Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of familial adrenocorticotropin-independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH). Methods The clinical and laboratory data of 3 patients with familial AIMAH were retrospectively analyzed. Results Case 1 was the proband. The mean age of onset of familial AIMAH was 59.3 years, and mean duration of disease was 6.7 years. The plasma ACTH levels of case 1 and case 2 were below 2.2pmol/L, and the secretion rhythm of serum cortisol in them was disorderly. Low or high dose of dexamethasone failed to suppress cortisol secretion in case 1, while only low dose of dexamethasone failed to suppress cortisol secretion in case 2. In case 3, all the plasma cortisol, ACTH level and their secretion rhythm were normal, and either low or high dose of dexamethasone suppressed cortisol secretion successfully. Ultrasound examination revealed multiple hypoechoic nodules in both adrenal glands, and CT scanning showed bilateral macronodular adrenal hyperplasia in all 3 cases. Pituitary MR imaging was normal in all 3 cases. Conclusions The pathogenesis of sporadic and familial AIMAH remains unclear. Familial AIMAH provides an evidence that genetic transmission of the disease may happen. The clinical characteristics of familial AIMAH are similar to those of sporadic AIMAH. It is possible that some subclinical cases among familial AIMAH ascape the diagnosis.

The present paper aims to investigate whether or not vasculogenic mimicry (VM) exists in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), and to elucidate its relationship to microvessel density (MVD), galectin-3 (Gal-3) expression, and clinicopathological factors of patients with LSCC. VM, score of MVD and expression of Gal-3 protein were detected by immunohistochemistry and histochemistry in 83 specimens of LSCC tissue and 20 specimens of normal laryngeal tissue. The positive rate of VM in normal laryngeal tissues was 0%, and was 33.7% in LSCC tissues. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0. 01). VM or MVD was significantly related to differentiation, pTNM stages and lymph node metastasis of LSCC (P<0.05), but not to age, gender and tumor site (P>0. 05). And there was a positive correlation between every two of VM, score of MVD, and Gal-3 protein (P< 0. 05). The results suggest that expression of Gal-3 protein may be related to the initiation, angiogenesis and VM formation in LSCC; And VM, angiogenesis and Gal-3 protein may be involved in the development, invasion and metastasis of LSCC.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; blood supply ; Galectin 3 ; metabolism ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; blood supply ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; Prognosis

A total of 173 patients with Cushing's syndrome, including 35 patients with clinical data before and after operation, were retrospectively analyzed in this study. The results showed that patients with Cushing's syndrome had high prevalence of metabolic disorder and cardiovascular risk factors. Remission of diease and normalization of circulating cortisol level were not always followed by complete disappearance of metabolic disorder and cardiovascular risk factors.

Purpose To investigate the expression of Wnt-1 and β-catenin protein in cervical squamous cell carcinomas ( CSCC) and their relationship with invasion and lymph node metastasis. Methods Expression of Wnt-1 and β-catenin protein were examined on immunohistochemistry containing 78 specimens of CSCC and 30 specimens of normal cervical tissues. Results The positive rates of Wnt-1 and β-catenin protein in normal cervical tissues were 20.0% and 10.0% respectively. The positive rates of Wnt-1 andβ-cate-nin protein in CSCC were 56.4%, and 74.4% respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.001). The positive rates of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin protein in 33 cases with lymph node metastasis of CSCC were 72.7% and 90.9% respective-ly. The positive rates of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin protein in 45 cases with no lymph node metastasis of CSCC were 44.4% and 62.2% re-spectively. The expression of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin protein was significantly related with grades of tumors and depth of invasion and FI-GO stages (P<0.05), and there was no significantly difference between the expression of Wnt-1 andβ-catenin protein and CSCC pa-tients age (P>0.05). Spearman analysis showed that the expression of Wnt-1 protein was positive related to the expression ofβ-cate-nin protein (rs =0.490, P<0.001). Conclusion The abnormal expression of Wnt-1 and β-catenin may be involved in initiation, development, invasion, and metastasis of CSCC, and it is suggested that Wnt-1 and β-catenin be considered as potential markers for invasion, metastasis, and prognosis.

Maspin belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family and has been proven to be a suppressor of tumor growth and metastasis in many types of tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of maspin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its relationship to vasculogenic mimicry (VM). A total of 160 specimens of NSCLC were involved in this study and 20 specimens of normal lung tissue served as controls. VM, microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of maspin were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that the positive rates of maspin and VM in the NSCLC group were 48.1% (77/160) and 36.9% (59/160), respectively, which were significantly different from those in the control group with the positive rates of maspin and VM being 100% and 0% respectively (P<0.05). VM, MVD and the expression level of maspin were significantly related to tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stages and postoperative survival time (all P<0.05). The maspin expression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in those with adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). The maspin expression was negatively correlated with VM and MVD, and there was a positive correlation between VM and MVD. Maspin-negative expression, VM and high MVD score were negatively related to the 5-year-survival rate. PTNM stages, VM, MVD and maspin expression were independent prognostic factors for NSCLC (P<0.05). It was suggested that the loss of expression of maspin may participate in the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC and it has a positive relationship to VM in NSCLC. Combined detection of maspin, VM and MVD may help predict the progression and prognosis of NSCLC.

