OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of float needle therapy combined with reperfusion activity for pain induced by cyclomastopathy.

METHODSThirty-five female patients with cyclomastopathy were randomly divided into a comprehensive group (18 cases) and a float needle group (17 cases). In the comprehensive group, float needle manipulation was used at the centre of the biceps brachii belly or the ligature between the affected nipple and breast nodule, about 4 cm beside the exterior margin of the breast, and the reperfusion activity of the affected upper limb and breast was combined. In the float needle group, simple float needle therapy was adopted. In the two groups, treatment was started 7 ± 3 days before menstruation, once every other day. After 3-time treatment, the changes of short form McGill Pain Questionnaire (SF-MPQ) scores before and after treatment, the time of pain relieved during the first treatment, recurrence in 3 months after treatment and the adverse reaction were observed. Also, the clinical effects of the two groups were compared.

RESULTSImmediately at the end of the first treatment,after 3-time treatment and while followed up for one month, each item score and the total score of SF-MPQ were decreased apparently than the scores before treatment (all P < 0.05), and all the scores mentioned above of the comprehensive group were declined more obviously than those of the float needle group (all P < 0.05). The time of pain relieved during the first treatment of the comprehensive group was much shorter than that of the float needle group [(94.72 ± 33.67) s vs (162.06 ± 29.16) s, P < 0.01]. The recurrence rate of the comprehensive group in 3 months after treatment was 5.9% (1/17), which was better than 20.0% (3/15) of the float needle group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFloat needle therapy combined with reperfusion activity and simple float needle therapy can both safely and effectively improve cyclomastopathy, and the combination therapy is better than simple float needle therapy in the aspects of pain relieving effect at once and the long term effect.

Acupuncture Therapy ; Adult ; Breast Diseases ; pathology ; therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Glands, Human ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Needles ; Pain Measurement

Caused by endocrine disorder, hyperplasia of mammary glands(HMG) tends to occur in the young with increasing incidence, putting patients at the risk of cancer and threatening the health of women. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of HMG is attracting more and more attention. Amid the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), many scholars have found that Chinese patent medicine has unique advantages and huge potential in treatment of endocrine disorder. Particularly, Chinese patent medicine with the function of blood-activating and mass-dissipating, such as Xiaojin Pills and Xiaozheng Pills, has been commonly used in clinical treatment of HMG, which features multiple targets, obvious efficacy, small side effect, and ease of taking and carrying around. Clinical studies have found that the combination of Chinese patent medicine with other medicine can not only improve the efficacy and relieve symptoms such as hyperplasia and pain but also reduce the toxic and side effects of western medicine. Therefore, based on precious pharmacological research and clinical research, this study reviewed the mechanisms of blood-activating mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine alone and in combination with other medicine, such as regulating levels of in vivo hormones and receptors, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting angiogenesis, improving hemorheology indexes, enhancing immunity, and boosting antioxidant ability. In addition, limitations and problems were summarized. Thereby, this study is expected to lay a theoretical basis for the further study and clinical application of blood-activating mass-dissipating Chinese patent medicine alone or in combination with other medicine against HMG.
Humans ; Female ; Hyperplasia/drug therapy* ; Nonprescription Drugs ; Mammary Glands, Human/pathology* ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Hemorheology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use*

Objective: To investigate the histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of benign apocrine cystic papillary hyperplasia of the breast with loss of myoepithelial cell layer. Methods: The clinical data, histopathological features and immunohistochemical profile of patients with benign apocrine cystic papillary hyperplasia of breast with loss of myoepithelial cell layer from January 2016 to December 2021 were examined, in which six patients were identified. Results: All six patients were female, aged 36-61 years (median 46 years), who presented with a breast mass; three cases were from the left breast and three cases were from the right breast. Microscopic examination of all cases showed breast hyperplasia with apocrine cysts, accompanied by different degrees of micropapillary and papillary hyperplasia of apocrine cells. One case was associated with lobular carcinoma in situ, and one case was associated with apocrine ductal carcinoma in situ with intraductal dissemination in adenosis. Immunohistochemical staining of CK5/6, p63, SMA, SMMHC, Calponin and CD10 showed complete absence of myoepithelial cell layer surrounding ducts in apocrine cystic papillary hyperplasia. Conclusions: The myoepithelial cells of apocrine cystic papillary hyperplasia of the breast may undergo abnormal changes and may even be completely lost. The diagnosis should be comprehensively considered along with cytomorphological and histological features to avoid overdiagnosis.
Female ; Humans ; Epithelial Cells/pathology* ; Hyperplasia/pathology* ; Papilloma/pathology* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Mammary Glands, Human/pathology* ; Breast Neoplasms/pathology* ; Carcinoma, Lobular/complications* ; Carcinoma, Ductal/complications*

OBJECTIVETo probe into a better acupoint association for treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands and the mechanism.

