Evaluation of the stiffness of normal cervix and its change with different factors using transvaginal two-dimensional shear wave elastography under strict quality control.

BACKGROUND: The usefulness of transvaginal two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D SWE) for cervical lesions is still uncertain. This study was to explore the value of transvaginal 2D SWE in the evaluation of the stiffness of normal cervix and its change with different factors under strict quality control (QC). METHODS: Two hundred patients with normal cervix were included in this study and were examined using quantitative 2D SWE to evaluate cervical stiffness and its change with different factors under strict QC. RESULTS: Intra-observer concordance of transvaginal 2D SWE parameters in midsagittal planes were acceptable with intraclass correlation coefficients higher than 0.5. Transvaginal 2D SWE parameters were significantly higher than the corresponding transabdominal parameters. 2D SWE parameters of internal cervical os were significantly higher than the corresponding parameters of external cervical os in a transvaginal midsagittal plane. 2D SWE parameters of external cervical os increased significantly over 50 years old, while these parameters of internal cervical os didn't change significantly with increasing age. 2D SWE parameters of internal cervical os of horizontal position cervix were significantly higher than those of vertical position cervix. SWE parameters of normal cervix did not change according to different menstrual cycles, parities and human papilloma virus test results. CONCLUSIONS: Transvaginal 2D SWE under strict QC could provide quantitative, repeatable and reliable cervical stiffness information. Internal cervical os was stiffer than external cervical os. Menstrual cycles, parities and human papilloma virus test results wouldn't affect cervical stiffness. However, age and cervical positions should be taken into condition while interpreting 2D SWE results of cervical stiffness.

Inhibitory effects of FKBP14 on human cervical cancer cells.

The FK506-binding protein 14 (FKBP14), which belongs to a subfamily of immunophilins, has been implicated in various biochemical processes. However, its effects on human cervical cancer remain to be elucidated. The present study aimed to determine the exact role of FKBP14 in human cervical cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, invasion and migration. Cell proliferation was measured by Cell Counting Kit­8 assay. Flow cytometry was conducted to determine the effects of FKBP14 on cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Cell invasion and migration were determined by Transwell assay. The results of the present study demonstrated that silencing FKBP14 expression using short hairpin (sh)RNA suppressed proliferation, invasion and migration of HeLa and C­33A cells, and also induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, silencing FKBP14 expression decreased the protein expression levels of B­cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl­2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9, and increased the levels of caspase­3 and Bcl­2­associated X protein in FKBP14 shRNA­infected HeLa and C­33A cells. In conclusion, FKBP14 may act as an oncogene through suppressing apoptosis and promoting motility in human cervical carcinogenesis; therefore, it may be considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cervical cancer.