A diagnostic algorithm for male genital oedema

Male genital oedema can be defined as swelling or the appearance of swelling of the scrotum and/or the penile shaft and prepuce. Despite the various causes of genital oedema reported in the published work, a concise approach to the evaluation and management has not been sufficiently addressed.     

Reduced CD44 standard expression is associated with tumour recurrence and unfavourable outcome in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

CD44 was detected with an antibody recognizing all forms of CD44 (CD44 standard) and others specific for its v3 and v6 variant isoforms; their prognostic value was evaluated in 213 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The staining patterns of CD44 standard (s) and CD44v6 in tumour tissue were quite similar, 176 cases (83%) being highly positive for CD44s and 153 cases (72%) for CD44v6. Only 18 (9%) tumours showed high expression of CD44v3. Papillary carcinomas were significantly more often high expressors of CD44s and CD44v6 than follicular carcinomas (p<0.001 for both). Age older than 60 years, distant metastases, and advanced pTNM stage were related to loss of expression of CD44s (p<0.001, p=0.021, and p=0.003, respectively). Tumour recurrence and cancer-related mortality were related to the reduced level of CD44s (p=0.049 and p=0.042). CD44v3 did not associate with any of the clinicopathological factors. In univariate analysis, CD44s was the only significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival (p=0.0488). In multivariate analysis, CD44s and thyroglobulin level were significant prognostic factors for disease-free survival (p=0.040 and p<0.001, respectively). The reduced level of CD44s in DTC patients seems to be an independent prognostic factor for unfavourable disease outcome.     

Reduction of atherosclerosis in cholesterol-fed rabbits and decrease of expressions of intracellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in foam cells by a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum

Polygonum multiflorum stilbeneglycoside （PMS） is a water-soluble fraction of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. , one of the most famous tonic traditional Chinese medicines, that has protective effects on the cardiovascular system. The purpose of the present study is to elucidate the effects of PMS on macrophage-derived foam cell functions and the reduction of severity of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic New Zealand White （NZW） rabbits. NZW rabbits were fed for 12 weeks with a normal diet, a high cholesterol diet, or a high cholesterol diet associated with irrigation with different doses of PMS （25, 50, or 100 mg/kg）. Treatment of NZW rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet with 100 mg/kg PMS attenuated the increase in plasma cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and plasma triglyceride. Treatment with 50 and 100 mg/kg PMS caused 43% and 60% decrease in atherosclerotic lesioned area ratio to total surface area, respectively. In U937 foam cells, PMS could decrease the high expression of intercellular adhesion molecule （ICAM）-1 protein and the vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGF） protein levels in the medium induced by oxidized lipoprotein when analyzed by flow cytometry. The results proved that PMS is a powerful agent against atherosclerosis and that PMS action could possibly be through the inhibition of the expression of ICAM-1 and VEGF in foam cells.     

Computer-aided diagnosis of the airways: beyond nodule detection

Although to date, the major impetus for the development of computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD) has been the detection of pulmonary nodules, CAD should properly be viewed as a potential tool for assisting radiologic interpretation of the entire gamut of chest diseases, including not just enhanced detection of disease but also characterization and quantification, ideally leading to improved patient management. The use of CAD to improve visualization of the airways using advanced computer techniques, including sophisticated methods for obtaining 3-dimensional segmentation of the central airways and, in particular, the development of virtual bronchoscopy has been recently studied. In this paper, the authors review the development of a specific series of CAD applications enabling automated identification and characterization of chronically inflamed airways. The advantages to the use of computer methodologies to quantify peripheral airway disease include reproducible visualization methods to display the location, severity, and extent of airway dilatation, bronchial wall thickening, and the presence of mucoid impacted airways. Currently, a number of semiquantitative global scoring systems have been proposed to assess disease extent and severity in patients with bronchiectasis. Unfortunately, with the exception of patients with cystic fibrosis, these are rarely if ever employed, largely owing to the considerable inconvenience of measuring individual airway dimensions and computing a global score. It is apparent that for this specific purpose, CAD may be ideally suited. Automated staging allows for more complete assessment of the entire bronchial tree while providing improved standardization and eliminating an otherwise tedious and time-consuming task.     

