Purpose
We aimed to investigate the role of peripheral blood mononuclear cell transportation from mother to baby in hepatitis B virus (HBV) intrauterine infection.
Methods
Thirty HBsAg-positive ...pregnant women in the second trimester and their aborted fetuses were included in this study. Enzyme-linked-immunosorbent-assay was utilized to detect HBsAg in the peripheral blood of pregnant women and the femoral vein blood of their aborted fetuses. HBV-DNA in serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and GSTM1 alleles of pregnant women and their aborted fetuses were detected by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and seminested PCR, respectively. We also examined the location of placenta HBsAg and HBcAb using immunohistochemical staining. The expression of placenta HBV-DNA was detected by in situ hybridization.
Results
For the 30 aborted fetuses, the HBV intrauterine infection rate was 43.33 %. The HBV-positive rates of HBsAg in peripheral blood, serum, and PBMC were 10 % (3/30), 23.33 % (7/30), and 33.33 % (10/30), respectively. Maternal–fetal PBMC transport was significantly positively correlated with fetal PBMC HBV-DNA (
P
= 0.004). Meanwhile, the rates of HBV infection gradually decreased from the maternal side to the fetus side of placenta (decidual cells > trophoblastic cells > villous mesenchymal cells > villous capillary endothelial cells). However, no significant correlation between placenta HBV infection and HBV intrauterine infection was observed (
P
= 0.410).
Conclusions
HBV intrauterine infection was primarily due to peripheral blood mononuclear cell maternal–fetal transportation in the second trimester in pregnant women.
CdS nanotubes and nanowires have been synthesized with controlled dimensions by means of template-electrodeposition method in etched ion-track membranes. The diameters of nanotubes and nanowires are ...between 20 and 110
nm, and the lengths are up to tens of micrometers. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern investigations demonstrate that CdS nanotubes and nanowires are polycrystalline in nature. The UV–vis absorption spectra of CdS nanotubes and nanowires embedded in polycarbonate (PC) membranes show that the absorption edges of PC films shift towards the shorter wavelength, with decreasing diameters of the deposited nanostructures. The results indicate that nanowires are formed from nanotubes by nanotube-stuffing-growth mechanism.
Summary The c-Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2) belongs to the activator protein-1 (AP-1) family and functions as a repressor of the AP-1 complex by dimerizing with other c-Jun proteins. Thus, JDP2 ...plays an important role in the repression of AP-1-driven biological processes, such as differentiation and proliferation. Recent studies have suggested that JDP2 may function as a tumor suppressor through its suppressive action against the AP-1 complex, which is known to drive oncogenic signals in several human malignancies. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to examine the JDP2 expression in 211 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and analyzed the potential link of JDP2 expression to the clinico-pathological features of HCC patients. Clinical parameter analysis showed that high expression of JDP2 was significantly correlated with smaller tumor size (P = .002) and early stage HCC (P = .039). Moreover, Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that high expression of JDP2 was significantly associated with better survival in HCC patients (P = .006). Taken together, our results showed that JDP2 may serve as a tumor suppressor in HCC and could therefore serve as a good prognostic marker for patients with HCC.
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the whole joint, especially the knee joint. Its main features include articular cartilage defects and osteophyte formation, and it ...is common in middle-aged and elderly people. Although the pathogenesis of OA is not fully understood, mechanical factors, inflammation and immune abnormalities can affect joint tissue metabolism and destroy cartilage and bone homeostasis. Cartilage calcification is closely related to chondrocyte hypertrophy, differentiation and bone sclerosis in OA, which is manifested as pathological calcification of cartilage matrix. Chondrocytes in OA may change from a state of maintaining cartilage matrix balance to a state of promoting cartilage destruction and calcification. Inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-1β promote this phenotypic shift, accelerating matrix degradation and calcium salt deposition. The change of calcium signal and an important factor of angiogenesis and promote cartilage calcification. Chondrocyte hypertrophy plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and progression of OA, characterized by complex interactions with cartilage calcification, subchondral bone sclerosis, as well as chondrocyte proliferation, apoptosis, matrix remodeling, and signaling cascades. The degree of chondrocyte hypertrophy exhibits a positive correlation with the severity of OA. Furthermore, structural changes in the articular cartilage are associated with factors including reduced cartilage collagen synthesis or the activation by degradative enzymes. Regulatory mechanisms governing chondrocyte hypertrophy and cartilage calcification, alongside the identification of pertinent genes, represent pivotal areas for future investigation. This research will further elucidate the pathogenesis of OA and lay the groundwork for devising therapeutic strategies.
