Effect of Occupational Extremely Low-Frequency Electromagnetic Field Exposure on the Thyroid Gland of Workers: A Prospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the biological effects of occupational extremely low-frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) exposure on the thyroid gland. METHODS: We conducted a prospective analysis of 85 workers (exposure group) exposed to an ELF-EMF (100 µT, 10-100 Hz) produced by the electromagnetic aircraft launch system and followed up on thyroid function indices, immunological indices, and color Doppler images for 3 years. Additionally, 116 healthy volunteers were randomly selected as controls (control group), the thyroid function of whom was compared to the exposure group. RESULTS: No significant difference was observed in thyroid function between the exposure and control groups. During the follow-up of the exposure group, the serum free triiodothyronine (FT3) level was found to slowly decrease and free thyroxine (FT4) level slowly increase with increasing exposure time. However, no significant difference was found in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) over the three years, and no significant difference was observed in the FT3, FT4 and TSH levels between different exposure subgroups. Furthermore, no significant changes were observed in thyroid autoantibody levels and ultrasound images between subgroups or over time. CONCLUSION: Long-term exposure to ELF-EMF may promote thyroid secretion of T4 and inhibit deiodination of T4 to T3. ELF-EMF has no significant effect on thyroid immune function and morphology.

(18)F-FDG PET/CT in Patients with Nodular Pulmonary Amyloidosis: Case Report and Literature Review.

A 62-year-old woman was found to have multiple bilateral pulmonary nodules showing different (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) uptakes on positron-emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). Only the largest nodule in the left lower lobe showed an increased (18)F-FDG uptake on PET/CT. Three nodules were surgically resected from different lobes of the left lung. Two lobes were benign and showed amyloid deposition. The largest nodule in the left lower lobe showed adenocarcinoma and a heavy amyloid deposition. Pulmonary amyloidosis should be added to the differential diagnosis for cases with multiple pulmonary nodules that show different (18)F-FDG uptakes on PET/CT. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second reported case of a lung nodule consisting of adenocarcinoma and amyloid deposition.

Expression of thymidylate synthase predicts clinical outcomes of pemetrexed-containing chemotherapy for non-small-cell lung cancer: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: Observational and preclinical studies suggested an association between the expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) and clinical effects of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the predictive value of TS for pemetrexed-containing chemotherapy regimen remained controversial. The aim of the study was to further appraise the association between the expression of TS and clinical efficacy pemetrexed-based chemotherapy in NSCLC patients. METHODS: We searched in MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, and Cochrane Library from January 1945 to May 2013. Two authors independently extracted information from the characteristics of study participants. Primary outcomes included therapeutic response (TR; i.e., complete response + partial response vs. stable disease + progressive disease), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). Relative risk (RR) and hazard ratio (HR) were used for evaluating the risk or hazard. RESULTS: Eight studies were included in the meta-analysis. Better response usually appeared in NSCLC patients with a lower expression of TS [RR = 2.06 95 % confidence intervals (CI) 1.44, 2.96]. There was a significant association between TS expression and outcomes of pemetrexed-based chemotherapy for NSCLC (PFS: HR = 0.63 95 % CI 0.52, 0.76; OS: HR = 0.74, 95 % CI: 0.63, 0.88). In addition, no evidence of publication bias was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis evaluated the predictive value of TS and provided evidence that NSCLC patients with lower TS expression could significantly benefit from pemetrexed-based chemotherapy. This increased level of TS was probably an independent risk factor of potential resistance against pemetrexed.

PTD4-apoptin protein and dacarbazine show a synergistic antitumor effect on B16-F1 melanoma in vitro and in vivo.

PTD4-apoptin protein enters cells and harbors tumor-selective cell death activity. Dacarbazine is the mainstay of treatment for malignant melanoma. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic effect of PTD4-apoptin protein and/or dacarbazine in mouse B16-F1 and human A875 and SK-MEL-5 melanoma cells in vitro and by means of a mouse B16-F1 melanoma model in vivo. PTD4-apoptin protein inhibits the growth of B16-F1, A875 and SK-MEL-5 melanoma cells in a dose-dependent manner, but not in normal human cell lines WI-38 and L-02. PTD4-apoptin combined with dacarbazine revealed a synergistic cytotoxic effect (coefficient of drug interaction<1) in all three different tumor cell lines. In vivo, PTD4-apoptin protein and dacarbazine alone effectively inhibited the growth of B16-F1 melanoma in C57BL/6 mice. Strikingly, combined PTD4-apoptin/dacarbazine treatment significantly increased the antitumor effect in comparison to the single treatments. As important, a combined PTD4-apoptin/dacarbazine treatment with a 50% reduction of dacarbazine revealed similar antitumor activities, without detectable hematologic side effects. A combined PTD4-apoptin/dacarbazine treatment represents a promising novel efficient and safe anticancer strategy.

[Correlation of aquaporin 1 with hypoxia-inducible factor 1 in breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To determinate the correlation of aquaporin 1 (AQP1) and hypoxia-inducible 1 (HIF-1). METHODS: 155 samples of breast cancer obtained during radical mastectomy underwent immunohistochemistry to detect the expression of AQP1 and HIF-1. RESULTS: The positive rates of AQP1 in the HIF1 positive group was 297 +/- 25, significantly higher than that of HIF1 negative group (168 +/- 38, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: AQP1 is positively correlated with HIF1. The interaction of AQP1 and HIF1 may co-regulate the progress of breast cancer.

[Diagnosis and prognosis of ovarian epithelial tumor with morphometry].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Morphometry for diagnosis and prognosis of tumor becomes important. This study was designed to evaluate the efficiency of morphometry for diagnosis and prognosis of the patients with ovarian epithelial tumor. METHODS: A total of 110 patients with ovarian epithelial tumor were studied by three morphometrical methods (image analysis, determination of DNA content, and quantitative analysis of AgNOR). Nuclear area (NA), nuclear perimeter (NP), nuclear form factor (NFF), DNA content (DC), DNA index (DI), percentage of DNA multiploid (P > 4c), and percentage of G0/G1 phases (P2c) were determined by morphometrical instrument. AgNOR was counted under light microscope. RESULTS: (1) The results in these three groups of benign, borderline, and malignant ovarian epithelial tumors: the differences of all parameters (NA, NP, NFF, DC, DI, AgNOR counts) among these groups have a extremely significant statistical difference (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001). (2) A study on prognosis: NA, NP, and NFF between two groups of patients (survival > or = 5 years and < 5 years) with ovarian epithelial carcinoma have a significant difference(P < 0.05 and P < 0.01), this means different results of image analysis indicate different survival. AgNOR counts have a close correlation with month of the survivors (r = -0.73, P < 0.001). The P > 4c had a relation to month of survivors (r = -0.75, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Morphometry can provide reliable parameters for diagnosis and prognosis of the patients with different kinds of ovarian epithelial tumors.