Mutational analysis of MYO1E in Chinese children with familial steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) with MYO1E mutations has been identified as autosomal recessive focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). To date, only two homozygous mutations in the MYO1E gene were reported in three families with FSGS. This study aimed to examine mutations in the MYO1E gene in children with familial SRNS in the Han Chinese ethnic group.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between 2005 and 2010, peripheral blood samples were collected from the probands, their siblings and parents of four families with autosomal recessive SRNS in the Han Chinese ethnic group. Four probands were studied from nine patients. The mutational analysis of MYO1E was performed by polymerase chain reaction and direct DNA sequencing. Fifty-nine healthy volunteers with normal urine analysis were included as controls.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Twenty-five MYO1E variants in the prohands from 4 families with SRNS were identified in this study. Among them, 24 variants were found in NCBI dbSNP. One heterozygous mutation IVS21-85G>A was found in the prohand from Family D, whereas it was absent in 59 normal Chinese controls. No splice site change caused by IVS21-85G>A was reported by analysis with NetGene2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>MYO1E mutations are not a major cause of Chinese familial SRNS in this study.</p>

Analysis of the relationship between clinicopathological factors and lymph node matastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate retrospectively the relationship between clinicopathological factors and lymph node matastasis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological factors, including gender, age, preoperative CA-19-9 level etc. of 71 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma were summarized to analyze the relationship between those factors and lymph node matastasis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the 71 cases, there were 49 males (69.0%) and 22 females (31.0%). Forty-eight were ≥ 60 (67.6%) and 23 were < 60 (32.4%) years old. Twenty patients had normal preoperative CA-19-9 level (28.2%) and 51 had elevated level (71.8%). The tumor in 43 (60.6%) cases located in the pancreatic head and neck, and 28 (39.4%) in the body and tail. The tumors in 8 patients were well-differentiated (11.3%), 27 were moderately differentiated (38.0%), and 36 were poorly differentiated (50.7%). The maximum diameter of the tumor was ≤ 2 cm in 11 cases (15.5%), 2 - 5 cm in 45 cases (63.4%), and > 5 cm in 15 cases (21.1%). Ten patients had tumor confined to the pancreas (14.1%), and 61 invaded peripancreatic tissues (85.9%). Vascular tumor thrombus was found in 48 cases (67.6%), and 23 cases were absent (32.4%). Thirty-six cases had lymph node matastasis (50.7%). Univariate chi-square test revealed that differentiation and range of local infiltration were significantly associated with lymph node meatstasis (P < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis also showed that differentiation and range of local infiltration were significantly associated with lymph node meatstasis (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The differentiation of tumor and range of local infiltration of pancreatic adenocarcinoma are significantly associated with lymph node metastasis. There is no significant relationship of location of the tumor, maximum diameter, presence or absence of vascular tumor thrombus with lymph node metastasis. Therefore, special attention should be paid to lymph node dissection in cases with a poorly differentiated pancreatic adenocarcinoma invading into peripancreatic tissues.</p>

Clinical analysis of 17 cases of gastric small cell carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze the clinical data and prognosis of gastric small cell carcinoma (GSCC), summarize recent progress in diagnosis and therapy of this disease reported in the literature, and to provide the theoretical basis for its appropriate treatment.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Clinicopathological data of 17 patients with pathologically confirmed GSCC, treated in our hospital between 1999 to 2012, were retrospectively reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>There were 16 males and 1 female, ranged from 46 to 75 years (mean 64.6 years). The tumor was located in the gastric cardia in 13 cases, three in the gastric fundus, and one in the gastric body. All the 17 patients received surgery and 10 of them received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, one received preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy. Thirteen patients were followed up. Among them, two 1ived for 40 months all along, the other 3 cases died of recurrence and extensive metastasis in 6 month after operation. The median survival was 13.0 months. The median survival of the patients with and without lymph node metastasis were 42 months and 13 months, respectively. The median survival time of stage II and III patients were 24 months and 14 months, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is difficult to make a definite diagnosis before or during the operation for GSCC. Radical operation could be done according to other gastric cancers and lymph node dissection could be simplified. Postoperative chemotherapy with the same scheme as lung small cell carcinoma may help to improve the outcome and prolong the survival of the patients.</p>

