OBJECTIVETo determine the expression of bone morphogenetic protein 2 and 4 (BMP-2 and BMP-4) in prostatic carcinoma (PCa) and investigate their relationship with clinical stage and Gleason score of tumor.

METHODSForty-eight PCa cases and 5 normal prostatic tissue were analysed for the expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-4 by Western bolt assay.

RESULTSThe optical densities of BMP-2 expressions in the tumor with Gleason score < or =5, 6-8, and > or = 9 were 7547.1 +/- 1964.12, 9657.4 +/- 2010.54, 12467.7 +/- 2496.75 and of BMP-4 expressions were 5174.4 +/- 1400.54, 5940.3 +/- 1587.42, 6332.1 +/- 1647.83, respectively. The optical densities of BMP-2 expressions in the tumor in T1 - T2 and T3 - T4 stages were 8003.37 +/- 1889.23, 12385.55 +/- 2506.72 and of BMP4 expressions were 5267.41 +/- 1 464.19, 6543.75 +/- 1668.46, respectively. There were significant differences between tissues with Gleason score < or =5 and > or =9 (P <0.01), and tissues in T1 - T2 and T3 - T4 stages, in expressions of BMP-2 protein. The expression of BMP-2 protein was significantly high in the PCa with bone metastasis compared with that without bone metastasis.

CONCLUSIONThe expressions of BMP-2 and BMP-4 increase with the progression of clinical stage and Gleason score compared with normal prostatic tissue. The expression of BMP-2 protein is significantly upregulated in bone metastasis of PCa, which indicates a poor prognosis.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 ; Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins ; biosynthesis ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostate ; metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis

Objective To explore the quality of life (QOL) and its influential factors among patients with 3 major rheumatic diseases. Methods A total of 216 patients with rheumatic diseases (84 patients with systemic lu- pus erythematosus, SLE, 83 with rheumatoid arthritis, RA, and 49 with ankylosing spondylitis, AS) were recruited. The information with regard to their quality of life, sociopsychological factors and the evaluation of disease activity were obtained by using the medical outcomes study short form-36 (SF-36) and clinic documents. Results Patients with rheumatic diseases scored significantly lower with each subscale of SF-36 as compared to those of a healthy popu- lation in China (P

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical features, treatment and diagnosis of parapelvic cyst.

METHODSTwenty-three patients of parapelvic cyst of the kidney were reviewed retrospectively. Fourteen cases (61%) complained of lumbar pain or discomfort, and 4 patients (17%) accompany hematuria and hypertension.

RESULTSIn 15 patients receiving surgery, 2 were treated by nephrectomy, one by radical nephrectomy for misdiagnosis. Postoperative diagnosis confirmed a cyst. Eight patients were treated conservatively for cyst being small and without clinical symptoms. Nineteen cases were followed up for 0.5 - 12.0 years.

CONCLUSIONSUltrasonography and CT scan are the main diagnostic methods. Enhanced CT is extremely helpful in differential diagnosis of hydronephrosis. Surgical management is suitable for big cysts, lumbar pain, hematuria, hypertension and other complications.

Adult ; Aged ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Kidney Diseases, Cystic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; surgery ; Kidney Pelvis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prognosis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in prostate carcinoma tissues and its significance.

METHODSRT-PCR method was used to examine the expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA in normal and carcinomatous prostate tissues.

RESULTSThe relative content of TGF-beta1 mRNA of normal prostate tissues was (0.74 +/- 0.11), while those of carcinomatous prostate tissues at T1-T2 and T3-T4 stages were (0.69 +/- 0.10) and (0.44 +/- 0.08) respectively, with significant difference between T1-T2 and T3-T4 (P < 0.05). And the relative contents of TGF-beta1 mRNA of carcinomatous prostate tissues with Gleason score < or = 5, 6-8 and > or = 9 were (0.70 +/- 0.12), (0.54 +/- 0.11) and (0.42 +/- 0.09) respectively.

CONCLUSIONThe expression of TGF-beta1 mRNA was negatively correlated with the clinical stage and Gleason score of prostate carcinoma.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transforming Growth Factor beta ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo study and summarize the diagnosis and treatment for the corticomedullary mixed tumor of adrenal gland.

