Clinical Significance of co-expression of RNA Binding Protein PTBP1 and p-AXL in Osteosarcoma / 中山大学学报(医学科学版)

ObjectiveTo explore the co-expression of PTBP1 and p-AXL in osteosarcoma and its clinicopathological significance for prognosis evaluation. MethodsThe expression of PTBP1 and AXL and their prognostic value in osteosarcoma were analyzed by GEO and Target data. Paraffin biopsy specimens and clinical information from 76 cases of osteosarcoma and 37 cases of non-malignant bone tissue （callus， osteofibrous dysplasia and osteoid ostema） were obtained from the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from March 2016 to October 2020. The expressions of PTBP1 and p-AXL proteins in osteosarcoma were detected by immunohistochemistry. ResultsGEO database showed that the expression levels of PTBP and AXL in osteosarcoma tumor group were higher than those in normal tissues， but did not reach statistical significance. Target database showed that the high expression of PTBP1 had shorter Overall survival（OS） and Progression-free survival（PFS） than low PTBP1 expression， but did not reach statistical significance （P=0.064； P=0.134）. Immunohistochemical staining included 76 cases of osteosarcoma and 37 cases of non-malignant bone tissue. The expression rate of PTBP1 and p-AXL protein in osteosarcoma tissues was higher than that in non-malignant bone tissue. The expression of p-AXL is correlated with lung metastasis （P=0.025）. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that lung metastasis， recurrence， PTBP1 expression， co-expression of PTBP1/p-AXL influence the prognosis of patients in OS. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that lung metastasis （P<0.000 1） and positive expression of PTBP1 （P=0.041） were independent risk factors for osteosarcoma patients in OS. Co-expression of PTBP1 and p-AXL had shorter OS （P=0.017） and PFS （P=0.043） than non-coexpression osteosarcoma patients. ConclusionsPTBP1 and p-AXL were highly expressed in osteosarcoma tissues. The co-expression of PTBP1 and p-AXL was associated with poor prognosis of patients， and PTBP1 could be used as an independent prognostic indicator of patients with osteosarcoma.

Cryptococcal antigen testing of lung tissue homogenate improves pulmonary cryptococcosis diagnosis: Two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) is an opportunistic infectious disease of the respiratory system. Lung tissue biopsies, culture of respiratory samples (e.g., sputum, lung tissue, pleural fluid, and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid), and cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) testing are helpful for a definitive diagnosis. However, these tests are sometimes falsely negative. PC is often misdiagnosed or underdiagnosed owing to the absence of obvert symptoms, poor imaging specificity, and false-negative laboratory tests. CASE SUMMARY: We report two female patients who underwent computed tomography-guided percutaneous needle pulmonary biopsy of a lung nodule for a confirmed diagnosis. In both patients, the CrAg test on the lung biopsy tissue homogenate was positive, while the serum CrAg test was negative. Combined with the lung tissue pathology, we made the diagnosis of PC. Antifungal therapy was effective in both patients. CONCLUSION: Given the findings of our cases and the literature review, lung tissue homogenate CrAg testing can be helpful in improving the diagnosis of PC.

Value of eosinophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis: A case report.

BACKGROUND: An immediate hypersensitive immune response to Aspergillus fumigatus antigens is one of the main characteristic features of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). As ABPA is an allergic respiratory disease, immunoglobulin E and peripheral-blood eosinophilia have been used as diagnostic indicators. However, eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) has not been considered in the diagnostic criteria for ABPA. CASE SUMMARY: We present a case of ABPA in which the eosinophil count in peripheral blood was not increased, whereas the eosinophil percentage in BALF reached 60%. After antifungal and hormone therapy, imaging revealed very good resolution of lung infiltration. CONCLUSION: The value of the eosinophil count in BALF for the diagnosis of ABPA is worthy of the clinician's attention, especially when the patient's clinical features lack specificity and the diagnostic parameters are negative.

Correlative study of bufogenin constituents in venom of Bufo bufo gargarizans / 中国中药杂志

As known,simultaneous determination of various chemical indicators is one of the future trends in quality control of traditional Chinese medicines because of the extremely complex chemical compositions. This project is to screen the quality markers that can accurately control the quality of the Bufonis Venenum by exploring the intrinsic correlation of components. In this study,venom of Bufo bufo gargarizans from 17 different sources were used as research samples,and the contents of 7 bufogenin were determined by HPLC-DAD. Then,the data obtained were analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis and principal component analysis( PCA). In addition,a stepwise regression analysis was used to establish a predictive model for the contents of the seven bufogenin components( independent variable) and the total contents of the bufogenin( dependent variable). The results indicated that there is a significant positive correlation between the contents of telocinobufagin and cinobufotalin,and there is a significant positive correlation between the contents of bufalin,cinobufagin and resibufogenin. In contrast,the contents of telocinobufagin and cinobufotalin are negatively correlated with the contents of bufalin,cinobufagin and resibufogenin. However,the correlation between gamabufotalin and bufotalin and other components are not obvious. Furthermore,further study found that there is a correlation between the sum of the contents of bufalin,cinobufagin and telocinobufagin and the total contents of the bufogenin. In fact,the application of bufalin,cinobufagin and telocinobufagin as the quality control indicators of the Bufonis Venenum can better reflect the quality characteristics of the Bufonis Venenum compared with the previous quality control indicators. The conclusions will provide a reference for the revision of the quality standards of the Bufonis Venenum.

Clinical Efficacy by Kidney Tonifying and Essence Strengthening Method in Regulating Pulse Wave Velocity to Delay Physiological Vascular Aging / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of kidney tonifying and essence strengthening method in delaying physiological vascular aging. Method: Sixty-two subjects who completed the study were randomly divided into experimental group (31 cases) and control group (31 cases) with the matching research method. The experimental group was treated with kidney tonifying and essence strengthening recipe orally for 24 weeks, while the control group was not interfered with traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Score of TCM syndrome in kidney deficiency syndrome, pulse wave velocity, intima-media thickness, plasma homocysteine level and serum superoxide dismutase level were evaluated before and after treatment. Result: Compared with before treatment period, the score of TCM syndrome in kidney deficiency syndrome, pulse wave velocity and plasma homocystenine level decreased, while the serum superoxide dismutase level increased in the experimental group after treatment (PPPPPConclusion: The kidney tonifying and essence strengthening method may delay the aging of physiological blood vessels caused by aging.

[Comparative study of shaping ability between rotary ProTaper and Flexofile].

OBJECTIVE: To compare the shaping ability of rotary ProTaper and Flexofile in simulated resin root canals. METHODS: Forty simulated resin root canals were randomly assigned to two groups, one group for rotary ProTaper with crown-down technique and the other for Flexofile with balanced force technique. Change of working length and incidence of canal aberration and instruments failure were recorded. After preparation, the change of root canal curvature and the amount of resin removed at the inner and outer canal walls were measured with Image Pro Plus 5.0. The centring ability and total amount of resin removed were also assessed. RESULTS: In the model of simulated resin canals, ProTaper instruments maintained working length better. Canals prepared with ProTaper instruments remained better curvature and showed fewer aberration compared with those prepared with Flexofile (P < 0.01). ProTaper instruments performed a better centring ability. CONCLUSION: ProTaper instruments have a better shaping ability in simulated resin root canals.