Gallbladder Tuberculosis: CT Findings with Histopathologic Correlation

Xiu-Fang Xu,Ri-Sheng Yu,Ling-Ling Qiu,Jian Shen,Fei Dong,Ying Chen 대한영상의학회 2011 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.12 No.2

Objective: We wanted to describe the computed tomography (CT) fi ndings of gallbladder tuberculosis (TB) and to correlate them with pathologic fi ndings. Materials and Methods: There were seven patients (M:F = 3:4; mean age, 46.3 years; age range, 32 to 78 years) in whom gallbladder TB was eventually diagnosed. All of them underwent cross-sectional imaging with CT, a pathologic examination and a retrospective review. CT imaging evaluation was done in each case, including the fi ndings of a mass versus nodule, wall thickening (uniform or irregular) and the enhancement patterns (homogeneous or heterogeneous). Results: All the cases of gallbladder TB revealed the following three different CT fi ndings: micronodular lesion of the gallbladder wall (n = 1), a thickened wall (n = 4) and a gallbladder mass (n = 2). There were three cases of homogeneous enhancement of the lesions, including homogeneous enhancement with nodular lesion, homogeneous uniform thickness enhancement and homogeneous thickness enhancement in one case each, and these cases pathology showed tuberculous granuloma with a little caseating necrosis in one case and tuberculous granuloma with rich fi brous tissue, but little or no evident caseating necrosis in two cases. Four cases of heterogeneous enhancement of the lesions, including heterogeneous uniform-thickness enhancement in two cases, heterogeneous enhancement with a local mass lesion in one case and heterogeneous enhancement with a mass that replaced the gallbladder in one case; in these cases, pathology showed tuberculous granuloma with marked caseation or liquefaction necrosis in three cases and tuberculous granuloma by fi brous and calcifi cations accompanied by caseating necrosis in one case. Among the seven cases of gallbladder TB, six cases were accompanied by abdominal extra-gallbladder TB, including abdominal lymph node TB in fi ve cases and hepatic TB in four cases. Conclusion: Gallbladder TB has various CT manifestations, and the enhanced CT findings are well matched with pathological features. An irregularly thickened gallbladder wall or a gallbladder wall mass with multiple-focus necrosis or calcifi cations accompanied by the typical CT fi ndings of abdominal extra-gallbladder TB should suggest the diagnosis of gallbladder TB.

Coenurosis of Yak, Bos grunniens, caused by Taenia multiceps: A Case Report with Molecular Identification in Qinghai Tibetan Plateau Area, China

Xue-Yong Zhang,Ying-Na Jian,Hong Duo,Xiu-Ying Shen,Yi-Juan Ma,Yong Fu,Zhi-Hong Guo 대한기생충학ㆍ열대의학회 2019 The Korean Journal of Parasitology Vol.57 No.4

Coenurosis is an important zoonotic helminthic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia multiceps. This parasite typically infects the brain of the intermediate hosts, including sheep, goat, cattle and even hu- mans. We report a case of T. multiceps infection in a yak confirmed by clinical symptoms, morphological characteristics, and molecular and phylogenetic analyses. The coenurus was thin-walled, whitish, and spherical in shape with a diameter of 10 cm. The parasite species was identified as T. multiceps by PCR amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA, cox1 and nad1 genes. Three gene sequences all showed high homology (all above 97%) with the reference sequences from different hosts. Moreover, phylogenetic reconstructions with the 3 published Taenia gene sequences confirmed that the Qinghai yak isolate was closely related to T. multiceps. Although there are advanced diagnosis and treatment meth- ods for coenurosis, early infection is difficult to diagnose. Importantly, the findings of yak infection case should not be ig- nored due to its zoonotic potential.

Pokemon Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor β-Smad4-Related Cell Proliferation Arrest in Breast Cancer through Specificity Protein 1

Ling Chen,Jing Zhong,Jiang-Hua Liu,Duan-Fang Liao,Ying-Ying Shen,Xiao-Lin Zhong,Xiao Xiao,Wen-Jun Ding,Xiu-Da Peng,Wei Xiong,Xu-Yu Zu 한국유방암학회 2019 Journal of breast cancer Vol.22 No.1

Purpose: Pokemon, also known as ZBTB7A, belongs to the POZ and Krüppel (POK) family of transcription repressors and is implicated in tumor progression as a key proto-oncogene. This present study aimed at determining the mechanism by which Pokemon inhibits transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)-Smad4 pathway-dependent proliferation arrest of breast cancer cells via specificity protein 1 (SP1). Methods: Over-expressing plasmid or small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection was used to regulate Pokemon levels. The EdU incorporation assay, MTS assay, and clone formation were used to identify the inhibitory effect of Pokemon siRNA on cell proliferation. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction assay confirmed that Pokemon deletion inhibited the expression of proliferation-associated genes. The dual-luciferase reporter assay, electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and co-immunoprecipitation assay were used to analyze binding between Pokemon, Smad4, and SP1. Results: Pokemon deletion induced proliferation arrest of breast cancer cells and inhibited the expression of proliferation-associated genes, especially Smad4. Pokemon bound with SP1 to interdict Smad4 promoter activity. Information on clinical samples was obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas data, in which the Pokemon mRNA levels showed a negative correlation with Smad4 levels in different subtypes of breast cancer in two independent datasets. Conclusion: We demonstrated that Pokemon binds to SP1 to down-regulate Smad4 expression, thereby promoting proliferation of breast cancer cells. This suggests that Pokemon is a potential TGFβ-signaling participant in breast cancer progression.

Catalytic topological insulator Bi₂Se₃ nanoparticles for <i>in</i> <i>vivo</i> protection against ionizing radiation

Zhang, Xiao-Dong,Jing, Yaqi,Song, Shasha,Yang, Jiang,Wang, Jun-Ying,Xue, Xuhui,Min, Yuho,Park, Gyeongbae,Shen, Xiu,Sun, Yuan-Ming,Jeong, Unyong Elsevier 2017 Nanomedicine Vol.13 No.5

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted wide interests in biological and medical applications. Layer-like Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> with high active surface area is promising for free radical scavenging. Here, we extended the medical applications of Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs further to <I>in vivo</I> protection against ionizing radiation based on their superior antioxidant activities and electrocatalytic properties. It was found that Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs can significantly increase the surviving fraction of mice after exposure of high-energy radiation of gamma ray. Additionally, the Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs can help to recover radiation-lowered red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts and platelet levels. Further investigations revealed that Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs behaved as functional free radical scavengers and significantly decreased the level of methylenedioxyamphetamine. <I>In vivo</I> toxicity studies showed that Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs did not cause significant side effects in panels of blood chemistry, clinical biochemistry and pathology.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs can significantly increase the surviving fraction of mice up to 70% after Gamma radiation. </LI> <LI> Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs can help to recover radiation-lowered red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts and platelet levels. </LI> <LI> Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs behaved as functional free radical scavengers and significantly decreased the level of methylenedioxyamphetamine. </LI> </UL> </P> <P><B>Graphical Abstract</B></P> <P>Layer-like Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> with high active surface area can protect mice against ionizing radiation based on their superior antioxidant activities and electrocatalytic properties. Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs can significantly increase the surviving fraction of mice up to 70% after exposure of high-energy radiation of gamma ray. Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs behaved as functional free radical scavengers and significantly decreased the level of methylenedioxyamphetamine. <I>In vivo</I> toxicity studies showed that Bi<SUB>2</SUB>Se<SUB>3</SUB> NPs did not cause significant side effects in panels of blood chemistry, clinical biochemistry and pathology.</P> <P>[DISPLAY OMISSION]</P>