Incidence of Pituitary Apoplexy and Its Risk Factors in Chinese People: A Database Study of Patients with Pituitary Adenoma

Background

There are few studies of the incidence and clinical characteristics of pituitary apoplexy (PA) in pituitary adenoma patients, and the findings have been inconsistent.

Objective

The aim of the study was to retrospectively assess the incidence, clinical presentation, surgical management and postoperative complications of PA in pituitary adenoma patients.

Methods

A database was specifically designed to collect clinical, therapeutic, prognostic and histological information about pituitary adenoma patients. Using multivariate logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to identify associated factors.

Results

A total of 2021 pituitary adenoma patients were recruited. 97 (4.8%) patients had PA. The incidence of PA was 10.11% in patients with pituitary macroadenoma, and 0.36% in patients with microadenoma. Variables for the logistic regression model independently associated with PA were sex (male vs. female, OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.59~4.07), tumor type (negative staining vs. positive staining, OR = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.29~3.23), and tumor size (macroadenoma vs. microadenoma, OR = 26.46, 95% CI = 9.66~72.46). Headache, visual deterioration, and vomiting were the most common symptoms in patients with pituitary adenoma. Patients with and without PA had similar frequency of visual deterioration, head trauma, acromegalic appearance, galactorrhoea, cold intolerance and Cushingoid appearance, but headache, vomiting, ptosis, diplopia, fever and blindness were significantly more common in patients with PA. Pearson Chi-Square tests revealed a significant difference in surgical approach between patients with and without PA (95.88% vs. 85.57%, P = 0.01).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that PA is not a rare event. Male sex, non-functioning tumor, and macroadenoma are associated with an increased risk of PA. Compared with pituitary adenoma patients without PA, patients with PA have more severe symptoms.     

炭疽芽胞杆菌中CRISPR位点

【目的】考察炭疽芽胞杆菌中规律成簇的间隔短回文序列(Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,CRISPR)位点多态性情况及基于CRISPR位点多态性的分子分型方法是否在炭疽芽胞杆菌分型中适用。【方法】下载NCBI数据库中6株炭疽芽胞杆菌基因组并截取其中CRISPR位点片段序列。根据炭疽芽胞杆菌内CRISPR位点信息,设计相关引物,以193株炭疽芽胞杆菌基因组为模板PCR扩增CRISPR位点片段,测序。本地Blast比对截取序列及测序结果,查看CRISPR位点在炭疽芽胞杆菌中的多态性情况,并比较炭疽芽胞杆菌与蜡样芽胞杆菌和苏云金芽胞杆菌内CRISPR位点情况。【结果】炭疽芽胞杆菌内CRISPR位点不存在多态性。【结论】基于CRISPR位点多态性的分子分型方法不适用于炭疽芽胞杆菌分型,但可以用于区分炭疽芽胞杆菌与蜡样芽胞杆菌和苏云金芽胞杆菌。     

First Evidence of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis</Emphasis> in China: Discovery of Chytridiomycosis in Introduced American Bullfrogs and Native Amphibians in the Yunnan Province,China

Although the chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), the etiological agent of amphibian chytridiomycosis, has been implicated in mass mortality and population declines on several continents around the world, there have been no reports on the presence of Bd infections in amphibians in China. We employed quantitative PCR and histological techniques to investigate the presence of Bd in introduced North American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) (referred to hereafter as bullfrog) and native amphibians in bullfrog-invaded areas of the Yunnan Province, China. A total of 259 samples at five wild sites were collected between June and September in 2007 and 2008, including bullfrogs and four native amphibian species (Rana pleuraden, Rana chaochiaoensis, Odorrana andersonii, and Bombina maxima). In addition, 37 samples of adult bullfrogs were obtained from a food market. Bd infections were discovered in bullfrogs and three native amphibian species from all of the surveyed sites. Of the 39 Bd-positive samples, 35 were from wild-caught bullfrog tadpoles, postmetamorphic bullfrogs, R. pleuraden, R. chaochiaoensis, and O. andersonii, and four were from adult bullfrogs from the market. Our results provide the first evidence of the presence of Bd in Chinese amphibians, suggesting that native amphibian diversity in China is at risk from Bd. There is an urgent need to monitor the distribution of Bd in amphibians in China and understand the susceptibility of native amphibian species to chytridiomycosis. Strict regulations on the transportation of bullfrogs and the breeding of bullfrogs in markets and farms should be drafted in order to stop the spread of Bd by bullfrogs.     

A site-specific genomic integration strategy for sustained expression of glucagon-like peptide-1 in mouse muscle for controlling energy homeostasis

The incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) exerts important functions in controlling glucose and energy homeostasis. Endogenous GLP-1 has a very short half-life due to DPP-IV-mediated degradation and renal clearance, which limits the therapeutic use of native GLP-1. We have shown previously that immunoglobulin fragment-fused GLP-1 (GLP-1/Fc) is a structurally stable GLP-1 analog. Here, we report a non-viral GLP-1/Fc gene therapy strategy utilizing a REP78-in-trans and REB-in-cis element system to achieve a site-specific genomic integration. For this purpose, the GLP-1/Fc expression cassette, which is fused with the RBE element, was co-injected with the Rep78 plasmid into the muscles of transgenic mice carrying the AAVS1 locus of human chromosome 19. The Rep protein-mediated site-specific integration was demonstrated by nested PCR, dot-blot, and Southern blotting. We found that this approach reduced weight gain and improved lipid profiles in the AAVS1-mice on high-fat diet challenge. Our observations reveal a new GLP-1 therapeutic strategy with an apparent absence of side effects, which may find applications in diabetes treatment and obesity prevention     

患病大鲵中嗜水气单孢菌的分离鉴定及其防治

2009年5月,贵州省贵定县人工饲养的大鲵(娃娃鱼)发生了以四肢和腹侧的皮肤溃烂、口腔粘膜弥漫性出血以及肝脏肿大为临床病理特征的传染病。本研究对该传染病进行了病原分离、动物回归、菌株16S rRNA基因测序检测、药物敏感性、药物治疗及灭活乳化疫苗免疫保护方面的实验研究。试验结果表明,动物回归分离菌株与病原分离菌株其形态特征及理化特性一致,分离菌基因16S rRNA测序检测与嗜水气单胞菌的同源性达到99.57%以上,因此确诊该病为鱼类嗜水气单孢菌感染。致病株具有较强的耐药性,敏感药物治疗能抗菌,但皮肤溃烂组织、深部肌肉组织抗炎效果较差。经致病菌株灭活乳化免疫和免疫保护攻毒试验表明,灭活乳化疫苗免疫平均保护率达83.33%。     

反硝化除磷戈登氏菌属的富集及其菌剂制备

【背景】投加微生物菌剂是强化生物处理效能的重要手段,反硝化是污水脱氮除磷的关键步骤,但目前对于反硝化微生物菌剂相关的研究报道较少。【目的】驯化高效反硝化聚磷菌菌剂,并对系统进行生物强化。【方法】采用两阶段法快速富集反硝化聚磷菌,筛选高效脱氮除磷功能菌株NC1-1并进行鉴定,以NC1-1为菌种来源制备干粉菌剂,研究菌剂强化A²SBR系统污水处理效果。【结果】历经36 d后反硝化聚磷菌富集成功,菌株NC1-1经鉴定属于戈登氏菌属,其脱氮除磷率分别为89.46%和91.68%。麦麸、玉米粉配比为85%:15%、NC1-1投菌量为20 mL、发酵液用量20 mL的条件下成功制得干粉菌剂,干粉菌剂最佳投加量为10%的A²SBR系统总磷（total phosphorus,TP）和NO₃^--N去除率比未投加菌剂的A²SBR系统提高12.06%和11.52%。【结论】菌剂NC1-1的投加使A²SBR系统的污染物去除效能进一步提高,研究结果为进一步研究反硝化聚磷菌菌剂提供了...     

Broadening the versatility of lentiviral vectors as a tool in nucleic acid research via genetic code expansion

With the aim of broadening the versatility of lentiviral vectors as a tool in nucleic acid research, we expanded the genetic code in the propagation of lentiviral vectors for site-specific incorporation of chemical moieties with unique properties. Through systematic exploration of the structure–function relationship of lentiviral VSVg envelope by site-specific mutagenesis and incorporation of residues displaying azide- and diazirine-moieties, the modifiable sites on the vector surface were identified, with most at the PH domain that neither affects the expression of envelope protein nor propagation or infectivity of the progeny virus. Furthermore, via the incorporation of such chemical moieties, a variety of fluorescence probes, ligands, PEG and other functional molecules are conjugated, orthogonally and stoichiometrically, to the lentiviral vector. Using this methodology, a facile platform is established that is useful for tracking virus movement, targeting gene delivery and detecting virus–host interactions. This study may provide a new direction for rational design of lentiviral vectors, with significant impact on both basic research and therapeutic applications.