ObjectiveTo analyze the MRI features of aggressive fibromatosis (AF) in order to improve its diagnostic accuracy.Method The clinical files and MRI appearances of 66 AF patients (primary 19 cases,recurrent 47 cases) were reviewed and compared with the postoperative pathological findings.ResultsThe median age of all patients was 31 years( range,11—60 years) with a male-to-female sex ratio of 1 ∶ 3.4.Eighty tumors were discovered.There were 5 superficial fibromatosis and 75 deep fibromatosis in which 2 lesions were intraabdominal,6 lesions in the abdominal wall and 67 lesions extraabdominal.The average long diameter of all lesions was ( 8.7 ± 5.4 ) cm,of superficial lesions ( 5.7 ±2.8) cm,of deep lesions ( 8.9 ± 5.5 ) cm.Of the 80 tumors,79 were displayed as space-occupying intramuscular lesions; 47(58.8％ ) were ovoid or lobulated and 22( 27.5％ ) were infiltrative in shape; 48 (60％) lesions had a well-defined margin,of which 4 formed a pseudocapsule as they enlarged by compressing normal tissue.To compare with the muscle signal intensity on MRI,75 lesions demonstrated isointensity,mild hyperintensity or hypointensity on T1 WI,heterogeneous high intensity on T2 WI,and avid heterogeneous enhancement after contrast administration.There was no necrosis or surrounding edema in all lesions.Tumors destroyed bone in 2 cases.ConclusionAggressive fibromatosis has characteristic features on MRI,and MRI is valuable in diagnosising AF and evaluating the extend of lesion and involvement of adjacent structures.

Objective:we aim to determine the relationship between Cell sarcoma (c-Src) expression in patients with EOC and the disease phenotype.Methods:c-Src expression was evaluated using Western blotting analysis in 21 ovarian carcinomas and 4 normal ovarian tissues.Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate c-Src expression in 134 ovarian carcinomas and 26 normal ovarian tissues.The association between c-Src expression and clinically pathologic characteristics were also assessed in these patients.Results:Our results indicated elevated c-Src protein in EOCs compared with that in normal tissues.The overexpression of c-Src was significantly associated with aggressive features,such as advanced disease stage,poor histological grade,lymph node metastasis,and tumor recurrence (P＜0.05).In addition,the overexpression ofc-Src is significantly associated with EOCs' prognosis.Conclusion:c-Src overexpression was significantly associated with the malignant biological behavior of tumor,suggesting c-Src as a potential preventive target in these patients.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the function of the salivary glands with gustatory stimulation by using MR DWI.MethodsA prospective study was conducted in 30 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had normal salivary function.A DWI sequence was performed on the salivary glands at resting state,and continually repeated on the parotid immediately after oral ascorbic acid stimulation over a period of 21 minutes (once every 18 seconds).The multiple b-values (0,400,600,800,1000 s/mm2) were used.ADC maps were evaluated with a manually placed region of interest including the entire salivary gland.The ADC of each gland was obtained by taking the mean of values on three contiguous sections containing the largest areas of the gland.The paired two-tailed Student t test was used to compare the ADC values of the parotid and the submandibular glands at rest,and of the parotid before and after stimulation.ResultsThe mean ADC value at rest was significantly lower in the parotid [ (1.23 ±0.12) × 10-3 mm2/s] than in the submandibular glands [(1.34 ± 0.07 ) × 10 -3 mm2/s,t =4.545,P ＜ 0.01 ].After acid stimulation,the ADC value increased from the baseline to (1.41 ±0.19) × 10-3 mm2/s firstly and then fluctuated at the following time,with a peak value of ( 1.49 ± 0.20 )× 10 -3 mm2/s and the average value of ( 1.36 ±0.17) × 10-3 mm2/s.The average value was significantly different from the baseline value (t =15.127,t =11.905,P ＜ 0.01 ).The minimum value [ ( 1.24 ± 0.14) × 10-3 mm2/s] was not significantly different compared to the baseline value (t =1.329,P ＞ 0.05 ).ConclusionMR DW1 can noninvasively evaluate the physiologic changes of salivary glands before and after acid stimulation.

Objective To explore the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) on autotaxin (ATX) expression and its significance. Methods The recombinant eukaryotic expression vector of HBx ,pcD-NA3.1(+)-HBx,and the recombinant luciferase reporter gene vector of ATX promoter,pGL3-ATX,were con-structed and used to co-transfect HepG2 cells to examine the effect of HBx on the activity of ATX promoter. The sta-ble cell expressing HBx,HepG2.HBx,was constructed,and Western blot(WB)was used to detect the effect of HBx on ATX expression. Results The luciferase activity of pcDNA3.1(+)-HBx and pGL3-ATX group was 1.47 times as that of the empty vector cDNA3.1(+)and pGL3-ATX group(P<0.000). WB detection showed that the expression of ATX protein was increased in HepG2.HBx cells,and 1.75 times as that of HepG2 cells(P<0.05). Conclusion HBx can activate ATX promoter and up-regulate ATX expression ,thus suggests that HBV infection might enhance ATX/LPA signaling.

