AIM:To investigate the production and activation of caspase-3 in primary rat renal proximal tubule cells in response to tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and the implication of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the process. METHODS:Isolated rat renal proximal tubule cells (PTCs) from male adult Sprague Dawley rats were treated with TNF-α according to the indicated time courses. A specific NF-κB inhibitor,Bay11-7082,was used alone or as a pretreatment for 1 h followed by exposure to TNF-α for 24 h.The protein levels of cleaved caspase-3,caspase-3,I-κBα,phosphorylated I-κBα,and GAPDH were detected by Western blotting using specific antibodies. RESULTS:The protein level of cleaved caspase-3 relative to caspase-3 was significantly increased in the presence of TNF-α for 6 h,12 h,and 24 h. Protein levels of caspase-3 were significantly decreased by 12 h and returned to baseline by 24 h in the presence of TNF-α. Treatment with Bay11-7082 for 25 h alone or pretreatment with Bay11-7082 for 1 h followed by addition of TNF-α for 24 h caused a remarkable reduction in both cleaved caspase-3 and caspase-3 as compared to control and TNF-α treated groups. An increase in phosphorylated I-κBα was observed from 15 min to 60 min after treatment with TNF-α at a dose of 10 μg/L in PTCs. CONCLUSION:NF-κB is not only associated with the activation of caspase-3 but also the production of caspase-3 in primary rat renal proximal tubule cells in response to TNF-α.

Purpose　To describe clinicopathological and immunophenotypic features of 10 cases of histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL). Methods　HE sections of 11 lymph node biopsies were re-examined. Immunophenotyping and detection of apoptotic DNA fragments were performed using S-P and TUNEL methods, respectively. Results　Five cases have been diagnosed as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Histologically variable-sized discrete or confluent nodules were seen in the paracortex, especially in the interfollicular area, which were composed of proliferative pleomorphic histiocytes, transformed lymphocytes, and karyorrhectic debris. Immunohistochemistry revealed CD3+ and CD45RO+ for lymphocytes, Mac387+ and/or CD68+ for histiocytes, and no expression for CD15,CD30 and CD20 in the lesions. Conclusions　The presence of pleomorphic histiocytes, transformed T-cells, and karyorrhectic debris in the biopsy of lymph nodes, together with the absence of neutrophils support the diagnosis of HNL.

AIM: To investigate the association between HBV infection and HLA-DPB1 gene in population of Guangzhou Chinese. METHODS: 58 unrelated patients (test positive of HbsAg,HBeAg,HbcAb) and 75 unrelated healthy control individuals were typed by sequencing based typing (SBT) method in their HLA-DPB1 gene. RESULTS: The phenotype frequencies of HLA-DPB1 alleles of patients and control have no significant difference. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that there is no association between HLA-DPB1 gene and HBV infection.

OBJECTIVETo study the diagnosis and the differential diagnosis of nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin's lymphoma (NLPHL).

METHODS245 cases of Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) diagnosed between 1980 and 2000 from 3 hospitals in Guangzhou were reviewed. Four cases of NLPHL were confirmed according to the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms. Among the other 3 cases of NLPHL, 2 collected from other clinical centers and 1 from Fudan University Cancer Hospital. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed on paraffin sections through SP technique using a panel of markers to define the large neoplastic cells (CD45, CD20, CD15, CD30 and vimentin) as well as the non-neoplastic background cells (CD3, CD20, CD45RO, CD57, CD68 and TIA-1).

RESULTSSeven patients with NLPHL were 4 males and 3 females, age 29 to 70 years, average 43.8 years. All patients had lymphadenopathy. Histologically, in NLPHL, instead of the structure of normal lymph nodes, the tumor tissue became nodular in architecture. Characteristic lymphocytic and histiocytic (L&H) cells with scant cytoplasm and large multilobulated nuclei distributed among a predominant population of small lymphoid cells. The large cells exhibited a CD45+, CD20+, but CD15-, CD30- and vimentin-phenotype. The background cellularity was relatively rich in B cells and the majority of T-cells infiltrated were CD57(+) cells. TIA-1+ cells were few.

CONCLUSIONSNLPHL can be diagnosed according to the morphologic and immunophenotypic features rather than by morphology alone. It is important to distinguish this tumor from its morphologic mimics, such as lymphocyte-rich classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (LRCHL) and T-cell rich B-cell lymphoma (TCRBCL). The immunophenotype of neoplastic cells and background cells are the helpful criteria for the differential diagnosis.

B-Lymphocytes ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hodgkin Disease ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Lymphoma, B-Cell

BACKGROUNDRRM1 may be a prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The aim of this study is to evaluate RRM1 expression and prognosis in NSCLC by the means of tissue microarray.

METHODSA total of 417 paraffin-embedded specimens of NSCLC from Lung Cancer Study Center in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were collected and tissue microarray was constructed. RRM1 expression was detected by SP method and its correlation with prognosis was evaluated.

RESULTSNo statistic difference was found in RRM1 expression in different gender, age, tumor site, histology, differentiation, T stage, N stage, M stage and pTNM stage groups (P > 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that RRM1 was not an independent prognostic factor (P > 0.05). At the multivariate analysis, differentiation and N stage were considered independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONSRRM1 expression detected by immunohistology is not an independent prognostic factor in NSCLC. TNM stage is still the best prognostic factor up to now.

The pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis （AS） is usually insidious and has not been fully elucidated. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs （NSAIDs） and anti-rheumatic drugs （ARDs） are usually given to improve the condition. however, some patients still have poor results or adverse reactions from conventional treatments. Biological agents have significantly changed therapeutic strategies in the field of rheumatology since their clinical application was initiated and are gradually becoming the main therapeutic option for patients with AS. The current research progress on biologics in the treatment of AS in terms of the current treatment status, clinical problems, and solution strategies were reviewed, which could provide theoretical basis and reference with clinical value, and promote the precise treatment of AS in the future.