR-21 increased in HPV-positive cervical cancer compared with HPV-positive CIN, but only HPV16-infected cervical cancer had statistical significance compared with HPV16-infected CIN. By observing the change trend of each subtype group, we can show that the expression of miR-9 in HPV16 CIN was opposite to the other subtypes, and it was upregulated, compared with HPV58 CIN, and significantly increased. The level change of miR-27b in HPV58 cervical cancer and HPV58 CIN was opposite to the other subtypes; unlike the expression of miR-27b which was upregulated in HPV16 and HPV52 infected, it was downregulated compared with Normal. We also found that the expression of miR-34a and miR-9 was contrary to other studies. These findings indicate that the upregulated miR-21 expression may be a biomarker to distinguish between CC and CIN. miR-34a in HPV infection, especially in HPV16 infection, might be related to the occurrence and development of cervical cancer. The infection of different subtypes may play different roles in disease by activating different mechanisms; miRNAs play a very complex role in tumorigenesis and development, and there may be multiple targets in which multiple mechanisms play a role.

The study of methylation and single nucleotide polymorphisms of cancer-related genes in patients with early-stage ulcerative colitis.

Aim: To investigate the methylation status and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cancer-associated genes in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and explore the potential mechanism for high cancer risk of UC. Methods: A total of 103 patients were enrolled in our study, which included 30 healthy subjects, 41 patients with early-stage UC, and 32 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methylation status of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and human RUNT-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) genes in colonic mucosa from 3 groups of subjects were detected by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The SNPs TNF-α rs1800629 and IL-1 rs1143627 were genotyped by PCR and direct sequencing. Results: The methylation rate of RUNX3 gene within CRC group was 35.7%, which was significantly higher than the other two groups (Healthy control 5.9%, UC 15.4%, p = .040). There was no significant difference in the methylation rate of RUNX3 between early-stage UC group and healthy control group (p = .633). The methylation rate of COX2 gene, the genotypes (GG, AG) and alleles (A, G) of rs1800629, and the genotypes (CC,CT,TT) and alleles (C,T) of rs1143627 were not statistically different among three groups. Conclusion: In the early stage of UC, the methylation rate of cancer-related genes RUNX3 and COX2 and SNPs TNF-α rs1800629 and IL-1 rs1143627 were not significantly different compared with healthy subjects. The methylation rate of RUNX3 in CRC increased, while the methylation rate of COX2 and SNPs TNF-α rs1800629 and IL-1 rs1143627 did not change significantly compared with the other two groups.

Wavelength-division multiplexed thin-film filters used in tilted incident angles of light.

The properties of wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) narrowband filters used in tilted collimated light are described. The wavelength shift for s polarization in a low-index-spacer filter is larger than that for p polarization when the filter is tilted, but it is smaller in a high-index-spacer filter. Therefore the passbands of the tilted filter can be centered at the same wavelength for two polarization modes by use of high- and low-index materials, as appropriate, as spacers or by selection of a moderate-index material instead of a spacer. With such spacers, WDM filters used for incident angles of 20 degrees or even greater are constructed. Experimental results agree with the computed ones.