Expression of Annexin A1 during Skin Incised Wound Healing in Mice

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the expression changes of annexin A1 （ANXA1） during the process of skin incision healing, and to explore its expression and function during skin injury repair.

METHODS

The skin injury model of mice was prepared, and skin tissues of the controls and the injured group at 6 h, 12 h, 1 d, 3 d, 5 d, 7 d, 10 d and 14 d after injuries were taken. The morphological changes of the wound were observed by hematoxylin-eosin （HE） staining, and the expression of ANXA1 was detected by immunohistochemistry （IHC） and Western blotting.

RESULTS

HE staining showed normal healing of skin wounds. IHC results revealed that ANXA1 was expressed in the epidermis, hair follicle, sebaceous gland and vascular endothelium. In the injured group, the expression of ANXA1 was enhanced in epidermis and skin appendages around the wound 6-12 h after injury, and ANXA1 was also highly expressed in neutrophils and a small number of mononuclear cells. ANXA1 was mainly positively expressed in monocytes, neovascular endothelial cells and fibroblasts, and small amount of fibroblasts at 1-3 d, 5-10 d, and 14 d after injury, respectively. Western blotting showed that, compared with the controls, the expression of ANXA1 was significantly increased at 6 h after injury, peaked at 1 d, and then decreased gradually in the injured group.

CONCLUSIONS

ANXA1 may be involved in the regulation of skin damage repair, with time-dependent expression during skin wound healing, and thus is expected to be a biological marker for inferring the wound formation time.

62 Sequential nutrient restriction and provision during bovine in vitro embryo culture differentially affect blastocyst development and quality with oocytes from varied sources

We have demonstrated that bovine blastocyst development was improved after culture in medium with only 6.25% of standard carbohydrate and amino acid concentrations, supplemented with fatty acids. However, these blastocysts had lower cell numbers. We hypothesised that this was due to deficiencies in embryo metabolism at the time of blastocyst formation. Thus, our objectives were to (1) determine whether using a sequential combination of nutrient concentrations could rescue blastocyst cell number; and (2) investigate the efficacy of reduced nutrient medium in 2 sources of oocytes. Oocytes were in vitro matured in identical medium either in our laboratory or during shipment from a commercial supplier. Oocytes in our laboratory were derived from feedlot heifers while purchased oocytes were obtained from culled cows. Zygotes were cultured using sequential medium with fraction V BSA. In step 1/step 2, embryos were cultured using 100% (glucose 0.5 mM/fructose 3.0mM, pyruvate 0.3/0.1mM, lactate 10.0/6.0mM, NEEA 1×/1× MEM, EAA 0.25×/0.5× MEM), 25% or 6.25% of standard nutrient concentrations. On Day 3, embryos were moved to step 2 as follows: 100% to 100%, 25% to 25%, 25% to 100%, 6.25% to 25%, or 6.25% to 100%. Lipid content of single mature oocytes from both sources was determined using gas chromatography coupled to an ISQ-LT MS/MS (GC-MS; Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA). Data (mean±s.e.m.) were analysed using ANOVA (P<0.05). When oocytes from feedlot heifers were used, blastocyst development and cell number did not differ between treatments. When oocytes from culled cows were used, blastocyst development was improved after embryo culture in 25-25% (45.1±3.3%) and 6.25-25% (46.6±3.2%) compared with 100-100% (34.2±3.2%). However, inner cell mass number of blastocysts cultured in 25-25% (25.6±2.5) and 6.25-25% (26.0±2.6) was reduced compared with 100-100% (41.4±4.5); TE and total cell number did not differ. Embryos cultured in 100-100%, 25-100%, and 6.25-100% were equivalent. Metabolomics revealed that 10 lipid compounds (polyunsaturated fatty acids, glycosyldiacylglycerols, and glycerophospholipids) differed in abundance between the two sources of oocytes. These results show that oocytes from different sources lead to different experimental outcomes, likely due to a combination of age, body condition, diet, and hormone treatment of the female. Oocytes from culled cows result in embryos that develop to blastocysts better in a reduced nutrient environment, although these embryos have fewer inner cell masses, suggesting that quality may be reduced. Embryos from feedlot heifer oocytes are relatively immune to nutrient fluctuations. Different endogenous fatty acid reserves in the oocyte may lead to differing metabolic strategies in the subsequent embryo, altering their response to substrate availability during in vitro culture. These results also demonstrate that reduction of nutrients during culture has no detrimental effect on blastocyst development or total cell number in either oocyte source, but that inner cell mass formation requires increased nutrient provision.

