DNA ploidy analysis and expression of MMP-9, TIMP-2, and E-cadherin in gastric carcinoma

AIM: To investigate DNA ploidy and expression of MMP-9,TIMP-2, and E-cadherin in gastric carcinoma and to explore the mechanism of invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma.METHODS: Immunohistochemical methods were used to detect the expressions of MMP-9, TIMP-2, and E-cadherin in 156 cases, including 99 cases of gastric carcinoma, 16cases of adjacent noncancerous mucosa, 16 cases of distant metastases and 25 cases of metastatic lymph node (LN) from gastric carcinoma. Flow cytometry DNA ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF) analysis were performed on 57 cases, including 47 cases of gastric cancer, 6 cases of adjacent noncancerous mucosa, and 4 cases of distant metastatic cancer.RESULTS: The expression of MMP-9 was significantly correlated with Lauren's classification, Borrmann's classification, LN metastasis, tumor metastasis, and TNM stage, as well as depth of invasion (all P＜0.05). The positive rate was lower in noncarcinoma than in carcinoma (31.3% vs 66.7%, P＜0.01). The expression of TIMP-2was significantly correlated with Borrmann's classification,LN metastasis, and the depth of invasion (all P＜0.05).The expression of E-cadherin was significantly correlated with differentiation, Lauren's classification, Borrmann's classification, and LN metastasis, as well as the depth of invasion (P＜0.01 or ,P＜0.05). E-cadherin was less expressed in carcinoma than in noncarcinoma (42.4% vs 87.5%,P＜0.01). There was a positive correlation between MMP-9and TIMP-2 and a negative correlation between MMP-9and E-cadherin, but no correlation between TIMP-2 and E-cadherin. Also there was a positive correlation between DNA aneuploid rate and differentiation and LN metastasis.SPF that was higher than 15% was positively correlated with tumor size, differentiation and LN metastasis. And there was a significant difference between carcinoma and noncarcinoma in DNA aneuploid rate and SPF.CONCLUSION: With tumor progression and development of heterogeneity, the abnormal expressions of MMP-9,TIMP-2, and E-cadherin or DNA aneuploid rate or high SPF gradually increases, suggesting that they play a crucial role in gastric carcinoma progression.

Ultrasonographic assessment of cardiac function and disease severity in coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND Coronary heart disease(CHD)causes many adverse cardiovascular events and poses a threat to the patient’s health and quality of life.AIM To evaluate ultrasonography for evaluation of cardiac function and lesion degree in patients with CHD.METHODS A total of 106 patients with CHD(study group)and 106 healthy individuals(control group)in our hospital from March 2019 to September 2020 were selected for this study.All subjects were examined by ultrasound,and the mitral orifice’s early-to-late diastolic blood flow velocity ratio(E/A),left ventricular end-diastolic volume(LVDd),and left atrial diameter(LAD)were measured.Values were compared between the study group and healthy group,and the correlation between the ultrasonic parameters of patients with different cardiac function grades and the degree of CHD were assessed.In addition,the ultrasonic parameters of patients with different prognoses were compared after a follow-up for 6 mo.RESULTS E/A(1.46±0.34)of the study group was smaller than that of the control group(1.88±0.44),while LVDd(58.24±5.05 mm)and LAD(43.31±4.38 mm)were larger(48.15±3.93 and 34.94±2.81,respectively;P<0.05).E/A for patients with grade III disease(1.41±0.43)was smaller and their LVDd(60.04±4.21 mm)and LA(44.16±2.79 mm)were larger than those in patients with grade II disease(1.71±0.48,52.18±3.67 mm,and 39.68±2.37,respectively;P<0.05).Patients with grade IV disease had smaller E/A(1.08±0.39)and larger LVDd(66.81±5.39 mm)and LAD(48.81±3.95 mm)than patients with grade II and III disease(P<0.05).In patients with moderate disease,E/A(1.44±0.41)was smaller and LVDd(59.95±4.14 mm)and LAD(45.15±2.97 mm)were larger than in patients with mild disease(1.69±0.50,51.97±3.88 and 38.81±2.56 mm,respectively;P<0.05).In patients with severe disease,E/A(1.13±0.36)was smaller and LVDd(67.70±6.11 mm)and LAD(49.09±4.05 mm)were larger than in patients with moderate disease(P<0.05).E/A was negatively correlated with cardiac function classi-fication and disease severity,while LVDd and LAD were positively correlated with cardiac function classification and disease severity(P<0.05).E/A(1.83±0.51)for patients with good prognosis was higher than that for those with poor prognosis(1.39±0.32),while LVDd(49.60±4.39 mm)and LAD(36.13±3.05 mm)were lower(P<0.05).CONCLUSION The ultrasonic parameters of patients with CHD are abnormal,and differ significantly in patients with different cardiac function grades,lesion degree,and prognosis.

Direct sunlight exposure reduces hair cortisol levels in rhesus monkeys(Macaca mulatta)

DEAR EDITOR,Major depressive disorder (MDD), commonly known as depression, is a mental disease characterized by a core symptom of low mood. It lasts at least two weeks (Badamasi et al., 2019;Wang et al., 2019) and is frequently accompanied by low self-esteem, loss of interest in routinely enjoyable activities, low energy, and unexplained pain (Huey et al., 2018;Park et al., 2012;Post & Warden, 2018;Rice et al., 2019;Xiao et al., 2018). Approximately 2%–8% of adults with MDD commit suicide (Richards & O'Hara, 2014;Strakowski & Nelson, 2015), and around half of suicidal individuals suffer depression or other mood disorders (Bachmann, 2018).