MicroRNA-93 promotes bladder cancer proliferation and invasion by targeting PEDF

Objective

MicroRNA-93 (miR-93) is upregulated in the urine of patients with bladder cancer (BC). Here, we investigated the role of miR-93 in BC progression and explored the underlying mechanism.

Gallstones are associated with carotid atherosclerosis

Background/Aims: Gallstone disease (GD) and cardiovascular disease (CD) are common diseases worldwide with considerable economical impact and they are strongly associated. Carotid atherosclerosis is an excellent marker of risk for CD like stroke and myocardial infarction. The aim of this study was to assess the association between gallstones and carotid atherosclerosis. Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted. We evaluated subjects with ultrasonographical evidence of GD and asymptomatic subjects without such evidence. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical variables were collected. The Metabolic syndrome was evaluated using adult treatment panel III criteria. Carotid artery intima–media thickness (CIMT) was determined by a standard ultrasound protocol. Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) serum levels were measured in all subjects. Results: We studied 191 subjects: 62 subjects with GD (53.2% males) and 129 asymptomatic subjects without GD (65.9% males). Subjects with GD exhibited a higher body mass index, body fat percent, insulin serum levels and CIMT (P<0.05 for all). The prevalence of GD was higher in subjects with a CIMT>0.75 independently of other factors [odds ratio (OR) 2.12, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.04–4.34; P=0.039], and for every 0.1 mm increase in CIMT the independent probability to be a case of GD increased by a factor of 1.25 (95% CI 1.02–1.53; P=0.027). IGF‐1 levels did not differ among groups. Conclusions: Subjects with GD exhibit greater carotid atherosclerosis, and therefore have a higher risk for stroke and myocardial infarction.     

Clinical and laboratory manifestations of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type I in young adults

OBJECTIVES: Congenital dyserythropoietic anemia (CDA) type I is a rare autosomal recessive macrocytic anemia whose natural history is not well documented. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical picture of the disease in young adults. METHODS: The study sample consisted of 17 patients of mean age 11.9 +/- 5.4 yr (range 18-33 yr) and one older patient (age 44 yr), all Israeli Bedouins. The degree of anemia was evaluated as well as the extent of development of gallstones and iron overload. In each subject we determined the hemochromatosis gene mutations and the uridine dyphosphate-glucoronosyltransferase (UGT-1A) gene polymorphism associated with Gilbert's syndrome. RESULTS: The patients were found to have moderate anemia, with the women displaying lower mean hemoglobin levels than the men (8.2 +/- 0.9 g dL(-1) vs. 10 +/- 1.3 g dL(-1); P=0.0059). The majority of patients (59%) had received at least one blood transfusion, with the women having a significantly higher transfusion requirement. Although delayed puberty was noted, final height and weight were within normal limits, and eight patients had progeny. Biliary stones were found in three of 16 patients, two of whom were homozygous for UGT-1A gene polymorphism. None of the patients carried the common hemochromatosis gene mutation, although serum ferritin levels were moderately elevated (788 +/- 332 ng mL(-1)). CONCLUSIONS: CDA type I in young adults is characterized by moderate macrocytic anemia, more severe in women, and a tendency to cholelithiasis and secondary progressive iron overload. We suggest that iron overload in this patient population should be monitored and chelation therapy initiated when indicated to prevent organ damage     

The pattern of functional and organic disorders in an Asian gastroenterological clinic

Abstract The aim of the present study was to determine the pattern of structural and functional disorders encountered in an Asian gastroenterological clinic and to compare this pattern with findings from Western centres. Consecutive new patients (totalling 2384) attending the clinics of two consultant gastroenterologists were studied. Of these, 2141 suffered from gastroenterological problems. One thousand and sixty-three (49.6%) had structural diseases, the commoner ones being liver disease, peptic ulcer, malignancy, haemorrhoids and gallstones. The remainder who were found to have no structural disease ( n = 1078; 50.4%) were deemed to have functional disorders including non-ulcer dyspepsia, irritable bowel, simple constipation and functional diarrhoea. The proportions of functional and structural disease were similar to those in the West. Major differences included a higher frequency of hepatoma and a lower frequency of inflammatory bowel disease and gastro-oesophgeal reflux in the present series.     

