Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Humans ; Male ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between collgen (Col) IV, VEGF secreted by the tumor cells and vasculogenic mimicry (VM).

METHODS158 bi-phase differential malignant tumor specimens were alloted and made into tissue microarray. These tissue microarray sections were stained with CD31, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Col IV. Subsequently, distributive trait of Col IV and the difference of VEGF expression were analyzed.

RESULTSThe basement membrane of VM was PAS and Col IV positive. The expression of VEGF in bi-phase differential malignant tumor with VM was less than that in those without VM. The difference of VEGF expression in malignant melanoma and alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma was significant (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONCollgen IV and periodic acid-Schiff positive material take part in constructing the basement membrane of vasculogenic mimicry. The difference of the VEGF expression proves that vasculogenic mimicry can sustain the tumor blood supply.

Collagen Type IV ; analysis ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Neoplasms ; blood supply ; chemistry ; pathology ; Periodic Acid-Schiff Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mode of angiogenesis between highly invasive malignant melanoma and poorly invasive malignant melanoma by immunohistochemistry and periodic acid-Schiff stain (PAS) and to discuss whether the tumor cells in highly invasive malignant melanoma carry vasculogenic mimicry through self-metamorphosis, thus acquiring blood supply to sustain their growth.

METHODSThirty cases of highly invasive malignant melanoma and 30 cases of poorly invasive malignant melanoma were retrieved and reprocessed as tissue microarray for further investigations. The tissue microarray sections were then stained with CD34 and PAS; and the positivity rates were compared.

RESULTSThere was a significant difference between CD34 and PAS staining in highly invasive malignant melanoma (P < 0.01). The difference was not statistically significant in poorly invasive malignant melanoma (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONVasculogenic mimicry exists in some cases of highly invasive malignant melanoma. It is possible that the tumor cells can acquire blood supply to sustain growth and metastasize via this mechanism.

Antigens, CD34 ; analysis ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; analysis ; Melanoma ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology

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

AIMTo study the effect of chronic intermittent hypoxia on p38MAPK in partial cerebral tissues of weanling rats.

METHODSRandomly, fifty male SD rats (3-week-old-4-week-old) were divided into five groups: 2-week-CIH group (2IH), 4-week-CIH group (4IH), 4-week-recovery group (4F), 2-week-control group (2C) and 4-week-control group (4C). Intermittent hypoxia model was induced by an intermittent hypoxia cabin. The expression of p38MAPK mRNA and the phosphorylation levels of p38MAPK (p-p38 protein) in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were measured by RT-PCR or Western blot respectively.

RESULTSNo matter in the hippocampus, or in the prefrontal cortex, the expression of p38MAPK mRNA and p-p38 protein in 2IH, 4IH and 4F groups were respectively higher than 2C and 4C groups (P < 0.05, respectively).

CONCLUSIONChronic intermittent hypoxia can activate the p38MAPK in partial cerebral tissues of weanling rats.

Animals ; Hippocampus ; enzymology ; Hypoxia ; enzymology ; physiopathology ; Male ; Prefrontal Cortex ; enzymology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes ; physiopathology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the living donor selection, donor hepatectomy technique, and surgical complication in living donor liver transplantation.

METHODSFrom June 2007 to July 2008, 74 consecutive cases living donor hepatectomy were performed by the same surgical team. Seventy-four donors (64 males and 10 females) with a mean age of 29.2 years old passed the donor liver assessment and evaluation program successfully. The hepatectomy procedure types contained right liver resection (n = 72), of which 27 cases harvested the middle hepatic vein and 45 cases not, left liver resection contain middle hepatic vein (n = 1) and left lateral resection (n = 1).

RESULTSOf all the donors, operation time was (6.5 +/- 6.2) hours, the mean blood loss was 300 ml (100 - 500 ml) and didn't accept foreign blood transfusion. The maximum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was (229.5 +/- 108.6) U/L, the ALT returned to normal time was (12.7 +/- 4.8) d, the maximum total bilirubin (TB) level was (78.7 +/- 44.3) micromol/L, the TB returned to normal time was (8.8 +/- 2.7) d, and the mean hospital stay time was 14 days (7 - 28 d). The complications included bile leak (n = 1), cut surface hemorrhage (n = 1) and anaphylactoid purpura (n = 1). All the donors returned to normal work and life finally.

CONCLUSIONSPrecisely evaluating donor blood vascular and biliary anatomy before operation, keeping the blood vascular and bile duct integrity during operation and monitoring complication to solve it immediately after operation is crucial to ensure donor safety and recovering successfully.

Adult ; Donor Selection ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Transplantation ; methods ; Living Donors ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical applied anatomy in the region of anterior clinoid process, and to improve the therapeutic efficacy of clinoidal tumors.

METHODSTwelve patients with large meningiomas located in clinoid were surgically treated via the extended anterior and middle fossa combined with epidural approach between January 1998 and August 2004. The surgical outcome and follow-up results were reviewed retrospectively. Supraorbital-posterional approach and cranioorbital zygomatic approach were used when tumors involved cavernous sinus. Anterior clinoid process was grinded with high-speed drilling. Supply of tumors were blocked extradurally. Tumors were resected intradurally.

