[Value of the concentration and integrity of serum cell-free DNA for the clinical diagnosis of esophageal carcinoma].

Objective: To explore the diagnostic value of serum cell-free DNA (cfDNA) concentration and integrity for esophageal carcinoma. Methods: Venous blood samples from 68 patients with esophageal cancer, 36 patients with benign esophageal lesions and 45 healthy subjects were collected. Circulating cfDNA was verified through quantitative real-time PCR (Alu-qPCR) using Alu-115 and Alu-247 primers. DNA integrity index was calculated as the ratio of Alu-qPCR results (Alu247/115). Concentrations of carcino-embryonic antigen (CEA) and squamous cell carcinoma associated antigen (SCC) were detected by chemiluminescence analyzer assay. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis H test and Spearman correlation test. The Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficiency of each index to esophageal carcinoma. Results: The median absolute serum Alu115 and the Alu247/115 index (1 162.0 ng/ml, 0.57) in esophageal cancer group were significantly higher than those in benign esophageal disease group (496.7 ng/ml, 0.43) and in healthy control group (432.3 ng/ml, 0.42) (all P<0.01, respectively). The Alu115 and Alu247/115 index of serum DNA in benign esophageal disease group were no statistically different from those in the healthy control group (all P>0.05, respectively). The levels of cfDNA and its integrity were not significantly correlated with age, gender, tumor differentiation, or disease stage according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system in the esophageal cancer group (all P>0.05). The serum Alu247/115 index of Stage Ⅲ patients was higher than that of Stage Ⅰ~Ⅱ patients(P<0.05). The serum Alu247/115 index of Stage Ⅳ was higher than that of Stage Ⅲ(P<0.05). In the esophageal cancer group, both of serum Alu115 and Alu247/115 index had no correlation with CEA or SCC (all P>0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of Alu115 and Alu247/115 index were 0.867 and 0.854, respectively, which were both higher than that of CEA (0.622) and SCC (0.753). The addition of Alu115 or Alu247/115 index to CEA and SCC detection increased the sensitivity of the diagnosis of esophageal cancer by 95.6% and 94.1%, respectively. Conclusions: The detection of serum cfDNA concentration and integrity is helpful to the early diagnosis and monitoring of esophageal cancer. Their diagnostic value of esophageal cancer is better than that of the traditional tumor markers CEA and SCC.

Abnormal white matter integrity in chronic users of codeine-containing cough syrups: a tract-based spatial statistics study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Codeine-containing cough syrups have become one of the most popular drugs of abuse in young people in the world. Chronic codeine-containing cough syrup abuse is related to impairments in a broad range of cognitive functions. However, the potential brain white matter impairment caused by chronic codeine-containing cough syrup abuse has not been reported previously. Our aim was to investigate abnormalities in the microstructure of brain white matter in chronic users of codeine-containing syrups and to determine whether these WM abnormalities are related to the duration of the use these syrups and clinical impulsivity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty chronic codeine-containing syrup users and 30 matched controls were evaluated. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed by using a single-shot spin-echo-planar sequence. Whole-brain voxelwise analysis of fractional anisotropy was performed by using tract-based spatial statistics to localize abnormal WM regions. The Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 was surveyed to assess participants' impulsivity. Volume-of-interest analysis was used to detect changes of diffusivity indices in regions with fractional anisotropy abnormalities. Abnormal fractional anisotropy was extracted and correlated with clinical impulsivity and the duration of codeine-containing syrup use. RESULTS: Chronic codeine-containing syrup users had significantly lower fractional anisotropy in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus of the bilateral temporo-occipital regions, right frontal region, and the right corona radiata WM than controls. There were significant negative correlations among fractional anisotropy values of the right frontal region of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the right superior corona radiata WM and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale total scores, and between the right frontal region of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and nonplan impulsivity scores in chronic codeine-containing syrup users. There was also a significant negative correlation between fractional anisotropy values of the right frontal region of the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the duration of codeine-containing syrup use in chronic users. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic codeine-containing syrup abuse may be associated with disruptions in brain WM integrity. These WM microstructural deficits may be linked to higher impulsivity in chronic codeine-containing syrup users.

