Early increase precedes a depletion of VIP and PGP-9.5 in the skin of insulin-dependent diabetics—correlation between quantitative immunohistochemistry and clinical assessment of peripheral neuropathy

Diabetic neuropathy affects both sensory and autonomic peripheral nerve fibres. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) is present in autonomic fibres which modulate sweat secretion, while calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is localized to cutaneous sensory fibres. In this study, immunohistochemistry and image analysis were used to assess changes of VIP and CGRP, and of the pan-neuronal marker protein gene-product (PGP)-9.5, in skin biopsies of 18 patients affected by type 1 diabetes (age range 18–46 years) and from seven aged-matched controls. Patients were divided into three groups: group 1 (n=6), with diabetes for 6 months to 3 years; group 2 (n=5), with the disease for 5–10 years; and group 3 (n=7), with diabetes for more than 10 years. VIP immunoreactivity (IR) and PGP-9.5-IR were significantly reduced around sweat glands (P <0.005) in groups 2 and 3. Epidermal CGRP-IR and PGP-9.5-IR were significantly reduced in group 3 (P <0.05). Twenty-eight per cent (5/18) of all patients showed high VIP-IR around sweat glands (>95 per cent confidence limits of controls) and all of these patients had diabetes for less than 3 years. Conversely, 55 per cent (10/18) of patients had low VIP-IR (<5 per cent confidence limit of controls). The latter, compared with the former, showed a significantly longer duration of diabetes (Fisher exact test P=0·002), presence of clinical autonomic neuropathy (Fisher exact test P=0.04), and a reduced sural nerve conduction velocity (Fisher exact test P=0.04). These results suggest that quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of peptide-containing cutaneous nerves allows an objective evaluation of nerve fibre alterations at early stages of diabetes than is currently possible with neurophysiological functional tests.     

呼出气温度对儿童哮喘气道炎症变化的预测意义

目的 探讨呼出气温度（EBT）对哮喘患儿气道炎症变化的预测意义。方法 选择门诊初诊时符合纳入标准的哮喘患儿60例作为哮喘组,另选60例健康儿童作为对照组,应用最新的三代产品（X-halo）检测EBT水平,记录儿童哮喘控制测试（C-ACT）评分,比较哮喘组和对照组EBT水平和C-ACT评分差异。1个月后复诊根据患儿C-ACT评分,将其分为良好控制组、部分控制组和未控制组,检测三组EBT和FeNO水平,比较三组EBT水平和C-ACT评分差异,分析EBT和FeNO相关性。追溯其初诊资料,比较初诊时三组EBT水平和C-ACT评分差异,最后比较复诊和初诊时三组EBT水平和C-ACT评分的差异。结果 初诊时,哮喘组EBT水平显著高于对照组（P < 0.05）,C-ACT评分显著低于对照组（P < 0.05）。复诊时,不同控制水平的三组EBT比较差异有统计学意义,即未控制组 > 部分控制组 > 良好控制组（P < 0.05）;三组C-ACT评分比较差异亦有统计学意义,即良好控制组 > 部分控制组 > 未控制组（P < 0.05）。三组初诊EBT水平和C-ACT评分的组间比较差异均无统计学意义（P > 0.05）。与初诊时比较,复诊时良好控制组EBT明显降低（P < 0.05）,部分控制组和未控制组均明显升高（P < 0.05）;良好控制组和部分控制组C-ACT评分均明显升高（P < 0.05）,未控制组明显降低（P < 0.05）。复诊时未控制组EBT和FeNO水平呈正相关（P < 0.05）。结论 EBT对儿童哮喘气道炎症的变化具有预测意义。     

A meta-analysis of the prognosis in patients with breast cancer with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis versus patients with stage IIIb/c or IV breast cancer

ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate the prognosis in patients with breast cancer with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis (SLNM) versus patients with stage IIIb/c or IV breast cancer, so as to provide evidence for clinical practice and research.MethodsComputer retrieval from PubMed, Cochrane Libratory, CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), CBM and Wanfang Database with the assistance of other retrieval tools. All the studies evaluating the prognosis in patients with breast cancer with ipsilateral supraclavicular lymph node metastasis versus patients with stage IIIb/c or IV breast cancer were collected. Quality assessment was performed for the included data based on the quality assessment criteria appropriate for this study. Meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3 software.ResultsA total of four references (1277 patients) were included. Assessment of influences on prognosis: As compared to the stage IIIb/c group, the 5-year survival rate was slightly lower in the SLNM group (relative risk (RR) 0.79; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59–1.06; Z = 1.55, P = 0.12), but there was no statistical significance; in contrast, the 5-year survival rate was significantly increased in the SLNM group as compared to the stage IV group (RR = 2.70; 95%CI: 1.36–5.37; Z = 2.84, P = 0.005). As compared to the stage IIIb/c group, the 5-year disease-free survival rate was lower in the SLNM group (RR = 0.65; 95%CI: 0.40–1.05; Z = 1.75, P = 0.08); however, there was no statistical significance.ConclusionsIn patients with advanced breast cancer receiving combined therapy, the prognosis in patients with breast cancer with ipsilateral SLNM was significantly better than in those with stage IV breast cancer, and slightly worse than those with stage IIIb/c breast cancer. However, with the scarcity and poor quality of these observational studies, the long-term prognosis remains to be further verified in large-sample, high-quality studies.     

我国成人超重、肥胖和腹型肥胖的流行特点

肥胖患病率在全球呈快速增长趋势。肥胖是指体内脂肪过度堆积,并显著增加心血管代谢紊乱性疾病的发病风险。已观察到在一些人群中,超重/肥胖和腹型肥胖患病率的变化表现不一致。本文就我国超重/肥胖和腹型肥胖患病率的变迁进行总结。     

Effects of all-trans retinoic acid on orphan receptor APJ signaling in spontaneously hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE: Studies show general agreement that all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) has been linked to the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCRs) signaling. To further validate effects of atRA on the cardiovascular GPCRs, the present study was designed to assess whether atRA will modulate orphan receptor APJ, a homologue of angiotensin II type 1 (AT(1)) receptor. METHODS: Real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot methods were performed to examine the expression of APJ and its endogenous ligand apelin in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats after chronic atRA treatment. RESULTS: APJ and apelin expression were markedly depressed in placebo-treated SHR, compared with WKY rats (p<0.01). However, in atRA-treated SHR, a significant upregulation of APJ and apelin expression was observed in both heart and aorta (p<0.05), accompanied by a reduction of AT(1) expression, an elevation of serum nitric oxide levels and a subsequent decrease of blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic atRA treatment activates gene and protein expression of APJ and apelin and reduces blood pressure in SHR, suggesting that atRA may regulate the balance between apelin-APJ and angiotensin II-AT(1) signaling and have potential clinical value in the prevention and treatment of human hypertension.     

Large pelvic mass arising from the cervical stump: A case report

BACKGROUND A large cervical cyst with a cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion arising from the cervical stump is rare.After supracervical hysterectomy,there is a risk of various lesions occurring in the cervical stump.We review the types and characteristics of cervical stump lesions and compare total hysterectomy with subtotal hysterectomy.Gynecologists should choose the most suitable surgical method based on both the patient’s condition and wishes.If the cervix is retained,patients require a close follow-up.CASE SUMMARY A 57-year-old woman was admitted to the Gynecology Department for a large pelvic mass.Her chief complaint was abdominal distention for two months.She had undergone subtotal supracervical hysterectomy for leiomyoma 14 years prior.Abdominal ultrasonography detected a 9.1 cm×8.5 cm×8.4 cm anechoic mass with silvery fluid in the pelvic cavity and high-risk human papilloma virus 53(HPV53)was positive.The admission diagnosis we first considered was a pelvic mass mimicking carcinoma of the cervical stump.We performed a laparotomy and a rapid frozen biopsy was suggestive of a fibrous cyst wall coated with a high squamous intraepithelial lesion.The pelvic mass was removed,and a bilateral adnexectomy was implemented.Final pathology confirmed that the pelvic mass was a large inflammatory cyst with a cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.After successful intervention,the patient was discharged one week after surgery and there was no recurrence of the vaginal stump at 43 mo.CONCLUSION When addressing benign uterine diseases,gynecologists should pay adequate attention to retaining the cervix.If the cervix is retained,patients require a close follow-up.     

Identification of proteins differentially expressed in adriamycin-resistant (pumc-91/ADM) and parental (pumc-91) human bladder cancer cell lines by proteome analysis

Purpose

Resistance to chemotherapy drugs remains a difficult problem in bladder cancer treatment. Protein expression is an important factor underlying multidrug resistance (MDR) in bladder cancer. The aim of the study was to explore differentially expressed proteins responsible for MDR between an adriamycin-resistant human bladder cancer cell line (pumc-91/ADM) and its parental cell line (pumc-91).

Methods

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) combining image analysis was used to screen the differentially expressed protein spots between the pumc-91/ADM and pumc-91 cell lines. Then, the protein spots were identified using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. Among the identified proteins, annexin A2 (ANXA2) and nucleophosmin (NPM1) were then further verified using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis.

Results

A total of 30 proteins, including 19 up-regulated and 11 down-regulated proteins, were successfully identified in pumc-91/ADM. According to their different functions, these 30 proteins were classified into 12 categories. Annexin A2 (ANXA2) and nucleophosmin (NPM1) were up-regulated in pumc-91/ADM compared with pumc-91.

Conclusion

The proteins identified may have an important clinical significance in MDR, and ANXA2 and NPM1 may take part in mechanism of MDR in bladder cancer.     

血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7在兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达

目的观察血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7在兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中的表达,确定斑块中表达血管紧张素转化酶2蛋白的细胞类型。方法雄性新西兰大白兔动脉内膜损伤术后饲以高脂饲料4个月建立动脉粥样硬化模型。取腹主动脉组织进行免疫组织化学染色。结果血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7蛋白在兔腹主动脉斑块中表达,大多数的巨噬细胞、部分平滑肌细胞和内皮细胞都表达血管紧张素转化酶2。血管紧张素1-7主要在血管紧张素转化酶2阳性区域表达,分布于血管紧张素转化酶2阳性细胞胞外。结论血管紧张素转化酶2和血管紧张素1-7都在兔动脉粥样硬化斑块中表达,血管紧张素转化酶2及血管紧张素1-7在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的作用值得进一步探讨。