ITRAQ-based proteomics analysis of human ectopic endometrial stromal cells treated by Maqian essential oil.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis is a common and complex syndrome characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterus. Chinese medicine has been recently found to show good efficacy in treating endometriosis. Our previous results revealed that Maqian fruit essential oil (MQEO) could inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of ectopic endometrial stromal cells (EESCs), but the mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we aim to explore the molecular mechanism of MQEO's specific effects in EESCs. METHODS: We conducted a quantitative proteomics analysis by iTRAQ on EESCs treated with MQEO or DMSO. Then deep analysis was performed based on differentially expressed proteins, including Gene Ontology enrichment analysis, pathway enrichment analysis and protein interaction analysis. Candidate protein targets were subsequently verified by western blotting. RESULTS: Among 6575 identified proteins, 435 proteins exhibited altered expression levels in MQEO-treated EESCs. Of these proteins, most were distributed in signal transduction as well as immune system and the most significantly altered pathway was complement and coagulation cascades. Moreover, two differentially expressed proteins (Heme oxygenase 1 and Acyl-CoA 6-desaturase) were verified and they can be potential biomarkers for endometriosis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our proteomic analysis revealed distinct protein expression patterns induced by MQEO treatment in EESCs, highlighting the potential of MQEO for endometriosis treatment and biomarker discovery.

Value of thyroglobulin combined with ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology for diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Surgery for thyroid carcinoma offers a good prognosis; however, cervical lymph node metastasis may occur in the early stage. An effective diagnostic method can accurately guide clinical surgical planning and the scope of lymph node dissection, ultimately improving patient prognosis. AIM: To explore the diagnostic value of fine-needle aspiration of thyroglobulin (FNA-Tg) combined with ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology for cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma. METHODS: We enrolled 209 pathologically confirmed thyroid carcinoma patients who visited our hospital between Jan 2017 and Dec 2020. Patients were tentatively diagnosed with cervical lymph node enlargement using preoperative US. They underwent US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology and FNA-Tg. The value of single and combined application of the two methods for the diagnosis of cervical lymph node metastasis was calculated. The factors affecting FNA-Tg for diagnosis were analyzed using univariate and multivariate methods. RESULTS: FNA-Tg values were significantly higher among patients with positive cervical lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity and specificity of US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology, FNA-Tg, and US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology + FNA-Tg were 85.48% and 90.59%, 83.06% and 87.06%, and 96.77% and 91.76%, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology, FNA-Tg, and the two combined, was 0.880, 0.851, and 0.943, respectively. A long diameter/short diameter ratio < 2, an insufficient number of acquired cells, a low serum thyroglobulin level, and an absence of typical metastatic US features increased the risk of cervical lymph node metastasis in thyroid carcinoma patients misdiagnosed using FNA-Tg. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic value of FNA-Tg for detecting cervical lymph node metastasis is not high; however, combined with US-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology, it is significantly improved.

[Clinical analysis of level II occult metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the relevant factors occult II lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with clinical factors. METHODS: The medical records of 213 PTC patients with clinically positive neck lymph nodes in level III and IV, and/or V based on preoperative ultrasonography, treated between January 2003 and December 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had no suspicion of clinical positive neck nodes in level II. Univariate and Multivariate analysis were performed using the Pearson chi-square test or Fisher's exact test and a binary logistic regression test, respectively. RESULTS: The rate of metastasis at levels III, IV, V and VI was 83.6% (178/213), 75.1% (160/213), 13.1% (28/213) and 79.3% (169/213), respectively. The rate of occult metastasis at level II were observed in 16.0% (34/213). In univariate analysis, lymph node metastasis in level II was statistically significantly more frequent in patients with positive level III lymph node and positive lymph node throughout the lateral neck (level III + IV, χ(2) were 11.120 and 5.614 respectively, P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that positive lymph node involvement in all lateral neck (level III + IV) was an independent predictive factor of level II lymph node metastasis (P = 0.033, OR = 3.846). CONCLUSION: In PTC patients without suspicious lymph node in neck level II and III by preoperative US, prophylactic level II lymph node dissection may not be considered.

