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Background/Purpose: Gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) are organ-specific autoantibodies. This study mainly assessed the frequencies of presence of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA in atrophic glossitis (AG) patients. Methods: Serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA levels were measured in 1064 AG patients and in 532 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Results: We found that 26.7%, 28.4%, and 29.8% of 1064 AG patients and 2.3%, 2.1%, and 2.6% of 532 healthy control subjects had the serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities, respectively. AG patients had a significantly higher frequency of GPCA, TGA, or TMA positivity than healthy control subjects (all P-values

Background/Purpose: Approximately 27% of atrophic glossitis (AG) patients have the serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether the serum GPCA or AG itself was a significant factor causing anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia in GPCA-positive AG (GPCA+AG) and GPCA-negative AG (GPCA−AG) patients. Methods: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 284 GPCA+AG, 780 GPCA−AG patients, and 532 healthy control subjects. Results: Both 284 GPCA+AG and 780 GPCA−AG patients had significantly higher frequencies of microcytosis, macrocytosis, blood Hb, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia than 532 healthy control subjects. Moreover, 284 GPCA+AG patients had significantly higher frequencies of macrocytosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia than 780 GPCA−AG patients. Sixty-three (22.2%) of 284 GPCA+AG patients and 139 (17.8%) of 780 GPCA−AG patients had anemia. The normocytic anemia (42.9%), pernicious anemia (34.9%), and iron deficiency anemia (15.9%) were the three most common types of anemia in the 63 anemic GPCA+AG patients. Moreover, the normocytic anemia (64.8%), iron deficiency anemia (14.4%), and thalassemia trait-induced anemia (13.7%) were the three most common types of anemia in 139 anemic GPCA−AG patients. Conclusion: The disease of AG itself is a significant factor causing anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia in both GPCA+AG and GPCA−AG patients. The serum GPCA also plays a significant role in causing macrocytosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and hyperhomocysteinemia in GPCA+AG patients. Keywords: Gastric parietal cell antibody, Atrophic glossitis, Anemia, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Hyperhomocysteinemia

Background/Purpose: Our previous study found that 9 of 63 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)/Behcet's disease (BD) patients have serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether serum GPCA positivity or RAS/BD itself was a significant factor causing hematinic deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia in GPCA-positive RAS/BD (GPCA+RAS/BD) or gastric and thyroid autoantibodies-negative RAS/BD (Abs−RAS/BD) patients. Methods: The mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 9 GPCA+RAS/BD patients, 41 Abs−RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects. Results: GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly lower mean blood Hb (for men only), iron (for men only), and vitamin B12 levels as well as a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level than 126 healthy control subjects. Moreover, GPCA+RAS/BD patients had significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than healthy control subjects. GPCA+RAS/BD patients did have a significantly lower mean serum vitamin B12 level and a significantly higher mean serum homocysteine level as well as significantly greater frequencies of vitamin B12 deficiency and of hyperhomocysteinemia than Abs−RAS/BD patients. Moreover, Abs−RAS/BD patients did have significantly lower mean blood Hb, iron, and folic acid levels and significantly greater frequencies of blood Hb and iron deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Conclusion: The GPCA is a major factor causing vitamin B12 deficiency and hyperhomocyteinemia in GPCA+RAS/BD patients. RAS/BD itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in both GPCA+RAS/BD and Abs−RAS/BD patients. Keywords: Gastric parietal cell antibody, Behcet's disease, Anemia, Iron deficiency, Vitamin B12 deficiency, Hyperhomo-cysteinemia

Background/Purpose: Atrophic glossitis (AG) patients are prone to have anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study evaluated whether 1064 AG patients had significantly higher frequencies of anemia, hematinic deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 532 healthy control subjects. Methods: The complete blood count, serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, homocysteine, and serum GPCA levels in 1064 AG patients and 532 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects were measured and compared. Results: We found that 7.4%, 3.9%, 19.0%, 16.9%, 5.3%, 2.3%, 11.9%, and 26.7% of 1064 AG patients were diagnosed as having microcytosis, macrocytosis, hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity, respectively. Moreover, 1064 AG patients had significantly higher frequencies of microcytosis, macrocytosis, hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, hyperhomocysteinemia, and serum GPCA positivity than 532 healthy control subjects (all P-values

