[Synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract]

Objective: To describe the clinicopathological features of synchronous mucinous metaplasia and neoplasia of the female genital tract (SMMN-FGT). Methods: The sample consisted of 7 cases of SMMN-FGT recorded from November 2014 to September 2017 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University.PAP method was used in immunohistochemistry.Clinical histories were retrieved and pathological slides were reviewed. Results: The patients were 37 to 70 years old(mean 54 years old). All patients showed endometrial mucinous lesions associated with cervical lesions. Three cases were an admixture of minimal deviation adenocarcinoma(MDA) and gastrictype adenocarcinoma(GAS). Three cases were an admixture of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH), atypical LEGH and focal gastrictype adenocarcinoma in situ, one of which had early invasive gastrictype adenocarcinoma.Endometrium showed a structure of LEGH in one patient with focal simple gastric mucinous metaplasia in her cervix. Gastric mucinous differentiation was found in unilateral fallopian tube in 6 patients. Ovarian mucinous lesions were found in 3 patients. p16 was negative staining in 6 cases and positive in 1 case. CK7 was diffusely positive in all lesions. CK20 and CDX2 were negative or only focally positive.The expression of MUC6 was strongly positive staining or focal staining. p53 in GAS and GAS in situ had mutant expression, but wild expression in MDA region. Patients were followed up for 2 to 34 months and no recurrence was found. Conclusions: SMMN-FGT is a series of rare mucinous lesions involving multiple areas of the female genital tract, including benign or malignant lesions with gastric differentiation. It is not related to infection with high-risk human papilloma virus. When cervical gastrictype lesions are found, SMMN-FGT should be considered and should be differentiated from metastatic mucinous adenocarcinoma.

[Determination of methylenedianiline in urine by high performance liquid chromatography-tandemmass spectrometry]

Objective: To develop a method for determination of metabolites of diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) in urine, i.e. methylenedianiline (MDA) by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC-MS-MS) . Methods: Urine samples were prepared by hydrolyzation with sulfuric acid and extraction by acetonitrile, and then separated on a Shim-pack XR-ODS column, analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) . The external solvent standard calibration were tested. Results: The linearity ranges were 0.05~20.00 μg/L, The related coefficients were 0.999 5. The limit of detection was 0.02 μg/L. The rats of recovery were 91.0%~103.4%. The relative standard deviations were between 2.7%~7.3%. Conclusion: The method was sensitive, accurate and suitable for the MDA determination in urine of MDI exposed population.

[Ovarian clear cell borderline tumour: a clinicopathologic analysis]

Objective: To investigate the clinical and pathological characteristics and prognosis of ovarian clear cell borderline tumor. Methods: A total of 12 cases of ovarian clear cell borderline tumors recorded were collected from May 2011 to December 2017 at Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Fudan University.Clinical histories were retrieved and pathological slides were reviewed. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 35 to 65 years with a mean age of 52 years. Seven cases were associated with cystic endometriosis of the ovary. All tumors consisted of irregular and crowded glands or cysts embedded in a fibromatous stroma. The cysts and glands were lined by mild to moderate atypical cells.CK7 and HNF-1β were expressed in all cases, and Naspin A was expressed in 11 cases. ARID1A expression was absent in 5 cases and p53 showed wild-type expression. None of the cases developed recurrence during follow-up ranging from 7 to 79 months. Conclusions: Ovarian clear cell borderline tumor may be associated with endometriosis and tumor suppressor gene ARIDA. The tumor has a good prognosis without recurrence and progression to carcinoma.

Successful conservative treatment of cervical pregnancy with uterine artery embolization followed by curettage: a report of 19 cases

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of uterine artery embolization (UAE) followed by curettage for conservative management of cervical pregnancy.

DESIGN

Retrospective review.

SETTING

Peking University First Hospital.

SAMPLE

Patients with cervical pregnancy diagnosed by trans-vaginal ultrasound at Peking University First Hospital between January 2003 and December 2014.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical background and outcomes of patients with cervical pregnancy who underwent UAE followed by curettage for prevention of massive vaginal bleeding and removal of gestational tissue from the cervix. We also reviewed the literature on the role of UAE in the treatment of cervical pregnancy.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical assessments included gestational age, gravidity, endocervical canal mass, serum beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (β-HCG) level, blood loss, hospitalisation stay and expenses, time of resumption of menstruation and subsequent pregnancy outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 19 patients with cervical pregnancy treated with UAE followed by curettage were identified. Curettage was performed 24-72 hours after UAE in 16 patients, within 24 hours after UAE in three patients. None of the patients underwent a hysterectomy as a result of cervical pregnancy. Of the nine patients with available follow-up information (median follow-up time 59 months), eight resumed normal menstruation and one had a term pregnancy with a normal vaginal delivery. Quick regression of serum β-HCG level, low blood loss and short hospital stay were observed.

CONCLUSION

UAE combined with curettage is a safe, effective and fertility-sparing choice for treatment of patients with cervical pregnancy.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

A serial of 19 patients with cervical pregnancy treated with UAE followed by curettage showed a good prognosis.

The naphthalene catabolic protein NahG plays a key role in hexavalent chromium reduction in Pseudomonas brassicacearum LZ-4

Soil contamination by PAH and heavy metals is a growing problem. Here, we showed that a new isolate, Pseudomonas brassicacearum strain LZ-4, can simultaneously degrade 98% of 6 mM naphthalene and reduce 92.4% of 500 μM hexavalent chromium [Cr (VI)] within 68 h. A draft genome sequence of strain LZ-4 (6,219,082 bp) revealed all the genes in the naphthalene catabolic pathway and some known Cr (VI) reductases. Interestingly, genes encoding naphthalene pathway components were upregulated in the presence of Cr (VI), and Cr (VI) reduction was elevated in the presence of naphthalene. We cloned and expressed these naphthalene catabolic genes and tested for Cr (VI) reduction, and found that NahG reduced 79% of 100 μM Cr (VI) in 5 minutes. Additionally, an nahG deletion mutant lost 52% of its Cr (VI) reduction ability compared to that of the wild-type strain. As nahG encodes a salicylate hydroxylase with flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) as a cofactor for electron transfer, Cr (VI) could obtain electrons from NADH through NahG-associated FAD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a protein involved in a PAH-degradation pathway that can reduce heavy metals, which provides new insights into heavy metal-PAH contamination remediation.

High-power Yb:GGG thin-disk laser oscillator: first demonstration and power-scaling prospects

We present the first demonstration of a thin-disk laser based on the gain material Yb:GGG. This material has many desirable properties for the thin-disk geometry: a high thermal conductivity, which is nearly independent of the doping concentration, a low quantum defect, low-temperature growth, and a broadband absorption spectrum, making it a promising contender to the well-established Yb:YAG for high-power applications. In continuous wave laser operation, we demonstrate output powers above 50 W, which is an order of magnitude higher than previously achieved with this material in the bulk geometry. We compare this performance with an Yb:YAG disk under identical pumping conditions and find comparable output characteristics (with typical optical-to-optical slope efficiencies >66%). Additionally, with the help of finite-element-method simulations, we show the advantageous heat-removal capabilities of Yb:GGG compared to Yb:YAG, resulting in >50% lower thermal lensing for thin Yb:GGG disks compared to Yb:YAG disks. The equivalent optical performance of the two crystals in combination with the easy growth and the significant thermal benefits of Yb:GGG show the large potential of future high-power thin-disk amplifiers and lasers based on this material, both for industrial and scientific applications.

The shifts of sediment microbial community phylogenetic and functional structures during chromium (VI) reduction

The Lanzhou reach of the Yellow River, located at the upstream of Lanzhou, has been contaminated by heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons over a long-time. We hypothesized that indigenous microbial communities would remediate those contaminants and some unique populations could play an important role in this process. In this study, we investigated the sediment microbial community structure and function from the Lanzhou reach. Sediment samples were collected from two nearby sites (site A and site B) in the Lanzhou reach along the Yellow River. Sediment geochemical property data showed that site A sediment samples contained significantly (p < 0.05) higher heavy metals than site B, such as chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). Both site A and B samples were incubated with or without hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) for 30 days in the laboratory, and Cr (VI) reduction was only observed in site A sediment samples. After incubation, MiSeq sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed that the phylogenetic composition and structure of microbial communities changed in both samples, and especially Proteobacteria, as the most abundant phylum increased from 45.1 % to 68.2 % in site A, and 50.1 % to 71.3 % in site B, respectively. Some unique OTUs and populations affiliated with Geobacter, Clostridium, Desulfosporosinus and Desulfosporosinus might be involved in Cr (VI) reduction in site A. Furthermore, GeoChip 4.0 (a comprehensive functional gene array) data showed that genes involved in carbon and nitrogen cycling and metal resistance significantly (p < 0.05) increased in site A sediment samples. All the results indicated that indigenous sediment microbial communities might be able to remediate contaminants like Cr (VI), and this information provides possible strategies for future bioremediation of the Lanzhou reach.

Serum Cyr61 as a potential biomarker for diagnosis of colorectal cancer

PURPOSE

To determine the sensitivity and specificity of serum Cyr61 as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) and to assess the association between serum Cyr61 level and CRC clinicopathological status.

METHODS

We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure serum Cyr61 in patients with CRC, patients with colorectal adenomas, and healthy controls. We also analyzed the relationship between serum Cyr61 and clinicopathological features of CRC patients. The levels of serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) were quantified using the Roche Cobas 6000 Analyzer. The sensitivity and specificity of Cyr61, CEA, CA19-9 and CEA + CA19-9 were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

The serum level of Cyr61 was significantly increased in CRC patients compared with colorectal adenoma patients and healthy controls (p < 0.001). Furthermore, the area under the ROC curve for Cyr61 was 0.935 (95 % confidence interval 0.902-0.968), higher than that for CEA + CA19-9 (0.827, 95 % confidence interval: 0.783-0.871). Use of a Cyr61 cutoff value of 92.0 pg/mL allowed distinguishing CRC patients and healthy controls with a sensitivity of 83 % and a specificity of 97 %. Among CRC patients, an elevated level of serum Cyr61 was significantly associated with more advanced TNM stage (p < 0.0042), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.0088), and vascular invasion (p = 0.0027).

CONCLUSION

Cyr61 has potential as a serum biomarker for the diagnosis of CRC and for assessment of the clinicopathological status of CRC.