Down-regulation of PM20D1 is associated with clinical outcomes and prognosis of pregnant patients with diabetes mellitus.

Introduction: The present study aimed to investigate the role of peptidase M20 domain containing 1 (PM20D1) in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Material and methods: This observational study included 189 cases of GDM patients who came to our department between March 2018 and December 2019. Additionally, 100 healthy pregnant individuals who came to physical examination were included as healthy controls during the same period. Western blotting was used to determine the expression of PM20D1 at gestational age 24-28 weeks and gestational age 37-40 weeks. Serum inflammatory factors of C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, as well as leptin and adiponectin, were all measured by ELISA. The GDM related indices were also measured. Results: The expression of PM20D1 was markedly decreased in GDM patients compared with the healthy controls. Patients in the third trimester of pregnancy (gestational age 37-40 weeks) showed significantly lower expression of PM20D1 than patients in the second trimester of pregnancy (gestational age 24-28 weeks). Serum levels of CRP, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and leptin were remarkably higher and levels of adiponectin were markedly lower in GDM patients at both the second and third trimester of pregnancy. Also, levels of CRP, IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α and leptin in GDM patients were the highest at the third trimester of pregnancy. Pearson's analysis showed that PM20D1 was negatively correlated with IL-1ß, IL-6 and leptin and was positively correlated with adiponectin. At the second trimester of pregnancy, patients with lower expression of PM20D1 showed remarkably higher levels of HOMA-IR, fasting insulin, FBG, OGTT-1hPG, OGTT-2hPG, TG and LDL-C, and showed markedly lower levels of HDL-C. Down-regulated PM20D1 predicted poor pregnancy outcomes. Conclusions: Reduced PM20D1 was associated with patients' clinical outcomes and pregnancy outcomes in GDM.

Cytologic diagnosis of metastatic embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma in cerebrospinal fluid: A case report.

Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) originates from a differentiation block in muscle progenitors. Leptomeningeal metastasis is a rare but devastating complication of RMS which can be caused by dissemination of cancer cells in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Here, we present a 4-year-old female with RMS originating from the upper nasal wall. The following histologic and immunohistochemistry analyses combined with molecular testing analysis supported the diagnosis of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS). Results from CSF routine test, magnetic resonance imaging scans and CSF cytology indicated metastatic meningitis, thus confirming the diagnosis of metastatic ERMS in CSF. This is the first report to describe the clinical features of ERMS in CSF.

[Prognostic significance of MYCN amplification in children neuroblastic tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the clinicopathologic features of neuroblastic tumors (NT), and to explore the prognostic significance of MYCN amplification in NT. METHODS: The clinicopathologic data of 267 NT were reviewed. MYCN gene amplification was detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in 119 cases and the relationship with pathological characteristics and prognostic significance were analyzed. RESULTS: The study included 267 cases of children NT from patients aged from 1 day to 13 years (median 27 months). The male to female ratio was 1.43. There were 38 cases (14.2%), 43 cases (16.1%), 71 cases (26.6%), and 115 cases (43.1%) of INSS stages I, II, III and IV respectively.Favorable histology group had 157 cases (59.9%); unfavorable histology group had 110 cases (40.1%).Of the 119 NT cases with MYCN FISH performed, 18 cases (15.1%) showed amplification and the signal ratio of MYCN to CEP2 was 4.08-43.29. One hundred and one cases of non-amplified MYCN included MYCN gain in 79 cases (66.3%) and MYCN negative in 22 cases (18.5%). MYCN expression showed significant difference (P = 0.000) between ages, gender, NT type and MKI, but not INPC and clinical stage (P > 0.05).Of the 18 cases with MYCN amplification, 3 were undifferentiated, and 15 poorly differentiated; 17 had high MKI and one moderate MKI. All 18 cases were in unfavorable histology group; the overall survival rate was 3/18, with an average survival time of (17.9 ± 2.4) months.Of the 101 MYCN non-amplification cases, the overall survival rate was 68.3% (69/101), with an average survival time of (29.8 ± 1.3) months. Survival analysis showed the cases with MYCN amplification had worse prognosis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NT were commonly diagnosed in early ages and easily to metastasize. Most of cases with favorable histology. The cases of MYCN amplification showed unfavorable histology, and the majority cases with high MKI; The patients with MYCN gene amplification had poor prognosis.

Retrospective study of adenovirus in autopsied pulmonary tissue of pediatric fatal pneumonia in South China.

BACKGROUND: Adenovirus are the important pathogen of pediatric severe pneumonia. The aim of this study is to analyze the infection, subtype and distribution of adenovirus in autopsied pulmonary tissue of fatal pneumonia in infants and children, and the relationships between adenovirus infection and respiratory illness in South China. METHODS: Nested PCR was performed on DNA extracted from autopsied lung tissue from patients who died of severe pneumonia, and the positive nested PCR products were cloned and sequenced. The adenovirus in autopsied pulmonary tissue was also analyzed by immunohistochemistry assay in a blind way. RESULTS: In the 175 autopsied pulmonary tissues, the positive percentage of adenovirus was 9.14% (16/175) and 2.29% (4/175) detected with nested PCR and immunohistochemistry, respectively. There are three cases of adenovirus serotype 3, twelve cases of adenovirus serotype 4 and one case of serotype 41 determined by sequencing of the cloned positive nested PCR products. CONCLUSION: Adenovirus is an important cause of severe pneumonia, and these data suggest that adenovirus serotype 4 might be an important pathogen responsible for the fatal pneumonia in Guangzhou, South China.

Retrospective analysis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in pediatric fatal pneumonia in Guangzhou, South China.

The objective of this study is to investigate the infection and distribution of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in autopsied pulmonary tissue of pediatric severe pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae nested polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were done on autopsy pulmonary tissue from 173 patients who died of severe pneumonia. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was identified in 135/173 (78.03%) and 114/173 (65.89%) samples of autopsied pulmonary tissue of lethal severe pneumonia via nested polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The coincidence of both assays was 92.4%. Mycoplasma pneumoniae associated fatal pneumonia has showed an increasing trend from 1988 to 2005 in South China, and the fatality rate of Mycoplasma pneumoniae associated fatal pneumonia in infants, 1 to 12 months, has risen to 66.9% (97/145). Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a significant cause of severe pneumonia, it is a universal event in infants, and children have died of severe pneumonia in South China. Mycoplasma pneumoniae might be an important pathogen responsible for fatal pneumonia in Guangzhou area, South China.