Child, Preschool ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 8 ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Male ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; Translocation, Genetic

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on the outcome of the tumor as well as the changes of the anti-oxidative system in null mice grafted with nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

METHODS48 BALB/c null mice were divided by means of random number table into control group (0.5% sodium carboxyl methyl cellulose), low dosage (0.02 g/kg), middle dosage (0.1 g/kg) and high dosage (0.5 g/kg) of I3C. The mice were administered with different solutions by gavage for 10 days before CNE1 cells were inoculated subcutaneously into the back (near the armpit) of the nude mice, then the solutions were continually administered by gavage. The tumor volume was measured and the tumor inhibitory rate was calculated. The level of malondialdehyde (MDA), the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD), the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and the expression of cleaved caspase-3 were determined on the 31th day of the study.

RESULTSI3C could reduce the tumor volume [the tumor volumes of the control group, the middle dosage group and the high dosage group were (4.13 +/- 0.53) x 10(-6) m(3), (3.14 +/- 0.71) x 10(-6) m(3), (2.72 +/- 0.29) x 10(-6) m(3)], as compared with the control, the shrinkage of tumor volume of the middle dosage group and the high dosage group were significant (the t valued at 0.990 and 1.510, P < 0.01). The tumor inhibitory rates of 3 groups were 3.8%, 20.5% and 34.9%, respectively. The contents of MDA in the tumor tissue tended to decrease [the values of control group, the low dosage group, the middle dosage group and the high dosage group were (31.29 +/- 2.51) x 10(-6) mol/L, (30.12 +/- 2.37) x 10(-6) mol/L, (23.32 +/- 1.93) x 10(-6) mol/L, (16.45 +/- 1.43) x 10(-6) mol/L] (F = 98.752, P < 0.01), and that of the high and the middle dosage group could obviously be reduced (t = 8.970, 14.840, P < 0.01) as compared with the control. The activity of SOD seemed to be elevated according to the increase of I3C dosage [the values were (387.24 +/- 23.16) x 10(3) U/L, (399.37 +/- 34.45) x 10(3) U/L, (431.63 +/- 31.24) x 10(3) U/L, (476.45 +/- 44.67) x 10(3) U/L] (F = 53.444, P < 0.01). When compared with the control, the SOD activity of the middle and the high dosage group be obviously increased (t = 44.390, 89.210, P < 0.01). I3C could also elevate the GSHPx activity [the GSHPx values of the four groups were (226.98 +/- 18.35) x 10(3) U/L, (234.65 +/- 15.59) x 10(3) U/L, (247.72 +/- 22.73) x 10(3) U/L, (300.37 +/- 26.02) x 10(3) U/L] (F = 25.916, P < 0.01). The GSHPx of the high dosage group was enhanced remarkable (t = 73.390, P < 0.01) as compared with the control. The expression of cleaved caspase-3 (relative molecular weight = 19 000 000) seemed to be elevated according to the increase of I3C dosage and the relative expression levels of which were 0.87 +/- 0.01, 0.97 +/- 0.01, 1.02 +/- 0.06 and 1.14 +/- 0.02 (F = 39.864, P < 0.01). When compared with the control, the elevation of this kind of cleaved caspase-3 was considered statistical significant (the t values were 0.100, 0.086 and 0.303, respectively, P < 0.05). When I3C dosage increased, the expression of cleaved caspase-3 (relative molecular weight = 17 000 000) seemed to increased too [the relative expression levels of which were 0.00 +/- 0.00, 0.05 +/- 0.02, 0.11 +/- 0.02, 0.20 +/- 0.02 (F = 56.629, P < 0.01)], and the increase of this kind of cleaved caspase-3 was esteemed significantly as compared with those of the control (the t valued at 0.046, 0.103 and 0.193, respectively, P < 0.05). Linear correlate analysis showed that the correlation coefficients between the shrinkage of tumor volume and the expression of the two kinds of cleaved caspase-3 protein was -0.732 (t = 3.404, P < 0.01) and -0.901 (t = 6.642, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONI3C could reduce the growth of tumor, the mechanism underlie it could be related to the decrease of the content of MDA as well as the elevated levels of SOD, GSHPx, and perhaps could be related to the apoptosis transduced by cleaved caspase-3.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Indoles ; pharmacology ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Nude ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Neoplasm Seeding ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo report on a rare case of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) with t(14;14) (q11;q32) and clarify its clinical and molecular cytogenetic features.

METHODSClinical data of a B-ALL patient with t(14;14) (q11;q32) were analyzed. After 24 hour of unstimulated culturing, chromosome specimens of bone marrow cells were prepared with regular method, and R-banding was used for karyotype analysis. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed on fixed bone marrow cells using IGH dual-color break-apart probe, CEBPE dual-color break-apart probe, whole chromosome paint (WCP) probe for chromosome 4, and Chromoprobe Multiprobe-ALL System probe.

