Cardiac Catheterization ; Child ; Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional ; Heart Septal Defects ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Prosthesis Implantation ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of stomatin like protein-2 (SLP-2) at mRNA and protein levels in two kinds of malignant epithelial tumors, including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and invasive breast cancer, and to study the relations of SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters with the prognosis.

METHODSRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of SLP-2 mRNA and protein in LSCC and their normal counterparts (46 and 10 pair, respectively). Immunohistochemistry was carried on tissue array constructed from LSCC (104 cases) and breast cancer (263 cases), respectively. The association between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed.

RESULTSLSCC showed a higher expression of SLP-2 than that of their normal counterparts (negative expression) at mRNA (83%, 38/46) and protein (7/10) level. Immunohistochemical analysis of LSCC showed that compared with negative expression in normal laryngeal epithelium (0/20), a higher SLP-2 expression was detected in LSCC (36/104, P=0.000) and associated with the advanced clinical stage (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.003). Immunohistochemical study of invasive breast cancer demonstrated that compared with negative expression in normal breast tissue (0/10), more than one half of the cases showed a high SLP-2 expression (52.5%, 138/263, P=0.000) in breast cancer, which correlated with the tumor size (P=0.020), lymph node metastasis (P<0.01), advanced clinical stage (P<0.01), distant metastasis (P=0.002) and HER2/neu protein expression (P=0.037). Survival analysis showed a shorter overall survival probability in patients with a high SLP-2 expression. It was considered that lymph node metastasis, positive HER2/neu expression, and high-level SLP-2 expression may act as the independent prognostic factors for those tumors.

CONCLUSIONSA high expression level of SLP-2 may be associating with the development of invasion and metastasis in LSCC and breast cancer, and SLP-2 is also considered working as an independent factor indicating a poor prognosis clinically in breast cancer.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Survival Analysis

Rhemannie Radix Preparata (RRP) has been previously employed in traditional oriental medicine as a treatment for diabetic thirst and improving blood flow. The aim of this study was to evaluate its hypoglycemic control by assaying the activities of key enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism in streptozotocin-(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Further, RRP extracts were prepared in water (RRPW), in 50% ethanol (RRP50), and in 100% ethanol (RRP100), respectively, and compared for their actions in diabetic rats. The oral treatment of RRP (5 mg/kg b.w./d) to diabetic rats for 21 days resulted in a significant decline in blood glucose by 67% compared to diabetic control rats (P < 0.05). The altered activities of glucokinase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGD), and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in the livers of diabetic rats were reversed significantly to near-normal levels by the administration of RRP (P < 0.05). Among the three RRP extracts, RRP100 was the most effective in terms of hypoglycemic action. However, the administration of RRP to diabetic rats did not improve insulin production. The modulatory effects of RRP100 on the attenuation of carbohydrate enzyme activities appear to hold promise for widespread use for the treatment of diabetes in the future.
Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Carbohydrate Metabolism ; Ethanol ; Glucokinase ; Gluconates ; Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Insulin ; Liver ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase ; Rats ; Thirst ; Water

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 in tumor cells of synovial sarcoma and its clinical significance.

METHODSExpression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in tumor cells of 72 cases of synovial sarcoma was studied by immunohistochemistry. The profile was correlated with clinicopathologic parameters, microvessel density (MVD) (analyzed by CD31 immunostaining) and survival rate.

RESULTS(1) There was a statistically significant negative correlation between expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 (r = -0.290 and P = 0.013). (2) The proportion of high MMP-2 expression to low TIMP-2 expression in patients with tumor metastasis was significantly higher than that in patients without metastasis (P = 0.010 and 0.002 respectively). (3) MVD of patients with high MMP-2 expression was higher than that in the low MMP-2 expression group (P = 0.005). MVD of patients with high TIMP-2 expression was lower than that in the low TIMP-2 expression group (P = 0.048). (4) Low TIMP-2 expression significantly correlated with poor prognosis of patients with synovial sarcoma, by univariate and multivariate survival analysis (P = 0.002 and 0.016 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSExpression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 correlates with metastatic potential and tumor angiogenesis in synovial sarcoma. Low TIMP-2 expression often indicates poor prognosis and unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; statistics & numerical data ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; enzymology ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish a method of SYT-SSX fusion gene detection by FISH and to explore its diagnostic value for synovial sarcoma.

