OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors of long-turn survival of liver cancer after surgical treatment.

METHODSFive hundred and twenty-two cases of liver cancer that received surgical treatment in 14 years were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTSComparison between the small liver cancer (< 5 cm) and the greater one (> 10 cm) revealed that the small liver cancer had a higher survival rates than the greater one [3 year (61.25 +/- 4.41)% versus (45.90 +/- 6.98)%; 5 year (53.84 +/- 5.68)% versus (30.21 +/- 10.23)%]. There were same results between single-nodule and two or more than two nodule [3 year (61.86 +/- 3.69)% versus (38.31 +/- 4.97)%; 5 year (55.40 +/- 4.91)% versus (28.01 +/- 6.31)%], between child I and child II or more than II [3 year (60.68 +/- 3.68)% versus (49.88 +/- 4.13)%; 5 year (50.99 +/- 5.10)% versus (36.39 +/- 7.58)%], and between single segmentectomy of the liver and two or more than two segmentectomy [3 year (68.65 +/- 4.95)% versus (49.88 +/- 4.13)%; 5 year (65.38 +/- 5.69)% versus (37.98 +/- 5.70)%].

CONCLUSIONSSmall liver cancer, single-nodule, good hepatic function and minor resection were important factors to prolong survival further.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; mortality ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

Previous studies proposed that the synergistic effect of fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF-21) and insulin may be due to the improvement of insulin sensitivity by FGF-21. However, there is no experimental evidence to support this. This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin in the regulation of glucose metabolism. The synergistic effect of FGF-21 and insulin on regulating glucose metabolism was demonstrated by investigating the glucose absorption rate by insulin resistance HepG2 cell model and the blood glucose chances in type 2 diabetic db/db mice after treatments with different concentrations of FGF-21 or/and insulin; The synergistic metabolism was revealed through detecting GLUT1 and GLUT4 transcription levels in the liver by real-time PCR method. The experimental results showed that FGF-21 and insulin have a synergistic effect on the regulation of glucose metabolism. The results of real-time PCR showed that the effective dose of FGF-21 could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT1 in a dose-dependent manner, but had no effect on the transcription level of GLUT4. Insulin (4 u) alone could up-regulate the transcription level of GLUT4, yet had no effect on that of GLUT1. Ineffective dose 0.1 mg kg(-1) FGF-21 alone could not change the transcription level of GLUT1 or GLUT4. However, when the ineffective dose 0.1 mg x kg(-1) FGF-21 was used in combination with insulin (4 u) significantly increased the transcription levels of both GLUT1 and GLUT4, the transcription level of GLUT1 was similar to that treated with 5 time concentration of FGF-21 alone; the transcription level of GLUT4 is higher than that treated with insulin (4 u) alone. In summary, in the presence of FGF-21, insulin increases the sensitivity of FGF-21 through enhancing GLUT1 transcription. Vice versa, FGF-21 increases the sensitivity of insulin by stimulating GLUT4 transcription in the presence of insulin. FGF-21 and insulin exert a synergistic effect on glucose metabolism through mutual sensitization.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; metabolism ; Drug Synergism ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Insulin ; pharmacology ; Insulin Resistance ; Liver ; metabolism ; Mice

