Human papillomavirus (HPV) oncoprotein E6 facilitates Calcineurin-Nuclear factor for activated T cells 2 (NFAT2) signaling to promote cellular proliferation in cervical cell carcinoma

The calcineurin-NFAT signaling pathway regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, and development in diverse cell types and organ systems. Deregulation of calcineurin-NFAT signaling has been reported in leukaemias and few solid tumors such as breast and colon. In the present study, we found elevated calcineurin protein levels and phosphatase activity in cervical cancer cell lines and depletion of the same attenuated cell proliferation. Additionally, nuclear levels of NFAT2, a downstream target of calcineurin, viz, was found elevated in human papillomavirus (HPV) infected cells, HeLa and SiHa, compared to the HPV negative cells, HaCaT and C33A, indicative of its higher DNA binding activity. The nuclear levels of both NFAT1 and NFAT3 remain unaltered implicating they have little role in cervical carcinogenesis. Similar to the in vitro studies, the HPV infected human squamous cell carcinoma specimens showed higher NFAT2 levels compared to the normal cervical epithelium. Depletion of NFAT2 by RNAi attenuated growth of SiHa cells. Overexpression of HPV16 oncoproteins viz, E6 and E7 increased NFAT2 expression levels and DNA binding activity, while knockdown of E6 by RNAi decreased the same. Briefly, we now report an activation of calcineurin-NFAT2 axis in cervical cancer and a novel role of HPV oncoprotein in facilitating NFAT2 dependent cell proliferation.     

Survivin、bFGF、VEGF在宫颈癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理特征的关系研究

目的:研究存活素(Survivin)、碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(bFGF)、血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)在宫颈癌组织中的表达及其与临床病理特征的关系。方法:选择2015年1月-2017年12月期间武汉大学人民医院收治的宫颈癌患者95例为宫颈癌组,宫颈上皮内瘤变患者70例为宫颈上皮内瘤变组,取同期在我院进行治疗的宫颈炎患者50例纳入对照组。采集三组患者的宫颈组织标本,采用免疫组化SP法对各组织标本中的Survivin、bFGF、VEGF的阳性率、表达水平进行检测,并分析Survivin、bFGF、VEGF与宫颈癌临床病理特征的关系以及各指标表达水平的相关性。结果:宫颈癌组、宫颈上皮内瘤变组的Survivin、bFGF、VEGF的阳性表达率、表达水平均高于对照组,且宫颈癌组高于宫颈上皮内瘤变组(P0.05)。Survivin、bFGF、VEGF的表达与宫颈癌患者的年龄、病理类型、分化程度无关(P0.05),而与宫颈癌肿瘤的分期、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05)。Spearman相关性分析显示,Survivin、bFGF、VEGF三者间的表达水平两两呈正相关(P0.05)。结论:Survivin、bFGF、VEGF的表达水平与宫颈癌的发生、发展有密切关联,并且三种指标间呈明显的正相关性,可能对于宫颈癌肿瘤组织的浸润、转移、分期发挥协同作用。     

宫颈癌患者人乳头瘤病毒感染分布情况及多重感染与临床病理特征的关系

目的:研究宫颈癌患者人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)感染的分布情况及多重感染与临床病理特征的关系。方法:选择2015年1月-2018年1月期间我院收治的118例宫颈癌患者,根据患者宫颈癌的病变程度分为I期组(n=21)、II期组(n=46)、III期组(n=49)、IV期组(n=2)。所有患者均进行HPV分型检测,比较不同程度的宫颈癌患者的HPV感染情况,分析不同宫颈癌病变程度患者的多重感染和临床病理特征关系。结果:118例患者中有97例患者感染了HPV,感染率为82.20%,且II期组、III期组、IV期组患者HPV感染率高于I期组(P0.05)。II期组、III期组、IV期组患者一重感染率低于I期组,IV期组二重感染率低于I期组,II期组、III期组、IV期组患者多重感染率高于I期组,且IV期组多重感染率高于II期组、III期组(P0.05)。多重感染患者类型有多种,其中尤以HPV16+18+53型最多,占比49.05%,其次是HPV16+18+68型感染,占比32.07%,HPV16+53+58型感染,占比13.21%。年龄在50岁以上、分期为III-IV期、鳞癌、淋巴结转移的患者HPV多重感染率更高(P0.05)。结论:HPV多重感染与宫颈癌病变程度和临床病理特征均有联系,对年龄较大且HPV多重感染的宫颈癌患者进行筛查,预防病情恶化。     

