Short term correlates of the Neuro Emotional Technique for cancer-related traumatic stress symptoms: A pilot case series

Introduction As many as one quarter of all cancer survivors report traumatic stress symptoms from cancer-related experiences. While the majority of these patients do not meet the criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is growing evidence that subsyndromal symptoms can significantly contribute to functional impairment and negative health outcomes. Treatment options for the hallmark symptoms of traumatic stress—unpleasant, intrusive thoughts and avoidant behaviors—have not been well investigated for the cancer survivorship population. Materials and methods Seven female cancer survivors with traumatic stress symptoms from cancer-related experiences and no other major psychopathology, were enrolled to receive three sessions of Neuro-Emotional Technique (NET), a brief, targeted treatment that combines traditional desensitization principles with complementary modalities. Results Psychological outcome measures (Impact of Event Scale (IES) and Subjective Units of Distress (SUD) and physiological measures (Heart Rate (HR) and Skin Conductance Level (SCL) demonstrated the following changes: 71% on IES, 88% SUD, 74% on HR, and 65% on SCL following the intervention. Statistically significant changes were observed for all four parameters, and effect size g for proportion improved were 0.50 each for IES, SUD, and HR, and 0.20 for SCL. Conclusions These cases suggest feasibility of the NET intervention for cancer-related traumatic stress and the potential for change in symptoms and physiological reactivity. Further investigation is needed to determine the specific and long-term effects of such an approach. Implications for cancer survivors Traumatic stress from cancer-related experiences might represent a constellation of symptoms that are amenable to brief, targeted interventions. This study was supported by the O.N.E. Research Foundation     

Isolation and partial characterization of the tegumental outer membrane of schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni

Separation of the external membranes from freshly converted mechanical schistosomula of Schistosoma mansoni was achieved by osmotic shock under hypertonic conditions, followed by mechanical shearing and ultracentrifugation. Prior to treatment, the schistosomula were surface labeled by introduction of N-DNP-epsilon-aminocaproylphosphatidylethanolamine molecules into their lipid bilayer followed by anti-DNP antibodies and stained with either 125I-protein-A or ferritin labeled secondary anti-DNP antibodies. This label provided a membrane marker by which the purity of the preparation could be assessed at each stage. Fluorescence staining with FITC-conjugated secondary antibodies prior to treatment revealed that the homogeneously stained membrane of the intact schistosomula became swollen and ruptured after the osmotic shock. The isolated membrane pellet was intensely fluorescent. Electron microscopical examination revealed mostly vesicles, some of them with organized multilayer assembly. The vesicles were ferritin labeled, indicating that they originated from the outer surface membrane of the schistosomula. A 100 fold enrichment in the alkaline phosphatase activity and about 300 fold enrichment in acetylcholinesterase activity in the membrane preparations, as compared to the intact schistosomula, was found. The isolated tegument was analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The pattern obtained showed three major bands, of molecular weights 69 000, 45 000 and 12 000 alongside with a large number of minor bands. Immunoprecipitation of the isolated 125I-labeled membrane antigens with antisera from chronically infected mice revealed these three major bands together with three other bands of molecular weight 38 000, 23 000 and 16 000.     

Primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumor (atypical carcinoid) expressing KIT and PDGFRA with myoepithelial differentiation: a case report with immunohistochemical and molecular genetic studies

Primary cutaneous neuroendocrine tumors (NET) except for Merkel cell carcinoma have rarely been reported. Herein reported is a very unique case of primary cutaneous NET with immunohistochemical markers of myoepitheliomas. A 47-year-old woman presented a tumor measuring 0.8x0.9x0.6 cm of the face. The tumor was excised completely with wide margins. Morphologically, the tumor was located in the dermis, and the tumor was composed of epithelioid cells arranged in trabecular, sinusoidal, rosette, ribbon-like, and cord-like patterns. Focal areas show tubular formations. The tumor cells were homogenous, and their nuclei showed hyperchromasia but no apparent histological features of malignancy were seen. The stroma was very scant. No invasive features were seen. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for cytokeratin (CK) 34BE12, CD5/6, CK14, NCAM (CD56), p63, and KIT (CD117), and moderately positive for CK AE1/3, p53, chromogranin, synaptophysin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), PDGFRA, CA19-9, and Ki-67 antigen (labeling index=23%). The tumor cells were negative for CK CAM5.2, CK7, CK8, CK18,CK19,CK20, EMA, vimentin, CEA, HMB45, S100 protein, α-smooth muscle antigen, desmin, CD34, GFAP, neurofilaments, CD99 (MIC2), CD45, CD57, ErbB2, TTF-1, MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6. Mucins examined by d-PAS and Alcian blue techniques were negative. A genetic analysis using PCR-direct sequencing method in paraffin sections identified no mutations of KIT (exons 9, 11, 13 and 17) and PDGFRA (exons 12 and 18) genes. Imaging modalities including CT and MRI identified no tumor in the body. The clinicians thought that the tumor was cured. She was a sailor and immediately visited other countries; therefore the follow-up could not be done.     

Somatostatin receptors: From signaling to clinical practice

Somatostatin is a peptide with a potent and broad antisecretory action, which makes it an invaluable drug target for the pharmacological management of pituitary adenomas and neuroendocrine tumors. Somatostatin receptors (SSTR1, 2A and B, 3, 4 and 5) belong to the G protein coupled receptor family and have a wide expression pattern in both normal tissues and solid tumors. Investigating the function of each SSTR in several tumor types has provided a wealth of information about the common but also distinct signaling cascades that suppress tumor cell proliferation, survival and angiogenesis. This provided the rationale for developing multireceptor-targeted somatostatin analogs and combination therapies with signaling-targeted agents such as inhibitors of the mammalian (or mechanistic) target of rapamycin (mTOR). The ability of SSTR to internalize and the development of rabiolabeled somatostatin analogs have improved the diagnosis and treatment of neuroendocrine tumors.     

Clobenpropit,a histamine H3 receptor antagonist/inverse agonist,inhibits [3H]-dopamine uptake by human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and rat brain synaptosomes

Background

Clobenpropit, a potent antagonist/inverse agonist at the histamine H₃ receptor (H₃R), reduced the cytotoxic action of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) in neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells transfected with the human H₃R. We therefore set out to study whether this effect involved a receptor-independent action on dopamine transport.

基于.NET的医院网络设备管理系统设计与应用

目的：开发设计一种远程网络设备管理软件,解决医院网络设备管理手段落后的问题.方法：采用模块化思想和可视化管理,应用.NET程序设计,基于telnet协议,利用网络设备固定命令,实现远程管理功能.结果：经在医院网络中测试运行,实现了网络交换机管理、备份和恢复配置程序、显示接口运行状态等服务,满足了网管人员的基本需求.结论：该系统平台为管理人员提供了方便快捷的可视化服务,同时,减少了维护人员的工作量,提升了工作效率,对医院网络管理智能化起到了推动作用,具有一定的应用和推广价值.     

Contribution of neutrophils in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis

Neutrophils are major innate immune effector cells for host defense and have been a topic of active research for their participation in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) due to recently discovered neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. NET formation and other mechanisms leading to the release of neutrophil nuclear and cytoplasmic contents are implicated as a source of citrullinated antigens in RA. Further investigations are required to delineate what factors diverge neutrophils from host defense to autoimmune response in RA.     

经内镜黏膜下剥离术治疗直肠神经内分泌肿瘤的疗效及安全性CSCD

目的探讨经内镜黏膜下剥离术(ESD)治疗直肠神经内分泌肿瘤(RNET)的疗效,并评估其安全性。方法回顾性分析2011年1月—2017年12月在江苏省人民医院行直肠ESD治疗、经病理及免疫组织化学确诊为RNET的80例患者(91处病变)的临床资料,并对患者进行随访。结果所有病变均为完整切除病灶。有症状的患者术后3天~2月症状均有不同程度缓解,无严重术后并发症,标本切缘阳性率20.88%(19/91),切缘可疑阳性率35.16%(32/91)。切除标本最大长径20 mm。单因素分析中,肿瘤长径≥10 mm、肿瘤处于G2级与切缘可疑阳性及阳性相关(P<0.05)。肿瘤处于G2级为切缘可疑阳性及阳性的独立危险因素。仅有1例患者术前证实为RNET。中位随访时间34月,复发率4.40%(4/91)。结论ESD在治疗直径<20 mm的G1级和G2级的RNET患者中具有良好疗效。对于ESD术后显示切缘阳性及可疑阳性的RNET患者,可密切随访暂不实施其他治疗。