[Research progress of transcriptomics and proteomics in schizophrenia]

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder with an unclear etiology and various clinical manifestations. The diagnosis and consequent treatment of schizophrenia mainly rely on clinical symptoms. Multiple risk sites associated with schizophrenia have been identified, yet objective indicators have not been found to facilitate clinical diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia. The development of omics technology provides different perspectives on the etiology of schizophrenia and make the early identification, diagnosis and treatment of the disorder possible. This article summarizes the prevalence of schizophrenia, reviews the research results and shortcomings of transcriptomics and proteomics, as well as the latest achievements and prospects of multi-omics, aiming to reveal the use of omics in SZ, provide more comprehensive biological evidence to reveal the complex pathogenesis of schizophrenia and provide a theoretical basis for the early identification, accurate diagnosis, disease progression control, and prognosis improvement of schizophrenia.

More advanced or aggressive colorectal cancer is associated with a higher incidence of "high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia" on biopsy-based pathological examination

BACKGROUND

Invasion of submucosa (ISM) is required for the pathological diagnosis of colorectal cancer according to the WHO criteria. A large proportion of colorectal cancers may be underdiagnosed as high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGIN) because ISM is not identified in the preoperative biopsy. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic features that are associated with missing the diagnosis of ISM in biopsy specimens of invasive colorectal cancer.

METHODS

Three hundred and sixteen patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer between January 2007 and December 2008 with well-preserved preoperative biopsy specimens were enrolled in the study. Three hundred and eleven patients had an isolated lesion, and five had two lesions. Biopsy specimens were reevaluated by two senior pathologists. Clinicopathologic features, biopsy pathology and surgical pathology results of all patients were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

ISM was identified in 216 cases (67.3 %) by biopsy-based pathological examination, and missed in 105 (32.7 %) cases, 72 of which were diagnosed as HGIN. Univariate analysis indicated that in colorectal cancer patients with smaller biopsy specimens (P = 0.042), mucinous or signet-ring cell carcinoma (P = 0.003), higher WHO tumor grade (P = 0.001) and positive lymph nodes (P = 0.011), ISM was more likely to be missed. There was a trend toward an increased diagnosis of ISM with the increase in the number of biopsy specimens (P = 0.105). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, smaller biopsy specimens (OR, 1.810; 95 % CI, 1.081-3.032; P = 0.024) and higher WHO tumor grade (OR, 2.073; 95 % CI, 1.046-4.107; P = 0.037) were the only factors associated with failure to identify ISM.

CONCLUSIONS

A large number of invasive colorectal cancers are at risk of being underdiagnosed as HGIN by biopsy-based pathology. The smaller the biopsy size, the less likely it is that the muscularis mucosae is included in the specimen. Also, in the more advanced or aggressive colorectal cancers, ISM is more likely to be missed on biopsy, which may be due to the destruction of the muscularis mucosae by more aggressive cancers.

Cell Viability and DNA Denaturation Measurements by Two-Photon Fluorescence Excitation in CW Al:GaAs Diode Laser Optical Traps

Cell viability and DNA denaturation are measured through two-photon fluorescence excitation using a single diode laser beam as the trapping and exciting source simultaneously. Two-photon fluorescence emission spectra are presented for CHO cells and T lymphocytes loaded with various fluorescent probes. This single beam method is demonstrated to be a safe tool to monitor the viability of optically trapped cells, even under intense 809 nm diode laser illumination (∼106 W/cm2). The dynamics of cellular necrosis is monitored by adding ethanol to the cell suspension during trapping. Thermal damage to heat-treated samples is assessed by recording shifts in the emission spectra from trapped cells loaded with the nucleic acid probe, acridine orange. © 1999 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Copper vapor laser and optical fiber catheter system for liquefaction and removal of thrombus in occluded arteries

An instrument consisting of a copper vapor laser coupled to an optical fiber/chemical injector catheter for the treatment of occluded arteries has been constructed and tested. The combined application of three steps: the pre-irradiation injection of a light absorbing dye, HPD; brief copper laser irradiation (at 578 nm); and a urokinase infusion after the irradiation, produced the striking effect of liquefaction and resolution of thrombus. The histological examination of the arteries after the treatment showed no apparent damage to the arterial wall.

The effects of ultra-violet laser radiation on cancer

A group of mice implanted with squamous cell carcinoma (CA1025) and melanoma (B16) were irradiated with a cw krypton laser using 3374A (total dosage 346 j/cm2, and 660 j/cm2), and 3507A (total dosage 367 j/cm2), and a pulse N2 laser 3371a (total dosage 471 j/cm2, 660 j/cm2, and 165 j/cm2). In all groups, tumorous mice were used as controls. Regression of tumors was observed at wavelengths of 3374A and 3371A (total dosage 471 j/cm2 and 660 j/cm2). No regression was observed at 3507A. The regression in some cases was very impressive. The preliminary work on N2 laser irradiation of basal cell carcinoma (in human beings) and of BEL 7404 liver carcinoma cells in vitro and irradiation of one patient with an N2 laser performed in China will also be reported.