The Role of Procalcitonin in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of Severe Surgical Patients with Sepsis

Purpose:To investigate the clinical significance of serum procalcitonin (PCT) concentrations and related indicators of infection in the early diagnosis and prognosis of severe surgical patients with infection. Methods: This study included 77 critically ill patients taken from the Surgery Department to the Intensive Care unit between June 2015 and July 2017. Patients were divided into control, sepsis and septic shock groups, and their serum concentrations of PCT and related indicators of infection were compared. Results: PCT levels increased significantly from the control to the sepsis group and from the sepsis to the septic shock group (P<0.01 each). There were no significant differences in white blood cell (WBC) count, neutrophil percentage and body temperature among the groups (P>0.05). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis showed that the areas under the curve (AUC) for PCT, WBC count, neutrophil percentage and body temperature were 0.949, 0.657, 0.640 and 0.656, respectively. PCT, with 0.52 µg/L as the cut-off concentration, had the highest performance in the diagnosis of severe surgical sepsis, with a sensitivity of 96.1%, a specificity of 92.3% and a Youden index of 0.884. Conclusion: PCT concentration is diagnostic of infection in severe surgical patients, has high specificity in the early diagnosis of sepsis, and can reflect the severity of infection.

MicroRNA-122 regulates caspase-8 and promotes the apoptosis of mouse cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis plays key roles in the pathogenesis of heart diseases such as myocardial infarction. MicroRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, which are also involved in the regulation of cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, cardiomyocyte apoptosis regulated by microRNA (miR)-122 is largely unexplored. The aim of this study focused on the role of miR-122 in cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Cardiomyocytes were isolated from neonatal mice and primarily cultured. MiR-122 mimic and inhibitor were transfected to cardiomyocytes and verified by qRT-PCR. Cell viability and apoptosis post-transfection were assessed by MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. Changes in expression of caspase-8 were quantified by qRT-PCR and western blot. Results showed that miR-122 mimic and inhibitor successfully induced changes in miR-122 levels in cultured cardiomyocytes (P<0.01). MiR-122 overexpression suppressed viability and promoted apoptosis of cardiomyocytes (P<0.05), and miR-122 knockdown promoted cell viability and inhibited apoptosis (P<0.05). The mRNA and protein levels of caspase-8 were elevated by miR-122 overexpression (P<0.01) and reduced by miR-122 knockdown (P<0.001). These results suggest an inductive role of miR-122 in cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which may be related to its regulation on caspase-8.

Serum microRNA-30c levels are correlated with disease progression in Xinjiang Uygur patients with chronic hepatitis B

We aimed to investigate the potential role and mechanism of microRNA-30c (miR-30c) in the pathological development of chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The serum levels of miR-30c in hepatitis B virus (HBV) carrier Xinjiang Uygur patients with inactive, low-replicative, high-replicative and HBe antigen-positive CHB were investigated. HepG2 cells were co-transfected with pHBV1.3 and miR-30c mimic or inhibitor or scramble RNA. The effects of miR-30c dysregulation on HBV replication and gene expression, cell proliferation and cell cycle were then investigated. miR-30c was down-regulated in Xinjiang Uygur patients with CHB compared to healthy controls and its expression level discriminated HBV carrier patients with inactive, low-replicative, high-replicative and HBe antigen-positive risk for disease progression. Overexpression of miR-30c significantly inhibited HBV replication and the expressions of HBV pgRNA, capsid-associated virus DNA and Hbx in hepatoma cells. Moreover, overexpression of miR-30c significantly inhibited cell proliferation and delayed G1/S phase transition in hepatoma cells. Opposite effects were obtained after suppression of miR-30c. Our results indicate that miR-30c was down-regulated in Xinjiang Uygur patients with CHB, and miR-30c levels could serve as a marker for risk stratification of HBV infection. Down-regulation of miR-30c may result in the progression of CHB via promoting HBV replication and cell proliferation.

