[Autophagy and its research progress in thyroid cancer]

To summarize the autophagy and its research progress in thyroid cancer.In combination with available literatures published in recent years involving the relationship between autophagy and thyroid cancer, the characteristics of autophagy, the role in thyroid cancer were reviewed. The changes of autophagy level will directly or indirectly participate in the pathogenesis and progression of thyroid cancer.Reagents regulating autophagy will have broad prospect of application in thyroid cancer therapy. The autophagy in the thyroid cancer is still poorly understood, and to clarify the molecular mechanism of autophagy and kill thyroid cancer cells by reasonable regulation of autophagy still needs more further studies.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine Use at a Comprehensive Cancer Center

Background. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use is common among cancer patients, but the majority of CAM studies do not specify the time periods in relation to cancer diagnoses. We sought to define CAM use by cancer patients and investigate factors that might influence changes in CAM use in relation to cancer diagnoses. Methods. We conducted a cross-sectional survey of adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, lung, or colorectal cancer between 2010 and 2012 at the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center. Questionnaires were sent to 1794 patients. Phone calls were made to nonrespondents. Log binomial/Poisson regressions were used to investigate the association between cancer-related changes in CAM use and conversations about CAM use with oncology providers. Results. We received 603 (33.6 %) completed questionnaires. The mean age (SD) was 64 (11) years; 62% were female; 79% were white; and 98% were non-Hispanic. Respondents reported the following cancer types: breast (47%), prostate (27%), colorectal (14%), lung (11%). Eighty-nine percent reported lifetime CAM use. Eighty-five percent reported CAM use during or after initial cancer treatment, with category-specific use as follows: mind-body medicine 39%, dietary supplements 73%, body-based therapies 30%, and energy medicine 49%. During treatment CAM use decreased for all categories except energy medicine. After treatment CAM use returned to pretreatment levels for most CAMs except chiropractic. Initiation of CAM use after cancer diagnosis was positively associated with a patient having a conversation about CAM use with their oncology provider, mainly driven by patient-initiated conversations. Conclusions. Consistent with previous studies, CAM use was common among our study population. Conversations about CAM use with oncology providers appeared to influence cessation of mind-body medicine use after cancer diagnosis.

[Clinical features of Takayasu arteritis patients with pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary artery involvement]

OBJECTIVE

To summarize the clinical features of Takayasu arteritis (TA) patients with pulmonary hypertension due to pulmonary artery involvement.

METHODS

Ninety-four TA patients with pulmonary artery involvement treated in Fuwai Hospital from Jun 1988 to Jun 2014 were retrospectively summarized. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether aorta and its main branches affected (APTA, n=48) or not (PTA, n=46). Clinical features and angiographic data were further analyzed.

RESULTS

Of all the patients, male to female rate was 1∶3.3, age ranged from 8 to 60 years with median age of 33.5 years when symptom onset. Main symptoms included dyspnea on exertion. Heart murmur and mid-systolic murmur in pulmonic area were commonly found by physical examination. All patients had pulmonary hypertension by echocardiographic examination. Angiographic data showed that multi-lobular and multi-segmental pulmonary branches were predominantly affected, followed by sub-segmental and peripheral branches. Both sides of pulmonary artery involvement were more common than one side involvement, while the right pulmonary arteries were more often affected than the left. Most of the clinical symptoms and signs between APTA group and PTA group were comparable. However, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and N-terminal pro-natriuretic peptide were significant higher in APTA group than that in PTA group when admission [14.0(5.0, 28.0) vs 8.5(3.0, 19.3) mm/1 h and (1 936±1 769) vs (1 627±1 153) ng/L, both P<0.05].

CONCLUSIONS

Dyspnea on exertion may be the main manifestation of TA with pulmonary artery involvement. All patients present with pulmonary hypertension and moderate to severe heart failure when symptom onset.

