[Influence of growing experience on non-heterosexual orientation among male college students in Nanjing]

Objective: To analyze the influence of growing experience on non-heterosexual orientation among male college students. Methods: From October to November in 2015, a total of 2 535 male students from 96 classes in 14 colleges/departments were recruited from two colleges that participated in the experimental work of AIDS prevention by cluster random sampling method. A structured questionnaire was administered in this study, including general demographic information, growing experience and Kinsey scale (to evaluate sexual orientation). Out of 2 500 questionnaires distributed in this study, 2 332 effective copies were withdrew, with the effective rate at 93.3%. Chi square test was used to analyze the differences of non-heterosexual orientation among the individuals with different social demographic characteristics. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors of non-heterosexual orientation. Results: Among the 2 332 individuals, the proportion of self-reported non-heterosexual was 6.2% (144).The proportions of male students who identify as non-heterosexual from freshman to junior year were 5.2%(63/1216),6.9%(65/941),11.7%(13/111) and 4.7%(3/64), respectively (χ(2)=9.06,P=0.029). Compared with the individuals of very good relationship with parents, those with bad relationship (OR=3.3, 95%CI: 1.7-6.5) and general relationship (OR=1.7, 95%CI: 1.0-2.9) with parents had a higher risk of non-heterosexual orientation, respectively. Those encountered sexual assault had a higher risk of non-heterosexual orientation than those without encountered sexual assault (OR=5.9, 95%CI: 3.2-10.9). Conclusions: This study reported a high proportion of self-reported non-heterosexual among college male students in Nanjing, and highlighted the importance of targeting students with poor parental relationships and who subjected to sexually abused.

[Clinicopathological features of acantholytic mammary Paget's disease: a report of 28 cases]

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of acantholytic mammary Paget's disease (AMPD). Methods: From January, 2010 to October, 2016, a total of 28 patients were diagnosed as AMPD in the Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. The clinical and histopathological data of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The patients were all female. The mean age of onset was (51±15)years (range, 24 to 78 years). The median course of disease was 10.5 months (range, 3 months to 2 years). All the cases were unilaterally involved. The ratio of left breast involvement to the right breast involvement was 1.55∶1. In histopathological examination, all the cases showed acantholytic pattern. In addition to that, the prototypical pattern accounted for 50.0% (14/28) of all the AMPD cases. The frequencies of other different accompanied histopathological patterns were: 3 (10.7%) upper nest, 2 (7.1%) budding, 1 (3.6%) tall nest, and 1 (3.6%) sheet-like. Hailey-Hailey-disease-like acantholysis was observed in 18 patients (64.3%), whereas pemphigus-vulgaris-like acantholysis was noted in 7 patients (25.0%) and Darier's-disease-like acantholysis in 3 patients (10.7%). About 75.0% (21/28) of the AMPD cases were found to be accompanied with underlying breast cancers. There was no recurrence in 18 of 20 patients who completed treatment and were followed up for over 1 year. Conclusions: AMPD might involve the left breast more frequently. It is mostly associated with the prototypical pattern of mammary Paget's disease. Hailey-Hailey-disease-like acantholysis may be the most frequent subtype of AMPD. Most AMPD cases are associated with underlying breast cancers, but with a low recurrence rate after treatment.

[Clinicopathological study of 56 cases of extramammary Paget's disease with or without acantholysis]

Objective: To identify the clinicopathological features of extramammary Paget's disease(EMPD) and investigate the clinical and histopathological significance of acantholysis in EMPD. Methods: From June, 2010 to October, 2016, a total of 56 patients were diagnosed as EMPD in the Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital. Clinical and histopathological data were retrieved from these patients' medical records and analyzed respectively. The cases were divided into two subgroups according to the histopathological pattern (with or without acantholysis): the acantholytic EMPD (AEMPD) group and the non-acantholytic EMPD (N-AEMPD) group. The clinicopathological data were compared and statistically analyzed between the two groups. Results: The AEMPD group included 22 cases (39.3%), while the N-AEMPD group included 34 cases (60.7%). The male: female ratio, the age of onset, and the median duration of the disease were 10∶1 vs 10.3∶1, (64±8)vs (64±10)years, and 42(4-240)months vs 48(3-120) months in the AEMPD and N-AEMPD groups, respectively, with no significant difference (all P>0.05). There was no significant difference in the severe dermal inflammation (27.3% vs 17.6%, P=0.600 ) and cytologic anaplasia(13.6% vs17.6%, P=0.979)between the AEMPD and N-AEMPD groups.Adnexal involvement or dermal invasion (72.7%) was significantly more common in cases with AEMPD, compared to cases with N-AEMPD (23.5%, P<0.001). And 17 cases in the AEMPD group (77.3%) were Hailey-Hailey-disease-like subtype. The recurrence rate after surgical management (29 cases) showed no significant difference between the two groups (1/12 vs 4/17, P=0.370). Conclusions: Acantholysis is common in EMPD. It is not associated with sex, the age of onset, and the duration of the disease. Acantholysis may indicate invasive growth of Paget's cells. Its occurrence has no association with severe dermal inflammation or cytologic anaplasia. Hailey-Hailey-disease-like subtype is the most common subtype in AEMPD, requiring careful consideration to avoid misdiagnosis. Postoperative recurrence is not associated with acantholysis in EMPD.

Testing Hadronic Interactions at Ultrahigh Energies with Air Showers Measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory

Ultrahigh energy cosmic ray air showers probe particle physics at energies beyond the reach of accelerators. Here we introduce a new method to test hadronic interaction models without relying on the absolute energy calibration, and apply it to events with primary energy 6-16 EeV (E_{CM}=110-170  TeV), whose longitudinal development and lateral distribution were simultaneously measured by the Pierre Auger Observatory. The average hadronic shower is 1.33±0.16 (1.61±0.21) times larger than predicted using the leading LHC-tuned models EPOS-LHC (QGSJetII-04), with a corresponding excess of muons.

[Relationship between decreased expression of inhibin B and spermatogenesis dysfunction in rats testis]

Objective: To explore the effects of varicocele on the expressions of inhibin B in rat testes and the relationship between expression of inhibin B and spermatogenesis dysfunction. Methods: Twenty specific-pathogen-free Sprague-Dawley (SD) male rats were randomly divided into two groups with random number table: 4-week control group (C4) and 4-week experimental group(V4). Experimental varicocele was created by partial ligation of left renal vein in the V4 group; vein isolation without ligation was performed in the C4 group.Spermatogenetic function in the two groups were assessed. The expression of inhibin B in the rat testis was analyzed by immunohistochemistry, the expressions of inhibin B, Fas and Fas ligand(FasL)mRNA measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), and the inhibin B protein expression by Western blot. Results: In comparison of spermatogenetic function in left rat testes, the Johnsen scores in the V4 group were significantly lower than those in the C4 group (9.79±0.05 vs 9.97±0.02, P=0.023), the seminiferous epithelium in the V4 group was significantly thinner than that in the C4 group [(48.35±0.99)μm vs (57.58±1.98)μm, P=0.000], and the number of sperms in the left epididymis was significantly lower than in the right one in the V4 group [(933±161)×10⁶/(ml·g) vs(1 552±184)×10⁶/(ml·g), P=0.017]. Both Western blot and immunohistochemical assay showed that the expression of inhibin B in the rat testes was significantly lower in the V4 group than in the C4 group(0.407±0.053 vs 0.608±0.076, P=0.038; 0.161±0.004 vs 0.183±0.005, P=0.008). RT-PCR also detected reduced expression of inhibin B mRNA in the V4 group compared with the C4 group(0.522±0.050 vs 1.106±0.210, P=0.003. Compared to the C4 group, the expression of Fas mRNA in the V4 group was significantly lower, while the expression of FasL mRNA in the V4 group was significantly higher(P=0.019, 0.015). Conclusions: Varicocele can lead to decreased expressions of inhibin B in rat testes and cause spermatogenesis dysfunction. There may be a close correlation between down-regulation ofinhibin B expression and spermatogenesis dysfunction.Inhibin B may play a significant rolein the mechanisms underlying male infertility due to varicocele.

[Current smoking status and awareness of tobacco hazard in adults in Beijing, 2014]

Objective: To understand the status of current smoking and awareness of hazard in adults in Beijing, 2014. Methods: A total of 19 815 subjects were randomly selected with stratified multi-stage cluster sampling from 180 communities of 36 townships of 16 districts in Beijing. Each subject received a standardized questionnaire interview. Results: The current smoking rate of the adults was 26.6% (5 253/19 738), which was higher in men (52.2%) than in women (3.6%) and higher in suburb area (28.9%) than in urban area (25.0%). The adults aged 50-59 had higher rate of current smoking. The daily smoking rate was 23.7% (4 677/19 738). The average age when smoking started was 19.2 years. On average, one smoker consumed 15.2 cigarettes per day. The average score for smoking hazard awareness was 5.8, which was higher in smokers than in non-smokers (5.5 vs. 6.0) (t=-9.854, P=0.000). In the smokers, 5.7% (298/5 213) intended to give up smoking within one month. Doctors gave advice to stop smoking for 66.0% of current smokers. The current smoking rate of patients with chronic disease was 31.8% (3 703/11 628), and 5.5% (202/3 686) of them intended to stop smoking within one month. Conclusions: The smoking rate was still high in men in Beijing. The age of starting smoking every day decreased among younger people. The levels of awareness of tobacco hazard and passive smoking were still low. The willingness of smoking cessation was low. The rate of doctor giving smoking cessation advice was low.

Measurement of the Radiation Energy in the Radio Signal of Extensive Air Showers as a Universal Estimator of Cosmic-Ray Energy

We measure the energy emitted by extensive air showers in the form of radio emission in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. Exploiting the accurate energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we obtain a radiation energy of 15.8±0.7(stat)±6.7(syst)  MeV for cosmic rays with an energy of 1 EeV arriving perpendicularly to a geomagnetic field of 0.24 G, scaling quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy. A comparison with predictions from state-of-the-art first-principles calculations shows agreement with our measurement. The radiation energy provides direct access to the calorimetric energy in the electromagnetic cascade of extensive air showers. Comparison with our result thus allows the direct calibration of any cosmic-ray radio detector against the well-established energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory.

Search for patterns by combining cosmic-ray energy and arrival directions at the Pierre Auger Observatory

Energy-dependent patterns in the arrival directions of cosmic rays are searched for using data of the Pierre Auger Observatory. We investigate local regions around the highest-energy cosmic rays with [Formula: see text] eV by analyzing cosmic rays with energies above [Formula: see text] eV arriving within an angular separation of approximately 15[Formula: see text]. We characterize the energy distributions inside these regions by two independent methods, one searching for angular dependence of energy-energy correlations and one searching for collimation of energy along the local system of principal axes of the energy distribution. No significant patterns are found with this analysis. The comparison of these measurements with astrophysical scenarios can therefore be used to obtain constraints on related model parameters such as strength of cosmic-ray deflection and density of point sources.

Risk of postoperative deep venous thrombosis in patients with colorectal cancer treated with open or laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Whether the incidence rate of deep venous thrombosis (DVT) between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery the same or not were under the debated without conclusion. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery by meta-analysis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The open published articles comparing the incidence of DVT after laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer were collected in the data bases of Medline, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials and CNKI. The relative risk (RR) was pooled by using random or fixed effect mode to evaluate the incidence of DVT between laparoscopic or open colorectal cancer surgery.

RESULTS

After searching the databases, 9 randomized clinical studies with 2606 colorectal cancer cases were included in this meta-analysis. The mean operation time was 201.8 ± 17.28 min with its range of 180.0-224.4 min in the laparoscopic surgery group and 148.1 ± 18.8 min with its range of 135.0-184.0 min in the open surgery group. The operation time for laparoscopic surgery group were significant lower than in the open surgery group (P < 0.05). The RR of DVT between the laparoscopy and open surgery groups was 0.71 with its 95% confidence interval of 0.35-1.45 (P = 0.35).

CONCLUSIONS

The operation time in laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was statistical longer than in the open colorectal cancer surgery, but the DVT risk of the two surgery approach was not different according to this meta-analysis.

Emergency endovascular stent-grafting for acute type B aortic dissection with symptomatic malperfusion

AIM

The aim of this paper was to analyze the durability and efficacy of emergency thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for acute Stanford type B aortic dissection (TBAD) with malperfusion syndrome.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of acute TBAD with spinal cord, kidney, viscera, and extremity malperfusion was performed. Emergency TEVAR to cover primary tear site by stent-graft was strongly suggested to included candidates. Computed tomography (CT) scans and clinical findings were carried out in diagnosis and follow-up.

RESULTS

One hundred twenty-seven TBAD patients (101 men, 46.1±11.4 year, range 34~76) who presented with acute end-organ malperfusion, including sudden paraplegia (N.=4), acute renal failure (N.=26), acute viscera ischemia (N.=61) and limb ischemia (N.=36), received aortic stent-grafting 2~48 hours after onset. Technical success was achieved in all primary TEVAR. The overall endoleak rate was 7.1% (9/127; typeI:3; typeII: 4; typeIV: 2). The 30-day mortality was 0.8% (2/127). 125 patients were followed for 19.1±14.5 (1~86) months, one patient died 50 days post-TEVAR due to myocardial infarction. Four patients required reintervention with additional stent grafts. Follow-up CT angiography showed enlargement of the true lumen and different degrees of thrombosis in the distal false lumen (complete thrombosis in 48, partial thrombosis in 52 and patency in 24).

CONCLUSION

Emergency TEVAR is an effective method to treat acute TBAD complicated with end-organ malperfusion. Covering of the proximal entry site of TBAD by stent-graft leads to flow increased in the true lumen and thrombosis of the false lumen of varying degree, which may improve end-organ perfusion and restore branch vessels patency.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for the prediction of the depletion of methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid, the marker residue of olaquindox, in the edible tissues of pigs

To estimate the consumer exposure to olaquindox (OLA) residues in porcine edible tissues, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for methyl-3-quinoxaline-2-carboxylic acid (MQCA), the marker residue of OLA, was developed in pigs based on the assumptions of the flow-limited distribution, hepatic metabolism, and renal excretion. The model included separate compartments corresponding to blood, muscle, liver, kidney, adipose, and an extra compartment representing the remaining carcass. Physiological parameters were determined from literatures. Plasma protein binding, partition coefficients, and renal clearance for MQCA were determined in in vitro and in vivo studies. The metabolic conversion of OLA to MQCA was assumed as a simple, one-step process, and an apparent first-order rate constant (k) was employed to describe this metabolic process. The PBPK model was optimized and validated with plasma and tissue data from literatures and our study. Sensitivity analysis and Monte Carlo simulation were also implemented to estimate the influence of model parameters on the goodness of fit. When compared with the observed data, the PBPK model underestimated the MQCA level in all compartments at the early time points, whereas gave excellent predictions of MQCA concentration in porcine edible tissues at later time points. The correlation coefficients between the predicted and observed values were over 0.88. The consistency between the model predictions and the real residues of OLA in pigs proved the good applicability of our model in food safety risk assessment.

MicroRNAs as regulators in normal hematopoietic and leukemia stem cells: current concepts and clinical implications

Relapse after current treatment is one of the main limitations to the complete cure of leukemia, and a concept that leukemia stem cell (LSC) is the major cause of relapse has been proposed. LSCs are derived from normal hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), residing at the apex of leukemia cells and hiding in the bone marrow (BM) niche to evade chemotherapy. Novel therapy is strongly needed based on the unique features of LSCs to directly target these cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, are now known to play important roles on cancer stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Because of the ability of miRNAs to inactivate either specific genes or entire gene families, strategies based on differential expression levels of miRNAs in LSCs as dominant activators or suppressors of gene activity have emerged as promising new candidate approaches for eradicating LSCs. In this review, we highlight new findings regarding the roles of miRNAs in LSC maintenance of quiescence repression, self-renewal, surface marker targeting, and the LSCBM niche interaction. We also discuss recent advances and future challenges to use LSC specific miRNAs as potential therapeutic molecules in eradicating LSCs.

Increased expression of alpha 1-anti-trypsin in the synovial tissues of patients with ankylosing spondylitis

OBJECTIVES

Evidence indicates that the hyperplasia and inflammation of synovial tissues are significantly related to the pathogenic process of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Using a proteomics approach, we detected a significantly increased expression of alpha 1-anti-trypsin (ATA1) in synovial membranes of patients with AS.

METHODS

We continued to investigate the expression level and location of ATA1 in synovial tissue of AS. We also investigated the genetic effect of the gene encoding ATA1 on AS. Western blot analysis was applied to determine the expression of ATA1 in synovial tissues by comparing the expression profiles of AS (n=8), rheumatoid arthritis (RA, n=9) and osteoarthritis (OA, n=9) samples. Immunohistochemistry was used to localise the expression of ATA1 in the synovial membrane. Taqman method was used to genotype tag SNPs (rs2753934, rs2749531 and rs6575424) with 56 AS cases, 260 RA cases and 160 healthy controls.

RESULTS

We detected an increased expression of ATA1 in synovial membranes of AS as compared with samples from RA and OA. We immuno-localised the significant expression of ATA1 in AS tissues. No significant association was found between the ATA1 polymorphism and AS or RA. Haplotype analysis did not reveal a haplotype to be associated with AS or RA.

CONCLUSIONS

It has been reported that ATA1 is related with inflammation and new bone formation, two important features of AS. The current findings suggest that ATA1 contributes to the pathogenesis of AS by up-regulating the gene expression in the synovial tissues.

Langerhans' cell histiocytosis with multisystem involvement in an adult

A 32-year-old Chinese woman presented for further investigation with a 6-year history of polyuria and polydipsia, a 4-year history of vulva ulceration and a 2-year history of gingival swelling. A biopsy of the vulva lesion showed diffuse infiltration of medium-sized cells with lobulated, grooved, vesicular nuclei. Occasional mitoses were present. The infiltrate of the cells showed reactivity with antibody to S-100 protein and CD1a, confirming the diagnosis of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis (LCH). Cephalic magnetic resonance imaging scanning revealed that an 8 x 7 x 8 mm3 large mass was located at the pituitary stalk. An X-ray film of the jaw showed sharply demarcated rarefaction of the right posterior portion of the mandible. In women with diabetes insipidus and genital ulcer, LCH should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

The suppressed proliferation and premature senescence by ganciclovir in p53-mutated human non-small-lung cancer cells acquiring herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase cDNA

The concerted actions of molecular networks determine how cells undergo proliferation, death or aging. Here we show that the highly invasive, tumorigenic human non-small-cell-lung cancer (NSCLC) cells carrying mutated p53 alleles were transfected with herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) cDNA and the selected clone was susceptible to exogenous ganciclovir (GCV). The work further indicated that, in the stable HSV-tk transfectants, GCV suppressed cell proliferation by inducing G(2)/M cell cycle arrest and premature senescence and the potency can be amplified through bystander effect. The growth suppression of the established tumor xenografts in nude mice can be successfully targeted by GCV. These data showed that the GCV-suppressed tumor cell proliferation can be coordinated by cell cycle arrest and cellular senescence in HSV-tk transfectant lacking wild-type p53.

Familial atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis: case report and pedigree analysis

Atrophia maculosa varioliformis cutis (AVMC) was first described in 1918, as a rarely reported form of idiopathic macular atrophy on the cheeks. Nineteen patients have been reported in the past 86 years. Recently we diagnosed a 25-year-old woman as AMVC and investigated her family history. We collected the clinical data of the pedigree and presumed that AVMV is in a autosomal dominant inheritance.