Delayed presentation of uterine perforation with ovary migration after dilatation and curettage.

We present a rare but serious uterine perforation. A 31-year-old woman was referred to our department for hyperechogenic mass in uterus on ultrasonography after Dilation and curettage (D&C) for the adherent placenta and retained products of conception. Transvaginal ultrasound examination showed that a mass with several follicles measuring 35×29 mm was seen emanating from the right posterior wall of the uterine cavity, and there was absence of the myometrial tissue. A hysteroscopy and laparoscopy showed a uterine perforation with ovary incarceration. The ovary was rehabilitated, and the uterine perforation site was incised. D&C can not be performed when delayed presentation of uterine perforation with migration of an extrauterine organ is suspected, particularly, some of them are asymptomatic after a difficult intrauterine operation.

Lack of association between Toll-like receptor 4 gene Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms and tuberculosis susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a vital role in immunity to tubercle bacillus and its gene polymorphisms are supposed to affect tuberculosis susceptibility in some rather than all studies. Then, we integrated published data and performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to get more reliable estimations for the strength of associations between TLR4 gene polymorphisms and the risk of tuberculosis. METHODS: We systematically searched the electronic PubMed database for research articles about TLR4 gene polymorphisms and tuberculosis up to February 2012. Revman 5.0 software was adopted to conduct the meta-analysis. Crude odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated by either fixed-effects model or random-effects model. RESULTS: Finally, six case-control studies were identified, involving 1587 controls and 2110 patients. Overall, no significant associations were found between TLR4 gene Asp299Gly polymorphism and tuberculosis in the codominant models (GG vs AA: OR=1.56, 95% CI=0.76-3.21, P=0.23; GA vs AA: OR=1.01, 95% CI=0.84-1.23, P=0.89), the dominant model (GG+GA vs AA: OR=1.04, 95% CI=0.80-1.35, P=0.75), the recessive model (GG vs GA+AA: OR=1.55, 95% CI=0.75-3.19, P=0.24) and the allele model (G vs A: OR=1.06, 95% CI=0.81-1.40, P=0.66). Similarly, no significant associations between TLR4 gene Thr399Ile and tuberculosis were observed (all P>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present meta-analysis suggests that TLR4 gene Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms are not associated with the susceptibility of tuberculosis.

Two-dimensional self-assembly of 1-pyrylphosphonic acid: transfer of stacks on structured surface.

Strong hydrogen bonding and pi-pi stacking between 1-pyrylphosphonic acid (PYPA) molecules were exploited to create self-assembled two-dimensional supramolecular structures. Polycrystalline films of these laminate crystalline PYPA bilayers were easily deposited onto the solid supports through a simple spin-coating technique. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis absorption, and fluorescence spectroscopy reveal that processing parameters, such as solvent, concentration, and surface of the substrate, are critical factors in determining the final morphology of the stacked film. Robust laminate structures could be obtained only when short alkyl chain protic solvents (methanol or ethanol) and a nonhydrophobic substrate surface were used. Polycrystalline films were formed through the nucleation and growth of PYPA molecules into laminate structures at the air/solvent interface before they land on the substrate during the spin-coating process. These films possess good mechanical properties and were easily transferred onto a SiO2/Si substrate that was patterned with Au electrodes without breaking their crystalline structures. The successful transfer of the laminate crystals allows us to probe their electrical properties through a field effect transistor device. A gating effect on the charge transport of the stacked films indicates that PYPA laminate crystal possesses p-typed semiconductor characteristics.

[Inhibitory effect of endostatin mediated by lipofectin on transplanted ovarian cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To study the inhibitory effect of endostatin mediated by lipofectin on transplanted ovarian cancer in nude mice. METHODS: Constructed recombinant vector pVAX1-sEn expressing human endostatin protein was transfected into ovarian cancer cell line 3AO by lipofectin. mRNA of endostatin was detected by RT-PCR. The expression of endostatin in supernatants was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The inhibitory effect of pVAX1-sEn on endothelial cell line ECV-204 was detected by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT). By use of lipofectin mediated pVAX1-sEn for intratumor injection, the inhibitory effect on growth of ovarian cancer was observed. RESULTS: The result of RT-PCR showed there was a specific band at 610 bp. The expression quantity of endostatin in transfected cell supernatant was (201 +/- 8) ng/ml by ELISA. MTT showed pVAX1-sEn transfected cell supernatant could effectively inhibit the growth of ECV-204, the highest inhibitory ratio was 42%. The tumor volumes in pVAX1-sEn treatment group was (0.85 +/- 0.18) cm(3), significantly smaller than that in normal saline control group (1.90 +/- 0.28) cm(3) and pVAX1 control group (1.78 +/- 0.32) cm(3) (P < 0.05). HE stain in tumor tissue showed that there were obvious necrosis cells in the pVAX1-sEn treatment group, but there were flourishly growing tumor cells in pVAX1 and normal saline control groups. CONCLUSION: pVAX1-sEn mediated by lipofectin can effectively inhibit the growth of ovarian cancer.

Essential roles of lipoyl domains in the activated function and control of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinases and phosphatase isoform 1.

Four pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase and two pyruvate dehydrogenase phosphatase isoforms function in adjusting the activation state of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) through determining the fraction of active (nonphosphorylated) pyruvate dehydrogenase component. Necessary adaptations of PDC activity with varying metabolic requirements in different tissues and cell types are met by the selective expression and pronounced variation in the inherent functional properties and effector sensitivities of these regulatory enzymes. This review emphasizes how the foremost changes in the kinase and phosphatase activities issue from the dynamic, effector-modified interactions of these regulatory enzymes with the flexibly held outer domains of the core-forming dihydrolipoyl acetyl transferase component.