57 Non-targeted metabolomic profiles within the uterine milieu of porcine pregnancies containing populations of uniform or diverse spherical, ovoid, or tubular conceptuses during initiation of embryo elongation

Alterations in the signalling of critical molecular factors within the uterine milieu result in deficiencies in embryo elongation, leading directly to embryonic loss as well as delayed elongation. The objective of this study was to identify metabolites within the uterine environment from populations of uniform and diverse porcine conceptuses as they transition between spherical, ovoid, and tubular conceptuses during the initiation of embryo elongation. White crossbred gilts (n=38) were bred at standing oestrus (designated Day 0) and again 24h later and randomly assigned to collection group. At Day 9, 10, or 11 of gestation, reproductive tracts were collected immediately following harvest and flushed with 40mL of RPMI-1640 media. Conceptus morphologies were assessed from each pregnancy to assign to 1 of 5 treatment groups based on these morphologies: (1) uniform spherical (n=8); (2) diverse spherical and ovoid (n=8); (3) uniform ovoid (n=8); (4) diverse ovoid and tubular (n=8); and (5) uniform tubular (n=6). Subsequently uterine flushings from these pregnancies were submitted for non-targeted profiling by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) techniques. Raw spectral data were processed using the XCMS package in R (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria) and features were clustered using RAMclustR. Unsupervised multivariate principal component analysis was performed in R using pcamethods package, and univariate ANOVA was performed in R with a Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate adjustment. Principal component analysis of the GC-MS and UPLC-MS data identified 153 and 104 metabolites, respectively. Of the identified metabolites, 51 and 71 metabolites from the GC-MS and UPLC-MS analysis, respectively, corresponded to known compounds. After false discovery rate adjustment of the GC-MS and UPLC-MS data, 38 and 59 metabolites from the GC-MS and UPLC-MS analysis, respectively, differed (P<0.05) in uterine flushings from pregnancies for the 5 conceptus stages. Some metabolites were greater (P<0.05) in abundance for uterine flushings containing earlier stage conceptuses (i.e. spherical) such as uric acid, tryptophan, 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan, and L-tryosine. In contrast, some metabolites were greater (P<0.05) in abundance for uterine flushings containing later stage conceptuses (i.e. tubular) such as creatinine, serine, isovaleryl-I-carnitine, and lauric diethaolamide. These data illustrate several putative metabolites that change within the uterine milieu as porcine embryos transition between spherical, ovoid, and tubular conceptuses. Funding was provided by USDA-NIFA-AFRI Grant no. 2017-67015-26456.

[Imaging diagnosis of brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis]

Objective: To compare the characteristics of X-ray, CT and MRI of Brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis and its significance for differential diagnosis. Methods: A total of 10 cases of Brucella spondylitis and 20 cases of tuberculous spondylitis confirmed from the clinical, laboratory or pathological department were enrolled between January 2014 and August 2017 in the Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University and the Third Affiliated Hospital of Southern Medical University. The CT, MRI findings were retrospectively analyzed to improve the differential diagnosis of these two diseases. Results: Of the 10 cases of Brucella spondylitis, 8 were located only in the lumbosacral vertebrae, 1 in the thoracic vertebrae only, 1 in the cervical and thoracic vertebrae, 8 with invasive bone destruction, and 8 with narrowed intervertebral space. In 9 cases of intervertebral disc destruction, 7 cases developed paravertebral abscesses, 3 cases had sclerotic edges, all cases had no vertebral body flattening, 5 cases invaded the accessory, 4 cases formed sequestrum, and 6 cases invaded the spinal canal. There were 3 cases showing invasion of surrounding muscles. In 20 cases of tuberculous spondylitis, 12 cases were located in the lumbosacral vertebrae, 6 cases in the thoracic vertebrae only, 1 involved the thoracic vertebrae and lumbosacral vertebrae, 1 involved the neck, chest, and lumbosacral vertebrae. Bone destruction of bone, 19 cases of intervertebral space narrowing, 20 cases of intervertebral disc destruction, 18 cases of paraspinal abscess formation, 10 cases of sclerotic edge formation, 6 cases of vertebral body flattened, 16 cases of invading attachment. There were 17 cases of sequestrum formation, 13 cases of invasion of the spinal canal, and 12 cases of violation of surrounding muscles. There were statistical differences between the two types of imaging signs such as the type of vertebral destruction and the presence or absence of sequestrum. Conclusion: The type of vertebral destruction and the presence or absence of imaging features such as sequestrumwill facilitate the differential diagnosis of Brucella spondylitis and tuberculous spondylitis.