Gene expression profiling analysis of lung adenocarcinoma

The present study screened potential genes related to lung adenocarcinoma, with the aim of further understanding disease pathogenesis. The GSE2514 dataset including 20 lung adenocarcinoma and 19 adjacent normal tissue samples from 10 patients with lung adenocarcinoma aged 45-73 years was downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two groups were screened using the t-test. Potential gene functions were predicted using functional and pathway enrichment analysis, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks obtained from the STRING database were constructed with Cytoscape. Module analysis of PPI networks was performed through MCODE in Cytoscape. In total, 535 upregulated and 465 downregulated DEGs were identified. These included ATP5D, UQCRC2, UQCR11 and genes encoding nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), which are mainly associated with mitochondrial ATP synthesis coupled electron transport, and which were enriched in the oxidative phosphorylation pathway. Other DEGs were associated with DNA replication (PRIM1, MCM3, and RNASEH2A), cell surface receptor-linked signal transduction and the enzyme-linked receptor protein signaling pathway (MAPK1, STAT3, RAF1, and JAK1), and regulation of the cytoskeleton and phosphatidylinositol signaling system (PIP5K1B, PIP5K1C, and PIP4K2B). Our findings suggest that DEGs encoding subunits of NADH, PRIM1, MCM3, MAPK1, STAT3, RAF1, and JAK1 might be associated with the development of lung adenocarcinoma.

Propofol inhibits invasion and growth of ovarian cancer cells via regulating miR-9/NF-kappaB signal

Propofol is one of the most commonly used intravenous anesthetic agents during cancer resection surgery. A previous study has found that propofol can inhibit invasion and induce apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells. However, the underlying mechanisms are not known. miR-9 has been reported to be little expressed in ovarian cancer cells, which has been related to a poor prognosis in patients with ovarian cancer. Studies have also demonstrated that propofol could induce microRNAs expression and suppress NF-κB activation in some situations. In the present study, we assessed whether propofol inhibits invasion and induces apoptosis of ovarian cancer cells by miR-9/NF-κB signaling. Ovarian cancer ES-2 cells were transfected with anti-miR-9 or p65 cDNA or p65 siRNA for 24 h, after which the cells were treated with different concentrations of propofol (1, 5, and 10 μg/mL) for 24 h. Cell growth and apoptosis were detected using MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. Cell migration and invasion were detected using Transwell and Wound-healing assay. Western blot and electrophoretic mobility shift assay were used to detect different protein expression and NF-κB activity. Propofol inhibited cell growth and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, which was accompanied by miR-9 activation and NF-κB inactivation. Knockdown of miR-9 abrogated propofol-induced NF-κB activation and MMP-9 expression, reversed propofol-induced cell death and invasion of ES-2 cells. Knockdown of p65 inhibited NF-κB activation rescued the miR-9-induced down-regulation of MMP-9. In addition, overexpression of p65 by p65 cDNA transfection increased propofol-induced NF-κB activation and reversed propofol-induced down-regulation of MMP-9. Propofol upregulates miR-9 expression and inhibits NF-κB activation and its downstream MMP-9 expression, leading to the inhibition of cell growth and invasion of ES-2 cells.

The role of ppGalNAc‑T family in breast cancer development and progression.

Glycosylation of proteins is an essential process in all eukaryotes. Mucin‑type O‑linked glycosylation is an evolutionarily conserved protein modification as a kind of glycosylation of proteins. The role of O‑glycosylation was well documented in multiple cancers. While in breast cancer, the enzymes that catalyzed the initiation of O‑glycosylation remained elusive. In this review, we briefly introduced the process of the initiation of O‑glycosylation and summarized the roles of enzymes that catalyzed the initiation step of O‑glycosylation in the breast cancer carcinogenesis, development, and progression. Finally, we summarized some attempts exploring the therapy against aberrant O‑glycosylation.

Fibroma osificante periférico: revisión de la literatura y presentación de dos casos clínicos / Peripheral ossifying fibroma: review of the literature and report of two cases

El Fibroma Osificante Periférico (FOP) es una lesión reactiva que se localiza frecuentemente en las papilas interdentales, puede ser sésil o pediculada, indolora, del mismo color de la mucosa o rojiza, su tamaño varía de pocos milímetros a centímetros de diámetro, en ocasiones puede causar pérdida de los dientes adyacentes o resorción ósea. Se reportan dos casos de pacientes masculinos de 36 y 40 años de edad, quienes son referidos por sus odontólogos tratantes por lesiones en el Maxilar. En ambos casos se localiza en papila interdental del Incisivo Central y Lateral derecho (11 y 12), y se presentan como lesiones tumorales de aproximadamente 1 cm de diámetro, circunscritas, rojas, sangrantes y de superficie lisa y brillante

The Peripheral ossifying fibroma (POF) is a reactive lesion that is located in the interdental papilla often can be sessile or pedunculated, painless; the color of the mucosa or red, its size ranging from a few millimeters to centimeters in diameter, sometimes can cause loss of adjacent teeth or bone resorption. We report two cases of male patients 36 and 40 years of age who are referred by their dentists for injuries to his jaw. In both cases, interdental papilla located at 11 and 12 and are presented as mass lesions approximately 1 cm in diameter, circumscribed, red, bleeding and surface smooth and shiny

Análisis del comportamiento de la dotación fija de medicamentos con base en indicadores institucionales / Behavior with base to institutional indicators of the fixed medicine dowries

Introducción: Los medicamentos son recursos materiales indispensables en la prestación de servicios de salud en la atención médica, las instituciones deben contar con un sistema de suministro que les permita garantizar la satisfacción del usuario, mediante un control que regule la administración de los insumos terapéuticos. El directivo de enfermería participa directamente en el proceso, contribuyendo en el manejo y buen uso que permite cumplir adecuadamente el tratamiento. Objetivo: Identificar el comportamiento con base a indicadores institucionales de las dotaciones fijas de medicamentos. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo a partir de los medicamentos prescritos de la hoja de indicaciones médicas, tomando como referencia lo establecido en el cuadro básico institucional y seleccionando los 20 medicamentos de mayor demanda. Con los datos obtenidos se determinaron los indicadores de suficiencia, nivel de abastecimiento y nivel de inversión aplicando las fórmulas establecidas en la normativa institucional, se procesó la información en una base de datos y se analizó con estadística descriptiva. Resultados: La suficiencia de la dotación fija fue de 57%; con relaciona la cantidad de medicamentos que se surten el nivel de abastecimiento fue en promedio de 93%, la cantidad de medicamentos que existe en los servicios fue de 143% en el nivel de inversión. Discusión y conclusiones: La participación del directivo de enfermería en la ejecución de los sistemas de control desde la primera etapa de proceso solicitud-abasto, se sustenta en la importancia de mantener y controlar la disponibilidad del recurso, indicar las dotaciones fijas, solicitar con base a consumos reales y propiciar que el medicamento suficiente permanezca en los servicios.

Introduction: The medicines are indispensable material resources that constitute a benefit of the services of health in the medical attention, the institutions must count on a system of provision that allows to guarantee the satisfaction them of the user, by means of a control that regulates the administration of the therapeutic insumos. The nursing director directly participates in the process, contributing in the handling and good use that allows to fulfill the treatment suitably. Objective: To identify the Behavior with Base to Institutional Indicators of the Fixed Medicine Dowries. Material and methods: Descriptive cross-sectional study by means of the data collection from prescribed medicines of the leaf of medical indications, taking like reference the established thing in institutional the basic picture, selecting 20 medicines of greater demand. With the collected data the indicators of sufficiency, level of supplying and level of investment were determined applying the formulas established in the institutional norm, processing the information in a data base in Excel system handling like statistical measurement average and percentage. Results: The sufficiency of the dowry fixes is of 57%, in relation to the amount of medicines that provide the supplying level was in average of 93%, in the amount of medicines that exists in the services I am observed 143% in the level of investment. Discussion and Conclusions: I know found that the availability of the resource exists, indicating that the fixed dowries are in favor of above of the real consumptions causing that the medicine remains without movement or it is stored. Sustaining to the importance of the participation of the director of infirmary in the execution of the systems of control from the first stage of process request supply.

Further characterization of negative regulatory element involved in the hormonal regulation of GlcNAc-1-P transferase gene in mouse mammary gland.

The gene encoding UDP-GlcNAc:dolichol phosphate N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase (GPT), the enzyme that initiates the pathway for the biosynthesis of asparagine-linked glycoproteins, is ubiquitously expressed in eukaryotic cells. However, its expression in the mammary gland is developmentally and hormonally regulated; transcription of the mouse mammary GPT gene is stimulated by the lactogenic hormones, insulin, glucocorticoid, and prolactin. Earlier, we demonstrated that a distal negative regulatory element in mouse GPT (mGPT) promoter plays an important role in developmental and hormonal control of mGPT gene expression in mammary gland (Ma J, Saito H, Oka T and Vijay IK (1996) J Biol Chem, in press). In this report, a tissue distribution of the repressor that binds the negative regulatory element was examined; a comparison of the negative regulatory element to other consensus sequences for known transcription factors is discussed.