Cathepsin B Expression and the Correlation with Clinical Aspects of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Cathepsin B (CTSB), a member of the cathepsin family, is a cysteine protease that is widely distributed in the lysosomes of cells in various tissues. It is overexpressed in several human cancers and may be related to tumorigenesis. The main purpose of this study was to analyze CTSB expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and its correlation with patient prognosis.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Tissue microarrays were used to detect CTSB expression in 280 patients and to examine the association between CTSB expression and clinicopathological parameters. In addition, the metastatic effects of the CTSB knockdown on two oral cancer cell lines were investigated by transwell migration assay. Cytoplasmic CTSB expression was detected in 34.6% (97/280) of patients. CTSB expression was correlated with positive lymph node metastasis (p = 0.007) and higher tumor grade (p = 0.008) but not with tumor size and distant metastasis. In addition, multivariate analysis using a Cox proportional hazards model revealed a higher hazard ratio, demonstrating that CTSB expression was an independent unfavorable prognostic factor in buccal mucosa carcinoma patients. Furthermore, the Kaplan–Meier curve revealed that buccal mucosa OSCC patients with positive CTSB expression had significantly shorter overall survival. Moreover, treatment with the CTSB siRNA exerted an inhibitory effect on migration in OC2 and CAL27 oral cancer cells.

Conclusions

We conclude that CTSB expression may be useful for determining OSCC prognosis, particularly for patients with lymph node metastasis, and may function as a biomarker of the survival of OSCC patients in Taiwan.     

四磨汤口服液对稳定性胸腰椎骨折胃肠功能障碍的临床研究

目的：探究四磨汤口服液对稳定性胸腰椎骨折胃肠功能障碍病患的治疗效果。方法：选择2011 年1 月至2013 年7 月在我 院接受治疗的稳定性胸腰椎骨折后伴有腹胀和（或）腹痛的病患134 例。以数字法随机分为观察组和对照组各67 例。其中观察组 口服四磨汤口服液,对照组注射甲基硫新斯的明注射液进行穴封。记录所有病患第一次肛门排气时间、腹胀等临床症状出现频 率,并对比两组治疗后肠功能恢复情况。结果：观察组治疗后显效率以及总有效率达到40.30%、94.03%,显著高于对照组的 16.42%、71.64%。并且观察组肛门第一次排气时间以及肠功能恢复时间均低于对照组。而观察组治疗后存在腹胀等临床症状的病 患仅占5.97%,少于对照组的22.39%。差异均有统计学意义（均P＜0.05）。结论：四磨汤口服液和甲基硫新斯的明均能对稳定性胸 腰椎骨折胃肠功能障碍病患起到缓解作用,但四磨汤口服液治疗效果更显著,它能加快病患肠胃功能的恢复,降低治疗后不良症 状的发生率。     

Predictive Clinical Factors in the Diagnosis of Gastrointestinal Kaposi's Sarcoma and Its Endoscopic Severity

Background

The diagnosis of gastrointestinal (GI) involvement in Kaposi''s sarcoma (KS) is important to make because the need for treatment depends on the extent of the disease. Moreover, severe GI lesions can cause serious complications. Endoscopy with biopsy is an extremely useful method to diagnose GI-KS. However, determining the indications for endoscopy is difficult because KS can occur without GI symptoms or cutaneous KS. This study sought to clarify predictive clinical factors for GI-KS and its severity on endoscopy.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 1,027 HIV-infected patients who underwent endoscopy were analyzed. Sexual behavior, CD4 count, HIV RNA, history of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), GI symptoms, and cutaneous KS were assessed. Endoscopic severity including bulky tumor, ulceration, and number of lesions were evaluated. Thirty-three patients had GI-KS and 46 patients cutaneous KS. Among the GI-KS patients, 78.8% (26/33) had no GI symptoms and 24.2% (8/33) had no cutaneous KS. Univariate analysis identified men who have sex with men (MSM), CD4 <100 cells/µL, HIV RNA ≥10,000 copies/mL, no history of HAART, and cutaneous KS were significantly associated with GI-KS. Among these factors, cutaneous KS was closely related to GI-KS on multivariable analysis. Among patients without cutaneous KS, MSM and CD4 count <100 cells/µL were the only independent clinical factors related to GI-KS. Bulky tumor was significantly associated with CD4 <100 cells/µL and large number of lesions was significantly associated with HIV-RNA ≥10,000 copies/mL.

Conclusions

To diagnose GI-KS, clinical factors need to be considered before endoscopy. The presence of GI symptoms is not useful in predicting GI-KS. MSM and CD4 count <100 cells/µL are predictive factors among patients without cutaneous KS. Caution should be exercised especially in patients with low CD4 counts or high HIV viral loads as they are more likely to develop severe GI-KS lesions.     

种保素对几种作物根际微生物效应的影响

熹龙种籽保生素(以下简称种保素)为复合营养功能型生物制剂,被列为九五国家级新产品(证书号:5120610060784)。经全国农业技术推广服务中心在全国多个省区几年的试验示范和推广应用,结果在玉米、小麦、棉花、油菜、甜菜、花生等多种作物上拌种施用,能提高发芽率,提早出苗,促进根系发育,叶绿素含量增加,植株生长健壮,具有显著的增产效果1)。作物生长状况与其根际微生物有着非常密切的关系。作物生长期间活跃的新陈代谢作用为根际微生物提供大量的营养物质,产生明显的根际效应,同时根际微生物对根际养分也有显著的活化作用,促进植物的生长发育…     

1168例医院感染患者病原菌的调查及其影响因素的探讨

医院感染发病率较高且易于引起医患纠纷。为了解影响医院感染的主要因素及其主要病原体,对陕西省宝鸡市第二人民医院2002—2007年1168例医院感染患者进行了病原菌分离、鉴定及分析,同时对患者基础疾病及感染部位与医院感染的关系进行了探讨。实验结果表明,在临床各科室中,ICU患者医院感染比例（40．6％）最高（P〈0．01）,其次为烧伤科（13．3％）、泌尿外科（10．6％）和血液科患者（8．2％）（P〈0．05）。下呼吸道是最为常见的感染部位（33．9％,P〈0．01）,其次为泌尿道、胃肠道、手术切口、烧伤创面和血液（10．3％～14．7％,P〈0．05）。1168例医院感染患者标本中,病原菌总阳性率为67．3％（786／1168）。786株病原菌中,革兰阴性菌所占58．7％、革兰阳性菌占26．4％、真菌占14．9％。所分离的革兰阴性菌中,以铜绿假单胞菌（16．9％）、克雷伯菌（15．2％）和大肠埃希菌（11．7％）最为常见。所分离的革兰阳性菌中,以金黄色葡萄球菌（9．3％）和表皮葡萄球菌（7．2％）最为常见。     

Increasing Effect of an Oral Intake of L-Hydroxyproline on the Soluble Collagen Content of Skin and Collagen Fragments in Rat Serum

We examined the effects of oral L-hydroxyproline (Hyp) on collagen in the body. After 2 weeks' administration of Hyp (0.5 or 1 g/kg) to F344 male rats, the soluble collagen content of the skin had increased, and the serum concentration of collagen peptides was correlated with the skin content of soluble collagen. This result suggests that oral Hyp augmented collagen metabolism.     

微生物对油田污水-聚丙烯酰胺体系粘度的影响

比较了厌氧和曝气处理后的油田采出水配制聚丙烯酰胺溶液(采出水-聚丙烯酰胺体系)粘度及该体系中腐生菌,铁细菌和硫酸盐还原菌的数量变化。结果表明,曝气有利于聚合物溶液粘度的保持,粘度损失率明显低于厌氧采出水-聚合物体系。总体上,腐生菌或其代谢产物对聚合物粘度的影响很小;铁细菌可以利用聚合物生长,是破坏聚合物粘度的主要微生物类群;硫酸盐还原菌不能直接利用大分子量聚合物,可以利用小分子或分子链断裂的聚合物生长。     

肠道微生物对寿命的影响及其机制*

延长健康寿命的跨度对每个人都有重要意义,百岁老人存在独特的肠道菌群特征,肠道微生物群是许多年龄相关变化的核心,菌群特征以及菌群基因组成改变都能影响机体寿命。一些饮食和药物要发挥延寿效果也离不开微生物的参与,微生物具有重要的介导和转化作用,益生菌和粪便移植等措施在动物模型中已被明确可以影响机体寿命。越来越多的研究表明微生物不仅能产生小分子化合物促进健康寿命跨度的增加乃至延长个体寿命如γ-氨基丁酸、荚膜异多糖酸,还能影响宿主的生物合成代谢如5-羟色胺,甚至间接参与宿主信号通路的调控。目前对于这些微生物的生物学功能以及对宿主寿命的影响还没有系统的总结,对肠道微生物影响寿命的证据以及生理机制进行综述,为改善老年期健康状况的干预措施提供参考。     

浅析微生物学双语教学几个关键问题

专业基础课是衔接大学基础知识和专业知识的重要课程,也是比较难学的课程之一。根据《微生物学》课程的双语教学实践,对生物工程专业的专业基础课中双语教学的教材选择、教学方法、教学内容等几个关键问题展开讨论,并就如何提高双语讲授专业基础课的教学质量进行有益的探讨。     

医院口腔颌面部骨折患者的临床特征分析及治疗效果调查

目的:调查研究医院口腔颌面部骨折(OMF)患者的临床特征及治疗效果。方法:选取我院2011年2月至2013年2月期间收治的OMF患者135例作为研究对象。对患者临床特征进行全面分析,并根据患者具体情况制定相应治疗方案,分析对比临床疗效情况。结果:患者男女比例为2.14:1,平均年龄为34.6±4.2岁,其中20~30岁所占比例最高,达42.96%。骨折原因主要为交通事故,占45.19%。骨折类型以单纯型下颌骨骨折最高发,占46.67%。切开复位并行钛板钛钉内固定较单纯接受钛钉颌间牵引内固定,前者临床有效率显著高于后者,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:OMF高发于男性青壮年,主要骨折原因为交通事故,且以单纯型下颌骨骨折类型居多,临床治疗切开复位并行钛板钛钉内固定疗效显著优于单纯接受钛钉颌间牵引内固定。     

Studies on Transfer of Antiseptics to Microbes and their Toxic Effect

The transfer of alkyl esters of sorbic, benzoic and salicylic acid from the medium to bakers’ yeast cell was investigated, and both the quantity of the ester dissolved in the lipid phase of the cell and the quantity adsorbed on the solid phase were determined.

The dissolved quantity of these esters was very great in comparison with the adsorbed quantity. At the ester concentration which gives a definite inhibiting effect on the yeast growth, the adsorbed quantity remained constant, being independent of the kind of ester, while the dissolved quantity greatly varied according to the kind of ester. From this fact it was concluded that the toxic effect of these esters, as well as esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (cf. Part III), is exclusively limited by the adsorbed quantity.     

Implementation of Mental Health Service Has an Impact on Retention in HIV Care: A Nested Case-Control Study in a Japanese HIV Care Facility

Background

Poor retention in the care of patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with adverse patient outcomes such as antiretroviral therapy failure and death. Therefore, appropriate case management is required for better patient retention; however, which intervention in case management is important has not been fully investigated. Meanwhile, in Japan, each local government is required to organize mental health services for patients with HIV so that a case manager at an HIV care facility can utilize them, but little is known about the association between implementation of the services and loss to follow-up. Therefore, we investigated that by a nested case-control study.

Methods

The target population consisted of all patients with HIV who visited Osaka National Hospital, the largest HIV care facility in western Japan, between 2000 and 2010. Loss to follow-up was defined as not returning for follow-up care more than 1 year after the last visit. Independent variables included patient demographics, characteristics of the disease and treatment, and whether the patients have received mental health services. For each case, three controls were randomly selected and matched.

Results

Of the 1620 eligible patients, 88 loss to follow-up cases were identified and 264 controls were matched. Multivariate-adjusted conditional logistic regression revealed that loss to follow-up was less frequent among patients who had received mental health services implemented by their case managers (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.35 [0.16-0.76]). Loss to follow-up also occurred more frequently in patients who did not receive antiretroviral therapy (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 7.51 [3.34-16.9]), who were under 30 years old (2.74 [1.36-5.50]), or who were without jobs (3.38 [1.58-7.23]).

Conclusion

Mental health service implementation by case managers has a significant impact on patient retention.     

Studies on Transfer of Antiseptics to Microbes and their Toxic Effect

The adsorption of phenols and esters of acid antiseptics by the bacterial cell (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) was investigated in relatoin to their toxic effect, and it has been observed that the definite quantity of antiseptics must be adsorbed on the solid phase of the bacterial cell in order to give the definite toxic effect, and the toxic effect is independent of the quantity dissolved in the inner cell fluid or in the lipid phase of the cell. The result shows that the toxic effect of these antiseptics on either bacteria and yeast, is exclusively limited by the adsorbed quantity.