RESULTSThe 39-year-old female was diagnosed with B-ALL based on morphologic and immunophenotypic analyses. Conventional cytogenetic analysis showed a karyotype of 47, XX, +4, t(14;14) (q11;q32) [20], which was confirmed by FISH analysis. FISH using IGH-dual-color break-apart probe confirmed involvement of IGH gene in t(14;14) (q11;q32), and FISH using CEBPE dual-color break-apart probe indicated that CEBPE is the partner gene involved in t(14;14) (q11; q32). The patient achieved complete remission (CR) after a round of combined chemotherapy. At the time of follow-up, she had remained CR for more than 6 months.

CONCLUSIONt(14;14) (q11;q32) simultaneously involving IGH and CEBPE genes in B-ALL is a rare but recurrent genetic abnormality that may identify a new subgroup of B-ALL. In B-ALL patients, t(14; 14) (q11; q32) involving IGH/CEBPE translocation may indicate a better prognosis.

Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14 ; Cytogenetics ; methods ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Karyotype ; Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; genetics ; pathology

This paper introduces the surface modification of NiTi alloy intravascular stents for roughness by chemical erosion and plasma deposition technology. The stent which had been granulated with chemical erosion was treated with TiO2 film prepared with Gel-sol. The study on the biocompatibility of the modified stent by the above two ways shows that the modified stent is rougher, and its anticoagulation and hydrophilicity are improved. However, the capability of erosion resistance is not enhanced significantly.
Alloys ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; instrumentation ; Biocompatible Materials ; Nickel ; Stents ; Surface Properties ; Titanium

BACKGROUNDIt is important to identify the multiple sites of leptin activity in obese women with breast cancer. In this study, we examined the effect of exogenous human leptin on heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and in a breast carcinoma xenograft model of nude mice.

METHODSWe cultured MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and established nude mice bearing xenografts of these cells, and randomly divided them into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was treated with human leptin, while the control group was treated with the same volume of normal saline. A real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was developed to quantify the mRNA expression of HSP70 in the MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and in tumor tissues. Western blotting analysis was applied to quantify the protein expression of HSP70 in the MCF-7 cells. Immunohistochemical staining was done to assess the positive rate of HSP70 expression in the tumor tissues.

RESULTSLeptin activated HSP70 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro: leptin upregulated significantly the expression of HSP70 at mRNA and protein levels in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in expression of HSP70 mRNA in the implanted tumors between the leptin-treated group and the control group (P > 0.05). Immunohistochemical staining revealed no significant difference in tumor HSP70 expression between the leptin-treated group and the control group (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSA nude mouse xenograft model can be safely and efficiently treated with human leptin by subcutaneous injections around the tumor. HSP70 may be target of leptin in breast cancer. Leptin can significantly upregulate the expression of HSP70 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro.

Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leptin ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; drug therapy ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo introduce the clinical experience in transplantation of the anterolateral femoral skin flap.

METHODSA total of 625 anterolateral femoral skin flaps in 600 patients were transplanted from 1988 to 2003. The retrospective analysis was carried out in all the cases as to the flap pedicle, the vascular variations, the surgical procedures and modifications, and the adaptation for a cutaneous-branch-absent flap.

RESULTSThe 625 flaps were transferred except 7 cancelled in the operation. Postoperatively, 17 cases encountered vascular complications, 10 of which survived completely with successful vessel exploration, 3 cases had partial necrosis, and 4 cases had complete necrosis. The survival rate was 97.8%. 545 flaps were pedicled with the descending branch or lateral branches; 45 flaps with the transverse branch or the high-site anterolateral cutaneous artery, 10 cases with the descending-transverse branch, 18 cases with other vessels. 7 cases were found cutaneous-branch-absent. The vessel variation rate of the flap was 4.06%.

CONCLUSIONSThe anterolateral femoral skin flap has less variation of its pedicle and high success rate of operation. It is an ideal choice for repair of soft tissue defects in the extremities.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Female ; Femur ; Humans ; Male ; Microsurgery ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin Transplantation ; Surgical Flaps ; Young Adult

BACKGROUNDPostoperative preablative stimulated thyroglobulin (ps-Tg) has been evaluated in predicting prognosis and success of ablation regarding differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC); however, its relationship with recurrence risk and radioiodine decision-making remains uncertain, especially in Chinese DTC patients. We aimed to evaluate the association between ps-Tg and recurrence risk stratification in DTC, to provide incremental values for ps-Tg in postoperative assessment and radioiodine management.

METHODSSeven hundred and seven patients with DTC were included; low-risk (L; n = 90), intermediate-risk (I; n = 283), and high-risk (H; n = 334, 117 with distant metastasis [M1]) patients were divided according to recurrence risk stratification. The M1 group was further analyzed regarding evidence of metastasis. Cut-off values of ps-Tg were obtained using receiver operating characteristic analysis.

