Placental thickness and its correlation to gestational age in Nepalese woman: a hospital based study

Introductions: Gestational age is estimated on the basis of last normal menstrual period and the measurement of foetal growth parameters by ultrasonography. The lack of accurate recollection of the last menstrual period and dependence of growth parameters on intra-uterine environment, physical and mental well-being of the mother, maternal nutrition and genetic factors leads to the over or under estimation of gestational age. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between placental thicknesses (PT) in normal singleton Nepalese foetuses. Methods: This was a cross sectional study of ultrasound measurement of placental thickness during 2nd and 3rd trimester pregnancy from April 2015 to October 2015 at Department of Radiology, Suraksha Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal. All viable singleton uncomplicated pregnancies, history of regular menstruation with known LNMP were included. Microsoft Excel and SPSS 17 were used for data analysis. Pearson’s correlation analysis was used for correlation between placental thickness and gestational age. Statistical tests were two-tailed with p<0.01 as statistical significance. Results: There were 592 pregnant women who met the criteria. Placental thickness increased by 0.86 mm in every week of increase in gestational age. The maximum mean PT of 40.42±1.05 mm was observed at 39th week. There was a significant positive correlation between placental thickness and gestational age, correlation coefficient r=0.986 (P<0.001). Conclusions: PT was found to be a reliable alternative predictor in calculating gestational age. Measurement of PT should be done routinely during obstetrics ultrasonography. Keywords: antenatal ultrasound,gestational age, placental thickness, singleton pregnancy,Â

Low Level of Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein 1 Predicts an Unfavorable Prognosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Curative Resection

BACKGROUND: Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) is a multifunctional receptor involved in receptor-mediated endocytosis and cell signaling. The aim of this study was to elucidate the expression and mechanism of LRP1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: LRP1 expression in 4 HCC cell lines and 40 HCC samples was detected. After interruption of LRP1 expression in a HCC cell line either with specific lentiviral-mediated shRNA LRP1 or in the presence of the LRP1-specific chaperone, receptor-associated protein (RAP), the role of LRP1 in the migration and invasion of HCC cells was assessed in vivo and in vitro, and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 in cells and the bioactivity of MMP9 in the supernatant were assayed. The expression and prognostic value of LRP1 were investigated in 327 HCC specimens. RESULTS: Low LRP1 expression was associated with poor HCC prognosis, with low expression independently related to shortened overall survival and increased tumor recurrence rate. Expression of LRP1 in non-recurrent HCC samples was significantly higher than that in early recurrent samples. LRP1 expression in HCC cell lines was inversely correlated with their metastatic potential. After inhibition of LRP1, low-metastatic SMCC-7721 cells showed enhanced migration and invasion and increased expression and bioactivity of MMP9. Correlation analysis showed a negative correlation between LRP1 and MMP9 expression in HCC patients. The prognostic value of LRP1 expression was validated in the independent data set. CONCLUSIONS: LRP1 modulated the level of MMP9 and low level of LRP1 expression was associated with aggressiveness and invasiveness in HCCs. LRP1 offered a possible strategy for tumor molecular therapy

Profiling of the Tetraspanin CD151 Web and Conspiracy of CD151/Integrin β1 Complex in the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Tetraspanin CD151 has been implicated in metastasis through forming complexes with different molecular partners. In this study, we mapped tetraspanin web proteins centered on CD151, in order to explore the role of CD151 complexes in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immunoprecipitation was used to isolate tetraspanin complexes from HCCLM3 cells using a CD151 antibody, and associated proteins were identified by mass spectrometry. The interaction of CD151 and its molecular partners, and their roles in invasiveness and metastasis of HCC cells were assayed through disruption of the CD151 network. Finally, the clinical implication of CD151 complexes in HCC patients was also examined. In this study, we identified 58 proteins, characterized the tetraspanin CD151 web, and chose integrin β1 as a main partner to further investigate. When the CD151/integrin β1 complex in HCC cells was disrupted, migration, invasiveness, secretion of matrix metalloproteinase 9, and metastasis were markedly influenced. However, both CD151 and integrin β1 expression were untouched. HCC patients with high expression of CD151/integrin β1 complex had the poorest prognosis of the whole cohort of patients. Together, our data show that CD151 acts as an important player in the progression of HCC in an integrin β1-dependent manner

