Pulmonary granular cell tumors: a clinicopathological analysis of five cases / 中华病理学杂志

Objective: To investigate the clinicopathological features of pulmonary granular cell tumors (pGCTs) and to improve the diagnostic accuracy of the tumor. Methods: A total of 5 pGCTs were diagnosed from February 2016 to January 2022 at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine and Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, China. Immunohistochemical staining, and analysis of the clinicopathological characteristics were performed. Results: The average age of the pGCTs patients was 46 years (ranging from 24 to 54 years), with 3 females and 2 males. One case occurred in the bronchus with multiple nodules in the lung, 2 cases occurred in the bronchial opening, and 2 cases were solitary nodules in the lung. The maximum diameter of the tumors ranged from 12 to 15 mm (mean size 14 mm). Microscopically, the tumor showed infiltrative growth and consisted of round, oval or polygonal cells. Abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm was noted, and the nucleoli were prominent. None of the 5 cases showed any mitosis or necrosis. Immunohistochemical and histochemical study showed positive staining for S-100 (5/5), SOX10 (5/5), Vimentin (5/5), TFE3 (4/5), PAS (3/5), and amylase-digested-PAS (3/5), while 4 cases were negative for CD68. TFE3 FISH analyses on 2 cases showed that no signal abnormality was detected in these 2 cases. The average proliferation index of Ki-67 was 2.2% (range 0-5%). There was no recurrence in 4 cases of pGCTs with a follow-up time ranging from 2 months to 60 months. Conclusions: pGCTs are very rare tumors, most likely originating from Schwann cells. Immunohistochemical staining is the conventional diagnostic tool for pGCTs diagnosis. Recognition of this entity is essential for pathologists to avoid misdiagnosis and unnecessary treatments.

Inhibitory effects of a TRPM4 inhibitor 9-phenanthrol on electrical activity of INS-1 pancreatic β-cells / 药学学报

The Ca2+-activated monovalent cation selective transient receptor potential melastatin 4 (TRPM4) channel expressed in pancreatic β-cells is implicated in the β-cell function and insulin secretion, but how pharmacological function of TRPM4 channel affects membrane excitability of β-cells remains largely unknown. Here, we report that pharmacological inhibition of TRPM4 by specific inhibitor 9-phenanthrol attenuates electrical activities of pancreatic β-cells. In whole-cell current clamp recordings, 9-phenanthrol results in inhibition of action potential frequency induced by tolbutamide of the INS-1 pancreatic β-cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of 14.99 ± 7.93 μmol·L-1. Similarly, 9-phenanthrol also inhibited action potential firing in INS-1 cells stimulated by current injection. Further recordings of β-cells demonstrate the significant inhibitory effects on action potential peak and action potential amplitude by 9-phenanthrol. Taken together, our results show the involvement of TRPM4 channel function in pancreatic β-cells depolarization and action potential, it provides pharmacological experimental methods and theoretical support for the study of TRPM4 channel in pancreatic β-cells.

Study on anti-hyperlipidemia effect of Linderae Radix via regulating reverse cholesterol transport / 中国中药杂志

This article aims to investigate the ameliorative effect of Linderae Radix ethanol extract on hyperlipidemia rats induced by high-fat diet and to explore its possible mechanism from the perspective of reverse cholesterol transport(RCT). SD rats were divided into normal group, model group, atorvastatin group, Linderae Radix ethanol extract(LREE) of high, medium, low dose groups. Except for the normal group, the other groups were fed with a high-fat diet to establish hyperlipidemia rat models; the normal group and the model group were given pure water, while each administration group was given corresponding drugs by gavage once a day for five weeks. Serum total cholesterol(TC), triglyceride(TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol(HDL-c), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol(LDL-c), alanine aminotransferase(ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase(AST) levels were measured by automatic blood biochemistry analyzer; the contents of TC, TG, total bile acid(TBA) in liver and TC and TBA in feces of rats were detected by enzyme colorimetry. HE staining was used to observe the liver tissue lesions; immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ATP-binding cassette G8(ABCG8) in small intestine; Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/aerfa(PPARγ/α), liver X receptor-α(LXRα), ATP-binding cassette A1(ABCA1) pathway protein and scavenger receptor class B type Ⅰ(SR-BⅠ) in liver. The results showed that LREE could effectively reduce serum and liver TC, TG levels, serum LDL-c levels and AST activity, and increase HDL-c levels, but did not significant improve ALT activity and liver index; HE staining results showed that LREE could reduce liver lipid deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration. In addition, LREE also increased the contents of fecal TC and TBA, and up-regulated the protein expressions of ABCG8 in small intestine and PPARγ/α, SR-BⅠ, LXRα, and ABCA1 in liver. LREE served as a positive role on hyperlipidemia model rats induced by high-fat diet, which might be related to the regulation of RCT, the promotion of the conversion of cholesterol to the liver and bile acids, and the intestinal excretion of cholesterol and bile acids. RCT regulation might be a potential mechanism of LREE against hyperlipidemia.

