Circulating tumor cell (CTC) is a kind of malignant tumor cells shed from the primary tumor into the circulation caused by spontaneity or surgical operation and puncture. With the development of CTC analysis recently, the detection methods have been gradually diversified. As a new biomarker, CTC plays a significant role in the diagnosis, therapeutic effect monitoring and prognosis of tumors. This paper mainly introduces the enrichment and analysis technology of CTC, and explore the relationship between CTC and tumors.

Interleukin (IL)-27 is a new member of the IL-6/IL-12 family composed of p28 subunit and Epstein-Barr virus induced gene 3 (EBI3) subunit. Its receptor is composed of WSX-1 and gp130. It has dual properties including pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory function at different conditions. Studies have shown that IL-27 exerts its biological activities through stimulating JAK1/STAT1, JAK1/STAT3 signal pathways and regulating the production of Th1, Th17 as well as their related-cytokines. Furthermore, IL-27 can exert the role of anti-tumor activity by enhancing the effect of cytotoxic T cells and anti-angiogenesis.

The action mechanism of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) in the genesis, development and degeneration of haemangioma was investigated by detecting their expression in the tissue of haemangioma in different phases by using the immunohistochemistry. Fifty paraffin-embedded specimens of skin capillary haemangioma were collected, which were documented in the Department of Pathology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University from 2000 to 2006. All samples were stained by regular HE method, and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was tested by immunohistochemical S-P method. The samples were classified according to the Mulliken criteria and the expression pattern of PCNA. Immunohistochemical S-P method was applied to detect the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in proliferative and degenerative phases of cutaneous capillary haemangioma, and in normal skin tissues. In combination with the detection of the expression of factor VIII-related antigen, it was verified that in haemangioma tissues, the cells expressing MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were vascular endothelial cells. The MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression was quantitatively analyzed by image analysis system (HPIAS-1000), and one-way ANOVA(107) and SNK(q) test were done to analyze average absorbance (A) and positive area rate of immunohistochemically positive particles by using SPSS11.5. The results showed: (1) Among 50 samples of haemangioma, there were 26 proliferative haemangiomas, and 24 degenerative haemangiomas, respectively; (2) The expression of MMP-2 was weak in normal vascular endothelial cells, cytoplasm of connective tissues and extracellular matrix around blood vessels. The expression of MMP-2 in proliferative group was significantly higher than in degenerative group and control group (normal skin) (P<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference between the latter two groups; (3) TIMP-2 was highly expressed in normal tissues, degenerative vascular endothelial cells, cytoplasm of connective tissues and extracellular matrix around blood vessels. The expression level of TIMP-2 in proliferative phase was significantly lower than in degenerative phase (P<0.05), and the expression of TIMP-2 in proliferative phase was significantly different from that in degenerative phase and normal tissues (P<0.05). It was concluded that in proliferative phase of haemangioma, MMP-2 may promote over-proliferation of endothelial cells of haemangioma, and in degenerative phase, TIMP-2 can inhibit the proliferation of endothelial cells of haemangioma. The two substances play important roles in the genesis, development and degeneration of haemangiomas.

Objective To investigate the effects of TLR4 on the radiosensitivity of tumor cells.Methods The cell lines of RAW264.7,Lewis,MFC,Hepal-6,Bl6,and NIH3T3 were irradiated with 5 Gy X-rays or sham-irradiated.24 h after irradiation,the expression of TLR4 was detected by flow cytometry.According to the TKR4 level,cells were divided into three groups:without treatment,LPS stimulation and TAK242 block.CCK-8 kit and Annexin-V Apoptosis Kit were used to detect cell proliferation,apoptosis and cell cycle distribution of each group.Results After 24 h of 5 Gy ionizing radiation,TLR4 was significantly increased in Lewis cells (t =-8.68,P ＜0.01) but decreased in MFC cells (t =25.8,P ＜ 0.01) and had no significant changes in Hepal-6,B16 and RAW264.7 cells.In addition,the proliferation vitality (t =57.62,-6.23,P ＜ 0.01) and survival fraction (t =13.37,19.24,P ＜ 0.01) of the Lewis and MFC cells were reduced especially for the TLR4-blocked cells,and the apoptosis rates of both Lewis (t=-167.85,P＜0.01) and MFC cells (t=-26.45,P＜0.01) were elevated.The percentages of G0/G1 phase and S phase Lewis cells were significant increased (t =8.68,14.89,P ＜ 0.01) but its G2/M phase were reduced (t =-37.48,P ＜ 0.01).However,the percentages of G0/G1 phase and S phase MFC cells were obviously reduced (t =20.31,4.48,P ＜ 0.01) and G2/M phase increased (t =-13.06,P ＜ 0.01).For both cell lines of Lewis and MFC,the cycle distribution of TAK242 and LPS groups didn't change significantly.Conclusions High expression TLR4 in the Lewis cells is related to cell proliferation and apoptosis but not cell cycle distribution,and hence TLR4 could influence the radiosensitivity of tumor cells.

Objective To analyze the concentrations and sources of heavy metals in the soils in city parks,so as to improve the city ecological environment quality and protect the health of people.Methods In December 2007,the distribution characteristics and concentrations of heavy metals(Hg,Cd,Pb,Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr,As)were investigated by ICP-AES and mercury analyzer after the soil samples were collected from six urban parks in Pudong,Shanghai.Results The results showed that the ranges of concentration were 21.08-69.31 mg/kg for Cu,41.87-91.71 mg/kg for Pb,104.65-213.83 mg/kg for Zn,84.63-894.28 mg/kg for Cr,0.15-0.26 mg/kg for Cd,19.14-25.32 mg/kg for As,0.02-0.55 mg/kg for Hg,39.30-454.36 mg/kg for Ni,which indicated that all heavy metals,but Cd had been accumulated in varying degree compared with the soil background contents of metal elements in Shanghai. Conclusion Based on the assessment with the single contamination index,Ni and Cr is relatively in a high level of the pollution in Park 1,while the other heavy metals are in a lower risk.According to the comprehensive contamination indexes,the heavy metals pollution in Park 1 belongs to a high grade,while the other parks are in little pollution level.

