Investigation of amino acid profile alterations in maternal serum for early diagnosis of anembryonic pregnancy with high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

BACKGROUND

Anembryonic pregnancy affects 12-15 % of clinically recognized pregnancies and a previous anembryonic pregnancy is an independent risk factor for future anembryonic pregnancy. This study aimed to investigate alternations in maternal amino acid profiles and analyze the diagnostic accuracy of amino acid biomarkers for anembryonic pregnancy in the early stage.

METHODS

Fasting serum from anembryonic pregnancy patients (n = 103) and healthy pregnancies (n = 97) was collected, and amino acid concentrations were determined by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic performance of each of the amino acid biomarkers and the amino acid profile index for anembryonic pregnancy screening.

RESULTS

The concentrations of 15 amino acids were significantly different between anembryonic pregnancy patients and healthy controls, and most of them were significantly higher at 7 weeks' gestational age in anembryonic pregnancy subjects. The area under the curve (AUC) based on an amino acid profile index combined with alanine, citrulline, aspartic acid, threonine, serine and isoleucine was 0.90 (sensitivity 82.76 %, specificity 83.64 %) for distinguishing early anembryonic pregnancy from healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

Maternal serum amino acid concentrations were significantly elevated in anembryonic pregnancy patients. The diagnostic potential of amino aicds for anembryonic pregnancy was verified, and the diagnostic efficiency was improved in the use of the amino acid profile index. The amino acid profile is expected to be applied for the risk screening of early-stage of anembryonic pregnancy in the future.

Observation of the short-term curative effect of using SuperPATH approach to treat elderly femoral neck fractures with schizophrenia

As China enters an aging society, the incidence of femoral neck fractures is increasing year by year. For some patients, total hip arthroplasty (THA) is the treatment of choice for displaced femoral neck fractures. Schizophrenia is a common combination of elderly patients with femoral neck fractures, and there are few reports on the treatment. This study describes the short-term efficacy of the supercapsular percutaneously assisted (SuperPATH) approach in the treatment of patients suffered with displaced femoral neck fractures combined with schizophrenia. A retrospective analysis of 20 elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures combined with schizophrenia who underwent THA using the SuperPATH approach. Record demographic data, postoperative reexamination of X-ray film to observe the position and the loosening condition of the prosthesis, the length of hospitalization, complications in the hospital and after discharge. The Harris score of hip joint function was used to evaluate postoperative hip joint function. The average age of the 20 patients was 73.1 years. All patients were followed up by outpatient clinic or telephone. The follow-up time was 3-12 months, with an average of 9.2 months. There was no incision infection, no tissue structure damage such as important nerves and blood vessels, and no complications such as early dislocation, loosening of the joint prosthesis, and deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities. The efficacy of the last follow-up was evaluated according to the Harris score of hip joint function: an average of 91 points (78-98 points); 13 cases were excellent, 5 cases were good, and 2 cases were fair. The SuperPATH approach has the advantages of less surgical damage, shorter recovery time, good surgical safety, preserving the normal tension of the muscles around the hip joint, and reducing the incidence rate of early postoperative dislocation of the joint prosthesis. The THA of the SuperPATH approach can treat patients with displaced femoral neck fractures combined with schizophrenia safely and effectively.

[Analysis of clinicopathological and molecular abnormalities of angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the clinicopathological features, molecular changes and prognostic factors in angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL).

METHODS

Sixty-one cases AITL diagnosed by Department of Pathology of Peking University Cancer Hospital were collected with their clinical data. Morphologically, they were classified as typeⅠ[lymphoid tissue reactive hyperplasia (LRH) like]; typeⅡ[marginal zone lymphoma(MZL)like] and type Ⅲ [peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not specified (PTCL-NOS) like]. Immunohistochemical staining was used to evaluate the presence of follicular helper T-cell (TFH) phenotype, proliferation of extra germinal center (GC) follicular dendritic cells (FDCs), presence of Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS)-like cells and large B transformation. The density of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) + cells was counted with slides stained by Epstein-Barr virus encoded RNA (EBER) in situ hybridization on high power field (HPF). T-cell receptor / immunoglobulin gene (TCR/IG) clonality and targeted exome sequencing (TES) test were performed when necessary. SPSS 22.0 software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Morphological subtype (%): 11.4% (7/61) cases were classified as type Ⅰ; 50.8% (31/61) as type Ⅱ; 37.8% (23/61) as type Ⅲ. 83.6% (51/61) cases showed classical TFH immunophenotype. With variable extra-GC FDC meshwork proliferation (median 20.0%); 23.0% (14/61) had HRS-like cells; 11.5% (7/61) with large B transformation. 42.6% (26/61) of cases with high counts of EBV. 57.9% (11/19) TCR⁺/IG^-, 26.3% (5/19) TCR⁺/IG⁺, 10.5% (2/19) were TCR^－/IG^－, and 5.3% (1/19) TCR^－/IG⁺. Mutation frequencies by TES were 66.7% (20/30) for RHOA, 23.3% (7/30) for IDH2 mutation, 80.0% (24/30) for TET2 mutation, and 33.3% (10/30) DNMT3A mutation. Integrated analysis divided into four groups: (1) IDH2 and RHOA co-mutation group (7 cases): 6 cases were type Ⅱ, 1 case was type Ⅲ; all with typical TFH phenotype; HRS-like cells and large B transformation were not found; (2) RHOA single mutation group (13 cases): 1 case was type Ⅰ, 6 cases were type Ⅱ, 6 cases were type Ⅲ; 5 cases without typical TFH phenotype; 6 cases had HRS-like cells, and 2 cases with large B transformation. Atypically, 1 case showed TCR^－/IG^－, 1 case with TCR^－/IG⁺, and 1 case with TCR⁺/IG⁺; (3) TET2 and/or DNMT3A mutation alone group (7 cases): 3 cases were type Ⅱ, 4 cases were type Ⅲ, all cases were found with typical TFH phenotype; 2 cases had HRS-like cells, 2 cases with large B transformation, and atypically; (4) non-mutation group (3 cases), all were type Ⅱ, with typical TFH phenotype, with significant extra-GC FDC proliferation, without HRS-like cells and large B transformation. Atypically, 1 case was TCR^－/IG^－. Univariate analysis confirmed that higher density of EBV positive cell was independent adverse prognostic factors for both overall survival (OS) and progression free survival(PFS), (P=0.017 and P=0.046).

CONCLUSION

Pathological diagnoses of ALTL cases with HRS-like cells, large B transformation or type Ⅰ are difficult. Although TCR/IG gene rearrangement test is helpful but still with limitation. TES involving RHOA, IDH2, TET2, DNMT3A can robustly assist in the differential diagnosis of those difficult cases. Higher density of EBV positive cells counts in tumor tissue might be an indicator for poor survival.

Effects of Vitamin D Supplementation on Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The effect of vitamin D supplementation on individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is inconclusive. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis of the available randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to explore whether vitamin D supplementation can improve core symptoms and coexisting conditions in children with ASD. Data were obtained by searching the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane Library databases up to February 2022 following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Using a random-effects model, mean differences with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated through a meta-analysis. There were eight RCTs with 266 children with ASD in the present review, among which six RCTs were included in the meta-analysis. Children who received vitamin D supplementation showed a significant improvement in stereotypical behavior scores (pooled mean difference (MD): -1.39; 95% CI: -2.7, -0.07; P = 0.04) with low heterogeneity (I² = 34%), and there was a trend toward decreased total scores on the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS) and Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS, P = 0.05); however, there were no other significant differences in the core symptoms of ASD and coexisting conditions between groups as measured by the Aberrant Behavior Checklist (ABC). Vitamin D supplementation appears to improve stereotypical behaviors but does not improve other core symptoms and coexisting conditions. Further randomized controlled trials with large sample sizes and individualized doses are needed.

[Prognostic value of perioperative change of neutrophil elastase and myeloperoxidase in coronary circulation on perioperative myocardial injury and clinical outcome of patients underwent surgical valve replacement]

Objective: To investigate the clinical value of observing perioperative changes of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and neutrophil elastase (NE) in coronary artery circulation in patients underwent valve replacement surgery. Methods: This perspective cohort study was performed in patients who underwent valvular surgery in Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital and Fuwai Hospital from June 2021 to June 2022. Patients were divided into perioperative myocardial injury group and age-, sex- and type of cardiac procedure-matched non-perioperative myocardial injury control group in the ratio of 1∶1. Perioperative myocardial injury was defined as cardiac troponin T (cTnT)>0.8 μg/L on the first postoperative day (POD), and the cTnT level on the second POD increased by more than 10% compared with the cTnT level on the first POD. During the operation, blood samples were collected from the coronary sinus before clamping ascending aorta, and within 5 minutes after de-clamping ascending aorta. Then, the levels of MPO and NE on coronary sinus were continuously measured. The death, severe ventricular arrhythmia, pneumonia, re-intubation, repeat cardiac surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), mechanical ventilation time and the duration of intensive care unit (ICU) were recorded. The levels of MPO and NE and the incidence of clinical outcomes were compared between the myocardial injury group and the control group. The independent risk factors of myocardial injury were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression. Results: A total of 130 patients were enrolled, aged (60.6±7.6) years old, with 59 males (45.4%). There were 65 patients in the myocardial injury group and 65 patients in the control group. During hospitalization, there was no death, ECMO, IABP and CRRT cases in both groups. Compared with the control group, the incidence of severe ventricular arrhythmia (13.8%(9/65) vs. 3.1%(2/65), P=0.03), pneumonia (20.0%(13/65) vs. 3.1%(2/65), P=0.03), re-intubation (6.2%(4/65) vs. 0, P=0.04) was significantly higher in myocardial injury group. The mechanical ventilation time (16.8(10.7, 101.7) h vs. 7.5(4.7, 15.1) h, P<0.01), and the duration of ICU (3.7(2.7, 18.9) vs. 2.7(1.8, 6.9)d, P<0.01) were significantly longer in myocardial injury group compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in the levels of MPO and NE in coronary sinus blood between the two groups before aortic clamping (all P>0.05). However, MPO ((551.3±124.2) μg/L vs. (447.2±135.9) μg/L, P<0.01) and NE ((417.0±83.1)μg/L vs. (341.0±68.3)μg/L, P<0.01) after 5 min aortic de-clamping were significantly higher in myocardial injury group than in the control group. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the levels of NE (OR=1.02, 95%CI: 1.01-1.02, P<0.01), MPO (OR=1.00, 95%CI: 1.00-1.01, P=0.02) and mechanical ventilation time (OR=1.03, 95%CI: 1.01-1.06, P=0.02) were independent risk factors of myocardial injury in patients after surgical valvular replacement. Conclusion: Perioperative myocardial injury is related poor clinical outcomes, perioperative NE and MPO in coronary artery circulation are independent risk factors of perioperative myocardial injury in patients undergoing valve replacement surgery.

Identification of potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) based on TMT-labeled LC-MS/MS and machine learning

OBJECTIVES

To explore the molecular mechanisms underlying aggressive progression of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma and identify potential biomarkers.

METHODS

Samples were collected and sequenced using tandem mass tag-labeled liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified and further analyzed using Mfuzz and protein-protein interaction analysis (PPI). Parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed to validate the DEPs.

RESULTS

Five thousand, two hundred and three DEPs were identified and quantified from the tumor/normal comparison group or the N1/N0 comparison group. Mfuzz analysis showed that clusters of DEPs were enriched according to progressive status, followed by normal tissue, tumors without lymphatic metastases, and tumors with lymphatic metastases. Analysis of PPI revealed that DEPs interacted with and were enriched in the following metabolic pathways: apoptosis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, PI3K-Akt pathway, cholesterol metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and thyroid hormone synthesis. In addition, 18 of the 20 target proteins were successfully validated with PRM and IHC in another 20 paired validation samples. Based on machine learning, the five proteins that showed the best performance in discriminating between tumor and normal nodules were PDLIM4, ANXA1, PKM, NPC2, and LMNA. FN1 performed well in discriminating between patients with lymph node metastases (N1) and N0 with an AUC of 0.690. Finally, five validated DEPs showed a potential prognostic role after examining The Cancer Genome Atlas database: FN1, IDH2, VDAC1, FABP4, and TG. Accordingly, a nomogram was constructed whose concordance index was 0.685 (confidence interval: 0.645-0.726).

CONCLUSIONS

PDLIM4, ANXA1, PKM, NPC2, LMNA, and FN1 are potential diagnostic biomarkers. The five-protein nomogram could be a prognostic biomarker.

Author Correction: LncRNA HOTAIRM1 inhibits the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway

Correction to: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 2018; 22 (15): 4861-4868-DOI: 10.26355/eurrev_201808_15622-PMID: 30070317, published online 15 August 2018. After publication, the authors found some mistakes in the article. There are amendments to this paper. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. https://www.europeanreview.org/article/15622.

