Effect of evidence-based nursing combined with exercise rehabilitation in patients with acute myocardial infarction after percutaneous coronary intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of evidence-based nursing combined with exercise rehabilitation on cardiac function indices, self-care ability and incidence of adverse reactions in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). METHODS: In this retrospective study, the medical records of 200 AMI patients undergoing PCI in Ganzhou People's Hospital from June 2020 to September 2021 were retrospectively analyzed, and the patients were divided into a control group (n=100) and a study group (n=100) according to the nursing methods after PCI. The cardiac function index, 6-minute walking distance (6MWD), behavioral self-management, physiological index, angina questionnaire and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: After intervention, the study group exhibited significantly higher left ventricular ejection fraction and lower pro-B-type natriuretic peptide index than the control group (P<0.05). At 1, 3 and 6 months postoperative, the study group exhibited significantly longer 6MWD than the control group (P<0.05). At 3 and 6 months postoperative, the total Coronary Artery Disease Self-Management Scale scores except for emotional management were significantly higher in the study group than those in the control group (P<0.05). At 3- and 6-month postoperative visits, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein in the study group were significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.05). The study group showed higher scores of Seattle Angina Questionnaire and lower incidence of complications than the control group (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Evidence-based nursing combined with exercise rehabilitation can ameliorate cardiac function and physiological indices, increase treatment compliance and satisfaction, reduce the incidence of postoperative complications, and improve the quality of life in patients with AMI after PCI.

Long-acting PEGylated growth hormone in children with idiopathic short stature.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of weekly PEGylated-recombinant human growth hormone (PEG-rhGH) in children with idiopathic short stature (ISS) in China. Design and methods: This was a multicenter, phase II study in which all subjects were randomized 1:1:1 to weekly s.c. injections of PEG-rhGH 0.1 (low-dose (LD) group) or 0.2 mg/kg/week (high-dose (HD) group) or control for 52 weeks. The primary end point was change (Δ) in height s.d. score (HT-SDS) from baseline to week 52. Secondary end points were height velocity (HV), bone maturity, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) SDS, and IGF-1/insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) molar ratio. Results: A total of 360 children with ISS were recruited in the study (n = 120 in each group). At week 52, ΔHT-SDS was 0.56 ± 0.26, 0.98 ± 0.35, and 0.20 ± 0.26 in the LD, HD, and control groups, respectively (within-group P < 0.0001; intergroup P < 0.0001). Statistically significant values of ΔHV, IGF-1, IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, and IGF-1 SDS at week 52 from baseline were observed in both treatment groups (P < 0.0001). There were clear dose-dependent responses for all auxological variables. PEG-rhGH was well tolerated throughout the treatment period with treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) reported in 86.5%, 84.6%, and 91.3% of children in the HD, LD, and control groups, respectively. The incidence of TEAEs was similar in all treatment groups despite the difference in doses. A total of 27 (8.7%) children experienced drug-related TEAEs. Conclusion: Fifty-two-week treatment with PEG-rhGH 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg/week achieved significant improvement in HT-SDS and other growth-related variables, including HV, IGF-1 SDS, and IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, in a dose-dependent manner. Both doses were well tolerated with similar safety profiles.

High Glucose-Induced Human Kidney Cell Apoptosis and Inflammatory Injury Are Alleviated by Circ_0008529 Knockdown via Circ_0008529-Mediated miR-485-5p/WNT2B Signaling.

Human kidney cell injury is a representative characteristic of diabetic nephropathy (DN), and its development has been shown to be associated with the dysregulation of some circular RNAs (circRNAs). We thus explored the role of circ_0008529 in DN-conditioned human kidney cell injury. Human kidney cells (HK-2) were treated with high glucose (HG) to construct DN models in vitro. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay and western blot assay were used for expression detection of circ_0008529, miR-485-5p, and Wnt family member 2B (WNT2B). Cell viability was ascertained by CCK-8 assay. Cell apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry assay and the expression levels of apoptosis-related markers. The release of inflammatory factors was examined by ELISA. The putative binding relationship between miR-485-5p and circ_0008529 or WNT2B was further verified by dual-luciferase reporter experiment, RIP assay, and pull-down assay. Circ_0008529 was highly expressed in serum of DN patients and HG-treated HK-2 cells. HG largely impaired cell viability and promoted cell apoptosis and inflammation production, while circ_0008529 knockdown attenuated the effects of HG. Circ_0008529 targeted miR-485-5p, and miR-485-5p inhibition recovered HK-2 cell injury that was blocked by circ_0008529 knockdown. In addition, miR-485-5p bound to WNT2B whose expression was positively modulated by circ_0008529. WNT2B overexpression recovered the inhibition of HK-2 cell injury caused by miR-485-5p upregulation. Circ_0008529 targeted the miR-485-5p/WNT2B pathway to regulate HG-induced HK-2 cell apoptosis and inflammatory injury, suggesting that circ_0008529 was a vital regulator in DN development.

