Identification of microRNA expression signature for the diagnosis and prognosis of cervical squamous cell carcinoma

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death among women globally. The prognosis of cervical cancer patients differs considerably, and clinical outcomes are difficult to predict. Given the significant roles of miRNAs in human cancers, identification of novel and reliable miRNA biomarkers is important for targeted cervical cancer therapy. In the present study, we aimed to reveal biological significance of miR-200a, miR-423, miR-34a, miR-193a, and miR-455 for the prognosis and diagnosis of cervical cancer and their association with the clinical outcomes of patients. Distinct expression profiles of miRNAs in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue samples of patients and healthy controls were evaluated using qRT-PCR. We identified miR-200a, miR-455, and miR-34a were significantly downregulated in cervical squamous cell carcinoma tissues compared to normal cervix tissue from healthy controls. Both miR-455 and miR-34a confer a promising diagnostic factor for the cervical cancer while miR-200a showed no significance in ROC analysis. Notably, low expression of miR-34a was markedly associated with the poor overall survival of cervical cancer patients as revealed by Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Also, univariate and multivariate analysis indicated miR-34a expression as an independent prognostic factor. Consequently, our results underline the importance of distinct expression miRNAs in cervical squamous cell carcinoma.     

Significant association of PKM2 and NQO1 proteins with poor prognosis in breast cancer

Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) have been known to play significant functions in tumorigenesis and development. The association between PKM2 and NQO1 in breast cancer continues, however, to be unclear. In the present study, according to UALCAN and GEPIA database, the mRNA levels of PKM2 and NQO1 in breast primary tumor were significantly higher compared to normal breast tissue. Consonant with these findings, increased expression of both PKM2 and NQO1 were detected in clinical samples and BC cell lines. More importantly, consolidated high expression of NQO1 and PKM2 were obtained to be related with worse clinical stage, relapse, shorter relapse free survival (RFS), and poorer overall survival (OS) in human breast cancer. We subsequently found that knockdown of NQO1 reduced the protein level of PKM2 significantly. Moreover, deletion of PKM2 significantly reduced colony formation, migration and invasion of BC cells. A positive correlation between PKM2 and NQO1 expression was identified by immunohistochemical analyses of 108 specimens of breast cancer patients (rs = 0.60, P = 0.00). Finally, endogenous Co-IP demonstrated that PKM2 and NQO1 interact in breast cancer cells. The results of this study suggest that the correlation between NQO1 and PKM2 might play a critical role during breast tumourigenesis and serve as novel diagnostic biomarkers for breast cancer.     

“They are interrelated,one feeds off the other”: A taxonomy of perceived disease interactions derived from patients with multiple chronic conditions

ObjectiveTo understand patients’ experiences with condition interactions and develop a taxonomy to inform care for patients with multiple chronic conditions.MethodsWe conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis of free-text data from patient surveys in which respondents were asked to indicate their most bothersome chronic condition and describe how their other conditions affect their self-care for that condition. Using standard content analysis, we developed a taxonomy comprising how patients perceive interactions among their conditions, and examined cross-cutting themes that reflect qualities of these interactions.ResultsAmong 383 eligible survey respondents, the mean (SD) number of chronic conditions was 4 (2); common conditions included hypertension (60%), chronic pain (49%), arthritis (41%), depression (32%), diabetes (29%), and post-traumatic stress disorder (26%). Patients’ perceived condition interactions took four broad forms: 1) unidirectional interactions among conditions and/or treatments, 2) cyclical or multidimensional interactions, 3) uncertain or indistinct interactions, and 4) no perceived interaction. Cross-cutting themes included beliefs about causal relationships between conditions, identification of interactions as negative vs. positive, and interactions between physical and mental health.ConclusionThis study presents a novel taxonomy of condition interactions from the patient perspective.Practice ImplicationsUnderstanding perceived condition interactions may support patient self-management and shared decision-making efforts.     

Changes of some amino acid concentrations in the medial vestibular nucleus of conscious rats following acute hypotension

Microdialysis and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used to measure the changes of certain amino acids in the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) of conscious rats in order to understand whether those amino acids are involved in the regulation of blood pressure. Acute hypotension was induced by infusing sodium nitroprusside (SNP) into the femoral vein. In the control group, glutamate (Glu) release increased, though γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and taurine (Tau) release decreased in the MVN following acute hypotension. In the unilateral labyrinthectomy group, the levels of Glu, GABA, and Tau were unchanged in the ipsilateral MVN to the lesion following acute hypotension. Furthermore, in the contralateral MVN to the lesion, Glu release increased, and GABA and Tau release decreased following acute hypotension. These results suggest that SNP-induced acute hypotension can influence the activity of neurons in the MVN through afferent signals from peripheral vestibular receptors, and that certain amino acid transmitters in the MVN are involved in this process.     