Background/Purpose: Gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) have not yet been reported in recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients with concomitant oral lichen planus (OLP/RAS patients). This study mainly assessed the frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA (GPCA/TGA/TMA) positivities in 44 OLP/RAS patients. Methods: The frequencies of serum GPCA/TGA/TMA positivities in 44 OLP/RAS patients, OLP/RAS patients of four different subgroups, 520 RAS patients, and 352 healthy control subjects were calculated and compared. Results: We found that 20.5%, 27.3%, and 31.8% of 44 OLP/RAS patients, 75.0%, 100.0%, and 100.0% of 4 OLP/major-typed RAS (OLP/major RAS) patients, 15.0%, 20.0%, and 25.0% of 40 OLP/minor-typed RAS (OLP/minor RAS) patients, 45.5%, 72.7%, and 54.5% of 11 atrophic glossitis-positive OLP/RAS (AG+OLP/RAS) patients, and 12.1%, 12.1%, and 24.2% of 33 AG-negative OLP/RAS (AG־OLP/RAS) patients had the presence of GPCA, TGA, and TMA in their sera, respectively. OLP/RAS patients and OLP/RAS patients of four different subgroups all had significantly higher frequencies of GPCA/TGA/TMA positivities than healthy control subjects. Moreover, OLP/RAS patients had a significantly higher frequency of TMA positivity than RAS patients, and OLP/major RAS and AG+OLP/RAS patients had significantly higher frequencies of GPCA/TGA/TMA positivities than RAS patients. Furthermore, OLP/major RAS patients had significantly higher frequencies of GPCA/TGA/TMA positivities than OLP/minor RAS patients. Conclusion: For OLP/RAS patients, the concomitant OLP may play a role in causing an increased frequency of TMA positivity, and major RAS and the concomitant AG are contributory factors causing the elevated frequencies of GPCA/TGA/TMA positivities. Keywords: Recurrent aphthous stomatitis, Oral lichen planus, Autoantibody, Gastric parietal cell antibody, Thyroglobulin antibody, Thyroid microsomal antibody

High-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) infection is strongly associated with cervical cancer and current evidences link E7 to HPV-associated carcinogenesis. Here the authors propose a model in which the infection of epithelial cells with high risk HPV results in a burst of reactive oxygen species, translocation of LDHA to the nucleus and activation of a gene profile that supports the growth of cervical cancer.

Background/Purpose: Behcet's disease (BD) patients may have one or more hematinic deficiencies. This study evaluated whether there were significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia in BD patients. Methods: The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations in 63 BD patients were measured and compared with the corresponding levels in 126 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Results: We found that 30.2%, 34.9%, 6.3%, 6.3%, and 14.3% of 63 BD patients had hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. Both 63 BD and 19 major-typed RAS/BD patients had significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than 126 healthy control subjects (all P-values

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic inflammatory oral mucosal disease that occurs more frequently in middle-aged and elderly female patients. Previous studies indicate that OLP is a T-cell dysfunction-induced localized autoimmune disease. Clinically, six types of OLP, namely reticular, papular, plaque-like, atrophic/erosive, ulcerative, and bullous types, can be identified. OLP more commonly affects buccal mucosa, tongue, and gingiva. It always has a bilateral and symmetric distribution of the oral lesions. Plaque-like and atrophic/erosive OLP may be misdiagnosed as oral leukoplakia and oral erythroleukoplakia, respectively. Our previous study found serum autoantibodies in 195 (60.9%) of the 320 OLP patients. Specific serum anti-nuclear, anti-smooth muscle, anti-mitochondrial, gastric parietal cell, thyroglobulin, and thyroid microsomal autoantibodies are present in 28.1%, 8.4%, 1.6%, 26.3%, 21.3%, and 24.4% of 320 OLP patients, respectively. Furthermore, we also discovered that 21.9%, 13.6%, 7.1%, 0.3%, and 14.8% of 352 OLP patients have hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, and abnormally high serum homocysteine level, respectively. Therefore, it is very important to examine the serum autoantibody, hematinic and homocysteine levels in OLP patients before starting the treatments for OLP patients. Because OLP is an immunologically-mediated disease, corticosteroids are the drugs of choice for treatment of OLP. Keywords: Oral lichen planus, Hematinic deficiency, Autoantibody, Gastric parietal cell antibody, Thyroglobulin antibody, Thyroid microsomal antibody

Background/purpose: Our previous study found that 13 of 63 recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)/Behcet's disease (BD) patients have thyroglobulin antibody (TGA) positivity and/or thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) positivity (TGA/TMA positivity) but without gastric parietal cell antibody positivity. This study mainly assessed whether the serum TGA/TMA positivity was significantly associated with anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia in TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients. Materials and methods: The mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels were measured and compared between 13 TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients and 41 gastric and thyroid antibodies-negative RAS/BD patients (Abs־RAS/BD patients) or 126 healthy control subjects. Results: We found no significant differences in the mean blood Hb, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine leve1s as well as no significant differences in the frequencies of blood Hb and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia between 13 TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients and 41 Abs־RAS/BD patients. The 41 Abs־RAS/BD patients even had a significantly greater frequency of serum iron deficiency than the 13 TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients. Moreover, although a significant greater frequency of anemia was demonstrated in 13 TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients than in 126 healthy control subjects, there were no significant differences in the mean serum iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine levels as well as no significant differences in the frequencies of serum iron and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia between 13 TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients and 126 healthy control subjects. Conclusion: The serum TGA/TMA-positivity is not significantly associated with anemia, hematinic deficiencies, and hyperhomocysteinemia in TGA/TMA-positive RAS/BD patients. Keywords: Behcet's disease, Iron deficiency, Folic acid deficiency, Hyperhomocysteinemia, Thyroglobulin antibody, Thyroid microsomal antibody

