To study the immunopathological characteristics and differential diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma(AML).Methods:Thirty-six surgically resected hepatic AML were investigated clinicopathologically and immunohistochemically with 10 antibodies.Results:Hepatic AML occurred in 21 females and 15 males,with the mean age of 41.6 years(26-60 years old).The patients with AML often had no special symptoms even had large space-occupying lesions in the liver.The diameter of AML was 2.5 cm to 14 cm(mean 6.8 cm).Histologically,AML was composed of varying heterogeneous mixture of 3 tissue components:blood vessels,smooth muscle and adipose cells.Extramedullary hemopoiesis sometimes existed.According to tissue components,AML was subcategorized into mixed type(19.4%,n=7),lipomatous type(11.1%,n=4),myomatous type(66.7%,n=24),and angiomatous type(2.8%,n=1).The epithelioid smooth muscle cells were sensitive to HMB-45(100%),SMA(100%),and CD117(66.7%) staining.Conclusion:Hepatic AML often contains smooth muscle elements,which have varied morphological features and should be carefully differentiated from hepatocellular carcinoma,mesenchymal hamartoma，and tumors with rich fat or blood vessels.Immunohistochemical staining with HMB-45 and SMA are the best available markers for the diagnosis of hepatic AML.

OBJECTIVE:To compare in vivo and in vitro permeation behaviors of the ethosome gels of testosterone,testoster-one propionate and testosterone undecanoate. METHODS:The ethosome gels of testosterone,testosterone propionate and testoster-one undecanoate were prepared. With cumulative permeating amount and permeation rate as the indexes,Franz diffusion cell and HPLC were employed to compare in vitro permeation behaviors of 3 kinds of ethosome gels in mouse skin. With testosterone patch as the positive control drug, electrochemistry method was adopted to detect the concentration of testosterone in plasma 0,3,6, 9,12,24,36 and 48 h after applying such 3 kinds of ethosome gels on the back of rats,and then pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with DAS 2.0 software. RESULTS:24 h cumulative permeating amounts of the ethosome gels of testosterone,tes-tosterone propionate and testosterone undecanoate were(234.31±13.8),(175.63±41.1)and(72.60±15.3)μg/cm2,and the per-meation rates were(10.25±1.9),(7.64±1.4)and(2.96±0.8)μg/(cm2·h),respectively. The pharmacokinetic parameters of the above-mentioned three kinds of ethosome gels and the positive control drug were respectively as follows as cmax of(20.19±2.57), (17.50±2.91),(0.23±0.04),(14.97±2.12)ng/ml,t1/2Ka of(2.80±0.45),(3.36±0.59),(4.02±0.62),(4.20±0.71)h,AUC0-48 h of(13.85±1.96),(13.93±2.13),(0.35±0.07),(11.76±2.31)ng·h/ml. CONCLUSIONS:in vivo and in vitro permeation behav-iors of the ethosome gels of testosterone and testosterone propionate are fairly good.

Adult ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; metabolism ; Humans ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Receptors, CCR5 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Receptors, CXCR3 ; Receptors, Chemokine ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study the features of micro satellite alterations and their association with clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTen high-polymorphic micro satellite markers on chromosome 4 were selected to be detected for loss of heterozygosity (LOH), micro satellite instability (MSI) and allelic imbalance (AI) in 56 HCC using PCR-simple sequence length polymorphism (PCR-SSLP) analysis.

RESULTSLOH was found in 40 of 56 HCC (71.4%) on at least 1 locus, the top two loci were D4S426 (61%), D4S1534 (53.7%). LOH on D4S406 was significantly higher in cases with positive serum HBsAg than in those with negative HBsAg. Similarly, LOH on D4S1538 occurred more frequently in patients with HBsAg negative than those with HBsAg positive [76.9% (20/26) vs 12.5% (2/16), chi2=13.999, P<0.01]. LOH on D4S426, D4S1615 and D4S165 were more frequent in poorly or moderately differentiated HCC than in well-differentiated HCC [76.7%(23/30) vs 18.2%(2/11), chi2=9.242, P<0.01; 53.8% (14/26) vs 16.7% (2/12), P<0.05; 60.7% (17/28) vs 18.2% (2/11), P<0.01]. LOH on loci D4S2921 was more frequently detected in tumors with intrahepatic metastasis than in those without [63.6% (21/33) vs 18.2% (2/11), chi2=5.132, P<0.01]. MSI was found in 8.9% (5/56) cases. AI was found in 26.8% (15/56) of all cases examined.