Objective:To observe clinical efficacy of Taohua Tang and Buzhong Yiqi Tang on Crohn's disease (CD) at active phase (deficiency-cold in spleen and stomach), in order to observed its effect on Th1 and Th17 cytokines. Method:According to random number table, 86 patients with CD were divided into control group (42 cases) and observation group (44 cases). The control group (mild) was given SASP, 3-4 g·d^-1, Po, tid. The control group (moderate or poor efficacy of SASP) was given prednisone acetate, 0.75 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, Po, tid. Observation group was given Taohua Tang and Buzhong Yiqi Tang in addition to therapy of the control group, 1 dose·d^-1. The course of treatment was 12 weeks. Before and after treatment, Best CDAI, SES-CD, IBDQ and deficiency syndrome were scored, and levels of CRP, ESR, ALB, HB, PLT, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-17 were measured before and after treatment. Result:After treatment, the effect of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) syndromes in the observation group was better than that in the control group (Z=2.058, P<0.05). The clinical remission rate, the effective rate and the endoscopic remission rate in the observation group were 93.18%, 100% and 86.36%, which were higher than 76.19%, 83.33% and 66.67% in the control group (P<0.05). Best CDAI, SES-CD and IBDQ scores of the observation group were lower than those of the control group (P<0.01), while IBDQ score was higher than that of the control group (P<0.01). CD activity in the observation group was lower than that in the control group (Z=2.112, P<0.05). The degree of inflammation in the observation group was lighter than that in the control group (Z=2.288, P<0.05). CRP, ESR and PLT levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01), whereas ALB and HB levels were higher than those in the control group (P<0.01). IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2 and IL-17 levels in the observation group were lower than those in the control group (P<0.01). Conclusion:In addition to the therapy of conventional western medicine, Taohua Tang and Buzhong Yiqi Tang in treatment of deficiency syndrome of Crohn's disease (CD) can control the activity degree of the disease, reduce the degree of illness and inflammation, and improve the remission rate and the quality of life, with a better clinical efficacy than the pure western medicine therapy.

OBJECTIVETo sum up the clinical experience of the diagnosis and treatment of intracerebral infiltration by monoclonal plasmacytoid cells in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia(Bing-Neel syndrome).

METHODSThe clinical data of the diagnosis and treatment of a case of Bing-Neel syndrome was analyzed.

RESULTSA 56-year-old male was diagnosed as Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia one year ago, and presented with persistent headache during the treatment period. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a high intensity area on T2-weighed images in the right frontal lobe which was well enhanced by gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid. Infiltration of neoplastic cells was confirmed by biopsy. Immunohistochemical examination showed that mature plasmacytoid cells in the cerebral parenchyma were immunoglobulin M positive.

CONCLUSIONInfiltration in CNS (Bing-Neel syndrome) is uncommon in Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia. As there is no effective therapy for this Bing-Neel syndrome, combination of radiation and chemotherapy should be considered for this situation.

Brain ; pathology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo determine the clinicopathologic characteristics and the relationship between related gene expression and pathobiologic behavior of pancreatic mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma.

METHODSAmong the 249 pancreatic carcinoma cases from the department files, 6 tumors were identified to meet the pathologic criteria of colloid carcinoma. Envision immunohistochemical staining technique was used to detect expression of p21(ras), p21(WAF1), p16, p33(ING1), p53, ATM, MDM2, PCNA, Cyclins (D1, D3, A, B and E). Intra- and extra- cellular mucin production were determined by AB-PAS staining. Clinically, all of 6 cases were followed to June, 2003.

RESULTSIn all 6 cases, the tumors were located in the head of the pancreas and all displayed similar microscopic findings. Duodenal invasion was seen in 4 cases and perineural invasion was seen in 1 case. Tumor metastasis in the liver was seen in 2 cases and in the regional lymph nodes in 2 cases. Positive immunostaining was seen in 5 cases with p21(ras), 3 cases with p21(WAF1), 1 case with p16, 4 cases with p33(ING1), 2 cases with p53, 3 cases with ATM, 3 cases with MDM2, 6 cases with PCNA, 3 cases with cyclinA, 3 cases with cyclinD1, 4 cases with cyclinD3, 4 cases with cyclinB and 6 cases with cyclinE. Both extracellular and intracellular mucin was strongly positive for AB-PAS staining. Clinical follow-up found that 2 patients died of their tumors at 14 and 20 months. Three patients were alive after 28, 49 and 87 months of follow-up. One case were lost contact.

CONCLUSIONSPancreatic mucinous noncystic adenocarcinoma has distinct morphologic features and biologic behavior. Multiple gene products including many cyclins may be involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic colloid carcinoma. The tumor has an aggressive behavior with a high frequency of invasion and metastases, though the prognosis could be better than that of ordinary ductal adenocarcinoma of pancreas.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Aged ; Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p16 ; metabolism ; Duodenal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; secondary ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) ; metabolism

In order to investigate the effect of stromal cell derived factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXCR4 on the proliferation of megakaryocytic line-HEL cells co-cultured with human umbilical cord blood-derived stromal cells (hUCBSCs) and to further elucidate the mechanism of SDF-1/CXCR4-mediated functions, the HEL cells were co-cultured with hUCBSCs or human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), the suspended HEL was used as control. The concentrations of SDF-1 in supernatant of hUCBSCs and hBMSCs were detected by ELISA assay. The expression of CXCR4 membrane-bound protein of HEL cells was detected by laser confocal scanning microscopy and flow cytometry, and the expression of CXCR4 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR. The result showed that the concentrations of SDF-1 in different groups were the same at the early stage of culturing. But at 6 days after seeding, the concentrations of SDF-1 increased significantly in the hUCBSCs group, even though the passage was done. By means of laser confocal microscopy, the expression of CXCR4 protein and also red dots of fluorescence could be detected in cytoplasm of HEL cells co-cultured with hUCBSCs. However, there was no significant differences of the CXCR4 mRNA level between different groups (p > 0.05). It is concluded that hUCBSCs may play important roles in secreting high level of SDF-1 and regulating megakaryocyte expression of CXCR4.
Cell Proliferation ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Coculture Techniques ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; metabolism ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans ; Megakaryocytes ; cytology ; metabolism ; Monocytes ; cytology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Stromal Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo analyze expression characteristics of human skin epidermal stem cell at different developmental stages, and to explore its biological significance.

METHODSHealth skin samples from 28-32 w fetuses (F group), 4-12 y children (C group), and 35-55 y adult (A group) were harvested, with 10 cases in each group. Epidermis were separated using trypsin digestion and EDTA, and human epidermal stem cells were isolated and purified with type IV collagen attachment method. The monoclonal antibody of integrin beta1 and keratin 19 were used for detection and identification of epidermal stem cells by immunohistochemical staining. Total RNA was extracted from above cells by Trizol one-step method, and were detected by formaldehyde denaturing agarose gel electrophoresis. Probes were prepared and hybridized into cDNA microarray for scanning fluorescent signals and analysis of images, with two-fold differential expression value for screening. Significantly up/down-regulated genes were selected for verification by real time RT-PCR.

RESULTSBy comparing expression profile between A and C groups, a total of 1808 genes with differential expression were detected, including 1089 up-regulated genes and 719 down-regulated genes, and they were classified into 128 categories. Among them, 1462 genes were known (found in GeneBank), 346 genes were unknown. A total of 4534 genes with differential expression were detected between C and F groups, in which 1783 genes were up-regulated and 2751 genes were down-regulated, and they were classified into 216 categories. Among them, 3577 genes were known (found in GeneBank), and 957 genes were unknown. There were 1104 genes with differential expression consistently detected in F, C and A groups, which were classified into 32 categories according to gene function. Among them, 94 genes were consistently up-regulated and 75 genes consistently down-regulated. Test results of real time RT-PCR were in accordance with above-mentioned results.

CONCLUSIONSGene expression profiles of epidermal stem cells cultured in vitro, harvested from fetuses, children, and adult, exhibit obvious difference. This may be closely related to different stages of proliferation and differentiation of human epidermal stem cell and self-repair ability of wound at different developmental stages.

