Long-lifetime water-washable ceramic catalyst filter for air purification.

Particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are recognised as hazardous air pollutants threatening human health. Disposable filters are generally used for air purification despite frequent replacement and waste generation problems. However, the development of a novel regenerable and robust filter for long-term use is a huge challenge. Here, we report on a new class of facile water-washing regenerable ceramic catalyst filters (CCFs), developed to simultaneously remove PM (>95%) and VOCs (>82%) in single-pass and maximized space efficiency by coating the inner and outer filter channels with an inorganic membrane and a Cu2O/TiO2 photocatalyst, respectively. The CCFs reveal four-fold increase in the maximum dust loading capacity (approximately 20 g/L) in relation to conventional filters (5 g/L), and can be reused after ten regeneration capability with simple water washing retaining initial PM and VOC removal performances. Thus, the CCFs can be well-suited for indoor and outdoor air purification for 20 years, which shows a huge increase in lifetime compared to the 6-month lifespan of conventional filters. Finally, we believe that the development and implementation of CCFs for air purification can open new avenues for sustainable technology through renewability and zero-waste generation.

PAZ domain is critical for spermatogenesis in chicken.

Piwi-like protein 1 (PIWIL1) plays a crucial role in stem cell proliferation, embryogenesis, growth, and development. We aimed to unravel the function of PIWIL1 and its Piwi/Argonaute/Zwille (PAZ) domain in chicken embryogenesis. The expression of PIWI1 at different stages of spermatogenesis was analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the PAZ domain was mutated based on its 3D structure model using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) technology. The results indicated that PIWIL1 mRNA was specifically expressed in spermatogonium cells undergoing meiosis. After targeting the PAZ domain (300-370 amino acid residues), we obtained two mutant DF-1 cell clones with 23-bp and 8-bp deletions. Injection of the pCMV-Cas9-puro-sgRNA-2 construct into 2.5-day embryos resulted in generation of 19 different PAZ mutants (13 males and 6 females), which showed delayed hatching, reduced quality of semen, and decreased expression of PIWIL1 and SOX2 at embryonic days 5 and 18. However, we could not obtain PAZ double knockout (KO) chickens by crossing of the F0 generation, suggesting that PAZ double KO may halt embryonic development. Our results indicate that PIWIL1 plays an important role in meiosis and that PAZ mutations can lead to decreased sperm quality, whereas its double KO may arrest embryogenesis in chicken.

Female Patient with Invasive Pneumococcal Disease Due to Non-vaccine Serotype 24B Streptococcus pneumoniae / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

We report the case of a 1-year-old female with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) after three administrations of the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) according to the immunization schedule for children in Japan. Blood culture detected Streptococcus pneumoniae 24B, which is a non-vaccine serotype. In Japan, PCV7 introduced in 2010 reduced the number of IPD patients under 5 years of age. However, the number of children under 5 years of age with IPD due to non-vaccine serotypes gradually increased after 2014 even though PCV13 was introduced in 2013. Pneumococcal vaccination cannot completely prevent IPD. Therefore, medical practitioners should pay attention to IPD due to non-vaccine serotypes.

Changes in the Pneumococcal Vaccine Serotypes in Adult Noninvasive Pneumonia after the Introduction of Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination for Children.

CONTEXT: Although the incidence of invasive pneumococcal infections in children has decreased since the introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs), the appearance of serotype replacements has continued to increase. AIMS: We examined the frequency of serotype replacements in adult cases of pneumococcal pneumonia. Furthermore, the transition in the coverage of vaccine serotypes (VTs) to non-VTs (NVTs) was also examined. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: We investigated all confirmed cases of pneumococcal pneumonia in 303 adult patients admitted to Yamagata Saisei Hospital between April 2006 and March 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pneumococcal serotypes were determined by testing for a specific type of antiserum using the capsular swelling method. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Chi-square tests were used to compare patient characteristics. RESULTS: Annually, the number of admitted patients ranged from 24 to 43, with most of them being men (64.7% of the total patient cohort). Although many cases involved some underlying conditions, the rate of pneumococcal vaccination remained low. The average rate of multigeneration housing was high (37.6%). The rates of pneumococcal vaccine coverage declined since 2013 (7-valent PCV (PCV7), 18.5%; PCV13, 59.3%; and 23-pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23), 66.7%) and were <50% for each vaccine (PCV7, 4.7%; PCV13, 32.6%; and PPSV23, 48.8%) in 2015. In addition, the VTs were replaced with NVTs in 2015 (48.8% vs. 51.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of NVTs in adult pneumococcal pneumonia increased in 2013, with the frequency exceeding that of the vaccine forms in 2015. Regular PCV vaccination of children and multigeneration housing seem to be associated with this reversed trend.

Clinicopathological study of BCOR rearrangement in high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To investigate clinicopathological, cytogenetic features and differential diagnoses of high grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HGESS) with BCOR gene rearrangement.@*Methods@#Five cases of HGESS with BCOR rearrangement were collected from consultant files (2016-2018) at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Interphase FISH was performed using a dual color break-apart probe. The clinical data, histologic features and immunohistochemical findings were reviewed.@*Results@#All 5 cases occurred in adult women with a median age of 48 (range, 45-55) years. Abdominal pain and abnormal vaginal bleeding were the most common symptoms. Microscopically, the tumors showed mainly tongue-like and/or intersecting myometrial invasion. Stromal myxoid matrix and/or collagen plaques were prominent in all the cases. Most tumors consisted of uniform, haphazard fascicles of short spindle cells with mild to moderate nuclear atypia. Mitotic figures and necrosis were easily identified. Significant nuclear pleomorphism was not seen. Most tumors were rich in thick-walled small vessels. Prominent perivascular tumor cell whorling seen in conventional low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma was not seen. All tumors expressed CD10 with only focal or absent desmin, SMA and/or h-caldesmon staining. ER or PR expression was seen in 4 tumors and 1 tumor showed both marker expression. Diffuse cyclin D1 was present in 2 tumors. BCOR immunoreactivity was present with strong staining in 3 cases and moderate staining in 1 case respectively. Ki-67 index ranged from 10% to 30%. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed chromosomal aberration of BCOR gene in all tumors, that were previously diagnosed as myxoid leiomyosarcoma (2 cases), spindle cell uterine sarcoma (2 cases) and low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (1 case). Limited follow-up information revealed that 3/5 patients developed tumor recurrence, metastasis or death within one year.@*Conclusion@#BCOR rearranged HGESS has distinct morphological features and aggressive clinical behavior. In the presence of significant overlapping morphologic features between BCOR rearranged HGESS and other myxoid uterine mesenchymal tumors, especially myxoid leiomyosarcoma, molecular analysis is essential for accurate diagnoses.

Expression of SMARCA4(BRG1) and SMARCB1(INI1) in dedifferentiated and undifferentiated endometrial carcinomas and their correlations with clinicopathological features / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the expression of SMARCA4 (BRG1) and SMARCB1 (INI-1) protein in endometrial dedifferentiated carcinoma (DDC) and undifferentiated carcinoma (UDC), and their correlation with clinicopathologic features.@*Methods@#Clinicopathological information was gathered for 26 cases of DDC and UDC and consulting hospitals from January, 2006 to December, 2018 in Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, including 10 cases of DDC and 16 cases of UDC. Morphologic features and diagnosis were reviewed by two pathologists. Immunohistochemistry for expression of BRG1 and INI1 protein was performed. The correlations with clinicopathologic features were analyzed.@*Results@#BRG1 and INI1 loss were present in 14 of 26 cases of DDC/UDC, including 12 BRG1-deficient cases and 2 INI1-deficient cases, respectively. Six cases demonstrated variable amounts of rhabdoid cells in 14 BRG1/INI1-deficient cases, and only 1 case showed rhabdoid cells in the 12 intact expression cases. However, there was no significantly statistical difference (P=0.060). Age, invasive depth, lymph node status and FIGO stage were not associated with the expression of the BRG1 and INI1 (P=0.437, P=0.672, P=0.242, P=0.348). Remarkably, the BGR1/INI1-deficient patients had worse survival than those with intact expression (4.7 vs. 22.9, P=0.033).@*Conclusion@#BRG1/INI1-deficient is observed in approximately half of DDC and UDC. Identification of these tumors is clinically relevant due to their more aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Hence, BRG1 and INI1 immunohistochemical stains should be performed for DDC and UDC in order to help the pathologists to distinguish these tumors from other carcinomas, and to predict the clinical prognosis.

The Maillard Reaction Reduced the Sensitization of Tropomyosin and Arginine Kinase from Scylla paramamosain, Simultaneously.

The Maillard reaction was established to reduce the sensitization of tropomyosin (TM) and arginine kinase (AK) from Scylla paramamosain, and the mechanism of the attenuated sensitization was investigated. In the present study, the Maillard reaction conditions were optimized for heating at 100 °C for 60 min (pH 8.5) with arabinose. A low level of allergenicity in mice was shown by the levels of allergen-specific antibodies, and more Th1 and less Th2 cells cytokines produced and associated transcription factors with the Maillard reacted allergen (mAllergen). The tolerance potency in mice was demonstrated by the increased ratio of Th1/Th2 cytokines. Moreover, mass spectrometry analysis showed that some key amino acids of IgE-binding epitopes (K112, R125, R133 of TM; K33, K118, R202 of AK) were modified by the Maillard reaction. The Maillard reaction with arabinose reduced the sensitization of TM and AK, which may be due to the masked epitopes.

Clinicopathologic analysis of primary carcinoid of the ovary / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To describe the clinicopathologic features, diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ovarian carcinoid tumors.@*Methods@#A retrospective chart review was performed of all patients diagnosed with primary ovarian carcinoid tumors at Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Centre from 2007 to 2017.@*Results@#The histologic analysis of these carcinoid tumors revealed 3 were insular, 1 was trabecular, 1 was mucinous, and 10 were strumal. Histologic features of insular and trabecular carcinoid were similar to other parts of the neuroendocrine tumor. Strumal carcinoid was composed of thyroid tissue intimately admixed with carcinoid tumor, showing trabecular pattern. Mucinous carcinoid was resembles Krukenberg tumor. Most ovarian carcinoid tomours were diffusely positive with at least one neuroendocrine marker, especially synaptophysin (14/14) and CD56(9/10). The median follow-up time was 53 months, 1 patient with squamous-cell carcinoma of cervixrecur rence in vaginal after 37 months, and only 1 patient died of disease. The remaining patients were disease-free survival.@*Conclusions@#Primary carcinoid of the ovary is a very rare low grade malignant monodermal teratomas and somatic-type tumours arising from a dermoid. The diagnosis and differential diagnosis mainly relies on the histopathologic characteristics and the immuno-phenotype. Primary ovarian carcinoid almost always exhibit a benign clinical behavious except mucinous carcinoid.

Changes of the serum aldosterone and its relationship with cardiac remodeling in children with patent ductus arteriosus before and after interventional therapy / 中国介入心脏病学杂志

