Comparison of the efficacy of different treatment modalities for Kimura's disease

The objective of this study was to investigate the clinical features of Kimura's disease in the head and neck region and to compare the local recurrence rate between three therapies used for the treatment of this disease. The clinicopathological information of 46 hospitalized patients suffering from Kimura's disease in the head and neck region over a 10-year period was reviewed retrospectively. All lesions were clinically observed in the head and neck region. These 46 patients underwent a total of 58 treatments; nine patients underwent multiple treatments due to local recurrence. Of the 58 treatments, 32 involved surgical excision alone, 24 involved surgical excision and postoperative low-dose radiotherapy (20-40Gy), one was a combination of ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy and radiotherapy, and one was a combination of incisional biopsy and subsequent radiotherapy. During the follow-up period, nine patients suffered 16 local recurrences. The recurrence rate of surgical excision combined with low-dose radiotherapy was much lower than that of surgical excision alone or radiotherapy alone (both P<0.05). It is concluded that Kimura's disease is a benign condition with a good prognosis, and surgical excision combined with postoperative low-dose radiotherapy is associated with the lowest local recurrence rate in the treatment of this disease.

Spontaneous Lung Lesions in Aging Laboratory Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Spontaneous age-related lesions of laboratory rabbits are not well documented in the contemporary scientific literature. A retrospective study of diagnostic necropsies of 36 rabbits >2 years of age found a number of common lung lesions. Fibromuscular intimal hyperplasia affected medium and to a lesser extent large pulmonary arteries and was present to a variable extent in all 36 rabbits >2 years of age. The lesions were characterized by fragmentation and/or reduplication of the internal elastic lamina (IEL), proliferation of smoothelin+/alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)+/vimentin− smooth muscle cells and fewer smoothelin−/α-SMA+/vimentin+ myofibroblasts, and intimal deposition of collagen without thrombosis, embolism, or evidence of pulmonary hypertension. Pulmonary emphysema, present in 30/36 rabbits, was characterized by the loss of alveolar septa; most affected rabbits did not have clinical signs of respiratory disease. In 8/13 rabbits of the inbred EIII/JC audiogenic strain, we identified a unique syndrome of granulomatous pneumonia containing hyaline brown to gray, globular to ring-like acellular material that was Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff positive. The material was immunoreactive for surfactant protein-A and had the ultrastructural appearance of multilamellar vesicles, suggesting a genetic defect in surfactant metabolism. Additionally, we found small benign primary lung tumors (fibropapillomas, 5 rabbits) not previously described. Other findings included heterotopic bone (5 rabbits), subacute to chronic suppurative bronchopneumonia, pyogranulomatous pneumonia with plant material, and pulmonary artifacts from barbiturate euthanasia solution.

Use of three-dimensional color power doppler in imaging of liver cancer

We aimed to assess the role of three-dimensional color power Doppler (3D-CPD) imaging in diagnosis of liver cancer. First of all, we performed 2D- and 3D-CPD imaging on 96 cases of liver tumors with a total of 106 lesions to examine the characteristics of the vascular distribution patterns of the tumors, and in turn, compare the sensitivity and specificity. Also, with the use of three-dimensional volumetric measurement, we calculated the volume of tumors, quantity of intra-tumor blood vessels, and the ratio of the quantity of intra-tumor blood vessels to tumor volumes (vascular index, VI). Finally, we statistically analyzed the vascular index between benign and malignant tumors. We found that the sensitivity/specificity were 21.3%/100% for 2D-CPD, and 81.3%/100% for 3D-CPD, based on the use of type-III of blood vessels for diagnosis of the malignant lesions. In 3D-CPD, the type-III of blood vessels along with VI of > 0.3/cm3 can be used as the criteria for the diagnosis of liver cancer since we found that average VI was 0.38/cm3 in 75 malignant tumors, but 0.18/cm3 in 31 benign tumors (p less than0.05). The sensitivity and specificity in determining malignancy in the liver based on VI > 0.3/cm3 were 78.7% and 87.1%, respectively.

Cardiac Specific Overexpression of hHole Attenuates Isoproterenol-Induced Hypertrophic Remodeling through Inhibition of Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs) Signalling

The human Hole gene (hHole) encodes a six-transmembrane protein with 319- amino acids. Our previous study showed that hHole was strongly expressed in adult heart and may act as a suppressor of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), overactivation of which contributed to pathological cardiac hypertrophy. In this study, it was observed that Hole expression was up-regulated in murine hypertrophic hearts. In a cardiac specific transgenic mouse model, it was observed that overexpression of hHole specifically in heart attenuated cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis induced by isoproterenol (ISO), with blunted transcriptions of ERK1/2, total ERK1/2 proteins and phosphorylated ERK1/2 (p-ERK1/2) levels. Furthermore, overexpression of hHole in mice by hydrodynamic tail-vein injection with hHole plamids also inhibited cardiac hypertrophy induced by ISO. Our work identified hHole as a novel repressor of cardiac hypertrophy, and provided new insights into the possible target for the prevention or treatment of cardiac diseases.

Enhancing immune responses of EV71 VP1 DNA vaccine by co-inoculating plasmid IL-12 or GM-CSF expressing vector in mice

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) is a major causative viral agent for large outbreaks of hand, foot, and mouth disease in children and infants, yet there is no vaccine or effective antiviral treatment for severe EV71 infection. The immunogenicity of EV71 VP1 DNA vaccine and the immunoregulatory activity of interleukin-12 (IL-12) or granulocyte-monocyte colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) were investigated. DNA vaccine plasmids, pcDNA-VP1, pcDNA-IL-12 and pcDNA-GM-CSF were constructed and inoculated into BALB/c mice with or without pcDNA-IL-12 or pcDNA-GM-CSF by intramuscular injection. Cellular and humoral immune responses were assessed by indirect ELISA, lymphocyte proliferation assays, cytokine release assay and FACS. The VP1 DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and can induce specific humoral and cellular immunity in BALB/c mice, while IL-2 or GM-CSF plays an immunoadjuvant role and enhances specific immune responses. This study provides a frame of reference for the design of DNA vaccines against EV71.

Cardiomyocyte-specific TβR2 knockout mice are more susceptible to cardiac hypertrophy induced by adrenergic agonist stimulation

TGF-β signaling is shown to be involved in cardiac remodeling, but the detailed function and underlying mechanism are still incompletely understood. In this study, we generated cardiomyocyte-specific TGF-β type 2 receptor (TβR2) knockout mice to study the function of TGF-β signaling in cardiac hypertrophy. Although the mutant mice displayed no obvious physiological abnormality, they developed severer cardiac hypertrophy in response to isoproterenol (ISO) stimulation than control mice did. The expression of p-Smad2 was markedly reduced, while the concentration of p-ERK was increased in the hearts of mutant mice. In addition, we also found that cardiomyocyte-specific Smad2 knockout mice did not demonstrate cardiac phenotype as observed on TβR2 knockout mice, while inhibition of MEK-1-mediated activation of MAPK using PD98059 partially rescued the phenotype of TβR2-deleted cardiomyocytes, indicating that activation of TGF- noncanonical signaling might contribute to cardiac phenotype observed in TβR2 knockout mice. Thus, our data provided the first in vivo genetic evidence to show that TβR2 may function as an anti-hypertrophic factor of cardiac hypertrophy subjected to adrenergic stimulation, suggesting the complex role of TβR2 in cardiac hypertrophy under stimulation of different stresses.

Partial sialoadenectomy for the treatment of benign tumours in the submandibular gland

The conventional treatment for benign tumours arising in the submandibular gland (SMG) has always involved whole gland excision with the tumour. In light of developments in parotid gland functional surgery, this prospective study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of partial sialoadenectomy (PS) for benign tumours in comparison with conventional total sialoadenectomy (TS). Thirty-one consecutive patients with a preoperative diagnosis of benign tumour in the SMG were included in the study from December 2008 to December 2010. Eleven patients were treated with PS and 20 patients underwent conventional TS. Salivary gland function and surgery-related complications were assessed. No difference in resting saliva flow was found between the two groups before the operation, while this was significantly higher in the PS group than in the TS group at 1 year after surgery (P=0.009). With regard to complications, there was less deformity in facial appearance in the PS group. There was no recurrence in any of the 31 patients during the follow-up period (range 41-82 months). It is believed that this modification to SMG surgery is consistent with the idea of functional and minimal invasive salivary gland surgery. This technique represents a good choice for the management of benign tumours of the SMG for appropriately selected cases.

Ultrastructural and Cytochemical Properties of Peripheral Blood Cells of Piebald Naked Carp (Gymnocypris eckloni)

The ultrastructural and cytochemical properties of peripheral blood cells of Gymnocypris eckloni were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and a range of cytochemical techniques to provide clear insight into the structure and function of blood cells from this fish. Ultrastructurally, erythrocytes, leucocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes), thrombocytes and plasma cells were identified in the peripheral blood of G. eckloni. The most special ultrastructural characteristics of blood cells in this fish were that neutrophils exhibited only one type of cytoplasmic granules containing an eccentric, spherical or oval electron-dense core, and eosinophils presented two types of granules with non-uniform electronic density and without crystalloids in their cytoplasm. Neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and thrombocytes were positive for periodic acid-Schiff and α-naphthyl acetate esterase staining. Intense peroxidase positive staining was observed in neutrophils and monocytes, but not in eosinophils, lymphocytes and thrombocytes. Neutrophils, eosinophils and monocytes were stained positively for acid phosphatase, whereas lymphocytes and thrombocytes did not stain. Leucocytes and thrombocytes were negative for alkaline phosphatase and Sudan black B staining. Erythrocytes were negative for all cytochemical staining. The cytochemical and ultrastructural features of peripheral blood cells of G. eckloni were similar to those of other fish species. However, some important differences were identified in G. eckloni.

The Fusarium toxin zearalenone and deoxynivalenol affect murine splenic antioxidant functions, interferon levels, and T-cell subsets

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Fusarium toxin zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) on splenic antioxidant functions, IFN levels, and T-cell subsets in mice. Herein, 360 mice were assigned to nine groups for a 12-day study. Mice were administered an intraperitoneal injection for 4 consecutive days with different concentrations of ZEA alone, DON alone, or ZEA+DON. Spleen and blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 5, 8, and 12. Mice in each of the experimental groups showed dysreglated splenic antioxidant functions, IFN levels, and T-cell subset frequencies, suggesting that the immune system had been affected. The ZEA+DON-treated groups, especially the group that received a higher concentration of ZEA+DON (Group D2Z2), showed more obvious effects on the dysregulation of splenic antioxidant functions, IFN levels, and T-cell subsets. This finding suggested that DON and ZEA exerted synergistic effects.

Idiopathic massive fetomaternal hemorrhage in the third trimester of pregnancy causing neonatal death

Fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH), which can occur throughout pregnancy, is still a poorly understood clinical condition. It is very difficult to be timely diagnosed and often results in poor pregnancy outcomes. Here the authors reported two rare cases of silent massive FMH of unknown cause in the third trimester of pregnancy, which presented with non-reactive fetal heart rhythm or decreased fetal movement at the very beginning, and resulted in severe fetal anemia and neonatal deaths. A pregnant woman at late pregnancy with a com- plain of unspecific signs such as decreased fetal movement should arouse a high index of clinical suspicion of idiopathic FMH, and an urgent ultrasound or lab tests detecting FMH could be suggested. Considering emergent delivery versus expectantly management will de- pend upon acute or chronic FMH, gestational age, results of fetal testing, availability of experienced personnel, and procedural difficulty.

