Case report and literature review: Asymptomatic littoral cell angioma in a 3-year-old girl

BackgroundLittoral cell angioma (LCA) is an extremely uncommon benign vascular tumor of the spleen. Cases of LCA in infants are rarely reported, and due to the rarity of the tumor and non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis of LCA is often overlooked in clinical practice.Case reportWe present a 3-year-old girl with pulmonary inflammation who was admitted to the hospital due to the discovery of a space-occupying lesion in the spleen. Pathology after splenectomy confirmed LCA, and there was no recurrence observed at the 5-month follow-up examination.ConclusionLCA should be considered when a child shows asymptomatic splenomegaly, with antigen expression indicating dual positivity of endothelial and histiocytic markers. Laparoscopic splenectomy remains the primary method of treating LCA

Liposomal Curcumin Targeting Endometrial Cancer Through the NF-κB Pathway

Background/Aims: Emerging evidence suggests that curcumin possesses chemopreventive properties against various cancers. However, its poor bioavailability limits its clinical application. In this study, we aimed to utilize encapsulation in liposomes (Lipo) as a strategy for the clinical administration of curcumin for endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods: Curcumin was encapsulated in a liposomal delivery system to prepare a formulation of liposomal curcumin (LC). EC cell lines Ishikawa and HEC-1 were treated with the compound and cell proliferation was measured using MTT assay. Hoechst 33258 staining assay and flow cytometry were used to detect apoptosis of the cells. Wound healing and cell invasion assays were employed to monitor cell motility. Underlying target signaling, such as NF-κB, caspases, and MMPs, were further studied via qRT-PCR and western blot. Thereafter, a zebrafish model was used to assess the toxicity of LC. Finally, a zebrafish transplantation tumor model of EC was grown and treated with LC. Tumors were monitored and harvested to study the expression of NF-κB. Results: The formation of LC was successfully developed with excellent purity and physical properties. In vitro, LC resulted in dose-dependent inhibition of proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and suppression of Ishikawa and HEC-1 cell motility. LC treatment also suppressed the activation and/or expression of NF-κB, caspase-3, and MMP-9. No demonstrable toxicity was found in the zebrafish model and tumors were suppressed after treatment with LC. PCR analysis also showed down-regulated expression of NF-κB. Conclusions: LC was successfully prepared and played biological roles against EC probably through negative regulation of the NF-κB pathway in vitro and in vivo, which demonstrates its potential therapeutic effects in EC

Association of Serum Periostin with Cardiac Function and Short-Term Prognosis in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients

<div><p>Background</p><p>Periostin was proved to play an important role in extra-cellular matrix remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Myocardial periostin was markedly up-regulated after AMI and participated in the maladaptive process of cardiac remodeling. However, few researches focused on the circulating periostin and its significance. This study aims to investigate the association of serum periostin level with cardiac function and short-term prognosis in AMI patients.</p><p>Methodology/Principal Findings</p><p>We totally recruited 50 patients diagnosed as ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Blood samples were taken within 12 hours after the onset of AMI before emergency coronary revascularization procedures. Serum periostin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. All patients received echocardiography examination within one week after hospitalization. Correlations of serum periostin with echocardiography parameters, Killip class and myocardium injury biomarkers (CK-MB/troponin T) were investigated. AMI patients were divided into two groups by serum periostin level (higher/lower periostin group) and followed up for six months. Primary endpoints included cardiovascular mortality, nonfatal stroke/transient ischemic attack, chest pain occurrence and re-hospitalization. Secondary endpoint referred to composite cardiovascular events including all the primary endpoints.</p><p>Result</p><p>Serum periostin was in negative association with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (r = −0.472, *<i>p</i><0.01) and left atrium diameter (LAD) (r = −0.328, *<i>p</i><0.05). Positive correlation was found between serum periostin level and Killip class (r = 0.395, *<i>p</i><0.01). There was no association between serum periostin and CK-MB or troponin T (<i>p</i>>0.05). After six months follow up, patients in higher periostin group showed increased composite cardiovascular events (*<i>p</i><0.05). Patients showed no significant difference in primary endpoints between the two groups.</p><p>Conclusions/Significance</p><p>Serum periostin was in negative correlation with LVEF and LAD, in positive association with Killip class and higher serum periostin level may be predictive for worse short-term disease prognosis indicated as more composite cardiovascular events six months post AMI.</p></div

Cardiovascular Events of AMI Patients after Six Months Follow Up.

<p>TIA: transient ischemic attack; <i>*p</i><0.05.</p

Correlation of Periostin with Coronary/Echocardiography Parameters after AMI.

<p>LVEF: left ventricular systolic ejection fraction; LVDd: left ventricular end diastolic diameter; LVPWT: left ventricular posterior wall thickness; IVSTd: inter-ventricular septal thickness in diastole; LAD: left atrium diameter; AoD: aorta dimension. Date presented as mean±SD; Spearman correlation was used to analyze the relationship between periostin level and variables. <i>*p</i><0.05.</p

Effect of serum periostin on cardiovascular outcomes six months post AMI.

<p>Effect of serum periostin on cardiovascular outcomes six months post AMI.</p

Association of periostin level with echocardiography parameters and Killip class.

<p>(A) Serum periostin level was in negative correlation with left ventricle ejection fraction in AMI patients (r = −0.472, <i>p</i><0.01). (B) Serum periostin level was in negative correlation with left atrium diameter in AMI patients (r = −0.328, <i>p</i><0.05). (C) Serum periostin level was in positive correlation with Killip class in AMI patients (r = 0.395, <i>p</i><0.01).</p

Relationship between Clinical Characteristics and Serum Periostin Level in AMI Patients.

<p>All determinations were performed in the fasting state. CHD: coronary heart disease; HDLc: high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDLc: low density lipoprotein cholesterol; BUN: blood urea nitrogen; Date presented as mean±SD; Spearman correlation was used to analyze the relationship between periostin level and variables.</p

Clinical Characteristics of AMI Patients at follow up.

<p>All determinations were performed in the fasting state.</p><p>ACEI: Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; ARB: Angiotensin II receptor antagonists; HDLc: high density lipoprotein cholesterol; LDLc: low density lipoprotein cholesterol; Cr: creatinine; BUN: blood urea nitrogen.</p><p>Date presented as mean±SD.</p

Interleukin-2 and Interleukin-8 Gene Polymorphisms and Acquired Aplastic Anemia Risk in a Chinese Population

Background/Aims: Cytokines IL-2 and IL-8 both participate in immune regulation. However, the relationship between polymorphisms in these two cytokines and the risk of acquired aplastic anemia (acquired AA) has not been explored. Methods: We selected five SNPs including rs11575812, rs2069772 and rs2069762 of IL-2, rs2227306 and rs2227543 of IL-8. SNaPshot genotyping was used to test the genotypes of IL-2 and IL-8 polymorphisms in a population of 101 acquired AA patients and 165 healthy controls. Results: The rs2069762 G allele appeared to be a protective mutation, but no significant differences were found in other four SNPs. We also found that rs2069762 had an impact on the transcriptional regulation. Conclusions: It could be assumed that the rs2069762 polymorphism might reduce the risk of acquired aplastic anemia, while the remaining four SNPs might not contribute to susceptibility to acquired AA in a Chinese population