An in silico framework for integrating epidemiologic and genetic evidence with health care applications: ventilation-related pneumothorax as a case illustration

OBJECTIVE

To illustrate an in silico integration of epidemiologic and genetic evidence that is being developed at the Center for Devices and Radiological Health/US Food and Drug Administration as part of regulatory research on postmarket device performance. In addition to using conventional epidemiologic evidence from registries, this innovative approach explores the vast potential of open-access omics databases for identifying genetic evidence pertaining to devices.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective analysis of Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)/Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUPNet) data (2002-2011) was focused on the ventilation-related iatrogenic pneumothorax (Vent-IP) outcome in discharges with mechanical ventilation (MV) and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). The derived epidemiologic evidence was analyzed in conjunction with pre-existing genomic data from Gene Expression Omnibus/National Center for Biotechnology Information and other databases.

RESULTS

AHRQ/HCUPNet epidemiologic evidence showed that annual occurrence of Vent-IP did not decrease over a decade. While the Vent-IP risk associated with noninvasive CPAP comprised about 0.5%, the Vent-IP risk due to longer-term MV reached 2%. Along with MV posing an independent risk for Vent-IP, female sex and white race were found to be effect modifiers, resulting in the highest Vent-IP risk among mechanically ventilated white females. The Vent-IP risk was also potentiated by comorbidities associated with spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) and fibrosis. Consistent with the epidemiologic evidence, expression profiling in a number of animal models showed that the expression of several collagens and other SP/fibrosis-related genes was modified by ventilation settings.

CONCLUSION

Integration of complementary genetic evidence into epidemiologic analysis can lead to a cost- and time-efficient discovery of the risk predictors and markers and thus can facilitate more efficient marker-based evaluation of medical product performance.

The spatial-temporal expression and functional divergence of bach homologs in zebrafish Danio rerio

The spatial-temporal expressions of bach1a, bach1b, bach2a and bach2b in early development of zebrafish Danio rerio embryos were examined in the present study by whole mount in situ hybridization. Transcripts of all genes were found at the one cell stage, suggesting that these four genes are maternally inherited. From the phylogenetic analyses, Bach1a and Bach1b from fishes form a well-supported group with two sub-groups. Bach2a and Bach2b, however, did not fall into one clade, suggesting that Bach2 proteins diverged faster or earlier than Bach1 proteins in fishes. The differentially regulated expression of the exocrine zymogen (such as the trypsin-like gene, tryl) of both paralogs of bach1 and bach2, respectively, showed that their functions are still active and already divergent, coinciding with subfunction partitioning.

Failed cooperative, but not competitive, interaction between large-scale brain networks impairs working memory in schizophrenia

BACKGROUND

A large-scale network named the default mode network (DMN) dynamically cooperates and competes with an external attention system (EAS) to facilitate various cognitive functioning that is prominently impaired in schizophrenia. However, it is unclear whether the cognitive deficit in schizophrenia is related to the disrupted competition and/or cooperation between these two networks.

METHOD

A total of 35 schizophrenia patients and 30 healthy controls were scanned using gradient-echo echo-planar imaging during n-back working memory (WM) processing. Brain activities of the DMN and EAS were measured using general linear modelling of the functional magnetic resonance imaging data. Dynamic interaction between the DMN and EAS was decomposed into two directions using Granger causality analysis.

RESULTS

We observed a significant failure of DMN suppression in patients with schizophrenia, which was significantly related to WM/attentional deficit. Granger causality modelling showed that in healthy controls, while the EAS inhibitorily influenced the DMN, the DMN exerted an 'excitatory' or cooperative influence back on the EAS, especially in those with lower WM accuracy. In schizophrenia, this 'excitatory' DMN→EAS influence within the reciprocal EAS-DMN loop was significantly reduced, especially in patients with WM/attentional deficit.

