Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) an early-screening biomarker for ovarian cancer: NGAL is associated with epidermal growth factor-induced epithelio-mesenchymal transition

The expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been shown to be upregulated in ovarian cancer cells. In this study, we report that the expression of immunoreactive NGAL (irNGAL) in ovarian tumors changes with disease grade and that this change is reflected in the concentration of NGAL in peripheral blood. A total of 59 ovarian tissues including normal, benign, borderline malignant and grades 1, 2 and 3 malignant were analyzed using immunohistochemistry. irNGAL was not present in normal ovaries and the NGAL expression was weak to moderate in benign tissues. Both borderline and grade 1 tumors displayed the highest amount of NGAL expression with moderate to strong staining, whereas in grade 2 and 3 tumors, the extent of staining was significantly less (p < 0.01) and staining intensity was weak to moderate. Staining in all cases was confined to the epithelium. NGAL expression was analyzed by ELISA in 62 serum specimens from normal and different grades of cancer patients. Compared to control samples, the NGAL concentration was 2 and 2.6-fold higher in the serum of patients with benign tumors and cancer patients with grade 1 tumors (p < 0.05) and that result was consistent with the expression of NGAL performed by Western blot. NGAL expression was evaluated by Western blot in an immortalized normal ovarian cell line (IOSE29) as well as ovarian cancer cell lines. Moderate to strong expression of NGAL was observed in epithelial ovarian cancer cell lines SKOV3 and OVCA433 while no expression of NGAL was evident in normal IOSE29 and mesenchyme-like OVHS1, PEO.36 and HEY cell lines. NGAL expression was downregulated in ovarian cancer cell lines undergoing epithelio-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF). Downregulation of NGAL expression correlated with the upregulation of vimentin expression, enhanced cell dispersion and downregulation of E-cadherin expression, some of the hallmarks of EMT. EGF-induced EMT phenotypes were inhibited in the presence of AG1478, an inhibitor of EGF receptor tyrosine kinase activity. These data indicate that NGAL may be a good marker to monitor changes of benign to premalignant and malignant ovarian tumors and that the molecule may be involved in the progression of epithelial ovarian malignancies.     

Efficacy of preoxygenation with tidal volume breathing. Comparison of breathing systems

BACKGROUND: Preoxygenation before tracheal intubation is intended to increase oxygen reserves and delay the onset of hypoxemia during apnea. Various systems are used for preoxygenation. Designed specifically for preoxygenation, the NasOral system uses a small nasal mask for inspiration and a mouthpiece for exhalation. One-way valves in the nasal mask and the mouthpiece ensure unidirectional flow. This investigation compares the efficacy of preoxygenation using the standard circle system with the NasOral system and five different resuscitation bags. METHODS: Twenty consenting, healthy volunteers were studied in the supine position for 5-min periods of tidal volume breathing using the circle absorber system, the NasOral system, and five resuscitation bags in a randomized order. Data were collected during room air breathing and at 30-s intervals during 5 min of oxygen administration. Inspired oxygen, end-tidal oxygen, and end-tidal nitrogen were measured by mass spectrometry. RESULTS: At 2. 5 min of oxygenation, end-tidal oxygen plateaued at 88.1 +/- 4.8 and 89.3 +/- 6.4% (mean +/- SD) for the circle absorber and NasOral systems, respectively. This was associated with inverse decreases in end-tidal nitrogen. At no time did these end-tidal oxygen or nitrogen values differ from each other. Three of the resuscitation bags (one disk type and two duck-bill type with one-way exhalation valves) delivered inspired oxygen more than 90%, and the end-tidal oxygen plateaued between 77 and 89% at 2 min of tidal volume breathing. The other two resuscitation bags (both duck-bill bags without exhalation valves) delivered inspired oxygen less than 40%, and the end-tidal oxygen values ranged between 21.8 +/- 5.0 and 31.9 +/- 8.7%. CONCLUSIONS: The circle absorber and NasOral systems were equally effective in achieving maximal preoxygenation during tidal volume breathing. Resuscitation bags differed markedly in effectiveness during preoxygenation; those with duck-bill valves without one-way exhalation valves were the least effective. Thus, the use of these bags should be avoided for preoxygenation.     