Summary: Increased aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of cancer metabolism. How cancer cells coordinate glucose metabolism with extracellular glucose levels remains largely unknown. Here, we report that coactivator-associated arginine methyltransferase 1 (CARM1 or PRMT4) signals glucose availability to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) and suppresses glycolysis in liver cancer cells. CARM1 methylates GAPDH at arginine 234 (R234), inhibiting its catalytic activity. Glucose starvation leads to CARM1 upregulation, further inducing R234 hypermethylation and GAPDH inhibition. The re-expression of wild-type GAPDH, but not of its methylation-mimetic mutant, sustains glycolytic levels. CARM1 inhibition increases glycolytic flux and glycolysis. R234 methylation delays tumor cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Compared with normal tissues, R234 is hypomethylated in malignant clinical hepatocellular carcinoma samples. Notably, R234 methylation positively correlates with CARM1 expression in these liver cancer samples. Our findings thus reveal that CARM1-mediated GAPDH methylation is a key regulatory mechanism of glucose metabolism in liver cancer. : GAPDH is a critical enzyme in glycolysis. Zhong et al. find that CARM1 methylates GAPDH at R234 and inhibits its activity in an AMPK-dependent manner. R234 methylation inhibits glycolysis and proliferation of liver cancer cell lines. In hepatocellular carcinoma patient samples, GADPH R234 is hypomethylated, and there is a positive correlation between CARM1 levels and R234 methylation. Keywords: GAPDH, CARM1, arginine methylation, coenzyme affinity, glycolysis, AMPK, nutrient sensing, Warburg effect, metabolic reprogramming, liver cancer

We theoretically study the transmission properties and the PT-symmetry in a hybrid quantum electromechanical system consisting of a coplanar-waveguide (CPW) microwave cavity, a nanomechanical resonator (NAMR) and a superconducting transmon qubit, where the qubit works in the large detuning condition with both the CPW microwave cavity and the NAMR. By adjusting the NAMR-qubit coupling, we find that the transmissivity and the phase shift of the input field passing through the system can be tuned effectively. We also find that the effective electromechanical coupling can be greatly enhanced by adjusting the NAMR-qubit coupling. Furthermore, with the effective electromechanical coupling, we can realize the transition from the broken PT-symmetry phase to the unbroken PT-symmetry phase when both the cavity loss and the mechanical gain are considered. This work presents an effective way to manipulate the propagation characteristics and to study the PT-symmetry in a hybrid quantum electromechanical system. Keywords: Quantum optics, Quantum electrodynamics, Transmission properties, PT-symmetry

Background/Purpose: Behcet's disease (BD) patients should have recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) but they may or may not have atrophic glossitis (AG). This study mainly assessed the frequencies of serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) positivities in 30 AG-positive RAS/BD (AG+RAS/BD) and 33 AG-negative RAS/BD (AG־RAS/BD) patients. Methods: The frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities in 30 AG+RAS/BD patients, 33 AG־RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects were calculated and compared. Results: We found that 20.0%, 30.0%, and 26.7% of 30 AG+RAS/BD patients, 9.1%, 12.1%, and 15.2% of 33 AG־RAS/BD patients, and 1.6%, 2.4%, and 2.4% of 126 healthy control subject had the presence of GPCA, TGA, and TMA in their sera, respectively. The 30 AG+RAS/BD patients had significantly higher frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities than healthy control subjects (all P-values

Background/Purpose: Behcet's disease (BD) patients should have recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) but they may or may not have atrophic glossitis (AG). This study mainly assessed whether 30 AG-positive RAS/BD (AG+RAS/BD) patients had significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than 33 AG-negative RAS/BD (AG־RAS/BD) patients or 126 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Methods: The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations were measured and compared among 30 AG+RAS/BD patients, 33 AG־RAS/BD patients, and 126 healthy control subjects. Results: We found that 43.3%, 33.3%, 13.3%, 6.7%, and 20.0% of 30 AG+RAS/BD patients and 18.2%, 36.4%, 0%, 6.1%, and 9.1% of 33 AG־RAS/BD patients had hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and hyperhomocysteinemia, respectively. Moreover, 30 AG+RAS/BD patients had significantly higher frequencies of hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies and of hyperhomocysteinemia than healthy control subjects (all P-values

