Prognostic implication of p27Kip1, Skp2 and Cks1 expression in renal cell carcinoma: a tissue microarray study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>p27^Kip1plays a major role as a negative regulator of the cell cycle. The regulation of p27^Kip1degradation is mediated by its specific ubiquitin ligase subunits S-phase kinase protein (Skp) 2 and cyclin-dependent kinase subunit (Cks) 1. However, little is known regarding the prognostic utility of p27^Kip1, Skp2 and Cks1 expression in renal cell carcinoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Immunohistochemistry was performed for p27^Kip1, Skp2 and Cks1 in tissue microarrays of 482 renal cell carcinomas with follow-up. The data were correlated with clinicopathological features. The univariate and multivariate survival analyses were also performed to determine their prognostic significance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Immunoreactivity of p27^Kip1, Skp2 and Cks1 was noted in 357, 71 and 82 patients, respectively. Skp2 and Cks1 expression were not noted in chromophobe cancers. A strong correlation was found between Skp2 and Cks1 expression (P < 0.001), both of which were inversely related to p27^Kip1levels (P = 0.006 and P < 0.001), especially in primary and clear-cell cancers. Low p27^Kip1expression and Skp2 expression were correlated with larger tumor size and higher stage, as well as tumor necrosis. Cks1 expression was only correlated with tumor size. In univariate analysis, low p27^Kip1expression, Skp2 and Cks1 expression were all associated with a poor prognosis, while in multivariate analysis, only low p27^Kip1expression were independent prognostic factors for both cancer specific survival and recurrence-free survival in patients with RCC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that immunohistochemical expression levels of p27^Kip1, Skp2 and Cks1 may serve as markers with prognostic value in renal cell carcinoma.</p

Case report: Sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma of the renal pelvis masquerading as a renal abscess

Sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma (SUC), a rare tumor of the urinary tract epithelium, exhibits a high degree of malignancy and therefore a poor prognosis. Due to the absence of specific clinical presentations and imaging findings, SUC of the renal pelvis masquerades as a renal abscess is frequently under-recognized or misdiagnosed as benign inflammatory disease, resulting in delayed or erroneous treatment. Here, we report a patient with SUC of the renal pelvis who presented with a renal abscess. Repeated anti-inflammatory treatment was ineffective. Unexpectedly, cancerous cells were detected in subsequent exfoliative cytology of nephrostomy drainage fluid. In accordance with this, radical surgery and postoperative chemotherapy were conducted. Fortunately, neither recurrence nor metastasis occurred during a one-year follow-up

Characterization of ultra-deeply buried middle Triassic Leikoupo marine carbonate petroleum system (!) in the Western Sichuan depression, China

Ultra-deeply buried (&gt;5000 m) marine carbonate reservoirs have gradually become important exploration targets. This research focuses on providing an understanding of the basic elements of the ultra-deeply buried Middle Triassic Leikoupo marine carbonate petroleum system within the Western Sichuan Depression, China. Comprehensive analyses of organic geochemistry, natural gas, and C–H–He–Ne–Ar isotope compositions suggest that the reservoir is charged with compound gases from four source rock units including the Permian Longtan, Middle Triassic Leikoupo, Late Triassic Maantang and Xiaotangzi formations. Approximately a 50-m thick outcrop and 100-m length of drilling cores were examined in detail, and 108 samples were collected from six different exploration wells in order to conduct petrographic and petrophysical analyses. Thin-section and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations, helium porosity and permeability measurements, mercury injection capillary pressure (MICP) analysis, and wire-line logging (5,500–6,900 m) indicate that the reservoir lithologies include argillaceous algal limestones, dolograinstones, crystalline dolostones, and microbially-derived stromatolitic and thrombolitic dolostones. Reservoir properties exhibit extreme heterogeneity due to different paleogeographic environmental controls and mutual interactions between constructive (e.g., epigenetic paleo-karstification, burial dissolution, structural movement, pressure-solution and dolomitization) and destructive (e.g., physical/chemical compaction, cementation, infilling, recrystallization, and replacement) diagenetic processes. An unconformity-related epigenetic karstification zone was identified in the uppermost fourth member of the Leikoupo Formation, which has developed secondary solution-enhanced pores, vugs, and holes that resulted in higher porosity (1.8–14.2%) and permeability (0.2–7.7 mD). The homogeneity and tightness of the reservoir increases with depth below the unconformity, and it is characterized by primary intergranular and intracrystalline pores, solution pores, fractures, stylolites, and micropores with a lower helium porosity (0.6–4.1%) and permeability (0.003–125.2 mD). Regional seals consist of the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation, comprised of ~300 m of mudstones that are overlain by ~5,000-m thick of Jurassic to Quaternary continental argillaceous overburden rocks. Effective traps are dominated by a combination of structural-stratigraphic types. Paleo- reservoir crude oil cracking, wet-gases, and dry-gases from three successive hydrocarbon generation processes supplied the sufficient hydrocarbon resources. The homogenization temperatures of the hydrocarbon-associated aqueous fluid inclusions range from 98–130 °C and 130–171 °C, which suggests hydrocarbon charging occurred between 220–170 Ma and 130–90 Ma, respectively. One-dimensional basin evolution models combined with structural geologic and seismic profiles across wells PZ1-XQS1-CK1-XCS1-TS1 show that hydrocarbon migration and entrapment mainly occurred via the unconformity and interconnected fault-fracture networks with migration and charging driven by formation overpressure, abnormal fluid flow pressure, and buoyancy forces during the Indosinian and Yanshanian orogenies, with experiencing additional transformation occurring during the Himalayan orogeny. The predicted estimated reserves reached ~300 × 109 m3. The results provide excellent scientific implications for similar sedimentary basin studies, it is believed that abundant analogous deeply buried marine carbonate hydrocarbon resources yet to be discovered in China and elsewhere worldwide in the near future

