Predictive Value of Lump Aspect Ratio, Boundary Clarity, and Spiculation/Angularity in Distinguishing Benign and Malignant Breast Lumps.

Background: Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy globally, necessitating accurate diagnostic tools for early detection and intervention. Ultrasound imaging plays an important role in breast lesion assessment, with various morphological features serving as key indicators of malignancy. Objective: This study aimed to employ logistic regression analysis to investigate ultrasound indices for effectively distinguishing between benign and malignant breast masses. Methods: A careful retrospective analysis was conducted on a dataset comprising 388 pathologically confirmed breast masses retrieved from 364 female patients, of which 142 were identified as malignant and 246 as benign. The primary outcome measures included the aspect ratio of breast masses, clarity of mass boundaries, and presence of spiculations and angularity, which were assessed through ultrasound imaging and analyzed using multifactorial logistic regression. Results: The analysis demonstrated that the aspect ratio, clarity of boundaries, and presence of spiculations and angularity were significant independent risk factors for identifying malignant breast masses (P < .001). Multifactorial logistic regression revealed age (OR=1.183, 95% CI 1.119-1.252, P < .001), mass size (OR=1.087, 95% CI 1.036-1.140, P = .001), marginal spiculation (OR=8.296, 95% CI 2.325-29.598, P = .001), defined borders (OR=5.500, 95% CI 1.765-14.140, P = .003), aspect ratio (OR=5.830, 95% CI 1.742-19.505, P = .004), margin angularity (OR=5.183, 95% CI 1.910-14.063, P = .001), and marginal microtubules (OR=9.180, 95% CI 2.307-36.523, P = .002) significantly influenced mass benignity. Conclusions: The aspect ratio, boundary clarity, and presence of spiculation and angularity serve as crucial predictive indicators for distinguishing between benign and malignant breast lumps. Moreover, the utilization of a multifactorial logistic regression model significantly enhances the identification and differentiation of the benign and malignant nature of breast lumps. Continued research in this area is essential for further refining diagnostic approaches and enhancing overall breast cancer management.

Increased m6A-RNA methylation and demethylase FTO suppression is associated with silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis.

Silicosis is a severe worldwide occupational hazard, characterized with lung tissue inflammation and irreversible fibrosis caused by crystalline silicon dioxide. As the most common and abundant internal modification of messenger RNAs or noncoding RNAs, N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation is dysregulated in the chromic period of silicosis. However, whether m6A modification is involved in the early phase of silica-induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and its specific effector cells remains unknown. In this study, we established a pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis mouse model by silica particles on day 7 and day 28. Then, we examined the global m6A modification level by m6A dot blot and m6A RNA methylation quantification kits. The key m6A regulatory factors were analyzed by RTqPCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in normal and silicosis mice. The results showed that the global m6A modification level was upregulated in silicosis lung tissues with the demethylase FTO suppression after silica exposure for 7 days and 28 days. METTL3, METTL14, ALKBH5, and other m6A readers had no obvious differences between the control and silicosis groups. Then, single-cell sequencing analysis revealed that thirteen kinds of cells were recognized in silicosis lung tissues, and the mRNA expression of FTO was downregulated in epithelial cells, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and monocytes. These results were further confirmed in mouse lung epithelial cells (MLE-12) exposed to silica and in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of silicosis patients. In conclusion, the high level of global m6A modification in the early stage of silicosis is induced by the downregulation of the demethylase FTO, which may provide a novel target for the diagnosis and treatment of silicosis.

Microexplosions in bulk sapphire driven by simultaneously spatially and temporally focused femtosecond laser beams.

We report experimental results on the formation of microvoids in bulk sapphire produced through the single-shot illumination of the sample by near-infrared, simultaneously spatially and temporally focused (SSTF) laser beams. Compared with the cases of tightly focused femtosecond Gaussian and flattop beams, the SSTFs produce internal microvoids with significantly larger volumes and without cracks between the interaction sites, which may be beneficial for applications in volumetric data storage and for the studies of exotic, super-dense elemental phases contained in the densified shells surrounding the microvoids.

Damage Inside Borosilicate Glass by a Single Picosecond Laser Pulse.