Abstract Background Stress is a common contributing factor for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). This study was to evaluate the efficacy of the centralized health education program in improving the quality of life (QOL) of middle school students with IBS who experienced the Wenchuan earthquake on May 12, 2008. Methods A multi-center, randomized and open evaluation study design was adopted. A total of 584 students who met the Rome III criteria for IBS in four middle schools were identified. Of these students, 29 were excluded for various reasons, and the remaining 555 students were randomly assigned to either the health education group (n = 277) or the control group (n = 278, received no health education). De-identified data were collected via the IBS quality of life (IBS-QOL) questionnaire and abdominal pain was assessed during the 5-year follow-up survey. Results The IBS-QOL mean total score was comparable at baseline between no-education group and education group no matter in quake-unaffected areas or quake-affected areas (52.27 vs 51.43, t = 1.15, P > 0.05; 51.02 vs 50.64, t = 1.98, P > 0.05). During the 5-year study period, 84 students opted out during follow-up. After 5 years, a significant difference of the IBS-QOL mean total score was observed between the no-education group and education group in quake-unaffected areas (80.53 vs 93.67, t = − 55.45, P

Background/Purpose: Gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) were rarely examined in Behcet's disease (BD) patients. This study mainly assessed the frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities in 63 BD patients. Methods: The frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities in 63 BD patients, 19 major-typed recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS)/BD (major RAS/BD) patients, 44 minor-typed RAS/BD (minor RAS/BD) patients, 520 RAS patients, and 126 healthy control subjects were calculated and compared. Results: We found that 14.3%, 20.6%, and 20.6% of 63 BD patients, 21.1%, 21.1%, and 26.3% of 19 major RAS/BD patients, 11.4%, 20.5%, and 18.2% of 44 minor RAS/BD patients, 11.5%, 18.5%, and 18.3% of 520 RAS patients, and 1.6%, 2.4%, and 2.4% of 126 healthy control subjects had serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities, respectively. BD, major RAS/BD, minor RAS/BD, and RAS patients all had significantly higher frequencies of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA positivities than healthy control subjects (all P-values

B cells are recognized as key participants in various autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although sets of transcription factors and cytokines are known to regulate B cell differentiation, the roles of microRNAs are poorly understood. Our previous study proved that microRNA-326 (miR-326) was markedly upregulated in SLE patients; however, the biological function of miR-326 during SLE pathogenesis remained unknown. In this study, we found that miR-326 overexpression in MRL/lpr mice led to B cell hyperactivity and severe SLE. Moreover, E26 transformation-specific-1 (Ets-1), a negative regulator of B cell differentiation, was identified as a target of miR-326. Therefore, a novel mechanism has been found in which the elevated miR-326 in B cells of SLE promotes plasmablast development and antibody production through downregulation of Ets-1.

Abstract Dysregulation of metabolism allows tumor cells to generate needed building blocks as well as to modulate epigenetic marks to support cancer initiation and progression. Cancer-induced metabolic changes alter the epigenetic landscape, especially modifications on histones and DNA, thereby promoting malignant transformation, adaptation to inadequate nutrition, and metastasis. Recent advances in cancer metabolism shed light on how aberrations in metabolites and metabolic enzymes modify epigenetic programs. The metabolism-induced recoding of epigenetics in cancer depends strongly on nutrient availability for tumor cells. In this review, we focus on metabolic remodeling of epigenetics in cancer and examine potential mechanisms by which cancer cells integrate nutritional inputs into epigenetic modification.

Background/purpose: Previous studies showed that approximately 13–15% of male oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) patients are serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA)-positive. This study assessed whether serum GPCA or OSF itself was a significant factor that caused hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in GPCA-positive or GPCA-negative OSF patients (GPCA+/OSF and GPCA−/OSF patients). Materials and methods: The frequencies of macrocytosis (mean corpuscular volume or MCV ≧ 100 fL) and blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiencies were determined and compared between any two of the four groups of 149 male OSF, 23 male GPCA+/OSF, and 126 male GPCA−/OSF patients and 149 age-matched male healthy control subjects. Results: All three groups of OSF patients (including 149 OSF, 23 GPCA+/OSF, and 126 GPCA−/OSF patients) had a significantly higher frequency of Hb, vitamin B12, or folic acid deficiency and of macrocytosis than 149 healthy control subjects (all P-values

Approximately 27% of erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) patients have serum anti-gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether serum GPCA or EOLP itself was a significant factor that caused hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in GPCA-positive or autoantibodies-negative EOLP patients (GPCA+/EOLP and Abs−/EOLP patients). Methods: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 41 GPCA+/EOLP patients, 198 Abs−/EOLP patients, and 184 healthy control subjects. Results: GPCA+/EOLP patients had significantly lower mean Hb, iron (for women only), and vitamin B12 level as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Moreover, GPCA+/EOLP patients had significantly lower serum vitamin B12 level and significantly higher MCV as well as a significantly greater frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency than Abs−/EOLP patients. Furthermore, Abs−/EOLP patients did have significantly lower mean Hb, MCV, iron (for women only), vitamin B12, and folic acid levels as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb and iron deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Conclusion: We conclude that serum GPCA is the major factor that causes vitamin B12 deficiency, macrocytosis and pernicious anemia in GPCA+/EOLP patients. Approximately 29–32% GPCA-positive EOLP patients have vitamin B12 deficiency or macrocytosis and about 23–25% vitamin B12 deficiency or macrocytosis EOLP patients have pernicious anemia. ELOP itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in Abs−/EOLP patients.