RESULTSOf the 12 cases in large meningiomas located in clinoid, 8 cases had total removal of tumors, 3 patients had subtotal removal. Of the 10 patients with pre-operative severe visual deterioration, 6 patients was markedly improved, one patient unchanged and one patient worsened post-operatively. No death was found in this group.

CONCLUSIONSUsing epidural approach for clinoidal meningiomas and grinding anterior clinoid process was advantageous to block tumors base blood supply and detach infraclinoidal tumors from internal carotid artery. Supraorbital-pterional approach could minimize brain retraction and was advantageous to expose superior pole of giant tumors.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Meningeal Neoplasms ; pathology ; surgery ; Meningioma ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neurosurgical Procedures ; methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Sphenoid Bone ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

In the research community, resistance to apoptosis is often considered a hallmark of cancer. However, pathologists who diagnose cancer via microscope often see the opposite. Indeed, increased apoptosis and mitosis are usually observed simultaneously in cancerous lesions. Studies have shown that increased apoptosis is associated with cancer aggressiveness and poor clinical outcome. Furthermore, overexpression of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, is linked with better survival of cancer patients. Conversely, Bax, CD95, Caspase-3, and other apoptosis-inducing proteins have been found to promote carcinogenesis. This notion of the role of apoptosis in cancer is not new; cancer cells were found to be short-lived 88 years ago. Given these observations, resistance to apoptosis should not be considered a hallmark of cancer.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Carcinogenesis ; metabolism ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lymphoma, B-Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; metabolism ; fas Receptor ; metabolism

AIM: To explore the neuroprotective effect of fasudil combined with bone marrow -derived neural stem cells ( BM-NSCs) on the mice with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis ( EAE).METHODS: Female C57BL/6 mice (8~10 weeks old, n=32) were immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein 35-55 (MOG35-55) to establish chronic EAE model .The mice were randomly divided into control ( ddH2 O ) group, fasudil group , BM-NSCs group , and fasudil+BM-NSCs group .The clinical score and body weight were recorded every other day .The expression of neurotrophic factors was determined by immunofluorescence staining .RESULTS:In comparison with ddH2O group, fasud-il combined with BM-NSCs delayed onset and ameliorated severity of EAE .The numbers of brain-derived neurotrophic fac-tor, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor , nerve growth factor , neurotrophin-3 and ciliary neurotrophic factor positive cells in fasudil group, BM-NSCs group and fasudil +BM-NSCs group were all increased in various extents .In particularly, the expression of these neurotrophic factors in fasudil +BM-NSCs group was significantly higher than that in the mice treated with fasudil or BM-NSCs alone (P<0.01).CONCLUSION:Fasudil combined with BM-NSCs promotes the expression of neurotrophic factors and improves microenvironment of central nervous system , thus playing a positive role in neural restora-tion and regeneration through a synergistic and superimposed effect .

Objective To investigate the relationship between mean platelet volume(MPV)and saphenous vein graft restenosis in patients receiving coronary artery bypass grafting(CABG),and to analyze the clinical significance of MPV in the prediction of restenosis after CABG.Methods A total of 354 patients admitted into Tianjin chest hospital from September 2009 to September 2014 with suspected myocardial ischemic events 3 to 5 years after CABG treatment was enrolled for a retrospective analysis.According to the coronary angiography(CAG)results,patients were divided into the vein bridge vascular lesion group(saphenous vein graft diseases,SVGD)(n=233)and the venous bridge vascular patency group(saphenous vein graft,SVG)(n=121).Paired t test was used to analyze the relationship between different factors and the bridge vascular patency.The binary logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of MPV and other factors on bridge vascular patency.Venous bridge stenosis ＞ 50％ was considered to be clinically significant and to damage myocardial blood supply.Results The MPV was higher in the SVGD group than the SVG group [(10.2±1.5)fl vs.(9.6±1.5)fl,P＜0.01].The logistic regression analysis showed that MPV(OR =1.268,95％CI:1.053-1.570,P=0.014),age(OR =1.007,95％CI:1.038-1.117,P=0.000),gender (OR=0.452,95％CI:0.250-0.816,P=0.008),diabetes mellitus(OR=2.319,95％CI:1.221-4.405,P =0.010)were the independent risk factors for venous bridge stenosis in the two groups,gender(OR=0.495,95％CI:0.251-0.976,P=0.042),diabetes mellitus(OR =2.237,95％CI:1.105-4.527,P =0.025),MPV(OR=1.334,95％CI;1.050 1.694,P=0.018),fibrinogen(OR=1.654,95％CI:1.020-2.682,P =0.041)were the independent risk factors for venous bridge stenosis in non-elderly patients,and age(OR =1.178,95％CI:1.116-1.244,P =1.178)was an independent risk factor for vein graft stenosis in elderly patients.The restenosis rate was higher in patients with MPV ≥ 12 fl(92.6％ or 25/27) than in the patients with MPV ＜ 12 fl(63.6％ or 208/327).The receiver operating characteristics(ROC) curve showed that the areas under the curve of MPV,age,gender,diabetes,fibrinogen were 0.610,0.657,0.394,0.626,0.654,respectively,and the area under the curve of joint diagnosis was 0.796,showing that joint prediction value was higher than any single prediction value(P＜0.01).Conclusions MPV level is an independent risk factor for vein graft stenosis,and has higher predictive value in combination with age,gender,diabetes and fibrinogen.