Expression of galectin-3 correlates with apoptosis in pituitary adenoma cells

Objective To investigate the expressions of Galectin-3 （Gal-3）, Bcl-2 and Bax in human pituitary adenomas, and to explore the interrelation among them. Methods RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry were applied to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Gal-3, Bcl-2 and Bax in surgically excised human pituitary adenoma tissues, including invasive and non-invasive pituitary adenomas, and the correlation analysis was performed. Results The Gal-3 and Bcl-2 expressions in the invasive pituitary group were significantly higher than those in the non-invasive group, and the expression of Bax had no significant difference between the two groups. Pearson＇s correlation analyses showed that the Gal-3 expression was posi- tively correlated with Bcl-2, but was not correlated with Bax, which was inversely correlated with expression of Bcl-2. Conclusion Gal-3 may function through a cell death inhibition pathway involving Bcl-2 to enhance cell proliferation, which result in the invasive growth of pituitary adenoma. These results indicate that Gal-3 has an important role in pituitary tumor cell proliferation and may serves as a possible therapeutic target in treatment of pituitary tumors.

Analysis on the medication and methods of ancient traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention of plague

Background:To analyze the medication and methods of ancient traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention of plague and seasonal pathogen in order to reduce the spread of infectious diseases such as flu and protect the susceptible people.Methods:Search the medication and the methods for preventing plague and seasonal pathogen in the Chinese Medical Code,classify and summarize the methods,perform frequency analysis and efficacy cluster analysis on Chinese medicines of involved medicines.Results:The methods of preventing ancient plague were as follows:burning and fumigating Chinese medicines,medicating nostrils,wearing bags filled with Chinese medicines,oral Chinese medicines and applying medicines to skin.The 3 main ways for drugs to work were external medication,nostril inhalation,and internal absorption.The Chinese medicines for preventing plague are mostly warm in nature and pungent in flavour,belonging to the spleen,stomach,liver,lung meridian.The 3 categories of drugs obtained by cluster analysis are C1:drugs for facilitating lung,relieving exterior and dissipating cold,such as Cangzhu(Atractylodis rhizoma)-Qianghuo(Notopterygh rhizoma et radix)-Xixin(Asari radix et rhizoma)-Baizhi(Angelicae dahuricae radix)-Fangfeng(Saposhnikoviae radix)-Zaojiao(Gleditsiae sinensis fructus);C2:drugs for promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis,such as Xionghuang(Realgar)-Zhusha(Cinnabaris)-Dahuang(Rhei radix rhizoma)-Chuanxiong(Chuanxiong rhizoma)-Jiegeng(Platycodonis radix);C3:drugs for replenishing Qi(it is the most basic element that constitutes human body and maintains life activities in traditional Chinese medicine)and tonifying the spleen,such as Gancao(Glycyrrhizae radix et rhizoma)-Dazao(Jujubae fructus)-Ganjiang(Zingiberis rhizoma)-Rougui(Cinnamomi cortex)-Gansong(Nardostachyos radix et rhizoma)-Chenpi(Citri reticulatae pericarpium)-Baizhu(Atractylodis macrocephalae rhizoma).Conclusion:Through analysis the medication and methods of ancient traditional Chinese medicine for the prevention of plague,we can provide reference for modern research from the original plague prevention methods,and make an important contribution to the use of traditional Chinese medicine in the prevention and treatment of epidemic infectious diseases in modern clinic.

A COVID-19 case report from asymptomatic contact:implication for contact isolation and incubation management

Background:As of 2 March,2020,at least 80151 coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)cases were reported in China.Most of the patients had a history of visiting Hubei Province or contacting with people who had ever stayed in or passed by Hubei Province or were exposed to symptoms.Some patients got infected through only asymptomatic contact.This study aimed to report the epidemic features and lab identification of a patient confirmed with COVID-19 infection through only asymptomatic contact.Case presentation:A 44-year-old man,who lived in Nanchang,Jiangxi Province,China until 6 March 2020,suffered from cough on 27 January 2020.Fever symptoms appeared on 28 January,with a maximum temperature of 38.8℃,accompanied by cough,sore throat,headache,fatigue,muscle ache,joint ache,and other symptoms.The symptoms continued until he was hospitalized on 30 January.Coronavirus conventional polymerase chain reaction assay was positive for the throat swab sample.The patient,along with his wife and son,drove from Nanchang to back to Honghu City,Hubei Province,on 23 January 2020.After staying with his parents and brother’s family for 3 days,the patient drove back to Nanchang and arrived on 25 January.On the way back home,they stopped by Tongshan service area,Hubei Province,without any close contact with other people.After arriving home in Nanchang City,Jiangxi Province,none of them left their residence.In addition,his parents stayed at home for 20 days with his younger brother’s family before they got back.His younger brother and one of his brother’s children visited Wuhan on 5 January and came home on 6 January 2020.Conclusions:This report suggested that,in the early phase of COVID-19 pneumonia,routine screening could miss patients who were virus carriers.Highlighting travel history is of paramount importance for the early detection and isolation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 cases.