Hepatitis B virus upregulates host expression of α-1,2-mannosidases via the PPARα pathway

AIM To assess the effects of hepatitis B virus(HBV) on the expression of host α-1,2-mannosidases and determine the underlying mechanisms.METHODS We measured the expression levels of MAN1A1, MAN1A2, MAN1B1, and MAN1C1 in cell lines HepG 2.2.15, HepN 10, HepA D38 and Hep G2 by Western blot. Viral antigens(HBs Ag and HBe Ag) in the culture medium were measured using the chemiluminescence method. HBV DNA quantification assays were performed using a commercial real-time PCR kit. Protein levels of human liver tissue α-1,2-mannosidases were also evaluated by Western blot. Plasmids containing seven individual viral genes of HBV(PTT22-HBx, PTT22-HBs, PTT22-pre S2, PTT22-pre S1, PTT22-HBc, PTT22-HBe, and PTT22-HBp) or control plasmids(PTT22-vector) were transfected into Hep G2 cells. MK886(PPARα) and GW9662(PPARγ) inhibitors were used to explore the effects of HBV on α-1,2-mannosidase expression after the PPARα and PPARγ pathways were blocked.RESULTS We showed that the expression of α-1,2-mannosidases was higher in stably transfected HBV cells than in controls. The expression levels of α-1,2-mannosidase were higher in AD38 cells than those in ND10 cells, which were in turn greater than those in G2.2.15 cells, and positively correlated with the expression of HBsA gin all the cell lines. Levels of α-1,2-mannosidase in nontumorous liver tissues of HBV-related HCC patients were also higher than in the tissues from non-HBVrelated HCC patients. Moreover, transfecting Hep G2 cells with a component of the HBV viral envelope also increased the expression of α-1,2-mannosidases. However, this envelope protein component could not induce MAN1C1 expression in the presence of a PPARα inhibitor, MK886. We also found that MK886 did not affect the expression of MAN1C1 in AD38 cells without tetracycline in the culture medium. This phenomenon was not observed in the case of GW9662.CONCLUSION Our results indicate that HBV increases the expression of α-mannosidases both in vitro and in vivo via activation of the PPARα pathway by its envelope protein.

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.

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.

A case of maculopathy from rush poppers

Dear Editor,W e present the first Chinese case of poppers maculopathy. Poppers are a recreational substance of abuse which composes of a series of volatile alkyl nitrite. “Rush” is a kind of poppers, which was born in the United States and has been in existence for more than 30y.

Clinical analysis of 2790 children with retinoblastoma: a single-center experience in China

Background In this study,we aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of children with retinoblastoma(RB)in a single center in China with a large sample collection spanning 17 years.Methods The clinical data of 2790 children with RB treated in Beijing Tongren Hospital from 2005 to 2021 were collected,and a retrospective analysis was conducted.Results The median age of the participants was 28.3 months.There were 3624 affected eyes,12.4%of which were in groups A–C,67.1%in groups D–E and 16.2%were not specified.The primary symptom observed in most cases was a white pupil,accounting for 66.5%,followed by strabismus(12.8%).The median follow-up time was 59.7 months.The enucleation rate was 71.3%(703/986)in a single left eye and 72.5%(702/968)in a single right eye.The overall survival(OS)rate was 95.8%(2444/2552)because 237 patients dropped out,and 109 died.Kaplan‒Meier survival analysis showed that the median survival time(MST)was 125.92 months[95%confidence interval(CI)=124.83–127.01].Cox multivariate survival analysis showed that trilateral RB(P=0.017),metastasis site(P=0.001),and combined distant tissue metastasis(P=0.001)were independent prognostic factors for RB.The OS of 44 cases of familial RB was 93.2%(41/44),with an MST of 80.62 months(95%CI=67.70–93.54).Conclusions The timing of eye protection treatment and enucleation should be comprehensively judged to avoid worsening prognosis due to operation time delay.More importantly,the promotion and popularization of diagnosis and treatment technologies are necessary to further improve RB prognosis.

Surgical Indications of Exploring Optic Canal and Visual Prognostic Factors in Neurosurgical Treatment of Tuberculum Sellae Meningiomas

Background： Tuberculum sellae meningiomas （TSMs） present a special symptom because of the adherence and compression to the optic nerve, optic artery, and the chiasm. A significant number of patients with TSMs appear visual deficits. This study aimed to investigate the surgical indications of exploring the optic canal and visual prognostic factors in the neurosurgical treatment of TSMs. Methods： Totally 21 patients with TSM, who were operated from September 2007 to August 2011 in the Department of Neurosurgery, Tongren Hospital were enrolled in this study. Results of orbital computed tomography （CT） and magnetic resonance imaging （MRI）, visual acuity, Goldmann visual field test, orbital color Doppler flow imaging （CDI） test in these patients were retrospectively analyzed. Results： Visual deficit and optic canal involvement （OCI） were detected in all the 21 patients. Fourteen patients had bone proliferation within the area of the optic canal. After the operation, visual outcomes were improved in 13 patients, unchanged in 7 patients, and deteriorated in 1 patient. All the 21 patients performed orbital CDI test preoperatively, the results showed that if the peak systolic velocity （PSV） of central retinal artery （CRA） value was 〈8 cm/s, the visual outcome would be better. Conclusions： The surgical indications of exploring optic canal in TSM cases included： （1） The neuroimaging evidences of OCI （CT and/ or MR/）; （2） PSV of CRA in orbital CDI test was ≤8 cm/s; （3） visual acuity was below 0.1 ; （4） visual field deficit. The PSV of CRA in CDI test could be a prognostic factor for visual outcomes of TSMs.