Microcytosis is defined as mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 5 × 1012/L than healthy controls. Moreover, 19 of 30 GPCA+/microcytosis patients and 143 of 210 GPCA−/microcytosis patients had anemia, with iron deficiency anemia being the most common type, followed by thalassemia trait-induced anemia and microcytic anemia due to other causes. Conclusion: We conclude that GPCA in microcytosis patients' sera may have caused significantly lower mean vitamin B12 level as well as significantly higher mean RDW and serum homocysteine level in our GPCA+/microcytosis patients than in GPCA−/microcytosis patients. Herein, iron deficiency anemia was the most common type of anemia in anemic GPCA+/microcytosis and GPCA−/microcytosis patients.

Patients with microcytosis (defined as mean corpuscular volume 5 × 1012/L, and abnormally high homocysteine levels than healthy control individuals. Moreover, 162 (67.5%) of the 240 microcytosis patients had anemia. Of 162 anemic microcytosis patients, 87 (53.7%) had iron deficiency anemia, 61 (37.7%) had thalassemia trait (TT)-induced anemia, and 14 (8.6%) had other microcytic anemia. Conclusion: We conclude that approximately 45%, 4%, and 5% of microcytosis patients have iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies, respectively, and approximately 10% of microcytosis patients have abnormally high homocysteine levels. Moreover, 67.5% of 240 microcytosis patients and 50.8% of 120 TT patients had anemia. Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia in microcytosis patients, followed by TT-induced anemia and other microcytic anemia.

Langerhans cells (LCs) are antigen presenting cells. This study assessed the LC counts in oral epithelial dysplasia (OED) and their correlation to clinicopathological parameters. Methods: This study examined the LC counts in the epithelia and subepithelial connective tissues of 58 patients with OED (21 mild, 18 moderate, and 19 severe OED lesions) and 10 specimens of normal oral mucosa (NOM) by anti-S-100 protein immunostaining. Results: We found that the mean LC counts in the epithelia or subepithelial connective tissues increased significantly from NOM samples through mild and moderate OED to severe OED samples. In addition, a significant correlation was found between higher mean LC counts in the dysplastic epithelia of OED samples and OED lesions with thicker epithelial layers (p

Herpangina (HA) and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) are common infectious diseases caused by human enteroviruses and frequently occurr in young children. Previous published studies have mainly focused on HFMD, while the HA epidemiological and etiological characteristics in mainland China have not been described. From June, 2013 to March, 2014, HA and HFMD patients were monitored in participants from clinical trial of EV-A71 vaccine conducted during 2012–2013. A total of 95 HA patients and 161 HFMD patients were defined. Enteroviruses of HA samples were differentiated into 17 serotypes (EV-A71, CV-A16, CV-A24, E6, CV-B5, CV-A22, CV-A6, CV-A10, CV-B3, E9, CV-A9, CV-B4, CV-B2, E1, E7, E21 and CV-A20), the most common serotypes were EV-A71(10/95,10.5%), CV-A16(4/95,4.2%) and CV-A24(4/95,4.2%); while enteroviruses detected from HFMD samples were classfied into 21 serotypes ( EV-A71, CV-A16, CV-A10, CV-A6, E6, CV-B3, CV-B5, CV-A9, E9, CV-B2, CV-B4, E3, E11, E15, E16, CV-A1, EV-A69, E5, CA22, CA24 and EV99), the most common serotypes were EV-A71(28/161,17.4%), CV-A16(7/161,4.4%) and CV-A10(5/161,3.1%). The first HA epidemic peak occurred in summer and a second smaller peak occurred in January. In HA patients, the body temperature (P < 0.0001) and the incidence of fever (P < 0.05) were significant higher than those in HFMD patients. Between HA and HFMD patients infected with EV-A71, no significant differences were found in age, sex, circulating season, and the viral genome diversity. In summary, we firstly reported the epidemiological and etiological characteristics of HA in mainland China. Developing a multivalent vaccine will be helpful for the control of the HA/HFMD epidemic.

Serum anti-gastric parietal cell (GPCA), anti-thyroglobulin (TGA), and anti-thyroid microsomal antibodies (TMA) can be found in some recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients. This study mainly assessed whether serum GPCA, TGA, TMA and RAS itself played significant roles in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in TGA/TMA-positive RAS patients with GPCA positivity (GPCA+/TGA/TMA/RAS patients) or negativity (GPCA−/TGA/TMA/RAS patients). Methods: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured and compared between any two of the four groups of 15 GPCA+/TGA/TMA/RAS patients, 69 GPCA−/TGA/TMA/RAS patients, 240 all autoantibodies-negative RAS patients (Abs−/RAS patients), and 342 healthy control subjects. Results: GPCA+/TGA/TMA/RAS patients had significantly lower mean Hb (for men only) and vitamin B12 levels as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies than healthy control subjects. GPCA+/TGA/TMA/RAS patients had lower serum vitamin B12 level and higher MCV as well as a significantly greater frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency than GPCA−/TGA/TMA/RAS patients. Furthermore, both GPCA−/TGA/TMA/RAS and Abs−/RAS patients did have significantly lower mean Hb, MCV, and iron levels as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies than healthy control subjects. There were no significant differences in blood data between GPCA−/TGA/TMA/RAS and Abs−/RAS patients Conclusion: Both serum GPCA positivity and RAS itself are the contributing factors causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in GPCA+/TGA/TMA/RAS patients. RAS itself but not TGA/TMA positivity plays a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in GPCA−/TGA/TMA/RAS patients.

Approximately 13% of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients have serum anti-gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity. This study assessed whether serum GPCA or RAS itself was a significant factor causing hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in GPCA-positive RAS (GPCA+/RAS) and all autoantibodies-negative RAS (Abs−/RAS) patients. Methods: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 31 GPCA+/RAS patients, 240 Abs−/RAS patients, and 342 healthy control subjects. Results: GPCA+/RAS patients had significantly lower mean Hb and serum iron level (for women only) as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Moreover, GPCA+/RAS patients had a significantly higher MCV and a significantly greater frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency than Abs−/RAS patients. Furthermore, Abs−/RAS patients did have significantly lower mean Hb, MCV, iron, and folic acid levels and significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Of 31 GPCA+/RAS patients, 3 (9.7%) had PA, 6 (19.4%) had vitamin B12 deficiency, and 3 (9.7%) had macrocytosis. Moreover, normocytic anemia (54.0%) and iron deficiency anemia (26.4%) are the two more common types of anemia in our RAS patients. Conclusions: We conclude that serum GPCA plays a significant role in causing vitamin B12 deficiency and high MCV in GPCA+/RAS patients. RAS itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in both GPCA+/RAS and Abs−/RAS patients.

Anti-gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), anti-thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and anti-thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) have not yet been reported in patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS). This study mainly assessed the frequencies of the presence of serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA in different types of RAS patients. Methods: Serum GPCA, TGA, and TMA levels were measured in 355 RAS patients of different subtypes and in 355 age- and sex-matched healthy control individuals. Results: We found that 13.0%, 19.4%, and 19.7% of 355 RAS patients, 16.7%, 23.3%, and 21.7% of 60 major-typed RAS patients, 12.2%, 18.6%, and 19.3% of 295 minor-typed RAS patients, 18.1%, 20.0%, and 21.9% of 160 atrophic glossitis-positive RAS (AG+/RAS) patients, and 8.7%, 19.0%, and 17.9% of 195 AG-negative RAS (AG–/RAS) patients had the presence of GPCA, TGA, and TMA in their sera, respectively. RAS, major-typed RAS, minor-typed RAS, AG+/RAS, and AG–/RAS patients all had a significantly higher frequency of GPCA, TGA, or TMA positivity than healthy control individuals (all p

Some of recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) patients had concomitant atrophic glossitis (AG). This study assessed whether RAS patients with AG (AG+/RAS patients) or without AG (AG−/RAS patients) had anemia and hematinic deficiencies and to evaluate whether RAS combined with AG or RAS itself was a significant factor causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in AG+/RAS or AG−/RAS patients, respectively. Methods: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured and compared between any two of three groups of 160 AG+/RAS patients, 195 AG-/RAS patients, and 355 healthy control subjects. Results: Both AG+/RAS and AG−/RAS patients had significantly lower mean Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 levels as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid deficiencies than healthy control subjects. Moreover, AG+/RAS patients had significantly lower mean Hb and serum iron level (for women only) and significantly greater frequencies of Hb and iron deficiencies than AG−/RAS patients. Of 69 anemia AG+/RAS patients, 30 (43.5%) had normocytic anemia and 23 (33.3%) had iron deficiency anemia. Of 38 anemia AG−/RAS patients, 26 (68.4%) had normocytic anemia and 5 (13.2%) had iron deficiency anemia. Conclusion: We conclude that some of AG+/RAS or AG−/RAS patients do have anemia and hematinic deficiencies and AG+/RAS patients do have severer anemia statuses and iron deficiency than AG−/RAS patients. RAS combined with AG or RAS itself does play a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in AG+/RAS or AG−/RAS patients, respectively.