某农村地区高血压家族聚集性和遗传度的研究

目的探讨高血压家族聚集性及遗传度。方法采用遗传流行病学方法,对718名（286名先证者和432名对照）家系进行了家族聚集性、遗传方式及遗传度分析。结果先证者一级亲属高血压患病率为2.68%,与对照组的1.87%相比差异有显著性;2项分布显示,高血压家族中实际发病数超过其2项分布的理论概率范围,即高血压分布呈明显家族聚集现象;高血压的遗传度为14.31%（男5.04%,女22.44%）。结论遗传因素在韩国人高血压的发病中起一定的作用,但环境因素的作用可能比遗传因素更为重要。     

猝死患者37例抢救分析

1临床资料 2003年至2006年经笔者抢救心脏骤停患者37例，年龄在26岁-83岁之间，男23例，女14例，来院时呼吸、心跳均停止，双侧瞳孔散大，反射消失，死亡时间3min-30min。经紧急抢救后，心脏骤停时间在3min～8min之内的7例患者中，心跳、呼吸及神志恢复者3例，经2周左右的住院治疗，临床治愈出院；     

饮用水对角膜接触镜保存盒棘阿米巴污染的影响

[目的]观察饮用水的棘阿米巴污染情况,研究其与角膜接触镜保存盒棘阿米巴污染的关系.[方法]对延吉市居民饮用水棘阿米巴污染情况及大学生角膜接触镜保存盒和保存液的棘阿米巴污染情况进行调查.将103份饮用水和93份角膜接触镜保存液及保存盒擦拭液接种于有灭活大肠杆菌的无营养琼脂培养基中在28℃条件下培养1周,观察棘阿米巴生长情况.[结果]93份角膜接触镜保存盒擦拭液及保存液中有1份(1%)检出棘阿米巴污染,103份饮用水中有41份(40%)检出棘阿米巴污染.[结论]角膜接触镜保存液和保存盒棘阿米巴污染可能与不正确地使用饮用水清洗和保存角膜接触镜有关.     

甲状腺癌的漏误诊原因及对策(附123例分析)

目的　探讨甲状腺癌的诊断及漏误诊的原因及处理对策。方法　对 12 3例甲状腺癌进行回顾性研究分析。结果　甲状腺癌的同位素扫描“冷”结节率为 62 % ,超声诊断的准确率为 42 %。细胞学诊断符合率为 5 8.5 3 % ,术前误诊率达 3 9.84% ,再手术率为 19.5 1%。术后病理检查显示淋巴结转移率为 3 4.15 % ,结节钙化率为 2 1.14 % ,结节囊性变率为 2 9.2 7%。异位甲状腺 4例 ,隐性甲状腺癌 5例。结论　如果临床医生对甲状腺癌的临床特性、甲状腺结节的生物学行为有充分的认识 ,正确使用辅助检查 ,术者临床经验丰富 ,对术中探查有疑问的病例 ,能够及时进行术中快速冰冻切片检查 ,定能减少甲状腺癌的漏误诊率     

鞘内注射纯氧治疗血管性痴呆的临床研究

目的探讨鞘内注射过滤纯氧治疗血管性痴呆(VD)的临床疗效。方法将入选VD病人随机分为2组,治疗组26例,在应用扩血管药物等常规治疗的同时加用过滤纯氧鞘内注射治疗;对照组26例采用常规治疗。分别比较两组治疗后3月、6月后的MMSE评分、FAQ评分的变化情况及治疗6月后的疗效。结果治疗3月、6月后,治疗组MMSE评分分别为(18.76±4.27)和(20.48±4.76),均显著高于对照组(P<0.01);FAQ评分分别为(10.02±4.17)和(8.08±3.68),均显著低于对照组(P<0.01)。治疗6月后治疗组的总有效率为73.17%,对照组的总有效率为46.15%,两组比较有显著性差异(χ2=6.315,P<0.05)。结论应用鞘内注射纯氧治疗血管性痴呆,安全、方便,效果良好,值得推广应用。     

朝鲜槐化学成分的研究

从豆科植物朝鲜槐Maackiaamurensis树皮的乙醇提取物中，分得4种结晶单体，经理化性质和光谱分析，分别鉴定为β-谷甾醇（Ⅰ），鸢尾种甙元（tectorigenin，Ⅱ），kakkatin（Ⅲ）和鸢尾种甙（tectoridin，Ⅳ）。这4个化合物均系首次从该植物中分得。