The term vasculogenic mimicry describes the formation of fluid-conducting channels by highly invasive and genetically dysregulated tumor cells. The molecular mechanisms of vasculogenic mimicry may be associated with phenotypically interconversion, tumor-extracellular matrix interactions and abnormality in signal pathway of tumor cells. It is recently discovered that in hepatocellular carcinoma vasculogenic mimicry may be associated with the invasive and metastatic potential of tumor cells, as well as poor clinical outcome. This article reviews the present research progression of vasculogenic mimicry in hepatocellular carcinoma.

0.05 ). But CD8 +CD28 -T suppressor cells from colitis rats was significantly higher than that from controls (spleen: 11.3% ? 2.3% vs. 5.6% ? 1.0% ; colon: 6.5% ?5.4% vs. 1.1 %? 0.6% , P 0.05 ; colon: 7.5% ? 4.2% vs. 16.9% ? 4.1% , P

Objective To evaluate the clincopathological presentation of eosinophilic gastroenteritis(EG). Methods Seven patients with EG were studied. their clinical manifestation, laboratory tests, endoscopy, treatment and prognosis were analyzed from the hospital records. Results (1) The patients of predominant mucosal type were presented with abdominal pain and diarrhea, and those of serosal type with abdominal pain and bloating.Some accompanied with nausea, vomiting and low fever.(2) Peripheral and bone marrow eosinophilia were presented in all seven patients. Eosinophil counts waxed and waned with symptoms and dramatically responsed to steroid therapy.(3) ESR, C-reactive protein and fibrinogen were in normal range, and the level of IgG was decreased.(4) The ascites were exudative with eosinophilia.(5) Some patchy lesions such as erosion and edema in antrum, duodenum and cecum were presented in endoscopy.Biopsy showed predominant eosinophil infiltration in mucosa.(6) It responsed to steroid therapy, and all symptoms and eosinophilia would be relieved within one week.(7) Symptoms may relapse but with good prognosis.Conclusion Eosinophilic gastroenteritis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained gastrointestinal symptoms especially in the presence of peripheral eosinophilia. Mucosal biopsy would be helpful to establish the diagnosis.

Objective To investigate the effects of comprehensive intervention on population death rate. Methods To analyze population crude death rate, cause-specific death rate, and compare the death rate in intervention group with that of control.Results The average crude death rate in communities of Changsha was 617 79 per 100 000, with 557 27 per 100 000 of standarized death rate. Cerebrovascular disease, cardiocascular disease, tumour, disease of respiratory system injury and intoxication were from the first rank to the fifth in order the death causes. The death rate in intervention group was lower than that of control group significantly, and the death rate of cerebrovascular disease and cardiocascular disease in intervention group were lower than that of control significantly.Conclusions Cerebrovascular disease and cardiocascular disease are the major causes of death. Intervention on risks factors of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases can lower the death rate of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases and the population death rate.

Objective To study the differences of anal manometry among dirrhea-dominant(DD), constipation-dominant(CD) irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) and functional constipation(FC), and to evaluate effects of sex and age on these parameters.Methods Age-matched 18 DD-IBS, 14 CD-IBS and 30 FC patients were selected, and 18 volunteers as healthy controls. Anal manometry was evaluated with localized point pull-extraction technique.Results The pressure parameters in DD-IBS, CD-IBS and FC were no significantly difference from those in healthy controls, but the threshold volume of gas to induce RAIR was significantly larger(P

Objective To investigate the role of CD80/CD86 and CTLA-4 in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) and its clinical significance. Methods Applying RT-PCR technique to semiquantitatively analyze CD80/CD86 and CTLA-4 mRNA expression on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 32 active SLE patients. Results Compared with normal controls, the percentage of positive CD86 expression in active SLE, accounted for 90.63% (29/32), was significantly increased (P 0.05, both). Conclusion The abnormal expression of CD86 and CTLA-4 might play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Objective To investigate the role of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-Ⅰ , ⅠⅠ , platelet-derived growth factors (PDGF)-AA,-BB and keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) in various stages of the pulmonary development in rats. Methods All lung tissues of fetal and neonatal rats were collected at the gestational age 18, 20, 21 d, and 1, 4, 7, 10 and 21 d after birth. The expression of IGF-Ⅰ , IGF- ⅠⅠ , PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot, respectively. The levels of IGF- Ⅰ , IGF-ⅠⅠ , PDGF-A, PDGF-B and KGF mRNA were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results The peak expression of IGF-Ⅰ was at 4, 7 and 10 d after birth. IGF-ⅠⅠ was detectable early in fetal lung development and decreased gradually until 21 d after birth. The changes of IGF- Ⅰ , ⅠⅠ mRNA were similar to IGF- Ⅰ , ⅠⅠ polypeptides. The PDGF-A,PDGF-B mRNA were abundant early in fetal lung development. The steady state of PDGF-A chain mRNA was significantly different only at 7 d (0. 97?0. 23,P0. 05). The PDGF-AA polypeptide was abundant early in fetal lung development, and the expression peak was found in 1, 4 and 7 d after birth. KGF mRNA was higher in the fetal samples than that of rats after birth, but no difference in postnatal rats at all time points. Conclusions Peptide growth factors may play a critical role in the development of lung in rats.

The expression of nm23-H1 and p53 genes were studied with ABC immunohistochemical method in 54 cases of gastric cancer and 57 cases of colorectal cancer. The result showed that the expression of nm23-H1 was 72.2% in gastric cancer and 64.9% in colorectal cancer, respectively. No significant difference was found between the expression of this gene and lymph node metastasis of the cancers. The mutant p53 protein expression was 53.7% and 52.6% in gastric and colorectal cancers, respectively. Although it was not correlated with lymph node metastasis, its expression was significantly higher in cancers with distant metastases, suggesting that the mutant p53 protein expression may be indicative of poor prognosis in gastrointestinal cancers.

Objective To study the changes of lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and ? hydroxybutyric acid (HBD) in atrophic gastritis type A(AAG) patients. Methods Auto biochemistry instrument was used to detect serum LDH and HBD. Hemoglobin, vitamin B 12 and gastrin were also examined routinely. Results All AAG patients had elevated levels of LDH and HBD in serum and 60 percent of patients had a rise of indirect bilirubin. In the first day after supplement with folic acid and vitamin B 12 , LDH and HBD decreased simultaneously by 30% along with a decrease of indirect bilirubin. The changes of LDH and HBD were earlier than changes of reticulocytes. Conclusions Serum LDH and HBD rise significantly in AAG patients. This might be associated with in situ hemolysis of bone marrow. And it may be a good index for differential diagnosis between AAG and atrophic gastritis type B.

Objective To investigate retrospectively the clinical characteristics of hospitalized ulcerative colitis(UC)patients of our department,and evaluate the diagnosis and treatment.Methods The cases of UC patients from 1989 to Jun 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. We analyzed the patients' symptoms,diagnosis,and treatment.Results There were 155 cases reviewed. The sex ratio(M/F)was 1.54∶ 1. The average age of patients was 41.8. The peak age of onset was 20~30. 32.3% of our cases were mild type,and 41.3% were moderate type,severe type were 26.5%. Of these pateints,52.9% were pancolitis,and 39.4% were chronic recurrent type,which was very common. Most cases(72.9%)were diagnosed by clinic combined with endoscope and pathology. Most of the severe UC responded well to the drug therapy. Very less(4.5%)had to underwent surgery. No patient died.Conclusion Most of our patients are mild or moderate type,and they respond well to drug some severe and moderate types need steroids and immuno suppressor. The extracolonic manifestation rate(12.9%)and operation rate(4.5%)are low.