Successful term pregnancies after laparoscopic excision of poorly differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumor of the ovary

Ovarian Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors are rare sex cord-stromal tumors, accounting for less than 1% of ovarian tumors. Majority of these tumors are benign and unilateral, only 3-5% are bilateral. These patients present with clinical features of virilization due to excessive secretion of testosterone from the tumor, however 50% may have no endocrine symptoms. We report a case of poorly differentiated Sertoli-Leydig cell tumour in a woman diagnosed during routine investigation of infertility. She had two spontaneous successful pregnancies after tumor excision laparoscopically.     

新疆和田地区维吾尔族、汉族人群Rh血型分布调查与比较

目的 对和田维吾尔族和汉族人群的Rh血型分布进行调查并与既往的维吾尔族Rh血型调查资料进行比较分析。方法 采用流行病学方法普查2907人Rh血型，其中维吾尔族2251人、汉族656人。对ABO血型采用正定玻片法、Rh血型采用血清学盐水介质法测定，另外对RhD阴性个体检测Rh血型血清学表型。结果 共检出106例RhD阴性个体，RhD阴性率为4．71％，D基因频率为0．217，其Rh表型除1例为ccdEe型外其余为ccdee型。维吾尔族RhD阴性个体的ABO血型与随机抽取维吾尔族个体的ABO血型的比较结果显示，RhD阴性个体中B型者偏高、而A、O型者偏低。结论 维吾尔族的Rh血型的基因频率较高，且Rh表型具有特殊性。     

CD14+ antigen-presenting cells in human dermis are less mature than their CD1a+ counterparts

We recently demonstrated that three antigen-presenting cell (APC) subsets exist in the healthy human dermis, CD14(+) and CD1a(+) dermal APCs and migratory dermal Langerhans cells. Here, we extend these findings by defining CD208 as an exclusive marker of migratory dermal Langerhans cells, confirming that migratory dermal Langerhans cells (CD1a(high) CD207(+) CD208(+)) and CD1a(+) dermal APCs (CD1a(mid) CD207(-) CD208(-)) are two distinct APC populations. Using flow cytometry and multicolor fluorescence immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that there were striking differences between CD1a(+) and CD14(+) dermal APCs in their expression of pattern recognition receptors and maturation markers. Expression of Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, CD206 and CD209 was largely restricted to CD14(+) dermal APCs. Consistent with these observations, most CD14(+) dermal APCs expressed an immature phenotype when compared with CD1a(+) dermal APCs, which expressed high levels of the maturation marker CD83 on their cell surface. However, a subset of CD14(+) dermal APCs also expressed cell-surface CD83, associated with a loss of cell-surface TLR2, suggesting that they have the capacity to mature. CD14(+) dermal APCs are therefore the dominant cutaneous APC population capable of sensing ligands recognized by CD206, CD209 and TLR2 and subsequently may have the potential to mature. CD68 expression was largely restricted to a subset of CD14(+) dermal APCs, while both CD14(+) and CD1a(+) dermal APCs expressed CD11b and CD11c. These findings have important implications for understanding cutaneous immune responses in humans and for the optimization of vaccine delivery via the skin.     

A study of the receptivity to telecare technology in a community-based elderly minority population

We examined the readiness of an elderly minority population to use various technologies for telecare. Eighty-five people with an average age of 73 years living in affordable housing completed a self-administered survey (a response rate of 43%). The technology that would be most likely to be used was environmental sensors in the home. The top five situations in which respondents would be receptive to new technology were all related to improving communications with a doctor or a nurse, especially when a medical emergency occurred. These included devices to send information to a doctor, to call for medical help, to signal to a nurse that 'I am OK' and to detect falls. This highlights the importance of including numerous opportunities for the individual to communicate better with their medical providers. The one situation that gave respondents the most concern was the 'use of a camera to check on me when I am unwell'. The study provides some evidence that elderly minorities residing in affordable housing were receptive to the introduction of new telecare technologies.     

Patient and provider determinants of breast cancer screening among Ontario women aged 40–49: a population-based retrospective cohort study

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment - Equivalent efficacy was demonstrated for the biosimilar CT-P6 and trastuzumab following neoadjuvant therapy for patients with human epidermal growth factor...     

Spontaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy

With the increase in incidence of ectopic pregnancy over the decades, bilateral ectopic pregnancy is also increasing. It is usually associated with assisted reproductive techniques (ART) but in recent years few cases of spontaneous bilateral ectopic pregnancy have been reported. Gynaecologists should be aware of this and that ultrasonography has limitations in diagnosis. In cases of ectopic pregnancy where contralateral adnexa is not clearly identified on ultrasound and fertility needs to be conserved, patient should be managed by experts in well equipped centres. A case of spontaneous bilateral tubal pregnancy that remained undiagnosed till laparotomy, is described.     

Academic outcomes in childhood‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

To explore academic outcomes in childhood‐onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) and their relationship to variables such as demographic and socioeconomic status, neurocognitive functioning, behavioral/emotional adjustment, and cSLE disease status.

Methods

Forty pairs of children diagnosed with cSLE and healthy best friend controls were rated by parents on a standardized scale of school competence. Information about participants' demographic and socioeconomic status was obtained, along with measures of cSLE disease activity and damage. All of the participants received formal neurocognitive testing and were also rated on standardized scales of behavioral/emotional adjustment and executive functioning.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, school competence was rated as lower in the cSLE group, although the groups did not differ significantly on indices of cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or executive functioning. School competence ratings were correlated with reading and mathematics achievement test scores in both groups, and with ratings of mental self‐regulation in the cSLE group. School competence ratings were correlated with measures of cSLE disease activity and treatment intensity.

Conclusion

cSLE is associated with inferior parent‐rated academic outcomes compared to those noted in demographically‐matched peers, despite similar neurocognitive function. The adverse academic outcomes that distinguish children with cSLE from their demographically‐matched peers appear to be mediated by SLE disease activity and treatment.     

Cat's whiskers tea (Orthosiphon stamineus) extract inhibits growth of colon tumor in nude mice and angiogenesis in endothelial cells via suppressing VEGFR phosphorylation

Cat's whiskers (Orthosiphon stamineus) is commonly used as Java tea to treat kidney stones including a variety of angiogenesis-dependent diseases such as tumorous edema, rheumatism, diabetic blindness, and obesity. In the present study, antitumor potential of standardized 50% ethanol extract of O. stamineus leaves (EOS) was evaluated against colorectal tumor in athymic mice and antiangiogenic efficacy of EOS was investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). EOS at 100 mg/kg caused 47.62?± 6.4% suppression in tumor growth, while at 200 mg/kg it caused 83.39 ± 4.1% tumor regression. Tumor histology revealed significant reduction in extent of vascularization. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed EOS (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level in vitro (211?± 0.26 pg/ml cell lysate) as well as in vivo (90.9 ± 2 pg/g tissue homogenate) when compared to the control (378 ± 5 and 135.5 ± 4 pg, respectively). However, EOS was found to be noncytotoxic to colon cancer and endothelial cells. In vitro, EOS significantly inhibited the migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). EOS suppressed VEGF-induced phosphorylation of VEGF receptor-2 in HUVECs. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of EOS showed high rosmarinic acid contents, whereas phytochemical analysis revealed high protein and phenolic contents. These results demonstrated that the antitumor activity of EOS may be due to its VEGF-targeted antiangiogenicity.