Methylation of the DKK3 promoter is associated with poor prognosis in patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the mRNA of DKK3 (Dickkopf-3) in cervical adenocarcinoma, and to explore correlations between methylation status of the DKK3 promoter and biological behaviors of cervical adenocarcinoma. METHODS: The mRNA expression level of DKK3 was detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) analysis was performed to detect the methylated degrees of the DNA of the DKK3 promoter. RESULTS: The mRNA expression levels of DKK3 in cervical adenocarcinoma tissues were lower than those in adjacent normal cervical tissues. MSP detection found DKK3 promoter methylation was 38% in cervical adenocarcinoma tissues, while no normal cervical tissues were found to be methylated.FIGO staging and pelvic lymph node metastasis were identified as relative factors of methylation status of the DKK3 promoter. Multivariate analysis demonstrated methylation status of the DKK3 promoter was an independent prognostic indicator of cervical adenocarcinoma. Patients with methylated DKK3 promoter exhibited significantly shorter OS than those with an unmethylated DKK3 promoter. CONCLUSIONS: The methylation status of the DKK3 promoter may indicate poor prognosis of patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.

Effects of Prenatal Environmental Exposures on the Development of Endometriosis in Female Offspring.

BACKGROUND: Endometriosis has many hypothesized etiologies. Known risk factors include genetic predisposition, uterine outflow abnormalities, and iatrogenic causes. Of increasing concern is prenatal environmental exposures. However, the findings of studies investigating the relationships between prenatal environmental exposures and the development of endometriosis have not always been conclusive, and therefore, the relationships are debatable. METHODS: This review presents a summary and analysis of the current studies that investigated the effects of prenatal environmental exposures on the development of endometriosis in female offspring. RESULTS: Prenatal exposure to estrogenic substances (such as ethinyl estradiol and diethylstilbestrol) and environmental toxins (such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyls, and bisphenol A) may increase the incidence of endometriosis in female offspring. However, exposure to cigarette smoke may protect against the development of endometriosis in female offspring mainly because of its antiestrogenic effects. CONCLUSION: Certain prenatal environmental exposures might result in the development of endometriosis in female offspring. In addition to known environmental exposures that predispose the development of endometriosis in adulthood, such as dioxin and radiation exposure (animal models), prenatal exposures are of increasing concern.

Study of multiwavelength DFB semiconductor laser array with asymmetric structures based on sampling technique.

Multiwavelength distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser arrays (MLA) with asymmetric structures are studied in this paper. Thanks to the sampling technique, the asymmetric structures, including asymmetric phase shift and asymmetric coupling coefficient, can be achieved by common holographic exposure. Therefore, the cost of fabrication is remarkably reduced. In addition, due to the large scale of the sampling pattern, the wavelength precision of these kinds of MLA can be simultaneously improved. As an example, we designed and fabricated an asymmetrically phase-shifted MLA with 10 wavelengths for the first time. Compared with the common phase-shifted DFB laser, slope efficiency is significantly improved and single longitudinal mode is still guaranteed. Besides, relatively high wavelength precision is also obtained. The proposed MLA configurations may significantly benefit multiwavelength emitters for future photonic integration.

[Effect of compound ezhu powder on serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9, and the expression of cyclin D protein in endometriosis patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Compound Ezhu Powder (CEP) on serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9, and the expression of cyclin D protein in endometriosis patients, thus providing theoretical evidence for clinical application of CEP. METHODS: Totally 69 all endometriosis patients underwent surgical treatment at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tianjin Nankai Hospital from January 2011 to January 2013 were randomly assigned to group A (35 cases) and group B (34 cases). Meanwhile, 30 patients with uterine fibroids who prepared for surgical treatment during the same period were recruited as the control group. Patients in group A took EZP 3 months before surgery. No treatment was given to patients in group B and the control group. The serum CA125 level and the expression of cyclin D in the ectopic endometrium and the eutopic endometrium were detected in the 3 groups before surgery. RESULTS: The expression of cyclin D was higher in group A and group B than in the control group (P < 0.05). The serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9 were significantly lower in group A than in group B (P < 0.05). The expression of cyclin D in the ectopic endometrium was lower in group A than in group B, but with no statistical difference (P > 0.05). The expression of cyclin D in the eutopic endometrium was significantly lower in group A than in group B with statistical difference (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the serum CA125 level was positively correlated with the serum CA19-9 level (r = 0.45, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expression of cyclin D obviously increased in endometriosis patients, which was associated with the occurrence of endometriosis. CEP could lower serum levels of CA125 and CA19-9, and down-regulate the expression level of cyclin D, indicating its roles in inhibiting the cell cycle.

[Application of Dachengqi Granule in the perioperative period of total laparoscopic hysterectomy].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of Dachengqi Granule (DCG) in the recovery of gastrointestinal function and the condition of patients in the perioperative period of total laparoscopic hysterectomy. METHODS: Two hundred and one patients received total laparoscopic hysterectomy were assigned to 2 groups, the treated group (103 cases) was orally administered DCG twice, 9 g at 4:00 pm, one day before operation and 6 g at 16 h after operation, while to the control group, enema with 400 mL of soap solution at 8:00 pm one day before operation and acupoint ST 36 injection with 1 mL neostigmine at 16 h after operation were given. RESULTS: Total laparoscopic hysterectomy was accomplished successfully in all patients, no need to receive open abdominal operation, and with no post-operational complications. In the treated group, the operation time was (116.8 +/- 29.7) min, the operative blood loss was (141.6 +/- 25.1) mL, the post-operative temperature was (37.38 +/- 1.39) degrees C, while those in the control group were (119.6 +/- 28.4) min, (150.6 +/- 22.1) mL, and (37.55 +/- 0.43) degrees C, correspondingly, showing insignificant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The white blood cell count on the 1st day after operation was (11.18 +/- 2.93) x 10(9)/L in the treated group, and (12.57 +/- 3.55) x 10(9)/L in the control group (P < 0.01); time for post-operative aerofluxus in them was (35.66 +/- 5.72) h, and (41.77 +/- 6.06) h; time for post-operative defecation (48.47 +/- 18.97) h, and (54.81 +/- 21.30) h, respectively, all showed statistical difference between the two groups (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Administering DCG before and early after operation can effect better than pre-operational enema in ensuring the gynecological operation progression smoothly, and it could also promote the recovery of post-operational gastrointestinal function and improve patients' condition in the perioperative period.