Genetic and epigenetic alterations of the EGFR and mutually independent association with BRCA1, MGMT,and RASSF1A methylations in Vietnamese lung adenocarcinomas

Genetic and epigenetic alterations importantly contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. In the study, we measured the frequency and distribution of molecular abnormalities of EGFR as well as the aberrant promoter methylations of BRCA1, MGMT, MLH1, and RASSF1A in Vietnamese lung adenocarcinomas. We investigated the association between genetic and epigenetic alteration, and between each abnormality with clinicopathologic parameters. Somatic EGFR mutation that was found in 49/139 (35.3%) lung adenocarcinomas showed a significant association with young age, female gender, and non-smokers. EGFR overexpression was identified in 82 tumors (59.0%) and statistical relationships with EGFR or BRCA1 methylation but not EGFR mutation. In addition, EGFR, BRCA1, MGMT, MLH1, and RASSF1A methylations were found in 33 (23.7%), 41 (29.5%), 46 (33.1%), 28 (20.1%), and 41 (29.5%) cases of a total of 139 lung adenocarcinomas, respectively. The RASSF1A methylation was found to be linked to the smoking habit. Methylations in MGMT and RASSF1A were also found to correlate with metastasis status. Furthermore, the distribution of EGFR mutation and that of BRCA1, MGMT or RASSF1A methylation were significantly exclusive in lung adenocarcinomas. The main finding of our study demonstrate that epigenetic abnormalities might play a critical role for the lung tumorigenesis in patients with smoking history and metastasis, and partly affect the predictive value of EGFR mutations through blocking expression due to promoter EGFR hypermethylation. Mutually exclusive distribution of genetic and epigenetic alterations reflects differently biological characteristics in the etiology of lung adenocarcinomas.     

Systolic cessation of the flow in the mid stent segment of the previously stented ostial vein graft with normal flow during diastole. A case report and brief review.

We present a case of intermittent cessation of blood flow through stent struts during systole, with normal flow during diastole in the previously stented ostial vein graft. After reviewing the initial procedure, we discovered that the operator had difficulty in positioning the stent. After stent deployment, the ostial stent was malpositioned and was protruding more than 50% into the aorta. During systole, the contrast in the stent struts, which are situated in the aorta, was being washed off by systolic blood flow, while in the diastole, the flow of contrast was normal. This is the first case report of this observation with a brief review.     

Retrorenal colon: implications for percutaneous diskectomy

It has been recommended that computed tomography (CT) with the patient prone be performed in every patient undergoing percutaneous diskectomy; this would enable detection of a retrorenal location of the colon, which could interfere with the percutaneous procedure. In this evaluation of 346 prone CT studies, only one patient (0.29%) was found to have retrorenal or retropsoas bowel that would have been perforated at diskectomy. Because of this extremely low prevalence, the performance of prone CT in every patient undergoing percutaneous lumbar diskectomy is not believed to be necessary.     

Ultrasound biomicroscopic features of spherophakia

Background: Spherophakia is an uncommon diagnosis. This is the first case report of spherophakia evaluated by ultrasound biomicroscopy.
Methods: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a new diagnostic technique developed by one of the authors and provides images with microscopic resolution of the anterior segment. A patient with spherophakia was evaluated by ultrasound biomicroscopy (Zeiss-Humphrey, 50MHz) before and after YAG laser iridotomy.
Results: Ultrasound biomicroscopic assessment revealed a shallow anterior chamber, a very steep anterior lens curvature, iridolenticular contact, elongated zonules, and an increased distance between the lens equator and the ciliary processes. Angle closure glaucoma was due to a pupil block mechanism. The pupil block was relieved by YAG laser iridotomy.
Conclusions: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a useful technique to confirm the diagnosis of spherophakia. The pupil block in spherophakia is relieved by YAG laser iridotomy.     

1,6—二磷酸果糖对手术后应激病人应用全肠外营养支持效果的影响

本文在胃癌行全胃或胃大部切除术引起的中等程度应激病人，随机分组对比观察了全肠外营养或ＴＰＮ加用１，６－二磷酸果糖的效果。结果显示，与单纯ＴＰＮ相比，ＴＰＮ加用ＦＤＰ后血清皮质醇和胰高血糖素等应激激素水平有所下降，尿中３－甲基组氨酸排出减少，累积氮平衡增加。     

Induction of Protective Immunity in Rodents by Vaccination with a Prokaryotically Expressed Recombinant Fusion Protein Containing a Respiratory Syncytial Virus G Protein Fragment

A subunit approach to the development of a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine was investigated. It involved the production, inEscherichia coli,of an RSV (Long) G protein fragment (G2Na) as a C-terminal fusion partner to an albumin binding region (BB) of streptococcal protein G. G2Na incorporated amino acid residues 130–230 and was specifically recognized by murine anti-RSV-A polyclonal serum. In mice, intraperitoneal immunization with BBG2Na induced high anti-RSV-A serum ELISA titers and low to moderate neutralization activity. The immune response induced by BBG2Na demonstrated a potent protective efficacy against upper and lower respiratory tract RSV-A infection. The immunogenicity and protective efficacy of BBG2Na was maintained for at least 47 and 48 weeks, respectively, and was as potent and durable as live RSV-A administered in a similar fashion. Intramuscular immunization of cotton rats with BBG2Na protected lungs from both homologous and heterologous virus challenge. In contrast to mice, however, cotton rat nasal tracts were not protected after BBG2Na immunization. Consistent with antibody-mediated protection, virus was cleared within 24 hr from the lungs of BBG2Na-immunized mice. The anti-RSV-A antibodies induced in mice were exclusively of the IgG1 isotype and were detected in the serum, lungs, and nasal tracts. Passive transfer of these antibodies prevented acute, and eliminated chronic, RSV-A lung infection in normal and immunodeficient mice, respectively, confirming that such antibodies are important and sufficient for BBG2Na-induced pulmonary protection. Our results clearly demonstrate that BBG2Na contains an important immunogenic domain of the RSV G protein. The prokaryotic origin of this protein indicates that glycosylation of the RSV G protein is not necessary for protective efficacy. Thus, BBG2Na has potential as an RSV subunit vaccine.     

纤维素固相放射免疫测定甲胎蛋白

本文在国内首次报道了纤维素固相RIA法测定甲胎蛋白。本法简便灵敏,快迅稳定,平均回收率95.7±8.08％,批间变异系数r=7.8±1.7％,批内变异系数r=5.8±2.6％,线性关系较好(r=0.999),灵敏度比液相RIA提高6倍,32份血样品用双位点夹心法和试剂盒的液相RIA进行比较,结果经统计学处理,相关系数分别为r=0.82,r=0.80,均具有显著相关性。