The relationship between using estrogen and/or progesterone and the risk of mammary gland hyperplasia in women: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: As reported that the usage of estrogen and/or progesterone increases the risk of mammary gland hyperplasia (MGH) with conflicting results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to higher elucidate the relationship between hormones and MGH. METHOD: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wan-fang database were searched for studies until April 28, 2021. RESULTS: Nine related studies were included in the present meta-analysis. We found that the usage of estrogen and/or progesterone had a significant association with increasing the risk of MGH (RR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.13-2.15, p = .000). The subgroup results showed that the risk of MGH increased in the Mix population (RR = 1.72, CI: 1.58-1.88, p < .001) but no significant difference in the Asian population. Meanwhile, as for using estrogen plus progesterone (EPP) and postmenopausal women the risk of MGH, respectively, increased (RR = 1.74, CI: 1.22-2.47, p = .002) and (RR = 1.75, CI: 1.24-2.47, p = .001) but no significant different for using estrogen alone and premenopausal women. CONCLUSIONS: This study findings indicated that using estrogen and/or progesterone might increase the risk of MGH in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

Methylenetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene C677T Polymorphism and Diabetic Retinopathy: a Meta-Analysis / 中国医学科学杂志(英文版)

Objective To investigate the association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene C677T (MTHFR C677T) polymorphism and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods A total of 6971 subjects including 2707 DR patients and 4264 controls from 23 studies were enrolled in the study. A random-effects model was applied to estimate the overall effects and the stratified effects of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism on the risk of DR, and study quality was also assessed. Results Strong associations were observed between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and DR. The carries of MTHFR C677T were more likely to be found in the DR group in relative to the healthy control group with odds ratio 1.68, 2.55, and 2.31 respectively in allele contrast model (T vs. C, 95%CI: 1.29-2.18, P<0.001, I 2=78.4%), homozygous model (TT vs. CC, 95%CI: 1.70-3.83, P=0.008, I 2=54.4%) and dominant model (TT+CT vs. CC, 95%CI: 1.62-3.29, P<0.001, I 2=74.7%). This association can also be found in contrast to the Ncd (non-complicated diabetic mellitus) group (allele contrast, OR=1.50, 95%CI: 1.07-2.11, P=0.032, I 2=62.1%; homozygous, OR=2.39, 95%CI: 1.06-5.38, P=0.017, I 2=66.7%; dominant, OR=1.59, 95%CI: 0.97-2.62, P=0.056, I 2=56.5%). For the heterozygous model (CT vs. CC), the association was significant in contrast to the healthy control group (OR=1.46, 95%CI: 1.64-3.69, P=0, I 2=77.3%), while in contrast to the Ncd control group the association was not statistically meaningful (OR=1.38, 95%CI: 0.87-2.18, P=0.131, I 2=43.7%). For the recessive model, 1.92-fold increased risk was found only in contrast to the Ncd control group (95%CI: 1.07-3.43, P=0.064, I 2=55.0%). There was no significant association found in the models in contrast to the DM control group. Conclusion In this meta-analysis, we found an association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and DR, especially in contrast to the Ncd control group. Further studies are required to establish more definite relationship.

Clinical application of modified electroconvulsive therapy in psychiatric inpatients / 新乡医学院学报

