OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic characteristics of peripheral neuroblastic tumors and to investigate the prognostic significance of International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC).

METHODSOne hundred and thirty-five cases of peripheral neuroblastic tumors encountered in Shanghai Children's Medical Center were enrolled into the study. All the cases were classified according to INPC and International Neuroblastoma Staging System (INSS). The follow-up data were analyzed.

RESULTSThe consensus diagnoses of the 135 cases were as follows: 80 cases (59.2%) of neuroblastoma, 24 cases (17.8%) of ganglioneuroblastoma, intermixed, 17 cases (12.6%) of ganglioneuroma and 14 cases (10.4%) of ganglioneuroblastoma, nodular. The cases were subdivided into 2 subgroups: favorable histology (number = 90, 66.7%) and unfavorable histology (number = 45, 33.3%). According to INSS, the number of cases in stages I, II, III and IV was 22 (16.3%), 24 (17.8%), 34 (25.2%) and 55 (40.7%), respectively. The survival of peripheral neuroblastic tumors correlated with histologic diagnosis, INPC and INSS (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONDiagnostic categorization of peripheral neuroblastic tumors according to INPC is of prognostic value.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglioneuroblastoma ; pathology ; surgery ; Ganglioneuroma ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Male ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neuroblastoma ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms ; classification ; pathology ; surgery ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo study the effects of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) on bcl-2 and TGFbeta1 expression in rat testes.

METHODSForty male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups at random: Group A (normal control), Group B (fed on 10(-8) mol/L PBC), Group C (feb on 10(-7) mol/L) and Group D (feb on 10(-6) mol/L). After three months, all the rats were killed, the animal model established, and observations made on the expression of bcl2 and TGFbeta1 in the rat testis using the optical microscope and immunohistochemical techniques.

RESULTSThe damage to the structure of the testis was related to the dosage of PCB: the higher the dodage, the more serious the damage. PCB induced the expression of bcl-2 and TGFbeta1. The TGFbeta1 expression was significantly higher in the highest dosage group than in others (P < 0.01 ), and the bcl-2 expression was dramatically higher in Group C than in other groups (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONPCB can cause injury in rat testes.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Male ; Polychlorinated Biphenyls ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Testis ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; biosynthesis

BACKGROUNDSkin lesions are common manifestations in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is still unknown what the definite pathogenesis of skin involvement was and whether DNA participated in it. Our study was designed to explore the pathogenetic role and nature of nuclear antigen (DNA) deposited in the skin lesions of patients with SLE.

METHODSThirty skin samples from patients with SLE and 2 normal skin samples were studied. Extracellular DNA was evaluated by indirect immunofluorescence methods. The deposited immune complexes were extracted by cryoprecipitation, and DNA was then isolated with phenol and chloroform. DNA fragment sizes were detected by agarose gel electrophoresis. Finally, 8 different probes were used to analyze the origin of these DNA molecules using Dot hybridization.

RESULTSExtracellular DNA staining was found only in skin lesions, mainly those located in the basement membrane zone, vascular wall, and hair follicle wall. Normal skin and non-lesion SLE skin showed no fluorescence at locations outside the nuclei. There were no differences in the rate and intensity of extracellular DNA staining when comparing active phase to remission phase patients. No relationship was found between extracellular DNA and circulating anti-dsDNA antibodies. Deposited DNA fragments clustered into four bands of somewhat discrete sizes: 20 000 bp, 1300 bp, 800-900 bp, 100-200 bp. Small sized fragments (100-200 bp) were positively correlated with disease activity (P < 0.05, r = 0.407). Dot hybridization showed significant homology of the various extracellular DNA fragments examined with human genomic DNA, but not with DNA from the microorganisms and viruses we examined. There were also homologies between DNA samples from different individuals.

CONCLUSIONSDNA and its immune complexes may contribute to the pathogenesis of skin lesions in SLE. These DNA molecules range in size from 100 bp to 20 kb and may be endogenous in origin.

Antibodies, Antinuclear ; blood ; Antigen-Antibody Complex ; analysis ; DNA ; analysis ; immunology ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; immunology ; Skin ; immunology ; Staining and Labeling

The expression of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes and its effect on neonatal rat cardiac fibroblast proliferation were investigated by radioligand binding assay and [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation analysis, respectively. The results indicated that there was no significant difference in the beta-adrenergic receptor density (B(max)) and affinity (K(D)) between cardiomyocytes and cardiac fibroblasts. The [(125)I]-pindolol competitive inhibition curves (ICI 118551 and CGP 20712A) were significantly better fit in a one-site model in membrane preparation of cardiac fibroblasts. In cultured cardiac fibroblasts, 0.1 micromol/L isoproterenol-induced [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation was completely inhibited by a selective beta (2)-AR antagonist ICI 118551, or a non-selective beta-AR antagonist propranolol, but not by CGP 20712A, a selective beta(1)-AR antagonist. These results suggest that isoproterenol-induced cardiac fibroblast proliferation is mediated by beta(2)-AR, the preponderant beta-AR subtype in cardiac fibroblasts.
Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; metabolism ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; cytology ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-2 ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology

OBJECTIVETo examine the influence of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) in controlling the growth of an experimental osteosarcoma in mice by performing retrovirus-mediated sFlt-1 gene modification.

METHODSFrom March to October 2010 human osteosarcoma G-292 cells were in vitro infected with retroviral vectors encoding soluble Flt-1 or LacZ gene before transplanted into proximal tibiae of immune deficient SCID mice to establish experimental orthotopic osteosarcoma. Daily observation and biweekly microCT were performed to monitor tumor development and progression till sacrifice at 8 weeks after tumor cell inoculation for histological and molecular analyses.

RESULTSSuccessful transgene expression was confirmed in the culture media of sFlt-1 transduced G-292 cells using ELISA, and with positive X-gal staining of the LacZ transduced cells. Noteworthy tumors were grown in all mice on the tibiae receiving G-292 cell inoculation, with clear detection on microCT images starting 2 weeks after inoculation. Over the time period, tumors derived from sFlt-1 transduced G-292 cells were distinctively smaller in size compared to the ones from wide-type G-292 and G-292-LacZ cells. Histology showed typical osteosarcoma characteristics including severe cellular pleomorphism, bone erosions, and neo-vascularization. Real-time polymerase chain reaction indicated significantly higher sFlt-1 expression in sFlt-1 transduced groups than the wild-type G-292 or LacZ treated groups. Strong expression of oncogenes c-myc and c-fos were also obvious, along with the expression of VEGF in the primary tumor tissue.

CONCLUSIONRetrovirus-mediated sFLT-1 gene modification decelerates the osteosarcoma tumor growth in this murine model.

Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lac Operon ; Mice ; Mice, SCID ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Retroviridae ; genetics ; Transgenes ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 ; metabolism

Objective To evaluate the curative effects of endoscopic and open thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma so as to explore the feasibility of endoscopic operation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma . Methods We made a retrospective analysis of data of 98 cases of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma diagnosed pathologically between June 2016 and January 2017 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University .All the patients were divided into two groups :52 in traditional operation group and 46 in endoscopic operation group . We analyzed the complications and the number of lymph nodes in the two groups . Results There was no significant difference in complications like voice hoarseness , hydroposia bucking and hypocalcemia between the two groups (P= 0 .6993 ,0 .9141 ,0 .5819 ,respectively) .Each patient had (5 .06 ± 3 .20) and (4 .80 ± 3 .19) lymph nodes in endoscopic operation group and traditional operation group ,respectively . No significant difference was found between the two groups (P=0 .6967) .Conclusion The traditional operation and endoscopic operation have similar curative effects for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma ,and the latter has better cosmetic effects .

Objective To observe the curative effects of treatment with Octreotide for chylous leakage after neck dissection .Methods We enrolled 14 patients with intractable chylous fistula treated at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University for the study .The curative effects of Octreotide treatment were retrospectively reviewed .Results Out of 14 patients with intractable chylous fistula ,12 (12/14 ,86% ) were finally cured and had the drainage tube removed .The drainage volume of 7 patients (7/14 ,50% ) decreased significantly by over 50%the next day of Octreotide medication ,but decreased insignificantly in 4 patients (4/14 ,29% ) .Conclusion Octreotid is an alternative method in treatment for intactable chylous fistula because of a satisfactory curative effect in some of the patients .

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness ,safety and prospect of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in treatment of thyroid benign nodules .Methods We analyzed 153 patients with thyroid benign nodules from September 2015 to August 2016 treated by RFA at Department of Thyroid Surgery ,the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University . One month later , we reviewed the thyroid functions after the operation , observed the changes of the nodules after 1 ,3 ,and 6 months ,calculated the volume reduction rate of the nodules , and analyzed the effectiveness of the treatment .Results After treatment ,the maximum diameter and volume of the nodules were significantly reduced in all the patients ( P<0 .05) .The patients' symptoms improved significantly without serious complications . Conclusion Ultrasound-guided RFA has obvious advantages such as fewer complications , less invasiveness , good safety , and definite effectiveness in treating thyroid benign nodules . Therefore ,it has promising prospects in clinical application .

OBJECTIVETo explore the possibility of creating a rat new scar model by inserting gelatin sponge into rat excisional wounds.

METHODSTwo full-thickness wounds were created in each of total 49 SD rats. In the Experimental group (n = 19), a regular incisional wound (1 cm) was created on the left side, and an excisional wound of 1.0 cm x 0.2 cm was created on the right side with a gelatin sponge inserted. In control 1 group (n = 15), an excisional wound with sponge insertion was created on both sides of rats. In control 2 group (n = 15), two excisional wounds were created on both sides, and only one side wounds were inserted with a sponge. Animals were sacrificed at various time points for different examinations.

RESULTSThe wound/scar width increased 4 - 11 times in inserted wounds than in regular incisional wounds (P < 0.01), with an obvious delay of epithelialization. No difference in wound/scar width was found in both sides of wounds of control 1 group at various locations. In contrast to the linear scar of sponge-inserted wounds, contracted and irregular scar was found in non-inserted wounds of control 2 group.

CONCLUSIONSGelatin sponge insertion can create a thick linear scar in rat wounds, and thus provides a new model for scar research.

Animals ; Cicatrix ; pathology ; Dermatologic Surgical Procedures ; Disease Models, Animal ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Skin ; pathology ; Suture Techniques ; Wound Healing

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) superinfection on the short-term and long-term hepatic pathological changes in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB).

METHODSHCV-RNA of twice corresponding period serum samples was detected via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay from 230 patients with CHB for whom liver biopsy was performed at an interval of 0.5-15 years, respectively. The hepatic pathological changes of the patients with CHB who were serum HCV-RNA positive at the beginning of observation and persistently positive between the starting and ending of observation were respectively compared with those of serum HCV-RNA negative and persistently negative patients.

RESULTS41 patients (17.83%) were positive for serum HCV-RNA at the beginning of observation. There were significant differences in the severity of hepatic inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage between serum HCV-RNA positive and negative patients with CHB (P < 0.05). Twenty-nine patients were persistently positive for serum HCV-RNA in the beginning and end of observation. Compared with persistently negative patients who were 116 patients selected from the above-mentioned 230 patients and they were comparable with HCV-RNA persistently positive patients in mean follow-up time, age and sex, the long-term progression of hepatic inflammatory activity grade and fibrosis stage in persistently positive patients were more speedy (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONHCV superinfection worsens the hepatic pathological changes of patients with CHB and speeds up its progression.

Adult ; Female ; Hepacivirus ; physiology ; Hepatitis B virus ; physiology ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; blood ; pathology ; virology ; Host-Pathogen Interactions ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; virology ; Male ; RNA, Viral ; genetics ; Retrospective Studies ; Superinfection ; virology ; Time Factors ; Viral Load