RESULTSPatients with more advanced disease at initial risk stratification were more likely to have higher ps-Tg levels (I vs. L: P < 0.05; H vs. I: P < 0.001; H vs. L: P < 0.001). The corresponding cut-off value of ps-Tg for distinguishing sensitivity and specificity in each of the two groups was 2.95 ng/ml (I vs. L: 61.5%, 63.3%), 29.5 ng/ml (H vs. I: 41.9%, 92.6%), 47.1 ng/ml (M1 vs. M0 in the H group: 79.5%, 88.9%) and 47.1 ng/ml (M1 vs. M0 in all patients: 79.5%, 93.7%). With the cut-off value at 47.1 ng/ml, ps-Tg was the only factor that could be used to identify distant metastases, and consequently if measured before radioiodine therapy would prevent 10.26% of patients with M1 from undertreatment.

CONCLUSIONSPs-Tg, as an ongoing reassessment marker, favors differential recurrence risk grading and provides incremental values for radioiodine treatment decision-making.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Iodine Radioisotopes ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroglobulin ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; blood ; pathology ; radiotherapy

OBJECTIVETo investigate the interrelations among morphology, immunology, cytogenetics and clinical outcome in childhood acute leukemia with 11q23 abnormalities.

METHODSEighteen patients with 11q23 abnormalities, from 320 childhood acute leukemia patients, were retrospectively analysed for cell morphology, flow cytometry, immunophenotyping, R-banding karyotype as well as clinical features and prognosis. Twenty cases of childhood AL with normal karyotype during the same period were used as control.

RESULTSThe incidence of 11q23 abnormalities in our childhood acute leukemia patients was 5.63% including 14 acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 4 acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Of 16 cases immunophenotypically tested, 13 expressed lymphoid antigens and 3 CD(34) and other myeloid antigens. Karyotype analysis disclosed the following abnormalities: t(4; 11)(q21; q23) in 6 cases, t(10; 11)(p13; q23) in 3, t(11; 19)(q23; p13) in one and del(11)(q23) in 6. The complete remission rate for these patients with 11q23 abnormalities was comparable to that of the control (72.2% vs 80.0%, P > 0.05), while the mortality rate in the former was significantly higher than that in the latter (61.1% vs 25.0%, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS11q23 abnormalities were mainly seen in childhood ALL and acute monocytic leukemia with unique prognostic features.

Acute Disease ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11 ; genetics ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunophenotyping ; Infant ; Leukemia ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the clinical and laboratory features of pediatric inv(16) acute myeloid leukemia (AML) retrospectively.

METHODDual color fluorescence in situ hybridization (D-FISH) using a LSI CBFβ inv(16) break apart probe labeled by Spectrum red and Spectrum green was performed in 15 acute myeloid leukemia cases, including 13 cases with or without abnormal eosinophils but with positive core binding factor β (CBFβ)-MYH11 fusion transcript detected by RT-PCR, and 2 cases with trisomy 8 (+8). The results were compared with the morphology, immunophenotype, karyotype and RT-PCR.

RESULTMorphologically, 12 cases were diagnosed as M(4)EO, 2 as M(4), and 1 as M(2a). Immunophenotypically, all 13 AML cases with inv(16) showed positive expression of CD(13) and CD(33), but without the expression of any lymphoid lineage antigens. Karyotyping analysis with G-banding detected inv(16) in 10 AML cases, including 9 M(4)EO cases and 1 M(2a), but only 5 positive cases were detected using R-banding technique. Among them, 2 cases had simultaneous +8 and trisomy22 (+22), one had +22 only in addition to inv(16). D-FISH revealed a CBFβ-MYH11 rearrangement in 13 cases of AML with positive RT-PCR results, and the mean positive rate of cell detection was 55.15% (range 37.0% - 86.0%). The complete remission rate (CR) and median survival period in this series of inv(16) AML were 81.5%and 11 months, respectively, of whom, 8 cases were still in CR. Relapse and karyotypic evolution were seen in case 5 with +8, +22 in addition to inv(16).

CONCLUSIONAML with inv(16) is a special subtype. Most cases belong to M(4)EO. Its prognosis is good in general, but it seems to be an unfavorable feature for AML with inv(16) and +8, +22 simultaneously, especially with karyotypic evolution. For detection of inv(16), G-banding technique is evidently superior to R-banding technique. D-FISH combined with RT-PCR are more sensitive and reliable than chromosome banding analysis.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Chromosome Deletion ; Chromosome Inversion ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 16 ; genetics ; Eosinophilia ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; methods ; Infant ; Karyotyping ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; diagnosis ; genetics ; Male ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction