Primary hyperphosphatemic tumoral calcinosis: a case report.

Tumoral calcinosis (TC) is a rare disease characterized by periarticular soft tissue calcification. Some cases were reported in Africa and the Middle East. We report an 11-year-old Chinese girl presenting with recurrent multiple subcutaneous masses around the right elbow and hip regions. Although we found abnormalities in FGF23, a protein associated with phosphate metabolism, no positive results were observed in gene sequencing and analysis. The imaging features, laboratory examination, and pathology results confirmed our diagnosis. By using oral phosphorus-lowering drugs (acetazolamide) combined with complete surgical excision, good results were achieved, and no recurrence was reported during the follow-up of 18 months. We report a case of primary hyperphosphatemic TC. The combined use of oral phosphorus-lowering drugs (acetazolamide) and complete surgical excision produced good results, and no recurrence was reported during the follow-up of 18 months.

Identification of a glutathione S-transferase gene of Physarum polycephalum as a biomarker for nanosized TiO2 exposure under dark conditions.

In this study, a glutathione S-transferase gene (gst) from sensitive Physarum polycephalum was selected for its ability to detect nanosized TiO2 (nTiO2 ) exposure under dark conditions. The concentration of nTiO2 (25, 40 and 60 nm) for subsequent assays was first determined (5-18 mg ml-1 ) and total GST enzyme activity of P. polycephalum was confirmed to be increased 6-44 fold in groups treated with nTiO2 . Second, an RNA-seq study was performed to identify candidate gst genes before isolation of an optimum gst gene of P. polycephalum (Ppgst), which encoded 223 amino acids. Third, the transcriptional level of the Ppgst gene was further confirmed to be positively correlated with nTiO2 exposure within the concentration range of (5-15 mg ml-1 ) by qPCR. In conclusion, these results indicated that the transcriptional level of Ppgst can reflect nTiO2 exposure, suggesting that it may be employed as a new biomarker for nTiO2 pollution under dark conditions. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study identifies a new gst gene for indicating nanosized TiO2 under dark conditions and provides a new option for detection of nanosized TiO2 pollution under dark conditions.

Quercetin induces protective autophagy and apoptosis through ER stress via the p-STAT3/Bcl-2 axis in ovarian cancer.

Quercetin (3,3',4',5,7-pentahydroxyflavone, Qu) is a promising cancer chemo-preventive agent for various cancers because it inhibits disease progression and promotes apoptotic cell death. In our previous study, we demonstrated that Qu could evoke ER stress to enhance drug cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer (OC). However, Qu-induced ER stress in OC is still poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that Qu evoked ER stress to involve in mitochondria apoptosis pathway via the p-STAT3/Bcl-2 axis in OC cell lines and in primary OC cells. Unexpectedly, inhibition of ER stress did not reverse Qu-induced cell death. Further functional studies revealed that Qu-induced ER stress could activate protective autophagy concomitantly by activating the p-STAT3/Bcl-2 axis in this process. Moreover, the autophagy scavenger 3-MA was shown to enhance Qu's anticancer effects in an ovarian cancer mice xenograft model. These findings revealed a novel role of ER stress as a "double edge sword" participating in Qu-induced apoptosis of OC and might provide a new angle to consider in clinical studies of biological modifiers that may circumvent drug resistance in patients by targeting protective autophagy pathways.

Parasellar epidural hydatid cysts.

We report two rare cases of parasellar epidural hydatid cysts. Among the 64 patients with intracranial hydatid cysts we have treated in the past 20 years, only these two cases were located epidurally. Because the location and the computed tomographic characteristics were so different from the other cysts, the preoperative diagnosis was difficult to make. We were unable to remove the cysts without rupturing them because they were tightly surrounded. Both patients underwent surgery twice because of a recurrence. The treatment of this kind of case requires further discussion.

Phase and group velocity matching for second harmonic generation of femtosecond pulses.

We theoretically analyze a method for matching group velocities of fundamental and second harmonic femtosecond pulses during phase matched frequncy doubling by predispersing the fundamental pulse with a prism. The method permits improved conversion efficiency by allowing crystal lengths of several millimeters without sacrificing second harmonic pulse duration. Second harmonic pulse energy and duration are analyzed for beta-BaB(2)O(4), and limiting experimental factors are discussed. The results show that the method is most advantageous for incident pulses between 0.1- and 1.0-ps duration and microjoule and higher energies and that second harmonic pulse duration and conversion efficiency are not highly sensitive to optical misalignments of the order of 1 degrees .