Objective To observe the changes of serum aldosterone(ALD)in children with patent ductus arteriosus(PDA)at before and after interventional therapy,and explore its relationship with cardiac remodeling and its clinical significance.Methods Serum ALD level taken in supine position,left heart chambers sizes and heart f unction in children with PDA were measured and compared before,24 hours part intervention and at 1 month and 3 months after.The relationship between ALD and the left heart chambers sizes and the heart function were analyzed.Results Serum ALD levels were significantly lower 24 hours,1 month and 3 months than the pre-procedure levels [(348.44± 54.27)pmol/L vs.(311.35±50.34)pmol/L vs.(258.14±50.56)pmol/L vs.(199.09±48.12)pmol/L,F=18.98,P＜0.05].The lef t atrial diameter indexes[(42.33±6.44)mm/m2 vs.(36.22±5.33)mm/m2 vs.(35.54±5.36)mm/m2 vs.(34.26±4.32)mm/m2,F=12.18,P ＜ 0.05] and the lef t ventricular end diastolic diameter indexes [(69.34±7.43)mm/m2 vs.(67.43±6.33)mm/m2 vs.(66.35±6.56)mm/m2 vs.(60.54±5.34)mm/m2,F=11.71,P＜0.05] were also lower at 24 hours,1 month and 3 months after intervention than pre-procedure measurements.The left ventricular end systolic diameter indexes measured at 24 hours,1 mouth and 3 mouths after intervention were all lower as compared to pre-procedure condition[(39.43±8.32)mm/m2 vs.(38.47±7.45)mm/m2 vs.(36.85±5.43)mm/m2 vs.(35.63±5.34)mm/m2,F=13.13,P ＜ 0.05].There was relevance between the serum ALD level and the left heart chamber size indexes(P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Early interventional therapy for PDA can reverse the activation of aldosterone secretion and cardiac remodeling.

Shenfu Yangrong Decoction Combined with Routine Western Therapy for Treatment of Viral Myocarditis of Ⅰ– Ⅲ Grades in Children / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To observe the efficacy of Shenfu Yangrong Decoction combined with routine Western therapy in the treatment of viral myocarditis (VMC) of Ⅰ– Ⅲ grades in children. Methods Totally 100 cases of VMC children were selected and divided into observation group and control group according to random number table method, with 50 cases in both groups. The control group was treated with routine Western therapy, while the observation group was combined with Shenfu Yangrong Decoction based on the control group, one dosage a day, twice a day, orally. The TCM syndrome scores, the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-17, IL-27 and nuclear factor - κB (NF-κB), the levevs of troponin Ⅰ (cTnⅠ) and cardiac free fatty acid binding protein (H-FABP) before and after treatment in both groups were compared, and the total incidence of adverse reactions during treatment was monitored. Results The total effective rate was 90% (45/50) in the observation group and 74% (37/50) in the control group. The observation group was significantly higher than the control group (χ2=4.336, P=0.037). Compared with before treatment, the scores of the main symptoms, the scores of the secondary symptoms, and the total scores of the two groups decreased significantly after treatment (P＜0.01). Comparing the two groups after treatment, the scores of main symptoms, scores of secondary symptoms and total scores of the observation group were significantly lower than those of the control group (P＜0.05, P＜0.01). Compared with before treatment, serum IL-17, NF-κB, cTnⅠ, H-FABP levels were significantly reduced (P＜0.01), while serum IL-27 levels were significantly increased (P＜0.01) in both group. After treatment, the levels of serum IL-17, NF-κB, cTnⅠ, and H-FABP in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P＜0.01), and serum IL-27 level in the observation group was significantly higher than in the control group (P＜0.01). The adverse reaction rate was 12% (6/50) in the observation group and 8% (4/50) in the control group, without statistical significance between the two groups (χ2=0.368, P=0.544). Conclusion Shenfu Yangrong Decoction combined with routine Western therapy for the treatment of viral myocarditis children of Ⅰ– Ⅲ grades can effectively reduce the symptoms of patients, inhibit inflammation, reduce myocardial injury, with high safety.

[Bacteriological Analysis of Pneumococcus Detected from the Sputum of Hospitalized Children].

7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) has been included in the routine immunization schedule since April 2013 in Japan. Serotype replacement - a phenomenon by which serotypes are replaced by non-vaccine serotypes after vaccine introduction - has been reported in invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Pneumococcus in sputum samples is one of the major causes of bronchopulmonary infection in children. We tried to verify whether serotype replacement of Pneumococcus occurs in sputum samples in a similar manner as in IPD. From August 2014 to September 2015, we performed antimicrobial susceptibility testing and serotyping of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum samples and investigated the history of PCV from hospitalized children with S. pneumoniae bronchopulmonary infection. From the results of our investigation, 80.3% of children have received PCV at least once. Serotypes of Pneumococcus were determined in 92.4% of tested strains and PCV13 strains accounted for only 9.8%. Major isolated serotypes were 15A (21.3%), 35B (19.7%), and 6C (13.1%). Those were not included in PCV13, i.e. serotype replacement occurs in bronchopulmonary infection just as in IPD. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for Penicillin G indicated that penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) accounted for 4.5%, penicillin-intermediate resistant S. pneumoniae (PISP) accounted for 47.0% and penicillin-susceptible S. pneumoniae (PSSP) accounted for 48.5%. When examining the drug susceptibility by serotypes, 15A, 19A, 23A and 35B showed a high percentage of non-susceptibility. This means there is a difference in the resistant trend by serotypes. In our study, it became clear that verifying of the serotypes of Pneumococcus in sputum is meaningful and surveillance of serotypes is important for evaluation of vaccination as IPD.

