OBJECTIVETo compare therapeutic effects of acupuncture and auricular point pressing therapy on allergic rhinitis.

METHODSOne hundred and fifty cases were randomly divided into an acupuncture group, an auricular point pressing group and a medication control group, 50 cases in each group. The acupuncture group were treated with acupuncture for 6 consecutive days, once each day, with an interval of one day; and the auricular point pressing group were alternatively treated twice each week; the medication group were treated with oral administration of western medicine saitezan, once daily, 10 mg once. They were treated for 4 weeks, and the short-term and long-term therapeutic effects, and effects on serum immunological indexes were compared among the three groups.

RESULTSThe acupuncture group and the auricular point pressing group in the short-term therapeutic effect and improvement of cumulative scores of symptoms and signs, and the long-term total therapeutic effect and the improvement of cumulative scores of symptoms and signs were better than the medication group (P<0.01, P<0.05), with no significant differences between the acupuncture group and the auricular point pressing group. Serum IgE, IL-4 contents decreased and IFN-gamma level did not significantly change in the three groups.

CONCLUSIONAcupuncture and auricular pressing therapy in improvement of symptoms and signs are better than the medication, and the therapeutic effect is carried out by inhibiting the differentiation from Th cells to Th2 cells, adjusting the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cells and decrease the synthesis of IgE to inhibit allergic rhinitis.

Acupuncture Points ; Acupuncture Therapy ; Humans ; Interleukin-4 ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Th2 Cells

This study was aimed to investigate the expression of c-MPL in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and the correlation of the c-MPL expression with CD34 and CD38, so as to define the expression of c-MPL in leukemic stem cells. The expression levels of CD34, CD38 and c-MPL were detected by flow cytometry in bone marrow cells from 29 newly diagnosed AML patients. The relationship of c-MPL positive cell ratio with clinical parameters and correlation of c-MPL with CD34 and CD38 expression in AML patients were analyzed. The results showed that expression level of c-MPL in AML patients was significantly higher than that of normal controls (P < 0.05), and the expression level of c-MPL did not correlate with age, sex, white blood cell count, AML1-ETO fusion gene and remission after chemotherapy, but the expression of c-MPL in M2 and M5 patients was higher than that of normal control (P < 0.05). Expression of c-MPL in CD34 positive AML patients was obviously higher than that in CD34 negative AML patients (P < 0.01). c-MPL was significantly higher expressed in CD34(+) cells than that in CD34(-) cells (P < 0.001), while c-MPL expression was not significantly different between CD34(+)CD38(-) and CD34(+)CD38(-) cell groups. Positive correlation between c-MPL and CD34 expression was observed (r = 0.380, P = 0.042). It is concluded that expression of c-MPL is higher in AML patients, and positively correlates with the expression level of CD34. The c-MPL expresses in leukemic stem cells.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Case-Control Studies ; Child ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplastic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Receptors, Thrombopoietin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathologic features and differential diagnosis of alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS).

METHODSThe clinical data and pathologic features of 48 cases of ASPS were evaluated. Immunohistochemical study, PAS staining and fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) were carried out in selected examples. Relevant literature was reviewed.

RESULTSAmongst the 48 cases studied, there were 17 males and 31 females, with male-to-female ratio of 1.0∶1.8. The age of patients ranged from 2 to 60 years (median=26 years). The tumor was most commonly located in deep soft tissue, especially that of lower extremities. Histologically, the tumor cells were arranged in alveolar or solid patterns and separated by sinusoidal vessels. They were large and contained abundant eosinophilic granules or crystals in cytoplasm. The nuclei were round to polygonal and vesicular, often with prominent nucleoli. Intravascular tumor extension was common. Some cases showed necrosis, hemorrhage and cystic changes. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were positive for TFE3 (100%, 33/33). FISH assay was carried out in 4 cases and all of them had TFE3-ASPL gene fusion.

CONCLUSIONSASPS is a rare malignant neoplasm, often occurs in young patients. TFE3 is a useful immunohistochemical marker for diagnosis. The diagnosis is further confirmed by other markers.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors ; genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gene Fusion ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; genetics ; Sarcoma, Alveolar Soft Part ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Young Adult

