Bioimaging of multiple elements by high‐resolution LA‐ICP‐MS reveals altered distribution of mineral elements in the nodes of rice mutants

Inter‐vascular transfer in rice (Oryza sativa) nodes is required for delivering mineral elements to developing tissues, which is mediated by various transporters in the nodes. However, the effect of these transporters on distribution of mineral elements in the nodes at a cellular level is still unknown. Here, we established a protocol for bioimaging of multiple elements at a cellular level in rice node by laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS), and compared the mineral distribution profile between wild‐type (WT) rice and mutants. Both relative comparison of mineral distribution normalized by endogenous ¹³C and quantitative analysis using spiked standards combined with soft ablation gave valid results. Overall, macro‐nutrients such as K and Mg were accumulated more in the phloem region, while micro‐nutrients such as Fe and Zn were highly accumulated at the inter‐vascular tissues of the node. In mutants of nodal Zn transporter OsHMA2, Zn localization pattern in the node tissues did not differ from that of WT; however, Zn accumulation in the inter‐vascular tissues was lower in uppermost node I but higher in the third upper node III compared with the WT. In contrast, Si deposition in the mutants of three nodal Si transporters Lsi2, Lsi3 and Lsi6 showed different patterns, which are consistent with the localization of these transporters. This improved LA‐ICP‐MS analysis combined with functional characterization of transporters will provide further insight into mineral element distribution mechanisms in rice and other plant species.     

Prediction of lymph node metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma based on protein profile

Objective: Lymph node metastasis leads to high mortality rates of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, it is still controversial to define clinically negative neck (cN0) and positive neck (cN1-3).

Methods: We retrieved candidate biomarkers identified by proteomic analysis in OSCC from published works of literature. In training stage, immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis was used to determine the expression of proteins and logistic regression models with stepwise variable selection were used to identify potential factors that might affect lymph node metastasis and life status. Furthermore, the prediction model was validated in validating stage.

Results: We screened eight highly expressed proteins related to lymph node metastasis in OSCC and found that the expression levels of SOD2, BST2, CAD, ITGB6, and PRDX4 were significantly elevated in patients with lymph node metastasis compared to the patients without lymph node metastasis. Furthermore, in training and validating stages, the prediction model base on the combination of CAD, SOD2 expression levels, and histopathologic grade was developed and validated in patients with OSCC.

Conclusions: Our findings showed that the developed model well predicts the lymph node metastasis and life status in patients with OSCC, independent of TNM stage.     

Identification of amino acid residues critical for the B cell growth-promoting activity of HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants

Background

HIV-1 matrix protein p17 variants (vp17s) detected in HIV-1-infected patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (HIV-NHL) display, differently from the wild-type protein (refp17), B cell growth-promoting activity. Biophysical analysis revealed that vp17s are destabilized as compared to refp17, motivating us to explore structure-function relationships.

microRNA-329 suppresses epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and lymph node metastasis in bile duct cancer by inhibiting laminin subunit beta 3

Bile duct cancer (BDC), also known as cholangiocarcinoma, is a highly desmoplastic cancer with a growth pattern characterized by periductal extension and infiltration. Studies have suggested that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in BDC progression. Here we aim at investigating the effects of miR-329 on BDC development, focusing especially on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in vitro and lymph node metastasis in vivo. Expression microarrays associated with BDC tissues were collected and differentially expressed genes were analyzed, followed by miRNA target prediction and verification. The role miR-329 played in BDC was examined using gain-of-function and loss-of-function methods. The expressions of miR-329, laminin subunit beta 3 (LAMB3), and EMT markers, in addition to cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were evaluated. Furthermore, nude mice models of BDC were established to observe tumor growth and metastatic lymph nodes. The LAMB3 was identified as an upregulated gene based on the GSE77984 and GSE45001 microarray analysis. LAMB3 was also predicted and confirmed to be a target gene of miR-329 by dual-luciferase reporter assay. Through further cell experiments, the EMT process was reversed, cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were suppressed, when miR-329 was upregulated. Furthermore, in vivo experiments exhibited that the overexpression of miR-329 inhibited tumor growth and the number of metastatic lymph nodes. This study provides in vivo and in vitro evidence that miR-329 inhibits BDC progression through translational repression of LAMB3. Therefore, the obtained results may aid as an experimental basis for improving prognosis of BDC.     

