Ezrin expression in female reproductive tissues: A review of regulation and pathophysiological implications.

Ezrin, a plasma membrane-microfilament linker, is a cytoskeletal organizer involved in many cellular activities by binding to the membrane protein-ezrin-cytoskeletal protein complex and regulating downstream signal transduction. Increasing evidence demonstrates that ezrin plays an important role in regulating cell polarity, proliferation and invasion. In this study, we analyzed the effects of ezrin on oocytes, follicle development, embryo development and embryo implantation. We reviewed the recent studies on the modalities of ezrin regulation and its involvement in the biological processes of female reproductive physiology and summarized the current research advances in ezrin inhibitors. These studies will provide new strategies and insights for the treatment of diseases.

COVID-19 Myocarditis and Severity Factors： An Adult Cohort Study

BackgroundNotwithstanding the clinical hallmarks of COVID-19 patients were reported, several critical issues still remain mysterious, i.e., prognostic factors for COVID-19 including extrinsic factors as viral load of SARS-CoV-2 and intrinsic factors as individuals health conditions; myocarditis incidence rate and hallmarks. MethodsDemographic, epidemiologic, radiologic and laboratory data were collected by medical record reviews of adult hospitalized patients diagnosed as COVID-19. Cycle threshold (Ct) value data of real-time PCR (RT-PCR) were collected. The time duration was from 21 January to 2 March, 2020. Pulmonary inflammation index (PII) values were used for chest CT findings. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent severity risk factors. RESULTSIn total, 84 hospitalized adult patients diagnosed as COVID-19 were included, including 20 severe and 64 nonsevere cases. The viral load of the severe group was significantly higher than that of the non-severe group, regardless of the Ct values for N or ORF1ab gene of virus (all p<0.05).Typical CT abnormalities was more likely existing in the severe group than in the nonsevere group in patchy shadows or ground glass opacities, consolidation, and interlobular septal thickening (all p<0.05). In addition, the PII values in the severe group was significantly higher than that in the nonsevere group (52.5 [42.5-62.5] vs 20 [5.0-31.6]; p<0.001). Amongst 84 patients, 13 patients (15.48%) were noted with abnormal electrocardiograms (ECGs) and serum myocardial enzyme levels; whereas 4 (4.8%) were clinically diagnosed as SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis. Multivariable logistic regress analysis distinguished three key independent risk factors for the severity of COVID-19, including age [OR 2.350; 95% CI (1.206 to 4.580); p=0.012], Ct value [OR 0.158; 95% CI (0.025 to 0.987); p=0.048] and PII [OR 1.912; 95% CI (1.187 to 3.079); p=0.008]. InterpretationThree key-independent risk factors of COVID-19 were identified, including age, PII, and Ct value. The Ct value is closely correlated with the severity of COVID-19, and may act as a predictor of clinical severity of COVID-19 in the early stage. SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis should be highlighted despite a relatively low incidence rate (4.8%). The oxygen pressure and blood oxygen saturation should not be neglected as closely linked with the altitude of epidemic regions. Research in contextO_ST_ABSEvidence before this studyC_ST_ABSWe searched Pubmed on March 15, 2020 using the terms ("COVID-19" OR "novel coronavirus" OR "2019 novel coronavirus" OR "2019-nCoV" OR "pneumonia" OR "coronavirus"), AND "Myocarditis" OR "Cycle threshold (Ct)" OR "Altitude". We found that one article analyzed the risk factors affecting the prognosis of adult patients with COVID-19 in terms of survivorship, without considering Ct values as extrinsic factors. Moreover, there are no reported studies on viral myocarditis caused by COVID-19 and the relationship between the altitude and COVID-19. Added value of this studyWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data, Ct values, laboratory indicators and imaging findings of 84 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19. Three key-independent risk factors of COVID-19 were identified in our study, including age [OR 2.350; 95% CI (1.206 to 4.580); p=0.012], Ct value [OR 0.158; 95% CI (0.025 to 0.987); p=0.048] and PII [OR 1.912; 95% CI (1.187 to 3.079); p=0.008]. Amongst 84 patients, 13 patients (15.48%) were noted with abnormal electrocardiograms (ECGs) and serum myocardial enzyme levels; whereas 4 (4.8%) were clinically diagnosed as SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis. Moreover, altitude should be considered for COVID-19 severity classification, given that oxygen partial pressure and blood oxygen saturation of regional patients vary with altitudes. Implications of all the available evidenceThree key-independent risk factors of COVID-19 were identified, including age, PII, and Ct value. The Ct value is closely correlated with the severity of COVID-19, and may act as a predictor of clinical severity of COVID-19 in the early stage. SARS-CoV-2 myocarditis should be highlighted despite a relatively low incidence rate (4.8%). The oxygen pressure and blood oxygen saturation should not be neglected as closely linked with the altitude of epidemic regions.

Centrosome amplification and chromosome instability in oral squamous cell carcinomas / 中华口腔医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relationship between centrosome abnormalities and aneuploidy in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and elucidate the possible underlying mechanisms of chromosome instability (CIN) in OSCC.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues of 8 cases of normal oral epithelium and 32 cases of OSCC were examined for centrosome status by using indirect immunofluorescence staining, and chromosome instability (aneuploidy) in some tissues were detected by flow cytometry. The correlation between centrosome abnormalities and aneuploidy in OSCC was statistically analyzed by SPSS12.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Normal oral epithelium showed normal size and number of centrosomes in epithelium cells, while 25 out of 32 cases of OSCC showed the evident centrosome amplification characterized by huge size and/or supernumerary centrosomes in a fraction of tumor cells, and 21 out of 32 cases were aneuploidy. The percentage of cases with abnormal centrosomes in aneuploid OSCC (19/21) was significantly higher than that in diploid OSCC(6/11) (P =0.032). Centrosome abnormality was significantly correlated with aneuploidy (Spearman r = 0.413, P = 0.047), and a positive correlation was found between the degree of centrosome amplification and the degree of DNA ploidy abnormality (Pearson r = 0.364, P = 0.041).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Centrosome abnormality may be a contributing factor for chromosome instability in OSCC.</p>

Cyclin E overexpression and centrosome amplification in squamous cell carcinoma of oral cavity / 中华病理学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the correlation between cyclin E protein overexpression and centrosome amplification in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 12 normal oral epithelium cases and 46 cases of OSCC were studied. Their centrosome status was analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence double staining with antibodies to centrosome protein gamma-tubulin and cytokeratin. The expression of cyclin E protein was studied by immunohistochemical methods. The correlation between cyclin E protein expression and centrosome amplification in OSCC was statistically analyzed by SPSS 12.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Thirty-seven of the 46 OSCC cases (80.4%) studied showed evidence of centrosome amplification, as signified by enlargement and/or increase in number of centrosomes, while normal oral epithelium possessed centromeres of normal size and number. Positive staining for cyclin E protein was observed in 30 of the 46 OSCC cases (65.2%), while all the normal oral epithelium cases were cyclin E protein-negative. The percentage of centrosome amplification in OSCC with positive cyclin E protein staining (90.0%, 27/30) was higher than that in OSCC with negative cyclin E protein staining (62.5%, 10/16) (chi(2) = 5.014, P < 0.05). Centrosome amplification showed positive correlation with cyclin E protein overexpression (r = 0.330, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Up-regulation of cyclin E protein may represent one of the possible mechanisms for centrosome amplification in OSCC.</p>

MRI findings of juvenile acute pure cartilage fracture of the knee joint / 中华放射学杂志

Objective To study the MRI manitestation of juvemle acute pure cartilage fracture of the knee joint.Methods The MRI changes of cartilage,subcartilage low signal line and subcartilage bone were analysed retrospectively in 26 juvenile patients with acute pure cartilage fracture confirmed by arthroscopy.Sagittal and coronal MRI scanning were performed in 26 patients.Using fast low angle shot fat saturation T_1-weighted image(FLASH-FS-T_1WI)sequences,spin echo T_1-weighted image(SE-T_1WI)and fast imaging with steady-state precession three dimensional fat saturation T_2-weighted image(FISP-3D-FS- T_2WI)sequences in sagittal plane,SE-T_1WI and multi echo data image combination T_2-weighted imaging (MEDIC or ME-T_2WI)in coronal plane.Using ME-T_2WI sequence,axial plane MRI scanning in 5 patients.Results Twenty-seven sites of 26 patients include 8 patella,7 femoral medial condyle, 11 femoral lateral condyle and 1 tibial plateau.Three types pure cartilage fracture were observed,totally defect of the cartilage in 7 sites(include 3 patella,2 femoral medial condyle,1 femoral lateral condyle and 1 tibial plateau),fissuring fracture in 3 sites(include 2 femoral medial and 1 femoral lateral condyles), superficial defect of the cartilage in 17 sites(include 5 patella,3 femoral medial and 9 femoral lateral condyle).Corpus liberum was found in 21 patients'knee joints by arthroscopy,but only 3 cases by MRI. Bone bruise was detected,and subcartilage low signal lines were normal.Conclusion Using FLASH-FS- T_1WI,SE-T_1WI,FISP-3D-FS-T_2WI and ME-T_2WI sequences,sagittal and coronal MRI scanning in femoral and tibial plateau pure cartilage fractures,and using ME-T_2WI sequence axial scanning in patella r cartilage fractures may show the position,extension and types of the acute pure cartilage fracture of the knee joint. MRI is the hest non-invasive method for studying cartilage fracture.