Values of JAZF1 gene rearrangement detected by fluorescence in-situ hybridization in diagnosis of endometrial stromal tumours / 中华病理学杂志

Objective@#To investigate the role of JAZF1 gene rearrangement in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of endometrial stromal sarcomas by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH).@*Methods@#JAZF1 gene rearrangement was analyzed by FISH in 129 cases of ESS diagnosed from January 2008 to December 2016 including 105 cases of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LG-ESS), 21 cases of high-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HG-ESS) and 3 cases of undifferentiated uterine sarcoma (UUS). Sixteen cases of the related tumours in uterus were also collected as control group. The results were compared with our previous studies of JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion gene in ESS by RT-PCR.@*Results@#Detection of JAZF1 gene rearrangement by FISH was successfully analyzed in 144 cases. JAZF1 gene alteration was detected in 63 cases, all of which were LG-ESS, with an overall positivity of 60.6% (63/104), while no JAZF1 gene rearrangement was found in all other cases. JAZF1 gene rearrangement was present in LG-ESS with classic histology (69.3%, 52/75), smooth muscle differentiation (2/10), sex cord-like differentiation (4/5), fibromyxoid change (1/5), clear cell change (0/1), skeletal muscle differentiation (0/1), and schwannoma-like palisading pattern (0/1). The different components in all the cases of LG-ESS with variant histology had the clonal origin, with or without JAZF1 gene alteration. Compared to the results of JAZF1/JJAZ1 fusion gene by RT-PCR, the positive rate of JAZF1 gene rearrangement in LG-ESS by FISH (61.9%, 26/42) was significantly higher than that of RT-PCR (30.0%, 12/40; P<0.01).@*Conclusions@#JAZF1 gene rearrangement is present only in LG-ESS, but not in HG-ESS, UUS or other related tumours in uterus. The frequency of JAZF1 gene rearrangement varies between classic LG-ESS and different morphologic variants. It is frequently, but not consistently, present in classic LG-ESS and less often positive in variant cases. The results of JAZF1 gene alterations in LG-ESS with different morphologic variants support the contention that the endometrial stromal and their variant morphologic components have the same clonal origin. Detection of JAZF1 gene rearrangement by FISH is very useful for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ESS.

Tissue-engineered cartilage construction by Cultispher microcarrier for articular cartilage repair / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Both Cultispher microcarrier and fibrin can act as carriers in cartilage tissue engineering, but their application is limited by poor mechanical properties and poor plasticity.OBJECTIVE: To combine Cultispher microcarrier carrying chondrocytes with fibrin glue to construct Gultispher/fibrin composite scaffold, and to investigate the effect of this composite scaffold in the articular cartilage repair in a rabbit model. METHODS: Rabbit chondrocyte and Cultispher microcarriers were co-cultured in a stirred bioreactor until the chondrocytes adhered to and proliferated quickly on the microcarrier surface. Chondrocytes-seeded microcarries were then combined with fibrin glue to construct microcarrier/fibrin glue composite scaffolds, to repair trochlear cartilage defects of the knee joint in the rabbit model. In the experiment, three different treatments were respectively done for repair of cartilage defects, including implantation of chondrocytes-seeded microcarries/fibrin glue composite scaffold (MCF group), implantation of Gultispher/fibrin composite scaffold (MF group), and no treatment (blank control group). At 3 and 6 months after surgery, gross observation, histological evaluation, pathological evaluation and Micro-CT scanning were conducted to evaluate the cartilage repair effects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Gross observation showed that the MCF group achieved better effect on cartilage repair, compared to the other two groups. Histopathological evaluation revealed hyaline-like cartilage tissues in the MCF group while fibrocartilage tissues were seen in the other two groups, shown by safranin O staining and sirius red staining.Micro-CT scanning results showed better subchondral bone remodeling was found in the MCF group than the other two groups. Gross observation and pathological observation showed better outcomes in the MCF group than the MF and blank control groups. To conclude, the chondrocyte-seeded Cultispher microcarrier/fibrin glue composite scaffold succeeds in the articular cartilage repair.

