Malignant transformation of ovarian mature cystic teratoma into squamous cell carcinoma: a Taiwanese Gynecologic Oncology Group (TGOG) study / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: The malignant transformation (MT) of ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT) to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is very rare. This study analyzed cases from multiple medical centers in Taiwan to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and prognostic factors of this disease and reviewed related literature. METHODS: Pathological reports of 16,001 patients with primary ovarian cancer who were treated at Taiwan medical centers from 1990 to 2011 were reviewed. In total, 52 patients with MT of MCT to SCC were identified. RESULTS: Among all ovarian MCTs, the incidence of MT to SCC is 0.2%. The median age of patients was 52 years (range, 29–89 years), and the mean tumor size was 10.5 cm (range, 1–40 cm). We analyzed the patients in our study and those in the literature and determined that early identification and complete surgical resection of the tumor are essential for long-term survival. In addition, adjuvant chemotherapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be used to treat this malignancy. Old age, large tumor size (≥15.0 cm), and solid components in MCTs are suitable indicators predicting the risk of MT of MCT to SCC. CONCLUSION: Similar to general epithelial ovarian cancers, the early detection of MT of MCT to SCC is critical to long-term survival. Therefore, older patients with a large tumor or those with a tumor containing a solid component in a clinically diagnosed MCT should be evaluated to exclude potential MT to SCC.

Relationship between seedling grade of Codonopsis pilosula and yield and quality of medicinal materials / 中国中药杂志

The study is aimed to research the relationship between the seedling grade of Codonopsis pilosula and yield and quality of medicinal materials, so as to provide basis for establishing seedling standard. Thirty seedlings of C. pilosula were collected from the main production areas in Gansu province, such as Weiyuan, Minxian, Zhangxian, Dangchang and Longxi, root length and diameter and weight of all the samples were measured. According to the clustering results, seedlings were divided into 3 levels, and field experiments were conducted with three levels seedling, yield and quality were tested in laboratory. Results have showed that emergence of grades 1 was faster than that of grades 2 and 3. Yield of grades 1 was significantly higher than that of grades 2 and 3 (P<0.05). Propargyl glycoside content of grades 1 was the highest, and significantly higher than that of grades 3. Polysaccharide content of grades 3 was the highest and significantly higher than that of grades 1 and 2 (P<0.05). So considering yield, quality and investment cost of C. pilosula, planting seedlings of C. pilosula should select that root length>15.6 cm, root diameter>2.7 mm, root weight>0.56 g.

Preparation and quality assessment of high-purity ginseng total saponins by ion exchange resin combined with macroporous adsorption resin separation / 中国天然药物

AIM@#To prepare high-purity ginseng total saponins from a water decoction of Chinese ginseng root.@*METHOD@#Total saponins were efficiently purified by dynamic anion-cation exchange following the removal of hydrophilic impurities by macroporous resin D101. For quality control, ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography with a charged aerosol detector (CAD) was applied to quantify marker components. The total saponin content was estimated by a colorimetric method using a vanillin-vitriol system and CAD response.@*RESULTS@#D201, which consisted of a cross-linked polystyrene matrix and -N(+)(CH3)3 functional groups, was the best of the four anion exchange resins tested. However, no significant difference in cation exchange ability was observed between D001 (strong acid) and D113 (weak acid), although they have different functional groups and matrices. After purification in combination with D101, D201, and D113, the estimated contents of total saponins were 107% and 90% according to the colorimetric method and CAD response, respectively. The total amount of representative ginsenosides Re, Rd, Rg1, and compound K was approximately 22% based on ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-CAD quantitative analysis.@*CONCLUSION@#These findings suggest that an ion exchange resin, combined with macroporous adsorption resin separation, is a promising and feasible purification procedure for neutral natural polar components.

Alteration of functional connectivity of caudate nucleus in heroin-dependent individuals-a resting state fMRI study / 第二军医大学学报

Objective To investigate the resting-state abnormalities of heroin addiction by analyzing resting-state functional connectivity of the caudate nucleus. Methods Fifteen male chronic heroin users and 15 age-, gender- and nicotine dependence-matched healthy subjects participated in the present resting-state functional connectivity analysis. All the participants undertook a resting-state fMRI scan with GE 3. 0 T scanner and the obtained data were analyzed by Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) software. Functional connectivity was analyzed based on resting-state fMRI data to identify the correlation between the caudate and the other regions on the whole brain scale by SPM. Finally, t-test was applied to determine the functional connectivity of the caudate between the two groups. The relationship between the connectivity of specific regions and heroin-dependence period was investigated. Results Compared with the healthy control group, the caudate of heroin-dependent group had significantly enhanced functional connectivities with the lentiform nucleus, amygdala, hippocampus (t = 2. 8, P5) and significantly decreased functional connectivity with the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (t = 2. 8, P<0. 005). Besides, the functional connectivity between the caudate and left amygdala r=0. 68, P<0. 05) and right hippocampus r=0. 59, P<0. 05) was positively correlated with the duration of heroin use. Conclusion The resting functional connectivities of the brain regions for rewarding, memory and motivation/drive are increased after heroin dependence, and those of the cognitive control region are decreased, which might be related to heroin dependence.