经筋推拿治疗颈源性头痛的疗效及对颈椎活动度的影响

目的:探讨经筋推拿治疗颈源性头痛(CEH)的临床疗效,分析其对患者颈椎活动度的影响。方法:选取2017年3月至2017年6月山东省中医院收治的70例CEH患者,按照随机数字表法分为推拿组36例和针刺组34例,推拿组给予经筋推拿治疗,针刺组给予针刺治疗。观察两组治疗前后的疼痛视觉模拟(VAS)评分、头痛积分及颈椎活动度评分,比较两组临床总有效率。结果:推拿组患者治疗后总有效率为97.22%,显著高于针刺组患者82.35%(P0.05)。两组治疗1个疗程后、治疗后1个月的VAS评分、头痛积分、颈椎活动度评分均较治疗前降低,且推拿组低于针刺组(P0.05)。结论:经筋推拿治疗CEH能够缓解疼痛和改善颈椎功能,疗效显著,值得临床推广应用。     

半乳糖凝集素-3与程序性死亡受体-1在宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨半乳糖凝集素-3(Gal-3)和程序性死亡受体-1(PD-1)在宫颈鳞癌组织中的表达及其临床意义。方法:选择2016年1月-2017年12月期间我院收治的宫颈鳞癌患者80例纳入观察组,宫颈上皮内瘤变(CIN)患者60例纳入CIN组,取同期在我院进行治疗的宫颈炎患者50例纳入对照组。采集三组患者的宫颈组织标本,采用免疫组化SP法对各组织标本中的Gal-3、PD-1的阳性率、表达水平进行检测,并分析Gal-3、PD-1与宫颈鳞癌临床病理特征的关系以及各指标表达水平的相关性。结果:观察组、CIN组的Gal-3、PD-1的阳性表达率、表达水平均高于对照组,且观察组高于CIN组(P0.05)。Gal-3、PD-1的表达与宫颈鳞癌患者的年龄、病灶大小、分化程度无关(P0.05),而与宫颈鳞癌肿瘤的分期、淋巴结转移有关(P0.05)。经Spearman相关性分析显示,宫颈鳞癌组织中Gal-3与PD-1间表达水平呈正相关性(r=0.496,P=0.000)。结论:Gal-3、PD-1的表达水平与宫颈鳞癌的发生、发展有密切关联,并且两种指标间呈明显正相关。     

四磨汤对宫颈癌化疗患者胃肠功能的保护作用及对血清IL-8、CEA、CA125水平的影响

目的:研究四磨汤对恩度联合力朴素治疗的宫颈癌患者胃肠功能的保护作用及对其血清白细胞介素8(IL-8)、癌胚抗原(CEA)、糖类抗原125(CA125)的影响。方法:选取2015年9月至2016年8月我院收治的88例宫颈癌患者,根据患者入院顺序分为观察组和对照组,每组44例。对照组在放疗基础上加以恩度联合力朴素完成化疗,观察组在对照组治疗基础上加以四磨汤。比较两组患者治疗前后血清IL-8、CEA、CA125水平及外周血CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+细胞比例的变化和胃肠道毒副反应、胃肠道放射性损伤的发生情况。结果:治疗后,两组患者血清IL-8、CEA、CA125水平均较治疗前显著降低(P0.05),且观察组的血清IL-8、CEA、CA125水平较对照组明显降低(P0.05);两组患者CD3~+、CD4~+细胞比例较治疗前显著降低(P0.05),CD8~+细胞比例较治疗前显著升高(P0.05),但观察组的CD3~+、CD4~+、CD8~+细胞比例细胞比例显著高于对照组(P0.05)。观察组不良反应发生率、早期胃肠道放射性损伤发生率、Ⅱ、Ⅲ级胃肠道放射性损伤率均显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:四磨汤用于恩度联合力朴素治疗的宫颈癌患者能有效保护患者胃肠功能,降低患者血清IL-8、CEA、CA125水平,增强患者免疫力。     

