OBJECTIVETo investigate the chromosomal aberration in sporadic colorectal carcinoma and its association with clinicopathological features.

METHODSComparative genomic hybridization(CGH) was used to screen the changes in the number of DNA sequence copies in 40 sporadic colorectal cancer patients in order to identify regions that contain genes important for the development and progression of colorectal cancer.

RESULTSIn 40 sporadic colorectal cancer, frequent gain at 20 q, 12 q, 13 q, 7 p, 7 q and 16 q were found, while loss was also found at 18 q, 5 q, 4 q, 8 pand 17 p. The number of chromosomal aberration was closely associated with tumor stage(P<0.05). No significant association was found between the number of chromosomal aberration and tumor site, histopathologic type and histologic grade.

CONCLUSIONSChromosomal aberration exists generally in sporadic colorectal carcinoma. The number of chromosomal aberration and gain of 20q are closely associated with tumor stage.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosome Mapping ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Comparative Genomic Hybridization ; DNA Probes ; Female ; Gene Dosage ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

OBJECTIVETo analyze the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of small hepatocellular carcinoma to improve the accuracy in the diagnosis.

METHODSThis retrospective analysis involved 41 patients with small hepatocellular carcinoma cases confirmed by pathological examination of the biopsy samples or follow-up. These patients were assessed for CT and MRI findings including lesion size, density or signal intensity, enhancement patterns, and presence of tumor capsules.

RESULTSOn unenhanced CT images, small hepatocellular carcinomas were displayed mainly as low-density masses, and the majority of tumors presented with low signal intensity on T1-weighted unenhanced MR images with increased signal intensity on T2-weighted images in comparison with the surrounding liver parenchyma. Most of tumors showed intense enhancement during the arterial phase (CT in 15 cases and MRI in 13 cases), but some appeared isointense to the liver parenchyma (CT in 4 cases and MRI in 4 cases). In portal and delayed phases, the tumors typically had lower signal intensity than that of the surrounding liver tissues (CT in 25 cases and MRI in 12 cases) with enhancement of the tumor capsules (13 cases).

CONCLUSIONDynamic enhanced scanning can be more informative of the pathology and blood supply of small hepatocellular carcinoma. Early and late arterial phase imaging may help in detecting the small lesions and in making differential diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Image Enhancement ; Liver Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

BACKGROUNDToll like receptor (TLR) 9 has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in animal models. Its pathogenic role in human SLE, however, was poorly elucidated. This study was performed to investigate the role of TLR9 involved in the aberrant signaling pathway and its correlation with disease activity in SLE.

METHODSmRNA level of TLR9 and interferon (IFN) regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). IFN-a expression was measured in the serum of the SLE patients by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSTLR9 expression was significantly higher in SLE patients than that in health controls (P = 0.011). SLE patients with positive anti-dsDNA antibody had significantly higher expression of TLR9 than that with negative anti-dsDNA antibody (P = 0.001). TLR9 expression was positively correlated with fever (P = 0.017), alopecia (P = 0.046), safety of estrogens in lupus erythematosus national assessment SLE disease activity index (SELENA-SLEDAI) score (r(s) = 0.385, P = 0.003), and the level of IRF5 (r(s) = 0.35, P = 0.027) and IFN-a (r(s) = 0.627, P = 0.001) in SLE patients.

CONCLUSIONTLR9 is associated with SLE disease activity and might be involved in the IFN-a pathway of SLE.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Interferon Regulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Interferon-alpha ; blood ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear ; metabolism ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; blood ; genetics ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Toll-Like Receptor 9 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Young Adult