Ultrasonographic Observation of the Breast in Early Postmenopausal Women during Therapy with Cimicifuga Foetida Extract and Sequential Therapy with Estrogen and Progestin

Background:

It is now recognized that Cimicifuga foetida (C. foetida) extract is effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms. But the durations reported were usually short. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of C. foetida extract therapy and different estrogen and progesterone sequential therapies, on the breasts of early postmenopausal women.

Methods:

This was a prospective randomized trial. Ninety-six early menopausal women were recruited and randomly assigned into three groups treated with different therapies for 2 years. Patients were given C. foetida extract in Group A, estradiol valerate and medroxyprogesterone acetate in Group B, and estradiol valerate and progesterone in Group C. Ultrasonography was used to monitor changes in breast during treatment.

Results:

In comparing breast glandular section thickness before and after 1 and 2 years of treatment, no significant difference was observed in Group A (11.97 ± 2.84 mm vs. 12.09 ± 2.58 mm and 12.61 ± 3.73 mm, P > 0.05); in Group B glandular section thickness had increased significantly (10.98 ± 2.34 mm vs. 11.84 ± 2.72 mm and 11.90 ± 3.33 mm, P < 0.05) after treatment, the same as Group C (11.56 ± 3.03 mm vs. 12.5 ± 3.57 mm and 12.22 ± 4.39 mm P < 0.05). In comparing breast duct width before and after 1 and 2 years of treatment, no significant difference was seen in Group A (1.07 ± 0.19 mm vs. 1.02 ± 0.18 mm and 0.98 ± 0.21 mm, P > 0.05); in Group B the duct width had a downward trend after treatment (0.99 ± 0.14 mm vs. 0.96 ± 0.22 mm and 0.90 ± 0.18 mm, P < 0.05), the same as Group C (1.07 ± 0.20 mm vs. 1.02 ± 0.17 mm and 0.91 ± 0.19 mm, P < 0.05). The nodules detected before treatment had disappeared after 1-year of treatment or exhibited no distinct changes in the three groups. However, new breast nodules had appeared after 2 years of treatment: There was one case in Group A, two cases in Group B and four cases in Group C, with breast hyperplasia after the molybdenum target check.

Conclusions:

In early postmenopausal patients, C. foetida extract therapy and estrogen and progesterone therapy at low doses did not increase the incidence of malignant breast tumors     

Sequential Vein Bypass Grafting is Not Associated with an Increase of Either In-hospital or Mid-term Adverse Events in Off-pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Background:The impact of sequential vein bypass grafting on clinical outcomes is less known in off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).We aimed to evaluate the effects of sequential vein bypass...     

A PCR-basedRapidNeutralizationAssay for GII.4 NorovirusInfection in HIEC6CellCulture

Because of limited viral replication and lack of cytopathic effect in cell culture,a new PCR-based rapid seroneutralization assay for detection of GII.4norovirus neutralized antibodies was developed with serum samples from acute-phase patients,convalescent-phase patients and healthy controls.According to this study,neutralizing antibodies were detected in 100% of     

Proteomic analysis of exosomes derived from human lymphoma cells

Background

Exosomes secreted by tumor cells contain specific antigens that may have immunotherapeutic purposes. The aim of this study was to characterize the proteomic content of lymphoma cell-derived exosomes (LCEXs).

Methods

In this study, exosomes derived from Raji cells (EXO_Raji) were purified and proteins of EXO_Raji were separated by one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Protein bands were identified by mass spectrometry. The protein components of EXO_Raji were analyzed using shotgun technology, and the function proteins of EXO_Raji were defined and described using the Gene Ontology (GO) database and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis.

Results

A total of 197 proteins were identified in EXO_Raji; 139 proteins were also identified in Raji cells, showing an overlap of 70.56% of the total proteins in EXO_Raji. Interestingly, the remaining 58 proteins were unique to EXO_Raji. The GO database and KEGG were used to define and describe the function of proteins. The data showed that some important proteins involved in antigen procession and presentation as well as cell migration and adhesion were also identified in EXO_Raji, such as MHC-I and II, HSC70, HSP90, and ICMA-1.

Conclusions

LCEXs express a discrete set of proteins involved in antigen presentation and cell migration and adhesion, suggesting that LCEXs play an important role in the regulation of immunity and interaction between lymphoma cells and their microenvironment. LCEXs harbor most of the proteins of lymphoma cells and could be one of the sources of lymphoma-associated antigens for immunotherapeutic purposes.     

亨廷顿病两家系临床及遗传学分析

目的：探讨CAG重复序列与亨廷顿病( HD)临床症状的关系,进一步评价CAG年龄产物( CAP)评分在临床中的实用性。方法收集2个中国汉族HD家系成员的临床资料,包括临床症状和体征、剑桥老年认知量表中文版( CAMCOG-C)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表,绘制遗传系谱图,对自愿者抽取外周静脉血行IT15基因检测,对CAG重复序列>35的成员计算CAP得分。结果两家系遗传系谱图符合常染色体显性遗传;两家系共6人进行基因检测,其中1人正常,5人HD基因异常扩增;按照HD诊断标准,5人中2人为临床症状期,3人为临床诊断前期,症状期患者具有典型HD三联征的临床特征,临床诊断前期的患者虽未达到临床发病诊断标准,但和正常人相比,存在轻微的运动、认知、行为、个性改变中的1种或多种表现。结论 HD在临床诊断发病前可能就有轻微的临床症状;CAG重复序列数越多提示发病越早,症状越重;CAP得分作为一个参数,结合了CAG重复序列数和年龄,对预测发病年龄、指导临床试验中受试者分组、更好地理解HD的自然病程具有重要意义。     

Mass spectrometric identification of citrullination sites and immunohistochemical detection of citrullinated glial fibrillary acidic protein in Alzheimer's disease brains

Peptidylarginine deiminases (PADs) are posttranslational modification enzymes that convert protein arginine to citrulline residues in a calcium ion‐dependent manner. Previously, we reported the abnormal accumulation of citrullinated proteins and the increase in the amount of PAD2 in hippocampi from Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Moreover, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), an astrocyte‐specific marker protein, and vimentin were identified as citrullinated proteins by using two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and MALDI‐TOF mass spectrometry. To clarify the substrate specificity of PADs against GFAP, we prepared recombinant human (rh)PAD1, rhPAD2, rhPAD3, rhPAD4, and rhGFAP. After incubation of rhGFAP with rhPAD1, rhPAD2, rhPAD3, and rhPAD4, citrullinated (cit‐)rhGFAP was detected by Western blotting. The citrullination of rhGFAP by rhPAD2 was unique, specific, and time dependent; additionally, rhPAD1 slightly citrullinated rhGFAP. We then generated eight anti‐cit‐rhGFAP monoclonal antibodies, CTGF‐125, ?128, ?129, ?1212, ?1213, ?1221, ?122R, and ?1224R, which reacted specifically with cit‐rhGFAP. Two of those eight monoclonal antibodies, CTGF‐122R and ?1224R, reacted with both cit‐rhGFAP and rhGFAP in Western blots. By using the CTGF‐1221 antibody and a tandem mass spectrometer, we identified the two independent citrullination sites (R270Cit and R416Cit) of cit‐rhGFAP. Immunohistochemical analysis with CTGF‐1221 antibody revealed cit‐GFAP staining in the hippocampus of AD brain, and the cit‐GFAP‐positive cells appeared to be astrocyte‐like cells. These collective results strongly suggest that PAD2 is responsible for the citrullination of GFAP in the progression of AD and that the monoclonal antibody CTGF‐1221, reacting with cit‐GFAP at R270Cit and R416Cit, is useful for immunohistochemical investigation of AD brains. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ischemic Conditioning Is Safe and Effective for Octo- and Nonagenarians in Stroke Prevention and Treatment

Symptomatic intracranial arterial stenosis (SIAS) is very common in octo- and nonagenarians, especially in the Chinese population, and is likely the most common cause of stroke recurrence worldwide. Clinical trials demonstrate that endovascular treatment, such as stenting, may not be suitable for octogenarians with systemic diseases. Hence, less invasive methods for the octogenarian patients are urgently needed. Our previous study (unique identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01321749","term_id":"NCT01321749"}}NCT01321749) showed that repetitive bilateral arm ischemic preconditioning (BAIPC) reduced the incidence of stroke recurrence by improving cerebral perfusion (confirmed by single photon emission computed tomography and transcranial Doppler sonography) in patients younger than 80 years of age; however, the safety and effectiveness of BAIPC on stroke prevention in octo- and nonagenarians with SIAS are still unclear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of BAIPC in reducing stroke recurrence in octo- and nonagenarian patients with SIAS. Fifty-eight patients with SIAS were enrolled in this randomized controlled prospective study for 180 consecutive days. All patients enrolled in the study received standard medical management. Patients in the BAIPC group (n = 30) underwent 5 cycles consisting of bilateral arm ischemia followed by reperfusion for 5 min each twice daily. Those in the control group (n = 28) underwent sham-BAIPC twice daily. Blood pressure, heart rate, local skin status, plasma myoglobin, and plasma levels of thrombotic and inflammatory markers were documented in both groups before beginning the study and for the first 30 days. Finally, the incidences of stroke recurrence and magnetic resonance imaging during the 180 days of treatment were compared. Compared with the control, BAIPC had no adverse effects on blood pressure, heart rate, local skin integrity, or plasma myoglobin, and did not induce cerebral hemorrhage in the studied cohort. BAIPC reduced plasma high sensitive C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, leukocyte count, and platelet aggregation rate and elevated plasma tissue plasminogen activator (all p < 0.01). In 180 days, 2 infarctions and 7 transient ischemic attacks were observed in the BAIPC group compared with 8 infarctions and 11 transient ischemic attacks in the sham BAIPC group (p < 0.05). BAIPC may safely inhibit stroke recurrence, protect against brain ischemia, and ameliorate plasma biomarkers of inflammation and coagulation in octo- and nonagenarians with SIAS. A multicenter trial is ongoing.Clinical Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov, unique identifier: {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01570231","term_id":"NCT01570231"}}NCT01570231.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13311-015-0358-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.Key Words: Remote ischemic preconditioning, octogenarian, nonagenarians, intracranial arterial stenosis, stroke, recurrence     

麻醉穿刺时地塞米松对神经根损伤的疗效

目的探讨麻醉穿刺时地塞米松对神经根损伤的临床效果。方法腰硬联合麻醉穿刺过程中神经根损伤的剖腹产手术56患者随机分为观察组和对照组。观察组在手术结束前硬膜外注射地塞米松5mg加0.9%氯化钠注射液19mL。对照组注射0.9%氯化钠注射液10mL。比较2组患者的手术、麻醉时间和治疗效果。结果 2组患者手术时间和麻醉时间差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。观察组有效率100%,无并发症发生,对照组有效率71.4%,并发症发生率为28.6%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论地塞米松对腰硬联合麻醉穿刺时造成的神经根损伤作用效果明显,并发症发生率较低,疗效确切。     

巴彦乌拉铀矿周围饮用井水中总放射性水平调查

目的 调查巴彦乌拉铀矿周围饮用井水中总放射性水平。方法 采集2020年巴彦乌拉铀矿周围枯水期和丰水期饮用井水174份,以及居民家中经过滤后的饮用井水5份。分析枯水期和丰水期总α和总β放射性水平是否存在差异,总放射性水平与距离铀矿中心不同位置的关系,并对居民家中过滤后的饮用井水进行放射性水平调查。采用低本底α、β放射性测量仪测量分析其放射性水平。结果 巴彦乌拉铀矿周围饮用井水中,枯水期总α范围为0.024~ 2.468 Bq/L, 平均为(0.605±0.507)Bq/L,总β变化范围为0.125~1.395 Bq/L,平均为(0.420±0.235)Bq/L。丰水期总α变化范围为0.049~2.988 Bq/L,平均为(0.825±0.605)Bq/L,总β变化范围为0.059~1.623 Bq/L,平均为(0.506±0.265)Bq/L。距离铀矿中心位置水样的总放射性水平均值关系为10 km>30 km>20 km。结论 巴彦乌拉铀矿周围饮用井水中的放射性活度偏高,丰水期水样中总α、总β放射性水平均大于枯水期,放射性水平较未开采前未见升高。