Acute kidney injury in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome: influencing factors and coping strategies.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent and serious complication in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS). We aimed to evaluate the influencing factors of AKI in patients with PNS, to provide implications for the clinical management and nursing care of patients with PNS. METHODS: PNS patients who were treated in the Department of Nephrology in our hospital from January 1, 2020 to July 31, 2021 were included. The clinical characteristics and pathological type of PNS patients were evaluated. Pearson correlation and Logistic regression analysis were performed to analyze the related risk factors of AKI in patients with PNS. RESULTS: A total of 328 patients with PNS were included, the incidence of AKI in PNS patients was 28.05%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that diabetes(r = 0.688), pulmonary infection (r = 0.614), albumin (r = 0.779), serum creatinine (r = 0.617), uric acid (r = 0.522), blood urea nitrogen (r = 0.616), renal tubular casts (r = 0.707) were correlated with AKI in PNS patients (all P < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that diabetes (OR2.908, 95%CI1.844 ~ 4.231), pulmonary infection(OR3.755, 95%CI2.831 ~ 4.987), albumin ≤ 24 g/L (OR1.923, 95%CI1.214 ~ 2.355), serum creatinine ≥ 90 µmol/L (OR2.517, 95%CI2.074 ~ 3.182), blood urea nitrogen ≥ 6.5 mmol/L (OR1.686, 95%CI1.208 ~ 2.123), uric acid ≥ 390 µmol/L (OR2.755, 95%CI2.131 ~ 3.371), renal tubular casts(OR1.796, 95%CI1.216 ~ 2.208) were the independently influencing factors of AKI in PNS patients (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AKI is common in PNS patients. Actively controlling diabetes and pulmonary infection, strengthening nutrition support and renal function monitoring are essential to reduce the occurrence of AKI in PNS patients.

[Analysis of clinical features and pathogenic variants in a Chinese pedigree affected with congenital glycosylation disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features and genetic basis for a Chinese pedigree diagnosed with congenital glycosylation disease (CGD). METHODS: Clinical manifestations of two brothers were analyzed. Whole exome sequencing was carried out for the sib pair. Suspected variants were verified by Sanger sequencing. RESULTS: Both the proband and her younger brother were found to carry compound heterozygous variants of the PMM2 gene, which included a known pathogenic mutation of c.395T>C (p.I132T) and a previously unreported c.448-1(delAG) in the 5' end of exon 6 of the gene. CONCLUSION: The compound heterozygous variants of the PMM2 gene probably underlay the CGD in the sib pair.

Comparative Study of the Nutritional Value and Degradation Characteristics of Amaranth Hay in the Rumen of Goats at Different Growth Stages.

The objective of this study was to investigate the rumen degradation characteristics of grain amaranth hay (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) at four different growth stages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of grain amaranth hay at different growth stages by chemical composition, in vivo digestibility, and in situ degradability. Three Boer goats with permanent ruminal fistulas were selected in this study. Amaranthus hay at four different growth stages (squaring stage (SS), initial bloom stage (IS), full-bloom stage (FS) and mature stage (MS)) was crushed and placed into nylon bags. Each sample was set up with three replicates, and two parallel samples were set up in fistulas at each time point. The rumen degradation rates of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were determined at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h. The results were as follows: (1) The concentration of CP in SS was the highest and was significantly higher than that in other stages (p < 0.05), whereas the contents of NDF and ADF gradually increased with the extension of the growing period and reached a maximum in MS; (2)The degradation of CP in the rumen at 72 h of SS and IS was more than 80%. Compared with other stages, the effective degradability of CP was highest in SS (p < 0.05) and reached 87.05% at 72 h, and the degradation rate was the lowest in MS; and (3) The effective degradability of NDF in IS was the highest (p < 0.05) and reached 69.326% at 72 h. The effective degradability of ADF in MS was the highest (p < 0.05) and reached 65.728% at 72 h. The effective degradability of DM and CP in SS was the highest. In conclusion, among the four stages, IS was superior in chemical composition and rumen degradability characteristics.