Objective To observe whether the transplanted dermal multipotent stem cells(dMSCs)transfected by adenovirus vector of CXCR4(Adv-CXCR4)can distribute more frequently to the wound of rats with combined wound and irradiation injury.Methods dMSCs transfected by Adv-CXCR4(group A),or transfected by adenovirus vector of green fluorescent protein(group B),and non-transfected dMSCs were labeled with 3H-TdR and then transplanted into combine-injured rats.The amount of dMSCs in wound were determined by liquid scintillation,and wounds healing process was observed by measuring the remaining wound area.Results From the 5th day after transplantation,the amount of dMSCs in the wound of group A accounted for 1.95%-3.85% of the total transplanted dMSCs,significantly greater than those in group B and group C,which accounted for 1.07%-1.86% of the total transplanted dMSCs.The remaining wound area in group A was smaller than those in group B and group C from day 12 after injury,and the healing time of group A was 1.5 day ahead than group B and group C.Conclusions dMSCs transfected by Adv-CXCR4 distributes more frequently to the wound of combine-injured rats and could accelerate wound healing.

Objective To study the biological characteristics of platelet-derived growth factor A and human beta defensin 2 (hPDGF-A/hBD2) gene-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Methods By using liposome transfection technique, recombinant adenovirus vector expressing hPDGF-A/hBD2 (Adv-hPDGF-A-IRES-hBD2) labeled with GFP was transfected into 293T cells for virus packaging and amplification. BMSCs were isolated, cultured and infected by adenovirus-containing supernatant. The exogenous gene-modified BMSCs were comprehensively studied on their biological features, in terms of morphology, cell growth curve, cell cycle, and adipogenic, osteogenic and myogenic differentiation ability. Results hPDGF-A-IRES-hBD2 gene-modified BMSCs did not show obvious changes in cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution or cell differentiation. Conclusion BMSCs were not only good carriers for exogenous hPDGF-A and hBD2 genes but also seed cells for cell therapy even after hPDGF-A/hBD2 modification.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) exist in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and explore the relationship among the expressions of CD133, Notch1, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and their relations with the clinicopathological parameters of the patients.

METHODSA total of 305 specimens of NSCLC and 80 normal lung tissue specimens were analyzed for CD133, Notch1, and VEGF protein expressions by immunohistochemical staining.

RESULTSIn NSCLC specimens, the positivity rates of CD133, Notch1, and VEGF were 48.9%, 43.9%, and 45.6%, respectively, significantly higher than those in normal lung tissues (10.0%, 15.0%, and 0%, respectively, P<0.01). The expression levels of CD133, Notch1, and VEGF proteins were significantly correlated with the tumor grades, lymph node metastasis, TNM stages, and postoperative survival time of the patients (P<0.01). A positive correlation was found among the expression levels of CD133, Notch1, and VEGF proteins. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed a significantly lower overall mean survival time of the patients positive for CD133, Notch1, and VEGF than that of the negative patients (P<0.001). Cox regression analysis suggested that positive expressions of CD133 and Notch1 were independent prognostic factors of NSCLC (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCD133, Notch1, and VEGF may play important roles in the occurrence, progression, invasion, and metastasis of NSCLC. CD133 and Notch1 have important values for predicting the prognosis and evaluating disease progression of the patients.

AC133 Antigen ; Antigens, CD ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; metabolism ; Glycoproteins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Lung ; metabolism ; Lung Neoplasms ; metabolism ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Peptides ; metabolism ; Prognosis ; Receptor, Notch1 ; metabolism ; Regression Analysis ; Survival Rate ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; metabolism

Maspin belongs to the serine protease inhibitor (serpin) family and has been proven to be a suppressor of tumor growth and metastasis in many types of tumors. The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of maspin in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its relationship to vasculogenic mimicry (VM). A total of 160 specimens of NSCLC were involved in this study and 20 specimens of normal lung tissue served as controls. VM, microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of maspin were detected by using immunohistochemical staining. The results showed that the positive rates of maspin and VM in the NSCLC group were 48.1% (77/160) and 36.9% (59/160), respectively, which were significantly different from those in the control group with the positive rates of maspin and VM being 100% and 0% respectively (P<0.05). VM, MVD and the expression level of maspin were significantly related to tumor differentiation, lymph node metastasis, clinical stages and postoperative survival time (all P<0.05). The maspin expression in patients with squamous cell carcinoma was significantly higher than that in those with adenocarcinoma (P<0.05). The maspin expression was negatively correlated with VM and MVD, and there was a positive correlation between VM and MVD. Maspin-negative expression, VM and high MVD score were negatively related to the 5-year-survival rate. PTNM stages, VM, MVD and maspin expression were independent prognostic factors for NSCLC (P<0.05). It was suggested that the loss of expression of maspin may participate in the invasion and metastasis of NSCLC and it has a positive relationship to VM in NSCLC. Combined detection of maspin, VM and MVD may help predict the progression and prognosis of NSCLC.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microvessels ; pathology ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; pathology ; Serpins ; metabolism ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; Young Adult

In order to improve the level of diagnosis and treatment, we report a rare case of hyperthyroidism patient occurred agranulocytosis and hemophagocytic syndrome after taking methimazole. After methimazole treatment, agranulocytosis and infection was developed, but was improved temporarily after treatment. However because of infection, the condition was rapidly developed into hemophagocytic syndrome. Finally, the patient improved rapidly with the treatment of dexamethasone.