We investigate damage inside the bulk of borosilicate glass by a single shot of IR picosecond laser pulse both experimentally and numerically. In our experiments, bulk damage of borosilicate glass with aspect ratio of about 1:10 is generated. The shape and size of the damage site are shown to correspond to an electron cloud with density of about 1020 cm-3. The underlying mechanism of electron generation by multiphoton ionization and avalanche ionization is numerically investigated. The multiphoton ionization rate and avalanche ionization rate are determined by fitting experimental results. The relative role of multiphoton ionization and avalanche ionization are numerically studied and the percentage of electron contribution from each ionization channel is determined.

Measurements of fluence profiles in femtosecond laser filaments in air.

We introduce a technique to measure fluence distributions in femtosecond laser beams with peak intensity of up to several hundred terawatts per square centimeter. Our approach is based on the dependence of single-shot laser ablation threshold for gold on the angle of incidence of the laser beam on the gold sample. We apply this technique to the profiling of fluence distributions in femtosecond laser filaments at a wavelength of 800 nm in air. The peak intensity is found to be clamped at a level that depends on the external beam focusing. The limiting value of the peak intensity attainable in long-range 800 nm air filaments, under very loose focusing conditions (f-number above ∼500), is about 55 TW/cm2.

Expression of proteasome activator REGγ in human laryngeal carcinoma and associations with tumor suppressor proteins.

The functional significance of the proteasome activator REGγ in the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis has been recognized. However, pathological contributions to tumor development remain to be elucidated. Both oncogenic proteins and tumor suppressors are targeted by REGγ for proteasomal degradation. It has been proposed that the role of the REGγ in the pathogenesis of cancer is cell- and context-specific. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential involvement of REGγ in laryngeal carcinomas, comparing protein expression in tumor and adjacent tissues by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot analysis. We also characterized the correlation between the expression of REGγ and the previously identified substrates p53 and p21. We showed that REGγ was abnormally highly expressed in cancer tissues. Statistical analysis revealed that there was a positive relationship between the level of REGγ and the expression of p53 and p21. Our study suggests that REγ overexpression can facilitate the growth of laryngeal cancer cells.

Diode-pumped cw Nd:YAG three-level laser at 869 nm.

We report for the first time (to our knowledge) a diode-pumped Nd:YAG laser emitting at 869 nm based on the (4)F(3/2)-(4)I(9/2) transition, generally used for a 946 nm emission. Power of 453 mW at 869 nm has been achieved in cw operation with a fiber-coupled laser diode emitting 35.4 W at 809 nm. Intracavity second-harmonic generation in the cw mode has also been demonstrated with power of 118 mW at 435 nm by using a BiB(3)O(6) nonlinear crystal. In our experiment, we used a LiNbO(3) crystal lens to complement the thermal lens of the laser rod, and we obtained good beam quality and high output power stability.

[Phylogenetic analysis of 2009 H1N1 (A) influenza virus based on genomic sequence features].

From April 2009 onward, a new strain of human H1N1 influenza virus has swept over the world. The genome of influenza virus consists of 8 segments, encoding 10 proteins, respectively. The reassortments among the 8 segments cause the variation of influenza virus. Therefore, phylogenetic analysis of the 8 genes is very important. In this paper, we choose neighboring word frequency as the genomic features, using VC++ programming to analyze evolution of the 8 segments of H1N1 virus. As a result, we found that PB2 genes and PA genes of these three isolated virus were originated from North American avian influenza virus, that PB1 genes were originated from the seasonal influenza virus of human, and that HA genes, NS genes and NP genes came from the North American classical swine influenza A virus. The NA segments and M segments were originated from the European swine influenza virus.

All-solid-state cw sodium D2 resonance radiation based on intracavity frequency-doubled self-Raman laser operation in double-end diffusion-bonded Nd3+:LuVO4 crystal.

We report for the first time (to our knowledge) cw orange-yellow emission at 589 nm from a compact double-end diffusion-bonded Nd(3+):LuVO(4) self-Raman laser with intracavity frequency doubling in LiB(3)O(5), pumped by an 880 nm diode laser. A 3.5 W cw orange-yellow emission with an overall diode-to-visible conversion efficiency of 13.3% is achieved through the use of an 18-mm-long double-ended diffusion-bonded Nd(3+):LuVO(4) crystal. The M(2) factors are 1.35 and 1.74 in both the horizontal and vertical dimensions, respectively.