METHODSThe presence of SYT-SSX fusion gene was determined by FISH using a tissue microarray containing 62 known synovial sarcomas, 60 non-synovial sarcomas and 133 equivocal synovial sarcomas. FISH results were compared with those of RT-PCR published previously.

RESULTSOverall, 96.9% (247/255) of the cases were successfully analyzed by FISH. The sensitivity of FISH for known synovial sarcomas was 96.7% (58/60), and the specificity for the non-synovial sarcoma was 100% (59/59). Moreover, SYT-SSX gene fusion was detected in 78.1% (100/128) of the equivocal synovial sarcomas. The concordance rate between FISH and RT-PCR was 83.6% (102/122) in those equivocal synovial sarcomas, and overall 79.7% (106/133) of these cases were confirmed as synovial sarcomas either by RT-PCR or by FISH.

CONCLUSIONSThe sensitivity and specificity of FISH detection of SYT-SSX fusion gene are high. FISH and RT-PCR are complementary to each other in the confirmation of synovial sarcomas, particularly those questionable cases.

Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization ; methods ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Pathology, Molecular ; methods ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of stomatin-like protein-2 (SLP-2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and analyze the correlation between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe expression of SLP-2 protein in ESCC tissues (18 and 220 cases respectively) was detected by Western blot and IHC. The association between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with normal epithelium, 13 cases of ESCC tissues showed a higher expression of SLP-2 on the protein level (72.2%, 13/18). IHC analysis on tissue microarray revealed that the expression rate of SLP-2 protein in ESCC was 54.1% and in normal esophageal mucosa was 3.6%, showing a significant difference (P < 0.001). SLP-2 high-level expression correlates with the extent of ESCC invasion (P = 0.033), but not with other clinicopathologic characteristics (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLP-2 as a novel cancer-related gene may play an important role in tumorigenesis of ESCC. The overexpression of SLP-2 may be closely associated with the invasion of esophageal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mutation in mitochondrial DNA displacement-loop (mtDNA D-loop) region in oncocytoma and its relationship with tumorigenesis and tumor development.

METHODSThe mtDNA D-Loop region of 20 thyroid or renal oncocytomas and the adjacent normal tissues were amplified by PCR, and then sequenced. Five human fetal renal tissues were collected as matched controls.

RESULTSAmong the 20 oncocytomas, 21 mutations which focused on hypervariable region I (HVI) were found in 7 tumor tissues and 1 normal tissue with the mutation rates of 35% and 5%, respectively. At the same time, 191 polymorphisms were found in the 20 cases.

CONCLUSIONmtDNA D-loop region, especially HV I, is the mutational hotspot of oncocytomas, which may be closely related with mtDNA duplicating rate and the function of mitochondria.

Adenoma, Oxyphilic ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; DNA Mutational Analysis ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitochondria ; genetics ; Mutation ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo identify antigens which may help evaluate the therapeutic effect of angiostrongyliasis from adult worm antigen of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

METHODSThe adult worm antigens of A. cantonensis were analyzed by Western blotting with the sera of rats infected with A. cantonensis before and after treatment. The sera of rats were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe antigens with relative molecular mass between 38,000 and 78,000 reacted not only with the sera of rats before treatment, but also with that after treatment. The antigens with M(r) between 190,000 and 17,000 reacted with the sera of rats before treatment but not with that after treatment; those with M(r) between 32,000 and 24,000 antigens strongly reacted with the former, but the reaction became much weakened with the latter. The AC32-IgG antibody appeared earlier than the AC-IgG, and disappeared rapidly after treatment. Six of the 10 treated rats became negative for AC-IgG as found by ELISA.

