Objective To investigate the feasibility of pancreatic cancer muhieellular spheroids in chemosensitivity study. Methods Pancreatic adenocarcinoma cell lines SW1990, PCT-3 and ASPC-1 were cultured in collagen gel. When the muhicellular spheroids were formed, the drug chemosensitivities of Fluorouracil ( 5-FU ), Gemzar ( GEM ) and Oxaliplatin ( OXA ) were detected by CD-DST and CCK-8 methods. The results were compared with those of scattered cells model. Results The chemosensitivities of three pancreatic lines in form of multicellular spheroids were significantly lower than those of scattered cells model (P < 0. 05). The inhibitory rates of 50 μg/ml 5-FU on SW1990, PCT-3, ASPC-1 were (53.96 ±4.32)% ,(58.49±5.98)%, (49.57±4.36)% ;the inhibitory rates of 25 μg/ml GEM on SWI990,PCT-3, ASPC-1 were (53.02 ± 4.06) %, (61.90 ± 4.80) %, (38.09 ± 4.88 ) % ;the inhibitory rates of 10 μg/ml OXA on SW1990, PCT-3, ASPC-1 were (57.33 ± 6.27 ) %, (50.90 ± 4.80) %, (47.26 ± 4.29) % ;which were significantly lower than those of scattered cells model ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusions In collagen gel, formation of the multicellular spheroids of pancreatic cells caused less chemosensitivity and promoted anticancer drug resistance, which was consistent with in vivo state.

Objective To determine the effecting factors for diagnosis of binign or malignant in cystic lesions of pancreas(CLP).Methods One hundred twenty-six patients undergoing operations for CLP or suspected CLP in this hospital from January 1984 to June 2008 were reviewed.Patients were divided into two groups according to lesion's histological features after operation.The predictive effect of various preoperative factors on the malignant potential of CLP was evaluated.Results One hundred twenty-six patients underwent operations for suspected pancreatic cystic neoplasms.There were 89 benign and 37 malignant CLPs.The univariate analysis showed that gender, clinical symptoms(jaundice and weight loss), elevated serum CA199, and presence of one or more of three morphologic features such as solid component, nodule or septation were significantly different between benign and malignant cystic neoplasm of pancreas.The multivariate analysis indicated that imaging features and gender were independent predictors of malignancy.Conclusion In patients with suspected pancreatic cystic neoplasms, elevated serum CA199, clinical symptoms(jaundice and weight loss)and presence of suspicious morphologic features on imaging are predictors of malignant potential of CLP.Patients with a high likelihood of a potentially malignant or malignant lesion based on these three factors should undergo operation without additional investigations.

Humans ; Forensic Pathology

Trichosporon species now ranks as the second most common cause of disseminated yeast infections with a high mortality rate. Breakthrough trichosporonosis in patients receiving echinocandins therapy is being recognized recently. We present a case of breakthrough trichosporonosis with acute viral myocarditis while receiving caspofungin therapy. Trichosporon infection should be considered in patients, who have risk factors for invasive fungal infection and develop unexplained clinical manifestations of infection despite treatment with echinocandins.
Adult ; Antifungal Agents ; therapeutic use ; Echinocandins ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopeptides ; Treatment Outcome ; Trichosporonosis ; drug therapy ; microbiology

BACKGROUNDMonolayer cell culture models are the traditional culture models used for in vitro research of pancreatic carcinoma chemosensitivity. However, these models neglect the interactions between tumor cells and the impact of the tumor microenvironment. Such tumor cell monolayers poorly mimic the solid tumor microenvironment. The present study aimed to investigate the chemosensitivity characteristics of pancreatic cancer cells in a three-dimensional culture system by analyzing the differences in drug sensitivity between a scattered cell culture model and a multicellular spheroid culture model.

METHODSThree pancreatic cancer cell lines (SW1990, ASPC-1 and PCT-3) were cultured in three-dimensional collagen gels as well as in traditional two-dimensional monolayers. The chemosensitivities of the pancreatic carcinoma cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin in vitro were detected by both the Cell Counting Kit-8 test and the collagen gel droplet-embedded culture drug-sensitivity test.

RESULTSIn the two-dimensional culture model, differences in the chemosensitivities of the cloned pancreatic carcinoma cells and scattered cells existed for some concentrations of 5-FU, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin. In the three-dimensional culture model, there were significant differences in the chemosensitivities of the pancreatic cancer cells between the scattered cells and multicellular spheroids (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONPancreatic carcinoma cells exhibit multicellular resistance in three-dimensional cultures.

Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; Cell Culture Techniques ; methods ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Deoxycytidine ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Fluorouracil ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Organoplatinum Compounds ; pharmacology ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Spheroids, Cellular ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical application of collagen-gel droplet embedded-culture drug sensitivity test (CD-DST) in the malignant tumors.

METHODSCD-DST was established with rat tail collagen. Three pancreatic cancer cell lines, surgical resection specimens including 15 cases of pancreatic cancer and 10 cases of gastrointestinal cancer were examined using CD-DST.

RESULTSThe overall achievement ratio of CD-DST for clinical tumor specimens was 80% (20/25). In vitro chemosensitivities of pancreatic carcinoma cells to 5-FU, gemcitabine and oxaliplatin were lower than those of gastrointestinal carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONSCD-DST with rat tail collagen is a valuable chemosensitivity testing method for malignant tumors. It can be used to realize individualized anticancer chemotherapy.

Animals ; Collagen ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; methods ; Female ; Gels ; Humans ; Male ; Rats ; Tail ; chemistry ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

OBJECTIVETo investigate the delayed cardioprotection induced by remifentanil in intact rat ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) models.

METHODSTotally 42 adult male Wistar rats weighing 200-300 g were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 6 in each group): In Group I, rats were injected with normal saline via tail vein, performed with the regimen of 3 x 5-min intravenous (i.v.) infusion at a rate of 0.1 ml x kg(-1) min(-1) 24 h before I/R; In Group II, rats were treated according to the same experimental protocols as in Group I except receiving additional naloxone (0.1 mg/kg) 10 minutes before normal saline pretreatment; In Groups III, IV, V, and VI, rats were treated with remifentanil via tail vein, performed with the regime of 3 x 5-min i.v. infusion at a rate of 2 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h before I/R; In Group VII, the rats were treated according to the same experimental protocols as in Group IV except that they received additional naloxone (0.1 mg/kg) 10 minutes before remifentanil pretreatment. Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and a lead II electrocardiogram were continuously monitored during IR process. To determine plasma concentration of creatine kinase myocardial isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB), arterial blood samples were obtained immediately before ischemia, and at the end of ischemia and reperfusion. After a 120-min reperfusion, heart was removed for the measurement of myocardial infarct size. Infarct size (IS) was expressed as percentage of the area at risk.

RESULTSHR, MAP, and rate-pressure product were not significantly different at each time points among all groups (P > 0.05). Compared with Group I, plasma concentrations of CK-MB at the end of ischemia and reperfusion and myocardial infarct size were significantly lower in Groups IV and V (P < 0.05). Compared with Group IV, plasma concentrations of CK-MB at the end of ischemia and reperfusion were significantly higher and myocardial infarct size was significantly larger in Group VII (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONRemifentanil preconditioning induces delayed cardioprotection in intact rat ischemia-reperfusion model, which may be triggered via opioid receptors.

Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Ischemic Preconditioning, Myocardial ; Male ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Piperidines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVEImpulse oscillometry (IOS) is a new method for determination of breathing mechanics, which features convenient operation, good repeatability and wider range analysis. As there is no standardized normal value in China at present, this study will provide a normal value of lung function determination by impulse oscillometry for children in Chengdu area.

METHODTotally 549 children were chosen at random from Chengdu area, with 292 boys and 257 girls who were 4 to 14 years old. The subjects were assigned into 10 age groups according to their chronological age with one year difference between every two adjacent groups. The respiratory total impedance (Zrs), viscosity resistance (Rrs) and elastic resistance (Xrs) at various oscillation frequency were measured by the Master Screen IOS which was manufactured by German Jaeger Company. The measured data were treated with the linear stepwise multiple regression, and established the prediction equation. At the same time, paired comparison was carried out with the measured data and equation obtained from this study, Lechtenboerger equation and prediction equation obtained from Guangzhou area.