[Clinical applications of intelligent pressure control flexible ureteroscope for the treatment of renal calculi ≤2 cm]

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of intelligent pressure control flexible ureteroscope for management of renal stones ≤2 cm. Methods: The clinical data of 267 cases of renal calculi treated with flexible ureteroscope lithotripsy at Department of Urology, Ganzhou People's Hospital from June 2015 to December 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 129 male and 138 female patients, with a mean age of 51.2 years (ranging from 19 to 76 years). Among them, 145 patients underwent intelligent pressure control flexible ureteroscope (intelligent control group) and 122 patients underwent flexible ureteroscope ordinary (ordinary group). The t test, χ² test or Fisher exact test were used for statistical analysis. The success rate of stone seeking, the stone free rates, the incidence of complications, the average operation time, the average hospital stay after operation were compared between the two groups. Results: The average mean operative time of the patients with intelligent control group was (26.17 ± 8.64) minutes, significantly shorter than (47.23±18.35) minutes of the ordinary group (t=1.968, P=0.000). The stone free rate of the patients with intelligent control group was 97.2%, it was higher than 86.0% of ordinary group (χ²=0.069, P=0.004). The complication rate of the patients with intelligent control group was 2.7%, which was significantly shorter than 18.0% of the ordinary group (χ²=17.586, P=0.000). However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in the success rate of stone seeking and postoperative hospital stay (P>0.05). Conclusion: Intelligent controlled pressure ureteral flexible ureteroscope has the advantages of short operation time, high stone free rate and less complications in the treatment of renal calculi ≤2 cm compared with flexible ureteroscope ordinary.

Epithelial membrane protein 2: a novel biomarker for circulating tumor cell recovery in breast cancer

PURPOSE

EpCAM is a common marker used in the detection of circulating tumor cells (CTC). Disseminated cancer cells display the characteristics of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition events. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of epithelial membrane protein 2 (EMP2) as a novel biomarker for CTC retrieval in breast cancer.

METHODS

MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were stained with either anti-EpCAM or anti-EMP2 mAbs, respectively, followed by flow cytometric assay to measure their expression levels. PBMCs isolated from healthy donors were used for breast cancer cell spiking. CD45-depleted PBMCs from breast cancer patients' blood were used for CTC capturing. Immunomagnetic separation was used to enrich breast cancer cells. Cytospin centrifugation was performed to concentrate the captured cells, followed by immunofluorescence staining with anti-CD45 mAb, anti-pan cytokeratin mAb and DAPI. Fluorescent images were taken using a confocal microscope for CTC counts.

RESULT

MDA-MB-231 cells had 2.56 times higher EMP2 expression than MCF7 cells, and EMP2 had a significantly higher capture efficiency than EpCAM for MCF7 cells. Furthermore, anti-EMP2 was capable of capturing MCF7 cells that escaped in the flow-through of anti-EpCAM. Likewise, EMP2 had a significantly higher capture efficiency on MDA-MB-231 cells when compared to MCF7 cells. Most importantly, EMP2 biomarker was successfully used for CTC capture in patients with primary breast cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

EMP2 is superior to EpCAM for capturing both MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. Additionally, EMP2 is a novel biomarker and capable of capturing breast cancer cells in patient blood samples.

Increased serum periostin concentrations are associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

To determine the association between serum periostin and the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODS

Serum periostin was detected in 114 healthy subjects, 122 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 159 patients with DR and compared among groups. Clinical data and other laboratory measurements such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profiles, serum creatinine (Cr) and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were also collected and compared among groups. For subgroup analysis, patients with DR were divided into a non-proliferated diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group and a proliferated diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group. Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The serum periostin level was significantly higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared with healthy subjects and patients with T2DM (both P < 0.001, respectively). Also, the periostin level was significantly higher in the PDR group compared to the NPDR group (P = 0.044). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that serum periostin was independently associated with the presence of DR in patients with T2DM (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for DR development using serum periostin showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) was 0.838 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated that serum periostin is significantly associated with the presence of DR in patients with T2DM and is an independent risk factor of DR.