Abnormal function of the posterior cingulate cortex in heroin addicted users during resting-state and drug-cue stimulation task / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Previous animal and neuroimaging studies have demonstrated that brain function in heroin addicted users is impaired. However, the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) has not received much attention. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether chronic heroin use is associated with craving-related changes in the functional connectivity of the PCC of heroin addicted users.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Fourteen male adult chronic heroin users and fifteen age and gender-matched healthy subjects participated in the present study. The participants underwent a resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scan and a cue-induced craving task fMRI scan. The activated PCC was identified in the cue-induced craving task by means of a group contrast test. Functional connectivity was analyzed based on resting-state fMRI data in order to determine the correlation between brain regions. The relationship between the connectivity of specific regions and heroin dependence was investigated.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The activation of PCC, bilateral anterior cingulate cortex, caudate, putamen, precuneus, and thalamus was significant in the heroin group compared to the healthy group in the cue-induced craving task. The detectable functional connectivity of the heroin users was stronger between the PCC and bilateral insula, bilateral dorsal striatum, right inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and right supramarginal gyrus (P < 0.001) compared to that of the healthy subjects in the resting-state data analysis. The strength of the functional connectivity, both for the PCC-insula (r = 0.60, P < 0.05) and for PCC-striatum (r = 0.58, P < 0.05), was positively correlated with the duration of heroin use.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The altered functional connectivity patterns in the PCC-insula and PCC-striatum areas may be regarded as biomarkers of brain damage severity in chronic heroin users.</p>

Hippocampal cAMP response element binding protein and antidepressant treatments / 生理学报

With the deepening research on pathogenesis of depression, the focus has diverted from the mechanism of regulating monoamines to the basic pathophysiology of depression and the long-term mechanism of antidepressant treatments. cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) in the brain, especially in the hippocampi, as a converging agent of many intracellular signaling transduction pathways is getting increasing attention. To better understand the basic pathophysiology of depression and the long-term mechanism of antidepressant treatments, it is significant to make clear the correlation between hippocampal CREB and antidepressant treatments. This review mainly refers to the formation of CREB and its distribution in hippocampi, the upstream signaling transduction pathways of hippocampal CREB and antidepressant treatments, and the possible antidepressant mechanisms by regulating hippocampal CREB.

Study on relativity of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension with levels of endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor in plasma of pulmonary artery and carotid artery / 中国应用生理学杂志

<p><b>AIM</b>To study the effects of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension (HPH).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We studied 4 groups of age-controlled male rats, i.e., normal control for 2 weeks group (N2), normal control for 3 weeks group (N3), exposed to hypoxia for 2 weeks group (H2) and for 3 weeks group (H3). Chronic HPH rat models were established by chronic hypobaric hypoxia [(10.0% +/- 0.5% O2] for 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. The rats were anesthetized and fixed, and the levels of mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and carotid arterial pressure (CAP) were measured using catheters by a microcomputer via transducers. The weight ratio of right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle and septum (LV + S) [RV/ (LV+S)] were determined. The contents of ET-1 in plasma of pulmonary artery and carotid artery and in homogenates of lung and systemic arteries were determined by radioimmunoassay, and the contents of VEGF in serum of pulmonary artery and carotid artery were determined by ABC-ELISA.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HPH rat models were established successfully. Compared with control groups, the values of ET-1 were both enhanced in carotid artery and pulmonary artery plasma in model groups (P < 0.01). In the HPH groups, the level of pulmonary artery plasma ET-1 was significantly lower than that of carotid artery plasma, but just the reverse was ET-1 in control rats. The levels of ET-1 in homogenates of lungs from HPH models were significantly higher than those in homogenates of lungs from control groups (P < 0.01), and markedly higher than those in homogenates of systemic arteries from HPH rats (P < 0.01) SThe values of VEGF in serum of pulmonary artery from H3 group were significantly higher than those from control groups and H2 group (P < 0.01). In serum of carotid artery, the values of VEGF from the HPH models were higher than those from the control groups (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>ET-1 and VEGF play important roles in the pathogenesis of HPH. The result that ET-1 concentration around pulmonary arteries was significantly higher than that around systemic arteries may be one of the mechanisms accounting for the different reaction of them to hypoxia.</p>