CONCLUSIONS

The dynamic interaction between the DMN and EAS is likely to be comprised of both competitive and cooperative influences. In healthy controls, both the 'inhibitory' EAS→DMN interaction and 'excitatory' DMN→EAS interaction are correlated with WM performance. In schizophrenia, reduced 'cooperative' influence from the DMN to dorsal nodes of the EAS occurs in the context of non-suppression of the DMN and may form a possible pathophysiological substrate of WM deficit and attention disorder.

Effect of X-ray irradiation on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer SW480 cells

This study was carried out to explore the effect of X-ray irradiation on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of colorectal cancer SW480 cells. Human colorectal cancer SW480 cells used in this study were irradiated by X-rays in 0 Gy, 4 Gy and 8 Gy doses, respectively. Transwell method was adopted to detect the changes of invasion and migration ability of SW480 cells cultured for 24 h after being irradiated by X-rays in 0 Gy, 4 Gy and 8 Gy doses. After X-ray irradiation, invasion ability of cells in 4 Gy dose group and 8 Gy dose group strengthened significantly compared with that of the 0 Gy dose group (p < 0.05); invasion ability of cells in 8 Gy dose group also strengthened significantly compared to the 4 Gy dose group (p < 0.05). After X-ray irradiation, migration ability of cells also changed: migration ability of cells in 4 Gy dose group and 8 Gy dose group strengthened significantly compared with that of the 0 Gy group (p less than 0.05). Results of QRT-RCR and Western blot detection showed that after X-ray irradiation, the expression of epithelial index E-cadherin in 4 Gy dose group and 8 Gy dose group decreased significantly compared with that of the 0 Gy dose group (p < 0.05); moreover, the higher the dose was, the more significantly the expression decreased. Therefore, X-ray irradiation-induced EMT is in positive correlation with the irradiation dose to some extent. Besides, X-ray irradiation can enhance the invasion and migration ability of human colorectal cancer cells.

Evaluation of the direct nitrate reductase assay for rapid detection of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis

SETTING

Jiangxi, China.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the performance of the direct nitrate reductase assay (D-NRA) for rapid, low-cost detection of multidrug-resistant (MDR-) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in high-burden, resource-limited settings.

METHODS

A total of 225 smear-positive sputum samples were collected from consecutive drug-resistant TB subjects. Samples were processed at the Province TB Reference Laboratory and tested for susceptibility to rifampicin (RMP), isoniazid (INH), ofloxacin (OFX), kanamycin (KM) and capreomycin (CPM) by D-NRA, using the indirect Löwenstein-Jensen proportion method (LJ-PM) as reference.

RESULTS

Of the 225 smear-positive sputum samples, 214 isolates were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and analysed for further comparison. The sensitivity of the D-NRA in the detection of resistance to RMP, INH, OFX, KM and CPM was respectively 95.1% (97/102), 93.1% (135/145), 97.4% (76/78), 88.9% (40/45) and 90.6% (29/32); specificity was respectively 100% (112/112), 97.1% (67/69), 100% (136/136), 98.8% (167/169) and 96.7% (176/182). The median time to culture positivity was significantly shorter for NRA than for the indirect LJ-PM (14 days vs. 70 days, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

D-NRA showed high sensitivity and specificity in the rapid diagnosis of MDR- and XDR-TB in a high-burden, resource-limited setting.

Metal induced self-assembly of designed V-shape protein into 2D wavy supramolecular nanostructure

In order to understand and imitate the more complex bio-processes and fascinating functions in nature, protein self-assembly has been studied and has attracted more and more interest in recent years. Artificial self-assemblies of proteins have been constructed through many strategies. However, the design of complicated protein self-assemblies utilizing the special profile of building blocks remains a challenge. We herein report linear and 2D nanostructures constructed from a V shape SMAC protein and induced by metal coordination. Zigzag nanowires and wavy 2D nanostructures have been demonstrated by AFM and TEM. The zigzag nanowires can translate to a 2D nanostructure with an excess of metal ions, which reveals the step by step assembly process. Fluorescence and UV/Vis spectra have also been obtained to further study the mechanism and process of self-assembly. Upon the protein nanostructure, fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) could also be detected using fluorescein modified proteins as building blocks. This article provides an approach for designing and controlling self-assembled protein nanostructures with a distinctive topological morphology.

Mechanochemically synthesized m-BiVO4 nanoparticles for visible light photocatalysis

Mechanochemical high energy ball milling approach was used to synthesize monoclinic BiVO₄ (m-BiVO₄) nanoparticles in an attempt to simultaneously reduce the particle size and improve the throughput for practical photocatalytic applications.

Mechanochemically synthesized CuO/m-BiVO4 composite with enhanced photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic properties

Simultaneous enhancement on photon absorption and charge separation leads to improved photo-activities of a CuO/BiVO₄ composite over pristine BiVO₄.

Quantitative trait locus analysis for kernel width using maize recombinant inbred lines

Maize (Zea mays L.) kernel width is one of the most important traits that is related to yield and appearance. To understand its genetic mechanisms more clearly, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) segregation population consisting of 239 RILs was used for quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping for kernel width. We found four QTLs on chromosomes 3 (one), 5 (two), and 10 (one). The QTLs were close to their adjacent markers, with a range of 0-23.8 cM, and explained 6.2-19.7% of the phenotypic variation. The three QTLs on chromosomes 3 and 5 had positive additive effects, and to a certain extent increased kernel width, whereas the one on chromosome 10 exhibited negative additive effects and decreased kernel width. These results can be used for gene cloning and marker-assisted selection in maize-breeding programs.

Identification of benign and malignant endometrial cancer with transvaginal ultrasonography combined with elastography and tissue hardness analysis

This study was designed to explore tissue hardness and distinguish benign and malignant endometrial cancer with the use of transvaginal ultrasonography combined with elastography. Color Doppler ultrasonic diasonograph was used to carry out transvaginal ultrasonography and elastography. Once the nidus was observed, features of the 2D image were analyzed. Then features of elasticity of the uterine cavity in different states were analyzed by elastography, and strain rate ratio was measured. Finally, elasticity scoring (0~5 points) was made. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn based on elasticity score and strain rate ratio. The area under the elasticity score curve and strain rate ratio curve was 0.761 and 0.852, respectively, and there was no statistically significant difference between them (c2= 4.663, P>0.05). Then 2.98 was confirmed as the diagnostic cut-off value of benign and malignant lesions, based on strain rate ratio. Ultrasonic elastography as an effective assistance for transvaginal ultrasonography provides more valuable information for confirmation of lesions and offers more accurate evidence for diagnosis of disease in the uterine cavity.

Validation of the Mandarin Chinese version of the Leicester Cough Questionnaire in bronchiectasis

BACKGROUND

The Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) has been validated for assessing cough-specific health status in bronchiectasis. We translated the LCQ into Mandarin Chinese and investigated its validity, reliability and responsiveness.

METHODS

The LCQ was translated into Mandarin Chinese using the forward-backward translation procedure. A total of 144 out-patients completed the Mandarin Chinese version of the LCQ (LCQ-MC), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and the St George's Respiratory Questionnaire. Reassessments were performed during exacerbations and at 6 months. Concurrent validation, internal consistency, repeatability and responsiveness were determined.

RESULTS

Minor cultural adaptations were made to the wording of LCQ-MC. No other difficulties were found during the translation process, with all items easily adapted to acceptable Mandarin Chinese. The questionnaire was not changed in terms of content layout and the order of the questions. In cognitive debriefing interviews, participants reported that the questionnaire was acceptable, relevant, comprehensive and easy to complete. The LCQ-MC showed good concurrent validity, internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Responsiveness was shown by significant changes in LCQ-MC scores between steady state, the first exacerbation and following 2-week antibiotic treatment (both interval changes, P < 0.01) CONCLUSION: The LCQ-MC is a valid, reliable and responsive instrument for determining cough-specific health status in Chinese bronchiectasis patients.