[Clinical characteristics and prognosis of primary aldosteronism associated with subclinical Cushing syndrome]

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) associated with subclinical Cushing syndrome (SCS). Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University in China. Patients with PA were included between January 2014 and December 2022. According to the results of 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test, the patients were divided into the PA group and PA associated with SCS (PA/SCS) group. The demographic information, hormone levels, and follow-up results were analyzed. Independent sample t-test, chi-square test and Mann-Whitney U test were used for data comparison. Results: A total of 489 PA patients were enrolled in this study, of which 109 had PA/SCS (22.3%). Patients with SCS were on average older (54.4±10.7 vs. 47.4±11.0, P<0.001); had a larger proportion of women (69.7%, 76/109 vs. 57.4%, 218/380; P=0.020); and a longer duration of hypertension [96 (36, 180) vs. 60 (12, 120) months, P=0.001] than patients without SCS. There were 215 and 51 patients in the PA group and PA/SCS group, who completed adrenalectomy and follow-up, respectively. The remission rate of autonomous cortisol secretion in the PA/SCS group was 85.3% (29/34). There was no significant difference in the remission rate of autonomous aldosterone secretion among patients between the PA/SCS and PA group (94.1%, 48/51 vs. 94.4%, 203/215; P=1.000), while the clinical remission rate in the PA/SCS group was lower than that in the PA group (39.2%, 20/51 vs. 61.9%, 133/215; P=0.003). Conclusions: SCS is common in PA patients (22.3%), and the clinical remission rate is low. Screening using the 1-mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test is recommended for all patients with PA.

[Research advances on the role of competing endogenous RNAs in wound healing]

Wound healing, as one of the important public health issues, has been a worldwide problem. Due to the unique biological wound environment, wound healing is a very complex process with current treatments requiring long cycles, being poorly effective, and bringing high economic burden to patients. An increasing number of studies have shown that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play important roles in wound healing process. The competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) hypothesis in recent years is a new proposal on the inter-regulation of RNAs, which suggests a "mode of communication" between different RNAs. ceRNA regulatory network (ceRNET) combines the functions of protein-coding mRNA with ncRNA (e.g., microRNA, long non-coding RNA, pseudogenes, and circular RNA). Recent studies have shown that ceRNAs play important roles in wound healing, which may provide new effective therapeutic targets for wound healing. This paper starting with ceRNET systematically reviewed the research progress on the effects of various ceRNAs in wound healing and the future research challenges, with the aim to deeply explore the molecular mechanisms and clinical significance of ceRNAs in the process of wound healing.

Genome-wide DNA methylation and transcription analysis in tongue and biceps femoris muscles of cloned pigs with macroglossia

Cloned animals are prone to abnormal phenotypes such as enlarged tongue, fetal oversize, and progeria. In the present study, whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and mRNA sequencing were performed on tongue and biceps femoris muscles of cloned piglets with and without macroglossia, in an attempt to elucidate the epigenetic causes of the macroglossia phenotype. We identified 14 958 and 18 752 differentially methylated regions in the tongue and biceps femoris muscles, respectively, of macroglossia piglets and these correspond to 4574 and 4772 differentially methylated genes compared with the control group (piglets without macroglossia). Larger methylation difference was found in tongue muscle than in biceps femoris muscle. In total, 114 genes in tongue and 72 genes in biceps femoris muscles were found to be differentially expressed between the two groups. Of these differentially expressed genes in tongue muscle, 31 were also differentially methylated genes, among which DIO3 and ZIC1 were imprinting or predicted imprinting genes. These two and another six overlapping genes (ALDH1A2, MKX, MAB21L2, CA3, RANBP3L, and MYL10) are crucial factors involved in embryonic development or tissue and organ development. GO enrichment analysis suggested possible alteration of these processes. Our study provides novel molecular insights into the formation of macroglossia in cloned pigs.

