Expression of high-mobility group box-1 in eutopic/ectopic endometrium and correlations with inflammation-related factors in adenomyosis

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the expression of HMGB1 and toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in adenomyosis eutopic/ectopic endometrium.

METHODS

Twenty patients with adenomyosis and 20 controls, all undergoing laparoscopy, were recruited from September 2015 to July 2016. Samples were collected from the endometrium without adenomyosis (CE), the eutopic endometrium with adenomyosis (EuE), and the ectopic endometrium with adenomyosis (EE). The mRNA and protein expression of HMGB1 and TLR4, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) RNA expression levels were measured.

RESULTS

The average age of the adenomyosis women was 43.4 ± 5.3 years; their BMI was 23.3 ± 2.3 kg/m2. The control group included women aged 38.8 ± 9.8 years, with BMI 22.2 ± 3.4 kg/m2. The mRNA expression levels of HMGB1, TLR4, IL-6, and IL-8 in the EE and EuE groups were higher than those in the CE group (p < .01), and those in the EE group were higher than those in the EuE group (p < .01). The protein expression levels of HMGB1 and TLR4 in the EE and EuE groups were higher than those in the CE group (p < .01); they were higher in the EE group than the ones in the EuE group (p < .01). HMGB1 mRNA was significantly positively correlated with TLR4 in EuE and EC patients (r = 0.538 and r = 0.916, p < .01), as well as with IL-6 (r = 0.470 and r = 0.976, p < .01) and IL-8 (r = 0.574 and r = 0.650, p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The overexpression of HMGB1 and TLR4 in EuE and EE is positively correlated with IL-6 and IL-8 expression. The HMGB1 signaling-mediated immune-inflammatory system might be involved in the development of adenomyosis.

Progress in the Application of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Forensic Trace Analysis

Given the complexity of biological samples and the trace nature of target materials in forensic trace analysis, a simple and effective method is needed to obtain sufficient target materials from complex substrates. Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have shown a wide range of application value in many research fields, such as biomedicine, drug delivery and separation, due to their unique superparamagnetic properties, stable physical and chemical properties, biocompatibility, small size, high specific surface area and other characteristics. To apply MNPs in the pretreatment of forensic materials, maximize the extraction rate of the target materials, and minimize interference factors to meet the requirements of trace analysis of the target materials, this paper reviews the application of MNPs in the fields of forensic toxicological analysis, environmental forensic science, trace evidence analysis and criminal investigation in recent years, and provides research ideas for the application of MNPs in forensic trace analysis.

Repressing IRS1/2 by NT157 inhibits the malignant behaviors of ovarian cancer through inactivating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and inducing autophagy

Insulin receptor substrate 1 and 2 (IRS1/2) have been found involved in many cancers development and their inhibitors exert significant tumor-suppressive effects. Here, we tried to explore the function of NT157, an IGF1R-IRS1/2 inhibitor, in ovarian cancer. We treated ovarian cancer cells with varying doses of NT157. The MTT assay was employed to evaluate cell proliferation and colony formation assay was used for detecting colony-forming ability. TUNEL assay was adopted to test cell apoptosis. Cell invasion was checked by the Transwell assay. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins, autophagy markers, IRS1/2, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was compared by Western blot, immunofluorescence, or qRT-PCR. As indicated by the data, NT157 abated the viability, proliferation, and induced autophagy of ovarian cancer cells. Overexpressing IRS1/2 attenuated the tumor-suppressive effect of NT157 and heightened the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation. Inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway enhanced the tumor-suppressive effect of NT157 and facilitated NT157-mediated autophagy. However, the autophagy inhibitor 3-MA partly reversed NT-157-mediated antitumor effects. In conclusion, this study disclosed that NT157 suppressed the malignant phenotypes of ovarian cancer cells by inducing autophagy and hampering the expression of IRS1/2 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Functional analysis of a PISTILLATA-like gene CcMADS20 involved in floral organs specification in citrus

PISTILLATA (PI), as a member of MADS-box transcription factor, plays an important role in petal and stamen specification in Arabidopsis. However, little is known about PI-like genes in citrus. To understand the molecular mechanism of PI during the developmental process of citrus flower, a PI-like gene CcMADS20 was isolated from Citrus Clemantina. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that CcMADS20 had relatively high similarity with PI-like homolog and was classified in the core dicotyledonous group. The temporal and spatial expression analyses showed that CcMADS20 was specifically expressed in petal and stamen of citrus flower, which was consistent with PI expression pattern in Arabidopsis. Protein interaction revealed that CcMADS20 could form heterodimer with AP3-like proteins. Furthermore, ectopic overexpression of CcMADS20 in Arabidopsis resulted in transformation of sepals into petal-like structure, as observed in other plants overexpressing a functional PI-like homolog. Additionally, promoter fragments of CcMADS20 were also cloned in the representative 21 citrus varieties. Interestingly, four types of promoters were discovered in these citrus varieties, resulting from two stable insert/deletion fragments (Locus1 and Locus2). The homo/hetero-zygosity of promoter alleles in each variety was strongly related to the evolutionary origin of citrus. Four promoters activity analysis indicated that Locus1 presence inhibited CcMADS20 transcriptional activity and Locus2 presence promoted its transcriptional activity. These findings suggested that CcMADS20 determines petal and stamen development during the evolutionary process of citrus and four promoters discovered, as effective genetic markers, are valuable for citrus breeding practices.

Theoretical insights into the reduction mechanism of neptunyl nitrate by hydrazine derivatives

In the advanced spent fuel cycle, the control and adjustment of neptunium valence state is greatly important for the highly efficient separation of neptunium. Hydrazine and its derivatives as salt-free reagents can selectively reduce Np(VI) to Np(V), but their reduction mechanisms are still unclear. We explored the reduction of [NpVIO2(H2O)2(NO3)2] by N2H4 and its two derivatives HOC2H4N2H3 and CHON2H3 using scalar relativistic density functional theory. The thermodynamic energy of the reactions [NpVIO2(H2O)2(NO3)2] with three reductants are sensitive to the substitution group, HOC2H4N2H3 enhances thermodynamic ability of the reaction and CHON2H3 shows contrary result. Both HOC2H4N2H3 and CHON2H3 have lower energy barrier compared to N2H4 based on the potential energy profiles (PEPs), which probably attributes to the intramolecular hydrogen bond of hydrazine derivatives. The nature of these redox reactions is that the hydrogen atom of reductants is gradually transferred to the axis oxygen atom of neptunyl, which accompanies the N–H bond dissociation and Oax–H bond formation. The reduction of Np(VI) with HOC2H4N2H3 is the most favorable reaction based on the thermodynamic and kinetic results. This work provides theoretical perspective into the reduction of Np(VI) to Np(V), which is beneficial to the development of more effective free-salt reductants for the separation of neptunium from uranium and plutonium in spent fuel reprocessing.

[Prognostic value of total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membranes in patients with acute coronary syndrome]

Objective: Previous cross-sectional studies suggested that elevated levels of total cholesterol content of erythrocyte membrane (CEM) could significantly increase the risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The purpose of the present study was to assess the predictive value of baseline CEM levels for the risk of clinical endpoint events in patients with ACS through prospective follow-up studies. Methods: This study is a prospective follow-up study, which consisted of 859 patients with first ACS (698 patients with unstable angina pectoris and 161 patients with acute myocardial infarction), diagnosed and hospitalized in the First and Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. The routine blood lipid levels and CEM were measured. Patients were divided into two groups according to the median of baseline CEM: CEM≤131.56 μg/mg group (n=430) and CEM>131.56 μg/mg group (n=429). Patients were followed up at 6 months interval. The clinical endpoints were nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, all-cause mortality, all-cause mortality, heart failure requiring hospitalization, and coronary artery revascularization. Kaplan-Meier curve analysis and Cox proportional hazard model were used to analyze the impact of elevated CEM on the occurrence of clinical end-point events. HR values and 95%CI of each variable were obtained. Cox regression analysis of all-cause mortality was performed according to whether patients had risk factors for coronary heart disease (hypertension, diabetes, smoking and elevated LDL-C) and whether they were treated with PCI. Results: The follow-up time was 1 640 (1 380, 2 189) days. Cox analysis after adjustment showed that an elevated baseline of CEM (>131.56 μg/mg) was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (HR=1.690, 95%CI 1.041-2.742, P=0.034), but had no significant predictive effect on the other clinical endpoints. Subgroup analysis showed that elevated baseline CEM levels in ACS patients with LDL-C>1.8 mmol/L (HR=1.687, 95%CI 1.026-2.774, P=0.039), receiving in-hospital PCI (HR=2.365, 95%CI 1.054-5.307, P=0.037), or male (HR=1.794, 95%CI 1.010-3.186, P=0.046) were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Conclusion: The results showed that elevated CEM levels can increase the risk of all-cause mortality in ACS patients.