Nosocomial outbreak of Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto fungaemia in a neonatal intensive care unit in China

BACKGROUND

Candida parapsilosis is a common agent of fungaemia, but few outbreaks of Candida parapsilosis infection have been reported in China.

AIM

To elaborate an outbreak of nosocomial Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto fungaemia in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a comprehensive hospital in China from July to October 2017.

METHODS

Epidemics and characteristics of fungaemia cases were investigated. Surveillance samples were collected. Vitek 2 Compact System, internal transcribed spacer sequencing, and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing were conducted to identify the isolates. Antifungal susceptibility test was performed for all bloodstream isolates.

FINDINGS

Sixteen neonates were diagnosed as Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto fungaemia during this period. Presenting symptoms included leucopenia, thrombocytopenia, and respiratory crackles. Fifteen cases were cured whereas one case who suffered from severe concomitant diseases died. The isolates were susceptible to fluconazole, amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole, and 5-fluorocytosine. A total of 313 surveillance samples were collected, and Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto was identified from 16 environmental samples and one sample from an ultrasonographer's hand. The colonized locations included wiping cloths, faucets, sinks, operating table, puddles in the bathroom, a ventilator, and an ultrasonic probe. The RAPD patterns of all the Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates from bloodstream and surveillance samples were identical. The outbreak was controlled after a series of infection control measures.

CONCLUSION

Contaminated environment was associated with this outbreak. Close attention to immunocompromised patients, thorough environmental disinfection and hand hygiene should be strengthened in NICU.

Effect of peer support on diabetes distress: a cluster randomized controlled trial

AIM

To investigate whether peer support would reduce diabetes distress and improve glycaemic control when added to usual diabetes education among adults with Type 2 diabetes in China.

METHODS

We conducted a cluster randomized trial involving 400 adults with Type 2 diabetes from eight communities in Nanjing. All participants received usual education for an average of 2 h each month from physicians, certified diabetes educators, dieticians, psychologists and podiatric nurses. Peer support was led by trained peer leaders and included diabetes knowledge- and skills-sharing at least once a month, as well as peer-to-peer communication. The primary outcome was diabetes distress measured using the Diabetes Distress Scale at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included fasting plasma glucose, 2-h postprandial glucose and HbA_1c concentration. Outcome data were collected from all participants at baseline, 6 months and 12 months.

RESULTS

From 2012 to 2013, there were 200 participants in each study arm at baseline. Compared with the usual education arm, the peer support with usual education arm had greater reductions in regimen-related distress (1.4 ± 0.6 vs 1.2 ± 0.4; P=0.004) and total distress (1.3 ± 0.4 vs 1.2 ± 0.3; P=0.038) at 6 months. At 12 months, the scores for emotional burden (1.2 ± 0.3 vs 1.4 ± 0.6; P=0.002), physician-related distress (1.1 ± 0.3 vs 1.3 ± 0.4; P=0.001) and total scores (1.2 ± 0.3 vs 1.3 ± 0.4; P=0.002) were significantly lower in the peer support with usual education arm than in the usual education arm. Fasting plasma glucose levels were lower in the peer support with usual education arm than in the usual education arm at 6 months (7.5 ± 1.95 vs 8.0 ± 2.2; P=0.044) and 12 months (7.0 ± 2.3 vs 7.6 ± 1.5; P=0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Beyond the benefits of usual education, peer support was effective in reducing diabetes distress for Type 2 diabetes mellitus. (Clinical Trials Registry no: NCT02119572).

Evaluation of idiopathic olfactory loss with chemosensory event-related potentials and magnetic resonance imaging

Background

Idiopathic olfactory loss (IOL) accounts for a sizable fraction of olfactory dysfunction, but very little is known about its etiology and electrophysiological changes in the olfactory pathway.

Methods

We analyzed the physiology of IOL using chemosensory event‐related potentials (ERPs) (olfactory and trigeminal: oERP and tERP) and olfactory pathway magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measured in adult patients with IOL and healthy controls. Subjective olfactory function was measured by Toyota and Takagi (T&T) olfactometry and Sniffin’ Sticks (SS).