To explore the automated immunostainer screening anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene fusion non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and clinicopathological characteristics of the molecular subtype lung cancers. Methods Five hundred and sixty-six cases of NSCLC were collected over a 16 month period. The test for ALK was performed by Ventana automated immunostainer with anti-ALK D5F3. The histological features, treatment and outcome of patients were assessed. Results Thirty-eight cases (6.7%, 38/566) of NSCLC showed ALK gene fusion. The frequency of ALK gene fusion was higher in male (7.1%, 25/350) than that in female (6.0%, 13/216) patients, but not achieving statistical significance (chi2 = 0.270, P = 0.604). ALK + NSCLC was more significantly more frequent in patients < or = 60 years (9.9%, 28/282) than >60 years (3.5% , 10/284) of age. Histologically, the ALK + NSCLCs were mostly adenocarcinoma (81.6%, 31/38) , among which eighteen cases were solid predominant subtype with mucin production; nine cases were acinar predominant subtype; one case was papillary predominant subtype and three cases were invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma. The ALK + non-adenocarcinoma included three cases of squamous cell carcinoma, three cases of adenosquamous carcinoma and one case of pleomorphic carcinoma. Among the ALK + NSCLC patients, the number of non/light cigarette smokers (86. 8% , 33/38) was more than that of heavy smokers. Twenty-nine cases were stages III and IV; twenty-nine cases showed lymph node metastasis; twenty cases showed metastases mostly to brain and bone; and one case showed EGFR gene mutation coexisting with ALK gene fusion. Twelve of fifteen patients received crizotinib therapy and remained stable. Conclusions NSCLC with ALK gene rearrangement shows distinctive clinical and histological features. Ventana-IHC may he a feasible and valid technique for detection of ALK rearrangement in NSCLC.
Adenocarcinoma ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; genetics ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; genetics ; pathology ; Female ; Gene Fusion ; Gene Rearrangement ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Protein Kinase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Pyrazoles ; therapeutic use ; Pyridines ; therapeutic use ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; Sex Factors

AIM:To investigate the changes of cardiac structure and function in rats with type 2 diabetic melli-tus(T2DM),and to explore the mechanisms underlying diabetic cardiomyopathy.METHODS:The cardiac structure and function were measured by echocardiography in Zucker diabetic fatty(ZDF)rats and their control Zucker lean(ZL)rats. The size of the cardiomyocytes was determined by wheat germ agglutinin staining.The protein expression of atrial natriuretic peptide(ANP),β-myosin heavy chain(β-MHC), receptor for advanced glycation end products(RAGE), L-type cal-cium channel α1C subunit(CaV1.2)and Orai1 was assessed by Western blot.RESULTS:Compared with the ZL control rats,the thickness of left ventricular wall,ejection fraction(EF),fractional shortening(FS)and the sizes of cardiomyo-cytes were significantly increased,and diastolic function was decreased in the ZDF rats(P<0.05).The protein expression of β-MHC, ANP, RAGE and Orai1 was increased, while the expression of Ca V1.2 was decreased in ZDF rats(P <0.05).CONCLUSION:T2DM rats show the prominent features including cardiomyocyte hypertrophy,ventricular hyper-trophy and compensatory enhancement of cardiac function, and the Ca2+handling and increase in RAGE expression may play important roles in the processes.

Objective To study the clinicopathological features , differential diagnosis and prognosis of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma ( CCPRCC ).Methods The histological , immunohistochemical , and molecular features were studied in 11 cases and follow-up data were also analyzed.Results There were a total of 3 females and 8 males.The age of patients were ranged from 33 to 72 years ( mean age 52.5 years).The diameters of tumors varied from 1cm to 4 cm.Histologically, papillary and cystic architecture were present at least focally in all tumors.The papillae were covered by small to medium-sized cuboidal cells with abundant clear cytoplasm and often showed extensive secondary branching , which were often folded and densely packed , resulting in a solid appearance.The nuclei were round and uniform in shape;nucleoli were not prominent ( Fuhrman grade 1 or 2 ).Neither mitotic figures nor necrosis was present.All 11 cases exhibited moderate to strong positivity for CK7, CA9, vimentin, and HIF-1α, coupled with negative reactions for CD10, P504S, and TFE3.Ksp-cadherin was positively expressed in 8 cases.VHL gene mutations were not found in all 11 cases.Losses of chromosomes 3 (monoploid chromosome 3) was detected in 3 cases.Conclusions CCPRCC is uncommon and seemed to be an indolent tumor.The differential diagnosis should be included tumors , which harbor clear cell and papillary structure including clear cell renal cell carcinoma , papillary renal cell carcinoma , Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma , and CCPRCC.Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis may be help for its diagnosis.

Objective To explore the automated immunostainer screening anaplastic lymphoma kinase ( ALK) gene fusion non-small cell lung cancer ( NSCLC) and clinicopathological characteristics of the molecular subtype lung cancers.Methods Five hundred and sixty-six cases of NSCLC were collected over a 16 month period.The test for ALK was performed by Ventana automated immunostainer with anti-ALK D5F3.The histological features, treatment and outcome of patients were assessed.Results Thirty-eight cases (6.7%, 38/566) of NSCLC showed ALK gene fusion.The frequency of ALK gene fusion was higher in male ( 7.1%, 25/350 ) than that in female ( 6.0%, 13/216 ) patients, but not achieving statistical significance (χ2 =0.270, P=0.604).ALK+NSCLC was more significantly more frequent in patients≤60 years (9.9%, 28/282) than >60 years (3.5%, 10/284) of age.Histologically, the ALK+NSCLCs were mostly adenocarcinoma (81.6%, 31/38) , among which eighteen cases were solid predominant subtype with mucin production;nine cases were acinar predominant subtype;one case was papillary predominant subtype and three cases were invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma.The ALK +non-adenocarcinoma included three cases of squamous cell carcinoma, three cases of adenosquamous carcinoma and one case of pleomorphic carcinoma.Among the ALK+NSCLC patients, the number of non/light cigarette smokers (86.8%, 33/38) was more than that of heavy smokers.Twenty-nine cases were stages Ⅲ and Ⅳ; twenty-nine cases showed lymph node metastasis; twenty cases showed metastases mostly to brain and bone; and one case showed EGFR gene mutation coexisting with ALK gene fusion.Twelve of fifteen patients received crizotinib therapy and remained stable.Conclusions NSCLC with ALK gene rearrangement shows distinctive clinical and histological features.Ventana-IHC may be a feasible and valid technique for detection of ALK rearrangement in NSCLC.

Objective To study the clinicopathologic characteristics of primary renal hemangioblastoma.Methods The morphologic features, immunophenotype and molecular findings of 3 cases of primary renal hemangioblastoma were studied, with review of literature.Results The age of patients ranged from 43 to 57 years.There were 2 women and a man.The patients often presented with renal mass.Histologically, the tumors were surrounded by thick fibrous capsule and composed of epithelioid or spindle cells.Two cases had a prominent stromal component and the other one was rich in capillary network. Lipid vacuoles were observed in all cases.Features of hemorrhage were demonstrated in 2 cases.Capsular invasion and necrosis were seen in 1 case.Immunohistochemical study showed that the stromal cells were positive for alpha-inhibin (3/3), S-100 protein (3/3), EGFR (2/2), PAX-2 (2/2), PAX-8 (2/2) and CA9 (2/2) but negative for CKpan (2/2) and HMB45 (2/2).Focal membranous staining for CD10 (3/3) was noted.No VHL gene mutations or chromosome 3p deletion were detected in the 2 cases studied. Conclusions Renal hemangioblastoma shows distinctive morphologic appearance with a wide range of variation.The unexpected positive staining for PAX-2, PAX-8 and CD10 in renal hemangioblastoma needs to be aware.Immunohistochemical study may be helpful in differential diagnosis of these renal tumors.

The vagina contains at least a billion microbial cells,dominated by lactobacilli.Here we perform metagenomic shotgun sequencing on cervical and fecal samples from a cohort of 516 Chinese women of reproductive age,as well as cervical,fecal,and salivary samples from a second cohort of 632 women.Factors such as pregnancy history,delivery history,cesarean section,and breastfeeding were all more important than menstrual cycle in shaping the microbiome,and such information would be necessary before trying to interpret differences between vagino-cervical micro-biome data.Greater proportion of Bifidobacterium breve was seen with older age at sexual debut.The relative abundance of lactobacilli especially Lactobacillus crispatus was negatively associated with pregnancy history.Potential markers for lack of menstrual regularity,heavy flow,dysmenor-rhea,and contraceptives were also identified.Lactobacilli were rare during breastfeeding or post-menopause.Other features such as mood fluctuations and facial speckles could potentially be predicted from the vagino-cervical microbiome.Gut and salivary microbiomes,plasma vitamins,metals,amino acids,and hormones showed associations with the vagino-cervical microbiome.Our results offer an unprecedented glimpse into the microbiota of the female reproductive tract and call for international collaborations to better understand its long-term health impact other than in the settings of infection or pre-term birth.

OBJECTIVETo study the clinicopathological features, differential diagnosis and prognosis of clear cell papillary renal cell carcinoma (CCPRCC).

METHODSThe histological, immunohistochemical, and molecular features were studied in 11 cases and follow-up data were also analyzed.

RESULTSThere were a total of 3 females and 8 males. The age of patients were ranged from 33 to 72 years(mean age 52.5 years). The diameters of tumors varied from 1cm to 4 cm. Histologically, papillary and cystic architecture were present at least focally in all tumors. The papillae were covered by small to medium-sized cuboidal cells with abundant clear cytoplasm and often showed extensive secondary branching, which were often folded and densely packed, resulting in a solid appearance. The nuclei were round and uniform in shape; nucleoli were not prominent (Fuhrman grade 1 or 2). Neither mitotic figures nor necrosis was present. All 11 cases exhibited moderate to strong positivity for CK7, CA9, vimentin, and HIF-1α, coupled with negative reactions for CD10, P504S, and TFE3. Ksp-cadherin was positively expressed in 8 cases.VHL gene mutations were not found in all 11 cases. Losses of chromosomes 3 (monoploid chromosome 3) was detected in 3 cases.

CONCLUSIONSCCPRCC is uncommon and seemed to be an indolent tumor. The differential diagnosis should be included tumors, which harbor clear cell and papillary structure including clear cell renal cell carcinoma, papillary renal cell carcinoma, Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma, and CCPRCC. Immunohistochemical and molecular analysis may be help for its diagnosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 3 ; Female ; Humans ; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ; analysis ; Kidney Neoplasms ; chemistry ; genetics ; pathology ; ultrastructure ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mutation ; Prognosis ; Racemases and Epimerases ; analysis ; Translocation, Genetic ; Tumor Burden