Objective To investigate the clinical application of modified electroconvulsive therapy (MECT),and provide the references for more standardized and rational use of MECT.Methods A retrospective study was performed by stratified random sampling method.The clinical data of 1 330 psychiatric inpatients from January 2006 to December 2015 in Henan Psychiatric Hospital were analyzed retrospectively,and the clinical application of MECT was investigated,including the proportion of psychiatric inpatients receiving MECT,the situation of combined use of MECT and antipsychotic drugs,and the routine examination results before and after MECT.Results The proportion of receiving MECT in schizophrenic patients was the highest,it is 11.36％ (81/713),the second was depressive episode (5.61％,12/214),followed by dissociative conversion disorder (5.56％,2/36),bipolar disorder (5.34％,7/131),organic mental disorder (3.23 ％,1/31) and other mental disorders (2.93％,6/205).There were significant differences in the distribution of various mental disorders between the non electroshock group and the electroshock group (x2 =21.728,P ＜ 0.05).The proportion of the patients without electric shock and the patients with single drug,two drugs,triple therapy or quadruple therapy was 0.92％,17.43 ％,56.88％,21.10％ and 3.67％,respectively.The proportion of the patients with two or more antipsychotic drugs was 81.65％ in the electroshock group.The antipsychotics were olanzapine (28.44％),clozapine (27.52％),quetiapine (26.61％) and risperidone (24.77 ％) according to the drugs used frequently in the electroshock group.The results of routine blood test were compared among the time points of before treatment,the 1st,2nd,3 rd week of MECT and 1 week after MECT in the shock group,which showed that there was significant difference in white blood cell count (F =2.570,P ＜ 0.05);but there was no significant difference in the levels of platelet,hemoglobin and red blood cell (P ＞ 0.05);the level of white blood cell returned to normal within two weeks in 93.33％ patients with increased white blood count.The myocardial enzymes and liver function tests were not perfect during the treatment of MECT and after treatment.There was no long-term systematic evaluation of cognitive function and quality of life in patients with electroconvulsive shock.Conclusions The probability of using MECT in the patients with schizophrenia is more than that in the patients with depression.MECT is used in combination with two or more antipsychotic drugs.MECT may cause a short increase in white blood cells,but the white blood cell level in most patients can recover to normal levels after symptomatic treatment.The clinical data for treatment and prognosis in patients with MECT are inadequate,so it is necessary to improve the medical record.

Refractive development and form-deprivation induced myopic refractive error in CBA/CaJ mice / 生理学报

Due to the advantages in genetic manipulation, mice have become one of the most commonly used mammalian models for the study of mechanisms underlying myopia development. However, the vast majority of laboratory mouse strains are incapable of synthesizing melatonin, a neurohormone that may play an important role in myopia generation in humans. The present study investigated refractive development profiles in the CBA/CaJ mouse, a strain proficient in melatonin, and determined whether and how its refractive development could be affected by form-deprivation. Eccentric infrared photoretinoscopy revealed that this animal could be stably refracted, and the refractive error underwent developmental changes, which increased with age in the hyperopic direction and eventually got stable approximately 9 weeks after birth. The absolute values of refractive error in CBA/CaJ mice were larger than those of age-matched C57BL/6 mice, whereas the time points when refractive error reached steady state were similar between the two strains. Five weeks of form-deprivation applied to 3-week-old CBA/CaJ mice by translucent occluder wear caused a significant myopic shift in refractive error, indicating that this strain could be adequately used as a myopia model.

The effect of a small interfering RNA targeting STAT3 gene on the biological function of human endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1B / 肿瘤

Objective: To investigate the effect of a small interfering RNA (si-RNA) targeting signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT3) on the biological function of human endometrial cancer cell line HEC-1B. Methods: The HEC-1B cells were transfected with chemically synthesized si-RNA targeting STAT3 (si-STAT3). Then the expression of STAT3 mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative-PCR, the proliferation ability was determined by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, the cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry, the migration and invasion were examined by Transwell chamber, and the expression levels of STAT3, phospho-STAT3 (p-STAT3), and cyclin D2 (CCND2) and metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) were detected by Western blotting. Results: As compared with the blank control group (only liposome was added) or transfection with si-control group, the expression level of STAT3 mRNA in HEC-1B cells after transfection with si-STAT3 was down-regulated (P < 0.01), the proliferation ability was inhibited (P < 0.01), the percentage of the cells in G1-phase was increased and which in S1-phase was decreased (P < 0.01). The abilities of migration and invasion of HEC-1B cells after transfection with si-STAT3 were inhibited (P < 0.01), and the expression levels of STAT3, p-STAT3, CCND2 and MMP-2 proteins were down-regulated (P < 0.01). Conclusion: Si-RNA targeting STAT3 gene can inhibit the expressions of STAT3 mRNA and protein in HEC-1B cells, and also inhibit the cell proliferation, the abilities of migration and invasion, and apoptosis. Copyright © 2013 by TUMOR.

