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.     

Association between BMP15 Gene Polymorphism and Reproduction Traits and Its Tissues Expression Characteristics in Chicken

BMP15 (Bone morphogenetic protein 15) is an oocyte-secreted growth factor required for ovarian follicle development and ovulation in mammals, but its effects on reproduction in chickens are unclear. In this study, the association between BMP15 polymorphisms and reproduction traits were analyzed, and its expression characteristics in different tissues were explored in LaiWu Black chickens. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in four hundred LaiWu Black chickens. One SNP (NC_006091.3:g.1773T>C) located in exon 2 which was significantly associated with egg weight at first egg (EWFE) (P = 0.0389), was novel. Diplotypes based on the three SNPs were found to be significantly associated with egg weight at age of 43W (EW43) (P = 0.0058). The chickens with H3H3 diplotype had their first egg 0.57 days later than chickens with H5H5 diplotype and 1.21 days-3.96 days earlier than the other five diplotype chickens. The egg production at age of 43W (E43), egg production at age of 46W (E46) and egg production at age of 48W (E48) for chickens with H3H3 diplotype were the highest among all the chickens, and the E48 of chickens with H3H3 diplotype had 11.83 eggs higher than chickens with H1H5 diplotype. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression level of BMP15 gene in ovarian follicle was in the order of 4 mm>6 mm -8 mm> 15 mm -19 mm> 23 mm -29 mm > 33 mm -34 mm in diameter. The mRNA level in follicles of 4 mm and 6–8 mm in diameter were significantly higher than that in the other follicles (P<0.01). In the same week, the highest mRNA level was found in the ovary, and it was significantly different from that found in the liver and oviduct (P<0.01). Our results indicate that BMP15 plays a vital role in the development of ovary and follicles, especially in the development of primary follicles. H3H3 may be an potential advantageous molecular marker for improving reproduction traits in chickens.     

A Novel Adeno-Associated Virus–Based Genetic Vaccine Encoding the Hepatitis C Virus NS3/4 Protein Exhibits Immunogenic Properties in Mice Superior to Those of an NS3-Protein-Based Vaccine

More than 170 million individuals worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV), and up to an estimated 30% of chronically infected individuals will go on to develop progressive liver disease. Despite the recent advances in antiviral treatment of HCV infection, it remains a major public health problem. Thus, development of an effective vaccine is urgently required. In this study, we constructed novel adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing the full-length NS3 or NS3/4 protein of HCV genotype 1b. The expression of the NS3 or NS3/4 protein in HepG2 cells was confirmed by western blotting. C57BL/6 mice were intramuscularly immunised with a single injection of AAV vectors, and the resultant immune response was investigated. The AAV2/rh32.33.NS3/4 vaccine induced stronger humoral and cellular responses than did the AAV2/rh32.33.NS3 vaccine. Our results demonstrate that AAV-based vaccines exhibit considerable potential for the development of an effective anti-HCV vaccine.     

超高压对单增李斯特菌细胞膜的损伤和致死机理

【目的】研究超高压对病原微生物单增李斯特菌细胞膜损伤的影响。【方法】本文以单增李斯特菌为研究对象,探讨了不同压力处理(100-500 MPa)对单增李斯特菌的灭活作用,利用透射电镜观察高压处理对细菌细胞超微结构的影响,通过紫外分光光度法、原子吸收分光光度法和荧光分光光度法测定高压处理对细菌细胞膜通透性的影响,采用超微量Na+/K+-ATP酶试剂盒测定高压处理对细菌细胞膜Na+/K+-ATP酶活力的影响。【结果】25℃经300、350、400 MPa压力处理15 min后,单增李斯特菌总数由9.00分别降至5.20、3.27、1.35个对数单位,经450MPa及以上的压力处理后,单增李斯特菌的致死率达到100%。超高压处理对单增李斯特菌的细胞超微结构造成明显的损伤,细胞结构不完整,细胞壁局部被破坏,细胞膜通透性增大,细胞内物质聚合,出现透电子区。由于细胞膜的损伤使得细胞内无机盐离子、紫外吸收物质流出,细胞膜上的Na+/K+-ATPase失活。【结论】超高压处理造成单增李斯特菌细胞形态结构明显损伤,改变细胞膜的通透性,降低细胞膜上Na+/K+-ATP酶活力,最终使得细胞内无机盐离子和胞内大分子物质外流而死亡。     

Competing aggregation pathways for monoclonal antibodies

Aggregation is mediated by local unfolding to allow aggregation “hot spot(s)” to become solvent exposed and available to associate with a hot spot on another partially unfolded protein. Historically, the unfolding of either the crystallizable fragment (Fc) or the antigen binding fragment (Fab) regions of a given monoclonal antibody (MAb) has been implicated in aggregation, with differing results across different proteins. The present work focuses on separately quantifying the aggregation kinetics of isolated Fc, isolated Fab, and intact MAb as a function of pH under accelerated (high temperature) conditions. The results show that both Fab and Fc are aggregation prone and compete within the same MAb.     

Simple,sensitive and rapid HPLC–MS/MS method for the determination of cepharanthine in human plasma

A rapid, sensitive and specific method for the determination of cepharanthine in human plasma using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS/MS) was described. Cepharanthine and the internal standard (I.S.), telmisartan, were extracted from human plasma by methanol to precipitate the protein. A centrifuged upper layer was then evaporated and reconstituted with 100 μL methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on an AGILENT XDB-C₈ column (150 mm × 2.1 mm, 5.0 μm, Agilent, USA) using a gradient mobile phase with 1 mmol/L ammonium acetate in water with 0.05% formic acid and methanol. Detection and quantitation was performed by MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) in the positive ion mode. The most intense [M+H]⁺ MRM transition of cepharanthine at m/z 607.3 → 365.3 was used for quantitation and the transition at m/z 515.5 → 276.4 was used to monitor telmisartan. The calibration curve was linear within the concentration range of 0.5–200.0 ng/mL (r = 0.9994). The limit of quantification (LOQ) was 0.5 ng/mL. The extraction recovery was above 81.1%. The accuracy was higher than 92.3%. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 9.66%. The method was accurate, sensitive and simple and was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study after single intravenous administration of 50 mg cepharanthine in 12 healthy Chinese volunteers.     

西双版纳少数民族地区主要作物地方品种调查与分析

对云南省西双版纳傣族自治州勐海县和勐腊县的傣族、哈尼族、拉祜族、彝族地区的作物地方品种进行了调查,收集了粮食作物、蔬菜、果树、经济作物的地方品种和野生资源样本共353份,分属40科71属87种。通过分析上述调查资源的特性及分布特点,基本明确了西双版纳傣族自治州主要作物资源的保存现状,揭示了不同少数民族的传统喜好、宗教祭祀以及不同生态环境对作物种质资源多样性保存的作用。针对该地区作物种质资源的特性,提出了西双版纳少数民族地区主要作物地方品种的保护策略。     

男性尿道炎患者多形核白细胞计数与解脲脲原体感染的临床相关性分析

本研究旨在检测男性尿道炎患者中尿道多形核白细胞数量,并进行解脲脲原体(Uu)培养,以评价非淋病奈瑟菌性尿道炎的临床意义。将2284例男性性病患者的尿道分泌物涂片,亚甲蓝(美蓝)染色后镜检多形核白细胞,并体外培养尿道分泌物的Uu。结果显示,645例患者(28.2%)Uu培养阳性,其中158例(24.5%)≥5个多形核白细胞,157例(24.3%)1～4个多形核白细胞,330例(51.2%)无多形核白细胞。218例阳性患者(33.8%)无症状,614例阳性患者(95.2%)无体征。男性尿道多形核白细胞数量在Uu培养阳性和阴性患者中存在显著差异(P0.01)。结果提示临床诊断与实验室检查在证实男性非淋病奈瑟菌性尿道炎中具有重要意义。     

胰腺癌对TNF相关凋亡诱导配体(TRAIL)的抗性与逆转研究

TRAIL(TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand)是一种能识别和选择性杀伤肿瘤细胞的蛋白质因子,但研究发现胰腺癌对TRAIL的敏感程度远远不及其他肿瘤,其抵抗机制主要集中于胞内水平的调节,如c-FLIPS、BCL-2/BCL-xL、XIAP表达上调等,且针对性的逆转策略也进行了深入的研究.本文就TRAIL途径在胰腺癌中的研究进展作一概要的介绍.     

淡足侧沟茧蜂对甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾的寄生选择性研究

应用2因素2次回归正交旋转组合设计研究了淡足侧沟茧蜂Microplitis pallidipes对甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua (Hubner)、斜纹夜蛾Spodoptera litura的寄生选择性,并建立了2种寄主共存时的被寄生模型.主效分析表明,甜菜夜蛾和斜纹夜蛾幼虫被寄生虫数均随寄主自身密度的增加而增加;淡足侧沟茧蜂对2种寄主无明显的选择性,对甜菜夜蛾、斜纹夜蛾幼虫共存时的选择寄生比率分别为0.5211、0.4788.在人工繁殖淡足侧沟茧蜂时,可以利用易于人工繁殖的斜纹夜蛾做为繁蜂寄主,提高淡足侧沟茧蜂的繁殖速度,降低繁蜂成本.在甜菜夜蛾、斜纹夜蛾发生期,可保护利用淡足侧沟茧蜂来控制蔬菜夜蛾.