Exploring association between gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome and recurrent respiratory tract infections in children: a prospective cohort study

Background: Recurrent respiratory tract infections (RRTIs) have a negative impact on both children’s health and family wellbeing. Deficiency of ZhengQi used to be an instinct factor driving RRTI in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Our clinical observations suggest that children with gastrointestinal heat retention syndrome (GHRS) may have a greater risk of catching respiratory tract infections (RTIs). GHRS is a new predisposing factor for RRTI and it is dietary related. This study is aimed to explore association between GHRS and RRTI.Methods: A prospective cohort study has been conducted in Beijing, China; children aged 1–18 were enrolled. TCM symptoms, demographic and physiological characteristics were recorded by using semi-structured questionnaire. GHRS was considered as a predisposing factor. Children were followed up for next 12 months. We contacted with their parents using a face-to-face questionnaire survey, via email or phone every 3 months. Episodes of RTIs were recorded in detail.Results: Three hundred thirty four children were enrolled and 307 (91.92 %) followed up for 12 months. The incidence of RTI was 4.32 episodes per child-year (95 % CI 4.03–4.61). 69 (43.13 %) children in the group with GHRS suffered from RRTI; there were 48 (32.65 %) children in group without GHRS. The risk ratio (RR) value of RRTI occurrence was 1.32 (95 % CI 0.91–1.91, P?=?0.139), and the attributable risk percent (AR%) was 24.28 %. Dry stool and irritability were positively correlated with RTI episodes, age and BMI were negatively correlated with RTI episodes in a linear regression model. Dry stool (OR?=?1.510) was positively correlated with RRTI occurrence, age (OR?=?0.889) and BMI (OR?=?0.858) were negatively correlated with RRTI occurrence in our logistic regression model.Conclusions: GHRS is associated with RRTI in this cohort. Dry stool was positively associated with RRTI, and BMI was negatively associated with RRTI. Studies with larger sample size and longer follow up are needed to further evaluate this association. Relieving GHRS should be considered when TCM practitioners treat RRTI children, and this may protect children from suffering RTIs.Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Number: ChiCTR-CCH-13003756<br/

Interface Charge Characteristics in Polymer Dielectric Contacts: Analysis of Acoustic Approach and Probe Microscopy

Abstract Interfaces are essential components in polymer contact systems, which widely exist in electronic devices and power equipment. Interface charge originating from the mismatch of the electronic structure in interfaces is one of the key issues to modify the device performance due to its multifunctional migration and accumulation behaviors. Hence, the detection and analysis of the interface charge characteristics are of great importance to deeply understand the polymer contact system in various devices. This paper presents an overview of recent research progress in the interface charge properties at dielectric interfaces. Based on the theoretical analysis of the MWS polarization and electronic localized states, two typical approaches of discussing the interface charges from micrometer to millimeter are mainly studied. Acoustic method is prevalent in detecting the space charge in various dielectrics. However, owing to its limited resolution (several µm), it is difficult to clarify the charge distributions at the interface with a micro‐scale. Probe microscopy presents a promising technique due to its flexible surface potential detection at a submicron scale. The challenges and prospects of acoustic and probe microscopy methods are discussed in this paper. The advanced techniques of interface charges can promote the development of new energy electronic devices

Screening Anti-Southern Rice Black-Streaked Dwarf Virus Drugs Based on S7‑1 Gene Expression in Rice Suspension Cells

Southern rice black-streaked dwarf virus (SRBSDV) is a rice pathogen that had an outbreak in southern China in 2010 and caused significant crop losses. Therefore, screening for effective antiviral drugs against SRBSDV is very important. This study used rice suspension cells infected with SRBSDV by polyethylene glycol-mediated uptake for screening antiviral drugs. SRBSDV P7-1, which is coded by the S7-1 gene, has an intrinsic ability to self-interact to form tubules that play an important role in viral infection. Therefore, relative expression level of the SRBSDV S7-1 gene in infected rice suspension cells was assayed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the antiviral activities of various drugs. Dufulin displayed the highest inhibitory activity against SRBSDV S7-1 expression. In addition, changes in peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) activities were determined in inoculated and noninoculated cells. The results showed that both POD and PPO activities increased upon dufulin treatment. Furthermore, the validity of this approach was confirmed in an in vivo experiment in which dufulin was found to effectively inhibit SRBSDV