Risk factors associated with postoperative hospital stay after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a retrospective study / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Postoperative hospital stay after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) is relatively longer than after other gastrointestinal operations. The aim of the current study was to investigate the risk factors associated with prolonged hospital stay after PD.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Patients who had PD at the Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences between December 2008 and November 2012 were selected for this retrospective study. Clinical and pathological data were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome was postoperative length of stay. Normal discharge or recovery was defined as a postoperative hospital stay of no more than 10 days; otherwise it was defined as delayed discharge or recovery (including hospital death).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A total of 152 patients were enrolled in the present study. Postoperative hospital stay was (19.7 ± 7.7) days (range 7-57). Of the 152 patients, 67 were discharged within the normal time and 85 had delayed discharge. Postoperative complications occurred in 62.5% (95/152), and the mortality rate was 3.29% (5/152). Multiple regression analysis showed that delayed discharge was significantly associated with postoperative complications (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 10.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.58-30.22), age (adjusted OR 4.09, 95% CI 1.16-14.39), body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR 4.40, 95% CI 1.19-16.23), surgical procedure (adjusted OR 26.14, 95% CI 4.94-153.19), blood transfusion (adjusted OR 7.68, 95% CI 2.09-28.27), and fluid input (adjusted OR 3.47, 95% CI 1.24-11.57).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Postoperative complications increase the time to postoperative hospital discharge. The length of hospital stay after PD is also associated with age, BMI, blood transfusion, surgical procedure, and fluid input. Further studies with more patients are needed in future.</p>

Identification of occult disseminated tumor cells by recombinant herpes simplex virus expressing GFP (HSV(GFP)) / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a novel rapid protocol for the detection of occult disseminated tumor cells by a recombinant herpes simplex virus expressing GFP (HSV(GFP)).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Tumor cells of seven cell lines were exposed to HSV(GFP) and then examined for GFP expression by fluorescence microscopy. Various numbers of tumor cells (10, 100, 1000, 10 000) were mixed into 2 ml human whole blood, separated with lymphocytes separation medium, exposed to HSV(GFP), incubated at 37°C for 6 - 24 h and then counted for the number of green cells under the fluorescence microscope. Some clinical samples including peripheral blood, pleural effusion, ascites, spinal fluid from tumor-bearing patients were screened using this protocol in parallel with routine cytological examination.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>HSV(GFP) was able to infect all 7 tumor cell lines indicating that the HSV(GFP) can be used to detect different types of tumor cells. The detection sensitivity was 10 cancer cells in 2 ml whole blood. In the clinical samples, there were 4/15 positive by routine cytological examination but 11/15 positive by HSV(GFP), indicating a higher sensitivity of this new protocol.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Recombinant herpes simplex virus-mediated green fluorescence is a simple and sensitive technique for the identification of occult disseminated cancer cells including circulating tumor cells (CTCs).</p>

Diagnosis of colon cancer with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy on the malignant colon tissue samples / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) combined with chemometrics discriminant analysis technology could improve diagnosis. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of FT-IR on malignant colon tissue samples in diagnosis of colon cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine classification were used to discriminate FT-IR spectra from malignant and normal tissue. Colon tissues samples from 85 patients were used to demonstrate the procedure.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>For this set of colon spectral data, the sensitivity and specificity of the support vector machine (SVM) classification were found both higher than 90%.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>FT-IR provided important information about cancerous tissue, which could be used to discriminate malignant from normal tissues. The combination of PCA and SVM classification indicated that FT-IR has a potential clinical application in diagnosis of colon cancer.</p>

The role of slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation in treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the role of slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation in treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>85 cases of untreated patients with locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) were randomized into two groups: Trial group: slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation (50 patients) and control group (35 patients). Observing the objective tumor response, clinical benefit response, toxicity, complications and survival of patients of the two groups.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the trial group the overall response rate (PR + NC) was 76.0%, and the clinical benefit response rate was 52.0%. No toxicity was observed. Pancreatic fistula occurred in 2 patients. The median survival time of the two groups was 9.0 months and 4.0 months, respectively. The survival rates of 6- and 12-month were 56.8% vs. 31.4% and 22.9% vs. 2.9% in the two groups, respectively (P = 0.012).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Slow-release 5-fluorouracil implantation is a simple, safe and effective method in treatment of LAPC.</p>