[Effect of PTU on the expression of thyroid TPO, Tg mRNA in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanism and the compensation proceeding of thyroid hyperplasia caused by PTU. METHODS: PTU was administered to rats by gavage at a dose of 5.0 mg/kg B. W for 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 days respectively. All animals were sacrificed after the last dosage, and the expression of TPO and Tg in thyroid was detected by RT-PCR. The serum thyroid hormones were measured by chemoluminescence. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the TPO mRNA levels of PTU groups were increased, while the Tg mRNA levels were decreased significantly. Serum TT3, TT4 in rats treated with PTU demonstrated a descending trend, while serum TSH showed an ascending trend, and the significant differences were observed after 6 days treating with PTU. CONCLUSION: The interference of PTU on thyroid may relate to inhibiton of Tg gene transcription. The enhancement of TPO gene transcription can't compensate the thyroid function sufficiently.

All-solid-state cw frequency-doubling Nd:YLiF4/LBO blue laser with 4.33 W output power at 454 nm under in-band diode pumping at 880 nm.

We generated efficient blue laser output at 454 nm by intracavity frequency doubling of a continuous-wave (cw) diode-pumped Nd:YLiF(4) (Nd:YLF) laser at 908 nm based on the (4)F(3/2)-(4)I(9/2) transition. With 32.8 W of incident pump power at 880 nm and the frequency-doubling crystal LiB(3)O(5), a level as high as 4.33 W of cw output power at 454 nm is achieved, corresponding to an optical conversion efficiency of 13.2% with respect to the incident pump power. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first blue laser at 454 nm generated by intracavity frequency doubling of a diode-pumped Nd:YLF.

[Experimental study on hydrogel dressing in vein injury prevention and treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the efficacy of hydrogel dressings in preventing and treating vein injury of rabbits so as to provide a experimental evidence for clinical application. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy large-eared Japanese rabbits (48 ears) were chosen, weighing (2.15 +/- 0.15) kg, and divided into 3 groups randomly. The vein injury models were made by intravenously infusing 20% mannite (2.5 mL/kg). The sites of puncture were treated with hydrogel dressings (group A, n=8) and 25% MgSO4 (group B, n=8) 5 minutes after infusion. The sites of puncture were not treated as a blank control (group C, n=8). The tissue specimens were collected from the auricular veins at 24 hours after mannite infusion for histological observation by HE staining. The injury of the vessel wall, hemorrhage around the vessels, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and disturbance of circulation were observed to evaluate the injury degree of vein. RESULTS: There existed redness and congestion in the injured veins of each group. HE staining showed that in both groups A and B, the vessel wall was slightly injured and hemorrhage around the vessel was mild. There existed infiltration of inflammatory cells in the vessel wall and surrounding tissues. There also existed congestion and thrombus in the vessel lumen in these two groups. While in group C, the injury of vessel wall was severe, and schistic bleeding in the surrounding tissue of the vessel was existed. The severe congestion and thrombus in the vessel lumen was observed. There was no significant difference among three groups in the extent of vein wall injury and hemorrhage around the vessel (P > 0.05). The degree of infiltration of inflammatory cells and circulatory disturbance in both groups A and B were significantly less than that of group C (P < 0.05); but there was no significant difference between groups A and B (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Hydrogel dressing is helpful to prevent vein injury of rabbits induced by mannite.

Scanning electron microscopic observation of erythrocytes and endothelial cells of electrified death rabbits.

To investigate the evidence of electrified death without electric mark, four animal models were developed, which were electrified to death without electric mark left, contrasted with four non-electrified to death models. Erythrocyte and endothelium of aorta and pulmonary artery were observed by scanning electron microscope. It was suggested that some pores can only be seen on the surface of erythrocytes and endothelial cells of aorta and pulmonary artery of those death models group two electrified. However, there were no pores were found on the erythrocytes and endothelial cells of aorta and pulmonary artery of the non-electrified group and normal control group animals. This study indicates that the perforation phenomena might be supposed to diagnose the electrified death cases that no electric mark is left.

[Time-effect study of propylthiouracil-induced thyroid gland hyperplasia].