Presented here are two metal-organic frameworks, namely Zn(L)(bbp)
n
(
1
) and Cu(L)(bix)
0.5
n
(
2
) (H
2
L = 2-(2-carboxyphenyl)disulfanylbenzoic acid, bpp = 1,3-bis(4-pyridyl)propane, bix = ...1,4-bis(imidazole-1-ylmethyl)benzene), which are synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. During this process, the 2-sulfanylbenzoic acid in situ transformed into H
2
L via the formation of disulfide bond. X-ray diffraction revealed that compound
1
displays a 3-fold interpenetrated 3D framework with 4-connected
bcu
topology, and compound
2
shows a 2D layered structure based on paddle-wheel shaped dinuclear Cu
2
(COO)
4
subunits and represents a 4-conneceted
sql
topology. Luminescence test revealed that compound
1
may be served as a good blue luminescent material. Photocatalytic experiment indicated that compound
2
may be applied as a highly effective photocatalyst for the photodegradation of MB aqueous solution under UV light irradiation.
Background Although gastric glomus tumors are usually benign lesions, occasional malignant transformation has been reported. Thus, complete resection of the gastric glomus tumor is necessary. ...Objective To provide a better understanding of the endoscopic features of this rare entity with an emphasis on its diagnosis and treatment. Design Retrospective case series. Setting Academic medical center. Patients Six patients (2 men, 4 women; median age 48 years) received a diagnosis of gastric glomus tumor and were treated. Interventions Endoscopic diagnosis and resection. Main Outcome Measurements Endoscopic features, resection success, adverse events, and follow-up endoscopy. Results Gastric glomus tumors do not exhibit specific features on gastroscopy and EUS that distinguish them from other gastric submucosal tumors. Endoscopic submucosal enucleation was successful in 5 patients. In one patient, the operation had to be discontinued because of significant bleeding during the procedure. The mean tumor size was 19.8 ± 6.2 mm (range 12-30 mm). Perforation occurred in 1 patient and was successfully managed with hemoclips. No local recurrence was observed during follow-up (mean duration 9 ± 5.1 months, range 3-17 months). Limitations Small number of patients (N = 6), limited follow-up, retrospective study. Conclusions Diagnosis of gastric glomus tumors is difficult when based only on features derived from gastroscopy and EUS. Endoscopic submucosal enucleation is a feasible and safe procedure with which to diagnose and treat this lesion. However, further investigation and comparative studies are required to confirm the safety and efficacy of this method.
Abstract Background Pregabalin has been used as an adjuvant in some trials to control postoperative pain after gynecologic surgery. However, the potential clinical advantage remains debatable. ...Objective We performed a meta-analysis of clinical trials of pregabalin to evaluate its ability to control acute postoperative pain after gynecologic surgery. Methods We searched PubMed, ScienceDiret, and the Cochrane Library of Randomized Controlled Trials up to January 2014. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective controlled studies reporting pregabalin for gynecologic surgery. The primary outcome was pain outcomes and postoperative cumulative opioid consumption. Data were reported as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95% CIs. The secondary outcome was adverse effects after surgery. Results Six valid randomized trials met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Pooled data were collected from 452 patients between 2007 and 2012 (These trials were separately conducted in Greece 2012, India 2011–2012, Turkey 2011, Denmark 2009 and Australia 2007). The pregabalin-treated patients consumed fewer opioids during the first 24 hours postoperatively (WMD, −8.50 mg; 95% CI, −11.29 to −5.71 mg; P < 0.00001). Pain intensity at rest and on movement or coughing revealed a statistically significant pain relief effect of pregabalin during 24 hours postoperatively (at rest: WMD, −6.20 mm; 95% CI, −11.83 to −0.58 mm; P = 0.03; on movement or coughing: WMD, −5.32 mm; 95% CI, −9.73 to −0.91 mm; P = 0.02). No differences were found between the pregabalin and control groups for the adverse effects. Conclusions Pregabalin has an analgesic and opioid-sparing effect and does not increase the frequency of adverse effects in acute postoperative pain management after gynecologic surgery.
Bosentan has an established role in the management of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This clinical trial assessed the benefits of bosentan in the Chinese population.
We investigated the ...efficacy and safety of bosentan in 92 Chinese citizens (mean +/- standard deviation age, 29.0 +/- 3.8 years) with PAH for a minimum of 12 weeks. All received bosentan (62.5 mg twice daily) for 4 weeks; then, patients who weighed <40 kg received 62.5 mg bosentan twice daily and patients who weighed >40 kg received 125 mg twice daily. All patients were eligible to continue bosentan beyond 12 weeks. The primary end point was a change in exercise capacity from baseline to 12 and 24 weeks. Secondary end points included a change in World Health Organization (WHO) functional class and changes in cardiopulmonary hemodynamics.
At baseline, 66 patients (72%) were in WHO functional class III; presentation was 37 (40%) with idiopathic PAH (iPAH), 34 (37%) with PAH related to congenital heart disease (CHD), and 21 (23%) with PAH related to connective tissue disease (CTD). Exercise capacity increased to 67.8 m after 12 weeks and 92.6 m after 24 weeks (p < 0.001). After 24 weeks, WHO functional class decreased (-0.8 +/- 0.6; p < 0.001), mean pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased (p < 0.01), and cardiac output increased (p < 0.001). Twelve patients (13%) experienced at least 1 adverse event.
Bosentan improved exercise capacity, functional class, and cardiopulmonary hemodynamics in this patient cohort and was well tolerated.
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