Results

Olfactory function was worse in patients with IOL compared to controls (T&T, p < 0.001; SS, p < 0.001). oERPs could be evoked in 17 IOL patients. Signals in these patients showed lower amplitude in the N₁ and P₂ waves than controls (p < 0.05 for both), but there were no difference in latency between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). tERP were detected in all patients and controls; there were no differences in latency and nor amplitude between the 2 groups (p > 0.05). The olfactory bulb (OB) volume was significantly smaller in the IOL group than controls (p < 0.001), but there was no difference in the olfactory sulcus depth between groups (p > 0.05). Better olfactory function was associated with increasing magnitude of N₁ amplitude in oERPs (p < 0.05) and increasing OB volume (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

IOL patients show neurophysiologic deficits and some anatomic differences compared to healthy controls.

Study on the effects of parecoxib on hypothalamus orexin neuron of cerebral infarction rats

OBJECTIVE

To explore the effect of parecoxib on cerebral infarction in rats and the regulatory mechanism on hypothalamus orexin neurons (orexin) and protein expression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

60 SD male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group and treatment group (20 rats in each group). Cerebral infarction model was established by modified Longa method. Rats in the treatment group were given parecoxib (2.5 mg kg-1) in tail by intravenous injection, while both the sham operation group and the model group were given the equal volume of sterile PBS solution in the tail vein. Continuous intervention of 72h was carried out in the three groups. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot were used to detect the expression of orexin neurons and orexin protein in the hypothalamus of rats, respectively.

RESULTS

Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of orexin positive cells in the model group was significantly less than that in the sham-operated group (p < 0.01). After treatment intervention, the number of orexin positive cells in the hypothalamus was significantly increased compared to that in model group (p < 0.01). Western blot analysis showed that compared with sham operation group, the expression of orexin in the hypothalamus of model group was significantly decreased (p < 0.01), whereas the expression of orexin protein was significantly elevated after parecoxib intervention (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Parecoxib plays a therapeutic effect on cerebral infarction by up-regulating the orexin neuron.

Chemical-bond effect on epitaxial strain in perovskite sodium niobate

Epitaxial films and heterostructures of perovskite oxides attract tremendous scientific interest because of the unique phenomena therein. Especially important is the epitaxial growth of films subjected to substrate-induced misfit strain. We show here that in contrast to conventional misfit-controlled epitaxy, chemical bonds determine the crystal stability and strain in epitaxial films of sodium niobate on different cubic substrates. Strain relaxation in sodium niobate is independent of misfit magnitude and proceeds through perovskite-specific tilting of oxygen octahedra in addition to common defect formation. The observed structural relaxation evidences a major role of a large internal strain that originates from chemical bonds in the perovskite cell. The effect of chemical bonds on film strain is anticipated to also control the epitaxy of other perovskite oxides and related compounds.

73 Fatty Acid Supplementation in Culture Medium with Reduced Nutrient Concentrations Improves Bovine Blastocyst Development Compared with Standard Culture Medium