Molecular identification of Echinococcus granulosus on the Tibetan Plateau using mitochondrial DNA markers

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is an important worldwide zoonotic disease that causes large economic losses and human suffering. Echinococcus granulosus, the causative agent of CE, exhibits different genotypes in different locations. In order to identify its genotypes and analyze its genetic structure on the Tibetan Plateau, we collected 72 hydatid cysts from different intermediate hosts and amplified and sequenced their mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 2 (cox2) genes. Seventy isolates were identified as the E. granulosus G1 genotype, while two isolates belonged to the G6 genotype. There were 18 haplotypes among the 70 E. granulosus isolates, which exhibited a star-like network pattern and shared a common haplotype (H1). There was little difference between geographical sub-populations. Our results suggest that a recent E. granulosus population expansion occurred on the Tibetan Plateau, suggesting that E. granulosus was introduced into China. This study increases the basic molecular data needed for the molecular diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention, and control of Echinococcus diseases.

A dead-zone free ⁴He atomic magnetometer with intensity-modulated linearly polarized light and a liquid crystal polarization rotator

We demonstrate an all-optical (4)He atomic magnetometer experimental scheme based on an original Bell-Bloom configuration. A single intensity-modulated linearly polarized laser beam is used both for generating spin polarization within a single (4)He vapor and probing the spin precessing under a static magnetic field. The transmitted light signal from the vapor is then phase-sensitively detected at the modulation frequency and its harmonics, which lead to the atomic magnetic resonance signals. Based on this structure, a liquid crystal is added in our magnetometer system and constitutes a polarization rotator. By controlling the voltage applied on the liquid crystal, the light linear polarization vector can be kept perpendicular with the ambient magnetic field direction, which in turn provides the maximum resonance signal amplitude. Moreover, the system exhibits a magnetic-field noise floor of about 2pT/√Hz, which is not degraded due to the presence of the liquid crystal and varying magnetic field direction. The experiment results prove that our method can eliminate the dead-zone effect, improve the system spatial isotropy, and thus be suitable in mobile applications.

MicroRNAs in avian influenza virus H9N2-infected and non-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts

There is limited information about microRNAs (miR-NAs) in H9N2 subtype influenza virus-infected chicken cells or tissues. In this study, 10,487,469 and 13,119,795 reads were obtained from in-fected and non-infected chicken embryo fibroblasts, respectively. Seven hundred and thirty-six and 1004 miRNAs, including mature miRNAs and precursors, were obtained from the infected and non-infected fibro-blasts, respectively. Of those miRNAs, 48 were expressed differently between the groups: 37 had a low expression level in the infected chick-en embryo fibroblast, and the remaining 11 had a higher expression level. Every miRNA was predicted to target immune response-related genes. It has been found that some of the miRNAs, such as gga-miR-146c, gga-miR-181a, gga-miR-181b, gga-miR-30b, gga-miR-30c, gga-miR-30e, and gga-miR-455, are expressed differently in other types of influenza-infected chicken cells or tissues.

Reirradiation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma focusing on volumetric modulated arcs with flattening filter-free beams

OBJECTIVE

The goal of this study was to assess the role of flattening filter-free (FFF) beams in volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy for patients with recurrent nasopharyngeal carcinoma (rNPC).

METHODS

13 patients with rNPC were replanned for FFF RapidArc(®) (RA-FFF) and conventional RapidArc (RA) (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA). Quantitative evaluation was performed for the planning target volume (PTV) and organs at risk (OARs). Phantom dose verifications, treatment delivery time and monitor units (MUs) were also assessed.

RESULTS

Each technique delivered similar doses to the PTV. RA-FFF had a better sparing effect on the brain stem and normal tissue when compared with RA, whereas RA provided lower mean doses to the skin. No significant difference between the two techniques could be established for other OAR parameters. Both techniques showed equally good gamma scores in dosimetric verification. RA-FFF required more MUs than RA, whereas the delivery time for RA-FFF was slightly shorter than for RA.

CONCLUSION

Both treatment plans met the planning objectives. Dose measurements also showed good agreement with computed doses. In addition to slightly faster delivery times, RA-FFF produced better sparing of brain stem and normal tissue with uncompromised target coverage compared with RA.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE

FFF beams have recently been assembled for clinical use. Our findings show RA-FFF is useful in the salvage treatment of rNPC owing to better brain stem and normal tissue sparing with uncompromised target coverage compared with RA. This may be beneficial in the case of tumour invasion close to the brain stem.