METHODSTwo hundred cases were randomly divided into a regulating kidney and smoothing liver needling group, a routine acupuncture group and a Chinese medicine group. The regulating kidney and smoot hing liver needling group were treated with acupuncture at Shenshu (BL 23), Mingmen (GV 4), Fengfu (GV 16), Lingxu (KI 24), Shenfeng (KI 23), Bulang (KI 22), Qimen (LR 14), etc. and the routine acupuncture group with acupuncture at Zusanli (ST 36), Tanzhong (CV 17), Ganshu (BL 18), Rugen (ST 18), Neiguan (PC 6), Qimen (LR 14), once daily; and the Chinese medicine group with oral administration of Rupixiao tablet, 6 tablets each time, thrice each day. After they were treated for 2 menstrual cycles, the therapeutic effects and changes of E2, PRL, P, CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ were observed.

RESULTSThe clinical therapeutic effect and the total effective rate for TCM syndromes were 92.0% and 94.0% in the regulating kidney and smoothing liver needling group, 86.0% and 88.0% in the routine acupuncture group and 78.0% and 84.0% in the Chinese medicine group, with a significant difference among the 3 groups, the former being better than the other two groups; after treatment, serum PRL, P, P/E2 significantly improved in all the 3 groups (P < 0.05) and the regulating kidney and smoothing liver needling group was better than other two groups in decreasing PRL and increasing P, P/E2 (P < 0.05); and E2, CD8+, CD4+/CD8+ significantly improved in the regulating kidney and smoothing liver needling group and the routine acupuncture group, the former being better than the later in decreasing E2 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe regulating kidney and smoothing liver needling method is an effective method for treatment of hyperplasia of mammary glands and it has regulative action on endocrine and immune functions in the patient with hyperplasia of mammary glands.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Endocrine Glands ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney ; physiopathology ; Liver ; physiopathology ; Mammary Glands, Human ; pathology ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of aromatase P450 in the mammary gland of hypertrophic breast.

METHODSThe expression of aromatase P450 in the mammary gland was detected by SP immunohistochemistry in 28 cases of hypertrophic breasts and 12 cases of normal volume breasts. The results were analysed by SPSS 13.0, and comparison among groups was performed by Fisher's exact test.

RESULTSThe positive expression rate of aromatase P450 in hypertrophic group was 39.29%, while there was no positive expression in normal group, showing a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the gland hyperplasia group and adipose hyperplasia group (P > 0.05). There were also no significant difference between the groups with different lactation history or different extent of hypertrophy and mastocytosis (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSOverexpression of aromatase P450 in mammary gland may be related to the development of hypertrophic breast.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aromatase ; biosynthesis ; Breast Diseases ; metabolism ; pathology ; Case-Control Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mammary Glands, Human ; metabolism ; pathology ; Young Adult

Breast Neoplasms ; radiotherapy ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Mammary Glands, Human ; pathology ; radiation effects ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Survival Analysis ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical curative effect of Rupi Xiaosan Recipe (RPXSR) on cyclomastopathy by adjusting the Chong-Ren Meridian through various paths.

METHODSOne hundred patients were assigned to two groups, the 60 patients in the treatment group and the 40 in the control group. They were treated by RPXSR and Rukang Tablet (RKT) respectively, and the changes of clinical symptoms and signs before and after treatment were observed and recorded, and the size of mammary tubercle was measured by molybdenum target X-ray and infrared scanning as well.

RESULTSThe total effective rate in the treatment group and the control group was 96.7% and 87.5% respectively, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.05). The outcome of X-ray and infrared scanning confirmed that RPXSR was superior to RKT in reducing the size of tubercle (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONRPXSR can improve the local blood circulation and inhibit the hyperplasia of mammary gland, has reliable effect on improving clinical symptoms in patients with cyclomastopathy.

Adult ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; drug therapy ; Mammary Glands, Human ; drug effects ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Shugan Shuru Granule (SSG) on the p53 gene expression in patients with hyperplastic disease of breast (HDB) to indirectly explore the mechanism of SSG's effect on HDB on the molecular pathological level.