Adverse events following Immunization with Sinopharm (Vero Cell) inactivated COVID-19 vaccine: Adverse events of Vero Cell vaccine

Introduction: Various types of COVID 19 vaccines are being used globally to control the current pandemic. Post-licensure surveillance of vaccines is essential to ensure safety. This study aimed to determine Adverse Events Following Immunization (AEFIs) of Sinopharm (Vero cell), the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine from China.   Method: This is a cross-sectional observational study conducted at Patan hospital, Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS). Vaccine recipients between April and May were contacted through a phone call after 72 h of vaccination to record the AEFIs. Pattern and distribution of AEFIs were analyzed. Ethical approval was taken from PAHS IRC.   Result: A total of 6142 individuals got the first dose of the vaccine and out of them we were able to contact 4574 through phone calls. Of the 4574, only 941 were included for the follow-up phone call after the second dose of the vaccine. A total of 1336 AEFIs were reported in 868(19%) first dose vaccine recipients while 147 AFEIs were reported in 105(11.2%) second dose vaccine recipients.  The frequently reported AEFIs were pain at the injection site, lethargy, headache, muscle ache, and fever. All the AEFIs were mild to moderate in severity. Most of the AEFIs started within 24 h and resolved within 72 h.   Conclusion: The Sinopharm (Vero cell) vaccine was found to have mild to moderate AEFIs in our study cohort and no case of severe AEFI was identified.

Expression of LRP1 and MMP9 in 327 cases of HCC.

<p>Hematoxylin & eosin staining of the tumor and corresponding peritumoral liver tissues (<b>A</b>, <b>B</b>, <b>C</b> and <b>D</b>). The LRP1 staining was mostly detected in the cell membrane of tumor cells, stromal cells and peritumoral liver cells(<b>E</b>, <b>F</b>, <b>G</b> and <b>H</b>). The expression of LRP1 protein had great variation in different tumor samples (<b>F</b> and <b>H</b>). the MMP9 protein was located in cytoplasm of tumor cells, peritumoral liver cells, stromal fibroblasts and inflammatory cells (<b>I</b>, <b>J</b>, <b>K</b> and <b>L</b>). Representative cases were listed. Patient 1 had high LRP1 expression and low expression of MMP9 (F and J), and patient 2 showed low LRP1 expression and high MMP9 expression in tumor tissue (H and L). The graph showed that the level of LRP1 protein expression was significantly down-regulated in tumors compared to that in the corresponding peritumoral liver tissues (<b>M</b>). A scatter plot showed that LRP1 protein expression in 40 tumor tissues blindly chosen from 327 cases of HCC was consistent with that of LRP1 mRNA (N). Scale bars: 100 µm.</p

Prognostic significance was assessed by Kaplan–Meier analysis and log-rank tests.

<p>HCC patients with low LRP1 expression had poorer prognosis in terms of overall survival (<b>A</b>) and cumulative recurrence (<b>B</b>). HCC patients with LRP1^low/MMP9^high showed the worst prognosis among the four subgroups (<b>C</b> and <b>D</b>, group I LRP1^high/MMP9^high (n = 56), group II LRP1^low/MMP9^high (n = 108), group III LRP1^high/MMP9^low (n = 103), group IV LRP1^low/MMP9^low (n = 60)).</p

Correlation between LRP1 and clinicopathological characteristics in 327 HCCs.

<p>Note: Values are expressed as the mean ± standard deviation.The student t test was used for comparison between groups. Abbreviations: AFP, α-fetoprotein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen. TNM, tumor-node-metastasis.</p

Expression and location of LRP1 in HCC cell lines and HCC tissues.

<p>Relative LRP1 mRNA levels (<b>A</b>) and protein levels (<b>B</b>) in Hep3B, SMMC-7721, HCCLM3 and MHCC-97L cells. (<b>C</b>) qRT-PCR showed LRP1 mRNA levels in HCC tissues with early recurrence were lower than that of HCC tissues without recurrence. (<b>D</b>) Fluorescence staining analysis for LRP1 expression in HCCLM3 and S MMC7721 cells.</p

Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with survival and recurrence in 327 HCCs.

<p>Abbreviations and Note: OS, overall survival; NA, not adopted; NS, not significant; AFP, α-fetoprotein; HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; TNM, tumor-node-metastasis; 95%CI, 95% confidence interval; HR, Hazard ratio; Cox proportional hazards regression model.</p