This study reports the outcomes of endoscopic submucosal single-tunnel dissection or endoscopic submucosal multi-tunnel dissection for the treatment of esophageal neoplastic lesions of at least three-quarters of the esophageal circumference, including circumferential superficial esophageal neoplastic lesions. From July 2014 to February 2018, a total of 124 lesions underwent endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection at our hospital. One to four submucosal tunnels were created in the oral to anal direction. Of the 124 lesions, there were 83 noncomplete circumferential lesions and 41 circumferential lesions. Endoscopic submucosal single-tunnel dissection was performed in 54 patients, two-tunnel dissection in 43 patients, three-tunnel dissection in 19 patients, and four-tunnel dissection in 8 patients. The mean dissection speed was 22.8±12.7 mm2/min. En bloc dissection was achieved in all lesions, and the R0 resection rate was 70.2 percent. No matter how large the lesion area was, there were no significant differences in the dissection speed and the R0 resection rate when lesions were at least three-quarters of the esophageal circumference. Esophageal stricture was observed in 54 patients and was relieved by placement of a retrievable metal stent or by endoscopic water balloon dilation. No recurrence was noted after 19.1±12.4 months of follow-up. Our large sample size study showed that endoscopic submucosal tunnel dissection showed effectiveness and safety for the treatment of large superficial esophageal neoplastic lesions at least three-quarters of the esophageal circumference, including circumferential superficial esophageal neoplastic lesions.

In this study, we aim to develop an inexpensive site-specific irrigation advisory service for resolving disadvantages related to using immobile soil moisture sensors and to the differences in irrigation needs of different tea plantations affected by variabilities in cultivars, plant ages, soil heterogeneity, and management practices. In the paper, we present methodologies to retrieve two biophysical variables, surface soil water content and canopy water content of tea trees from Sentinel-2 (S2) (European Space Agency, Paris, France) images and consider their association with crop water availability status to be used for making decisions to send an alert level. Precipitation records are used as auxiliary information to assist in determining or modifying the alert level. Once the site-specific alert level for each target plantation is determined, it is sent to the corresponding farmer through text messaging. All the processes that make up the service, from downloading an S2 image from the web to alert level text messaging, are automated and can be completed before 7:30 a.m. the next day after an S2 image was taken. Therefore, the service is operated cyclically, and corresponds to the five-day revisit period of S2, but one day behind the S2 image acquisition date. However, it should be noted that the amount of irrigation water required for each site-specific plantation has not yet been estimated because of the complexities involved. Instead, a single irrigation rate (300 t ha−1) per irrigation event is recommended. The service is now available to over 20 tea plantations in the Mingjian Township, the largest tea producing region in Taiwan, free of charge since September 2020. This operational application is expected to save expenditures on buying irrigation water and induce deeper root systems by decreasing the frequency of insufficient irrigation commonly employed by local farmers.

Serum gastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA), thyroglobulin antibody (TGA), and thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA) are found in some erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) patients. This study assessed whether serum GPCA, TGA and TMA and EOLP itself played significant roles in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in TGA/TMA-positive EOLP patients with GPCA positivity (GPCA+/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients) or negativity (GPCA−/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients). Methods: The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean blood hemoglobin (Hb), iron, vitamin B12, and folic acid levels were measured and compared between any two of the four groups of 29 GPCA+/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients, 80 GPCA−/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients, 198 all antibodies-negative EOLP patients (Abs−/EOLP patients), and 218 healthy control individuals. Results: GPCA+/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients had significantly lower mean Hb and vitamin B12 levels as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb, iron, and vitamin B12 deficiencies than healthy controls. GPCA+/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients had significantly lower serum vitamin B12 level and higher MCV as well as a significantly greater frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency than GPCA−/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients. Furthermore, both GPCA−/TGA/TMA/EOLP and Abs−/EOLP patients did have significantly lower mean Hb, MCV, and iron (for women only) levels, as well as significantly greater frequencies of Hb and iron deficiencies than healthy controls. However, there were no significant differences in measured blood data between GPCA−/TGA/TMA/EOLP and Abs−/EOLP patients. Conclusion: We conclude that serum GPCA is the major factor causing vitamin B12 deficiency, macrocytosis and pernicious anemia in GPCA+/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients. ELOP itself but not TGA/TMA positivity plays a significant role in causing anemia and hematinic deficiencies in GPCA−/TGA/TMA/EOLP patients.

Patients with serum antigastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA) positivity may have vitamin B12 deficiency and some oral symptoms. This study assessed the changes of serum GPCA titer in GPCA-positive patients after effective vitamin B12 treatment. Methods: Two hundred and ten GPCA-positive oral mucosal disease patients became oral symptom free (complete response) after 1.0–67.1 months of treatment with regular and continuous intramuscular injection of vitamin B12 once per week. The changes of serum GPCA titers after treatment were evaluated in these 210 patients. Results: We found a significant drop of the GPCA positive rate from 100% to 42.9% in our 210 complete response patients after effective vitamin B12 treatment (p

Erosive oral lichen planus (EOLP) patients with desquamative gingivitis (DG) are sometimes encountered in our oral mucosal disease clinic. This study assessed hematinic deficiencies and anemia statuses in antigastric parietal cell antibody (GPCA)-positive EOLP patients with DG (GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients). Methods: The blood hemoglobin, iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, and homocysteine concentrations and serum GPCA levels in 92 GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients and 184 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were measured and compared between the two groups. Results: We found that 27 (29.3%), 16 (17.4%), and 27 (29.3%) of 92 GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients had hemoglobin (men 12.1μM). GPCA+/DG+/EOLP patients had a significantly higher frequency of hemoglobin, iron, or vitamin B12 deficiency and an abnormally high blood homocysteine level than healthy control individuals (all p

This study reported the clinicopathological features, treatment and prognosis of nine cases of noncalcifying and Langerhans cell (LC)-rich calcifying epithelial odontogenic tumor (CEOT) collected from the English literature. Of the nine cases, seven were intraosseous and two were extraosseous. All nine tumors were found in Asian patients. The age of the nine patients ranged from 20 years to 58 years with a mean age of 41 years. There were five female and four male patients. The seven intraosseous cases included six in the anterior and premolar region of the maxilla and one in the posterior region and ascending ramus of the mandible. The two extraosseous cases were located at the upper lateral incisor and premolar gingivae, respectively. Of the seven intraosseous cases, five showed unilocular and two multilocular radiolucency without foci of calcification. Six of the seven intraosseous cases showed resorption of the tooth roots in the tumor-involved region. Histologically, noncalcifying and LC-rich CEOTs were composed of small nests and thin strands of tumor epithelial cells with a relatively high number of LCs among them. This was the reason why we classed these nine cases as noncalcifying and LC-rich CEOTs. Two extraosseous cases received total excision of the gingival mass. For the seven intraosseous cases, four accepted partial maxillectomy or mandibulectomy, two received total excision or enucleation, and one underwent curettage. The six cases with the follow-up information available showed no tumor recurrence after a follow-up period of 6 months to 10 years.

Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) is the most common salivary gland tumor and the palate is the most common intraoral site for PA. This study aimed to present the clinicopathological features of a series of 74 palatal PAs. Methods: Seventy-four palatal PAs were collected from 1993 to 2009. The clinical and histopathological features of these 74 PAs were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The 74 palatal PA patients showed a marked female predilection (49:25, ∼2:1) and were nearly evenly distributed from the 3rd to 8th decades of life with a mean age of 47 years. All palatal PAs were treated by wide surgical excision and recurrence was noted in one PA. Histopathologically, there were 47 classic and 27 cellular PAs. Of the 74 PAs, 12 were completely encapsulated, 40 partially encapsulated, and 22 nonencapsulated. The duct-like structures and myxoid stroma were more or less found in every palatal PA. Plasmacytoid myoepithelial cell, clear cell, squamous epithelial nest, keratin pearl, hyalinized stroma, osteoid area, and chondroid area were found in 50, 19, 29, 19, 49, eight, and six PAs, respectively. Conclusion: We conclude that the palatal PA patients show a prominent female predilection (2:1) and are nearly evenly distributed from 20 years to 79 years of age. Plasmacytoid myoepithelial cell is the most characteristic type of tumor cell in PAs. Wide surgical excision is treatment of choice for PAs. Although ∼84% of palatal PAs are partially or nonencapsulated, recurrence of the lesion is rarely encountered after total surgical removal of the tumors.

The analysis, measurement, and computation of remote sensing images often require enhanced unsupervised/supervised classification approaches. The goal of this study is to have a better understanding of (a) the classification performance of multispectral image and hyperspectral image data; (b) the classification performance of unsupervised and supervised models; and (c) the classification performance of feature selection among different models. More specifically, the multispectral images and hyperspectral images with high spatial resolution are well accepted for improving land use and classification. Hence, this study used multispectral images (WorldView-2) and hyperspectral images (CASI-1500) and focused on the classifiers K-means, density-based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), and back-propagation neural network (BPN). Then the feature selection (principle component analysis, PCA) on four classifiers is studied. The results show that the image material of CASI-1500 classification accuracy is slightly better than that of WorldView-2. The overall classification of BPN is the best, the overall data has a κ value of 0.89 and the overall accuracy is 97%. The DBSCAN presents a reality with good accuracy and the integrity of the thematic map. The DBSCAN can attain an accuracy of about 88% and save 95.1% of computational time.

Betel quid (BQ) chewing increased the risk of oral cancer and oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), an oral premalignant disorder (OPMD) with malignant transformation potential. BQ components such as areca nut (AN), trauma by coarse AN fiber, catechin, copper, alkaloids, stimulated reactive oxygen species (ROS), inflammation and cytotoxicity are suggested to be the contributing factors. They may induce tissue inflammation, proliferation of fibroblasts and collagen deposition, myofibroblast differentiation and contraction, collagen cross-links and inhibit collagen phagocytosis, finally leading to the development of OSMF and oral cancer. These events are mediated by BQ components-induced changes of extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover via regulation of TGF-β1, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), cystatin, lysyl oxidase (LOX) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and metalloproteinases (MMPs). Genetic susceptibility is also involved in these disease processes. Further understanding the molecular mechanisms of BQ-induced OSMF and oral cancer can be helpful for future disease prevention and treatment.