[Clinical analysis of level V occult metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the occult level V lymph node (LN) metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with clinical factors. METHODS: The clinical data of 203 PTC patients with clinical positive neck lymph nodes in level II, III and IV based on preoperative ultrasonography, who underwent therapeutic lateral neck dissection (level II-V) between January 2001 and June 2009 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 60 male and 143 female patients in the study. The median age at diagnosis was 42 years (ranging from 16 to 76 years). The 203 patients had undergone ipsilateral thyroidectomy and simultaneously neck dissections (II-VI). All patients had no suspicion of clinical positive neck nodes in level V. Univariate and Multivariate analysis were performed using the Pearson chi-square test and a binary logistic regression test, respectively. RESULTS: The rate of metastatic at levels II, III and IV was 47.3%(96/203), 79.8%(162/203), 81.3% (165/203), respectively. The rate of occult metastatic at level V were observed in 14.3%(29/203). In univariate analysis, LN metastasis in level V was statistically significantly more frequent in patients with positive level IV LNs (χ(2) = 5.651, P = 0.017) and positive LNs throughout the lateral neck (level III+IV) (χ(2) = 10.936, P = 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that positive LN involvement in all lateral neck (level III+IV) is an independent predictive factor of level V LN metastasis (P = 0.046, OR = 4.550). CONCLUSION: In PTC patients without suspicious LNs in neck level IV by preoperative ultrasound, prophylactic level V LN dissection may be omitted.

Reinvestigation on the frequency dispersion of a grating-pair compressor.

The typical phase correction term introduced in a diffraction grating-pair is rediscussed. It shows that the correction causes a conceptual difficulty in geometrical optics. A study reveals that Fraunhofer diffraction explains the correction and only mean-phase light rays are allowed for diffraction analysis. Besides, an equivalent phase formulation without correction is recommended.

[Solvent effects on raman spectroscopy of 1, 1,3, 3-tetramethylurea in organic solvents].

Raman spectra of 1,1,3,3-tetramethylurea in 20 solvents were obtained to investigate the solute-solvent interactions and to correlate solvent properties such as the Kirkwood-Bauer-Magat (KBM)equation, the solvent acceptor number (AN)and the linear solvation energy relationships (LSER), respectively, with the Raman shifts of carbonyl group. There is little linear relation between dielectric constants and the Raman shift. These solvents were divided into two sections by the acceptor number. The two sections exhibit a good correlation with AN, respectively. These frequencies show a better correlation with LSER than the solvent AN. How the solvents interacts with the C==O can be obtained from the regression coefficients.

[Investigation of effect of solvents on C=O Fermi resonance with solvent variation method].

Fermi resonance is one of the general and important phenomena in vibration spectra. The method of solvent variation is one of the main methods to study Fermi resonance. In the present paper, FTIR spectroscopy was used to study the Fermi resonance of p-benzoquinone in thirteen solvents. The results show that there are some function relationships between the dielectric constant of solvent and the intensity ratio of Fermi resonance. And the empirical formula was obtained by curve fitting. The equation of Kirkwood-Bauer-Magat was applied to the study of Fermi resonance. And the authors obtained the relation between the intensity ratio R and the dielectric constant epsilon. This result is in accordance with the empirical formula. In order to confirm our result, the infrared data of R. A. Nyquist and J. K. Seehra were analyzed. These results are in accord with that of p-benzoquinone.

[Visible absorption spectra and resonance Raman spectra of n-pi* singlet-triplet transition of p-benzoquinone in CS2].

The visible absorption spectra of p-benzoquinone (PBQ) in CS2 were measured, and a weak absorption band around 507 nm attributed to n-pi* singlet-triplet transition was denonstrated. Using the resonance Raman effect excited in liquid-core optical fiber which can enhance Raman intensity by 6-9 orders of magnitude, the authors obtained the 514.5 nm excited resonance Raman (RR) spectra of PBQ at 1439 cn(-1) in the concentration range from 10(-3) to 10(-6) mol x L(-1). The new characteristic RR band is attributed to the symmetric C==O stretch (v(C==O)) of n-pi* singlet-triplet transition of PBQ. The resonance Raman shift is blue-shifted with decreasing concentration. The results of this paper are helpful for understanding the relationship between the electric structure and the photophysical properties of PBQ, and for obtaining more abundant structural information of molecules.