EGFL7 silencing inactivates the Notch signaling pathway; enhancing cell apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation in human cutaneous melanoma

Melanoma is the main cause of death in patients with skin cancer. While the pathogenesis of cutaneous melanoma is poorly understood, increasing evidence shows that epidermal growth factor (EGF) may be involved. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that down-regulation of EGFL7 inhibits development and progression of human cutaneous melanoma (CM). Initially, we performed immunohistochemical analysis of EGFL7 in 130 specimens and the findings indicated that EGFL7 was highly expressed in CM. The expressions of EGFL7 and Notch signaling pathway-related genes in CM were then measured by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot assay. In order to assess biological functions of EGFL7 in CM we up-regulated or down-regulated endogenous EGFL7 using EGFL7-OE or shRNA against EGFL7 in the A375 CM cell line. To better understand the pivotal role of Notch signaling pathway in CM, we blocked this pathway in A375 cells by inhibitor treatment. Finally, tumor xenograft in nude mice was performed to test the in vivo tumorigenesis of the transfected A375 cells. While EGFL7 activated the Notch signaling pathway in CM, gain- and loss-of-function studies established that decreased EGFL7 inhibited cell proliferation and promoted apoptosis in A375 cells. Moreover, down-regulated EGFL7 suppressed in vivo tumorigenesis. Most importantly, we determined that down-regulating EGFL7 inhibited CM development by suppressing the Notch signaling pathway. The combined findings define potential roles of decreased EGFL7 as inhibitors of CM development by suppressing the Notch signaling pathway, and EGFL7 may therefore be a novel therapeutic target in cutaneous melanoma patients.

Advanced Copper Composites Against Copper-Tolerant Xanthomonas perforans and Tomato Bacterial Spot

Bacterial spot, caused by Xanthomonas spp., is a widespread and damaging bacterial disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). For disease management, growers rely on copper bactericides, which are often ineffective due to the presence of copper-tolerant Xanthomonas strains. This study evaluated the antibacterial activity of the new copper composites core-shell copper (CS-Cu), multivalent copper (MV-Cu), and fixed quaternary ammonium copper (FQ-Cu) as potential alternatives to commercially available micron-sized copper bactericides for controlling copper-tolerant Xanthomonas perforans. In vitro, metallic copper from CS-Cu and FQ-Cu at 100 μg/ml killed the copper-tolerant X. perforans strain within 1 h of exposure. In contrast, none of the micron-sized copper rates (100 to 1,000 μg/ml) from Kocide 3000 significantly reduced copper-tolerant X. perforans populations after 48 h of exposure compared with the water control (P < 0.05). All copper-based treatments killed the copper-sensitive X. perforans strain within 1 h. Greenhouse studies demonstrated that all copper composites significantly reduced bacterial spot disease severity when compared with copper-mancozeb and water controls (P < 0.05). Although there was no significant impact on yield, copper composites significantly reduced disease severity when compared with water controls, using 80% less metallic copper in comparison with copper-mancozeb in field studies (P < 0.05). This study highlights the discovery that copper composites have the potential to manage copper-tolerant X. perforans and tomato bacterial spot.

Elevated Aminotransferases are Predictors of Hepatic Injury in Blunt Abdominal Trauma Patients

Objective

Computed tomography (CT) scan is currently the most commonly used tool for evaluating solid-organ injuries in trauma management. However, liberal use of CT scanning increases the risk of excess radiation exposure and toxicity from contrast material. Animal studies and clinical research on the paediatric population indicated that liver enzymes elevations were related to hepatic injury. The present study was undertaken to determine whether elevated liver enzymes were associated with the occurrence of hepatic injury in adult patients with blunt abdominal trauma.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study from August 2003 to October 2006. All adult patients with blunt injury to abdomino-pelvic organs documented by CT or surgery who were admitted to Chi-Mei Medical Centre in the captioned period were included. The study population sorted to hepatic injury (HI) and no hepatic injury (NHI) groups according to the presence or absence of hepatic injury. Variables including liver enzymes were compared between the groups.

Results

Totally 419 patients were included, including 150 patients in the HI group and 269 patients in the NHI group. The HI group was younger and had a lower rate of laparotomy (36.3 years old vs 41.4 years old; 26% vs 42%, respectively). The mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the HI group were significantly higher than levels in the NHI group (439.6 IU/L vs 104.7 IU/L; 353.5 IU/L vs 76.6 IU/L, p<0.01). We define AST >200 IU/L or ALT level >125 IU/L as abnormal according to previous studies. The diagnostic characteristics of hepatic injury were 87.3% sensitivity, 80.3% specificity, 71.2% positive predictive value, and 91.9% negative predictive value.

Conclusion

In adults who have experienced blunt abdominal trauma, AST >200 U/L or of ALT >125 U/L are practical predictors of hepatic injury. Screening serum aminotransferases will have a role in detecting occult hepatic injury and may reduce the hazards of excessive CT scanning. (Hong Kong j.emerg.med. 2013;20:337-342)

CCL3 promotes angiogenesis by dysregulation of miR-374b/ VEGF-A axis in human osteosarcoma cells

Osteosarcoma is the most frequent bone tumor, characterized by a high metastatic potential. However, the crosstalk between chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3), which facilitates tumor progression and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), an angiogenesis inducer and a highly specific mitogen for endothelial cells, has not been well explored in human osteosarcoma. Here we demonstrate the correlation of CCL3 and VEGF-A expressions, quantified by immunohistochemistry, with the tumor stage of human osteosarcoma tissues. Furthermore, CCL3 promotes VEGF-A expression in human osteosarcoma cells that subsequently induces human endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) migration and tube formation. Phosphorylation of JNK, ERK, and p38 was found after CCL3 stimulation. In addition, JNK, ERK, and p38 inhibitors also abolished CCL3-induced VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis. We noted that CCL3 reduces the expression of miR-374b and miR-374b mimic by reversing CCL3-promoted VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. This study shows that CCL3 promotes VEGF-A expression and angiogenesis in human osteosarcoma cells by down-regulating miR-374b expression via JNK, ERK, and p38 signaling pathways. Thus, CCL3 may be a new molecular therapeutic target in osteosarcoma angiogenesis and metastasis.

The CCL2/CCR2 axis enhances vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 expression in human synovial fibroblasts

Background

Chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), also known as monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), belongs to the CC chemokine family that is associated with the disease status and outcomes of osteoarthritis (OA). Here, we investigated the intracellular signaling pathways involved in CCL2-induced vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in human OA synovial fibroblasts (OASFs).

Methodology/Principal Findings

Stimulation of OASFs with CCL2 induced VCAM-1 expression. CCL2-mediated VCAM-1 expression was attenuated by CCR2 inhibitor (RS102895), PKCδ inhibitor (rottlerin), p38MAPK inhibitor (SB203580), and AP-1 inhibitors (curcumin and tanshinone IIA). Stimulation of cells with CCL2 increased PKCδ and p38MAPK activation. Treatment of OASFs with CCL2 also increased the c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Jun binding to the AP-1 element on the VCAM-1 promoter. Moreover, CCL2-mediated CCR2, PKCδ, p38MAPK, and AP-1 pathway promoted the adhesion of monocytes to the OASFs monolayer.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results suggest that CCL2 increases VCAM-1 expression in human OASFs via the CCR2, PKCδ, p38MAPK, c-Jun, and AP-1 signaling pathway. The CCL2-induced VCAM-1 expression promoted monocytes adhesion to human OASFs.

Antenatal detection of a congenital pancreatic cyst

Congenital pancreatic cyst is very rare. Antenatal detection can potentially decrease the neonatal morbidity because the appropriate preparation can be made in advance of delivery. We report a case of congenital pancreatic cyst detected prenatally by routine obstetric sonography in a fetus at 33 weeks' gestation. The cyst, located at the pancreatic tail, was excised at the age of 10 days. Pathology results confirmed a pancreatic cyst. Differential diagnosis of cystic abdominal lesions occurring in utero should include congenital pancreatic cyst.

Influence of lesions in the limbic-hypothalamic system on metabolic response of acetate to daily repeated immobilization stress

The effects of lesions in the basal medial hypothalamus and limbic structure on the acetate metabolic responses to daily repeated exposure to immobilization stress in the liver of rabbits have been investigated. The experimental results were as follows: (1) The acetate metabolic response to the 1st exposure to immobilization stress (exposure on the 1st day) were considerably altered by lesions in the periventricular arcuate nucleus (ARC) ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), stria terminalis (ST) and dorsal fornix (FX). (2) The acetate metabolic responses to immobilization stress were completely abolished by seven times repetition of immobilization stress in the rabbits with lesions in ARC, VMH and FX; they were similar to sham-operated groups. (3) In rabbits with ST lesions, the acetate metabolic responses to the 7th exposure (exposure on the 7th day) to immobilization stress were exactly the same as those after the 1st exposure of immobilization stress, but these metabolic responses were completely abolished by the seven times repetition of exposure in the sham-operated animals. (4) These results suggest that firstly, the ARC, VMH, amygdala(AMYG)-ST system and dorsal hippocampus(HPC)-FX system are involved in the acetate metabolic responses to the 1st exposure of immobilization stress, and secondly, that only the AMYG-ST is involved in the disappearance process of acetate metabolic responses to immobilization stress by the daily repetition of immobilization stress.

Effect of acupuncture on adrenocortical hormone production in rabbits with a central lesion

A study was made of adrenocortical hormone production under electroacupuncture stimulation of the Tsu-San-Li locus in rabbits with a lesion in the fornix, stria terminalis, ventromedial nucleus or arcuate nucleus. In rabbits with a lesion in the stria terminalis or ventromedial nucleus, electroacupuncture stimulation of Tsu-San-Li resulted in no increase in phase 1 but an increase in phase 2 of adrenocortical hormone production. In rabbits with a lesion in the fornix or arcuate nucleus electroacupuncture stimulation of Tsu-San-Li was followed by increased adrenocortical hormone production in the both phases. These results show that the stria terminalis and the ventromedial nucleus play a major role in the augmentation of adrenocortical hormone production by electroacupuncture stimulation of Tsu-San-Li.

Measuring thyroxine and thyrotropin simultaneously in a dried blood sample on filter paper, to screen for neonatal hypothyroidism

We have developed a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay of thyroxine and thyrotropin for mass screening for neonatal hypothyroidism. This assay involves a single disc (3 mm diameter) of dried blood on filter paper. The minimum detectable concentrations are 15 pg/tube (10 microgram/L) for thyroxine and 15 nano-int. units/tube (10 milli-int. units/L) for thyrotropin; intra- and interassay CV's are less than 15% in both assays. The high sensitivity of this method is due to use of labeled thyroxine with high specific activity (3 kCi/g) and of an anti-thyrotropin serum with high affinity (Keq = 7.8 x 10(11) L/mol). With this method, 11337 newborns were screened; a follow-up study revealed that only newborns with both high thyrotropin and low thyroxine concentrations had permanent hypothyroidism. We conclude that this method is sensitive, simple, and reliable and that the recall rate with this method is much lower than that of tests for measuring thyroxine or thyrotropin alone.

Measuring thyroxine and thyrotropin simultaneously in a dried blood sample on filter paper, to screen for neonatal hypothyroidism

We have developed a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay of thyroxine and thyrotropin for mass screening for neonatal hypothyroidism. This assay involves a single disc (3 mm diameter) of dried blood on filter paper. The minimum detectable concentrations are 15 pg/tube (10 microgram/L) for thyroxine and 15 nano-int. units/tube (10 milli-int. units/L) for thyrotropin; intra- and interassay CV’s are &lt; 15% in both assays. The high sensitivity of this method is due to use of labeled thyroxine with high specific activity (3 kCi/g) and of an anti-thyrotropin serum with high affinity (Keq = 7.8 × 10(11) L/mol). With this method, 11337 newborns were screened; a follow-up study revealed that only newborns with both high thyrotropin and low thyroxine concentrations had permanent hypothyroidism. We conclude that this method is sensitive, simple, and reliable and that the recall rate with this method is much lower than that of tests for measuring thyroxine or thyrotropin alone.

Effects of acupuncture on adrenocortical hormone production. (II) Effect of acupuncture on the response of adrenocortical hormone production to stress

There was increased production of adrenocortical hormones (cortisol and corticosterone) in the adrenal during three different types of stress: immobilization, exposure to heat, and exposure to cold. Such a state of hypersecretion of adrenocortical hormones was inhibited by electroacupuncture at the Tsu-San-Li (St-36) locus.

Effects of acupuncture on the citrate and glucose metabolism in the liver under various types of stress

A study was made of the effect of acupuncture on citrate and glucose metabolism in the liver in terms of incorporation of 14C-1, 5-citric acid and 14C-u-glucose in some metabolites. The effect of acupuncture on citrate metabolism in the liver under control conditions was such as to increase production of G and reduce that of KB, FC and FFA. No effect of acupuncture on glucose metabolism in the liver under such conditions was observed. Both citrate and glucose metabolism were affected to a marked extent by immobilization stress or exposure to heat or cold. The deleterious effect of these types of stress was less prominent in animals receiving acupuncture at the Tsu-San-Li locus than in those treated otherwise or receiving no treatment.

Effect of acupuncture on adrenocortical hormone production: I. Variation in the ability for adrenocortical hormone production in relation to the duration of acupuncture stimulation

The effect of acupuncture on adrenocortical hormone production in adult female albino rabbits of New Zealand strain was investigated. There was significant increase compared to the control cortisol and corticosterone following application of acupuncture at the locus Tsu-San-Li. In the non-locus group, such treatment resulted in only a transient raise followed by a significant fall in cortisol and corticosterone. Acupuncture treatment with electric current for 1 hour proved to be unique in that it gave rise to no biphasic change in the 14C uptake of the steroids. These results indicate that adrenal production of corticosterone and cortisol was enhanced by acupuncture and electroacupuncture at the Tsu-San-Li locus.