Objective To investigate the clinical effect,safety,and value of bronchofibroscopeguided bronchoalveolar lavage and topical antibiotics in the treatment of pediatric patients with severe pneumonia.Methods A total of 60 patients with severe pneumonia was randomly divided into two groups with 30 cases in each group.Patients in the control group were treated with conventional anti-infection therapy,while patients in the treatment group were treated with bronchofibroscope-guided bronchoalveolar lavage and topical antibiotics on the basis of conventional therapy.The sputum positive rate,clinical effect,hospital stays,treatment costs,and adverse reactions were compared to analyze its value.Results The total effective rate of treatment group was 93.3％,which was significantly higher than that (60.0％) in the control group (P ＜0.01).The sputum positive rate of treatment group was 80.0％,which was significantly higher than that (43.3％) in the control group (P ＜0.01).The hospital stays and the treatment costs of the treatment group were both significantly less than those in control group (P ＜0.01 orP ＜0.05).No serious complications were found in patients of the treatment group.Conclusions Bronchofibroscope-guided bronchoalveolar lavage and topical antibiotics in the treatment of pediatric patients with severe pneumonia show exactly clinical effects and significant improvement in dyspnea,which shortens the hospital stays,reduces the treatment costs,and has no seriously adverse reactions.Therefore,it is worthy of clinical promotion and application.

Moyamoya disease is a rare cerebrovascular disorder, characterised by progressive stenosis and/or occlusion of the intracranial internal carotid artery and its proximal branches with the development of a basal collateral network. Moyamoya disease has a high prevalence in Asia, particularly in Japan, Korea and China. Ischemic events and intracranial bleeding are the most common clinical manifestation of moyamoya disease. Although the benefi cial effect on hemorrhage is still not clear, revascularisation surgery remains the most effective way to prevent the progression of ischemic symptoms. Moyamoya disease has been investigated by numerous studies since it was fi rst described 50 years ago, many conundrums remain to be solved. In this article, we review the history, epidemiology, aetiology, clinical manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of moyamoya disease. Recent advances and future challenges of moyamoya disease are also discussed.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiomyolipoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibroma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Humans ; Kidney Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Leiomyosarcoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Male ; Mesenchymoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Middle Aged ; Tomography, Spiral Computed ; methods

Objective: To explore the etiology of chylothorax by analyzing the clinical data of one patient with chylothorax and combining with the review of relative literatures, and to improve the ability of clinicians for understanding the rare etiology of chylothorax. Methods: A young female with cough, chest pain and dyspnea as the first symptom was admitted to the hospital. Left lymph node enlargement in the neck of the patient was found in examination and bilateral pleural effusion was found in chest CT scanning. After puncture drainage and testing, the pleural effusion was confirmed the chylothorax. Since the examinations for common causes of chylothorax produced negative results, the patient was eventually diagnosed as infectious chylothorax. The patient received anti-infective therapy for 5 d. Results: After treatment, the symptoms of the patients were improved obviously; the pleural effusion disappeared, and the lymph nodes in the neck were shrink detected with chest color ultrasound. One month after follow-up, all the symptoms, enlarged lymph nodes and pleural effusion were recovered. There was no abnormity in chest CT. Conclusion: The possibility of infection should be considered in clinic for the patients with atypical chylothorax and anti-infective treatment should be performed in order to avoid the failed diagnosis and misdiagnosis.

Studies have found that metformin is not only the preferred drug for lowering blood sugar, but also shows lipid-lowering and weight-loss effects. The purpose of this study was to use a hyperlipidemia hamster model to investigate the lipid-lowering effect of metformin and its effect on important metabolic pathways in lipid metabolism disorders. Fifty golden hamsters were divided into a control group, a model group, metformin high- and low-dose groups, and a simvastatin group. A high-fat diet was fed for 1 week to create the model, and then drug was administered for 11 weeks with the high-fat diet. Serum was taken for measurement of blood lipid and blood glucose at 2, 6, and 9 weeks after administration, and at weeks 3, 5, and 9 feces and urine were collected for ¹H NMR metabolomics tests. After 11 weeks of intravenous injection of [U-¹³C₆] glucose, serum was collected for a ¹³C NMR metabolic flux test. The results showed that the administration of metformin can significantly reduce blood lipids and glucose levels and can significantly affect metabolic pathways such as sugar metabolism, lipid metabolism, ketone metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and intestinal flora metabolism. The results of the metabolic flux analysis showed that the high-fat diet reduced the metabolism of tricarboxylic acids by 37.48%. After administration of low and high doses of metformin the metabolism of tricarboxylic acid increased by 98.14% and 143.10%, respectively. After administration of simvastatin tricarboxylic acid metabolism increased by 33.18%. The results indicate that metformin has a significant effect on promoting energy metabolism. This study used a combination of metabolomics and metabolic flow to explore the effect of metformin on lipid metabolism disorders and quantifies changes in the key pathway of energy metabolism-the tricarboxylic acid cycle. This study provides useful information for the study of the efficacy and mechanism of metformin, as well as a practical technical method for the screening of lipid-lowering drugs based on a hamster model.