Significance of positive ductal margin and prognostic factors of surgical resection in middle and distal bile duct carcinoma / 中华外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To discuss the significance of a positive ductal margin and evaluate the prognostic factors related to surgical resection for middle and distal bile duct carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A retrospective clinicopathological analysis of 79 patients who had undergone surgical resection for middle or distal bile ductal cancer between January 1990 and December 2006 was conducted. The surgical procedures consisted of pancreatoduodenectomy in 46 patients, bile duct resection in 25 patients, bile duct resection plus hepatectomy in 6 patients, and bile duct resection with partial resection of portal vein in 2 patients. In 74 patients, 5 patients were excluded because they died after surgery without being discharged from the hospital, 15 clinicopathologic factors were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall 5-year survival rate and the median survival time was 30.7% and 36 months, respectively. Sixteen of 74 patients (20.3%) were determined to have positive ductal margins on the final pathological examination. As a result, hepatic-side ductal margin, duodenal-side ductal margin and both was found to be positive in 6, 3 and 2 patients, respectively. Five patients had positive radial margins. The 5-year survival rate was 34.4% in 58 patients without microscopic residual disease (R0), and 15.5% in 16 patients with microscopic residual tumor (R1). The ductal recurrence rate of 16 patients with R1 resection was higher than 58 patients with R0 resection (62.5% vs. 17.2%, chi(2) = 13.024, P < 0.01). The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were better in the patients with R0 (92.5%, 56.7%, and 34.4%, respectively) than those in the patients with R1 resection (75.0%, 23.2%, and 15.5%, respectively) (P < 0.05). Twelve patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. The 5-year survival rate was not significantly different between patients with postoperative adjuvant therapy and those without (18.2% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.221). The preoperative serum level of hemoglobin, pathological differentiation grade, the depth of neoplastic invasion, lymph node metastasis, R1 resection, and TNM stage were significant prognostic factors on the univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis revealed that lymph node metastasis and R1 resection were the independent prognostic factors.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>In the treatment of middle and distal bile duct cancer, radical resection should be made to obtain a tumor-free margin. An aggressive surgical approach may improve the survival for middle bile duct cancer. Adjuvant therapy needs to be further developed.</p>

Surgical treatment and prognosis of primary duodenal carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological features, surgical treatment and prognosis of primary carcinoma of the duodenum.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological data of 86 patients with primary duodenal carcinoma from January 1996 to June 2007 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed by SPSS 13.0.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The clinical manifestation includes upper abdominal pain, jaundice, anemia, gastrointestinal obstruction, melena and weight loss. Four patients had a tumor located in the first portion of the duodenum, 66 in the second portion, 12 in the third portion and 4 in the fourth portion. The preoperative correct diagnostic rate by BUS was 41.7%, by CT 69.4%, by MRI 75.0%, by duodenal endoscopy 84.0%, and by air barium double radiography 80.9%. Complete resection of the tumors was achieved in 38 patients, palliative resection in 45 cases, and exploration alone in 3 cases. The median survival time of the group with complete resection was 42 months versus 13 months in the group with palliative resection, with a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Primary carcinoma of the duodenum has no specific symptoms. Early diagnosis and complete resection are effective to improve prognosis.</p>

Small pancreatic cancer diagnosis and prognosis / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, diagnostic methods and prognosis of small pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From May 2000 to January 2007, 89 patients with pancreatic cancer underwent surgery in our hospital. Of those, 14 had a tumor < or = 2 cm in diameter (small tumor group), and the other 75 had a tumor >2 cm in diameter (controlled group). The clinicopathological data of all the cases were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>In the small pancreatic cancer group, CT and MRI detected 66.7% (8/12) and 77.8% (7/9) of the tumors, respectively. Serosal infiltration was found in 2 cases, lymph node involvement in 3 cases, and retroperitoneal infiltration in 3 cases. The follow-up duration of this group was 4-86 months. The overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 42.8% and 31.7%, while in the control group, the overall 3- and 5-year survival rates were 29.7% and 22.5%, respectively. The multivariate analysis showed that the lymph node involvement, serosal infiltration and retroperitoneal infiltration were independent risk factors (P<0.05). However, the tumor size was not shown to be an independent risk factor (OR value = 1.45, P = 0.971).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT and MRI are valuable in detecting small pancreatic cancer. Small pancreatic cancers are likely to have a better prognosis when compared with larger ones. Lymph node metastasis and local infiltration are independent predictors of prognosis but not tumor size.</p>