OBJECTIVE: Establish an effective method for in vivo short-time standardized discriminating system of thyroid hormone disruptors. METHODS: 4 experimental groups treated with PTU lavage for 3, 6, 9, 12 days respectively and one dissolvent group for control. 10 rats in each group were sacrificed in due time with the serum being extracted and detected for T3, T4 and TSH by chemoluminescence. Histopathological changes were visualized by HE staining and changes in colloid were visualized by PAS staining. PCNA was detected by IHC and western-blotting. RESULTS: Comparing with control group, 3-day treated started to show a decrease in serum concentration of TT3 (P < 0.05), 6-day, 9-day and 12-day treated presented significant decreases in both concentration of TT3 and TT4, with a significant increase in TSH concentration (P < 0.05). Viscera coefficients of thyroid gland were significantly greater than the controls in 6-day, 9-day and 12-day treated groups (P < 0.05). Histopathological observation found thyroid follicle epithelium stratification in 3-day sections, diffused hyperplasia, vast hyperplasia plaque and solid bubbles in 6-day sections (P < 0.05), aggragated fibrilblasts and capillary endothelium hyperplasia and formation of large amount of solid sequential follicles in 9-day sections, mass hollow sequential follicles in 12-day sections. PAS staining showed weak positive in 3-day, 6-day, 9-day thyroid gland follicle colloid sections, and negative in 12-day sections. A coherent of changes with time was observed in PCNA labeling index and PCNA/beta-actin ratio, i.e. starting to increase in 3-day group (P < 0.05), reaching its peak at 6-day group (P < 0.05) and decreasing from 9-day group (P < 0.05), while no significant difference comparing with control in 12-day group. CONCLUSION: Hyperplastic patch, solid bubble and PCNA labeling index detected by IHC used as early index for thyroid gland hyperplasia are stable and relient, and 6 day is optimization experiment phase.

[Effects of Panax notoginseng saponins on anti-hyperglycemic, anti-obese and prevention from kidney pathological changes in KK-Ay mice].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Panax notoginseng saponins (PNS) on anti-hyperglycemic, anti-obese and prevention from kidney pathological changes in a type 2 diabetic KK-Ay gene mice model. METHODS: All animals were divided into 4 groups: Normal control group (C57BL/6J mice) were treated by NS 10 mL/kg, KK-Ay mice were subdivided into 3 groups as DM administrated NS 10 mL/kg, PNS 50 mg/kg, PNS 200 mg/kg respectively. All the animals received daily intraperitoneal injections for 30 days consecutively. All of these following items were determined as the effect of PNS: fasting plasma glucose levels (FPG), intraperitoneal glucose tolerance, body weight, food intake, insulin resistance index (IRI), serum insulin, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol (CH) levels and contribution of glomerulus injury. RESULTS: On the 12th, 22nd and 30th day, PNS-treated group had significantly lower FPG and low body weight incremental percentage. After a 12-day treatment, glucose tolerance was significantly improved. On the 30th day the serum IRI and TG levels of PNS-treated group decreased significantly, and the development of the mice glomerular lesions was prevented significantly. All of these showed a dose-effect relationship. CONCLUSION: PNS has the effects of anti-diabetes, anti-obese and prevention from kidney pathological changes in type 2 diabetic KK-Ay mice.

[The expressions of HSP 70 mRNA and c-fos mRNA in the skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle of rabbits by electrocuted].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes of HSP 70 mRNA and c-fos mRNA expression and to find a method to differentiate antemortem from postmortem electrocution. METHODS: Fifteen New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups, the antemortem electrocution group, the postmortem electrocution group, and the control group. Each group consists of five rabbits. The levels of HSP 70 mRNA and c-fos mRNA in skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle were examined with quantitative fluorescent RT-PCR. RESULTS: The levels of HSP 70 mRNA and c-fos mRNA in the antemortem electrocution group increased significantly (P<0.05), compared with that of the postmortem electrocution group. CONCLUSION: The changes of HSP 70 mRNA and c-fos mRNA expression in skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle can be used as an indicator to distinguish antemortem from postmortem electrocution.