CONCLUSIONFrequent micro satellite alterations on chromosome 4 were existed in HCC. LOH, which represents tumor suppressor gene pathway, plays a more important role in hepatocarcinogenesis of HCC; MSI, representing mismatch repair gene pathway, arranges as the next.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the features of microsatellite alterations and their association with clinicopathological characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSTen high-polymorphic microsatellite markers on chromosome 8 were selected to detect the loss of heterozygosity (LOH), microsatellite instability (MSI) and allelic imbalance (AI) in 56 HCCs using automatic capillary array electrophoresis DNA analysis system.

RESULTSLOH was found in 37 of 56 HCCs (66.1%) on at least 10 locus. The three most frequently altered loci were D8S261 (53.5%, 23/43), D8S1721 (52.5%, 21/40) and D8S1771 (52.5%, 21/40). LOH on D8S277 was significantly higher in cases with positive serum HBsAg than in those with negative HBsAg (P < 0.01). Similarly, LOH on D8S261, D8S298 and D8S1733 occurred more frequently in patients with negative HBsAg than those with positive HBsAg (P < 0.01). LOH on D8S298 and D8S1771 were more frequent in tumors larger than 3 cm in size (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 respectively). LOH frequencies of D8S1721 were significantly higher in cases with absent or partially encapsulated tumor than in those with intact tumor capsule (P < 0.05). LOH on D8S298 and D8S1771 were more frequently detected in tumors with intrahepatic metastasis than those without (P < 0.01). MSI was found in 12.5% (7/56) cases. AI was found in 19.6% (11/56) of all cases examined.

CONCLUSIONSMicrosatellite alterations on chromosome 8 were frequent in HCC. LOH, possibly representing alterations of the tumor suppressor pathway, may play an important role in hepatocarcinogenesis. MSI, reflecting a dysfunction of the mismatch repair pathway, may also contribute to this process, but in a less significant way. LOH at some particular loci is associated with certain clinicopathological parameters of human HCC.

Adult ; Aged ; Allelic Imbalance ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Female ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Repeats ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of water extracts of Wolfberry fruit (WB) and Epimedium (EM) on DNA synthesis of the aging-youth 2BS fusion cells.

METHODSHuman embryonic lung diploid fibroblasts 2BS national standard strain, were used as an aging model. Cell denucleation and cell fusion techniques were applied to observe the effect of WB and EM on DNA synthesis of 2BS fusion cells.

RESULTSIn the 0.025 (V/V) WB or EM water extract containing media, 2BS cells could be continuously cultured for 61.0 +/- 2.9 passages and 56.0 +/- 2.6 passages respectively, while in the control group it was only 49.0 +/- 2.6 passages (P < 0.01). After treatment with WB and EM separately for 2 hrs, the aging 2BS cells were denucleated and fused with young 2BS cells. The [3H]TdR incorporation percentage in these treated cells was significantly higher than that in the untreated control cells (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth WB and EM can accelerate the DNA synthesis rate of the aging youth 2BS fusion cells and prolong the life span of 2BS cells.

Cell Fusion ; Cellular Senescence ; drug effects ; DNA ; biosynthesis ; Diploidy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Embryo, Mammalian ; Fibroblasts ; cytology ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; Lycium

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in tumor suppressor genes (TSG) and microsatellite instability (MSI) in hepatocarcinogenesis, as well as their correlation with clinicopathologic features.

METHODSLOH in 6 TSG (APC, DCC, MCC, OGG1, p53 and RB1) was detected in 36 informative cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), among 92 surgically resected HCC. Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were also studied in 15 of these cases by microdissection-based PCR amplification and direct DNA sequencing. The correlation between genetic alterations and clinicopathologic features was analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall incidence of LOH in HCC was 41.7% (15/36). There was no LOH in MCC gene. 46.2% (6/13) microsatellites showed LOH in 9 of the 15 cases of HCC (60%). Certain clinicopathologic differences were observed between cases (number = 7) with LOH in APC, OGG1 and DCC ("type I") and cases (number = 8) with LOH in p53 and RB1 ("type II"). The mean tumor size of these two types was 2.9 (+/- 1.7) cm and 7.2 (+/- 3.4) cm, respectively (P < 0.01); and the mean survival was 72.0 (+/- 38.6) months, and 51.0 (+/- 30.4) months, respectively (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCompared with MSI pathway, LOH pathway plays a more important role in the development of HCC. A multistep hepatocarcinogenesis is likely, with LOH in APC, OGG1 and DCC ("type I") being an early event and LOH in p53 and RB1 ("type II") being a late event. On the other hand, MCC gene seems to play no role in the whole process.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Genes, APC ; Genes, DCC ; Genes, MCC ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Genes, p53 ; Humans ; Infant ; Liver Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Loss of Heterozygosity ; Male ; Microsatellite Instability ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological characteristics, immunohistochemical features and differential diagnosis of hepatic angiomyolipoma (AML).