Lipids are a potent source of cellular energy and are metabolized within mitochondria via fatty acid β-oxidation, a process that also requires carnitine. Embryos metabolize lipids during pre-implantation development, but relatively little is known about the effect of fatty acid supplementation for early bovine embryogenesis in culture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lipid supplementation (via albumin) and l-carnitine (C; 5 mM) during embryo culture in a novel medium with reduced concentrations of nutrients, compared with our standard culture medium (control). Following in vitro maturation and IVF, zygotes were cultured using a serum-free sequential media system (0-72 h step 1; 72-168 h step 2). Concentrations of salts, bicarbonate, and protein [2.5 mg mL−1 fatty acid-free (FAF) or fraction V (FrV) BSA] were the same in all treatments to maintain consistent osmolarity and pH. Nutrients (glucose/fructose, citrate, lactate, pyruvate, amino acids, vitamins, and EDTA) were diluted to 6.25% of control. In addition to the control medium (100%+FAF; n = 587), experimental treatments included 6.25%+FAF+C (essentially lipid free; n = 573) and 6.25%+FrV+C (lipid rich; n = 585). Following in vitro culture (7 reps), hatching blastocysts were stained to determine inner cell mass (ICM; SOX2+) and trophectoderm (TE; CDX2+) cell numbers. Lipid content of single expanded blastocysts was determined using gas chromatography coupled to an ISQ-LT MS/MS (GC-MS). Data (mean ± SEM) were analysed by ANOVA. Embryo cleavage did not differ between treatments. Blastocyst development (per cleaved embryo) was higher (P < 0.05) after culture in lipid rich (38.3 ± 1.5%) compared with control (29.6 ± 2.2%) and lipid free (28.1 ± 3.6%). Blastocyst hatching was reduced (P < 0.05) in lipid free (1.4 ± 0.7%) but not in lipid rich (5.2 ± 1.7) compared with control (9.8 ± 2.1). However, blastocysts developed in lipid rich and lipid free had reduced cell numbers compared with control: TE, 98.7 ± 5.9 and 98.8 ± 9.1 v. 160.3 ± 9.0; ICM, 19.2 ± 2.9 and 25.2 ± 6.1 v. 43.3 ± 4.0; and total cell number, 117.9 ± 7.3 and 124.0 ± 8.7 v. 203.6 ± 10.2, respectively. Analysis by GC-MS identified 40 annotated lipids (i.e. triacylglycerols and phosphatidyl cholines) that were significantly reduced in blastocysts cultured in lipid rich compared with control. In summary, blastocyst development was significantly improved after supplementation of fatty acids and l-carnitine to a medium with reduced nutrient concentrations. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon may be related to increased lipid metabolism in the low nutrient environment. Although more embryos developed in this novel medium, these blastocysts had reduced cell numbers even though blastocyst expansion and hatching were not affected. This reduced nutrient medium may provide an experimental model in which to independently study pathways controlling cell proliferation and blastocyst development. Future studies will investigate whether embryo cell number can be rescued while maintaining improved blastocyst development.

[Application of dysphonia severity index in laryngeal reflux related voice diseases]

Objective:To discuss the validity and reliability of dysphonia severity index in evaluating the effect of diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal reflux related voice diseases. Method:54 cases of voice disease patients accompanied by laryngopharyngeal reflux from January 2016 to June 2017 in department of otorhinolaryngology of our hospital were divided into two groups according to treatment type. 32 cases in the operation group received laser surgery and standard acid suppression therapy for 6 weeks, and 22 patients in the non-operation group received standard acid suppression therapy for 6 weeks. 24 h multichannel impedance pH (MCII-pH) monitoring was carried out. The indexes of reflux symptom, reflux finding score, subjective auditory perception and objective acoustic parameters of voice were measured before and after treatment, and the dysphonia severity index was calculated and analyzed. Result:There was no significant difference in age, sex and course of disease between the two groups (P> 0.05).Compared with pre-treatment, RSI, RFS, Jitter, Shimmer, G and R in two groups decreased significantly after treatment, and MPT, DSI increased significantly (P<0.05). Before treatment, RSI, RFS, Jitter, Shimmer, G and R in the operation group were significantly higher than those in the non-operation group, and MPT, DSI were lower (P<0.05). There were no significant differences in the parameters between the two groups after treatment (P> 0.05). DSI was negatively correlated with GRBAS scoring parameters, Jitter and Shimmer, and positively correlated with RSI, RFS, and MPT (P<0.01). DSI is related to the location of the lesion (P<0.05) The incidence of anxiety was 27.27% in patients with moderate and severe sudden sensorineural hearing loss, and the incidence of depression was 25.25%. The scores of anxiety and depression were statistically significant (P<0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the status of anxiety and depression was accompanied by symptoms and other diseases (P<0.05). There was a significant difference between the effective group, the significant efficacy group and the cured group (P<0.05). The difference between the scores before and after treatment was compared. Differences in the ineffective group compared with the other three groups, and the cured group compared with the other three groups of anxiety, depression were statistically significant. Conclusion:DSI can be used as an objective evaluation index for the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal reflux related voice diseases, and it is accurate and reliable.

Does thyroid dysfunction increase the risk of breast cancer? A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To investigate the relationship between hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, thyroid hormone replacement, and the risk of breast cancer.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMbase, Web of Science, and China Biology Medicine (CBM) databases through June 2016 to identify researches that assessed the relationship between thyroid dysfunction and the risk of breast cancer together with the impact of thyroid hormone substitution treatment on incidence of breast cancer. Quality of evidence was assessed per outcome, using GRADE.