混合甲醛固定液固定大肠癌淋巴结标本的最佳免疫组化效果研究

目的:探讨混合甲醛固定液固定大肠癌淋巴结标本的最佳免疫组化效果。方法:采用不同pH值(6.0、7.0、8.0)的混合甲醛固定液对39枚大肠癌淋巴结标本进行不同时间(6 h、6 h-12 h、1 d-7 d)的固定处理。以细胞角蛋白20(CK20)为目标抗原,运用OIympusdp 70图像采集分析仪抽选出混合甲醛固定液最佳免疫组化染色的pH值及固定时间。结果:经pH值为7.0混合甲醛固定液处理后,阳性率为92.31%,高于经pH值为6.0、8.0的混合甲醛固定液处理后的76.92%、74.36%,且经pH值为7.0、8.0处理后的阳性率比较有统计差异(P0.05)。混合甲醛固定液的固定时间在6 h-12 h时的阳性率为94.87%,高于固定时间为6 h、1 d-7 d处理的30.77%、76.92%(P0.05)。结论:对于大肠癌淋巴结标本,以CK20为目标抗原,选择pH值为7.0的混合甲醛固定液固定6 h-12 h能够得到质量较佳的免疫组化染色效果。     

1064 nm acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy

Photoacoustic imaging is a noninvasive imaging technique having the advantages of high‐optical contrast and good acoustic resolution at improved imaging depths. Light transport in biological tissues is mainly characterized by strong optical scattering and absorption. Photoacoustic microscopy is capable of achieving high‐resolution images at greater depth compared to conventional optical microscopy methods. In this work, we have developed a high‐resolution, acoustic resolution photoacoustic microscopy (AR‐PAM) system in the near infra‐red (NIR) window II (NIR‐II, eg, 1064 nm) for deep tissue imaging. Higher imaging depth is achieved as the tissue scattering at 1064 nm is lesser compared to visible or near infrared window‐I (NIR‐I). Our developed system can provide a lateral resolution of 130 μm, axial resolution of 57 μm, and image up to 11 mm deep in biological tissues. This 1064‐AR‐PAM system was used for imaging sentinel lymph node and the lymph vessel in rat. Urinary bladder of rat filled with black ink was also imaged to validate the feasibility of the developed system to study deeply seated organs.      

全胸腔镜下肺叶切除联合系统淋巴清扫对肺癌患者血清疼痛相关因子和免疫功能的影响及预后的影响因素分析

摘要 目的：探讨全胸腔镜下肺叶切除（VATS）联合系统淋巴清扫对肺癌患者血清疼痛相关因子和免疫功能的影响,并分析预后的影响因素。方法：选择我院于2014年3月~2016年3月期间收治的肺癌患者116例,采用随机数字表法分为对照组和研究组,各58例。对照组患者给予传统开胸肺叶切除联合系统淋巴清扫治疗,研究组给予VATS联合系统淋巴清扫治疗,对比两组手术相关指标、血清疼痛相关因子和免疫功能,随访记录研究组患者5年生存率,分析预后的影响因素。结果：与对照组相比,研究组手术时间更长,术中出血量更少,术后住院时间、切口长度、引流时间更短（P<0.05）。两组术后1 d去甲肾上腺素（NE）、前列腺素E2（PGE2）、P物质（SP）、皮质醇（Cor）水平均较术前升高,但研究组低于对照组（P<0.05）。两组术后1 d CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD4⁺/CD8⁺均较术前降低,但研究组高于对照组,CD8+较术前升高,但研究组低于对照组（P<0.05）。单因素分析结果可知：研究组患者的预后与组织分化、吸烟史、病灶直径、临床分期、清扫淋巴结个数有关（P<0.05）。多因素Logistic回归分析结果可知：临床分期、清扫淋巴结个数是研究组患者预后的影响因素（P<0.05）。结论：ATS联合系统淋巴清扫可减轻肺癌患者术后疼痛及免疫抑制,虽然手术时间更长,但可以改善其他围术期指标。此外,临床分期、清扫淋巴结个数是患者预后的影响因素,应引起临床重视。     

超声检查参数联合血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1对甲状腺癌的诊断价值及其与淋巴结转移的关系

摘要 目的：探讨超声检查参数联合血清血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）、甲状腺球蛋白（Tg）、半乳糖血凝素-1（Gal-1）对于甲状腺癌的临床诊断价值及其与淋巴结转移的关系。方法：回顾性分析2017年6月至2020年6月入我院就诊的158例甲状腺肿瘤患者的临床资料。77例甲状腺癌患者纳入恶性组,81例甲状腺腺瘤患者纳入良性组,比较两组的超声检查参数及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平;此外,恶性组患者亚分组为淋巴结转移组（n=51）和无淋巴结转移组（n=26）,比较两组超声检查参数及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平。以受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析超声检查参数联合血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1对甲状腺癌的诊断效能。采用Sprearman相关系数分析各指标水平变化与甲状腺癌患者发生淋巴结转移的相关性。结果：恶性组患者的血管化指数（VI）、血流指数（FI）及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平均高于良性组患者（P＜0.05）;淋巴转移组患者的VI、FI及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1水平均高于无淋巴结转移组患者（P＜0.05）;超声检查参数VI、FI联合血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1诊断甲状腺癌的曲线下面积为0.933、敏感度为85.50%、特异度为80.00%,均明显高于五项指标单独检测。Spearman相关性分析结果显示,超声检查参数VI、FI以及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1与甲状腺癌患者淋巴结转移均呈正相关（P＜0.05）。结论：联合检测超声检查参数VI、FI及血清VEGF、Tg、Gal-1对甲状腺癌有较高的早期诊断价值,且上述指标均与患者淋巴结转移密切相关。