The adsorbed quantity required for the definite toxic effect was nearly the same as that previously observed in the case of the yeast, and the mechanism of the toxic action of these antiseptics was assumed to be same with each other in any case of microbes.     

专科层次临床医学专业课程建设效果调查分析

目的:了解临床医学专业课程建设情况,总结专科层次临床医学专业教育教学的主要成绩,查找专业建设存在的问题,为专科层次临床医学专业教育教学改革提出改进意见。方法:对我校2013届(应届生)306名、2011届和2012届(往届生)333名专科层次临床医学专业毕业生进行问卷调查,主要调查内容包括:课程内容、课程资源和课程评价。结果:专科层次临床医学专业毕业生认为本专业核心课程知识和技能模块设计合理,且应届毕业生认可度高于往届毕业生;对专业类纸质图书、纸质期刊等课程资源满意度高,认为专业类精品课程、教学视频等课程资源需要进一步改善;毕业生对专业知识考评认可度较高,应届生认可度优于往届生。结论:专科层次临床医学专业课程建设效果较好,特别是课程内容安排和课程评价合理,但在专业技能训练和课程资源建设方面需重点加强。     

Joint and Independent Effects of Alcohol Drinking and Tobacco Smoking on Oral Cancer: A Large Case-Control Study

Alcohol drinking and tobacco smoking are assumed to have significant independent and joint effects on oral cancer (OC) development. This assumption is based on consistent reports from observational studies, which, however, overestimated the independent effects of smoking and drinking, because they did not account for the interaction effect in multivariable analyses. This case-control study sought to investigate the independent and the joint effects of smoking and drinking on OC in a homogeneous sample of adults. Case patients (N = 1,144) were affected by invasive oral/oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma confirmed histologically, diagnosed between 1998 and 2008 in four hospitals of São Paulo (Brazil). Control patients (N = 1,661) were not affected by drinking-, smoking-associated diseases, cancers, upper aero-digestive tract diseases. Cumulative tobacco and alcohol consumptions were assessed anamnestically. Patients were categorized into never/ever users and never/level-1/level-2 users, according to the median consumption level in controls. The effects of smoking and drinking on OC adjusted for age, gender, schooling level were assessed using logistic regression analysis; Model-1 did not account for the smoking-drinking interaction; Model-2 accounted for this interaction and included the resultant interaction terms. The models were compared using the likelihood ratio test. According to Model-1, the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for smoking, drinking, smoking-drinking were 3.50 (95% confidence interval –95CI, 2.76–4.44), 3.60 (95CI, 2.86–4.53), 12.60 (95CI, 7.89–20.13), respectively. According to Model-2 these figures were 1.41 (95CI, 1.02–1.96), 0.78 (95CI, 0.48–1.27), 8.16 (95CI, 2.09–31.78). Analogous results were obtained using three levels of exposure to smoking and drinking. Model-2 showed statistically significant better goodness-of-fit statistics than Model-1. Drinking was not independently associated with OC, while the independent effect of smoking was lower than expected, suggesting that observational studies should be revised adequately accounting for the smoking-drinking interaction. OC control policies should focus on addictive behaviours rather than on single lifestyle risk factors.     

Physiological Aspects and Conservation of a Veillonella Strain Isolated From the Oral Cavity. Interaction with Streptococci

Bacteria of the genus Veillonella are anaerobic, Gram-negative cocci which are found as normal flora in the human oral cavity. Because it grows well with the lactate produced by streptococci, antinomyces and lactobacilli in dental plaque, they could play an anticariogenic role. The aim of the present study was to investigate the kinetics and viability of a Veillonella strain isolated from saliva and its interaction with oral streptococci. The growth rate was determined in Lactate broth measuring turbidity and CFU/mL over 64 h. Preservation media were tested at −70°C, −20°C and room temperature to strain conservation. To study bacterial interactions between veillonella and streptococci, an active culture of veillonella was spread on Mitis Salivarius Agar plates, which is a culture medium selective for oral streptococci. The replication time of this veillonella strain was 7.2 h in Lactate Broth and the specific growth rate (μ) was 0.096 h. The elected medium for conservation was Preservation Broth with 25% Glycerol at all temperatures. The Muñiz Maintenance Medium and Muñiz Maintenance Medium with Glycerol 25% media may be used at any temperature for short time periods. The interaction between veillonella and streptococci seems to be a result of nutritional factors.