RESULTS

A total of 13 population-based studies including 24,808 participants were identified as eligible for this meta-analysis. A meta-analysis of 12 researches illustrated that hypothyroidism was not related to the risk for breast cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 0.83, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-1.08, P = 0.162]. 10 researches illustrated that hyperthyroidism was also not related to the risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 0.83-1.30, P = 0.767). The impact of therapy was evaluated in six researches; there was no proof of a relationship between thyroid hormone substitution treatment and breast cancer with an overall OR of 0.83 (95% CI 0.57-1.21, P = 0.965).

CONCLUSIONS

Our meta-analysis illustrated that thyroid dysfunction may not be related to increased risk of breast cancer as well as the thyroid hormone substitution treatment did not reduce the incidence of breast cancer; while this study has some confounders that might weaken the results of this meta-analysis, we believe that the findings provide valuable information for stakeholders concerned with outcomes in patients with thyroid dysfunction.

[Percutaneous biopsy of the renal masses under ultrasound: a single-center 14 years experience]

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic rate, safety and clinical application of percutaneous renal masses biopsy for advanced renal cell carcinoma patients.

METHODS

In this retrospective study, we collected the data of renal masses from the patients who underwent renal masses biopsy under ultrasound from April 2001 to December 2014 in Peking University First Hospital. A total of 75 patients who were undiagnosed or diagnosed with advanced renal cell carcinoma by the imageological method were enrolled in this study. The patient and lesion characteristics such as tumor size, pathology of tumor, histologic subtype, pathological grade, biopsied location and biopsied cores were recorded and analyzed.

RESULTS

Among all the 75 patients, biopsy was diagnostic in 64 cases (85.3%) and non-diagnostic in 11 cases (14.7%). Of the 64 diagnostic biopsies, 60 were malignant, including 37 (61.7%) renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 13 (21.7%) urothelial carcinoma and 10 (16.7%) other malignant masses. Of all the RCC subjects, 24 suffered from clear cell RCC, 5 papillary RCC, 3 collecting duct carcinomas, 1 unclassified RCC and 4 unknown subtypes. The 11 non-diagnostic biopsied samplings included inflammatory, blood and extrarenal tissue and normal renal tissue. The proportion of collecting duct carcinoma in RCC was 10.8% and the proportion of squamous carcinoma in urothelial carcinoma was 23.1%, which were both higher than the previous research findings. For the male and female groups, non-diagnostic yields were 6.5% and 30.4%, respectively (P=0.022). Of all the 75 patients, 13 renal cell carcinoma patients underwent the surgical treatment and got the results of postoperative pathology. Comparing preoperative biopsy pathological diagnosis with postoperative pathological diagnosis, we found the diagnostic correct rates for benign and malignant lesions, pathological subtype and pathological grade were 100%, 81.8% and 60%, respectively. Mild macroscopic hematuria occurred in 1 case after RMB and there were no serious complications in all the cases.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous renal masses biopsy under ultrasound with a high diagnostic rate which can define the histologic subtype of renal cell carcinoma. With targeted therapy, more and more patients whose evaluation suggests local advanced disease or metastatic tumors adopt renal tumor biopsy to define the histologic subtype, which could avoid unnecessary surgical treatment.

An effective indicator in predicting cardiovascular events: urine albumin to creatinine ratio

OBJECTIVE

To study elderly hypertensive patients with trace albuminuria (urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR)) and the relationship between the occurrence of new cardiovascular events, to provide a basis for early prevention in elderly patients with high blood pressure.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 3564 elderly patients with high blood pressure were enrolled in the study. Based on UACR, patients were divided into four groups (group A: 0.05-3.20 mg/g; group B:3.21-10.04 mg/g; group C: 10.05-19.33 and group D: 19.34-30.00 mg/g). All patients underwent follow-up for an average period of 3.8 years. Four groups were compared for new cardiovascular events and they were correlated with UACR.

RESULTS

Through multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis, the relative risk of cardiocerebrovascular events, cerebral infarction, and acute myocardial infarction (mi), in group D was 1.74 times (p < 0.05), 1.66 times (p < 0.05), and 2.48 times (p < 0.05), respectively. UACR level in females and those with higher age, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, TG, TC, LDL-C levels and lower HDL-C were higher. During follow-up, patients from group D with sudden cardiac death, acute myocardial infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction occurrence was significantly higher than group A (χ2 = 79.3, p = 79.3) CONCLUSIONS: According to UACR level, we can perform early prevention for elderly patients with high blood pressure, thus reducing the occurrence of cerebral infarction and myocardial infarction.