The term vasculogenic mimicry describes the formation of fluid-conducting channels by highly invasive and genetically dysregulated tumor cells. The molecular mechanisms of vasculogenic mimicry may be associated with phenotypically interconversion, tumor-extracellular matrix interactions and abnormality in signal pathway of tumor cells. It is recently discovered that in hepatocellular carcinoma vasculogenic mimicry may be associated with the invasive and metastatic potential of tumor cells, as well as poor clinical outcome. This article reviews the present research progression of vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma.

0.05 ). But CD8 +CD28 -T suppressor cells from colitis rats was significantly higher than that from controls (spleen: 11.3% ? 2.3% vs. 5.6% ? 1.0% ; colon: 6.5% ?5.4% vs. 1.1 %? 0.6% , P 0.05 ; colon: 7.5% ? 4.2% vs. 16.9% ? 4.1% , P

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Asthma ; therapy ; Female ; Humans

Objective To study the function of ginsenoside Rg3 on proliferation in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and effect of ginsenoside Rg3 on Cx26 gene expression and gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in MCF-7, cultured in vitro. MethodsHuman breast cancer cells MCF-7 was exposed to ginsenoside Rg3 at differential concentrations for 24 h, respectively. The cell proliferation inhibition was measured by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazo-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The expression of Cx26 mRNA was measured by RT-PCR in experimental groups and control goup. The GJIC function of MCF-7 cell was examined with scrape-loading dye transfer assay.ResultsHuman breast cancer cell line MCF-7 was exposed to ginsenoside Rg3 at a concentration of 10, 20, 40, 80, 160 μg/ml, respectively.The inhibition ratio was 3.1%, 5.2 %, 16.0 %, 26.3 %, 29.1% respectively after 24 h. Compared with control group, the concentration of 40 μg/ml above could significantly inhibit MCF-7 cell proliferation (P ＜0.05), so the experimental groups were exposed to ginsenoside Rg3 at a concentration of 40, 80, 160 μg/ml,respectively. The expression of Cx26 mRNA in every experimental group compared with control group was enhanced when MCF-7 cell was exposed to ginsenoside Rg3 at a higher concentration. It was observed that Lucifer yellow fluorescent staining was limited to a single cell in control group through fluorescent microscope,but Lucifer yellow fluorescent transfered through gap junction cells to neighboring cells, then came into being flake fluorescent staining in experiment groups. ConclusionGinsenoside Rg3 can enhance the expression of Cx26 mRNA in MCF-7 cell and restore the gap junctional intercellular communication, which may be one of important mechanisms of ginsenoside Rg3 in antitumor.

Objective To measure the macular function of the fellow eye in patients with unilateral retinal vein occlusion (RVO).Methods A total of 24 cases of unilateral RVO were diagnosed by fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA),and multifocal ERG (mfERG) was recorded by RETI scan.The mfERG data of 24 fellow eyes of those RVO patients,and 18 normal control eyes were analyzed and compared.The parameters included the amplitude density,latency of the P1 and N1 wave in 6 concentric circles and 4quadrants of the mfERG graphics.Results The amplitude densities of P1 and N1 wave in first and second concentric circles of RVO fellow eyes were significantly lower than normal eyes (t=4.520,2.147;P＜0.05).There was no significant difference (P＞0.05) of P1/N1 latency in any concentric circles or quadrants between RVO fellow eyes and normal eyes.Conclusion The central fovea of the RVO fellow eyes was functionally impaired.

The expression of nm23-H1 and p53 genes were studied with ABC immunohistochemical method in 54 cases of gastric cancer and 57 cases of colorectal cancer. The result showed that the expression of nm23-H1 was 72.2% in gastric cancer and 64.9% in colorectal cancer, respectively. No significant difference was found between the expression of this gene and lymph node metastasis of the cancers. The mutant p53 protein expression was 53.7% and 52.6% in gastric and colorectal cancers, respectively. Although it was not correlated with lymph node metastasis, its expression was significantly higher in cancers with distant metastases, suggesting that the mutant p53 protein expression may be indicative of poor prognosis in gastrointestinal cancers.

Objective To evaluate the clinical outcome of severe ulcerative colitis(UC)and to find the factors related to treatment and outcome.Methods Forty one hospitalized patients with UC during 1988-2004 were retrospectively reviewed.Data were recorded including the onset,symptoms,signs, laboratory,endoscopic,radiologic and pathologic findings,as well as the processes of clinical treatment. The patients who undergone surgery were also analysed.Results Forty one of 144(28.5%)hospital ized patients were suffered from severe UC,and among them 92.7%(38/41)had pancolitis.The patients who had first onset,chronic persistent,chronic recurrent type were account for 36.9%(15/41),36.9%(15/41) and 26.8%(11/41),respectively.The steroids treatment played the main role in the inducing remission of severe UC(61.0%).Thirty one cases(75.6%)could be relieved by drug therapy.Seven cases(17.1%) were progressed to have operation.The age of early onset,pancolitis,low hemoglobin and serum albumin levels and need of intravenous steroids treatment were associated with the need of surgery.Conclusions Most of the severe UC patients respond well to the medical therapy,but for some non-responding or steroids depending individuals,after a reasonable duration of treatment,surgery should be considered.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Pharyngeal Diseases ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Pharynx ; innervation ; physiopathology ; Sensation

Purpose:To investigate the effects of octreotide on TGF-? autocrine in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC-7721 and TGF-?-induced cells proliferation. Methods:The expression of TGF-?in SMMC-7721 was determined by radioimmunoassay and reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR). The expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the cells was determined by immunohistochemistry method and RT-PCR. The proliferative activity of the cells was evaluated by flow cytometry and colony-forming assay. Results:The content of TGF-?was significantly attenuated by octreotide and the inhibitor rate was 15.0%~26.7%. TGF-?mRNA index was decreased by octreotide.TGF-?increased the expression of EGFR both in mRNA and protein level,while octreotide inhibited the expression induced by TGF-?. Proliferative index (PI) and colony-forming rates were obviously lower in octreotide and TGF-?-treated cells than those in TGF-?-treated cells. Conclusions:There exists a TGF-? autocrine loop in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells SMMC-7721. octreotide could inhibit TGF-? autocrine in the cells, and consequently exerts an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation.

Objective To investigate the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-Ⅰ , ⅠⅠ , platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF)-AA,-BB and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in various stages of the pulmonary development in rats. Methods All lung tissues of fetal and neonatal rats were collected at the gestational age 18, 20, 21 d, and 1, 4, 7, 10 and 21 d after birth. The expression of IGF-Ⅰ , IGF- ⅠⅠ , PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. The levels of IGF- Ⅰ , IGF-ⅠⅠ , PDGF-A, PDGF-B and KGF mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The peak expression of IGF-Ⅰ was at 4, 7 and 10 d after birth. IGF-ⅠⅠ was detectable early in fetal lung development and decreased gradually until 21 d after birth. The changes of IGF- Ⅰ , ⅠⅠ mRNA were similar to IGF- Ⅰ , ⅠⅠ polypeptides. The PDGF-A,PDGF-B mRNA were abundant early in fetal lung development. The steady state of PDGF-A chain mRNA was significantly different only at 7 d (0. 97?0. 23,P0. 05). The PDGF-AA polypeptide was abundant early in fetal lung development, and the expression peak was found in 1, 4 and 7 d after birth. KGF mRNA was higher in the fetal samples than that of rats after birth, but no difference in postnatal rats at all time points. Conclusions Peptide growth factors may play a critical role in the development of lung in rats.