MRI features of different types of sinonasan rhabdomyosarcomas: a series of eleven cases.

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively analyze magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of various pathological subtypes of sinonasal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) and explore correlations between imaging features and pathological subtypes. METHODS: In total, 11 cases with embryonal, alveolar or pleomorphic sinonasal RMSs, confirmed by surgical pathology, were selected. Their characteristics and distinctive imaging features were analysed, and the correlation between pathology and imaging features was explored. RESULTS: Bone destruction was observed in all 11 cases with RMS. Expansive growth was predominant in three alveolar and three embryonal RMS cases, and creeping growth was predominant in two alveolar, two embryonal and one pleomorphic RMS cases. Signs of residual mucosa were observed in all 11 cases, and 10 cases showed involvement of multiple sinus cavities and orbital cavities. All cases exhibited mild-to-intermediate enhancement. CONCLUSION: Sinonasal RMSs have the following characteristic MRI features: ethmoid sinuses and middle nasal conchae are the prevalent sites; lesions are mainly of mild enhancement; tumours exhibit signs of residual mucosa, mild-to-intermediate enhancement and frequent orbital involvement; bone invasion and bone destruction are frequently observed; and haematogenous metastasis is not as common as lymphatic metastasis. RMSs of various pathological subtypes were not significantly distinct by imaging.

A rare jejunum retroperitoneal hernia case report and literature review.

This report describes a rare case of retroperitoneal hernia and its preoperative diagnosis. Contrast-enhanced CT and multiplanar reconstruction were used to observe the hernia ring, hernia tract, contents and blood flow of a retroperitoneal hernia. The diagnosis of and conditions related to the retroperitoneal hernia were confirmed by CT soon after hospitalisation. There are no reports on the diagnosis of primary retroperitoneal hernia on CT in the literature to date, and we share this case to facilitate the accurate and timely identification of small intestine retroperitoneal hernias in the future.

Safe and effective management of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients.

BACKGROUND: An increasing number of COVID-19 patients worldwide will probably need tracheostomy in an emergency or at the recovering stage of COVID-19. We explored the safe and effective management of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients, to benefit patients and protect health care workers at the same time. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 11 hospitalized COVID-19 patients undergoing tracheostomy. Clinical features of patients, ventilator withdrawal after tracheostomy, surgical complications, and nosocomial infection of the health care workers associated with the tracheostomy were analyzed. RESULTS: The tracheostomy of all the 11 cases (100%) was performed successfully, including percutaneous tracheostomy of 6 cases (54.5%) and conventional open tracheostomy of 5 cases (45.5%). No severe postoperative complications occurred, and no health care workers associated with the tracheostomy are confirmed to be infected by SARS-CoV-2. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive evaluation before tracheostomy, optimized procedures during tracheostomy, and special care after tracheostomy can make the tracheostomy safe and beneficial in COVID-19 patients.

PA-MSHA inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in human non-small cell lung cancer cell lines with different genotypes.

The present study examined the potential of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mannose sensitive hemagglutinin (PA-MSHA) to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in non­small­cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines. It also investigated its mechanisms of action in different genotypes of human NSCLC. A total of three NSCLC cell lines, PC­9, A549, and NCI­H1975, were treated with PA­MSHA at different concentrations. The anti­proliferative effect of PA­MSHA was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis induced by the treatment were measured by flow cytometry (FCM) with Annexin V/propidium iodide staining. Western blotting was conducted to determine the expression level of apoptosis­associated proteins. PA­MSHA was demonstrated to exert a time­ and concentration­dependent cytotoxic effect in PC­9, A549, and NCI­H1975 cells. The FCM indicated that all the different concentrations of PA­MSHA used in the present study induce apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of NSCLC cells. Treatment with PA­MSHA may exert anti­proliferative effects on NSCLC cells by affecting regulation of the cell cycle and inducing apoptosis that is mediated in part by an intrinsic apoptosis signaling pathway. These data suggest that PA­MSHA has the potential to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Furthermore, these data provide mechanistic details for the potential application of PA­MSHA­based therapeutic strategies for the treatment of different NSCLC genotypes. This present study suggests potential novel strategies to maximize effective therapeutic strategies targeting anti­epidermal growth factor receptor for future clinical trials.

Oxidative Stress and Environmental Exposures are Associated with Multiple System Atrophy in Chinese Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of multiple system atrophy (MSA). The aim of this study is to examine oxidant biomarkers including homocysteine (Hcys), bilirubin, uric acid, lipids, and potential environmental risk factors and to ascertain whether these data correlate with MSA in a Chinese population. METHODS: In this study, serum levels of Hcys, bilirubin, uric acid, and lipids were studied in 55 MSA patients and 76 healthy controls (HCs). Education, anti-parkinsonian agent usage, smoking, drinking, farming, and living area of the subjects also were analyzed. The Unified MSA Rating Scale (UMSARS), Hoehn & Yahr stage, International Cooperative Ataxia Rating Scale, and Mini-Mental State Examination were used to assess the disease severity, the parkinsonism, ataxia, and the cognitive ability of MSA, respectively. RESULTS: The levels of Hcys were higher (p<0.001) and those of total bilirubin (p=0.007), indirect bilirubin (p=0.011), and total cholesterol (p=0.046) were lower in MSA patients than in healthy controls, whereas uric acid levels did not differ significantly between MSA and healthy controls. Moreover, Hcys levels in MSA patients had positive correlations with illness duration (r s =0.422, p=0.001) and UMSARS-I (r s =0.555, p<0.001), respectively. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were negatively correlated with UMSARS-I (r s =-0.325, p=0.015). Farming was more frequent in MSA patients (1-20 years: odds ratio, 6.36; p20 years: odds ratio, 10.26; p=0.001), whereas current smoking was less frequent (odds ratio, 0.13, p=0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Elevated Hcys and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol may be associated with the disease severity of MSA. Environmental exposures such as farming and smoking may contribute to the occurrence but not the progression of MSA.

PA-MSHA in combination with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor: A new strategy to overcome the drug resistance of non-small cell lung cancer cells.

The inhibition of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling by Gefitinib provides a promising treatment strategy for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC); however, drug resistance to Gefitinib and other tyrosine kinase inhibitors presents a major issue. Using NSCLC cell lines with differential EGFR status, we examined the potency of PA-MSHA (Pseudomonas aeruginosa-mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin) in combination with Gefitinib on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, EGFR signaling and tumor growth. PC-9, A549, and NCI-H1975 cells were treated with PA-MSHA, Gefetinib, or PA-MSHA plus Gefetinib at different concentrations and times. The effects of the drugs on proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were evaluated. The activation of EGFR and apoptotic signaling-related molecules was evaluated by Western blotting in the presence or absence of EGFR siRNA. Tumor growth and pathway signaling activation was assessed by xenografts in nude mice. A time-dependent and concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect of PA-MSHA was observed in all NSCLC cells tested. The combination of PA-MSHA plus Gefitinib enhanced the growth inhibition, sub-G1 content and apoptosis over that observed with either agent alone. Furthermore, the combination of PA-MSHA plus Gefitinib resulted in caspase-3/caspase-9 cleavage and increased inhibition of EGFR-dependent activation of AKT and ERK phosphorylation. Combination treatment was more effective in reducing tumor size and EGFR activation than either agent alone. These data suggest that PA-MSHA and Gefitinib function additively to suppress the proliferative effects of NSCLC cells of differential EGFR status. The combination of PA-MSHA and Gefitinib provides a potential new strategy to conquer drug resistance for anti-EGFR-targeted therapy of NSCLC.

Studies on the Infection, Colonization, and Movement of Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae in Kiwifruit Tissues Using a GFPuv-Labeled Strain.

Kiwifruit bacterial canker, an economically important disease caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae (Psa), has caused severe losses in all major areas of kiwifruit cultivation. Using a GFPuv-labeled strain of Psa, we monitored the invasion, colonization, and movement of the pathogen in kiwifruit twigs, leaves and veins. The pathogen can invade twigs through both wounds and natural openings; the highest number of Psa is obtained in cut tissues. We determined that, following spray inoculation, Psa-GFPuv could infect leaves and cause lesions in the presence and absence of wounds. Light and transmission electron microscopic observations showed that bacterial cells colonize both phloem and xylem vessels. Bacterial infection resulted in marked alterations of host tissues including the disintegration of organelles and degeneration of protoplasts and cell walls. Furthermore, low temperature was conducive to colonization and movement of Psa-GFPuv in kiwifruit tissues. Indeed, the pathogen migrated faster at 4°C than at 16°C or 25°C in twigs. However, the optimum temperature for colonization and movement of Psa in leaf veins was 16°C. Our results, revealing a better understanding of the Psa infection process, might contribute to develop more efficacious disease management strategies.

Total glucosides of peony attenuates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Total glucosides of peony (TGP), an active compound extracted from the roots of Paeonia lactiflora Pall, has wide pharmacological effects on nervous system. Here we examined the effects of TGP on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of multiple sclerosis (MS). The results showed that TGP can reduce the severity and progression of EAE in C57 BL/6 mice. In addition, TGP also down-regulated the Th1/Th17 inflammatory response and prevented the reduced expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase of EAE. These findings suggest that TGP could be a potential therapeutic agent for MS.

Minocycline enhances hippocampal memory, neuroplasticity and synapse-associated proteins in aged C57 BL/6 mice.

Previous studies have suggested that minocycline can attenuate cognitive deficits in animal models of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and cerebral ischemia through inhibiting microglia associated anti-inflammatory actions. However the pathway that minocycline targets to enhance cognitive performance is not fully defined. Here we examined the effects of minocycline on learning and memory in aged (22-month-old) C57 BL/6 mice. We treated one group of mice with minocycline (30 mg/kg/day), and another group of mice with donepezil (2 mg/kg/day) as a positive control. The Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests were used to evaluate the effects of minocycline on learning and memory deficits. We also used high-frequency stimulation-induced long-term potentiation and Golgi-Cox staining to assess the effect of minocycline on synaptic plasticity and synaptogenesis. The effects of minocycline on synapse-associated signaling proteins were determined by western blot. We found that minocycline ameliorates cognitive deficits, enhances neuroplasticity, activates brain-derived neurotrophic factor- extracellular signal-regulated kinases signaling and increases expression of Arc, EGR1 and PSD-95 in the CA1 and dentate gyrus regions of the hippocampus in aged mice. The effects of minocycline in aged mice were similar to those of donepezil. Our results suggest that minocycline could improve learning and memory through enhancing synaptic plasticity and synaptogenesis, modulating the expression of synapse-associated signaling proteins, which provide a rationale for exploring the viability of using minocycline treatment in cognitive deficits.

Ginsenoside Rd ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in C57BL/6 mice.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a common disabling autoimmune disease without an effective treatment in young adults. Ginsenoside Rd, extracted from Panax notoginseng, has multiple pharmacological effects and potential therapeutic applications in diseases of the central nervous system. In this study, we explore the efficacy of ginsenoside Rd in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an established model of MS. EAE was induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55-amino-acid peptide. Ginsenoside Rd (10-80 mg/kg/day) or vehicle was intraperitoneally administered on the disease onset day, and the therapy persisted throughout the experiments. The dose of 40 mg/kg/day of ginsenoside Rd was selected as optimal. Ginsenoside Rd effectively ameliorated the clinical severity in EAE mice, reduced the permeability of the blood-brain barrier, regulated the secretion of interferon-gamma and interleukin-4, promoted the Th2 shift in vivo (cerebral cortex) and in vitro (splenocytes culture supernatants), and prevented the reduction in expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and nerve growth factor in both cerebral cortex and lumbar spinal cord of EAE mice. This study establishes the potency of ginsenoside Rd in inhibiting the clinical course of EAE. These findings suggest that ginsenoside Rd could be a promising agent for amelioration of neuroimmune dysfunction diseases such as MS.