Prognostic significance of S100A4 and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in pancreatic cancer

AIM: To investigate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and calcium-binding protein S100A4 in pancreatic cancer and their relationship to the clinicopathological parameters and prognosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Expression status of VEGF and S100A4 was examined in 62 surgical specimens of primary pancreatic cancer by immunohistochemistry. Correlation between the expression of VEGF and S100A4 and clinicopathological parameters was analyzed. RESULTS: Thirty-eight of 62 (61.3%) specimens of primary pancreatic cancer were positive for S100A4. Thirty-seven (59.7%) specimens showed positive expression of VEGF. The positive correlation between S100A4 and VEGF expression was significant in cancer tissues (P < 0.001). S100A4 expression was significantly correlated with tumor size, TNM stage and poorer prognosis. VEGF expression had a significant correlation with poorer prognosis. The prognosis of 17 S100A4-and VEGF-negative cancer patients was significantly better than that of other patients (P < 0.05). Distant metastasis (P = 0.001), S100A4-(P = 0.008) and VEGF-positive expression (P = 0.016) were significantly independent prognostic predictors (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Over-expression of S100A4 and VEGF plays an important role in the development of pancreatic cancer. Combined examination of the two molecules might be useful in evaluating the outcome of patients with pancreatic cancer.

MUC5AC EXPRESSION UP-REGULATION GOBLET CELL HYPERPLASIA IN THE AIRWAY OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Objective To determine the number of goblet cells, the change of MUC5AC expression in chronic obstructive pul- monary disease (COPD) patients and the relationship of smoking with goblet cell, MUC5AC, and lung function. Methods Eighteen patients undergoing lung resections for a solitary peripheral carcinoma were classified by lung function as having COPD. Twenty patients with normal lung function served as the control group. Normal lobe bronchioles far away from the lesion site were taken for paraffin section. Goblet cells were identified by AB/PAS staining and the ex- pression of MUC5AC in the paraffin’s section was tested by immunohistochemistry. Results Goblet cell hyperplasia was observed in the COPD group. The positive rate of goblet cell in COPD group (0.20% ± 0.10%) was significantly higher than that in the normal lung function group (0.13% ± 0.06%, P < 0.05). The posi- tive rate of MUC5AC expression in the COPD group (0.27% ± 0.09%) was higher than that in the normal lung function group (0.20% ± 0.10%, P < 0.05). The positive rate of goblet cell in smokers (27.93% ± 9.00%) of the COPD group and normal lung function group was higher than that in non-smokers (17.70% ± 9.37%, P < 0.05), while MUC5AC expression had no significant difference between smokers and non-smokers (17.88% ± 6.44% and 10.88% ± 7.10%, respectively). Conclusion For COPD patients with declined lung function, there were goblet cell hyperplasia and increased expres- sion of MUC5AC. MUC5AC expression up-regulation may due to goblet cell hyperplasia. Smoking may be an important factor for goblet cell hyperplasia.

Effectiveness of six-step complex decongestive therapy for treating upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Complex decongestive therapy(CDT)is currently recommended as the standard treatment for lymphedema.CDT is a four-step detumescence therapy that can effectively treat upper limb lymphedema after breast cancer surgery,and is considered non-invasive,painless and without side effects.AIM To determine the effectiveness of a six-step CDT involving a foam granule bandage for the treatment of upper extremity lymphedema pressure after breast cancer surgical intervention.METHODS The study included 100 patients with upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer surgery.The surgical methods were mastectomy plus axillary lymph node dissection and breast preservation plus sentinel lymph node biopsy.The study population was further divided into the experimental group and control group with 50 cases in each group.The control group was given conventional CDT(four-step method),which included skin care,freehand lymphatic drainage,foam granule pressurized bandage,and functional exercise.In the experimental group,a six-step CDT method was applied that involved a foam particle bandage combined with air wave pressure therapy in addition to the four steps of conventional CDT.Patients in both groups were given one course of treatment daily(20 times),and the changes in body moisture and subjective symptoms were measured before and after treatment,preoperatively and 20 times after treatment.RESULTS No statistically significant differences in 50-Hz bioelectrical impedance and extracellular moisture ratio were observed between the two groups before treatment,suggesting comparability of the baseline data.After treatment,the 50-Hz bioelectrical impedance of the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group,and the extracellular moisture ratio was significantly lower than that in the control group.A comparison of the differences between the two groups before and after treatment indicated that the treatment effect in the experimental group was better than that in the control group.After 20 treatments,according to subjective evaluations,the tightness and swelling of the limbs in the experimental group were significantly reduced as compared with those in the control group.CONCLUSION The six-step CDT method can effectively reduce lymphedema,promote lymphatic circulation,and alleviate the subjective symptoms of patients,and thereby improve the quality of life and treatment compliance among patients.

Gastrointestinal toxicity induced by microcystins

Microcystins(MCs) are produced by certain bloomforming cyanobacteria that can induce toxicity in various organs, including renal toxicity, reproductive toxicity, cardiotoxicity, and immunosuppressive effects. It has been a significant global environmental issue due to its harm to the aquatic environment and human health. Numerous investigators have demonstrated that MC exposure can induce a widespread epidemic of enterogastritis with symptoms similar to food poisoning in areas close to lakes. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have provided evidence of positive associations between MC exposure and gastrointestinal toxicity. The toxicity of MCs on the gastrointestinal tract is multidimensional. MCs can affect gastrointestinal barrier function and shift the structure of gut microbiota in different gut regions. Furthermore, MCs can inhibit the secretion of gastrointestinal digestive enzymes and the release of inflammatory cytokines, which affects the expression of immune-related genes in the intestine. The damage of the intestine is closely correlated to MC exposure because the intestine is the main site for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. The damage to the gastrointestinal tract due to MCs was summarized from different aspects, which can be used as a foundation for further exploration of molecular damage mechanisms.

Effect of Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate (DMPA) on Bone Mineral Density in Women of Reproductive Age

Objective To compare bone mineral density （BMD） between users of intramuscular depot medroxyprogesterone acetate（DMPA ） and nonhormonal control subjects. Methods The study included 68 women aged between 25 and 40 years using depot medroxyprogesterone acetate for 24 months and 59 women aged between 25 and 40 years using nonhormonal contraception as control subjects. BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck were obtained using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results At 24 months of treatment, as compared with baseline, the mean BMD in lumbar spine and femoral neck was decreased by 5.5% and 5.9%, respectively. Lumbar spine and femoral neck BMD in women who used DMPA were significantly decreased compared with the subjects in nonuser （P〈0.001）. Conclusion These results show BMD declined during using DMPA in women aged 25 -40 years old.

Progress and perspective of vanadium-based cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

With the rapid development of various portable electronic devices,lithium ion battery electrode materials with high energy and power density,long cycle life and low cost were pursued.Vanadium-based oxides/sulfides were considered as the ideal next-generation electrode materials due to their high capacity,abundant reserves and low cost.However,the inherent low conductivity and ion diffusion coefficient limit their practical applications in lithium ion batteries.In recent years,vanadium-based electrode materials have been designed into various nanostructures through a variety of nanofabrication processes to overcome the electrochemical performance bottleneck caused by the above disadvantages due to the new properties of nanomaterials that cannot be achieved at the solid level.However,how to obtain high-performance vanadium-based electrode nanomaterials with controllable morphology and structure through low-cost and environmentally friendly processes is still a huge challenge.In this paper,the basic structure,modified morphologies and synthesis methods of vanadium-based electrode materials for lithium ion batteries were reviewed.In addition,the disadvantages,new challenges and future development direction of vanadium electrode materials were also discussed.

A green and convenient approach toward benzimidazole derivatives and their antimicrobial activity

N-Alkylated benzimidazole derivatives have been synthesized via the aza-Michael addition reactions of1H-benzimidazoles to a,b-unsaturated compounds in water and palladium acetate obviously promoted these transformations. The reported method, overcoming the inactivation of palladium under the equivalent nitrogenous conditions, has the advantages of convenient manipulation, atom-economy, as well as environmental friendliness. The bioactive results showed that butyl 3-（5,6-dimethyl-1Hbenzo[d]imidazol-1-yl）propanoate（3c） exhibited excellent inhibitory activity against Bacillus subtilis（MIC = 16 mg/m L） and Bacillus proteus（MIC = 8 mg/m L）. Therefore, this process would facilitate the construction of various potential bioactive compounds based on the benzimidazole scaffold under mild conditions.