The establishment of immune system is an orchestrated process from hematopoietic stem cells to immune effector cells.Hematopoietic stem cells development into variety of immune cell subsets with high pluripotency.However,effector immune cells possess specific function with limited pluripotency.Recently,researchers found that differentiated immune cells were able to transdifferentiate to other cell types accompanied with the conversion of effector functions.The plasticity of immune cell subsets were confirmed in many subsets such as T cell,innate lymphoid cell,macrophage,neutrophil and so on.The transdifferentiation of immune cells is accompanied with the process of many diseases.Study on plasticity of immune cells will provide important theoretic basis to clinic trail.In this review,we summarized the subsets,regulatory mechanism,and related diseases about immune cell plasticity.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between clinicopathologic features and prognosis of colorectal cancer after surgical treatment.

METHODSThe clinical characteristics, pathologic features and survival rate of 761 patients with colorectal cancer after surgical treatment were univariately and multivariately analyzed.

RESULTSThe overall 3- and 5-year survival rates of patients with colorectal cancer after surgical treatment were 62.9% and 60.7% with a median survival of 1,825 days. The factors of gross findings, degree of differentiation, infiltration, nodal and distant metastasis and neoplastic intestinal obstruction influenced the survival rate by univariate analysis. The factors of Dukes stage, gross tumor configuration, intramural spread and differentiation degree were available independent prognostic factors through multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONDukes stage, as the most important available independent prognostic factor (P < 0.0005), is able to assess the postoperative survival.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Regression Analysis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo search for differentially expressed proteins in the serum of patients with Crohn's disease.

METHODSSerum protein samples obtained from 4 patients with Crohn's disease and 4 normal adults were cross-labeled with different CyDyes and underwent two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) and imaging analysis. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was used to identify the differentially expressed proteins.

RESULTS2-D DIGE revealed that the protein on spot 973 was overexpressed by 2.55 folds in the serum of patients with Crohn's disease compared with that in normal adults (P<0.05). The protein was identified as CD45 using mass spectrometry.

CONCLUSIONCD45 overexpression in the serum of patients with Crohn's disease may play a role in the disequilibrium of the immune system.

Amino Acid Sequence ; Case-Control Studies ; Crohn Disease ; blood ; immunology ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocyte Common Antigens ; blood ; Male ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo investigate the association of the methylation status and expression level of Syk gene with the clinicopathological characteristics in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

METHODSMethylation-specific PCR(MSP) and RT-PCR techniques were used to analyze the methylation status and expression level of Syk gene in cancer and normal tissues of 120 CRC patients, meanwhile, association of the methylation status and expression level of Syk gene with the clinicopathological characteristics and the prognosis were studied.

RESULTS(1) Syk gene expression was not found in 48 cancer tissues out of 120 patients and was found in all the normal tissues.The difference was significant. (2) Loss of Syk expression was found in 37 patients with Syk hypermethylation, and in 11 out of 83 patients with Syk nonmethylation. (3) The methylation status of Syk gene was correlated with the lymph node status and the Dukes stage, but not with other clinicopathological parameters. (4) The follow-up data revealed that the 3-year survival of patients with Syk hypermethylation was lower than that of patients without Syk hypermethylation(73.5% vs.95.7%,P=0.007),and postoperative recurrence rate significantly increased in the Syk hypermethylation group (32.4% vs. 8.4%,P=0.02).

CONCLUSIONHypermethylation leads to silence of Syk gene involved in the initiation of colorectal cancer, which increases the infiltration of colorectal cancer cells, postoperative relapse and decreases the postoperative 3-year survival time.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; DNA Methylation ; Female ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; genetics ; metabolism ; Spleen ; metabolism ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients with recurrent colorectal cancer.

METHODSClinicopathological characteristics and postoperative survival of 235 patients with recurrent colorectal cancer after radical resection were retrospectively analyzed, and was compared with that of 993 patients with radical resection.

RESULTSThe overall 5- and 10-year survival rates after radical resection were 67.7% and 55.8%, respectively. The 5- and 10-year survival rates in patients with recurrent colorectal cancer was 43.9% and 28.1% (P=0.000), respectively. Among patients with recurrent colorectal cancer, the 5- and 10-year survival rates of the patients underwent second radical resection were 50.2% and 32.7%, while the 5- and 10-year survival rates of the patients without second surgery were 25.8% and 0, respectively (P=0.000). On univariate analysis, postoperative recurrence was associated with age at diagnosis, cancerous ileus, ascites, lymphs nodes involvement, gross types, infiltration of tumor and Duke's stage. Multivariate analysis revealed that cancerous ileus, ascites, gross types and Duke's stage were independent predictive factors for postoperative recurrence.

CONCLUSIONCancerous ileus, ascites, gross types and Duke's stage were independent predictive factors for recurrence and metastasis of colorectal cancer after radical resection. The 5- and 10-year survival rates and quality of life could be improved by second radical resection.

Adult ; Aged ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; mortality ; pathology ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; mortality ; pathology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Prognosis ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo elucidate an adequate hepatectomy margin for simultaneous liver and colorectal resection in colorectal cancer liver metastasis.

METHODSClinical data of 39 patients, undergone simultaneous liver and colorectal resection for colorectal cancer liver metastasis from August 1994 to December 2004, were analyzed retrospectively. Two groups were divided according to the width of hepatectomy margin:less than 1 cm in group A, and equal or more than 1 cm in group B. The data were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Log-rank test.

RESULTSThere were 14 patients in group A and 25 patients in group B. No significant differences in gender, age, primary tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, the number, distribution and size of liver metastasis, duration and blood lose of surgery were found between two groups. The median survival time was 17 months in group A, and 37 months in group B, and the overall 5-year survival rate in group B was much better than that in group A (19.8% vs 0, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSimultaneous liver and colorectal resection in colorectal cancer liver metastasis should be performed with a hepatectomy margin equal or more than 1 cm.

Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Female ; Hepatectomy ; mortality ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; surgery ; Liver Neoplasms ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVETo investigate the lymph nodes distribution and metastatic pattern of the ultra-low rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy.

METHODSA total of 21 rectal cancer gross specimen after neoadjuvant therapy and 23 rectal cancer gross specimen without neoadjuvant therapy were investigated by whole mount section and tissue microarray techniques with CK20. All the patients were treated by abdominoperineal resection.

RESULTSThere were 138 lymph nodes retrieved from the mesorectum in the neoadjuvant group including 39 metastatic lymph nodes and 12 micro-metastatic lymph nodes. Among these nodes, there were 7 rectal cancer cases with lymph nodes and 2 cases with micro-metastatic lymph nodes, and 6 cases had pathological complete remission. There were 415 lymph nodes retrieved from the mesorectum in the group without neoadjuvant therapy including 169 metastatic lymph nodes and 59 micro-metastatic lymph nodes. Among these nodes, there were 12 rectal cancer cases with lymph nodes and 4 cases with micro-metastatic lymph nodes. The proportions of metastatic lymph nodes in outer zone between the two groups were 21.5% and 29.0%, and those in pre-zone were 17.6% and 17.2% respectively. The ratio of metastatic lymph nodes in ischiorectal fossa between the two groups were 25.0% vs. 22.2% respectively. The rate of metastatic or micro-metastatic lymph nodes cases between the two groups were 4.8% vs. 13.0% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSThe lymph nodes distribution and metastatic pattern of the ultra-low rectal cancer are affected by neoadjuvant therapy. The proportions of the anal sphincter invasion and metastatic or micro-metastatic lymph nodes in ischiorectal fossa are lower after neoadjuvant therapy. Abdominoperineal resection as the standard treatment of the ultra-low rectal cancer after neoadjuvant therapy should be re-evaluated.

Biopsy ; Digestive System Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; pathology ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Neoadjuvant Therapy ; Rectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; therapy

OBJECTIVEIn China, liver failure is also termed as severe hepatitis in whom chronic severe hepatitis B (CSHB) is most common. The aim of this study was to assess whether CSHB based on different liver injury extent can meet the international definition of acute-on-chronic liver failure(ACLF)criteria, according by their clinical and pathological feature.

METHODSA total of 91 patients with CSHB were involved in the study. The clinical findings, laboratory data and liver pathology features were retrospectively analyzed and grouped by hepatitis virus B carrier state (HBC), chronic hepatitis B (CHB) or liver cirrhosis (LC) before they started liver failure.

RESULTS74 out of the 91 patients were male and 17 were female, the mean age was 40.6+/-11.2 years. 9.9%, 7.7% and 82.4% of the patients were based on HBC, CHB and LC respectively. The ages of HBC group were youngest. The mean age of HBC group (years) (25.8+/-6.6) was significantly lower than that of CHB group (36.9+/-9.0) and LC group (42.0+/-10.5)with P values of 0.032 and 0.001 respectively. Most cases presented with sub-acute liver failure characterized by high icterus and ascites. Predisposing factors included exertion, superinfection, virus variation, drugs or alcoholic injury. No difference found between PTA (F = 0.906, P = 0.408) and TBil (F = 0.839, P = 0.436) among the above three groups. The Alb and CHE levels in LC group were (30.3+/-5.1) g/L and (2926.8+/-1471.1) U/L respectively, which were lower than both HBC group [Alb (35.6+/-5.1) g/L, CHE (4363.5+/-2063.2) U/L] and CHB group [Alb (37.4+/-5.0) g/L, CHE (5167.1+/-1522.1) U/L] (F = 9.450; F = 9.297; P value less than 0.01).The level of CHO (1.8+/-1.0) mmol/L in LC group was lower than that of HBC group (2.9+/-1.0mmol/L, P = 0.034), while serum HBV DNA level of HBC group [(6.8+/-1.7) log10copies/ml] was higher than that of LC group [(4.2+/-2.6) log10copies/ml]. The liver tissue in HBC and CHB group showed massive or submassive necrosis which distribute evenly in different parts of liver and similarly in slides, most like acute/subacute severe hepatitis. The chronic lesion was easily covered by extensive necrosis in CSHB based on CHB, with portal fibrosis can be seen by masson stain. Characteristic picture of LC group were massive or submassive necrosis with some nodules were intact or only patchy necrosis of the parenchyma, disparity of extent and stage of necrosis existed in slides, which were the major difference in histopathological change in HBC and CHB group.

CONCLUSIONMost of CSHB cases were based on liver cirrhosis, which match with the international definition of ACLF, while small part of CSHB cases based on HBC and CHB are identical to acute/subacute liver failure.

Adult ; Carrier State ; pathology ; virology ; Female ; Hepatitis B, Chronic ; pathology ; Humans ; Liver Cirrhosis ; pathology ; virology ; Liver Failure ; etiology ; pathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo search differentially expressed proteins in serum of patients with Crohn disease.

METHODSSerum protein samples from 4 patients with Crohn disease and 8 healthy adults were recruited cross-labeled with variant CyDye, and then followed by two-dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE), image analysis, and identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS).

RESULTSThe 2-D electrophoresis results were compared between the Crohn disease patients and the healthy adults. The spot 1058 expression in serum of Crohn disease patients increased by 1.68 folds as compared with healthy adults (P<0.05). The protein was identified as haptoglobin by mass spectrometry.

CONCLUSIONUp-regulating expression of haptoglobin in serum of Crohn disease patients may play a role in disequilibrium of immunity system.

Adult ; Blood Proteins ; metabolism ; Case-Control Studies ; Crohn Disease ; blood ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional ; Haptoglobins ; metabolism ; Humans ; Proteomics ; methods ; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the safety and efficacy of laparoscopy- assisted distal gastrectomy (LADG) with D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer.

METHODSLiterature search was performed in Pubmed, Medline, EMBASE, the Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) to identify controlled trials comparing LADG and open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for gastric cancer published between January 2005 and February 2010. A meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.0 software.

RESULTSSeven controlled trials were included. One trail was randomized controlled trial. Compared to ODG, LADG had less blood loss[WMD: -132.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): -207.32 to -56.77], earlier postoperative first flatus (WMD: -0.82, 95% CI: -1.20 to -0.45], less complications [odds ratio (OR): 0.45, 95% CI: 0.26 to 0.78], shorter postoperative hospital stay (WMD: -3.63, 95% CI: -4.19 to -3.07), more harvested lymph nodes (WMD: 1.93, 95%CI: 0.36 to 3.50). There were no significant differences between the two groups in recurrence rate, metastasis rate, mortality and survival rate.

CONCLUSIONShort-term outcome of LADG with D2 lymph node dissection for gastric cancer is superior to ODG.

Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic ; Gastrectomy ; methods ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Stomach Neoplasms ; surgery