Epstein-Barr virus is a promoter of lymphoma cell metastasis

It is well-known that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is the promoter of cell tumourigenesis. We found that EBV is also a promoter of lymphoma cell dissemination, because we found the typical morphopathological phenomenon of cell adhesion, which confirmed that the adhesion of tumour cells was higher than that of normal cells. We also observed that tumour cells disrupted the dynamic pathological changes of vascular endothelial cells, and this made it clear that the rate of tumour cell metastasis was directly proportional to the degree of EBV infection. Furthermore, when we discovered exosomes, it was considered that this was associated with cancer stem cells, suggesting the formation of a microenvironment before tumour cell metastasis. In addition, competitive inhibition was found in cell adhesion, indicating the breakthrough point of preventing tumour cell metastasis, which has clinical reference value for tumour immunotherapy.

A sandwich ELISA-like detection of C-reactive protein in blood by citicoline-bovine serum albumin conjugate and aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles nanozyme

C-reactive protein (CRP) level in blood is associated with the risk of developing cardiovascular events in higher-risk populations. We present a sandwich ELISA-like assay for the determination of CRP in blood by citicoline-bovine serum albumin (citicoline-BSA) conjugate and aptamer-functionalized gold nanoparticles (aptamer-AuNPs) nanozyme. The CRP in the blood sample was selectively adsorbed to the ELISA plate coated by citicoline-BSA, and then incubated with added aptamer-AuNPs. AuNPs exhibited peroxidase activity and oxidized 3,3'5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine from colorless to blue, achieving the measurement at 652 nm. The amplified signal increased linearly in a wide range from 0.1 to 200 ng mL^-1 and with a detection limit of 8 pg mL^-1. Finally, the method was further tested using rat blood from an isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction experimental model to confirm its applicability. The developed method could directly determine CRP in blood sample after dilution with high accuracy and sensitivity. This method has many advantages, such as easiness to prepare materials, good stability between batches, high specificity, low detection limit, low-cost, easiness to operate with simple instruments, the most remarkable of which is its excellent lot-to-lot stability over the classical ELISA.

Determination of Flavonoid Glycosides by UPLC-MS to Authenticate Commercial Lemonade

So far, there is no report on the quality evaluation of lemonade available in the market. In this study, a sample preparation method was developed for the determination of flavonoid glycosides by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) based on vortex-assisted dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction. First, potential flavonoids in lemonade were scanned and identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-TOF/MS). Five flavonoid glycosides were identified as eriocitrin, narirutin, hesperidin, rutin, and diosmin according to the molecular formula provided by TOF/MS and subsequent confirmation of the authentic standard. Then, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography–triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ/MS) method was developed to determine these five flavonoid glycosides in lemonade. The results showed that the content of rutin in some lemonade was unreasonably high. We suspected that many illegal manufacturers achieved the goal of low-cost counterfeiting lemonade by adding rutin. This suggested that it was necessary for relevant departments of the state to make stricter regulations on the quality standards of lemonade beverages.

Two-phase quasi-equilibrium in β-type Ti-based bulk metallic glass composites

The microstructural evolution of cast Ti/Zr-based bulk metallic glass composites (BMGCs) containing β-Ti still remains ambiguous. This is why to date the strategies and alloys suitable for producing such BMGCs with precisely controllable volume fractions and crystallite sizes are still rather limited. In this work, a Ti-based BMGC containing β-Ti was developed in the Ti-Zr-Cu-Co-Be system. The glassy matrix of this BMGC possesses an exceptional glass-forming ability and as a consequence, the volume fractions as well as the composition of the β-Ti dendrites remain constant over a wide range of cooling rates. This finding can be explained in terms of a two-phase quasi-equilibrium between the supercooled liquid and β-Ti, which the system attains on cooling. The two-phase quasi-equilibrium allows predicting the crystalline and glassy volume fractions by means of the lever rule and we succeeded in reproducing these values by slight variations in the alloy composition at a fixed cooling rate. The two-phase quasi-equilibrium could be of critical importance for understanding and designing the microstructures of BMGCs containing the β-phase. Its implications on the nucleation and growth of the crystalline phase are elaborated.

A paired case-control comparison of ziprasidone on visual sustained attention and visual selective attention in patients with paranoid schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE

Cognitive impairment is one of the main targets of the treatment to schizophrenia.The atypical antipsychotic was proved to improve the cognition function of the patients. There were a few of clinical trials to detect the effect of medicine treatment on attention function. But the respective changes of sustained and selective attention in the patients with treatment of ziprasidone were rarely investigated. This present study was to explore the effect of ziprasidone on visual sustained and selective attention in schizophrenia.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

There were 81 patients who were treated with ziprasidone and matched with 81 healthy controls in this open-label trial. The functions were evaluated by Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Color Word Test (CWT) at baseline and eight weeks later. Between two groups the functions were compared at the two time points, and in patients group those were compared prior to and post treatment.

RESULTS

As compared with healthy controls, the functions of the patients were worse. But after 8 weeks treatment of ziprasidone the functions improved in some degree, which were indicated by the change of CPT and CWT indexes. Furthermore, those of patients post treatment were better than prior to treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with paranoid schizophrenia have visual sustained and selective attention deficits. The deficits can be improved partly with ziprasidone treatment.

[Adeno-associated vector mediated intracellular biological activity of human Kallistatin]

Human tissue kallikrein-binding protein (Kallistatin, KAL), a secretory protein that participates in the regulation of multiple signaling pathways by binding to the extracellular receptor, however, at present has not been reported about the intracellular activity, and whether it has the similar biological activity with extracellular activity. Here we constructed no signal peptide KAL (NSK) into the adeno-associated virus vector to explore the intracellular activity of KAL. Both the endothelial cell and lung cancer cells could express KAL, but not secreted after rAAV2-NSK transfection. The proliferation and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were inhibited, but the apoptosis rate was not affected. The proliferation rates, mobility and tubule formation of all the three tested lung cancer cells, such as NCI-H446, NCI-H460 and A549, were inhibited to different extents. This cellular study not only confirmed the intracellular activity, but also suggested it may serve as a kind of "balance factor" in multi-targeted controlling, which may provide a new train of thoughts to explain the regulatory contradiction in PI3K-Akt signaling pathways by KAL.

Impact of secondary cytoreductive surgery on survival of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer

AIMS

To investigate the impact on survival of secondary cytoreduction for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and variables influencing redebulking surgical outcome.

METHODS

Between 1986 and 1997, 106 patients who received secondary cytoreductive surgery and consequent second-line chemotherapy for stages III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer were retrospectively reviewed. The optimal residual disease cut-off was 1.0 cm. The Cox proportional regression model and logistic stepwise regression were used in statistical processing of the data.

RESULTS

The median age of the patients was 50 years (range, 26-77 years). Optimal secondary cytoreduction was achieved in 46 of 106 patients (43.4%). There was a significant difference in survival between patients who were optimally cytoreduced compared to those suboptimaly cytoreduced, with an estimated median survival in the optimal group of 20 months vs 8 months in the suboptimal group ((2)=42.03, P=0.0000). When factorized, patients had significant survival benefit from optimal secondary cytoreduction for recurrent disease and interval cytoreduction. Survival was adversely influenced by progression-free interval < or =12 months (P=0.0078), residual disease >1 cm (P=0.0001) and presence of refractory ascites (P=0.0001). The probability of successful redebulking surgery was affected by presence of refractory ascites (P=0.0023) in all 106 patients and by the ascites (P=0.0072) and residual disease at initial operation in recurrent disease (P=0.0096).

CONCLUSION

Secondary surgical cytoreduction surgery significantly lengthened survival for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer or those receiving interval cytoreduction. Patients with refractory ascites, however, were not suitable for aggressive secondary surgery, and redebulking surgery for those with residual disease of >1.0 cm after primary operation should be considered prudently in recurrent disease.

Effect of cytoreductive surgery on survival of patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

The value of secondary cytoreductive surgery is still controversial, especially in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. In this retrospective study, we investigated the effect on survival of secondary cytoreduction for recurrent disease and variables influencing redebulking surgical outcome.

METHODS

Between 1986 and 1997, 60 patients who received primary cytoreductive surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy for stage III and IV epithelial ovarian cancer experienced disease recurrence at least 6 months after completion of primary therapy, and secondary surgical cytoreduction was performed. The optimal residual disease cutoff was 1.0 cm. The Cox proportional regression model and Logistic stepwise regression were used in statistical processing of the data.

RESULTS

The median progression-free interval between the two operations was 13 months (range, 6-56 months). Optimal secondary cytoreduction was achieved in 23 patients (38.33%). There was a significant difference in survival between patients who were optimally cytoreduced compared to those suboptimally cytoreduced, with an estimated median survival in the optimal group of 19 months vs. 8 months in the suboptimal group (chi(2) = 22.04, P = 0.0000). Prognosis of survival for individuals with progression-free interval >12 months was better than that of those with the interval </=12 months (chi(2) = 5.22, P = 0.0224). Patients with ascites at disease recurrence suffered a pessimistic outcome, with an estimated median survival of 6 vs. 13 months in those without ascites (chi(2) = 13.99, P = 0.0002). Multivariate analysis strongly suggested that residual disease after second operation, ascites at disease recurrence, and progression-free interval were independent prognostic factors of survival. Logistic stepwise regression revealed that recurrent ascites (P = 0.0072, relative risk = 20.36) and residual disease after the second operation (P = 0.0096, relative risk = 5.16) were important determinants of secondary surgical outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Secondary cytoreductive surgery significantly lengthened survival for patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Patients with ascites at disease recurrence, however, were not suitable for aggressive secondary surgery, and redebulking surgery for those with residual disease of >1.0 cm after primary operation should be considered prudently.

Epithelial ovarian cancer presenting initially with extraabdominal or intrahepatic metastases: a preliminary report of 25 cases and literature review

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical features of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) that are initially categorized as extraabdominal adenocarcinoma of unknown primary. Twenty-five patients with EOC, who were treated in the Cancer Hospital of Shanghai Medical University from January 1986 to December 1997, and manifesting as extraperitoneal or liver parenchyma metastases at the time of presentation without detectable ovarian tumors, were retrospectively studied. Sixteen patients (64%) were optimally surgical debulked. When compared with 52 other women with stage IV EOC, 20 patients who initially sought treatment for extraabdominal metastases experienced a better prognosis, with an estimated median survival of 24 months versus 10 months (p = 0.0427). The median survival was 30 months in patients with pleural effusion or supraclavicular lymph node metastases versus 19 months in those with spread to other sites (p = 0.0264). The prognosis of such cases, mainly for those with supraclavicular lymphadenopathy or malignant pleural effusion, is better than that for other stage IV EOC patients, probably because most of the patients who initially had distant metastases were generally in condition that permitted aggressive surgery or multicycle chemotherapy.

Cytoreductive surgery for stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer

We tried to determine the role of cytoreductive surgery for stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer and in what conditions this surgical procedure could carry the best benefits. From January 1986 to December 1997, seventy-one of 73 patients with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer who were treated in Cancer Hospital of Shanghai Medical University were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical information including age, grade, histology, presence of ascites, size of residual disease, site of extra-abdominal metastasis, whether initially presenting as metastatic disease or not, neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, platinum-based chemotherapy and second-line chemotherapy was obtained. Survival was calculated by life-table and survival curves were computed using the Kaplan-Meier method with differences in survival estimated by log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were identified by Cox's proportional hazards regression model. The median age of the patients' population was 54 years (range 22-82), median follow-up time was 12 months (range 3 to 130) and estimated 5-year survival rate 6.1%. Thirty out of 71 (42.3%) patients were successfully debulked (< or = 1 cm) at the time of initial surgery. There was a significant difference in five-year survival rate between patients optimally (14.1%) vs suboptimally (0%) cytoreduced, with an estimated median survival in the optimal group of 23 months vs 9 months in the suboptimal group (P=0.0001, long-rank test). When the variables were factorized, only in patients with malignant pleural effusion or positive supraclavicular lymph nodes, optimal cytoreduction could get the greatest benefits. Multivariate analysis revealed that the size of residual disease and ascites were independent factors of survival. However, only ascites was the prognostic factor of progression-free survival. Optimal cytoreductive surgery is an important determinant of survival in women with stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer, mainly in those with malignant pleural effusion or positive supraclavicular lymph node pathology.

Self-reported depressive symptoms among Chinese adolescents

Previous reports on the prevalence and features of depression among adolescents have been inconsistent. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of depression among Chinese adolescents with a standardized instrument. A total of 2462 students, aged 13-22, were sampled from the Shandong province of China. The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) was administered to the subjects in their classrooms. It was shown that the mean SDS score was 44.8 (SD 9.9) and it decreased significantly from the age of 18 upward (F = 31.73, df = 9, P < 0.01). No significant difference was found between males and females (t = 0.70, P > 0.05). Taking 55 as a cut-off score, the prevalence rate of depression was 16.9% (95% CI = 15.4-18.4%). Logistic regression showed that increasing age appeared to decrease the risk for depression. Most of the individual items differed between ages, except for weight loss and constipation. Principal components factor analysis revealed that the characteristics of adolescent depression were depressive/anxious mood, psychomotor retardation, loss of self-esteem, somatic symptoms and decreased appetite and libido. Although the study was based on a large sample using an established instrument, the sample was not from a general adolescent population and case ascertainment was not by clinical diagnosis.

The trypsin-catalyzed activation of glutamate dehydrogenase purified from eel liver

Eel liver glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) [EC 1.4.1.3] was eightfold activated by trypsin and the molecular weight of the subunit of the native GDH decreased from 54,000 to 50,000. The C-terminal amino acid of both subunits was Thr. One peptide was released after proteolysis of the native GDH by trypsin and purified by anhydrotrypsin agarose and reversed-phase HPLC. The isolated peptide consisted of 39 amino acids and its amino acid sequence was as follows: H2NS-E-A-V-E-K-E-D-D-P-N-F-F-K-M-V-E-G-F-F-D-K-G-A-A-I- V-E-N-K-L-V-E-E-D-L-K-T-R-COOH. The peptide contained the N-terminal of the native GDH and its molecular weight was calculated to be 4,413. We concluded that the trypsin-catalyzed activation was caused by release of this peptide from the native GDH. p-Chloromercuribenzoic acid inhibited the activity of the trypsin-treated GDH, but stimulated that of the native GDH. The response of trypsin-treated GDH to ADP and GTP was decreased compared with that of the native GDH.