Objective To explore the potential of breast cancer stem cells in differentiating into vascular endothelial cells and participating in the angiogenesis of breast tumor.Methods The expressions of mutant P53, CD31 ,VEGF and Her-2 amplification in tumor blood vessels were detected and the single cell suspension of breast cancer was prepared.CD44+/CD24-/low cells were selected and cultured in culture system.The expressions of CD31 and CD105 on endothelial cell surface were detected by EGM-2 endothelial cell culture medium.The ability of uptake of acetylated low-density lipoprotein was measured.The endothelial cells were cultured in vitro to observe their vascular structure.Results The expressions of CD31,VEGF and mutant P53 were found in paraffin sections of breast cancer tissue samples, and they were arranged along the vessel lumen or blood vessel sphere. Immunofluorescence showed that CD31 and DAPI signals were expressed intravascularly in breast cancer tissues. Four samples of Her-2 positive amplification and 9 cases of non-amplification were detected in the samples.The successful separation of breast cancer stem cells was carried out by immunomagnetic sorting.The percentage of CD44+ cells in the pre-sorting cells was (7.5±2.6)% and that of CD44+ cells was about (94.3±4.7)% after magnetic sorting (P<0.05).The ratio of CD24+ cells was (48.2±9.4)% before sorting,and that of CD24+ cells was (4.3±1.6)% after immunomagnetic bead sorting.The proportion of CD105+ cells in mammary gland cells was (4.5±0.9)% and the proportion of CD31+ cells was (6.2±1.3)%.After cultured for three generations,the percentages of CD105+ cells and CD31+ cells were (79.6±9.3)% and (84.1±10.7)%,respectively (P<0.05). DiL-Ac-LDL could be phagocytized by endothelial cells cultured in endothelial cell culture system.Vessel-like structure was found in the endothelial cell group while the control group did not have the tendency of vascular changes.Conclusion Breast cancer stem cell-derived endothelial cells differentiate into endothelial cells in vitro and have the ability of vascular formation,suggesting that breast cancer stem cells may be involved in the formation of tumor blood vessels.

Objective To determine if there is any difference in neuronal and glial(astrocytic and microglial)activation in the spinal cord in three rat models of neuropathic pain.Methods Twenty-four SD rats weighing 150-200 g were randomly divided into 4 groups(n=6 each):Ⅰ control group;Ⅱ chronic constrictive injury group(CCI);Ⅲ spinal nerve ligation group(SNL)and Ⅳ spared nerve injury(SNI).No operation was performed in control group.In CCI group left sciatic nerve was exposed and loosely ligated with catgut.In SNL group the L_5 spinal nerve was exposed and ligated with silk suture and cut.In SNI group tibial nerve and common fibular nerve were ligated and cut.Pain threshold was measured using plantar tactile stimulator(Ugo,Basile Co. Italy)every other day from 3 days before until 15 days after operation.50% paw withdrawal threshold was measured using up-and-down sequential mechanical stimulation of different intensity(0.45,0.70,1.20,2.00, 3.63,5.50,8.50,15.10 g)applied to the plantar surface of the injured paw.On the 15~(th) day after operation after pain threshold was measured the animals were anesthetized with intraperitoneal 10% chloral hydrate 400 mg? kg~(-1).The L_(5,6) segment of the spinal cord was isolated.Neuronal,astrocytic and microglial activation was determined by immuno-histochemistry with antibodies of c-Fos(a proto-oncogene protein),GFAP(an astrocyte marker)and OX-42(a microglial marker).Results The 50% paw withdrawal threshold reached the lowest level on the 7~(th) day after operation.The lowest level was maintained until the 15~(th) day after operation in group CCI,SNL and SNI.The 50 % paw withdrawal threshold was(14.1+1.5)g in control group,(2.5+0.5)g in CCI group, (1.5?0.6)g in group SNL and(0.8?0.4)g in group SNI.The number of c-Fos positive neurons in laminae Ⅳ-Ⅵ of dorsal horn was significantly greater in group CCI,SNL and SNI than in control group,but there was no significant difference among the 3 peripheral nerve injury groups.The activation of astrocytes and microglias in laminae Ⅰ-Ⅳ of dorsal horn was significantly increased in group CCI,SNL and SNI than in control group but there was no significant difference among the 3 peripheral nerve injury groups.Condusion There is no significant difference in activation of neurons and astrocytes and microglias in the ipsilateral dorsal horn among the 3 pain models.

BACKGROUNDLocally advanced non-small cell lung cancer with pulmonary artery invasion is very difficult to treat surgically. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of pretreatment blocking of intrapericardial pulmonary artery in operation of lung cancer with pulmonary artery invasion.

METHODSPericardium was dissected and pretreatment blocking of intrapericardial pulmonary artery was used in patients, who were diagnosed as lung cancer with pulmonary artery invasion through either preoperative radiological examination or exploratory thoracotomy.

RESULTSTwenty-eight patients were enrolled, and eighteen of them received blocking of pulmonary artery during operation. All the tumors were resected completely. There was no heavy bleeding or pneumonectomy.

CONCLUSIONSThe use of pretreatment blocking of intrapericardial pulmonary artery can improve the safety of operation, achieve complete resection and decrease the application of pneumonectomy for lung cancer with pulmonary artery invasion.