Insight into the nature of M–C bonding in the lanthanide/actinide-biscarbene complexes: a theoretical perspective

The An/Ln–C bonding nature was explored using relativistic theory. Inclusion of Np and Pu extends understanding to later actinides bonding.

PAX8 is a potential marker for the diagnosis of primary epithelial ovarian cancer

The present study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of paired-box 8 (PAX8) in primary epithelial ovarian cancer (PEOC). Using immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, the expression of PAX8 in 60 patients with PEOC, 20 patients with ovarian benign lesions and 10 patients with metastatic ovarian cancer (MOC), was examined based on the clinicopathological profiles of the patients. The correlation between PAX8 expression and the clinicopathological parameters or prognosis of patients was statistically analyzed. PAX8 was revealed to be highly expressed in PEOC, but not in MOC, as indicated by IHC staining. The rate of positivity of PAX8 in PEOC was 92% (57/60) with no significant difference of PAX8 expression found between the various pathological types of PEOC (P=0.871). The rate of positivity of PAX8 in ovarian benign tumors was 85%, demonstrating no significant difference in comparison with that of PEOC (P=0.761). PAX8 staining and statistical analysis revealed that the higher the grade of PEOC, the less the cancer cell had differentiated (P=0.033) and the more the cancer had advanced according to International Federation of Gynaecological Oncologists (FIGO) staging (P=0.003). Survival rate statistics showed that PEOC patients with higher PAX8 expression exhibited a shorter postoperative survival rate (P=0.009). PAX8 was specifically expressed in PEOC, and its expression level was associated with the degree of cancer cell differentiation, FIGO stage, and survival rate, indicating that PAX8 is a potential marker for the diagnosis of PEOC.

[Application of low dose CT angiography with 70 kV in patients with peripheral arterial diseases]

Objective: To assess the image quality, radiation dose and diagnostic efficiency of peripheral arterial CT angiography (CTA) performed at tube voltage of 70 and 120 kV. Methods: Between January 2014 and December 2015, a total of 200 consecutive patients with known or suspected lower extremity arteriosclerosis obliterans (LEASO) underwent CTA.Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups by different scanning protocols.Group A (n=100): 70 kV and 0.8 ml/kg contrast agent, group B (n=100): 120 kV and 100 ml contrast agent.The vessel enhancement, image noise, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of 3 segments were quantified for each protocol.30 patients in group A (420 vessels) and 28 patients in group B (384 vessels) confirmed by DSA.Based on vessel assessments, compared with DSA findings, the diagnostic efficacy of 70 kV and 120 kV protocols for the detection of stenoses over 50% was evaluated.The dose of radiation and contrast agent were recorded.Subjective image quality was evaluated. Results: The subjective image quality of segment crural of group A was significantly higher than that of group B (2.20±0.36 vs 1.72±0.34, P<0.01). The enhancement of 3 segments in group A (500 HU) were significantly higher than these in group B (310 HU) (P<0.05). For the detection of stenoses over 50%, the sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values and accuracy of segment crural in group A (98.6%, 95.8%, 98.1%, 96.7%) were significantly higher than that in group B (90.9%, 88.5%, 91.0%, 89.7%) (P<0.05). Mean DLP for 70-kV protocol was significantly lower than that for 120-kV protocol ( (396±34) vs (1 041±159) mGy·cm, P=0.001). Mean dose of contrast agent and the total amount of iodine for 70-kV protocol were significantly lower than that for 120-kV protocol (53.5 vs 100 ml; 18.7 vs 35 g; P<0.01). Conclusion: CT angiography of peripheral arteries with a low tube voltage of 70 kV and low dose of iodine provides reliable information and serves as a rapidly performed and easily available imaging modality in the diagnosis of LEASO.

The redox mechanism of NpVI with hydrazine: a DFT study

The probable reduction mechanisms of Np^VI with N₂H₄ are investigated by proposing three probable pathways based on the results of theoretical calculations.

Stromal fibroblast activation and their potential association with uterine fibroids (Review)

Uterine fibroids are the most common type of benign, gynecologic neoplasm and are the primary indication for performance of a hysterectomy, accounting for >200,000 hysterectomies annually in the USA. At present, females are younger and exhibit larger leiomyomas at the time of diagnosis. Cancer-associated fibroblasts in tumor microenvironments have emerged as an important target for cancer therapy. Repeated stimulation by infectious or non-infectious agents in the uterine tissues, including inflammation, mechanical forces or hypoxia, stimulate the resident fibroblasts to undergo specific activation and, thus, are significant in tumorigenesis. Furthermore, complex signaling pathways regulate the mechanisms of fibroblastic activation. The current review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of fibroblastic activation and the potential association with uterine leiomyoma pathogenesis, enabling an integrated pathogenic analysis for review of the therapeutic options.

Early-stage morphological observations of myoma and myometrium after laparoscopic uterine artery occlusion treatment

OBJECTIVE

Myoma therapy by uterine artery occlusion using laparoscopic ligation (UAOL) has been performed for many years and has proven effective, but limited information is available on its therapeutic mechanism. To examine this issue, we conducted this study to investigate the morphological change and apoptosis occurring in myomal and adjacent myometrial tissues shortly after UAOL.

STUDY DESIGN

In total, 16 myomas and adjacent myometrium were obtained from 7 cases before and at various points after artery ligation. The tissues were stained using hematoxylin and eosin for morphological observation. To investigate the existence of apoptosis, in situ immunostaining of Caspase 3 and TUNEL assay were performed. Cytochrome C released from mitochondria was also detected by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Microscopic observation found that after UAOL, both myometrial and myomal tissues were edematous and apoptotic cells were widespread in both tissues. TUNEL assays showed that before UAOL, numbers of apoptotic cells in myomal and myometrial tissues had no significant differences (P=0.866). After ischemia of (36.69+/-18.53) min, apoptosis was significantly more elevated in myoma than in myometrium ((6.43+/-4.38)/10 HPF vs. (2.74+/-1.95)/10 HPF, P=0.003). Caspase 3 stain shared similar features with the TUNEL assay. In both groups cytochrome C was released from mitochondria after UAOL, and more was detected in the myoma.

CONCLUSION

UAOL is an alternative method to treat symptomatic uterine myomas. Apoptosis via mitochondrial pathways may lead to reduction of the volume of myoma and myometrium and eventual relief of symptoms.

[Analysis of yellow peach germplasm revealed by RAPD markers]

Genomic DNAs of 37 cultivars of yellow peach (Amgdalus persica) were amplified by RAPD (Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA) with 22 primers selected from 200 arbitrary 10 decamer primers. Phylogenetic relationship was analyzed through cluster of bands in 180 amplified sites. Molecular checking index and conservation of key germplasm were put forward according to special bands.

[Progress in the study of inhibin subunit gene expression and regulation in mammalian ovary]

Inhibin is a glycoprotein hormone composed of an alpha-subunit and a beta-subunit. It suppresses pituitary FSH secretion. Activin is a dimer of beta-subunits of inhibin, which stimulates pituitary FSH secretion. This review is a survey of recent research progress in gene expression and regulation of inhibin/activin, particularly pointing out some questions in studying gene expression of inhibin.

[Variation in extracellular/intracellular Ca2+ does not affect tyrosine (Tyr) suppressive effect on hCG-induced progesterone production by rat corpus luteal cells in vitro]

Ovaries of immature female rats primed with PMSG-hCG were digested with collagenase-DNAase solution to obtain the corpus luteal cell suspensions. After pre-incubation for 1 h, luteal cell suspensions were then incubated with different factors for 2 h. The progesterone contents in the incubates were measured by RIA. It was demonstrated that high Ca2+/high K+/A23187 significantly enhanced both the basal or hCG-induced progesterone production by rat luteal cells. To the contrast, decreased Ca2+ concentration in medium/EGTA/verapamil had inhibitory effect on progesterone production in the presence of hCG. Tyr had suppressive effect on hCG-induced progesterone production. but not in the presence of high Ca2+/high K+/A23187. The present study suggested that progesterone production by luteal cells of rat is influenced by concentration. Yet, variation in extra/intra-cellular Ca2+ does not affect Tyr suppressive effect on hCG-induced progesterone production. It seems that progesterone production by calcium and hCG occurs through two different mechanisms.

[Effect of opioid peptides on progesterone production by rat luteal cells in vitro]

The effect of exogenous opioid peptides on progesterone production by incubated rat luteal cells was studied. beta-endorphin (beta-EP) stimulated progesterone production in a dose-dependant manner (10(-8)-10(-6) mol/L); dynorphin exhibited a stimulatory effect only at 10(-6) mol/L, while Met-enkephalin had no substantial effect at dose from 10(-10)-10(-6) mol/L. mu-opioid receptor agonists DAGO and morphine also stimulated progesterone production. The stimulatory actions of beta-EP, DAGO and morphine were reversed completely by naloxone. On account of the fact that the beta-EP level in rat plasma is lower than that in the ovary, it seemed that beta-EP may be an intra-ovarian luteotrophic factor and be involved in the regulation of progesterone production. This action of beta-EP may be mediated by mu-opioid subtype receptors.

[Effects of amino acids on the membrane potential of toad oocytes and the underlying mechanism]

Of the 23 amino acids tested for their effect on the membrane potential of incubated toad oocyte, alanine, leucine and lysine were found to cause a decrease of polarization (depolarization) and K+ permeability, while tryptophan causes an increase of potential (hyperpolarization) and K+ permeability. For the rest 19 amino acids, no membrane effects were observed. Accompanying the alanine, leucine and lysine caused depolarization, the oocyte progesterone content became doubled and the maturation process hastened. These effects could be completely blocked by 1 mmol/L dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP) or 50 mumol/L estradiol. Tryptophan on the other hand could block the progesterone (10 mumol/L) induced depolarization but had no effect on the db-cAMP induced hyperpolarization. The regulatory function of the amino acids and steroid hormones underlying oocyte maturation is discussed.

[Effect of tyrosine on progesterone and hCG production by human trophoblast cells in vitro]

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of tyrosine on progesterone and hCG production by human placental cells in vitro. The results showed that the three concentrations (0.02 mmol/L, 0.2 mmol/L and 2mmol/L) of tyrosine inhibited progesterone secretion by trophoblast cells in vitro. While progesterone secretion was suppressed by tyrosine, hCG secretion was unchanged. Thus, it seems unlikely that the suppression of progesterone production by tyrosine was due to a decrease in hCG production. It was further demonstrated that tyrosine inhibited 3 beta-HSD activity of trophoblast cells, indicating that the progesterone production inhibition by them might be due to the decreased 3 beta-HSD activity of trophoblast cells.

[3H]tyrosine binding to plasma membrane preparation of rat corpora lutea

Plasma membrane preparations of rat corpora lutea have been incubated with [3H]tyrosine. [3H]tyrosine binding sites are demonstrated and Scatchard analysis shows that there exist two types of binding sites, one with high affinity and low capacity, the other with low affinity and high capacity. The kinetics studies demonstrate that the [3H]tyrosine binding to the two types of binding sites is reversible and the speed of binding to the high affinity type is faster than that to the low affinity type. The analysis of the chemical structure of tyrosine analogues and related compounds with respect to the specificity of the binding sites reveal that both types of binding sites show specificity, but the specificity of the high affinity sites is higher than that of the low affinity sites. The relations of tyrosine structure to binding processing and to tyrosine inhibitory action on hCG-induced progesterone production are discussed. It is suggested that the high affinity binding sites might be regarded as "tyrosine receptors" and the low affinity ones glycoprotein carriers for tyrosine across the plasma membrane.

Some factors affecting [3H]tyrosine binding to plasma membrane preparation of rat corpora lutea in vitro

Temperature, pH, enzymes and ions affected the two types of [3H]tyrosine binding sites differently. The optimal temperature and pH for the high affinity sites were 24 C and 7.4, and for the low affinity sites 37 degrees C and 7.0, respectively. The [3H]tyrosine binding to the high and low affinity sites was not observed at 55 degrees C, nor at pH 6.0 or pH 8.5. Trypsin reduced [3H]tyrosine binding to the high affinity sites, but had no effect on the binding to the low affinity sites. Neuraminidase reduced [3H]tyrosine binding to the low affinity sites, but had no effect on the binding to the high affinity sites. None of cycloheximide, kCG, cAMP, and progesterone affected [3H]tyrosine binding.