OBJECTIVETo explore if vasculogenic mimicry (VM) exists in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to explain the clinical significance of VM.

METHODSNinety-nine HCC resection specimens with complete clinical and prognostic data were collected. Immunohistochemical staining of CD31 and CD105, hepatocyte and PAS staining of the histological preparations were conducted to explore if VM exists in those HCC.

RESULTS12.12% (12 specimens) of the 99 specimens exhibited evidence of VM. One of 40 HCC specimens (2.5%) which belong to Edmondson pathologic grade I-II exhibited VM; 11 of 59 HCC specimens which belong to Edmondson pathologic grade III-VI (18.64%) exhibited VM, the low differentiated HCC (grade III-VI) exhibited more VM specimens than the high differentiated HCC (grade I-II) (chi2=4.416, P < 0.05). The biological behavior of VM was assessed and the stages of the cancers, using the TNM (tumor, node, metastases) classification criteria, were analyzed. These parameters of the VM and non-VM groups were compared. The mean TNM stage of the VM group was not more advanced than that of the non-VM group. The hematogenous metastases ( lung, bone, peritoneum et al) between the 2 groups were compared, and in the VM group the hematogenous metastasis rate was higher (chi2=8.873, P < 0.01). Kaplan-Meier actuarial survival curves were used to compare the VM group (n = 12) with the non-VM group (n = 87). Median survival time of the VM group was 9 months and that of the non-VM group was 31 months. The VM group had a lower survival rate than the non-VM group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONVM exists in HCC, and the higher invasive HCCs exhibit more VM than the less invasive HCCs. The HCC patients in the VM group had a higher rate of hematogenous metastases, a lower survival rate, and a poorer prognosis.

Adult ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; blood supply ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; metabolism ; pathology

OBJECTIVETo establish a nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cell line CNE1-pLVTHM/BART7 with stable ebv-miR-BART7 overexpression.

METHODSThe recombinant lentivirus pLVTHM/BART7 expression plasmid was packaged into mature lentivirus by 293FT cells and used to infect CNE1 cells. Flow cytometry was employed for sorting the GFP(+) cells. The efficiency of ebv-miR-BART7 overexpression was determined using qRT-PCR.

RESULTSThe recombinant lentivirus plasmid pLVTHM/BART7 was successfully constructed and verified by PCR and sequencing. The expression of ebv-miR-BART7 in CNE1 cells infected with the lentivirus pLVTHM/BART7 was significantly increased as compared with the negative control and the blank control cells.

CONCLUSIONThe recombinant lentivirus vector pLVTHM/BART7 results in high and stable expression of ebv-miR-BART7 in infected CNE1 cells, which provides a useful cell model for further studies of the role of ebv-miR-BART7 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Carcinoma ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; Lentivirus ; genetics ; MicroRNAs ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; genetics ; Plasmids

OBJECTIVETo study the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-2 in tumor cells of synovial sarcoma and its clinical significance.

METHODSExpression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in tumor cells of 72 cases of synovial sarcoma was studied by immunohistochemistry. The profile was correlated with clinicopathologic parameters, microvessel density (MVD) (analyzed by CD31 immunostaining) and survival rate.

RESULTS(1) There was a statistically significant negative correlation between expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 (r = -0.290 and P = 0.013). (2) The proportion of high MMP-2 expression to low TIMP-2 expression in patients with tumor metastasis was significantly higher than that in patients without metastasis (P = 0.010 and 0.002 respectively). (3) MVD of patients with high MMP-2 expression was higher than that in the low MMP-2 expression group (P = 0.005). MVD of patients with high TIMP-2 expression was lower than that in the low TIMP-2 expression group (P = 0.048). (4) Low TIMP-2 expression significantly correlated with poor prognosis of patients with synovial sarcoma, by univariate and multivariate survival analysis (P = 0.002 and 0.016 respectively).

CONCLUSIONSExpression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 correlates with metastatic potential and tumor angiogenesis in synovial sarcoma. Low TIMP-2 expression often indicates poor prognosis and unfavorable clinical outcomes.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; statistics & numerical data ; Kaplan-Meier Estimate ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Microcirculation ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Neoplasm Staging ; Neovascularization, Pathologic ; enzymology ; pathology ; Prognosis ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; blood supply ; enzymology ; pathology ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo understand the environmental risk factors on attempted suicide, and to study the interaction between factors as gene polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) associated to attempted suicide.

METHODSPaired case-control study of 205 suicide attempters (89 male, 116 female) and molecular biological techniques were used to study the relation between gene polymorphism of COMT, environmental factors and the rate of attempted suicide. Controls were paired with cases according to the same gender, similar age (no more than 3 years) and in the same district.

RESULTSThere were no significant differences in gene types and gene frequency between case and control groups. Multivariate conditional logistic regression model analysis showed that COMT Val/Val 158/108, low education level, cigarette smoking, emotional conflicts, psychologic disorders and depression were risk factors of attempted suicide with OR values as 2.43 (95% CI: 1.10 - 5.40), 5.70 (95% CI: 1.88 - 17.27), 3.54 (95% CI: 1.02 - 12.36), 10.96 (95% CI: 4.74 - 25.34), 6.35 (95% CI: 1.68 - 24.05) and 11.30 (95% CI: 4.58 - 27.89) respectively. There was no first level interaction between any two risk factors.

CONCLUSIONThe study supported that low education level, cigarette smoking, affective conflicts, psychiatric disorders, depression were risk factors of attempted suicide and COMT Val/Val 158/108 was suspected to be a susceptible gene type of attempted suicide but needs further study. The study also suggested that 116 bp in gene atlas be possibly correlated to high activity of COMT.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase ; genetics ; China ; epidemiology ; Depression ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Genetic ; Risk Factors ; Smoking ; adverse effects ; Suicide, Attempted ; statistics & numerical data

OBJECTIVETo observe the influence of different concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA) on glucose metabolism and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) expression in rat Sertoli cells in vitro and investigate the mechanisms of BPA inducing male infertility.

METHODSUsing two-step enzyme digestion, we isolated Sertoli cells from male Wistar rats and constructed a primary Sertoli cell system, followed by immunohistochemical FasL staining. We randomly divided the Sertoli cells into a control group to be cultured in the serum-free minimal essential medium (MEM) plus dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and three experimental groups to be treated with 100 nmol/L, 10 μmol/L, and 1 mmol/L BPA, respectively, in the MEM plus DMSO. After 48 hours of treatment, we measured the proliferation of the cells by CCK-8 assay, determined the concentrations of metabolites by NMR spectroscopy, and detected the expression of LDH in the Sertoli cells by RT-PCR and Western blot.

RESULTSThe purity of the isolated Sertoli cells was (96.05 ± 1.28)% (n = 10). Compared with the control group, the 100 nmol/L, 10 μmol/L, and 1 mmol/L BPA groups showed no remarkable changes in the proliferation of Sertoli cells ([98 ± 8]%, [96 ± 3]%, and [95 ± 3]%, P >0.05), but the 10 μmol/L and 1 mmol/L of BPA groups exhibited significantly decreased concentrations of intracellular glucose ([3.89 ± 0.07] vs [3.36 ± 0.24] and [3.04 ± 0.21] pmol/cell, P <0.05) and lactate ([0.43 ± 0.06] vs [0.29 ± 0.05] and [0.20 ± 0.03] pmol/cell, P <0.05). The expression of LDH mRNA was decreased with the increased concentration of BPA, while that of LDH protein reduced only in the 1 mmol/L BPA group (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONHigh-concentration BPA decreases the expression of LDH and alters glucose metabolism in Sertoli cells, and therefore may reduce the provision of lactate for germ cells and impair spermatogenesis.

Animals ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media, Serum-Free ; Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; In Vitro Techniques ; Infertility, Male ; chemically induced ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; metabolism ; Male ; Phenols ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Sertoli Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Spermatogenesis ; drug effects

Objeetive:To study the expression and clinical significance of NF-κ Bp65 protein and selective autophagy adaptor protein SQSTM1/p62 1(p62) in gastric carcinoma and its clinical significance.Methods:NF-κ Bp65 protein and p62 protein were determined in 72 cases of gastric carcinoma by immunohistochemistry PV-9000,and the relationship between them in the occurrence and development of gastric cancer was analyzed.Results:The positive expression of in gastric cancer tissues of NF-κ Bp65 (65.3％) was significantly higher than that of paracancerous gastric tissues (27.8％,P＜0.05);the positive expression rate of p62 (66.7％)was significantly higher than that in paracancerous gastric tissues (30.6％,P＜0.05);The expression of NF-κ Bp65,p62 was significantly correlated with the cancerous tissue differentiation degree,infiltrative depth,and lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05);NF-κ Bp65,p65 expression in the gastric cancer was positively correlated (P＜0.05).Conclusions:p62 and NF-κ Bp65 may be involved in apoptosis and cell proliferation of gastric carcinoma,and play anessential role in carcinogenesis.Detection of the two indexes would be used to assess and predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients.

Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclin D1 ; biosynthesis ; Hepatitis B virus ; Humans ; Liver ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; NF-kappa B ; biosynthesis ; Trans-Activators ; biosynthesis

Objective The epidemiological characteristics of congenital heart disease(CHD)among Tibetan children whose age ranged from 4 to 18 at different altitude were investigated in Qinghai province.Methods 32 578 Tibetan children living at 2535 m,3600 m and 4200 m were surveyed with the following 3 steps:prescreened,counterchecked and diagnosed with color Doppler.The entity distribution was then analysed and the age and gender were compared respectively.Resuits 235 CHD cases were identified.The total morbidity was 7.21‰.CHD morbidity was rising with the increase of altitude with 5.45‰ at 2535 m,6.80‰ at 3600 m and 9.79‰ at 4200 m respectively.There were significant static differences between 4200 m and the others with χ2=7.002(P＜0.01)to 2535 m and χ2=5.540(P＜0.05)to 3600 m.However,there was no statistical difference between 2535 m altitude and 3600 m altitude.The morbidity in different age had no statistical difference at 2535 m altitude but statistically increased with the increase of age at 3600 m and 4200 m.The total ratio of 16-18 age was significantly higher than other age periods with χ2=10.79(P＜0.005)to 4-7 age period and with χ2=5.60(P＜0.05)to 8-12 age period.The atrial septal defect(ASD)morbidity rates in three places was 39.1%followed by ventricular septal defect(VSD)with 32.8%and patent duetus arteriosus(PDA)with 24.7%.However,the constitute of CHD was different in different altitudes that VSD with 43.5%at 2535 m.ASD with 42.8%at 3600 m and PDA with 50.8%at 4200 m which was the highest morbidity.Conclusion Morbidity.constitutes and difference in gender and age were related to altitude.

OBJECTIVETo explore the expression and significance of E-cadherin (E-cad) and beta-catenin (beta-cat) in synovial sarcoma.

METHODSExpression of E-cad and beta-cat in 72 cases of synovial sarcoma were detected by tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemistry. The relationships between E-cad and beta-cat expression and clinicopathological data and survival rate were analyzed.

RESULTS(1) 95.1% of dots on the tissue microarrays were observable morphologically. The background was clear and the contrast was vivid after immunohistochemistry. (2) The expression of E-cad was reduced in 56 patients (77.8%) and that of beta-cat was reduced in 51 patients (70.8%). (3) In patients with synovial sarcoma of monophasic fibrous type, grade III, and in patients with recurrence or metastasis, CK-negative and EMA-negative the rates of reduced expression of E-cad and beta-cat were significantly higher than those with primary sarcoma of biphasic type, grade II, CK-positive and EMA positive (P < 0.05 for all). (4) The survival of synovial sarcoma patients with E-cad and beta-cat expressions preserved was significantly better than those with reduced expressions (P = 0.012, P = 0.047).

CONCLUSIONThe expression of E-cad and beta-cat is correlated with cell differentiation. Reduced expression of E-cad and beta-cat may indicate a high potential of recurrence or metastasis and poor prognosis. Tissue microarray technique is applicable for retrospective studies of large sample size.

Adult ; Cadherins ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Prognosis ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; metabolism ; pathology ; Soft Tissue Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Tissue Array Analysis ; beta Catenin ; biosynthesis

OBJECTIVETo compare the immunological profiles of pediatric and adult patients with AIDS in China.

METHODSTotally 103 pediatric AIDS patients, 38 adult patients, 88 healthy children, and 72 healthy adults were enrolled. CD4 + T lymphocyte counts were determined by four-color flow cytometer and HIV-RNA levels were measured in EDTA plasma by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Plasma levels of interleukin (IL)-10, IL-16, IL-18, regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), stromal cell-derived factor-(SDF-1) alpha, SDF-1 beta, and macrophage stimulate protein (MSP) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The levels of beta 2-microglobulin (beta 2-MG) and soluble Fas (sFas) were measured to indicate the activation of immune system.

RESULTSThe mean CD4 + T cell count in pediatric patients with AIDS was significantly lower than in healthy children (P < 0.01), as between the adult AIDS patients and healthy adults (P < 0.01). The mean levels of these cytokines in pediatric patients were significantly higher than in healthy children (P < 0.01). The level of MSP in adult patients was significantly lower than in healthy adults and other cytokines were significantly higher (P < 0.01). The mean levels of these cytokines, except SDF1 alpha and beta 2-MG, were significantly higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONAbnormal immune activation is induced in both pediatric and adult patients with HIV-1 infection. The level of immune activation is higher in pediatric patients than in adult patients.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome ; immunology ; Adolescent ; Adult ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; Chemotactic Factors ; blood ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Hepatocyte Growth Factor ; blood ; Humans ; Interleukins ; blood ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins ; blood