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of γH2AX in cervical squamous carcinoma.Methods Firstly,DNA were extracted from 74 cervical squamous carcinoma samples and PCR were tested for HPV infection.Secondly,formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections (4 μm)were stained with H&E method to detect cervical lesions grading.Thirdly,HPV16 DNA were examined by in situ hybridization(ISH) and γH2AX,p16 were examined by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining.Then,30 cases typical tissue sections in which including the normal cervical tissue,cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical carcinoma in situ were selected for comparing the HPV DNA loading,and the γH2AX and,pl6 expression.Finally,the feasibility of γH2AX serving as a biomarks in HPV infection-related cervical carcinogenesis were analyzed.Results In this study,HPV infection ratio is 98.65％,and HPV16 is the most common type with 74.32％ infection.In situ hybridization showed no HPV16 DNA exist in normal cervical tissues and CINI.In CIN Ⅱ HPV DNA exist mainly as episomal DNA.With the increasing of cervical lesions grade,HPV DNA was integrated into chromosome steadily.The expression of γH2AX and pl6 were positively associated with grading of cervical lesions.HPV DNA and γH2AX protein co-exist primarily in the prickle cell layer and the granular cell layer.The HPV DNA and p16 protein exist in different cell layer.Conclusion γH2AX may be employed as a biomarker for HPV positive cervical carcinogenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) as a noninvasive tool to assess salivary gland function for follow-up of patients with radiation-induced xerostomia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 23 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma who had been treated with parotid-sparing radiotherapy (RT). Salivary function was assessed by DW-MRI pre-treatment and one week and one year post-RT, respectively. The maximum apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) of parotid glands (pADCmax) and the time to peak ADC of parotid glands (pTmax) during stimulation were obtained. Multivariate analysis was used to analyze factors correlated with the severity of radiation-induced xerostomia. RESULTS: The ADCs of parotid and submandibular glands (1.26 ± 0.10 × 10−3 mm2/s and 1.32 ± 0.07 × 10−3 mm2/s pre-RT, respectively) both showed an increase in all patients at one week post-RT (1.75 ± 0.16 × 10−3 mm2/s, p < 0.001 and 1.70 ± 0.16 × 10−3 mm2/s, p < 0.001, respectively), followed by a decrease in parotid glands at one year post-RT(1.57 ± 0.15 × 10−3 mm2/s, p < 0.001) but not in submandibular glands (1.69 ± 0.18 × 10−3 mm2/s, p = 0.581). An improvement in xerostomia was found in 13 patients at one year post-RT. Multivariate analysis revealed 4 significant predictors for the improvement of xerostomia, including dose to parotid glands (p = 0.009, odds ratio [OR] = 0.639), the ADC of submandibular glands (p = 0.013, OR = 3.295), pADCmax (p = 0.024, OR = 0.474), and pTmax (p = 0.017, OR = 0.729) at one week post-RT. CONCLUSION: The ADC value is a sensitive indicator for salivary gland dysfunction. DW-MRI is potentially useful for noninvasively predicting the severity of radiation-induced xerostomia.
Diffusion ; Follow-Up Studies* ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Odds Ratio ; Parotid Gland ; Radiotherapy ; Salivary Glands* ; Submandibular Gland ; Xerostomia*

Objective To investigate the value of magnetic resonance sialography (MRS) as a noninvasive tool in evaluating major salivary gland function before and after radiotherapy (RT) for nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients.Methods From August 2009 to June 2010,patients with stage Ⅰ and Ⅱa (AJCC/UICC 2002) nasopharyngeal carcinoma were enrolled.All the patients were treated with intensity modulated radiation therapy alone.MRS with salivary stimulation was performed in patients before and after RT on a 3.0T MR scanner.An MRS categorical scoring system was used to compare the visibility of ducts pre-RT and post-RT.The relationship between MRS score and EORTC Core QOL and EORTC Head and Neck QOL was analyzed.Spearman rank correlation test was performed to analyze the non-stimulated and stimulated MRS findings and the clinical severity of xerostomia.Results All 10 enrolled patients completed planned treatment.The mean dose of the parotid glands and submandibular glands were (37.99 + 3.70) Gy and (55.65 + 2.99) Gy,respectively.Good-quality MRS images were obtained.The visibility scores of both the parotid and submandibular ducts were increased after secretion stimulation.Irradiation decreased the visualization of the salivary ducts and attenuated the response to secretion stimulation.There were specific correlations between post-RT secretion response of the parotid gland and EORTC QLQ scales ( global QOL scale in QLQ-C30 ( rs =0.636,P =0.048 ) and xerostomia scale in QLQ H&N35 ( rs =- 0.694,P =0.026) ).Conclusions MRS can be used as a non-invasive way to evaluated of the functional changes of major salivary glands before and after RT and as a promising approach for investigating radiation-induced xerostomia.

