[Statistical analysis of disability-adjusted life years for stomach and colorectal cancers in Changning District of Shanghai].

Objectives: To analyze the status and temporal changes of disability-adjusted life year (DALY) for stomach and colorectal cancers among registered permanent residents in Changning District of Shanghai Municipality, and provide scientific basis for the prevention and treatment of stomach and colorectal cancers in this district. Methods: Using the cancer registration data of stomach and colorectal cancers from 2002 to 2019, we estimated the indices such as the DALYs, the DALY crude rates, the age-standardized DALY rates, etc. Then we used the Joinpoint regression model to calculate the average annual percent change (AAPC) and annual percent change (APC) to explore the temporal variations in different periods. Results: The DALYs of stomach and colorectal cancers in Changning District from 2002 to 2019 were 55 931 person years and 65 252 person years, respectively. The crude rates of DALY were 512.16/105 and 597.51/105, respectively. We observed a higher disease burden in men than in women, and the peak rate of DALY in stomach cancer was in the 75-79 years age group, while in colorectal cancer the rate was in the 85-years-or-older age group. Joinpoint regression analysis showed that from 2002 to 2019, the age-standardized DALY rate of stomach cancer showed a downward trend (AAPC=-3.86%, P＜0.05), while the trend of colorectal cancer was not statistically significant(AAPC=-0.08%, P＞0.05). However, the trends in the age-standardized DALY rates of colorectal cancer were different between males and females, with males showing an upward trend (AAPC=1.24%, P＜0.05) and females showing a downward trend (AAPC=-1.67%, P＜0.05). Conclusions: The DALY of stomach and colorectal cancers in Changning District of Shanghai showed a decreasing trend. Males and the middle-aged and elderly populations are still the key targets for disease prevention and control in this district.

[Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors: DICER1 hotspot mutations and associated clinicopathological features].

Objective: To investigate DICER1 hotspot mutations in ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor (SLCT) and its associated clinicopathological features. Methods: Forty-three SLCTs and 40 other sex cord-stromal tumors (SCSTs) diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center were examined for somatic DICER1 hotspot mutations by Sanger sequencing. The associations between mutation status and clinicopathological features, including patient age, tumor differentiation and recurrence, were analyzed. Results: Somatic DICER1 mutations were found in 51% (22/43) of SLCTs, while none in the other 40 SCSTs. The most common mutation of DICER1 was p.D1709N in exon 24 (41%, 9/22) and the second most common mutation of DICER1 was p.E1813K in exon 25 (14%, 3/22). A novel frameshift mutation (c.5464delG, p.M1837fs*16) was identified in one SLCT with microcystic pattern. Mutations were more likely to occur in patients under forty years of age (P=0.046), whereas no significant associations were found between DICER1 mutations and clinical symptoms, morphology or tumor recurrence. Conclusions: Somatic DCIER1 hotspot mutations are specifically found in SLCT and may serve as an ancillary marker in differential diagnosis of SLCT from other SCST. The mutations occur more often in young patients (<40 years old). Additional studies are warranted to examine the associations between DICER1 mutations and clinicopathological features and prognosis of SLCT.

N-octanoylated ghrelin peptide inhibits bovine oocyte meiotic resumption.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that ghrelin plays an important role in the mammalian reproductive system, including the central, gonadal levels, and also during in vitro maturation of oocytes; however, the functions of ghrelin in bovine oocyte meiosis require further investigation. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of an n-octanoylated ghrelin peptide on oocyte meiotic resumption and the developmental competence of mature oocytes in vitro. EXPERIMENTAL: design: The expression of GHRL (encoding ghrelin) mRNA and its receptor (the growth hormone secretagogue receptor, GHSR) in the cumulus-oocyte complex (COCs), denuded oocytes (DOs), and cumulus cells (CCs) was assessed using quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR), and the effects of the n-octanoylated ghrelin peptide on meiotic resumption were studied at four different doses (0, 10, 50, and 100 ng/mL) in a 6 h culture system. RESULTS: qRT-PCR analysis showed that GHRL and GHSR mRNAs were expressed in all tested samples; however, GHRL was predominantly expressed in DOs, and GHSR was predominantly expressed in CCs. Germinal vesicle breakdown was inhibited significantly by 50 ng/mL ghrelin compared with that in the negative control (P < 0.05). Further studies showed that n-octanoylated ghrelin increased the levels of cAMP and cGMP in the CCs and DOs, which inhibited the meiotic resumption of bovine oocytes. And the inhibitory role in the developmental competence of mature oocytes were also included, ghrelin could significantly improve the cleavage rate (P < 0.05) and blastocyst rate (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: N-octanoylated ghrelin maintained bovine oocytes meiotic arrest and further improved their developmental competence; therefore, n-octanoylated ghrelin could be considered as a potential pharmaceutical inhibitor of meiosis for the in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes.

Management of Valsa Canker on Apple with Adjustments to Potassium Nutrition.

Valsa canker, caused by the fungus Valsa mali, is one of the most destructive diseases of apple in the primary production areas of China and other East Asian countries. Currently, there are no effective control methods for this disease. We investigated the occurrence of Valsa canker in 24 apple orchards in Shaanxi Province in concert with foliar nutrient analysis, and found that there was a significant negative correlation of leaf potassium (K) content with incidence and severity of Valsa canker. Fertilization experiments showed that increasing tree K content enhanced resistance to pathogen colonization and establishment. Apple trees with leaf K content greater than 1.30% exhibited almost complete resistance to Valsa mali. Field trials demonstrated that increasing K fertilization could significantly reduce disease incidence. Improved management of tree nutrition, especially K content, could effectively control the occurrence and development of Valsa canker.

[Expression of DNA mismatch repair protein in endometrial carcinomas and its correlation with clinicopathologic features].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of mismatch repair protein in a series of endometrial carcinomas and its correlation with clinicopathologic features. METHODS: The clinical data of 150 consecutive cases of endometrial carcinoma were collected during the period from December, 2014 to August, 2015 in Fudan University Cancer Center. Morphologic features including tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), peritumoral lymphocytes and tumor heterogeneity were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry for expression of mismatch repair proteins was performed. The correlation with clinicopathologic features was analyzed. RESULTS: Loss of mismatch repair protein expression was observed in 43 cases (28.7%), including loss of MLH1/PMS2 in 27 cases (18%), loss of MSH2/MSH6 in 7 cases (4.7%), loss of MSH6 in 6 cases (4%) and loss of PMS2 in 3 cases (2%). There were 23.3% and 27.1% of mismatch repair protein-deficient endometrial carcinomas in women under and above 50 years of age, respectively, which was not statistically significant. Amongst the 12 cases with family history of tumors, 4 of the 6 mismatch repair protein-deficient cases were under 50 years of age, which was higher than that in the 6 cases with mismatch repair protein expression (P=0.014). The mismatch repair protein-deficient group showed significantly more prominent TIL and peritumoral lymphocytes than protein-expression group (P=0.033 and <0.001). Moreover, there were also significant differences in depth of myometrial invasion and occurrence of synchronous malignancy (2 cases of ovarian clear cell carcinoma and 1 case of colonic carcinoma) between the two groups (P=0.039 and 0.022). However, there were no significant differences in lymph node metastasis, tumor heterogeneity, lower uterine segment involvement and tumor stage between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Prominent TIL and peritumoral lymphocytes characteristically occur in mismatch repair protein-deficient endometrial carcinomas. Patient age does not significantly correlate with the loss of mismatch repair protein expression, but individuals under 50 years of age are more likely to have no expression if there is family history of tumors.

Dual delivery for stem cell differentiation using dexamethasone and bFGF in/on polymeric microspheres as a cell carrier for nucleus pulposus regeneration.

This study aimed to investigate the feasibility of the nanostructured 3D poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) constructs, which are loaded with dexamethasone (DEX) and growth factor embedded heparin/poly(L-lysine) nanoparticles via a layer-by-layer system, to serve as an effective scaffold for nucleus pulposus (NP) tissue engineering. Our results demonstrated that the microsphere constructs were capable of simultaneously releasing basic fibroblast growth factor and DEX with approximately zero order kinetics. The dual bead microspheres showed no cytotoxicity, and promoted the proliferation of the rat mesenchymal stem cells (rMSCs) by lactate dehydrogenase assay and CCK-8 assay. After 4 weeks of cultivation in vitro, the rMSCs-scaffold hybrids contained significantly higher levels of sulfated GAG/DNA and collagen type II than the control samples. Moreover, quantitative real time PCR analysis revealed that the expression of disc-matrix proteins including collagen type II, aggrecan, and versican in the rMSCs-scaffold hybrids was significantly higher than that in the control group, whereas the expression of osteogenic differentiation marker (collagen type I) was decreased. Taken together, these data indicate that Dex/bFGF PLGA microspheres could be used as a scaffold to improve the rMSCs growth and differentiating into NP like cells, and reduce the inflammatory response for IVD tissue engineering.

[Choice and application of time scale selection for Cox proportional hazards regression model in cohort studies].

Cox proportional hazards regression model (Cox model) is the most commonly used multivariate approach in time-to-event data analysis. A vital issue in fitting Cox model is choosing the appropriate time scale related to the occurrence of the outcome events. However, few domestic studies have focused on selecting and applying time scales for Cox model in the analysis of cohort study data. This study briefly introduced and compared several time scales in the reports from literature; and used data from the Shanghai Women's Health Study to illustrate the impact of different time scales on data analysis results, using the association between central obesity and the risk of liver cancer as an example. On this basis, several suggestions on selecting time scales in Cox model are proposed to provide a reference for the analysis of cohort study data.

Unilateral transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion: a review of the technique, indications and graft materials.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is an alternative interbody fusion procedure in which interbody space is accessed via a path that runs through the far lateral portion of the vertebral foramen. TLIF reduces the potential complications of other approaches, including the transabdominal approach or posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF), but still achieves clinical outcomes and circumferential fusion results comparable with PLIF. Operative indications for TLIF are contested among many spine experts. The optimal indications for using this technique are spondylolisthesis, degenerative disc disease with a specific discogenic pain pattern, lumbar stenosis with instability and recurrent lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy. Various instrumentation techniques and graft materials are available to use in TLIF, and each option has benefits and disadvantages. Further research is needed, however, TLIF with one cage and excised local bone and augmented with a bilateral pedicle screw seems to be an effective and affordable treatment.

Analysis of amino acid constituents of gallstones.

AIM: To seek drugs that will efficaciously dissolve bilirubin, glycoprotein and black stones and that will represent improved lithotriptic agents to resolve cholesterol stones, and to study the amino acid constituents of gallstones. METHODS: According to characteristics determined by infrared spectroscopy and to the contents of bilirubin determined by semi-quantitative chemical analysis, 30 of 148 cases of gallstones were selected and divided into 5 groups. Amino acids of the 30 cases were detected by high-speed chromatography. RESULTS: The quantity of amino acids was highest in black stones (226.9 mg/g) and lowest in pure cholesterol stones (1.4 mg/g). In the 5 groups of gallstones, the quantity of amino acids followed the hierarchy of black stone > mixed bilirubin stone and glucoprotein stone > mixed cholesterol stone > pure cholesterol stone. The proportions were: 95.95:29.02 and 28.05:5.78:1. Aliphatic amino acids accounted for approximately 50% of the total amino acids in the gallstones, with glycine accounting for 15.3% of the total amount of the 17 kinds of amino acids. CONCLUSION: For mixed stones, the higher level of bilirubin, the higher content of amino acids. Acidic amino acids were relatively higher in bilirubin stones than in cholesterol stones.

[Inhibitory effects of benzoisoselenothiazolidone sulfonamide derivatives on cyclooxygenase].

AIM: To study the inhibitory effects of benzisoselenothiazolidone sulfonamide derivatives on cyclooxygenase. METHODS: 6-Keto-PGF1 alpha and PGE2 were assayed by radioimmunoassay (RIA) method; mRNA expression of COX-1 and COX-2 were assayed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. RESULTS: Compound A [N-4-(4-methoxyphenyl-aminosulfonyl)-benziososelenothiazolidone] and B [N-4-(4-fluorophenyl-aminosulfonyl)-benzoisoselenothiazolidone] were two benzoisoselenothiazolidone sulfonamide derivatives, which can inhibit COX activity with IC50 of 1.5 x 10(-8) mol.L-1 and 5.0 x 10(-8) mol.L-1 for COX-2, as well as IC50 of 1.5 x 10(-5) mol.L-1 and 2.8 x 10(-5) mol.L-1 for COX-1. The ratio of IC50 COX-1/IC50 COX-2 of compound A and B are 1,000 and 560, respectively. They both can inhibit COX-2 mRNA expression in cultured rat peritoneal macrophages stimulated with LPS (1 microgram.mL-1), and have no effect on COX-1 mRNA expressions. CONCLUSION: Compound A and B, two benzoisoselenothiazolidone sulfonamide derivatives, both are selective inhibitory agents of COX-2, and possess inhibitory effects on 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase.

Influence of Pseudomonas syringae culture conditions on initiation of the hypersensitive response of culture tobacco cells.

The inhibitor sensitivity and timing of the ionic response of suspension-cultured tobacco cells were used as a bioassay for the Pseudomonas syringae signal that elicits the hypersensitive response in resistant plants. The ionic response of tobacco cell suspensions inoculated with P. syringae pv. syringae 61 and P. syringae pv. pisi grown in rich media was inhibited by rifampin, tetracycline, and streptomycin during a 2- to 2.5-h induction stage. Coculturing the bacteria with tobacco cells for 3 h or more before inoculating fresh tobacco cells specifically abolished the sensitivity of the ionic response to these inhibitors and reduced the response time of the tobacco cells from 3 to 1 h. The apparent activation of the bacteria during coculture was not dependent on the plant cells and could be achieved by incubating the bacteria in a nitrogen-deficient medium containing a metabolizable carbon source. Addition of proteose peptone and Casamino Acids to this medium suppressed activation of the bacteria. The results suggest that the hypersensitive response-eliciting signal forms late in the induction stage, perhaps as a result of the derepression of some of the P. syringae genes functional in elicitation of the hypersensitive response. The nature of the activated state remains elusive but is consistent with the accumulation of protein(s) whose activity indirectly elicits the ionic response.

Gas chromatographic determination of systemic fungicide tricyclazole in soil and water.

A method is described for determination of tricyclazole residues in soil and water. Tricyclazole is extracted from soil by refluxing with ethyl acetate-acetone (80 + 20 v/v) and from water by partitioning into dichloromethane. The soil extract is purified by coagulation. The compound is detected and measured by gas chromatography using a flame photometer operated in the sulfur mode. Detection limits are 8 ppb for soil and 0.8 ppb for water. Recoveries for control samples fortified with tricyclazole at 0.1-5.0 ppm averaged 97.1% for soil and 108.1% for water.