Adrenomedullin ; Animals ; Endothelin-1 ; blood ; Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental ; physiopathology ; Nitric Oxide ; blood ; Peptides ; blood ; pharmacology ; Portal Pressure ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of stomatin-like protein-2 (SLP-2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), and analyze the correlation between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathological features.

METHODSThe expression of SLP-2 protein in ESCC tissues (18 and 220 cases respectively) was detected by Western blot and IHC. The association between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathological features was analyzed.

RESULTSCompared with normal epithelium, 13 cases of ESCC tissues showed a higher expression of SLP-2 on the protein level (72.2%, 13/18). IHC analysis on tissue microarray revealed that the expression rate of SLP-2 protein in ESCC was 54.1% and in normal esophageal mucosa was 3.6%, showing a significant difference (P < 0.001). SLP-2 high-level expression correlates with the extent of ESCC invasion (P = 0.033), but not with other clinicopathologic characteristics (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSLP-2 as a novel cancer-related gene may play an important role in tumorigenesis of ESCC. The overexpression of SLP-2 may be closely associated with the invasion of esophageal cancer.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Blotting, Western ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; metabolism ; physiology ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Invasiveness

A comprehensive HPLC-DAD-MS method was developed to study the chemical components of semi-bionic extract of Coptis-Evodia herb couple. The extract was isolated on a Hypersil BDS C18 column (4.6 mm x 200 mm, 5 microm) using acetonitrile-ammonium formic buffer as mobile phase by gradient elution. Detection was performed on DAD and MS equipped with an electrospray ionization (ESI) source by full scan and product full scan on positive mode. The chromatogram of Coptis-Evodia showed seventeen main peaks, eight of which were from Evodia while the others were from Coptis. By comparison of the retention time, the on-line UV spectra and MS spectra, four peaks were identified as jatrorrhizine, hydroxevodiamine, palmatine and berberine, and three peaks were deduced as epiberberine, columbamine and coptisine. In addition, berberine and palmatine were quantitatively determined. No new component was created in the semi-bionic extract of the herb couple, yet the solubilities of berberine and palmatine decreased.
Berberine ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Berberine Alkaloids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Coptis ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Evodia ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

The aim of the present study was to assess the ototoxicity of kanamycin sulfate (KM) in adult rats and its underlying mechanism. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats (6-7 weeks old) were randomly divided into the experimental group and the control group. The animals in the experimental group were injected subcutaneously with KM (500 mg/kg per day) for two weeks, and the control group received equal volume of normal saline. To assess the ototoxicity of KM, the auditory brainstem response (ABR) was recorded to monitor the changes in hearing thresholds, and the density of spiral ganglion cells (SGCs) and morphology of cochlea were observed using surface preparations and frozen sections of cochlea. The results showed that the hearing threshold of rats in the experimental group was elevated by more than 60 dB across all the frequencies two weeks after the first administration of KM. And in the experimental group, the density of SGCs became lower, and organ of Corti suffered loss of hair cells. The loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) was more severe than that of inner hair cells (IHCs), correlated with the density decrease of SGCs. We conclude that the ototoxicity of KM in the adult rats was apparent and the underlying mechanism is associated with the loss of SGCs and hair cells.
Animals ; Cochlea ; drug effects ; pathology ; Evoked Potentials, Auditory, Brain Stem ; drug effects ; Hair Cells, Auditory, Outer ; cytology ; drug effects ; pathology ; Hearing Loss ; chemically induced ; physiopathology ; Kanamycin ; toxicity ; Male ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spiral Ganglion ; pathology ; physiology ; ultrastructure

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of stomatin like protein-2 (SLP-2) at mRNA and protein levels in two kinds of malignant epithelial tumors, including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and invasive breast cancer, and to study the relations of SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters with the prognosis.

METHODSRT-PCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression of SLP-2 mRNA and protein in LSCC and their normal counterparts (46 and 10 pair, respectively). Immunohistochemistry was carried on tissue array constructed from LSCC (104 cases) and breast cancer (263 cases), respectively. The association between SLP-2 expression and clinicopathologic parameters was analyzed.

RESULTSLSCC showed a higher expression of SLP-2 than that of their normal counterparts (negative expression) at mRNA (83%, 38/46) and protein (7/10) level. Immunohistochemical analysis of LSCC showed that compared with negative expression in normal laryngeal epithelium (0/20), a higher SLP-2 expression was detected in LSCC (36/104, P=0.000) and associated with the advanced clinical stage (P<0.01) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.003). Immunohistochemical study of invasive breast cancer demonstrated that compared with negative expression in normal breast tissue (0/10), more than one half of the cases showed a high SLP-2 expression (52.5%, 138/263, P=0.000) in breast cancer, which correlated with the tumor size (P=0.020), lymph node metastasis (P<0.01), advanced clinical stage (P<0.01), distant metastasis (P=0.002) and HER2/neu protein expression (P=0.037). Survival analysis showed a shorter overall survival probability in patients with a high SLP-2 expression. It was considered that lymph node metastasis, positive HER2/neu expression, and high-level SLP-2 expression may act as the independent prognostic factors for those tumors.

CONCLUSIONSA high expression level of SLP-2 may be associating with the development of invasion and metastasis in LSCC and breast cancer, and SLP-2 is also considered working as an independent factor indicating a poor prognosis clinically in breast cancer.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast ; metabolism ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Membrane Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Receptor, ErbB-2 ; metabolism ; Survival Analysis

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between preoperative, operative, and postoperative factors and persistent pleural effusion after the extracardiac Fontan procedure.

METHODSNinety-five consecutive patients diagnosed with univentricular heart underwent extracardiac connection using Gore-Tax conduits at the Department of Children's Heart Centre, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen in Germany from June 1996 to July 2007. The outcome measures were duration and volume of chest tube drainage after surgical intervention. The investigated factors included age and weight at the time of operation, anatomical diagnosis, preoperative oxygen saturation, mean pulmonary artery pressure, ventricular end-diastolic pressure, fenestration, cardiopulmonary bypass time, conduit size, postoperative pulmonary artery pressure, administration of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, and postoperative infection. Associations between these factors and persistent pleural effusion after the extracardiac Fontan procedure were analyzed.

RESULTSEvery patient suffered postoperative effusion. The median duration of postoperative chest tube drainage was 9 days (range, 3-69 days), and the median volume was 12 mL kg(-1) x d(-1) (range, 2.0-37.5 mL x kg(-1) d x (-1)). Thirty-seven (38.9%) patients had pleural drainage for more than 15 days, and the volume in 35 (36.8%) patients exceeded 25 mL x kg(-1) x d(-1). Nineteen (20%) patients required placement of additional chest tubes for re-accumulation of pleural effusion after removal of previous chest tubes. Fifteen (17.8%) patients were hospitalized again due to pleural effusion after discharge. The median length of hospital stay after the operation was 14 days (range, 4-78 days). Multivariate analysis results showed that non-fenestration, low preoperative oxygen saturation, and postoperative infections were independent risk factors for prolonged duration of pleural drainage (P < 0.05). Long cardiopulmonary bypass time, non-fenestration, small conduit size, and low preoperative oxygen saturation were independent risk factors for excessive volume of pleural drainage (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSFor reduing postoperative duration and volume of pleural drainage following Fontan procedure, it seems to be important to improve the preoperative oxygen saturation, use large size of conduit, shorten cardiopulmonary bypass time, and make fenestration during the operation, as well as avoid postoperative infections.

Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Fontan Procedure ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Pleural Effusion ; etiology ; physiopathology ; Postoperative Complications ; etiology ; Risk Factors ; Treatment Outcome

Objective To explore the effect of long non-coding RNA(lncRNA)microRNA 17-92 cluster host gene(MIR17HG)regulating microRNA(miR)-214-3p/ring finger protein 38(RNF38)signal axis on the malignant biological behavior of liver cancer cells.Methods The cancer tissues and adjacent tissues of 46 patients with liver cancer who underwent surgical resection in our hospital from May 2022 to October 2023 were collected to detect the expression of lncRNA MIR17HG,miR-214-3p and RNF38.HepG2,Bel-7402,SMMC-7721 and HL-7702 cells were cultured in vitro,and the expression of lncRNA MIR17HG,miR-214-3p and RNF38 was compared,Bel-7402 cells were selected for further study,and randomly divided into sh-NC group,sh-MIR17HG group,anti-NC group,anti-miR-214-3p group and Bel-7402 group.The proliferation,apoptosis,invasion and migration of Bel-7402 cells in each group were investigated,the expression of RNF38,caspase-3(caspase-3),B cell lymphoma-2(Bcl-2),matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP2)and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP9)protein was analyzed by western blotting,the relationship between lncRNA MIR17HG and miR-214-3p and the relationship between miR-214-3p and RNF38 were verified by double luciferase.Results The mRNA expression of lncRNA MIR17HG and RNF38 in liver cancer tissues was higher,the mRNA expression of miR-214-3p was lower,and the positive expression rate of RNF38 protein was higher(P＜0.05).The expression of lncRNA MIR17HG mRNA,RNF38 mRNA and RNF38 protein in SMMC-7721,HepG2 and Bel-7402 cells was higher than that in HL-7702 cells,and the expression of miR-214-3p mRNA was lower than that in HL-7702 cells(P＜0.05).Compared with Bel-7402 group and sh-NC group,the OD450nm value,the number of cloned cells,the number of invasive cells,the number of migrated cells and the expression of RNF38,MMP2,Bcl-2 and MMP9 in sh-MIR17HG group decreased,while the apoptosis rate and the expression of caspase-3 increased(P＜0.05).Compared with sh-MIR17HG group and anti-NC group,the OD450nm value,the number of cloned cells,the number of invasive cells,the number of migrated cells and the expression of RNF38,MMP2,Bcl-2 and MMP9 in anti-miR-214-3p group increased,while the apoptosis rate and the expression of caspase-3 decreased(P＜0.05).LncRNA MIR17HG and miR-214-3p,and miR-214-3p and RNF38 have targeted relationships respectively.The luciferase activity in miR-214-3p+WT-MIR17HG group was lower than that in miR-NC+WT-MIR17HG group(P＜0.05),and the luciferase activity in miR-214-3p+WT-RNF38 group was lower than that in miR-NC+WT-RNF38 group(P＜0.05).Conclusion LncRNA MIR17HG may promote the malignant biological behavior of liver cancer cells by regulating the miR-214-3p/RNF38 axis.

OBJECTIVETo assess the diagnostic values of immunohistochemistry and SYT-SSX fusion gene detection for synovial sarcoma.

METHODSBased on clinical features, histological and immunohistochemical profiles, 195 cases of tumors were divided into three diagnostic categories: definitive synovial sarcoma, probable synovial sarcoma and possible synovial sarcoma. RT-PCR Detection of the SYT-SSX fusion gene was performed using paraffin embedded tissue samples. Comparison between RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results was carried out and their diagnostic value was evaluated.

RESULTSThere were 62 (31.8%) definite synovial sarcomas, 49 (25.1%) probable synovial sarcomas and 84 cases (43.1%) possible synovial sarcomas. SYT-SSX fusion gene was detected in 140 (78.2%) cases overall, including 94.7% (54/57) definite synovial sarcomas, 86.0% (37/43) probable synovial sarcomas and 62.0% (49/79) possible synovial sarcomas. In tumors in the certain and probable synovial sarcoma categories, the positive rates of epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were significantly higher in the SYT-SSX positive cases than SYT-SSX-negative cases (P = 0.022, P = 0.010, respectively). EMA was positively correlated with the presence of SYT-SSX (r(s) = 0.431, P = 0.001, r(s) = 0.463, P = 0.002, respectively). However, such a correlation was not seen in cytokeratin (CK), vimentin or S-100 protein immunostains (P > 0.05). In tumors of possible synovial sarcoma category, there were no significant differences of CK, EMA, vimentin or S-100 protein between SYT-SSX-positive and SYT-SSX-negative tumors.

CONCLUSIONSSYT-SSX fusion gene detection is not needed when the conventional approaches are diagnostic. EMA positivity has a similar diagnostic value to that of SYT-SSX by RT-PCR for tumors in the probable synovial sarcoma category. However, detection of SYT-SSX is very important for diagnosis of the tumors in the category of possible synovial sarcoma.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Biomarkers, Tumor ; metabolism ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mucin-1 ; metabolism ; Oncogene Proteins, Fusion ; metabolism ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism ; Young Adult

Objective To investigate the expression and role of SYT-SSX fusion genes in the carcinogesis of synovial sarcoma, and to evaluate their prognostic value as well. Methods RNA was extracted from 152 selected synovial sarcoma tissue blocks embedded in paraffin. The expression of SYT-SSX fusion genes was deteeted with RT-PCR method. The correlation of SYT-SSXI and SYT-SSX2 expression with clinieopathologic parameters and survival rate were analyzed. Results SYT-SSX was positively detected in 145 specimens (95.4%), 34.5% (50/145) of these in SYT-SSX1 and 62.8% (91/145) in SYT-SSX2, respectively. However, 2.8% (4/145) were negative for SYT-SSX1 and SYT-SSX2. The positive rate of biphasic type, CK-positive and EMA-positive in SYT-SSXl-synovial sarcoma were significantly higher than that in SYT-SSX2-synovial sarcoma (P<0.05 ). The multivariate analysis showed that the prognosis of patients with tumor diameter ≥ 5cm ( RR=2.325, P=0.027), containing poor differentiation areas (RR=2.122, P=0.048)), with metastasis ( RR=2.205, P=0.032) and expressing SYT-SSX1 (RR=2.775, P=0.008) was poor. Conclusion Most of Chinese synovial sarcomas have expression of SYT-SSX2 protein. SYT-SSX type may be considered as an important prognostic factor for synovial sareoma patient. The expression of SYT-SSX1 may suggest a poor prognosis. SYT-SSX1 and SYT- SSX2 show different ability to control the epithelial differentiation of synovial sarcoma precursor cells through affecting some different target genes or the same genes at different levels.

Objective To investigate the expression and role of SYT-SSX fusion genes in the carcinogesis of synovial sarcoma, and to evaluate their prognostic value as well. Methods RNA was extracted from 152 selected synovial sarcoma tissue blocks embedded in paraffin. The expression of SYT-SSX fusion genes was deteeted with RT-PCR method. The correlation of SYT-SSXI and SYT-SSX2 expression with clinieopathologic parameters and survival rate were analyzed. Results SYT-SSX was positively detected in 145 specimens (95.4%), 34.5% (50/145) of these in SYT-SSX1 and 62.8% (91/145) in SYT-SSX2, respectively. However, 2.8% (4/145) were negative for SYT-SSX1 and SYT-SSX2. The positive rate of biphasic type, CK-positive and EMA-positive in SYT-SSXl-synovial sarcoma were significantly higher than that in SYT-SSX2-synovial sarcoma (P<0.05 ). The multivariate analysis showed that the prognosis of patients with tumor diameter ≥ 5cm ( RR=2.325, P=0.027), containing poor differentiation areas (RR=2.122, P=0.048)), with metastasis ( RR=2.205, P=0.032) and expressing SYT-SSX1 (RR=2.775, P=0.008) was poor. Conclusion Most of Chinese synovial sarcomas have expression of SYT-SSX2 protein. SYT-SSX type may be considered as an important prognostic factor for synovial sareoma patient. The expression of SYT-SSX1 may suggest a poor prognosis. SYT-SSX1 and SYT- SSX2 show different ability to control the epithelial differentiation of synovial sarcoma precursor cells through affecting some different target genes or the same genes at different levels.