METHODSThe clinical data of 25 cases of adrenal corticomedullary mixed tumor from January 2000 to April 2008 were analyzed retrospectively, which including 9 males and 16 females. The ages were from 25 to 60 years old, and the average age was 39 years old. Thirteen cases had paroxysmal hypertension and 11 cases had central obesity, as well as 8 cases with hypokalemia. There were different degree abnormalities in plasma endocrine hormones in laboratory examination. Every case underwent b-ultrasound and CT normal plus extensive scan to make the diagnosis.

RESULTSAdrenalectomy was performed in the 25 cases, which contain 9 cases of open operations and 16 cases of endoscopic adrenalectomies. All of the cases had blood pressure fluctuation during dissection of the adrenal tumors, with the highest blood pressure reached to 230/140 mm Hg (1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa). Postoperative histopathological study revealed that the pathological changes was corticomedullary mixed tumor of adrenal gland, which was supported by immunohistochemical study.

CONCLUSIONSIn cases with complex phenomenon that can't explain with single cortical or medullary changes, it must beware of the mixed pathological changes in adrenal gland.

Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Adrenalectomy ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

Objective To evaluate the clinical features and the strategy for the diagnosis and treat- ment of bilateral testicular tumor.Methods The clinical data (including the signs and symptoms,imaging studies,tumor markers,treatment modalities and histopatbologic diagnoses) of 10 cases of bilateral testicular tumor from January 1980 to December 2004 were reviewed.Their age ranged from 19 to 58 years(mean,34 years).Of the 10 cases,8 with metachronous and 2 with synchronous testicular tumors were identified.The clinical stages at the primary and secondary tumor diagnosis were:5 cases of stageⅠ,3 of stageⅡ;and 6 cases of stageⅠ,1 of stageⅡ,and 1 of stageⅢ,respectively,in 8 metachronous tumor patients.Two syn- chronous tumor patients were both identified as stageⅠdisease.Histological examination showed the primary tumor (seminoma) in 4 cases and the secondary contralateral tumor (seminoma) in 3.Results Two syn- chronous tumor patients underwent bilateral radical orchiectomy simultaneously,and 8 underwent orchiectomy successively.Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed in 3 cases.Postoperatively,hypogonadism occurred in 10 patients,and 7 of them received androgen replacement therapy.Follow-up ranged from 9 month to 23 years with a mean of 10.5 years.Two patients died of the disease;2 had metastasis (1 of them was alive with metastasis);2 had recurrences and underwent local resection.Conclusions Metachronous bilateral testicular cancers are more common than synchronous bilateral testicular cancers.Seminoma was the most common histopathologic type.Testis-sparing surgery can be performed in selected cases.

BACKGROUNDThe level of c-Myc is closely associated with high pathological grade and the poor prognosis of gliomas. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important angiogenic factor that potently stimulates the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells. This study aimed to address the biological importance of c-Myc in the development of gliomas, we downregulated the expression of c-Myc in the human glioblastoma cell line IN500 and studied the in vitro effect on cellular growth, proliferation, and apoptosis and the expression of VEGF and the in vivo effect on tumor formation in a xenograft mouse model.

METHODSIN500Δ cells were stably transfected with shRNA-expressing plasmids for either c-Myc (pCMYC-shRNA) or as a control (pCtrl-shRNA). Following establishment of stable cells, the mRNA expressions of c-Myc and VEGF were examined by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and c-Myc and VEGF proteins by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Cell-cycle progression and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry. The in vivo effect of targeting c-Myc was determined by subcutaneous injection of stable cells into immunodeficient nude mice.

RESULTSThe stable transfection of pCMYC-shRNA successfully knocked down the steady-state mRNA and protein levels of c-Myc in IN500, which positively correlated with the downregulation of VEGF. Downregulating c-Myc in vitro also led to G1-S arrest and enhanced apoptosis. In vivo, targeting c-Myc reduced xenograft tumor formation and resulted in significantly smaller tumors.

CONCLUSIONSc-Myc has multiple functions in glioblastoma development that include regulating cell-cycle, apoptosis, and VEGF expression. Targeting c-Myc expression may be a promising therapy for malignant glioma.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Cycle ; genetics ; physiology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Female ; Flow Cytometry ; Glioblastoma ; genetics ; metabolism ; therapy ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Nude ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myb ; genetics ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; genetics ; metabolism ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Background The level of c-Myc is closely associated with high pathological grade and the poor prognosis of gliomas.Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important angiogenic factor that potently stimulates the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells.This study aimed to address the biological importance of c-Myc in the development of gliomas,we downregulated the expression of c-Myc in the human glioblastoma cell line IN500 and studied the in vitro effect on cellular growth,proliferation,and apoptosis and the expression of VEGF and the in vivo effect on tumor formation in a xenograft mouse model.Methods IN500△ cells were stably transfected with shRNA-expressing plasmids for either c-Myc (pCMYC-shRNA) or as a control (pCtrl-shRNA).Following establishment of stable cells,the mRNA expressions of c-Myc and VEGF were examined by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR,and c-Myc and VEGF proteins by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.Cell-cycle progression and apoptosis were determined by flow cytometry.The in vivo effect of targeting c-Myc was determined by subcutaneous injection of stable cells into immunodeficient nude mice.Results The stable transfection of pCMYC-shRNA successfully knocked down the steady-state mRNA and protein levels of c-Myc in IN500,which positively correlated with the downregulation of VEGF.Downregulating c-Myc in vitro also led to G1-S arrest and enhanced apoptosis.In vivo,targeting c-Myc reduced xenograft tumor formation and resulted in significantly smaller tumors.Conclusions c-Myc has multiple functions in glioblastoma development that include regulating cell-cycle,apoptosis,and VEGF expression.Targeting c-Myc expression may be a promising therapy for malignant glioma.

Objective To establish the quality standard for Sanyuan Rupixiao Gel Paste. Methods Sparganii Rhizoma, Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus, Cyperi Rhizoma and Impatientis Semen were identified by TLC method. The content of tetrahydropalmatine was determined by HPLC. Waters symmetry column was used with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.1% phosphatic acid in a gradient manner (pH was adjusted to 6.4 by triethylamine) (55:45) at the detection wavelength of 280 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min at the column temperature of 30 ℃. Results The spots in TLC were clear without any interference;tetrahydropalmatine showed a good linear relation in the range of 0.092–1.84 μg;the average recovery was 100.15%with RSD of 1.58%(n=6). Conclusion The method is simple and accurate with high reproducibility, which can be used for the quality control of Sanyuan Rupixiao Gel Paste.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of lung resistance-related protein (LRP) in intrinsic multidrug resistance (MDR) of bladder cancer and detect the relationship of LRP expression with the clinical pathologic parameters.

METHODS66 patients were studied with newly diagnosed primary bladder cancer (T(a) = 12, T(1) = 26, T(2) = 11, T(3) = 10, T(4) = 7; G(1) = 35, G(2) = 19, G(3) = 12). No patient was treated preoperatively with either radiation or chemotherapy. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed for measure of mRNA expression for LRP, multidrug-resistance gene 1 (MDR1), and multidrug resist nce-associated protein 1 (MRP1). Expressions of LRP, P53 and P63 proteins were examined by immunohistochemistry staining.

RESULTSLRP mRNA had the highest expression rate (64%, 42/66) among three MDR markers in primary bladder cancers without chemotherapy and its level was significantly higher in normal bladder tissue than in TCC of bladder (t = 2.82, P < 0.01), in low grade than in high grade cancers (t = 4.14, P < 0.01), and in superficial than in invasive cancers (t = 3.58, P < 0.05). LRP mRNA expression showed no correlation with either MDR1 or MRP1, but close correlation with LRP protein level (r = 0.89, P < 0.01). LRP was associated with low-grade (r = 0.81, P < 0.01) and low-stage (r = 0.78, P < 0.05) cancers, but not with tumor suppressor P53 or P63 (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThe grade and stage-related expression pattern of LRP indicates that it may be a predictive index for intrinsic MDR in bladder cancer. Anti-cancer drugs out of the MDR spectrum of LRP may be more effective for patients with early bladder cancer.

ATP-Binding Cassette, Sub-Family B, Member 1 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Transitional Cell ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Drug Resistance, Neoplasm ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multidrug Resistance-Associated Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Neoplasm Proteins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vault Ribonucleoprotein Particles ; biosynthesis ; genetics