METHODSSixty-six patients with HDB were allocated in the treated group and the control group, with the former treated with SSG and the latter not. All patients underwent breast operation and their diseased mammary tissues were cut out, sectioned, and observed under microscopy with HE staining and immunohistochemical staining, with ABC method adopted to estimate the degree of hyperplasia and p53 gene expression. The severity of HDB was classified into normal, mild, moderate and severe grades (marked as 0 to III), according to the degree of hyperplasia in the mammary gland.

RESULTSHyperplasia in the control group mostly belonged to grade I-III before treatment, showing overgrowth of gland and proliferation of glandular epithelial cells, which were high columnar shaped, more stratified, with papillary or substantive dysplasia. While in the treated group, most belonged to grade 0-I after SSG treatment, with proliferated gland and dysplasia recovered to normal or disappeared. The positive rate of p53 gene expression in the treated group was 9.09%, and in the control group 39.39%, comparison between the two groups showing significant difference (P < 0.01), the intensity in the former was significantly weaker than that in the latter.

CONCLUSIONSSG could not only inhibit the proliferation of mammary duct epithelia and lobuli, but also inhibit the over-expression of P53. Therefore, it could be regarded as an effective remedy for treatment of HDB and prevention of mammary cancer genesis.

Adult ; Breast Diseases ; drug therapy ; pathology ; surgery ; Breast Neoplasms ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Epithelium ; pathology ; physiology ; Female ; Gene Expression ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Mammary Glands, Human ; pathology ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; genetics

PURPOSE: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a major class of small endogenous RNA molecules that posttranscriptionally regulate the expression of most genes in the human genome. miRNAs are often located in chromosomal fragile sites, which are suscept-ible to amplification or deletion. Chromosomal deletions are frequent events in breast cancer cells. Deletion and loss of heterozygosity at 17p13.3 have been reported in 49% of breast cancers. The aim of the current study was to evaluate potential expression alterations of miR-22, miR-132, and miR-212, which are located on the 17p13.3 locus and are required for mammary gland development. METHODS: A matched case-control study was conducted, which included 36 pairs of tumor and matched nontumor surgical specimens from patients diagnosed with breast invasive ductal carcinoma. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples from archival collections at the pathology department of Shariati Hospital were prepared for RNA extraction using the xylene-ethanol method before total RNA was isolated with TRIzol Reagent. Specific primers were designed for cDNA synthesis and miRNA amplification. The expression of miRNAs was then evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: According to our RT-PCR data, the miR-212/miR-132 family was downregulated in breast cancer (0.328-fold, p<0.001), and this reduced expression was the most prominent in high-grade tumors. In contrast, miR-22 exhibited a significant upregulation in breast tumor samples (2.183-fold, p=0.040). CONCLUSION: Consistent with the frequent deletion of the 17p13.3 locus in breast tumor cells, our gene expression data demonstrated a significant downregulation of miR-212 and miR-132 in breast cancer tissues. In contrast, we observed a significant upregulation of miR-22 in breast tumor samples. The latter conflicting result may have been due to the upregulation of miR-22 in stromal/cancer-associated fibroblasts, rather than in the tumor cells.
Biomarkers ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Case-Control Studies ; Chromosome Deletion ; DNA, Complementary ; Down-Regulation ; Fibroblasts ; Gene Expression ; Genome, Human ; Humans ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Mammary Glands, Human ; Methods ; MicroRNAs* ; Pathology ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Up-Regulation

During normal postnatal mammary gland development and adult remodeling related to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and lactation, ovarian hormones and peptide growth factors contribute to the delineation of a definite epithelial cell identity. This identity is maintained during cell replication in a heritable but DNA-independent manner. The preservation of cell identity is fundamental, especially when cells must undergo changes in response to intrinsic and extrinsic signals. The maintenance proteins, which are required for cell identity preservation, act epigenetically by regulating gene expression through DNA methylation, histone modification, and chromatin remodeling. Among the maintenance proteins, the Trithorax (TrxG) and Polycomb (PcG) group proteins are the best characterized. In this review, we summarize the structures and activities of the TrxG and PcG complexes and describe their pivotal roles in nuclear estrogen receptor activity. In addition, we provide evidence that perturbations in these epigenetic regulators are involved in disrupting epithelial cell identity, mammary gland remodeling, and breast cancer initiation.
Animals ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic ; Chromatin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Epigenesis, Genetic ; physiology ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase ; Humans ; Mammary Glands, Animal ; cytology ; growth & development ; Mammary Glands, Human ; cytology ; growth & development ; Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein ; genetics ; physiology ; Polycomb-Group Proteins ; genetics ; physiology ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism