OBJECTIVES: To analyze the clinicopathological features of maxillofacial granular cell tumors (GCT) with the aid of immunohistochemical staining. METHODS: Seven cases of maxillofacial GCT were retrospectively collated, and the microscopic morphology of maxillofacial GCT was analyzed. The expression of S-100, neuron-specific enolase (NSE), SOX-10, CD68, actin, desmin, and Ki-67 in GCT was detected by immunohistochemical staining. The cases were observed in the follow-ups after clinical treatment. RESULTS: All seven GCT tumors lacked envelopes and were poorly defined. Microscopically, the sizes of the tumor cells were large and appeared with inconspicuous cell membranes, forming a syncytium-like appearance. The cytoplasm was filled with characteristic eosinophilic granules. The immunohistochemical results showed that six cases were NSE-positive, five cases were S-100-positive, seven cases were CD68-positive, five cases were SOX-10-positive, one case was actin-positive, and seven cases were desmin-negative. The Ki-67 index did not exceed 5% in all cases. In the follow-up sessions, none of the six cases presented a recurrence. CONCLUSIONS Maxillofacial GCT has a characteristic histological structure. Immunohistochemical S-100, CD68, and other indicators can assist in diagnosis, and the prognosis is good after clinical resection.
Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen/metabolism* ; Granular Cell Tumor/surgery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Actins/metabolism* ; Desmin/metabolism* ; S100 Proteins/metabolism*

OBJECTIVE: Physical exercise, a common non-drug intervention, is an important strategy in cancer treatment, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the mechanism remains largely unknown. Due to the importance of hypoxia and cancer stemness in the development of HCC, the present study investigated whether the anti-HCC effect of physical exercise is related to its suppression on hypoxia and cancer stemness. METHODS: A physical exercise intervention of swimming (30 min/d, 5 d/week, for 4 weeks) was administered to BALB/c nude mice bearing subcutaneous human HCC tumor. The anti-HCC effect of swimming was assessed in vivo by tumor weight monitoring, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) detection of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki67. The expression of stemness transcription factors, including Nanog homeobox (NANOG), octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT-4), v-Myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (C-MYC) and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), was detected using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. A hypoxia probe was used to explore the intratumoral hypoxia status. Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α and proteins related to protein kinase B (Akt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)/β-catenin signaling pathway. The IHC analysis of platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (CD31), and the immunofluorescence co-location of CD31 and desmin were used to analyze tumor blood perfusion. SMMC-7721 cells were treated with nude mice serum. The inhibition effect on cancer stemness in vitro was detected using suspension sphere experiments and the expression of stemness transcription factors. The hypoxia status was inferred by measuring the protein and mRNA levels of HIF-1α. Further, the expression of proteins related to Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway was detected. RESULTS: Swimming significantly reduced the body weight and tumor weight in nude mice bearing HCC tumor. HE staining and IHC results showed a lower necrotic area ratio as well as fewer PCNA or Ki67 positive cells in mice receiving the swimming intervention. Swimming potently alleviated the intratumoral hypoxia, attenuated the cancer stemness, and inhibited the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. Additionally, the desmin⁺/CD31⁺ ratio, rather than the number of CD31⁺ vessels, was significantly increased in swimming-treated mice. In vitro experiments showed that treating cells with the serum from the swimming intervention mice significantly reduced the formation of SMMC-7721 cell suspension sphere, as well as the mRNA expression level of stemness transcription factors. Consistent with the in vivo results, HIF-1α and Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway were also inhibited in cells treated with serum from swimming group. CONCLUSION Swimming alleviated hypoxia and attenuated cancer stemness in HCC, through suppression of the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin signaling pathway. The alleviation of intratumoral hypoxia was related to the increase in blood perfusion in the tumor. Please cite this article as: Xiao CL, Zhong ZP, Lü C, Guo BJ, Chen JJ, Zhao T, Yin ZF, Li B. Physical exercise suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by alleviating hypoxia and attenuating cancer stemness through the Akt/GSK-3β/β-catenin pathway. J Integr Med. 2023; 21(2): 184-193.
Humans ; Animals ; Mice ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Nude ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta/genetics* ; beta Catenin/therapeutic use* ; Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy* ; Desmin/therapeutic use* ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Hypoxia ; RNA, Messenger/therapeutic use* ; Cell Proliferation

Objective: To investigate the role of clock gene BMAL1 in exercise-induced skeletal muscle injury recovery. Methods: Two hundred and eight 8-week-old SD rats were randomly divided into the control group (Group C, n=104) and the exercise group (Group E, n=104). Group E performed a 90-minute downhill run on the treadmill. After exercise, the gastrocnemius muscle of 8 rats in Group C and Group E were collected at 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 18 h, 24 h, 30 h, 36 h, 42 h, 48 h, 54 h, 60 h, 66 h and 72 h. The expression of skeletal muscle core clock gene, BMAL1 was measured by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The parameters of fitting cosine curve were obtained by cosine analysis software circacompare (R package), and the change trend of rhythmic oscillation was analyzed. The ultrastructure of skeletal muscle fibers was observed by transmission electron microscope. The expressions of skeletal muscle BMAL1 and DESMIN were detected by Western blot; Immunofluorescence was used to observe the localization and contents of BMAL1 and DESMIN. Results: In Group C, three complete circadian rhythm cycles of mRNA BMAL1 were observed within 72 hours; in Group E, the circadian rhythm of BMAL1 mRNA disappeared at 0 h～24 h. Compared with Group C, the expression level of BMAL1 mRNA was significantly increased at 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 18 h after exercise in Group E (P＜0.05), and the expression of BMAL1 protein was significantly increased at 0 h and 12 h after exercise(P＜0.05), and recovered to the level of that in Group C from 24 h to 72 h(P＞0.05). The expression of DESMIN protein was decreased at 0 h and 12 h after exercise(P＜0.05), gradually increased at 24 h, increased significantly at 48 h(P＜0.01), and recovered to the control level at 72 h (P＞0.05). In Group E, BMAL1 and DESMIN were co-localized at 0 h, 12 h, and 24 h after exercise; the colocalization at 0 h～24 h showed a trend of first decreasing and then increasing, and the fluorescence intensity at 24 h reached the highest value. Conclusion: The post-exercise clock gene BMAL1 may be involved in the enhanced synergy of regulating the cytoskeletal protein DESMIN, it is thus related to the promotion of muscle fiber structure recovery.
ARNTL Transcription Factors/metabolism* ; Animals ; Desmin/metabolism* ; Muscle, Skeletal/physiology* ; Physical Conditioning, Animal/adverse effects* ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma of the liver (UESL) is rare primary hepatic sarcoma and is known to occur in pediatric patients. This case is the UESL occurred in a 51-year old male patient. Multilocular cystic lesion was composed of primitive spindle cells without specific differentiation. This rare case would help to review differential diagnosis of primary sarcoma in liver and cystic neoplasm of the liver.
Abdomen/diagnostic imaging ; Biomarkers, Tumor/blood ; Desmin/metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Liver Neoplasms/blood/*pathology/surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Vimentin/metabolism

Adolescent ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Leg ; MART-1 Antigen ; metabolism ; Male ; Melanoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Melanoma-Specific Antigens ; metabolism ; Perivascular Epithelioid Cell Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; Skin Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Actins ; metabolism ; Aged ; Antigens, Neoplasm ; metabolism ; Carbonic Anhydrase IX ; Carbonic Anhydrases ; metabolism ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Keratin-7 ; metabolism ; Kidney Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Male ; Nephrectomy ; methods ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Calmodulin-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Leiomyoma, Epithelioid ; metabolism ; pathology ; Leiomyomatosis ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Leiomyosarcoma ; pathology ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Estrogen ; metabolism ; Receptors, Progesterone ; metabolism ; Rhabdoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal ; metabolism ; pathology ; Uterine Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vascular Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Veins ; pathology ; Vimentin ; metabolism

Actins ; metabolism ; Adrenal Gland Neoplasms ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Leiomyosarcoma ; diagnostic imaging ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; surgery ; Reoperation ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Vimentin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Qufeng Tongluo Recipe (QTR) on the expression of desmin and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats.

METHODSThe adriamycin-induced nephropathy rat model was induced by a disposable intravenous injection of adriamycin. The model was successfully established after 3 weeks. Rats were then randomly divided into the blank control group (Group A, n =12), the model control group (Group B, n = 8), the small, medium, large dose QTR group (Group C, n = 8; Group D, n = 8; Group E, n = 8), and the positive control group (Group F, n = 8). From the fourth week normal saline was given to rats in Group A and Group B, QTR 1.0 g/mL, 2.1 g/mL, and 4.2 g/mL was respectively administered to those in Group C, D, and E. Prednisone 25 mg/kg was given to rats in Group F. All medication was performed by gastrogavage at 10 mL/kg, once daily, for 28 successive days. 24-h urinary protein excretion and sera biochemical indices were determined during medication. At the end of the experiment, ultrastructure was observed, mRNA expression of desmin, mRNA and protein of CD2AP were detected by Real-time PCR and Western blot.

RESULTS(1) Compared with Group B, 24-h urinary protein excretion significantly decreased in Group C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). (2) Compared with Group B, Alb in Group C, D, and E increased (P < 0.05) and TC significantly decreased (P < 0.05). TG significantly increased in Group F (P < 0.05). (3) Results of electron microscope showed, compared with Group B, the morphology of foot cells was improved to various degrees in Groups D, E, and F, especially the foot process structure and the number of foot processes were significantly improved, which was more obviously shown in Group D and Group E. (4) mRNA expression of desmin, mRNA and protein of CD2AP increased in adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats (P < 0.05). After intervention, when compared with Group B, mRNA expression of desmin and CD2AP were significantly lower in Group C, D, E, and F (P < 0.05). (5) Compared with Group A, expression of desmin and CD2AP significantly increased (P < 0.05). Compared with Group B, the expression of desmin protein were obviously lower in Group C, D, E, and F, and the protein expression of desmin obviously decreased in Group D, E, and F (P < 0.05). The protein expression of desmin and CD2AP gradually decreased in Group C, D, and E (P < 0.05). Compared with Group F, the expression of CD2AP protein obviously increased in Group C and D (P < 0.05); the expression of CD2AP protein obviously decreased in Group E (P < 0.05); the expression of desmin protein was higher in Group C, D, and E (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQTR's therapeutic effect on adriamycin-induced nephropathy rats might be achieved through altered expression of desmin and CD2AP.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing ; metabolism ; Animals ; Cytoskeletal Proteins ; metabolism ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Doxorubicin ; adverse effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Kidney Diseases ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Actins ; metabolism ; Adult ; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols ; therapeutic use ; Breast Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; metabolism ; Carcinoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Cyclophosphamide ; therapeutic use ; Desmin ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Fibrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Mastectomy, Segmental ; Methotrexate ; therapeutic use ; Microfilament Proteins ; metabolism ; Neurilemmoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phyllodes Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; Postoperative Period ; Vimentin ; metabolism