[Retracted] miR­152 inhibits rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting ADAM10.

Following the publication of this paper, the authors alerted the Editorial Office to the fact that a reader had informed them that miR­152 overexpression did not affect cell apoptosis and cell cycle. The authors subsequently confirmed that they were unable to obtain consistent results from these experiments.Furthermore, an independent investigation of this paper revealed that the cell apoptotic data shown in Fig. 2D were strikingly similar to those that had appeared in an article published previously with different authors, although one of the institutions was held in common. The authors have requested that the above article be retracted from the publication, and the Editor agrees with this course of action. The Editor apologizes to the readership for any inconvenience caused. [the original article was published in International Journal of Molecular Medicine 42: 643­650, 2018; DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3636].

Voice disorders in severe obstructive sleep apnea patients and comparison of two acoustic analysis software programs: MDVP and Praat.

OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to explore the effect of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on the voice by analyzing the acoustic parameters between patients with OSAHS and those without OSAHS and to compare acoustic analyses performed by two software programs (MDVP and Praat). METHODS: Patients with OSAHS (n = 75) and normal controls (n = 46) were asked to produce a sustained sound of the vowel /i/ and were analyzed with electroglottography (EGG), MDVP, and Praat software. A self-rated scale (Voice Handicap Index, VHI-10) and acoustic parameters were compared. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences in the fundamental frequency (F0), jitter, shimmer, noise/harmonic ratio (NHR), contact quotient perturbation (CQP), or contact index perturbation (CIP) between the patient group and the normal group. The VHI-10 values were significantly increased in patients with OSAHS. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis suggested that the shimmer obtained from MDVP and Praat possessed relatively high accuracy in differentiating patients with OSAHS from healthy individuals. The results for F0, jitter, shimmer, and NHR were significantly different between MDVP and Praat in OSAHS patients. In normal persons, there was a significant difference in NHR; however, no significant differences were found for F0, jitter, or shimmer between the two software programs. The results demonstrated that high correlations were found between values obtained by both software programs. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSAHS were prone to vibration irregularity, incomplete glottal closure, hoarseness, and other vocal problems. The two acoustic software programs present different values of acoustic measures. There was a strong correlation and consistency between the parameters calculated by the two software programs.

An epidemiological survey of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease at the otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery clinics in China.

PURPOSE: Using the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), this nationwide study aimed to investigate the incidence, diagnostic status, risk factors, and common symptoms of adult laryngopharyngeal reflux disease (LPRD) at otorhinolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) clinics in China. METHODS: This multicenter cross-sectional survey began at the different institutions ranged from July to October 2017, and the duration was 12 months. A total of 90,440 eligible patients were finally enrolled from 72 medical institutions in China. All these patients completed the questionnaire based on RSI. In this study, LPRD was defined as RSI > 13. RESULTS: There were 9182 with LPRD among the 90,440 eligible participants (10.15%). However, only 1294 had a history of LPRD diagnosis among those with LPRD (14.09%). There were regional differences in the frequency of LPRD (P < 0.001). The proportions of patients with LPRD in males (vs. females), middle- and old-aged patients (vs. young), with current smoking history (vs. no smoking), and current drinking history (vs. no drinking) were significantly higher (all P < 0.001). Middle and old age, current smoking, and drinking history were independent predictors of LPRD (all P < 0.001, OR 1.240, 1.261, and 1.481, respectively). "Sensations of something stuck in throat or a lump in throat", "clearing throat", and "excess throat mucus or postnasal drip" were the most frequent clinical symptoms in patients with LPRD. CONCLUSIONS: LPRD has a high incidence at the OHNS clinics in China. However, the diagnostic status of this disease is not optimistic. Older age, smoking, and drinking history were risk factors for LPRD.

miR­152 inhibits rheumatoid arthritis synovial fibroblast proliferation and induces apoptosis by targeting ADAM10.

miR­152 has been reported to be downregulated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the functional significance and molecular mechanisms underlying the role of miR­152 in RA remain largely unknown. The present study aimed to explore the functional role and the underlying mechanisms of miR­152 in RA. The expression of miR­152 in serum, synovial tissues, and fibroblast­like synoviocytes (FLS) from patients with RA and healthy controls was detected by reverse transcription­quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT­qPCR). Cell proliferation, cell cycle phase distribution and apoptosis of FLS were measured by Cell Counting Kit­8 and flow cytometry assays. The effects of miR­152 on the production of pro­inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF)­α, interleukin (IL)­1ß, IL­6 and IL­8, were examined by ELISA. The target gene of miR­152 was discovered by miRNA­target prediction bioinformatics analysis, and confirmed by dual­luciferase reporter assay, RT­qPCR and western blotting. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to assess the relationship between miR­152 expression and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain­containing protein 10 (ADAM10). The results demonstrated that miR­152 expression levels were significantly decreased in RA serum, synovial tissues and RA­FLS compared with healthy controls. Overexpression of miR­152 significantly inhibited cell proliferation, promoted cell apoptosis, and decreased TNF­α, IL­1ß, IL­6 and IL­8 production in RA­FLS cells. Additionally, ADAM10 was demonstrated to be a target of miR­152, and expression of the two genes was significantly negatively correlated. Of note, restoration of ADAM10 expression partially reversed the effects of miR­152 on cell proliferation and apoptosis in RA­FLS. Thus, miR­152 may serve as a potential target for therapeutic intervention in RA.

FBLN4 as candidate gene associated with long-term and short-term survival with primary glioblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common malignant and lethal type of primary central nervous system tumor in humans. In spite of its high lethality, a small percentage of patients have a relatively good prognosis, with median survival times of 36 months or longer. The identification of clinical subsets of GBM associated with distinct molecular genetic profiles has made it possible to design therapies tailored to treat individual patients. METHODS: We compared microarray data sets from long-term survivors (LTSs) and short-term survivors (STSs) to screen for prognostic biomarkers in GBM patients using the WebArrayDB platform. We focused on FBLN4, IGFBP-2, and CHI3L1, all members of a group of 10 of the most promising, differentially regulated gene candidates. Using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded GBM samples, we corroborated the relationship between these genes and patient outcomes using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for MGMT methylation status and quantitative reverse transcription PCR for expression of these genes. RESULTS: Expression levels of the mRNAs of these 3 genes were higher in the GBM samples than in normal brain samples and these 3 genes were significantly upregulated in STSs compared to the levels in LTS samples (P<0.01). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the expression patterns of FBLN4 and IGFBP-2 serve as independent prognostic indicators for overall survival (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report describing FBLN4 as a prognostic factor for GBM patient survival, demonstrating that increased GBM survival time correlates with decreased FBLN4 expression. Understanding FBLN4 expression patterns could aid in the creation of powerful tools to predict clinical prognoses of GBM patients.

Regulation of Memory T Cells by Interleukin-23.

Interleukin-23 (IL-23), a member of the IL-12 family of cytokines, is a heterodimeric cytokine. It is composed of subunits p40 (shared with IL-12) and p19 (an IL-12 p35-related subunit) and is secreted by several types of immune cells, such as natural killer cells and dendritic cells. The IL-23 receptor is composed of the subunit IL-12Rß1 and the IL-23-specific subunit IL-23R. The binding of IL-23 to its specific cell surface receptor regulates a number of functions, including proliferation and differentiation of cells and secretion of cell factors. Memory T cells are a subset of T cells that secrete numerous important cell factors, and they function in the immune response to infection and diseases like cancer, autoimmune disease and bronchial asthma. IL-23R is expressed on the surface of memory T cells, which suggests that it can specifically regulate memory T cell function. IL-23 has been widely used as a clinical indicator in immune-related diseases and shows potential for use in disease treatment. Here we review the current progress in the study of the role of IL-23 in the regulation of memory T cells.