Application of tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy in the intraoperative pathological diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the method and value of tru-cut biopsy (TCB) combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) in the pathological diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma during operation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From April 2007 to October 2008, 22 cases who were suspected to suffer from pancreatic carcinoma were enrolled into this prospective study. All of them underwent a tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy for the pathological diagnosis during operation.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 22 patients, 20 were finally diagnosed as having pancreatic carcinoma, while 2 having pancreatitis. The diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma was confirmed in 19 by tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy, while other 3 cases were not confirmed as pancreatic carcinoma. Among those 3 cases, one was diagnosed as having pancreatic carcinoma with hepatic metastasis by liver nodular biopsy, one as suffering from autoimmune pancreatitis, and another case as having chronic pancreatitis confirmed by follow-up for 9 months without any changes after the operation. The accuracy of FNA, TCB and FNA combined with TCB in the diagnosis for suspected pancreatic cancer were 86.4%, 90.9%, and 95.5%, respectively. No pancreatic fistula and bleeding developed after operation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Tru-cut biopsy is more accurate in diagnosis for the suspected pancreatic cancer than fine needle aspiration biopsy during operation. Tru-cut biopsy combined with fine needle aspiration biopsy can improve the accuracy of diagnosis, and is a safe and effective diagnostic method.</p>

The value of thin-layer cytology in intraoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy of pancreatic cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>The purpose of this study was to explore the value of thin-layer cytology (TLC) in intraoperative fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Results of cytological examination with thin-layer smears were compared with that with conventional smears in intraoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally 271 fine needle aspiration biopsies were performed, among them, 70 were examined with thin-layer smears, showing unsatisfactory smear in 5 cases (7.1%); 201 were examined with conventional smears (CS), showing unsatisfactory smear in 9 cases (4.5%). No significant difference in the unsatisfactory smears was observed between those two groups. The positive rate of diagnosis with CS smears was 60.0% (42/70) and that of TLC was 81.6% (164/201), with a significant difference (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of CS and TLC was 68.9% and 87.7%, respectively (P < 0.01). The sensitivity of both FNA and frozen section diagnosis in 20 cases was 90.0%, respectively, but that of FNA combined with frozen section diagnosis was 95.0%. 9 cancer cases diagnosed by pathology were initially negative by cytology, but adenocarcinoma cells were found in 7 cases of them by the second time cytology examination.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The positive rate is high in TLC smears, and unsatisfactory rate is low. TLC smears are one of the best methods in intraoperative confirmation of pancreatic cancer. The use of FNA smears combined with frozen section biopsy can further improve the sensitivity of diagnosis.</p>

Surgical management for carcinoma of the gallbladder: a single-institution experience in 25 years / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Gallbladder carcinoma is rare and associated with dismal outcomes. Radical surgery is the only curative treatment, and options for adjuvant therapy remain limited. This study aimed to determine the factors influencing outcome of treatment in patients with gallbladder carcinoma, and to identify the patients who might benefit from radical surgery and adjuvant therapy.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Medical records and follow-up histories of 150 patients with gallbladder carcinoma who had undergone surgery between April 1980 and December 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. The factors predictive for the survival of the patients were identified using multivariate analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Surgery for gallbladder cancer was associated with an overall 5-year survival rate of 26.2%. After curative resection (40% of the patients), the 5-year survival rate was 60.3%. The patients who underwent R0 resection had a significantly longer median survival (97.3 months) than those who had R1/R2 resection (8.3 months) or only laparotomy (3.7 months) (P < 0.0001). Univariate analysis showed that resectability, American Joint Committee on Cancer staging, tumor grade, adjuvant therapy, jaundice at presentation, depth of tumor invasion, lymph node involvement, distant metastasis, and carcinoembryonic antigen level were statistically significant predictors for survival. Multivariate analysis revealed American Joint Committee on Cancer staging and resectability were independent prognostic factors for survival. The patients who underwent noncurative resection might benefit from adjuvant therapy (median survival, 12.4 months vs 7.2 months, P = 0.006).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Favorable survival rate can be achieved after curative resection, even for selected patients with advanced disease. Adjuvant therapy may improve the survival of patients with gallbladder carcinoma.</p>

Value of intraoperative fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathologic biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the clinical value of intraoperative aspiration cytology and histopathologic biopsy in the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>142 patients with suspected pancreatic carcinoma underwent surgical exploration and the data were retrospectively analyzed. Chi-square test (chi2) was used to compare the accuracy between fine-needle aspiration cytology and histopathologic biopsy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 192 patients with suspected pancreatic carcinoma, 80 were confirmed by histological biopsy and 87 by fine-needle aspiration cytology, with an accuracy rate of 83.8% and 93.1%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between these two groups (P = 0.027). No perioperative surgical complication was observed in this series.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Intraoperative aspiration cytology and histopathologic biopsy was safe and helpful with a high accuracy for the diagnosis of pancreatic carcinoma.</p>

Prospective comparison of ultrasonography, helical computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and endoscopic ultrasonography in assessing locoregional invasion of primary pancreatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate prospectively the efficacy and clinical significance of ultrasonography (US), helical computed tomography (HCT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in assessing locoregional invasion to the surrounding tissue or organs of primary pancreatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty-eight consecutive patients with pancreatic carcinoma underwent US, HCT, EUS and MRI examinations before surgical exploration. All imaging results in terms of tumor size and locoregional invasion were assessed separately by two diagnostic radiologists and compared with the surgical and pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Among the HCT, US, EUS and MRI examinations, EUS had the highest accuracy in assessing tumor size with a regression coefficient for the maximal and minimal diameter of 1.0250 (P = 0.0426) and 0.9873 (P < 0.0001), respectively. In the assessment of locoregional invasion to the surrounding tissue or organs, EUS also had the highest accuracy (75.8%) and sensitivity (80.0%), but MRI had the highest positive predicting value (97.4%). None of these four imaging techniques was significantly correlated with the surgical findings when analyzed by univariate logistic regression.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Endoscopic ultrasonography may be the most useful imaging technique in assessing tumor size, but for assessing loco-regional invasion of primary pancreatic carcinoma, combination of more than one imaging techniques may be necessary.</p>

Relationship between brain-derived neurotrophic factor and birth weight in neonates / 中国当代儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Recent research has shown that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) can improve obesity. This study aimed to explore the relationship between BDNF and birth weight by measuring BDNF levels in the umbilical cord blood of neonates.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Based on birth weight, 51 first-born full-term healthy neonates were classified into 3 groups: small for gestational age (SGA, n=8), appropriate for gestational age (AGA, n=31) and large for gestational age (LGA, n=12). Height and birth weight as well as umbilical concentrations of BDNF, leptin, insulin, total cholesterol and triglyceride were determined.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>BDNF level in the SGA group (19980.00 +/- 5470.54 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in the AGA (10598.00 +/- 6295.71 pg/mL) and LGA (7508.57 +/- 3767.81 pg/mL) groups (P <0.05). There was no significant difference in the BDNF level between the AGA and LGA groups. Stepwise regression analysis showed that the value of BDNF was negatively correlated with birth weight and BMI of neonates, but had no correlation with leptin and insulin levels. Leptin levels showed positive correlations with birth weight and BMI of neonates. There were no significant differences in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels among the three groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>BDNF is closely correlated to birth weight but not correlated with leptin and insulin in neonates.</p>

Mutations in NPHS2 in familial steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in Southern Chinese Han ethnic group / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Mutations in NPHS2 mapped to 1q25-q31 and encoding podocin, which is exclusively expressed in glomerular podocytes, are responsible for autosomal recessive familial steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) with minor glomerular abnormalities or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Different groups from European and North American countries have screened NPHS2 mutations in familial SRNS with recessive inheritance, documenting a mutation detection rate of 45% - 55% in families. This study aimed to examine mutations in the NPHS2 gene in Southern Chinese Han ethnic group patients with familial SRNS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Genomic DNA from 3 probands from Southern Chinese Han families with autosomal recessive SRNS, and their siblings and parents was isolated and analyzed for all eight exons, exon-intron boundaries and promoter of NPHS2 using the polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>No mutation of NPHS2 in all eight exons and exon-intron boundaries was identified in the 3 probands. However, a polymorphism of 954T > C in exon 8 was detected in all the 3 probands and some controls, and 5 variants of NPHS2 promoter, -1709G > A, -1000A > T, -670C > T, -116C > T and -51G > T, were identified in some patients and controls, indicating that these variants are polymorphisms. One heterozygous variant of NPHS2 promoter, -1715A > G, was also identified in one proband and her mother whose urinalyses were normal, whereas it was not found in any of the 50 controls. There was no significant difference in the allelic frequencies of -1709G > A, -1000A > T, -670C > T, -116C > T and -51G > T polymorphisms between the patients and controls.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>NPHS2 mutations are not a major cause of familial steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome in Southern Chinese Han ethnic group included in the study.</p>