An engineered multidomain fungicidal peptide against plant fungal pathogens / 生理学报

Fungal pathogens represent major problems for human health and agriculture. As eukaryotic organisms, fungi share some important features with mammalian cells. Therefore, current anti-fungal antibiotics often can not distinguish between fungi and mammalian cells, resulting in serious side effects in mammalian cells. Accordingly, there is strong impetus to develop antifungal alternatives that are both safe and effective. The E1 family of colicin are channel-forming bacteriocins produced by Escherichia coli, which are bactericidal only to E. coli and related species. To target the channel-forming domain of colicin to fungal cell membrane, we engineered a sexual mating pheromone of Candida albicans, α-factor pheromone to colicin Ia. A peptide was constructed consisting of an α mating pheromone of C. albicans fused to the channel-forming domain of colicin Ia to create a new fusion protein, pheromonicin-CA (PMC-CA). Indirect immunolabeling showed that the PMC-CA bound to fungal cells and inhibited growth in the laboratory and field. In the field, the protective activity of pheromonicin against rice blast disease was significantly greater, on a molar basis, than that of triazoles, tricyclazole or isoprothiolane. These results suggest that fusion peptides may be of value as fungicidal agents under agricultural conditions.

The effects of low doses arsenic on serum enzymes and biochemical indicators in rabbits / 中国地方病学杂志

Objective To observe the sub-chronic effects of low doses of arsenic poisoning in rabbits exposed to different periods on some of the serum enzymes and biochemical indicators, and to provide the basis for screening of meaningful hematologic indicators for early diagnosis of arsenic poisoning. Methods Twelve adult rabbits,weighing 2.0 - 3.5 kg, were randomly divided into four groups, 3 in each group, and they were fed with drinking water containing sodium arsenite 0(control),0.01,0.05,0.25 mg/L, respectively. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), γ-glutamyl transacylase (y-GT), total protein(TP), albumin(ALB), globulin(GLP), and ALB/GLP of rabbit were measured by SYSMEX-180 automated biochemistry analyzer after 8 weeks and 12 weeks exposure. Results The results showed that ALT in 0.05 mg/Lgroup of 12 week[(60.00 ± 4.14)U/L]increased significantly compared with the control[(41.50 ± 2.12)U/L, P ＜0.05];AST in 0.25 mg/L group of 8 week and 12 week[(46.50 ± 3.21 ), (52.33 ± 3.81 )U/L]increased significantly compared with the control[(21.33 ± 3.53), (29.50 ± 3.23 )U/L, all P ＜ 0.05];ALP in 0.05 mg/L and 0.25 mg/L group of 12 week [(78.68 ± 4.85 ), ( 103.00 ± 7.83 ) U / L]increased significantly compared with the control [(45.50 ± 5.50)U/L, all P ＜ 0.05];γ-GT in 0.05 mg/L group of 12 week[(19.33 ± 7.50)U/L]increased significantly compared with the contro1[(8.50 ± 3.53)U/L, P＜ 0.05]. TP, ALB, GLP, ALB/GLP of different groups of 8 week and 12 week were not significantly different statistically(F= 0.77,0.02,0.16,3.14 and 0.51,0.29,0.41,0.52, all P ＞ 0.05). Conclusions Zero point zero five mg/L and higher doses of sub-chronic arsenic exposure has some major damage to the liver. Compared with other serum enzymes and the biochemical indexes, serum AST is a early sensitive indicator of liver injury of the arsenic poisoning.