Objective: To screen related genes of melanoma-associated antigen-A11 (MAGE-A11) in breast cancer cells based on highthroughput DNAmicroarray technology, and to validate from the aspects of quantity and function. Methods: DNAmicroarray was used to screen the differently-expresseddown-stream mRNAs of MAGE-A11 in breast cancercelllines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and BT-549). Cluster analysis was applied on representative genes and quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate. CCK-8, scratch wound healing assay and Transwell assaywere used to detect the effect of MAGE-A11 on the proliferation,migration and invasion of breast cancer cells. Results: Over-expression of MAGE-A11 caused the differential expression of 1608 down-stream genes in 3 breast cancer cell lines, which was associated with various cell functions such as protein ubiquitination,cell proliferation and apoptosis, tumor invasion and metastasis.qRT-PCR validated that the expression of ZNF-451, CENPTJ, CDK13, API5 and LMO7, which were highly expressed in microarray, were also significantly higher than those in control group (P<0.01);in addition, SHPRH, PML, MARK2, LIMA1 and ANGPTL4, which were low-expressed in microarray, were also significantly lower than those in control group (P<0.01). MAGE-A11transfection directly increased the proliferation of breast cancer MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 cells at 72 h (all P<0.01); compared with control group after transfectionexhibited obvious wound healing at 48 h (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and significantly increased trans-membrane cell numbers (all P<0.01). Conclusion: Many differentially expressed genes related to ubiquitination, cell proliferation and apoptosis, tumor invasion and migration were screened in MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and BT-549 breast cancer cells. Among them, 10 typical differentially expressed genes were identified in terms of quantity and function.

Objective: To investigate the effect of miR-124 on the invasion and migration of esophageal cancer KYSE170 cells by regulating autophagy. Methods: miR-124 mimic was transfected into esophageal cancer KYSE170 cells. Transwell assay was used to detect the change of invasion and migration ability of cells. Dual luciferase reporter gene assay was used to verify the targeted regulation of BECN1 (Beclin1) by miR-124, and Western blotting was used to analyze the expressions of BECN1, P62 and LC3 protein. siRNA targeting BECN1 was transfeted into KYSE170 cells, and then the cell invasion and migration ability was calculated by Transwell assay. The expressions of BECN1, P62 and LC3 protein were detected by Western blotting. miR-124 mimic and BECN1 over-expression plasmid were co-transfected into KYSE170 cells, and then Transwell assay was used to detect the changes of cell invasion and migration ability, and Western blotting to examine the expression levels of autophagy-related gene. Results: The invasion and migration ability of KYSE170 cells were significantly inhibited after transfection with miR-124 mimic (All P<0.05). The expression of autophagyrelated protein P62 was increased, and the expression of BECN1 and LC3 was significantly decreased (All P<0.01); in addition, the activity of luciferase reporter gene was also significantly reduced (P<0.01). Silencing BECN1 expression inhibited the invasion and migration of esophageal cancer KYSE170 cells (P<0.01). However, after co-transfection with BECN1 over-expression plasmids, the effects of miR-124 mimic on the autophagy, invasion and migration of esophageal carcinoma KYSE170 cells were significantly weakened (P<0.01), it was also accompanied with lower P62 expression, and higher LC3 expression (P<0.01). Conclusion: miR-124 mimic can inhibit the invasion and migration of esophageal carcinoma cells. The mechanism may be related to the autophagy-related gene BECN1 expression.

Objective: To evaluate the expression of melanoma antigen A family（MAGE-As）in the peripheral blood of patients with esophageal carcinoma (EC), and to analyze its correlations to the clinicopathological features and the prognosis of EC patients. Methods: mRNA expression of MAGE-As in peripheral blood from 153 EC patients and 30 healthy donors was detected using multiplex semi-nested PCR. In addition, restriction endonuclease treatment was used to determine the expression of MAGE-As family members, including MAGE-A1, A2, A3, A4 and A6. Results: The positive expression of MAGE-As was observed in 30 of 153 EC patients (19.61%) in peripheral blood. The positive expression rate of MAGE-A1, A2, A3, A4, A6 was 10.46% (16/153), 16.34%(25/153), 9.8% (15/153), 11.11% (17/153) and 18.30%(28/153), respectively. Additionally, the expression of MAGE-As was positively associated with clinical stage, lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis (all P<0.05). The positive expressions of MAGE-As and its sub-type genes were all associated with low 5-year overall survival of ES patients (all P<0.05). Expression of MAGE-As, tumor volume, lymphatic metastasis and distant metastasis can be used as independent prognostic factors for the survival of EC patients (all P<0.01). Conclusion: The expression of MAGE-As in peripheral blood of EC patients was associated with the prognosis of EC, and may be used as an important indicator for the prognosis of esophageal carcinoma.