[Study of adiponectin expression in placenta and its correlation with preeclampsia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of adiponectin in placenta and its correlation with preeclampsia. METHODS: Placental tissues were collected from normal term pregnancies (normal pregnancy group, n = 20), mild preeclampsia (mild preeclampsia group, n = 12) and severe preeclampsia (severe preeclampsia group, n = 22). The expression of adiponectin protein and the intensity of its mRNA in placenta were detected using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. Integral optical density (IOD) which represents the expression level of adiponectin protein, and the ratio of adiponectin cDNA PCR products to beta-actin cDNA PCR products which represents the intensity of transcription of adiponectin mRNA in placenta were analyzed. RESULTS: (1) The expression of adiponectin protein was observed in cytoplasm of placental cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts among three groups. There was no significant difference in adiponectin protein expression between maternal side and fetal side of placenta in three groups (all P > 0.05); (2) The expression of adiponectin protein in placenta in severe preeclampsia group (30 984 +/- 14 604) was significantly lower than that of mild preeclampsia group (58 360 +/- 8910, P < 0.01) and of normal pregnancy group (53 246 +/- 17 554, P < 0.01). There was also no significant difference in the expression of adiponectin protein in placenta between term delivery and preterm delivery in severe preeclampsia group (38 890 +/- 20 386 vs 29 319 +/- 8997, P > 0.05), however, the expression of adiponectin protein in placenta in term delivery of severe preeclampsia group was significantly lower than that of term delivery of normal pregnancy group (38 890 +/- 20 386 vs 53 246 +/- 17 554, P < 0.05); (3) The expression of adiponectin mRNA was detected in placental tissues among three groups also. The intensity of transcription of adiponectin in placenta in severe preeclampsia group (1.0 +/- 0.2) was markedly lower than that of mild preeclampsia group (2.9 +/- 0. 8, P < 0.05) and normal pregnancy group (3.3 +/- 1.1, P = 0.000). CONCLUSION: The expression of adiponectin decreases in placenta tissues of severe preeclampsia, indicating that the abnormal expression of adiponectin may be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

[Study on preventing effects of procyanidins on selenite cataract development in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To study the preventing effects of procyanidins (PC) on selenite cataract in rats and the time-effect relationship. METHOD: Forty five SD rats were divided into three groups: control, model and experiment groups. The rats in the experiment group were fed additionally with the PC by 80 mg x kg(-1) when they were supplied the equal selenite with the model group. Five rats of each group were regularly sacrificed by bleeding from femoral artery at sixth, eleventh, sixteenth day and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) of all lenses was measured. RESULT: Compared with the model group, the level of the MDA in the experiment group at the eleventh day and the sixteenth day greatly decreased (P < 0.01). At the sixteenth day the level of the SOD and GSH-Px had an increase (P < 0.01), which showed its anti-oxygenation. CONCLUSION: PC indicated the obvious inhibition in the development of the rat cataract. The treatment period was recommended at least for fifteen days.

Endothelial cell membrane perforation of aorta and pulmonary artery in the electrocution victims.

Some electrocution deaths occur without detectable current marks on the skin, making forensic examination to determine the true cause of death more difficult. Because arterial thrombosis was a frequent finding in victims of electrocution, we investigated injury to the endothelium of the aorta and pulmonary artery with a scanning electron microscope in five cases of death known to be caused by electrocution. We found large pores on the surface of endothelial cells of the aorta and pulmonary artery in those who died of electrocution, but no endothelial membrane perforation was found in those who died of cardiac diseases. These findings were present within 12h after death. Therefore, scanning electron microscopic evidence of endothelial perforation in the aorta and pulmonary artery could be a useful marker to identify electrocution for those victims without detectable current marks on the skin.

[The expression rule of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in rat thyroid of hyperplasia induced by propylthiouracil].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression rule of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in thyroid when the hyperplasia of male rat thyroid is induced by propylthiouracil (PTU). METHODS: PTU was administered to rats by gavage at a dose of 5.0 mg/kg B. W for 0,3,6,9 and 12 days respectively. All animals were sacrificed after the last dosage, and the expression of PCNA in thyroid was detected by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. RESULTS: Compared with the control group, the PCNA level in the thyroid of rats given PTU for 3 days significantly increased (P < 0.05),and reached the highest expression when it was 6 days, but then when it was 9 days and 12 days, the PCNA expression showed a descending tendency. CONCLUSION: PCNA has a expression rule in hyperplastic thyroid: expression increase first but then decrease. This rule confirms the histological change of thyroid in earlier stage. The experimental time of assessment test to thyroid hormone disruptors will be shortened to six days.