Increased expression of GAB1 promotes inflammation and fibrosis in systemic sclerosis

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease mainly characterized by persistent inflammation and fibrosis. The receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signal pathway plays an important role in the process of SSc, and Grb2‐associated binding protein (GAB) is crucial in activating RTK signalling. A previous study found elevated levels of GAB1 in bleomycin (BLM)‐induced fibrotic lungs, but the effects of GAB1 in SSc remain unclear. Our aim was to investigate whether GAB1 was dysregulated and its potential role in SSc. Compared with healthy donors, we found GAB1 expression was 1.6‐fold higher in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), 2.5‐fold higher in CD4 + T cells, and 2‐fold higher in skin from of SSc patients (P < .01). At the same time, the levels of type one collagen (COLI) were also significantly increased (1.8‐fold higher) in SSc skin. Additionally, BLM‐induced SSc mice showed mRNA levels of Gab1 2‐fold higher than saline‐treated controls, and Gab1 expression correlated positively with collagen content. A further in vitro study showed silencing of GAB1 suppressed inflammatory gene expression in TNF‐α induced fibroblasts. Additionally, GAB1 deficiency prominently inhibited cell proliferation and reduced COLI protein levels in TGF‐β induced fibroblasts. Taken together, these data suggest that GAB1 has a relatively high expression rate in SSc, and knockdown of GAB1 may attenuate SSc by stimulating inflammatory and fibrotic processes.     

Usefulness of rheumatoid factor as an immunological and prognostic marker in PSS patients

Clinical Rheumatology - The rheumatoid factor (RF) is present in numerous autoimmune disorders, although its role in many of them remains a subject of research. The study assesses the role of RF as...     

左、右半结肠癌骨转移病理特征及预后分析

目的:比较左半结肠癌（LSCC）和右半结肠癌（RSCC）骨转移的病理特征和临床预后差异。方法:对漯河市中心医院2007年1月至2015年12月收治的103例结肠癌骨转移病例资料进行回顾性分析，据解剖位置将64例纳入LSCC组，39例纳入RSCC组，对比分析其病理学特征,绘制并分析生存曲线,筛选预后因素。结果:RSCC骨转移相对LSCC表现为:CA199 阳性率高、年龄大、分化程度更差、分期更晚、预后更差。单因素分析结果示原发肿瘤位置、TNM分期、LDH水平、ALP水平是影响结肠癌骨转移3年生存的相关因素。Logistic多因素回归分析显示原发肿瘤位置、TNM分期、ALP水平是结肠癌骨转移的独立危险因素。结论:左、右半结肠癌在病理特点、临床表现、生物学行为、生存预后等方面存在差异，本文为区分左、右半结肠癌骨转移的不同病理特征及预后评价提供了依据。     

Differential Expression of PD-L1 Between Sporadic and VHL-Associated Hereditary Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma and Its Correlation With Clinicopathological Features

Background

Programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) is a potential predictive biomarker for immunotherapy in several malignancies. However, the expression level and clinical significance of PD-L1 in von Hippel–Lindau (VHL)-associated hereditary clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain unclear.

Dexmedetomidine enhances ropivacaine-induced sciatic nerve injury in diabetic rats

Background

Previous studies suggest that dexmedetomidine has a protective effect against local anaesthetic-induced nerve injury in regional nerve blocks. Whether this potentially protective effect exists in the context of diabetes mellitus is unknown.

Pathological classification and prognosis of renal damage caused by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis

Objective To analyze the pathological characteristics and prognostic factors of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods A retrospective analysis of AAV patients with renal biopsy results admitted to Kidney Disease Center of the First Affiliated Hospital from January 2004 to February 2017 was performed. The patients were divided into 4 types according to Berden classification, and their clinical, pathological characteristics and prognosis were compared. The survival curves of each type of patients were plotted by Kaplan-Meier method, and the difference of survival curves was compared using Log-rank test. With entering the maintenance dialysis as the endpoint, Cox regression was used to analyze the prognostic factors. Results A total of 175 patients with AAV, including 59 cases (33.7%) of focal type, 39 cases (22.3%) of crescent type, 32 cases (18.3%) of sclerosis type, 45 cases (25.7%) of mixed type. The basal serum creatinine levels in crescent type group and sclerosis type group were significantly higher than those in the focal type group or mixed type group (all P＜0.05), and loop necrosis rate in sclerosis type group was significantly lower than chat in the focal type group or crescent type group (both P＜0.05). The median follow-up period was 11.8 (0.5-86.7) months. The event-free survival rates were 83.1%, 77.8%, 64.1% and 50.0% in the focal type, mixed type, crescent type and sclerotic type groups (Log-rank χ2=11.537, P=0.009). Cox regression analysis showed higher parathyroid hormone (HR=1.013, 95%CI 1.007-1.019, P＜0.001), glomerular sclerosis ≥50% (HR=10.532, 95%CI 2.903-38.203, P＜0.001) were independent risk factors for AAV patients entering maintenance dialysis, and higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR=0.943, 95%CI 0.896-0.993, P=0.025) was protective factor. Conclusion The prognosis of AAV renal damage is worsened according to focal, mixed, crescent and sclerosis types. Lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, higher parathyroid hormone and glomerular sclerosis ≥50% are independent risk factors for AAV patients entering maintenance dialysis.