CONCLUSIONThe antigens of adult worm antigen of A. cantonensis with M(r) of 190,000, 32,000, 24,000, 17,000 and 16,000 may serve as candidate antigens for therapeutic effect evaluation of angiostrongyliasis.

Angiostrongylus cantonensis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Antibodies, Helminth ; blood ; Antigens, Helminth ; blood ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Strongylida Infections ; diagnosis ; immunology ; parasitology

OBJECTIVETo explore if vasculogenic mimicry (VM) exists in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explain the clinical significance of VM.

METHODSNinety-nine HCC resection specimens with complete clinical and prognostic data were collected. Immunohistochemical staining of CD31 and CD105, hepatocyte and PAS staining of the histological preparations were conducted to explore if VM exists in those HCC.

RESULTS12.12% (12 specimens) of the 99 specimens exhibited evidence of VM. One of 40 HCC specimens (2.5%) which belong to Edmondson pathologic grade I-II exhibited VM; 11 of 59 HCC specimens which belong to Edmondson pathologic grade III-VI (18.64%) exhibited VM, the low differentiated HCC (grade III-VI) exhibited more VM specimens than the high differentiated HCC (grade I-II) (chi2=4.416, P < 0.05). The biological behavior of VM was assessed and the stages of the cancers, using the TNM (tumor, node, metastases) classification criteria, were analyzed. These parameters of the VM and non-VM groups were compared. The mean TNM stage of the VM group was not more advanced than that of the non-VM group. The hematogenous metastases ( lung, bone, peritoneum et al) between the 2 groups were compared, and in the VM group the hematogenous metastasis rate was higher (chi2=8.873, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival curves were used to compare the VM group (n = 12) with the non-VM group (n = 87). Median survival time of the VM group was 9 months and that of the non-VM group was 31 months. The VM group had a lower survival rate than the non-VM group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVM exists in HCC, and the higher invasive HCCs exhibit more VM than the less invasive HCCs. The HCC patients in the VM group had a higher rate of hematogenous metastases, a lower survival rate, and a poorer prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo experimentally investigate direct intramuscular gene transfer of nanoparticles encoding vascular endothelial growth factor for the treatment of peripheral artery disease.

METHODSThe human VEGF(165) cDNA was cloned into the eukaryotic expression vector PIRES2 under the control of cytomegalovirus promoter/enhancer. The recombinant gene was transferred into a rabbit model of chronic hindlimb ischemia by naked plasmid and nanoparticle respectively. Ischemia was induced in the hindlimb of New Zealand White rabbits by ligation of the distal external iliac artery and complete excision of the femoral artery and all its branches. At day 7 postoperation animals received VEGF(165) plasmid (10 intramuscular) or nanoparticle-VEGF(165) (8 intramuscular). With RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry analysis, and angiography, the expression and biological effects of VEGF(165) gene in experimental animals were investigated.

RESULTSTwo weeks after initiation of therapy, angiography showed that the transfer of VEGF(165) gene stimulated the formation of focal neovessels and established collateral circulation. The adductor muscle of ischemic limbs was histologically examined at day 14. Capillary density was increased among VEGF(165)-transfected rabbits, especially Nano-VEGF(165)-treated animals (Naked VEGF(165) plasmid = 50.18 per mm(2), Nano-VEGF(165) = 81.22 per mm(2), Control = 29.54 per mm(2), P < 0.05). RT-PCR showed that the transcription and expression of VEGF(165) gene in experimental group were significantly higher than those of control groups.

CONCLUSIONSIntramuscular administration of VEGF(165) induces collateral artery augmentation in the rabbit model of chronic limb ischemia. Nanoparticle can act as a vector to transfect specific gene and it will benefit gene transfer.

Angiography ; Animals ; Capsules ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Genetic Therapy ; methods ; Hindlimb ; blood supply ; Immunohistochemistry ; Ischemia ; genetics ; therapy ; Male ; Nanotechnology ; Particle Size ; Rabbits ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Treatment Outcome ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; therapeutic use