[Analysis of risk factors for lymphoma patients dying of cardiovascular disease]

Objective: To understand and explore the risk factors of the death of lymphoma patients from cardiovascular disease. Methods: The medical records and death information of 1 173 patients with lymphoma were collected, cases that died from cardiovascular disease were screened. A binary logistic regression model was used to analyze the independent risk factors of patients with lymphoma died from cardiovascular disease. Results: Among 1 173 patients with lymphoma, 75 (6.4%) died of cardiovascular disease, including 27 cases of coronary heart disease, 25 cases of stroke, 7 cases of hypertension, 5 cases of sudden cardiac death, 4 cases of pulmonary embolism, 3 cases of heart failure, 4 cases of others. Among the patients who survived for more than 5 years, 16.1% (35/217) died of cardiovascular disease. Among those who survived for more than 10 years, 11.7% (7/60) died of cardiovascular disease. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the primary site of lymphoma (OR=0.521, P=0.039), stage (stage Ⅱ: OR=2.487, P=0.016; stage Ⅲ: OR=3.233, P=0.002) and cardiovascular toxicity in the course of diagnosis and treatment (OR=3.019, P=0.001) are independent influencing factors for the death of cardiovascular disease in patients with lymphoma. Patients whose primary sites of lymphoma were lymph nodes had lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease, while the patients with stage Ⅱ to Ⅲ stage and cardiovascular toxicity during diagnosis and treatment had higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. Conclusions: Cardiovascular disease is an important factor affecting the survival of patients with lymphoma. With the extension of survival time, the risk of dying from cardiovascular disease increases significantly. The primary site, tumor stage, and cardiovascular toxicity that occur during the diagnosis and treatment may be the independent influencing factors for patients with lymphoma that die from cardiovascular disease.

[Analysis of the characteristics of second primary malignancy affecting the survival of lymphoma patients]

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of the second primary tumor affecting the survival of patients with lymphoma, and to explore the risk factors of death from the second primary tumor. Methods: The medical records and related death information of 1 173 lymphoma patients who had already died with known causes were collected. The basic causes of death and the characteristics of patients who died of the second primary tumor were analyzed. Cox regression model was used to analyze the risk factors of lymphoma patients who died of the second primary tumor. Results: Among the 1 173 patients who had died, 94 (8.0%) died of the second primary tumor, 935 (79.7%) died of the primary lymphoma and 144 (12.3%) died of other diseases. The second primary tumor accounted for 17.5% (38/217) of all causes of death in patients with the survival period of more than 5 years, and the second primary tumor accounted for 28.3% (17/60) of all causes of death in patients with the survival period of more than 10 years. Among 94 cases who died of second primary tumors, 31 died of lung cancer, 15 died of gastric cancer, 13 died of liver cancer, 9 died of pancreatic cancer, 6 died of colorectal cancer, 6 died of second primary lymphoma and 14 died of other types of tumors. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that age, first-line treatment effect, and chest or mediastinal radiotherapy were associated with the death from second primary tumors for lymphoma patients (all P<0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the effect of first-line treatment (P=0.030) and the chest or mediastinal radiotherapy (P=0.039) were independent factors for the death of lymphoma patients from the second primary tumor. Conclusions: The second primary tumor is an important factor affecting the survival of lymphoma patients, and the risk of death from second primary tumors increases significantly over time. The effect of first-line treatment and radiotherapy in the chest or mediastinum are independent factors for the death of lymphoma patients from the second primary tumor.

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 inhibits the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting the Wnt signaling pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the possible role of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) HOTAIRM1 in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its underlying mechanism.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

LncRNA HOTAIRM1 expressions in 30 pairs of hepatocellular carcinoma tissues and paracancerous tissues were detected by quantitative Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were introduced to explore the relationship between lncRNA HOTATRM expressions and prognosis of HCC patients. The correlation between progression-free survival (PFS) and clinical variables of HCC patients was estimated by single-factor and multiple-factor regression analysis, respectively. Overexpression plasmid of lncRNA HOTAIRM1 was designed and transfected into HCC cells according to the instructions of Lipofectamine 2000. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were detected by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Moreover, expressions of apoptosis-related genes and the Wnt pathway-related proteins were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Lower lncRNA HOTAIRM1 expressions were observed in the HCC tissues than those of the paracancerous tissues. ROC curve indicated a high sensitivity and specificity of lncRNA HOTAIRM1 for HCC. PFS in HCC patients was correlated with tumor size and lncRNA HOTAIRM1 expression, whereas not correlated with age, sex, GGT, AFP, Child-Pugh grade, HBsAg, cirrhosis, number of tumors, micro-vessel metastasis, tumor differentiation, and TNM stage of HCC. Overexpression of HOTAIRM1 led to decreased proliferative ability and increased apoptosis of HepG2 and HHCC cells. In addition, overexpressed lncRNA HOTAIRM1 remarkably increased the expression of apoptosis promotor Bax, but decreased the expressions of apoptosis inhibitors Bcl-2 and Bid. Meanwhile, expressions of related proteins in the Wnt pathway were decreased as well.

CONCLUSIONS

HOTAIRM1, which was downregulated in HCC, might inhibit the proliferative ability and promote the apoptosis of HCC cells by suppressing the Wnt pathway, thereby inhibiting the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma.

[Cyclopexy on cyclodialysis cleft guided by anterior segment optic coherence tomography]

Objective: To analyze the accuracy of cyclopexy on traumatic cyclodialysis cleft guided by anterior segment optic coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Methods: Fifty-six eyes of 56 consecutive patients[41 males, 15 females, with a mean age of (43.14±13.85) years]who diagnosed with traumatic cyclodialysis cleft confirmed by ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and underwent cyclopexy surgery at Shanxi Eye Hosiptal from July 2013 to February 2016 were included in the study. Patients were measured with the AS-OCT system before cyclopexy. AS-OCT findings of the cyclodialysis clefts were recorded. Localizing and suturing the clefts was guided by AS-OCT imaging. Preoperative and postoperative visual acuity (VA), intraocular pressure (IOP) and anterior chamber depth (ACD) were recorded and analyzed. Results: Imaging of preoperative AS-OCT of the 56 eyes showed an annular ciliary body detachment, a cyclodialysis cleft and shallow anterior chamber. The ciliary body detachment detected by AS-OCT showed an echo free zone between the annular ciliary body and the sclera. The cyclodialysis cleft showed a new pathway between the anterior chamber and the suprachoroidal space. AS-OCT imaging showed that the extent of cyclodialysis clefts ranged from 30 degrees to 240 degrees, which had a 0 degree to 20 degrees difference compared with UBM imaging. Localizing and suturing of the cyclodialysis clefts was guided by AS-OCT imaging. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.21±0.17 at baseline and 0.29±0.21 at five days postoperatively. The initial and final BCVA showed a remarkable difference after treatment (t=-4.98, P<0.01). The mean intra-ocular pressure (IOP) was (8.33±2.29) mmHg before surgery and (15.40±2.34) mmHg at five days postoperatively. There was a significant difference of IOP between preoperative and postoperative period (t=-16.590, P<0.01). The mean ACD was (1.94±0.45) mm preoperatively and (2.69±0.44) mm at five days postoperatively. There was also a significant difference of ACD between preoperative and postoperative period (t=-10.276, P<0.01). The postoperative reexamination found that ciliary body detachment or cyclodialysis clefts was not observed in the 56 eyes by AS-OCT. Conclusions: As a non-invasive method, AS-OCT is accurate, correlating well with UBM in the examination of cyclodialysis cleft, and can localize the extent of clefts before cyclopexy.

[Clinical characteristics and survival analysis of de novo grade 3 or transformed follicular lymphoma patients]

Objective: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with de novo grade 3 or transformed follicular lymphoma (FL). Methods: Fifty-two patients treated at Peking University Cancer Hospital between January 2009 and September 2017 were assessed, including 28 patients with FL 3A grade, 13 patients with FL 3B grade, 11 patients with transformed FL. Baseline characteristics, survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results: ① Twenty-six male and 26 female patients were enrolled, including 28 patients with FL 3A grade, 13 patients with FL 3B grade, 11 patients with transformed FL. ②The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the entire cohort were 56.0% and 80.6%, respectively. Patients with international prognostic index (IPI) score 0-1 demonstrated significantly better 3-year PFS (80.3% vs 20.1%; t=18.902, P<0.001) and OS (95.7% vs 57.0%; t=10.406, P<0.001) than patients with IPI score 2-3. Three-year PFS (94.1% vs 37.2% vs 25.2%; P=0.002) and OS (100.0% vs 76.0% vs 59.8%; P=0.020) were also significantly different among patients with FLIPI 1 score 0-1, 2, ≥3. FLIPI 2 score was also identified as a prognostic factor for 3-year PFS (68.4%, 0, 0; P=0.001) and OS(87.5%, 76.2%, 0; P=0.003). ③Multivariate analysis indicated a significant association of PFS (HR=3.536, P=0.015) and OS (HR=15.713, P=0.015) with IPI. FLIPI 2 was associated with OS (score 0-1, HR=0.078, P=0.007; score 2, HR=0.080, P=0.022). Conclusion: De novo grade 3 or transformed FL might be a group of curable disease with current treatment strategies. IPI is still a prognostic tool in this scenario.

[The Changes of HIF-1α and VEGF-A in Myocardial Tissue of Rats with Arrhythmias]

OBJECTIVES

To observe the expression changes of hypoxia inducible factor-1α（HIF-1α） and vascular endothelial growth factor-A （VEGF-A） in rats with arrhythmias, and to explore the differences of the expression pattern in the two indicators of acute myocardial ischemia caused by arrhythmias and coronary insufficiency.

METHODS

The arrhythmia was induced by CaCl₂, and the expression changes of HIF-1α and VEGF-A were detected by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time PCR within 6 h after the arrhythmia in rats.

RESULTS

The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF-A showed diffuse in the myocardial tissue of rats died from arrhythmias. Both of them increased in the early arrhythmia, then decreased. Extensive myocardial ischemia happened at the beginning of arrhythmia occurrence and its range didn't expand with time.

CONCLUSIONS

The expressions of HIF-1α and VEGF-A in myocardium of the rats with arrhythmia can provide evidence for the differential diagnosis of acute myocardial ischemia caused by fatal arrhythmia and coronary insufficiency.

[Feasibility and value of index of microcirculatory resistance in patients with acute myocardial infarction after primary percutaneous coronary intervention]

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of detecting index of microcirculatory resistance (IMR) and the relationship between IMR and left ventricular (LV) systolic function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods: The patients with first AMI received primary PCI in Peking University Third Hospital were enrolled from January 2014 to March 2016. IMR were measured immediately after PCI by using pressure/temperature wire. The relationship between IMR and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) assessed by echocardiography at first day and 6 months after admission was evaluated. Results: Twenty-eight patients with anterior wall AMI were enrolled, with an average age (56±13) years. The success rate of IMR detection was 100%. The mean IMR was (33±18 )mmHg·s. There was no complication related to intravenous adenosine triphosphate (ATP) (140 μg· kg(-1)· min(-1)). The IMR was negatively correlated with TIMI blood flow grade after primary PCI (r=-0.386, P=0.043), and positively correlated with female gender, CK peak value and TnT peak value (r=0.430, P=0.022; r=0.431, P=0.025; r=0.434, P=0.024). After 6 months of follow-up, no adverse cardiovascular events (including cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, malignant arrhythmia, unplanned revascularization, hospitalization for unstable angina pectoris and severe heart failure requiring hospitalization) occurred. LVEF increased significantly compared with the first day after PCI (0.54±0.08 vs 0.47±0.06, P=0.001), and IMR was negatively correlated with LVEF after 6 months (r=-0.477, P=0.014). Multivariable linear regression analysis showed that CK peak and IMR were predictors of LVEF after six months ( β=-0.595, t=-3.814, P=0.01; β=-0.352, t=-2.26, P=0.036). Conclusions: Immediate detection of IMR in patients with anterior wall AMI after PCI is safe and feasible. The immediate IMR after PCI reflects the extent of myocardial necrosis and myocardial perfusion, and is a predictor of LVEF at 6 months after PCI.

[Myocardial protection of remote ischemic postconditioning during primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the cardioprotection of remote ischemic postconditioning (RIPostC) in patients with acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

METHODS

Forty-six STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI at Peking University Third Hospital from January to April 2014 were randomized to RIPostC group (n=23) and control group (n=23).The RIPostC protocol was started within 1 min after reflow by thrombus aspiration or balloon inflation and consisted of 3 cycles of 5 min/5 min ischemia/reperfusion by cuff inflation/deflation of the lower left limb. The enzymatic infarct size, rate of complete ST segment resolution, corrected thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) frame count (CTFC) in infarct-related artery (IRA) and plasma levels of malondialdehyde(MDA), endothelin-1(ET-1), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) of the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in enzymatic infarct size between the two groups (P>0.05). The rate of complete ST-segment resolution was significantly higher in RIPostC group than in control group (60.9%vs. 30.4%,P=0.04). There was a trend toward lower CTFC in RIPostC group than that in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant(28 ± 11 vs. 33 ± 11, P = 0.10). However, in the subgroup of anterior wall myocardial infarction CTFC in RIPostC group was significantly lower, compared with control group (25±9 vs. 39±10, P=0.01).There were lower plasma levels of MDA,ET-1,TNFα in RIPostC group than in control group at different time points after primary PCI (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

In STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI, RIPostC may improve myocardial perfusion and attenuate ischemia reperfusion injury with the underlying mechanisms involving reduction of oxidative stress, protection of endothelial function and inhibition of inflammatory response.

Formation, structure and electrochemical performance of nano-sized Li2FeSiO4/C synthesized with the co-incorporation of citric acid and glucose followed by a two-step annealing

Nano-sized Li₂FeSiO₄/C composites are synthesized using a simple recipeviathe co-incorporation of citric acid and glucose with various molar ratios followed by a two-step annealing.

Application of cell engineering technology to the tumour immunotherapeutic drug: a review

The concept of cell engineering is frequently mentioned in recent years. It's a comprehensive technology which is very powerful and useful. By using it, scientists can produce many kinds of proteins and other biological moleculars in large scale that are in great demand for the human being. Among these products, most can be used for tumor immunotherapy and have been confirmed to be very effective in tumour control or subsidiary treatment. Of them, most common and useful drugs include three sorts; tumour vaccines, cell factors and monoclonal antibodies. The paper will discuss in detail related drugs application advances in tumour immunotherapy.

[The change of nerve growth factor and brain derived neurotrophic factor in neurons of cerebral cortex of adult rat following local ischemia]

OBJECTIVE

To acquire knowledge about the change of nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in neurons of cerebral cortex of adult rat following local ischemia.

METHODS

Using specific antiserums of NGF and BDNF by immunohistochemical ABC method.

RESULTS

NGF-like and BDNF-like immunoreactions distributed mainly in the neurons of the third and fifth layers in cerebral cortex. After local ischemia, the average gray degrees of NGF and BDNF in neurons of cerebral cortex both decreased on the operated side more than on the un-operated side.

CONCLUSION

This experiment demonstrated that the levels of NGF and BDNF in neurons of cerebral cortex following ischemia were upregulated apparently, suggesting that NGF and BDNF may play an important role in the process of neurons' reaction after ischemia.

Total synthesis of (+)-amphidinolide P. [corrected]

The convergent enantiocontrolled total synthesis of the 15-membered macrolactone (-)-amphidinolide P is reported. Key transformations include a Sakurai allylation, a Stille coupling for the formation of a fully functionalized acyclic precursor, and intramolecular transesterification.

5-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine cytotoxicity results from base excision repair of uracil subsequent to thymidylate synthase inhibition

The lack of a phenotypic alteration of 5-hydroxymethyluracil (hmUra) DNA glycosylase (hmUDG) deficient Chinese hamster V79mut1 cells exposed to DNA-damaging agents known to produce hmUra has raised the question whether there might be DNA substrates other than hmUra for hmUDG. Based on the structural similarity between 5-chlorouracil (ClUra) and hmUra and the observations that 5-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine (CldUrd) induces base excision repair (BER) events, we asked whether hmUDG or some other DNA BER enzyme is responsible for the removal of ClUra from DNA. An in vivo flow cytometry assay with FITC-anti-BrdUrd (which cross-reacts with CldUrd) showed that exogenous CldUrd is incorporated into DNA. However, both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicated that ClUra is not excised from DNA by hmUDG or other DNA glycosylase activities. The absence of removal of ClUra by hmUDG raised the question whether DNA strand breaks occurred subsequent to thymidylate synthase inhibition, leading to deoxyuridine incorporation, followed by cleavage of uracil from DNA by uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG). An in vivo thymidylate synthase activity assay in V79 cells demonstrated that CldUrd treatment inhibits thymidylate synthase as effectively as 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) treatment. Uracil, a known UDG inhibitor, partially reverses the cytotoxic effects of CldUrd on V79 cells, thus confirming that CldUrd induced cytotoxicity is a result of UDG activity. Our results demonstrated that while CldUrd is not directly repaired from DNA, its cytotoxicity is directly due to the UDG removing uracil subsequent to inhibition of thymidylate synthase by CldUMP.

Cellular response to latent TGF-beta1 is facilitated by insulin-like growth factor-II/mannose-6-phosphate receptors on MS-9 cells

This study was conducted to explore the mechanism of activation of TGF-beta1 which is critical to its role in many physiological and pathological conditions. We have previously demonstrated that latent TGF-beta1 modulates ECM through interaction with IGF-II/M6P receptors on dermal fibroblasts. In this report, we provide evidence that large (270 kDa) but not small (46 kDa) M6P receptors facilitate the cellular response to LTGF-beta1 released from genetically modified cells. As a source of LTGF-beta1, PA317 cells were transfected with either pLin-TGF-beta1 vector or pLin vector with no TGF-beta1 insert using calcium phosphate precipitation. Conditioned medium from transfected cells was removed after 3 days and used to evaluate the latency and bioactivity of TGF-beta1 using ELISA and mink lung epithelial cell growth inhibition assay, respectively. The level of TGF-beta1 was 20-fold greater (2142 +/- 369 vs 102 +/- 23 pg/ml) in conditioned medium derived from pLin-TGF-beta1-transfected cells than in that of controls. Various volumes of this conditioned medium were then used to treat MS-9, SR-2, and MS cells bearing the large, small, and no IGF-II/M6P receptors, respectively, for 24 h. [(3)H]Thymidine incorporation, used as an index for cell proliferation, showed a markedly lower level of proliferation in MS-9 cells in response to a given concentration of LTGF-beta1 than was seen in SR-2 and MS cells. Interestingly, under similar experimental conditions, either addition of M6P at 1 mM concentration or anti-TGF-beta1 antibody abrogated the MS-9 cell proliferative response to LTGF-beta1. In contrast, the inhibitory response of these three cell strains to heat-activated conditioned medium was the same. As another measure of LTGF-beta1-induced cellular response, the expression of mRNA for pro alpha1(I) of type I collagen was also evaluated. A marked increase in expression of this transcript in MS-9 cells in response to LTGF-beta1 was observed. To further examine the possible correlation between the large IGF-II/M6P receptors and cellular responses to LTGF-beta1, expression of IGF-II/M6P receptors at the protein and mRNA levels were evaluated by ligand binding and RT-PCR, respectively. Using (125)I-IGF-II as a ligand, the number of specific IGF-II/M6P receptors was found to be threefold greater on MS-9 than on SR-2 and MS cells. This finding was consistent with the level of IGF-II/M6P receptor mRNA detected by RT-PCR in MS-9 cells. In conclusion, the result of this study shows a direct link between large but not small IGF-II/M6P receptors on MS-9 cells and their response to LTGF-beta1.

[Evaluation in the influence of pregnancy induced hypertension on the growth and development of fetus and infant]

170 cases of premature with birth weight less than 2,000 g were analysed. The results demonstrated that the incidence of small for gestational age infant (SGA) was significantly higher in women associated with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) than that in normal pregnancy. As compared with appropriate for gestational age infant (AGA), SGA group showed higher perinatal mortality and apparent retardation in physical and mental development as well. The significance of difference between infant groups was correlated with percentile of SGA other than the gestational age. Therefore monitoring placental function and terminating pregnancy timely in women with PIH will enable to reduce the incidence of low percentile SGA and to improve infant health effectively.

[Effects of fat intake on immunomodulation in burned patients]

Since fatty acids influence prostaglandins synthesis, and both fatty acids and prostaglandins modulate immune function, we studied the effects of dietary fats on immunomodulation in severely burned patients. We observed that the administration of fish oil can affect immune response after burns, but a high fat intake seemed to markedly reduce the effect. With lower fat intake, fish oil induced a higher mitogenic response of the lymphocyte to PHA and higher blood IgG level in burned patients. These findings suggest that regulation of dietary lipids may play an important role in nutritional support after burn injury.

[Cyclic AMP, the cytoskeleton and control of cell replication. I. Relationship of cyclic AMP, microtubules and density-dependent growth]

CHO cells after being treated by Bt2cAMP (1M), would reverse to the fibroblastoid cell morphologically. The cell body appears spindle, more orientational and polarized. The Bt2cAMP, rendering the cells grow were slowly, did not block them from G1 to S phase. The "contact inhibition" was restored to some degree. The most saturated density of the cells was reduced to 47.4% as compared with the control CHO cells. When CHO cells were treated by Bt2cAMP added with Colcemid (0.05 micrograms/ml), the microtubules (MT) were destroyed. Still, the cells were able to reach the "contact inhibition". The signal of "contact inhibition" may not approach the nucleus via MT.