瑞舒伐他汀对2型糖尿病视网膜病变患者血清PEDF、IL-6水平的影响

目的探讨瑞舒伐他汀对2型糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)患者血清PEDF、IL-6水平的影响。方法选取60例2型糖尿病视网膜病变患者,随机分为实验组(瑞舒伐他汀治疗)30例和空白对照组(仅常规降血糖治疗)30例,疗程为3个月。分析两组患者治疗前后血清PEDF、IL-6、TC、TG、LDL、HDL、FPG、2h PG、Hb A1c水平以及DR分期的变化情况。结果实验组血清IL-6、TC、TG、LDL、FPG、2h PG、Hb A1c水平及DR分期与治疗前比较明显下降,血清PEDF、HDL水平与治疗前比较明显升高,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。空白对照组中FPG、2h PG、Hb A1c水平较治疗前明显下降(P<0.01),其余各指标与治疗前比较,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。实验组治疗前后的差值(ΔPEDF、ΔIL-6、ΔDR分期、ΔTC、ΔTG、ΔLDL、ΔHDL)与对照组治疗前后的差值比较,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.01)。结论瑞舒伐他汀能显著降低DR患者血清IL-6水平,升高血清PEDF水平,从而延缓了DR患者的病情进展。     

消炎利胆片与经胆道镜取石术治疗老年肝胆结石对患者血清Ins、C－P、HA水平的影响比较

目的：比较消炎利胆片与经胆道镜取石术治疗老年肝胆结石对患者血清胰岛素（ Ins）、C－肽（ C－P）、透明质酸（ HA）水平的影响。方法将老年胆结石患者212例随机分为试验组和对照组各106例。试验组采用经胆道镜取石术,对照组给予包括消炎利胆片口服在内的药物治疗。于治疗前后检测2组患者血清Ins、C－P及HA水平,并比较2组临床疗效。结果治疗后2组患者Ins和HA水平均显著低于治疗前,且试验组降低幅度大于对照组,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。但2组患者治疗后C－P水平差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。试验组的总有效率96．23％高于对照组的82．08％,差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。结论经胆道镜取石术治疗老年肝胆结石患者可显著降低血清Ins和HA水平,对C－P水平无影响,较药物治疗具有更好的治疗效果。     

Gallstone pancreatitis: Sixteen years of clinical management

Of 1465 patients with cholelithiasis admitted from 1980 to 1995, we reviewed 49 patients (3.3%) with gallstone pancreatitis. The patients were 26 men and 23 women, with a mean age of 57.7 years and mean serum amylase level of 2195IU/l. We examined laboratory data needed to determine Ranson's score, and we examined clinical findings, including the timing and choice of treatment, site of gallstones, and the postoperative course. Thirty-five patients (72%) were classified as having mild pancreatitis, with a Ranon's score of 2 or less; 9 patients (18%) had severe pancreatitis (score of 3 or more), and the remaining 5 (10%) could not be classified. Common bile duct (CBD) stones were identified in 18 of the 49 patients with severe pancreatitis, more than two times higher than that in patients with mild pancreatitis (31%). Although 92% of the patients (45/49) recovered from pancreatitis initially with conservative, treatment, such as antibiotics and protease inhibitors; 4 of the 9 patients with severe pancreatitis (44%) required urgent treatment. After the pancreatitis settled, cholecystectomy, predominatly performed laparoscopically, and endoscopic sphincterotomy were the primary treatment procedures. The overall morbidity rate was 6% (mild pancreatitis, 6%; severe pancreatitis, 11%), with no mortality. Most mild pancreatitis and some severe gallstone pancreatitis can be treated conservatively, followed by treatment for the gallstones causing the acute pancreatitis. However, in some patients with severe pancreatitis, especially those with acute necotizing pancreatitis or suppurative cholangitis, urgent treatment is mandatory. The final treatment for gallstones should be performed after the pancreatitis is alleviated.     

Phagocytosis of Hemozoin (Native and Synthetic Malaria Pigment), and Plasmodium falciparum Intraerythrocyte-Stage Parasites by Human and Mouse Phagocytes

Hemozoin, the detoxification product of hemoglobin heme, piles up as electron-dense material in the food vacuole (FV) of intraerythrocytic malaria parasites (malaria pigment). In infected individuals, pigment is internalized by both circulating and resident phagocytes, thus modulating their functions. Synthetic beta-hematin, prepared in vitro from hematin (ferriprotoporphyrin IX hydroxide) in acidic condition, is spectroscopically identical to hemozoin. In this electron microscopy study, native and synthetic hemozoin also prove to be morphologically indistinguishable (large polygonal crystals with apparent transverse banding) and to undergo the same process when internalized by phagocytes (primarily a direct uptake of crystals, similar to what is described for asbestos fibers). On the contrary,whole parasites appear to follow a classical endocytic pathway. This suggests that there may be differences between the ingestion of free particles and whole parasites in terms of modulation of phagocytes' functions.