RESULTThe total impedance and airway resistance were negatively correlated with the children's height and age. Zrs (male) = -0.756 + 189.586/height, r = -0.782, P < 0.001; Zrs (female) = -0.497 + 152.468/height, r = -0.726, P < 0.001. Rrs became the same in trend; while Xrs were proportional to the height, e.g. the values increased as the height increased. The difference of the airway resistance (R(5)-R(20)) was negatively correlated with the children's height: R(5)-R(20) (male) = 0.601 - 0.0034 x height, r = -0.677, P < 0.001; R(5)-R(20) (female) = 0.549 - 0.0031 x height, r = -0.658, P < 0.001. Among the relationships with many impulse oscillometry parameters, height ranked at first place; age at second. The multiple regression equation of IOS primary index was established. Both the measured data and the correlation coefficient of the study obtained equation were greater than the coefficient correlation of the Lechtenboerger equation, but had no significant difference compared with that of prediction equation in Guangzhou area.

CONCLUSIONThe normal value in impulse oscillometry in children in Chengdu area is different from the predicted parameters in other countries. The equation obtained from this study seems to be more suitable for the children in its local area. It is recommended to apply the predicted value from the corresponding population in the determination of the lung function by impulse oscillometry.

Airway Resistance ; physiology ; Child ; China ; Electric Impedance ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Oscillometry ; methods ; Respiratory Function Tests ; methods ; Respiratory Physiological Phenomena

OBJECTIVETo investigate the surgical options for the malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PNETs).

METHODSThe clinic data of 32 patients with malignant pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors who were admitted between January 2003 and December 2009 were summarized. There were 19 male and 13 female, aging from 17 to 71 years (mean age, 46.3 years). The general information, postoperative pathology results, surgical options and followup were also collected.

RESULTSThere were 32 cases of malignant PNETs including functional malignant PNETs in 12 cases and nonfunctional malignant PNETs in 20 cases. Thirty-one patients accepted surgical treatments which included local resections in 4 patients, Whipple procedures in 7 patients, distal pancreatectomy in 17 patients and laparotomy in 3 patients. One patient accepted CT guided biopsy. Follow up were lost in two patients after operations. Five patients died in the first year after operations. Twenty-two patients still survived after mean follow up of 28 months (4 - 83 months). The survival rate for this group of patients was 83.5% in the first year, 72.6% in the second year and 54.4% in the fifth year.

CONCLUSIONSMalignant PNETs is the proper indication for surgical treatments. More accumulation of clinical data is needed to evaluate the significance of local resection of malignant PNETs in pancreatic head and cytoreductive surgery.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; surgery ; Pancreatic Neoplasms ; surgery ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of NGX6 on the transcriptional activation of beta-catenin/TCF/LEF in Wnt/beta-catenin signal pathway, and to identify the role of NGX6 in Wnt signal pathway. METHODS: The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)-beta-catenin (WT) was constructed. pcDNA3.1(+)-beta-catenin (WT) and pCMV-myc-NGX6 were cotransfected to COS-7 and the transcriptional activity of TCF/LEF was detected by TCF-4 luciferase report system. Without extro-genous beta-catenin, pCMV-myc-NGX6 was transfected alone to COS-7 and colon cancer cell line SW620, and the transcriptional activity of TCF/LEF was detected by TCF-4 luciferase report system, and then the expression of nucleus beta-catenin and TCF-4 was detected by Western blot. RESULTS: The eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(+)-beta-catenin (WT) was successfully constructed. The activation of TCF-4 luciferase report gene in the cotransfection group in COS-7 was less than that in NGX6 alone transfection group (P<0.05). The activation of TCF-4 luciferase report gene in NGX6 alone transfection group without extro-genous beta-catenin was less than that in pCMV-myc transfection group in COS-7 and SW620. The expression of beta-catenin and TCF-4 was decreased after the NGX6 transfection in COS-7 and SW620 cells. CONCLUSION NGX6 can inhibit the transcriptional activation of beta-catenin/TCF/LEF in Wnt signal pathway by its negative regulation in the nuclear translocation of beta-catenin.
Animals ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors ; genetics ; COS Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Chlorocebus aethiops ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; Transcription Factor 4 ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Transcriptional Activation ; Transfection ; Tumor Suppressor Proteins ; genetics ; Wnt Signaling Pathway ; beta Catenin ; genetics ; metabolism