Tissue-engineered cartilage construction by Cultispher microcarrier for articular cartilage repair / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND: Both Cultispher microcarrier and fibrin can act as carriers in cartilage tissue engineering, but their application is limited by poor mechanical properties and poor plasticity.OBJECTIVE: To combine Cultispher microcarrier carrying chondrocytes with fibrin glue to construct Gultispher/fibrin composite scaffold, and to investigate the effect of this composite scaffold in the articular cartilage repair in a rabbit model. METHODS: Rabbit chondrocyte and Cultispher microcarriers were co-cultured in a stirred bioreactor until the chondrocytes adhered to and proliferated quickly on the microcarrier surface. Chondrocytes-seeded microcarries were then combined with fibrin glue to construct microcarrier/fibrin glue composite scaffolds, to repair trochlear cartilage defects of the knee joint in the rabbit model. In the experiment, three different treatments were respectively done for repair of cartilage defects, including implantation of chondrocytes-seeded microcarries/fibrin glue composite scaffold (MCF group), implantation of Gultispher/fibrin composite scaffold (MF group), and no treatment (blank control group). At 3 and 6 months after surgery, gross observation, histological evaluation, pathological evaluation and Micro-CT scanning were conducted to evaluate the cartilage repair effects. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Gross observation showed that the MCF group achieved better effect on cartilage repair, compared to the other two groups. Histopathological evaluation revealed hyaline-like cartilage tissues in the MCF group while fibrocartilage tissues were seen in the other two groups, shown by safranin O staining and sirius red staining.Micro-CT scanning results showed better subchondral bone remodeling was found in the MCF group than the other two groups. Gross observation and pathological observation showed better outcomes in the MCF group than the MF and blank control groups. To conclude, the chondrocyte-seeded Cultispher microcarrier/fibrin glue composite scaffold succeeds in the articular cartilage repair.

Effect of epidural corticosteroid injection on magnetic resonance imaging findings

BACKGROUND: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the spine is the preferred diagnostic tool for pathologic conditions affecting the spine. However, in patients receiving epidural corticosteroid injection (ESI) for treatment of spinal diseases, there is a possibility of misreading of MR images because of air or fluid in the epidural space after the injection. Therefore, we defined the characteristics of abnormal changes in MRI findings following an ESI in patients with low back pain. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of 133 patients who underwent MRI of the lumbar spine within 7 days after ESI between 2006 and 2015.All patients were administered an ESI using a 22-gauge Tuohy needle at the lumbar spine through the interlaminar approach. The epidural space was identified by the loss of resistance technique with air. RESULTS: The incidences of abnormal changes in MRI findings because of ESI were 54%, 31%, and 25% in patients who underwent MRI at approximately 24 h, and 2 and 3 days after ESI, respectively. Abnormal MRI findings included epidural air or fluid, needle tracks, and soft tissue changes. Epidural air, the most frequent abnormal finding (82%), was observed in 41% of patients who underwent MRI within 3 days after injection. Abnormal findings due to an ESI were not observed in MR images acquired 4 days after ESI or later. CONCLUSIONS: Pain physicians should consider the possibility of abnormal findings in MR images acquired after epidural injection using the interlaminar approach and the loss of resistance technique with air at the lumbar spine.

Neuronal-derived Ccl7 drives neuropathic pain by promoting astrocyte proliferation.

Recent studies suggest that peripheral nerve injury converts resting spinal cord astroglial cells into an activated state, which is required for the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. However, the underlying mechanisms of how resting astrocytes are activated after nerve injury remain largely unknown. Astroglial cell proliferation and activation could be affected by endogenous factors including chemokines, growth factors, and neurotropic factor. Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7 (Ccl7) is essential in facilitating the development of neuropathic pain; however, the mechanism is unknown. In the present study, we found that Ccl7 promoted astrocyte proliferation and thus contributed toward neuropathic pain. Spinal nerve ligation increased the expression in the spinal cord of neuronal Ccl7. Behavioral analyses showed that knockdown of Ccl7 alleviated spinal nerve ligation-induced neuropathic pain. Further in-vitro study showed that neuronal-derived Ccl7 was sufficient for the proliferation and activation of astroglial cells. We found a novel mechanism of Ccl7 stimulating the proliferation and activation of spinal cord astrocytes that contributes toward neuropathic pain.

Small cell carcinoma of ovary, hypercalcemic type: analysis of clinicopathologic characteristics and the diagnostic utility of loss expression of SMARCA4 protein / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinicopathologic features of small cell carcinoma of ovary, hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT) and to evaluate the diagnostic significance of loss of SMARCA4 expression.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathologic characteristics of 5 cases of SCCOHT were reviewed. The expression of SMARCA4 protein was detected by immunohistochemistry in the cases of SCCOHT and 240 cases of other primary malignant tumors of ovary and peritoneum.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The mean and medium age of these patients was 30 years and 28 years, respectively. The presenting symptoms included abdominal pain, distention and a pelvic mass. Hypercalcemia was found in 3 patients. The maximum diameter of tumors ranged from 13.5 to 22.0 cm. Extraovarian spread was demonstrated in all of the patients on presentation. Histologically, the tumors were composed of closely packed small round cells with scanty cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei and irregular chromatin clumps. The tumor cells grew in sheets, nests, cords or trabecular pattern. Follicle-like spaces were observed in 4 cases. Three of the tumors contained large cells with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm. Spindle cell morphology was found in 1 case. There were 2 cases with myxoid or hyaline stroma. Four out of five of SCCOHT cases showed loss of SMARCA4 protein while only 6.3% (15/240) of the other primary malignant tumors of ovary and peritoneum , including undifferentiated carcinoma (1/5), high-grade serous carcinoma (4.6%, 5/109), endometrioid carcinoma (7.7%, 2/26), clear cell carcinoma (1/9), mucinous carcinoma (1/5), mixed carcinoma (4.9%, 3/61), carcinosarcoma (1/9) and high-grade serous carcinoma of peritoneum (1/9), were negative.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>SCCOHT is a rare malignant tumor and often misdiagnosed as other types of ovarian small cell tumor. Loss expression of SMARCA4 protein is characteristic and facilitates the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of SCCOHT.</p>

Diagnostic utility of STR genotyping for partial hydatidiform moles / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical utility of short tandem repeats(STR) genotyping technique for diagnosis of partial hydatidiform moles (PHM).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Ten cases with the original diagnosis of PHM and six cases diagnosed as "favour PHM" or "abnormal villous, PHM not excluded" were selected for the study. The clinical information and follow-up data were reviewed. Histopathologic features were evaluated along with p57 immunohistochemistry. After DNA extraction from each sample, genotyping was performed by AmpFlSTR(®) Identifiler™ PCR kit to amplify 15 STR polymorphism loci plus the amelogenin gender-determining in a single robust PCR.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The age of patients ranged from 18 to 49 years (mean=29 years, median=29 years). Two villous populations (7/16), irregular villous contour (13/16), at least moderate trophoblastic hyperplasia (2/16), cistern formation (8/16), syncytiotrophoblastic knuckles (14/16), trophoblastic pseudoinclusions (6/16) and nucleated fetal red blood cells (8/16) were presented in these cases. Of the cases in the study, STR genotyping identified 4 monospermic complete hydatidiform moles (MCM), 3 dispermic partial hydatidiform moles (DPM) and 9 hydropic abortions (HA). The misdiagnosis rate was 13/16 only relied on morphology evaluation. Immunostaining of p57 showed 3/4 of MCM were focally positive (<5%-20%+), 1/4 of MCM were diffusely positive (70%+), 3/3 of DPM were diffusely positive (≥50%+), 7/9 of HA were diffusely positive (≥50%+), and 2/9 of HA were focally positive (10%+).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combination of histomorphologic evaluation and p57 immunostaining is insufficient for a definitive diagnosis of PHM. STR genotyping offers an accurate diagnosis of PHM.</p>

Intervention of blue light with short wavelength on the progression of form deprived myopia in guinea pigs / 中华实验眼科杂志

Background Light stimulation at different wavelength influences the development of eyes.It has been showed that blue light can inhibit the growth of eyeball.To study whether blue light exposure can delay the extension of myopia is an interested research project.Objective This study was to investigate the effect of blue light with short wavelength on ocular growth in form deprived myopia (FDM) in guinea pigs and provide a new option for the prevention and treatment of myopia.Methods Thirty-six 2-week-old guinea pigs were reared in the environment of white light.The right eyes of the animals were occluded to establish the FDM models.The models were randomized into the deocclusion + blue light exposure group,simple deocclusion group and continuous occlusion group according to the random number table.The right eyes of the models were deoccluded for 1 hour per day to give the blue light (430 nm) irradiation in the deocclusion + blue light exposure group,and the right eyes were deoccluded for 1 hour per day only in the simple deocclusion group.In the continuous occlusion group,the right eyes of the models were occluded until the end of this experiment.Anterior chamber depth (ACD),lens thickness (LT) and vitreous cavity depth (VCD) were measured by A-type sonography.The binocular diopter of the guinea pigs was detected using retinoscopy in the mydriatic condition.In the fourth week after experiment,the retinal sections were prepared for the regular histopathological examination,and the scleral tissues next to 1 mm from optical nerve were exacted to obtain the dry weight of scleral tissues.Results In the right eyes of the animals,no significant differences were found in the diopter,ACD,LT and VCD before experiment among the 3 groups (all at P＞0.05).At the end of experiment,the refraction of right eye in the deocclusion + blue light exposure group,simple deocclusion group and continuous occlusion group was (+1.11±0.17)D,(+0.90±0.15)D and (-2.73±0.19)D respectively,with a significant difference among them (F=1 445.470,P=0.000).The VCD in the three groups was (3.70±0.09) mm,(3.78±0.11) mm and (3.91 ± 0.08) mm,respectively,showing a significant difference (F =13.243,P＜0.01).In addition,the dry weight of sclera tissues was (0.61 ±0.09)mg in the deocclusion + blue light exposure group,(0.54± 0.08)mg in the simple deocclusion group and (0.43 ± 0.07)mg in the continuous occlusion group,with a significant difference among the 3 groups (F=10.458,P＜0.01).However,there were no significant differences in the ACD and LT among the 3 groups (F=0.203,0.084,both at P＞0.05).Moreover,in the left eyes,no significant differences were found in the diopter,ACD,LT and VCD before experiment among the 3 groups (all at P＞0.05);while at the end of the experiment,the diopter of the continuous occlusion group was significantly lower than that of the deocclusion + blue light exposure group and simple deocclusion group (all at P＜0.05).No significant differences were seen in the ACD,LT,VCD and dry weight of sclera among the 3 groups (all at P＞0.05).Retinal structure was normal in the left eyes of various groups.However,the retinas were thinner in the right eyes of the deocclusion + blue light exposure group with clear layers; while atrophy of the outer segment of photoreceptor and disorder of cell arrangement were seen in the right eyes of the continuous occlusion group.Conclusions During sensitive period of visual development,blue light stimulation can arrest the extension of posterior sclera and elongation of vitreous cavity,which restrains development of myopia.This blue light at the wavelength of 430 nm is safe to retina.