大连市英那河水库库区污染源清理及效果

目的探讨水库库区污染源清理的方法和效果.方法于2002年对大连市英那河水库库区的猪圈、牲口圈、厕所、院坑、坟墓等污染源清理后,计算污染源面积,采集清理后未消毒的土壤样品,用生石灰或漂白粉消毒后的土壤样品.按照GB 7959-1987<粪便无害化卫生标准>进行评价.结果每座牲口圈、猪圈、厕所、禽舍、院坑、坟墓的污染源面积分别为77.4、74.2、31.7、32.1、36.3、158.5 m2.选用生石灰和漂白粉进行消毒.猪圈污染源清理后未消毒和清理清理后消毒的土壤样品大肠埃希菌值、蠕虫卵合格率分别为85.94%和90.31%,96.88%和99.38%.消毒前后的土壤样品大肠埃希菌值合格率(x2=11.58,P＜0.005)、蠕虫卵合格率(P＜0.005)差异均有统计学意义.库区各类污染源清理后消毒的土壤样品大肠埃希菌值(95.78%)和蠕虫卵合格率(99.85%)接近库区山坡荒地土壤对照样品(大肠埃希菌值和蠕虫卵合格率均为100%).结论库区污染源采取清理与药物消毒联合应用,能够保障污染源清理达到清洁土壤的卫生指标.     

青藏铁路那曲段草场鼠类群落结构调查

目的为预防害鼠随青藏铁路出入西藏自治区（西藏）,并造成对西藏和内地的危害,防止鼠疫等鼠传疾病随铁路流行,对青藏铁路沿线那曲段草场鼠类群落组成及密度进行调查。方法在青藏铁路沿线的那曲、安多县和附近的班戈、聂荣、比如及嘉黎县草场,安多县河川草地及那曲县香茂乡青藏铁路护坡和农舍采用夹日法调查。结果草场共收回有效夹1828夹,捕鼠145只,另53只鼠残体,捕获率为10．83％,其中捕获鼠2种,加上河川草地捕获鼠2种,及观察到鼠1种,草场以高原鼠兔为优势种,另有少量的长尾仓鼠、白尾松田鼠和喜马拉雅旱獭;铁路护坡捕获高原鼠兔1种,另有1只鼠残体;农舍布放有效夹286夹,捕鼠20只,在青藏铁路沿线的农舍以小家鼠和白尾松田鼠为主要害鼠。草场捕获率以7月那曲县为最高,达30．32％。结论青藏铁路那曲段草场以高原鼠兔为优势种,青藏铁路沿线的那曲县香茂乡农舍以小家鼠为优势种;未发现褐家鼠和黄胸鼠分布,但需要加强监控;鼠密度高的地方需要治理。     

天津地区胃癌危险因素病例-对照研究

目的从天津地区胃癌发病的危险因素方面探讨胃癌的发病机制,旨在为胃癌的病因学研究和防治工作提供线索和依据。方法对天津地区100例胃镜检查或手术后,经病理检查确诊为胃癌患者为病例组,并以同期胃镜诊断为慢性浅表性胃炎和慢性萎缩性胃炎患者109例作为对照组,均通过统一制表进行相关因素的问卷调查,专人登记。对调查结果进行了Logistic回归分析,以确定饮食、情绪、生活习惯等危险因素与胃癌发生的关系。结果嗜酒和有恶性肿瘤家族史均会很大程度上增加患胃癌的危险性,嗜酒（酒精量〉40g／d）患胃癌的OR值是2．448（95％CI：1．157～5．182）,直系亲属患恶性肿瘤发生胃癌的OR值是3．469（95％CI：1．392～8．644）。结论嗜酒和有恶性肿瘤家族史均会很大程度上增加患胃癌的危险程度。