Host-cell DNA methylation patterns during high-risk HPV-induced carcinogenesis reveal a heterogeneous nature of cervical pre-cancer

Cervical cancer development following a persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) is driven by additional host-cell changes, such as altered DNA methylation. In previous studies, we have identified 12 methylated host genes associated with cervical cancer and pre-cancer (CIN2/3). This study systematically analyzed the onset and DNA methylation pattern of these genes during hrHPV-induced carcinogenesis using a longitudinal in vitro model of hrHPV-transformed cell lines (n = 14) and hrHPV-positive cervical scrapings (n = 113) covering various stages of cervical carcinogenesis. DNA methylation analysis was performed by quantitative methylation-specific PCR (qMSP) and relative qMSP values were used to analyze the data. The majority of genes displayed a comparable DNA methylation pattern in both cell lines and clinical specimens. DNA methylation onset occurred at early or late immortal passage, and DNA methylation levels gradually increased towards tumorigenic cells. Subsequently, we defined a so-called cancer-like methylation-high pattern based on the DNA methylation levels observed in cervical scrapings from women with cervical cancer. This cancer-like methylation-high pattern was observed in 72% (38/53) of CIN3 and 55% (11/20) of CIN2, whereas it was virtually absent in hrHPV-positive controls (1/26). In conclusion, hrHPV-induced carcinogenesis is characterized by early onset of DNA methylation, typically occurring at the pre-tumorigenic stage and with highest DNA methylation levels at the cancer stage. Host-cell DNA methylation patterns in cervical scrapings from women with CIN2 and CIN3 are heterogeneous, with a subset displaying a cancer-like methylation-high pattern, suggestive for a higher cancer risk.     

Phenotypic integration of the cervical vertebrae in the Hominoidea (Primates)

Phenotypic integration and modularity represent important factors influencing evolutionary change. The mammalian cervical vertebral column is particularly interesting in regards to integration and modularity because it is highly constrained to seven elements, despite widely variable morphology. Previous research has found a common pattern of integration among quadrupedal mammals, but integration patterns also evolve in response to locomotor selective pressures like those associated with hominin bipedalism. Here, I test patterns of covariation in the cervical vertebrae of three hominoid primates (Hylobates, Pan, Homo) who engage in upright postures and locomotion. Patterns of integration in the hominoid cervical vertebrae correspond generally to those previously found in other mammals, suggesting that integration in this region is highly conserved, even among taxa that engage in novel positional behaviors. These integration patterns reflect underlying developmental as well as functional modules. The strong integration between vertebrae suggests that the functional morphology of the cervical vertebral column should be considered as a whole, rather than in individual vertebrae. Taxa that display highly derived morphologies in the cervical vertebrae are likely exploiting these integration patterns, rather than reorganizing them. Future work on vertebrates without cervical vertebral number constraints will further clarify the evolution of integration in this region.     

经腹、经阴道与经会阴三种超声途径测量宫颈长度对早产的预测价值

目的:比较经腹、经阴道与经会阴三种超声途径测量宫颈长度对早产的预测价值。方法:选取我院就诊的孕妇780例,根据测量途径不同分为三组,每组260例,分别采用经腹、经阴道与经会阴方法测量宫颈长度。观察并比较三组患者的妊娠结局,以及三种测量方法的敏感度及特异性。结果:三组患者接受率相比,经腹组、经会阴组患者接受率明显高于经阴道组(P0.05);三组患者宫颈显示率相比,经会阴组、经阴道组宫颈显示率显著高于经腹组(P0.05)。经腹组中,宫颈长度2.5 cm的患者早产率为48.46%,明显高于宫颈长度≥2.5 cm的患者早产率17.69%(P0.05);经会阴组中,宫颈长度2.5 cm的患者早产率为37.69%,明显高于宫颈长度≥2.5 cm的患者早产率13.08%(P0.05);经阴道组中,宫颈长度2.5 cm的患者早产率为36.92%,明显高于宫颈长度≥2.5 cm的患者早产率13.46%(P0.05)。结论:三种超声途径测量宫颈长度对预测早产均有很大的临床价值,其中经会阴途径优势更大,值得进一步推广临床使用。