Granulocyte-Colony Stimulating Factor Reduces Cocaine-Seeking and Downregulates Glutamatergic Synaptic Proteins in Medial Prefrontal Cortex

Psychostimulant use disorder is a major public health issue, and despite the scope of the problem there are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatments. There would be tremendous utility in development of a treatment that could help patients both achieve and maintain abstinence. Previous work from our group has identified granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) as a neuroactive cytokine that alters behavioral response to cocaine, increases synaptic dopamine release, and enhances cognitive flexibility. Here, we investigate the role of G-CSF in affecting extinction and reinstatement of cocaine-seeking and perform detailed characterization of its proteomic effects in multiple limbic substructures. Male Sprague Dawley rats were injected with PBS or G-CSF during (1) extinction or (2) abstinence from cocaine self-administration, and drug seeking behavior was measured. Quantitative assessment of changes in the proteomic landscape in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were performed via data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry analysis. Administration of G-CSF during extinction accelerated the rate of extinction, and administration during abstinence attenuated cue-induced cocaine-seeking. Analysis of global protein expression demonstrated that G-CSF regulated proteins primarily in mPFC that are critical to glutamate signaling and synapse maintenance. Taken together, these findings support G-CSF as a viable translational research target with the potential to reduce drug craving or seeking behaviors. Importantly, recombinant G-CSF exists as an FDA-approved medication which may facilitate rapid clinical translation. Additionally, using cutting-edge multiregion discovery proteomics analyses, these studies identify a novel mechanism underlying G-CSF effects on behavioral plasticity.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Pharmacological treatments for psychostimulant use disorder are desperately needed, especially given the disease''s chronic, relapsing nature. However, there are currently no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved pharmacotherapies. Emerging evidence suggests that targeting the immune system may be a viable translational research strategy; preclinical studies have found that the neuroactive cytokine granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) alters cocaine reward and reinforcement and can enhance cognitive flexibility. Given this basis of evidence we studied the effects of G-CSF treatment on extinction and reinstatement of cocaine seeking. We find that administration of G-CSF accelerates extinction and reduces cue-induced drug seeking after cocaine self-administration. In addition, G-CSF leads to downregulation of synaptic glutamatergic proteins in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), suggesting that G-CSF influences drug seeking via glutamatergic mechanisms.     

β-catenin，c-myc和Cyclin D1在胰腺癌组织中的表达及意义

目的研究β-catenin异常表达、c-myc和Cyclin D1的高表达与胰腺癌发生、浸润、转移的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学方法检测5例正常胰腺组织和40例胰腺癌及13例相应癌旁组织中β-catenm、c-myc和Cyclin D1的表达。结果 5例正常胰腺组织及13例胰腺癌旁组织中β-catenin为正常表达,c-myc和Cyclin D1阴性表达,40例胰腺癌组织中25例有β-catenin的异常表达(25／40,62．5％),20例(20／40,50％)有c-myc的高表达,23例(23／40,57．5％)有Cyclin D1的高表达。β-catenin的异常表达率与淋巴结转移、浸润及病理分级相关(P<0.05),c-myc和Cyclin D1的高表达与分化程度,浸润,转移及病理分级无关,β-catenin的异常表达与c-myc的阳性表达不相关,而与Cyclin D1的阳性表达相关。结论β-catenin的异常表达可能主要是通过激活Cyclin D1引起细胞增殖,导致肿瘤的发生。     

Identification of Candida species in the clinical laboratory: a review of conventional,commercial, and molecular techniques

In healthy individuals, Candida species are considered commensal yeasts of the oral cavity. However, these microorganisms can also act as opportunist pathogens, particularly the so‐called non‐albicans Candida species that are increasingly recognized as important agents of human infection. Several surveys have documented increased rates of C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii, C. dubliniensis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei in local and systemic fungal infections. Some of these species are resistant to antifungal agents. Consequently, rapid and correct identification of species can play an important role in the management of candidiasis. Conventional methods for identification of Candida species are based on morphological and physiological attributes. However, accurate identification of all isolates from clinical samples is often complex and time‐consuming. Hence, several manual and automated rapid commercial systems for identifying these organisms have been developed, some of which may have significant sensitivity issues. To overcome these limitations, newer molecular typing techniques have been developed that allow accurate and rapid identification of Candida species. This study reviewed the current state of identification methods for yeasts, particularly Candida species.