Carcinoma ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Male ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; genetics ; Spectral Karyotyping ; methods

OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of antioxidant stress protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) of rat hepatocytes. METHODS: The BRL cells (rat hepatocyte cell line) were cultured. The hepatocytes were treated with LPS, LPS+HO-1 siRNA, HO-1 siRNA and PBS solution, respectively. The cell viability was measured by trypan blue exclusion test. The apoptosis cells were detected by the fluorescent dye Hoechst 33258. Expressions of GRP78, CHOP, caspase-12 and HO-1 were detected by Western blotting. RESULTS: LPS caused an increase of HO-1 protein expression of rat hepatocytes in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, a up-regulation of GRP78, CHOP and caspase-12, a decrease in cell viability, and an increase in apoptosis rate of hepatocytes. Pretreatment of HO-1 siRNA inhibited the up-regulation of LPS-induced HO-1, however, aggravated ERS and cellular injury. CONCLUSION HO-1 inhibites ERS-mediated cellular injury of rat hepatocytes induced by LPS.
Animals ; Apoptosis/physiology* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum/metabolism* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress/physiology* ; Heme Oxygenase-1/pharmacology* ; Hepatocytes/metabolism* ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Rats

Toll like receptor ( TLRs) is a highly conserved transmembrane protein expressed in epithelial cells and immune cells,which is a kind of important receptor to identify the damage associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). TLRs and DAMP produced by tumor cells after chemotherapy combine to produce the corresponding biological effects via MyD88 dependent and independent path-ways. At present,the research application of TLRs identifying DAMP clinically is mainly focused on promoting the release of the DAMP and enhancing the expression of TLRs to strengthen the immune effect of chemotherapy drugs.

Objective To evaluate the effects of amino acids (AA) on the development of in vitro cultured preimplantation embryos of Kunming mice, and define the optimal AA concentration for embryo culture. Methods Totally 630 zygotes were collected from the oviducts of superovulated female Kunming mice, which were cultured in protein-free potassium simplex optimized medium (mKSOM) supplemented with Eagle's essential amino acids and Eagle's non-essential amino acids of different concentrations (mKSOM, mKSOM+1/16AA, mKSOM+1/8AA, mKSOM+1/4AA, mKSOM+1/2AA, mKSOM+AA, and mKSOM+2AA). Results The embryos cultured with the amino acids showed higher development rate to both 8-cell embryo stage and blastocyst stage than those cultured without amino acids. The correlation of amino acid concentration with 8-cell and blastocyst development rates conformed to the cubic model, with the highest development rate to both of the two stages observed at half of the amino acid concentration. Conclusion Amino acids can promote the development of preimplantation Kunming mouse embryos, but excessively high concentration of amino acids impair embryo development possibly because of metabolic and osmotic pressure changes of the embryos as well as toxicity of ammonium resulting from the metabolism of amino acids.

Objective To evaluate the effects of amino acids (AA) on the development of in vitro cultured preimplantation embryos of Kunming mice, and define the optimal AA concentration for embryo culture. Methods Totally 630 zygotes were collected from the oviducts of superovulated female Kunming mice, which were cultured in protein-free potassium simplex optimized medium (mKSOM) supplemented with Eagle's essential amino acids and Eagle's non-essential amino acids of different concentrations (mKSOM, mKSOM+1/16AA, mKSOM+1/8AA, mKSOM+1/4AA, mKSOM+1/2AA, mKSOM+AA, and mKSOM+2AA). Results The embryos cultured with the amino acids showed higher development rate to both 8-cell embryo stage and blastocyst stage than those cultured without amino acids. The correlation of amino acid concentration with 8-cell and blastocyst development rates conformed to the cubic model, with the highest development rate to both of the two stages observed at half of the amino acid concentration. Conclusion Amino acids can promote the development of preimplantation Kunming mouse embryos, but excessively high concentration of amino acids impair embryo development possibly because of metabolic and osmotic pressure changes of the embryos as well as toxicity of ammonium resulting from the metabolism of amino acids.

Objective To analyze the clinical diagnosis and treatment data of 20 children with hypophosphatemic rickets (HR) in order to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of HR.Methods The retrospective analysis of clinical data of 20 cases with HR who were hospitalized at Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University from May,2010 to April,2016 was performed to summarize the clinical characteristics.All patients were analyzed for the phosphate regulating gene with homologies to endopeptidase on the X chromosome(PHEX) gene by direct sequencing.If no mutations were detected,multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification analysis was performed.Results All of the 20 cases with HR showed different degrees of growth retardation and typical X-ray rickets.After treatment,the clinical features were improved.Height standard deviation score (HSDS) was improved significantly with longer treatment time,and the difference was statistically significant(P =0.027).There was a correlation between the blood phosphorus fluctuation and secondary hyperparathyroidism(P ＜ 0.05).Nineteen cases had PHEX gene mutations.Truncating mutations was the most frequent mutation type,and 4 new mutations were found.Conclusions Clinical characteristics,laboratory test results and X-ray examination are important clinical index for the diagnosis of HR,and PHEX gene test can be used as an important auxiliary diagnostic tool.Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve the clinical manifestations of the patients.

OBJECTIVETo deduce the protocol, scoring criteria and interpretive guidelines for assessment of HER2 gene expression status by fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) and to compare the results with those obtained by immunohistochemistry.

METHODSThe HercepTest kit from Dako Cytomation was employed for immunohistochemistry. FISH for HER2 gene expression status was performed using PathVysion DNA probe kit on the archival paraffin-embedded sections of breast cancer tissues from 28 Chinese female patients with immunohistochemical staining scores of (3 +), (2 +), (1 +) and 0.

RESULTSTen of the 12 patients with score (3 +) by immunohistochemistry were positive for HER2 by FISH, with 2 cases being polysomy. Two other cases with FISH-negative were also shown to be polysomy. Seven of the 10 patients with score (2 +) by immunohistochemistry showed HER2 gene amplification, with 1 case being polysomy. Two of the remaining 3 cases, which were FISH-negative, were shown to be polysomy. All the patients with scores (1 +, number = 3 ) or 0 ( number = 3) by immunohistochemistry failed to show amplification. One case of polysomy was noted in either group.

CONCLUSIONSImmunohistochemistry is useful as an initial screening tool for HER2 expression status. Because of the obvious discrepancies between protein expression and gene amplification, patients with score (2 +) by immunohistochemistry should undergo FISH testing as well. FISH is also required in selected examples with score (3 +) immunohistochemical results, especially in those with false-positive immunohistochemistry due to chromosome 17 aneuploidy.

Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; genetics ; metabolism ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Female ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, erbB-2 ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Polyploidy ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER2 gene status, to assess the correlation between EGFR and HER2 gene status, and to investigate the role of copy number increase and amplification of EGFR gene and HER2 gene in the tumorigenesis and disease progression of non-small-cell lung cancer.

METHODSUsing Path Vysion kit and LSI EGFR SpectrumOrange/CEP7 Spectrum Green probes, EGFR gene and HER2 gene status were evaluated by fluorescence insitu hybridization (FISH) using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded samples from 31 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer, including 20 adenocarcinomas, 2 squamous cell carcinomas, 2 large cell carcinoma, 4 bronchoalveolar carcinomas and 3 adenosquamous carcinomas. The correlation between EGFR and HER2 gene status was analyzed.

RESULTSSix of thirty-one carcinomas showed EGFR gene amplification. Of 25 cases without EGFR gene non-amplification, four tetrasomy and 5 polysomy were detected. Overall, 15 out of 31 carcinomas demonstrated either EGFR gene copy number increase or gene amplification (15/31). HER2 gene amplification was seen in 2 of the 31 cases. Four trisomy, one tetrasomy and nine polysomy cases were found in 29 tumors that had no HER2 gene amplification. Overall, 16 of 31 cases showed either HER2 gene copy number increase and/or amplification (16/31). Synchronous EGFR and HER2 gene numerical changes, i.e. gene copy number increase and gene amplification, were found in 12 of 31 cases (12/31), and almost all such patients had either clinical stage III or IV tumor. EGFR gene numerical changes significantly correlated with HER2 gene abnormality (chi(2)(Adj) = 7.3045, P = 0.0069).

CONCLUSIONSEGFR or HER2 copy number increase is much more frequent than gene amplification in no-small-cell lung cancer. Our data based on gene alterations indicate, for the first time, that there is a significant correlation between EGFR alterations and HER2 abnormalities. Both genes are involved in the tumorigenesis and development of lung cancer. EGFR/HER2 dimer is one of the predominant heterodimerization types in lung cancer. The interactions between EGFR and HER2 may play a rule in the progression of non-small-cell lung cancer.

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 17 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 7 ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, erbB-1 ; genetics ; Genes, erbB-2 ; genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Polyploidy

OBJECTIVETo investigate 18q21 LOH in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas and chronic pancreatitis by fluorescence in-situ hybrydization (FISH) technique, and to analyze the relationship between 18q21 LOH and clinicopathologic characteristics.

METHODSRP11-729G3 and RP11-850A17, the regions on 18q21, were selected as the target fragments, the region RP11-621L6, close to the centromere of chromosome 18, was selected as the reference fragment. The specific BAC clones were used to isolate and purify the corresponding genomic DNA, which were labeled with biotin or DIG by nick translation into dual color probes. 18q21 LOH was assessed by dual-color FISH in 30 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis. All samples were 10% formalin fixed and paraffin embedded. The relationship between 18q21 LOH and clinicopathologic characteristics was analyzed.

RESULTSAmong 30 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, 25 cases showed LOH at the region RP11-729G3 (83.3%), and 26 cases showed LOH at the region RP11-850A17 (86.6%). Among these, 25 cases with LOH at both regions, 1 case showed LOH only at the region of RP11-850A17. No LOH was found in 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS18q21 LOH is a high-frequency event in human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. LOH at the regions RP11-729G3 and RP11-850A17 demonstrates a high concordance. 18q21 may play an important role during pancreatic carcinogenesis and tumor progression. 18q21 LOH may be used as a diagnostic marker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma ; classification ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal ; classification ; genetics ; Chromosome Mapping ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18 ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; classification ; genetics ; Pancreatitis, Chronic ; classification ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo assess the prevalence of HER2 amplification according to HER2 and chromosome 17 copy numbers and HER2 FISH (fluorescence in-situ hybridization) ratio in breast cancer occurring in Chinese women.

METHODSEleven hundreds and seventy cases of breast cancer occurring in Chinese women, who would be treated by trastuzumab and/or relevant chemotherapy based on HER2 status, were enrolled into the study. The formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tumor tissues were tested by FISH (PathVysion, Vysis).

RESULTSAmong the 1170 cases of breast cancer studied, 408 cases (34.87%) were FISH-negative, whereas 762 cases (65.13%) were FISH-positive, including 87 cases (87/762, 11.42%) with highly amplified HER2 gene (signals arranged in aggregates). As for the remaining 675 FISH-positive cases, 159 cases (23.56%) showed low amplification (HER2/CEP17 ratio = 2 to 4), 422 cases (62.52%) showed moderate amplification (ratio = 4 to 10) and 94 cases (13.93%) showed high amplification (ratio > 10) for HER2 gene. Only 14 of the 1170 cases (1.20%) had indeterminate results (ratio between 1.8 and 2.2), including 1.23% (5/408) borderline FISH-negative (ratio between 1.8 and 2.0) and 1.18% (9/762) borderline FISH-positive (ratio between 2.0 and 2.2). Our data showed that 73.00% (854/1170) of cases were chromosome 17 aneusomy, including 22.65% (265/1170) hypodisomy (chromosome 17 copy number per cell < or = 1.75), 38.38% (449/1170) low polysomy (chromosome 17 copy number per cell 2.26 to 3.75) and 11.97% (140/1170) high polysomy (chromosome 17 copy number per cell > or = 3.76). The frequency of chromosome 17 polysomy was 50.34%. In the FISH-positive subgroup, 23.88% (182/762) was disomy (chromosome 17 copy number per cell between 1.76 and 2.25), 24.15% (184/762) hypodisomy, 39.37% (300/762) low polysomy and 12.60% (96/762) high polysomy. The frequency of chromosome 17 polysomy in the FISH-positive subgroup was 51.97%. In the FISH-negative subgroup, 32.84% (134/408) were disomy, 19.85% (81/408) hypodisomy, 36.52% (149/408) low polysomy and 10.78% (44/408) high polysomy. The frequency of chromosome 17 polysomy in the FISH-negative subgroup was 47.30%. On the other hand, HER2 monoallelic deletion (HER2/CEP17 < or = 0.7) was observed in 2.39% of cases. Chromosome 17 monosomy was detected in 5.00% (38/762) and 4.41% (18/408) of HER2-positive and HER2-negative groups, respectively. A HER2 ratio of < 1.5 was noted in 32.30% of all cases (including 92.65% of HER2-negative cases), compared with 9.23% (108/1170) with ratio between 1.5 and 2.2.

CONCLUSIONSThe results show that a high amplification of HER2 gene is detected by FISH. Moderate amplification of HER2 gene and chromosome 17 polysomy are commonly seen in breast cancer patients in China Mainland. These findings may carry significant clinical and pathogenetic implication.

Aneuploidy ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Breast Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; China ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Cricetinae ; Gene Amplification ; Gene Dosage ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; Genes, erbB-2 ; immunology ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Nucleic Acid Hybridization