Association of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 Genotypes With Prostate Cancer Risk.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Prostate cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies among males, especially in Western populations. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) plays a critical role in extracellular regulation and metastasis. However, its genotypes have seldom been examined among patients with prostate cancer (PCa). Therefore, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the association of genotypes at MMP-2 promoter -1306 (rs243865) and -735 (rs2285053) with PCa risk in a Taiwanese cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The profiles of MMP-2 rs243865 and rs2285053 genotypes were examined among 218 PCa patients and 436 healthy controls by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodologies. RESULTS: The percentages of wild-type CC, and variant CT and TT genotypes on MMP-2 rs243865 were 88.5, 10.6, and 0.9% in the PCa case group and 85.6, 13.5, and 0.9% in the control group, respectively (p for trend=0.5544). The allelic frequency distribution showed that the variant T allele at MMP-2 rs24386 5 was not associated with PCa risk (p=0.3250). As for MMP-2 rs2285053, the results were also non-significant. In addition, there was no association between the genotypes of MMP-2 rs243865 or rs2285053 with age or smoking status on PCa risk. CONCLUSION: rs11568818 and rs11568819 at MMP-2 promoter region played minor roles in determining individual PCa risk.

Anatomical characteristics of nasolacrimal duct development in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To analyze the anatomical characteristics of nasolacrimal duct development in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction by nasolacrimal duct CT scan combined with three-dimensional reconstruction technology.<p>METHODS: Prospective case control study. Totally 84 children(84 eyes)with unilateral congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction were treated in the Department of Ophthalmology of Baoding Children's Hospital from September 2018 to September 2020. The nasolacrimal duct CT scan combined with three-dimensional reconstruction was performed. The transverse diameter and anterior posterior diameter of bilateral nasolacrimal duct were measured, and the anatomical characteristics of nasolacrimal duct development were observed and analyzed. Paired <i>t</i>-test was performed on the transverse diameter and anteroposterior diameter of bilateral nasolacrimal duct.<p>RESULTS: Nasolacrimal duct CT scan combined with three-dimensional reconstruction can clearly show the anatomical characteristics of nasolacrimal duct development in children with congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction. The transverse diameter of bony nasolacrimal duct was 4.63±0.92mm, anterior posterior diameter was 6.03±1.08mm, the transverse diameter of middle bony nasolacrimal duct was 4.02±0.88mm, anterior posterior diameter was 5.42±1.10mm, the transverse diameter of final bony nasolacrimal duct was 4.26±0.93mm, anterior posterior diameter was 5.66±1.02mm. The transverse diameter of the bony nasolacrimal duct in the initial segment of the contralateral side was 4.12±0.78mm, the anteroposterior diameter was 5.60±1.02mm, the transverse diameter of the bony nasolacrimal duct in the middle segment was 3.92±0.86mm, the anteroposterior diameter was 5.24±1.04mm, the transverse diameter of the bony nasolacrimal duct in the final segment was 4.30±0.98mm, the anteroposterior diameter was 5.52±1.04mm. The transverse diameter and anteroposterior diameter of the affected side were larger than those of the healthy side and enlarged(<i>P</i><0.01). There was no significant difference between the affected side and the healthy side(<i>P</i>>0.05).<p>CONCLUSION:The development of bony nasolacrimal duct in the affected side of congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction is different from that in the healthy side. The initial segment of the affected side expanded obviously.

Effectiveness of gamma globulin combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate in severe hand foot mouth disease - Baoding Children's Hospital, China.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the curative effect of gamma globulin combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate on paediatric patients with severe hand-foot-mouth disease and analyse its influence on cardio-pulmonary functions. METHODOLOGY: Eighty paediatric patients with severe hand-foot-mouth diseases (HFMD) treated in Baoding Children's Hospital, Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Respiratory Digestive Disease from January 2015 to January 2017 were selected. This study was designed as a case control study with equally dividing patients into test and control groups through random digital method. Patients in the control group accepted methylprednisolone sodium succinate treatment based on conventional therapy. Those in the test group accepted gamma globulin combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate. The efficacy of the two groups were observed and compared and the improvement of cardiac function index was detected after 3 days of treatment. RESULTS: The time for symptom remission and hospitalisation of children in the test group were significantly shorter than those in the control group (P<0.05). The differences between the two groups had no statistical significance in terms of PaO2, PaCO2, OI, HR, EF% and CO before treatment. After the treatment, patients in the test group had significant improvement compared with the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Curative effect of gamma globulin combined with methylprednisolone sodium succinate on paediatric patients showed significance and this treatment could be effectively improve clinical symptoms and cardio-pulmonary functions of paediatric patients.

Analysis of the effect of fine training combined with virtual reality vision training on amblyopia / 国际眼科杂志(Guoji Yanke Zazhi)

@#AIM: To observe and analyze the therapeutic effect of fine training combined with virtual reality brain vision training in amblyopic children.<p>METHODS: Case control study. 232 cases(416 eyes)of amblyopia were diagnosed in Baoding children's Hospital for the first time. They were randomly divided into two groups. Group A was treated with fine training, while group B was treated with fine training combined with visual training. Duration of treatment was 6mo. The patients were followed up for 6mo. Objective to observe the clinical efficacy of amblyopia in children of different ages and degrees.<p>RESULTS: The total basic cure rate was 35.6%(74/208)in group A and 51.4%(107/208)in group B, which was higher than that in group A(<i>P<</i>0.01). The total effective rate was 80.8%(168/208)in group A, 91.3%(190/208)in group B, which was higher than that in group A(<i>P</i>=0.006). Therapeutic effect of each age group: the basic cure rates of group A were 55.9%(38/68), 34.9%(30/86), 11.1%(6/54)(<i>r</i>s=-0.76, <i>P<</i>0.01), respectively. The basic cure rates of group B were 70.6%(48/68), 54.6%(47/86), 22.2%(12/54)(<i>r</i>s=-0.78, <i>P<</i>0.01), respectively. The basic cure rate of group A and group B decreased with age. The effective rates of group A were 100%(68/68), 81.4%(70/86), 55.6%(30/54)(<i>r</i>s=-0.67, <i>P<</i>0.01), respectively. The effective rates of group B were 100%(68/68), 93.0%(80/86), 77.8%(42/54)(<i>r</i>s=-0.64, <i>P<</i>0.01), respectively. The efficiencies of A and B groups decreased with age. Therapeutic effect of amblyopia degree groups: the basic cure rates of group A were 63.3%(50/79), 25.0%(22/88)and 4.9%(2/41)(<i>r</i>s=-0.93, <i>P<</i>0.01), respectively. The basic cure rates of group B were 81.0%(64/79), 44.3%(39/88)and 9.8%(4/41),respectively(<i>r</i>s=-0.89, <i>P<</i>0.01). The basic cure rate of groups A and B was negatively correlated with the degree of amblyopia. The effective rates of group A were 83.5%(66/79), 79.5%(70/88), 78.0%(32/41)(<i>r</i>s=0.00, <i>P</i>=12.316), respectively. The effective rates of group B were 91.1%(72/79), 89.8%(79/88), 95.1%(39/41)(<i>r</i>s=0.00,<i> P</i>=15.603), respectively. There was no significant correlation between amblyopia severity and efficiency in groups A and B.<p>CONCLUSION: Fine training combined with virtual reality brain vision training is a safe and effective way to treat amblyopia. There is a certain correlation between the clinical efficacy and the age and the degree of amblyopia.

Complete atrioventricular block during thoracic endovascular aortic repair.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and acute aortic syndrome (AAS) are both life-threatening emergencies. We report a case of ACS with thoracic aneurysm. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) was arranged. However, perioperative complete atrioventricular block occurred and soon progressed to ST-elevation myocardial infarction. In the case of chest discomfort with elevated troponin I and thoracic aneurysm, it is of tremendous importance to cope with both ACS and the possible AAS. In the era of hybrid operation room, coronary catheterization and intervention first followed by TEVAR may provide timely and more comprehensive treatment.

Synthesis of oligomeric mannosides and their structure-binding relationship with concanavalin†A.

Small glycodendrimers with α-mannosyl ligands were synthesized by using copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne coupling chemistry and some of these molecules were used as multivalent ligands to study the induction of concanavalin A (Con A) precipitation. The results showed that the monovalent mannose ligand could induce the precipitation of Con A. This unexpected finding initiated a series of studies to characterize the molecular basis of the ligand-lectin interaction. The atypical precipitation is found to be specific to the mannose, fluorescein moiety (FITC), and Con A. Apparently the mannose ligand binds to Con A through hydrogen-bonding interactions, whereas the binding of FITC is mediated by hydrophobic forces.

Using gold nanoclusters as selective luminescent probes for phosphate-containing metabolites.

Glutathione-bound gold nanoclusters (AuNCs@GSH) can emit reddish photoluminescence under illumination of ultraviolet light. The luminescence of the AuNCs@GSH is quenched when chelating with iron ions (AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+)), presumably resulting from the effective electron transfer between the nanoclusters and iron ions. Nevertheless, we found that the luminescence of the gold nanoclusters can be restored in the presence of phosphate-containing molecules, which suggested the possibility of using AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+) complexes as the selective luminescent switches for phosphate-containing metabolites. Phosphate-containing metabolites such as adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) and pyrophosphate play an important role in biological systems. In this study, we demonstrated that the luminescence of the AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+) is switched-on when mixing with ATP and pyrophosphate, which can readily be observed by the naked eye. It results from the high formation constants between phosphates and iron ions. When employing fluorescence spectroscopy as the detection tool, quantitative analysis for phosphate-containing metabolites such as ATP and pyrophosphate can be conducted. The linear range for ATP and pyrophosphate is 50 µM to sub-millimolar, while the limit of detection for ATP and pyrophosphate are ∼43 and ∼28 µM, respectively. Additionally, we demonstrated that the luminescence of the AuNCs@GSH-Fe(3+) can also be turned on in the presence of phosphate-containing metabolites from cell lysates and blood plasma.

Multifunctional Fe3O4/alumina core/shell MNPs as photothermal agents for targeted hyperthermia of nosocomial and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

AIMS: The appearance of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is a serious problem in medical treatment. Thus, it is imperative to explore new therapeutic approaches and antibiotics with which to treat patients suffering from bacterial infections. MATERIALS & METHODS: In this work, we propose a targeted hyperthermia therapeutic approach using alumina-coated iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (Fe(3)O(4)/alumina core/shell MNPs) as photothermal agents to selectively kill bacteria. RESULTS: Fe(3)O(4) MNPs possess photothermal capabilities under near-infrared (NIR) light illumination. The temperature of the MNP suspension (1.33 µg/µl, 60 µl) under illumination with NIR light increased 20°C over 5 min. Functionalization of the surface of the MNPs with an alumina coating allows them to have targeting capability toward bacteria. The prepared Fe(3)O(4)/alumina core/shell MNPs possess several desirable features, including magnetic properties, absorption capability in the NIR region and the ability to target bacteria. The magnetic properties of the Fe(3)O(4)/alumina MNPs allow conjugated target species to aggregate at a specific location under a magnetic field. A NIR laser can then be used to specifically irradiate the aggregated spot to photokill target bacteria. The cell growth of nosocomial bacteria, including Gram-positive, Gram-negative and antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, can be effectively inhibited by over 95% within 10 min of light irradiation when targeted by Fe(3)O(4)/alumina MNPs. CONCLUSION: This approach provides a potential therapeutic approach for treating patients suffering from nosocomial and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.