Different magnitude of resistance to non-depolarizing muscle relaxants in dexamethasone-treated rat diaphragm associated with altered acetylcholine receptor expression.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of chronic dexamethasone (Dex) administration on rat diaphragm sensitivity to non-depolarizing muscle relaxants (NDMRs) and muscular nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) expression, which may help direct future administration of NDMRs. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to receive a daily intraperitoneal injection of Dex (600 µg/kg body mass) or an equivalent volume of saline (N = 20 in each group) for 14 days. We evaluated isometric twitch tensions of nerve-hemidiaphragm preparations elicited by indirect supramaximal stimulation at 0.1 Hz. Real-time quantitative PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of two nAChR subunits (ε-subunit and γ-subunit) in the diaphragm. Dex administration markedly (P < 0.01) increased the 50% twitch depression (IC50) of the three NDMRs. The IC50 ratio, which standardized the magnitudes of the resistance, was the largest for atracurium, with the second largest for vecuronium and the smallest for rocuronium (P < 0.01). The ε- and γ-subunit mRNAs were both upregulated with an increased γ/ε ratio in rats exposed to Dex. The results indicated that chronic Dex administration induces hyposensitivity to NDMRs, the degree of which depends on the kind of neuromuscular blocker, and is associated with increased nAChR expression.

Primary intracranial choriocarcinoma: MR imaging findings.

PICCC is the rarest, most malignant primary intracranial GCT. The purpose of this study was to describe and characterize the MR imaging findings in a series of 7 patients (6 males and 1 female; mean age, 11.9 years) with pathologically proved PICCC in our institution from 2004 to 2009. All tumors were located within the pineal (n = 6) or suprasellar (n = 1) regions. On T2-weighted MR imaging, the lesions appeared markedly heterogeneous with areas of both hypointensity and hyperintensity reflecting the histologic heterogeneity, including hemorrhage, fibrosis, cysts, or necrosis. Heterogeneous (n = 7), ringlike (n = 4), and/or intratumoral nodular (n = 3) enhancement was noted on T1-weighted images with gadolinium. These MR imaging findings, combined with patient age and serum ß-HCG levels, may prove helpful in distinguishing PICCC from the more common primary brain tumors, thereby avoiding biopsy of this highly vascular tumor.

Polychlorinated biphenyl congeners and organochlorine insecticides in the water column and sediments of Daya Bay, China.

Samples of sub-surface water, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and surface sediments collected from Daya Bay, China have been analysed for 12 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 18 organochlorine insecticides, using gas chromatography electron capture detection. Total PCB levels varied from 91.1 to 1355.3 ng l-1 in water and from 0.85 to 27.37 ng g-1 dry weight in sediments. The levels of total organochlorine insecticides were in the range 143.3-5104.8 ng l-1 in water and 2.43-86.25 ng g-1 dry weight in sediment. None of the target compounds were detected in SPM. The levels of total hexachlorocyclohexanes in water varied from 35.5 to 1228.6 ng l-1, whilst in sediments they ranged from 0.32 to 4.16 ng g-1 dry weight. For the sum of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs), their levels were in the range 26.8-975.9 ng l-1 in water, and 0.14-20.27 ng g-1 dry weight in sediments. The distribution profiles of these contaminants in water and sediments suggest that there are a number of sources contributing to total contaminant burden in the bay, including soil runoffs, wastewater discharges, sewage outfalls and shipping activites. Ratios of DDT/(DDE + DDD) in the water and sediments indicate recent inputs of such chemicals into the day. The results, therefore, provide important information on the current contamination status of a key aquacultural area in China, and point to the need for urgent actions to stop the use of persistent agrochemicals such as DDT and lindane.