ABSTRACT
Objective To screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced hepatic fibrosis and analyze their functions. Methods The dataset of gene expression profiles of patients with chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced hepatic fibrosis was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and DEGs were screened using R package. The biological functions of DEGs were characterized using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. In addition, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was created to screen the hub genes. Results A total of 62 DEGs were identified, including 12 down-regulated genes and 50 up-regulated genes. GO enrichment analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in 116 biological processes, including fatty acid, sulfur compound, acyl-coenzyme A and thioester metabolism; 19 cellular components, including mitochondrial matrix, outer mitochondrial membrane and organelle outer membrane; and 7 molecular functions, including insulin-like growth factor binding and oxidoreductase activity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis that the DEGs were significantly enriched in phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase (PI3K/Akt), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), calcium metabolism and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling. PPI network analysis identified six hub genes involved in the development of chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced hepatic fibrosis, including ACACA, ACSL1, GPAM, THRSP, PLIN1 and DGAT2, and ACSL1, ACACA and PLIN1 were the top 3 hub genes. Conclusions ACSL1, ACACA and PLIN1 may be the hub genes associated with the development of chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced hepatic fibrosis, and abnormal lipid metabolism mediated by these DEGs may play an important role in the development of chronic schistosomiasis japonica-induced hepatic fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
Objective To examine the effect of schistosomiasis on the development of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. Methods The clinical data of patients with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer with and without schistosomiasis japonica that were admitted to the Yijishan Hospital Affiliated to Wannan Medical College from January 2014 to December 2018 were collected. All cases were divided into schistosomal gastric cancer group and non - schistosomal gastric cancer group, schistosomal colorectal cancer group and non-schistosomal colorectal cancer group. The risk factors of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer were identified using univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis, and the effects of schistosomiasis on the development and progression of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer were evaluated. In addition, the survival of 32 patients with schistosomal colorectal cancer and 68 cases with non-schistosomal colorectal were estimated using telephone follow-up, and compared. Results There were 113 patients with schistosomal gastric cancer and 3 741 cases with non-schistosomal gastric cancer enrolled in this study, and there were significant differences between them in terms of sex ratio, age and prevalence of Helico-bacter pylori infection (all P values < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, H. pylori infection, and schistosomiasis were independent risk factors for gastric cancer (all P values < 0.05). There were 184 patients with schistosomal colorectal cancer and 2 205 cases with non-schistosomal colorectal cancer recruited in this study, and there were significant differences between them in terms of age, sex ratio, rate of history of alcohol consumption and rate of positive fecal occult blood test (all P values < 0.05). The phenotypes of both schistosomal and non-schistosomal colorectal cancer were predominantly ulcerative; however, the proportion of patients with invasive and protruded colorectal cancer was significantly greater than that of patients with non-schistosomal colorectal cancer (P = 0.003). Logistic regression analysis revealed that age (P = 0.003), gender (P = 0.002), phenotype (P = 0.005) and schistosomiasis (P = 0.029) were independent risk factors for colorectal cancer. The 5-year survival rate was significantly higher in patients with schistosomal colorectal cancer (68.90%) than in those with non-schistosomal colorectal cancer (46.40%), and the dead patients with schistosomal colorectal cancer had a significantly greater mean age than those with non-schistosomal colorectal cancer [ (66.33 ± 3.08) years vs. (56.29 ± 1.94), P < 0.05]. Conclusions Schistosomiasis may alter the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer, resulting in the differences in the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and 5-year survival rate between patients with schistosomal and non-schistosomal colorectal cancer. Periodical gastrointestinal endoscopy and other examinations are recommended to exclude the likelihood of gastrointestinal cancers in men with anemia of unknown causes and at ages of 60 years living in schistosomiasis-endemic areas.
ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To detect the COL1A1/PDGFB fusion transcripts and discuss its clinicopathological significance in dermatofibroscoma protuberans.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Formalin fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 12 patients with DFSP were reviewed by light microscope and the expression of COL1A1/PDGFB mRNA resulting from the reciprocal translocation t(17;22) (q22;q13.1) was detected by one-step revers transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. The following tumor specimens were included as controls: 2 fibrosarcoma, 2 malignant fibrous histocytoma, 3 leiomyosarcoma, 1 dermarofibroma and 1 nerve shealth tumor.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The COL1A1/PDGFB fusion transcripts were detected in 8 (67%) of 12 samples from patients with DFSP. Nucleotide sequence analysis using the PCR products confirmed that different regions of the COL1A1 gene, respectively, were fused with of PDGFB gene. No COL1A1/PDGFB fusion transcripts were detected in the control tumors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Detection of specific COL1A1/PDGFB fusion transcripts in DFSP will help to diagnose the nature of DFSP and research the mechanism of its molecular histogenesis.</p>