METHODSThe clinicopathological features of hepatic AML were systematically examined in 44 surgically resected tumor specimens, with additional immunohistochemistry study using 10 relevant antibodies.

RESULTSThe tumors were composed of various amounts of three components, i.e. blood vessels, smooth muscle cells and adipose cells. According to the proportions of each of these tissue components, AML was subcategorized into the classical type (n = 13), myomatous type (n = 25), lipomatous type (n = 4), and angiomatous type (n = 2). Myoid cells displayed various morphology, including epithelioid, intermediate (ovoid or short spindle), spindle, oncocytic, and pleomorphic features. Hematopoietic elements were present as minor findings in eight tumors. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for HMB45 (44/44, 100%), SMA (38/38, 100%) and CD117 (30/38, 78.9%).

CONCLUSIONSA correct diagnosis of hepatic AML might be difficult due to its various growth patterns and cell types. HMB-45 positivity in the myoid cells is a key feature for hepatic AML. CD117 may be another useful ancillary marker for reaching a definite diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Angiomyolipoma ; classification ; immunology ; pathology ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; analysis ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; analysis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; classification ; immunology ; pathology ; Male ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Proteins ; analysis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of postoperative transcatheter hepatic arterial chemoembolization (TACE) and thymosin alpha(1) (T(alpha1)) treatment on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODSFrom Jan 2000 to Dec 2002, 57 patients with HCC were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n = 18) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and T(alpha1), group B (n = 23) received hepatectomy plus postoperative TACE and group C (n = 16) received hepatectomy only. The recurrence rate, the time to tumor recurrence and the median survival for the three groups were investigated.

RESULTSFor group A, B and C, the 1 year recurrence rate was 83.3%, 87.0% and 87.5% (P = 0.926), respectively. The time to tumor recurrence was 7.0, 5.0 and 4.0 months (P = 0.039), respectively. The median survival was 10.0, 7.0 and 8.0 months (P = 0.002), respectively.

CONCLUSIONPostoperative TACE plus Talpha(1) treatment for HCC patients does not decrease the recurrence rate but may delay its occurrence and prolong surviving time.

Adjuvants, Immunologic ; administration & dosage ; Adult ; Aged ; Antibiotics, Antineoplastic ; administration & dosage ; Antineoplastic Agents ; administration & dosage ; Carboplatin ; administration & dosage ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; therapy ; Chemoembolization, Therapeutic ; Doxorubicin ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; Humans ; Iodized Oil ; administration & dosage ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mitomycin ; administration & dosage ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Postoperative Period ; Survival Rate ; Thymosin ; administration & dosage ; analogs & derivatives

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of postoperative anti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 on recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) coexisting with active hepatitis B.

METHODSFrom Jan. 2000 to Dec. 2002, 33 HCC patients with coexisting with active hepatitis B were randomized into two groups: Group I (n = 17) received hepatectomy only, and Group II (n = 16) received hepatectomy and postoperative therapy using lamivudine plus thymosin alpha1. The suppression of HBV-DNA, HBeAg seroconversion rate, tumor recurrence rate and median survival in the two groups were observed and compared.

RESULTSIn Group II and Group I, the 1-year HBV-DNA suppression rate was 100.0% vs 6.0% (P < 0.01), HBeAg seroconversion rate was 62.5% vs 5.9% (P < 0.05), tumor recurrence rate was 81.3% vs 95.5% (P > 0.05), the recurrence time was 7.0 vs 5.0 months (P < 0.01) and median survival 10.0 vs 7.0 months (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAnti-viral therapy using lamivudine and thymosin alpha1 postoperatively may suppress the HBV reaction, delay the recurrence and prolong the survival for patients with HCC with coexisting active hepatitis B.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; surgery ; therapy ; virology ; DNA, Viral ; drug effects ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Hepatitis B ; genetics ; therapy ; Humans ; Lamivudine ; therapeutic use ; Liver Neoplasms ; surgery ; therapy ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; prevention & control ; Postoperative Period ; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Survival Rate ; Thymosin ; analogs & derivatives ; therapeutic use