[Feature of semicircular canal function in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) on semicircular canal function. METHODS: By means of a series prospective study at Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery of our hospital, the study was performed on 77 patients suffering from OSAHS in a period from 2012 to 2014, who underwent polysomnography (PSG) and caloric test. The maximal slow-phase velocity (SPV) and unilateral weakness (UW) were used to measure the vestibular function. Severity of OSAHS was evaluated by the lowest oxygen saturation (LSaO2) and apnea hypopnea index (AHI). The SPV after cool was signed, warm test was performed for each ear, and the sum of left ear SPV were calculated, and then, the SPV of right ear was counted as the same way. Finally, the relationships between LSaO2, AHI, age, BMI, and SPV of caloric test were analyzed. RESULTS: Caloric vestibular tests in the 77 OSAHS patients demonstrated abnormal findings in 52 patients (67.5%) and normal vestibular functions in the remaining 25 patients (32.5%). Of the 52 patients with an abnormal test result, 16 (20.8%) patients had unilateral vestibular hyporeflexia and 36 (46.7%) patients revealed a bilateral vestibular hyporeflexia. There was no linear relationship between AHI, age, BMI with SPV of caloric test (P > 0.05). The SPV had significant difference between Lower LSaO2group (LSaO2< 50%) and higher LSaO2group (LSaO2≥ 80%) (P < 0.05). LSaO2was lower in patients undertaken bilateral vestibular hyporeflexia. CONCLUSIONS: OSAHS patients with long-term intermittent hypoxia can disturb the vestibular organs and reduce semicircular canal function. The heavier hypoxemia will lead to the lower reflex of semicircular canal, with the heavier degree of hypoxemia, and the bilateral horizontal semicircular canal involvement may also be higher at the same time. Due to the effect of vestibule centre compensatory, OSAHS patients lack of dizziness and symptoms from balance disturbances such as typically acute vestibular damage.

[Study on the psychologic status and personality traits of patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the personality and character of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients. METHODS: Subjects, recruited from May 2013 to February 2014, were assigned to the severe OSAHS group (56 cases), mild-moderate OSAHS group (59 cases), and control group (42 cases) on the basis of apnea hyponea index (AHI). Subjects were assigned to the severe hypoxemia group (24 cases), mild-moderate hypoxemia group (91 cases) on the basis of PaO2. The psychological aspects of subjects were assessed by using the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI). RESULTS: Compared between OSAHS group and the control group, differences of 6 clinical scales depression (D), hysteria (Hy), masculinity (Mf), paranoia (Pa), anxiety (A), ego strength (Es) were significant (t value was 2.609, 2.133, -2.294, 2.520, 2.041, 2.675 respectively, all P < 0.05). The scores of OSAHS group were higher than the control group on five clinical scales, depression (D), hysteria (Hy), paranoia (Pa), anxiety (A), ego strength (ES). The scores of OSAHS group were lower than the control group on clinical scale masculinity (Mf). Compared between severe OSAHS group and mild-moderate OSAHS group, differences of 6 clinical scales depression (D), paranoia (Pa), psychasthenia (Pt) anxiety (A), manifest anxiety scale (MAS), dependency (Dy) were significant (t value was 2.460, 2.086, 2.181, 2.121, 2.954, 1.982, respectively). The scores of severe OSAHS group were all higher than the mild-moderate OSAHS group on these six clinical scales. Compared between severe hypoxemia group and the contrast group, differences of 4 clinical scales depression (D), masculinity (Mf), paranoia (Pa), ego strength (Es) were significant (t value was respectively 2.992, -2.221, 2.164, 2.165, all P < 0.05). The scores of severe hypoxemia group were higher than the control group on 3 clinical scales, depression (D), paranoia (Pa), ego strength (ES), and lower than the control group on clinical scale masculinity (Mf). Compared between severe hypoxemia group and mild-moderate hypoxemia group, psychasthenia (Pt) were significant (t value was 1.984). The scores of severe hypoxemia group were higher. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with health people, OSAHS patients have special personality and character. The degree of OSAHS can infect the personality and character of OSAHS patients.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition regulated by EphA2 contributes to vasculogenic mimicry formation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Vasculogenic mimicry (VM) was related to invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. This study was designed to investigate the role of EphA2 in VM formation of HNSCC. METHODS: The SiRNA technique was used to knock down the expression of EphA2 in vitro. The ability of cell migration and invasion were measured by transwell and wound healing assays; three-dimensional culture was used to detect the ability of channel-like structure formation; Western blot was used to detect the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition- (EMT-) related molecules in vitro. Further semiquantitative real-time RT-PCR assays and immunohistochemistry were used to demonstrate expression of EphA2 and EMT-related molecules according to VM presence or not in human tissue. RESULTS: Knocking down EphA2 in vitro leads to disabled channel-like structure formation, reduction of invasion and migration ability, and reverse of EMT-related markers. Both semiquantitative real-time RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry showed that expressions of EphA2, Twist, and Vimentin were higher in the VM-positive group than in the VM-negative group significantly, while expressions of E-cadherin, claudin4, and DSG-3 were reverse. CONCLUSIONS: EphA2 played a key role in VM formation of HNSCC through regulation of EMT.

