OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and immunophenotype of intraabdominal extranodal follicular dendritic cell sarcoma (FDCS) and the relationship with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

METHODSThe clinical and histologic features of 4 cases of FDCS were evaluated. Immunohistochemical study was performed using standard EnVision method for CD21, CD23, CD35, S-100 protein, CD68, HLA-DR, vimentin, epithelial membrane antigen, desmin, CD34 and CD117. In-situ hybridization for EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) was carried out in 2 cases.

RESULTSThe age of patients ranged from 28 to 63 years (mean=42 years). The male-to-female ratio was 3:1. The clinical presentation was abdominal discomfort, pain or mass. Radiologic examination revealed concurrent lesions in stomach and left lobe of liver in 1 patient, while non-specific intraabdominal masses were detected in the remaining cases (in which the tumor was later found to be located in the appendix, mesentery of jejunum and omentum). Two cases were misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal stromal tumor before operation. Grossly, the tumors appeared as large solid nodules, with a mean diameter of 10.8 cm. Three of the cases showed areas of necrosis. Histologically, there were plump spindle, ovoid to epithelioid cells associated with scattered multinucleated giant cells. The tumor cells were arranged mostly in storiform pattern, whorls, fascicles or solid sheets. Lymphocytic infiltrates with perivascular cuffing were noted in all cases, resulting in a distinctive biphasic pattern. Two tumors showed significant cytologic atypia, with mitotic figures (including atypical mitotic figures) readily demonstrated. The remaining case (occurring in liver) was composed of scattered large atypical cells embedded in a dense inflammatory background, mimicking inflammatory pseudotumor. Immunohistochemical study showed that all cases were positive for CD21, CD23 and vimentin. There was focal expression of CD35, S-100 protein, CD68, HLA-DR and epithelial membrane antigen. The staining for CD34 and CD117 was negative. In-situ hybridization for EBER was negative in 2 cases tested.

CONCLUSIONSIntraabdominal extranodal FDCS is extremely rare. Familiarity with its characteristic histologic features and immunophenotype is important in distinguishing the tumor from other intraabdominal spindle cell lesions (such as gastrointestinal stromal tumor). Hepatic FDCS may show inflammatory pseudotumor-like features, resulting in misinterpretation. Non-hepatic intraabdominal FDCS seems to have little association with EBV infection.

Abdominal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Adult ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; metabolism ; pathology ; virology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; pathology ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell ; pathology ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism ; Receptors, IgE ; metabolism ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the mechanism by which propofol exposure causes PC12 cell apoptosis under hypoxic conditions.

METHODSPC12 cells were exposed to room air, 35% oxygen, or 5% oxygen (hypoxia) for 24 h in the presence of either 10 µmol/L lipid emulsion or 10 µmol/L propofol. After the treatments, the cell apoptosis was measured by flow ceytometry, and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were evaluated.

RESULTSIn room air, PC12 cells treated with propofol showed increased apoptosis rate and ROS production as compared with the cells treated with the lipid emulsion; propofol treatment of the cells exposed to 35% oxygen showed obvious enhancement of the apoptosis rate, ROS production and SOD activity. Under the hypoxic condition, propofol treatment even further increased the apoptosis rate, ROS production and SOD activity. Lipid emulsion caused no such changes in cells exposed to room air, 35% oxygen or 5% oxygen.

CONCLUSIONUnder hypoxic conditions, propofol can cause apoptosis in PC12 cells by inducing oxidative stress injury.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Hypoxia ; Oxidative Stress ; PC12 Cells ; Propofol ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on the pathomorphology of the sciatic nerve and the role of P2X3 receptors in EA analgesia.

METHODSThe chronic constriction injury (CCI) model was adopted in this study. A total of 32 rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham CCI, CCI, CCI plus contralateral EA (CCI + conEA) and CCI plus ipsilateral EA (CCI + ipsEA). Mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal latency (TWL) were measured. EA began at day 7 after the CCI operation and was applied to the Zusanli (ST 36) and Yanglingquan acupoints (GB 34). At day 14, the pathomorphologic changes of the operated sciatic nerve were demonstrated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons isolated from rats were examined by electrophysiological recording to determine if the P2X3 receptor agonists, adenosine 5'-triphosphate disodium (ATP) and α,β-methylen-ATP (α,β-meATP) evoked inward currents.

RESULTSPain thresholds in the CCI group were obviously decreased post CCI surgery (P<0.01). In the EA groups, thermal and mechanical threshold values were increased after the last EA treatment (P<0.05, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in light microscopic examination among the four groups (P>0.05). Current amplitude after application of ATP and α,β-meATP in DRG neurons were much larger in the CCI group compared to those obtained in sham CCI (P<0.05). ATP and α, β-meATP invoked amplitudes in the CCI + EA groups were reduced. There was no signififi cant difference between the CCI + conEA group and the CCI + ipsEA group (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONEA analgesia may be mediated by decreasing the response of P2X3 receptors to the agonists ATP and α,β-meATP in the DRG of rats with CCI. No pathological changes of the sciatic nerve of rats were observed after EA treatment.

Adenosine Triphosphate ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Electroacupuncture ; Ganglia, Spinal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Hyperalgesia ; pathology ; Ion Channel Gating ; drug effects ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reaction Time ; drug effects ; Receptors, Purinergic P2X3 ; metabolism ; Sciatic Nerve ; injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; Staining and Labeling

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors for Guillain-Barre syndrome.

METHODSCase-control study design was used in 51 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, and 51 matched controls. All of the 51 cases in this study had been examined by electrophysiology. Serum IgG antibodies specific for C. jejuni were determined in all the subjects by ELISA. Each case and control were interviewed using an ad hoc questionnaire, including his/her demographic information, onset of the illness, their personal hygiene and so on.

RESULTSThe study showed that Guillain-Barre syndrome was associated with a few factors, such as polio vaccine immunization before onset of illness (OR=7.27), no hand washing after defecation and before meals (OR=6.15). Infection of C. jejuni was strongly associated with the illness (OR=9.5, P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONIt is suggested that occurrence of Guillain-Barre syndrome may correlate to infection of C. jejuni and poor personal hygiene in children.

Adolescent ; Campylobacter Infections ; complications ; Campylobacter jejuni ; pathogenicity ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome ; epidemiology ; etiology ; microbiology ; Hand Disinfection ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; analysis ; Infant ; Male ; Poliovirus Vaccines ; adverse effects ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVETo investigate the actual condition of the sexual physiological and psychological development of the high school students in Yibin in order to get a reliable basis for sexual education of the teenagers.

METHODSWith a proportion of 1% to the whole, 2,770 students were randomly selected from eight high schools in the urban and rural areas of the city. We devised a questionnaire and asked each student to fill in his or her answers presently.

RESULTSSo far as sexual physiological and psychological development was concerned, the high school students of Yibin were found rather precocious, with very little sexual knowledge and psychological endurance in sexual affairs and a relative lack of sexual education.

CONCLUSIONIt is imperative to extend the scope of puberty sexual education in high schools. Teenagers must be taught different kinds of sexual knowledge at different periods of growth as well as how to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and gestation. The sexual knowledge level of the teachers must also be raised. It is a must to establish service or specialist consultation hot lines about sexual knowledge for teenagers. Parents are expected to change their traditional views and assume an active role in the joint efforts of sexual education for their children.

Adolescent ; Child ; China ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Menarche ; Psychology, Adolescent ; Psychosexual Development ; Rural Population ; Sexual Development ; Students ; psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires