Preliminary study on aberrant expression of miRNAs related to the formation of the distinction between pediatric and adult types of brainstem gliomas / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVES</b>To study the different expression of miRNA between pediatric and adult types of brainstem gliomas, and to provide the target miRNAs for explore the mechanism and miRNA interference of the malignant progression of pediatric BSG.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>miRNA expression profiles in orthotopic models which could simulate the BSG heterogeneity were examined by microarray and analyzed to obtain the aberrantly expressed miRNAs. The two types of human BSG tissue were utilized to verify the microarray data by qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization for the putative causative miRNAs.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 216 miRNAs detected in both the pediatric BSG group and the adult BSG group, 39 miRNAs to be differential expressed in the pediatric BSG group versus adult group, including 10 up-regulated and 29 down-regulated. qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization indicated good consistency with that of the microarray method.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Aberrantly expressed miRNA may serve as putative causative involvement of malignant progression of pediatric BSG, thereby might be potentially novel targets for therapy.</p>

Stereotactic combined amygdala and hippocampus lesions for treatment of medial temporal lobe epilepsy / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the techniques of stereotactic combined amygdalohippocampotomy for management of medial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The Leksell stereotactic frame was used for all cases, and which almost paralleled the long axis of hippocampus. Stereotactic amygdalohippocampotomy was performed in 23 patients with unilateral medial temporal lobe seizures by using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) localization for target planning, depth electrode for the electroencephalogram (EEG) monitoring and radiofrequency techniques for lesion production. All procedures were completed under local anesthesia.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Pre-lesion spikes or polyspike-waves complex were recorded by a depth electrode in the amygdala and hippocampus region in all patients, and the epileptiform discharges disappeared after the amygdalohippocampotomy. The MRI appearance of the lesion areas after 1 - 2 weeks surgical operation showed that mutiple areas of coagulation necrosis corresponding to the lesion sites were surrounded by zones of edema. Twenty-three patients were followed-up to 8 - 32 months with seizure free 43.48% (10/23), and the general efficiency (seizure reduction >or= 50%) was 91.30% (21/23 cases).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Stereotactic combined lesions of unilateral amygdala and hippocampus for minimally invasive treatment of MTLE is safe and effective, and it is worth to spread in clinical application.</p>

Preliminary analysis on the gene expression profiles of medulloblastomas by use of cDNA array / 中华医学遗传学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the molecular genesis of medulloblastomas with cDNA array.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four samples of medulloblastomas and 1 sample of normal brain tissue were collected freshly. After total RNA extraction, the (32)P targeted cDNA probes were converted and then hybridized with Atlas Human Cancer Array 1.2. The gene expression profiles were acquired through autoradiography. The discrepancy between the tumor and the normal brain tissue was analyzed with Atlas Image 1.01a.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In comparison with the genes in the normal brain tissue, 6 down-regulated and 35 up-regulated genes in the medulloblastomas were revealed by means of the microarrays and autoradiography, and were verified by reverse transcriptase-PCR. The regulatory trends of most differential expression genes were in compliance with the biological features of this tumor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Medulloblastomas are diseases involving multiple genes with some molecular pathological mechanisms different from the astrocytic gliomas. There are complex interrelationships between these genes, which need to be further researched.</p>

Preliminary study on the gene expression profiles of ependymomas with cDNA array / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the differential gene expression of ependymomas.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Four fresh samples of ependymomas and 1 of normal brain tissue were collected during operation. The extracted total RNAs were converted as (32)P tagged cDNA probes, which were then hybridized with the Atlas Human Cancer Array, producing the array based hybridization maps following the protocol provided with the kit. A set of special software was applied to the analysis and RT-PCR was performed to test the result.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In comparison with the normal brain tissue, there were 31 upregulated gene and 1 downregulated gene in ependymomas, most of which were firstly found to be differentially expressed in this kind of tumor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The discrepancy of gene expression profiles between ependymomas and normal brain tissues is highly put through and effectively detected with cDNA array, which provides new information for the further research on the molecular mechanisms of this lesion.</p>