Adult ; Cell Differentiation ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Epidermis ; cytology ; growth & development ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Fetus ; cytology ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ; methods ; Stem Cells ; cytology ; Transcriptome

Insulin is the most common medicine used for diabetic patients, unfortunately, its effective time is short, even the long-acting insulin cannot obtain a satisfactory effect. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-21 is a recently discovered glucose mediator and expected to be a potential anti-diabetic drug that does not rely on insulin. In this study, db/db mice were used as the type 2 diabetic model to examine whether mFGF-21 has the long-term blood lowering effect on the animal model. The results showed that mFGF-21 could stably maintain the blood glucose at normal level for a long-term in a dose-dependent manner. Administration of mFGF-21 once a day with three doses (0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mg x kg(-1)) could maintain blood glucose of the model animals at normal level for at least 24 h. Administration of mFGF-21 every two days with the same doses could maintain blood glucose of the model animals at normal level for at least 48 h, although it took longer time for blood glucose to reach to normal level depending on doses used (twenty injections for 0.125 mg x kg(-1) and 0.25 mg x kg(-1) doses, ten injections for 0.5 mg x kg(-1) dose). Surprisingly, the blood glucose of the treated model animals still maintained at normal level for 24 h after the experiment terminated. Glycosylated hemoglobin level of the animals treated with mFGF-21, which represented long-term glucose status, decreased significantly compared to the control group and the insulin group. The results suggest that FGF-21 has potential to become a long-acting and potent anti-diabetic drug.
Animals ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; blood ; metabolism ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Fibroblast Growth Factors ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Glucose Transporter Type 1 ; metabolism ; Glucose Transporter Type 4 ; metabolism ; Glycated Hemoglobin A ; metabolism ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice

To study the possibility of separation and culture of human umbilical cord blood adherent cell (HUCBAC), the umbilical cord blood CD34(+) cells were cultured in Dexter system in order to evaluate and observe the biological behavior of adherent cells in vitro. The results showed that all cells were cultured with Dexter system. By day 9-14 (at a median of 11.2 days), adherent cell colonies formed and reached their maximum at 15-22 days (mean 19.6 days), by day 28, all adherent cells spread over the bottom of Petri dish. By means of light microscopy, these cells were found to differentiate into three kinds of cells in culture of 28 days: fibroblast-liked cell, macrophage liked cell and small-round cells. The ratio of these three kinds of cells was 56.8%, 38%, 5.5% respectively. Cytochemistry assay revealed that the positive rate reached 100% in NSE stain and PAS stain; the adherent cell by ALP stain were shown 35% positive, but in POX stain the result was negative. Immunohistochemistry stain revealed that the positive rate of cord adherent cells for CD106, CD29, CD44, CD45, CD50, Fn, Ln, collagen IV etc reached 96%, 93%, 98%, 68%, 72%, 92%, 74%, 83% respectively. It is concluded there are hematopoietic adherent precursors in cord blood CD34(+) cells and the HUCBAC shows some biological behavior of hematopoietic stromal cells.
Antigens, CD34 ; blood ; Cell Adhesion ; immunology ; Cell Differentiation ; immunology ; Cells, Cultured ; Fetal Blood ; cytology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; cytology ; immunology ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Receptors ; blood ; Immunohistochemistry ; Integrin beta1 ; blood ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; blood ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; blood

To study the importance of chemokine SDF-1 in surviving of acute myelocytic leukemia cells HL-60, the adhesion ability of HL-60 and expression of Bcl-2, Fas protein when SDF-1 activity was blocked by anti-CXCR4 monoclonal antibody (12G5) were compared with those detected before MAb incubation, in this experiment, HL-60 cell were cultured and co-cultured with normal marrow stromal cell. The adhesion rate was detected while the expression of Bcl-2 and Fas proteins were assayed by immunohistochemical technique when SDF-1 activity was inhibited. The results showed that cell adhesion rate of HL-60 decreased while the expression Bcl-2 decreased and Fas increased. It is concluded that inhibition of SDF-1 activity increases cell apoptosis and thus reduces life-span of leukemia cell at certain level.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Cell Adhesion ; Chemokine CXCL12 ; Chemokines, CXC ; physiology ; HL-60 Cells ; chemistry ; cytology ; Humans ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; analysis ; Receptors, CXCR4 ; physiology ; fas Receptor ; analysis