Correlation between the cystathionine-r-lyase (CES) and the severity of peptic ulcer disease

Background: The infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most important causes of gastric ulcer disease. The role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) production in H. pylori-induced gastric ulcer disease. Aim: The expression of cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) was determined, and correlated with the severity of gastric ulcer disease. Methods: 108 patients were selected based on the determination of gastric ulcer and the infection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), including 36 normal control, 36 patients with H. Pylori-negative gastric ulcer, and 36 patients with H. Pylori-positive gastric ulcer. RT-PCR determination was performed to determine the expression of CSE, NF-κB and IL-8. Results: The expression of CSE, NF-κB and IL-8 was higher in gastric ulcer group than control group (p < 0.05). Compared with the H.pylori-negative gastric ulcer, the expression of CSE, NF-κB and IL-8 was higher than H.pylori-positive gastric ulcer group (p < 0.05). For H.pylori-negative gastric ulcer group, the expression of CSE positively correlated with the expression of NF-κB (r=0.98, p < 0.05) and IL-8 (r=0.95, p 0.05). For H.pylori-positive gastric ulcer group, the expression of CSE also positively correlated with the expression of NF-κB (r=0.99, p < 0.05) and IL-8 (r=0.85, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The expression of CSE was positively correlated with the severity of gastric ulcer.Keywords: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), gastric ulcer, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE)African Health sciences Vol 14 No. 1 March 201

Quantum discord dynamical behaviors due to initial system-cavity correlations

We analyze the roles of initial correlations between the two-qubit system and a dissipative cavity on quantum discord dynamics of two qubits. Considering two initial system-cavity states, we show that the initial system-cavity correlations not only can initially increase the two-qubit quantum discord but also would lead to a larger long-time quantum discord asymptotic value. Moreover, quantum discord due to initial correlations is more robust than the case of the initial factorized state. Finally, we show the initial correlations' importance for dynamics behaviors of mutual information and classical correlation

Alterations of Serum Levels of BDNF-Related miRNAs in Patients with Depression

Depression is a serious and potentially life-threatening mental disorder with unknown etiology. Emerging evidence shows that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and microRNAs (miRNAs) play critical roles in the etiology of depression. Here this study was aimed to identify and characterize the roles of BDNF and its putative regulatory miRNAs in depression. First, we identified that miR-182 may be a putative miRNA that regulates BDNF levels by bioinformatic studies, and characterized the effects of miR-182 on the BDNF levels using cell-based studies, side by side with miR-132 (a known miRNA that regulates BDNF expression). We showed that treatment of miR-132 and miR-182 respectively decreased the BDNF protein levels in a human neuronal cell model, supporting the regulatory roles of miR-132 and miR-182 on the BDNF expression. Furthermore, we explored the roles of miR-132 and miR-182 on the BDNF levels in depression using human subjects by assessing their serum levels. Compared with the healthy controls, patients with depression showed lower serum BDNF levels (via the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays) and higher serum miR-132 and miR-182 levels (via the real-time PCR). Finally, the Pearson’s (or Spearman’s) correlation coefficient was calculated to study whether there was a relationship among the Self-Rating Depression Scale score, the serum BDNF levels, and serum BDNF-related miRNA levels. Our results revealed that there was a significant negative correlation between the SDS scores and the serum BDNF levels, and a positive correlation between the SDS scores and miR-132 levels. In addition, we found a reverse relationship between the serum BDNF levels and the miR-132/miR-182 levels in depression. Collectively, we provided evidence supporting that miR-182 is a putative BDNF-regulatory miRNA, and suggested that the serum BDNF and its related miRNAs may be utilized as important biomarkers in the diagnosis or as therapeutic targets of depression

Clinical Characteristics and Prognostic Factors of Primary Splenic Angiosarcoma: A Retrospective Clinical Analysis from China

Background/Aims: Primary splenic angiosarcoma is an aggressive malignancy originating from endothelial cells with a particularly poor outcome despite radical therapy. Owing to its extremely low incidence, available data for splenic angiosarcoma are limited. The present study aimed to address this limitation by presenting a thorough retrospective analysis of Chinese primary splenic angiosarcoma patients over a 53-year period (1963-2016). Methods: To determine the characteristics of Chinese primary splenic angiosarcoma and identify factors that impact the outcomes of this histology, we retrospectively retrieved reports of 110 Chinese primary splenic angiosarcoma cases published between 1963-2012. Results: In total, 61 males and 49 females diagnosed with primary splenic angiosarcoma were included in the present study. The median age at diagnosis was 50 years (range 2.5–76 years). Of these patients, 25.5% had received prior radiotherapy. The rate of splenic rupture was 59.11%. The 1-year overall survival rate was 19.1% with a median overall survival time of 8.1 months. Age, gender, and radiation history showed no correlation with survival rate. However, by univariate analysis, we found that significant adverse predictors of survival were splenic rupture before surgery and large tumor size (> 5 cm), while adjuvant chemotherapy was a favorable predictor. Furthermore, multivariate analysis revealed that splenic rupture and adjuvant chemotherapy were independent adverse and favorable predictors, respectively. Conclusion: Our large series describes and confirms the characteristics and poor prognosis of Chinese primary splenic angiosarcoma, thus indicating a critical role for early diagnosis and surgical intervention (prior to rupture) in management, and highlights the promising potential of adjuvant chemotherapy for improving the outcome in these cases

A prospective study of specimen eversion to lateral rectum and valgus resection for low rectal cancer

PurposeTo investigate the safety and efficacy of a reverse puncture device (RPD) and specimen eversion of the rectum for resection in total laparoscopic proctectomy.MethodsIn a prospective study from August 2019 to March 2021, 40 patients underwent a procedure with an RPD and specimen eversion of the rectum for total laparoscopic low rectal cancer resection, that is natural orifice specimen extraction surgery (NOSES), were included in the NOSES group. Forty patients in the control group underwent conventional laparoscopic radical resection for low rectal cancer and were included in the LAP group. Intraoperative- and postoperative-related indicators, recovery and inflammatory factors, quality of life (QOL) and mental health were compared.ResultsAll operations were successfully completed. Compared with the LAP group, the NOSES group showed better short-term outcomes, such as time to eating, postoperative pain, and especially postoperative incision-related complications. At the same time, postoperative inflammatory factor levels, psychological trauma, life-related anxiety and depression scores, and QOL were better in the NOSES group than in the LAP group.ConclusionsThe application of an RPD and specimen eversion of the rectum for total laparoscopic low rectal cancer resection is a technically feasible and safe approach with a short-term curative effect

Correlations between the optic nerve head morphology and ocular biometrics in highly myopic eyes

AIM: To analyze peripapillary atrophy β/γ zone (PPA-β/γ) and the optic disc ovality index, and to assess their associations with the axial length (AL), refractive error, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), choroidal thickness (CT), and age in highly myopic eyes. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational case series. The study included 667 patients consecutively examined for highly myopic eyes [spherical equivalent ≤-6.0 diopters (D) and AL≥26 mm] with or without myopic retinopathy. Each patient went through a comprehensive ophthalmological examination that included spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) of the macula, A-mode ultrasonography, and a cycloplegic refraction test. The ovality index and PPA-β/γ area were measured from optic disc photographs. RESULTS: A significant association was seen between PPA-β/γ area and the ovality index (P=0.000, r=-0.232). The PPA-β/γ area increased significantly with a longer AL, older age, worse BCVA, higher refractive error, and thinner choroid (P<0.01). The oval disc was significantly correlated with a longer AL, older age, worse BCVA, higher refractive error, larger PPA-β/γ area, and thinner choroid (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The PPA-β/γ zone and ovality index in highly myopic eyes show distinct associations with the AL, refractive error, BCVA, age, and CT