Prospective evaluation of the clinical significance of ultrasonography, helical computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and endoscopic ultrasonography in the assessment of vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis of pancreatic carcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To evaluate prospectively the efficacy of ultrasonography (US), helical computed tomography (HCT), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the assessment of vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis in pancreatic carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Consecutive 68 patients with pancreatic carcinoma were studied. Results of each imaging techniques regarding vascular invasion and lymph node metastasis were compared with the surgical and pathological findings.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) US findings were confirmed moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results in the evaluation of inferior cava vein, splenic artery and vein invasion of pancreatic carcinoma. HCT findings of evaluating superior mesenteric vein, portal vein, splenic vein were confirmed greatly in accordance with surgical and pathological results. The results of evaluating superior mesenteric artery, inferior cava vein, splenic artery, common hepatic artery, proper hepatic artery, celiac trunk, abdominal aorta were confirmed moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results. MRI findings of evaluating superior mesenteric artery and vein, portal artery and vein were moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results. EUS findings of evaluating splenic vein were confirmed greatly in accordance with surgical and pathological results, and moderately in accordance with surgical and pathological results in the evaluation of superior mesenteric vein. (2) EUS had the highest sensitivity (75.0%), accuracy (87.5%), and negative predictive values (91.7%) in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity of HCT and MRI were 37.5% and 35.3%, which were significantly lower than that of EUS. The sensitivity of US was 18.7%, which was the lowest of all. In addition, the multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that EUS had an independent predictive value (OR: 34.50, 95%CI: 6.54 - 182.09).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Helical CT should be considered the most precise technique to evaluate vascular invasion. EUS had an independent predictive value with respect to tumor metastasis to regional lymph nodes.</p>

Analysis of factors influencing recurrence and metastasis following curative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the factors influencing recurrence and metastasis following curative resection of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and analyze the prognosis.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The clinicopathological and follow-up data of 56 patients who underwent curative resection for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma between Jan. 1997 and Dec. 2006 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The recurrence rate after curative resection was 73.2% (41/56). The recurrence rate after operation at the time of 3 months, half year, 1 year and 2 years was 26.8% (15/56), 51.8% (29/56), 64.3% (36/56) and 69.6% (39/56), respectively. Hepatic metastasis and local recurrence accounted for 36.6% and 31.7% of the cases, respectively. The 3-year accumulated survival of this group was 22.7%. The symptom presenting time, back pain, preoperative level of CA19-9, tumor size, AJCC stage and T stage were correlated with metastasis/recurrence. Univariate analysis revealed that the preoperative level of CA19-9, T stage and the tumor size were prognostic factors. Cox regression analysis revealed that only tumor size was an independent prognostic factor.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The metastasis or recurrence mostly occurs within 2 years after curative resection, and the liver is the most common site of metastasis. High recurrence rate is the major reason causing the failure of curative resection and short survival time after operation. The symptom presenting time, back pain, preoperative level of CA19-9, tumor size, AJCC stage and T stage are correlated with metastasis/recurrence. The tumor size is an independent prognostic factor.</p>

In vivo effect of annexin I down-regulation on the growth of human pancreatic cancer in nude mice / 中华肿瘤杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To further explore the effect of annexin I on the tumor growth of human pancreatic cancer in nude mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>To knock down the expression of annexin I in pancreatic carcinoma cells by RNAi. A nude mouse model of human pancreatic cancer was established by subcutaneous inoculation of human pancreatic cancer cell line Suit-II cells. The effect of annexin I on tumor growth was assessed by tumor growth curve and tumor weight records, and Westen blot and flow cytometry were used to examine the expression of annexin I after annexin I-knocking down.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results of Western blot revealed that the expression of annexin I was significantly decreased in Suit-II cells transfected with pSilencer-annexin I-siRNA1, and almost completely inhibited in the cells transfected with pSilencer-annexin I-siRNA2 and pSilencer-annexin I-siRNA3. The growth of tumors transfected with annexin I-siRNA2 and annexin I-siRNA3 was inhibited by 76.6% and 68.4%, respectively, in comparison with that of tumor from the parent Suit-II cells. At 44 days after tumor cell inoculation, the tumor weight was 0.8987 g (transfected with annexin I-siRNA2) and 0.8992 g (transfected with annexin I-siRNA3), significantly lower (P < 0.001) than that of tumor from parent Suit-II cells (2.5866 g) and transfected with annexin I-siRNAN (2.4070 g).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>annexin I promotes the growth and proliferation of pancreatic carcinoma cells in vivo and increases the ability of tumor formation in nude mice. The results of this study support that annexin I may become a potential target in gene therapy for this disease.</p>