Prevalence and awareness of dyslipidemia among overweight and obese population in Beijing community / 中华心血管病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the prevalence and percentage of dyslipidemia awareness among overweight and obese residents in Beijing community.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Cross-sectional data of 9786 subjects from capital cholesterol education and intervention program (CCEIP) were analyzed. Participants were divided into 3 groups (Normal, overweight and obese) based on body mass index (BMI). Blood lipid levels were determined from overnight fasting plasma samples. Questionnaires were collected to estimate awareness of dyslipidemia.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>(1) Blood lipids levels were positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.17, 0.18, -0.26 and 0.35 between total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride and BMI, respectively, all P < 0.01). (2) Prevalence of dyslipidemia increased in proportion with increase of BMI. The age-standardized prevalence of dyslipidemia of normal, overweight and obese population was 23. 9%, 43.3% and 65.4% in men and 17.9%, 29.2% and 42.3% in women. Dyslipidemia was more frequent in obese men than obese women (65.4% vs. 42.3%, P < 0.01). However, this gender difference decreased gradually with the increase of age. Risk of hypercholesterolemia, high LDL-C, low HDL-C and hypertriglyceridemia in obese men was 1.6, 2.9, 2.4, and 2.7 folders higher than in the normal body weight men and was 1.3, 1.9, 1.7 and 2.1 folders higher in obese women than in normal body weight women. (3) Unexpectedly, the percentage of dyslipidemia awareness in overweight and obese population was not significantly higher than in the normal body weight group (P > 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of dyslipidemia was high while the percentage of dyslipidemia awareness was rather low in obese population. Aggressive intervention should be taken in obese population, especially in the young obese men, to effectively reduce dyslipidemia.</p>

Identification of Arg77Cys and Arg174stop double heterozygous mutation in a Chinese family with inherited FXIII deficiency / 中华血液学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To identify the gene mutation type of an inherited coagulation factor XIII (FXIII) deficiency pedigree.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PCR and DNA sequencing were used to identify the mutations in the 15 exons and the flank sequence of FXIII gene in the proband. The identified mutations were validated by allele specific PCR, PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism technique or DNA sequencing in the family members and 100 healthy volunteers.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Arg77Cys and Argl74stop double heterozygous mutations were discovered in the proband. The pedigree analysis showed that Arg77Cys missense mutation inherited from her father, and Arg174stop from her mother. The Arg77Cys missense mutation in exon 3 was not found in her husband and the other 100 healthy volunteers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>A novel Arg174stop nonsense mutation was discovered in human FXIII gene. A simple DNA assay based on PCR for detection of this mutation was developed. The congenital FXIII deficiency in the proband might be caused by the coinheritance of the Arg77Cys missense mutation in exon 3 and the Arg174stop nonsense mutation in exon 4.</p>

Identification of two novel mutations of human blood coagulation factor V gene in a Chinese family with congenital factor V deficiency / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discover the mutations of human blood coagulation factor V (FV) gene in a Chinese family with congenital factor V deficiency, and to explore the molecular mechanism associated with the congenital factor V deficiency.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>PCR and DNA sequencing were used to look for the FV gene mutations in the proband. And the novel mutation were testified by PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism technique or reverse DNA sequencing. One hundred healthy volunteers were chosen as controls at random.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Two novel mutations were discovered in the FV gene of proband, which were the A1763C missense mutation in exon 11 and the splicing site mutation in the 3' terminal of intron 16 (G-->T). The pedigree analysis showed that the two mutations inherited from his parents respectively: the A1763C came from his father, and the G-->T from his mother. The A1763C missense mutation in exon 11 was not found in each of 100 healthy volunteers.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The congenital deficiency of FV in the proband might be caused by the A1763C missense mutation in exon 11 and the splicing site mutation in the 3' terminal of intron 16, which jointly caused the proband to be a double heterozygote.</p>

A clinical analysis of 50 cases of medicament-like dermatitis due to trichloroethylene / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical manifestations, complications and treatment of medicament-like dermatitis due to trichloroethylene (TCE), so as to provide basis for studying its etiology and mechanism.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fifty patients with dermatitis due to TCE from 1997 to 2000 were analysed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The occurrence of the dermatitis was not parallel to TCE exposure levels, without significant dose-effect relationship. This disease could be caused by both inhalation and skin exposure. The latency period of TCE dermatitis ranged from 5 to 66 days, and the average was 31.5 d (Medium). The major clinical manifestations included skin lesions, fever, superficial lymph node swelling and liver dysfunction. Infection was the major complication. Glucocorticoid was effective for treatment of this disease.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The clinical manifestations due to TCE exposure were similar to dermatitis medicamentosa. The major clinical types of TCE dermatitis included exfoliative dermatitis and erythema multiforme. The dermatitis is considered to be mediated by delayed-type (IV) hypersensitivity. The key factors to treat this disease successfully included the use of glucocorticoid in time with sufficient dose and full course, professional skin care, active treatment to protect the liver and to avoid infection.</p>

A survey on the dioxin level in breast milk in coastal and inland region / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the dioxin level of breast milk among Chinese mothers, and to assess the dioxin intake of new-born babies from mother's milk and compare with the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of dioxin.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CALUX bioassay was used to detect the dioxin concentration of the first time mother's milk among the inland samples (Shenyang region; 32 cases) and the coastal city samples (Dalian region; 47 cases).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The median value of the dioxin Toxic Equivalence (TEQ) in breast milk in the Dalian region was 15.84 pg TEQs.g(-1) fat, which was significantly higher than that in the Shenyang region 7.21 pg TEQs.g(-1) fat (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The dioxin level in breast milk in Chinese is at the world's average level. The dioxin intake of the new-born babies during the period of lactation was higher than the lowest limit of the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) proposed by WHO. This situation should be noticed by the related authorities.</p>