A magnetic record of heavy metal pollution in the Yangtze River subaqueous delta.

The rapid industrial development in the Yangtze River watershed over the last several decades has drawn great attention with respect to heavy metal pollution to the Yangtze River estuary and nearby coastal areas. In this study, a 236 cm long sediment core was retrieved from the Yangtze River subaqueous delta (122°36' E, 31°00' N) in 2008 and analyzed for magnetic properties and geochemical compositions to investigate heavy metal pollution history. The activity of (137)Cs peaked at depth 140 cm, with a broad plateau between 120 cm and 140 cm, suggesting an average sedimentation rate of 3.11 cm yr(-1) for the upper 140 cm layer. Magnetic susceptibility (χ), saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), anhysteretic remanent magnetization (χARM) and heavy metal enrichment factors (EF) all showed an upward increase trend above depth 140 cm, suggesting that increased ferrimagnetic mineral concentration was accompanied by heavy metal enrichment in the sediment. Geochemical and granolumetric analyses showed that sediment sources and particle sizes played minor roles in the variations of magnetic properties. The effect of diagenesis, which can lead to the selective removal of magnetic minerals, was noticeable in the lower part of the core (140-236 cm). Co-variation between magnetic properties (χ, SIRM and χARM) and EF of Cu and Pb suggests that the elevated ferrimagnetic mineral concentration can be used as an indicator of heavy metal pollution in the reconstruction of environmental changes in estuarine and coastal settings.

Vasculogenic mimicry is a key prognostic factor for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: a new pattern of blood supply.

BACKGROUND: Recurrence and local lymph node metastasis affected the prognosis of patients with laryngeal cancer. The aim of this study was to analyze clinical and pathological significance of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and evaluate its contribution to prognosis. METHODS: Data of 168 cases of LSCC were reviewed retrospectively to reveal clinical pathology and prognostic significance of VM. CD31 and periodic acid-Schiff double staining was used to identify VM. RESULTS: VM in LSCC contributed to lymph node metastasis (P = 0.003) and clinical progression. VM correlated to histopathology grade (P = 0.001) of LSCC. VM was an adverse prognostic factor for both disease-specific survival (P = 0.039) and metastasis-free survival (P = 0.042) by univariate survival analyses. And it was an independent prognostic factor for only disease-specific survival (P = 0.003) by multivariate survival analyses. CONCLUSIONS: VM existed in LSCC. LSCC with VM has more potential to invasion and metastasis.

[Role of vasculogenic mimicry and endothelium-dependent vessel in metastasis of laryngeal cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of vasculogenic mimicry (VM) and endothelium-dependent vessel (EDV) to invasion and metastasis of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC). METHODS: A total of 203 cases with LSCC was reviewed and followed up. VM and EDV in LSCC tissues were assessed by double staining with anti-CD31 immunohistochemistry and periodic acid-schiff. Kruskal-Wallis test and one-way ANOVA were used to analyze the relationship between VM, EDV and clinical pathology parameters of LSCC. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to evaluate overall survival (OS) of patients with LSCC. RESULTS: VM related to pTNM stage, lymph node metastasis and pathology grade of LSCC, while EDV related to primary sites, pTNM stage, T stage and distant metastasis of LSCC. Univariate analysis showed VM (P = 0.014), pTNM stage (P = 0.009), T stage (P = 0.013), nodal status (P = 0.013), histopathology grade (P = 0.038), tumor size (P = 0.028), and radiotherapy (P < 0.0001) related to OS. VM (P = 0.011), primary sites (P = 0.049), tumor size (P = 0.001) and radiotherapy (P < 0.0001) related to disease free survival. Multivariate analysis indicated that VM was an adverse predictor for both OS and disease free survival. CONCLUSIONS: Both VM and EDV existed in LSCC. VM contributed to progression of LSCC through promoting lymph node metastasis. VM is an independent predictor for the prognosis of LSCC.